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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela citing risks of torture, kidnapping
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The U.S. State Department is launching a new campaign to warn Americans not to go to Venezuela. Officials say anyone who does risks kidnapping, imprisonment, and even torture. Christian Castaneda understands those risks painfully well, because he says his brother Wilbert Joseph Castaneda is currently being wrongfully detained in Venezuela. It was just before Labor Day weekend of 2024 when Christian says he got a strange late-night call from an international number. When he picked up, it was his brother Wilbert. 'He said Christian I'm in Venezuela. It's a really really bad situation,' Castaneda said. He was immediately concerned, but it would take some time to discover just how bad the situation was. It turns out his brother Wilbert had been vacationing in Colombia and then traveled to Venezuela, where the Venezuelan government imprisoned him. The Venezuelan government accuses Castaneda and other foreign visitors of a plot to assassinate President Nicholas Maduro. Christian says that's completely untrue. 'They have not provided a single shred of evidence,' Castaneda said. Wilbert is a U.S. Navy Seal and a father of four. It's been months since his family has been able to see or talk to him. Christian shared that they're very worried for his safety, especially after hearing from former American detainees about how dangerous Venezuela can be. 'Very rough conditions, including torture. And so absolutely very concerned that that could be the case. Not just for my brother, but for other Americans that are there as well,' Castaneda said. That's why the U.S. State Department just launched a new campaign to warn Americans not to go to Venezuela for any reason. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston says it's critically important for them to spread the word. 'No travel is safe right now in Venezuela, absolutely no travel,' Houston said. 'We are asking Americans, don't risk it, don't take the chance. Not even to travel to the border.' Right now, the State Department says more U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than anywhere else in the world. Strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela mean that the U.S. government has no access to American detainees. 'The stories that we have heard from detained Americans, they're horrific. The beatings, the torture. This is not a place you want to spend your summer travel. This is not a place you want to go,' Houston said. The Castaneda family is actively working with hostage advocacy groups, lawmakers, and the Trump administration to get Wilbert back home. 'I hope that he knows that we're fighting for him. And I know that he does, that his family misses him very much. His kids are looking forward to seeing him again soon,' Castaneda said. He says he's hopeful. 'There's no doubt in my mind that he'll be reunited with us and with his family soon,' Castaneda said. 'Not a day goes by that we are not thinking about the Americans who are wrongfully detained around the world, and Venezuela is included,' Houston said. While the State Department works to free all Americans, including Castaneda, they want to make sure others don't end up imprisoned in Venezuela. 'This is a campaign to ensure that we don't have another name to add to that list,' Houston said. 'There is no trip that is worth the price of your freedom.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US disaster relief agency chief was set to be fired before public break with Trump
Despite being appointed by US President Donald Trump, Mr Cameron Hamilton was seen as going against Mr Trump's direction when he helmed the Federal Emergency Management Agency. PHOTO: AFP US disaster relief agency chief was set to be fired before public break with Trump WASHINGTON - Before Mr Cameron Hamilton headed to Capitol Hill on May 7 to testify about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) he was leading, the former Navy Seal cleaned out his desk, knowing that he would soon be fired. That morning officials with Fema's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), had called Fema's security team to order them to revoke Mr Hamilton's security pass and escort him from the building, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. A tense back-and-forth ensued, with Fema officials warning that Mr Hamilton, the agency's acting administrator, would need to cancel his planned congressional testimony. That could fuel the perception of instability at the disaster relief agency, the Fema officials cautioned, the three people said. DHS officials relented and Mr Hamilton testified that afternoon, telling lawmakers he did not support the dismantling of the agency, contradicting the position of President Donald Trump, who had said he was considering abolishing Fema altogether. Mr Hamilton's dismissal the following day was widely seen as punishment for his testimony, a view the White House did not contradict in its statements on his departure. But the sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that Mr Trump's allies already wanted him out for what they saw as insufficient action to strip down an agency where many staff increasingly viewed him as something of a protector despite being a Trump appointee. 'Cameron wasn't fired for his testimony at that congressional committee hearing. He knew well in advance,' Mr Matt Strickland, a longtime friend of Hamilton, told Reuters. Mr Hamilton did not respond to requests for comment. 'This is lazy gossip,' a DHS spokesperson said in response to questions about Mr Hamilton's removal. The spokesperson said Hamilton was not fired and is now a senior adviser at the Department of Education. A spokesperson for the Education Department said Mr Hamilton was working on school safety issues and foreign influence on university campuses. Agency roiled by departures Mr Strickland said Mr Hamilton had clashed with long-time Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, a key aide to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The tensions included the fallout over a disbursement of grants to New York City to cover the cost of housing migrants that Fema later clawed back. Mr Strickland said he was fired as a government contractor for DHS this month after he posted a message on social media defending Mr Hamilton. In a response to his post, DHS said on X that Mr Strickland could only be fired by the contractor who employed him. Mr Lewandowski contested that clashes with Mr Hamilton contributed to the latter's ouster from Fema. 'None of this is true,' Mr Lewandowski said in a text message. 'Cameron Hamilton chose to take a new opportunity at the Department of Education advising on school security.' The previously unreported behind-the-scenes drama sheds new light on the circumstances of Mr Hamilton's dismissal, which came just over three weeks before the June 1 start of what forecasters say will be an above-normal hurricane season. The agency, which coordinates the federal response to natural disasters, has been roiled by the loss of hundreds of staff and low morale. Last week a raft of senior executives exited en masse, raising further questions about the agency's preparedness for hurricane season. Mr Hamilton's dismissal highlights Mr Trump's determination to overhaul Fema and a willingness to jettison even loyalists who do not move fast enough. The move is not without political risk for Mr Trump, whose Republican Party could face the wrath of voters if hurricane relief efforts go poorly and the turmoil at Fema is blamed. Experts have warned that shrinking or reorganising Fema could leave local and state governments more vulnerable to facing natural disasters alone. Mr Hamilton was replaced by Mr David Richardson, a Marine Corps veteran with no emergency management experience and who was serving as assistant secretary of the DHS' office for countering weapons of mass destruction. In his first address to staff, Mr Richardson vowed to implement Mr Trump's wishes and 'run right over' employees who got in his way. In a subsequent address he told staff he believed the agency was well prepared for hurricane season. Polygraphs and Lewandowski Mr Hamilton, who worked in the State Department during Mr Trump's first term and has been an unflinching backer of the president, came into the acting Fema administrator position skeptical of the agency's mission and staff, the three sources said. But, as he toured Fema's offices and got to know its employees, he came to believe that while Fema needed reform, it still had an important role to play in disaster response, the sources said. In his first statement to staff after being appointed in January, he acknowledged 'you are the foremost experts in this critical work,' and that 'I am here to serve as an advocate for you,' according to a copy reviewed by Reuters. That nuanced view increasingly put him at odds with Ms Noem and Mr Lewandowski, who had made it known to others at DHS they felt Mr Hamilton was being 'too nice' to Fema staff, even as he oversaw the elimination of hundreds of agency jobs, two of the sources said. The first outward sign of tension came in late March when several Fema employees were given a polygraph test to determine who leaked to the press information about a private meeting that included Mr Hamilton, Ms Noem and Mr Lewandowski, according to two of the sources. Ms Noem had discussed radically shrinking Fema and shifting costs for disaster response to the states, Politico and CNN reported at the time. Mr Lewandowski called Mr Hamilton and accused him of being the leaker, two of the sources said. Soon after, Mr Hamilton received an email from DHS' office of the chief security officer stating that his candour and character were in question and that he was required to submit to a polygraph examination, one of the sources said. While Mr Hamilton was cleared by the test, he continued to clash with Mr Lewandowski over Fema's direction, and in late April, Mr Hamilton told some senior Fema staff it was possible he would be fired, two of the sources said. On the morning of his testimony, Mr Hamilton put all his belongings into bags, ready to pick up after he got back from the Hill, one of the sources said. But he would last one more day. He was fired on May 8 by Mr Lewandowski and Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar during a short meeting at DHS headquarters, two of the sources said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anytime Fitness prepares to take on the 'Murph'
BRANDON, S.D. (KELO) — A fitness center in Brandon is honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a special event this holiday weekend. Mary Lou Lacey is a regular at Anytime Fitness in Brandon. 'I come into Anytime Fitness at least six days a week, sometimes more than once a day,' Brandon resident Mary Lou Lacey said. South Dakota agencies seek out ICE authority under 287(g) The 68-year-old is also a Veteran. 'I was in the Army. I was a truck driver for three years, I was mainly on the east coast in Virginia,' Lacey said. This morning, Mary Lou's getting in a few squats, just one of the requirements of the 'Murph'. 'So, it's 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 squats, and then you come back in and you do your last 1-mile run as a finisher (laugh),' Lacey said. Mary Lou says the mental aspect is the most challenging part of the workout, which is a tribute to Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal who was killed in action in 2005. 'We all want to be remembered and he gave us everything, so we're going to remember that by doing this challenge,' Lacey said. 'It is a wonderful way to truly remember what Memorial Day is all about, those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms so we can come here as a community and do a workout like this as a group,' Anytime Fitness owner Jayme Smid said. Jayme Smid owns Anytime Fitness and encourages people of any fitness level to participate. 'We'll break it up and we'll do 25 pull-ups or 50 push-ups at a time, so it doesn't have to be that daunting 200 number, because at the end of the day while it's going to challenge you no matter what fitness level you're at we want you to feel accomplished,' Smid said. And Mary Lou says it's worth the pain. 'It's going to make you feel good, it's going to hurt, but in the long run you're going to feel good and you're going to feel like you respected someone who sacrificed for us,' Lacey said. The 'Murph' starts at 8:00 Saturday morning at Anytime Fitness in Brandon. There's no cost to participate, but you are encouraged to pre-register. Veterans talk real reason for Memorial Day Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tucker Carlson says Trump's deal to build hotel in the Middle East ‘seems like corruption'
Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host with a history of praising President Donald Trump, is raising concerns over the commander-in-chief's plans to build hotels and resorts in Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, NBC News reported the Trump Organization signed deals to build a Trump International Hotel and Tower in Dubai, a Trump Tower in Jeddah and a golf resort in Doha. The company also has a hotel under construction in Muscat. The president spent four days in the Middle East earlier this month, touring Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Carlson made the remarks during an episode of The Tucker Carlson Show this week after his guest, Shawn Ryan, a former Navy Seal said he was 'losing hope' with the administration, adding it needed 'a lot of work.' While approving of the president's crack down on DEI initiatives and efforts to secure the southern border, Ryan took issue over the botched efforts to release the Epstein Files, before offering a scathing review of dealings in the Middle East. 'I see all these negotiations going on in the Middle East and then, I don't know when these buildings were approved or when these deals got done, but then I also see like, oh, there's a brand new hotel going up in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and another one going up in Doha,' Ryan told Carlson. 'I'm like, did these just get done also with the deals that just happened over there, or was this earlier? You would probably know.' Carlson responded: 'No, I don't know. I've not made one dollar in the Middle East. Not one.' 'You're a lot more on the inside than I am,' said Ryan in response, to which Carlson protested: 'No, no, no, I'm just a visitor and a traveler and watcher.' Ryan continued: 'That stuff kind of worries me.' 'Well it seems like corruption, yeah,' Carlson added.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tucker Carlson says Trump's deal to build hotel in the Middle East ‘seems like corruption'
Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host with a history of praising President Donald Trump, is raising concerns over the commander-in-chief's plans to build hotels and resorts in Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, NBC News reported the Trump Organization signed deals to build a Trump International Hotel and Tower in Dubai, a Trump Tower in Jeddah and a golf resort in Doha. The company also has a hotel under construction in Muscat. The president spent four days in the Middle East earlier this month, touring Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Carlson made the remarks during an episode of The Tucker Carlson Show this week after his guest, Shawn Ryan, a former Navy Seal said he was 'losing hope' with the administration, adding it needed 'a lot of work.' While approving of the president's crack down on DEI initiatives and efforts to secure the southern border, Ryan took issue over the botched efforts to release the Epstein Files, before offering a scathing review of dealings in the Middle East. 'I see all these negotiations going on in the Middle East and then, I don't know when these buildings were approved or when these deals got done, but then I also see like, oh, there's a brand new hotel going up in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and another one going up in Doha,' Ryan told Carlson. 'I'm like, did these just get done also with the deals that just happened over there, or was this earlier? You would probably know.' Carlson responded: 'No, I don't know. I've not made one dollar in the Middle East. Not one.' 'You're a lot more on the inside than I am,' said Ryan in response, to which Carlson protested: 'No, no, no, I'm just a visitor and a traveler and watcher.' Ryan continued: 'That stuff kind of worries me.' 'Well it seems like corruption, yeah,' Carlson added.
