SCOOP: Top Biden national security officials are tracking multiple threats to the nation’s election security infrastructure ahead of the midterms and are set to issue warnings, including in an internal intelligence bulletin this week politico.com/news/2022/10/2… Erin Banco Eric Geller

Spoke with 🇺🇸 Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III & 🇬🇧 Rt. Hon Ben Wallace MP about #Russia ’s false claim that #Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. #NATO Allies reject this allegation. Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine.

The U.S. still have seen nothing to indicate that the Russians have made a decision to employ nuclear weapons, says senior defense official.

JUST IN: Russia continues a flurry of calls about allegations Ukraine is preparing a “dirty bomb.”

Chief of Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimo spoke by phone w/ Chief of the UK Defence Staff Adm. Antony Radakin today, says Russian MOD.

Background: politico.com/news/2022/10/2…

NEW: Joint Chiefs' Gen. Mark Milley and head of UK Defence Staff Adm. Antony Radakin each spoke with Russia's Gen. Valery Gerasimov today, Russian MoD says they discussed 'the situation concerning Ukraine's possible use of a 'dirty bomb''

“The allegation that Ukraine is preparing to use dirty bombs in Ukraine is absurd,” Stoltenberg told me today.

“Russia,” he said, “should not use these false accusations or claims as any pretext for further escalating the war in Ukraine.” 

politico.eu/article/russia…

Israeli Minister of Defense Gantz told his Ukrainian counterpart Reznikov that 'due to operational limitations faced by the State of Israel, Israel will not provide weapon systems to Ukraine'

I spoke to Secretary Antony Blinken. We both agreed Russia’s ‘dirty bomb’ disinformation campaign might be aimed at creating a pretext for a false flag operation. We also discussed further practical steps to boost Ukraine’s air defense. Secretary affirmed the US spares no effort to this end.

Ukraine | Déclaration conjointe des ministres des affaires étrangères de la France, du Royaume-Uni et des États-Unis

#Ukraine #Russie

It’s the 66th anniversary of the 1956 revolution in #Hungary and a massive anti-government protest of students and teachers is under way in #Budapest , demanding better wages and educational reform.

And the classic sign reads: “Russians, go home!”

(Photo:HVG)

Tune into #Weekend BBC World Service 📻 w/Julian Worricker & Márta Pardavi Steven Erlanger

🇬🇧 PM race Tim Montgomerie 🇬🇧
🇨🇳 dissent 巴丢草 Bad ї ucao
🇮🇷 protests Amir Soltani
🇺🇦 crimes Oleksandra Matviichuk
🇹🇷 🇮🇷 drones Ulrike Franke Jeremy Binnie
🇺🇸 🇭🇺 quiz Andras Petho
🇮🇹 March on Rome mark cousins

Finland/Sweden NATO ratification not on the parliamentary agenda next week either in Hungary (HU and Turkey the only NATO states not to ratify their accession yet), contrary to rumours about an Oct 24 vote

Munkaügyi bíróságra megy a kirúgott brüsszeli magyar nagykövet nepszava.hu/3173235_brussz…

Latest on the firing of Hungary's Coreper I ambassador: jacopo barigazzi got hold of the letter the outgoing ambassador sent colleagues. More on the blog:

politico.eu/article/live-b…