
Ever since
he assumed power from his brother Fidel last year, Raul Castro, has rolled out some symbolic economic efforts that are changing the face of Cuba. The latest move allows Cubans to
build their own homes using private money. It may sound like a basic right, but it's a big step for the country and aims to alleviate a housing shortage that was made worse with last year's devastating hurricane, which wrecked more than 1 million homes.

Cuban President Raul Castro is ready to listen to what President-elect Barack Obama has to say about US-Cuban relations. But Castro
told Sean Penn, who traveled to Cuba to interview the dictator, that the meeting would have to be on neutral ground. Castro said: Personally, I think it would not be fair that I be the first to visit, because it is always the Latin American presidents who go to the United States first.

Here's one more look at the resignation of Fidel Castro. It marks the end of an era, which has lasted since the communist rebel took power in 1959. Castro
outlasted nine US presidents.

Following Fidel Castro's resignation last week, Cuba's National Assembly
has named Fidel's brother, Raul, to be Cuba's new president. Yesterday, the National Assembly that is Cuba's 614-member legislature cast secret ballots to choose the 31-member Council of State, which acts as the Assembly when it is not in session. The vote included Raul Castro's new job.