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US President Donald Trump has said his administration intends to maintain a pause on asylum decisions for a "long time", following last week's shooting that targeted two National Guard members near the White House.Trump said he had "no time limit" in mind for the measure, which the Department of Homeland Security has linked to enhanced security reviews involving applicants from 19 countries already subject to US travel restrictions."We don't want those people. We have enough problems," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One. "Many of them are no good and they shouldn't be in our country."The Trump administration suspended all asylum decisions after a November 26 shooting near the White House that killed a National Guard member in her twenties and seriously injured another.The president said he intends to permanently halt immigration from what he described as "Third World countries" to allow the U.S. system to "fully recover." Meanwhile, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that asylum decisions will remain halted until all applicants undergo the highest level of security screening.

The US dollar is heading for its biggest weekly drop in four months, as trading volumes shrink because of the US Thanksgiving holiday - pushing traders to focus on next year's outlook, while the Federal Reserve (the US central bank) appears to be the only party likely to take interest-rate-cut steps.In currency markets, the Japanese yen rose 0.4 percent to 155.87 per dollar in Asian trading, while the euro climbed above USD 1.16.The New Zealand dollar also rose to a three-week high of USD 0.5728, gaining about 2 percent, while the Australian dollar strengthened after inflation data that came in higher than expected.The Chinese yuan stood at 7.08 per dollar, while the British pound reached its highest level since late October at USD 1.3265, heading for its biggest weekly rise since last August.Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index - which measures the performance of the US currency against a basket of major currencies - was steady at 99.433 points, after retreating from its six-month high reached a week earlier, and is heading toward its largest weekly drop since July. 

The State of Qatar has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the shooting incident that occurred near the White House in the United States of America, which resulted in the injury of two National Guard members, affirming its full solidarity with the United States, its government and people.In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar's firm stance rejecting violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of the motives and reasons.The Ministry also conveyed Qatar's wishes for a swift recovery for the injured. 

A US official said that President Donald Trump has approved a peace plan between Russia and Ukraine that has been developed over the past few weeks.NBC quoted the official as saying that the plan was prepared discreetly by several senior US administration officials in consultation with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Ukrainian officials. He noted that US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff participated in drafting it.He added that the plan focuses on providing security guarantees for both sides, paving the way for a lasting peace.Meanwhile, US and European officials said that several key elements of the plan to end the war in Ukraine are still being revised, and that its release came as a surprise to Ukrainian and European officials.In a related development, a senior Ukrainian official revealed new US proposals to end the war, coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his anticipated meetings with US military officials in Kyiv.Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv have not taken place since the Istanbul meeting in July, amidst the ongoing Russian military operations in eastern Ukraine, which have continued for nearly four years.

South Korea and the United States kicked off a joint cybersecurity exercise Monday to strengthen their combined readiness posture against potential cybersecurity threats from enemies.The Cyber Alliance drills, slated to run through Friday, will take place at a training facility in Maryland, aimed at better bracing for future cyberwarfare, according to South Korea's defense ministry.The training will involve swiftly sharing intelligence on a potential cybersecurity threat under a simulated cyberattack scenario.It marks the second such drills since it was conducted in South Korea's Cyber Operation Command last year, according to Yonhap News Agency.Seoul and Washington will continue to expand cooperation in not only cyber alliance training, but also intelligence sharing for cyberthreats, joint participation in multinational cybersecurity drills and more, the ministry said.

The Philippines, the United States, and Japan conducted a new round of joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea, underscoring their deepening security cooperation.The 13th Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activity (MMCA) -- and the eighth held this year -- involved key assets from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the US Indo-Pacific Command, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Sunday, the Philippine side deployed two missile-capable frigates, BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), along with an AW159 helicopter.The United States deployed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, led by the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), while Japan deployed the destroyer JS Akebono (DD-108) along with an SH-60K Seahawk helicopter.The Philippine Coast Guard also supported the activity by enhancing maritime domain awareness.The exercises included communications checks, at-sea replenishment techniques, anti-submarine warfare drills, maritime domain reporting, helicopter deck landings, formation maneuvers, and an integrated final exercise.

US authorities confirmed the beginning of a recovery in air transportation following the end of the government shutdown that lasted for more than a month, considering yesterday, Friday, to be one of the best days for aviation in the country since last October.US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated in a post on his account on the platform X that the nation's air traffic had begun to recover from the disruptions caused by the government shutdown. He explained that Friday had been one of the best days the airspace had seen in some time, with only a very small number of air traffic controllers absent from work. He added that the department is reviewing the submitted data and working diligently to return airspace operations to normal.Restrictions had been imposed on air traffic because of the longest government shutdown in US history, which began on October 1 and ended last Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed legislation extending government funding following its approval by Congress.The shutdown resulted in hundreds of thousands of federal employees being furloughed and forced authorities to call back other essential employees, who had to work without pay, including thousands of air traffic controllers. However, absenteeism increased among this workforce, which had already been struggling with significant staff shortages.With operations returning to normal, a six-percent reduction in domestic flights remains in place at 12 of the country's busiest airports under a decision implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration starting Nov. 13.Aviation analytics data company Cirium estimated in its assessment of the shutdown's impact that only two percent of scheduled flights in the United States were canceled yesterday. It noted that the airports most affected were Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Newark, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver, each of which saw approximately 20 percent of flights canceled.

The Venezuelan army announced a large-scale military deployment across the country, coinciding with the arrival of a US aircraft carrier off the coast of Latin America, which Washington says is intended to support anti-drug trafficking operations.Venezuelan media broadcast statements by senior military officers in several states, accompanied by images showing extensive military exercises.In the same context, the US Southern Command said that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, whose deployment was ordered about three weeks ago, has entered the command's area of ​​operations, which includes Latin America and the Caribbean.Since last August, Washington has maintained a military presence in the Caribbean Sea, including six warships, asserting that its objective is to combat drug trafficking into the United States.According to US reported, twenty airstrikes targeting vessels suspected of carrying drugs have resulted in the deaths of at least 76 people.Venezuelan authorities, however, accuse the United States of using anti-drug operations as a pretext to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and forcibly change the regime.

A comprehensive study conducted by a research team from the University of California, USA, revealed that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to experience chronic digestive problems. The study evaluated data from more than 300 children with autism, compared to more than 150 children without the disorder, through parental questionnaires and a long-term follow-up period of nearly a decade. The results, published in the journal "Autism," showed that children with autism were 50% more likely to initially experience digestive symptoms. Over time, the risk increased significantly, with children four times more likely to experience these symptoms than children without the disorder. Dr. Christine Wu Nordahl, the study's lead researcher, said that it's not about finding a single cause, but rather understanding the child as a whole. She added that supporting digestive health is an important step in improving the quality of life for children with autism. The researchers noted that the traditional diets common among children with autism, which often rely on low-fiber, processed foods, may increase the risk of digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. They noted that gut bacterial imbalances are common in this group, which may increase the likelihood of symptoms appearing.

Authorities investigating attack as 'act of targeted violence'Shooter fired from nearby rooftop, investigation ongoingKilling adds to fears of rising political violenceA gunman who wrote "ANTI-ICE" on an unused bullet killed one detainee and wounded two others on Wednesday when he fired on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas from a nearby rooftop before taking his own life, officials said.FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo on X of what he said was the suspect's unused ammunition that showed one with the words "ANTI-ICE" written along the side."While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind this attack," Patel wrote.In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the suspect fired "indiscriminately" at the ICE building, including at a van in the building's secured entryway where the victims were shot.The department initially said two victims were dead and one injured, before later issuing a corrected statement that one detainee had been killed and two others were in critical condition.Officials have not disclosed the identities of the victims.The incident comes two weeks after the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by a sniper during an event in Orem, Utah, which fueled fears of a new wave of political violence in the United States.NBC News and Fox News, both citing sources, identified the gunman as Joshua Jahn, 29. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm their reports.A Reuters reporter interviewed Jahn's older brother, Noah, earlier in the day as Joshua Jahn's name began circulating online in connection with the shooting.Noah, 30, said he was not aware that his brother harbored any negative feelings about ICE."I didn't know he had any political intent at all," said Noah Jahn, who lives in McKinney, Texas, around 30 miles north of Dallas, as did his brother.At the time of the interview, Jahn said he was not sure whether his brother was involved but that he had begun to fear the worst after none of the family could reach him by phone on Wednesday.A Reuters journalist saw FBI agents entering a house in McKinney at the address listed in online records for Joshua Jahn on Wednesday afternoon.Kirk's death set off a firestorm of political recriminations and deepened concerns among critics of President Donald Trump that he will use the killing to justify further cracking down on his opponents.Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials have blamed, without proof, liberal organizations for fomenting unrest and encouraging violence against the right. On Monday, Trump signed an executive order declaring the anti-fascist movement antifa a domestic "terrorist organization" despite the fact that there has been no evidence made public linking antifa to Kirk's death.At a news briefing in Dallas, officials emphasized the investigation was still in its early stages. Authorities were treating the attack as an "act of targeted violence," Joseph Rothrock, special agent in charge of the FBI's Dallas field office, told reporters.Wednesday's shooter opened fire on the office from atop an adjacent building around 6:40 a.m. local time, police said.Law enforcement officers were not injured in the shooting, officials said. The attack took place at an ICE field office, not a detention facility, where ICE officers conduct short-term processing of recently-arrested detainees.The Trump administration's aggressive use of ICE agents as part of its crackdown on undocumented immigrants has sparked outcries from Democrats and liberal activists. ICE detention facilities have increasingly become sites of conflict, with heavily armed agents deploying pepper ball guns, tear gas and other chemical agents in clashes with protesters.An ICE facility in suburban Chicago, where protesters have gathered daily since a Trump administration immigration surge began earlier this month, erected fencing on Monday after several demonstrators, including the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, were injured in a clash with agents last week.Wednesday's attack was the third shooting this year in Texas at a Department of Homeland Security facility. A police officer was shot in a July incident at an ICE detention center in Prairieland, and a 27-year-old Michigan man was shot dead by agents after opening fire on a US Border Patrol station in McAllen in July.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have successfully developed new varieties of wheat capable of producing natural fertilizer autonomously, paving the way for reducing air and water pollution globally.The university explained in a statement Saturday that researchers used genetic modification techniques to stimulate the plants to produce additional amounts of certain chemicals, which interact with the soil to form natural fertilizer.The statement pointed out that this innovation could help reduce the costs borne by farmers, in addition to minimizing the negative environmental impacts caused by nitrogen pollution.In this context, Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the university Eduardo Blumwald said that this discovery could significantly contribute to ensuring food security by increasing productivity in small farms, especially in regions such as Africa, which face major challenges in this field.Wheat production uses about 18% of the total nitrogen fertilizers produced globally, while plants absorb only between 35%-50% of the nitrogen, with the remainder ending up in water bodies and the atmosphere, causing significant environmental damage.

The United Nations expressed hope that the United States will lift its ban on Palestinian representatives attending the UN General Assembly session scheduled for next month.UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a press briefing that it is important for all member states and permanent observers to be represented in the Assembly's work, particularly as France and Saudi Arabia are preparing to host a meeting on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He added that the UN hopes the issue of visas for the Palestinian delegation will be resolved so they can participate.He noted that the matter will be discussed with the US State Department under the terms of the UN Headquarters Agreement, noting that the UN's position is that all diplomats and delegates entitled to attend should be able to travel freely to New York.These remarks came only hours after the US State Department announced the cancellation of visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority officials, preventing them from entering the United States to attend the General Assembly.This decision comes despite the Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the United States, which states that US security agencies are not permitted to operate inside the UN compound in Manhattan and that UN members have the right to travel freely through the US to the UN headquarters.