Raúl Castro Makes Rare Public Appearance | US News

0:00It's September 6th. Welcome in. This is US News Today, where America meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Raul Castro, the former Cuban President, made a rare public appearance this past Saturday. He was seen at a military event celebrating an army branch that specifically handles the protection of top officials. This sighting comes after some whispers about his health, especially since he missed a major July rally, which was unusual for him. The footage showed the 95-year-old in his signature olive green uniform, looking like he was doing all right. He was with his grandson Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, who has been involved in some recent discussions with the United States. These talks, however, have stalled, and US sanctions have actually ramped up. It's worth noting that Raul Castro doesn't hold any official government or party positions anymore, so these public appearances are few and far. Between his grandsons involvement in the US talks is significant, especially given the ongoing

1:00economic pressure the island nation faces. Adding to the complex situation, the US Department of Justice filed murder charges against Raul Castro back in June. This is connected to the 1996 downing of planes belonging to an anti-castro group that had entered Cuban airspace. The US has been trying to increase pressure for political change on the island. The event itself feature Castro walking with military brass and receiving a certificate. President Miguel Diaz Canal also shares photos of the event, highlighting the importance of the personal security directorates, Anniversary. This all plays out against the backdrop of Cuba's ongoing economic struggles, which have been made worse by US policies.