Castro’s Birthday Amid U.S. Indictment

Raúl Castro, the former Cuban president, turned 95 amid soaring tensions as the U.S. government indicted him for allegedly ordering the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes. His birthday celebration, broadcast on state TV with top officials including his grandson and current President Miguel Díaz-Canel, was a defiant display of unity and strength. Díaz-Canel praised Castro’s “heroism and dignity,” framing him as a target of enemies and warning of a “decisive and resolute battle” against any U.S. aggression. The indictment, unsealed last month, comes amid broader U.S. pressure on Cuba—including oil sanctions and demands for political reform—underscoring Castro’s enduring symbolic power despite his retirement from formal politics. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c0fa4a378371d745