United News of Bangladesh

U.S. military jets intercepted two civilian airplanes flying in restricted airspace near President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday. "NORAD F-16s intercepted multiple general aviation aircraft today that violated temporary flight restrictions over Bedminster, NJ. All aircraft were safely escorted out of the area by NORAD aircraft," said the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which patrols this area, in a post on social media platform X. Trump was at his Trump National Golf Club this weekend. Local media outlets reported that two civilian airplanes were intercepted by military jets. One video that captured the moment when an F-16 fighter jet was chasing a slow-moving aircraft was posted on X by Joe Afflerbach of Joey's North Jersey Severe Weather. NJ.com, a digital news content provider in New Jersey, which got permission to post the video on its website, said the video was taken from Afflerbach's house in Jefferson Township, outside Bedminster. Fox News said a third aircraft triggered an alert as Trump was preparing to depart the area. The third incident appeared to delay Trump's departure by about 13 minutes. During that time, emergency SUVs, law enforcement officers and U.S. Secret Service agents were seen moving into position near the runway where Trump was scheduled to depart around 5 p.m. (2100 GMT), said Fox News. The third aircraft re-established communications and became compliant before NORAD intervention was required, said Fox News.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that trade negotiations with the United States had turned “nasty” after President Donald Trump derided America’s neighbor and its leadership while threatening to expand tariffs. Carney said Canada remained engaged in the negotiations despite Trump’s comments, describing the talks as a fight to protect Canadian workers and businesses. “This is a tough negotiation,” Carney said in French. “You can say ‘nasty.’ But this is a question of Canadian jobs. It’s a question of the future of Canadian businesses.” Trump criticized Canada during a speech Wednesday in Las Vegas. “Canada’s nasty. They are. They’re nasty,” Trump said. “I love the people, but they’re nasty. Nasty leadership.” Carney said “we are in the middle of a tariff war with the Americans” but laughed when asked about Trump’s description. He said Canadian negotiators were in Washington this week and that he expected further conversations with Trump after speaking with him last week. The United States already has tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles. Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on more Canadian goods beginning Aug. 19. Tariffs are taxes on imports, which companies can then pass along to consumers in the form of higher prices. The president maintains that the costs created by tariffs will cause manufacturing to relocate to the U.S., though there is little evidence of that in the economic data. Trump’s tariff threats and repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state have angered many Canadians, prompting many Canadians to cancel trips to the United States. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has argued that Canada and China are the only two countries to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs, citing restrictions on U.S. alcohol sales in some Canadian provinces among his concerns. Canadian officials say their countermeasures were a response to existing U.S. tariffs. The latest comments followed months of escalating tensions. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Carney criticized major powers for using economic coercion against smaller countries, prompting Trump to respond: “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.” Canada is one of the United States’ largest trading partners, and the move threatens to push prices higher at a time when Americans are already frustrated with the high cost of living ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Carney said existing U.S. tariffs on aluminum have contributed to a 58% increase in aluminum prices in the United States. “That’s not a good situation for American companies,” Carney said.

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 50 percent tariff on most imports from Canada, accusing the neighbouring country of unfair trade practices involving automobiles, alcoholic beverages and dairy products. The move is expected to heighten trade tensions between the two long-standing allies and could add pressure on prices while further straining bilateral economic relations. A senior US administration official said Canada, along with China, was among the few countries to retaliate against previous US tariffs, prompting the latest action. The official spoke on condition of anonymity while briefing reporters ahead of the announcement. According to the White House, Trump signed three proclamations under Section 338 of the US Trade Act of 1930, authorising the new tariffs. The administration said the 50 percent duties will apply to most Canadian goods, including products that had previously enjoyed tariff-free access under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, the tariffs will not apply to energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals. The USMCA, which came into effect in 2020, was not renewed by the United States, leading to a fresh round of trade negotiations that could continue until 2036. The White House said the new tariffs will take effect in 30 days, leaving room for possible negotiations before the measures are implemented. Responding to the announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed his country's commitment to free and fair trade and said Canada remains ready to negotiate with Washington. In a statement, Carney noted that Canada had signed more than 20 new economic and security partnerships and expressed hope that outstanding trade issues with the United States could be resolved through dialogue. He also warned that the trade dispute has increased costs for families, particularly in the United States, and said both countries would benefit from a negotiated solution.

British prosecutors on Monday charged a 28-year-old man with the murder of former politician and reality television personality Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry was charged after being held for more than a week on suspicion of murder and terrorism-related offences. Prosecutors said police are continuing to investigate his motive, including whether the killing had a political or terrorist link. The death of Widdecombe, 78, a former member of Parliament, has shocked Britain's political community. She was a prominent political figure for decades and was known for her outspoken socially conservative views, including opposition to abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights. Police believe Widdecombe was attacked on July 8. She failed to appear for a scheduled television interview that afternoon and was found dead the following day at her secluded home in a village on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death, saying only that she suffered "serious injuries" in what they described as a targeted and brutal attack. Kerry was arrested on July 11 in South Yorkshire, more than 320 kilometres (200 miles) from Haytor village, where Widdecombe's body was found. He remains in custody and is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Police initially arrested Kerry on suspicion of murder. However, after uncovering new evidence while he was in custody, they rearrested him on suspicion of committing, preparing or encouraging acts of terrorism. Widdecombe served as a member of the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010 and held several government positions, including prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major's Conservative government during the 1990s. After leaving Parliament, she gained wider public recognition by appearing on the reality television programmes Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She later joined the Brexit Party and briefly served as a member of the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in 2020. Most recently, she was associated with the anti-immigration Reform UK party and frequently appeared in the media as one of its spokespersons. The killing has renewed concerns over the safety of British politicians. Security for lawmakers has been strengthened in recent years following the murders of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 by a far-right extremist and Conservative MP David Amess in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour was sworn in Monday as Canada’s new governor general, becoming the official representative of King Charles III in the country. Arbour, 79, succeeds Mary Simon, who made history in 2021 as Canada’s first Indigenous governor general. The position carries key constitutional responsibilities, although it is largely ceremonial and symbolic. The installation ceremony included the raising of the Governor General’s Flag on Parliament Hill and a performance of “God Save the King” by the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces. Prime Minister Mark Carney selected Arbour, a prominent Francophone jurist with an extensive record in international law, human rights and justice. Throughout her legal career, Arbour served on the Supreme Court of Ontario, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. In 1996, she was appointed chief prosecutor for the United Nations tribunals investigating crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. During her tenure, she oversaw landmark prosecutions, including the first genocide conviction since the adoption of the 1948 Genocide Convention and the first war crimes indictment of a sitting head of state. Arbour later served as the UN Special Representative for International Migration from 2017 to 2018. In her inaugural address as governor general, Arbour emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence and respect for the rule of law in maintaining a stable and democratic society. She also expressed concern about the growing influence of artificial intelligence, warning that increased reliance on AI could blur the distinction between facts and assumptions and undermine people's ability to control their own future. Arbour highlighted Canada's global significance, noting that the country contains nearly seven percent of the world's land area and 20 percent of its freshwater resources while accounting for only about half of one percent of the global population. She said Canada remains a country that attracts admiration around the world. Ahead of her installation, Arbour met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace last week. Canada remains a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth, with the British monarch serving as the country's head of state.

The US embassy in Iraq on Thursday issued a security alert, warning that Iran-aligned armed groups have carried out “widespread” attacks on American citizens and US-linked sites across the country, including the Kurdish region in the north. The embassy urged all US citizens to leave Iraq immediately and advised against visiting the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate in Erbil due to ongoing threats from missiles, drones, and rockets in Iraqi airspace. It recommended that those departing use overland routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or Turkiye, as Iraqi airspace remains closed. #From Al Jazeera

The US embassy in Baghdad has been targeted by a wave of drone and rocket attacks as tensions escalate across the Middle East amid the ongoing war involving Iran, according to international media reports. Security sources in Iraq said the assault on the heavily fortified International Zone in central Baghdad was the most intense attack since such incidents began. The embassy had earlier issued a security alert warning US citizens that Iran-aligned militias had repeatedly targeted the area. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates temporarily closed its airspace after authorities reported incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. The UAE’s civil aviation authority described the move as an exceptional precautionary measure. The closure came only hours after flights had resumed following a separate disruption at Dubai International Airport. Authorities had earlier suspended operations there after a fire broke out near the airport. Emirates airline later resumed a reduced flight schedule, while Etihad Airways said it was operating a limited number of commercial flights from Abu Dhabi in coordination with relevant authorities after safety and security assessments. The developments come as the wider regional conflict continues to escalate, with missile attacks, air strikes and rising security concerns affecting several countries in the Middle East.   With inputs from BBC

At least 10 people were killed in shootings at a school and a nearby home in northeastern British Columbia, Canadian authorities said Tuesday. Eight people, including the suspected gunman, died at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two other bodies were later found at a residence believed to be linked to the incident. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said more than 25 people were injured in the school shooting, including two who remain in life-threatening condition. In a statement, the RCMP said officers entered the school after reports of an active shooter. During a search of the building, they found several victims. The suspected shooter was also discovered dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. Police said six other individuals were found dead inside the school. Two victims were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries, while another person died on the way to hospital. Earlier in the day, the Peace River South School District announced a “lockdown and secure and hold” at both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School. Larry Neufeld, the member of the legislative assembly for Peace River South, told reporters that significant resources, including RCMP officers and ambulance services, had been deployed to the community. He declined to provide further details, citing concerns about operational safety. Tumbler Ridge is a small town of about 2,400 residents, located more than 1,000 kilometers north of Vancouver near the Alberta border. According to the provincial government website, Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves around 175 students in Grades 7 through 12. School shootings are uncommon in Canada.

A Russian cargo ship captain has been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after his vessel collided with a U.S. oil tanker in the North Sea last year, resulting in the death of a crew member. Vladimir Motin, 59, was on sole watch when his ship, the Solong, struck the anchored Stena Immaculate off northeast England on March 10, 2025. Both vessels were carrying flammable cargo, and the crash triggered a massive fire that burned for eight days. Filipino crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, who was on the bow of the Solong, died instantly, and his body was never recovered. Prosecutors told the London trial that Motin failed to slow the vessel, sound alarms, call for help, or attempt a crash stop, and accused him of lying about the incident. Iranian protester Erfan released on bail amid conflicting execution claims Senior specialist prosecutor Michael Gregory described the case as “a tragic and entirely avoidable death caused by truly exceptional negligence,” adding, “It is extremely fortunate that no one else was killed.” Motin is due to be sentenced on Thursday. The Solong, 130 meters long, was transporting mainly alcoholic spirits and some hazardous materials en route to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Stena Immaculate, 183 meters long, was carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military. Evidence presented at the trial included CCTV footage showing both ships engulfed in flames from leaking fuel, and a recording of the Stena Immaculate crew reacting in panic: “What just hit us … a container ship … this is no drill, fire fire fire, we have had a collision.” Rescue teams managed to save 36 crew members from both vessels.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced an ambitious plan to double Canada’s exports to countries other than the United States over the next decade, saying that rising U.S. tariffs have chilled investment and exposed Canada’s economic vulnerabilities. Carney, who is set to unveil his government’s budget on November 4, said Wednesday that Canada’s decades-long economic dependence on the U.S. has become a liability. “The jobs of workers in our industries most affected by U.S. tariffs — autos, steel, lumber — are under threat. Our businesses are holding back investments, restrained by the pall of uncertainty that is hanging over all of us,” Carney said. U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply increased tariffs on Canadian goods and even suggested that Canada could become “the 51st state,” drawing criticism from Ottawa. In a televised address, Carney said the era of deep economic integration with the U.S. has ended. “The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression,” he said. “We have to take care of ourselves because we can’t rely on one foreign partner.” Although tensions have eased slightly as Carney works to negotiate a trade deal with Trump, tariffs continue to take a toll on key sectors — particularly aluminum, steel, autos, and lumber — with more than 75% of Canada’s exports still going to the U.S. “We are re-engaging with the global giants India and China,” Carney said, emphasizing a new era of trade diversification. Carney described Canada as an “energy superpower,” noting that the country holds the world’s third-largest oil reserves and the fourth-largest natural gas reserves. Canada supplies about 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and 85% of its electricity imports. It is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals that the Pentagon considers vital for national security. “I will always be straight about the challenges we have to face and the choices we must make,” Carney said. “Transforming our economy won’t be easy or fast — it will take sacrifice and time.” Source: AP