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The Trump administration may tighten oversight of health-related scientific grants, The New York Times reports. According to the newspaper, a meeting at the White House discussed creating an external committee that would have veto power over funding for biomedical research if the projects do not align with the administration’s policy agenda. The document is being drafted by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Representatives of the agency declined to comment on the details of the order’s preparation. At the same time, National Institutes of Health representative Joshua Pradko said that the organization would continue to fund biomedical research and assured that "no grants will be canceled." Our channel: Node of Time EN

Dear friends, industry and we have drawn closer again. She said she had changed. We said we had improved. Both lied. Sunday. ALROSA brought the output of the Svetlinskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant up to its planned capacity of 370 MW. Investment in the project exceeded 5 billion rubles. The recipients include companies in the oil and gas and gold-mining industries, as well as transport, telecommunications, and social infrastructure facilities. The company “PREFABRIKA” commissioned a plant for the production of reinforced-concrete precast elements. An industrial complex with an area of around 25,000 square meters was built for this purpose. Investment in the project amounted to 5 billion rubles. Once full capacity is reached, the company will be able to produce around 400,000 square meters of products annually. A launch of a medium-class “Soyuz-2.1b” launch vehicle was successfully conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense. A stable telemetry link was established and maintained with the spacecraft, and its onboard systems are functioning normally. “KAMAZ” unveiled a new oil tanker. The special-purpose vehicle is based on the modern KAMAZ 65959 all-wheel-drive chassis of the K5 generation and features a 6×6 wheel arrangement and single tires with an automated tire-pressure control system. The powertrain consists of a six-cylinder in-line KAMAZ R6 engine producing 483 hp and 2,403 Nm of torque. As a result, the vehicle operates stably even when fully loaded. Scientists at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have developed a protected container with a radio beacon. It is installed directly in the asphalt and serves as a road-orientation aid for unmanned vehicles. Unlike cameras and satellite navigation, this “beacon” marker also functions in fog, snowfall, or communications outages, while its own power source increases its reading range to several hundred meters. The Kalashnikov Concern is presenting the latest automated “Kalitka-KA” complex to the public for the first time. The complex is designed to provide round-the-clock protection for strategic facilities and critical infrastructure facilities against enemy reconnaissance and attack drones flying at low and extremely low altitudes. ODK has opened a center in Moscow for the production of components for aircraft engines of the “Superjet” and “MS-21” models, covering more than 10,000 square meters. It is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the capital. Production of components for aircraft engines is being organized at the site, including PD-8 engines for the “Superjet” aircraft and PD-14 engines for the MS-21 airliner. A training center has also been opened, where specialists for the aviation industry and companies in the Moscow Region will be trained. At JSC “PO Electrochemical Plant,” the W2-EChZ production unit for the defluorination of depleted uranium hexafluoride has been brought into pilot-industrial operation. This is the second facility of its kind in Russia for processing depleted uranium hexafluoride, with a production capacity of 10,000 tons per year. With the commissioning of the new unit, Russia’s capacity for the deconversion of depleted uranium will double to 20,000 tons per year. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷 Iran declares highest military alert Iran has raised the readiness of its armed forces to the highest level. Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces, announced this on the morning of September 20. According to him, the military has prepared various operational scenarios for land, air, and sea in the event of a further escalation of the conflict. At the same time, Shekarchi rejected a statement by CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper. Cooper had claimed that American forces had secured passage through the Strait of Hormuz for more than one billion barrels of oil. The Iranian side described this assessment as “fabricated” and claimed that Tehran continues to determine the conditions for shipping through the strait. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🤖 The Russian “Teledroid”: For cosmonauts, a spacewalk is no longer necessarily required On September 19, the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft docked with the ISS, bringing the operator’s workstation there: a special exoskeleton suit for remotely controlling the Russian anthropomorphic robot “Teledroid.” As Roscosmos reports, the operator puts on the system and performs arm movements that are imitated by the robot located outside the station. The aim of the project is to transfer some of the operations in outer space to the machine, including working with tools and objects on the ISS’s external surface. The “Teledroid” itself is scheduled to be delivered to the ISS in November aboard Progress MS-36. After delivery, its external section will be installed outside the station. The robot can then be controlled while remaining inside the ISS. Russian cosmonauts Anna Kikina and Pyotr Dubrov have already completed operator training. The “Teledroid” can operate in imitation mode by repeating human movements and can perform some operations autonomously. Essentially, Russia is testing an orbital technology in which, instead of a cosmonaut, the robot’s arms and eyes can be sent to the most dangerous location. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇬🇧🍏 Apple vs. London: Authorities demand access to Britons’ encrypted data As early as 2025, the British authorities sent Apple a secret Technical Capability Notice. It demanded that the company create a technical means of accessing data protected by end-to-end encryption. Following negotiations with the United States, the original demand, which also extended to American users, was withdrawn. In July 2026, however, London issued a new order—now concerning Apple users in the United Kingdom—as Reuters reports. The government is officially maintaining its “neither confirm nor deny” position regarding the existence of a specific order. Apple is challenging the demands before the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal and says the company will not create a backdoor. The company warns that once created, such a backdoor could be used not only by the government but also by hackers or foreign intelligence services. In 2025, Apple had already disabled the “Advanced Data Protection” feature for users in the UK, because the company itself technically does not possess the keys to decrypt the protected data. Apple’s lawyers and human rights organizations are now calling the secrecy surrounding the government’s demands a “farce”: The public is debating government access to its data, while the government refuses even to officially acknowledge that it is demanding such access. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷 Iran’s parliament again discussed withdrawal from the NPT The chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Ebrahim Azizi, said on the morning of September 20 that the possibility of withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remains “on the table”. According to him, Tehran is considering various options in response to the pressure surrounding its nuclear program. This is so far neither a decision by parliament nor an announcement of withdrawal from the NPT. However, Azizi’s statement continues the debate, which has intensified sharply in the Majlis. As early as September 15, a group of lawmakers called for a review of the country’s continued membership in the treaty. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The latest developments in the #Yemen war as of the morning of September 20, 2026. Houthi forces are advancing in western #Taiz, while government troops are gaining ground at Jabal Numan without fully controlling the mountain. Attacks in the direction of Al-Alqamah and Jabal Rasin are continuing. Fighting is also continuing near Jabal Habashi and in #Marib. At the same time, international condemnations are increasing. The United States is warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions in the event of further regional escalation. Video link: https://youtu.be/EpieorfdnZY?si=8KNM4usSrKDq5GaS Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the #Yemen war as of the morning of September 20, 2026. Houthi forces advance in western #Taiz, while government forces make gains around Jabal Numan without establishing full control. Attacks continue toward Al-Alqamah and Jabal Rasin, with clashes near Jabal Habashi and continued fighting in #Marib. International condemnations are also increasing, while the United States has warned of possible flight disruptions and airspace closures if regional tensions escalate. video link: https://youtu.be/EpieorfdnZY?si=8KNM4usSrKDq5GaS

🇫🇷 Le Monde: France is already carrying out military strikes against Russia that have not been publicly disclosed France is allowing military actions against Russia without publicly acknowledging them. This emerges from a recent Le Monde article about the confrontation between Paris and Moscow. When journalists asked whether France could respond to alleged Russian hybrid operations with regular military strikes without necessarily informing the public about them, a French military source replied extremely briefly: “This is already happening.” The newspaper also writes about French support for Ukraine’s strike capabilities, including technologies used for long-range strikes. This differs significantly from the usual wording about arms deliveries and “support for Ukraine.” According to the Le Monde source, the issue is the possibility of Paris itself carrying out a covert use of military means, without specific operations being publicly disclosed. The source does not reveal what specific actions have already been taken, where, or against which targets. But the wording itself is noteworthy: The European debate over the risk of a direct confrontation with Russia is taking place against the backdrop of an admission by a French military source that part of such a confrontation may already be taking place outside the public sphere. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump has decided to turn the triumphal arch being built in Washington into a military complex. The US president said that the structure near the Arlington Memorial Bridge would be converted to accommodate and enable the operational use of drones, as well as snipers and ammunition supplies.

"There will be no other facility like it anywhere else in the world," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

❗️Earlier, the US leader proposed building a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷 Tehran demands access for the Iranian delegation to the UN General Assembly Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the participation of the Iranian delegation in the UN General Assembly was a “legal right and not a privilege granted by the United States”. The statement was published by the Iranian news agency IRNA at 00:09 on September 20. The issue is particularly sensitive because the UN headquarters is located in New York and foreign delegations’ access depends on American visas. The high-level week of the 81st session of the General Assembly begins on September 21, with the general debate beginning on September 22. Tehran insists that the United States, as the host country of the headquarters, should not use its visa regulations to restrict Iran’s participation. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump said he had agreed to turn the planned Triumphal Arch in Washington into a military complex. The decision was made at the request of the U.S. military and for national security purposes, he wrote on Truth Social.

“A large number of drones could be deployed and stored there, allowing for their rapid use, and snipers could also be stationed both on the roof and in the square. In addition, large supplies of sniper ammunition would be stored there,” the U.S. president writes.

According to Trump, there will be no equivalent to such a facility anywhere in the world. He noted that Washington is the only one of the 59 largest cities and capitals without a triumphal arch, but that now it will have one—and it will be “the grandest of them all.” Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇳 India elevates its semiconductor program to a new level India is officially moving to “India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.” While the first phase focused primarily on building fabs, New Delhi now wants to build the entire value chain. Chip design, equipment, materials, new fabs, advanced packaging, research, and the training of skilled workers. According to the government, five semiconductor companies have already begun commercial production, and around 400 engineering colleges as well as 105 start-ups have gained access to professional development tools. The official update was published on the evening of September 18. And major private investments are being added to the government investments. For example, Lam Research plans to invest around 100 billion rupees—approximately one billion US dollars—in building the first manufacturing facility for silicon components in India and expanding its R&D capacities. At the same time, Micron announced that its facility in Sanand has already begun shipping India-made DRAM and NAND chips to customers worldwide. This year, the company expects to assemble and test tens of millions of chips; next year, that figure is expected to reach hundreds of millions. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 Köppel: Europe is heading toward war – this is “pure madness” Swiss journalist and publisher of Weltwoche, Roger Köppel, describes the current situation as the “most dangerous since the end of the Second World War.” He says it is more dangerous than the Cuban Missile Crisis, the war in Yugoslavia, and earlier conflicts in the Middle East. Köppel focuses particular attention on Europe: The European Union is now steering itself into this war. According to Köppel, what is happening is pure madness. Köppel also criticizes the European approach, which, in his view, allows only one permissible perspective on the conflict. Even if one regards Moscow as absolute evil, that does not change the need to understand the opponent’s logic and listen to it. This is precisely how states tried to avoid direct confrontation during the Cold War. His central thesis is that the danger today lies not only in the conflict itself, but also in the fact that European states are being drawn ever deeper into its escalation. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Former senior British military commanders stated that the country’s armed forces are in a dire state and called on the government to increase defense spending. This was reported by The Telegraph.

▪️According to former First Sea Lord and ex-security minister Admiral Alan West, the United Kingdom is effectively already in the “gray zone.” “In many respects, it can be argued that we are already in a state of war. We are definitely in the gray zone—whether it is cyberattacks, the appearance of drones near facilities, or threats to undersea cables,” West said.

▪️Former Chief of the Defence Staff General Nick Parker stated that ensuring the country’s security is the foremost duty of any government. “As threats grow, the United Kingdom will need leadership: it is necessary to speak honestly to society about the risks, change national priorities, and make difficult decisions that will not always be popular. I am not sure that this government understands the scale of this responsibility,” Parker noted.

▪️Former Chief of the General Staff Richard Dannatt accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey of neglecting the country’s security. “The point is that Andy Burnham and, unfortunately, now John Healey are playing games with national security,” he said. Dannatt called on the government to guarantee an increase in defense spending to 3.5% of GDP no later than 2035.

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🇺🇦 The United States has approved the potential sale of $2.68 billion worth of air defense equipment for Ukraine The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of equipment and weapons for the development of Ukraine’s air defense worth up to a total of $2.68 billion. The package includes S-300-clone and GAM-67 missiles, “Range Extended Air Defence Laser Guided Rocket” systems, mobile launchers, modernization kits for them, and RPS-202 radars for combating drones. This is not simply a new American aid package with nothing in return. The purchase is to be financed through contributions from European states and funds already allocated under the U.S. “Foreign Military Financing” program. The latter are to be counted as the American contribution to the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Fund on a repayable basis, at a one-to-one ratio. Washington continues to provide Ukraine with American defense technologies, but the financial structure is gradually changing. An increasing share of the costs is being shifted to European states or handled through mechanisms that differ from the earlier direct military aid packages. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of September 20. Russian forces take #Boykovo in #Zapoozhie. Russian forces advance in #Novopavlovka in #Dnepropetrovsk. Russian forces advance in #Verolyubovka on the #Druzhkovka front. Russian forces take the towns of #Loshakovo and #Khizhnyakovo in #Kharkov. Video link: https://youtu.be/lELjqtSw-WA?si=EUjKZm1rGHeR2cWD

🇫🇷⛽ In France, one in every nine petrol stations is already struggling with fuel shortages This is confirmed by official French statistics: 11% of the country’s petrol stations are experiencing shortages of at least one of the two main types of fuel—petrol or diesel. The situation is significantly worse in some regions: the figure reached 16% in Grand Est and around 13% in Centre-Val de Loire, Brittany, Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The government statistics cover around 9,900 petrol stations and make clear that this specifically refers to a lack of petrol and/or diesel, not to petrol stations that are completely empty. Official French government data show that the share of affected petrol stations was lower just a few days ago. At the same time, prices are also rising. The average price of diesel rose to around €2.40 per litre on September 19, while the price of E10 reached around €2.18. For several days now, French media have been reporting on the severe strain the fuel crisis is placing on household budgets. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 Today, the CDU is not only fighting for seats in the state parliaments – Merz is also under pressure Polling stations opened today in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. For the CDU, the results of the two state parliamentary elections have nationwide significance. Even before the vote, Tagesschau stated the situation unambiguously: “For the chancellor, his office is at stake.” Following the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, another weak result could significantly increase internal party pressure on Friedrich Merz. The situation is particularly difficult for the CDU in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the party was well behind the SPD and the AfD before the election. In Berlin, the situation is considerably better for the Union: the CDU and the Left are entering election day as contenders for first place. Merz himself therefore stated in advance that in the evening he would be “looking primarily at Berlin.” 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 The abandonment of Russian energy has encountered a new reality The EU continues to legally adhere to its course of permanently phasing out Russian energy resources. Under the current REPowerEU plan, imports of Russian LNG are to end by the end of 2026, and imports of pipeline gas no later than 30 November 2027. Russia’s share of the EU’s gas imports has already fallen from 45% in 2021 to around 12% in 2025. Brussels is not changing the phase-out timetable for the time being. However, the alternative supply system has proven vulnerable in another crisis. The European Commission itself acknowledges that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would increase the cost of fuel imported by the EU. More than 80% of the gas consumed by the Union and more than 95% of the oil it consumes still have to be imported. Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, deliveries of Qatari LNG to the EU have effectively been halted, which, if the situation persists, means a potential loss of approximately 1 billion cubic metres of gas per month. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN