NEW: Japan plans to acquire 310 FPV kamikaze drones by 2026, considering Israeli and Australian manufacturers for its first purchase of this kind.

Netenyahu: (on September 18, 2023)

Elon Musk is the "unofficial president" of the United States.

This guy really knows what he's talking about.

He's the Edison of our time.

Los Angeles wildfires are shaping up to be one of the most costly natural disasters in U.S. history, with estimated economic losses between $135 billion and $150 billion.

This surpasses the 2018 Camp Fire’s $12.5 billion (inflation-adjusted) and could amount to nearly 4% of California’s annual GDP.

• Deaths: 24 reported fatalities.
• Destruction: Over 12,000 buildings, including multimillion-dollar homes, destroyed.
• Evacuations: 150,000 residents displaced.

Losses are expected to rise as the fires spread and assessments continue.

Chinese police officer subduing a criminal during a drill.

Poles are tired of seeing young Ukrainian men driving luxury cars or staying in 5-star hotels in Poland, says Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani at Arab Forum in Riyadh:

We dedicate the great victory achieved by the Syrian people:

• To those who lost their lives on the battlefield, silenced while calling for freedom.
• To those who drew their last breaths under torture in Saydnaya and other prisons.
• To those who watched their children’s eyes as they drowned seeking refuge from Assad’s regime.
• To those who faced racism and hardship in host countries, left with no choice but to endure in silence.
• To those who lived in fear of the sky, haunted by the sound of planes and bombings by the criminal regime and its allies.

To all of them, we pledge: this tragedy will not happen again.

Russian soldier shot himself at the last moment to avoid capture by Ukrainian Special Forces in the Kursk region.

Sudan Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan:

Sudanese people do not want us to negotiate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and we refuse to engage in talks with them.

The RSF has committed war crimes and genocide.

The war will not stop unless the RSF abandons their positions and surrenders.

We urge states supporting them to refrain from interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs.

Ukrainian soldiers communicating via Google Translate with the first North Korean soldier captured in Kursk region.

New Syrian military leadership reached an agreement with National Army factions in northern Syria on joining the military.

Syrian Ministry of Defense rejected any proposal granting sectarian, religious, or regional privileges to armed factions.

Free Syrian Army officers will have a special status within the Ministry of Defense structure to benefit from their expertise.

Source: Al Watan

American Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert, commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, warns of the growing threat from China’s military.

By 2027, the PLA is projected to outnumber U.S. forces:
• Modern Fighter Jets: 12 to 1, including a 5 to 3 advantage in fifth-generation aircraft.
• Maritime Patrol Planes: 3 to 1.
• Bombers: 225 manned bombers, unmatched in the region.
• Naval Assets: 3 to 1 in carriers, 6 to 1 in advanced submarines, and 9 to 1 in multi-role combat ships.

Calling this imbalance a “risk” and “uncertainty,” Wickert highlighted the critical role of Edwards AFB in testing advanced technologies like the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which will replace aging fleets.

“Today is not the day to start World War III,” he said, referencing the B-21.

Source: The Aviationist

Mobilization in Ukraine: Ukrainian man narrowly escapes military recruitment officials in Odesa.

China’s trade surplus hits almost $1 Trillion as Trump’s return looms.

The trade surplus of $992 billion eclipses the prior record of $838 billion set in 2022.

Source: Bloomberg

French Navy personnel accidentally leaked classified details about the schedules of nuclear-armed submarines via the fitness app Strava.

Public data from workout logs revealed routines at the Île Longue military base in Brest and the patrol schedules of the submarines.

Many personnel used real names and kept their profiles publicly accessible.

Source: Le Monde

Vladimir Saldo, Russian-installed governor of the part of Kherson region under Moscow's control:

Kherson region is ready to welcome refugees from California if they oppose the Kyiv regime and haven’t aided the Ukrainian Army.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan:

There is a distinct possibility we can get the Gaza deal done this week before president Biden ends his term.