Raul Castro

Raúl Castro is shown wearing a dark suit and red tie with his left arm raised and finger pointing.

A retiring Castro to bring younger face to Cuba's communists

Six years after the death of Fidel Castro, his brother and fellow leader of the island's 1959 revolution, Raúl Castro, is being watched to see if he fulfills his commitment to give up the reins of the only political organization permitted in the country of 11 million people.

A retiring Castro to bring younger face to Cuba's communists
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, is shown wearing a light colored blazer with his hands handcuffed behind his back.

Pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai sentenced in Hong Kong

Pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai sentenced in Hong Kong
Cuba's President Raul Castro (C) and First Vice-President Miguel Díaz-Canel (R) are seen on a TV screen inside a restaurant during a session of the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, April 18, 2018. Díaz-Canel became Cuba's president on Wednesday.

Castro steps down as Díaz-Canel assumes Cuban presidency

Castro steps down as Díaz-Canel assumes Cuban presidency
Cuba's First Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel and his wife Lis Cuesta stand in line before Diaz-Canel casts his vote during an election of candidates for the national and provincial assemblies.

Cuba's Communist Party admits errors, slowdown in reforms

Cuba's Communist Party admits errors, slowdown in reforms
US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro gesture after a news conference as part of President Obama's three-day visit to Cuba. In Havana March 21, 2016.

Freedom of the press 'rattled' Raúl Castro, causing him to answer a question with a lie

Freedom of the press 'rattled' Raúl Castro, causing him to answer a question with a lie
Air Force One carrying US President Barack Obama and his family flies over a neighborhood of Havana as it approaches the runway to land at Havana's international airport, March 20, 2016.

Forget your stereotypes. Here's a young Cuban American who opposes rapprochement, and an older one who supports it.

Politics among Cuban Americans are not as simple as data makes them seem. These two voices from Miami represent the opinions that polls can't reflect.

Forget your stereotypes. Here's a young Cuban American who opposes rapprochement, and an older one who supports it.
The Bella ll Health and Beauty Institute, a beauty salon in Havana

Cuban cooperatives present a new economic model

Over the last few years, the Cuban government has been experimenting with turning state enterprises into cooperatives and letting the workers own and run them. They're seen by some as a way of opening the country up to capitalism and privatization while maintaining some of the revolution’s collectivist ideals. And so far, Cubans seem to like them.

Cuban cooperatives present a new economic model
Vintage Postcard of Cruise from Miami to Havana

No cigar just yet: Many obstacles remain before complete normalization with Cuba

President Barack Obama’s December 17 announcement that he would begin normalizing relations with Cuba sparked hot debate on both sides of the Florida Strait. It also began a political process that won’t end until a highly fractious Congress can agree on new legislation, not likely to happen any time soon. Among other obstacles is the long-questioned human rights record of the Castro regime. Independent watchdog organization Freedom House says Cuba falls just shy of its “worst of the worst list” for denying its citizens political rights and civil liberties.

No cigar just yet: Many obstacles remain before complete normalization with Cuba
Alan Gross at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland

Alan Gross goes from a Cuban jail to a guest of honor at the State of the Union

He's a symbol of a political victory for President Barack Obama: Former Cuban prisoner Alan Gross will be a guest of honor at the State of the Union address Tuesday. Gross was released after the US and Cuba negotiated a deal to normalize relations.

Alan Gross goes from a Cuban jail to a guest of honor at the State of the Union
The annual procession of Our Lady of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba in Havana.

How the Pope lent Washington and Havana a helping hand

The US and Cuba supposedly negotiated in secret for more than a year to bring about a thaw between the two countries. They weren't the only ones, though: Pope Francis also helped the two longtime enemies conduct their back-channel diplomacy.

How the Pope lent Washington and Havana a helping hand
FBI wanted poster from 1983

The US-Cuba thaw is bad news for American fugitives

Cuba is home to several dozen American fugitives, including bank robbers, mass murderers and cop-killers. Life may change for them when relations between the US and Cuba grow warmer.

The US-Cuba thaw is bad news for American fugitives
President Obama announces the thaw in US-Cuban relations

In Havana, Cubans are already welcoming a new era with the US

"There's a palpable excitement here," says author Peter Kornbluh from Havana, as word broke of US-Cuban talks to normalize relations. "This is a new dawn ... and I think everybody here has realized that almost immediately."

In Havana, Cubans are already welcoming a new era with the US
The US Coast Guard intercepted a vessel carrying Cuban migrants en route to Florida this summer. New York Times reporter Frances Robles recently reported a story that highlights a slow but steady increase in the number of Cubans trying to enter the US.

Long, dangerous journeys aren't stopping Cubans from trying to come to the US

Cubans may not be jamming into fleets of makeshift rafts like they did in 1994, but the number of people trying to leave the island for the US is still surprisingly high. That's even despite routes that may take them as far south as Ecuador in their quest to enter the US.

Long, dangerous journeys aren't stopping Cubans from trying to come to the US

Julia Cooke shows us a Cuba where a younger generation navigates through stagnation and change

Julia Cooke traveled to Cuba over five years, and her new book dives into the world of young Cubans.

Julia Cooke shows us a Cuba where a younger generation navigates through stagnation and change
Nelson Mandela meets one of his favorite boxers, Baby Jake Matlala, in heaven

Even Mandela meets his heroes in heaven

One of Nelson Mandela's own heroes, boxer Baby Jake Matlala, died just two days after the former South African president. While those two may be meeting in heaven, down here, people are analyzing Mandela's memorial service — from Obama's handshake with Castro to a man who pretended to interpret the ceremony for the deaf. And China tries a positive spin on its pollution, all in today's Global Scan.

Even Mandela meets his heroes in heaven