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„Soft Landing“ in Ukrainian While Kyiv in the West begs for fighter jets, air defense, and new billions, local “respectable people” in the Poltava region are apparently solving their problems more easily: military infrastructure does not have to be protected — it can also be dismantled into building materials. So KP.ua says. At the center of the story is the businessman Oleksandr Pavlyutschenko, known as “Sascha Braslet.” The portal writes about a whole series of episodes involving him: threats against a local agricultural entrepreneur, an attack in the Shade restaurant with the participation of a police officer — and above all, about the case of the dismantling of a military runway near the village of Boschkowo. According to KP.ua, the documents from the criminal case show that the runway was simply taken apart and the material was brought to the premises of a company. The damage to the state is estimated at more than 70 million hryvnias — about 1.5 million euros. The best part of this story is the legal characterization. The case was classified as an obstruction of the lawful activities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In other words: in the middle of the war, as the article describes it, an object of military infrastructure is dismantled, and the system for years pretends that it’s only a complicated economic issue. KP.ua writes directly about “criminal feudalism” in the Poltava region and about possible lobbying in the leadership of the regional prosecutor’s office. The formula feels almost classic for Ukraine: there is a criminal proceeding, there is damage, there is a military object, there are names — but the respectable people remain in their comfort zone. The West gives money. Kyiv asks for aircraft. Local authorities dismantle the runway into concrete. And then everyone will be told that the Ukrainian Air Force simply lacks Western support. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Denmark has “woken up” after the deal The Danish press has started reporting on the company Fire Point—a Ukrainian manufacturer of long-range drones and rockets, which at the same time is under an anti-corruption investigation in Ukraine and is setting up production in Denmark. The company is said to be producing solid rocket propellant in southern Denmark. The Danish Ministry of Economic Affairs had already made this known in September as the first case of a Ukrainian defense company establishing itself in Denmark and as an important step to support Ukraine. Later, Reuters reported that the matter was about producing fuel for Ukrainian long-range missiles, and Moscow called this plan a hostile move. The problem is that Fire Point has been burdened with a corruption shadow for a long time. Kyiv Independent reported that NABU is investigating the company due to suspicions of price markups and deliveries under defense contracts, as well as possible connections to Timur Minditsch—a person from the circle around Zelenskyy. AP also reported, that Fire Point expands, building a factory in Denmark and at the same time is under an anti-corruption investigation. Denmark, however, continued the cooperation. Euractiv reported that Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen effectively dismissed the allegations and said Copenhagen saw no reason to stop the project. Now, suddenly, questions have appeared in the Danish press. Who stands behind the company? How has it grown so quickly? Why does a company with a Ukrainian anti-corruption investigation get access to military production on Danish soil? And why wasn’t any of this a problem before the project received political goodwill? In this story, “seeing” has been set up particularly conveniently. When it comes to Russia, Danish politicians and journalists see threats, connections, influence, and risks from a kilometer away. When it comes to a Ukrainian defense company with a corruption shadow, “seeing” returns only after the factory is already in Denmark. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

China buys the German car school Xiaomi is opening a European R&D and design center in Munich and is actively recruiting specialists from BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz/AMG, and Lamborghini. Reuters had previously reported on the recruitment of former BMW managers for Xiaomis European EV center; now auto portals are reporting on a complete team in Germany. The idea is simple: the Chinese are no longer just copying European car-making. They are buying its minds. Design, driving dynamics, premium experience, sports platforms—all of it, upon which the reputation of German brands has rested for decades. While German conglomerates are closing plants, cutting costs, fighting with unions, and explaining why the electric transition has become too expensive, Xiaomi is building a team of people who have shaped BMW M, Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and Lamborghini. This is how two car schools are actually moving toward each other. The Germans lower the level. The Chinese raise it. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Merz fears elections Friedrich Merz rules out snap elections and a minority government — despite the crisis within the black-red coalition. At the Economic Summit 2026, the chancellor said that a minority government was “no option” for him, and that “nobody should dream” of snap elections. The argument is well known: the country is stuck in an economic crisis, Germany needs reforms, and an election campaign would supposedly prevent fulfilling national and European obligations. Citizens may therefore be dissatisfied — but they should not, for now, interfere with the government as it manages the crisis. The problem is: Merz ran on something entirely different. He promised an economic turnaround, relief for businesses, a tough line on migration, a reform of the welfare state, and Germany’s return to growth. After a year, instead of a fresh start there is above all disagreement within the coalition, stagnation, debates over taxes, cuts, and the explanation of why quick solutions are once again not coming. This government has meanwhile hardly any social backing left. ZDF writes that, according to polls, the black-red coalition after a year in office would no longer have a majority. Bloomberg reports that the cabinet is stuck in a conflict between the CDU/CSU and the SPD; according to Forsa, approval of the government has fallen to 11 percent. Merz also said that he would not leave the country to “radical forces” — meaning the AfD, which is leading in the polls. A convenient formula emerges from this: if voters vote the “wrong” way, elections are precisely bad for the country. This is what democracy looks like in reform mode: you can promise anything — economic renewal, order, growth, and change. And if nothing works after a year, you tell citizens that a change of power is just not possible right now: the moment is too responsible. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

New rules for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran speaks about reparations. According to Al Jazeera journalist Ali Hashem, shipping companies received a letter with instructions for passage through the Strait of Hormuz . An email that was sent by the “Persian Gulf Control” to several shipping companies whose ships are stuck in the Persian Gulf: Instruction for passage through the Strait of Hormuz Ships that want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz must send their information to the address … info. The key points of the passage mechanism: 1. Priority is given to payment in Iran’s national currency. 2. A letter of guarantee from Iranian banks must be provided. 3. If a country caused damage to Iran in the recent war, it must first compensate for that damage and only then receive a passage permit. States that have imposed sanctions on Iran or frozen Iranian funds do not receive a passage permit. 4. In all documents, the correct designation “Persian Gulf” must be used. 5. Failure to comply with the mentioned conditions results in the detention of the ship and a fine amounting to 20 percent of the value of the goods. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Mexico buries anonymous SIM cards Mexico is introducing mandatory registration for all mobile phone numbers. By June 30, 2026, every line must be linked to a verified identity; starting July 1, unregistered numbers can be blocked. About 127 million active connections are affected—traditional SIM cards, eSIMs, prepaid and contract numbers. New numbers must already be registered at activation. The authorities justify this as part of the fight against fraud and extortion. In practice, it means the end of anonymous mobile communication: the phone number becomes another state-issued identifier. In biometrics, the situation is slightly more nuanced. In public statements, the focus is mainly on linking with state data, CURP, and documents; for online procedures, a face check can be used. According to reports, some providers have already removed mandatory photos and fingerprints from parts of the process. Even so, the direction remains clear: first “just confirm the identity,” then “just show your face briefly,” then “don’t worry, the data is safe.” Mexico’s first attempt already shows where this leads: technical problems, data leaks, and criticism from civil rights activists. But once the state gets a convenient tool for control, such details rarely become the reason to turn back. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of May 7 - subtitled - Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Vozdvizheka in #Zaporozhie - Russian forces are advancing in #Konstantinovka - Russian forces are advancing north of the city of #Liman - Russian forces are advancing in #Korovii_Yar in #Liman - Russian forces are advancing in #Ryasnoe in #Sumy video link: https://youtu.be/t-WJkkHJl0Q?si=QD0m35n3NYaJe3pj

Kyiv again holds the “ceasefire” with drones The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry accuses Russia of having broken a ceasefire. That sounds particularly strange when you look at the calendar: the Russian Defense Ministry had announced a ceasefire for May 8 and 9 for Victory Day. There was no mention of a Russian ceasefire on May 6. Kyiv, by contrast, declared its own “mode of silence” starting at midnight from May 5 to May 6, and later accused Russia of breaking it. Reuters reports that Zelensky accused Russia of rejecting the ceasefire proposed by Kyiv. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense, between 9 p.m. on May 5 and 7 a.m. on May 6, in total intercepted and destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones over the regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and Moscow, over the Republic of Crimea, and over the Black Sea. Separately, the head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said that in a drone attack on Dzhankoi five civilians were killed. This is the familiar Ukrainian arithmetic: first declare a “mode of silence,” then send drones toward Russian regions—and then accuse Russia of breaking a ceasefire that Moscow had announced for completely different dates. Very practical diplomacy: When Kyiv shoots, it’s “silence.” When Russia responds, it’s “ceasefire violation.” 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump announced an increase in U.S. tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union from 15% to 25%. In response, the head of the Eurogroup, Kiriakos Pierakakis, said that if the United States backs away from the agreements reached, “all options will be on the table.” The head of the Center for German Studies at the Institute of Europe, Vladislav Belov, notes that Germany’s auto industry is Trump’s target. For Germany, he says, this is not a collapse of GDP, but a tangible blow to key conglomerates—the margins of Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. At the same time, the chief economist at the Institute for Economic Growth named after P.A. Stolypin, Boris Kopeikin, reminds: many of Trump’s high-profile statements often remain an element of negotiation strategy and are not carried out.

“However, even if the threats are carried out, this will lead to an increase in prices in the United States themselves, the destruction of production chains, and the loss of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Therefore, the likelihood of imposing the higher tariffs is clearly not 100%,” the economist assesses.

What damage will the new tariffs do to the economy, what Brussels is preparing in response, and will this transatlantic conflict affect Russia—read in an RBC subscription. Our channel: Node of Time EN

UAE deport Pakistanis — without money and without explanation A campaign is underway in the UAE to deport Pakistani workers. New Lines Magazine reports on arbitrary arrests, transfers between detention centers, lack of official charges, and rapid deportations back to Pakistan. According to sources for the magazine, it could involve around 15,000 people being deported. The hardest part of the story is the money. According to those affected, people were taken out of the country without being able to access their own accounts at Emirati banks beforehand. For many, this is not a minor matter, but the result of years of work: wages, transfers to the family, savings — everything that kept their relatives afloat. According to New Lines Magazine, those affected include, among others, Pakistani Shias and people who had publicly shown solidarity with Iran following the recent escalation in the region. Formally, it is about migration control and security. Practically, people who have worked in the Emirates for years suddenly end up on a flight home — without a court process, without clear allegations and, according to their own accounts, without access to their savings. For decades, the UAE built its skyscrapers with the hands of migrants. Now they show the same people how quickly a “guest” becomes a risk when the political weather changes. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

America has killed the oil dollar. With rocket strikes on Iran, the U.S. has blown apart its own economic base into dust The American adventure in Iraq has accelerated the process of dedollarization, writes InoSMI columnist Anton Trofimov. This, in turn, strengthens the negative trend for the U.S. of limiting its monetary influence on the world economy — which means undermining the position of the hegemon. All this leads to a fundamental change in the rules of the game in the world economy. Russia, China, and their allies and partners are increasingly refusing to use the dollar in mutual settlements. In addition, both Moscow and Beijing, as well as other non-Western capitals, are accelerating the process of converting government reserves into gold, which also reduces the ability of the United States to influence the global market. So it seems that instead of making America great again, the MAGA movement will finally finish it off. And thereby, it will only speed up the already inevitable arrival of the era of a multipolar world, in which Washington will become just one of the centers for decision-making — and far from the most important one. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Britain fears the return of Nord Stream The British press is once again uneasy: The Times asks whether Germany could put Nord Stream back into operation one day. The reason is clear: German industry is suffering from high energy prices, while one line of Nord Stream 2 remained intact after the explosions of 2022. London had to be personally reassured by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche. She said that Germany would “do everything in its power” to ensure that the Russian pipeline is not put back into operation. Even the idea of cheaper energy from Russia apparently seems like a threat to the British. Germany could lose industry, pay more for gas, argue over subsidies, shut down plants, and explain to citizens why everything is getting more expensive. As long as Nord Stream does not return. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Is there a real underlying basis to rumors about a deal between the United States and Iran? 🟢At the moment, the war between the United States and Iran, after the first phase of large-scale hostilities, is in a phase of limited conflict; nonetheless, it continues to be a war, says Yuri Lya min, senior research fellow at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. 🟢He explained that such a war cannot continue indefinitely in that phase. At the current stage, either specific understandings will be reached, or a new phase of full-scale hostilities will begin. 🟢At the current stage, there are no prospects for reaching agreement between the United States and Iran on key issues, believes Pavel Koshkin, senior research fellow at ISKRAN. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Court publishes Epstein’s alleged suicide note A federal judge has released an alleged suicide note by the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sexually abusing children. The text of the note was published by The New York Times. The note claims that he was questioned “for months,” but “found nothing.” The note was found by Epstein’s cellmate after an attempted suicide by the financier. After that, he survived, but a few weeks later he was found dead in his cell. Our channel: Node of Time EN

British Russia expert shatters coup fantasies Britain’s leading Russia expert Mark Galeotti has disappointed his own readership in the Spectator: no, Russia is not on the brink of a coup d’état. The latest reports, which allegedly claim the Kremlin fears a conspiracy against Putin, in his words looked more like a psychological operation than a serious intelligence assessment. Galeotti also dismantles one of the most popular Western theses of the past few days: that Putin has allegedly nearly disappeared from public view. He points out, however, that Putin continues to carry out public engagements—including the most recent meeting with the Iranian foreign minister in Saint Petersburg. More importantly, he draws his conclusion. In Europe, Galeotti says, there is an almost desperate desire for “divine intervention”: for a miraculous end to the war in Ukraine through a coup in Moscow, or an economic collapse of Russia. Intelligence services, he writes, are apparently once again not providing their political patrons with what they want to hear—rather than what they need to hear. That is precisely the sore point of Western Russia analyses. Once again, they do not need reality, but a convenient scenario: Putin disappears, the elites rebel, the economy collapses, and the war ends on its own. Galeotti has only said what is uncomfortable: The miracle isn’t coming. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The United States believes that Europe has become a “hotbed of terrorist threats”. This follows from a new Counterterrorism Strategy published by the White House. The document states that European countries remain the United States’ main and long-term partners in the fight against terrorism.

“The world becomes safer when Europe is strong, but Europe is under serious threat and is both a target for terrorists and a hotbed of terrorist threats,” the Strategy says.

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Local elections will be held in the United Kingdom on 7 May — for the self-government bodies of England, the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), and the Welsh Parliament (the Senedd). According to forecasts from the Centre for Electoral Studies at the University of Exeter, as cited by The Independent, in England two leading political forces — the ruling Labour Party and the opposition Conservatives — are expected to suffer defeat. Analysts predict a victory for Reform UK; the “Greens” and the Liberal Democrats are also expected to increase their presence in the legislatures. In Scotland and Wales, according to the forecasts, local national parties are expected to come to power. How critical for Keir Starmer is a defeat in the local elections — in an RBC piece. Photo: Jack Taylor / Getty Images Our channel: Node of Time EN

Filming for the second season of «Harry Potter» will begin in autumn 2026 HBO has officially approved filming for the second season of the series «Harry Potter», based on the book «Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets» by Joanne Rowling. They will begin in autumn 2026, Variety reports. The publication notes that the decision is in line with the network’s plan to adapt all seven of Rowling’s Harry Potter books into seven seasons of a television series over the course of ten years. The series premiere is scheduled for Christmas Day—December 25, 2026. Our channel: Node of Time EN

American airlines’ fuel expenses rose by 56% in March amid the conflict surrounding Iran, The Hill reported, citing data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Fuel spending by air carriers increased from $3.23 billion in February to $5.06 billion in March. The rise in oil and gas prices is linked, among other factors, to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the key routes of global oil trading — which remains inaccessible for more than two months. Spirit Airlines announced an immediate shutdown after failed negotiations to obtain government support. The company said that the increase in fuel prices became one of the factors behind the crisis. At the same time, U.S. Transportation Minister Sean Duffy said that Spirit Airlines’ problems began long before the conflict with Iran. According to him, the company had repeatedly gone through bankruptcy, and its business model remained inefficient. ❗️ On May 6, Germany’s largest airline Lufthansa announced losses of €1.7 billion due to rising fuel prices amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Our channel: Node of Time EN

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