And now, here is the news

The more things change …

International groups representing journalists have protested the Cuban regime’s decision to block Western journalists entering the country to report on Fidel Castro’s mystery surgery over a week ago.

This is all part of the information lock-down ordered by the Government on 1 August. It means there has been no real information at all coming from Havana on Castro’s health which amazingly, has now been declared a “State secret”.

According to the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) Cuban officials have denied entry into the island of at least four journalists for failing to get the necessary entry visa, which takes several weeks to obtain. In addition, other journalists from Europe, who had complied with Cuba's visa requirements, reportedly had their permission to enter the country revoked.

In Paris, Reporters Without Borders, a recurrent critic of press censorship in Cuba, called on the authorities to let foreign journalists into the country so that they "can do their job freely and without restriction or aggression." The group says that since the announcement of Castro's illness, Cuban embassies have refused to issue visas or have not responded to journalists' requests.

And the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Cuban authorities to allow foreign journalists to cover "this story of worldwide importance”.

Good luck. And good night.