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President Nicolas Maduro’s swearing in ceremony

Cuba’s President participated in activities on the occasion of President Nicolas Maduro’s swearing in ceremony

Díaz-Canel in Caracas
Cuba’s President participated in activities on the occasion of President Nicolas Maduro’s swearing in ceremony

Author: Granma | internet@granma.cu
january 11, 2019 09:01:45

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Photo: Estudios Revolución
CARACAS, Venezuela.–This city of hills awoke yesterday, January 10, to accompany Nicolas Maduro during swearing-in activities, following his overwhelming victory in elections this past May 20, in which almost six million Venezuelans supported his Presidency with their votes, some four million more than his closest opponent obtained.

Also on hand was the President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who tweeted upon his arrival “Cuba defends and supports Venezuelan sovereignty and Bolivarian integration.”

Leaders from more than 120 nations have expressed support for Maduro on the occasion and some 90 sent delegations to the swearing-in ceremony for his second term in office.

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Photo: Estudios Revolución

Cuban Sovereignty

Counterpunch: 60 Years of Defending Cuban Sovereignty

 

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By Arnold August

When Fidel Castro triumphantly announced the people’s victory on January 1, 1959, it had been barely 15 years since the U.S. had savagely bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This atrocity marked the passage of the baton of barbarism from the inhumanity of World War II to the U.S. Since the devastating atomic bombing, it has been documented that the U.S., in its insatiable drive for world domination, has killed more than 20 million people in 37 nations. Innumerable murderous invasions have taken place around the world, such as in Korea, Vietnam and the Playa Girón military intervention that was defeated by Cuba in less than 72 hours. All of this constitutes an uncivilized foreign policy reminiscent of WWII cruelty. What would have happened to Cuba and Latin America had the Revolution led by Fidel Castro not defeated the U.S. incursion?

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As Washington continuously beefs up its economic and military imperial overreach, its ongoing international gunboat diplomacy is now backed up by more than 800 military bases (from giant “Little Americas” to small radar stations) virtually all over the world, including Guantánamo. All of this foreign policy and more, such as the increasing use of the Internet as the new road to regime change (e.g. in Cuba, especially since 2014), constitute the daily staple of arrogant threats, murderous aggression and cynical interference by the U.S. All of this happens every day on many occasions through allied states, such as Israel’s ongoing slow genocide against the Palestinian people. The post-WWII violation of other countries’ sovereignty and international law occurs with virtually no international protection. The blockade against Cuba is a case in point of international impunity. The peoples of the world, such as the Cubans, can rely only on their own forces and support from the peoples and progressive nations in the world struggling to maintain a multi-polar world to resist U.S. domination.
The Cuban Revolution has been curbing the U.S. for 60 of the 75 years since the inauguration of the “new face” of the post-WWII barbaric epoch. This period, based on inhumanity to the extreme, shifted from Europe and East Asia to the U.S., only 90 miles from Cuba’s shores. Think of this geopolitical and historical reality as people in every corner of the planet reflect today upon the historic significance of the 60th anniversary.
The Genocidal Blockade

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1959

IN IMAGES: 60 years since Fidel entered Havana triumphant January 8, 1959

IN IMAGES: 60 years since Fidel entered Havana triumphant
January 8, 1959, after a journey of more than a thousand kilometers taken by the Rebel Army across the island following the triumph of the Revolution, the Caravan of Liberty, led by Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, entered the Cuban capital

Author: GI news staff | informacion@granma.cu
january 8, 2019 10:01:1

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Columbia military base, now the Ciudad Escolar Libertad, Havana, January 8, 1959. Photo: Archive
Every year, Cuban youth and outstanding figures reenact the journey across the island of the Caravan of Liberty, led by Fidel from January 2 to 8 of 1959, culminating in a gala event at the former Columbia Military Base, now the Ciudad Escolar Libertad educational complex.

The caravan members participate in official events in each province along the route traveled by the triumphant Rebel Army, visit historical sites, combatants and relatives of the Revolution’s martyrs, among other activities.

Below, we offer iconic images of the 1959 Caravan.

THE CUBA OF TODAY

Today, 60 years after the Caravan of Liberty, Granma offers some examples of the achievements of the Cuban Revolution in key sectors:

EDUCATION

In preschool, primary, special and secondary education, the continuity of studies is guaranteed to 1,606,500 students.

Higher Education guarantees the enrollment of 155,000 students, cost-free.

CULTURE

Cubans enjoyed more than 9 million artistic and cultural activities across the island in 2018.

The state budget supports the operation of nearly 5,100 sports facilities, and more than 616,000 hours of radio and television broadcasting.

HEALTH

51% of the state budget goes to the health, social welfare and education systems.

More than 13,000 health institutions provide coverage to the entire population.

Cuba has more than 94,000 doctors, representing 8.2 doctors per thousand inhabitants, as well as 19,000 dentists, and 85,000 nurses.

At the end of 2018, for the second consecutive year, and with four fewer deaths than the previous year, Cuba saw the lowest infant mortality rate in its history, at 4.0 per thousand live births.

HOUSING

More than 2,568,000 homes have been built since the triumph of the Revolution.

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The people cheer Fidel and the bearded Rebel Army troops. Photo: Archive

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Fidel Castro enters Santiago de Cuba in 1959, accompanied by Celia Sánchez. Photo: Archive

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Fidel and Raúl Castro on the balcony of Santiago de Cuba’s City Hall. Photo: Archive

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The triumph of the Revolution. Photo: Archive

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January 3, Fidel meets Camilo Cienfuegos, who reports important developments in the center of the island. Photo: Archive

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Fidel enters Havana, January 8, 1959. Pictured as well are Juan Almeida Bosque, Camilo Cienfuegos, Augusto Martínez Sánchez and other rebel leaders. Photo: Archive

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Fidel enters Havana. Photo: Archive

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The Caravan traveled along the Malecón and up 23rd Street. At the Radiocentro, Fidel spoke with several artists, and amidst joyful crowds continued on to Marianao. Photo: Archive

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Photo: Archive

The event held in Havana to mark the arrival of the Caravan of Liberty lasted until 2:00am on the 9th. Photo: Archive

Cuban Revolution

José Ramón Fernández Álvarez dies

José Ramón Fernández Álvarez dies
The Hero of the Republic of Cuba and retired Brigadier General passed away in the early hours of Sunday, January 6, at the age of 95

Author: Digital news staff | informacion@granma.cu
january 7, 2019 10:01:25

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Photo: Granma archives
The Hero of the Republic of Cuba and retired Brigadier General, José Ramón Fernández Álvarez, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, January 6, at the age of 95.

Familiarly known as “El Gallego Fernández,” he was born November 4, 1923, in Santiago de Cuba. From a young age he participated in the revolutionary struggle against the Batista dictatorship, in conspiratorial movements with different military and political groups. He was imprisoned for almost three years on the Isle of Pines for these activities.

With the triumph of the Revolution, he joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces, participated in the fight against counterrevolutionary bandits, as well as in the direction of the battles in Playa Girón, under the orders of the Comandante en Jefe of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.

Fernández held different responsibilities within the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, including director of the Rebel Army Cadet School, the School of Militia Officers of Matanzas, and the Militia Battalion Schools of the province of Havana, and was head of the Combative Training Directorate and FAR deputy minister.

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