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In the news today: Part of the White House’s East Wing is being demolished to build a $250 million ballroom; Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister; and JD Vance arrives in Israel to shore up the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Also, Amazon says a massive outage of its cloud computing service has been resolved.

Work begins on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House, Monday, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

POLITICS

The White House starts demolishing part of the East Wing to build Trump’s ballroom

The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump’s $250 million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects. Read more.

Why this matters:

• The White House has moved ahead with the massive construction project despite not yet having sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area. It was unclear whether the White House had submitted the ballroom plans for the agency’s review and approval. The White House did not respond to a request for comment and the commission’s offices are closed because of the government shutdown.
  
  

• Trump said in the social media announcement that the project would be completed “with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.” The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has yet to do so.

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• United States and Australia sign critical-minerals agreement as a way to counter China

   

• Trump says he’s doubtful Ukraine can win the war with Russia as he prepares for Putin meeting

   

• Belize signs ‘safe third country’ agreement as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown

   

• US appeals court says Trump can take command of Oregon troops though deployment blocked for now

   

• ICE would need more money to expand use of bodycams in Chicago crackdown, official says

   

• Nuclear security agency begins furloughing workers as part of shutdown, energy secretary says

   

• Shutdown means many CDC experts are skipping a pivotal meeting on infectious disease

   

• Government shutdown imperils dozens of Head Start preschool programs
  
  

• Senate Republicans head to White House amid stalemate on shutdown

   

• Supreme Court will consider whether people who regularly smoke pot can legally own guns

   

• North Carolina GOP advances congressional map to secure another House seat for Trump

   

• House Republicans preparing report on Biden’s use of autopen after months of investigation

   

• Maine Democrat running to unseat Susan Collins to stay in race after discovery of Reddit postings

   

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• Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger spar over abortion in Virginia

   

• Authorities charge 2 more suspects with attack on prominent DOGE employee

   

• Vermont state senator who took part in ‘deeply disturbing’ Young Republicans group chat resigns

   

• A Minnesota woman who cast her dead mother’s ballot for Trump in 2024 must write an essay on voting

   

• Disney+ and Hulu cancellations rose after ABC briefly pulled ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!

WORLD NEWS

Sanae Takaichi elected Japan’s first female prime minister

Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister Tuesday, a day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right. Read more.

What to know:

• A protege of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi is expected to emulate his policies including a stronger military and economy, as well as revising Japan’s pacifist constitution.

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• Japan’s first female leader is an ultraconservative star from a male-dominated party
  
  
• Trump is going to Asia — what happens next is anyone’s guess

WORLD NEWS

US Vice President JD Vance arrives in Israel to shore up the fragile ceasefire in Gaza

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to shore up the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza that has teetered over the past few days following a burst of deadly violence and questions over how to move forward with the plan for cementing a long-term peace. Read more.

What to know:

• Vance, whose visit comes after the arrival of two top White House envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is expected to be in the region until Thursday. Accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, the vice president will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  
  

• Also on Tuesday, Israel said it has identified the body of a hostage that was released by Palestinian militants overnight. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is still waiting for Hamas to turn over the remains of 15 deceased hostages. Thirteen bodies have been released since the ceasefire began.
  
  

• After trading strikes earlier this week, Hamas negotiators reiterated that the group is committed to ensuring the war “ends once and for all.” Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said Israel has complied with aid deliveries in the crossings according to the agreement but asked mediators to pressure Israel to deliver more shelter, medical supplies and winterization items before the weather changes.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• Body of slain Nepali hostage held in Gaza repatriated after release by Hamas
  
  
• Israel still fires on Lebanon almost a year after a ceasefire. Some predict the same for Gaza
  
  
• A Jewish film festival in Sweden has been postponed. Organizers say cinemas won’t screen the films

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