Cuba Releases New Photos of Fidel Castro

— -- Cuban state media released nearly two dozen photos of Fidel Castro around midnight Monday, the first new images showing the former president in nearly six months. The photo release follows renewed rumors about Castro's health.

The photos show 88-year-old Castro meeting with Randy Perdomo Garcia, the president of a University of Havana student union, at his home in Havana on Jan. 23.

Garcia penned a lengthy article in the state-run newspaper Granma about the three-hour visit, describing Castro as "animated" and "full of life."

Castro hasn't been seen in public for more than a year -- and a few weeks ago he reportedly wrote to soccer legend Diego Maradona to reassure people he was, in fact, still alive. Pictures of the revolutionary leader were last released in August, showing him meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.