United News of Bangladesh

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, carrying a preliminary peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Ireland, continuing his tour of European nations that have supported Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. After months of stalled diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying officials to advance his peace proposals. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, will also attend the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that discussions will involve only Witkoff, Kushner, and a U.S. interpreter and will continue “as long as needed.” The U.S. has so far pursued parallel talks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Ukrainian officials while Witkoff heads to Moscow. Zelenskyy met Tuesday with the Ukrainian delegation that returned from the latest U.S. negotiations in Florida. Rubio described the talks as “progressing,” while noting that “more work remains.” Zelenskyy said the Florida discussions were based on a document drafted earlier in Geneva, which he described as “finalized,” without further explanation. He emphasized that Ukrainian diplomats are working to involve European partners “substantially” in decision-making and warned of Russian disinformation campaigns. “Ukrainian intelligence will share with our partners information on Russia’s true intentions and its attempts to use diplomacy to ease sanctions and block key European decisions,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. In Dublin, Zelenskyy held meetings with Irish political leaders and lawmakers during his first official visit. Ireland, a neutral country outside NATO, has provided nonlethal military aid to Ukraine and hosts over 100,000 Ukrainians who fled the war. Despite ongoing consultations, few details have emerged on bridging the gap between Russia and Ukraine. Disagreements over territorial control and Ukraine’s security remain major obstacles, with European officials cautioning that peace will take time. French President Emmanuel Macron said he and Zelenskyy, who recently visited Paris, spoke by phone with Witkoff, along with leaders of eight other European countries, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Macron described the coming days as “crucial” for U.S. and Western discussions. Zelenskyy faces immense pressure amid one of the war’s most challenging periods, balancing diplomacy, funding for Ukraine, a high-level corruption scandal, and ongoing Russian attacks. The Kremlin claimed late Monday that Russian forces captured the key city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, though Zelenskyy said fighting there continued on Monday.  

Rescue teams are scrambling to locate survivors and retrieve bodies after devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand pushed the combined death toll past 1,200, with hundreds still unaccounted for. Days of relentless monsoon rain submerged large swaths of land, leaving thousands marooned and many taking refuge on rooftops. Authorities reported at least 1,230 fatalities — 659 in Indonesia, 390 in Sri Lanka and 181 in Thailand — while more than 800 people remain missing. Indonesia has suffered the worst impact, with rescuers struggling to reach isolated communities in Sumatra as washed-out roads and collapsed bridges hamper access. The national disaster agency said 475 people are still missing, and adverse weather is slowing air and water operations. In Sri Lanka, military teams are combing through areas ravaged by floods and landslides linked to Cyclone Ditwah, with 352 people still missing. Transport remains severely disrupted due to damaged roads and infrastructure. In Kandy, residents face water shortages and rely on bottled water from natural springs as more rainfall is expected. Cyclone Ditwa: Bangladesh to send relief, rescue team to Sri Lanka on Dec 3 Southern Thailand has begun clearing debris after floods affected over 1.5 million households and nearly 4 million people. Authorities are rushing to restore essential services, while the Interior Ministry plans to open public kitchens and distribute compensation worth 239 million baht ($7.4 million) to 26,000 affected residents. Source: AP 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that the revised U.S. proposal for ending the war with Russia “looks better,” though negotiations are still underway. He made the remarks in Paris after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to shape the terms of a possible ceasefire in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. At the same time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Tuesday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff recently drew scrutiny following reports that he had coached one of Putin’s advisers on how to present Moscow’s position to Donald Trump regarding the peace plan. Zelenskyy’s trip to Paris followed talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on Sunday, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as constructive. Both sides are working to revise the original American-drafted proposal, which emerged from Washington-Moscow discussions but was criticized for favoring Russian demands. Late Monday, Russia claimed fresh battlefield victories as negotiations approached, saying its forces had seized the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Peskov said Putin was briefed on the capture Sunday. Zelenskyy, however, insisted fighting in the area was still ongoing. A complex stage of negotiations Zelenskyy called discussions over Ukrainian territorial control “the most complicated” aspect of the peace plan. Macron said talks remain in an “early phase” but suggested the current diplomatic momentum could mark a turning point for Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security. Following criticism from Kyiv and European capitals, Trump has distanced himself from his administration’s earlier 28-point peace plan—which would have limited Ukraine’s military, barred its NATO membership, and required territorial concessions—calling it merely a “concept” that still needs refinement. Macron praised U.S. engagement but said any final agreement must include Europe. He again urged Western allies last week to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees should a ceasefire or peace deal be reached, including a possible “reassurance force” across land, sea, and air. Macron said key discussions among the U.S. and Western partners will take place in the coming days to clarify America’s role in such guarantees. His office said he and Zelenskyy also conferred with leaders from numerous European nations, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Both leaders spoke by phone with Witkoff, and Zelenskyy later traveled to Ireland. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that U.S.-Russia talks risk pressuring Ukraine into making excessive concessions, including on territory. “I’m afraid all the pressure will be put on the victim,” she said. Russia touts more gains Russian state media released footage of Putin in military gear meeting top commanders Sunday. General Valery Gerasimov reported that Russian troops had fully taken Pokrovsk—referred to by Russia by its Soviet-era name, Krasnoarmeysk—as well as Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. Another commander said fighting continued against “small remaining enemy groups” in Pokrovsk. Ukraine did not immediately comment, and the claims could not be independently confirmed. Pokrovsk sits along a key fortified defensive line in Donetsk, crucial for protecting cities like Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Druzhkivka. Zelenskyy also dismissed Russia’s claim that Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region had been captured, saying Ukrainian forces had cleared out almost all Russian troops there. Putin, in the released footage, asserted that Russian troops hold the initiative along the entire front. Meanwhile, Moscow condemned Ukrainian attacks over the weekend on Russian energy infrastructure, including a strike on a Caspian Pipeline Consortium oil terminal near Novorossiysk and attacks on two tankers in the Black Sea. Ukraine confirmed the operations. Russian officials called the attacks “outrageous,” noting the CPC terminal is an international facility. Russia’s Defense Ministry said 32 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across 11 regions and over the Sea of Azov. In Dagestan, an apartment building was damaged in a Ukrainian strike on Kaspiysk, more than 1,000 kilometers from the front. Deadly strike on Dnipro Around midday Monday, a Russian missile hit central Dnipro, killing four people and injuring 40 more, including 11 critically, according to regional officials. The blast damaged residential buildings, an educational institution, and a humanitarian warehouse, and rescue efforts continued through the day. Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russia had launched 89 attack and decoy drones overnight before the strike; 63 were intercepted or jammed. In total during November, Russia fired 100 missiles and nearly 9,600 drones of various types at Ukraine, the Air Force said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a presidential pardon as he stands trial on long-running corruption charges that have sharply divided the country. The move drew swift indignation Sunday from opposition leaders and government watchdog groups, while some Israelis voiced support and suggested it was time for the nation to move on. The president’s office described the request as “extraordinary” and carrying “significant implications.” At issue are both the integrity of Israel’s justice system and Netanyahu’s continued grip on political power. Here’s what to know. The charges Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israel’s history to stand trial. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters including a telecom company, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher. The Justice Ministry announced the indictments in the three cases in 2019, after years of investigations, and the trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary. He has not been convicted of anything. Netanyahu has repeatedly requested postponements of his testimony, citing diplomatic engagements or security issues around Israel’s wars in the past two years with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Earlier delays in the trial were caused in part by years of political crisis that gridlocked Israel, with Netanyahu returning to office in late 2022. The delays have angered many Israelis, including some parents of hostages long held in Gaza who accused Netanyahu of drawing out the war with Hamas as part of efforts to stay in office. Netanyahu’s argument The prime minister has portrayed himself in the trial as the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy trying to oust him. He said his pardon request would help unify Israel at a time of momentous change in the Middle East, and asserted that an “immediate conclusion of the trial would greatly help to lower the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs.” Some government ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, expressed support for his request. Just weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu, turning to President Isaac Herzog during his speech to Israel’s parliament last month. Earlier this month, Trump also sent a letter to Herzog calling the corruption case “political, unjustified prosecution.” Netanyahu mentioned Trump's request in his statement Sunday. Herzog is a former political rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good working relationship. Herzog in the past has said he believes the best way to end this legal chapter would be through a settlement between prosecutors and Netanyahu’s lawyers. Many Israelis are sensitive to issues involving Netanyahu and the law. Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, the prime minister launched a plan to overhaul the justice system. That sparked huge anti-government protests as opponents accused him of trying to weaken the system of checks and balances and having a conflict of interest at a time when he was on trial. The plan was revived earlier this year after being put on hold after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The criticism Opponents of the pardon request said it could weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that some people in Israel are above the law. “He basically says, ‘I’m completely innocent, I’m sure that I can prove this innocence, but not for my own interest, for the country’s interest I’m requesting this pardon,’" said Yohanan Plesner, president of The Israel Democracy Institute. "So there is no assumption of responsibility whatsoever, and this might project a problematic message to all public figures and to what our public norms might look like.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu cannot be granted a pardon “without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political life.” Legal experts said the pardon request cannot stop the trial. The only way to stop it is to ask the attorney general to withhold the proceedings, said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Justice Ministry. What’s next The pardon request will be sent to the Justice Ministry for opinions and then transferred to the legal adviser in the Office of the President, which will formulate additional opinions. Experts said the president has broad discretion to grant one, and oversight is limited. However, “as a rule, the president reviews a pardon request only after all legal proceedings have ended. The possibility of a pre-conviction pardon ... is extremely rare,” The Israel Democracy Institute wrote earlier this month. “A pardon before conviction, while legal proceedings are ongoing, threatens the rule of law and seriously undermines the principle of equality before the law.”

U.S. and Ukrainian officials held nearly four hours of talks in Florida on Sunday as both sides worked to shape a possible end to the Russia Ukraine war, days before a U.S. envoy is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the discussions were productive, but he noted that substantial work is still needed before any peace agreement can be reached. He said the aim is not only to stop the fighting but to ensure Ukraine’s long term stability and economic future. Rubio said progress was made, although more negotiations will be required. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is preparing for talks with Putin in Moscow in the coming days. Rubio, Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner represented the U.S. side in the Florida meeting, held at a sensitive moment as Ukraine continues resisting Russian forces while dealing with a corruption scandal at home. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had been briefed on the meeting and described Ukraine’s corruption problems as “not helpful.” He added that there is “a good chance” for a deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government is facing strong pressure after revelations that $100 million was embezzled from the energy sector through contractor kickbacks. The scandal has added to political strains for Zelenskyy. Diplomats are working on changes to a U.S. drafted peace plan that came out of earlier contacts between Washington and Moscow. Critics say the proposal favors Russian demands. At the start of Sunday’s meeting at the Shell Bay Club, a resort developed by Witkoff, Rubio said any agreement must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and set it on a path to long term prosperity. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council, expressed gratitude for U.S. support and said Ukraine values Washington’s efforts. After the talks, he again thanked the United States for its backing during the nearly four year conflict, though he did not provide details about any progress. Rubio said the talks covered issues beyond ending the fighting. Trump has argued that deeper commercial ties between the U.S. and Ukraine could help deter Russian aggression in the future. The two countries signed an agreement earlier this year that gives the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Trump’s draft plan includes creating a Ukraine Development Fund to support industries such as technology, data centers and artificial intelligence. It also calls for joint work on rebuilding and operating Ukraine’s natural gas pipelines and storage systems, which Russia has repeatedly targeted. Rubio said the United States wants Ukraine to be secure from future invasions and to enter a period of lasting prosperity. He said the aim is to help Ukraine rebuild in ways that make the country stronger than before the war. Umerov has been involved in recent negotiations. Until now, Ukraine’s main negotiator had been Andrii Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, who resigned Friday after anti corruption investigators searched his home. Rubio had met Yermak in Geneva one week earlier. The Ukrainian delegation in Florida also included Andrii Hnatov, head of Ukraine’s armed forces, and presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz. An earlier 28 point U.S. framework, which Trump later described as only a draft concept, would have limited the size of Ukraine’s military, blocked NATO membership and required elections within 100 days. It also proposed that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region to Russia. Negotiators say the framework has changed, though details remain unclear. Trump said last week that Witkoff and possibly Kushner would go to Moscow to meet Putin about the plan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would meet Witkoff before Thursday, when he leaves for India. Witkoff and Kushner both come from the real estate world and were involved in a proposal that led to a ceasefire in Gaza. In his nightly address Saturday, Zelenskyy said the U.S. team was taking a constructive approach and that steps could be outlined in the coming days for what he called a “dignified end” to the war. Russian drone and missile strikes continued over the weekend despite diplomatic efforts. Attacks around Kyiv on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded dozens, authorities said. More overnight strikes into Sunday killed one person and injured 19, including four children, when a drone hit a nine story apartment building in Vyshhorod near Kyiv. Zelenskyy said Russia launched 122 strike drones and ballistic missiles on Sunday alone. He said Russia had used nearly 1,400 drones, 1,100 guided bombs and 66 missiles in the past week. He called for stronger air defense and continued cooperation with partners to achieve peace. Tensions rose further after Ukraine claimed responsibility for damaging a major oil terminal near the Russian port of Novorossiysk on Saturday. Kazakhstan, whose oil exports move through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, urged Ukraine to stop such attacks. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry said the strike harmed bilateral relations and asked Ukraine to take steps to prevent similar incidents.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country’s president to grant him a pardon from corruption charges, seeking to end a long-running trial that has bitterly divided the nation. Netanyahu, who has been at war against Israel’s legal system over the charges, said the request would help unify the country at a time of momentous change in the region. But it immediately triggered denunciations from opponents, who said a pardon would weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that he's above the rule of law. Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department of the Office of the President, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. The president's office called it an “extraordinary request,” carrying with it “significant implications.” Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters. He hasn't been convicted of anything. Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary. Trump's request His request comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu, turning to President Isaac Herzog during his speech to Israel's parliament last month. Earlier this month, Trump also sent a letter to Herzog calling the corruption case "political, unjustified prosecution.” Herzog is a former political rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good working relationship. Later Sunday, Israeli media reported a small protest outside Herzog’s home, including a pile of bananas with a sign saying a pardon equals a banana republic. In a videotaped statement, Netanyahu said the trial has divided the country. He also said the requirement that he appear in court three times a week is a distraction that makes it difficult for him to lead. “The continuation of the trial tears us apart from within, stirs up this division, and deepens rifts. I am sure, like many others in the nation, that an immediate conclusion of the trial would greatly help to lower the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs," he said. Case delays Netanyahu has taken the stand multiple times over the past year. But the case has been repeatedly delayed as he has dealt with wars and unrest stemming from the Hamas-led militant attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Netanyahu's pardon request consisted of two documents: a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu. They'll be sent to the Justice Ministry for opinions and will then be transferred to the legal adviser at the president's office, which will formulate additional opinions for the president. Legal experts say the pardon request isn't able to stop the trial. “It’s impossible,” said Emi Palmor, former director-general of the Justice Ministry. “You cannot claim that you’re innocent while the trial is going on and come to the president and ask him to intervene,” she said. The only way to stop the trial is to ask the attorney general to withhold the proceedings, she said. In rare cases, the system could pardon Netanyahu. Experts say the president has broad discretion to grant one, and oversight is limited. However, "as a rule, the president reviews a pardon request only after all legal proceedings have ended. The possibility of a preconviction pardon ... is extremely rare,” the Israel Democracy Institute wrote earlier this month. “A pardon before conviction, while legal proceedings are ongoing, threatens the rule of law and seriously undermines the principle of equality before the law.” Netanyahu portrays himself as victimIn 2008, as opposition leader, Netanyahu called on then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down as he faced a growing corruption scandal. At the time, Netanyahu said that a prime minister “up to his neck” in scandal did not have a mandate to lead the country, and there was a risk that Olmert would make decisions that served his personal interests and not those of the nation. Olmert resigned even before he was indicted that year and would later serve 16 months in prison. Netanyahu has struck a different, defiant tone since his own legal problems began. He has portrayed himself as the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy trying to oust him from office. Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, Netanyahu launched a plan to overhaul Israel’s justice system. Netanyahu presented the plan as a much-needed reform. But his opponents accused him of trying to weaken the justice system, damaging the country’s system of checks and balances and having a conflict of interest at a time when he was on trial. The plan triggered large street protests against the government, and critics have said the deep divisions sent a message of weakness to Israel’s enemies that encouraged Hamas to launch its 2023 attacks. Netanyahu's request also sparked backlash on Sunday, with an immediate response from the opposition and advocacy groups urging the president not to give in to his request. “You cannot grant him a pardon without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political life," opposition leader Yair Lapid said. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel said that granting a pardon to a prime minister accused of serious offenses of fraud and breach of trust would send a clear message that there are citizens who are above the law. But some Israelis expressed support for Netanyahu's request. “Bibi Netanyahu did totally the right thing requesting the pardon," said Lior Gal, a Jerusalem resident, referring to the prime minister by his nickname. "He deserves to be pardoned. This chapter should be over and to remain united people and carry on.”

Five people were killed when a fire swept through a home in a small eastern French town, local officials said Sunday. The Nancy prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into the incident. About 70 firefighters and 40 emergency vehicles were mobilized overnight to bring the blaze under control in Neuves-Maisons, the Meurthe-et-Moselle Prefecture told The Associated Press. A sixth person was treated for smoke inhalation but is not in critical condition. Local outlet Ici Lorraine, citing police sources, reported that the victims included a couple and three youths aged between 17 and 20 — identified as the couple’s son and two of his friends. The Prefecture said the town hall will set up an emergency medical and psychological support unit for affected residents.

Authorities in Indonesia said Sunday that some residents on the flood-ravaged island of Sumatra have begun taking food and water to survive, as Sri Lankan officials confirmed that the death toll from floods and mudslides there has climbed to 193. Nearly a week after the Indonesian floods began, at least 303 people have been killed — a figure expected to grow as more victims are found — and thousands have been forced from their homes. The flooding triggered landslides, washed out roads, isolated communities and disrupted communications across parts of the island. Rescue efforts have been slowed by harsh weather and a shortage of heavy machinery. Aid has struggled to reach the worst-affected areas, including Sibolga city and Central Tapanuli district in North Sumatra. Social media clips showed people rushing through damaged barriers, shattered glass and inundated streets in search of food, fuel and medicine, with some wading through waist-high water to reach wrecked convenience stores. Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan said incidents of looting were first reported Saturday evening, noting that local police had been deployed to restore order. “The looting happened before relief supplies arrived,” he said. “Residents didn’t realise aid was coming and feared they would go hungry.” Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said that 11 helicopters were dispatched from Jakarta the day after the disaster to deliver relief supplies, particularly to communities cut off by road, but unpredictable weather continues to disrupt the operations. Government footage showed military aircraft airdropping supplies, with survivors in North Tapanuli waving urgently toward the helicopters. Four navy vessels have also arrived at a nearby port to support the distribution of aid. Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, officials said 193 people have died in floods and landslides, while 228 remain missing. Close to 148,000 people have been driven from their homes and are currently staying in temporary shelters. Sri Lanka has faced relentless severe weather since last week, with conditions worsening on Thursday when heavy rain inundated homes, farmlands and roads and triggered landslides, particularly in the central tea-growing highlands. Meteorologists say Cyclone Ditwah, which formed in waters east of Sri Lanka, is expected to move toward India’s southern coast on Sunday.

Sri Lanka closed government offices and schools Friday (November 28) as the death toll from widespread floods and landslides climbed to 56, with over 600 homes reported damaged, officials said. The country has been facing severe weather since last week, which intensified Thursday (November 27) with heavy rainfall that submerged homes, farmland, and roads, and triggered landslides nationwide. At least 25 people were killed Thursday in landslides in the central mountainous tea-growing districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, roughly 300 kilometers east of the capital Colombo. In these areas, another 21 people are missing and 14 were injured, according to the government’s disaster management center. Additional fatalities occurred in landslides elsewhere in the country. As conditions worsened, the government ordered all schools and government offices to remain closed Friday. Read more: Over 20 killed, 14 missing as intense rainfall sparks landslides and flooding in Sri Lanka Overflowing rivers and reservoirs have blocked many roads, forcing authorities to suspend passenger train services and close roadways in several regions. Landslides and floodwaters, along with fallen rocks, mud, and trees, disrupted both roads and railway lines. Local television footage showed an air force helicopter rescuing three people stranded on a flooded rooftop Thursday, while the navy and police used boats to evacuate residents. Another video showed a car swept away by floodwaters near the eastern town of Ampara, killing three passengers.

The man accused of shooting two National Guard service members near the White House now faces a first-degree murder charge after one of the victims died, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Friday. Authorities are still working to determine why the attack happened. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were critically injured in Wednesday’s shooting. President Donald Trump said Thursday evening that Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries. Prosecutors said the suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal — who previously worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War — has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill. The Trump administration also announced Friday that it is suspending all asylum rulings and pausing visa processing for Afghan passport holders. US will 'permanently pause' migration from 'third world countries': Trump Beckstrom and Wolfe were in Washington with the West Virginia National Guard as part of Trump’s initiative to federalize the D.C. police force. Trump has also attempted to send Guard units to other cities to support his mass deportation plans, though some efforts have been blocked in court. Asylum decisions frozen Trump described the shooting as a “terrorist attack,” blaming the Biden administration for admitting Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the war. The president has repeatedly called for halting migration from poorer countries and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants. Joseph Edlow, head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, wrote on X that asylum decisions are suspended “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” Experts note that the U.S. already has strict vetting procedures, and asylum processing delays have grown under Trump. Pirro told Fox News that additional charges against Lakanwal are likely and expressed condolences to Beckstrom’s family. Investigators are searching properties in Washington state, where Lakanwal lived, and other locations nationwide. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with National Guard members in D.C. on Friday and led a prayer for the two soldiers. He and his wife visited Wolfe in the hospital Thursday night. Wolfe remains in very critical condition, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said, ordering state flags to half-staff in Beckstrom’s honor. Lakanwal’s background Lakanwal had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, according to a former landlord. Neighbors described him as quiet, polite, and struggling to find steady work. He briefly delivered packages through Amazon Flex between July and August. He arrived in the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden-era initiative that resettled Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal. Although he applied for asylum under Biden, #AfghanEvac said his asylum was approved during Trump’s term. In a Thanksgiving message, Trump said Lakanwal “went nuts.” A man identifying himself as Lakanwal’s cousin told the AP that Lakanwal had served in a CIA-backed Afghan special forces unit known as the Zero Units, first as a security guard in 2012 and later as a team leader and GPS specialist. These units were involved in front-line operations and played a major role in securing Kabul airport during the U.S. exit. On Wednesday night, Trump called for a full review of all Afghan refugees admitted under the 2021 resettlement program. Although critics claim the vetting process was insufficient, advocates say the screening was extensive and necessary to protect Afghans threatened by the Taliban. Tributes to Beckstrom Beckstrom joined the National Guard in 2023 after graduating high school and served as a military police officer in the 863rd Military Police Company. The Guard described her as a model soldier who showed “leadership, dedication, and professionalism” and volunteered for Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Trump called her an “incredible person” and “outstanding in every single way.”