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The U.S. indicted former Cuban leader Ra煤l Castro. In announcing the indictments, centered on the Cuban military鈥檚 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft that killed four Cuban Americans, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters that 鈥渢he United States does not and will not forget its citizens.鈥� The Justice Department appears to be working from a 2003 case pressing charges over the Cuban military action. Mr. Castro, brother of longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro, was defense minister at the time of the shootdowns. The Cuban government argued then that the planes were operated by anti-Cuban activists undertaking military action. The new U.S. action comes amid rising pressure by Washington on Cuba鈥檚 government.
Our coverage:聽The US wants change in Cuba. So do more Cubans.

Jan. 6 police officers sued to block the Trump administration鈥檚 $1.776 billion 鈥渁nti-weaponization fund.鈥� The fund aims to compensate people the Justice Department says were wrongly treated by the U.S. government, likely including allies of President Donald Trump. The officers, who defended the Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, say the fund violates the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which bans the use of federal money to 鈥減ay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.鈥�

SpaceX plans what could be the biggest-ever initial public offering. Elon Musk announced plans Wednesday for one of the biggest sales of stock to the public ever for his space company that is currently losing billions of dollars year. A filing Wednesday shows his SpaceX lost $2.6 billion from operations last year on $18.7 billion in revenue, and the losses kept piling up at the start of this year, too. Still, the initial public offering is expected to rank among the largest ever, possibly surpassing the current title holder, Saudi Aramco, the oil giant that went public seven years ago. The stock sale could also make Mr. Musk, a major owner who founded SpaceX in 2002, the world鈥檚 first trillionaire. Forbes currently puts his net worth at $839 billion. 鈥� The Associated Press

A U.S. troop deployment to Poland is delayed, not canceled. Polish officials were shocked by reports last week that plans to send 4,000 U.S. troops to the country were canceled. U.S. Vice President JD Vance clarified Tuesday that the deployment has only been delayed. While the Trump administration鈥檚 recent decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany caused a media firestorm, experts agree that U.S. deployments to Poland are more strategically important to Europe. Moreover, Poland has been Europe鈥檚 most enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Trump鈥檚 demand that聽the continent defend itself. 鈥淧oland is a model ally,鈥� Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Wednesday.

The European Union is moving forward on its trade deal with the U.S. The deal was agreed to last year in response to President Trump鈥檚 broad tariff threats. But Mr. Trump鈥檚 recent spat with Europe, promising to remove troops and raise tariffs on European automakers to 25%, raised questions about whether Europe would abandon the deal. Mr. Trump appears to have backed off his threats to raise tariffs on European automakers, and the EU felt abiding by the deal was an important statement of principle. 鈥淎 deal is a deal, and the EU honours its commitments,鈥� European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media on Tuesday.

鈥� Compiled from wire reports, where noted, and by Monitor writers around the world

鈥淭he Late Show with Stephen Colbert鈥� found success as it became more political and biting at a moment of polarization. Can humor still bring us together?

An overwhelming majority of Democrats now view Israel negatively 鈥� a dramatic shift that is playing out in primary campaigns across the country. It could portend big changes in policy, should the party capture control of Congress.

Argentina鈥檚 overhauled labor law is meant to modernize the workforce and loosen the grip of historically powerful unions. But in an administration focused on cost-cutting, some workers find the legislation one shock too many.

The Trump administration has reached an unusual settlement in a case of the president suing his own government. Critics worry that a resulting 鈥渁nti-weaponization fund鈥� will be ripe for abuse benefiting President Donald Trump, his family, and his allies.

Iran鈥檚 wartime viral social media campaign has been slick, savvy, and accessible to a Western audience. Despite the White House鈥檚 focus on online messaging, Iran seems to have caught the United States completely off guard.

Americans are contending with almost daily shifts in how the Trump administration characterizes the war-slash-ceasefire with Iran that began Feb. 28. Yet just as important to this current Middle East struggle is a series of resolutions proposed in Congress to either end the conflict or seek approval by lawmakers to continue it.

On Tuesday 鈥� in its eighth such vote since strikes against Iran began 鈥� the Senate advanced a measure to debate a requirement of the 1973 War Powers Resolution that a president obtain congressional approval within 60 days of starting a conflict. The House is expected to vote shortly on a similar measure for the fourth time. The administration contends that the requirement is unnecessary, as a ceasefire announced April 7 reset the 60-day clock.

Many Capitol Hill observers believe it is unlikely that a resolution forcing the president to cease hostilities with Iran will pass either the House or Senate or, if it does, will bypass a presidential veto.

Does that mean the practice of raising multiple resolutions and lawmakers鈥� pronouncements on the issue is merely performative politicking?

Or is there value for Americans in continued deliberation, especially with a focus on the constitutional mandate that only Congress, not the commander in chief of the armed forces, can 鈥渄eclare War鈥� (as stated in Article 1, Section 8)?

In April, a bipartisan group of 63 former state and national officials urged Congress to 鈥渞eaffirm its role in matters of war and peace.鈥� They cited survey data that 66% of Americans support congressional approval for acts of war, and that 78% believe 鈥渃ongressional oversight strengthens our political system.鈥� They also noted a need to review the War Powers Resolution, which, they said, 鈥渁llows for ambiguous interpretations.鈥�

Democrat Tim Kaine of Virginia, a resolution sponsor in the Senate, has said he wants 鈥渢o ensure we have a real debate about whether it鈥檚 in our national interest to continue this war.鈥� But critics argue that presidents should have leeway to make real-time decisions to counter actual or anticipated threats. Requiring congressional approval before or even during such operations, they say, can compromise success or constrain presidents' decision-making options, at a cost to American lives and interests.

According to analyst Stephen Pomper, who served in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, leaders from both parties have ignored the 1973 war powers act for decades. There is a need, he wrote in Foreign Affairs, to restore 鈥渟crutiny or accountability鈥� when it comes to 鈥渢he most lethal and consequential actions the United States can take.鈥�

鈥淭he point of forcing the president to come to Congress isn鈥檛 to guarantee good outcomes,鈥� Mr. Pomper observed. 鈥淚t is to produce debate, insert a speedbump on the way to elective war, and require elected representatives to take a stand for which they will be judged at the ballot box.鈥�

Starting a hot war needs the cool consensus of Congress to ensure the broad support of Americans and to boost the morale of soldiers on the front lines. In the current armed standoff with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, U.S. lawmakers 鈥� elected by American citizens 鈥� are at the top of the political chain of command.