Midday Roundup: U.S., Cuba friends again after 54-year breakup

Friends again. The United States and Cuba will formally restore diplomatic relations today, a historic move first announced in December. This morning, the chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana delivered a letter to the Cuban foreign ministry from President Barack Obama. “We don’t have to be imprisoned by the past,” Obama said a few hours later from the White House Rose Garden. “Americans and Cubans alike are ready to move forward.” Cuban state television broadcast his comments live, but Cuban President Raúl Castro did not immediately respond. Later this month, the U.S. flag will rise over the Interests Section building as it becomes a full-fledged embassy. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry plans to attend that ceremony. America severed ties with Cuba in 1961 after rebels led by Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S.-backed government.

Capitulation? Though Greece defaulted on billions in European loans last night, the country’s leaders are showing signs of blinking in their economic stare-down with creditors. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that European leaders would not consider other deal proposals until next week after Greek voters go to the polls Sunday to vote on the EU’s last offer. Greek leaders are chaffing under EU austerity measures designed to help get the country back on sound financial footing. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has refused to consider cutting pensions and raising taxes, but analysts say his resolve might be waning. Someone in the Tsipras government leaked a letter sent to EU creditors proposing more concessions in exchange for more cash. Rumors also are swirling in Athens that Tsipras might be ready to cancel Sunday’s referendum.

Sinai attacks. Islamic State (ISIS) militants have claimed responsibility for a rash of attacks across Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula that have killed at least 50 soldiers. Another 54 troops were wounded, but with clashes ongoing, the casualty numbers likely will rise. The attacks are part of a terror campaign ISIS launched during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Militant fighters attacked 15 sites held by the Egyptian military or security forces, using gunmen and some suicide bombers. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced a crackdown on militants two days ago after they assassinated the state prosecutor in Cairo.

Mea culpa. Captured fugitive David Sweat is spilling his guts to investigators anxious to get all the juicy details of how he and fellow inmate Richard Matt pulled off a daring escape from New York’s maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility. Sweat, who was shot and captured Sunday, claims he masterminded the operation, first hatching the plan five months ago. The men planned to meet up with prison employee Joyce Mitchell, who allegedly was in love with one or both of them, and kill her husband before driving to freedom in Mexico. When Mitchell didn’t show after they emerged from the maze of tunnels under the prison, the escapees had to improvise. After two weeks together, Sweat left Matt, who had developed blisters on his feet and couldn’t move as quickly, Sweat told investigators. The Hollywood-like escape has shined a spotlight on the prison, with 12 employees put on leave as the FBI investigates a corruption scandal involving drugs and other criminal activity.

High alert. The FBI is setting up special command centers around the country to monitor terror threats over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The move comes in the wake of the FBI and National Counterterrorism Center issuing a threat bulletin to local law enforcement. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, told Fox News government agencies and local police are the most concerned he’s seen them since after 9/11. The FBI is keying in on known ISIS supporters for potential lone-wolf attacks, and King said in the last 10 days, authorities have nabbed five of them in the New York area. “That’s just one further indication and there’s others, I believe, out there, of the potential of an attack.” Authorities are asking the public to remain vigilant during Independence Day celebrations.

Planetary dance. Stargazers got a rare treat last night as Venus and Jupiter came within one-third of a degree of each other. Scientists refer to such an event as a celestial conjunction, when two heavenly bodies appear close in the night sky. This is the last conjunction for the next 24 years. The two planets will remain close to each other for a few more days.

WORLD Radio’s Jim Henry and the Associated Press contributed to this report.