United News of Bangladesh

President Donald Trump's top intelligence officials will brief House lawmakers Wednesday on global threats facing the US — though they'll likely be questioned again over their use of a group text to discuss plans for military strikes in Yemen. CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel are among those who were asked to testify before the House Intelligence Committee as part of its annual review of threats facing the US. At a similar hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard briefed lawmakers on her office's threat assessment, noting that China, Russia, Iran and North Korea continue to pose security challenges to the US, as do drug cartels and transnational criminal organisations. Usha Vance to visit Greenland amid Trump's US takeover talks The presentations from top Trump appointees reflect Trump's foreign policy priorities, including a focus on combating the flow of fentanyl, illegal immigration and human trafficking, and are taking place as Trump attempts to work out a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine three years after Russia's invasion. Tuesday's hearing was dominated by questions about Ratcliffe and Gabbard's participation in a group chat on Signal in which they discussed plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen. The group included a journalist, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Gabbard and Ratcliffe have said no classified information was included in the messages, but Democrats have decried the use of the messaging app, saying that any release of information about timetables, weapons or military activities could have put US servicemembers at risk. At Tuesday's hearing they asked Patel, who was not a participant in the text chain, if he would investigate. It's likely House Democrats will press Patel on the same question Wednesday. The National Security Council has said it will investigate the matter, which Trump on Tuesday downplayed as a “glitch.” Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, who was also in the group chat.

A Columbia University student filed a lawsuit on Monday, alleging that the Trump administration is targeting her for deportation due to her pro-Palestinian views. The lawsuit claims that immigration officials are using tactics similar to those used against Mahmoud Khalil and other college activists. US agents arrest Palestinian activist who led Columbia University protests Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old lawful permanent resident who moved to the U.S. from South Korea at the age of 7, was arrested on March 5 during a protest against disciplinary actions taken against student demonstrators at Columbia University. She was one of several people detained after a sit-in at Barnard College's library. Shortly after her arrest, ICE officials issued an arrest warrant and visited her parents' home to detain her. Chung’s lawsuit asserts that on March 10, she was informed that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked. Just three days later, federal agents executed search warrants at Columbia-owned residences, including her dormitory, in search of immigration documents and travel records. Seeking a court order to block her deportation, Chung's lawsuit argues that the administration's actions are part of a broader attempt to suppress free speech and protest activities. Chung claims that immigration enforcement is being used as a tool to silence constitutionally protected speech, including her own. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson noted that Chung’s participation in a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College was of concern, and that she would have the opportunity to present her case in immigration court. Chung’s case is part of a larger pattern in which other students have been targeted for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. These include Mahmoud Khalil and Momodou Taal, a Cornell University Ph.D. student, who is also facing deportation following his lawsuit against the administration's actions. Prosecutors drop most charges against student protesters who occupied Columbia University building The lawsuit highlights the administration’s crackdown on international students and scholars who have expressed support for Palestinians, with some facing visa revocations under a rarely used legal statute designed to protect U.S. foreign-policy interests.

The National Weather Service (NWS), facing significant job reductions, is scaling back or eliminating weather balloon launches at eight northern locations. Meteorologists and former agency leaders have expressed concern that this will diminish forecast accuracy, particularly as severe weather season approaches. USPS partners with DOGE for reforms, plans 10,000 job cuts Weather balloons, which are launched twice daily at around 100 locations, provide crucial data for forecasters and computer models, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure. Cutting back on these launches is a poor decision, according to eight scientists, meteorologists, and former NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) officials. The balloons, which ascend to 100,000 feet with sensors measuring various atmospheric conditions, offer unique insights that can't be obtained in any other way, said D. James Baker, a former NOAA chief. Despite previous budget cuts, he maintained the importance of weather balloon observations. University of Oklahoma’s Renee McPherson called the decision "dangerous," while Ryan Maue, a former NOAA chief scientist, described it as “bad” and noted it would worsen weather forecasting in the US. Locations such as Omaha, Nebraska, and Rapid City, South Dakota, will stop balloon launches due to staffing shortages, while other cities like Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Grand Junction, Colorado, will reduce launches from twice daily to once. The Trump administration’s significant staffing cuts have contributed to this reduction, with hundreds of NOAA workers let go earlier this year. Additionally, earlier cuts were announced for Albany, New York, Gray, Maine, and Kotzebue, Alaska, bringing the total number of affected sites to 11. An Associated Press analysis revealed that, from 2021 to 2024, NOAA experienced only one balloon launch outage per day on average. Now, 17% of U.S. balloon sites are either reducing or halting launches, including those impacted by helium shortages and coastal erosion. Meteorologist Kristen Corbosiero expressed concern about the consequences of fewer balloon launches, particularly in light of the upcoming severe weather season. Weather balloons are critical in forecasting severe storms, especially during peak tornado season in the spring. Former NOAA Director Elbert "Joe" Friday emphasized the importance of weather balloons in capturing detailed atmospheric data, crucial for understanding storm development. While satellites offer broad views of weather patterns and ground measurements provide on-the-ground data, weather balloons give essential information from the middle layers of the atmosphere. The reduction in launches is particularly concerning in the northern U.S., where the jet stream, a key driver of weather systems, is located. Trump admin may exclude govt spending, obscuring DOGE cuts' impact Weather balloons have been an integral part of forecasting since the 1930s, with historical significance during World War II, where they aided in better weather predictions for air combat. Despite the work involved in preparing and launching a balloon, the data they provide is invaluable, with each launch involving around four to five hours of work for one person.

After sharing a nightly iftar meal with family during Ramadan, Nadine Daoud noticed that her grandmother’s refrigerator was often filled with full pots and trays of leftover food. She frequently felt that the food was quickly forgotten and wasted. Atif Aslam’s new naat elevates spirituality during Ramadan This observation led to the creation of The Helping Handzzz Foundation in 2017, which brings together volunteers during the Islamic holy month to collect excess food from families in Dearborn—a city with a large Arab population, nearly half of its 110,000 residents—and distribute it to homeless individuals in nearby Detroit. Daoud explained that the foundation’s work reflects Islam’s emphasis on valuing resources, like food, and aligns with Ramadan’s focus on “self-discipline and empathy towards those less fortunate.” “Every family prepares a lot of food to break the fast at the end of the day,” Daoud shared. “But a lot of food gets left over, stored in the fridge, and forgotten about the next day.” “What I decided to do was, instead of letting it go to waste or throwing it away, I thought, ‘Let me take it to those I see on the streets. I’ll give it to them with a drink and a nice treat on the side.’” On one recent night, Helping Handzzz board members Hussein Sareini, Daoud Wehbi, and four others had an iftar meal prepared by Sareini’s mother. After the meal, attendees prayed together, then Wehbi joined Sareini in his truck. They went around the area collecting untouched dishes from various homes, before heading to a mosque parking lot where Daoud and others organized the food. A caravan of cars then visited several locations in Detroit, where homeless people are regularly found. Board member Mariam Hachem approached a man lying on the sidewalk wrapped in blankets. “Hi, we have a meal for you,” she said. “We’re going to set it right here, OK?” “OK,” he replied. Other volunteers added bottled water and a sweet treat alongside the meal. The Helping Handzzz team carries out this routine six nights a week during Ramadan, taking Sundays off. This effort comes after a day of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Wehbi, a 27-year-old design engineer at Toyota, and Sareini, who works in residential remodeling, said they are happy to dedicate their evenings until 9 or 10 p.m. to making a positive impact. Govt reduces import duties on fruits for Ramadan “It’s all about appreciating what you have,” Sareini said. Wehbi, 27, noted that their work aligns with the spirit of Ramadan. “It’s not just a time of fasting from food and drink,” he explained. “It’s also about personal growth, coming together as a community, and improving ourselves and each other.”

Migrants from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, and China, deported from the United States and left in limbo in Panama, have been moving from one embassy and consulate to another this week, desperately trying to secure asylum in any country willing to take them. Once the focus of international humanitarian attention just weeks ago, the deportees now fear that, with minimal legal and humanitarian aid and no clear path forward from authorities, they may soon be forgotten. Asian shares mixed as Wall St dips on US uncertainty “After this, we have no idea what we will do,” said 29-year-old Hayatullah Omagh, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 following the Taliban’s takeover. In February, the United States deported nearly 300 people from predominantly Asian nations to Panama. The Central American country was intended as a transit point for migrants from countries that were difficult for the U.S. to deport to, as the Trump administration sought to expedite removals. While some agreed to return to their home countries voluntarily, others, fearing persecution, refused and were sent to a remote camp in the Darién jungle for several weeks. Earlier this month, Panama released the remaining migrants from the camp, giving them one month to leave the country. The government stated that they had declined assistance from international organisations, opting instead to make their own arrangements. However, with limited financial resources, no familiarity with Panama, and little to no knowledge of Spanish, the migrants have struggled. Seeking asylum from one embassy to another On Tuesday, around a dozen migrants visited foreign diplomatic missions in Panama’s capital, including the Canadian and British embassies as well as the Swiss and Australian consulates, hoping to initiate the asylum process. However, they were either turned away or advised to contact the embassies via phone or email. Their messages often received no response or a standard reply stating that the embassies could not assist them. In one email, Omagh explained the reasons for his escape, pleading, “Please don’t let me be sent back to Afghanistan, where survival is impossible for me.” The response from the Canadian Embassy in Panama stated, “The Embassy of Canada in Panama does not offer visa or immigration services, nor services for refugees. We are also not permitted to answer any questions regarding visas or immigration.” At the British Embassy, a security guard handed the asylum-seekers a leaflet titled “Emergency Help for British People.” Meanwhile, at the Swiss consulate, the group was directed to contact the embassy in Costa Rica and given a printed sheet with general phone numbers and email addresses from the embassy’s website. Canadian, British, and Australian diplomats in Panama did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. The Swiss consulate denied claims that they had turned away the asylum-seekers. Heathrow Airport to shut down Friday after rire causes power outage in London Stuck in limbo in Panama The migrants had travelled halfway across the world, reached the U.S. border to seek asylum, and instead found themselves stranded in Panama—a country some had already passed through months earlier on their journey north. Many of the deportees expressed willingness to seek asylum in Panama but were informed by both international aid groups and Panamanian authorities that obtaining refuge in the country would be difficult, if not impossible. Álvaro Botero, who advocates for the migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said he was not surprised that embassies refused assistance, as such aid is typically reserved for extreme cases of political persecution. He also suggested that other governments may be reluctant to intervene due to potential diplomatic tensions with the Trump administration. “It’s critical that these individuals are not forgotten,” Botero said. “They never chose to be sent to Panama, and now they are stranded with no idea of what to do, uncertain about their future, and unable to return home.” Simultaneously, the Trump administration has restricted legal pathways at the U.S. southern border, intensified deportations, and suspended both its refugee resettlement programme and funding for organisations that could have supported the migrants now trapped in Panama. Over the weekend, the Trump administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, detaining them in a maximum-security gang prison. Officials alleged—without providing evidence—that the individuals were members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. Few options left On Thursday, the migrants visited the Panama offices of the U.N. refugee agency. Omagh reported that officials there informed them they could not assist with asylum in other countries due to restrictions imposed by the Panamanian government. A U.N. official told them they could begin the asylum process in Panama but warned that it was highly unlikely their claims would be accepted. The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration and the refugee agency did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment. That same day, Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. refugee agency, cautioned that U.S. government aid cuts would have a detrimental effect on refugee services worldwide. “We urge member states to fulfil their commitments to displaced people. This is a time for solidarity, not retreat,” Grandi stated. Deportees, including Omagh, fear that foreign governments and aid organisations are turning their backs on them. Omagh, who is both an atheist and a member of Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority, believes returning home under Taliban rule would mean certain death. Before attempting to reach the U.S., he had spent years trying to settle in Pakistan, Iran, and other countries, only to be denied visas. Russian migrant Aleksandr Surgin, also part of the group seeking help at embassies, fled his country after openly criticising the war in Ukraine on social media. He was warned by government officials that he would either be imprisoned or forced to fight in Ukraine. When asked on Thursday what he planned to do next, he simply replied, “I no longer have any hope.”

A Florida man convicted of killing an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother during a night of heavy drinking and drug use is set to be executed on Thursday. Edward James, 63, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at 8 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, under a death warrant signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February. Unless a last-minute reprieve is granted, this will be Florida’s second execution of the year, with a third planned for April. Trump plans to sign executive order for shutdown of US Education Department This week, three other executions have been scheduled across the United States. Louisiana executed a man on Tuesday using nitrogen gas for the first time in its history, marking a return to executions after a 15-year hiatus. In Arizona, a man who kidnapped and murdered his girlfriend’s ex-husband was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday. Another lethal injection is scheduled in Oklahoma on Thursday. James was sentenced to death for the murders of 8-year-old Toni Neuner and her grandmother, 58-year-old Betty Dick, on September 19, 1993. At the time, James was renting a room in Dick’s home in Casselberry, where Toni and three other children were also staying that night. Court records indicate that James consumed up to 24 beers at a party, drank gin, and took LSD before returning to his room. The girl was raped and strangled to death, while the other children remained unharmed. James, who pleaded guilty, was also convicted of raping Toni and stealing Dick’s jewelry and car after stabbing her 21 times. He then drove across the country, periodically selling pieces of the stolen jewelry, before being arrested on October 6, 1993, in Bakersfield, California. Police obtained a videotaped confession from James, and despite his guilty plea, a jury recommended the death penalty by an 11-1 vote. James’ attorneys filed multiple appeals in state and federal courts, all of which were denied. Most recently, the Florida Supreme Court rejected claims that his long-term substance abuse, multiple head injuries, and a heart attack in 2023 led to mental decline that would make his execution cruel and unusual punishment. The justices upheld a lower court’s ruling that “James’s cognitive issues do not shield him from execution.” The court also dismissed his attorneys’ argument that the oxygen deprivation caused by his heart attack should be considered new evidence to halt the execution. Trump plans to shut down US Education Department Even if this evidence were new, the court determined that it would not likely lead to a less severe sentence in a new penalty phase. According to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center, Florida administers lethal injections using a three-drug protocol: a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart. Earlier this year, Florida executed James Ford for the 1997 murders of a couple in Charlotte County, which was witnessed by their surviving toddler daughter. Additionally, Gov. DeSantis has signed a death warrant for the April 8 execution of Michael Tanzi, convicted of killing a woman in the Florida Keys in 2000.

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Thursday aimed at dissolving the U.S. Education Department, fulfilling a long-standing conservative goal to eliminate the agency. This announcement was made by a White House official, who requested anonymity prior to the public disclosure. Trump has consistently criticized the Education Department, calling it wasteful and dominated by liberal ideology. However, dismantling the agency may require congressional approval, as it was established by law in 1979. The executive order would instruct Secretary Linda McMahon to take the necessary steps to close the Education Department and return education authority to individual states, while ensuring the continuation of key services and benefits. Under the Trump administration, the Education Department has already undergone significant reductions, including workforce cuts and deep cuts to its civil rights and research divisions. Public school advocates have raised concerns that eliminating the department would worsen the inequalities in the American education system. The National Parents Union warned that the move would harm millions of children and prevent them from receiving a fair education. While the White House has not yet outlined specific functions to be shifted to other departments or discontinued, McMahon has previously stated that core programs such as Title I funding for low-income schools and Pell grants for college students would be preserved. The administration aims to create a "better functioning" Education Department. The agency manages billions of dollars in aid, including a $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio, and oversees numerous programs supporting public schools and higher education. Federal funding represents a small portion of public school budgets, yet it plays a key role in supporting vulnerable students and institutions. Republicans have long sought to eliminate the Education Department, arguing that it wastes taxpayer money and infringes on state and local control. This idea has gained momentum amid growing demands from conservative groups for more control over education. Trump’s campaign promise to close the department and return control to states has been a central part of his platform, criticizing the agency as a haven for "radicals, zealots, and Marxists." Despite this, Trump has also used the department’s powers to enforce his policies on issues like transgender athletes in women’s sports and diversity programs. Some of Trump’s allies have raised concerns about whether he can shut down the department without congressional approval, and its popularity remains uncertain. In 2023, an amendment to close the department failed to gain sufficient support, with 60 Republicans joining Democrats to oppose it. During Trump’s first term, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposed deep cuts to the department’s budget and suggested bundling K-12 funding into block grants to give states more control over how they use federal education funds, but this proposal faced opposition, even from some Republicans.

President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Thursday calling for the shutdown of the US Education Department, according to a White House official, advancing a campaign promise to eliminate an agency that's been a longtime target of conservatives. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity before an announcement. Trump has derided the Department of Education as wasteful and polluted by liberal ideology. However, finalizing its dismantling is likely impossible without an act of Congress, which created the department in 1979. A White House fact sheet said the order would direct Secretary Linda McMahon “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.” The Trump administration has already been gutting the agency. Its workforce is being slashed in half and there have been deep cuts to the Office for Civil Rights and the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress. Advocates for public schools said eliminating the department would leave children behind in an American education system that is fundamentally unequal. Trump, Putin to seek limited ceasefire on energy, infrastructure in Ukraine war “This isn’t fixing education. It’s making sure millions of children never get a fair shot. And we’re not about to let that happen without a fight,” the National Parents Union said in a statement. The White House has not spelled out formally which department functions could be handed off to other departments, or eliminated altogether. At her confirmation hearing, McMahon said she would preserve core initiatives, including Title I money for low-income schools and Pell grants for low-income college students. The goal of the administration, she said, would be "a better functioning Department of Education.” The department sends billions of dollars a year to schools and oversees $1.6 trillion in federal student loans. Currently, much of the agency’s work revolves around managing money — both its extensive student loan portfolio and a range of aid programs for colleges and school districts, from school meals to support for homeless students. The agency also plays a significant role in overseeing civil rights enforcement. Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets — roughly 14%. The money often supports supplemental programs for vulnerable students, such as the McKinney-Vento program for homeless students or Title I for low-income schools. Colleges and universities are more reliant on money from Washington, through research grants along with federal financial aid that helps students pay their tuition.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during their call on Tuesday to seek a limited ceasefire against energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the White House. The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting. The White House said negotiations would “begin immediately” on those steps. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased ceasefire plan. Trump to meet Putin for talks on U.S. ceasefire proposal Putin also called on Trump to end foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine as the U.S. looks to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a lengthy phone conversation on Tuesday as the White House pushes for Russia to sign off on its 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

One hundred years ago, an 11-year-old girl, Othella Silvey, stood on the top floor of Logan School, looking for her home just two blocks away. But after a powerful tornado tore through Murphysboro, Illinois, on March 18, 1925, she saw nothing but destruction. “She couldn’t even tell which direction home was,” recalled her daughter, 81-year-old Sylvia Carvell. The Deadliest Tornado in U.S. HistoryThe devastating tornado—the deadliest in U.S. history—touched down in southeastern Missouri before cutting a 219-mile (352-kilometer) path of destruction through southern Illinois and into Indiana. Over nearly four hours, it killed 695 people and injured more than 2,000. In addition, at least seven other twisters spun off from the main storm, causing further devastation in Kentucky and Alabama. By modern classifications, the so-called Tri-State Tornado would be rated an F5, with a mile-wide funnel and wind speeds exceeding 260 mph (418 kph). One of the most striking examples of its immense force was found at Logan School: a wooden board, four feet (1.22 meters) long and eight inches (20.32 centimeters) wide, embedded so deeply into a maple tree that it could support a man's weight. This artifact is now on display as part of the Jackson County Historical Society’s centennial commemoration of the disaster. “You hear the statistics—200 mph winds, a mile-wide tornado—but seeing that wooden board driven into a tree makes it real,” said Mary Riseling, who is coordinating the six-day remembrance event. “That piece of wood tells a story on its own.” A Perfect Storm of ConditionsMeteorologists say a rare combination of atmospheric conditions fueled the tornado’s destructive power. A low-pressure system over the Arkansas-Missouri border merged with a warm front moving north, creating an environment ripe for violent, long-lasting tornadoes, explained Christine Wielgos, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “That mix provided the warmth, instability, and moisture that, when aligned just right, resulted in one of the most extreme tornadoes in history,” she said. 39 dead as tornadoes, wildfires, dust storms devastate US Making the disaster even more terrifying was the lack of an early warning system. In 1925, there were no reliable storm forecasts, let alone tornado warnings. “All people had was a glance at the darkening sky. They didn’t even know what was coming until it was right on top of them, and by then, they were scrambling for shelter,” Wielgos said. Entire Towns ObliteratedMurphysboro, located 97 miles (156 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis, bore the brunt of the storm. The tornado destroyed 40% of the city and claimed 234 lives—the highest toll in any single municipality. Other towns, including Annapolis, Missouri; Gorham, Illinois; and Griffith, Indiana, were nearly wiped off the map. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad yards, which employed about 1,100 people, were demolished. In nearby DeSoto, Illinois, the tornado tore through an elementary school, killing 38 children. The devastation was so profound that it inspired a local song, After the Tornado is Over, which captured the grief and loss: "I once had a ‘Home Sweet Home’ here,With families so kind and dear,The Red Cross tells me they are dead,Among the debris straight ahead..." In Murphysboro, Pullman rail cars were repurposed to house visiting medical workers and emergency crews. Meanwhile, the Red Cross set up tents for displaced residents. Survivors Rebuild Against the Odds Powerful March storm sparks wildfires, causes fatalities, raises Tornado concernsIn the aftermath of the storm, many assumed the Silvey family had perished, as their home was completely destroyed. Othella and her younger sister, 7-year-old Helen, were sent to Carbondale as orphans. However, it was later discovered that their parents had survived—only their grandparents, who lived nearby, had been killed. The sisters were eventually reunited with their family. Despite the destruction, Murphysboro and other communities rebuilt. Othella’s family constructed a new home identical to the one they lost. First, they built a small chicken coop, which not only provided shelter but also a crucial food source for months. To this day, Murphysboro’s west side is dotted with backyard structures—remnants of the temporary shelters families used while rebuilding. Many of the families who endured the disaster still live in Murphysboro, Riseling noted. Jackson County Historical Society President Laura Cates Duncan said the centennial commemoration not only honors those who died but also celebrates the resilience of the survivors. “They could have left, but they chose to stay,” Duncan said. “Their roots were here.” Source: With input from agency