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The mayor of Ottawa, Canada, declared a state of emergency amidst growing anti-vaccine mandate protests in the country’s capital, writes the Washington Post. A self described “Freedom Convoy” made up of hundreds and sometimes thousands of truckers and supporters blocked off streets, shot off fireworks and blared their horns for the second week in a row. Canadian police made multiple arrests, issued hundreds of tickets and seized vehicles and fuel. Despite attempts to curb the demonstrations, authorities were reportedly outnumbered and “losing this battle” against groups who were “calling the shots.” Mayor Jim Watson said that the declaration reflects the “serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents.”

Multiple elite U.S. troops landed in Poland near the Ukrainian border, reports the Associated Press. The arrival of the troops comes after President Biden’s orders to deploy 1,700 U.S. soldiers along the Ukrainian border amid the looming possibility of Russian invasion. Hundreds more American troops are expected to arrive in Poland. The commander of the troops reported that, “Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and, obviously, during this period of uncertainty, we know that we are stronger together.”

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss the security crisis in Eastern Europe, writes the New York Times. Amidst rising fears over the buildup of Russian troops around Ukraine, Macron reported that Europe was at a “critical crossroads.” At the start of the meeting, Putin praised Macron for trying to resolve the “fundamental questions of European security.” Macron reported that the dialogue was “essential, more than ever, to ensure the security of the European continent.”

President Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, reports CNN. The meeting comes amid uncertainty about Germany’s willingness to confront Moscow alongside the U.S. and other NATO members. Biden reportedly is eager to demonstrate western unity against Putin's aggression in Eastern Europe. Germany appears to be the most reluctant of U.S. allies to commit to lethal aid for Ukraine. The country sent helmets instead of weapons to the Ukrainian military and refused to allow Estonia to send over German-made howitzers. 

The National Archives and Records Administration retrieved multiple boxes of White House records improperly removed by Trump, reports the Washington Post. The records found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence allegedly contained documents that should have been turned over to the agency. Items discovered in the boxes included correspondence with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described by Trump as “love letters.” The recovery of the boxes raises questions about Trump’s adherence to the Presidential Record Act, which requires the preservation of written communications related to a president’s official duties. Trump advisers deny any nefarious intent.

Former Vice President Mike Pence publicly acknowledged former President Trump’s alleged wrongdoing in pressuring him to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to the Wall Street Journal. In a speech, Pence said “President Trump is wrong. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. And frankly, there is no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.”

An investigation conducted by the Department of Defense found that the deadly Aug. 26 bombing outside of the Kabul airport was carried out by a single bomber, writes the Hill. The bombing killed 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians, and it was previously thought to have been part of a larger, more complex attack. Officials initially believed that the attack was carried out by two bombs and gunmen.

A cyberattack on News Corp allowed hackers to gain access to emails and documents of journalists and other employees, according to the Wall Street Journal. News Corp’s cybersecurity consultant reported that the attack was likely executed to gather intelligence to benefit China’s interests. The attack affected multiple publications and business units including  The Wall Street Journal and its parent Dow Jones; the New York Post; the company’s U.K. news operation; and News Corp headquarters.  

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