United News of Bangladesh

The nation's most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday in a display of U.S. military power, raising questions about what the new influx of troops and weaponry could signal for the Trump administration's intentions in South America as it conducts military strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs. The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford and other warships, announced by the Navy in a statement, marks a major moment in what the administration insists is a counterdrug operation but has been seen as an escalating pressure tactic against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Since early September, U.S. strikes have killed at least 80 people in 20 attacks on small boats accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. The Ford rounds off the largest buildup of U.S. firepower in the region in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear" mission includes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines. The carrier strike group, which includes squadrons of fighter jets and guided-missile destroyers, transited the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday morning, the Navy said. Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, who commands the strike group, said it will bolster an already large force of American warships to "protect our nation’s security and prosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.” Adm. Alvin Holsey, the commander who oversees the Caribbean and Latin America, said in a statement that the American forces “stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region.” Holsey, who will retire next month after just a year on the job, said the strike group's deployment is "a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American Homeland.” In Trinidad and Tobago, which is only 7 miles from Venezuela at its closest point, government officials said troops have begun “training exercises” with the U.S. military that will run through much of the week. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sean Sobers described the joint exercises as the second in less than a month and said they are aimed at tackling violent crime on the island nation, which has become a stopover point for drug shipments headed to Europe and North America. The prime minister has been a vocal supporter of the U.S. military strikes. The exercises will include Marines from the 22nd Expeditionary Unit who have been stationed aboard the Navy ships that have been looming off Venezuela's coast for months. Venezuela’s government has described the training exercises as an act of aggression. It had no immediate comment Sunday on the arrival of the aircraft carrier. The administration has insisted that the buildup is focused on stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S., but it has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed in the boats were “narcoterrorists.” Trump has indicated military action would expand beyond strikes by sea, saying the U.S. would "stop the drugs coming in by land.” The U.S. has long used aircraft carriers to pressure and deter aggression by other nations because their warplanes can strike targets deep inside another country. Some experts say the Ford is ill-suited to fighting cartels, but it could be an effective instrument of intimidation for Maduro in a push to get him to step down. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States does not recognize Maduro, who was widely accused of stealing last year’s election, as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Rubio has called Venezuela's government a “transshipment organization” that openly cooperates with those trafficking drugs. Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S., has said the U.S. government is “fabricating” a war against him. Venezuela’s government recently touted a “massive” mobilization of troops and civilians to defend against possible U.S. attacks. Trump has justified the attacks on drug boats by saying the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels while claiming the boats are operated by foreign terror organizations. He has faced pushback from leaders in the region, the U.N. human rights chief and U.S. lawmakers, including Republicans, who have pressed for more information on who is being targeted and the legal justification for the boat strikes. Senate Republicans, however, recently voted to reject legislation that would have put a check on Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela without congressional authorization. Experts disagree on whether or not American warplanes may be used to strike land targets inside Venezuela. Either way, the 100,000-ton warship is sending a message. “This is the anchor of what it means to have U.S. military power once again in Latin America,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for the Andes region. “And it has raised a lot of anxieties in Venezuela but also throughout the region. I think everyone is watching this with sort of bated breath to see just how willing the U.S. is to really use military force.”  

President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks. The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure Monday. The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers — to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands. Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced tax credit expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time.

President Donald Trump signed a funding bill late Wednesday, ending a historic 43-day government shutdown that left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, disrupted travel and food assistance, and deepened political divisions in Washington. The House passed the measure earlier in the day by a 222-209 vote, following Senate approval on Monday. The shutdown stemmed from partisan clashes over extending tax credits that help lower health insurance costs under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats demanded their renewal, while Republicans argued the issue should be debated separately. During the shutdown, around 670,000 federal employees were furloughed and 730,000 worked without pay. The crisis also affected food aid programs like SNAP and caused long lines at airports and food banks. The funding bill restores government operations and extends Medicare telehealth programs and hospital-at-home care through January 30. Essential workers are expected to receive back pay within days, according to White House officials. While the shutdown’s end brought relief, it left frustration in its wake. Many federal workers said they felt used as “political pawns.” Lawmakers on both sides traded blame — Republicans accused Democrats of leveraging public suffering for policy gains, while Democrats said the GOP prioritized tax breaks for the wealthy over working families’ health care. The closure’s financial and emotional toll will take time to recover from, with many questioning whether the weeks-long standoff was worth the hardship it caused.

California has announced plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants after discovering that many had expiration dates extending beyond their authorized stay in the United States. The move follows mounting criticism from the Trump administration over state policies allowing people without permanent legal status to obtain commercial licenses. The issue gained national attention after a fatal Florida crash in August involving a truck driver who was in the country illegally. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the decision proves California “acted improperly” and accused Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration of misleading the public. “Now that we’ve exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked,” Duffy said, adding that more reviews are underway. Newsom’s office rejected the accusation, saying all affected drivers had valid federal work authorizations when the licenses were issued. A later clarification noted that state law requires commercial licenses to expire no later than the holder’s authorized stay in the U.S. Newsom’s spokesperson Brandon Richards accused Duffy of spreading “falsehoods” to score political points. The revocation comes as the Trump administration imposes tighter rules on immigrants seeking commercial driving permits, limiting eligibility to a few visa categories such as H-2A, H-2B, and E-2. California risks losing up to $200 million in federal funds if it fails to meet new federal standards.   End/AP/UNB/SS Los Angeles, Nov 13 (AP/UNB) — California has announced plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants after discovering that many had expiration dates extending beyond their authorized stay in the United States. The move follows mounting criticism from the Trump administration over state policies allowing people without permanent legal status to obtain commercial licenses. The issue gained national attention after a fatal Florida crash in August involving a truck driver who was in the country illegally. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the decision proves California “acted improperly” and accused Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration of misleading the public. “Now that we’ve exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked,” Duffy said, adding that more reviews are underway. Newsom’s office rejected the accusation, saying all affected drivers had valid federal work authorizations when the licenses were issued. A later clarification noted that state law requires commercial licenses to expire no later than the holder’s authorized stay in the U.S. Newsom’s spokesperson Brandon Richards accused Duffy of spreading “falsehoods” to score political points. The revocation comes as the Trump administration imposes tighter rules on immigrants seeking commercial driving permits, limiting eligibility to a few visa categories such as H-2A, H-2B, and E-2. California risks losing up to $200 million in federal funds if it fails to meet new federal standards.  

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a government funding bill, ending a record 43-day shutdown that left federal employees unpaid, disrupted air travel and strained food banks nationwide. The House passed the measure earlier in the day by a 222–209 vote, following Senate approval on Monday. The bill funds three annual spending measures and extends the rest of government operations through January 30, while guaranteeing back pay for federal workers and halting further layoffs. Historic US government shutdown nears end with little satisfaction for anyone The shutdown stemmed from a dispute over extending enhanced health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats insisted on including the subsidies, while Republicans sought to separate the issue. Despite the deal, political tensions remain high as both parties prepare for another round of debate over health care funding in December. Source: AP

Approval of President Donald Trump’s management of the federal government has fallen sharply since early in his second term, with much of the decline coming from Republicans and independents, according to a new AP-NORC poll. The survey, conducted after Democrats’ recent off-year election victories but before Congress took steps to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, found that only 33% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s management, down from 43% in March. Among Republicans, approval dropped from 81% to 68%, while independents’ support fell from 38% to 25%. The poll highlights growing dissatisfaction amid the shutdown, which left federal workers unpaid, disrupted air travel, and temporarily halted some food aid. Trump and his administration largely blamed Democrats, though many Americans assigned at least partial responsibility to both parties. Despite the decline in approval on government management, Trump’s overall presidential approval remained steady at 36%, similar to 37% in October. Ratings on key issues such as immigration and the economy also showed little change. Health care approval stayed low at 34%, up slightly from 31% the previous month. Several Republicans voiced concern over Trump’s handling of the shutdown. Beverly Lucas, a 78-year-old retired educator from Florida, criticized the president for hosting a Mar-a-Lago Halloween party amid the crisis, calling it “callous” and likening his leadership to “a petulant child in the White House.” Meanwhile, Democrats remain overwhelmingly disapproving, with 95% saying they disapprove of Trump’s government management, up from 89% in March. Some supporters continue to back the president. Susan McDuffie, a 74-year-old Republican from Nevada, expressed confidence in Trump, blaming Democrats for the shutdown and related hardships, including SNAP benefit disruptions. Many Americans, including moderates, said both parties share blame. Nora Bailey, 33, from Arkansas, said the federal government had not done enough to tackle inefficiency and expressed frustration over delays in services affecting herself and her disabled parents. The poll suggests that while Trump’s overall approval remains stable, the public’s disapproval of his management of government operations has grown, reflecting broader concerns about the shutdown and administrative decisions.

Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein suggest former U.S. President Donald Trump “knew about the girls,” but the White House on Wednesday dismissed the disclosures as a “Democratic smear campaign.” Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three emails referencing Trump, including one from 2011 in which Epstein told Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had “spent hours” at his home with a sex trafficking victim. Republicans said Democrats were “selectively leaking” to tarnish Trump ahead of political negotiations. The emails are part of more than 23,000 documents turned over by Epstein’s estate. What Trump allegedly “knew” remains unclear. Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking charges, wrote to journalist Michael Wolff that “of course [Trump] knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.” Another 2011 message noted Trump’s silence about the financier’s activities, calling him “the dog that hasn’t barked.” The White House said the victim referenced in the emails was Virginia Giuffre, who had accused Epstein and others of abuse but publicly stated Trump was never involved in any misconduct and had been “friendly” toward her when she worked at his Mar-a-Lago club. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump had banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years ago “for being a creep to female employees.” Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, told the Justice Department in July that she had never seen Trump act inappropriately, saying, “The President was a gentleman in all respects.” Republicans later released 20,000 additional pages from Epstein’s estate, accusing Democrats of trying to distract from domestic political issues as Trump prepares for the 2026 campaign season.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, calling it “their loss.” Ramaphosa said Wednesday that Washington’s absence would not affect the summit’s success and urged the U.S. to reconsider the effectiveness of “boycott politics.” “It is unfortunate that the United States decided not to attend the G20,” Ramaphosa told reporters in Cape Town. “The meeting will go on, and important decisions will be made. Their absence is their loss.” Trump announced last week that no U.S. officials would attend the Nov. 22–23 summit, citing his disputed claims that white South Africans face violent persecution and illegal land seizures. The G20 gathering — the first ever hosted in Africa — will bring together leaders from the world’s largest economies, including China, Russia, India, Japan, and the European Union. The U.S. is set to assume the group’s rotating presidency at the end of the year. Ramaphosa said the boycott undermines America’s role as “the world’s largest economy” and a key player in global decision-making. Trump had previously clashed with Ramaphosa over the same allegations during a White House meeting in May, where the South African leader had encouraged him to attend the summit. Relations between Washington and Pretoria have deteriorated in recent months over South Africa’s criticism of Israel and its genocide case against the country at the U.N.’s top court. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier skipped a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa, describing Pretoria’s policies as “anti-American.”

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history could end Wednesday, Day 43, leaving few winners and widespread frustration. Democrats failed to secure health insurance provisions they sought in the spending deal, while Republicans, who control Congress, faced criticism in polls and recent state and local elections. The shutdown disrupted millions of Americans, including federal workers who went without pay and airline passengers whose trips were delayed or canceled. Interruptions in nutrition assistance programs contributed to long lines at food banks, intensifying stress as the holiday season approaches. The tentative agreement funds key areas through bipartisan Senate Appropriations bills, including food aid, veterans programs, and the legislative branch. Other funding is extended until the end of January, giving lawmakers more than two months to finalize additional spending bills. The standoff began over a Democratic demand to extend an enhanced tax credit that lowers Affordable Care Act premiums. The credit, initially boosted during the COVID-19 pandemic and later in President Joe Biden’s energy and health care bill, is set to expire at the end of December. Without it, premiums could more than double for millions, and more than 2 million people could lose coverage, the Congressional Budget Office projects. Democratic leaders sought negotiations on the tax credit, but Republicans insisted that a funding bill be passed first. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., promised a December vote on the extension, though many Democrats demanded a guaranteed solution. The shutdown also exposed broader political tensions. Democratic leaders faced internal pressure as progressives pushed for stronger opposition to the Republican agenda. Republicans accused Senate Democrats of catering to the party’s left wing, while both parties held nearly daily press briefings to shape public perception. Roughly six in 10 Americans place significant responsibility on former President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans, while 54% blame Democrats, according to an AP-NORC poll. At least three-quarters assign both parties some responsibility. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the shutdown will result in a permanent $11 billion economic loss, though much of the temporary disruption will be recovered once operations resume. Beyond numbers, the shutdown caused significant financial and emotional strain for federal workers, disrupted travel, and suspended benefits for people relying on programs such as SNAP. “This dysfunction is damaging enough to our constituents and economy, but it also sends a dangerous message to the world,” said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. “It shows our allies we are unreliable and signals to adversaries that we cannot meet even the most basic responsibilities of Congress.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will vote on Tuesday to elect their next president and vice president in Baltimore, a decision that could signal the group’s priorities and approach to key social issues, including immigration. The USCCB has often diverged from the policies of Pope Francis, and his successor, Pope Leo XIV, continues to emphasize pastoral care for marginalized communities, poverty reduction, and environmental concerns. Half of the 10 candidates on the ballot come from the conservative wing of the conference, reflecting a split more in style than substance, as most U.S. bishops hold conservative views on social issues but vary in their focus on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. “The slate of 10 candidates perfectly reflects the dynamics of the American hierarchy in that it’s split down the middle,” said David Gibson, director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture. No clear front-runner has emerged. The winner will succeed Military Services Archbishop Timothy Broglio for a three-year term, while current vice president Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore is ineligible due to age. Among conservatives, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley is considered a strong contender, having served as secretary of the conference and advising the conservative Napa Institute. Other notable candidates include Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota, known for his media ministry Word on Fire, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Indiana, both members of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission. Meanwhile, Archbishop Charles Thompson of Indianapolis and Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, are seen as potential unifiers who could strengthen relations with the Vatican. Latino leaders Flores and Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia represent a growing segment of the U.S. Catholic Church. Flores, who has overseen the Vatican’s synod process in the U.S., combines traditional stances on sexual ethics with outspoken advocacy for migrants. Immigration is expected to be a key topic during the meeting. While U.S. bishops are often divided, they largely support migrants, including those affected by the Trump administration’s strict policies. Fear of enforcement has reduced Mass attendance and complicated sacramental services for detained immigrants. The USCCB also ended its refugee resettlement program after federal funding was halted. Pope Leo recently urged “deep reflection” in the U.S. on the treatment of migrants in detention, noting that many long-term residents have been severely affected by current policies.