US offers Cuba a new relationship
5/20/202626 min
America's top diplomat, Marco Rubio, has offered the Cuban people a "new relationship" in a video message marking the anniversary of Cuba's independence. He blamed the island's hardships on its communist leadership and not the US fuel blockade, which has exacerbated the economic crisis. Mr Rubio made the comments as US media reported that the Justice Department would unveil charges against Cuba's veteran leader Raul Castro.
Also: The World Health Organization is exploring vaccine and treatment options to help contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has released a video showing him taunting detained activists from a Gaza aid flotilla. As investigations into how a group of experienced divers died in the Maldives continue, officials say all five bodies have now been retrieved from a deep cave. Russia's President Putin has met China's President Xi in Beijing and signed around 20 agreements just days after Donald Trump's visit. North Korea's Naegohyang football team has beaten South Korea's Suwon FC 2-1 in the semi-final of the Asian Women's Champions league in a rare match between the former enemies. English wines have won the highest percentage of gold medals per entry in a global competition, with experts describing the improvement as remarkable... and we find out why the T-Rex had such little arms.
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First 90 secondsWill Grant0:00
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Kai Wright0:03
[news music] I'm Kai Wright.
Speaker 20:06
I'm Carter Sherman. Welcome to Stateside with Kai and Carter. We're a new show from The Guardian.
Kai Wright0:10
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Speaker 20:17
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Kai Wright0:19
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Speaker 20:25
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Charlotte Gallagher· Host0:27
[news music] This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. [news music] I'm Charlotte Gallagher, and on the afternoon of the twentieth of May, these are our main stories. The US Secretary of State has offered Cuba a new relationship with America in comments ahead of expected US charges against the veteran communist leader, Raúl Castro. The World Health Organization says a vaccine may be ready in nine months to help counter the current Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. Also in this podcast, the latest on the rescue mission in the Maldives after a scuba diving accident.
Mohamed Waheem Sharif· Soundbite1:15
The remaining two bodies have been recovered and brought back to the surface, so that completes the diving mission. So the search and recovery mission is now complete.
Charlotte Gallagher· Host1:25
And a team from North Korea travel to South Korea for a football