US-indicted Raúl Castro reappears after months out of public view

The United States has imposed an energy embargo on the communist-ruled island, demanding a change in government and deep economic and political reforms.(AFP) — Veteran Cuban leader Raúl Castro appeared in public for the first time in months Thursday, attending an event in Havana to mark the centenary of his brother Fidel’s birth.The 95-year-old head of the Cuban armed forces and former president — who was recently indicted by the United States — appeared at the event dressed in an olive-green military uniform, AFP reporters witnessed.He received a standing ovation as he entered the Karl Marx Theatre.Castro is the last surviving leader of Cuba’s 1959 revolution and is seen as still wielding power, despite stepping down as president in 2018.He last appeared in public at a May 1 event in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, where he appeared frail, and was shown on state television during another event in early June.In May, he was indicted by a court in the U.S. state of Florida on four counts of murder.The charges relate to the downing of U.S. civilian planes by Cuban forces on Feb. 24, 1996.The United States has imposed an energy embargo on the communist-ruled island, demanding a change in government and deep economic and political reforms.The crisis and years of poor maintenance have fueled rolling blackouts and shortages of basic goods.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads