United News of Bangladesh

Former US special counsel Jack Smith has said the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol would not have happened without Donald Trump, characterizing the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election. A transcript and video of Smith’s closed-door deposition were released on Wednesday by the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee. During the testimony, Smith defended the basis of his investigations and rejected claims that they were politically motivated. Smith said the evidence showed that Trump fuelled false claims of election fraud, summoned supporters to Washington and directed them toward the Capitol. He added that once violence broke out, Trump failed to act promptly to stop it and instead made statements that further escalated the situation and endangered then Vice President Mike Pence. Trump had been indicted for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election and for illegally retaining classified documents at his Florida residence. However, both cases were abandoned after Trump won the 2024 presidential election, in line with US Justice Department policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. Smith said the January 6 case relied heavily on testimony from Republican allies who acknowledged the illegality of the actions and chose loyalty to the Constitution over party interests.

Dozens of people are presumed dead and around 100 others injured, most seriously, after a fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alps resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations, police said Thursday. Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said the exact number of victims is still being confirmed and authorities are working to identify the dead and notify families. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said the cause of the fire is not yet known, and officials have ruled out any attack. Witnesses described a lit candle in a bottle igniting the wooden ceiling, causing flames to spread rapidly. People panicked, smashing windows and rushing up narrow stairs to escape. Emergency teams rushed helicopters and ambulances to the scene, and the local hospital’s intensive care unit quickly reached full capacity. Crans-Montana, a major winter sports destination in Switzerland’s Alps, is hosting thousands of tourists for skiing and upcoming World Cup and Olympic events. Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed condolences and delayed his New Year address out of respect for the victims.

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on four Venezuelan oil companies and designated four additional oil tankers as blocked property, accusing them of supporting President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) named the ships Nord Star, Lunar Tide, Rosalind, and Della, along with their ownership companies, in the sanctions. The move bars the firms and vessels from accessing any property or financial assets in the U.S., and violations could trigger further penalties. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the action continues President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against Maduro and his allies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that the U.S. “will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while it floods the United States with deadly drugs.” The sanctions come amid a broader U.S. crackdown that has included the seizure of two oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast, strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, and a recent CIA drone attack on a suspected cartel docking area. Trump has also ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and demanded the return of assets previously seized from U.S. oil companies, accusing Maduro’s government of using oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and other crimes.

Zohran Mamdani is set to take office as New York City’s next mayor at the stroke of midnight ushering in 2026, beginning a day-long series of inaugural events. The Democrat will participate in two separate swearing-in ceremonies on Thursday. The first will be a private, family-only oath shortly after midnight at a long-abandoned subway station beneath Manhattan. A second, public ceremony is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, culminating in a block party outside City Hall. Because a mayor’s term officially begins on January 1, it has long been customary for incoming mayors to hold both a symbolic overnight oath and a larger daytime celebration. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams took his initial oath in Times Square following the New Year’s Eve ball drop, while former Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in at his Brooklyn home. Mamdani’s midnight ceremony will take place at the former City Hall subway station, a historic stop known for its ornate arches and vaulted ceilings. Once the centerpiece of the city’s first subway line, the station was closed in 1945 and is now accessible mainly through guided tours or by remaining on a downtown-bound No. 6 train as it loops north. New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath. Mamdani’s office said the underground location reflects his dedication to working-class New Yorkers and symbolizes a time when the city invested heavily in infrastructure to improve daily life. The formal public swearing-in will be held at 1 p.m. on the steps of City Hall, where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will administer the oath. Opening remarks will be delivered by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In both ceremonies, Mamdani — the city’s first Muslim mayor — will take the oath with his hand on Qurans, marking the first time New York’s top elected official has been sworn in using Islam’s holy book. His inaugural committee includes actor John Turturro, playwright Cole Escola, novelist Colson Whitehead, along with advocates, small business owners and campaign staff. The public ceremony will feature music, performances and interfaith elements, with thousands expected to attend. Mamdani’s election also prompted historians to revise the city’s mayoral count, concluding he is the 112th mayor after correcting a long-standing archival error. He has spent recent weeks finalizing his administration, announcing several key appointments as recently as Wednesday, just hours before taking office. Source: AP 

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.

The CIA carried out a drone strike last week on a dock in Venezuela believed to be used by drug cartels, according to sources familiar with the classified operation. The strike, the first known direct U.S. action on Venezuelan soil since September, represents a major escalation in Washington’s campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuelan authorities have not commented on the attack. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation in a radio interview and during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, saying the strike targeted a dock where drugs were loaded onto boats. Trump declined to specify whether the military or CIA conducted the attack. Special Operations Command stated it did not support the operation. The strike follows a months-long U.S. buildup in the Caribbean, including at least 30 strikes on suspected drug boats and a quasi-blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. Trump has repeatedly threatened land-based strikes in Venezuela and publicly acknowledged authorizing covert CIA operations to counter drug trafficking and security threats. Maduro and his inner circle remain under U.S. indictment for narcoterrorism, with a $50 million reward now offered for information leading to his arrest.  

President Donald Trump indicated Monday that the U.S. has struck a dock facility along a shore linked to drug trafficking as part of its escalating campaign against Venezuela, though officials provided few details. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the facility was used to load boats accused of carrying drugs destined for the U.S. “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” he said. “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. And that is no longer around.” The move signals a potential expansion of U.S. operations from strikes on drug boats in international waters toward actions closer to shore. The U.S. military conducted another strike Monday in the eastern Pacific, killing two people, and has killed at least 107 individuals in 30 strikes since September. Trump did not confirm whether the dock strike was conducted by the military or CIA, nor its exact location, though he said it was “along the shore.” The administration has previously deployed warships, built up forces in the region, seized oil tankers, and suggested the possibility of future land strikes in Venezuela or elsewhere in South America. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. actions, asserting the operations aim to remove him from power. The White House has framed the campaign as an effort to disrupt drug trafficking into the United States. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles recently told Vanity Fair that Trump intends to continue strikes on boats until Maduro “cries uncle.”  

US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday that Washington could launch further military strikes if Tehran attempts to revive its nuclear program, as he held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Florida residence. Trump, who previously said US strikes in June had left Iran’s nuclear capabilities “completely and fully obliterated,” suggested there were signs Tehran might be trying to rebuild parts of the program outside known sites. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate with Netanyahu beside him, Trump said the United States would respond forcefully if that proves true. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” Trump told reporters. “And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.” At a later news conference, Trump said he could authorize another strike if suspected activity is confirmed. “If it’s confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time,” he said. Iran has insisted it is no longer enriching uranium at any site and has sought to signal openness to renewed negotiations. The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have voiced concern in local media about Iran rebuilding long-range missile capabilities that could threaten Israel. The warning came as Trump said he wants to push ahead with the next phase of the US-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire, while stressing that Hamas must be disarmed. The truce has largely held, but progress toward a second phase has slowed amid mutual accusations of violations and disagreements over the path forward. The first phase of the ceasefire began in October, two years after the Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Nearly all of the 251 hostages taken during that assault have since been released, alive or dead. Netanyahu, who also met separately with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has indicated he is not rushing into the next phase while the remains of hostage Ran Gvili are still in Gaza. Trump said Gvili’s family, whom he met in Florida, is still waiting for their son to be returned. The proposed second phase envisions rebuilding a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision, with a Palestinian technocratic committee managing daily affairs and a multinational stabilization force providing security. Key elements, including the composition and mandate of that force, remain unresolved, according to officials briefed on the discussions. Trump and Netanyahu, who praised each other during the visit, also touched on domestic Israeli politics. Netanyahu said Israel’s education ministry would award Trump the Israel Prize, breaking with past convention. Trump again urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who is on trial in multiple corruption cases. “He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero. How do you not give a pardon?” Trump said. Herzog’s office later said any decision on the pardon request would follow established legal procedures.  

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist set to take office as mayor of New York City on Jan 1, is facing intense scrutiny as questions mount over whether he can deliver on the sweeping promises that helped propel him into one of the most closely watched political jobs in the United States. Even before assuming office, Mamdani has drawn criticism from Republicans, skepticism from centrist Democrats and close monitoring from progressives wary of any shift toward the political middle. As he prepares to lead the country’s largest city, expectations are high and tolerance for missteps is low. Political analysts say Mamdani’s first months will be crucial. George Arzt, a veteran Democratic consultant in New York, said the mayor-elect must use his early days to show he can govern effectively. “He’s got to use the first 100 days of the administration to show people he can govern,” Arzt said, adding that Mamdani’s inaugural address should clearly outline his agenda and how he plans to achieve it. Mamdani campaigned on a platform focused on easing the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, pledging policies such as free child care, fare-free city buses and a rent freeze for about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. The agenda energized voters in one of the most expensive cities in the country and made him a prominent figure within a Democratic Party searching for new leadership during President Donald Trump’s second term. However, analysts say governing New York brings relentless day-to-day pressures, from public safety and transit delays to sanitation and emergency response. “He had a movement candidacy and that immediately raises expectations locally and nationally,” said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist and Columbia University professor. He said Mamdani may need to manage expectations while securing early, tangible wins. A key challenge will be persuading skeptical New Yorkers that his policies are workable and beneficial. “It’s difficult to have this all happen on day one, or even day 100,” Smikle said. Some of Mamdani’s proposals may find support at the state level. His plan for universal free child care has drawn backing from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, though funding details remain unclear. Hochul has opposed raising income taxes, which Mamdani favors for the wealthy, but has signaled openness to higher corporate taxes. His rent freeze proposal, which does not require state approval, could face obstacles due to recent appointments made by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams to the city board that sets rent increases. Mamdani has said he remains confident the freeze can be implemented. Other challenges loom, including strained relations with segments of the Jewish community over his criticism of Israel’s government and support for Palestinian rights. The Anti-Defamation League has said it will closely monitor his policies and appointments, citing concerns over antisemitism. Mamdani has rejected claims that criticism of Israeli policies equates to antisemitism. Questions also remain over public safety, given Mamdani’s past calls to reduce police funding. His decision to keep current Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has helped ease fears of abrupt changes within the nation’s largest police force. Mamdani is also expected to navigate a complex relationship with President Donald Trump. While recent interactions have been less confrontational, analysts say sharp political differences, particularly on immigration, could fuel future clashes. As Mamdani prepares to take office, supporters and critics alike are watching closely to see whether he can translate ambitious campaign promises into effective governance.

The United States on Monday pledged $2 billion for U.N. humanitarian aid, even as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to cut U.S. foreign assistance and urges United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” amid new financial realities. While the amount is only a fraction of past contributions, the administration considers it a generous sum that maintains the U.S.’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor. The funding will be distributed through an umbrella fund, which will allocate money to individual agencies and priorities—a key part of U.S. demands for sweeping reforms across the U.N, reprots AP. This approach has raised concerns among humanitarian workers and led to significant reductions in programs and services. At its core, the reform project will help establish pools of funding that can be directed either to specific crises or countries in need. A total of 17 countries will be targeted initially, including Bangladesh, Congo, Haiti, Syria and Ukraine. One of the world’s most desperate countries, Afghanistan, is not included, nor are the Palestinian territories, which officials say will be covered by money stemming from Trump’s as-yet-incomplete Gaza peace plan. According to U.N. data, the $2 billion represents only a small portion of traditional U.S. humanitarian funding for U.N.-backed programs, which has reached up to $17 billion annually in recent years. U.S. officials say only $8 to $10 billion of that is voluntary contributions while the U.S. also pays billions annually in dues as part of its U.N. membership. Critics argue that Western aid cutbacks are shortsighted, driving millions toward hunger, displacement, or disease, and damaging U.S. influence globally. US seeks consolidated aid approach A senior State Department official, speaking anonymously before Monday’s announcement at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Geneva, said the United States wants “more consolidated leadership authority” in U.N. aid delivery. Under the plan, Fletcher and OCHA “are going to control the spigot” for distributing funds to agencies, the official added. “This humanitarian reset at the United Nations should deliver more aid with fewer tax dollars — providing more focused, results-driven assistance aligned with U.S foreign policy,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz. U.S. officials described the $2 billion as an initial installment for OCHA’s annual appeal, announced earlier this month. Fletcher, noting the shifting aid landscape, had already reduced this year’s request. Other traditional donors, including Britain, France, Germany, and Japan, have also cut funding and sought reforms. “The agreement requires the U.N. to consolidate humanitarian functions to reduce bureaucratic overhead, unnecessary duplication, and ideological creep,” the State Department said. “Individual U.N. agencies will need to adapt, shrink, or die.” “Nowhere is reform more important than the humanitarian agencies, which perform some of the U.N.’s most critical work,” the department added. “Today’s agreement is a critical step in those reform efforts, balancing President Trump’s commitment to remaining the world’s most generous nation, with the imperative to bring reform to the way we fund, oversee, and integrate with U.N. humanitarian efforts.” The project reflects Trump’s longstanding view that the U.N. has great potential but has strayed from its mission, undermining U.S. interests, promoting radical ideologies, and engaging in wasteful, unaccountable spending. A challenging year for aid The pledge comes after a difficult year for many U.N. organizations, including refugee, migration, and food aid agencies. The Trump administration has already cut billions in foreign aid, forcing agencies to reduce spending, scale back projects, and eliminate thousands of jobs. Other traditional Western donors have also trimmed contributions. The U.S. pledge, targeting U.N. programs—the world’s largest provider of humanitarian assistance and top recipient of U.S. humanitarian aid—follows a preliminary deal with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), led by Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat. Even as U.S. aid declines, global needs have surged. Famine has struck parts of conflict-hit Sudan and Gaza, while climate-driven disasters like floods and droughts have claimed lives and displaced thousands. Cuts will significantly impact U.N. agencies such as the International Organization for Migration, the World Food Program, and UNHCR. They have already received billions less from the U.S. this year compared with previous Biden-era allocations or even Trump’s first term. Fletcher’s office, which launched a “humanitarian reset” last year to improve efficiency, accountability, and impact, will now serve as the main channel for U.S. and other aid funds, rather than distributing contributions across multiple appeals.