Russia's Medvedev:

We will never sacrifice our relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, no matter who asks us to do so.

We are strategic partners, and we will remain so forever.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb:

One thing that I do want to remind everyone is that the Russian military was not capable of modern warfare when this war began, but now they are.

So they are also going to be much stronger when they regroup after the war. There are a lot of balances that we’re going to have to deal with.

Our relationship with Russia will be very different, but I believe in the long run in diplomacy — and I stress, in the long run.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb:

People need to start seriously thinking what will be one of the strongest security guarantees for Europe in the future.

And I would argue that it is the military of Ukraine. It is the most modern military force that we have in Europe today. It is a buffer zone and an impediment for the potential of Russian aggression.

NEW: Yemen’s Saudi-backed presidential council leader Rashad al-Alimi announced military operations to retake the territory held by the Houthis and restore government control across the country.

Yemen's Houthi forces reportedly seized the home of Yemeni Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Barakani, south of Taiz, following clashes with government forces loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed government.

Trump:

I am announcing the formation of the Super Intelligence Force (SIF).

The Super Intelligence Force will coordinate the Federal Government's engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies, and will be led by Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, and Chief Technology Officer, Emil Michael, and Director of the Office of Personnel Management, Scott Kupor, and will report to the President of the United States (ME!), and the Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles.

Trump:

I am pleased to announce that John Coale, Esq., a great lawyer and my incredibly successful Envoy for Belarus, will be my new Nominee for Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, with the rank of Ambassador.

John has already secured the return of over 65 Americans and Allied Citizens from Belarus over the last year, and negotiated the release of more than 800 political prisoners from multiple countries in Eastern Europe. He will work tirelessly in this new post to bring American Citizens home.

Adam Boehler, who has done an incredible job, bringing back 196 hostages, will continue to assist in other matters, as Senior Advisor. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Trump:

How much is she being paid, and by whom? She’s at all of my developments protesting. Others, likewise, are the same people. These are paid protestors, aren’t they?

Israeli investigators believe the FlyDubai hijacking attempt was likely a lone-wolf attack, though the investigation is ongoing.

President Trump suggested a possible Iran link, but Israeli investigators have not established one.

Source: CBS News

Netanyahu:

I heard from defense officials that they need more equipment.

A sixth submarine has arrived in Israel. They want more vessels and other capabilities that I do not intend to detail here.

But I want to tell you one thing: in this field as well — both above and below the surface — I intend for Israel to become one of the world leaders in this type of warfare.

We will protect the State of Israel from the sea as well.

Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will hold a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee in Riyadh on October 5 under the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu will attend alongside Saudi and Pakistani officials.

The U.S. is supporting the Saudi-backed offensive against the Houthis with intelligence and targeting assistance but is not joining the fighting directly.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for U.S. airstrikes, but U.S. officials said Washington is not taking “kinetic action for now.”

CENTCOM reportedly opposed strikes, seeing Yemen as a distraction from the U.S. focus on Iran.

Source: Axios

Former British banker and whistleblower Simon Andriesz, 57, has died by suicide.

Andriesz had exposed U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s past links to Jeffrey Epstein, including evidence of a 2018 email exchange about a start-up business.

Source: The Banker

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

We took in immigrants who helped build our country and tied their fate to ours.

Germany is their homeland.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

Even more than 80 years after liberation from the National Socialist regime, historical ignorance will not be forgiven.

A new German nationalism awakens the ghosts of the past and the worst fears among our neighbors.

And that is why I say: never again do we want to give cause for such fears.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

We must ask ourselves, without sparing ourselves, what governments at the federal and state levels have failed to do over the past three and a half decades if so many people are turning away and extremists are finding so much resonance.

We have long known that this political upheaval is not confined to one part of the country. We know that it is East German just as much as it is West German. It affects us all.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

Yes, there must be self-criticism and reflection. As I remember it, we have certainly not spared ourselves that.

But the mindless denigration of the Federal Republic, of the reunified democratic state, is a propaganda lie of extremism.

And our country deserves the pride of refusing to accept that — neither from foreign powers that want to divide and weaken us nor from extremists at home who ridicule our democracy. From neither.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

The discrediting of democratic procedures, the radicalization of the public sphere and the denigration of compromise — all of that must be a warning.

Whether the Berlin Republic becomes more similar to the Weimar Republic — that question has not yet been decided.

But it is in our hands. It is up to us to preserve what remains important.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb says there is no evidence that Russia is preparing a direct military attack on NATO, arguing that some European leaders are wrongly conflating hypothetical military scenarios with the current threat assessment.

He says the more immediate danger is hybrid warfare, with Russia increasingly willing to take risks through sabotage, cyberattacks, information operations, attacks on infrastructure and other gray-zone activities across Europe.

Source: EL MUNDO

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by deliberately fabricated distorted images of our country — fabricated by Kremlin trolls, by German right-wing extremists or by left-authoritarian cranks, and flooded onto the internet by truly unscrupulous internet oligarchs.

Oligarchs whose private wealth and financial influence over politics, in truth, exceed all previously known limits.

Let us stand our ground against this flood of manipulation and lies. I am certain we can do it. Our democracy is not for sale. It will not surrender itself to its enemies.

We are stronger than this depravity. Our Germany is a good country. Let us make sure it stays that way.