Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder.
The former top U.S. diplomat to Venezuela, James Storey,
says the escalating tension between Washington and Caracas could lead to action against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
The preferred outcome is that somebody close to Maduro does one of three things.
It extradites him to the United States, exiles him to another country,
or removes him from the scene in a more permanent manner,
rather than the United States to get involved.
Maduro has repeatedly accused the U.S. of attempting to drive him from power.
Yesterday,
the Pentagon announced the U.S. is sending an aircraft carrier and its strike group to the waters of South America after conducting 10 air strikes on vessels the Trump administration accuses of carrying illegal drugs.
Pentagon confirming that it has accepted the anonymous $130 million gift that President Trump announced on Thursday.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement saying the money falls under the Defense Department's General Gift Acceptance Authority.
The money is to be used to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown,
but the gift raises ethical questions.
UN Security Council commemorated the 80th anniversary of the United Nations on Friday,
as Linda Fasulo reports.
Secretary-General Guterres the Council remains a vital necessity and a powerful force for good,
but warned that its legitimacy is fragile.
Too often nations have acted outside the UN Charter,
he said, which stalls action and puts everyone at risk.