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Cuban President Reads 95-Year-Old Castro’s Message Amid Crisis, Murder Indictment

7/27/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Miguel Díaz-Canel read a message from 95-year-old Raúl Castro at a rally, the first time in 30 years he missed it.
In May, an indictment charged Raúl Castro with murder for the alleged 1996 downing of two civilian planes.
Conditions now include blackouts exceeding 20 hours, cut workdays, halted production and worsening water and medicine shortages.
Meliá, Visa, Mastercard, Air Canada and Air France have left Cuba as the crisis deepens.

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Story summary

Miguel Díaz-Canel read a message from 95-year-old Raúl Castro at a rally, the first time in 30 years he missed it.
In May, an indictment charged Raúl Castro with murder for the alleged 1996 downing of two civilian planes.
Conditions now include blackouts exceeding 20 hours, cut workdays, halted production and worsening water and medicine shortages.
Meliá, Visa, Mastercard, Air Canada and Air France have left Cuba as the crisis deepens.