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US military escalates naval presence near Venezuela
The Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group has moved into the Latin America region, United States officials confirmed on Tuesday, dramatically escalating a military buildup that has deepened tensions with Venezuela. The deployment was ordered by President Donald Trump last month and adds the world's largest aircraft carrier to a formidable presence that already includes eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 aircraft in the Caribbean. The Pentagon confirmed the carrier's arrival, stating its purpose was to help “disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations”. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged the U.S. buildup is designed to drive him from power. Washington has exerted significant pressure on Maduro, whom it accuses of links to drug trafficking. In August, the U.S. doubled its reward for information leading to his arrest to US$50 million. Maduro denies the allegations. The U.S. military has already carried out at least 19 strikes against suspected drug vessels in the region, killing at least 76 people. When the Ford's deployment was first announced, Maduro warned that if the U.S. ever intervened, “millions of men and women with ri
Americas
ICE raid hits Hyundai battery plant, hundreds detained
A Hyundai plant in the United States has been stormed by federal agents, with hundreds of workers detained. Most of the 475 workers detained at the car battery factory were South Korean nationals. The raid has been labelled as one of the largest single-site enforcement operations that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ever carried out and is part of President Donald Trump's focus on undocumented workers. The plant is a flagship electric vehicle battery site, designed to be a huge economic development opportunity for the state of Georgia, where it is located. ICE later released footage of workers being escorted off the premises in shackles. The incident has led South Korea to send diplomats out to the site, with repatriation plans underway. Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, confirmed on Sunday that a charter plane will be dispatched to bring 300 workers home as soon as administrative processes allow.
Americas
Trump's US$2bn Harvard funding freeze ruled illegal
Harvard University was handed a landmark win when a federal judge declared United States President Donald Trump’s US$2.2 billion termination of funding grants unlawful. In the 84-page order, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said the Trump administration “used antisemitism as a smokescreen” to block billions in research funding unlawfully. "We must fight against antisemitism, but we equally need to protect our rights, including our right to free speech, and neither goal should nor needs to be sacrificed on the altar of the other," Judge Burroughs wrote in her order. "Now it is the job of the courts to similarly step up, to act to safeguard academic freedom and freedom of speech as required by the Constitution, and to ensure that important research is not improperly subjected to arbitrary and procedurally infirm grant terminations, even if doing so risks the wrath of a government committed to its agenda no matter the cost.” This comes after the Trump administration froze US$2.7 billion in Harvard grants and US$60 million in contracts in April following the school’s refusal to budge on he government’s demands after the administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism alleged the school failed to confront ant
Americas
Trump threatened to bomb Russia in leaked CNN audio
NATO member Poland is scrambling for more fighter jets overnight after Russia launched record numbers of drones and missiles at Ukraine. The attack on Ukraine involved 782 Shaheds according to the Ukrainian Air Force, who also added that 13 missiles had also been fired comprising seven Iskander-K cruise missiles and six Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. It said 718 weapons were neutralised in the overnight attack that ended on Wednesday morning. "This is a telling attack — and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted to X. This caused Poland to take measures to protect its own airspace. At the same time, leaked audio has been released of President Donald Trump threatening to “bomb the s—- out of Moscow” if Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine. The recording comes from a donor meeting in 2024, where he similarly threatened Chinese President Xi Jinping to deter China from invading Taiwan. The recording was obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf who shared the audio with CNN. “With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukra
Americas
Florida developing Alligator Alcatraz detention facility
Florida is developing an immigration detention centre deep in the Everglades that will be known as “Alligator Alcatraz". Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed the project on X in response to the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked leaders to identify places for temporary detention facilities. "This 30-square mile area is completely surrounded by the Everglades. It presents an efficient, low-cost opportunity to build a temporary detention facility because you don't need to invest that much in the perimeter," Uthmeier said. "If people get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons." Uthmeier got the green light within days, with the facility on track to open in the first week of July with 5,000 beds. “We are working on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations,” the Department of Homeland Security said on X. The facility is to be built at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport and is set to cost around US$450 million to run. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the facility will be largely funded by FEMA’s Shelter and Servi

World

Americas

US military escalates naval presence near Venezuela

ICE raid hits Hyundai battery plant, hundreds detained

Trump's US$2bn Harvard funding freeze ruled illegal

Trump threatened to bomb Russia in leaked CNN audio

Florida developing Alligator Alcatraz detention facility

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