标签： North America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Sunday that the Afghan immigrant accused of ambushing National Guard members in Washington, D.C. underwent radicalization after entering the United States, not before his arrival. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly carried out Wednesday’s shooting just blocks from the White House, resulting in one National Guard member killed and another critically wounded.

Speaking across multiple national news programs including NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ and ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Secretary Noem indicated investigators believe Lakanwal became radicalized while residing in Washington state. ‘We believe he was radicalized since he’s been here in this country,’ Noem stated, adding that authorities suspect the process occurred ‘through connections in his home community and state.’

The case has ignited political tensions regarding U.S. immigration policy. While President Trump’s administration has criticized the vetting processes during the Biden administration, records show Lakanwal was actually granted asylum in April under the current Trump administration. The suspect entered the United States in 2021 as part of the mass evacuation of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict.

In response to the attack, the Trump administration has implemented significant immigration policy changes, including a comprehensive freeze on processing all asylum applications. President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that his administration could ‘pause asylum admissions into the US for an extended period’ with ‘no time limit.’

Secretary Noem warned that immigration officials would now review every pending asylum claim and consider deportations where warranted. She also issued a stern warning to anyone connected to the shooting: ‘Anyone who has information on this needs to know that we will be coming after you, and we will bring you to justice.’

Investigators continue to seek additional information from family members and associates of Lakanwal, who previously served in a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan before seeking refuge in the United States.

President Donald Trump has declared an open-ended suspension of asylum admissions following a fatal shooting incident near the White House that resulted in the death of a National Guard member. The administration’s immigration pause, initially implemented after the November 26th attack, now appears set to continue indefinitely according to the President’s Sunday statements.

The policy specifically targets nationals from 19 countries already subject to existing U.S. travel restrictions, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar. When pressed about the duration of this measure, Trump explicitly stated he had ‘no time limit’ in mind for maintaining the asylum freeze.

The shooting incident involved Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States through a resettlement program following the 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite being granted asylum under the current administration in April 2025, Lakanwal has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the attack that killed 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded another guardsman.

Trump attributed the tragedy to what his administration characterizes as insufficient vetting procedures during the previous Biden administration’s handling of the Afghan evacuation. The Department of Homeland Security has directly linked the asylum pause to the list of countries already facing travel restrictions since June.

The President reinforced his position with strong rhetoric, stating ‘We don’t want those people’ and asserting that ‘many have been no good, and they shouldn’t be in our country.’ This policy shift represents a significant hardening of the administration’s immigration stance following the security incident.

Following an intensive four-hour diplomatic session in Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized recent negotiations with Ukrainian officials as making “additional” progress toward a revised blueprint for peace in Eastern Europe. The high-level discussions, held on November 30, 2025, brought together key figures from both nations but concluded without a finalized agreement.

Secretary Rubio addressed journalists after the meeting, emphasizing the complex nature of the negotiations. “This is delicate, it’s complicated,” he stated. “There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there’s another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation” – an apparent reference to Russian interests in any comprehensive settlement.

The American diplomatic contingent featured not only Secretary Rubio but also Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law to former President Donald Trump. Their Ukrainian counterparts were led by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, who described the dialogue as “difficult but productive” in a social media update.

Umerov further noted that the parties had achieved “tangible progress toward establishing a just peace” while acknowledging significant work remains before a conclusive agreement can be reached. Both delegations have committed to ongoing consultations and coordination regarding subsequent measures.

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the American diplomatic team is scheduled to travel to Moscow for follow-up discussions, indicating the multilateral dimension of these peace efforts. Neither Rubio nor Umerov fielded questions from the press following the conclusion of Sunday’s negotiations.

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has officially acknowledged a direct telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking a significant development in bilateral relations between the two nations. The confirmation came during a press briefing aboard Air Force One on Sunday, though the American leader remained notably guarded about substantive details of the exchange.

When pressed by journalists for commentary on the nature of the discussion, Trump responded, “I don’t want to comment on it; the answer is yes.” He characterized the call in neutral terms, stating, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly. It was a phone call,” effectively sidestepping deeper elaboration on diplomatic particulars.

The revelation follows Trump’s social media activity from Saturday, wherein he issued a stark warning regarding Venezuelan airspace. In his post, the President declared that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela “should be considered to be closed in its entirety.” This statement prompted immediate speculation about potential military escalation.

However, Trump moved to downplay interpretations of imminent offensive action. “Don’t read anything into it,” he advised, clarifying that the alert was issued “because we consider Venezuela to be not a very friendly country.” This framing suggests the move was more a symbolic gesture of diplomatic pressure rather than a precursor to airstrikes. The exchange and subsequent statements represent a complex interplay of diplomacy and public posturing amid ongoing tensions between the United States and the Venezuelan government.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are accelerating as high-level negotiations between Ukrainian and US officials commence in Florida. The Ukrainian delegation, led by National Security Chief Rustem Umerov, traveled to the United States on Sunday to engage in substantive discussions aimed at developing a concrete framework for peace.

The talks come amid significant political developments within Ukraine, including the resignation of President Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who previously served as the country’s lead negotiator with the US. Yermak’s departure follows anti-corruption searches at his residence conducted by Ukrainian authorities, though specific details regarding the investigation remain undisclosed.

US diplomatic representation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. The discussions focus on refining a revised 19-point peace proposal, substantially condensed from the original 28-point plan introduced by the United States last month.

Parallel diplomatic movements are underway, with a US delegation expected to travel to Moscow later this week for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Moscow has received the adjusted parameters of the peace plan and anticipates detailed discussions.

Meanwhile, European coordination continues as French President Emmanuel Macron prepares to host Zelensky in Paris on Monday. The French presidency stated the leaders will deliberate on conditions for “a just and lasting peace” in alignment with Geneva discussions and the US proposal.

Despite these diplomatic initiatives, military confrontations persist unabated. Recent Russian drone and missile attacks in the Kyiv region resulted in multiple casualties, including three fatalities on Saturday and additional casualties in overnight strikes. Ukraine has demonstrated continued capability to strike strategic targets within Russia, damaging a critical oil terminal near Novorossiysk through unmanned naval vessels—an operation officially confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova characterized Ukraine’s actions as threatening global security, promising to notify international platforms about the attack. The simultaneous escalation of diplomatic efforts and military operations underscores the complex dynamics shaping the conflict’s potential resolution.

Venezuela has issued a forceful condemnation of what it characterizes as a “colonial threat” from the United States following President Donald Trump’s declaration that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety.” The South American nation’s government released an official statement on Saturday rejecting Washington’s attempted imposition of extraterritorial jurisdiction, describing the move as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.

The statement from Caracas emphasized that the 1944 Chicago Convention grants each nation exclusive sovereignty over its territorial airspace, labeling the US position as “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people.” Venezuelan authorities asserted they would not accept “orders, threats or interference” from any foreign power and characterized the US action as an explicit threat of force prohibited under the United Nations Charter.

This diplomatic confrontation occurs amid escalating military activity in the region. Since early September, the United States has conducted over twenty known military strikes targeting suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than eighty casualties. The military presence intensified in mid-November with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to levels unprecedented in at least three decades.

President Trump further heightened tensions during his Thanksgiving message to US troops, suggesting that America could “very soon” take action by land against drug trafficking networks in Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has consistently denied government involvement in narcotics trafficking, accusing the United States of fabricating pretexts for forced regime change.

The situation has drawn concern from both Democratic and Republican members of the US Congress, who have questioned the president’s authority to initiate military action without legislative approval. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer warned that “President Trump’s reckless actions toward Venezuela are pushing America closer and closer to another costly foreign war,” while Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene reminded that “Congress has the sole power to declare war.”

This incident follows last month’s Federal Aviation Administration warning to airlines operating in Venezuelan airspace, citing potential hazards from worsening security conditions and increased military activity. Venezuela subsequently revoked operating rights for six international airlines that had suspended flights following the FAA advisory.

The regional implications extend beyond bilateral relations, with Cuba previously accusing the United States of pursuing violent regime change in Venezuela and warning that heightened US military deployment represents an “exaggerated and aggressive” threat to Caribbean stability.

In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized recent peace negotiations with Ukrainian officials as “productive” while acknowledging substantial work remains toward resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The high-level discussions, convened in Hallandale Beach, Florida, featured a Ukrainian delegation headed by National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who recently assumed the role of chief negotiator following the resignation of Andriy Yermak after anti-corruption authorities searched his residence.

The American delegation included President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner, with Witkoff scheduled to travel to Moscow for subsequent discussions with Russian leadership. These negotiations represent the latest phase in two weeks of intensified diplomatic activity initially triggered by the leak of a controversial 28-point U.S. peace proposal that alarmed Ukrainian officials and European allies due to its perceived pro-Russian orientation.

Secretary Rubio emphasized the comprehensive nature of the talks, stating, “It’s not just about the terms that end fighting. It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity.” He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to achieving a settlement that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and economic future. Umerov echoed this sentiment, noting in English that discussions focused on “the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression, about prosperity, about how to rebuild.” Both officials subsequently described the dialogue as “productive and successful.

Despite these positive assessments, significant challenges remain, particularly regarding the status of Ukrainian territories currently annexed or occupied by Russian forces. An anonymous source close to the Ukrainian delegation acknowledged to AFP that the negotiations were “not easy” but reported that all parties were engaging constructively to seek solutions.

The diplomatic momentum continues with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, while the conflict’s human toll persists with tens of thousands of military casualties, thousands of civilian deaths, and approximately seven million displaced persons since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The current confrontation extends back to 2014 events when Russia annexed Crimea following the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president.