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Fidel Castro

The latest stories on Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary, politician and former President of Cuba, including Cuba news and updates.

Born

13 Aug 1926

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

Cuba

A new cast of Castros is emerging in Cuba, where the name holds sway

Younger Castros emerge as key figures on the communist-run island - including a bar-owning influencer.

7 Apr 2026 - 1:44PM

Cuba

Fidel Castro’s grandson backs capitalism and Trump deal, slams Cuba leader

1 Apr 2026 - 2:34PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Cuba rejects ‘shameless’ US request for diesel amid Trump oil blockade

22 Mar 2026 - 7:39AMvideocam

Horoscopes

What’s your luck like in February 2026, the Metal Tiger month?

A good start to the Lunar New Year for the Rat, Ox, Rabbit, Rooster, Dog and Pig – but challenges are in store for the Dragon, Horse, Goat and Monkey.

10 Feb 2026 - 2:00PM

Discover what your luck has in store in February 2026, the Metal Tiger month kicking off the Fire Horse year. Illustration: SCMP Graphics

Americas and the Caribbean

US pledges food aid for Cuba while putting squeeze on fuel supply

Havana signals a cautious readiness for talks as the island’s leader accuses the US of imposing an ‘energy blockade’.

6 Feb 2026 - 3:35PM

US-Venezuela conflict

Trump team praises US media for keeping its Venezuela raid plan secret

Marco Rubio says a ‘number of media outlets’ held leaks before the US intervention that snatched President Nicolas Maduro.

6 Jan 2026 - 6:16PMvideocam

United States

Explainer | US interventions in Latin America: a history of coups and conflicts

From the Bay of Pigs to Operation Condor to Venezuela in 2026: A look at the legacy of CIA-backed coups and US military action in Latin America.

3 Jan 2026 - 11:16PM

Members of Cuban Assault Brigade 2506 after their capture at the Bay of Pigs, Cuba, April 1961. Photo: AFP

United States

Opinion | Don’t blame China for America’s authoritarian turn

America’s authoritarian turn didn’t start with Donald Trump and has been decades in the making.

19 Nov 2025 - 9:30AM

Marco Rubio

Who are US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s parents, Mario and Oriales Rubio?

Marco Rubio has been criticised for saying his parents fled Cuba when Fidel Castro came to power, even though they were granted permanent residency in the US several years before.

10 Apr 2025 - 7:00PM

Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration

Marco Rubio wins unanimous US Senate approval to be secretary of state

Marco Rubio, who succeeds Antony Blinken, is known for his hawkish stance toward Latin American authoritarian states and China.

21 Jan 2025 - 12:09PMvideocam

Marco Rubio, who will be Donald Trump’s secretary of state. Photo: Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

After hurricanes, 2 earthquakes jolt crisis-hit Cuba

Back-to-back earthquakes follow two hurricanes and two major blackouts in the last three weeks.

11 Nov 2024 - 3:05PM

Cuban children play on a road after Hurricane Rafael last week. Photo: AP

France

Who is Jean-Luc Melenchon? French leftist leader defiant after victory

It did not take Jean-Luc Melenchon long to seize the moment after initial poll indications of the French legislative vote showed the leftist New Popular Front was headed to a shock victory.

8 Jul 2024 - 8:49AM

US-China relations

Reports of Chinese spy base in Cuba met with shrugs in Latin America

Latin American nations are strengthening relations with China amid a belief that Washington’s focus turned to the Middle East and now the Indo-Pacific.

1 Jul 2023 - 1:46AM

Obituaries

Bolivian general who captured communist Che Guevara dies 84

Gary Prado Salmon was in charge of a patrol in southwestern Bolivia on October 8, 1967, that captured the Argentine revolutionary and Bolivia’s Congress declared him a national hero.

8 May 2023 - 12:58AM

Bolivian former General Gary Prado Salmon in 2007. Salmon, who captured Argentine guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara in 1967, died on Sunday at the age of 84. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

Cuban singer-songwriter Pablo Milanes dies at 79

The ‘Yolanda’ singer toured the world as a cultural ambassador for Fidel Castro’s revolution and helped found Cuba’s ‘nueva trova’ movement.

22 Nov 2022 - 2:39PMvideocam

Pablo Milanes sings at an event in Havana in 2014. Photo: AFP

Mexico

Mexico’s president: ‘No country should be excluded from Americas Summit’

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in his remarks in Cuba’s capital Havana, also said he would keep pushing for the US to lift its decades-old embargo against Cuba.

9 May 2022 - 3:19AMvideocam

United States

Joe Biden hits Cuba with more sanctions over its crackdown on protesters

The sanctions target government ministers who are deemed responsible for the repression of protesters demanding more freedom, food and health care.

23 Jul 2021 - 8:16PM

US-Cuba relations

Raul Castro attends mass government rally in Havana, Cuba after protests

Thousands attended the rally in Havana on Saturday to denounce the US trade embargo and reaffirm their support for Cuba’s revolution.

18 Jul 2021 - 7:18PMvideocam

Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel, left, and Raul Castro, centre, in Havana, Cuba on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

United States

End of the Castro era as Cuba welcomes first civilian leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel

Diaz-Canel said the outgoing leader, 89-year-old Raul Castro, would still be consulted on ‘strategic decisions’.

20 Apr 2021 - 7:45AMvideocam

US-Cuba relations

Raul Castro steps down, ending long era in Cuba

The 89-year-old leader confirmed he was resigning as head of the country’s Communist Party, but did not say who he would endorse as his successor.

17 Apr 2021 - 5:53AMvideocam

Law

Cuba talks on freedom of expression break down after rare protest

The communist government called off the talks with a group of artists and intellectuals, accusing them of receiving support from the US.

5 Dec 2020 - 4:43PMvideocam

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, right, attends a concert in Havana organized by youth organizations to condemn the media campaign in support of the San Isidro movement, on November 29. Photo: EPA-EFE

United States

US imposes sanctions on Cuban defence minister

Washington blacklisted Leopoldo Cintra Frias and his children, Deborah Cintra Gonzalez and Leopoldo Cintra Gonzalez.

3 Jan 2020 - 7:28AM

Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos (R) and Cuban Army Corps general Leopoldo Cintra Frias (L) take part in a ceremony held at Colon cemetery in Havana. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Cuba appoints its first PM in 40 years, a position last held by Castro

The new prime minister Manuel Marrero has been tourism minister for 16 years, presiding over a rise in visitors and a hotel construction boom.

22 Dec 2019 - 9:15PM

History

Havana at 500: Cubans reflect on life in the capital city

Ordinary residents talk about the good and bad sides to life in a city that’s a byword for romance yet has struggled under a US embargo for decades.

16 Nov 2019 - 6:00PM

Venezuela

Cuba slams US at United Nations for banning Castro family

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez tells the UN General Assembly that the action is ‘aimed at offending Cuba’s dignity’.

29 Sep 2019 - 2:23AM

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla speaks at the 74th United Nations General Assembly. Photo: AFP

Chinese overseas

Residents dream of return to glory for Havana’s ‘Chinatown without Chinese’

With city celebrating its 500th anniversary, Cuban authorities have committed to restoring many areas, including Chinatown.

14 May 2019 - 9:01AM

An old American car passes Havana’s Chinese neighbourhood in April. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

Castro era ends in Cuba as Miguel Diaz-Canel takes leadership

New leader is a Communist Party loyalist, and the transition is not expected to herald sweeping changes to the island’s state-run economy and one-party system

20 Apr 2018 - 5:44AM

Americas and the Caribbean

For first time since 1959, Cuba set to have a leader not named Castro

The country proposed Miguel Diaz-Canel as sole candidate to replace Castro as president; the proposal is subject to a vote later in the day and the result will be formally announced on Thursday

19 Apr 2018 - 1:26AM

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Fidel Castro

A new cast of Castros is emerging in Cuba, where the name holds sway

Younger Castros emerge as key figures on the communist-run island - including a bar-owning influencer.

Fidel Castro’s grandson backs capitalism and Trump deal, slams Cuba leader

Cuba rejects ‘shameless’ US request for diesel amid Trump oil blockade

What’s your luck like in February 2026, the Metal Tiger month?

A good start to the Lunar New Year for the Rat, Ox, Rabbit, Rooster, Dog and Pig – but challenges are in store for the Dragon, Horse, Goat and Monkey.

US pledges food aid for Cuba while putting squeeze on fuel supply

Havana signals a cautious readiness for talks as the island’s leader accuses the US of imposing an ‘energy blockade’.

Trump team praises US media for keeping its Venezuela raid plan secret

Marco Rubio says a ‘number of media outlets’ held leaks before the US intervention that snatched President Nicolas Maduro.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | US interventions in Latin America: a history of coups and conflicts

From the Bay of Pigs to Operation Condor to Venezuela in 2026: A look at the legacy of CIA-backed coups and US military action in Latin America.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Don’t blame China for America’s authoritarian turn

America’s authoritarian turn didn’t start with Donald Trump and has been decades in the making.

Who are US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s parents, Mario and Oriales Rubio?

Marco Rubio has been criticised for saying his parents fled Cuba when Fidel Castro came to power, even though they were granted permanent residency in the US several years before.

Marco Rubio wins unanimous US Senate approval to be secretary of state

Marco Rubio, who succeeds Antony Blinken, is known for his hawkish stance toward Latin American authoritarian states and China.

After hurricanes, 2 earthquakes jolt crisis-hit Cuba

Back-to-back earthquakes follow two hurricanes and two major blackouts in the last three weeks.

Who is Jean-Luc Melenchon? French leftist leader defiant after victory

It did not take Jean-Luc Melenchon long to seize the moment after initial poll indications of the French legislative vote showed the leftist New Popular Front was headed to a shock victory.

Reports of Chinese spy base in Cuba met with shrugs in Latin America

Latin American nations are strengthening relations with China amid a belief that Washington’s focus turned to the Middle East and now the Indo-Pacific.

Bolivian general who captured communist Che Guevara dies 84

Gary Prado Salmon was in charge of a patrol in southwestern Bolivia on October 8, 1967, that captured the Argentine revolutionary and Bolivia’s Congress declared him a national hero.

Cuban singer-songwriter Pablo Milanes dies at 79

The ‘Yolanda’ singer toured the world as a cultural ambassador for Fidel Castro’s revolution and helped found Cuba’s ‘nueva trova’ movement.

Mexico’s president: ‘No country should be excluded from Americas Summit’

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in his remarks in Cuba’s capital Havana, also said he would keep pushing for the US to lift its decades-old embargo against Cuba.

Joe Biden hits Cuba with more sanctions over its crackdown on protesters

The sanctions target government ministers who are deemed responsible for the repression of protesters demanding more freedom, food and health care.

Raul Castro attends mass government rally in Havana, Cuba after protests

Thousands attended the rally in Havana on Saturday to denounce the US trade embargo and reaffirm their support for Cuba’s revolution.

End of the Castro era as Cuba welcomes first civilian leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel

Diaz-Canel said the outgoing leader, 89-year-old Raul Castro, would still be consulted on ‘strategic decisions’.

Raul Castro steps down, ending long era in Cuba

The 89-year-old leader confirmed he was resigning as head of the country’s Communist Party, but did not say who he would endorse as his successor.

Cuba talks on freedom of expression break down after rare protest

The communist government called off the talks with a group of artists and intellectuals, accusing them of receiving support from the US.

US imposes sanctions on Cuban defence minister

Washington blacklisted Leopoldo Cintra Frias and his children, Deborah Cintra Gonzalez and Leopoldo Cintra Gonzalez.

Cuba appoints its first PM in 40 years, a position last held by Castro

The new prime minister Manuel Marrero has been tourism minister for 16 years, presiding over a rise in visitors and a hotel construction boom.

Havana at 500: Cubans reflect on life in the capital city

Ordinary residents talk about the good and bad sides to life in a city that’s a byword for romance yet has struggled under a US embargo for decades.

Cuba slams US at United Nations for banning Castro family

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez tells the UN General Assembly that the action is ‘aimed at offending Cuba’s dignity’.

Residents dream of return to glory for Havana’s ‘Chinatown without Chinese’

With city celebrating its 500th anniversary, Cuban authorities have committed to restoring many areas, including Chinatown.

Castro era ends in Cuba as Miguel Diaz-Canel takes leadership

New leader is a Communist Party loyalist, and the transition is not expected to herald sweeping changes to the island’s state-run economy and one-party system

For first time since 1959, Cuba set to have a leader not named Castro

The country proposed Miguel Diaz-Canel as sole candidate to replace Castro as president; the proposal is subject to a vote later in the day and the result will be formally announced on Thursday

Explainer | US interventions in Latin America: a history of coups and conflicts

Opinion | Don’t blame China for America’s authoritarian turn