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🚨 AfD wins the election in Saxony-Anhalt by a clear margin According to the first projection, the AfD is receiving around 44 percent, more than doubling its 2021 result (20.8 percent). The CDU is plummeting to around 18.5%, after reaching 37.1% five years ago. 🔥 The main question of the evening is whether the AfD will obtain an absolute majority in the state parliament and the possibility of forming a government on its own. According to ZDF’s calculation, the AfD currently holds 41 of the 83 seats — meaning it is just one seat short of a majority. The fate of the majority depends to a large extent on whether the BSW clears the five-percent threshold. Saxony-Anhalt has just completely recolored its political map. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇦💰 “Moldova’s currency reserves” found at the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office Ukraine’s NABU and SAP reported on Operation “Carthage” and simultaneously published a photo that, in itself, already looks like a finished news story. During an investigation into an alleged criminal organization within the structure of the Prosecutor General’s Office, a safe was discovered that was neatly filled with bundles of dollar and euro banknotes. According to investigators, the group was involved in the “protection” of fraudulent call centers and the legalization of the assets obtained. The searches took place on the premises of the Prosecutor General’s Office. The agency itself confirmed the investigative measures, but disagrees with the assessment of some of NABU’s and SAP’s actions. Investigators consider one of the prosecutor’s office department heads to be the organizer of the scheme. The footage released by NABU shows precisely that safe with cash. Thanks to it, Ukrainian Telegram channels quickly established a new unit of measurement for corruption. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

From Rome to Tokyo: Which Cities Were Destroyed by Fire 360 years ago—on September 6, 1666—one of the largest urban fires in history, the Great Fire of London, was finally extinguished. 🔥The fire raged for four days, and the effort to combat it was led by King Charles II himself and his brother, the future monarch James II. The catastrophe was exacerbated by an anomalous drought, dense wooden construction, strong winds, and the absence of a permanent firefighting service. ⚪️The flames were stopped only through extreme measures—the prompt demolition of entire neighborhoods. ➡️ Read about the largest fires in human history in Vedomosti’s gallery 📠Yale Center for British Art Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 The CDU explained why court-standard evidence is not required to accuse Russia Following the incident involving the explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport, the CDU/CSU’s foreign policy spokesman, Jürgen Hardt, explained that a political accusation against Russia did not require an equally conclusive chain of evidence as would be demanded by a German criminal court. Since the Russian authorities are not cooperating with the investigation and the German police cannot conduct searches or interrogations in Moscow, according to Hardt, a “convincing chain of facts that leaves no reasonable doubt” is sufficient. In August, however, Hardt had phrased the situation more cautiously, saying that Russian involvement was “probable, but not yet proven”. In the meantime, the German government has officially held Russia responsible and referred to the police investigation, the nature of the operation, and intelligence information, a significant portion of which is not publicly disclosed. In 2020, the same Hardt still called on Russia to conduct a “complete and transparent investigation.” Apparently, transparency and the standard of proof remain matters of principle—but they are not always applied equally. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

⚡️ Saxony-Anhalt: Voter turnout has already surpassed the total turnout of the last election By 16:00, 65.3% of eligible voters had already gone to the polling stations — without taking postal voting into account. For comparison: In the 2021 state election, total voter turnout over the entire day was 60.3%. 🔥 This means that, two hours before the polling stations close, the turnout in person so far has already surpassed the total result of the last election. The polling stations close at 18:00. After that, we expect the first projections. No reports of serious violations that could influence voting behavior had been received by that time. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Siegmund Against the German War Machine: What Volkswagen Is Supposed to Become The agreement at Volkswagen is currently being celebrated as a success for IG Metall and the works council. In reality, it is above all a postponement. The four plants in Emden, Hanover, Zwickau and Neckarsulm will not be closed immediately; rather, it is to be clarified by the end of June 2027 what future they have and whether alternative uses are possible. At the same time, a further 50,000 jobs are to be eliminated worldwide. The future of the German Volkswagen core is therefore by no means secure. And this is precisely where the genuinely political question begins: What will happen to the industrial capacities that are no longer needed in classic automobile production? Because while Volkswagen is having to cut plants and jobs, Germany is massively expanding its defense industry. Rheinmetall, KNDS and other companies need production space, machinery, automation and skilled workers. At the same time, drones, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous weapons systems are giving rise to a second, entirely new form of the military-industrial complex. This leaves two models side by side in Germany: the classic model of rearmament, with more factories, more ammunition, more tanks and ultimately also more soldiers—and the technological model, which promises to replace some of the human element with machines, data and artificial intelligence. Ukraine is already demonstrating both paths in real time. The Zelensky model means mobilization, state control and an ever-expanding war economy. The Fedorov model, by contrast, relies on drone swarms, AI, robotics and autonomous systems. Palantir CEO Alex Karp’s entry as the first major investor in Mykhailo Fedorov’s new defense-tech company makes clear what international technology and capital structure is emerging behind this second path. For Germany, this particular path is dangerously seductive. An aging society, a shortage of skilled workers and limited willingness to maintain a traditional mass army could create the illusion that people in war can simply be replaced by technology. Yet Russia remains a nuclear power. Anyone who believes that artificial intelligence could simply abolish the logic of nuclear deterrence may be falling prey to one of the most dangerous political self-deceptions of our time. And that is precisely why, ahead of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund is more than a marginal political figure. His “Vision 2026” focuses not on transforming Germany into an ever more capable war machine, but on education, qualified workers, energy, the economy and infrastructure. That is the real political divide: Should Germany overcome its industrial crisis through ever larger defense contracts and a technological war economy—or should it first restore its own industrial, energy and educational foundations? The four VW plants are therefore merely a symptom. Behind their future lies the far greater decision over what kind of Germany will emerge from the current crisis. Ukraine as a showcase modeled on Zelensky—that is, God forbid, the future of a Germany at war. Ukraine as a showcase modeled on Fedorov—that is, God forbid, the apocalypse. The full analysis: Volkswagen, Fedorov, Palantir: Germany’s New War Machine 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇨🇳 China prepares for a very long typhoon season The year 2026 has already become unusual for China. By September 1, 24 typhoons had formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, compared with an average of 13.6. Seven have already made landfall on the Chinese coast, with three different typhoons managing to strike practically the same area in Zhejiang this year — meteorologists describe such a coincidence as extremely rare. Chinese experts attribute the unusual activity to the currently strong El Niño and anomalously warm waters in the western Pacific. And the season is far from over. Chinese meteorologists expect a further 8–10 typhoons in the autumn, 2–4 of which could make landfall on the Chinese coast or directly affect the country. The main risk remains for southern and eastern China, but one of the storms could potentially move significantly farther north than usual. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 Twenty years later: What has become of Europe’s safe cities? In 2003, the “Irish Examiner” reported that Dublin was among the safest cities in the world. Two decades later, the Irish press was already ranking the city among the ten most dangerous major cities in Europe. The rankings cannot be directly compared, as they are based on different methodologies. Yet these two headlines illustrate well a broader change that affects far more than just Dublin. In Germany, although the total number of registered offenses is lower than it was twenty years ago, the structure of crime has changed. While police recorded 204,000 serious violent offenses in 2003, that figure had risen to 217,000 by 2024. Dangerous and serious bodily injuries increased by around 19%. In Berlin, permanent open-air drug scenes have also emerged. Tents occupied by homeless people, crack dealers, and drug use in the middle of the city have become so commonplace that when a hotspot is cleared, the problem is often simply shifted to the next park. French statistics show another alarming trend: registered physical violence has been steadily increasing since the mid-2010s. In 2024, the police and gendarmerie recorded 450,000 victims of physical violence and 122,600 victims of sexual violence. The latter category rose by a further 7% within one year, while rapes and attempted rapes increased by as much as 9%. In the United Kingdom, overall crime has declined according to long-term surveys. At the same time, a years-long scandal involving the sexual exploitation of minors by grooming gangs was uncovered there. An official audit found systematic failures by police, local authorities, and social services. Because of these failures, the victims remained without protection for years. Over the past twenty years, everyday reality has changed in dozens of European cities that, until recently, were considered models of safety: There are open-air drug scenes, knife attacks, sexual violence, street robberies, and, in some countries, explosions resulting from criminal disputes. One can argue about the methodologies used in the rankings and point out that overall crime has even declined in some places. However, a city’s safety is measured not only by the number of lines in a police table, but also by whether a woman can walk home without worry after dark and whether a child can cross a park without seeing open drug dealing. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 Mercedes threatens to close a plant in Germany Mercedes-Benz has threatened to close one of its German production plants if employee representatives do not agree to comprehensive cost-cutting measures. The specific plant in question has not yet been named. Nor has the management board and supervisory board made a final decision. However, the scenario has already been outlined in fairly concrete terms: Production is to be expanded in Eastern Europe, and a site in Germany that has become redundant is to be closed. Employees are above all being asked to make each hour of labor cheaper. The collective bargaining agreement currently provides for a 35-hour workweek, but management is proposing working five additional hours without any increase in pay. Various allowances and special payments, including Christmas and vacation bonuses, are also under review. Around 90,000 employees have already not received the special payment stipulated in the collective agreement in July—it was postponed until next year. Mercedes management described the situation at its German plants as “dramatic” as early as this summer and stated that structural costs, particularly labor costs, were not competitive in Germany. The comparison with Hungary is particularly revealing. Mercedes has doubled the capacity of its plant in Kecskemét to around 400,000 cars per year and says that total factor costs—including personnel, energy, infrastructure, logistics, and services—are around 70 percent lower than in Germany there. In Germany, by contrast, management believes that Mercedes’ production capacities already “significantly exceed demand.” Just recently, the question was how many electric cars Mercedes should produce in Germany. Now the question is simpler: Will Mercedes still produce cars here at all if it is 70 percent cheaper a few hundred kilometers farther east? This is no longer a theoretical debate about the competitiveness of German industry—the management of one of its most important symbols has effectively put the closure of a plant on the table. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

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🇩🇪 One trillion euros for the energy transition – and yet nine of 15 targets are at risk Germany’s energy transition could require up to one trillion euros in new investment over the next ten years. According to a new study by McKinsey, 780 to 1,035 billion euros will be needed by 2035 – around twice as much as was invested in the preceding decade. At the same time, nine of the 15 central targets of the energy transition are at risk of being missed. Germany is currently performing best on the “input” metrics. It is expanding wind and solar capacity and increasing the share of renewable energy. More than 30 billion euros a year is being spent on subsidies, tax breaks and other forms of support. However, the picture is considerably worse when it comes to the end results. According to the data presented by McKinsey, German energy prices in 2025 were around 75% above the comparable levels in the EU, the United States and China. Electricity was about 50 percent more expensive, and gas about four times as expensive as in the United States. At the same time, Germany is short of almost 4,000 kilometers of high-voltage power lines, and the goal of increasing the number of electric cars to 15 million by 2030 is receding ever further into the distance. The pace of investment will now effectively have to be doubled in order to achieve the remaining targets. Electricity supply alone will require 680 to 910 billion euros by 2035. This does not even include household spending on heat pumps, solar panels, home insulation and charging stations. Comment: This amounts to a remarkable efficiency model: spend hundreds of billions to maintain one of the most expensive energy systems among the major industrialized nations, find that nine of the 15 targets set could nevertheless be missed – and solve the problem with another trillion euros. However, there is one indicator that the energy transition actually meets flawlessly: Each successive phase is more expensive than the previous one. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of September 6 - subtitled The Russian army has taken control of #Veseloe in #Druzhkovka. The Russian army has taken control of #Zapovednoe in #Kramatorsk. The Russian army is advancing towards #Kurtovka in #Druzhkovka. The Russian army is advancing in the vicinity of Malaya_Tokmachka in #Zaporozhie. video link: https://youtu.be/Mnu-DbcEriY?si=WXPyByJhXVsbXURd

How Skyscrapers Changed the Face of Cities 170 years ago – on September 3, 1856 – American architect Louis Sullivan was born. 🏙 He is called the “Father of Skyscrapers” and one of the founders and ideologues of the Chicago School of architecture, which began designing them.

“There must be in it [the building] the force and power of altitude, the glory and pride of elevation. It must be in every inch a proud and soaring thing, rising in sheer exultation,” Sullivan wrote in an article for Lippincott’s Magazine in 1896.

The first skyscrapers inspired not only admiration but also fear among their contemporaries. ➡️ How steel and elevators changed urban architecture – in Vedomosti’s article 📠Picture Alliance via Reuters Connect Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇸 In Iceland, a professor had to explain himself over an RT interview Emeritus political scientist Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson of the University of Iceland gave RT an interview in which he explained why, in his opinion, Iceland had nothing to gain from joining the EU. He spoke about how some control over national resources would be handed over to Brussels and criticized the EU’s ability to handle this. At first glance, it was an ordinary political debate following the Icelandic referendum. But the local media were interested in something else: Why had the professor agreed to speak with the Russian broadcaster at all? In the end, the 73-year-old scholar had to explain his actions publicly. Gissurarson’s answer was simple: He had known perfectly well who owned RT, but if he was given the opportunity to present his own position, then it was self-evident to him that he should make use of it. At the same time, the professor recalled that he had also published in DV itself, despite that newspaper’s “bitter personal attacks” against him. Gissurarson explicitly emphasized that he supported Ukraine. The accusation therefore did not arise because of a pro-Russian stance, but solely because of the conversation with RT. Freedom of expression in the European style is taking on an interesting form. A professor can hold a completely anti-Russian position, yet still has to justify to whom he agreed to express it. Apparently, the right opinion has long since ceased to be enough—you also need the right microphone. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

‼️ Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov commented on Putin’s meeting with the US special envoys. The main points: 🟦 The meeting, which lasted more than three hours, was substantive, constructive, and open. 🟦 The talks were assessed as timely and extremely useful for both sides. 🟦 The Russian side provided assessments of the situation that had developed during the course of the special military operation. Confidence was expressed in achieving the goals that had been set. 🟦 The American representatives put forward a number of considerations regarding possible ways to resolve the conflict. 🟦 The talks were not limited to an exchange of views concerning the Ukraine crisis and were useful for both sides. 🟦 Witkoff and Kushner promised to use the assessments expressed by Putin regarding ways to resolve the conflict in their contacts in Kyiv tomorrow. 🟦 The need to eliminate all the underlying causes of the conflict was emphasized. The intention to continue joint work with the Americans on finding political and diplomatic solutions was confirmed. 🟦 The intention to continue joint work with the Americans on finding political and diplomatic solutions was confirmed. 🟦 A number of considerations regarding possible ways to resolve the conflict were put forward. 🟦 Vladimir Putin pointed out that the Kyiv regime had stopped concealing its true nature by engaging in the reburial of some of the most prominent Nazi criminals. This point was taken note of by the Americans. 🟦 It was confirmed that the presidents of the two countries would continue their personal contacts. 🟦 The work of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will continue. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 Another blow to German industry: ArcelorMittal halts steel production in Duisburg ArcelorMittal intends to stop steel production at its Duisburg site. The steel and rolling mills, as well as the continuous casting plant, will be closed. Of the approximately 800 employees, 550 could lose their jobs. Only wire production will remain, for which the necessary semi-finished products will now have to be supplied from other plants. WELT calls what is happening a “fatal blow to the steelmaking location.” The reasons for this are more interesting than the closure itself. ArcelorMittal had already declined to extend its contract with Thyssenkrupp for the supply of pig iron in 2024, as costs, including CO₂ costs, had risen sharply. The company then examined the possibility of converting Duisburg to decarbonized production, including an electric furnace, but came to the conclusion that none of the options would be economically viable. ArcelorMittal itself attributes the systemic problems facing the European steel industry to low capacity utilization, declining domestic demand, limited export opportunities, and high energy costs. This is stated in ArcelorMittal’s announcement. German industry was supposed to become “green.” It has become even more environmentally friendly: If producing steel is uneconomical, you can simply stop producing it. Emissions will indeed fall. Along with the jobs. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

"You rarely hear English being spoken on the streets here": dissatisfaction is growing in Britain over how the authorities are handling migration. As journalist Anna Zhikhreva reported, one of the central districts in east London—Tower Hamlets—is increasingly coming to resemble South Asia. Around 44% of its residents belong to Asian ethnic groups, almost 40% are Muslim, and one in seven was born in Bangladesh. 🗣 A foreign newcomer named Anovi said that he feels as though he is in Bangladesh when he is in Tower Hamlets. According to him, he has been in Britain for three years and does not plan to return to his homeland. 🗣 At the same time, local resident Abdul Hadi noted that cultural diversity has become an integral part of London. He said that he was born nearby and had spent his entire life in Tower Hamlets, where many Muslims live, mostly people from South Asia. 🗣 Meanwhile, another local resident admitted that he was concerned about the changes in the city.

"I went up the road, to the doctors and staff, and I didn’t hear a single English voice. And I really don’t like it. Why isn’t the government doing anything about this?"—he said.

❗️Against the backdrop of a mass influx of migrants, the situation in Britain remains extremely tense. For example, on August 29, two opposing rallies were held in central London—one by UKIP supporters who oppose the spread of sharia law and the growing influence of Islam, and another by participants in the “Stand Up to Racism” movement. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 The EU is creating a unified Customs Data Hub The EU Council has given final approval to the establishment of the EU Customs Data Hub — a unified system into which continuously updated information on imports and exports, the value of goods, consignors, consignees, and customs payments is to be fed. This is not just about anonymized statistics: the legislation explicitly provides for the processing of personal and commercially sensitive data, and the system itself is intended to enable data analysis and risk assessment, including with the help of automated tools. ⁠EU documents explicitly provide for the processing of personal data and the use of the Data Hub for data analysis, economic analysis, and the determination of customs liabilities. Meanwhile, the EU Council explains the reform by citing the need to collect duties more efficiently, control e-commerce, and detect violations. ⁠On September 3, the EU Council gave its final approval to the reform. And now let’s remove the nice headline “Modernization of Customs” and look at what the data itself means. If the state knows what goods you received, how much they cost, and what duty you paid, it already knows part of your actual spending. If there are dozens or hundreds of such purchases, an increasingly detailed financial profile emerges. The transactions are linked to a specific person, and the Data Hub is being created precisely so that the information is no longer fragmented across national systems: ⁠The official goal is a unified platform with improved data traceability and centralized risk analysis across the EU. The customs system itself does not automatically know your salary or the balance in your bank account. But if these details are one day cross-referenced with tax, payment, or other government databases, a completely different question becomes possible: Does the income declared by a person correspond to the level of spending and the volume of goods transactions that the state actually observes? It can be described as a fight against dangerous parcels, Chinese marketplaces, or unpaid customs duties. The technical reality is simpler: The EU is creating another huge centralized database in which economic activity can be linked to specific people and analyzed automatically. Today, customs needs it. Which databases it may be cross-referenced with tomorrow is already not a technological decision, but a political one. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Good morning, dear friends! ☕️🙂 🏘️ Krapivna: The Town That Was No Longer Allowed to Be a Town Friends, Sunday is perfect for a journey to the Russian provinces of the past. Today we are visiting a place where time has stood still—once a flourishing town, today a quiet village. Welcome to Krapivna—the former capital of the largest district in Tula Governorate. 📜 A Field Full of Blood and Nettles The first mention of the place presumably dates back to 1389. The actual founding of present-day Krapivna is dated to the 1560s. The place was once a fortress on the Great Abatis Line, repeatedly raided by Crimean Tatars. Two legends surround the origin of the name: according to one, especially large numbers of nettles grew on the burned-over areas—krapiva in Russian. According to the other, darker interpretation, the name derives from kropivna—a “blood-soaked” place. 🏛️ The Birth of a Town—and Its Slow Decline In 1777, Krapivna was granted the status of a district town and a coat of arms featuring six green nettle branches on a golden background. But while other towns were connected to the railway network, Krapivna remained away from the tracks. Development increasingly ground to a halt. In 1929, the town lost its status and became a village. 🕰️ A Journey Back to the 19th-Century Provinces It was precisely this stagnation that preserved the historic character of the place. To this day, numerous buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries remain here: shopping arcades, merchants’ shops, administrative buildings, a post office, a pharmacy, and a school. Krapivna offers a rare impression of life in a small Russian provincial town 150 years ago. ✍️ The Great Writer and His Small District Krapivna is closely associated with Leo Tolstoy. His Yasnaya Polyana estate belonged to Krapivna District. Tolstoy served here as a justice of the peace, on the school board, and in local self-government—and became closely acquainted with everyday provincial life. 🏛️ The Legacy of Self-Government The Museum of Self-Government and Urban History commemorates the reforms of 1864, when elected local bodies were established. One special detail is a district post stamp from 1870 bearing Krapivna’s historic coat of arms. 🔥 The Nettle Comeback Since 2003, Krapivna has celebrated the “Nettle Festival” every year—with craft demonstrations, workshops, and dishes made with nettles. The very plant that once gave the place its name became a symbol of its newfound fame. Give us a ❤️ if you liked it! 📍 The coordinates of the place (map point) are available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Land of Freeloaders: The number of homeless shelters in New York City has risen by almost 50% in four years—from 333 to 499, the New York Post reports. At the same time, the number of people using the shelter system has also increased sharply. As of early September, more than 83,000 people were staying there, including over 26,000 single adults. By comparison, in fiscal year 2022, the city’s shelters housed an average of about 42,500 people daily. The largest number of homeless shelters is currently located in Brooklyn—153. There are 136 in the Bronx, 113 in Queens, 90 in Manhattan, and seven on Staten Island.

"These figures are an unfortunate side effect of politicians and their followers putting ideology above reality," said City Council member Joann Ariola, who points to the problem of high rents in New York City.

This fiscal year, New York City authorities plan to allocate about $4.2 billion to the homeless assistance system. That is $700 million more than the previous year and even exceeds spending during the height of the migrant crisis. Our channel: Node of Time EN