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Wearing his olive green uniform, former President Fidel Castro this Monday placed a wreath at the base of the enormous white marble monument to Cuban independence hero José Martí in Revolution Square and later spoke with a group of intellectuals, including some journalists from the official media. The new public presentation of the recovered historic leader of the Cuban Revolution coincided with the 57th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks, commemorated in the central city of Santa Clara. Fidel Castro did not attend the commemoration.

Cuba lost its final match in a tie-breaker to Serbia to finish fourth in the 2010 Men’s World Volleyball League, the same position as last year.

The commemoration of the attack on the Moncada Garrison (July 26, 1953) is almost always the venue for the year’s most important speech by a Cuban president, setting the tone for the direction of the country. This year that was clearly not the case.

Monday is National Rebellion Day in Cuba, commemorating attacks on two garrisons back in 1953 that sparked the Cuban revolution that toppled the dictator Batista five and a half years later. The Cuban press announced on Sunday that the keynote speech will be delivered by President Raul Castro. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Cubavision Internacional starting at 7:30 a.m. EST.

The Cuban Men’s Volleyball Team won the first set Saturday in the semifinal match up against Brazil but fell in the next three at the World Volleyball League tournament taking place in Cordoba, Argentina. After Cuba plays Serbia in the bronze medal match Sunday, Russia takes on Brazil for the gold.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will be one of the speakers at the official commemoration this Monday of a new anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks, commemorated in Cuba as Day of National Rebellion on July 26.

The 21st Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan with humanitarian aid arrived in Havana on Friday. Traveling from Mexico after crisscrossing the US and Canada, the 85 accompanying members are from the United States, Canada, Ireland, Germany, England and Mexico.

Cuba crushed Italy in straight sets Friday to reach the semifinals in the 2010 World Volleyball League (Mens). The Cubans now plays Brazil, —the tournament favorite— on Saturday hoping to make it the final on Sunday.

Rep. Kathy Castor, a US congresswoman from Tampa, has broken ranks with other Florida legislators and became the first from her state’s delegation to sign on to the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act.