United News of Bangladesh

President Donald Trump is not the first US president to want more space at the White House for entertaining guests, according to the longest serving top aide in the executive residence, lending support to Trump’s justification for building a new ballroom. Gary Walters, who served more than two decades as White House chief usher under presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, said every president he worked with raised concerns about the limited space for hosting large events. “All the presidents that I had an opportunity to serve always talked about some possibility of an enlarged area” for entertaining, Walters said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his recently published memoir. Trump has spoken for years about building a ballroom at the White House, even before entering politics. In July, the White House announced plans for a 90,000 square foot ballroom on the east side of the complex, initially designed to seat 650 guests at an estimated cost of $200 million. Trump has said the project will be funded through private donations, including his own. The Republican president later increased the proposed capacity to 999 guests. By October, the two story East Wing of the White House was demolished to make way for the project, and in December Trump revised the estimated cost to $400 million, double the original figure. The demolition of the East Wing alarmed historians and preservationists, but Walters said construction and demolition have long been part of the White House’s history. He noted that earlier structures such as conservatories, greenhouses and stables were removed to build the West Wing in 1902, while the residence itself was expanded with a third floor and later the East Wing during World War II. “There’s always been construction going on around the White House,” Walters said. Walters said that when a new president took office, one of his first discussions with the president, first lady and social secretary focused on how many people the White House could accommodate. He noted that even at full capacity, the State Dining Room can seat about 130 guests for a state dinner, while the East Room can hold roughly 300 chairs, fewer if space is needed for television equipment. Trump has frequently complained that both rooms are too small and has also criticized the long standing practice of using large tents on the South Lawn for major events. Walters said the tents created problems, particularly during rain, and often damaged the grass, requiring repeated reseeding. While Walters acknowledged it was jarring to see the East Wing torn down, he said he had fond personal memories of the space. He met his wife, Barbara, at the White House, where she worked in the East Wing as a receptionist during the Nixon and Ford administrations. The couple recently marked 48 years of marriage. Walters’ long White House career began by chance after he broke an ankle in 1970 while serving with the Executive Protective Service, a forerunner of the US Secret Service. Unable to perform regular patrol duties, he was assigned to a control and appointments center inside the White House, a move he later said changed the course of his career. After joining the Usher’s Office in 1976, Walters rose to become chief usher under President Reagan a decade later, overseeing maintenance, construction, renovations, food service and a staff of about 90 employees. He retired in 2007 after 37 years at the White House, including a record 21 years as chief usher, having served under seven presidents from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush.

Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition is facing renewed instability following a sharp political rift involving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and rival Yemeni factions, raising concerns over further fragmentation of the war-torn country. The latest crisis erupted after Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Rashad al-Alimi ordered UAE forces to withdraw from Yemen, canceled a joint defense arrangement and declared emergency measures, including a temporary embargo and plans for Saudi-backed forces to take control of military camps in eastern provinces. The move was presented as a step to protect national security. However, the decision was swiftly rejected by other PLC members, notably the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). The STC and several council members said the PLC is a collective authority and accused al-Alimi of making unilateral and illegal decisions. They reaffirmed the UAE’s role as a key partner in fighting the Houthis, counterterrorism and securing maritime routes. The political fallout coincided with Saudi-led airstrikes on the port of Mukalla and unusually public accusations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia alleged the UAE supplied weapons to separatist forces without authorization, a claim denied by the UAE, which said the equipment was meant for its own forces and coordinated with coalition partners. At the heart of the dispute are Yemen’s oil-rich eastern provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah, which hold strategic ports and border areas critical to Saudi security. STC forces recently expanded their presence in these regions, heightening tensions with Saudi-backed units. Analysts say the crisis exposes deeper structural divisions within the anti-Houthi camp, where competing regional agendas and local ambitions have long coexisted uneasily. While Saudi Arabia prioritizes border security and stability, the STC continues to push for greater autonomy or independence for southern Yemen. With troop movements reported and political unity eroding, the standoff risks escalating into open confrontation, further weakening the anti-Houthi coalition and complicating efforts to stabilize Yemen after more than a decade of conflict.

China on Wednesday rejected criticism from Japan and several other countries over recent military drills around Taiwan, calling the remarks irresponsible and hypocritical. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Japan, Australia, some European Union institutions and European countries ignored separatist activities linked to “Taiwan independence” and external interference in China’s internal affairs, while blaming Beijing for actions taken to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lin stressed that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and that the Taiwan issue is purely an internal matter that allows no foreign interference. He said the biggest threats to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait stem from separatist actions and backing from external forces. The spokesperson said the one-China principle is widely recognized by the international community and forms the political basis of China’s diplomatic relations with 183 countries. He added that Japan, Australia and relevant European nations made clear commitments to this principle when establishing ties with China. China urged the countries concerned to honor their commitments, stop interfering in its internal affairs, and refrain from supporting separatist activities related to Taiwan.

Mali and Burkina Faso announced late Tuesday that they will bar United States citizens from entering their countries, in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s decision to restrict the entry of Malian and Burkinabe nationals into the United States. The decisions were announced in separate statements by the foreign ministries of the two West African nations, reflecting growing tensions between military-led governments in the region and Washington. On Dec 16, Trump extended existing US travel restrictions to 20 additional countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, all governed by juntas that have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States. Mali’s Foreign Ministry said the move was based on the principle of reciprocity, adding that the government would immediately impose the same conditions and requirements on US citizens as those applied to Malian nationals seeking entry to the United States. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré issued a similar statement, saying the ban on American nationals was taken for the same reasons. The White House has cited ongoing attacks by armed groups as one of the grounds for the travel restrictions. Mali and Burkina Faso have faced persistent violence from militant groups, a key factor behind the military coups that brought the current juntas to power after the overthrow of civilian governments amid worsening insecurity.

Guinea’s junta leader Gen Mamdi Doumbouya was declared the winner of the country’s presidential election held over the weekend, according to partial results released late Tuesday, marking the first vote since the 2021 military takeover. The General Directorate of Elections said Doumbouya secured 86.72 percent of the votes counted so far. Analysts had widely expected his victory, citing a weakened opposition ahead of Sunday’s poll. The election was seen as an effort to legitimize Doumbouya’s continued rule and conclude a transition process launched after he ousted President Alpha Condé four years ago. Critics say the junta leader has suppressed dissent and opposition, leaving him without serious challengers among the eight other candidates. More than 50 political parties were dissolved, while prominent opposition figures were either barred from contesting on technical grounds or were living in exile following the crackdown. Yéro Baldé, a former education minister under Condé, finished a distant second with 6.51 percent of the vote. Election officials said turnout stood at 80.95 percent among Guinea’s 6.7 million registered voters. After taking power, Doumbouya had pledged that he and other military officers would not contest elections. However, a referendum held in September paved the way for officers to run and extended the presidential term from five to seven years. Despite its rich mineral resources, Guinea remains deeply affected by poverty and food insecurity, with about half of its 15 million people facing hardship, according to the World Food Program. The junta has placed strong emphasis on the Simandou iron ore project, a major mining venture largely backed by Chinese investment. Production began last month after years of delays, with authorities hoping it will generate jobs and spur wider economic growth. Guinea is among several West African nations to experience coups or attempted coups since 2020, amid public frustration over insecurity, weak economies and disputed elections.

Russian drones targeted apartment buildings and energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine’s Odesa overnight, injuring six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said Wednesday. Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration, said four apartment buildings were damaged in the attacks. Power company DTEK reported significant damage to two of its facilities and noted that 10 electricity substations in Odesa region had been damaged in December alone. Russia has intensified long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities this year, increasingly targeting energy infrastructure to disrupt heat and water supplies during winter. From January to November, over 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 injured, a 26% rise compared to the same period in 2024, according to the United Nations. Kiper described the Odesa strikes as “further evidence of the enemy’s terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure.” Moscow has claimed that Ukraine attempted to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence with 91 long-range drones late Sunday and early Monday, a claim denied by Ukrainian officials. Maj. Gen. Alexander Romanenkov of the Russian air force said the drones launched from Sumy and Chernihiv regions, but independent verification was not possible. The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed the Russian allegations as a “deliberate distraction” from peace talks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Romania and Croatia have joined a NATO-backed fund to buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, bringing the total contributions to $4.3 billion since August. Ukraine’s air force reported that 127 Russian drones were fired overnight, with 101 intercepted, while Russia said 86 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian territory, the Black Sea, and annexed Crimea. An oil refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region caught fire from a Ukrainian drone strike but was quickly extinguished, local authorities said.

A renewed deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 began Wednesday in the southern Indian Ocean, more than a decade after the jet vanished with 239 people on board. Malaysia’s Transport Ministry said the search vessel Armada 86 05, equipped with two autonomous underwater vehicles, arrived at a designated search area after preparing in Fremantle Port, Western Australia. The location of the operation was not disclosed. While the statement did not explicitly name Ocean Infinity, the Texas-based marine robotics firm previously involved in the search, the vessel specified is widely identified as belonging to the company. Ocean Infinity confirmed it is resuming the search under a “no-find, no-fee” agreement, citing the sensitive nature of the operation. The company has upgraded its technology and narrowed the search zone to the most probable crash site. MH370 disappeared from radar on March 8, 2014, shortly after departing Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Satellite data showed the plane diverted south toward the remote Indian Ocean, where investigators believe it crashed. Previous multinational searches failed to locate the main wreckage, though debris later washed ashore along the East African coast and Indian Ocean islands.

Turkish authorities continued nationwide operations against suspected Islamic State members Wednesday, detaining 125 people in coordinated raids across 25 provinces. The raids follow a week of large-scale operations aimed at preventing attacks during Christmas and New Year festivities. Last Monday, suspected IS militants opened fire on police in Yalova province, killing six suspects and three officers, while wounding eight other officers and a night guard. Authorities said all militants were Turkish citizens. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the operations, conducted by police and gendarmerie forces, included major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, and Yalova. He vowed that those targeting Turkey’s unity and values would face the full power of the state. Turkey has carried out similar anti-IS sweeps in previous years amid a global resurgence of the group, including recent attacks in Australia and strikes on U.S. forces in Syria. U.S. Central Command said nearly 25 IS operatives were killed or captured in Syria this month, while Syrian forces recently captured a local IS leader and killed a senior commander near Damascus.

Bulgaria becomes the 21st country to adopt the euro on New Year’s Day, marking a milestone in its European Union integration, even as many citizens express concern over potential price increases and economic instability. Supporters view the switch from the lev as a major achievement since the country’s 1989 transition from a Soviet-style economy to democracy and free markets. They hope euro adoption will attract investors and strengthen ties with wealthier Western European nations. Yet public confidence remains low. Inflation has rebounded to 3.7%, and surveys indicate about half of Bulgarians oppose joining the euro. Political instability has compounded worries: the government resigned after less than a year amid anti-corruption protests, leaving Bulgaria without a full budget and ahead of its eighth election in five years. Some citizens, like 64-year-old Nevelin Petrov, welcome the euro as a step toward long-term prosperity, while others, such as Sofia pedicure salon owner Darina Vitova, caution that rising prices and low incomes may make daily life harder despite the convenience of a shared currency with EU neighbors. Economists note that immediate economic changes may be modest, since the lev has been pegged to the euro since 1999. Analysts also say euro adoption could strengthen Bulgaria’s European integration and reduce Russian influence, while offering a signal to investors about the country’s commitment to EU standards, though political uncertainty may temper that effect. Dual use of the lev and euro will continue throughout January, but all change will be given in euros.

Trains were running again Wednesday in both directions through the Channel Tunnel between continental Europe and the United Kingdom but problems remained after a day of travel chaos caused by power malfunctions. Eurotunnel, the tunnel operator, said the 50-kilometer (32-mile) undersea link was back to “full capacity” following overnight repairs to the electrical fault. The company did not provide details on the cause of the outage. Eurostar, which operates passenger trains through the tunnel, warned travelers of ongoing “knock-on impacts” from Tuesday’s disruption. Its website reported delays on routes between London and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, along with early-morning cancellations. Another related power incident on the U.K. side Tuesday affected passengers aboard three trains. An overhead cable fell on a Eurostar train from London to Paris, and moving the stranded train proved “very complex,” Eurostar said. Passenger Ghislain Planque described an 11-hour journey that should have taken 90 minutes, saying travelers endured darkness, no heating, no air-conditioning, and no way to charge phones during the ordeal.