Havana - Fidel Castro is "in very good health," a Brazilian activist said Wednesday, a day after meeting the former Cuban leader after weeks of feverish speculation concerning the 88-year-old's medical condition.

Havana - In the midst of rejoicing at the re-opening of ties between the US and Cuba, the US has not demanded minimum standards of human rights from the Communist state, and the case of five men languishing in jail is forgotten my the mainstream media.

Havana - Cuban leader Fidel Castro has broken his silence on a historic rapprochement between Washington and Havana, implicitly endorsing it even as he expressed an abiding distrust of his old foe.

Havana - Fidel Castro does not "trust the US, nor have I spoken with them," the revolutionary icon, 88, said in a letter attributed to him and read out on state television Monday.

Havana - The highest-ranking US official to visit Cuba in three decades met with leading dissidents, but one prominent opposition figure stayed out amid differences over Washington's rapprochement with Havana.

Havana - Cuban officials and the highest-level US delegation to visit Havana in 35 years held landmark talks Thursday on reopening embassies, but both sides warned that normalizing ties would take time.

Havana - U.S. and Cuban officials welcomed the first day of their historic diplomatic talks in Havana on Wednesday as "productive" and "constructive" despite lingering differences over migration issues.

Havana - The United States and Cuba opened two days of historic talks in Havana on Wednesday to end decades of Cold War-era animosity and reestablish diplomatic relations.

The Obama Administration is silent on Voice of America (VOA) and Radio and TV Marti reporters not being allowed by the Castro regime to travel to Cuba to report from the island. They are not able to send reporters to Cuba to cover official U.S. visits.

Havana - The communist FARC guerrillas demanded on Tuesday that Colombia's government do more to respect a unilateral ceasefire begun last month, as the sides work to end a half-century of civil war.

Havana - US lawmakers visiting Havana voiced hope that historic talks between US and Cuban officials this week will mark a "new era" of relations, ending decades of Cold War-era hostility.

Havana - A couple who were among 53 political prisoners Cuba freed under a US detente deal thanked Washington on Tuesday but voiced doubts of seeing immediate changes on the communist island.

Havana - Fidel Castro has written a letter to Argentine football great Diego Maradona that appears to show the 88-year-old Cuban leader is alive despite a year-long absence from public view, a television network reported Monday.

Havana - Cuba, where Internet access is largely limited to government employees and pricey pay-by-hour public access, plans to start offering wireless service for the first time this month, officials said Saturday.

Havana - Cuba on Friday denied reports it had summoned foreign media to a press conference amid reports that 88-year-old Fidel Castro's health is deteriorating.

Havana - At least 35 Cuban political prisoners have been released in the last two days, dissident leaders said, as Cuba moves towards normalizing ties with the United States.

Havana - A pair of 18-year-old twin brothers are among the political prisoners released by Cuba as it moves towards normalizing ties with the United States, an activist said.

Havana - You'd think the time is ripe for some pomp and drama from Fidel Castro, as Cuba and the US plan a resumption of ties ending decades of enmity.

Havana - Performance artist Tania Bruguera, detained for trying to stage an open mic event in Cuba, resigned Monday from the artists' union and returned an award given to her by the communist government.

Havana - Cuban performance artist Tania Bruguera, detained for trying to stage an open-mic show in Havana, says a government crackdown may actually have helped her make her point.