InfoAnda - Raul Castro turning 80, with future on his mind |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Andy Garcia takes on Saakashvili role | Entertainment | | 20 October 2009
Bad text messaging, e-mailing manners can be costly | 12 June 2009
Death toll from Brazil mudslides rises to 76 | | 3 January 2010

Thousands march in Spain to condemn killing blamed on ETA | 21 June 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Raul Castro turning 80, with future on his mind |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Full Focus Editor's choice A selection of our top photos from the past 24 hours. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Google reveals Gmail hacking, says likely from China 3:31am EDT Casey Anthony told police toddler was kidnapped 01 Jun 2011 Cole not the only sour note for Cowell's 'X Factor' 01 Jun 2011 Special report: If Monterrey falls, Mexico falls | 01 Jun 2011 Basketball world pays homage after "Shaq" quits 01 Jun 2011 Discussed 64 Judge voids controversial Wisconsin union law 62 150 economists back U.S. Republicans in debt fight 53 Speculation grows over Sarah Palin’s 2012 plans Watched Tornado hits Springfield, Massachusetts 2:43am EDT Massive Australian waterspout caught on film Mon, May 30 2011 Scientists revive ancient spider in stunning 3D detail Tue, May 24 2011 Raul Castro turning 80, with future on his mind Tweet Share this Email Print Related News G8 pledges $20 billion to foster Arab Spring Fri, May 27 2011 U.S. sanctions Venezuelan oil giant for Iran trade Wed, May 25 2011 New entrepreneurs on the rise in socialist Cuba Tue, May 24 2011 Cuba further loosens regulation of private sector Mon, May 16 2011 Obama wants "real change" in Cuba before normal ties Fri, May 13 2011 Analysis & Opinion President Kennedy’s amateur hour America needs a 21st century immigration policy Related Topics World » Cuba » Cuba's President Raul Castro arranges his papers during the closing ceremony of the sixth Cuban Communist Party (PCC) congress in Havana April 19, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Desmond Boylan By Jeff Franks HAVANA | Wed Jun 1, 2011 6:30pm EDT HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Raul Castro turns 80 on Friday, the head of an aging government trying to preserve one of the world's last communist systems. At a time when most men have settled into retirement, Castro is directing a significant reform of Cuba's struggling economy while simultaneously casting about for younger leaders to replace him and his octogenarian colleagues. He has said many times he wants to ensure that Cuban communism goes on after the current leadership, in power since Cuba's 1959 revolution, is gone. Only time will tell if he achieves his goal. But by his own admission there are no overnight cures for Cuba's economic malaise, meaning time is not particularly on his side. "Days and years of intensive work and great responsibilities lie before us to preserve ... the independent and socialist future of our homeland," he said at an April congress of the ruling Communist Party. Raul Castro will be 80, his No. 2, Jose Machado Ventura, is 80 and his No. 3, Ramiro Valdes, is 79. Older brother Fidel Castro, who led the Caribbean island for 49 years, is 84 and officially out of the picture, but still has his brother's ear and behind-the-scenes political clout. They are old men fighting for what began as the dreams of young men. Fidel Castro was 32 and Raul Castro just 27 when they took over Cuba and set about making it a communist state at the doorstep of the United States. But after half a century of economic struggle -- some of it the product of a longstanding U.S. trade embargo and some of inefficiencies in the socialist system -- Raul Castro is making changes. STEALING FROM CAPITALISM Stealing lightly from capitalism, he has put in place policies encouraging more private initiative and providing more financial incentive for productive workers, with the aim of boosting the debt-ridden, Soviet-style economy. He wants to give state companies more autonomy, has put more agriculture in private hands and plans to slash a million jobs from government payrolls. But change only goes so far. Guidelines approved at the party congress reaffirmed central planning for the economy and said accumulation of property would not be allowed. Raul Castro admitted at the congress that the government has not groomed younger replacements for its leaders, which he said was "really embarrassing." He pledged to address the succession issue and said a party conference next January would consider limiting future leaders to a maximum of two five-year terms. The result of all this is that Fidel Castro used to be considered the indispensable heart of Cuban communism, but now Raul Castro has that role. "Interruption in his rule would send a ripple through the leadership circle and the chain of command since they are all of his choosing and of his generation, with few truly prepared and well positioned young leaders below him," said Christopher Sabatini, senior policy director at the Americas Society in New York. That would open up "the risk that the regime may in fact be very brittle," he said. Many thought a similar scenario would happen when Fidel Castro left power due to illness in 2006, but with his brother waiting in the wings, a smooth transition occurred. Raul Castro's challenge is to find younger blood who can lead Cubans and is dedicated to socialism. There has been speculation power will stay in the family, with one of his children a likely successor or possibly son-in-law Luis Alberto RodrÌguez Lopez Callejas, who heads GAESA, a military company with extensive business holdings. Ideological fealty will be the key, Sabatini believes. "Loyalty will be the most important trait they will be looking for," he said. "They need to look for someone loyal and younger, though when you're 80 it's all relative." (Editing by Cynthia Osterman) World Cuba Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language, all capital letters or appear to be spam, and we review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Thursday, 2 June 2011
Blast hits hotel in Libya's rebel-held Benghazi |
Honduras readmitted to OAS after coup |
Peru faces divisive election cliffhanger |
Berlusconi backs minister amid new signs of rift |
Belgian abuse victims to file suit against Vatican |
Google reveals Gmail hacking, likely from China |
Twitter CEO says 80 percent of advertisers renew |
Nokia on the ropes as analysts slash targets |
Netflix prepared to pay more for movie, TV deals |
Expedia, Groupon create travel deal website |
LightSquared near $2 billion a year Sprint deal: sources |
UK's Royal Academy gives Ai Weiwei honorary title |
Japan PM survives with offer to quit once crisis overcome |
Blast hits hotel in Libya's rebel-held Benghazi |
25 Pakistani forces killed after cross-border raid |
Libya oil chief defects, NATO extends campaign |
Bahrain lifts emergency law, military trials press on |
Raul Castro turning 80, with future on his mind |
India yoga guru anti-graft fast gains momentum |
Google reveals Gmail hacking, says likely from China |
Alibaba's Ma offers Yahoo some advice: break up |
All aboard the privacy-breach gravy train |
Cellphone study raises profile on safety lawsuits |
Microsoft shows off new Windows 8 operating system |
Sharp smartphone shift to help boost profit: Nikkei |
Google has no agreement yet to digitize books |
Samsung files LCD patent suit against AU Optronics |
U.S. groups attack Rihanna's Man Down murder video |
Cheryl Cole not the only sour note for Cowell's X Factor |
Jane's Addiction looking to future with new album |
Yemen fighting intensifies, U.S. envoy in talks |
Syrian forces kill 13 in besieged town: activists |
Mexican teens turn to kidnapping in drug war city |
Venezuela housing shortage a headache for Chavez |
Portugal votes under bailout cloud, centre-right ahead |
Nigeria police break suspected baby-trafficking ring |
Europe E.coli is toxic new strain, trade row grows |
Mladic arrest revives Dutch angst over Srebrenica |
Facebook, Zuckerberg say ownership contract forged |
Cybersecurity becoming U.S. diplomatic priority |
Internet addresses: Colombia's hottest export? |
IBM sees strong growth in Africa for IT sector |
Globalive urges Canada to open up telecom sector |
New X-Men set to power back mutant film franchise |
Story of baseball's Jackie Robinson heads to big screen |
Beijing artists detained after homage to Ai Weiwei |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01