WORLD

Washington, Jan 24 (IANS) First Lady Melania Trump will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, January 28, capping a year in which she pushed a tightly focused agenda centred on children and families.The White House said the appearance follows an impactful first year of leadership during the second term of the Trump administration. The ceremony will take place at the start of the trading day in New York.Over the past year, Melania Trump prioritised issues such as online child safety, foster care, housing support, AI education, and reunification efforts for children separated by war, according to the White House.A central achievement highlighted by officials is her role in championing the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The law enhances federal online protections for children,...

Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) US authorities issued wide-ranging safety advisories and emergency preparedness measures on Friday as a powerful winter storm threatened large parts of the country with heavy snow, crippling ice, and prolonged power outages, expected to impact 200 million people.The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned that plunging temperatures and expected power disruptions could increase the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning linked to home heating equipment, including space heaters, furnaces, fireplaces and generators.“Working smoke and CO alarms save lives,” the CPSC said, urging households to ensure alarms are installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, tested monthly, and fitted with battery backup to function during outages.The ...

Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) US lawmakers have expressed concerns that routine domestic air travel could increasingly intersect with immigration enforcement, creating fear among immigrant communities, including lawful visa holders and international students.The issue surfaced this week during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on airport security and cybersecurity oversight.Transportation Security Administration Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill confirmed that TSA shares certain information within the Department of Homeland Security. She said the practice supports national security and has existed across administrations.McNeill rejected claims that TSA routinely transfers passenger lists to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration enforcement purposes. She said TSA of...

Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) US lawmakers and homeland security officials have warned that China remains the most persistent cyber threat to American civilian infrastructure, a challenge that closely mirrors security risks faced by India and other major democracies.The warning came during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing focused on cybersecurity, transportation security, and emerging technology risks. Members from both parties said Chinese state-backed hackers are increasingly targeting civilian systems rather than military assets.Officials said the goal is long-term access, not immediate disruption.Lawmakers cited risks to power grids, telecommunications networks, transportation systems, financial services and election infrastructure. They said cyber intrusions now pose direct thr...

Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) US airport security officials have defended stricter identity rules as lawmakers warned the changes could disproportionately affect immigrants and international students who travel domestically.At a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, the Transportation Security Administration confirmed full enforcement of the Real ID law and outlined a new program that charges travelers a fee if they lack compliant identification.Under the “Confirm ID” program, passengers without Real ID-compliant documents must pay a $45 fee to undergo additional identity verification.TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said the fee is designed to cover the cost of extra screening and reduce the burden on taxpayers.She said about six per cent of travelers remain non-compliant, even...

Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) The United States on Friday announced a new round of sanctions targeting what it described as Iran’s “shadow fleet,” as Washington moved to further restrict revenue streams it says are being used to repress the Iranian people and finance destabilising activities abroad.The Treasury imposed sanctions on eight entities and nine vessels involved in transporting Iranian petroleum and petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures are aimed at cutting off a key source of funding for repression. “The Iranian regime is engaged in a ritual of economic self-immolation—a process that has been accelerated by President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” Bessent said.“Tehran’s decision to support terrorists over its ow...

New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned Dhaka’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus in her harshest words yet, accusing it of plunging the country into “an age of terror”, and termed the Chief Adviser a “murderous fascist”.In a 10-minute audio message played during a media interaction by Awami League (AL) leaders at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in central Delhi on Friday, the deposed leader described Bangladesh as “bleeding” and standing “at the edge of an abyss”.Recounting the legacy of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is hailed as the architect of Bangladesh, the 78-year-old AL leader alleged that the homeland won through the Liberation War of 1971 has been reduced to “a vast prison, an execution ground, a valley of ...

Paris, Jan 23 (IANS) A leading human rights organisation on Friday asserted that the gravest threat to the independence of lawyers in Bangladesh stems not from chaos, but from governance failure under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.The statement came ahead of the 16th International Day of Endangered Lawyers on Saturday.In its statement, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based human rights organisation, said, “The interim government was entrusted with a moral and political mandate—to stabilise institutions, restore justice, and protect fundamental rights. Instead, under its leadership, the legal profession has been driven into systematic fear, repression, and bloodshed. What our report documents is not mere negligence, but a pattern of tolerance, acquiescence, a...

Dhaka, Jan 23 (IANS) Bangladesh risks being embedded in a Sino-Pakistan security ecosystem – one that serves Beijing’s regional ambitions at the expense of Dhaka’s national interest. Since Muhammad Yunus assumed office as the interim government’s chief advisor in 2024, Bangladesh has renewed and broadened discussions on procuring advanced Chinese military hardware, including fourth-generation fighter jets such as the J-10C, a report highlighted on Friday.According to a report in the leading Bangladeshi weekly 'Blitz', these negotiations are reportedly taking place not only directly with Beijing but also through Sino-Pakistani joint-venture mechanisms –further complicating Bangladesh’s strategic position.“When US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen publicly warned about the long-term...

Tel Aviv, Jan 23 (IANS) Bangladesh’s national election on February 12 has raised concerns over the potential resurgence, whether "direct or indirect", of Islamist radical forces, including Jamaat-e-Islami and affiliated networks. Although these groups often present their activities as part of democratic processes, their ideological roots and historical conduct suggest otherwise, a report highlighted on Friday.Writing for ‘Times of Israel’, Sergio Restelli, an Italian political advisor, author and geopolitical expert, stated that Jamaat-e-Islami opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971 from Pakistan and has long maintained ideological ties with transnational Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood, which is known for opposing pluralism, secular governance, and regional coopera...