India is fast-tracking indigenous MALE drones after U.S. tariffs.

India's DAC cleared $3.4 billion plan for 87 tri-service MALE UAVs (≥60% local).

Adani’s Drishti-10 (Israeli Hermes 900 variant) a frontrunner.

34 years ago today, Soviet hardliners attempted to seize power in what became known as the August Coup.

Declaring a state of emergency, they moved tanks into Moscow and tried to roll back political reforms.

The coup failed, weakening central authority and hastening the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Taiwan’s mobile Hellfire missile launcher disguised as a light commercial van, likely inspired by Ukraine’s covert Brimstone launchers.

Russia's Medvedev:

The anti-Russian warmongering Coalition of the Willing failed to outplay Trump on his turf.

DR Congo: M23 rebels reportedly withdraw from peace talks, saying they will not return unless authorities respect the previous ceasefire agreement.

NEW: Three U.S. Arleigh Burke destroyers are heading to waters off Venezuela, arriving within ~36 hrs.

Mission: Counter narco-cartels.

Assets: 4,000 sailors/Marines, P-8 Poseidons, extra warships, at least 1 sub.

DR Congo: Islamic State-backed rebels armed with machetes and hoes reportedly killed at least 52 civilians in Beni and Lubero.

Putin's envoy Dmitriev mocks Trump and the European leaders.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Pakistan on August 21. He is currently in India.

Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is visiting Türkiye to discuss defence cooperation, including possible purchases of Turkish drones.

He will meet Türkiye's Defense Minister to cover equipment, technology, and regional security, and will tour firms such as Baykar and TUSAS.

Japan is expanding unmanned systems in its forces, with Turkish drones under consideration.

Netanyahu on Australia's PM Anthony Albanese:

History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:

Putin and Trump's meeting in Alaska showed that the American president's team sincerely wants to achieve a long-term result.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:

If Zelensky cares so much about the constitution of Ukraine, then he should remember the articles that oblige the preservation of the rights of Russians.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:

Russia has never aimed simply to seize territories, whether it be Crimea, Donbass, Novorossiya, but sought to protect Russians.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:

Russia does not reject any formats to discuss the peace process in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:

We will not agree on ending the war if there is no respect for the security of the Russian Federation and the rights of Russians in Ukraine.

Switzerland will offer Putin "immunity" if he "comes for a peace conference".

Source: AFP

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov confirmed that Trump has been invited to Russia.

Russia has returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine.

Source: AFP