Raul castro, the president of cuba will also give a News Conference in his country that will happen at noon eastern time. Of course cnn will continue to follow this breaking news throughout the day. Thank you for joining me today, im carol kos toll low. this hour with berman and michaela starts now. Hello, everyone. Im john berman. And. And im michaela pereira. History is being made at this hour after more than a half century of tension and diplomat diplomatic silence between the u. S. Its releasing alan gross from prison after five years. A series of genuinely breathtaking developments. Cuba is also releasing a u. S. Intelligence asset, a spy, whos been locked up in cuba for more than 20 years. In Return Washington is freeing three cuban spies convicted in 2001 of espionage. That is big in and of itself. It all seems part now of something much, much bigger. President obama will announce major changes in u. S. Policy toward cuba. Officials calling them the most sweeping changes since t
in return washington is freeing three cuban spies convicted in 2001 of espionage. that is big in and of itself. it all seems part now of something much, much bigger. president obama will announce major changes in u.s. policy toward cuba. officials calling them the most sweeping changes since the embargo began more than 50 years ago. cuban president raul castro is planning a similar announcement next hour on cuban tv. the big question at this hour, does this foreshadow a return to normal relations with the island nation, a country that has been a thorn in washington s side since fidel castro took power back in 1959. cnn is covering this from all angles. we should mention we re the only u.s. network on the ground in cuba. patrick oppman is in havana. michelle kosinski joins us from the white house. and justice reporter evan perez and global affairs correspondent elise in
washington. elise, i want to begin with you because you have the details of this series of remarkable developments here and at the top of that list we ll have an embassy. the white house wants to open up an embassy in havana. that s right, john, and the u.s. and cuba having these talks for some time. not only about alan gross and the cuban five and u.s. intelligence asset but how the u.s. and cuba can normalize relations. you ve seen talks with u.s. and cuban officials over the last years and the u.s. sees reform on the island. so the u.s. will be opening up an embassy in havana. right now there s an intrasection. the u.s. will also see about getting cuba off the state sponsor of terrorism list which has really been a thorn in cuba s side because it was more of a political move. cuba hasn t been seen as having any terrorist activity for