Obama ends visa-free path for Cubans who make it to US soil

President Barack Obama announced Thursday he is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident.

The repeal of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy is effective immediately. The decision follows months of negotiations focused in part on getting Cuba to agree to take back people who had arrived in the U.S.

Secrecy shrouded details of Fidel Castro's health

Cuban leader Fidel Castro would always laugh off speculation about his health.

With an athletic build, and physical stamina that lasted deep into his 70s, it seemed he would continue to rule for many more years.

Castro's own physician, a specialist in longevity, even suggested in 2004 that the leader could live to 140. "I am not exaggerating," Dr. Eugenio Selman said.

Fidel Castro clung to socialism, mentored new leftists

Fidel Castro's revolution was slowly dying — or so it seemed.

Communism had collapsed in Europe, and Cuba's Soviet lifeline was severed. Food was in short supply. Power outages silenced TV sets normally tuned to a nighttime soap opera. Factories rusted in the tropical heat.

The title of an American book seemed just right: "Castro's Final Hour." That was in 1992.

Cuba's Fidel Castro, who defied US for 50 years, dies at 90

Former President Fidel Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule, has died at age 90.

With a shaking voice, President Raul Castro said on state television that his older brother died at 10:29 p.m. Friday. He ended the announcement by shouting the revolutionary slogan: "Toward victory, always!"

Quotes from Fidel Castro across more than 5 decades

Quotes from Fidel Castro:
___

"Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me." — Oct. 16, 1953, at his trial for rebel attack that launched Cuban Revolution.
___

"I am not interested in power nor do I envisage assuming it at any time. All that I will do is to make sure that the sacrifices of so many compatriots should not be in vain, whatever the future may hold in store for me." — Jan. 1, 1959, upon triumph of the revolution.

A look at the life of Fidel Castro

NAME: Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz.

TITLES: Former president of Council of State and Council of Ministers, first secretary of Communist Party of Cuba, commander in chief of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. Before resigning Feb. 19, 2008, he was the world's longest-ruling head of government, and leader of one of world's last five communist states. Had been off public stage for year and half after provisionally ceding power to his brother Raul following emergency intestinal surgery.

Key dates in Fidel Castro's government in Cuba

Key events in Cuba under Fidel Castro:

Jan. 1, 1959 — Castro's rebels take power as dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba.

June 1960 — Cuba nationalizes U.S.-owned oil refineries after they refuse to process Soviet oil. Nearly all other U.S. businesses expropriated by October.

October 1960 — Washington bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine.

Fidel Castro has died at age 90, brother says

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has died at age 90, his brother, President Raul Castro announced late Friday on state television.