The UN General Assembly on Thursday called for an end to the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, adopting a resolution by an overwhelming majority and rejecting US moves to criticize Havana's human rights record.

It was the 27th time that the 193-nation assembly has issued the call to lift the embargo imposed in 1962.

The resolution presented by Cuba was adopted by a vote of 189 to 2 with no abstentions. The US and its ally Israel voted against while Ukraine and Moldova did not vote.

The United States failed to win support for eight amendments criticizing Cuba's human rights record. The US, Israel and Ukraine voted in favor of those amendments. The Marshall Islands joined them in one vote.

President Donald Trump's administration points to Cuba's repression of political opponents and curbs of freedom of expression as a reason for maintaining the economic embargo.

Taking the podium, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed the Trump administration as a "government of millionaires that imposes cruel policies", citing the US treatment of migrant children separated at the border with Mexico and "locked in cages."

"The US government does not have the least moral authority for criticizing Cuba or anyone else with regards to human rights," said the foreign minister.

Rodriguez argued that the embargo was a "flagrant, massive and systematic violation" of human rights in Cuba, notably by denying access to US-produced medicines and medical technology.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the vote on the US embargo, which has been an annual exercise since 1992, as a "waste of everyone's time" because it did not address Cuba's human rights situation.

"It's one more time that countries feel they can poke the United States in the eye," Haley said of the vote.

"But you're not hurting the US when you do this. You are literally hurting the Cuban people by telling the regime that their treatment of their people is acceptable."

Last year, the resolution calling for an end to the embargo was adopted by a vote of 191 to 2. The United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted "no".

That vote took place after Washington for the first time abstained in the vote in 2016 as former president Barack Obama pursued a thaw in relations with Havana.

Ties between Cuba and the US have been in decline under Trump, who has rejected the previous administration's moves to improve ties with Havana.

The resolution is non-binding but carries political weight.

The UN General Assembly on Thursday called for an end to the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, adopting a resolution by an overwhelming majority and rejecting US moves to criticize Havana's human rights record.

The UN General Assembly on Thursday called for an end to the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, adopting a resolution by an overwhelming majority and rejecting US moves to criticize Havana's human rights record. It was the 27th time that the 193-nation assembly has issued the call to lift the embargo imposed in 1962. The resolution presented by Cuba was adopted by a vote of 189 to 2 with no abstentions. The US and its ally Israel voted against while Ukraine and Moldova did not vote. The United States failed to win support for eight amendments criticizing Cuba's human rights record. The US, Israel and Ukraine voted in favor of those amendments. The Marshall Islands joined them in one vote. President Donald Trump's administration points to Cuba's repression of political opponents and curbs of freedom of expression as a reason for maintaining the economic embargo. Taking the podium, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez slammed the Trump administration as a "government of millionaires that imposes cruel policies", citing the US treatment of migrant children separated at the border with Mexico and "locked in cages." "The US government does not have the least moral authority for criticizing Cuba or anyone else with regards to human rights," said the foreign minister. Rodriguez argued that the embargo was a "flagrant, massive and systematic violation" of human rights in Cuba, notably by denying access to US-produced medicines and medical technology. US Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the vote on the US embargo, which has been an annual exercise since 1992, as a "waste of everyone's time" because it did not address Cuba's human rights situation. "It's one more time that countries feel they can poke the United States in the eye," Haley said of the vote. "But you're not hurting the US when you do this. You are literally hurting the Cuban people by telling the regime that their treatment of their people is acceptable." Last year, the resolution calling for an end to the embargo was adopted by a vote of 191 to 2. The United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted "no". That vote took place after Washington for the first time abstained in the vote in 2016 as former president Barack Obama pursued a thaw in relations with Havana. Ties between Cuba and the US have been in decline under Trump, who has rejected the previous administration's moves to improve ties with Havana. The resolution is non-binding but carries political weight.

United Nations General Assembly calls for end to decades-old US economic embargo on Cuba

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Cuba next week to strengthen ties and boost trade, four decades after his father made a historic visit to the Communist-ruled island and struck up a friendship with revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

Canada has long been one of Cuba&#39;s closest Western allies. Trudeau will meet with Raul Castro, Fidel&#39;s younger brother and successor as president, during his visit, Trudeau&#39;s office said.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a former prime minister, in 1976 became the first NATO leader to visit the island since its revolution, at one point exhorting &quot;Viva Castro!&quot;

Pierre Trudeau&#39;s trip was controversial in view of the Cold War enmity between Cuba and the United States. His son&#39;s visit is not viewed as such, given the resumption of US-Cuban diplomatic ties last year and a landmark visit by US&nbsp;President Barack Obama in March.

Justin Trudeau will follow his stay in Havana with a visit to Argentina, ruled by centre-right President Mauricio Macri, on his way to Peru to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting.

&quot;Cuba and Argentina are two of our closest partners in the hemisphere,&quot; Trudeau said in a statement.

&quot;I look forward to working with President Castro and President Macri to stimulate more trade and investment with Canada, grow the middle class, and foster closer people-to-people ties for the benefit of all our citizens.&rdquo;

Canada and Mexico were the only two nations in the Americas to have kept ties with Cuba after the 1959 revolution, and trade, tourism and investment from the two countries has filled in some gaps from the US&nbsp;embargo.

Cuba and Canada trade over $1 billion worth of goods per year and Canadian companies have significant investments in mining, power, oil and gas, agribusiness and tourism in Cuba.

Many countries are rushing to renew ties with Cuba since its detente with the United States in hopes of capturing a share of Cuban business.

A string of foreign leaders including the Iranian president and Japanese prime minister have visited the island in recent months, meeting with Raul and Fidel Castro.

It was not yet clear whether Trudeau will meet with Fidel, 90, who became friends with his father and was an honorary pallbearer at his funeral in Montreal in 2000.

(Reuters)

Trudeau will meet with Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and successor as president to strengthen ties and boost trade

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Cuba next week to strengthen ties and boost trade, four decades after his father made a historic visit to the Communist-ruled island and struck up a friendship with revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Canada has long been one of Cuba's closest Western allies. Trudeau will meet with Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and successor as president, during his visit, Trudeau's office said. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a former prime minister, in 1976 became the first NATO leader to visit the island since its revolution, at one point exhorting "Viva Castro!" Pierre Trudeau's trip was controversial in view of the Cold War enmity between Cuba and the United States. His son's visit is not viewed as such, given the resumption of US-Cuban diplomatic ties last year and a landmark visit by US President Barack Obama in March. Justin Trudeau will follow his stay in Havana with a visit to Argentina, ruled by centre-right President Mauricio Macri, on his way to Peru to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting. "Cuba and Argentina are two of our closest partners in the hemisphere," Trudeau said in a statement. "I look forward to working with President Castro and President Macri to stimulate more trade and investment with Canada, grow the middle class, and foster closer people-to-people ties for the benefit of all our citizens.” Canada and Mexico were the only two nations in the Americas to have kept ties with Cuba after the 1959 revolution, and trade, tourism and investment from the two countries has filled in some gaps from the US embargo. Cuba and Canada trade over $1 billion worth of goods per year and Canadian companies have significant investments in mining, power, oil and gas, agribusiness and tourism in Cuba. Many countries are rushing to renew ties with Cuba since its detente with the United States in hopes of capturing a share of Cuban business. A string of foreign leaders including the Iranian president and Japanese prime minister have visited the island in recent months, meeting with Raul and Fidel Castro. It was not yet clear whether Trudeau will meet with Fidel, 90, who became friends with his father and was an honorary pallbearer at his funeral in Montreal in 2000. (Reuters)

Canada's Trudeau to visit Cuba 40 years after father's historic trip

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United Nations General Assembly calls for end to decades-old US economic embargo on Cuba

Canada's Trudeau to visit Cuba 40 years after father's historic trip