The US will remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, Joe Biden has said in one of his final official acts as president. In return, Cuba announced it would release 553 prisoners. The deal, which was brokered by the Catholic Church, comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump is due to be sworn in.

President Joe Biden is planning to lift Cuba's designation as a "state sponsor of terrorism" in the final days of his administration.

There is zero doubt in my mind that they meet all the qualifications for being a state sponsor of terrorism,” he said.