Aug 7th, 2008 · Nearly 50 years after revolution brought Fidel Castro to power, Cuba's infrastructure is in shambles. In a July 26 address, his brother and successor, Raul Castro, offered no new plans to liberalize the economy and warned people of even harder times ahead.
May 21st, 2008 · President Bush marks what the White House is calling "Cuba Solidarity Day," a commemoration of Cuba gaining its independence on May 20, 1902. Since taking over from his brother Fidel three months ago, Raul Castro has introduced some modest reforms — allowing Cubans to have cell phones, for example. Bush said Wednesday he will now allow Americans to send cell phones to Cubans, and he challenged the Cuban government not to stand in the way.
May 9th, 2008 · The big question in Cuba is how far the new president, Raul Castro, is willing to go in changing the country. Many elements of his brother Fidel's rigid system of state socialism are still in place, such as food rationing.
May 8th, 2008 · Last year, Time magazine named Raul Castro one of the 100 most influential people in the world. This year, he is off the list, but another Cuban has taken his place. Her name is Yoani Sanchez, creator of a critical blog titled "Generation Y" that has received over a million hits.
May 3rd, 2008 · Raul Castro took over the Cuban presidency from his brother Fidel on Feb. 24. Among the changes that have resulted: Raul has dropped bans on cell phones; he's opening luxury hotels to Cubans; he's opening up fallow farmland to private farmers; and he's authorized the sale of personal computers to average Cubans.
May 1st, 2008 · In his brief tenure as Cuban president, Raul Castro has made consumer goods more available and begun a major reform of the island's agricultural system. An increase in state wages is anticipated, too.
Apr 16th, 2008 · Raul Castro has enacted a number of changes since he took over the Cuban presidency for his brother in February. Unused land is now open to private farmers, and consumer goods are more widely available. Now, citizens can purchase cell phones and people are lined up to buy them despite extremely high prices.
Apr 5th, 2008 · Since taking over the Cuban presidency earlier this year, Raul Castro has quietly put a series of reforms into effect designed to make Cubans, well, happier. His government has lifted a ban on owning DVD players, cell phones, microwaves and electric bicycles. NPR's Susan Stamberg speaks with Michal Voss, BBC correspondent in Havana.