Castro meeting student leader Randy Perdomo was posted online by the Communist party newspaper Granma on Monday night, along with an article that said the meeting took place on Jan. 23.
Handout / Reuters
Rumors of Castro’s death have cropped up periodically in recent years. He handed power to his brother Raul Castro in 2006 due to poor health and he then formally resigned in 2008.
Fidel Castro, left, with his brother Raul in 2005. Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images / Jose Goitia
Castro has not been seen in public for more than a year, although he continues to receive visitors. A fresh round of rumors that he had died circulated last month, partly because he did not make a public comment for some weeks after Cuba restored diplomatic relations with the US in December, breaking a stand-off between Washington and the socialist island that had lasted more than 50 years.
Castro finally commented last week and offered muted support
for the pact between his brother and U.S. President Barack Obama. He
also wrote a letter to the controversial Argentinian soccer legend Diego
Maradona to refute the rumors of his death, the Guardian reported last month, citing Cuban state media.