United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump said a deal aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, although Iran has cast doubt on the proposed timeline. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the agreement would pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. “The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” Trump wrote. He also referred to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, saying that “at the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust,” which he said would later be destroyed. Trump warned that if the process did not proceed “quickly, easily and smoothly,” Washington had “the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again.” Pakistan, which has been playing a mediating role, also indicated that an agreement could be finalized soon. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the parties were closer than ever to reaching a deal. “With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week,” Sharif wrote on X. However, Iran appeared more cautious about the timing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said a memorandum of understanding was expected but suggested the signing would not take place immediately. “We will have to wait and see about the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow,” he said. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said an agreement with Washington was close and that it envisaged an end to the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to Araghchi, the deal would also include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports, while discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme would begin at a later stage. US officials have confirmed some elements of the proposed agreement, saying any economic benefits for Iran would depend on Tehran fulfilling its commitments. Reports have differed over whether Lebanon would be formally included in the arrangement, with some indications that Iran has pushed for its inclusion. The latest developments come after several previous attempts to finalize a deal stalled in the later stages of negotiations. The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes inside Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf region, as well as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Although a ceasefire was reached in April, tensions have persisted, with the United States and Iran exchanging intermittent attacks, including two rounds of retaliatory strikes this week. Source: BBC

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told lawmakers on Wednesday that meeting disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was a “grave error in judgment,” as he testified voluntarily behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee.  Gates said he “should never have met with Epstein in the first place” and stressed that he never witnessed or had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. US lawmakers say Epstein file release falls short  He was introduced to Epstein through people involved in his professional and philanthropic work and initially believed Epstein could help mobilise billions of dollars for global health initiatives and he ended the relationship in 2014 after concluding that Epstein could not deliver on those promises, Gates added. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Gates was not accused of any wrongdoing and that the inquiry was focused on justice for Epstein’s victims and understanding government failures. Documents reviewed by lawmakers include meeting records, emails related to philanthropic projects and photographs showing Gates and Epstein at the same events. Their association began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting prostitution from a minor, and continued until at least late 2014. Gates, who chairs the Gates Foundation, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of girls and has previously described the relationship as “a huge mistake.” Both Gates and his former wife, Melinda French Gates, have said the association created strain in their marriage. The Gates Foundation acknowledged earlier this year that a small number of employees met Epstein because of his claims that he could attract major philanthropic support for global health projects. The foundation said it never established a charitable fund with Epstein and made no payments to him.

President Donald Trump has said the United States “must respond” after blaming Iran for shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that has further escalated already rising tensions in the Gulf region. The helicopter went down early Tuesday off the coast of Oman during a patrol mission, according to U.S. Central Command. Both crew members were rescued safely after an unmanned vessel located them in the water, officials said. Trump, writing on social media, said military officials informed him that Iran had shot down a “highly sophisticated Apache helicopter” and confirmed that the two service members were unharmed. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he said. Iran has not officially confirmed involvement in the incident. However, the event comes amid heightened military and political tensions in the region, where a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been repeatedly tested by fresh exchanges of fire. The U.S. military said the cause of the crash is under investigation. Officials described the rescue operation as the first known use of a drone boat to recover downed aircrew in the area, carried out by an unmanned vessel operated under the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 59. Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in a post on X, warned that Tehran could respond forcefully if its commitments are broken, saying Iran was prepared to use “other languages” beyond diplomacy. The incident also comes as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes to prevent further escalation. Mediators, including Pakistan, have been working to advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Before the helicopter incident, Trump had expressed optimism about a potential deal with Iran, saying an agreement could be reached within days, though he provided no details. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route, and tensions in the area have contributed to rising energy prices and broader economic uncertainty as the conflict in the region continues.

US President Donald Trump has rejected criticism that the ongoing conflict with Iran contradicts his campaign promise of “no new wars,” arguing that he never guaranteed his presidency would be free of military conflicts. In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said he had not promised there would be no wars if he returned to office. “First of all, I didn’t guarantee no war. Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?” Trump said. The president also defended a now-abandoned $1.8 billion fund that was intended to compensate political allies and repeated his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in California’s prolonged vote-counting process following last week’s primary election. Trump, who campaigned in 2024 portraying himself as a leader who started “no new wars” and accusing Democratic rivals of being warmongers, maintained that the conflict with Iran does not amount to an extended military engagement. “I don’t like these endless wars. This is not an endless war. We’ve been doing this for three months,” he said, referring to the conflict with Iran that began on February 28. He argued that US actions were necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, saying he was “doing the world a service” and “doing our country a service.” At the same time, Trump reiterated his claim that US strikes last year had “obliterated” Iranian nuclear facilities, despite also citing the need to stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump further defended his decision during his first term to withdraw from the nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama, a deal he has long criticized while promising to secure a better alternative. “It takes years to do these things,” Trump said.

President Donald Trump increasingly appears to be boxed in. U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement a week ago to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump, however, has called for unspecified changes, and Iranian officials have shown no public sign of agreeing to the deal. The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south while saying it targets the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, also challenges efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extends to Lebanon. The Trump administration has touted the latest ceasefire agreed to earlier in the week by the Lebanese government and Israel after U.S.-brokered talks in Washington. However, Hezbollah has rejected the agreement. Meanwhile, Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait that were intercepted early Saturday, Bahrain’s government said, and called on Tehran to halt attacks on Gulf neighbors that test a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East conflict. Iran said that it targeted American military assets in both countries, after the U.S. attacked surveillance facilities on Qeshm Island and near Sirik that Iran said were used to protect borders and “ensure the security of navigation in international waters.” Tehran called the attack a ceasefire violation. Later Saturday, U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces had shot down two Iranian attack drones over the Strait of Hormuz. The latest exchanges came as the Trump administration presses Iran to make a deal to end the war, which has strained the global economy and threatened a hunger crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.  

At least 12 people were injured in a shooting near a crowded street festival in Ohio on Saturday, prompting panic among attendees as some sought cover while others rushed to assist the wounded. Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said no suspects had been arrested several hours after the incident and urged festivalgoers to provide photos or videos that could aid the investigation. Tens of thousands protest austerity in Brussels, police use tear gas The shooting occurred near the Old West End Festival, an annual event featuring live music and home tours. Heffernan said preliminary information indicated that at least two individuals exchanged gunfire and were “probably shooting at each other.” Two victims remained in critical condition. The injured ranged in age from 14 to 61, with most in their early 20s. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed concern, saying summer festivals should be safe places for families. Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said road closures and heavy traffic complicated access to hospitals, but all victims were transported from the scene within an hour. Witness Kevin Berry, who was attending the festival, said he heard several gunshots and later saw multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. City officials were considering whether the two-day festival would continue after the violence.

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a war powers resolution aimed at halting US military operations against Iran, marking a rare bipartisan rebuke of President Donald Trump as several Republicans joined Democrats in the vote. The measure passed by a narrow 215-208 margin and reflects growing political opposition in Congress to the ongoing conflict, which has reshaped domestic and international politics over the past three months. House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously attempted to block the measure, briefly halting floor proceedings two weeks ago when it was close to passing. However, support for the resolution increased amid rising dissatisfaction with the prolonged conflict. Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led the push for the resolution. “Enough is enough,” Meeks said, adding, “It is time for the president to do the right thing. The people are tired of suffering because of his war of choice — suffering at the gas pump, suffering at the supermarkets.” Although the resolution passed the House, its future remains uncertain. President Trump is expected to reject any congressional effort that limits his authority as commander-in-chief. Nonetheless, the vote was seen as a significant political setback, drawing applause in the chamber. Opposition to the conflict has been gradually increasing, with this marking the fourth attempt by the House to limit US military involvement in Iran. The Senate also advanced a similar measure last month, with some Republican senators breaking ranks with the administration. The conflict began after US forces joined Israel in launching strikes on Iran on February 28. Since then, tensions have persisted, with intermittent military exchanges continuing despite a declared ceasefire in April that remains fragile. House Speaker Johnson said he had recently met President Trump and that the administration is focused on restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route disrupted by the conflict. He added that reopening the waterway is a priority due to its importance for global energy supplies. The prolonged conflict has contributed to rising fuel prices and broader inflationary pressures in the United States, according to lawmakers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned lawmakers that restricting presidential authority could weaken diplomatic leverage, arguing that Iran might interpret congressional action as a sign that Washington’s response options are limited. While the House also advanced other foreign policy-related measures, including support for Ukraine and a potential resolution concerning Lebanon, none have yet been finalised. Under the US Constitution, Congress holds the authority to declare war, while the president serves as commander-in-chief, creating ongoing legal and political tensions over war powers. The White House has argued that a declared ceasefire means active hostilities have ended, complicating the applicability of the War Powers Act timeline.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “crazy” during a phone conversation earlier this week, expressing frustration that Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon were complicating ongoing efforts to reach a peace agreement with Iran. In an interview released Wednesday on The New York Post’s “Pod Force One,” Trump acknowledged tensions with Netanyahu but emphasized that their relationship remains strong. “We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump said, referring to the Israeli leader by his nickname. Trump said he was “a little bit perturbed” by Israel’s actions in Lebanon, which he believes have hindered diplomatic progress with Tehran. The remarks come as the US administration faces increasing pressure to end the regional conflict amid concerns over rising energy prices, economic uncertainty and their potential political impact ahead of midterm elections. Despite the challenges, Trump said negotiations involving Iran were continuing, although he declined to provide a clear timeline for a resolution. He noted that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz could remain closed through the US Labor Day holiday on Sept. 7 but expressed confidence that the situation would likely be resolved sooner. “I think this will resolve itself fairly quickly,” Trump said. The US president also said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is playing a role in ongoing peace discussions despite reportedly suffering injuries in an earlier airstrike. According to Trump, Iranian officials continue to seek Khamenei’s approval on key decisions. Meanwhile, tensions remained high in Lebanon. An Israeli strike hit a vehicle on a busy highway south of Beirut on Wednesday, just hours before a second round of Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington. It was not immediately clear whether the targeted individual was killed. The strike came days after Lebanon and Israel reached a US-mediated understanding under which Israel agreed not to target Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hezbollah pledged to halt attacks on northern Israel. The arrangement was reached shortly after Israel had announced plans for major strikes near the Lebanese capital. The US State Department said progress had been made during the first day of talks on Tuesday. Lebanon is seeking a broader nationwide ceasefire, while Israel is demanding the immediate disarmament of Hezbollah before ending military operations and withdrawing troops from several Lebanese towns and villages. Shortly after Wednesday’s strike, the Israeli military reported intercepting what it described as a hostile aircraft originating from southern Lebanon, though it did not directly blame Hezbollah. The group has not claimed responsibility for any cross-border attacks since the recent agreement was reached.

Kuwait suspended commercial flights on Wednesday after a drone attack attributed to Iran struck its international airport, injuring several people and damaging parts of the passenger terminal, officials said. The incident came hours after renewed missile exchanges between Iran and U.S. forces in the region, further escalating already high tensions in the Gulf. Kuwait’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi said “a number of hostile drones” targeted Kuwait International Airport, causing significant damage to the passenger building and leaving several people injured. The airport had only recently resumed operations on June 1 after an earlier shutdown linked to regional conflict. Late Tuesday, the U.S. military said it carried out strikes on an Iranian military facility in retaliation for missile fire that it said originated from Iran and targeted Kuwait and Bahrain. According to the U.S., two Iranian missiles aimed at Kuwait disintegrated mid-air, while others targeting Bahrain were intercepted. U.S. Central Command also said it had shot down multiple drones directed at American forces stationed in Kuwait. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, however, said it had launched strikes targeting the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain and another location, though it did not name Kuwait. It said the attacks were in response to earlier U.S. military action against an Iranian oil tanker. “We had previously warned that any aggression would be met with a stronger response,” the Guard said in a statement. Central Command said it responded by striking an Iranian ground control facility on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iranian semi-official news agencies reported that Tehran had paused communication with mediators over a possible ceasefire, as regional tensions also intensified in Lebanon involving Iran-backed Hezbollah. However, a regional official involved in the talks told The Associated Press that Iran had not responded to mediation efforts on Tuesday, despite earlier discussions on linking negotiations to a ceasefire in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected claims that talks had stalled, saying discussions were continuing daily. “The conversations between us have been going on continuously… Where they lead, one never knows, but it’s time for a deal,” Trump said in a social media post. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a congressional hearing, did not confirm any break in communication but expressed cautious optimism about nuclear-related negotiations, while noting that an agreement was not guaranteed.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Brazil, accusing the South American country of maintaining trade practices that unfairly disadvantage American businesses despite the United States enjoying a significant trade surplus with Brazil. The proposal, announced Monday, follows an investigation by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), which alleged that Brazil has weak anti-corruption enforcement measures and imposes unfair trade barriers, among other concerns. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly criticized the move, saying he received the decision "with indignation." He also blamed the development on political actions by Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who recently visited Washington. Lula suggested that domestic political interests linked to the Bolsonaro family were influencing US policy toward Brazil. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he and President Trump had held constructive discussions with Lula and other Brazilian officials, but significant differences remained over issues identified in the investigation. Speaking on Tuesday, Lula accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of being hostile toward Latin America and claimed he had already informed Trump that Rubio did not have a favorable view of Brazil. The Brazilian government said in a statement that ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries, including direct engagement by both presidents, were being undermined by what it described as electoral and family interests connected to the Bolsonaro family. Brazil also warned that it would take all necessary measures to minimize any economic damage if the tariffs are ultimately implemented. The latest proposal comes months after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing concerns over Brazil's prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly attempting to overturn his 2022 election defeat. Relations between Trump and Lula appeared to improve during Lula's visit to the White House in early May. However, tensions resurfaced after the Trump administration designated two Brazilian criminal gangs as terrorist organizations following Flávio Bolsonaro's recent trip to Washington. Lula opposes the designation, which analysts say could strengthen his political rivals. The USTR has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed tariffs for July 6. Trade experts noted that the proposal would exempt more than half of Brazilian exports to the United States, including aircraft and key mineral products. The investigation was launched under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a legal authority frequently used by the United States to address alleged unfair trade practices abroad. Lula also criticized Flávio Bolsonaro and his brother, former lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, accusing them of encouraging foreign interference in Brazilian affairs. He described their actions as harmful to the country's interests. The tariff proposal comes after the US Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump had exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs on trading partners. However, tariffs imposed under Section 301 have generally survived legal challenges, making them a more durable tool for the administration. Lula emphasized that he had personally presented Trump with trade data during their May meeting, showing that the United States enjoys a substantial trade surplus with Brazil. According to USTR figures, US exports to Brazil increased nearly 11% last year to $54.4 billion, while Brazilian exports to the United States fell 5.7% to $39.9 billion, resulting in a US goods trade surplus of more than $14 billion. The imbalance is even greater in services trade. US services exports to Brazil reached $29.6 billion in 2024, roughly four times the value of Brazilian services exports to the United States. Lula dismissed concerns that the tariffs would severely hurt Brazil, saying the country would seek alternative markets if necessary. "If they don't want to buy from us, we will sell to someone else," he said. Brazil's largest trading partner for the past decade has been China.