United News of Bangladesh

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) has announced the formation of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Governance Studies, USA (CGS USA), marking an important step in expanding its engagement with global policy discourse and research collaboration. The Centre for Governance Studies, USA (CGS USA) is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organisation incorporated in the United States, said a press release issued on Thursday. CGS USA has been established to advance research, dialogue, and policy engagement on governance, democracy, security, and global affairs, with a focus on cross-regional perspectives and emerging global challenges. Although CGS USA is legally and institutionally independent, it draws on long-standing experience in policy research and dialogue-building, and seeks to contribute to informed debates by producing research, convening policy dialogues and fostering networks among scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in the United States and internationally. Board of Directors – CGS USA includes--Zillur Rahman – Founding Board Chair, CGS USA; President, Centre for Governance Studies (Bangladesh) Dr. Clay Goodloe Wescott – President, International Public Management Network, USA, Dr. Ali Riaz – distinguished Professor, Illinois State University, USA, Aarya Nijat – Co-Founder, Innovation Ticker (iTicker), USA, Dr. Mohammed Parvez Imdad – Former Lead Economist, Asian Development Bank, Selcuk Kyle Inan – Economist, USA, Parvez Karim Abbasi – Executive Director, Centre for Governance Studies. CGS USA will focus on producing policy-relevant research, curating inclusive platforms for dialogue, and supporting cooperation among institutions and individuals working on governance and public policy issues across regions. The organisation aims to serve as a bridge between academic research and policy practice in an increasingly complex and interconnected global environment.

US President Donald Trump has hinted at easing tensions in Minnesota following a second fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents, but there were few visible changes on the ground as enforcement operations and protests continued across Minneapolis and St. Paul. Trump sought to strike a more conciliatory tone by praising Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after separate phone calls, saying he shared “a similar wavelength” with the governor and that “progress” was being made with city leaders. He also sent his top border adviser to Minnesota to oversee immigration enforcement. Despite the rhetoric, activists continued to track and confront federal agents on city streets. Journalists reported aggressive behavior by officers toward the media, including threats of arrest, as protests led to pepper spray use, broken car windows and detentions. Attorney General Pam Bondi said 16 people were arrested Wednesday for interfering with law enforcement. Fear remains widespread among immigrant communities. Latino business owners said many families are still afraid to leave their homes, and several immigrant-run shops have remained closed for weeks. Community members questioned the credibility of federal agents and their tactics. Legal scrutiny has intensified as a federal judge warned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over repeated failures to comply with court orders, citing dozens of violations this month alone. Meanwhile, residents continued to mourn victims of recent violence, with a growing memorial honoring nurse Alex Pretti. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar accused the administration of using immigration enforcement to intimidate minority communities, saying the approach is rooted in fear rather than public safety.

US President Donald Trump said his administration would “de-escalate a little bit” its operations in Minnesota following the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers in the state this month. Speaking in a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Trump described the incidents as tragic. “Bottom line, it was terrible. Both of them were terrible,” he said. In early January, Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer. That was followed by the death of Alex Pretti, who was killed after being stopped by border agents over the weekend. Pretti’s death sparked protests in Minnesota and renewed criticism from lawmakers across party lines, increasing pressure on the administration to scale back its presence in the state. North Korea fires suspected ballistic missiles into sea, regional officials say On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security removed the leader of its Minnesota mission, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino. DHS said White House border adviser Tom Homan would take charge of operations and meet local officials. Homan later said he had met Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and local law enforcement leaders. Addressing reporters ahead of a rally in Iowa on Tuesday night, Trump described Pretti’s killing as “a very unfortunate incident”. Asked whether he agreed with claims that Pretti was a “domestic terrorist”, Trump said he had not heard that characterization, adding: “He shouldn't have been carrying a gun.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti was shot after “brandishing” a gun during a confrontation. Local authorities, however, said the firearm was legally registered and that Pretti was shot after it had been removed. DHS said agents fired in self-defence after Pretti resisted efforts to disarm him, but eyewitnesses and local officials disputed that account, saying he was holding a phone, not a weapon. In comments following the shooting, Noem accused Pretti of “domestic terrorism”, saying he was not there to protest peacefully but to incite violence. Pretti’s death, coming just weeks after the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, angered residents and prompted renewed calls from state and city leaders for the withdrawal of around 3,000 immigration agents from Minnesota. Despite signalling a de-escalation, Trump defended the operation, saying it had removed “thousands of hardened criminals” from the state and contributed to improved crime figures. “That's all working out, we have Tom Homan there now,” he said. White House aide Stephen Miller told CNN that DHS had been instructed to use additional personnel for fugitive operations and to separate arrest teams from protesters. He said the administration was reviewing whether those guidelines were followed. Several Republican leaders have also called for an investigation into Pretti’s death, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and US Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska. Ricketts said the country had witnessed a “horrifying situation” and urged a transparent investigation, while reaffirming his support for funding immigration enforcement. Trump hikes US tariffs on South Korean goods to 25 percent A federal judge has ordered DHS not to destroy or alter any evidence related to the case. Trump did not address the Minnesota situation in detail during his Iowa rally, instead highlighting his broader immigration crackdown and citing a December Harvard Harris poll that suggested strong public support for deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.  #With inputs from BBC

A heavy winter storm sweeping across the United States has killed at least seven people and left more than 800,000 homes and businesses without electricity, triggering widespread disruptions to daily life. The storm brought heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain, forcing authorities to close schools and roads and cancel thousands of flights. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that “life-threatening” conditions stretched from Texas to New England. Officials said two people died of hypothermia in Louisiana, while storm-related deaths were also reported in Texas, Tennessee and Kansas. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people died on Saturday, although the exact causes were still being investigated. He noted that extreme cold remains a serious seasonal threat for residents. More than 800,000 customers were without power by Sunday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us. Meanwhile, FlightAware reported that over 11,000 flights were cancelled nationwide. Meteorologists said the storm could last several days and affect about 180 million people  more than half of the US population. Freezing rain, which instantly turns into ice on contact with surfaces, was described as one of the most dangerous elements of the storm due to its ability to damage trees, down power lines and make roads extremely slippery. National Weather Service meteorologist Allison Santorelli said,“The snow and ice will melt very slowly and won’t go away anytime soon, which will hinder recovery efforts.” Read More: Winter storm leaves millions without power across US New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to stay indoors, calling it the coldest and most severe winter storm the state has experienced in years. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said ,the state was seeing more ice than initially forecast, increasing the risk of accidents. Nearly half of US states have declared emergencies, while many schools cancelled classes through Monday. The US Senate also postponed a scheduled vote due to the severe weather. Massive US winter storm cancels thousands of flights The storm has also affected Canada, where heavy snowfall has led to hundreds of flight cancellations. Ontario is expected to receive between 15 and 30 centimetres of snow. Weather experts said the storm was caused by a weakened polar vortex, allowing Arctic air to move southward. The extreme cold is forecast to persist into early February.   With inputs from BBC

A powerful winter storm sweeping across the United States has left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity, disrupted air travel and caused multiple deaths, as authorities warned of life-threatening conditions from Texas to New England. Snow, ice and freezing rain have affected a vast stretch of the country, with around 180 million people, more than half of the US population, facing dangerous weather, according to the National Weather Service. Officials said the extreme conditions could persist for several days. At least two people died of hypothermia in Louisiana, while another weather-related death was reported in Texas. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people died over the weekend, though the causes were still being determined. PowerOutage.us reported that more than one million households lost electricity by Sunday afternoon, as ice damaged trees and power lines. Air travel was also heavily disrupted, with more than 10,000 flights canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware. Several states declared emergencies as the storm intensified. Schools closed across large parts of the country, and the US Senate postponed a scheduled vote. In Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said the capital was experiencing its heaviest snowfall in a decade. Governors warned residents to stay indoors and off roads, citing hazardous travel conditions. Weather experts said ice posed the greatest danger, contributing to hundreds of vehicle crashes, including more than 200 reported in Virginia. Meteorologists linked the storm to a weakened polar vortex, allowing Arctic air to plunge southward. Forecasts warned of prolonged cold and heavy snowfall continuing into early February.   With inputs from BBC

A powerful winter storm battered air travel across the United States on Sunday, triggering widespread flight cancellations and delays at many of the country’s busiest airports. The National Weather Service said snow, sleet and freezing rain threatened nearly 180 million people, more than half of the US population, across a vast corridor stretching from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England. After moving through the South, the storm advanced into the Northeast on Sunday, with forecasts calling for roughly 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington to New York and Boston. Flight-tracking website FlightAware reported that more than 11,400 flights were canceled on Sunday. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said the disruption marked the largest cancellation event since the Covid-19 pandemic. By Sunday afternoon, cancellations dominated flight schedules at major airports, particularly in the Northeast. New York’s LaGuardia Airport suspended operations until 8pm, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. In Philadelphia, 94 percent of flights were canceled, while LaGuardia saw 91 percent of flights grounded. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York canceled about 80 percent of its flights. All departing flights were also canceled at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Major hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte and Atlanta also reported significant disruption. American Airlines canceled more than 1,790 flights, while Delta, Southwest, United and JetBlue also reported heavy losses to their schedules. Aviation expert Vikrant Vaze said recovery could take days, warning that cascading delays may affect travelers even outside storm-hit regions.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital, was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, his family said. Pretti, a U.S. citizen from Illinois, was known for his compassion, love for the outdoors, and concern over immigration policies under President Donald Trump. Pretti had participated in protests following the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Family members said he never had a criminal record beyond minor traffic tickets and had a concealed carry permit, though they had never seen him carry a handgun in public. The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” officers with a 9 mm handgun, but family and bystander videos show him holding a phone and shielding a woman from pepper spray, with no visible weapon. Neighbors described Pretti as quiet, warmhearted, and helpful, who enjoyed cycling and spending time with his dog. His parents expressed heartbreak and anger over top officials labeling him a “domestic terrorist,” calling the claims “reprehensible.” Authorities have not provided detailed information, and the family continues to seek answers regarding the circumstances of his death.

President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if America's northern neighbor went ahead with its China trade deal, intensifying a feud with Prime Minister Mark Carney, a rising voice in the West's pushback to Trump new world order. Trump said in a social media post that if Carney “thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken.” While Trump has waged a trade war over the past year, Canada this month negotiated a deal to lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower import taxes on Canadian farm products. Trump initially had said that agreement was what Carney “should be doing and it’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal.” Carney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump’s threat came amid an escalating war of words with Carney as the Republican president’s push to acquire Greenland strained the NATO alliance. Trump had commented while in Davos, Switzerland, this week that “Canada lives because of the United States.” Carney shot back that his nation can be an example that the world does not have to bend toward autocratic tendencies. “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” he said. Trump later revoked his invitation to Carney to join the president's “Board of Peace” that he is forming to try to resolve global conflicts. Trump's push to acquire Greenland has come after he has repeatedly needled Canada over its sovereignty and suggested it also be absorbed the United States as a 51st state. He posted an altered image on social media this week showing a map of the United States that included Canada, Venezuela, Greenland and Cuba as part of its territory. In his message Saturday, Trump continued his provocations by calling Canada's leader “Governor Carney.” Trump had used the same nickname for Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, and his first use of it toward Carney was the latest mark of their soured relationship. Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said “there was a sense Trump showed more respect for Carney than for Trudeau. Now, after Carney’s visit to China and, even more, his widely celebrated Davos speech, which clearly outshined and upset Trump, the gloves are off.” Carney has emerged as a leader of a movement for countries to find ways to link up and counter the U.S. under Trump. Speaking in Davos before Trump, Carney said, “Middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu” and he warned about coercion by great powers — without mentioning Trump’s name. The prime minister received widespread praise and attention for his remarks, upstaging Trump at the World Economic Forum. The prime minister even spoke of a “rupture” between the U.S. under Trump and its Western allies that would never be repaired. Trump, in his Truth Social post Saturday, also said that “China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life.” In a later post, the president said: “The last thing the World needs is to have China take over Canada. It’s NOT going to happen, or even come close to happening!” Carney has not yet reached a deal with Trump to reduce some of the tariffs that he has imposed on key sectors of the Canadian economy. But Canada has been protected by the heaviest impact of Trump’s tariffs by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. That trade agreement is up for a review this year. In the fall, the Canadian province of Ontario aired an anti-tariff ad in the U.S. that prompted Trump to end trade talks with Canada. The television ad used the words of former President Ronald Reagan to criticize U.S. tariffs. Trump pledged to increase tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by an extra 10%. He did not follow through. As for China, Canada had initially mirrored the United States by putting a 100% tariff on electric vehicles from Beijing and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum. China had responded by imposing 100% import taxes on Canadian canola oil and meal and 25% on pork and seafood. But as Trump’s pursued pressure tactics, Canada’s foreign policy has been less aligned with the U.S., creating an opening for an improved relationship with China. Carney made the tariff announcement earlier this month during a visit to Beijing. “The China trade deal is quite limited as is the U.S. deal with China on (semiconductor) chips. The China deal may grow, however. I expect Chinese interest in funding a pipeline to northern British Columbia,” said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto. Carney has said that Canada's relationship with the U.S. is complex and deeper and that Canada and China disagree on issues such as human rights. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85% of U.S. electricity imports. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.

Four people were shot dead early Friday in Lawrenceville, Georgia of United New,  in what authorities said appeared to be a family dispute. The suspected shooter has been taken into custody. The Indian Consulate in Atlanta expressed grief over the incident, saying on X that the alleged shooter had been arrested and that all possible assistance was being provided to the bereaved family.  “We are deeply grieved by a tragic shooting incident linked to an alleged family dispute, in which an Indian national was among the victims. The alleged shooter has been arrested, and all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family,” the consulate said. Local media identified the suspect as Vijay Kumar, 51, of Atlanta. The victims were identified by Gwinnett County police as Kumar’s wife Meemu Dogra, 43, Gourav Kumar, 33, Nidhi Chander, 37, and Harish Chander, 38. Kumar has been charged with four counts each of aggravated assault, felony murder, and malice murder, as well as one count of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Police responded to a call around 2:30 am local time at a residence on the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court. Officers found the four adults dead inside the home from gunshot wounds. Three children were present during the shooting. They hid in a closet to protect themselves, and one managed to call 911, providing crucial information that allowed police to reach the scene within minutes. US labels three Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist groups The children were unharmed and have since been taken into the care of a family member.

The detention of a 5-year-old boy from Ecuador alongside his father outside their Minnesota home has intensified national debate over immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Federal authorities, the family’s attorney, neighbors and school officials have offered sharply conflicting accounts over whether the parents were given a real chance to place the child in someone else’s care. According to neighbors and school officials, immigration officers involved the child directly by instructing him to knock on his home’s door in an attempt to draw his mother outside. The Department of Homeland Security has rejected that claim, calling it an “abject lie.” Officials say the father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, ran from officers and left his son, Liam Conejo Ramos, alone in a running vehicle parked in the driveway. The conflicting versions surfaced just weeks after the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by an ICE officer — an incident witnesses described as an abuse of authority but which federal officials defended as self-defense. The father and son are currently being held at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, near San Antonio. Federal authorities say Conejo Arias was in the United States illegally, though they have not provided further details. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said he entered the country unlawfully in December 2024. The family’s lawyer countered that Conejo Arias had a pending asylum application that allowed him to remain in the U.S. Both claims may be accurate. Officials could have moved to deport him after determining he entered illegally, while he simultaneously exercised his legal right to seek asylum, temporarily halting removal until a judge decides the case. Online court records show the asylum case was filed on Dec. 17, 2024, and assigned to the immigration court inside the Dilley detention facility. Below is a breakdown of what officials, lawyers and others are saying: School officials say ICE used the child as ‘bait’ Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik said officers instructed the boy to knock on the door to check whether anyone else was inside, “essentially using a 5-year-old as bait,” she said. Stenvik said the father told the child’s mother not to open the door. School officials also said agents refused requests to leave the child with other adults. A widely shared photo of the boy wearing a beanie and a Spiderman backpack has fueled public reaction. “Why detain a 5-year-old?” Stenvik asked. “You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.” Other adults offered to take care of the child School officials said several adults present offered to care for the boy but were ignored, including a neighbor who said she had documentation authorizing her to take custody of him on behalf of the parents. Columbia Heights school board chair Mary Granlund said she also told agents she could care for the child. ICE rejects claims from school officials and neighbors “ICE did NOT target, arrest a child or use a child as ‘bait,’” said Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. “ICE law enforcement officers were the only people primarily concerned with the welfare of this child. ” McLaughlin said the child had been abandoned and officers made repeated efforts to have the mother take custody. “Officers even assured her she would NOT be taken her into custody.” She added that officers “abided by the father’s wishes to keep the child with him." ICE and Border Patrol criticize media coverage Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino said at a Friday news conference that reporting on the case was based on a “false media narrative.” Marcos Charles, acting executive associate director of ICE enforcement and removal operations, said the father was responsible for “abandoning his child in the middle of winter in a vehicle.” He said one officer stayed with the child while others arrested the father, later providing food and attempting to reunite him with family. “Tragically, when we approached the door of his residence, the people inside refused to take him in and open the door. ... Fortunately, Conejo Arias eventually requested that his child stay with him," Charles said. Charles said he did not know the whereabouts of the child’s mother. Conditions at the Texas detention center The father and son are being held at the Dilley family detention center, where advocacy groups say conditions for children have deteriorated. Leecia Welch, chief legal counsel at Children’s Rights, said after visiting the facility last week that conditions are worse than ever. “The number of children had skyrocketed and significant numbers of children had been detained for over 100 days,” Welch said, adding that the administration acknowledged in December that about 400 children had faced extended detention. “Nearly every child we spoke to was sick,” she said. Bovino argued that child-parent separation occurs when U.S. citizens are jailed by local police. “I challenge any other law enforcement agency anywhere nationwide to show me the fantastic care that ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol provide children,” Bovino said. He added that without his father, the boy could have ended up in social services custody. Charles said families in detention receive “top-notch care. They have medical care. The food is good. They have learning services. They have church services available. They have recreation.” Lawyer unable to contact family Family attorney Marc Prokosch said Thursday he believed the father and son were being held together but had not been able to communicate with them. “We’re looking at our legal options to see if we can free them either through some legal mechanisms or through moral pressure,” he said. Prokosch was unavailable for comment on Friday, according to his office. Administration policy on detaining children The child’s immigration status remains unclear and could be decisive. Charles said the family entered the U.S. together, indicating the boy was not born in the country. Trump border czar Tom Homan has said parents of U.S.-born children may choose whether to take their children with them or leave them behind. “This is parenting 101. You can decide to take that child with you or you can decide to leave the child with a relative or another spouse,” Homan said last year on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” The Trump administration issued a “Detained Parents Directive” last July stating that ICE “should under no circumstances take custody of children or transport them” when minors are encountered during enforcement actions, with certain exceptions. The directive instructs ICE to give parents time to arrange alternative care for children before detention but does not clarify what happens if parents request that children remain with them. Read More: Trump’s immigration crackdown fuels anxiety among child care workers “If a parent is arrested while with their child, the government is not required to arrest the child, regardless of the child’s immigration status,” said Neha Desai, managing director at Children’s Human Rights and Dignity at the National Center for Youth Law. “When ICE detains a parent, its own policy requires them to allow time for arrangements to be made for the child’s care.”