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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it’s unknown how long flights from other countries will continue operating, so Americans abroad who wish to return should do so immediately. Pompeo warned that the window to bring Americans home from abroad could be closing. Pompeo said more than 26,000 U.S. citizens from more than 50 countries have been repatriated back to the U.S. The top diplomat said the repatriation task force remains committed to bringing all Americans home. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is urging Americans who are still abroad and wish to return to the United States to do so “immediately,”...

TECUN UMAN, Guatemala — A standoff between thousands of Central American migrants trying to reach the United States and Mexican police stretched through the night with some migrants hanging from the closed border gate wailing "there are children here" while others slept on the crowded bridge linking Guatemala to Mexico. But they were met Friday by a wall of police with riot shields on the Mexican side of the bridge. About 50 managed to push their way through before officers unleashed pepper spray and the rest retreated, joining the sea of humanity on the bridge. Police and immigration agents began...

Norwegian authorities are set to pay about 10,000 kroner (US$1,200) to asylum seekers willing to leave the country voluntarily. Oslo says the measure is less expensive than keeping refugees in immigration centers in the country. The scheme starts this Monday and will run for six weeks, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (Utlendingsdirektoratet - UDI) said, as cited by broadcaster NRK. The money will be paid to the first 500 asylum seekers who apply for voluntary return to their home countries. “We need to entice more [people] to voluntarily travel back by giving them a bit more money on their way...

A father just back from serving in Iraq surprised his son with a visit to his kindergarten class.

PURWOBINAGUN, Indonesia (Reuters) - Dozens of Indonesian villagers returned to their homes on the slopes of Mount Merapi briefly on Sunday despite an official order to evacuate over concerns the dangerous volcano could soon erupt. Indonesia raised the alert status of Merapi to the highest level, also known as code red or danger status, on Saturday, although experts say they cannot predict when it will erupt. Thick clouds of charcoal gray smoke billowed periodically from the crater on Sunday, but there were no visible signs of hot lava flowing from Merapi, one of the most menacing volcanoes in the Pacific...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from Amphibious Construction Battalion (PHIBCB) 2 Kuwait Det. 1 returned to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, March 31, after completing a six-and-a-half month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. “Mobilizing Reservists and blending was a challenge but worked very well,” said PHIBCB 2 Commanding Officer, Capt. Thomas C. Nicholas. The team’s 44 active-duty Sailors and were joined by 13 naval Reservists and supported public works operations for the Army’s Area Support Group (ASG)-Kuwait. “The guys did a great job and got lots of recognition,” said Nicholas. The Seabees worked together with the...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2005 – Some military units that deployed to support Hurricane Katrina operations are preparing to return to their home stations, military officials announced today. The carrier USS Harry S. Truman, dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island, selected 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Army Aviation assets, the Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platoon, the Air Force's 4th Expeditionary Medical Support Field Hospital -- being replaced by the Army's 14th Combat Support Hospital -- and the Air Force's 920th Rescue Wing are going home. Officials said some redeploying forces have completed their missions, while local or state capabilities are in...

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2005) -- About 80 Marines debarked a plane and ran into the open arms of loved ones here Aug. 28, following a seven-month deployment to Iraq. The Marines, from A Company, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, were deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “(The separation) was really hard,” said Tricia Noel, wife of Sgt. Nicholas B. Noel, company guide. “It’s great to have him home." Other squadron members were also on hand to welcome the Marines home, including the group...