By MICHAEL FALCONE ( @michaelpfalcone )

NOTABLES

• THERE WAS NO FORMAL MEETING PLANNED, but with President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the same international summit, it was impossible for the political foes to avoid one another, ABC's MARY BRUCE, KIRIT RADIA and CHRIS GOOD report. In periodic run-ins throughout the day in Beijing, the two leaders discussed several key issues, including Iran, Syria, and Ukraine, the White House confirms. "On three occasions throughout the day, for a total of approximately 15-20 minutes, President Obama had an opportunity to speak with President Putin," according to National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan. http://abcn.ws/1u5EIkO

• PUTIN'S SPOKESMAN SAID the two leaders "have managed to use pauses at the summit several times to talk. They focused on the issues of bilateral relations, the situation around Ukraine, Syria and Iran." Relations between the U.S. and Russia are at their lowest point since the Cold War, amid disputes over Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Cameras caught the two leaders crossing paths on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, as they came first face-to-face for the first time since June. At times, their interactions appeared friendly. At one point, Putin even reached out to pat Obama on the shoulder. http://abcn.ws/1u5EIkO

• AND ON CHINA: Sitting down for a bilateral meeting today, President Obama told Chinese President Xi that he wants to "take the relationship to a new level," according to ABC's MARY BRUCE. "When the US and China are able to work together effectively, the whole world benefits," the president said, according to pool reports.? Obama went on to say he hopes they have a "productive and candid" talk. Xi agreed, reportedly telling Obama that a pool begins with many drops of water, and that he looks forward to working together.

THE ROUNDTABLE

ABC's RICK KLEIN: So Gov. Rick Perry opens up about his presidential ambitions and comes away saying he's … six months away from making a decision? "May may roll around, June may come," the Texas governor said in New Hampshire Monday, when asked about his timeline for making a decision. Granted, that's earlier than the August 2011 start he chose last cycle, though we can probably stipulate that the problems with his candidacy couldn't have been fixed with two extra months of campaigning. We're looking at a dozen or more credible candidates on GOP debate stages in the fall, whether or not Perry chooses to join them. But the window for early-announcers is officially open. If Perry won't be the first serious candidate in, there's an opportunity for someone (Rand Paul? Ted Cruz?) not to wait for months to start outlining a vision for a party that wants a new voice.

ABC's MARY BRUCE: There is a delicate dance and awkward courtship going on in China between the top three global leaders. President Obama is looking for love in Asia, trying to take his relationship with China to a "new level." But Chinese President Xi doesn't seem all that into it. And then there's Putin. The Kremlin seems to be trying to show that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Obama are back on track, releasing a rare smiling photo of Putin with Obama. But the photos show those familiar stern glances were still present as they talked three times on the summit sidelines today.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING ON VETERANS DAY

GOING THE EXTRA MILE: NAVY CAPTAIN RUNS TO HONOR FALLEN SERVICEWOMEN. Navy Capt. Nancy Lacore knows valor has no gender. She recently completed a grueling 160 mile run in seven days to honor the 160 US servicewomen who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's one mile for each women who sacrificed her life for her country. Lacore, who served in Afghanistan, wanted to do something to raise awareness of the women who died in service, ABC's TOM GIUSTO and ALI WEINBERG note. Lacore would run 25 miles a day from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., at twice the pace she'd ever run before, pushing herself to the limit. Always in her mind, the women who did not make it home. "I do start out by thinking of the women we lost," she said. WATCH: http://abcn.ws/1tBxgIR

THE BUZZ

with ABC's KIRSTEN APPLETON

RICK SANTORUM: OBAMA AND BUSH HAVE 'GIVEN ALL MUSLIMS A PASS.' Former Republican senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum sharply criticized President Obama's management of conflict in the Middle East, saying both Obama and President George W. Bush have "given all Muslims a pass" by refusing to connect radical militant activity to the faith itself. ABC's BENJAMIN SIEGEL reports the possible 2016 presidential candidate who now runs a Christian film studio said Presidents Bush and Obama have "identified the enemy by what they do, not who they are and what they want to accomplish." http://abcn.ws/1tzRoeA

LORETTA LYNCH AND ERIC HOLDER AGREE ON THESE 4 HOT BUTTON ISSUES. President Obama has said he's "confident" that his nominee to replace outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder "will get confirmed by the Senate." But a look at where Loretta Lynch, the federal prosecutor out of Brooklyn, N.Y., has fallen on some of the more controversial issues dogging Holder for years suggests the confirmation process may be a bit bumpy. She and Holder seem to be eye-to-eye on many of the issues that made him such a lightning rod for Republican criticism, ABC's MIKE LEVINE reports. http://abcn.ws/1ugiWe0

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

PARENTS PLAY MATCHMAKER IN BEIJING SINGLE MARKET. Most Americans are horrified at the thought of their parents setting them up, but in Beijing there's a whole market for it, literally. Parents gathered by the hundreds this weekend at the Temple of Heaven Park to advertise their single children with the hope of marrying them off, ABC's MARY BRUCE and JIM AVILA report. Forget online dating profiles, these eager parents come armed with paper profiles listing their children's key attributes, likes, dislikes and what they hope to find in a future mate. http://abcn.ws/1xCVDdp

WHO'S TWEETING?

@markknoller: At the 11th hour on this 11th day of the 11th month, @VP will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns & give a speech at @ArlingtonNatl.

@TheBushCenter: A Veterans Day Message from President George W. Bush: http://bit.ly/1GLvgZ0 #KnowOurVets

?@GeraldFSeib: One of Democrats' more perplexing problems: Weak national bench, keeps getting whacked in elections. http://on.wsj.com/10MqpFC via @WSJ

@TheFix: GA Sen. Johnny Isakson puts retirement rumors to rest, plans to announce bid for 3rd term. http://ow.ly/E71Hv

@mkraju: The real majority leaders - Manchin, Donnelly, Heitkamp. Our look at the mod Ds' rise. w/ @burgessev http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/red-state-democrats-rise-in-senate-112760.html …