Venezuela's Maduro releases U.S. Air Force veteran from detention

Venezuela's autocratic president, Nicolás Maduro, released a U.S. Air Force veteran who had been imprisoned in Venezuela for about six months, his family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
Richard Grenell, the Trump administration's presidential envoy for special missions, facilitated the release, which took place in Antigua, according to a person with knowledge of the trip, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the release.

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What to know about the US B-2 bombers heading to Guam

Multiple B-2 stealth bombers were headed to Guam Saturday, two sources familiar with their movements told ABC News. At this point, the bombers have no orders beyond that, according to the sources. The moves come as tensions between Iran and the West have escalated over its nuclear program and the Trump administration weighs its options. MORE: Bombing Iran's underground Fordo nuclear plant might not be effective, one expert says Trump has had numerous meetings with national security advisors this week and said in a statement that he would decide within "in two weeks." The president is slated to have another Situation Room meeting later Saturday evening. The bombers could stay at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam for some time, but the question is for how long. Moving these aircraft does not mean that a final decision has been made. MORE: Israel-Iran live updates: Multiple B-2 stealth bombers head to Guam, sources say In addition to the bombers, eight refueling tankers took off just before midnight on Friday in Oklahoma, flew over Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico before turning around and landing at the same base they took off, ABC News learned. Over the past week, speculation has grown as to whether the Trump administration would use the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator to target Iran's deep underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordrow. The B-2 is the only U.S. Air Force bomber capable of carrying the MOP on bombing missions, with each bomber can carry two bombs. Attention turned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, which is the home to all 19 of the B-2 bomber fleet, and whether they might be launched for a nonstop flight to Iran that would require multiple mid-air refuelings. Attention was also focused on the small British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean that would afford B-2 bombers a much shorter flight time to Iran. In April, six B-2 bombers were deployed to the island as part of the sustained air campaign that the Trump administration had launched against Houthi militants in Yemen because of their continued attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea region. The bombers carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but their deployment was also a strategic message to Iran at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Yahoo

an hour ago

• Yahoo

Mahmoud Khalil vows to continue protesting Israel's war in Gaza after coming back home

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A Palestinian activist who was detained for more than three months pushed his infant son's stroller with one hand and cheered on his supporters as they welcomed him home Saturday. Mahmoud Khalil greeted friends and spoke briefly to reporters Saturday at New Jersey's Newark International Airport a day after leaving a federal immigration facility in Louisiana. A former Columbia University graduate student and symbol of President Donald Trump 's clampdown on campus protests, he vowed to continue protesting Israel's war in Gaza. 'The U.S. government is funding this genocide, and Columbia University is investing in this genocide,' he said. 'This is why I will continue to protest with every one of you. Not only if they threaten me with detention. Even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Palestine.' Khalil, a legal U.S. resident whose wife gave birth during his 104 days of detention, said he also will speak up for the immigrants he left behind in the detention center. 'Whether you are a citizen, an immigrant, anyone in this land, you're not illegal. That doesn't make you less of a human,' he said. The 30-year-old international affairs student wasn't accused of breaking any laws during the protests at Columbia. However, the government has said noncitizens who participate in such demonstrations should be expelled from the U.S. for expressing views the administration considers to be antisemitic and 'pro-Hamas,' referring to the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Khalil was released after U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz said it would be 'highly, highly unusual' for the government to continue detaining a legal U.S. resident who was unlikely to flee and hadn't been accused of any violence. The government filed notice Friday evening that it is appealing Khalil's release. Joining Khalil at the airport, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said his detention violated the First Amendment and was 'an affront to every American.' 'He has been accused, baselessly, of horrific allegations simply because the Trump administration and our overall establishment disagrees with his political speech,' she said. 'The Trump administration knows that they are waging a losing legal battle," Ocasio-Cortez added. "They are violating the law, and they know that they are violating the law.' ___ Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.

Washington Post

3 hours ago

• Washington Post

Israeli-backed group seeks at least $30 million from US for aid distribution in Gaza

WASHINGTON — An American-led group has asked the Trump administration to step in with an initial $30 million so it can continue its much scrutinized and Israeli-backed aid distribution in Gaza , according to three U.S. officials and the organization's application for the money. That application, obtained by The Associated Press, also offers some of the first financial details about the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and its work in the territory.