NATO's SACEUR General Alexus Grynkewich:

NATO's a defensive alliance. We have no ambitions, no plans and no intentions except to protect our territory and our people.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker:

If you study history, you know that superpowers have challenges when they overextend.

Trump is making sure that we don’t get overextended.

French President Macron:

I think there can be no reopening on energy matters unless there is a genuine ceasefire on both sides.

I have not seen any energy ceasefire on the Russian side over the past 48 hours.

We all need to be serious. Today, we have absolutely no factual reason to change our position.

Russia continues to bomb both civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine.

French President Macron:

I will obviously never approve of or justify any violence, whether among high school students or by people who are no longer students and who come to take advantage of all this to burn, destroy or commit acts of violence.

That is unacceptable.

Q: Zelensky said he is ready to hold presidential elections in Ukraine if there is a 60-day truce.

Kremlin: Russia wants a lasting peace, not a ceasefire.

Kremlin:

Europeans clearly do not belong to the "party of peace" seeking a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. Europe is more of a "party of war."

Russia welcomes the efforts of U.S. negotiators on Ukraine and is grateful that they continue their work.

Kremlin:

The Kremlin has nothing to say yet about the proposed “energy ceasefire,” but contacts are continuing.

Kremlin:

Putin is prepared to order a halt to strikes on Ukraine on election day if Kyiv decides to hold elections.

A cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems at French supermarkets, including Intermarché, Leclerc and Super U, reportedly caused widespread food losses on October 12.

Hackers allegedly exploited older software from Danish manufacturer Danfoss to remotely activate continuous defrosting, setting temperatures as high as 50°C and destroying fresh and frozen products.

Around 150 Intermarché stores were reportedly affected, alongside Leclerc, Super U and potentially other retailers.

Two supermarkets in Alsace reported combined losses of €270,000, while nationwide damage could reach several million euros.

Iran Weighs US Response to Hormuz Proposal as Talks Remain Stalled

Iran says it will respond to the U.S. through mediators after reviewing Washington’s Hormuz proposal reply, as talks remain stalled over Tehran’s conditions and U.S. nuclear demands.

READ MORE

According to Bloomberg, Saudi Arabia has grown frustrated with limited military assistance from its Western allies.

Britain has provided an air-refueling aircraft, but Saudi requests for additional defensive support in recent weeks have yet to be approved.

Source: Bloomberg

Around 10 hikers were injured, several seriously, when an unexploded munition detonated near Neot Mordechai in northern Israel.

Police and bomb disposal teams are investigating the explosion.

U.S. authorities raided Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington-area home early Monday as part of a federal investigation into alleged fraud involving immigration paperwork completed by her late father when she was a child, Fox News reported.

The Justice Department confirmed a court-authorized search but provided no further details.

One of the injured has been pronounced dead.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov:

I don't think Zelensky deserves a respite.

I don't think we will once again fall for assurances and promises.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov:

We continue to achieve the objectives of the "special military operation." They are perfectly well known to everyone.

We have never changed them, unlike the zigzags and wavering of Zelensky and his European masters. Therefore, we have nothing to justify to anyone.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov:

Zelensky said he was even ready to hold presidential elections if he were given two months to gather his strength.

And during that period, Europe would be able to pump him full of new weapons to continue his terrorist war against the Russian people.

Trump has privately expressed doubts about livestreaming the December 3 firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the former U.S. Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports broadcasting the execution, but Trump has faced bipartisan criticism and concerns that it could turn Hasan into a martyr.

Trump initially supported the idea but later said he would make the final decision. Vice President JD Vance has also expressed skepticism.

Administration officials expect the execution to proceed but believe Trump may ultimately reject the livestream.

Source: Axios

Elon Musk has donated more than $276 million to Republican groups since July, making him by far the largest known donor in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

His contributions include $158 million to the main Senate Republican super PAC and more than $76 million to America PAC, which is running voter-turnout operations in seven Senate battlegrounds and nearly 36 House races.

Musk has donated approximately $366 million during the 2025–2026 election cycle, surpassing the $290 million he spent in 2024.

His operation has knocked on roughly 6.5 million doors, focusing on mobilizing conservative voters through messaging attacking Democrats over transgender issues and socialism.

Despite his massive spending, Musk has taken a quieter political role after reconciling with Trump. His super PAC also plans to remain active in the 2028 presidential election.

Source: NYT

Germany’s Chancellor Merz:

We take note of the agreement between the United States and Russia on diesel exports. Such a decision is out of the question for Germany and Europe.

Russia will only negotiate seriously under pressure, and that is why we are maintaining our sanctions against Russia.

Following Moscow's ruthless attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure, we must even tighten them.