HAVANA – A "very healthy, very energetic" Fidel Castro asked visiting Congressional Black Caucus members what Cuba could do to help President Barack Obama improve bilateral relations during his first meeting with U.S. officials since falling ill in 2006.

 

Caucus leader Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, said the ailing former Cuban president talked for nearly two hours with her and two other delegation members on Tuesday in a meeting seen as signaling Cuba's willingness to discuss better relations with the United States.

 

Full Story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_...m_ca/cb_cuba_us

WASHINGTON – The White House says President Barack Obama is allowing Americans to make unlimited trips and money transfers to family in Cuba. It says Obama also is easing other restrictions.

 

Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs made the announcement Monday during his daily briefing with reporters.

 

Gibbs says Obama is helping bridge the gap among divided Cuban families and fulfilling his campaign promises with the changes.

 

It has been known for more than a week that he would announce them ahead of his attendance this weekend at a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

A special assistant to the president, Dan Restrepo, also made the announcement in Spanish.