Castro not to make public appearance anymore: Chavez

October 11th, 2009 Chavez: Nobel peace committee overlooked US warsCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says President Barack Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. Chavez believes Obama didn't make any notable accomplishments to merit winning the prize, saying that rather than promote peace the U.S.

September 20th, 2009 Carter concerned Chavez has become authoritarianBOGOTA, Colombia — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says he is disappointed by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and concerned he is increasingly shifting toward an authoritarian regime.

September 4th, 2009 Chavez welcomes US decision to cut aid to HondurasCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is welcoming the United States' decision to cut millions of dollars in aid to Honduras. Chavez says "it's about time" Washington took action against the government that has been in charge in Honduras since a June 28 coup ousted his ally, President Manuel Zelaya.

August 29th, 2009 Castro chats live for first time since 2007MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Fidel Castro chatted live via speakerphone with graduating medical students in Nicaragua in the latest of a series of media events showing off the former Cuban leader looking more robust. The 83-year-old Castro, who hasn't been seen in public since falling ill three years ago, called Thursday during the graduation ceremony to congratulate the 44 doctors who had studied in Cuba.

August 23rd, 2009 Healthy looking Fidel Castro meets Ecuador leaderHAVANA — Cuba's Communist Youth newspaper is showing a photo of a healthier-looking Fidel Castro talking with the visiting Ecuadorean president. Sunday's photo in Juventud Rebelde shows the 83-year-old Castro wearing a white shirt instead of the sports apparel he has worn in recent photos.

August 15th, 2009 Chavez back from Cuba for Fidel's 83rd birthdayCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Friday he found his close ally and mentor Fidel Castro in good health during a visit to Cuba to celebrate the Cuban leader's 83rd birthday. Chavez says they shared a cake.

August 8th, 2009 The portable Castro: Cuba issues Fidel dictionaryHAVANA —Cubans accustomed to hourslong speeches, thousand-word essays and lengthy interviews can now get Fidel Castro at a glance, thanks to a new dictionary of El Comandante's teachings. "Unemployment" and "History" are among the myriad words for which the 339-page paperback provides definitions — based on snippets of speeches, columns and statements dispensed by Castro during the 49 years he governed the communist-run island.

April 29th, 2009 Castro: Onus not on Cuba for US better relationsHAVANA — Raul Castro has dismissed Barack Obama's policy changes toward Cuba as "minimal" and says it is up to the U.S. — not Cuba — to do more to improve relations.

April 18th, 2009 CUMANA - Cuban President Raul Castro has said he is ready to discuss any issue including democracy and human rights with the US as long as talks are held based on mutual respect. 'We have communicated to the US government in private and in public that we can discuss everything,' Castro said at a meeting of Latin American leaders here Thursday.

February 22nd, 2009 HAVANA - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has arrived on a surprise visit to Cuba and met his counterpart Raul Castro, according to an official communique Saturday. This is Chavez's fifth visit to the island nation in less than a year and first since he won a referendum, allowing him to seek indefinite re-election and forge ahead with his socialist-inspired policies, EFE reported.

February 6th, 2009 HAVANA - Cuban leader Fidel Castro has said that US President Barack Obama's politics was 'losing its virginity', Spanish news agency EFE reported Saturday. In the third article in two weeks criticising the actions of the new US president, Cuba's ex-president commented on White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's statement that 'what interests president Obama is the Cuban-American community'.

January 25th, 2009 CARACAS - President Hugo Chavez has said that Venezuela and the US can revive their broken friendship if President Barack Obama 'opens his fist', EFE reported. In his column 'The Lines of Chavez' published Sunday, Chavez noted that Obama in his inaugural address expressed his willingness to 'extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist', a statement directed at world leaders.

January 22nd, 2009 HAVANA - Former Cuban president Fidel Castro said in an online essay that he doubts he would have the 'privilege' to observe world events in four years and said he wanted to reduce his influence in Cuba's government. The revolutionary leader posted the essay Thursday on a government website, writing about the inauguration of President Barack Obama in the United States, Cuba's long-time ideological rival.

January 21st, 2009 HAVANA - Ailing Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro received visiting Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner here, Cuban news agency Prensa Latina reported Thursday. The 82-year-old leader, who has permanently relinquished rule to his brother, Raul Castro, has been rarely seen in public since suffering from a serious health crisis in 2006.

January 6th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called the Israeli Army 'cowardly' for its offensive in the Gaza Strip, and said the people of Israel should protest the operation that has killed more than 580 people. 'How cowardly is the Israeli Army.