United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka, Aprin, 28 (AP/UNB)--More than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the United States illegally were taken into custody early Sunday following a federal raid at an illegal after-hours nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, authorities said. Video posted online by the Drug Enforcement Administration showed agents announcing their presence outside the building and ordering patrons to leave with their hands up. Other videos showed dozens of people fleeing the building through its entrance after federal agents smashed a window. Later, dozens of suspects were shown in handcuffs standing on a sidewalk waiting to be transported. Russia launches nearly 150 drones against Ukraine During his second stint as U.S. president, Donald Trump ’s unprecedented campaign of immigration enforcement has pushed the limits of executive power, and he has clashed with federal judges trying to restrain him. The crackdown has included detaining more than 1,000 international college students, some of whom have seen their legal status restored, at least temporarily. The policies have slowed immigration at the southern border to a relative trickle. On Sunday in Colorado, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took the club-going immigrants into custody, said Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division. “Colorado Springs is waking up to a safer community today,” he said. The city, Colorado’s second largest, lies about 70 miles (113 kilometers) south of Denver. More than 300 law enforcement officers and officials from multiple agencies responded to the nightclub, which had been under investigation for several months for alleged activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and “crimes of violence,” Pullen said at a news conference. Cocaine was among the drugs found, he said.   “When the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor,” Pullen said.   END/UNB/AP/MA

A group of 12 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy, arguing that the administration overstepped its legal authority and bypassed Congress. Led by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, the lawsuit criticizes the tariffs as both harmful to the economy and unconstitutional. "President Trump's insane tariff scheme is not only economically reckless — it is illegal," Mayes said in a statement. The states involved include Democratic-led Arizona, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and others. California, though not part of this coalition, launched its own legal challenge just a week earlier. Since returning to office, Trump has disrupted global trade markets by announcing sweeping new tariffs as part of his so-called "Liberation Day" policy shift. The U.S. has slapped an additional 145% import tax on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% tariff on American exports. Trump insists he's negotiating a "fair deal" with Beijing, but tensions remain high. Trump's Social Media ‘Buy’ tip pays off as markets rally following tariff delay In addition to the China-focused tariffs, the White House has implemented a 10% levy on imports from other trading partners, with threats of even more aggressive measures looming. At the heart of the legal challenge is the 1977 law Trump invoked to justify the tariffs, which the states argue does not grant the president the authority to impose sweeping trade restrictions unilaterally. The suit asserts that Trump's actions sidestep Congress and destabilize the economy. "The President cannot declare an emergency on a whim and levy massive tariffs at will," the lawsuit contends. "This undermines the constitutional balance of power and injects uncertainty into the global market." Global shares jump following historic gains on Wall St after Trump paused most of his tariffs Trump maintains that his protectionist approach is aimed at revitalizing U.S. manufacturing, but critics argue the costs fall on American consumers and businesses. "Tariffs are taxes, plain and simple — and Arizona families will be the ones footing the bill," Mayes said. Meanwhile, political fallout continues. According to The New York Times, Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 44%, just three months into his second term. Democratic leaders have pounced on the numbers, blaming the administration’s economic policies for rising costs and market instability. California Governor Gavin Newsom last week blasted the tariff strategy, calling it “the worst own-goal in the history of this country.”    

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare services for the most vulnerable, Qatar Charity organised its fourth paediatric medical camp in Bangladesh to treat children with congenital heart defects. During the seven-day medical camp, which began on April 12 at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital in the capital, 110 life-saving cardiac catheterisation procedures were carried out on children from underprivileged families. The medical team was led by a group of distinguished specialists, including Professor Muhammad Noman from the University of Texas in the USA, Professor Iyad Al-Amouri, a paediatric cardiologist from the Jordan University Hospital, Dr Rajab Al-Sayed, a cardiac catheterisation expert from King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia, Dr Hassan Ismail, a paediatric anaesthesia specialist from Palestine, and Abdullah Ashkanani, Head Technician at the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at Hamad Hospital in Qatar. Four women athletes to join CA Yunus on state visit to Qatar Their efforts were supported by a dedicated team of local and international medical professionals, ensuring the success of the humanitarian mission, said a press release on Saturday. During the same period, Qatar Charity also launched its first-ever medical campaign dedicated to treating adults and the elderly in need of cardiac catheterisation.Held at Shamarita Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, the initiative resulted in 25 life-saving procedures. Daud Miah, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau of Bangladesh, commended Qatar Charity for its vital role in providing healthcare to those in need while attending the inaugural ceremony. “I encourage other NGOs in Bangladesh to follow this inspiring example,” he said. The parents of the children expressed their deep gratitude and immense relief at receiving free treatment for their children.

Over recent weeks, many international students in the US have watched a concerning pattern unfold on social media: plainclothes officers arriving without warning and taking students away in unmarked vehicles to detention centers. These detained students, often seen in viral videos, have not been charged with any crimes. Instead, they appear to be singled out for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses. The Trump administration has long emphasized that visas are a privilege that can be withdrawn for many reasons. However, the extent of the current crackdown appears broader than previously believed. According to Inside Higher Ed, over 1,000 international students or recent graduates across the country have either lost their visas or had their legal status altered. In many cases, the exact reasons for visa revocation remain unclear. Universities often discover these changes only by checking the government database that monitors international student status, reports BBC. The combination of targeted arrests and widespread visa cancellations has created an atmosphere of fear at institutions ranging from large public universities to elite Ivy League schools. "I could be next," said a Georgetown University student who has written about the Gaza conflict. He now carries a card outlining his constitutional rights in case he’s stopped by law enforcement. Another student in Texas said he avoids going outside, even for groceries. Some academic departments have also been affected, as foreign researchers are now hesitant to return to the US. Most students interviewed by the BBC requested anonymity, fearing media exposure could put them at risk. The BBC reached out to the Department of Education for comment. While some visa cancellations are reportedly tied to criminal records or minor infractions like speeding, many of those targeted have participated in pro-Palestinian protests, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The crackdown is part of a broader White House effort against campus protests officials claim have endangered Jewish students and allegedly shown support for Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization. Rubio stated in March, "Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas. We do it every day." Civil liberties groups have condemned the detentions and deportation efforts as unconstitutional. Students deny any connection to Hamas and argue they are being penalized for expressing political views on the Gaza war and US policy. At Georgetown, signs reading “protect our students” now appear in bathroom stalls, reflecting growing unease despite the usual springtime blooms. In one case, Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown, was taken by federal agents outside his Virginia home in March. Homeland Security accused him of promoting antisemitism online and having ties to a “known or suspected terrorist”—a reference to his wife’s father, a former adviser to deceased Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Suri’s legal team says he barely knows his father-in-law and is being targeted because of his wife's background.  

A US judge has said he could hold the Trump administration in contempt of court for "willful disregard" of an order to halt the departure of deportation flights carrying more than 200 people to El Salvador last month. The administration had invoked a 227-year-old law meant to protect the US during wartime to carry out the mass deportation, BBC reports. "The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory," federal judge James Boasberg wrote. The decision to begin contempt proceedings escalates a clash between the White House and the judiciary over the president's powers. Harvard rejects Trump’s demands, faces multi-billion-dollar funding freeze The administration could avoid a contempt finding, or "purge" itself of contempt, if they provide an explanation of their actions and come into compliance with the original order issued last month, Boasberg said on Wednesday. That filing is due by 23 April, he said. Thursday's decision comes despite the Supreme Court's later finding that Donald Trump could in fact use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to conduct the deportations to El Salvador. The Supreme Court's ruling against Boasberg's temporary restraining order "does not excuse the Government's violation", he said. If the administration does not provide the requested information by the 23 April deadline, Boasberg will then seek to identify the individual people who ignored the order to stop the deportations. He could then recommend prosecutions for those involved.

Envoys from Iran and the United States arrived Saturday in Oman ahead of the first talks over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. No overall agreement is immediately likely, but the stakes of the negotiations couldn’t be higher for these two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed a private jet from Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, arrived in Oman on Saturday morning. U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff had just met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday there. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry released footage of Tehran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that Araghchi provided Iran’s “stance and key points for the talks to be conveyed to the U.S. side.” IRNA's report suggested the meeting would be held later Saturday. “If there is sufficient will on both sides, we will decide on a timetable. But it is still too early to talk about that,” Araghchi said, in an audio clip published by IRNA. “What is clear now is that the negotiations are indirect, and in our view only on the nuclear issue, and will be conducted with the necessary will to reach an agreement that is on an equal footing and leads to securing the national interests of the Iranian people.” Italy sends rejected migrants to detention centres in Albania Trump and Witkoff both have described the talks as being “direct.” “I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff told The Wall Street Journal before his trip. “That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries.” He added: “Where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability,” While the U.S. side can offer sanctions relief for Iran’s beleaguered economy, it remains unclear just how much Iran will be willing to concede. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran could only maintain a small stockpile of uranium enriched to 3.67%. Today, Tehran’s stockpile could allow it to build multiple nuclear weapons if it so chooses and it has some material enriched up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Judging from negotiations since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the deal in 2018, Iran will likely ask to keep enriching uranium up to at least 20%. One thing it won’t do is give up its program entirely. That makes the proposal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a so-called Libyan solution — “you go in, blow up the facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision, American execution” — unworkable. Iranians including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have held up what ultimately happened to the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was killed with his own gun by rebels in the country’s 2011 Arab Spring uprising, as a warning about what can happen when you trust the United States.

Despite the Trump administration’s hopes, Apple is unlikely to begin producing iPhones in the United States, even with tariffs on Chinese-made goods now as high as 145%. Since launching the iPhone 18 years ago, Apple has relied heavily on its manufacturing base in China, where it built an intricate supply chain dating back to the 1990s. Moving production to the U.S. would require billions in investment, take years to establish, and significantly raise costs — potentially tripling the retail price of an iPhone and hurting demand for its flagship product. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives dismissed the idea, saying an iPhone currently selling for $1,000 could cost over $3,000 if produced in the U.S. He suggested the earliest Apple could feasibly make such a shift would be around 2028. “The price jump would be staggering,” he noted. Apple declined to comment on the matter. However, CEO Tim Cook may address the issue during the company’s earnings call on May 1. The tariffs, which have coincided with a 15% drop in Apple’s share price and a $500 billion loss in market value since April 2, are expected to be a major discussion point. Given the heavy dependence on overseas manufacturing, analysts expect Apple may eventually pass on some of the tariff-related costs to consumers. For now, Apple can afford to hold the line on prices thanks to its booming services business — which earned $96 billion last year and remains unaffected by the tariffs — according to Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee. While Apple pledged in February to invest $500 billion and hire 20,000 workers in the U.S. by 2028, none of that commitment includes domestic iPhone production. Instead, the company is focusing on AI infrastructure, including a data center in Houston. China, ASEAN media and think tanks urged to embrace AI, address its challenges White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to Apple’s investment as a sign of potential manufacturing in the U.S., saying, “If Apple didn’t think it was possible, they wouldn’t have invested so much.” U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed that belief, predicting that the tariffs would push assembly jobs to American soil. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook has long expressed doubts about the U.S. labor force’s readiness for iPhone manufacturing, citing a shortage of skilled tooling engineers. “In China, you could fill multiple football fields. In the U.S., I’m not sure we could fill a room,” Cook said during a 2017 event in China. Despite Trump's earlier attempts during his presidency to bring iPhone production to the U.S., his administration eventually exempted iPhones from the tariffs. During that period, Apple began diversifying its manufacturing by shifting some iPhone production to India and moving parts of other operations to Vietnam. In 2019, Trump toured a Texas plant assembling Mac computers — a facility actually opened under the Obama administration. He later took credit for the site, tweeting, “Today I opened a major Apple Manufacturing plant in Texas that will bring high paying jobs back to America.”

US wholesale prices fell last month in another sign that inflationary pressures are easing. But President Donald Trump’s trade wars cloud the outlook. The Labor Department said Friday that its producer price index — which tracks inflation before it hits consumers — fell 0.4% from February, first drop since October 2023. Compared with a year earlier, producer prices rose 2.7%, down from a 3.2% year-over-year gain in February and much lower than the 3.3% economists had forecast. Gasoline prices fell 11.1% from February and egg prices, which had skyrocketed because of bird flu, plummeted 21.3%. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core wholesale inflation fell 0.1% from February, the first drop since July. Compared to a year earlier, core producer prices were up 3.3% and lower than economists had forecast. The report comes a day after the Labor Department delivered good news on inflation at the consumer level. Its consumer price index rose just 2.4% last month from March 2024, the smallest year-over-year gain since September. Core consumer prices posted the smallest year-over-year increase in nearly four years. China raises tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125% The inflation outlook is muddied by Trump’s trade wars. He’s imposing a 145% tax — a tariff — on Chinese imports and is hitting most of the rest of the world’s imports with a 10% levy that might go up after 90 days. The trade barriers are widely expected to raise prices as importers attempt to pass along their higher costs.

The US Department of Energy said it has identified 16 federal sites, including storied nuclear research laboratories such as Los Alamos, where tech companies could build data centres in a push to accelerate commercial development of artificial intelligence technology. The sites are “uniquely positioned for rapid data centre construction, including in-place energy infrastructure with the ability to fast-track permitting for new energy generation such as nuclear,” the agency said in a statement Thursday. The move follows an executive order signed in January by outgoing President Joe Biden that sought to remove hurdles for AI data centre expansion in the US while also encouraging those data centres, which require large amounts of electricity, to be powered with renewable energy. While President Donald Trump has since sought to erase most of Biden's signature AI policies, he made clear after returning to the White House that he had no interest in rescinding Biden's data centre order. “I’d like to see federal lands opened up for data centres," Trump said in January. "I think they’re going to be very important.” The lands identified as potential sites include a number of national laboratories, such as the New Mexico-cantered Los Alamos and Sandia laboratories and Oak Ridge in Tennessee. Trump admin to halt $500M federal funding to Brown University While the tech industry has long relied on data centres to run online services, from email and social media to financial transactions, new AI technology behind popular chatbots and generative AI tools requires even more powerful computation to build and operate. A report released by the Department of Energy late last year estimated that the electricity needed for data centres in the US tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple again by 2028 when it could consume up to 12 per cent of the nation’s electricity. The United States, under both presidents, has been speeding up efforts to license and build a new generation of nuclear reactors to supply carbon-free electricity. While Biden's executive order focused on powering AI infrastructure with clean energy sources such as “geothermal, solar, wind, and nuclear,” Thursday's statement from Trump's energy department focused only on nuclear. But in a lengthy request for information sought from data centre and energy developers, the agency outlines a variety of electricity sources available at each site, from solar arrays to gas turbines.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praised Saturday the friendship and trust that his country and Japan have developed while attending a memorial service on Iwo Jima to honor those who died in battle during World War II. Japan is Hegseth's second stop after the Philippines on his first Asia trip. His visit comes as Beijing has been showing increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea and following threats by President Donald Trump to impose trade tariffs on the East Asian country, a key US ally. Hegseth landed on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, now known as Iwoto, where Japanese and American soldiers faced off in one of the war's fiercest battles. He joined several American veterans who survived the battle and Japanese bereaved families, as well as his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other officials at Saturdsay's Reunion of Honor event. “Iwo Jima embodies our shared warrior ethos, our shared devotion to the nation, and to duty and our shared reverence for the men of valor who preceded us,” Hegseth said in front of the cenotaph built in 1985 marking their first joint memorial. “The US-Japan alliance shows ... how yesterday’s enemy has become today’s friends,” Hegseth said. “Our alliance has been and remains the cornerstone of freedom, prosperity, security and peace in the Indo-Pacific.” Recent polls show the Japanese feel more affinity toward the US than any other country. Most Americans and Japanese alive today were born after Japan surrendered in August 1945. US grants initial approval for Qatar to acquire MQ-9 armed drones in a $2 billion deal Japan, which faces growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia, has been accelerating its military buildup and increasingly working closely with the US military. On Sunday, Hegseth will hold talks with Nakatani in Tokyo to discuss further strengthening the alliance. “We must not forget that the peace and prosperity we enjoy today have been built upon the noble sacrifices of those who died in the war and the tireless efforts of the people over the past 80 years since the end of the war,” said Japan's Ishiba, who became the first serving Japanese prime minister to attend the joint Iwo Jima memorial. Ishiba renewed his determination to peace and to further elevate the Japan-US alliance. “And we must continue to endeavour to humbly face the history and keep telling the harrowing experience of the war to the world so that we never repeat the tragedy of war," Ishiba said. The 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima is best known for the photo by The Associated Press’ Joe Rosenthal showing six Marines raising the US flag over Mount Suribachi.