[🇺🇸] USA News/Views

[Saif]

President Trump on the warpath

For a president of United States (US) who declared before election that he would like to end all wars, Donald Trump's actions and declarations after he took office make him anything but a pacifist or a globalist. If economic confrontations are considered as close cousins of shooting wars, then the

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

President Trump on the warpath
Hasnat Abdul Hye
Published :
Apr 08, 2025 23:55
Updated :
Apr 08, 2025 23:55

For a president of United States (US) who declared before election that he would like to end all wars, Donald Trump's actions and declarations after he took office make him anything but a pacifist or a globalist. If economic confrontations are considered as close cousins of shooting wars, then the list of belligerent moves crafted by the Trump administration on the bilateral trade front reveal president Trump to be a pugnacious warrior on all fronts. In declaring trade war through tariffs against both friends and foes to resuscitate American manufacturing and vowing to use force for achievement of geo-political goals, Trump has made it abundantly clear that he wants to upend the existing world order violently, if that is what his grand plan requires. Judged by this narrow nationalist perspective, Trump appears no better than Adolf Hitler who waged a world war to retrieve and promote German interests, ignoring the safety and welfare of people of other countries. A brief overview of the policy declarations and actions taken by the Trump Administration so far may show whether this apprehension is reasonable enough to merit serious attention of all countries and call for their unified stand against the fascist display of national interests by America.

The transitional team, put together by president-elect Donald Trump with loyalists, knew what their taskmaster wanted as the agenda for his second term presidency, has prepared a detailed plan of action in each area of his interest. For this the team simply re-booted the programme of the neo-cons and extended the Trumpian political and economic agenda, as revealed during his first term in office. If there is little new in the plan of action unfurled so far, the urgency and ferocity of the policy push across the spectrum of governance is unmistakable. In every sector of intervention, policies are being articulated through presidential executive orders bypassing legislature and ignoring court orders. In internal policy actions the executive branch has thus assumed totalitarian authority, giving the go by to separation of powers enshrined in American constitution. There has been nothing gradual about this tilt towards arch conservatism and autocratic governance chosen to implement it. Everything has been outlined in details and carried out in one fell swoop as is the case with wars waged against enemies.

In the war unleashed on the home front, the values and programs adopted and pursued through policies and programmes by moderates and liberals are in the crossfire of Trump administration. Ditching the ideals of 'diversity, equality and inclusiveness' (DEI), purges of civil and military functionaries have started with a missionary zeal. The policy of affirmative action that somewhat ensured equality in education and employment for groups disadvantaged because of gender, race and sexual orientations, has been denounced under the rubric 'woke' and replaced with the blue print of a divided society. In the polity also, various changes in the electoral process (restricting voting rights, amending powers of election officials etc) through executive orders, democracy as practiced before (free and fair election, accountability of the executive branch) is under serious threat. Even the constitutional limitation on a person elected as president only for two terms may be set aside to suit the ambition of the incumbent president.

The war being waged on the home front includes reversal of policies on such scientific matters of grave import as climate change. As he did during his first term in office, president Trump has pulled America out of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord once again, on the grounds that concerns about climate change are not based on scientific facts and that controlling carbon emissions is not in the interest of America. Simultaneous with the withdrawal from the Paris Accord, Trump administration has terminated all financial incentives for industries to transition into green technology. Furthermore, the cap on drilling for new oil and gas reserves has been removed, followed by the slogan 'drill baby drill'. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA), tasked to protect environment through enforcement of regulations and sponsor research has been effectively dismantled.

On the pretext of reducing the budgetary debt burden public expenditures on such vital areas as federal grants for scientific research have been drastically slashed. The entire Department of Education has been abolished, terminating its beneficial role in various areas of education promotion. Using the same argument, thousands of federal employees have been dismissed or sent on early retirement putting pressure on the job market.

Tech and media giants having backed president Trump in the last election have got their wish about a loose and weak regulatory framework fulfilled as previous rules and regulations controlling their activities have either been whittled down or abolished. Same holds true for financial institutions like banks and institutions linked to the Wall Street.

Unabashedly ushering in a plutocratic regime, president Trump has met the demands of industrial and financial institutions for reduced tax burden. Corporate income tax has been slashed to 20 per cent, while capital gains tax has been brought down to 15 per cent. It is estimated that extending the expiring 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act would decrease the federal revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2035.

To help investors and industrial titans, president Trump is determined to have the basic interest rate lowered from its present level of 4.25 - 4.50 per cent and has been putting pressure on the Federal Reserve Bank. The Fed wants to reduce the base rate after inflation comes down to 2 per cent from its present 2.9 per cent and has kept the pause in rate hike for the present. President Trump, livid with anger, has fumed against the Fed chairman and may be plotting for his removal.

The abrupt and global reciprocal tariff imposed by Trump administration on 60 countries on April 2, from tiny Madagascar to economic giants like China and European Union (EU,) has brought sharp response from leaders of most of the major economies. In response, China has slapped 34 per cent retaliatory tariff in addition to the existing 20 per cent on all American exports to China. EU is likely to respond with tit for tat tariff soon.

Together with the domestic economic policy decisions, the backlash of the new tariff will fuel recessionary pressure in the American economy. It is estimated that the cumulative effect of the policy decisions on American economy will result in 2.5 per cent less growth in GDP. The global economy is now in the same stage as it was in the decade of '30s of last century when tariff war led to recession in all the industrialised countries. The IMF has made the forecast that as a result of the widespread tariff imposed by president Trump, the global economy faces 'significant risk'.

If president Trump's economic policies are full of dire consequences, both for middle and working class Americans and people belonging to those classes in other countries, his foreign policy harks back to the days of imperialism, gunboat diplomacy and world wars, all wrapped together. His penchant for deal making with a big stick may prove to be disastrous for global peace and security, unless held in check domestically or internationally.

Soon after assuming office president Trump declared that he would like to take over Panama Canal and Greenland from their present administration by the governments of Panama and Denmark. The whole world was in awe and amazement hearing this declaration of intent by the leading light of democracy. Ignoring disbelief and shock by the whole world president Trump sent his secretary of state to Panama and vice president to Greenland to press home the policy of taking over. The Panama government has seemed to placate the Trump administration after agreeing to replace the ownership of Chinese companies managing the canal with Blackstone, an American investment company. In Greenland, the idea of ownership by America has been seen as tantamount to a blatant aggression and roundly condemned by Denmark and the people of Greenland.

In respect of Gaza, the Palestinian strip in middle-east under Israeli occupation undergoing genocide for over one year, the policy announced by president Trump envisages it being taken over by America and developed as a Mediterranean Riviera, with the Palestinians relocated in other countries. The ruthlessness embedded in this idea has come as a shock to world leaders and peace loving people everywhere. The cruelty and greed revealed in this policy declaration has shown president Trump as a person obsessed with the spirit of aggrandizement and hate even when it may spell catastrophe for a nation or the people of the whole world, including the average citizens of America. His latest move into foreign affairs in pursuance of narrow geo-political interests in the middle- east may prove to be the most dangerous, leading to world war three. In presenting Iran a choice to make a deal on its nuclear program or else be bombed by America, president Trump has thrown diplomacy of mutual respect by the window. His sabre- rattling over Iran's nuclear programme may turn out to be the most dangerous and consequential policy declaration for world peace since the second world war.

By his words and deeds during the first quarter of his term president Trump has left no doubt that he is a megalomaniac and a warmonger who can only cause pain and suffering to the vast majority of the peace loving people in the world, including America. He is a clear and present danger to the world and has to be stopped in his tracks by populist protests and warnings by world leaders.

Trump is the face of all evils, the like of which the world saw only a few times in the past. As in the case of past monsters, Donald Trump has to be defeated.​

 

[Saif]

Vietnam to buy US defence, security products to tackle trade gap

Vietnam will buy more American goods, including defence and security products, and has asked for a 45-day delay in the imposition of US tariffs, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a statement issued late on Monday. Hanoi will also seek faster deliveries of commercial planes that Vietnamese air

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Vietnam to buy US defence, security products to tackle trade gap
REUTERS
Published :
Apr 08, 2025 13:47
Updated :
Apr 08, 2025 13:47

Vietnam will buy more American goods, including defence and security products, and has asked for a 45-day delay in the imposition of US tariffs, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a statement issued late on Monday.

Hanoi will also seek faster deliveries of commercial planes that Vietnamese airlines have ordered from the US, Chinh said at a cabinet meeting late on Monday.

The Southeast Asian country, a major regional manufacturing base for many Western companies, last year had a trade surplus of more than $123 billion with the US, its largest export market.

Chinh said Vietnam had asked the US to delay the 46% tariff rate that US President Donald Trump announced last week to allow time for negotiations.

Vietnam was seeking to "negotiate with the US side for balanced and sustainable trade, in line with the interests of the two sides," the statement said.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro highlighted major concerns on Monday, including transhipping from China, the dumping of seafood and other goods, and intellectual property issues.

"They engage in intellectual property theft," Navarro told CNBC, regarding Vietnam. "They have the biggest number of cases aside from China at the Department of Commerce on the dumping."

In Monday's statement, Chinh said Vietnam would review issues such as its monetary policy, exchange rate, non-tariff barriers and ensuring the correct origin of goods, in line with the concerns aired by Navarro.

In a statement on Tuesday, following a tariff task force meeting, the government said Vietnam was also considering adjustments to its current bilateral trade agreement with the United States, adding content on tax and intellectual property.

The country's benchmark stock index .VNI has fallen nearly 14% since Trump's announcement of the tariffs on Apr 2. The index fell 6.26% to 1,135 in early trade on Tuesday.

On Friday, Trump and Vietnam's leader To Lam agreed to discuss a deal to remove tariffs, both leaders said after a telephone call that Trump described as "very productive".

Since an arms embargo was lifted in 2016, US defence exports to Vietnam have been largely limited to coastguard ships and trainer aircraft.

Last year sources said there were talks on sales of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules military transport planes to Hanoi.​

 

[Saif]

Crisis of democracy in America

Global perceptions of America as a democratic country have deteriorated across the world over the past year and are now worse than views on China in the same respect, according to an annual study of perceptions of democracy published in the first week of May this year. The survey did not go into de

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Crisis of democracy in America

Hasnat Abdul Hye
Published :
May 28, 2025 00:04
Updated :
May 28, 2025 00:04

Global perceptions of America as a democratic country have deteriorated across the world over the past year and are now worse than views on China in the same respect, according to an annual study of perceptions of democracy published in the first week of May this year. The survey did not go into details on the criteria used, but the Alliance of Democracies Foundation (ADF) which commissioned it said its aim was to defend and promote democratic values. When asked why perceptions of America as a democratic country had slipped, the Alliance founder and former NATO secretary general, Anders Rasmussen mentioned the trade war, mistreatment of Ukraine president Zelensky during his visit to White House and letting down allies on trade and security issues by the present American administration. "It is no surprise that opinions have slipped even among people like me who spent years admiring the United States and what it stood for," he said when asked to explain the findings of the survey. These comments, strictly speaking, are not indicators of the practice of democracy, nor do they explain the causes behind the decisions taken. Perceptions are not based on facts but there are random anecdotal evidences within a given timeframe that lead to them. Before mentioning and analysing these evidences in a broader context, a brief summary of the ADF survey findings may be helpful.

First, the size of the sample used by the survey to arrive at the conclusions is worth mentioning. It is seen that the survey, conducted between April 9 and 23 with polling firm NIRA Data, were based on more than 111,000 respondents worldwide (100 countries). Though the number of countries in the sample appears satisfactory, the same cannot be said about the respondents in the absence of data regarding their nationality, age, gender, educational qualifications and professions. In the survey, the perception of Trump was negative in 82 of the 100 countries surveyed, higher than Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who were viewed negatively in 61 and 44 countries, respectively. The use of heads of states in a survey designed to formulate perception of democracy appears problematic, even misleading because the assessment on the status of democracy has to be based on practice where institutions and their functioning's more important than personalities. Institutions in Russia and China are amenable to authoritarian rule, whereas in America, these are ostensibly suited to democracy. By this metrics alone, in any survey on democracy the inclusion of Russia and China is erroneous and irrelevant.

With this caveat, the main findings of the 2025 survey of the Alliance for Democracies can be summarised before moving on to more substantive issues on the state of democracy in America.

The survey has ranked the perception of countries within a scale from -(minus) 100 per cent to + (plus) 100 per cent. According to the survey, the net perception rating of America as a democracy fell to -5 per cent from +22 per cent last year, indicating a greater number of respondents with a negative view of the country compared with those with a positive view. The share of countries with a positive image of America (as a democracy) dropped to 45 per cent from 76 per cent last year, the survey has showed. These findings, in the absence of use of indicators and basis of evaluation, are not very persuasive.

A more relevant survey on the state of democracy worldwide, America included, is the annual survey by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). According to the Democracy Index for 2024 prepared by EIU, only 45 per cent of the world's population lives in full democracy, 15 per cent in hybrid regimes and 39 per cent in authoritarian regimes. The Democracy Index prepared by EIU is based on 60 indicators, grouped into five categories: (a) electoral process and pluralism; (b) functioning of government; (c) political participation; (d) political culture and (e) civil liberties. Countries are scored from zero to ten in five categories with the overall index rating being a simple average of the five categories mentioned. Based on their average score, each country is classified as one of the four types of regimes: (1) full democracies (2) flawed democracies (3) hybrid regimes and (4) authoritarian regimes.

The Democracy Index report for 2024 showed America as a 'flawed democracy', the same status as shown for the year in 2018, implying there has been no improvement in the substance of democracy in America, during the five year period of 2018-2025. It will be interesting to see where America is placed in the Democracy Index after the performance of the Trump Administration in various areas of policy decisions and legislations. If during the five year period, between 2018 and 2024, that included parts of both Trump and Biden Administration, on the basis of the five categories of indicators, America was classified into the second category i.e. 'flawed democracy', the performance trending during first five months of the second term of president Trump may qualify the country for a lower status in the democracy scale, perhaps showing it somewhere between hybrid and authoritarian regimes.

Though American politicians never tire of grandstanding for American democracy as the epitome of the model, the reality on the ground have belied that claim with variations in respect of degree under different presidencies. The fundamental principles of separation of powers (ensuring accountability of elected and appointed authorities), liberty and equality enshrined in American constitution have never been fully observed in the history of the republic. It is not only recently when the country, under the stewardship of a maverick president, that American practice of democracy has been examined by analysts and found to fall short in some or all of the above salient respects. The critique of American brand of democracy, particularly its manifestations in established political institutions, is as old as the republic. President Trump, in his second term, has already widened this divergence between the requirements of democratic dispensation as enshrined in the constitution and actual practice.

Firstly, Trump administration has severely undermined the constitutional obligation of ensuring civil liberty by denying allegedly undocumented immigrants due process of law. Not only some immigrants have been denied access to courts of law to defend themselves, they have been treated inhumanely and sent to notorious prisons in third countries. Likewise federal funds for universities have been withheld without giving them any chance to plead their case, thereby hurting collective liberty. Secondly, in several cases court verdicts against executive orders of the president have been cynically ignored, violating the separation of powers. Even the supreme court judges have been threatened with action in the event of their dissenting rulings against executive orders given by the president. This disregard, nay contempt, of judiciary, the guardian of civil liberty, has never been so blatant as it has been recently. As if to drive home the superiority of the executive branch over judiciary, a federal judge in Minnesota was arrested from the precincts of the court last month on dubious charges of giving protection to illegal immigrants. Secondly, the requirements of legislative approval for cutting off of federal funding from and winding up of government agencies have been brushed aside, striking at the root of separation of power enshrined in the constitution.

If civil liberty and separation of power have been treated shabbily by the Trump administration, the constitutional principle of ensuring equality has not fared any better. The official negation of the principle of Diversification, Equality and Inclusiveness (DEI) has practically closed all avenues for equitable access to education, sports and employment by the physically and socially handicapped and groups other than the two genders. Thirdly, the complicity of legislature with the executive is also at work now, undermining the principle of equality. The tax cut proposal of the Trump administration benefitting the rich at the cost of classes below them in the income ladder has been passed by the Republican- majority House of Representatives recently. If the trends set in motion during the first five months become the norm for the Trump administration, the state of democracy in America can be said to be in suspended animation. By the metrics of EIU for preparation of Democracy Index, on the basis of prevailing decision- making, America can very plausibly be placed in the category of 'authoritarian regimes.'

The question is: why is democracy endangered now or exposed to weakening, in spite of provisions in the constitution for separation of powers, civil liberty and equity? There are mainly two reasons for the subversion of democratic procedure of governance in America. The first is the limitation on the legislative power of Congress to thwart the unconstitutional decisions of the president. This limitation becomes manifest when in both houses of the Congress the party of the president has a majority, as is the case now. The only legal deterrent against an errant president being impeachment by the legislature, this is not plausible when his party has the majority in both houses. The separation of powers, crafted so carefully and assiduously by the founding fathers of the American republic to restrain untrammelled powers of the executive branch (president) has been rendered vulnerable and dicey because of this reality. Only an amendment of the constitution, allowing a lower number of majority votes, can get around this constitutional impasse. But it is highly unlikely that any party enjoying majority in both houses of Congress will be inclined to consider this amendment seriously.

The second factor holding democracy as a hostage is the pervasive presence and round the clock public relationing by numerous lobbies that influence legislation and executive orders of the president. In almost all cases, the lobbies represent the classes or groups, including foreign powers that have deep pockets to spend. This is a source of not only political corruption but also of unequal power in American society to influence legislation and decision-making by the executive. In both respects, the democratic ethos becomes a victim.

Only a dispassionate bi-partisan review of the lacunae in the legal provisions for checks and balances in the exercise power leading to necessary amendments can extricate America from the ever present paralysis facing democracy. The proverbial sixty five thousand dollar question is: do the American politicians worry about this seriously to bring about qualitative change in the practice of democracy? More pertinently, is the American public aware about the swindling by their representatives and ready to launch a country- wide movement for the establishment of genuine democracy?​

 

[Saif]

In row with Trump, Musk says will end critical US spaceship programme

SpaceX chief Elon Musk said Thursday he would begin "decommissioning" his company's Dragon spacecraft -- vital for ferrying NASA astronauts

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In row with Trump, Musk says will end critical US spaceship programme
AFP Washington, USA
Published: 06 Jun 2025, 09: 05

In this file photo taken on 10 February, 2022 Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas. Twitter owner Elon Musk on 17 March, 2023 put out word that he will make public the long-secret algorithm for recommending tweets. The code used for recommending the posts suggested to users will become "open source" at the end of March, Musk said in a tweet of his own. AFP

SpaceX chief Elon Musk said Thursday he would begin "decommissioning" his company's Dragon spacecraft -- vital for ferrying NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station -- after US President Donald Trump threatened to terminate his government contracts.

"In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately," Musk wrote on X.

The comments -- which the mercurial billionaire later appeared to walk back -- came after Trump and Musk's nearly year-long political alliance imploded in spectacular fashion, with the two trading public insults on social media.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon -- a gumdrop-shaped capsule that flies atop a Falcon 9 rocket and splashes down in the ocean -- is currently the only US spacecraft certified to carry crew to the ISS under a contract worth more than $4.9 billion.

A variant, Cargo Dragon, delivers supplies, as the name suggests.

Following Musk's announcement, NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens said on X that the government space agency would "continue to execute upon the President's vision for the future of space."

"We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President's objectives in space are met," she said.

NASA had hoped to certify Boeing's Starliner for crewed missions, but that program has faced severe delays.

Its most recent test flight last year ended in failure after the spacecraft experienced propulsion issues en route to the orbital lab with its first astronaut crew.

The Starliner ultimately returned to Earth empty, while the two astronauts were brought home by SpaceX earlier this year.

Crew Dragon's certification in 2020 ended nearly a decade of US reliance on Russian Soyuz rockets to transport astronauts following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.

American astronauts still fly aboard Soyuz rockets, while Russian cosmonauts ride on Crew Dragons under a longstanding seat-swap agreement.

In addition to NASA missions, Crew Dragon also flies private missions -- most recently Fram2, which carried tourists over the Earth's poles.

The next scheduled crew launch is Tuesday's Axiom-4 mission, which will see a Crew Dragon transport astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to the ISS.​

 

[Saif]

Trump deploys military in LA to quell anti-immigration protests

About a dozen National Guard members were seen in video footage on Sunday morning lining up at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, where detainees from immigration raids on Friday were taken, sparking protests that continued on Saturday.

www.thedailystar.net

Trump deploys military in LA to quell anti-immigration protests

Members of the California National Guard stand outside the Edward R Roybal federal building after their deployment by US President Donald Trump, in response to protests against immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, US on June 8, 2025. Reuters/Mike Blake

California National Guard arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday, deployed by President Donald Trump after two days of protests by hundreds of demonstrators against immigration raids carried out as part of Trump's hardline policy.

About a dozen National Guard members were seen in video footage on Sunday morning lining up at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, where detainees from immigration raids on Friday were taken, sparking protests that continued on Saturday.

The complex is near Los Angeles City Hall, where another protest against the immigration raids is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. U.S. Northern Command confirmed National Guard troops had started deploying and that some were already on the ground.

"These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform early on Sunday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused Trump of deploying the National Guard because he wants "a spectacle."

Footage showed at least a half dozen military-style vehicles and riot shields on Sunday at the federal building where the Department of Homeland Security said about "1,000 rioters" had protested on Friday. Reuters could not verify the DHS account.

On Saturday law enforcement faced off against a few hundred protesters in Paramount in southeast Los Angeles and then later on Saturday with about 100 people in downtown Los Angeles, according to Reuters witnesses. Federal law enforcement was seen firing gas canisters in Paramount and downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to try and disperse protesters.

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested 27 people on Saturday for failure to disperse from the downtown protest, police spokesperson Norma Eisenman said. She said she could not comment on whether LAPD used less lethal force. Less lethal force refers to crowd control tactics such as pepper balls.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested three people on Saturday on suspicion of assaulting an officer. Sheriff's deputies did use "less lethal force" in Paramount, spokesperson Deputy Brenda Serna said, but she could not specify which exact tactics were used.

'ZERO TOLERANCE'

The protests pit Democratic-run Los Angeles, where census data suggests a significant part of the population is Hispanic and foreign-born, against Trump's Republican White House, which has made an immigration crackdown a hallmark of his second term.

Trump in a presidential memorandum on Saturday said he was deploying at least 2,000 National Guard personnel following what he described as "numerous incidents of violence and disorder" in response to the enforcement of federal immigration law, as well as "credible threats of continued violence."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also warned that the Pentagon was prepared to mobilize active-duty troops "if violence continues" in Los Angeles, saying the Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton were "on high alert."

"There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job. The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE," Hegseth said in a social media post on Sunday, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Democratic Congresswoman Nanette Barragan, whose California district includes Paramount, on Sunday criticized the president's decision to deploy National Guard troops, arguing that local law enforcement has adequate resources to respond.

"We don't need the help. This is him escalating it, causing tensions to rise. It's only going to make things worse in a situation where people are already angry over immigration enforcement," Barragan told CNN's "State of the Union."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the National Guard would provide safety around buildings, to people engaged in peaceful protest and to law enforcement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles on Friday arrested at least 44 people on alleged immigration violations.

Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people in the country illegally and lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, setting a goal for ICE to arrest at least 3,000 migrants per day.

But the sweeping immigration crackdown has also included people legally residing in the country, some with permanent residence, and has led to legal challenges.​

 

[Saif]

US to pull some personnel from the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday US personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the US is preparing a partial evacuation

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

US to pull some personnel from the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran

Published :
Jun 12, 2025 08:45
Updated :
Jun 12, 2025 08:45

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday US personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the US is preparing a partial evacuation of its Iraqi embassy and will allow military dependents to leave locations around the Middle East due to heightened security risks in the region, according to US and Iraqi sources.

The four US and two Iraqi sources did not say what security risks had prompted the decision and reports of the potential evacuation pushed up oil prices by more than 4.0 per cent, according to Reuters.

A US official said the State Department had authorised voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait.

The State Department updated its worldwide travel advisory on Wednesday evening to reflect the latest US posture. “On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel due to heightened regional tensions,” the advisory said.

The decision by the US to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and US intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

"They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters. "We've given notice to move out."

Asked whether anything can be done to lower the temperature in the region, Trump said: "They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple, they can't have a nuclear weapon."

Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if stuttering talks over its nuclear programme fail and in an interview released earlier on Wednesday said he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium, a key American demand.

Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh also said on Wednesday that if Iran was subjected to strikes it would retaliate by hitting US bases in the region.

The US embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it had "not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational."​

 

[Saif]

The new reality: International students face rising uncertainty in the US

US international students face fear, silence, and rising threats in 2025.

www.thedailystar.net

The new reality: International students face rising uncertainty in the US

Demonstrators hold a banner during a "Stand Up for Internationals" rally on the campus of Berkeley University in Berkeley, California, April 17, 2025. Photo: REUTERS

In the era of Trump 2.0, news has continually emerged providing backing to the claim that the US is "no longer a safe destination for international students". Indeed, too much has changed in the past few months, from random threats of deportation for actions labelled as 'un-American' to checking phones and personnel for any signs of 'un-American' ways of thinking. The lives of international students living in the US are in a precarious position.

In addition, there is also the looming fear of many students losing access to their funding or scholarships. New sorts of threats constantly pop up with new administrative decisions being taken by the government. Students, amidst all of this, manage to live life with growing panic and uncertainty.

Kibria*, an undergraduate student studying in the state of Alabama, shares her anxiety. "I haven't particularly had to go through anything severe, nor have I had to face any major cut in my scholarship. Yet, I have developed terrible anxiety by simply watching the news and trying to follow what's happening. I keep thinking that they will, someday, come for me. It has gotten to the point where the anxiety harms me on a daily basis."

There is, of course, a very legitimate reason for paranoia of this nature. It was March 8, 2025, when Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who graduated from Columbia University and holds an American green card, was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security without any warrants. As of writing this article, he remains imprisoned and is waiting for a hearing from the US Department of Justice that threatens to deport him on claims which, according to a video reported by CNN, have no merit or backing.

He is not the only victim either, as several other college students have reportedly been taken into custody in the weeks that followed. Their fault? Participating or helping in organising protests at their respective campuses for Palestine. Many of these students have thus far been let go of, but Mahmoud Khalil still remains confined and awaiting a hearing.

This wave of events has had a major impact on international students currently in the US. As Anusha*, a graduate student in the state of Georgia, puts it, "I have almost completely stopped talking about Palestine online in fear of deportation. Even when I am outside, I have to be extra careful and often delete all my social media apps if I think they will go through my phone. Travelling is completely out of the question at this point. I feel guilty because I often ask myself what I am even doing here if I can't exercise my right to free speech, let alone attend a protest. But then, I am terrified of what might happen if I do."

Tanvir*, an undergraduate student currently in Texas, shares a similar sort of panic. "From what I can tell, those of us who already have a scholarship or receive an aid of some kind are not all that likely to lose it due to any funding cuts. That may sound like a relief, but the rate at which new things are happening, I can't help but feel like that will change soon."

Tanvir bemoans, "I am also, basically, stranded here. I cannot go back to my country anytime soon because there's a huge chance I will just be denied re-entry to the US."

Afia*, a recent graduate living in New York, has also stated that there has been a notable lack of conversation around Palestine altogether. "Not just on social media, no matter where you go, college students have been silenced by the recent incidents."

She adds, "Very few large-scale protests have taken place in the last few months. College administrations have tightened their rules against these demonstrations, so it has become scarier to actually participate in any of them."

Since early May, reports of newly emerging pro-Palestine protests have emerged, particularly from Columbia University, Yale University, and the University of Washington. However, most of these protests were quickly met with mass arrests, suspensions, and, in other contexts, withholding of degrees. While Campus was unable to identify any international students amongst the numbers, it is entirely possible that internationals who may be present will end up facing repercussions if not worse.

Amongst the onslaught of administrative processes becoming a reality, the most pressing one is the latest development with the US Government and Harvard. On May 23, the US Government announced that it would be halting Harvard's ability to enrol international students. Amidst the chaos this has created, many have wondered if a government is even allowed to do such a thing.

Campus reached out to Bangladeshi students currently at Harvard, and while they are currently too distressed and in the dark to make any comments to shed light on the situation, they have notified us that Harvard is working tirelessly to inform all their international students of any further developments. Most recently, Harvard made a public post announcing their decision to protect their international students. While that can seem hopeful, the future still looks grim as the onslaught of draconian laws persecuting international students for their stance against genocide seems to have no end in sight.

In this complete lack of a silver lining, students from Bangladesh and worldwide continue under enforced silence, with their futures largely uncertain.

References:

1. CNN (May 23, 2025). Judge denies request to terminate Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil's deportation proceedings.

2. Axios (May 8, 2025). Where Pro-Palestinian campus protests are emerging again.​