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⚫️ 🇺🇸 📉 Black births 2010-2024: Cook County (Chicago) down 50%. Los Angeles County down 45%. New York is down 40%. 78% of decline in blacks births in LA and Chicago (coincidence) is because of a decline in TFR, and 22% from a decline in the key population. 📎 Smirkley

💰 🌍 ⛏️ Since 2012, gold production has risen at both ends of the Sahel, with Mali in the west also becoming a major sub-regional hub for gold exports - including both illicitly produced gold and legitimate exports. Resource-rich areas of Central and East Africa are also assuming an important role in the region’s gold economy and – much like the Sahel – are becoming well integrated into transnational smuggling networks. This changing geography of gold production means that major gold-mining areas increasingly overlap with unstable and conflict-affected regions. The latest IISS Research report introduces a new matrix framework that benchmarks vulnerabilities and preparedness for tackling illicit gold mining and trafficking across ten countries in the Amazon basin, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2026/06/mapping-risk-and-resilience-in-the-global-illicit-gold-economy/ https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2026/07/beyond-blood-gold-understanding-the-spectrum-of-illicit-gold-conflict/ 📎 IISS

🇷🇺⚔️🌐 The Wall Street Journal was writing on August 6th, 2026, that fresh U.S. intelligence reports assessed that Russia may probe NATO's resolve in the near future thanks to the depletion of U.S. interceptor stocks as a result of the 3rd Gulf War. Previous assessments concluded that Russia would not attack NATO while it was fighting in Ukraine but the commencement of the 3rd Gulf War and the rapid depletion of interceptor stockpiles made Moscow believe the balance of power has changed in its favour. Evidence of Russia probing NATO's air defenses are the recent incursions into Romanian and Polish airspace of Russian-made drones and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). 🔗 https://unwall.app/www.wsj.com/world/europe/u-s-intel-finds-putin-could-test-natos-resolve-with-limited-incursion-e3b02e2c

🇺🇸⚔️🇷🇺 CIA Director Ratcliffe’s visit to the Kremlin was an ultimatum addressing recent drone incursions into NATO territory, aimed at deterring Russia from escalating attacks on Kiev following Ukrainian strikes on commercial supply chain warehouses, a senior US official has told Faytuks Network. 🔗 Faytuks Network

🇯🇵🇨🇦🇺🇸 Honda says it may not build new plant in North America without trade deal extension A senior Honda executive said the Japanese automaker might not build an eighth assembly plant in ​North America unless a key trade deal is extended. The Trump administration is ‌currently negotiating with Canada and Mexico over the fate of the free trade deal known as USMCA. Honda Executive Vice President Noriya Kaihara told reporters at a roundtable in Washington the automaker ​is close to full production capacity in North America and needs a ​new factory. However, "if there is no USMCA agreement in the future, we ⁠may have to change our direction," Kaihara said, adding the company will need ​to make a decision within a year or two and would like the plant ​to be running by around 2030. He said currently Honda is not passing on the costs of tariffs to buyers in North America. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian products ​on Saturday, and Canada said it was retaliating effective September 8. Last year, Hyundai Motor ​told the administration that uncertainty about USMCA was delaying its investment decisions. "Early confirmation of USMCA's extension ‌would ⁠immediately unlock over $20 billion in new American investments," the automaker said in November. "Every month of ambiguity slows job creation, site selection and technology development." Honda in May scrapped its long-term EV sales ​target, including its goal of having EVs make up a ​fifth of ⁠its new car sales in 2030. It now plans 15 new hybrids by 2030. The Japanese automaker indefinitely suspended its Canada EV project, an $11 billion investment plan to produce ⁠EVs ​and batteries. It also cancelled three planned EVs for ​the U.S. market. Last year, Honda said it was shifting production of its U.S.-bound five-door Civic hybrid model ​from Japan to Indiana. 🔗 https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/honda-says-it-may-not-build-new-plant-north-america-without-trade-deal-extension-2026-08-25/

🇮🇷⚔️🇺🇸 NBC: Iranian missile and drone attacks have inflicted unprecedented damage on U.S. intelligence posts and surveillance hardware in the Middle East that is more extensive than any destruction America’s spy agencies have endured and will cost billions of dollars to repair, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. 🔗 https://unwall.app/www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/iran-inflicted-billions-damage-us-intelligence-sites-sources-say-rcna591879

🇦🇲❌🇷🇺 Armenia detains former president Kocharyan on corruption charges Armenian prosecutors detained former president Robert Kocharyan on August 25 and charged him with corruption-related offences allegedly committed during his decade in office, in a case likely to further escalate tensions between the government and its opponents. Kocharyan, 71, who served as president from 1998 to 2008 and now leads the opposition Armenia Alliance, was accused of using his position to transfer state property to himself and associates on favourable terms and concealing the "criminal origin" of the assets, the prosecutor general's office said. The case comes after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's re-election in June and amid what critics describe as a broadening government campaign against political opponents, church leaders and civil society groups. Pashinyan's government is seeking to deepen ties with Western institutions while reducing Armenia's dependence on Russia, a shift that has intensified political divisions at home. The Armenian Apostolic Church has rejected as politically motivated a case against its leader, while opposition figures Gagik Tsarukyan and Samvel Karapetyan are also facing legal proceedings. Kocharyan has been a vocal critic of Pashinyan's policy of moving Armenia closer to the West and away from traditional ally Russia. During his presidency, he pursued close ties with Moscow, which remains an important energy supplier and hosts a military base in Armenia. 🔗 https://www.intellinews.com/armenia-detains-former-president-kocharyan-on-corruption-charges-463373/?source=armenia

Young Republicans clubs across Texas generously hosted White Papers! Comal County was our first stop. Predictably, the left wing media reacted with hysterical antics. But smear campaigns don't work on these patriotic young men and women. Stand your ground with Comal County, and help us make America American again! 🔗 Our response on Substack 🔗 Photos and more from CCYR on X 🙏🏻 Support CCYR here 🙏🏻 Support our mission here

📝 🇺🇸 🇷🇺 MoloMonitor on X: Let me clear up a few things regarding the video that has been circulating over the past hour. According to Russian media, all U.S. flags at the American embassy in Moscow were removed following the visit of CIA Director John Ratcliffe. However, that has nothing to do with it, they are simply following President Trump's order to lower all flags due to the death of American singer Dolly Parton.

Trump's order requires flags be flown at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels in the United States and its territories. Flags at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities, naval vessels, and stations, will also be flown at half-staff.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/trump-orders-flags-lowered-nc-194008956.html 📎 MoloMonitor

🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- TankerTracker's satellite imagery shows 15 ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman today alone. The oil originates from all Gulf nations except Iran. The transfers are part of a U.S.-backed effort where oil is passed through the Strait of Hormuz on small but faster shuttle vessels, then transferred onto larger tankers.

🚀 🇺🇸 🏗 Starbase, Louisiana will be built to support thousands of Starship flights a year with missions launching to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond 📎 SpaceX

🇦🇲🤝🇪🇺 Armenian prime-minister, Nikol Pashinyan announced that his country will formally apply for EU membership and will organise in the future a referendum for such an endeavour. @CIG_telegram

🇸🇾⚡- BREAKING: SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi has announced the dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces, ending the group's 11-year existence and formally closing the chapter on the Syrian Civil War. Abdi is set to assume the role of Special Envoy for Kurdish Affairs to President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

—❗️🇺🇸/🇷🇺/🇺🇦 BREAKING: The head of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, made a surprise visit to Moscow to convince President Putin not to declare mobilization against Ukraine NATO intelligence had also picked up signals that pointed towards a Russian plan to ‘test NATO’s resolve’ by carrying out limited incursions into Europe. – Wall Street Journal @Middle_East_Spectator

🇾🇪⚔️🇾🇪 Latest News on the Clashes in Southern and Southwestern Yemen – August 25 🟡 Ongoing clashes and exchanges of fire are taking place on the Al-Fakher front in Al-Dhale’e Governorate, the eastern front of Taiz city, and north of the town of Hays in the southern part of Al-Hudaydah Governorate. 🟡 On the Taiz front, the artillery units of the Yemeni Armed Forces launched heavy shelling against the positions of Tariq Saleh’s forces in the areas of Al-Ashmalah, Al-Qahifah, and Al-Kuwayhah, located within the Muqbanah District. Fire exchanges are also continuing on the eastern front of Taiz city and on the Humayr front along the western axis of Taiz, with both sides maintaining clashes until the evening of the previous day. No changes have occurred along the conflict lines, and no reports have been issued regarding casualties or material losses on either side. 🟡 On the Al-Dhale’e front, the Amaliqah forces, commanded by Hamdi Shukri, are currently moving military equipment toward the Al-Fakher and Moris axes. It is anticipated that the intensity of confrontations on this axis will escalate further in the coming days. The Amaliqah have also issued threats to recapture the districts currently under the control of the Sana’a government. 🟡 On the Hays front, the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out an airstrike targeting the base of the Second Al-Zaraniq Brigade, affiliated with Tariq Saleh, in the Dubas area. The strike was executed using suicide drones or Rajum hexacopters, resulting in a massive explosion in the area. 🔗 IWN

🇸🇦🇪🇬🛢 Oil traders are utilizing a new strategy to move Saudi oil out of the Red Sea by conducting ship-to-ship transfers near the southern entrance of the Suez Canal. Houthi antiship missiles can't reach this far north. VLCCs with Saudi oil travel northward and transfer their cargo to smaller Suezmax tankers, allowing the oil to bypass pipeline capacity limitations. Meanwhile, Russian vessels travel southward to perform STS transfers, after which the oil moves safely south toward Asia, avoiding Houthi threats. It is becoming increasingly difficult to track the true origin of the oil. 🔗 MerruX

🇸🇦🛢 Multiple Saudi VLCCs are leaving the Fujairah area where they transferred their oil to other ships, going back to the Red Sea but using the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid being hit by Houthi/Ansarallah missiles in the Bab el-Mandeb 🔗 MerruX

—❗️🇮🇷/🇴🇲 BREAKING: Iran and Oman have released a joint statement, announcing they have reached a preliminary agreement on managing the Strait of Hormuz Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasizes this does not mean the Strait will be opened; it will remain fully closed until the U.S. naval blockade is lifted and the MoU terms are abided. Details of the Iran-Oman agreement have not yet been released, but according to preliminary information Iran has been given control over incoming maritime traffic and the right to impose service fees. @Middle_East_Spectator

🇺🇸 🇨🇦 The White House on X: Lake America 📎 White House

✈️ 🇺🇸 🇷🇺 Update: CIA Director Ratcliffe's flight leaves Moscow 📝 OSINTdefender: "Last time that a CIA Director made an unannounced, surprise visit to Moscow was in late 2021, when Director Burns traveled there to warn Russian leadership against launching an invasion of Ukraine. This entire trip is slightly concerning and a bit ominous all things considered." 📎 DefenceGeek