Cuba’s National Assembly has opened its end-of-year session without President Fidel Castro, who was taken ill some five months ago. It is only the second time in the past 30 years that he has not attended and his usual chair was left empty. The veteran leader handed over control to his brother Raul in July, before undergoing urgent intestinal surgery. Fidel Castro has not been seen in public since then but photographs and TV images of him have been shown. Full Story