Havana
Fidel Castro is suffering from colon, stomach, or pancreatic cancer and is unlikely to live out the year, U.S. intelligence officials said last week. In recent photographs, Castro appears gaunt and weak, with a dark lesion on his neck; he is dressed in loose clothing that may hide a colostomy bag. Intelligence officials said it does not appear that Castro is receiving chemotherapy, since he has not lost his hair or beard. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque added to the speculation over Castro's health when he backed away from an earlier prediction that the leader would return to work in December. U.S. officials are reportedly preparing for an influx of refugees from Cuba after Castro's death.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during the winter chillThe Week Recommends As the calendar turns to 2026, check out some new music from your favorite artists
-
Kristi Noem might not be long for TrumplandIN THE SPOTLIGHT The Homeland Security secretary has been one of the most visible and vocal architects of Trump’s anti-immigration efforts, even as her own star risks fading
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
