Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: “The decades-long era of deepening economic integration with the United States has come to an end. As a result, many of the strengths that once defined us — particularly those rooted in our close economic ties with America — have now become vulnerabilities. We must learn to stand on our own, because we can no longer depend on a single foreign partner. And we must stand together, because our strength lies in unity.”

The German government has warned its citizens, in a manual produced by civil protection authorities, that a war scenario “no longer seems as impossible as it did a few years ago” — the first such warning to accompany the guide in 35 years.

Vice President Vance before leaving Israel: "The vote in the Knesset on annexing the West Bank was strange. If it was a political exercise, it was a stupid political exercise and I was offended by it. We will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and we were not happy with this vote."

Decarlos Brown Jr., accused of murdering Iryna Zarutska, has been federally indicted and now faces the possibility of the death penalty.

Overnight on Tuesday, October 21, Ukrainian Armed Forces, using U.S. European Command (EUCOM) targeting intelligence and authorization, launched a series of “Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG” air-launched cruise missiles at the Bryansk Chemical Plant in western Russia — one of the country’s largest producers of gunpowder, explosives, and rocket fuel for the Russian military. This marks one of the first Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory since authority to support such operations was transferred earlier this month from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme NATO Allied Commander Europe.

Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich: "If Saudi Arabia is telling us that in return for normalization they want a Palestinian state - we will say: Friends, no thank you, you can continue riding camels on the sand in the Saudi desert"

After major news outlets—both conservative and liberal—refused last week to sign a pledge agreeing to new reporting rules under the Pentagon Press Corps, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the creation of a “New Pentagon Press Corps” today. This corps includes several “non-biased, well-respected journalists and outlets,” such as: • Tim Pool • Gateway Pundit • Jack Posobiec • LindellTV • TPUSA Frontlines • The National Pulse • The Post Millennial • Washington Reporter • Red State • Real America’s Voice Notably, only one of these outlets has ever been proven in court to have accepted millions in payments from the Russian state to disseminate propaganda.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stated Wednesday that the country possesses 5,000 Russian-made man-portable surface-to-air missiles, intended to counter potential U.S. military operations in the Caribbean.

Spotted earlier today in the Oval Office: a scale model of the White House showcasing President Trump’s planned $250M State Ballroom, set to completely replace the East Wing and overshadow the Executive Residence along with the rest of the White House complex.

President Trump announced his intention to notify Congress of forthcoming U.S. military operations against foreign drug cartels, saying, “It’s necessary to save lives.”

Contrary to earlier reports indicating that only the facade and select areas of the White House’s East Wing would be modified for President Donald J. Trump’s $250M State Ballroom, the White House has confirmed that the entire East Wing — originally built in 1902 and renovated in 1942 — will be demolished, with completion expected as early as Sunday. View quoted note →

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced the first sanctions of his second term, imposing a new wave of restrictions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced today a new round of sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies: Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil). The sanctions cite Russia’s refusal to make meaningful commitments toward a peace process to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. OFAC will also sanction several Russia-based subsidiaries of Rosneft and Lukoil, including any entities directly or indirectly owned 50% or more by the two companies.

Speaking moments ago from the Oval Office with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, President Donald J. Trump announced the cancellation of the Budapest Summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “It just didn’t feel right to me. I didn’t think we were going to reach the outcome we need, so I canceled it.”

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Israel firmly rejects the ICJ’s so-called “advisory opinion” regarding UNRWA, calling it a politically driven and entirely predictable outcome. This represents yet another attempt to impose political measures against Israel under the guise of international law. The ICJ’s opinion, Israel said, should have addressed the extensive terrorist activity within UNRWA. Israeli officials note that UNRWA employees directly participated in the October 7 massacre and continue to aid Hamas’s terrorist operations — all under the banner of the United Nations. Hamas’s infiltration of UNRWA, Israel adds, occurred before, during, and after the October 7 attacks. Despite Israel providing the UN with substantial evidence, no full investigation has ever been conducted. To this day, UNRWA continues to employ more than 1,400 Hamas operatives. Israel reiterated that it will not cooperate with an organization compromised by terrorism. The government emphasized that it fully adheres to international law — but “rejects its politicization” when used to produce outcomes aimed at harming the State of Israel. View quoted note →

The International Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that Israel must allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, stressing that it is obligated to provide Palestinians with the “basic necessities” required for survival.

Overnight on Tuesday, U.S. Armed Forces conducted what is believed to be their eighth airstrike against a suspected narco-terrorist vessel since August. For the first time, however, the strike took place in the Eastern Pacific, reportedly killing two to three individuals aboard the boat, according to CBS News.

Cracks are emerging in the U.S. military’s leadership under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, as senior officers and both current and former Defense Department officials told *The Washington Times* that Hegseth has lost the trust and respect of key commanders. Critics cite his public “grandstanding,” widely viewed as unprofessional, along with personnel decisions that have contributed to an unprecedented exodus of talent from the Pentagon. Many high-ranking officers described Hegseth’s September 30 speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico—addressing hundreds of generals and admirals—as a turning point in perceptions of his leadership, style, and competence. Officials labeled the speech “embarrassing” and “theatrical,” saying it fell “below our institution’s standards.” “It was a massive waste of time — if he ever had our support, he lost it,” one current U.S. Army general told The Washington Times.

The German Finance Ministry has announced plans to cover the salaries of roughly 11,000 local employees working for the U.S. Department of Defense at American bases across Germany, whose pay has been disrupted by the ongoing government shutdown in Washington. Berlin expects to be reimbursed once U.S. payments resume, with a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman describing the move as “a gesture of solidarity with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Germany and their civilian staff.”

Sweden is reportedly in discussions to sell up to 120 Saab JAS 39E “Gripen-E” multirole fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force in a deal valued at more than $10 billion. The talks come as President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson this morning in Linköping — home to the Saab Defense Group.