US deportation flights to Venezuela resume after spat
A flight carrying 199 Venezuelans deported from the US to their homeland has landed at Simón Bolívar airport near Caracas.US repatriation flights to Venezuela had ground to a halt weeks ago after the Trump administration revoked a licence allowing Venezuela to export some of its oil to the US despite sanctions.But on Saturday the two governments, which have no diplomatic relations, reached agreement on resuming the flights, as part of the Trump administration's plan to remove undocumented migrants.Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described the flights as a chance to "rescue and free migrants from prisons in the US" .
As they disembarked from the plane early on Monday, some of the deportees raised their arms and waved.They had earlier been transferred from US state of Texas to Honduras, in Central America, from where they were flown by Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa to Maiquetía, north of Caracas.The US Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs described them as "illegal aliens" who "had no basis to remain in the United States".The head of Venezuela's National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, on the other hand stressed on Saturday that migration was "not a crime".Venezuela had originally agreed to take in Venezuelan deportees from the US in a deal struck by Trump's special envoy, Richard Grenell, in Caracas in January. It was widely seen as a victory for Trump, who has made deporting undocumented migrants a priority. However, Maduro said on 8 March that the US administration's decision to revoke the licence of oil giant Chevron to operate in Venezuela had created "a little problem". "They damaged the line of communication we had opened, and I was interested in those lines of communication (...) because I wanted to bring home all the Venezuelans they have in custody they have unjustly persecuted," he said.A week later, the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelans to a mega-prison in El Salvador, arguing that they were members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. It caused an outcry in Venezuela, where several relatives of those deported to El Salvador insisted their loved ones had no criminal connections.Read: 'It's him, it's him!' - Mother spots son deported from US in mega-prison footageThe deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador's feared Cecot prison was followed by a warning posted on X by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Venezuela would face "severe and escalating" sanctions if it refused to accept its citizens deported from the US.The following day, Maduro ordered his government to "step up the action needed to guarantee return flights for detained migrants".
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BreakingNews.ie
29 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Iranian police reports intercepting drones and identifying hostile domestic drone facilities
Iran 's police forces intercepted 14 drones and identified hostile drone-producing workshops and drone-carrying vehicles across various provinces, police spokesperson Saeed Montazerolmahdi said on Wednesday according to the Iran ian Labour News Agency. It comes as Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday as the air war between the two longtime enemies entered a sixth day despite a call from U.S. President Donald Trump for Tehran's unconditional surrender. The Israeli military said two barrages of Iranian missiles were launched toward Israel in the first two hours of Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv. Advertisement Israel told residents in a southwestern area of Tehran to evacuate so its air force could strike Iranian military installations. Iranian news websites said Israel was attacking a university linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the east of the capital. Iranian news websites said Israel was also attacking a university linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the country's east, and the Khojir ballistic missile facility near Tehran, which was also targeted by Israeli airstrikes last October. The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence says Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the Middle East. Iran has said its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the US, Israel and other potential regional targets. Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that US patience was wearing thin. While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "for now," his comments suggested a more aggressive stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement. Advertisement "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," he wrote on Truth Social. "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now ... Our patience is wearing thin." Three minutes later Trump posted, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" A source familiar with internal discussions said Trump and his team are considering a number of options, including joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. A White House official said Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday. Advertisement Trump also met for 90 minutes with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the conflict, a White House official said. Details were not immediately available. The US is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials told Reuters. The US has so far only taken indirect actions in the current conflict with Iran, including helping to shoot down missiles fired toward Israel. A source with access to US intelligence reports said Iran has moved some ballistic missile launchers, but it is difficult to determine if they were targeting US forces or Israel. Khamenei's main military and security advisers have been killed by Israeli strikes, hollowing out his inner circle and raising the risk of strategic errors, according to five people familiar with his decision-making process. Advertisement With Iranian leaders suffering their most dangerous security breach since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country's cybersecurity command banned officials from using communications devices and mobile phones, Fars news agency reported. Israel launched a "massive cyber war" against Iran's digital infrastructure, Iranian media reported. Ever since Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and triggered the Gaza war, Khamenei's regional influence has waned as Israel has pounded Iran's proxies - from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq. Iran's close ally, Syria's autocratic president Bashar al-Assad, has been ousted. Israel launched its air war, its largest ever on Iran, on Friday after saying it had concluded the Islamic Republic was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Advertisement Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that. Netanyahu has stressed that he will not back down until Iran's nuclear development is disabled, while Trump says the Israeli assault could end if Iran agrees to strict curbs on enrichment. Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Residents of both countries have been evacuated or fled. Global oil markets are on high alert following strikes on sites including the world's biggest gas field, South Pars, shared by Iran and Qatar.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Wednesday briefing: How Trump's unpredictability is shaping the Middle East crisis
Good morning. In Alberta, Canada yesterday, leaders of six of the G7 countries set out their stalls on the conflict between Iran and Israel. Keir Starmer insisted that de-escalation was still the plan; Emmanuel Macron said that 'the biggest mistake that can be made today is to try to change the regime in Iran by military means'. But more than 3,000km away in Washington DC, the G7 leader who matters most was charting his own course – and bringing the US closer to entering the war. Within 24 hours Donald Trump shifted from promises that a deal could be done to demands for Tehran's 'unconditional surrender'. To his supporters this was a genius strategic manoeuvre and all part of the plan; to residents of the Iranian capital it is a much more ominous shift. The thousands who streamed from the city were not only responding to his Truth Social post calling for an immediate evacuation – but they may consider that Trump's past assertions that he wants to keep the US out of any conflict now look extremely unreliable. Last night, following a situation room briefing with his national security team, he was said to be weighing his options. A senior Israeli official told CNN: 'We are waiting for the decision of the president.' It is still unclear whether any strategy underpins Trump's public interventions – or if he has simply been shifting with the tides. Today's newsletter, with the Guardian's Andrew Roth in Washington DC, examines the available clues. Here are the headlines. Abortion rights | British MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion, marking the biggest step forward in reproductive rights in almost 60 years. The change means that women who terminate their pregnancy outside the existing legal framework, for example after the time limit or by buying pills online, will no longer face arrest or prison. Tariffs | Donald Trump is threatening to keep 25% tariffs on UK steel imports unless it gives specific guarantees over the Indian-owned steelmaking plant at Port Talbot in south Wales, sources have told the Guardian. The US is seeking assurances that raw materials for the plant will not be imported from overseas. Ukraine | Russia launched a sustained missile and drone attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least 16 people in what the Ukrainian president called 'one of the most horrific attacks' on the Ukrainian capital since the full-scale war began in spring 2022. UK news | The public must 'keep calm' over the ethnicity of grooming gang offenders, the author of a high-profile report has urged, saying police data from one region suggested race was proportional with the local population. Health | Cannabis use may double the risk of dying from heart disease and increase the risk of stroke by 20%, according to a global review of data. A linked editorial said the analysis 'raises serious questions about the assumption that cannabis imposes little cardiovascular risk'. After leaving the G7 summit a day early, skipping meetings with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, Donald Trump made a confounding leap in his public messaging on the new conflict in the Middle East. In Alberta on Monday, he had suggested that a nuclear deal with Tehran remained 'achievable'; on the overnight flight back to DC, he said he was 'not too much in the mood to negotiate'; when he landed, he told reporters that he was 'not looking for a ceasefire', but a 'complete give-up' by Iran. Meanwhile, he posted on social media that 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON' and that 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' Later yesterday, he demanded Iran's 'unconditional surrender' and mused on how easy it would be to kill the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'It has shifted in the last day in a very significant way,' Andrew Roth said. Meanwhile, as Dan Sabbagh explains in this analysis piece, the US has stepped up its military presence in the region. 'The rhetoric has risen exponentially, and the pieces to do it are there,' Andrew said. 'We don't know if that's a pressure tactic or a statement of intent, but either way it makes US involvement more likely.' What happened at the G7? The Alberta summit was meant to be an opportunity for the group of wealthy nations to reach useful agreements on major international issues: Ukraine, Gaza and Trump's tariffs were all on the table. But even before Trump's early exit, that agenda was torpedoed by Israel's new attack on Iran. Trump co-signed a brief statement before his departure calling for a 'de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza', and asserting that 'Iran can never have a nuclear weapon'. 'There's nothing the president said that suggests that he's about to get involved in this conflict,' Keir Starmer said. 'On the contrary, the G7 statement was about de-escalation.' That analysis would appear to be based on a touching faith in Trump's commitment to international diplomatic norms rather than abiding by whatever he's said last. What do we know about what Trump wants? Trump is reportedly obsessed with winning the Nobel peace prize. His consistent message to voters during the 2024 election campaign was that a vote for him was a vote to end foreign wars – and many took him at his word. As the news of Israel's strikes on Iran broke last week, Trump's secretary of state, Marco Rubio, emphasised that the US was 'not involved in strikes against Iran'; but Trump himself declined to comment on whether the US participated, and said that the White House had been fully apprised of Benjamin Netanyahu's plans. Israeli officials have briefed the media that public statements by the US and Israel were 'strategically coordinated to lull Tehran into a false sense of security' – but that should be treated with scepticism, since it has not been corroborated by reporters in Washington. In any case, the arc of Trump's comments in recent days has been to imply closer cooperation with Israel as Iran has appeared weakened. 'His shift towards Israel reflects the facts on the ground,' Andrew said. 'The most important thing for Trump is always to come out with a win: if he tries to restrain Israel and fails, he looks weaker than if he endorses an option he was against a month ago.' But with Iran so far avoiding any provocative strike on US interests in the region, it isn't clear what would prompt him to cross the line into direct military involvement. The simplest path might be to continue to use militaristic rhetoric in support of Israel's operation, but refrain from ordering US forces to attack Tehran. Israel would dearly love to have the US as a full ally in the conflict, since it is unable to penetrate Iran's most deeply buried nuclear facilities without US bunker-busting bombs. And with reports that Trump has encouraged new talks between his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his Iranian counterparts, it is also possible that Trump will present Tehran with an ultimatum: commit to ending all nuclear enrichment in Iran, or face US bombing. How does this play out politically in the United States? Trump is seeking to balance a tension that goes to the heart of the modern Republican party's identity crisis: on the one hand, pressure from traditional conservative hawks who have long yearned for an all-out assault on Iran; on the other, the isolationist tendency in his Maga movement, which viewed his stated aversion to new military adventures as a key tenet of his appeal. 'There was never really a coherent strategy, because he has surrounded himself with people with very different views, and their influence waxes and wanes,' Andrew said. 'And he's finding out that he has a lot of support from across his base that's very hawkish on Iran, or very pro-Israel. At the moment, he is empowering those people, and sidelining the Maga isolationist wing.' In this piece, Andrew lays out how public that schism has now become. Prominent Maga pundits like Tucker Carlson have accused the hawks of being 'warmongers'; senior advisers like the vice-president, JD Vance, are also thought to be averse to military action, fearful that a major Middle East entanglement will derail their hopes of a strategic pivot to the containment of China in the Pacific. But, Andrew writes, 'traditional Republicans such as Senator Tom Cotton, as well as senior Pentagon officials … have continued to impress upon Trump the need for a more hawkish Iran policy'. And Trump himself derided Carlson's position as 'kooky'. He has also dismissed the assessment of his spy chief Tulsi Gabbard - who, Andrew writes here, 'he nominated specifically because of her skepticism for past US interventions in the Middle East' - that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. And yesterday he posted a truly unsettling text message from his ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, that sought to compare him to Harry Truman in 1945 – the US president who decided to drop nuclear bombs on Japan. Vance, meanwhile, tied himself in knots as he sought to explain Trump's stance to the Maga base: 'People are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy,' he said. But he claimed that Trump had 'earned some trust on this issue', and added: 'He is only interested in using American military to accomplish the American people's goals.' What impact are his comments having on the ground? Iranian civilians are not the only ones hanging on Trump's every word. In Tehran, there are still some hopes Trump will act as a brake on Netanyahu's offensive: Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, said on Monday that 'it takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu'. On the other hand, that same ambiguity is allowing Netanyahu to present Israel's attack as coming with the approval of the White House – and may be extending the conflict as Israel hopes that the longer it drags on, the more likely it is that an Iranian escalation forces Trump's hand. If that happens, it would suggest that however aggressive Trump's posture is publicly, he is ultimately leaving American foreign policy to be decided by the belligerents in a conflict which he has long claimed he wants to avoid. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'Iran is also an unpredictable actor here,' Andrew said. 'There's always a risk when missiles are flying both ways. And the longer this goes on, the higher the chance of an escalatory event.' Gabrielle Drolet (above) freelances in the strangest corners of writing, from horse newsletters to erotica apps. In this long read, she writes with clarity and humour about navigating a career shaped by chronic pain. Aamna It is a very bad week in the UK for people who don't own a fan. Remove yourself from their sorry ranks with the Filter's guide to the best of them. Archie Iran had been slowly improving politically, economically, and socially – then Israel attacked. Esfandyar Batmanghelidj argues the strikes risk derailing progress and setting the country on a far more dangerous path. Aamna Weight loss jabs have transformed the treatment of obesity, but recent research suggests they may not produce such drastic weight loss in everyday settings. Aamna In New York magazine, Suzy Hansen makes the case that Israel has committed numberless war crimes in Gaza – and perhaps brought the edifice of humanitarian law down at the same time. Her piece is clarifying, devastating, and utterly essential. Archie Football | Ahead of an expected debut for Trent Alexander-Arnold (above left with Jude Bellingham) for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup on Wednesday, Barney Ronay writes that he faces a formidable challenge to succeed: 'Even the opening act in Miami feels vital, the first step in a high‑wire act.' Cricket | The Netherlands and Nepal have etched their names in the cricket record books after the two sides could not be split until a third super over eventually found a winner in the Dutch in their T20 clash in Glasgow. Tennis | Emma Raducanu's stalker has been blocked from buying tickets for the Wimbledon Championships this month in the public ballot, it has emerged. Security staff checked the waiting list following the man's February restraining order in Dubai. 'Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' by Iran as tensions rise' – that's the Guardian this morning. The Telegraph says 'Trump poised to join war on Iran' and the Mail says similarly 'US poised to join Iran war'. The Times has 'Trump: we won't kill ayatollah – for now' while the i paper goes with 'Trump threatens Supreme Leader of Iran, but won't kill him 'for now''. The Financial Times' splash headline is 'Trump calls for Iran's 'surrender' and leaves way open to US role in conflict'. The Express runs with 'Grooming gangs 'one of biggest scandals ever''. The Mirror is on that one too: 'Grooming victim's plea – speak up for justice'. And now the weather – '33 degrees – heatwave in flaming June' – brought to us by the Metro. Air India crash and the miracle of seat 11A Aviation journalist Jeff Wise on the crash of flight AI171, in which at least 270 people died, and how one passenger in seat 11A managed to survive. A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad The war in Gaza and Israel's intensifying occupation of the West Bank have taken an unimaginable toll on Palestinian children. Their injuries, deaths, and displacement have dominated the news, but what about their inner lives? Acclaimed photographer Misan Harriman set out to explore this by hosting a photography workshop for Palestinian children who fled to Egypt. He gave them cameras, taught them how to use them – and stepped back. The result is a powerful, series of intimate and sometimes heartbreaking images. 'They understand what bearing witness means,' Harriman says. 'It's just a beautiful, maybe even cathartic experience for them.' And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war live: Day of mourning for Kyiv attack begins after G7 fails to condemn Putin
Ukraine is marking a day of mourning on Wednesday after what Volodymyr Zelensky described as one of the worst attacks on Kyiv since the war with Russia began. At least 18 people were killed in the strikes, 16 in Kyiv and two in Odesa, as Russia fired nearly 500 missiles and drones at 27 locations in the capital. Mr Zelensky told the G7 that the attack by Vladimir Putin 's forces proved once again the need for Ukraine to be provided better air defences. He also told the G7 leaders in Canada that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis" after US president Donald Trump left the summit a day early to address the conflict in the Middle East, skipping their meeting. Hosts Canada then dropped plans for the group to issue a strong statement on the war in Ukraine after resistance from the United States, a Canadian official told reporters. Mr Zelensky said Western allies need to continue calling on Mr Trump "to use his real influence" to force an end to the war. Trump administration 'disbands group focused on pressuring Russia' Trump administration officials have shelved an inter-agency working group created to formulate strategies for pressuring Russia into speeding up peace talks with Ukraine, it has been claimed. The group was established earlier in the spring but lost steam in May as it became increasingly clear that Donald Trump was not interested in adopting a more confrontational stance toward Moscow, three US officials told Reuters. "It lost steam toward the end because the president wasn't there. Instead of doing more, maybe he wanted to do less,' one official was quoted as saying. The final blow came roughly three weeks ago, when most members of the White House National Security Council, who were coordinating the group – including the entire team dealing directly with the Ukraine war – were dismissed as part of a broad purge, they alleged. Arpan Rai18 June 2025 06:48 North Korea's Kim met Putin's top security official Shoigu North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Russia's top presidential security adviser Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang yesterday as the two discussed a "special military operation" in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine, state media KCNA reported today. Mr Kim and Mr Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, discussed cooperation plans for Moscow's rebuilding of the Kursk region, the report said, confirming earlier reports of the meeting by Russian media. North Korea will send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to the region to help rebuild it after the Ukrainian incursion that North Korean troops helped Moscow repel this year, Mr Shoigu was cited as saying by the Russian state news agency TASS today. His visit to Pyongyang and meeting with Mr Kim came nearly two weeks after his last meeting with the leader of the reclusive state on 4 June. Plans to commemorate the "heroic feats" of North Korean soldiers in the operations in the Kursk region, a part of Russia which Ukrainian forces infiltrated last year, were also discussed during the meeting, KCNA said. Arpan Rai18 June 2025 06:09 Zelensky informs G7 leaders of Russia's attack across Ukraine: 'A difficult night' Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the overnight Russian attacks from Tuesday that killed 15 people and injured 150-plus in his country as he met with allies at G7 summit. "Our families had a very difficult night, one of the biggest attacks from the very beginning of this war,' he said. "We need support from allies and I'm here," Mr Zelensky said. He added, "We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire. I think it's very important. But for this, we need pressure." Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said the attack "underscores the importance of standing in total solidarity with Ukraine." While the summit was meant to showcase unity on top global issues, no joint statement on the conflict in Ukraine was released. Arpan Rai18 June 2025 05:48 Zelensky thanks Canada for military aid and Russia sanctions Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky departed from the G7 summit yesterday with new aid from host Canada for its war against Russia. But before exiting, he warned that diplomacy is in "crisis" after the leaders missed the chance to press US president Donald Trump for more action. 'Today, we have concrete decisions on increased military support, new tranches of aid funded by frozen Russian assets, and additional sanctions targeting what fuels Russia's war. It is important that partners are ready not only to support our defence now, but also to rebuild Ukraine together after the war ends,' Mr Zelensky said. Arpan Rai18 June 2025 05:30 Video report: Russian drone attack hits residential building in Kyiv with 14 killed Arpan Rai18 June 2025 05:19 Starmer tightens screws on Putin as he announces raft of fresh sanctions against Russia Sir Keir Starmer has promised to keep 'tightening the screws' on Vladimir Putin as he announced a raft of fresh sanctions on dozens of new Russian finance, military and energy targets. The prime minister is piling fresh pressure on the Russian war machine and seeking to win further backing from G7 leaders at a key summit in Canada. After repeated refusals from Putin to engage in peace talks, and fresh Russian strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday, the PM said his sanctions will 'choke off his ability to continue his barbaric war' in Ukraine. Starmer tightens screws on Putin with raft of fresh sanctions against Russia Keir Starmer said his sanctions would choke off Putin's ability to continue his war Arpan Rai18 June 2025 05:18 Trump unaware of major Russian attack on Kyiv when asked by reporter Donald Trump appeared to be unaware of a major Russian attack that killed at least 15 people and injured 116 in Kyiv and Odesa on Tuesday, hours after the assault took place. Asked about the attack by a reporter aboard Air Force One as he travelled back from the G7 summit in Canada – where reports suggested he had been due to meet Volodymyr Zelensky before cutting his trip short – Mr Trump said: 'When was that? When?' Told that the attack was very recent, the US president replied: 'Just now? You mean as I'm walking back to see you, that's when it took place? Sounds like it. I'll have to look at it.' The Kyiv Independent reported that seven hours later, the White House was still yet to comment on the Russian attack. Arpan Rai18 June 2025 04:50 Trump's early exit forces G7 to abandon joint statement on Ukraine Canada dropped plans for the G7 to issue a strong statement on the war in Ukraine after resistance from the United States, a Canadian official told reporters. The G7 wealthy nations struggled to find unity over the conflict in Ukraine after Trump expressed support for Russian president Vladimir Putin and left a day early to address the Israel-Iran conflict from Washington. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said Ottawa would provide C$2bn ($1.47bn) in new military assistance for Kyiv as well as impose new financial sanctions. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he had told the G7 leaders that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis" and said they need to continue calling on Donald Trump "to use his real influence" to force an end to the war, in a post on his Telegram account. Arpan Rai
