US indicts former Cuban president Raúl Castro as it seeks to oust regime | First Thing

China has urged the United States to cease its "coercion" and "threats" against Cuba following Washington's indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro on murder charges. An American court accused the 94-year-old of conspiracy to kill US nationals in connection with the 1996 downing of two planes, an incident that resulted in four deaths and heightened diplomatic tensions. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that the US should "stop threatening force at every turn" and affirmed Beijing's "firm support" for Cuba. Castro, who was head of Cuba's armed forces at the time, was charged alongside five others for their alleged involvement in the incident, which involved planes operated by the dissident group Brothers to the Rescue.

China has condemned the United States for filing criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro. The charges relate to the 1996 downing of two civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles, which resulted in four deaths, including three Americans. China's foreign ministry spokesman stated that Beijing "firmly opposes" unilateral sanctions lacking international legal basis and unauthorized by the UN Security Council. He also criticized the "abuse of judicial proceedings" and external pressure on Cuba. China expressed support for Cuba's sovereignty and national dignity, urging the US to cease using sanctions and judicial measures against the island nation. The US action is seen as a significant escalation in pressure on Cuba's socialist government.

The US has issued a federal criminal indictment against former Cuban president Raúl Castro and five others, charging them with conspiracy to kill US nationals, murder, and destruction of aircraft. These charges stem from a 1996 incident where four men were killed when two planes were shot down by the Cuban military during a humanitarian mission. Cuba's president condemned the indictment as a political stunt intended to justify military aggression. Separately, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked international outrage by posting a video of Israeli forces abusing detained Gaza flotilla activists, drawing criticism from global leaders. Additionally, a report indicates US employers spend over $1.5 billion annually on efforts to oppose labor unions.

Federal prosecutors in Miami announced criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, who was Cuba's defense minister at the time, faces charges including murder and destruction of an airplane. The announcement comes as the Trump administration escalates pressure on Cuba, following actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The indictment is seen as a symbolic move, with no indication Castro will be taken into U.S. custody. The incident involved the shooting down of unarmed civilian planes, killing four men aboard, after the planes had buzzed over Havana dropping leaflets. Cuban officials condemned the indictment as a political act without legal basis.

The Trump administration has indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. U.S. federal prosecutors allege Castro, who was Cuba's defense minister at the time, played a leading role in the decision to have Cuban fighter jets shoot down the planes over international waters, resulting in the deaths of four Americans. The indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, charges Castro with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, murder, and destroying an aircraft. The Justice Department stated the indictment aims to hold leaders accountable for killing Americans. Cuba's current leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel, dismissed the charges as a political maneuver by the Trump administration.

The United States has charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro with conspiracy to kill US nationals, murder, and destruction of aircraft. These charges, revived from 2003, relate to the 1996 downing of two planes between Cuba and Florida, which killed four people, including three Americans. The incident involved an aircraft belonging to the Cuban American group Brothers to the Rescue. The US is seeking to increase pressure on Cuba's communist government, with the charges aimed at a key leadership figure. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has called the charges a political maneuver without legal foundation.

The United States has indicted former Cuban leader Raul Castro and five co-defendants for the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, which resulted in four deaths. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges in Miami, stating it was the first time senior Cuban leadership had been charged in the US for acts resulting in American deaths. This indictment, occurring during the Trump administration, escalates US-Cuba tensions, following increased sanctions and a fuel blockade against the island. Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel defended the 1996 shootdown as an act of "legitimate self-defence," asserting no international law was violated. The indictment is seen by critics as part of a broader US strategy to exert pressure on Cuba through economic coercion and diplomatic isolation.

The United States has issued a federal criminal indictment against Raúl Castro, former president of Cuba, and five others. The charges, filed in Miami, include conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, murder, and destruction of aircraft, stemming from the 1996 downing of two planes belonging to the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. The indictment alleges Castro gave the order to shoot down the Cessnas, which resulted in the deaths of four men. This action is part of the Trump administration's campaign to oust the Cuban regime. Cuban officials have denied U.S. claims regarding the cause of the island's energy crisis, attributing it to the U.S. embargo.