Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have underscored their commitment to deepen cooperation in a closely watched summit. Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor. In a meeting with Kim, Xi expressed China’s willingness to expand cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade, agriculture and technology. Kim said consolidating a new era of friendship between the two countries is the “unchanging strategic choice” of North Korea, according to Chinese state media.

Federal prosecutors have announced charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles. The announcement was made Wednesday as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the socialist government. The indictment was related to Castro’s alleged role in the shootdown of two small planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was Cuba’s defense minister at the time. The charges included murder and destruction of an airplane. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other top Justice Department officials made the announcement in Miami at a ceremony to honor those killed in the shootdown.