Why the U.S. just indicted a former Cuban President | May 22, 2026

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:11]What's up, sunshine? Happy Friday. Fry.

[00:00:14]Yay. I know some of you already have one foot out the door getting ready to have the best summer ever. Awesome. We are so excited for you. I'm Ky Wire. This is CNN 10. And on today's show, we have a wildfire threatening one of the rarest ecosystems in America. Underwater chess, where only one wrong move is literally sink or swim. Let's go. We're going to start though with major developments involving Cuba and a move by the United States that's sending political shock waves from Havana to Washington DC. The US Justice Department announced this week it has indicted 94year-old former Cuban President Raul Castro on charges that include murder and conspiracy to kill US nationals. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a 1996 incident when Cuban fighter jets shot down planes flown by Miami based volunteer group over international waters, killing four people, including three Americans. This case reopens one of the most painful chapters in US Cuba relations. A rivalry that's been simmering since the Cold War. This indictment is raising new questions about what comes next, including concerns about possible US military activity near the island nation. Our Patrick Ottman explains how he got here.

[00:01:25]While Ral Castro is officially retired, he remains the most powerful man on this island. He's handpicked many if not all of the top leadership here both military and political. And so when Cuba's president Miguel Diaz Canel says that Castro is not going anywhere, much less a courtroom in Miami, that carries a lot of weight with it, it is uh essentially the Cuban government's way of saying that if the US were to try to seize Ral Castro, like we saw take place against Venezuela's leader Nicholas Manduro, who himself was under US indictment, then clearly the Cuban government, the Cuban military would put up a fight. Already we have seen the Cuban military carrying out more maneuvers. We've seen Cuban officials tell the population here that they should prepare for any kind of military strikes or potentially a US invasion. That is something that people take seriously here. This is an island that for decades uh has lived under the fear of a US invasion. One that is becoming more and more probable as tensions get higher and higher here.

[00:02:29]Cubans that I have spoken to, even those who don't support the government, say they are very concerned though that if there is an off-ramp to this crisis that any kind of military strikes that destabilize the government, cause it to collapse, eventually could lead to some kind of humanitarian disaster. Now to California, where a wildfire is tearing through one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet, Channel Islands National Park, often called North America's Galapagos, because its isolation helped rare species evolved there for thousands of years. Basically, nature's exclusive VIP section. But now, a human-caused wildfire is threatening that fragile paradise. It began last week. Officials are investigating its origins. As of this taping, the fire has grown to more than 17,000 acres, making it the largest in the state this year.

[00:03:19]And in the middle of all this chaos came a rescue straight out of a movie. A stranded sailor crashed near the island during the blaze and sent an SOS in the most dramatic way, carving a giant help message into the scorched earth. The Coast Guard spotted it and airlifted the 67year-old to safety. Tom Hanks and Castaway Somewhere was like, "Respect."

[00:03:40]Typically, when you think concert venue, you picture giant speakers, bright lights, and overpriced nachos. But one music festival is proving all you really need is a front porch and good vibes.

[00:03:51]Porchfest is a music festival highlighting local bands in cities across America and parts of Canada. And last week in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 40,000 people showed up to rock the block. Our CNN 10 News associate, Lisa Wong, has more. In less than 12 hours, this quiet street in Atlanta, Georgia is going to go from this to this. But before that happens, let's rewind a little bit. Listening to live music goes all the way back to when humans figured out they can make noises by banging items together and using their voices.

[00:04:24]That eventually evolved to making simple instruments. The oldest one we know of is a bone flute, 40,000 years old.

[00:04:32]The modern music listening experience is now so accessible and diverse and the Atlanta, Georgia community is doing just that.

[00:04:43]>> This is the sixth annual Virginia Highlands Porchfest. It's actually one of many that happen across America and parts of Canada. It's a music festival that features a variety of local bands and puts them on the big stage. Except the big stage is a bunch of neighborhood porches. It was during CO that they decided like we need to get out in the streets and have some fun and why not bring it to this neighborhood.

[00:05:10]There are 100 bands playing this year and according to the committee over 38,000 people bought tickets. That's like 530 school buses packed with people but all right outside your bedroom window. I'm not nervous for the crowd.

[00:05:24]It's been big crowds before. A lot of local bands, some people live in the neighborhood, are playing. The unique thing about local bands is that a majority of its members have other full-time jobs. Getting together to play and perform is simply because they're passionate about it.

[00:05:38]>> Music is everywhere. Being able to play live music is even better cuz you know that you're providing the thing that people like.

[00:05:45]>> Exposing people who maybe wouldn't usually go to shows or um don't really necessarily listen to this type of music is super cool, especially in like a local neighborhood that everyone's going to be at. Being able to enjoy company over good tunes has been a favorite pastime for humans for thousands of years, and we'll continue to see live music evolve for thousands more.

[00:06:06]Pop quiz hot shot. Which animal has the largest number of individual bones?

[00:06:10]Python, elephant, cheetah, or bald eagle?

[00:06:20]If you said python, you are smart. Some large pythons can have more than 1,800 bones. That's hundreds of vertebrae and ribs. Humans have 206 bones, meaning the python basically said, "Hold my skeleton." Now to a positively adorable guest, taking the stage to honor the graduating veterinary students that helped save her life. Our Jeremy Roth has more on Honey, the dog's best in show moment.

[00:06:46]>> Honey has joined us to celebrate your special day. A very unique guest of honor headlined a recent college commencement in Iowa celebrating the very students that helped save her life.

[00:06:58]This is Honey. In December, she was critically injured after being hit by a car. KCCI reports her owner couldn't afford treatment, so they surrendered her to the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, who worked tirelessly to save Honey through extensive treatment and rehabilitation, fundraising, and teamwork by doctors, residents, and students who got to see the fruits of their labors as Honey made her way happier and healthier with Cap and Gown across the commencement stage.

[00:07:26]I think it it just gives them kind of peak into what they can do and the impact that they can have in taking care of animals.

[00:07:39]Today's story getting a 10 out of 10.

[00:07:41]Chess players are literally taking things to a deeper level. In Tarnovo, Padornne, Poland, 62 chess players from around the world participated in the largest world diving chess championship.

[00:07:54]What are the rules you ask? Players dive to the bottom of a pool and make one chess move per breath on weighted magnetic boards before resurfacing. So, not only do you need strategy, you need lungs of steel. This hybrid sport is gaining traction with seasoned pros and teenage newbies trying to make waves internationally with mastermind moves underwater. Okay, no show on Monday because of Memorial Day. So, we're back on Tuesday. And for all of you celebrating the last day of school today, congrats. So pumped for you. Feel free to subscribe to our CNN 10 YouTube channel because we'll have summer Friday shows coming to keep those brains flexing while the backpacks rest. Our first shout out of the day goes to Mrs. Giggle at Burchil High School in Wasilla, Alaska. Thank you for this. A handpainted fall antler from Amoose.

[00:08:42]Love the time and the attention to detail that you put into this. It's headed to our wall of friends hall of fame. And our next shout out, music to our ears. Mr. Maro at Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford, New Hampshire.

[00:08:55]And student Colton sent us his version of Friday Music on three different instruments. Play that Friday music, Colton.

[00:09:13]So good. Rise up, Colton. Rise up all of you. Go out. Make someone's day better this weekend. One kind word or smile can have a huge ripple effect. You're more powerful than you know. I'm Koi Wire and we are CNN 10.

[00:09:44]Heat.

[00:09:57]Heat.

[00:10:19]Heat.