Raul Castro Holds First Meeting with US Leaders

(NEWSER) - Cuba appears to be serious about trying to normalize relations with the US. A day after Raul Castro met with a delegation of US congressional representatives, the big man himself did the same, Reuters reports. Fidel, replaced by his brother 14 months ago as head of state when his health began to fail, met today with three members of the Congressional Black Caucus at his home for two hours. More»

Anti-Obama anger troubles CBC ahead of triumphant annual conferences

(NEWSER) - The Congressional Black Caucus is enjoying unprecedented power, with more of their members in leadership roles than ever before, not to speak of one of their number in the White House, but many are disturbed by changes in the political atmosphere, Politico reports. As the 42-member group holds its annual legislative conference this week, they say the increasingly hostile tone of President Obama's critics smacks of racism. Others are angered by the GOP's attacks on ACORN. More»

Cooler reception in country with only 10% Catholics

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI followed in the footsteps of his predecessor's groundbreaking trip to Cuba today, hoping to renew the faith in Latin America's least Catholic country. Cuban President Raul Castro came to the airport in the eastern city of Santiago to welcome Benedict, just days after the pope declared the island's Marxist system outdated. Unlike in Mexico, where multitudes showed up to greet the pope at the airport, normal citizens were kept away from Cuba's tightly controlled arrival ceremony. More»

Angela, 88, is first Castro sibling to die

(NEWSER) - Angela Castro, the eldest of the seven Castro siblings that include Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul, has died in Havana at the age of 88, according to her sister Juanita, who lives in exile in Miami. Angela, who lived her life out of the public eye, is the first of the Castro siblings to die, notes AP . Fidel is 85, and Raul, who became president in 2006, is 80. "I'm sure that her passing, being the first born and the first to die, will resonate deeply with her brothers, for whom the bell tolls," said Ann Louise Bardach, the author of several books on Cuba and the Castro family. More»

But American Alan Gross not among those to be released

(NEWSER) - With a nod to Pope Benedict's upcoming visit to the country, President Raul Castro yesterday announced that Cuba would pardon 2,900 prisoners, a group that includes some convicted of political crimes, many inmates over the age of 60, and a number of women. He referred to the act as "a demonstration of the generosity and strength of the revolution," and noted that 86 foreign prisoners hailing from 25 countries would also be freed. That group does not include Alan Gross , however. The AP reports that the American government subcontractor's supporters had been pleading with Cuban authorities to release the 62-year-old Maryland native. More»