Cuban revolutionary and leader (1926–2016) who shaped Cuba's post-revolution trajectory
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has met Cuban officials in Havana to discuss intelligence, economic stability and security. U.S. prosecutors have been expected to unseal an indictment against 94-year-old Raúl Castro in Miami on May 20 over the 1996 shootdown of exile planes, according to U.S. and Cuban sources.
Federal prosecutors in Miami have prepared to unseal an indictment against 94‑year‑old Raúl Castro over the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes, officials have told reporters. The announcement is scheduled to coincide with a Miami ceremony honouring victims and would need grand‑jury approval. The move has come as U.S.–Cuba tensions are intensifying.
Cuban president Miguel Díaz‑Canel has said Cuba "poses no threat" after US reports — citing classified intelligence — that Havana has obtained more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran and discussed strikes on US assets including Guantánamo Bay. Cuba has denied the claims and warned a US attack would "trigger a bloodbath."
U.S. prosecutors have indicted Raul Castro, Cuba’s former defense minister, on counts tied to the 1996 shootdown of two exile planes. Castro has been a central figure in Cuba’s military and politics for decades. The case intensifies U.S.–Cuba tensions as Cuban authorities condemn the charges and rally in support of their government.
The Justice Department has charged Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, amid a broader U.S. effort to pressure Havana. President Trump’s team is pursuing regime change, tying sanctions and diplomatic pushes to hopes of reshaping Cuba’s leadership. Rubio and U.S. officials frame the move as urgent relief for a Cuban populace starved of electricity and fuel.
The U.S. Justice Department has unsealed a federal indictment against Raúl Castro and five others, alleging conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, murder, and destruction of aircraft in the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes. The charges mark a bold escalation in U.S. attempts to pressure Cuba’s government; officials in Havana deny the allegations.
The United States has indicted Raul Castro for murder and conspiring to kill U.S. nationals over the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes, as part of a broader push by the Trump administration to hold Cuban leaders to account. Cuban President Diaz-Canel dismisses the move as a political maneuver, while prosecutors say the case rests on decades of evidence and witness testimony.
Since mid‑May the U.S. has unsealed an indictment charging former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of civilian planes, tightened sanctions including broad measures against GAESA, deployed the USS Nimitz to the Caribbean, and imposed an oil blockade that has triggered blackouts and economic strain in Cuba.
Ramiro Valdés Menéndez has died at the age of 94. A close ally of Fidel and Raúl Castro, Valdés shaped Cuba’s security and political landscape for decades, holding roles from interior minister to deputy prime minister. The government has not disclosed a cause of death.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Helms-Burton does not shield Cuban state agencies from certain lawsuits, allowing Americans to sue entities profiting from confiscated Cuban assets. ExxonMobil is seeking compensation for properties confiscated after the Cuban revolution. The decision could impact U.S.-Cuba relations as the Trump administration applies pressure on Havana.
Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez has stated the newly unveiled reforms are a matter of sovereignty and were not discussed in prior talks with the United States. He condemns a new package of unilateral U.S. measures and highlights Cuba’s ongoing economic changes, including expanded private enterprise and foreign investment, while urging international attention to the energy embargo.
A survey of how hot dogs have shaped American culture, from early prints to modern debates about regional styles. The piece cites historical milestones, regional varieties and how hot dogs remain a symbol in arts and diplomacy.
Cuba has been pushed into an acute crisis by a US oil blockade that began in January. The blockade has caused repeated nationwide blackouts, supply shortages and strained hospitals even as Havana has approved limited economic reforms to allow some private imports and services. The CIA has secretly created a Cuba task force to intensify influence operations against the island, according to briefed sources.
AP, Independent and Al Jazeera report Cuba’s power grid has failed repeatedly, leaving major towns in darkness as the United States’ oil blockade compounds shortages. Outages disrupt transport, water, hospitals and daily life; Havana sees partial restorations while western Cuba remains offline. Authorities warn of continuing instability.
Ozzie Guillén has had his number retired by the Chicago White Sox, joining a select group of players who have left a lasting mark on the franchise. The ceremony at Rate Field honors his playing career and his tenure as manager, capped by a World Series title in 2005.