Germany's Chancellor Merz:

The election results and the reasons for these results go far beyond my own person.

We are experiencing a profound transformation of the political party system in Germany, as we are in many other countries around the world.

In yesterday’s election here in Berlin, for example, more than 40% voted for forces that are destructive, that call our political and parliamentary system into question, and that try to inspire people with radical and simple solutions.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

We will talk about the work and structure of the party, about our program and about the profile of the CDU.

To put it openly: on too many questions, we no longer have satisfactory answers, and we will change that — we have to change that.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

In Germany, with Konrad Adenauer, we left nationalism behind us.

We will ensure that this remains the case in the future.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Especially here in Berlin, Jewish life in Germany is no longer safe.

That is the gravest burden of recent years, and it is something that must deeply concern all democratic parties in Germany.

I personally stand for doing everything possible to ensure that Jewish life in Germany, and here in the capital Berlin, is safe.

Germany's Chancellor Merz:

Colleagues in the European Union and many investors have been asking me for weeks: "What is actually going on in Germany?"

What worries me most of all is that, not only in Berlin but especially in Berlin, for several months we have been experiencing increasing, radical and openly expressed antisemitism.

David Milstein, a senior adviser to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee who holds a top-secret security clearance, solicited cash wedding gifts from Israeli citizens, asking for payments in U.S. dollars or Israeli shekels.

After being questioned, Milstein said the message had been sent to the broader guest list by mistake and told invitees: “Please know we cannot accept gifts of any kind.”

The episode raised counterintelligence concerns. One intelligence official called Milstein “a giant walking counterintelligence red flag” and said the solicitation was “absolutely jaw dropping.”

Milstein has not been accused of a crime or of improperly accessing intelligence.

Source: POLITICO

IRGC published a video of what it claims is the moment an MQ-1 U.S. military drone was intercepted and destroyed this morning.

IRGC Spokesperson:

Our targets will no longer necessarily be the previous targets; we actually have new targets that have not yet been attacked, and in the event of an aggression, we will indeed strike these new targets.

IRGC Spokesperson:

Geographically, there is still room for this war to expand.

German state premiers held a secret meeting without Chancellor Friedrich Merz that lasted more than two hours, nearly until 11 p.m.

According to Stern, tensions had already erupted earlier at CDU headquarters, with several premiers strongly opposing Merz’s push for tougher reforms and warning that public resistance could not be ignored.

The CDU leadership meets again today, followed by the federal executive board and the parliamentary group tomorrow.

Source: Stern

Bessent on China:

Trump and Xi Jinping both have great respect for each other.

In Xi Jinping’s eyes, Donald Trump is a different kind of leader than he has seen in the past.

The entire White House TV pool — including Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC — is backing CNN after the White House prevented it from carrying out its assigned pool duties.

The networks will stop covering events designated as presidential pool coverage, including Trump’s trip to New York, limiting live coverage of several events.

Trump banned CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House after aide Natalie Harp showed him clips and articles about recent negative coverage.

The decision reportedly surprised some advisers. Trump later said there was “no reason” beyond not wanting the outlets there and suggested access could return if they “straighten themselves out.”

Source: CNN

Bessent on Iran:

On September 23, all Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world.

How do we do that? If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system.

The Trump administration has pledged at least $410 million for agreements with 31 countries, mostly in Africa and Latin America, to accept migrants deported from the U.S. who are not their citizens.

More than 25,000 people have been sent to at least 28 third countries, a small fraction of the 985,000 deportations in Trump’s second term.

The administration says the policy helps remove migrants who cannot be sent home while also deterring others with the prospect of being sent to an unknown third country.

Source: WaPo

Russia's Medvedev:

Le Pen called Russia's takeover of Auchan assets "hostile actions."

Thousands of sanctions against Russians in France, plus rockets for Kiev's degenerates — was that friendly?

Apparently Le Pen's party is now a regular European party: Russophobia and support for Nazis in Kiev.

Zelensky:

Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part.

Solutions are possible. We are ready to work on this, and we will discuss it with our partners on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. I thank everyone who is helping!

It will no longer be the case that only the country under attack suffers. The nature of war is now such that the aggressor will suffer as well. Technology makes this possible.

Trump considered ordering strikes against the Houthis in Yemen over the weekend but decided not to proceed, according to two U.S. officials.

The move came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to take action as the Houthis advanced toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key Red Sea chokepoint.

Trump initially rejected the request, agreeing only to provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting support. U.S. officials said Washington would avoid military action unless the Houthis disrupted non-Saudi shipping.

After Saudi forces struggled to push back Houthi advances, Riyadh again requested U.S. strikes.

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper prepared airstrike options that were presented to Defense Secretary Hegseth, but Trump ultimately decided against launching them.

Source: Axios

Russia Secretly Plans Major Expansion of Kamikaze Drone Production

Internal Rosatom plans point to a major expansion of military-grade carbon fiber production in Tatarstan, potentially adding 28,000 attack drones to Russia's arsenal each year.

READ MORE

Hungary is asking the U.S. to exempt it from potential penalties over continued Russian oil purchases, as Budapest seeks to maintain energy ties with Moscow during a transition away from Russian dependence.

The request comes after Congress gave Trump new powers to impose tariffs on buyers of Russian petroleum products.

Prime Minister Magyar’s government has pledged to reduce reliance on Russian energy and diversify imports, but Hungary remains heavily dependent on Moscow.

“We’ve asked for support during this transitional period for an exemption from American penalties targeting Russian energy purchases,” said Marton Hajdu, chairman of parliament’s foreign policy committee, after meetings with U.S. lawmakers.

Source: Bloomberg

An unconventional drone intercept method: Russian MANPADS crew operating from a construction crane basket.

The elevation, even modest, actually improves firing conditions by clearing line-of-sight obstacles like streetlights, power lines, and buildings that normally block ground-level shots at low-flying drones.