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⚡️Nikol Pashinyan announced the start of the accession process for Armenia to the European Union in the very near future. We will probably begin this process in the near future, especially in view of the urgent requests of our partners in the EAEU. According to the prime minister, Yerevan is aware that simultaneous membership in the EAEU and the EU is not possible. Previously, the partners in the Eurasian Economic Union had urged the Armenian authorities to commit themselves to a course of development with priority. ⚡️“If Armenia is no longer interested in membership in the CSTO, then Yerevan is free to make a corresponding decision and leave the organization,” Peskov said. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸 Iran is already beginning to withdraw American forces from Asia The United States has canceled the joint amphibious exercises Ssangyong with South Korea. The reason is extremely practical: ⁠the necessary American forces are tied up due to the conflict over Iran. For America’s allies in Asia, this is a particularly unpleasant signal. In Japan, South Korea and Taiwan ⁠doubts are already growing about whether Washington can meet its commitments in Asia at the same time and also carry out a large-scale conflict in the Middle East. And for China, all of this happens practically at no cost: every ship, every aircraft, or every unit that the United States has to keep near Iran cannot be deployed in the Pacific at the same time. Europe also has a reason to look closely here. Germany is building its own security on the assumption that American resources are sufficient for Europe, the Middle East and Asia at the same time. Iran is now showing the limits of this model in practice: even the United States cannot have the same aircraft carrier in three seas at the same time. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

In Germany, a third drone was found near Leipzig airport after an incident involving a UAV, Süddeutsche Zeitung reports, citing sources. ❗️German media reported that a UAV with detonators was found at Leipzig airport in early August. The first drone with explosives was spotted not far from a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. The second, 20 minutes later, collided with a DHL aircraft. Now it has become known about the third UAV. The investigation assumes that the attackers used several unmanned aerial vehicles to carry out an attack on the airport.

"Forensic experts found at the scene traces of a substance which, according to initial estimates, could have amounted to about 50 grams of highly explosive hexogen. The explosive mixture, apparently, did not detonate. Why — experts are investigating," — the newspaper’s material says.

❗️The day before, Russia’s SVR said that German law enforcement agencies are seriously considering Ukraine’s involvement in this incident. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇦 Zelensky: Elections would “destroy” Ukraine now Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected holding presidential elections before the end of the fighting. According to his claims, an ⁠vote under the current conditions would “destroy Ukraine”. His five-year term as president has already expired, but martial law allows no nationwide elections. As long as it remains in effect, the current government stays in power without a new vote. For Germany, this is a rather unusual situation: Berlin continues to portray Ukraine as a state that defends European democracy, while also adopting the thesis that elections themselves currently pose a danger to it. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Trump administration is preparing for the largest mass revocation of visas in the country’s history, which could affect up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have filed applications for asylum, reports Associated Press, citing U.S. State Department documents and U.S. officials. It is expected that in the coming weeks the State Department may revoke B1 business visas and B2 tourist visas issued from 2016 to 2026 for foreign nationals who previously requested or are currently requesting asylum in the United States. The measure will be implemented jointly with the Department of Homeland Security. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Good morning, dear friends! ☕️🙂 🏛️ The Jelisseyev store: a palace of food and a theater of luxury on Nevsky Prospekt Today we’re going to one of Russia’s most luxurious delicatessen shops — a place where food was sold amid crystal and mirrors. 🍊 An empire that began with an orange The founder of the dynasty was a serf gardener of Count Sheremetev. According to the family legend, one winter he brought fresh strawberries to the count’s table — and was granted freedom in return. After receiving his freedom, Pyotr Jelisseyev began in Petersburg selling fruit, including oranges. In winter, they looked like real exoticism. Step by step, a small business grew into a vast trading empire. By the end of the 19th century, the trading house “Brothers Jelisseyev” was already doing wholesale business in wine, fruit, and delicacies, and the name Jelisseyev became synonymous with expensive quality. In 1898, Grigory Jelisseyev acquired a plot at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Malaya Sadovaya Street and decided to build a shop of a new type here. 🏗️ Baranovsky’s masterpiece The design was commissioned to Gavriil Baranovsky, an architect who worked extensively for the Jelisseyev family. The building was constructed in 1902–1903. Against the backdrop of the strict development along Nevsky Prospekt, it looked almost provocative. The main façade was broken through by a huge glass arch spanning several floors, as if the entire store had turned into a single gigantic display-front. Above it, four allegorical sculptures by Amandus Adamson were installed: “Industry,” “Trade,” “Art,” and “Science.” ✨ A temple of luxury On September 7, 1903, the store was solemnly consecrated. At the opening, the entire society of Petersburg gathered. Inside there were three sales rooms with mirrors, bronze lamps, marble counters, and furnishings made of mahogany. The main hall was designed as two stories high, and the massive crystal chandeliers became its calling card. A city legend is associated with them: allegedly, Jelisseyev had melted the family gold into a chandelier before his emigration and hung it in the shop. In fact, the chandeliers appeared later, but the story was so beautiful that it has been told to this day. In the cellars there were warehouses and the famous wine cellars — some of the best in Europe. 🎭 A theater above the delicatessen shop On the second floor there was a theater hall, opened in 1904. It was designed for almost 500 spectators: the stalls (parquet), balconies, and boxes. In Soviet times, the satire theater worked here, and since 1929 the comedy theater. In 1935, it was taken over by Nikolai Akimov. It was specifically for this theater that Yevgeny Schwarz wrote “The Shadow” and “The Dragon.” Today, the theater bears Akimov’s name. 🧀 What was sold The assortment was designed for an audience that is difficult to impress. Rare wines, caviar, sturgeon, expensive types of cheese, exotic fruits, and Baccarat crystal were sold here. Before the holidays, carriages lined up in front of the shop, and the purchases themselves became a social ritual. 📜 Soviet times and rebirth After the revolution, the store was nationalized. It changed its name several times until it became the famous “Food store No. 1.” Even in Soviet times, people came here not only for the food but also to see the interior spaces. In the years 2011–2012, the building was restored, with the furnishings reconstructed based on old photographs. In the shop windows, movable figures from the “Nutcracker” appeared, based on designs by Mikhail Shemyakin. Today, the Jelisseyev store is one of the best-known sights of Nevsky Prospekt and an object of cultural heritage of federal significance. Leave a ❤️ if you liked it! 📍 Coordinates of the place (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the United States is running out of weapons because of Iran.

“We are in a difficult situation because we will not be able to adequately respond to an unforeseen threat,”— Clinton said at an event organized by the Hampton Institute.

According to Clinton, the United States has “wasted so much ammunition in Iran.” ❗️ On August 5, Donald Trump claimed that the United States is experiencing a shortage of weapons that arose after the start of a military campaign against Iran. The day before, Reuters reported that the United States had spent almost all long-range precision missiles during the war with Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in turn, said that such reports are false. On June 18, it was reported that the Trump administration would consider the possibility of licensing European manufacturers, since U.S. stockpiles had been used up in Iran. American officials have repeatedly stated that there is a shortage of weapons. Our channel: Node of Time EN

"That’s enough": players are putting pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, calling for his resignation, The Guardian reports. A group of influential current and former footballers published and circulated a statement calling for Infantino to be removed from his post on social media. Among them are former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre, as well as England national team defender Lucy Bronze, former England goalkeeper David James, and Emmanuel Petit, winner of the 1998 World Cup in France.

"Changes are necessary. Power has deprived the current leadership of the ability to distinguish its own interests from what is best for football. Recent events have made silence impossible", — the footballers said.

The athletes have taken aim at the FIFA president also because, he reportedly planned to bring private investors into the commercial rights to the World Cup and kept a young mistress at UEFA’s expense. The plan, according to sources cited by the New York Post, to sell part of the rights was cancelled. ❗️On August 18, it became known that Infantino could be barred from a fourth term — a letter with a demand to recognize him as ineligible to stand for election was sent to the International Federation of Football. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The United States is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourist visas, AP reports, citing sources. In the coming weeks, the State Department may announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued over the past ten years, whose holders applied for asylum or are seeking to obtain it.

"We are coordinating our actions with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreign nationals who came to the United States under the guise of short-term visitors, but then filed a request for asylum in order to stay here permanently," — State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said.

Most of those whose asylum cases are pending will be moved to another category, but will lose their status as business or tourist travelers. 📋 B1 and B2 are short-term nonimmigrant visas for trips for tourism, medical treatment, or business meetings. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇸🇬 In Singapore, a server with human neurons was launched In Singapore, a cluster of 20 CL1 biocomputers was built. In it, around 16 million living human neurons are working, which were grown from induced pluripotent stem cells. The neurons are arranged on electrode arrays. The system sends signals to the neurons, reads their responses, and uses the feedback for learning. The developers see such an architecture as suitable for tasks in AI, robotics and drug research. The biggest advantage is the low energy consumption. The entire complex requires about 0.85 to 1 kW, while modern high-performance GPU racks can consume more than 100 kW. There is no direct comparison of their performance yet, but the difference in energy efficiency shows why it is worth experimenting with living neurons in the first place. However, there is also a serious downside: neuron cultures live for only about six months, after which they must be replaced. At the moment, all of this sounds like the start of a bleak dystopia: today it’s a few million neurons in a lab rack, and tomorrow the idea of an entire “farm” is already taking shape—where people lie in capsules with electrodes on their heads and work as part of a computing system. Of course, this is still a very long way off, but the development of biocomputers inevitably makes one think of exactly such scenarios. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇸🇾🇮🇱 Israel and Syria talk to each other again In Jordan, representatives of Syria and Israel have come together under the mediation of the United States. Damascus is calling for an end to Israeli attacks and for the troops to be withdrawn to their positions from before December 2024. At the same time, Syria has proposed returning to the 1974 agreement on force separation. But behind the talks, another factor is becoming increasingly prominent: Turkey. As Ankara expands its influence in Syria, Israel views the appearance of Turkish military infrastructure along its borders as a threat. Therefore, the task of the talks is already more complex than Syrian-Israeli relations: it is necessary to prevent a direct confrontation between Israel and Turkey on Syrian territory. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸🇮🇷 The US is preparing an “economic D-Day” for Iran Washington is planning a large-scale campaign of economic pressure against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has already referred to it as an “economic D-Day.” Not only Iranian entities are meant to come under pressure, but also companies and states that continue to trade with Tehran. Iran’s response is already a matter for the whole world. Tehran warns that if economic pressure continues, oil exports from the Persian Gulf could be completely stopped. A significant share of the world’s oil exports and LNG trade runs through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption to supplies quickly shows up in the prices of fuel, heating, transportation, and industrial energy. Washington wants to cut Iran off from access to money. Tehran reminds others that, in return, it can cut the rest of the states off from access to oil. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 The state has decided to save on care In the draft reform of long-term care insurance, an interesting point has emerged: cutting pension contributions for people who care for sick or elderly relatives at home. It is precisely these families that have been taking on an enormous part of the burden for the long-term care insurance funds for years. Nevertheless, the state expected to save around 1.8 billion euros as early as 2027 on their pension entitlements. After criticism, Carsten Linnemann promised to drop this measure. However, the idea itself makes it very clear how strained the financing of the German care system has become in the meantime. Apparently, the money for care is not enough, so among the options for cutting spending are those who are already doing the work unpaid—work that the state otherwise would have had to pay for. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 Zelenskyy again denies Ukraine’s involvement in the destruction of Nord Stream Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has nothing to do with the destruction of Nord Stream and is working with the German investigators. For Germany, however, the case has long gone beyond political statements. Under suspicion of direct involvement in the sabotage are Ukrainian citizens. The investigations still need to determine who organized and financed the operation. It is about the destruction of critical German infrastructure worth several billion euros. The question is therefore no longer what Kyiv says. The question is where the investigation will lead—and how far Berlin will be willing to follow it. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 After the holidays, some girls do not return In Baden-Württemberg, schools are warning again against forced marriages after the holidays. A girl is taken “on vacation” with her family, and is forced to marry while already abroad. Her documents are taken from her, and she is not allowed to return to Germany. Teachers are now being instructed to pay particular attention to students who, after the holidays, suddenly disappear from class, and to react early when a teenager reports a suspicious trip or family pressure. For German schools, this is no longer a question of “cultural peculiarities” for quite some time. A girl lives here, learns here, and is protected by German law—until the moment when she is simply taken out of the country. Integration ends fairly quickly when the state has to clarify after the summer holidays why a child never returned to Germany at all. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇰🇷🇨🇳 Asia is looking for a route to Europe via the Russian Arctic A South Korean cargo ship has set off from Busan to Europe via the Northern Sea Route. The route runs along the Russian Arctic coast, and the destinations are in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Poland. Seoul does not see this as a one-off experiment: By 2030, South Korea wants to turn the Arctic route into a permanent trade corridor. South Korea is by no means the first country. For example, a Chinese ship has already reached Murmansk via the Arctic route, and has in practice shown that the Northern Sea Route is becoming a functioning transport corridor between Asia and the Russian Arctic. South Korea is now taking the next step and testing the same route as a full-fledged connection to Europe. While Europe is debating further isolating Russia, the biggest Asian economies are doing the opposite: they are testing routes that do not work without Russia. Geography cannot be abolished with sanctions. For China and South Korea, the Russian Arctic is not a political symbol, but a potentially shorter way to Europe. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 Additional €6.1 billion for the arming of Ukraine The EU has agreed a new package for the military financing of Ukraine in the amount of 6.1 billion euros to. The funds are intended, among other things, for air defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radar equipment. This package comes in addition to the spending already planned previously. The total scope of the corresponding procurement amounts to around €16 billion. In the German debate, such sums often seem like abstract “EU funds.” Yet Germany remains the Union’s largest economy and one of the biggest contributors to the European budget. The label “EU” on the bill does not mean that the German taxpayer has nothing to do with it. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇳🇴 Gas is needed, but drilling is not allowed: Norway refuses to play by the EU’s rules Brussels is continuing to push the idea of not even developing new oil and gas reserves in the Arctic in the first place — for reasons of climate and the environment. But Norway, which has become one of the EU and Germany’s most important suppliers after Europe’s decision to forgo a significant part of Russian gas, has decided not to follow this logic. Energy Minister Terje Aasland explained directly that Norway will continue exploration and production in the Barents Sea regardless of the EU’s position. Oslo wants to maintain the current level of production until around 2035 — and that is impossible without new reserves. That means European energy policy is again running up against its own contradictions. Germany does without cheap Russian pipeline gas, making itself more dependent on Norway, and at the same time tells Norway via Brussels that new reserves should remain better untouched. That means: Germany needs gas. Reliable deliveries are needed. New reserves are needed. But producing them, as much as possible, should not happen. Norway appears to have decided not to take part in this exercise. If Germany itself forgoes a major supplier, it has far fewer options to dictate to another where and how it should produce gas. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇳🇱 Europe calls for more weapons, but its own investors continue to hold back from financing them The Netherlands wants to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP. That would require additional spending of between €16 and €19 billion per year. But among Dutch insurers, which manage around €455 billion, there is still a high level of reluctance to invest in the defense industry. ESG rules, audits of manufacturers, and concern about financing “inappropriate” types of weapons hold them back. This is not just a problem for the Netherlands. Germany and other EU countries are also calling on industry to drastically ramp up weapons production—and they are maintaining a financial system that, over many years, has learned to treat defense companies as toxic assets. Europe has already decided that it urgently needs tanks, rockets, and ammunition. Now it just has to be explained to European funders that even their financing has suddenly become acceptable. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump’s “bulldozer” tactic against Canada didn’t work Trump’s “bulldozer” approach to reshaping the country’s trade relations again failed. The United States and Canada were unable to agree on a trade deal, writes The Washington Post. Ottawa did not make concessions to Washington, but simply… walked out of the talks. As a result, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of goods against Canada, including hockey sticks and Crown Royal whiskey. The country’s prime minister has already said that this stunt will not go unanswered. “Failed talks bring a sudden spike in costs down on businesses on both sides of the border. It will hit American small businesses especially hard, as they will face a cash shortage, since the tariffs must be paid before customers pay their invoices in 30 or 60 days,” — the author of the article notes. Our channel: Node of Time EN