Saturday 26 November 2016

Fidel Castro (August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016)

Portrait of Fidel Castro in New York in 1955, during an interview.
Portrait of Fidel Castro in New York in 1955, during an interview.

At the Hotel Excelsior, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Fidel Castro held a brief news conference, April 30, 1959, in which he said: "Batista [former dictator Fulgencio Batista] will not come back. He is definitely destroyed as a politician."
At the Hotel Excelsior, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Fidel Castro held a brief news conference, April 30, 1959, in which he said: "Batista [former dictator Fulgencio Batista] will not come back. He is definitely destroyed as a politician."                   
Major Ernesto "Che" Guevara, 34, Argentine hero of the Cuban revolution, and his bride Aleida, stand before the wedding cake following their marriage at a civil ceremony at La Cabana Military fortress, March 23, 1959. At the extreme left is Maj. Raul Castro, commander in chief of the armed forces and brother of Prime Minister Fidel Castro. Next to Major Castro stands his wife, Vilma Esping.
Major Ernesto "Che" Guevara, 34, Argentine hero of the Cuban revolution, and his bride Aleida, stand before the wedding cake following their marriage at a civil ceremony at La Cabana Military fortress, March 23, 1959. At the extreme left is Maj. Raul Castro, commander in chief of the armed forces and brother of Prime Minister Fidel Castro. Next to Major Castro stands his wife, Vilma Esping.                                  
Cuban leader Fidel Castro speaks during a TV broadcast in Havana in this July 19, 1960 photo.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro speaks during a TV broadcast in Havana in this July 19, 1960 photo.
CUBA - JANUARY 01: Portrait Of Cuba'S Dictator, Fidel Castro, Between 1960 And 1965
CUBA - JANUARY 01: Portrait Of Cuba'S Dictator, Fidel Castro, Between 1960 And 1965
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro looks over the Sierra Maestro mountains as he revisits the area where his revolution started in this June 1962 photo in Cuba.
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro looks over the Sierra Maestro mountains as he revisits the area where his revolution started in this June 1962 photo in Cuba.
Fidel Castro playing baseball in Mexico City, Mexico after Cuban Anniversary rally, July 26, 1964.
Fidel Castro playing baseball in Mexico City, Mexico after Cuban Anniversary rally, July 26, 1964.
circa 1965: Soviet Secretary General Brezhnev, (Leonid Ilych Brezhnev, 1906-1982) with Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Castro, popular amongst Russia's youth, received the Hero's Golden Star Of The Soviet Union during this visit whilst Soviet-Cuban relations were at their peak.
circa 1965: Soviet Secretary General Brezhnev, (Leonid Ilych Brezhnev, 1906-1982) with Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Castro, popular amongst Russia's youth, received the Hero's Golden Star Of The Soviet Union during this visit whilst Soviet-Cuban relations were at their peak.            
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, left, speaks to volleyball players and newsmen during closing ceremonies of the second Northern Central American Volleyball Tournament in Havana, Cuba on August 22, 1971. At right is Rudy Suwara, from Santa Barbara, Calif., a member of the U.S. volleyball team.
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, left, speaks to volleyball players and newsmen during closing ceremonies of the second Northern Central American Volleyball Tournament in Havana, Cuba on August 22, 1971. At right is Rudy Suwara, from Santa Barbara, Calif., a member of the U.S. volleyball team.                    
Cuban premier Fidel Castro drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola, circa 1972.
Cuban premier Fidel Castro drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola, circa 1972.            
Cuban Premier Fidel Castro, right, makes a point as he and Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.), visited Jibacoa, a milk-producing town near Havana, May 8, 1975. Eleanor McGovern, the senator's wife, is seen at center.
Cuban Premier Fidel Castro, right, makes a point as he and Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.), visited Jibacoa, a milk-producing town near Havana, May 8, 1975. Eleanor McGovern, the senator's wife, is seen at center.                  
HAVANA, CUBA: Cuban Prime Secretary of the Cuban Communist party and President of the State Council Fidel Castro addresses crowd in 1975 in Havana.
HAVANA, CUBA: Cuban Prime Secretary of the Cuban Communist party and President of the State Council Fidel Castro addresses crowd in 1975 in Havana. 
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro responds to a question from Barbara Walters during a news conference granted to members of the U.S. press covering Senator George McGovern's trip to Cuba, in Havana, May 7, 1975.
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro responds to a question from Barbara Walters during a news conference granted to members of the U.S. press covering Senator George McGovern's trip to Cuba, in Havana, May 7, 1975.                
Cuban leader Fidel Castro is shown in this July 10, 1977 photo.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro is shown in this July 10, 1977 photo.                 
American television journalist Walter Cronkite listens to Cuban President Fidel Castro talk as they sit closely together, February 14, 1980.
American television journalist Walter Cronkite listens to Cuban President Fidel Castro talk as they sit closely together, February 14, 1980.              
Cuban President Fidel Castro (C) poses with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (R) and Nicaraguan vice-president Sergio Ramirez, on January 11, 1985, during the inauguration of the "Victoria de Julio" sugar mill in Managua.
Cuban President Fidel Castro (C) poses with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (R) and Nicaraguan vice-president Sergio Ramirez, on January 11, 1985, during the inauguration of the "Victoria de Julio" sugar mill in Managua.                
In a file photo Fidel Castro exhales cigar smoke during a March 1985 interview at his presidential palace in Havana.
In a file photo Fidel Castro exhales cigar smoke during a March 1985 interview at his presidential palace in Havana.                
Under portraits of the martyrs of the Revolution Mella, Cienfuegos, Che Guevara, Cuban Pres. Fidel Castro delivers his closing address before the Cuban and Foreign delegates of the third Cuban Communist Party Congress in Havana February 8, 1986.
Under portraits of the martyrs of the Revolution Mella, Cienfuegos, Che Guevara, Cuban Pres. Fidel Castro delivers his closing address before the Cuban and Foreign delegates of the third Cuban Communist Party Congress in Havana February 8, 1986.                   
Cuban President Fidel Castro makes a point during a news conference at the Convention Palace in Havana Tuesday, April 3, 1990.
Cuban President Fidel Castro makes a point during a news conference at the Convention Palace in Havana Tuesday, April 3, 1990.                 
Cuban President Fidel Castro speaks at a press conference given for japanese journalists, 18 April 1990, in Havana.
Cuban President Fidel Castro speaks at a press conference given for japanese journalists, 18 April 1990, in Havana.                                   
HAVANA, CUBA - APRIL 7: President of Cuba Fidel Castro gestures in the residence of Italian Ambassador to Cuba April 7, 1995 in Havana, Cuba.
HAVANA, CUBA - APRIL 7: President of Cuba Fidel Castro gestures in the residence of Italian Ambassador to Cuba April 7, 1995 in Havana, Cuba.             
Cuban athletes surround Cuban leader Fide Castro to sing Happy Birthday in recognition of Castro's 65th birthday in Havana on August 13, 1991.
Cuban athletes surround Cuban leader Fide Castro to sing Happy Birthday in recognition of Castro's 65th birthday in Havana on August 13, 1991.                      
Cuban President Fidel Castro and Raul Castro's wife Vilma Espin, secretary of the Cuban women's federation attend a during a rally to press for the return of Elian Gonzalez in Havana, Wednesday March 8, 2000. The 6-year-old boy was found on Thanksgiving Day adrift, clinging to an inner tube, and was at the center of a custody battle involving his relatives in Miami and his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, with whom he was eventually reunited in Cuba.
Cuban President Fidel Castro and Raul Castro's wife Vilma Espin, secretary of the Cuban women's federation attend a during a rally to press for the return of Elian Gonzalez in Havana, Wednesday March 8, 2000. The 6-year-old boy was found on Thanksgiving Day adrift, clinging to an inner tube, and was at the center of a custody battle involving his relatives in Miami and his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, with whom he was eventually reunited in Cuba.               
Cuban president Fidel Castro visits the Marcelo Salado school to celebrate Elian Gonzalez''s seventh birthday December 6, 2000 in Cardenas City, Cuba.
Cuban president Fidel Castro visits the Marcelo Salado school to celebrate Elian Gonzalez''s seventh birthday December 6, 2000 in Cardenas City, Cuba.                   
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, left, are welcomed by Cuban leader Fidel Castro as they begin their visit of a Biotechnology center in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 13, 2002. Carter was the first U.S. head of office, in or out of office, to visit communist Cuba since the 1959 revolution that put Castro in power.
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, left, are welcomed by Cuban leader Fidel Castro as they begin their visit of a Biotechnology center in Havana, Cuba, Monday, May 13, 2002. Carter was the first U.S. head of office, in or out of office, to visit communist Cuba since the 1959 revolution that put Castro in power.                    
In a file photo Cuba's President Fidel Castro laughs after mistakenly saying Uruguay instead of Paraguay during his speech before a hand drawn poster of Cuban poet Jose Marti in Asuncion, Paraguay on Saturday Aug.16, 2003.
In a file photo Cuba's President Fidel Castro laughs after mistakenly saying Uruguay instead of Paraguay during his speech before a hand drawn poster of Cuban poet Jose Marti in Asuncion, Paraguay on Saturday Aug.16, 2003.               
Cuban President Fidel Castro, left, and his brother, Minister of Defense Raul Castro, attend a Cuban Parliament session in the Palace of Conventions in this July 1, 2004, file photo in Havana, Cuba.
Cuban President Fidel Castro, left, and his brother, Minister of Defense Raul Castro, attend a Cuban Parliament session in the Palace of Conventions in this July 1, 2004, file photo in Havana, Cuba.
Picture dated June 2005 shows Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Picture dated June 2005 shows Cuban President Fidel Castro.           
Fidel Castro, right, attends a special session of parliament as his wife Delia Soto del Valle stands by and Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon looks on in Havana, Cuba, Saturday Aug. 7, 2010, shortly before his 84th birthday.
Fidel Castro, right, attends a special session of parliament as his wife Delia Soto del Valle stands by and Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon looks on in Havana, Cuba, Saturday Aug. 7, 2010, shortly before his 84th birthday.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro attends a meeting for the 50th Anniversary of the Committees of Defense of the Revolution (CDR) September 28, 2010 in Havana.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro attends a meeting for the 50th Anniversary of the Committees of Defense of the Revolution (CDR) September 28, 2010 in Havana.              
Fidel Castro, left, and Cuba's President Raul Castro attend the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday April 19, 2011.
Fidel Castro, left, and Cuba's President Raul Castro attend the 6th Communist Party Congress in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday April 19, 2011.                                
Former Cuban president Fidel Castro gestures during the final session of the 6th Cuban Communist Party Congress, on April 19, 2011 at the Convention Palace in Havana.
Former Cuban president Fidel Castro gestures during the final session of the 6th Cuban Communist Party Congress, on April 19, 2011 at the Convention Palace in Havana. 
In this photo released by the state media website Cubadebate, Cuba's leader Fidel Castro speaks during a meeting with intellectuals and writers at the International Book Fair in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 10 2012.
In this photo released by the state media website Cubadebate, Cuba's leader Fidel Castro speaks during a meeting with intellectuals and writers at the International Book Fair in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Feb. 10 2012.                    
Handout picture released on September 26, 2016 by Cuban official website cubadebate.cu showing Cuban former president Fidel Castro (R) shaking hands with the wife of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Cheng Hong (L) during a meeting in Havana on September 25, 2016.
Handout picture released on September 26, 2016 by Cuban official website cubadebate.cu showing Cuban former president Fidel Castro (R) shaking hands with the wife of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Cheng Hong (L) during a meeting in Havana on September 25, 2016.