Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan:

We worked very hard to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. Our meticulous implementation of the Montreux Convention and the Black Sea Grain Initiative were concrete examples of this approach.

Today we see the war spreading to the Black Sea.

We must never allow the Black Sea to become a new conflict front, as an international community and as regional countries.

But unfortunately, as you can see, as the war expands on all fronts, it is also showing its effects in the Black Sea.

We are sharing our assessments with both sides on this matter. We are also presenting certain solution proposals to both sides.

But right now, before winter arrives, both sides are in a massive offensive to gain military superiority over each other.

This is seriously affecting navigation safety in the Black Sea.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Mecca Pact:

Despite the short time that has passed, institutionalization and practical steps are being taken very quickly.

The parties are demonstrating through their actions that they are serious about this and want to see real results.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Mecca Pact:

Regarding the attacks coming from Yemen, what kind of contribution can Türkiye make to defense?

Together with Pakistan, technical assessments are being conducted on these matters. As I stated, these are military assessments. These assessments continue among our military officials.

What kind of defense assistance can be provided, particularly in air defense, electronic warfare, and other technical areas? Work on these matters continues. Military committees are working on this.

A top aide to US Ambassador to Israel Huckabee has been systematically suppressing and rewriting embassy reports to portray Israel favorably.

David Milstein, 36, stepson of right-wing host Mark Levin, has:

— Killed an urgent cable warning that Israel's record settlement approvals potentially violated Trump's own red line against West Bank annexation.

— Rewritten a report on deadly chaos at Gaza aid distribution sites to declare the operation "a success" while omitting mass casualties.

— Blocked a detailed report on investigations into 9 Palestinian-Americans killed by settlers/soldiers, stonewalling Congressional inquiries.

— Replaced embassy reporting on settler violence with a cable praising Netanyahu's "unprecedented crackdown".

— Slashed Palestinian affairs cables from several per week to a few per month.

White House and State Department officials bypassed normal channels at least twice to get accurate information directly from embassy staff.

Milstein also questioned colleagues on whether they were "pro-Israel" or "pro-Hamas."

Senior administration officials have expressed frustration over his actions.

Huckabee called the reporting "farcical" without addressing specific instances.

Source: NYT

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Mecca Pact:

I also want to state that the cheap political rhetoric that occasionally surfaces here does not match reality.

On the ground in Yemen, the legitimate government forces are continuing their existing struggle.

Saudi Arabia supports them, but on the other hand, we are also doing everything we can to resolve this through peace and dialogue. Saudi Arabia has constructive support in this regard, and this is what it is called.

A defense agreement means that when a country that is party to this agreement comes under attack, you stand by them for their defense.

This is not an attack agreement.

Türkiye is not going to send its troops to another country's territory and launch an attack there. It is a defense agreement.

Zelensky and UK Foreign Secretary Miliband visited the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Pryluky that killed 22 people.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

When a flotilla came here, Netanyahu told me, "Ben Gvir, let's welcome them with Pilates classes and sandwiches. Let's show how nice we are, and Israel will look good in the world."

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

I was at Trump's house. There was a group of senators there. What love, what admiration, what appreciation.

But let's not lie to ourselves. There are many people who hate us, no matter what.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

What's wrong with taking out 30 or 40 Hamas operatives a night? Why not?

Thirty or forty Hamas operatives a night. These aren't 30 or 40 little children.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

I'm not ashamed of being very, very popular among young people.

Let's not lie to ourselves. I'm the most loved, most popular minister among teenagers.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

Thirty years ago, I put up a sticker saying, "No Arabs, no terrorist attacks."

Today, by the way, I don't agree that all Arabs should be expelled.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir:

If you love the country, if you believe that this is the state of the Jewish people — and yes, Arabs can also live here.

Iran’s nuclear chief says Tehran will not give up its right to uranium enrichment or hand over its uranium stockpile.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

The negotiation process is still ongoing, and messages are being exchanged through mediators.

We presented our own proposal, which we called the "Seven-Day Plan," and also heard the American side’s views on it.

We are currently reviewing the Americans’ views, and I think we will provide our response within the next few days.

The Trump administration has opened direct talks with Myanmar’s military government, reversing years of U.S. efforts to isolate its leaders following the 2021 coup.

Senior U.S. official Michael Vance met Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing on September 15–16, marking the highest-level contact since the coup.

The talks initially focused on securing the release of detained American businessman Adam Castillo but have expanded to combating cyber scam centers and discussing access to Myanmar’s vast rare-earth mineral deposits, as Washington seeks to reduce dependence on China.

Min Aung Hlaing remains under U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses, while critics warn that engagement could legitimize Myanmar’s military government.

The administration has also cut most U.S. programs supporting Myanmar’s democratic opposition, signaling a shift toward engagement driven by strategic and economic interests.

Source: Reuters

NEW: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain is open to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a fighter jet project with Italy and Japan.

The proposal follows the collapse of a rival Franco-German fighter jet programme in June.

Source: Reuters

NEW: Sudan RSF commander defects to army, says he's bringing 300 troops and 30 vehicles.

Lt. Col. Mohamed Azraq Al-Fanjari, who is described as commander of the RSF's Special Tasks Group, said in a video that he has left the Rapid Support Forces and joined the Sudanese Army. He called the war "futile," apologized to Sudanese families for abuses against civilians, and urged other RSF fighters to follow him.

It fits a pattern of earlier switches, including Abu Aqla Keikal (Oct 2024), Al-Nour al-Qubba (Apr 2026) and Ali Rizqallah (May 2026), plus unit-level defections reported through July–September 2026.

Marco Rubio refused to comment on allegations that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle asked a Trump donor to pay her $100,000 credit card bill in exchange for access to administration officials, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Rubio said he did not know whether the allegations were true but defended Guilfoyle’s performance as ambassador.

Marco Rubio on Iran:

There’s nothing we want or need to do against Iran that we can’t still do.

Marco Rubio to reporters:

You guys somehow walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it’s the gospel.

It’s not the gospel. It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do it.