Trump said the operation was conducted by the US Southern Command and coordinated with Venezuelan authorities. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the strike took place earlier in the week and confirmed Guerrero was killed.

Venezuela’s information ministry said the operation involved clashes with criminal groups and that Guerrero was neutralized, adding that the action involved intelligence-sharing and specialized technological support.

The Trump administration has previously sanctioned Guerrero and other Tren de Aragua leaders over alleged involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering. Washington has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.

Trump has accused the group of coordinating activities in the United States with Venezuela’s government, a claim his administration has cited in support of deportation measures targeting some migrants.

Tren de Aragua emerged from Venezuela’s Tocorón prison and expanded across parts of Latin America. Authorities have linked the group to crimes including extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking, money laundering and organized criminal activity.

Guerrero escaped from Tocorón prison in 2023 shortly before a police operation against the facility, according to authorities.

The Justice Department said in a court filing that thunderstorms created safety risks for workers carrying out the removal work and requested an extension until Saturday afternoon.

Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who filed the lawsuit, opposed the request, calling the delay unacceptable and part of what she described as a pattern of failing to comply with the court’s order.

A federal judge in Washington had earlier rejected a request from the administration and the Kennedy Center board to pause the removal order while an appeal moved forward.

US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress has the authority to rename the performing arts venue, which was established as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.

The administration appealed the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which also declined to suspend the order.

Attorneys for Beatty said the law was clear that changing the Kennedy Center’s name required congressional action.

The Kennedy Center opened in 1971 as a memorial to Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. After Trump appointed several board members, the board voted in December to rename the center to include his name.

Trump announced plans earlier this year for a major renovation of the center as part of a broader effort to reshape Washington’s landmark sites.

Sharif said Pakistan was preparing for an electronic signing within the next 24 hours, followed by technical-level talks expected next week.

The announcement came after weeks of negotiations involving international mediators following intensified fighting between Iran, the United States and Israel that raised fears of a wider regional conflict.

US Central Command said on Friday that it had intercepted several Iranian attack drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments.

The conflict, which began on Feb. 28, disrupted oil and natural gas flows from the Arabian Gulf and affected global energy markets. A ceasefire has been in place since April 7.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said terms related to Iran’s nuclear program would be finalized within 60 days after the initial agreement and that the timeline could be extended if needed.

The United States and Israel have expressed concerns that Iran’s nuclear activities could lead to the development of nuclear weapons, while Tehran has maintained that its program is peaceful.

A senior US official said the emerging agreement would begin a process to remove or destroy Iran’s highly enriched uranium, with technical details to be worked out during the 60-day period.

The agreement is also expected to include steps toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official. Iran has sought the ability to charge ships for services while they transit the waterway, a proposal criticized by some countries as inconsistent with international law.

Regional officials said the deal could include phased sanctions relief for Iran and the release of frozen assets.

The situation in Lebanon remains unresolved, with Iran insisting that any agreement should include a ceasefire there. Fighting continued in southern Lebanon on Saturday.

The ceremonies mark the final phase of national mourning for Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli and US strikes in February, according to Iranian state media reports.

The funeral proceedings are expected to start in Tehran before moving through additional stages of national observance ahead of burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.

Khamenei led the Islamic Republic for more than three decades, having assumed power in 1989 following the death of Iran’s founding Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His death has triggered a prolonged transition period within Iran’s political and religious leadership structure.

State media did not provide additional details on security arrangements for the ceremonies, which come amid heightened regional tensions following months of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The announcement follows earlier postponements of funeral arrangements amid security concerns and ongoing instability in the region.

The National News Agency (NNA) said strikes hit multiple areas covered by the warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, which lie near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon.

Earlier, the Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River for their safety, citing the presence of Hezbollah-linked infrastructure in the area.

“Anyone who is in the vicinity of Hezbollah installations or means of warfare is endangering their lives,” Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post on social media platform X.

The evacuation order covered 20 locations across southern Lebanon and came amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the region, which Israel has described as targeting Hezbollah positions.

Lebanese authorities have repeatedly warned that expanded evacuation zones and strikes are worsening humanitarian conditions in the south, where thousands have been displaced in recent months.

The latest strikes follow a pattern of near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah-linked forces, despite international calls for de-escalation and efforts to restore a ceasefire framework.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from Saturday’s strikes, and the situation in the affected areas remained fluid, according to Lebanese state media.

The ministry identified the detainee as Qais Hassan al-Abd al-Rajab, a former brigadier general who previously served as deputy director of the General Intelligence Directorate, also known as State Security.

According to a statement published on the Interior Ministry’s Telegram channel, al-Abd al-Rajab was detained by the Counterterrorism Directorate after what authorities described as extensive tracking operations.

He is accused of involvement in violations against residents of the Damascus countryside, including areas such as Hajar al-Aswad, Daraya and Moadamiyat al-Sham, as well as parts of Daraa province, the ministry said.

Officials said the suspect had attempted to evade arrest prior to his detention, and that investigations are ongoing ahead of legal proceedings and referral to the judiciary.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in earlier remarks that security forces continue to pursue individuals accused of crimes committed under the former Assad administration as part of wider accountability efforts.

He added that intelligence and internal security units were conducting surveillance and enforcement operations aimed at bringing suspects before the courts.

The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to investigate alleged abuses committed during the Assad era, including broader transitional justice measures and attempts to document violations against civilians.

State media, citing security officials, said the grave was discovered in the Sednaya area in the Damascus countryside and is believed to contain fighters who died during battles in the western Qalamoun region.

The individuals were described by authorities as “martyrs” killed in 2014 fighting between opposition forces and militias aligned with the then Assad administration.

Security forces were seen inspecting the site, according to images released by state media, which showed personnel working at the location where remains were found.

The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to document wartime events and investigate sites linked to past conflict-era violence.

Officials did not immediately provide details on the number of remains recovered or the process for identification, and further forensic work is expected to continue.

Artists and cultural figures have reflected on the career and influence of David Hockney following the death of the British painter at the age of 88, describing an artist whose work shaped perceptions of modern life, technology and visual expression.

The responses highlighted the breadth of Hockney’s career, from his celebrated depictions of swimming pools and landscapes to his experiments with drawing, digital tools and new ways of representing space. Several artists said his approach influenced generations by presenting art as an open process of observation and exploration.

Artist Rachel Whiteread recalled first encountering Hockney’s work as a child, alongside other major modern artists. She said a television programme about him in the 1970s shaped her early understanding of what an artist could be.

“I remember seeing a TV programme about David in the 1970s as a young kid and thinking ‘wow, is that what being an artist is like?’” she said.Whiteread said Hockney appeared different from many artists of his generation because of his public presence and his willingness to embrace visibility.

She described him as someone who made the life of an artist appear accessible and energetic.“He was charismatic and fashionable and very out and proud,” she said, adding that he made being an artist look enjoyable and engaging.She also pointed to Hockney’s paintings of swimming pools in Los Angeles as among the works that had a particular impact on her.

She said she often thinks about his treatment of water when she swims, noting the complexity of his handling of light, depth and movement.“I actually think about him every time I go swimming,” she said. “It always astounds me how he painted water, and figures within water.”The pool paintings, created during his periods in California, represented a major phase of Hockney’s career.

Whiteread described them as distinct from the atmosphere of London and praised the way they captured layered surfaces and changing environments.She also highlighted his drawings, particularly his use of line and composition, saying they demonstrated his technical ability and his continuing commitment to visual experimentation.“He just never stopped painting,” Whiteread said.

“It was like he was breathing art.”Artist Jeremy Deller said Hockney’s influence extended beyond traditional painting and included his engagement with technology and public projects. Deller described him as a role model who remained active and curious throughout his career.“He humanised technology in a way that few have managed,” Deller said.

He recalled working with Hockney on a banner titled “The Unrepentant Smokers” for a procession in Manchester in 2009. Deller said the reaction from an anti-smoking councillor, who objected to the work, amused Hockney.Deller also referred to Hockney’s later immersive exhibition work, saying it demonstrated the artist’s continued interest in combining visual art with new forms of presentation.

Artist Tacita Dean pointed to Hockney’s influence on approaches to drawing and spatial representation. She said his work challenged traditional ideas of how images create a sense of place.Dean described Hockney’s immersive drawings as a significant contribution to contemporary art, saying they showed how lines could move beyond simply describing objects and instead create a sense of space.

“He created these immersive drawings that you could almost step into,” she said.She added that Hockney’s importance would take time to fully assess, but said his willingness to keep experimenting remained one of the defining aspects of his career.The director of Turner Contemporary, Clarrie Wallis, said Hockney’s work had played a major role in shaping public understanding of visual culture.

She said few artists had contributed as significantly to changing how people perceive the world around them.Hockney’s career was marked by a constant interest in new ways of seeing, whether through traditional painting, photography, digital technology or large-scale installations. His work often examined ordinary subjects, including landscapes, interiors and everyday objects, while exploring how images are constructed and interpreted.

The reflections from fellow artists focused on this continuing search for new perspectives. They described an artist who remained engaged with changing technologies and artistic methods while maintaining a strong connection to observation and drawing.For many who worked alongside or followed his career, Hockney’s influence was not limited to specific works or periods but was connected to his broader approach to making art.

His legacy, they said, lies in the way he expanded ideas about what painting could include and how audiences could experience images.

The success of “The Correspondent” has brought renewed attention to a novel that examines loss, memory, disappointment and the possibility of hope, with its author saying the story was shaped by a desire to explore grief through emotional proximity rather than distance.

The novel follows Sybil, a character whose life is deeply affected by the death of her son Gilbert, who died years before the events of the book. The theme of parental loss became more personal for the author during the writing process after the six-year-old son of close friends died.

The experience influenced the emotional direction of the book, as the author said the tragedy created a deeper understanding of the impact of losing a child and the consequences such a loss can have on a family.While writing, she said she felt she could understand the experience “as closely as I could without it being my own”.

When she returned to the manuscript, the reality of her friends’ loss affected the way she viewed every part of the story.She sought permission from the child’s parents to acknowledge him in the book. The family agreed, and she later said the recognition of his existence through the novel had become one of the most meaningful aspects of its reception.

The author’s approach to writing about grief differed from some other writers who have explored similar themes. Another novelist delayed writing a work about the death of a young child until her own son had passed the age at which the fictional child died. In contrast, the author of “The Correspondent” chose to write the loss of a child of the same age as her own son at the time.

She said a discussion with another writer about the idea of writing not only what one knows but also what one fears influenced her thinking. She concluded that fear could be as vivid and emotionally powerful as personal experience.“I could only write that grief accurately by trying to get as close to the thing as I could,” she said.

The novel also reflects the importance of letters and correspondence, a theme connected to the author’s own life. She grew up in Maryland as one of three siblings in a household that was not particularly focused on books, but she developed a long-standing habit of writing letters, especially to writers whose work she admired.

That interest in correspondence influenced the structure and emotional atmosphere of the novel. She formed a friendship with one writer after years of exchanging letters and described physical letters as valuable objects that preserve a connection between people.“I love to receive a letter,” she said. “It’s like an artefact.

I have some letters that are real treasures.”The novel includes imagined letters from two well-known writers. The author said she approached those fictional elements carefully because both writers had been known for responding to readers, and she wanted the imagined correspondence to be consistent with their published work.

Following the book’s success, she has received a large number of letters from readers and now requires assistance in responding to them.Although the novel addresses difficult subjects, she said she wanted the story to contain a sense of renewal rather than ending in despair. She described the book as combining grief and disappointment with themes of forgiveness and hope.She said many novels leave readers with a feeling of bleakness, but she wanted this story to move in a different direction.

The author believes the positive response to the book may partly reflect a wider interest in stories that include optimism alongside hardship. She said themes of redemption can sometimes be viewed as less common in contemporary fiction, but the reaction to the novel suggested that readers continue to value such ideas.“It says something really beautiful to me that so many people were willing to entertain my book,” she said.

The success of “The Correspondent” has allowed her to focus on writing as a full-time career. However, she continues to maintain a structured routine, usually writing for a few hours after her children leave for school.She has also created a dedicated workspace, something she had wanted for years, and described having a private area for writing as an important change.

The author is now working on another novel, this time centred on the process of making a film. Despite the commercial success of her latest book, she said she still finds it difficult to fully accept the change in her professional circumstances.She recalled recently asking her agent whether the new project would succeed, only to be reminded that the response to her previous work had changed expectations.

The story of “The Correspondent” has connected with readers because of its focus on ordinary human experiences: the way people remember those they have lost, the importance of communication and the possibility of moving forward after personal tragedy.

A new book by a veteran international journalist uses the history of Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel to trace decades of political upheaval in Afghanistan, while highlighting the experiences of ordinary Afghans who lived through successive governments, conflicts and social transformations.

The author argues that Afghanistan’s modern history is marked by repeated cycles of change and uncertainty, yet many Afghans continue to hold on to a belief that no political system is permanent. That sense of resilience, she says, remains one of the defining characteristics of the country despite the challenges facing its people.

“Afghans always used to say: the last to die is hope,” she said during an interview discussing the book. “Afghanistan has possibly lived through every political system the world has tried. The thread through Afghan history is that nothing lasts forever.”

At the centre of the narrative are employees of Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel, one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks. Through their personal accounts, the book documents how political changes shaped everyday life across generations.

Among those featured are a longtime housekeeper who worked at the hotel from its opening, one of its first female chefs, an engineer responsible for maintaining the property through periods of conflict and instability, and one of the hotel’s pioneering female waiters.

Their experiences provide a perspective on Afghanistan’s recent history that extends beyond political leaders and military campaigns.The author said documenting those stories required the trust and cooperation of Afghans who were willing to speak despite potential risks.

“I have to pay tribute to the Afghans who helped me and spoke to me for the book, because in Afghanistan even sharing stories can have risks,” she said.The journalist began her reporting career as a freelance correspondent in West Africa before joining the BBC and covering conflicts and political developments around the world.

She later became the broadcaster’s chief international correspondent, reporting from some of the most significant geopolitical events of recent decades.Her latest book opens with the collapse of the internationally backed Afghan government in August 2021 and the return of the Taliban to power following the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces.

The fall of Kabul and the chaotic evacuation that followed form a central part of the narrative.Recalling the scenes at Kabul airport, she described a period marked by fear, confusion and desperation as thousands attempted to leave the country.“There was this fear at the end,” she said.

“People kept talking about Vietnam. In fact, it was a hundred times worse.”She remembered military transport aircraft, helicopters and large crowds carrying only essential belongings as they sought evacuation. Images of Afghans clinging to departing aircraft became some of the most widely circulated photographs of the withdrawal and drew international scrutiny over the manner of the exit.

The events of August 2021 remain among the defining moments of her reporting career and continue to shape international debate over the consequences of two decades of foreign military involvement in Afghanistan.Since regaining power, the Taliban administration has introduced a series of restrictions affecting women and girls.

Secondary education and university access for girls have been suspended, while women have been excluded from many forms of employment and public participation. Additional regulations have imposed strict dress requirements and further limited women’s visibility in public life.The journalist described the situation as one of the most pressing human rights concerns facing Afghanistan today.

“Five years in and it is getting worse. It is a stain on our world,” she said.Despite those restrictions, she said Afghan women continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination in the face of mounting obstacles.She also expressed concern about challenges faced by Afghan women outside the country, particularly those seeking educational opportunities abroad.

While scholarship programmes remain available in some cases, she noted that visa barriers and immigration restrictions have prevented many students from pursuing studies overseas.“There are Afghan women getting scholarships, but there are no visas now to allow Afghan women to come and study in Britain and in many other places,” she said.

According to the author, many Afghans who once held prominent roles in journalism, civil society, education and public service have been forced to rebuild their lives from the beginning after leaving the country.“People who were somebody in Afghanistan — activists, world-class journalists — find themselves having to start again from scratch,” she said.

The displacement of professionals and educated workers has contributed to concerns among international observers about the long-term impact on Afghanistan’s social and economic development.At the same time, the author cautioned against viewing the entire period between 2001 and 2021 solely through the lens of its final outcome.

She argued that the years of international engagement produced significant changes in education, media, civil society and opportunities for women, even if many of those gains are now under pressure.She said debates about whether two decades of foreign involvement achieved meaningful results often overlook the experiences of millions of Afghans whose lives changed during that period.

“People often say: what did 20 years of international engagement achieve? Was it all for nothing?” she said. “I always say it wasn’t for nothing.”Through the story of one hotel and the people who kept it operating across decades of turmoil, the book seeks to document those experiences and preserve the voices of Afghans whose lives intersected with some of the most significant events in the country’s modern history.