Putin on Ukraine:

All proposals for a peaceful settlement are “on the table,” but Russia still needs to consider what is in its interests.

NEW: NYT confirms Haaretz’s earlier report that UAE President MBZ warned Netanyahu before Oct. 7 that Hamas was preparing a major attack.

According to five former senior Israeli officials cited by the NYT, the warning never reached Israel’s security leadership. Minutes from a security meeting on Oct. 1, 2023 show Netanyahu did not mention the warning and instead pushed for maintaining calm in Gaza.

Netanyahu has denied receiving such a warning, saying any intelligence from the UAE would have been passed through official channels.

Source: NYT

NATO's Rutte:

What we are seeing is no new refineries being built in Europe.

We are seeing that refineries are being closed down, and if war breaks out, if the Russians would attack and we have to defend ourselves, we need massive amounts of diesel and all the oil products for our F-35s, our fighter jets, for our tanks, etc.

And that is a big worry.

NATO's Rutte:

The engagement with Russia, I believe, really has to be led by the Americans, because these are the ones — the American nation and the president — this is what Putin listens to.

Trump:

President Xi and Madam Peng have just left D.C., heading for China. The meeting was one of Friendship, Strength, and Success, for both China and the U.S.A.

We will be meeting again in November, in China, and then at the G20 in December, in Miami, Florida. Much has been, and will be, accomplished. I look forward to our next meeting!

NATO's Rutte:

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, much of the defense spending was cut, thinking that we now have — we’re living in this kumbaya of never of war again.

And, oh, we love each other, etc. And then Putin came on board and became more and more radicalized and became a long-term threat to NATO.

So that’s why we’re spending more, building capabilities.

Putin:

Russia will continue to fight for the rights of compatriots abroad, including in the Baltic states, but through international legal methods.

NATO's Rutte:

We need Putin to play ball. And so far he is not, which is a bit strange because he is losing over 43,000 of his own men each month.

The U.S. intelligence community assessed that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, according to classified documents provided to Congress.

The assessment has raised concerns among some U.S. lawmakers over Trump’s agreement to support a Saudi civilian nuclear program, which could allow uranium enrichment in the kingdom and potentially create a pathway toward weapons development.

The deal would allow U.S. companies to build nuclear energy projects in Saudi Arabia. It initially limits uranium enrichment to below 5%, but a later agreement could allow enrichment up to 20%, a level that can be further processed toward weapons-grade material.

Source: WaPo

An East German town (Heidenau, near Dresden) voted to ban future Holocaust memorial plaques, the brass "Stolpersteine" embedded in sidewalks commemorating Nazi victims.

The motion was jointly passed by the far-right AfD and the ruling CDU, fueling debate over the CDU's supposed "firewall" against cooperating with the AfD.

Trump urged Zelensky to travel to Moscow for talks with Putin, despite Ukraine’s previous refusals.

Zelensky rejected the proposal during their UN meeting, and people familiar with his position said he was upset that Trump raised it.

Source: Bloomberg

Albania’s PM Edi Rama:

I'm sure you must have followed — the so-called Flamingo Revolution.

A fabricated narrative of an Israeli invasion of the Albanian coast, an invasion that never occurred, was manufactured, personalized, and delivered through voices, pages, and channels citizens already trusted.

Citizens had their own reasons to protest — don't take me wrong — but suddenly they started to protest also against a phantom enemy.

Antisemitic tropes entered our public discourse for the first time ever.

Albania’s PM Edi Rama:

Don't forget, Albania is the only country in Europe that ended World War II with more Jews than it started it.

Germany is considering mandatory gas storage filling rules for next year after struggling to rebuild reserves this summer.

The plan could require utilities, power operators or traders to meet minimum storage levels before winter.

Source: Bloomberg

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif:

At this critical moment, Pakistan chose to act swiftly.

Through concerted efforts, Pakistan successfully brought Washington and Tehran under one roof in Islamabad.

From the Islamabad talks to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, many historic steps were taken to bring an end to this serious conflict.

Here, I deeply appreciate Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, whose relentless efforts helped create space for diplomacy under exceptionally difficult and challenging circumstances.

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif:

The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb are arteries of the global economy.

They must remain open, connecting nations, not becoming chokepoints of confrontation.

These waters must carry the promise of prosperity, not the perils of war.

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif on Saudi Arabia:

We once again condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent deplorable attacks by the Houthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The attempted drone attack on the holy city of Makkah al-Mukarramah has outraged Muslims across the globe.

Any threat to the safety and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain is our red line that must never be crossed.

No Muslim can even dare to think of committing such a heinous crime.

Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia, as we always have throughout our history.

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif:

Our enduring commitment to peace is also reflected by the historic Makkah Joint Defence Agreement among the brotherly countries — Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan.

This alliance is not directed against any country.

It is a collective commitment for defence, stability, and peace in the region, and nothing more.