Cuba denies calling press conference amid rumors of Fidel's health

Cuba denied Friday that it had called a press conference in response to rumors circulating on social networks and in the international media about the state of former President Fidel Castro's health.

Officials at the Cuban Foreign Ministry's International Press Center told Efe that it had never called a press conference for this Friday.

Media outside of Cuba, particularly in Miami, reported over the past few hours that authorities on the island had called a press conference due to rumors and speculation on social networks about the 88-year-old Fidel, who stepped down from the presidency in 2006.

Thursday marked one year since his last public appearance, when he attended the inauguration of painter Alexis "Kcho" Leyva's new art studio in a Havana neighborhood, while his last articles in the Cuban press were published in October.

Fidel Castro has not yet made a statement about the renewal of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, nor about the return to Cuba of the three Cuban intelligence agents who were serving long sentences in the U.S. for espionage.

On that subject, pro-government blogger Yohandry Fontana published Friday a message on Twitter saying: "To all those who ask me about #FidelCastro, I can only tell them that he is very well, always working."

Despite the wave of speculation abroad, the atmosphere in Cuba is one of apparent normalcy and tranquillity.