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Cuba's Díaz‑Canel leads July 26 rally; Raul Castro absent
Cuba held its traditional July 26 rally in the eastern city of Pinar del Río to mark the 73rd anniversary of the 1953 Moncada assault that sparked the revolution. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel presided over the ceremony and read a congratulatory message from former President Raul Castro to the assembled crowd.
For the first time in more than three decades, 95‑year‑old Raul Castro did not attend the event, and no explanation was offered. The rally commemorated the failed attack on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks led by Fidel and Raul Castro.
In his speech, Díaz‑Canel rejected a recent U.S. State Department report that accuses Cuba of operating a left‑wing espionage and influence network. He condemned U.S. policy as “a coldly calculated genocide” and “maximum pressure”. The Cuban government also dismissed a U.S. indictment that charged Raul Castro with murder and other crimes for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to “take over” the island after a January attack on Venezuela and cited an oil embargo that has crippled Cuba’s economy.
Entities
Cuba · Donald Trump · Miguel Díaz‑Canel · Moncada assault · Raúl Castro · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Miguel Díaz‑Canel read a congratulatory message from Raúl Castro to the crowd at the rally. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A U.S. indictment charged Raúl Castro with murder and other crimes related to the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Díaz‑Canel called U.S. sanctions a “coldly calculated genocide” and “maximum pressure.” www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] Former President Raúl Castro, 95, did not attend the July 26 rally in Pinar del Río. www.standard-democrat.com · www.klix.ba · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Díaz‑Canel denounced a U.S. State Department report accusing Cuba of a long‑standing espionage network. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] U.S. indictment charged Raul Castro with murder and other crimes for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Former President Raul Castro, 95, was absent from the rally, the first absence in at least 30 years. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] President Miguel Díaz‑Canel presided over the July 26 rally in Pinar del Río and read a congratulatory message from Raul Castro. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Cuban government rejected the U.S. indictment accusations against Raul Castro. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Díaz‑Canel described U.S. policies toward Cuba as “coldly calculated genocide” and “maximum pressure”. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The rally commemorates the July 26, 1953 Moncada assault led by Fidel and Raul Castro. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes to “take over” Cuba after his January attack on Venezuela and imposed an oil embargo. www.standard-democrat.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · krmg.com · www.whec.com · +1 more