Japan’s ASDF lost an RQ-4B Global Hawk surveillance drone over the Sea of Japan, about 50 km north of Tottori.

Possible wreckage has since been spotted, and the ASDF now presumes the drone crashed.

The unarmed ~$120 million+ drone was not on a training flight, though its mission remains undisclosed.

China unveiled a lightweight, modular net launcher for non-lethal suspect capture at 5–15 meters, deployable by hand or mounted on drones, UGVs and robot dogs.

The system fires a UHMWPE net that tightens and tangles as the target struggles, allowing police to immobilize suspects without approaching them or using firearms.

Russian Frigate Fires Flares at Danish Military Helicopter in Baltic Sea

A Russian frigate fired two flares toward a Danish Fennec helicopter conducting routine reconnaissance in international waters, prompting Copenhagen to summon Moscow's ambassador.

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Boris Johnson on Russia-Ukraine war:

This is fundamentally an imperial war. This is about Russia’s sense of its history.

It’s about Russia’s sense that there’s no possibility of a Russian future or a Russian empire or Russian dignity without Ukraine. And that is an absolute disaster.

And the only way to fix the problem of Ukraine is for the West to be clear about the future of Ukraine, and we’re still not doing that.

Boris Johnson:

Ukraine wants to be part of the West. They want to be part of NATO. They want to join our clubs.

We’ve got to allow that to happen. If we’re serious, we’ve got to make that happen.

We’ve got to stop pussyfooting around about this thing.

We will only get this thing done when we deliver the Ukrainians the clarity that they need about their destiny.

Boris Johnson:

I don’t know what we gain — and I don’t know what Ukraine gains — by more strategic ambiguity.

I think the whole problem for Ukraine is that the status of Ukraine has been ambiguous.

You say we shouldn’t worry about escalation. But why are we not offering Ukraine membership of NATO? Why not?

Because we’re worried about provoking Putin, right? Well, what a load of bollocks. I mean, it’s the same mentality.

You know, we’re either serious about them being a free, sovereign, independent country capable of making their own choices and joining their own organizations, or we’re not.

Boris Johnson on Putin:

There is a risk that he will end up in a situation where the Russian propaganda will be directed at Ukrainians saying, "You were not allowed into the Western clubs." That's the real risk.

I think that we’ll have a ceasefire after immense suffering, and Putin will be able to say, "I told you so," to the Ukrainian people.

If we are going to break our promises to Ukraine, which I devoutly hope we aren’t, then we need a better plan than we’ve got at the moment.

Poland Lost $230 Million Trying to Buy Venezuelan Oil With Crypto

Poland’s Orlen advanced $230 million for Venezuelan crude. Over two years, the money flowed through Dubai crypto firms and Caracas brokers, while three tankers waited largely empty.

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The U.S. military destroyed two Iranian boats after the IRGC allegedly tried to seize a U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

An American drone fired two missiles at the boats, killing most of those on board, while Iran said the vessels were fishing boats and that several fishermen were missing.

CENTCOM confirmed the attempted seizure and said the U.S. drone remained under American control.

Source: Axios

WATCH: Yemen’s Houthis release lengthy footage showing attacks on Saudi-backed forces and the burning of numerous vehicles east of Al-Jawf.

US Confirms Weapons in Orbit for the First Time After Decades of Ambiguity

Washington has publicly acknowledged an on-orbit weapon capability for the first time, saying such systems can be used for offensive or defensive operations.

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Putin Moves Foreign Policy Forum to Moscow Over Ukrainian Drone Threat

Putin’s annual Valdai conference has been shifted from Sochi to Moscow after his security service raised concerns over Ukraine’s expanding long-range drone campaign.

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Major rail disruption hit the Netherlands after suspected sabotage on tracks across the country.

ProRail said pipes, cables and other materials were deliberately placed on railway lines, causing around 30 disruptions affecting routes including Amsterdam, Schiphol, Eindhoven and Utrecht.

One train struck an object but no injuries were reported. Police have launched a criminal investigation, with no suspects or motive identified.

Germany’s Chancellor Merz:

A different wind is now blowing from across the Atlantic.

As a result of the new U.S. tariff regime, cooperation and trade have now declined significantly.

We see fewer and fewer heads of state and government believing in the mutual benefits of economic openness.

Instead, they increasingly think in terms of zero-sum games, or even taking advantage of others and blackmail.

Trump:

Republicans just got another bad decision from the United States Supreme Court, one that the Court System took forever to give, and then blamed it, in part, on no time left to implement a solution to our totally CORRUPT and out of control Mail-In voting “disaster,” which is a laughing stock all over the World, and where we are the only country that has to endure such a Nation Destroying SCAM.

Germany’s Chancellor Merz:

I want us to be able to look forward to the future again, to be proud of our beautiful and modern country, and to be able to say with confidence:

Germany is strong. We can do this.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau delayed plans for a bull statue at the U.S. pavilion for Expo 2027 in Belgrade because he worried its imagery could resemble Baal or the biblical golden calf.

Landau circulated an Aug. 19 email discussing the symbolism, prompting ridicule from some State Department officials, who said the episode reflected his tendency to focus on unusual online controversies.

Officials have since been debating how to keep the bull concept while avoiding any association with Satanic or pagan imagery.

Source: Axios

Malaysia has seized three more containers bound for Israel at Tanjung Pelepas port, intensifying scrutiny of Israel-linked shipments.

The containers, carrying electric bike parts from China to Ashdod, were detained on August 19 and remain held.

An earlier container bound for Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems was seized on August 7 over suspicions it contained weapons.

Malaysia bans direct trade with Israel, although transit cargo is normally exempt.

Source: Bloomberg

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Egyptian President el-Sisi in Egypt.

BIG: Saudi Arabia has told European customers that some late-September crude cargoes will be cancelled after last week’s attack shut its East-West pipeline.

Source: Reuters

Footage shows massive fires at Aramco’s Abha bulk plant in southwestern Saudi Arabia after Houthi drone and missile attacks.