United News of Bangladesh

A US federal judge on Tuesday directed the Trump administration to reinstate operations of Voice of America, which had been largely shut down a year ago, clearing the way for hundreds of employees on administrative leave to resume work. US District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth instructed the U.S. Agency for Global Media to submit a plan within a week to bring VOA back on air. The broadcaster has been running with minimal staff since President Donald Trump issued an executive order to close it. Earlier, Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake, Trump’s pick to head the agency, lacked the legal authority for her actions involving VOA. In Tuesday’s decision, he criticised the measures taken in response to Trump’s directive, which sidelined 1,042 of the organisation’s 1,147 employees, saying no sound justification had been provided. There was no immediate response from the agency. Lake had earlier opposed the court’s March 7 ruling and indicated plans to appeal. Meanwhile, Trump has nominated Sarah Rogers, currently undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, to lead USAGM, subject to Senate approval. Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s White House bureau chief and one of the plaintiffs, welcomed the ruling, expressing hope of rebuilding the organisation and restoring trust among its global audience. Founded during World War II, VOA has long provided news to countries with limited press freedom. Before the shutdown order, it broadcast in 49 languages, reaching an estimated 362 million people worldwide.

President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the U.S. collegiate sports system could collapse without immediate cost controls and more revenue for players. Speaking at a White House summit with lawmakers and sports officials, he said he plans to issue an “all-encompassing” executive order within a week, which could prompt a lawsuit revisiting court-approved NIL payments. Trump said the court settlement that created the NIL system had left many schools in financial distress and threatened the broader educational system. “The whole educational system is going to go out of business because of this,” he said, stressing the urgent need to reform college athletics. Trump says he ‘does not care’ if Iran play in World Cup Meeting participants agreed on the need to save the industry from escalating NIL costs and largely supported the SCORE Act, which would provide limited antitrust exemptions for the NCAA and preempt state NIL laws. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated the bill may now have enough support to pass. Officials also flagged Olympic and women’s sports as particularly at risk, since their funding depends on revenue from football and basketball. U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said economic pressures threaten both men’s and women’s programs, underscoring the need for immediate action.

President Donald Trump said Friday that dealing with the war in Iran was “easy” compared with the complicated challenge of regulating college sports and controlling the rising salaries of football players — a remark he later appeared to reconsider. Trump hosted a roundtable discussion with several sports figures, including former Nick Saban, commissioner Greg Sankey, and Pete Bevacqua. During the meeting, participants spent more than an hour discussing how large payments to top athletes, along with newer developments like the transfer portal, have disrupted college athletics. US looking at potential leaders for Iran: White House Presidents often have to deal with numerous complex issues at the same time. However, the timing of this discussion stood out because the United States and Israel had launched military strikes on Iran just a week earlier. When a reporter began asking about Iran at the end of the event, Trump interrupted, saying the situation there was “an easy problem compared to what we’re doing here.” Another journalist asked about Trump’s decision to dismiss Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem the previous day. Trump responded with frustration, asking reporters to stay focused on the topic of college sports. Later, he acknowledged that the issue might seem minor compared with global conflicts. Nevertheless, he said college athletics mattered greatly to him and that he wanted to resolve its problems if possible. Trump says US evacuating ‘thousands’ from Middle East Trump briefly addressed the Iran situation later, rating U.S. military actions there extremely highly, saying they scored between “12 and 15” on a scale of 1 to 10. College athletics—especially football—remains hugely popular in the United States, but managing the system has become increasingly complicated. Trump has repeatedly criticized the growing salaries athletes receive under the NCAA’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules, arguing that the changes have harmed the traditional structure of college sports. According to Trump, major revenue sports such as football are putting pressure on smaller programs and women’s athletics. He also claimed that some universities are paying athletes so much that it could push institutions toward financial trouble. The roundtable followed several hours of private meetings with senior officials, during which Trump likely discussed Iran and other major matters. He later announced he had also met with defense contractors who agreed to expand weapons production. Despite those pressing global concerns, Trump — alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles — devoted considerable time to the college sports debate. During the meeting, Saban jokingly downplayed his role by saying he was “just a football coach.” Other participants, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Ron DeSantis, expressed their passion for college football and concern about its future. Former Urban Meyer and Randy Levine also contributed to the discussion, though no current college athletes were present. Trump assured attendees he was willing to spend as much time as necessary on the issue. The group also included former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who once served on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. Ultimately, Trump urged lawmakers to pass the SCORE Act or similar legislation to impose new regulations on college sports. Critics argue the proposal mainly benefits the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its most powerful programs. When told the bill was unlikely to pass Congress, Trump said he might instead issue an executive order on college sports. “If this doesn’t work, colleges are going to be destroyed,” he warned. It remains unclear how such an order would differ from one he signed in July directing federal authorities to clarify whether college athletes should be classified as university employees. Trump also expressed nostalgia for the system that existed before NIL rules were introduced. At one point he asked whether it might be possible to return to the earlier scholarship-based model, while still allowing athletes to receive smaller forms of compensation.

The US Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further military action against Iran without congressional approval. Debate on the measure will begin at 11:00 a.m. local time (16:00 GMT), with the vote planned for 4:00 p.m. (21:00 GMT), reports Al Jazeera. The resolution comes amid growing criticism from lawmakers and public figures over Trump’s recent strikes on Iranian targets, which many say were carried out without proper legislative authorization. Proponents argue the vote is necessary to reassert Congress’s constitutional role in approving military action, while opponents, including most Republican lawmakers, have voiced support for the administration’s decision, citing national security concerns. The resolution would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto, making its passage challenging given the narrow Republican majorities. Lawmakers have pledged to use the vote to publicly state their positions on the ongoing conflict and US military engagement in the Middle East. The vote comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over its justifications for the strikes, with critics claiming the attacks served strategic interests aligned more with Israel than the United States. Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper reported that nearly 2,000 targets across Iran have been struck since the start of joint US-Israeli operations. The campaign, described by Cooper as the largest US military buildup in the Middle East in a generation, involves more than 50,000 troops, around 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and bombers. The strikes have reportedly destroyed hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles, air defence systems, drones, and 17 naval vessels, including a submarine. Iran has responded with over 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones targeting US and allied forces, though Cooper said Tehran’s offensive capacity is diminishing. The escalating conflict, part of Operation Epic Fury, follows Iranian retaliation against US bases and diplomatic posts after the initial US-Israeli assault. The situation continues to evolve, with civilian casualties mounting and global markets reacting to rising Gulf tensions.

The United States has cautioned about a potential Iranian attack targeting a major oil-producing city in Saudi Arabia, escalating tensions as President Donald Trump declared that negotiations with Tehran were no longer an option. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, expressed skepticism over the value of engaging in dialogue with Washington. “For the time being we are very doubtful about the usefulness of negotiation,” Bahreini told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Tehran makes new threat to Gulf shipping as US says ‘hardest hits’ on Iran yet to come His remarks came shortly after Trump said on his Truth Social platform that it was “too late” to hold talks with Iran, signaling a hardening stance amid rising hostilities. Source: BBC

President Donald Trump reacted angrily Friday after the Supreme Court struck down his signature global tariffs, a move that included dissent from two of the three justices he appointed. Trump, who has long expected personal loyalty from his appointees, criticized the court sharply, saying he was “ashamed” of the justices who opposed him and questioning their courage. Speaking in the White House briefing room, he singled out Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, calling their votes “an embarrassment to their families.” Vice President JD Vance also condemned the ruling on X, describing it as “lawlessness from the Court,” though he avoided personal attacks. Legal challenges to the tariffs had come from groups across the political spectrum, including the libertarian Liberty Justice Center and business-friendly organizations like the Chamber of Commerce. The decision highlights the ongoing tension between Trump’s aggressive use of presidential powers—covering trade, immigration, and other policy areas—and the Supreme Court’s role as a check on executive authority. Trump’s fraught relationship with the court is not new. During his first term, he won a major ruling protecting him from prosecution over efforts to overturn the 2020 election and secured repeated emergency appeals to enforce parts of his immigration agenda. But the court has also rebuked him publicly, particularly Chief Justice John Roberts, though Trump did not name him in Friday’s remarks. Presidential criticism of Supreme Court decisions has historical precedent. Thomas Jefferson opposed the landmark Marbury v. Madison ruling, Franklin Roosevelt tried and failed to expand the court over New Deal frustrations, and Barack Obama openly criticized the Citizens United decision in 2010. Experts note, however, that Trump’s personal attacks on justices—especially those he appointed—cross a line. “It’s fine to criticize a ruling, but demagogic to claim justices lack courage,” said Ed Whelan, former law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia. Past presidents have privately regretted appointing certain justices, including Dwight D. Eisenhower after Brown v. Board of Education, but none aired such criticisms publicly during live broadcasts. Trump and members of the court are expected to be in the same room Tuesday for his State of the Union address, a setting likely to be tense given the recent clash.

The United States military is preparing for the possibility of weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders military action, according to two US officials, raising concerns of a more serious conflict between the longtime rivals. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said planning is underway for a sustained campaign that could target Iranian state and security facilities beyond nuclear infrastructure. Such operations would carry greater risks for US forces and could trigger wider instability across the Middle East, reports Reuters. Diplomatic efforts are continuing alongside the military preparations. US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week aimed at reviving negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. However, Trump said reaching a deal has been “difficult,” warning that the alternative to diplomacy could be “very traumatic.” The Pentagon has recently deployed additional military assets to the region, including an aircraft carrier, fighter jets, guided-missile destroyers and thousands of troops to strengthen offensive and defensive capabilities. US officials said Washington fully expects Iran to retaliate if strikes occur, potentially leading to prolonged exchanges of attacks. Experts warn that Iran’s large missile arsenal could threaten US forces and bases across the region. The White House said Trump is considering all options regarding Iran but will make a final decision based on US national security interests. The Pentagon declined to comment on the operational planning. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any strike on Iranian territory would be met with retaliation against US bases in the Middle East, including those in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Tehran says it is open to negotiations on limits to its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, but it has ruled out linking the talks to its missile programme.

Yaxzodara Lozada awoke shivering on Tuesday after spending the night on the sidewalk outside a Caracas prison, clinging to the hope that her husband, a police officer detained on Nov. 17, would be released under a goodwill measure announced by the government last week. Despite signs that daily life in Venezuela is slowly returning to normal, with shopping centers, schools and gyms reopening, the government’s pledge to release jailed opposition members, activists and journalists has moved far more slowly than expected, drawing growing criticism. The reopening comes a week after a dramatic U.S. operation that resulted in the detention of President Nicolás Maduro. Families of more than 800 people whom human rights groups classify as political prisoners began assembling outside detention centers on Thursday, following an announcement by acting President Delcy Rodríguez that a substantial number of detainees would be freed as a “peace-seeking” gesture. Authorities, however, have not disclosed how many prisoners would be released or who would qualify, leaving advocacy groups scrambling for information and relatives in limbo. Read More: Slow pace marks third day of prisoner releases in Venezuela after government goodwill pledge By Monday afternoon, the legal group Foro Penal confirmed that 49 detainees had been released, including several foreign nationals. That same day, the White House confirmed an upcoming meeting between opposition leader María Corina Machado and U.S. President Donald Trump, who said the releases occurred at Washington’s request. While welcoming the releases, the UN-backed fact-finding mission said the number freed falls well short of demands for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. Outside prisons, families slept on sidewalks awaiting news, contrasting sharply with the government’s push to project stability as schools reopened under heightened security. Officials emphasized resilience and optimism, even as relatives described fear, uncertainty and anguish over loved ones they have not seen for weeks.

The United States has expanded a visa bond policy to include Bangladesh and 24 other countries, requiring citizens of these nations to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 as part of their application for a U.S. visitor visa, according to the U.S. State Department website. Under the updated programme, passport holders from the newly added countries could be asked to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 at the time of their visa interview if they are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 tourism or business visa. Read more: Offline Indian visa services remain suspended in Khulna Payment must be made through the U.S. Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov. The list of affected countries now totals 38, mainly from South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to Bangladesh, the expanded roster includes nations such as Algeria, Cuba, Nepal, Nigeria and Venezuela. The new requirements are set to take effect January 21, 2026. U.S. officials say the bond requirement is intended to discourage visitors from overstaying their visas. However, the policy has drawn criticism for potentially making travel to the U.S. unaffordable for many applicants from developing countries. Although paying a bond does not guarantee a visa, applicants who are denied or who comply with visa terms can receive refunds. Read more: Bangladesh suspends all visa, consular services from its Missions in Delhi, Agartala The bond expansion is part of broader tightening of U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump, including increased deportations, visa and green card revocations, and extended scrutiny of applicants’ social media histories, all defended by the administration as measures to enhance national security.

The District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Friday to block President Donald Trump’s takeover of its police department, hours after his administration named a federal official as the department’s emergency head. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith warned the move would “threaten law and order” by dismantling the command structure. “In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive,” she said in a court filing. District Attorney General Brian Schwalb argued the order placing Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole in charge is illegal and would “wreak operational havoc.” He urged the court to reverse it, calling the administration’s actions “an affront” to the city’s 700,000 residents. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday that Cole would approve all directives to officers, rescinding the city’s “sanctuary” policies. Mayor Muriel Bowser countered that no law allows a federal official to control D.C. personnel. Far-right Israeli minister confronts Barghouti in prison At a hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes questioned Bondi’s authority to sideline Smith. The Justice Department declined to comment. The takeover, framed by Trump as part of a “tough-on-crime” and immigration crackdown, marks one of the most sweeping federal assertions over a local government in modern times. National Guard troops, federal agents and 20 law enforcement teams have been deployed, arresting 33 people, including 15 undocumented migrants. Protesters rallied outside police headquarters, chanting “Protect home rule!” as the city braced for a deepening political and legal fight over its autonomy.