Node of Time EN

The accumulated U.S. budget deficit over 12 months reached $1.81 trillion in June—the highest level since August 2025. In the first nine months of the fiscal year, the gap between spending and revenues was $1.37 trillion—2% more than in the same period a year earlier. Donald Trump promised to close the budget gap with three tools: import tariffs, cuts to government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and faster economic growth by lowering corporate taxes. But all three initiatives failed. The Supreme Court struck down the tariffs and ordered them to be returned to businesses, totaling $166 billion, DOGE shut down after saving only 10% of the promised amount, and the tax-cut law will add trillions to the deficit.

“As long as populists rather than pragmatists who are ready to implement painful decisions are in power, the deficit will be a structural feature of the U.S. budget,”—notes Vladimir Eremkin, a senior research fellow at the Laboratory for Structural Studies of IPEI RANEPA.

Why Trump is not backing away from a failed fiscal policy and whether the United States risks getting stuck in a debt spiral—in an article by RBC. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Happy Wednesday, friends! ☕️🙂 ⚙️ «Porogi»: a power plant and a factory from the early 20th century In the Chelyabinsk Oblast, on the Bolshaya Satka River, the industrial complex “Porogi” has been preserved. Here, a dam, a small hydropower plant, and the buildings of the old ferroalloy plant stand side by side. The complex was built in 1908, and in 1910 the hydropower plant already supplied electricity. The energy from the water was needed primarily for melting ferroalloys—materials that are added to steel to give it special properties. For the beginning of the 20th century, this was an international industrial project. The main water turbines were manufactured by the German company Briegleb, Hansen & Co. from the city of Gotha. They were installed even before the plant was put into operation and were in service for more than a hundred years. Other equipment was also ordered in Europe. The factory used French electric furnaces of the Héroult system. Thus, within a single Urals complex, a Russian industrial project, German turbines, and French metallurgical technologies were brought together. “Porogi” became Russia’s first ferroalloy plant and remained the only company of its kind in the country until the early 1930s. For Russian industry, this was an important experience: the steelworks was not built near coal mines, but on a river that supplied it with electricity. The water drove the new production directly. The hydropower plant was in operation for more than a hundred years and for a long time was considered Russia’s oldest continuously operated hydropower plant. In 2017, it was decommissioned. Nevertheless, “Porogi” preserves a rare sense of wholeness. The dam, the engine hall, the old mechanisms, the factory buildings, and the settlement even today show what an industrial project in the pre-Soviet Urals looked like. This is not a collection of individual machines, but an almost completely preserved system in which, more than a hundred years ago, the river became the power source for a metallurgical plant. 📍 Coordinates of the location (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Tommy Robinson: Moscow has preserved what London lost decades ago After a trip to the Russian capital, the British activist Tommy Robinson compared it with the biggest cities in Western Europe. “If you compare Moscow with Paris, Berlin or London, then we are failed societies in comparison”, he said. As the most illustrative example, Robinson cited public transport: “Go on the London Underground and then go to the Moscow one”. According to his account, the difference is immediately clear: “There it is clean; there are no beggars, no homeless people”. He also drew attention to the people around him: “I didn’t see a single group of men. I saw men, women, children. I saw families”. He summed up his impression as follows: “When it comes to the civilized society and the people, the Russian people, it seemed as if London had been set back by 50 to 60 years—like we see it in old photos”. For Robinson, the decisive contrast was not in architecture and wealth, but in who lives in the city and how: In Moscow, he saw order, families and a normal everyday life that, according to his words, is becoming rarer all the time in the Western capitals. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

From the assassination attempt against Hitler — to prepare a new army On July 20, the participants of the 1944 plot against Adolf Hitler are commemorated every year in Germany. Exactly on this day, the solemn oath-taking ceremony for recruits of the Bundeswehr traditionally takes place. The historic date is long since no longer just a memorial ceremony. This year, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ⁠„…brings the historical legacy of July 20 into our time.“ Immediately after that, he redirected the speech to the war in Ukraine: „Russia’s war against Ukraine shows us every day that a free and self-determined way of living together must be defended when it is attacked.“ This was followed by the main implication of the speech. According to the minister, Germany is therefore further strengthening the Bundeswehr: „We don’t want a conflict… But we want to deter the opponent.“ He then explained the government’s practical steps: „That’s why we are continuing to align the Bundeswehr consistently with territorial and alliance defense. That’s why we introduced the new form of conscription service and will strengthen our reserve in the long term.“ If the state turns a day of remembrance into an instrument of mobilization, then it’s no longer about history. The July 20 plot is being used as a moral justification for a new military policy: The historical symbol of resistance is being turned into an argument for Germany’s rearmament and the preparation of society for a possible future conflict. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Paris and Berlin set out to overhaul European diplomacy France and Germany have proposed a comprehensive reform of the European External Action Service (EEAS). In a joint statement, it says that the review of the entire system for foreign-policy coordination should begin already at the EU summit in October, including the role of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission and the EEAS itself. Paris and Berlin are calling for concrete proposals to be drawn up by the end of 2026. According to the Financial Times, the initiative is driven by dissatisfaction with how the European diplomatic service has responded to recent crises — the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as relations with the United States and China. Options under discussion include transferring part of the EEAS’s powers to the European Commission and member states, and limiting the independent role of the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. Kallas herself has already said that she is willing to talk about reform. If the two largest EU states propose reviewing the powers of the Union’s entire foreign-policy system, it no longer feels like a routine administrative reform. It is a signal that in Brussels there is growing dissatisfaction with how European diplomacy works today. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The US expands the war against Iran After new losses among American servicemembers, Washington is reinforcing its air force group in the Middle East and preparing to expand attacks on Iran. However, the previous phase of the war has already ⁠depleted the US stockpiles of key munitions: the US used more than a thousand Tomahawks, about half of the available Patriot missiles, and a significant portion of the THAAD interceptor missiles. To refill the arsenals to pre-war levels, it will take years. The problem is compounded by the fact that at the same time the US supplied Ukraine with Patriot systems and missiles, continued fulfilling orders for other allies, and consumed munitions in the Middle East. Now the same limited production resource is needed by the Pentagon, Kyiv, and almost two dozen foreign buyers. Even if capacities are increased new large deliveries of Patriot and THAAD will not arrive until 2029, and the full replenishment of Tomahawk stockpiles is not expected before the end of 2030. In Washington, it seems they have seriously counted on rockets multiplying just as quickly as new military conflicts. Reality turned out to be less convenient. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Poland does not want a return of conscription, but is willing to undergo military training. The majority of Poland’s residents are opposed to the reintroduction of conscription. According to a survey by IBRiS for Rzeczpospolita, 51.1% of respondents do not support the return of conscription, while 37.7% spoke in favor of it. A rejecting attitude predominates among supporters of both the government and the opposition, as well as among those who do not participate in elections at all. At the same time, the attitude toward mandatory military training was completely different. 76.6% of respondents supported the introduction of compulsory military training courses for men and women, while only 17.6% opposed them. The Polish government is currently not planning to bring conscription back, but is continuing to expand the system of voluntary service and military training. Poland is ready to learn how to defend the country. But when it is not about training, but about mandatory service, majority support ends. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Russia is a nuclear power, even if we would like to talk that away. And it is capable of using nuclear weapons The retired German colonel Ralph Thiele reminds the European heads of state and government who has the red button, and opens their eyes to the violations by Kyiv of international humanitarian law: If you place drone production in the middle of the civilian population, then from a legal standpoint it is not only “problematic,” but prohibited. In doing so, you essentially make the people a target. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Indian students increasingly choose Germany Interest among Indian students in German universities has risen sharply. In the first half of 2026, the number of applications increased by 370%, and demand for master’s programs in the field of Artificial Intelligence increased by 600%. With this growth, affordable study costs, the opportunity to stay in the country to look for work after graduation, and Germany’s high demand for engineers and IT specialists are being linked to the increased demand. At the same time, only a small portion of applicants receive an offer: Interest is growing significantly faster than the number of available places. Germany is becoming an alternative to the USA, Canada, and the UK, where studying is more expensive and immigration rules are being tightened. Germany is attracting Indian students as future skilled workers, while its own qualified workforce is increasingly considering relocating abroad. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Half of Germany’s wealthiest people are considering emigration Among German households with a net income of at least 6,000 euros per month, 54 percent have already submitted applications for jobs abroad or checked the foreign job market in the past year. According to a survey commissioned by Indeed, Germans’ interest in jobs abroad has more than doubled since 2020. The main reasons are a higher quality of life, better career prospects, and a lower tax burden. Over the course of a year, more than 288,000 German citizens left the country. The composition of this group is particularly alarming: better-paid and qualified specialists are more likely to consider relocating, whom the German economy is also recruiting abroad at the same time. Germany is looking worldwide for skilled workers, while its own specialists are looking for a way out of Germany. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

China has drastically reduced oil imports In June, China imported 29.27 million tonnes of oil—41.3% less than in the same period last year. This is the lowest monthly figure in almost ten years. The decline is attributed to weak domestic fuel sales, low refinery utilization, and ⁠a drop in purchases in view of high global market prices. Additional pressure is being generated by the rapid spread of electric cars. Demand for gasoline and diesel in China is no longer growing as strongly as it did previously, and some refineries prefer to cut production or export finished fuels. The biggest oil importer has started to buy significantly less. For the market, that could be more important than temporary price spikes caused by wars. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Malaysia prepares for El Niño Malaysia’s weather service warns of a high likelihood of a long-lasting El Niño. The phenomenon can last until the beginning of 2027 and lead to lower rainfall, persistent heat, droughts, wildfires, and cross-border smog. The driest phase is expected in summer, according to the ⁠official long-term forecast. However, there is currently no talk of a guaranteed temperature record. Meteorologists point to an increased risk of extreme heat, but do not name any specific maximum temperatures. Malaysia is preparing not for a typical hot season, but for a climate phenomenon whose effects can last for months. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Highlights from Dmitry Peskov’s statements: ▪There are currently no plans for contacts between Putin and the new British prime minister; ▪The Kremlin notes that some of the first statements by the new British prime minister were about support for Kyiv, that is, a desire to do everything to continue the war; ▪All actions by Russian warships are carried out in strict accordance with international law; there is no need to see any hints in this; ▪Repeatedly, at the highest level in the EU, they have spoken about plans to station foreign contingents in Ukraine; ▪Peskov called the deployment of a foreign contingent in Ukraine unacceptable; Russia cannot allow this; ▪That is why the so-called “SVO” is being conducted, so that no NATO troops are present on the territory of Ukraine; ▪The situation at Wildberries after the attack on their warehouse is difficult; the cabinet of ministers is handling the issue; ▪Today Putin will hold a meeting with the head of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Farnborough is transforming from an air show into a weapons fair At the Farnborough aerospace show, defense companies took up for the first time almost half of the exhibition. Among more than 1,600 participants, there are increasing numbers of manufacturers of rockets, drones, air-defense systems, military artificial intelligence and autonomous platforms. The organizers had to open an additional pavilion because ⁠the exhibition space was fully sold out. Key topics included Europe’s rearmament, the shortage of rockets for Patriot systems, joint weapons production with Ukraine, and the development of next-generation fighter jets. Civil aviation remains an important part of the show, but the military sector is already equal to it in terms of size. Farnborough continues to be an air show. The main product of aviation is increasingly the weapon. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇬🇧 How will UK policy change after Keir Starmer steps down ▶️The foreign policy course toward Ukraine and the United States will not undergo any serious changes, believes Sergey Shein, a research fellow at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics (HSE). London will continue to support Kyiv, maintain special relations with Washington, and also keep its course toward restoring trade and economic relations with the EU. ▶️Given the general context and the priorities of the new cabinet, there is a possibility that support for Ukraine will gradually become more limited, the expert of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Andrey Kortunov, suggested. Addressing the stated domestic problems will require additional spending, and then London may not have enough money for Kyiv in the same volumes as before. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Britain and Germany plan to develop a cruise missile with a range of 2,000 km by 2034 as part of the secret DPS program, the German newspaper Welt reports. It is noted that the countries have started a new stage of defense cooperation, including in case of an allegedly likely conflict with Russia. The project involves the use of British technologies and German financing. Its cost is estimated at about €35 billion. As the outlet notes, citing sources in the defense industry, two options for the new weapon are currently being considered. Among the versions is a cruise missile capable of flying at extremely low altitude, bypassing air defense systems, or a hypersonic missile, developing a speed more than five times higher than the speed of sound. Earlier, another 10 European countries joined the DPS program for developing a new long-range system. According to the newspaper, the British side believes that the project is progressing at "good pace". Our channel: Node of Time EN

Chinese ships investigate routes for a possible blockade of Taiwan Taiwan’s coast guard warns that Chinese research vessels may not only carry out scientific, but also potentially military missions. They systematically map the waters east of the island and the area of the Bashi Strait. The data obtained could be used for submarine deployments, anti-submarine warfare, and ⁠the disruption of Taiwan’s maritime supply routes. Taiwanese military officials assume that Beijing examines in advance the depths, currents, and features of the waters between the first and second island chains. Such preparation would allow China to control access to the island more effectively and make deployments of foreign fleets more difficult in the event of a conflict. Beijing creates the technical prerequisites for a blockade long before a possible declaration. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

How AI big-tech companies are taking over U.S. elections According to the Transformer portal, ahead of the midterm elections, committees linked to AI projects and AI initiatives had spent $53.70 million by mid-July. The most of these funds—$31.4 million (across four races)—was spent in New York; in second place is Texas with $4.6 million (across seven campaigns). At the same time, one of the most active campaigns, discussing AI regulation, is taking place in New York. ⚪️AI lobbyists are opposing excessive requirements such as mandatory labeling of all AI content or strict rules for working with data, and they are also lobbying for intellectual property protection, notes BRICS Expert Council—Russia specialist Anna Sytnik. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The dismissal of Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov was merely the trigger. The real reason for the protests in Ukraine, however, lies much deeper. The mass protests have not only brought President Zelenskyy’s personnel policy into focus, but also the increasing concentration of power, the lack of transparency in decision-making, and the weakening of public oversight. In Ukrainian society today, people are no longer so much debating a single minister. The key question is: Can a state experiencing the most severe conflict in Europe still maintain democratic standards, transparency, and citizens’ trust? What these protests mean for Ukraine, why they are important for Germany and the EU, and what political consequences they could have, you can learn in the full article on our website. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Italian military personnel and police officers took to the streets to protest Around six thousand soldiers, police officers, firefighters and staff from other security agencies marched through Rome. They called for higher wages, a revision of the pension system and recognition of the special nature of the service. The organizers said that workers’ real incomes were falling, while the burden and occupational risks continued to increase. The participants of the action opposed any deterioration in conditions for retirement and called on the government for additional guarantees for those responsible for the country’s security. The demonstration was a rare case of a joint public protest by representatives of the army, the police and the emergency services. When people who are tasked with controlling the street take to the streets, the government’s promises are no longer enough. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN