Cuba

Raul Castro, who has labored in the shadow of his brother Fidel since the days of their revolution, became Cuba’s new president on Feb. 24, ending his brother?s 49-year rule and washing away hopes on this Communist island that a younger generation might take power. In his first words as president, Raul Castro made it clear that he would make no radical changes and promised to consult his brother on every important decision. He Castro also said the government needed to change to survive in the new era. And proposed putting more power in the hands of provincial governments and streamlining the bureaucracy in Havana. ?Today a more compact structure is required,? he said. (NY Times)