United News of Bangladesh

The alleged gunman in Saturday’s shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner told authorities that he was targeting officials linked to US President Donald Trump, says BBC News. Between five and eight gunshots were fired during the incident at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the annual event was being held. The shooting unfolded on Saturday night when a suspect ran into the hotel foyer around 00:35 GMT, attempting to bypass security officers and metal detectors. An officer was shot at close range, but survived as his bulletproof vest absorbed the impact. Trump says shooting likely unrelated to Iran war; suspect identified in White House incident The suspect was later arrested at the scene. The loud bangs triggered an immediate response from Secret Service personnel, who evacuated President Trump and other senior officials, including First Lady Melania Trump and Vice-President JD Vance. Hundreds of journalists, media figures and government officials were also present at the event, where Trump was attending as president for the first time. Guests were kept inside for about an hour before the ballroom was cleared. Trump later posted images and video of the suspect on social media. US media identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who is expected to be charged on Monday with multiple offences, including using a firearm during a violent crime. Commenting on the incident, Trump said, “I can’t imagine any professions that are more dangerous,” referring to several assassination attempts over the past three years. Authorities said investigations into the motive are ongoing. Source: BBC News

US President Donald Trump has said the recent shooting incident is unlikely to be connected to the ongoing war involving Iran, although he acknowledged investigators are still examining the motive. Speaking at a press conference earlier, Trump said, “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know.” However, he also noted that “you never know” and confirmed that authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack. Separately, US media outlets including The New York Times and CBS News identified the suspected gunman as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. Trump claims Iran made fresh offers shortly after cancelling US talks trip The incident is linked to a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, where armed assailant Allen allegedly attempted to breach security before being apprehended by Secret Service agents. One officer was injured but survived due to a bulletproof vest. Trump, who was evacuated along with senior officials, later described the suspect as a “lone wolf” and a “would-be assassin,” while suggesting there was no clear evidence connecting the attack to Iran-related tensions. Authorities said Allen was armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, handgun and knives, and acted alone. Investigations into the motive are ongoing. Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump has said the First Lady, Vice President and all Cabinet members are “in perfect condition” after an incident that prompted changes to a scheduled event. Trump said he had been asked to leave the premises of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, adding that the event will be rescheduled. “I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days,” he said, noting that he would address the media shortly. The president also said a law enforcement officer was shot at close range but survived due to wearing a bulletproof vest. “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said. He added that he had spoken directly with the injuries officer, who is recovering well. “He’s doing great. He’s in great shape. He is in very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him,” Trump said. Source: Al Jazeera

  US President Donald Trump was uninjured after an apparent security scare prompted the evacuation of top White House officials from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night. According to law enforcement officials, an unspecified threat emerged during the event, with one official saying a shooter had opened fire outside the venue. Authorities said the incident occurred near the ballroom where Trump and other high-profile guests were present at the time. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and details surrounding the incident remained unclear as security personnel swiftly secured the area and escorted attendees to safety. The high-profile gathering was abruptly cancelled following the scare and will be rescheduled, organisers said. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while security measures around the area have been intensified.

A powerful tornado ripped through a town in Oklahoma, damaging at least 40 homes but leaving residents largely unharmed, officials said. Raeann Hunt rushed to her underground shelter as the tornado moved toward her home. “It is headed right for us,” she recalled thinking as she briefly looked outside. She took cover in a small concrete cellar with her husband, brother-in-law and a neighbour. Inside, they heard loud roaring sounds, metal hitting the door and glass shattering. When they came out, they found their single-storey brick house badly damaged, with broken windows and a partially destroyed roof. The storm hit Enid, a city of about 50,000 people, on Thursday night. According to the National Weather Service, the EF-4 tornado stayed on the ground for about 9 miles, with wind speeds reaching 170 to 175 mph and a width of around 500 yards at its peak. During the 30 to 40 minutes of destruction, dozens of homes were damaged, with some pushed off their foundations. However, no deaths were reported and only minor injuries occurred. Residents said people in the area are well prepared for such disasters. “People around here have a plan,” Hunt said, explaining that most residents either move to a central room in their homes or go underground during tornado warnings. Basements are rare in Oklahoma due to soil and water conditions, but many homes have storm shelters or reinforced safe rooms. Residents also rely on weather updates through television and mobile alerts, especially during spring when tornado risks increase. “Especially in Oklahoma, we have great meteorologists,” said Justin Hunt, describing the aftermath as a disaster. The storm caused widespread destruction in areas south of the city, where commercial buildings were reduced to piles of twisted metal and broken wood. Utility poles were knocked down, and power lines were tangled with debris. In some homes, roofs were torn apart, trees were stripped of branches, and parts of walls were ripped away, exposing interiors. “Usually when we see this level of damage, there are fatalities,” Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said. “We are very thankful there was no loss of life.” Emergency teams, including police, firefighters and highway patrol officers, searched homes and rescued some trapped residents, said Enid Mayor David Mason. “Supplies have already started arriving,” Mason said, adding that the community is coming together to support those affected. Residents and volunteers also began clearing debris. Dave Lamerton spent the morning recovering items from his son’s damaged workshop, which was destroyed by the tornado. “The tornado came straight through here and hit us directly,” he said, pointing to piles of broken wood, furniture and machinery. Meteorologists said images of the tornado showed large clouds of debris on both sides, a sign of a very strong storm. “If you see something like that, you know it’s a violent tornado,” said Mark Fox of the National Weather Service. Nearby areas also reported flooded roads and damage to barns. Officials are surveying damage from several possible tornadoes in north-central Oklahoma. At Vance Air Force Base, fences and equipment were damaged, forcing the base to close temporarily as power and water services are restored. No injuries were reported there. More severe weather is expected in parts of Oklahoma through Friday night, with the possibility of strong thunderstorms on Saturday. Storms also hit other states. In Missouri, officials reported fallen trees, blocked roads and damage to homes, though no injuries were reported. Cleanup efforts continued on Friday.

The White House has said Iran is seeking direct talks with the United States, while President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to allow diplomacy to proceed, according to officials. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that “Iranians want to talk in person,” adding that the US president was ready to “give diplomacy a chance.” She further said Vice President JD Vance would remain on standby in Washington and could be deployed to Pakistan “if we feel it’s a necessary use of his time.” Iran's Araghchi heads to Islamabad in step towards US talks resumption In a separate briefing, Leavitt announced that US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks related to Iran. The White House did not provide further details on the agenda of the discussions, but confirmed that the visit is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts involving regional stakeholders. Officials indicated that Washington is keeping multiple channels open as it explores the possibility of engagement with Tehran through indirect and direct formats. Source: Al Jazeera

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reiterated Washington’s commitment to maintaining economic pressure on Iran, saying measures targeting its key revenue sources will remain in place. In a post on X on Tuesday evening, Bessent said the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports is aimed at restricting the country’s maritime trade and cutting off its primary income streams. “The blockade directly targets the regime’s primary revenue lifelines,” he said, adding that storage facilities at Kharg Island could soon reach capacity, forcing disruptions in Iran’s oil production. Kharg Island handles around 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports and is considered central to the country’s energy sector. Bessent also said Iranian funds will remain frozen and warned that any individual or vessel involved in facilitating financial flows to Iran could face US sanctions. The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over maritime security and economic restrictions.

Democrats in the US Senate are set to force a fifth vote on a war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military operations against Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will continue pressing the issue, urging Republicans to take a clear stance, reports Al Jazeera. “Senate Republicans cannot sit on the sidelines while our service members are risking their lives on the frontlines,” Schumer said. “We will continue putting them on the record until the war ends or until enough of them find the courage to vote with us to end this war,” he added. Under the United States Constitution, Congress holds the authority to declare war, not the president. Democrats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have repeatedly introduced war powers resolutions seeking to require Trump to obtain congressional authorisation before launching military action against Iran. However, the efforts have so far been blocked by Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.

The US military said it carried out another strike on a boat suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people on Sunday. The attack is part of an ongoing campaign by the administration of Donald Trump targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels in Latin American waters since early September. The operations have so far killed at least 181 people, with similar strikes also reported in the eastern Pacific Ocean. ([euronews][1]) Despite the ongoing conflict with Iran, the pace of these strikes has increased again in recent days, indicating that Washington’s efforts against what it calls “narcoterrorism” in the region are continuing. However, the US military has not provided evidence confirming that the targeted boats were carrying drugs. The campaign began as the United States expanded its military presence in the region. It also followed a January operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges and has pleaded not guilty. In Sunday’s strike, US Southern Command said it targeted suspected traffickers moving along known smuggling routes and shared a video showing the boat being destroyed in a large explosion. President Trump has described the situation as an “armed conflict” with drug cartels in Latin America and defended the strikes as necessary to curb drug flows and overdose deaths in the United States. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the legality of the operations and questioned the lack of clear evidence supporting the claims that those targeted were involved in drug trafficking.

Iran’s military headquarters says the U.S. attack and seizure of an Iranian-flagged tanker marks a ceasefire violation. Iran’s state broadcaster reported that the country’s military denounced the U.S. action as “maritime piracy” and said that “Iran will respond soon.” The U.S. says it fired on the ship and seized it because it had crossed the blockade line after ignoring multiple warnings. Earlier, the United States attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. It was the first interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week.