United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday ahead of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral, discussing ways for Ukraine to produce more powerful weapons and “other ideas that could help” in its ongoing war with Russia. The Oval Office meeting, which was closed to the media, followed a significant meeting at the NATO summit earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump announced that the United States would give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot defense systems — a long-standing request from Kyiv to help counter Russian missile attacks. The meetings highlight how Trump, who was once a major skeptic of continued US assistance to Ukraine, has grown more supportive of Zelenskyy as Ukraine continues to withstand Russia’s attacks more than four years after Moscow launched its invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy’s relationship with Trump during the president’s second term was previously strained following a contentious White House visit during which the Ukrainian leader was criticized for appearing ungrateful. Since then, Zelenskyy has sought closer ties with the Republican administration and has relied on both expected and unexpected allies in Trump’s circle to influence the president. The conflict in the Middle East, which has taken up much of the Trump administration’s attention this year, has also increasingly become linked to the Ukraine war. Ukraine fired on at least one Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend, while Zelenskyy has accused Russia of providing satellite images of US bases in the Persian Gulf to Iran. After the meeting, Zelenskyy said on social media that he had a “good meeting” with Trump and thanked the Republican administration for its efforts to support Kyiv in the prolonged war. Officials also agreed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s main envoys, would travel to Kyiv at some point in the future, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed to the media. “The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” Zelenskyy said. He also expressed condolences to Trump over Graham’s death, describing the senator as a close ally. “We also spoke about diplomacy — it's important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated,” Zelenskyy said. Trump later described the meeting as a “Great Honor” and said on Truth Social that “many things were discussed” and that “the meeting went very well.” Zelenskyy seeks to boost Ukraine’s defense production During his one-day visit to Washington, Zelenskyy also met with officials from Lockheed Martin to discuss further cooperation in defense production and technology exchanges. “Ukraine has a lot to share with those who help us protect lives,” he wrote on social media. Later, in a meeting with senators at the Capitol, Zelenskyy again made the case for Ukraine’s need for Patriot interceptors and urged support for a broad sanctions bill aimed at weakening Russian morale and increasing pressure on Moscow, according to two people familiar with the private discussion. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute, said increasing production of Patriot interceptors was important not only for Ukraine but also for the United States and its Gulf allies, particularly as supplies decline amid the war involving Iran. “Ukraine has shown that its defense industry is capable, innovative and creative,” Coffey said. He said he expected Ukraine to be able to produce the missiles once it receives the license, which could also increase their availability for the United States. Trump welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian president traveled to Washington to honor Graham. The senator’s final public act had been a visit to Kyiv, where he helped secure an agreement on a sanctions package aimed at countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports. In an interview with Fox News Channel on Tuesday, Trump recalled Graham’s strong support for Ukraine and said the South Carolina Republican senator’s position on the war had never changed. Trump said Graham had suggested it was time to reach a deal with Iran but had made no similar proposal regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. “Ukraine, he's very militant about,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you.” The Trump administration’s closer engagement with Zelenskyy comes as far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has the president’s ear, has recently changed her views on Russia’s war against Ukraine. Loomer, who is known for provocative social media posts and her influence with Trump, has traveled through Ukraine, witnessed Russian attacks firsthand and interviewed Zelenskyy. She has acknowledged being “bamboozled by Russian propaganda.” Loomer said she spoke with Trump after meeting Zelenskyy in Ukraine last week and expects to meet with the president after returning from her trip. Ukraine highlights Russia-Iran ties Before meeting Trump, Zelenskyy warned that Russia has been assisting Iran by obtaining satellite images of US bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iranian hands. The Ukrainian president also said there was a “clear correlation” between the Russian images and subsequent Iranian strikes. Iran is a key Russian ally in the war against Ukraine and has helped Moscow develop its drone capabilities. Trump, however, played down the significance of possible Russian assistance to Iran on Monday, although he said he would raise the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I don't think they've been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Michigan. “And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.” Regarding the attack on the Caspian Sea, the foreign ministers of Iran and Ukraine discussed the incident Tuesday, according to statements posted on social media. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the conversation as “frank” and said Ukraine’s focus was “solely at defending our country from Russian aggression” and that it had never intended to target civilian vessels or people. Iran said at least one sailor was killed in the attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran also did not seek escalation but made clear that “any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable” and that there “must be restitution for losses.” Pro-Ukraine lawmakers push sanctions bill Zelenskyy had a packed schedule during his latest Washington visit. At his Capitol meeting, held shortly before a key vote on the Russia sanctions bill and after Graham’s funeral, the Ukrainian leader argued that there was an opportunity to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, according to one person familiar with the discussion. The Senate took the first steps toward passing legislation in an 86-12 vote that would penalize countries continuing to purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations. The bill has support from dozens of lawmakers from both major political parties and is seen as a major policy tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly this month from a tear in his aorta. The legislation would impose tariffs on goods from the world’s five largest buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. It also includes sanctions against Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, Russian financial institutions and energy projects.

US President Donald Trump returned to the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner on Friday, delivering an hour-long speech filled with jokes, criticism of political opponents and media figures, and references to his presidency. The event, originally scheduled for April, was postponed after a shooting near the venue raised security concerns. Opening his remarks, Trump said he had removed the harshest parts of the speech he had originally planned for the April dinner. "As I said three months ago, the show must go on," he told the audience, recalling the attempted attack that forced the postponement before shifting to lighter remarks. Trump's appearance marked a notable moment in his relationship with the media. Since returning to office for a second term, he has frequently criticised news organisations, filed lawsuits against media outlets and taken actions affecting press access. Several journalists attending the dinner had previously been publicly criticised or barred from White House events. During the speech, Trump mixed praise for some journalists with criticism of others. He joked about several public figures, including entertainers, politicians and television hosts, and also poked fun at his own speechwriters. He also referred to journalism awards presented earlier in the evening, many of which recognised reporting critical of his administration, jokingly asking whether he had any influence over the winners. Trump briefly mentioned the conflict involving Iran and highlighted construction of a new ballroom at the White House. He also joked about seeking a third presidential term, despite the US Constitution limiting presidents to two terms. "The second time is always better," he said before adding, "I'm only kidding." At the end of his speech, Trump put on a red "Trump 2028" cap and jokingly suggested he was running again. Earlier in the evening, outgoing WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News welcomed attendees and thanked Trump for attending. She said rescheduling the dinner reflected the determination of the White House press corps not to be intimidated by violence. "Tonight our message is this: We are back," Jiang said. The ceremony also honoured Secret Service agent Victor Gonzales, who was injured while responding to the April shooting, and staff at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the original dinner had been planned. Security at the rescheduled event was significantly tighter than usual, with multiple identification checks, armed officers and security dogs. Attendance was also smaller, with about 700 guests. One journalism award recipient, New York Times reporter Tyler Pager, had recently faced a subpoena from the Justice Department over reporting related to a luxury aircraft gifted to Trump by Qatar. The subpoena was withdrawn a day before the dinner. The event took place amid continued tensions between the White House and the news media. Critics have long argued that the annual correspondents' dinner creates an appearance of overly close relationships between journalists and the public officials they cover. Despite his frequent criticism of the press, Trump ended his speech on a conciliatory note, telling journalists he respected their profession before joking that they would struggle without him as a newsmaker. "I have a lot of respect for your profession," Trump said. "When I'm not around, you're all gonna be broke."

US President Donald Trump is expected to revisit his long-standing claims about the 2020 presidential election during a primetime address from the White House on Thursday, despite years of official findings that the election was secure, legitimate and free of widespread fraud. Following Trump's 2020 election defeat to Joe Biden, officials appointed by Trump to lead the Justice Department, intelligence agencies and cybersecurity bodies consistently concluded that there was no evidence of major fraud or foreign interference that could have changed the election outcome. Since returning to office for a second term, Trump has sought to challenge those conclusions. He has appointed senior officials who support his claims that the 2020 election was stolen and has made clear that he expects his administration to align with that position. The issue has become a key loyalty test for many of Trump's nominees. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Jay Clayton, Trump's nominee for national intelligence director, avoided directly saying Biden won the election. "He had the most electoral votes," Clayton said. "He was declared the winner." When Democratic Senator Mark Kelly pressed him on whether the person with the most electoral votes is the winner, Clayton declined to answer directly. Trump has repeatedly promoted conspiracy theories alleging that an international network manipulated US voting machines in 2020, claims that have been rejected by courts and election officials and have triggered several high-profile defamation lawsuits. Ahead of Thursday's address, Trump promised to reveal "really big news," saying that "without free and fair elections, you don't have a country." Election experts, however, fear the speech could revive false claims that have already been extensively investigated. "There have been more than six years of consistent findings from intelligence agencies and election experts showing there was no foreign interference in the 2020 election and that US voting systems were secure," said Victoria Bassetti of States United, a nonpartisan organisation that supports state election officials. She said any new claims without evidence would contradict years of documented findings. Years of reviews found no widespread fraud Numerous court rulings, audits, recounts and investigations — including several conducted by Republican officials — found no evidence of widespread fraud or significant problems with the 2020 election. Trump and his allies lost dozens of legal challenges seeking to overturn the election results, including cases heard by judges appointed by Trump himself. Former Attorney General William Barr, who served under Trump, said there was no evidence of significant election fraud, a conclusion that drew Trump's criticism. Chris Krebs, the former head of the federal cybersecurity agency responsible for protecting election infrastructure, also declared the 2020 election secure and said there was no evidence of vote tampering. Trump dismissed Krebs shortly afterward and later ordered an investigation into him after returning to office in 2025. An intelligence assessment completed on Jan. 7, 2021, during Trump's final days of his first term, also found no evidence that foreign actors altered vote totals or election equipment. In addition, Trump signed a federal review document last year stating that there was no evidence any foreign government had altered vote counting or the outcome of any US election. Fresh federal review underway After returning to office, Trump ordered a new federal review of the 2020 election. Federal investigators have seized voting records from Fulton County, Georgia, and Maricopa County, Arizona — two key counties that featured prominently in post-election conspiracy theories. Trump appointed attorney Kurt Olsen to lead the investigation. Olsen has been associated with election fraud claims and was previously sanctioned by the Arizona Supreme Court for making false statements in a lawsuit challenging the 2022 Arizona governor's race. David Becker, a former Justice Department lawyer who now heads the Center for Election Integrity & Research, criticised the renewed investigation. "He has committed untold taxpayer resources," Becker said. "They've found nothing." According to Becker, search warrant documents filed in the Fulton County investigation repeated conspiracy theories that had already been disproved, while the FBI reassigned hundreds of analysts to review the material. Conspiracy theories fuel costly lawsuits Despite repeated official findings, supporters of election conspiracy theories continue to claim that Trump will eventually present conclusive evidence of widespread fraud. One widely circulated theory alleges that Venezuela and other countries manipulated US voting machines to prevent Trump's victory. Those allegations have led to major defamation lawsuits against media organisations and individuals. Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million to settle a lawsuit over broadcasting false claims about voting machines after the 2020 election. Newsmax and One America News have also reached settlements with voting technology companies over similar allegations. Separately, a Denver jury found Mike Lindell, a leading promoter of election conspiracy theories whom Trump recently endorsed for governor of Minnesota, liable for defaming an employee of a voting machine company by calling him a traitor. Becker said the pattern over the past six years has remained consistent: broad public allegations have repeatedly failed when tested in court because they lacked supporting evidence. "If someone's alleging a crime that occurred six years ago, we shouldn't simply respond to the claims," Becker said. "We should require evidence that proves them."

The man suspected of opening fire at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been identified by US media as Cole Tomas Allen. The 31-year-old is reported to be from Torrance, located in the southwestern outskirts of Los Angeles. Allen previously worked as a tutor in Torrance after completing his studies at the California Institute of Technology, reports BBC. Police said he was staying as a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held, and was carrying several weapons, including firearms and knives. Following the incident, Allen was taken to hospital for treatment and is expected to face formal charges on Monday, as the investigation continues.

Large crowds rallied across the United States and parts of Europe on Saturday under the banner of “No Kings,” protesting the war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration. Minnesota emerged as the focal point of the demonstrations, where thousands gathered at the State Capitol in St. Paul. The flagship rally featured musician Bruce Springsteen, who performed and addressed the crowd, praising public resistance to increased immigration enforcement. Springsteen performed a song inspired by the fatal shootings of two individuals by federal agents and said the response from Minnesotans had given hope to others across the country. Protests were reported in all 50 states, from major cities like New York to smaller towns in Idaho. Organisers said more than 3,100 events were registered nationwide, with millions expected to participate. Most demonstrations remained peaceful, although clashes were reported in Los Angeles, where police used tear gas after protesters allegedly threw objects near a federal detention centre. Some arrests were also made. Participants voiced a wide range of concerns, including the Iran conflict, immigration crackdowns, and civil rights issues. In Washington, demonstrators marched near the Lincoln Memorial chanting slogans and holding placards critical of the administration. Republican officials dismissed the protests, with a White House spokesperson claiming they lacked broad public support. Rallies were also held internationally, including in London, Rome and Paris, where hundreds gathered at the Bastille. Organisers said similar events took place in more than a dozen countries. Speakers at the Minnesota rally included public figures, activists and politicians, all urging continued resistance and civic engagement. Organisers said the movement is drawing increasing participation beyond major urban centres, reflecting wider national momentum.

Melania Trump drew attention at a recent education and technology summit in Washington, but this time she shared the spotlight with a humanoid robot. On Wednesday, the former first lady attended the final day of a global summit held in the White House East Room, organized under her “Fostering the Future Together” initiative. The event brought together international representatives to explore how education, innovation, and technologies like artificial intelligence can help empower children. Melania Trump entered the venue walking alongside the robot, both moving slowly down a red carpet. Just before entering the East Room, she paused while the robot continued forward, circling a table of panelists before stopping at the center of the room. After briefly scanning the audience, the robot introduced itself as “Figure 03,” a humanoid created in the United States. It expressed gratitude for being invited and highlighted its role in supporting efforts to advance children’s education through technology. The robot also greeted attendees in multiple languages before exiting the room the same way it had entered. Melania Trump later thanked the robot, joking that it was her first American-made humanoid guest at the White House. The robot, developed by California-based Figure AI, was unveiled in October 2025 as a third-generation model designed to assist with everyday household chores such as cleaning, laundry, and dishwashing. Figure AI’s CEO, Brett Adcock, said he was proud to see the robot become the first of its kind to appear at the White House. The company is among several competitors—including Boston Dynamics, Tesla, and firms in China working to develop advanced human-like robots capable of performing practical tasks.

The Pokémon Company International has criticised the White House for using its imagery, including the popular character Pikachu, in a political meme posted online with the slogan “Make America Great Again”. The company said it had no involvement in the creation or distribution of the meme and had not given permission to use its intellectual property. Pokémon spokeswoman Sravanthi Dev said,“We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property.”  She added that the company’s mission is to bring people together and that it is not linked to any political viewpoint or agenda. This is not the first time the company has objected to the Trump administration’s use of its content. In September, Pokémon also criticised a video that used its theme song and the slogan “Gotta catch ’em all” while showing arrests made by US border patrol and immigration agents as part of the administration’s deportation campaign. The latest meme appears to use an image from the recently released game Pokopia for Nintendo. The slogan was written in a font similar to the game’s style, with a small version of Pikachu appearing behind the letter “e” in the word “make”. When asked about the criticism, the White House referred the BBC to a post on X by spokesman Kaelan Dorr.In the post, Dorr shared a 10-year-old Wall Street Journal article about former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who once referenced the mobile game Pokémon Go during the 2016 election campaign, saying she was trying to get supporters to “have Pokémon go to the polls”. “Hey Mr Pikachu, big fan. Question for you – why no response to articles like this?” Dorr wrote on X, suggesting the company might have a political bias. The Pokémon Company did not say whether it plans to take legal action over the use of its content. During Donald Trump’s second term, the White House has frequently used popular internet memes on official social media accounts to promote its policies. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson earlier defended the approach, saying the administration was using engaging posts and memes to communicate the president’s agenda. Recently, the White House also posted a video combining images from the war with Iran and scenes from the video game series Call of Duty. Several artists and public figures have criticised the administration for using their content without permission. Comedian and podcaster Theo Von last year objected after the Department of Homeland Security used a clip of him in a video highlighting deportation numbers. Von responded on X saying he did not approve the use of the clip and asked the agency to remove it. Source: BBC  

The United States is reviewing potential candidates who could lead Iran, the White House said, a day after President Donald Trump suggested Washington should be involved in selecting the country’s next leader. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that US intelligence agencies and government officials were assessing possible figures who could take leadership in Iran, reports Al Jazeera. “I know there’s a number of people that our intelligence agencies and the United States government are looking at, but I won’t get any further on that,” Leavitt said. Her remarks came after Trump stated that the United States should play a role in determining Iran’s future leadership following the recent escalation of conflict in the region. Leavitt also addressed Trump’s earlier statement that there would be no deal with Iran except “unconditional surrender.” She said the president meant that Iran would effectively reach a state of unconditional surrender once it no longer posed a threat to the United States and once the objectives of the US military operation, named “Operation Epic Fury,” were fully achieved. “When the president, as commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America and the goals of Operation Epic Fury have been fully realized, Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not,” Leavitt added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, where he is expected to push for expanding ongoing talks with Iran beyond its nuclear program. The meeting comes as Trump said he believes Tehran is willing to strike a deal. “We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal,” Trump told Fox Business Network on Tuesday. “I think they’d be foolish if they didn’t. We took out their nuclear power last time, and we’ll have to see if we take out more this time.” He added, “It’s got to be a good deal. No nuclear weapons, no missiles.” Netanyahu’s office said he wants any new agreement to also address Iran’s ballistic missile program and its backing of armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. “I will present to the president our outlook regarding the principles of these negotiations  the essential principles which, in my opinion, are important not only to Israel, but to everyone around the world who wants peace and security in the Middle East,” Netanyahu said before leaving Israel. The two sides recently held indirect talks in Oman and signaled cautious optimism. However, deep mistrust remains. Trump’s world order looms over Europe ahead of crucial Munich security summit Tensions are still high after last June’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran. A series of airstrikes, including U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, killed nearly 1,000 people in Iran and around 40 in Israel. Trump claimed at the time that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “obliterated,” though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Recent satellite images have shown renewed activity at some sites. Israel has long demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium, curb its missile program and cut ties with regional militant groups. Iran has rejected those demands, saying it would only accept limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from sanctions. The U.S. has strengthened its military presence in the region, deploying an aircraft carrier and other assets. Meanwhile, countries including Turkey and Qatar have urged restraint, warning that further escalation could destabilize the Middle East. The Gaza conflict is also expected to be discussed during the talks, as Washington weighs its broader diplomatic efforts in the region.

President Donald Trump delivered a rare, nearly two-hour-long appearance at a White House press briefing on Tuesday, using the platform to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements, criticise the United Nations and double down on his push for the United States to take control of Greenland, a move that has drawn sharp resistance from America’s European allies. The extended briefing came on the anniversary of Trump’s inauguration and a day before he is scheduled to address global leaders, billionaires and policymakers at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His trip comes at a time of rising tensions with NATO allies over his aggressive posture on Greenland and his threat to impose new retaliatory tariffs on several European countries. During the wide-ranging and often meandering session with reporters, Trump leafed through a thick packet of documents that he said listed hundreds of accomplishments from his first year back in office. He claimed his administration had achieved more than any previous government in a similar period and said it would take more than a week to read through the full list. At several points, Trump turned his focus to foreign policy, renewing his argument that the United States must take control of Greenland for national security reasons, citing concerns about growing strategic competition in the Arctic. While he struck a slightly more conciliatory tone near the end of the briefing, saying Washington and NATO would “work something out,” he repeated his view that U.S. control of the territory is necessary. Trump also took aim at the United Nations, saying the global body has failed to live up to its potential and has been ineffective in resolving conflicts. He promoted his idea of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” initially conceived as a small group of world leaders to oversee the Gaza ceasefire plan, but now envisioned as a broader body that could help mediate international disputes. “The United Nations just hasn’t been very helpful,” Trump said, adding that while he believes the organisation should continue, his proposed board could one day play a major role in peacemaking efforts. The president’s remarks come as European leaders have warned that his threats to impose new tariffs on countries backing Denmark over Greenland could trigger a major trade dispute and strain long-standing trans-Atlantic ties. France and several other EU members have already signalled they are prepared to respond if Washington moves ahead with punitive measures. Trump said his speech in Davos on Wednesday would focus on what he called the “tremendous success” of his administration and would recap progress made over the past year. The White House has previously said his address would centre on his affordability agenda, particularly housing, in an effort to convince Americans that his policies can ease cost-of-living pressures. Speaking to reporters, Trump said other countries needed to hear his views on energy and immigration and suggested that his leadership had brought stability in several conflict zones, a claim that has been disputed by critics and fact-checkers. The marathon briefing, marked by frequent digressions and a mix of domestic and foreign policy topics, underscored Trump’s combative style and his willingness to use high-profile appearances to press his most controversial priorities. With European leaders already gathered in Davos and Greenland expected to dominate the agenda, Trump’s appearance at the forum is likely to be closely watched for signs of whether he will seek to defuse tensions or continue his hardline approach.