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Quote:President Donald Trump has denied that he plans to name the new White House ballroom after himself, saying that such reports are "fake news."
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle previously said in an email to Newsweek that “any announcement made on the name of the ballroom will come directly from President Trump himself, and not through anonymous and unnamed sources."
Why It Matters
This week saw the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, which used to house the first lady’s offices, to make way for a new 90,000 square foot state ballroom that is planned to hold up to 650 seated people.
The move caused controversy with some lawmakers, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, accusing the president of pursuing a “vanity project,” while Trump insisted the East Wing was “ready to be replaced.”
Trump said a new hosting venue at the White House had been wanted “for at least 150 years,” adding the East Wing had been “very, very much changed from what it was originally.”
Initially, the new White House ball room was estimated to cost $200 million, though this has since been increased to over $300 million. According to Trump, the money is coming from private donors.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, meanwhile, has urged the Trump administration to pause the demolition until a planning commission review is completed, expressing concern that the ballroom "will overwhelm the White House itself." The White House is 55,000 square feet.
What To Know
On Friday, ABC News reported that officials involved in the planning of the ballroom project had started to refer to it as "The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom."
However, speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One on Friday night, Trump said he had considered naming the new structure the Presidential Ballroom "or something like that," but added that "we haven't really thought about a name yet."
He previously told ABC News on Thursday that he wouldn't "get into it now" when asked about a name for the new ballroom.
Trump also revealed that the budget could expand again as he said the White House has around $350 million now for the project. He also previously teased that if he were to receive a payment from the Department of Justice , which would be in penalty for investigations into any potential links between his 2016 campaign and the Russian government, he would donate some or all of the money to the ballroom project.
The East Wing was first built in 1902 and expanded in 1942, and the demolition has proven highly contentious, with some Americans, including historians and lawmakers, criticizing its destruction without consultation of the public.
The White House posted archival photos of previous White House renovations, with the caption: "Hi, haters."
Quote:President Donald Trump in a message posted to Truth Social on Saturday afternoon pledged to increase tariffs on Canada by 10 percent following a dispute over an anti-tariff ad using Ronald Reagan.
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” Trump wrote.
Newsweek reached out to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office, and the White House by email on Saturday evening outside of normal business hours for comment.
Why It Matters
The U.S. and Canada were set for trade talks after months of Trump aggressively implementing tariffs against a number of trading partners. The U.S. imposed a 35 percent tariff on some of the most critical exports between the countries.
But the president abruptly canceled the talks after the Ontario government started running an ad that featured Reagan, a Republican, criticizing tariffs and warning of the dangers they pose in his April 1987 radio address urging Congress not to pursue protectionism in dealing with Japan.
Trump denounced the ad as fraudulent, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute issued a statement criticizing the ad as misrepresenting Reagan’s presidential address through “selective audio and video.” The foundation also said that it would review legal options, as Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Friday that he had ordered a pause in the ad campaign, which he had intended to run during the first two games of the World Series, which are taking place in Canada as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What To Know
Trump’s decision to increase the tariff marks an escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Canada even after Carney did not dispute the president’s complaint against the ad.
When asked about Trump’s decision to suspend negotiations over the ad, Carney told reporters that Canada is “ready to pick up on those discussions when the Americans are ready.”
Quote:Former Vice President Kamala Harris has said she may run for the presidency again in 2028, saying that she is "not done."
"I am not done. I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it's in my bones," she told the BBC during an interview on Sunday.
Harris said that her grandnieces would see a female president in the White House "in their lifetime, for sure," adding that it could "possibly" be her.
She said that she had not yet made a final decision on whether to run for the White House but stressed she still sees a political future for herself.
Harris also labeled President Donald Trump a "tyrant," saying that "he said he would weaponize the Department of Justice, and he has done exactly that."
Why It Matters
The battle to become the 2028 presidential candidate will likely set the new direction for the Democratic Party, which has struggled with some of its lowest net favorability figures since it lost the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the White House to Trump in last year's election.
Polls have shown mixed results regarding Harris' potential 2028 presidential run prospects.
The latest Noble Predictive Insights poll, conducted between October 2 and 6, showed that Harris is leading the Democratic field with support from 33 percent of Democrats, and 27 percent of independents.
But a Politico-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey, conducted between July 31 and August 11, put California Governor Gavin Newsom ahead with 25 percent support among Democrats and independents, compared to Harris' 19 percent.
Analysis on Friday by pollster Lakshya Jain showed that Harris has one of the highest unfavorability ratings among senior Democrats, with 54 percent saying they have a somewhat or very unfavorable view of her.
But Harris said she is not fazed by the polls. "If I listened to polls, I would have not run for my first office, or my second office - and I certainly wouldn't be sitting here," she told the BBC.
It comes after Harris did not rule out running again in 2028 during an on-stage interview with journalist Kara Swisher earlier this month.
When asked whether she would run again, Harris responded: "Maybe. Maybe not." She also described herself as "the most qualified candidate ever to run for president."
"Some people have actually said I was the most qualified candidate ever to run for president," she recently said, prompting applause. She added that she was "just speaking fact."
But in her new memoir 107 Days, Harris indicated she had no immediate plans to pursue another major political office. "I’ll no longer sit in DC in the grandeur of the ceremonial office. I will be with the people, in towns and communities where I can listen to their ideas on how we rebuild trust, empathy, and a government worthy of the ideals of this country," she wrote.
The former vice president already passed up an opportunity to run for California governor, despite polls showing she had a strong chance of success.
Quote:Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who has been at the center of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, could be deported to Liberia by the end of the month, according to the government's court filing on Friday.
Newsweek has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Abrego Garcia’s lawyer for comment via email on Saturday.
Why It Matters
Garcia’s immigration story has been in the spotlight since March when the Trump administration sent him to the high-security CECOT prison in El Salvador in what was deemed an administrative error. He was returned to the United States in June after a months-long court fight and now faces human smuggling charges, which he denies, stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee.
Since a court order prevents Abrego Garcia’s return to El Salvador, the administration has been looking for a third country to accept him, with Eswatini, Uganda, and Ghana previously floated.
The Trump administration reported in September that “2 million illegal aliens have been removed or self-deported in just 250 days.” President Donald Trump has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Some of the deportees have been sent back to their country of origin, while others have gone to third countries that have entered an agreement with the U.S.
What To Know
Abrego Garcia’s immigration saga has extended for months as the administration admitted it first mistakenly deported him to El Salvador. Previously, the DHS told Abrego Garcia it planned to send him to Uganda, which he objected to, saying he feared being persecuted or tortured. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis blocked his deportation to Uganda in late-August.
The Justice Department said in a court filing that Abrego Garcia could be deported to Liberia as soon as October 31. In a Friday filing, Abrego Garcia’s lawyers wrote, “Liberia does not constitute a viable removal destination,” noting that he “expressed fear of removal to that country and requested a reasonable fear interview.”
The government wrote in their filing that “Although Petitioner has identified more than twenty countries that he purports to fear would persecute or torture him if he were removed there, Liberia is not on that list.” The government called Liberia "a thriving democracy and one of the United States' closest partners on the African continent." English is the official language of the country, which has a population of fewer than 6 million.
Abrego Garcia came to the U.S. illegally as a teenager, and is married to a U.S. citizen, residing in Maryland. He has said he is willing to be deported to Costa Rica, which has indicated it would accept him, but the administration has not pursued that option publicly.
The Trump administration maintains that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, which Trump designated a terrorist organization in January. He and his family have consistently denied this allegation.
The government attorneys wrote that they have “received diplomatic assurances regarding the treatment of third country individuals removed to Liberia from the United States and are making the final necessary arrangements for Petitioner’s removal,” adding that Abrego Garcia's removal to the country could occur as soon as October 31.
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Thursday that Russian military aircraft violated Lithuania’s airspace, calling the incursion a blatant breach of the country’s sovereignty and international law.
Nausėda said Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry will summon representatives from the Russian Embassy in Vilnius to formally protest the violation. In a video posted to X, Nausėda said, "We have to react to this."
“This is a blatant breach of international law and the territorial integrity of Lithuania,” Nausėda wrote. “Once again, it confirms the importance of strengthening European air defense readiness.”
Why It Matters
The Baltic nations have grown increasingly concerned over Russia’s actions amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. A series of recent drone incidents and airspace violations by Russian warplanes has fueled fears that President Vladimir Putin may be testing NATO’s defensive response.
Some European leaders have accused Moscow of engaging in hybrid warfare, though the Kremlin has denied any such activities.
What To Know
The Lithuanian armed forces said the Russian aircraft may have been carrying out refueling exercises when they briefly entered NATO airspace. Around 6 p.m. local time, a Russian Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refueling tanker crossed roughly 765 yards (700 meters) into Lithuania from the Kaliningrad region, remaining for only 18 seconds before turning back.
NATO responded by scrambling Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets already stationed in the area.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė also condemned the violation, describing it as another act of Russian intimidation.
“This incident once again shows that Russia is behaving like a terrorist state, disregarding international law and the security of neighboring countries,” Ruginienė wrote on Facebook, adding that Lithuania remains secure through its NATO alliance.
Quote:New initiatives to bolster drone defenses for European countries forming NATO's eastern spine won't be "rock solid," Germany's defense minister has said.
Building a so-called "drone wall" is a "very ambitious project," Boris Pistorius told The Times of London, in comments published on Thursday.
Why It Matters
More than three and a half years of full-scale war in Ukraine has transformed drone designs, as well as how they can be used —and the counter-drone tactics needed to try to block them. Russian-made Gerbera drones, the domestically-produced versions of the Iranian-designed Shahed UAVs that have long plagued Ukraine's air defenses, made up at least a significant chunk of the drones that violated Polish airspace.
A major concern is that a NATO adversary like Russia could overwhelm NATO defenses by launching swarms of cheap drones. One of the biggest challenges is working out how to intercept inexpensive drones without using interceptor missiles which are designed for smashing into incoming missiles, can cost millions of dollars each and are in scarce supply.
An estimated 20 drones crossed over into Poland in mid-September, sparking a mad scramble to intercept the uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), including by scrambling fighter jets armed with missiles, and spurred on efforts to shore up drone defenses along the alliance's eastern flank. Russia denied deliberately targeting the NATO member.
What To Know
The European commissioner for defense and space, Andrius Kubilius, has repeated calls to "urgently" construct a "drone wall" after the incursions into Poland.
The type of air defenses NATO would use to intercept a large-scale drone attack is different from how the alliance would take out incoming ballistic or cruise missiles. The idea of a "drone wall" is essentially about layered defenses, from interceptor drones to cannons and missiles, plus electronic warfare and attempts to jam or spoof incoming drones. NATO countries are also quickly trying to build up air defenses against missiles.
Pistorius said, "A rock-solid drone wall that can never be penetrated is not realistic for the time being." It could, however, slash at the number of drones European countries would have to contend with in a potential attack, he added.
The German defense minister is "completely correct," said U.K.-based drone expert Steve Wright. "The best we can hope for is to stop most of the incoming drones," Wright told Newsweek.
The German defense minister has previously expressed skepticism of a perception that a "drone wall" could be a silver-bullet solution to the rapidly evolving drone race.
A litany of drone incidents have hit NATO members in recent weeks, shutting down major airports and appearing around sensitive military sites. Russia's true role in drone incursions away from the eastern flank is murky, although NATO officials have said Moscow may be probing the alliance. Moscow has typically denied involvement.
NATO chief Mark Rutte said earlier this month that the European Union (EU) and NATO were "working hand in hand closely together" on drone defenses, and insisted there was "no overlap" in efforts to shore up counter-drone capabilities. Many members of NATO are also part of the EU, an economic bloc rather than a defensive alliance.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, has pushed its Ukraine-inspired "drone wall" hard. "We need a system that is affordable and fit for purpose," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this month.
"We don't want to do anything the other is better at doing," Rutte said, referring to the EU and NATO. The alliance launched an initiative it has dubbed Eastern Sentry shortly after the drone incursions into Poland with countries like the U.K. and Germany contributing extra fighter jets to patrol Polish skies. NATO already had an established air policing mission in the country.
After the Russian drones crossed over into Poland, Warsaw triggered Article 4 of NATO's treaty. This article says that members will "consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened."
Estonia, pressed up against Russian soil, also invoked Article 4 in September after it said three Russian MiG-31 jets breached its airspace for 12 minutes. Moscow said the aircraft traveled "in strict accordance with international airspace rules, without violating the borders of other states."
Quote:Russia may be using the wreck of the MS Estonia–a Baltic Sea ferry that sank in 1994–as a training ground and strategic base for covert underwater surveillance operations targeting NATO forces, independent European investigators have said in a new report.
The MS Estonia, which claimed 852 lives when it sank en route from Tallinn to Stockholm, is officially designated as a protected gravesite because many of the bodies were never recovered and is off-limits to divers.
But now, German broadcasters WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung have reported uncovered growing suspicions that Russia has quietly violated this prohibition, turning the site into a platform for espionage and military exercises near critical NATO waterways.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
The allegations highlight escalating tensions between Russia and NATO, particularly in the strategically vital Baltic region.
If substantiated, Russia's use of a maritime disaster site for clandestine military purposes represents both a security threat and a sensitive violation of an international agreement aimed at honoring the victims.
What To Know
According to a joint investigation by German broadcasters, several NATO member states have received intelligence that in recent years, Russian military units have conducted deep-water operations at the Estonia site.
Moscow has reportedly positioned equipment at or near the wreck, including high-precision navigation devices and sensors capable of guiding submersible drones and recording the acoustic 'signatures' of NATO warships and submarines circulating in the Baltic Sea.
These technologies enable Russia to monitor naval activity discreetly and potentially prepare for disruption of critical sea routes, including energy and communication cables.
The Russian Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI), a top-secret unit within the Russian defense ministry, is identified as overseeing such operations.
GUGI operates a fleet of special-purpose vessels and underwater drones, including the special purpose intelligence collection ship Yantar, which NATO navies regularly track near sensitive undersea infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas.
Finland’s Border Guard told German media it would not comment on specific surveillance operations for operational reasons. Estonia’s Foreign Ministry also said they are closely monitoring events in the Baltic in cooperation with allies.
Quote:The U.S. Alaskan Command said the United States recently deployed bombers over waters of Alaska's outlying islands near Russia, demonstrating its deterrence against maritime threats to the homeland.
Newsweek has emailed the Russia's defense and foreign ministries for comment.
Why It Matters
Despite its ongoing war in Ukraine that began in February 2022, the Russian military continues to operate in the country's Far East facing the Pacific, including deploying warships for a joint mission with its Chinese counterpart in 2023 near the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska.
Serving as a key strategic location for homeland defense, Alaska, across the Bering Strait from the Russian Far East, has regularly hosted drills and training exercises to ensure U.S. forces are ready to deter and defeat any adversary in this frontline region.
The latest U.S. military deployment near Russia also comes amid increasing tensions between the two powers, as Washington recently announced new sanctions against Moscow to pressure it to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine to end the three-year war.
What To Know
On Thursday, the U.S. Alaskan Command said that it conducted a maritime operation on October 16 in the Bering Sea along the Aleutian island chain with the U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC Kimball and two U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers.
During the operation, the Kimball and the U.S. Navy provided target information to the bombers, enabling "standoff target acquisition and simulated weapons employment." However, it remains unclear whether the targets were simulated enemy naval vessels.
The B-1B bomber has the largest payload of conventional weapons in the Air Force inventory and can carry up to 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles, including the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), which has a standoff range of more than 230 miles.
A standoff strike refers to an attack—launched from aircraft, ships, submarines or land—against a target from a distance and outside the range of an enemy's defenses.
Lieutenant General Robert Davis, commander of the Alaskan Command, said Alaska is critical terrain for homeland defense operations and power projection into the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions, where the U.S. faces challenges from Russia and China.
"Operating in the Bering Sea ensures our forces remain ready to deter and defend against evolving threats, while demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding the northern approaches to the United States," the commander said in a press release.
Last month, the Alaskan Command and the Canadian Armed Forces conducted joint operations in the Bering Sea to address emerging threats in the region, demonstrating their maritime strike capabilities using U.S. F-35 stealth jets and a Canadian warship.
Quote:Russia is reinforcing its presence at a base in the Arctic Circle, including nuclear weapons pointed towards the United States, according to Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. and Danish ministries of defense, along with the Russian foreign ministry, for comment via email on Saturday outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Relations between Moscow and the West nosedived in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to conduct a full invasion of Ukraine, sparking the biggest war in Europe since World War II.
This week saw President Trump announce he didn’t want a “wasted meeting” with Putin in Budapest after the Russian leader rejected American and European demands for an immediate ceasefire. Trump also introduced a new sanctions package targeting Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil.
What To Know
Sandvik discussed Russia’s military situation in an interview with British newspaper The Daily Telegraph that was published on Friday.
Referring to a region of Russia inside the Arctic Circle, near Finland, Sandvik said: “Russia is building up on the Kola Peninsula…where one of the largest arsenals of nuclear warheads in the world is located. They [the nuclear weapons] are not only pointed towards Norway, but towards the UK and over the pole towards Canada and the US.”
He continued: “We are the eyes and ears of NATO in this area, and we see that they’re testing new weapons, for example hypersonic missiles, and they are testing nuclear-driven torpedoes and nuclear warheads.”
Russia bases nuclear weapons on the Kola Peninsula along with its Northern Fleet which was established in 1733.
Sandvik argued that in the event of war with NATO Russia would likely target the Bear Gap, which separates the island of Svalbard from mainland Norway, along with the GIUK Gap between the UK, Iceland and Greenland.
He said: “Putin needs to establish what is called the Bastion defence. He needs to control the Bear Gap to make sure that he can use his submarines and the Northern Fleet. And he wants to deny [NATO] allies access to the GIUK Gap.”
At least seven people were killed on Wednesday by a mass drone attack across Ukraine which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said hit “ordinary cities” along with energy infrastructure.
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My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
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Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
