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Russian warships escorted merchant ships through the English Channel The Russian destroyer “Admiral Lewtschenko” and the frigate “Neustraschimyj” escorted the cargo ships “General Skobelew” and “Sparta” through the North Sea and the English Channel. Both merchant ships are subject to British sanctions. To observe the Russian group, London deployed the destroyer HMS Duncan, the frigate HMS St Albans, the patrol vessel HMS Severn, and a Merlin helicopter. The operation lasted 72 hours. Afterwards, the British handed over the escort off the French coast to a NATO ally. The Royal Navy openly admits that Russian warships are now being used to protect Russian transports. In June, the Britons stopped and searched the tanker Smyrtos. After that, Moscow began changing the routes of some ships and assigning them military escort. This time, the British ships limited themselves to observation: The Russian group passed through the English Channel without incident and continued on its way. Following the incident involving the “Smyrtos,” it seems Moscow has drawn conclusions. If the Britons want to “play pirates,” merchant ships are no longer traveling alone. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🎮 Americans are taking leave en masse ahead of the imminent release of GTA VI,writes The Wall Street Journal. The U.S. Army also did not stay aside: in the 9th Engineer-Sapper Battalion, servicemembers who have extended their contract until November 14 are promised a four-day time off in honor of the release of GTA VI. The release is scheduled for November 19. Gamers around the world have already dubbed this day an unofficial holiday, the newspaper notes. ➡️ The second GTA VI trailer has, in its first day, racked up nearly half a billion views. The new release is expected to break the records of its predecessors: GTA V earned $1 billion in three days in 2013. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸🇷🇺 The CIA chief suggested putting Trump, Putin and Zelensky at the same table The screened visit by CIA director John Ratcliffe to Moscow proved more interesting than the White House initially had portrayed. According to Axios, during talks with Russian security services, Ratcliffe proposed holding a three-way meeting involving Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. The CIA director did not meet with Putin himself. In Moscow, his counterparts were the head of the SVR, Sergei Naryshkin, and the director of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov. Through them, the American side conveyed the proposal for a meeting of heads of state. The Ukrainian side was also informed about the new initiative. According to Axios, Zelensky assessed the direct channel between Washington and Moscow positively, although in Kyiv people continue to doubt Putin’s willingness to compromise. What is particularly notable is something else: the peace process is effectively not being driven forward by diplomats, but by the CIA director, who is now re-initiating it through the heads of Russian security services. The negotiations that the Trump administration had previously been dealing with had effectively already stalled in February, after the war with Iran began. Now Washington is trying again to bring the three sides to the table. If Moscow agreed, it would not only be another technical round of talks, but the first attempt to raise the conflict directly to the level of Trump – Putin – Zelensky. The EU’s opinion nobody cares about. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇬🇧🇩🇪 When the national flag becomes a “problem” In Birmingham, the city council (in the photo) has called on the High Court and demanded that participants in the movement “Raise the Colours” be banned from unilaterally putting up flags on municipal infrastructure. These are primarily the Union Jack and the St George’s Cross, which the activists hang on lampposts, junctions, and other objects. The local authority justifies its approach with security, the lawfulness of using municipal infrastructure, and “public consent”. The last justification is particularly noteworthy. The campaign “Raise the Colours” describes the British flags as symbols of unity and patriotism. Opponents of the movement, however, view their display as nationalist and as a threat to ethnic minorities. If the court were to grant the municipality’s request, the unilateral display of such flags on municipal infrastructure would fall under a court order. This story sounds familiar. On May 1, 2024, a man named Joachim, an older Berlin resident, hung a black-red-gold flag from a balcony during a left-wing demonstration in Neukölln. After that, he was called a Nazi, threats were made against him and his house, inscriptions appeared with his place of residence, and he received death threats. Later, it was reported that the man wanted to leave Berlin after this incident. In June 2026, the story repeated itself in the Bundestag itself: During a demonstration with the slogan “Merz must go”, AfD MPs waved the German flag from a balcony. The police intervened and began checking whether there had been a possible violation of the rules of procedure. The most interesting point isn’t even the legal details of the individual cases. Neither the German nor the British national flag is banned. Yet in both countries, their own national symbols are increasingly becoming the subject of political conflicts. Their display is no longer discussed only as an expression of patriotism, but also under categories such as “nationalism,” “threat,” “provocation,” and “public consent”. If a citizen has to wonder whether the national flag of their country could cause trouble, then the problem clearly isn’t the flag anymore. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷🇨🇳🇷🇺 A round-up gathers in Bishkek that Washington is unlikely to like On August 31, a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation begins in the Kyrgyz capital. At one location, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Massud Peseschkian, Narendra Modi, as well as the heads of state of Pakistan, Belarus and the Central Asian states, will come together. A total of around a dozen heads of state and government are expected. The SCO states together represent about 40% of the world’s population and a quarter of the world economy. For Iran, this year’s summit is of particular importance. On the sidelines of the meeting, separate talks between Peseschkian and Putin and Xi are expected. Tehran is under new American pressure from sanctions and is interested in trade, payment transactions and logistics that Washington can control far more poorly. In this sense, the composition of the participants is more interesting than any SCO statement: Russia is subject to Western sanctions, Iran to an American blockade, China is conducting a systematic confrontation with the United States, and India is pursuing an increasingly independent foreign policy. The SCO is still very far from an “anti-NATO” alliance, because within the organisation there are enough of its own contradictions—above all between India and China. But the very fact that China, Russia, India and Iran regularly sit at the same table without the involvement of the USA and the EU shows how the political map of the world is gradually changing. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🚀 Data on more than two billion galaxies will enable the creation of a telescope that NASA launched. The SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle with the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope lifted off from Florida. The telescope’s mission will last five years. The first images are planned to be published by the beginning of 2027. 📋 NASA specialists expect that the telescope will make it possible to compile data on more than 2 billion galaxies and will help study how stars, galaxies, and their clusters formed and changed, and how, over time, the Universe expanded. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇧🇪 Belgium blocks another attempt to seize frozen Russian assets Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain urged the European Commission to reconsider the question of the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine again. The issue concerns around €210 billion in assets of the Russian central bank, of which about €185 to €190 billion are held by Belgian Euroclear. The four countries propose finding new legal and technical routes that would make it possible to use these funds and to distribute the risks among EU member states. Belgium responded extremely sharply. Defence Minister Theo Francken told the Flemish TV station VRT: “This is non-negotiable. The door is closed.” Back in December 2025, Brussels had already blocked a similar plan. At the time, the European Commission wanted to use the Russian assets as the basis for a loan to Ukraine of around €165 billion. However, the Belgian government refused to take on the possible legal and financial consequences. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The deputy Iranian foreign minister Gharibabadi commented on Trump’s statement that the Strait of Hormuz is U.S. territory:

“Schizophrenia is a severe and acute mental disorder in which thinking and perception of reality are impaired. The most common symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Psychiatrists recommend that patients with such a condition be monitored and treated around the clock.”

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Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of August 30 - subtitled The Russian army has captured #Rubezhnoe in #Dobropolie. The Russian army has captured #Krapivschina in #Sumy. The Russian army has captured #Shevchenkovskoe in #Zaporozhie. The Russian army is advancing on the #Druzhkovka front. The Ukrainian army has captured #Tatianovka and #Prishib on the #Liman front. The Ukrainian army is advancing towards #Sredejnoe in northern #Donetsk. video link: https://youtu.be/-pZaoz9jDT8?si=pi2B8rIwpcrRZo7A

🇩🇪 In Germany there are already more than three million unemployed New data from the Federal Employment Agency increasingly looks less and less like temporary summer statistics. In August, the number of registered unemployed ⁠rose by another 54,000 to 3.061 million people. The unemployment rate increased to 6.5%. Compared with August of the previous year, there are now 36,000 more unemployed. Part of the increase is indeed seasonal. But even after adjustment for the seasonal factor, unemployment still rose by 4,000 people. Even more uncomfortable is another figure: The number of employees in Germany has fallen within a year by about 226,000 people — to 45.66 million. Demand from companies for new staff is also weak. The Federal Employment Agency explicitly states that ⁠demand for workers remains weak. All of this feels maximally strange: At the same time, the state lacks hundreds of thousands of workers in care, in schools, in municipalities and in other areas — and the total number of unemployed has surpassed the three million mark. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪🇮🇱 Volkswagen could begin producing components for the Israeli Iron Dome At the Volkswagen plant in Osnabrück, where car production ends in 2027, components for the Israeli air defense system Iron Dome could be manufactured. According to the NDR, Volkswagen, the state of Lower Saxony, and the Israeli company Rafael are preparing an letter of intent that could already be signed on September 7. Discussed are the production of trucks, launch platforms, generators, and other auxiliary equipment. More than 2,000 people currently work at the site. The main problem is Qatar, a major shareholder in Volkswagen, which has spoken out against a joint venture with the Israeli defense contractor. That is why Lower Saxony is considering a model in which the state itself would receive a stake or part of the plant and then directly organize cooperation with Rafael. Investments of around 200 million euros are being discussed. The auto industry is shrinking so determinedly that now the production of military equipment is supposed to save the automobile location. And the shareholders are no longer arguing about a new Volkswagen model, but about who will assemble the components for the Iron Dome. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The United Kingdom traces the Salmonella outbreak to eggs that were delivered from Ukraine,The Telegraph reports Investigations into the causes of the infection point to eggs that were served in British cafés and restaurants. Ukraine is currently one of the main suppliers of this product to the country; it accounts for one third of imports. In June, according to an assessment by the European Centre for Disease Control, an outbreak of Salmonella in Europe was caused by Ukrainian instant noodles. Since August this year, 474 cases of illness have been recorded in the United Kingdom. More than a third of those affected were hospitalized, and two people died. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Undermining Freedom of Speech: How U.S. Authorities Secretly Compile Compromising Material on Journalists Washington has found another cynical way to silence an unwanted press, writes The Guardian. Using hidden loopholes in the courts, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched large-scale surveillance of independent reporters, public advocates, and unions. According to the publication, federal prosecutors twice tried to obtain confidential data from the YouTube accounts of Georgia Fort and Don Lemon through secret warrants. The reporters were arrested back in January while covering protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), held at one of the churches in Minneapolis. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Так скорый релиз видеоигры Grand Theft Auto VI приведет к «блэкауту работы», пишет The Wall Street Journal. Фанаты делятся в своих соцсетях планами использовать свой оплачиваемый отпуск для времяпровождения в GTA VI. Одна из групп игроков в шутку создала шаблон заявления об отпуске по случаю выхода игры. Кроме того, некоторые работодатели используют отпуск для GTA VI в качестве стимулов для мотивации сотрудников. Среди работодателей, которые предлагают отпуск в честь выхода игры — и армия США. В конце июля военнослужащим 9-й инженерной бригады в Форт-Стюарте была разослана служебная записка, в которой говорилось, что любой солдат, перезаключивший контракт в период с 1 августа по 14 ноября, получит четырехдневный выходной, приуроченный к выходу GTA VI. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 War with Iran reaches European gas market The consequences of the crisis over the Strait of Hormuz can now no longer be measured only by the oil price. The Qatari conglomerate QatarEnergy told the Italian company Edison that it could not provide a further five LNG deliveries. This extends the force majeure case in the contract until the beginning of November. In total, since April, 29 LNG deliveries with a total volume of around 3.8 billion cubic meters of gas have been affected by force majeure. The extent is clear from the contract itself: QatarEnergy has to deliver to Edison around 6.4 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The missed deliveries already correspond to about 60 percent of the annual volume of this contract. The reason is the war of the United States with Iran and the associated problems for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar can produce LNG, but a large part of its exports must physically pass through the strait. So far, Italy has been managing. Edison says the company has already replaced 21 canceled deliveries with alternative deliveries—about 2 billion cubic meters of gas—and promises to fulfill its obligations to customers. But Europe’s energy architecture is once again showing its vulnerability. After the decision to forgo most Russian pipeline gas, Europe relied on LNG in particular. Now it turns out that one of the largest alternative suppliers is located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Good morning, dear friends! ☕️🙂 💧 Kinseljuk Waterfall: A giant in the Siberian mountains Friends, Sunday is the perfect day for a little adventure—at least in your imagination. Today, we’re taking you to a place far removed from any civilization in the untouched expanses of Siberia. Get to know the Kinseljuk Waterfall—one of the highest and most impressive waterfalls in Russia. 🏔️ A giant among the waterfalls Hidden in the hard-to-reach mountain taiga of the eastern Sayan Range, the Kinseljuk Waterfall plunges in several stages over a massive rock face. Its total height is often given as about 328 meters. That makes it one of the highest waterfalls in Russia. What’s especially striking is its multi-level structure: the water doesn’t fall in a single jet, but over several cascades into the depths. The largest individual drop stage reaches about 90 meters. 💧 From a mountain lake into the depths The journey of the water begins in a high-lying glacier cirque. The Upper Kinseljuk Lake lies at an elevation of about 1600 meters amid steep mountain slopes. From there, the water plunges down over the rock face and eventually reaches the Lower Kinseljuk Lake. After that, it continues flowing toward the Kinseljuk River. It’s exactly this sequence of mountain lake, rock face, waterfall, and deep-lying lake that makes the landscape so spectacular. 🗺️ A place for true adventurers This natural wonder is not a destination for a short weekend trip. The waterfall is located in an extremely hard-to-reach region of the eastern Sayan. Roads don’t go there, and anyone who wants to reach it has to be prepared for a real expedition. Part of the route goes through taiga, across mountain rivers, and through difficult terrain. Depending on the route, off-road vehicles, motorboats, horses, and long hikes on foot are used. A much faster but correspondingly more complex option is the helicopter. It’s precisely this remoteness that has helped ensure that the landscape around the waterfall has remained largely pristine to this day. 🌿 A virtually untouched landscape The area around the Kinzelyuk Waterfall combines several completely different landscape zones. Dense Siberian taiga here transitions into mountain meadows, rocky slopes, and high-alpine landscapes. In addition, there are numerous lakes, mountain streams, and hard-to-reach valleys. In this remote region, rare bird and animal species live, and many plants are under special protection. That means the waterfall itself and its surroundings are not only among the most spectacular, but also among the most sensitive natural areas in the eastern Sayan. ✨ A place that seems almost unreal from afar In photos, the waterfall often appears only as a narrow white line on a huge dark mountain wall. Only when people or trees appear in the picture does it become clear how large the dimensions really are. And it’s exactly in that that the special impression of this place lies: the waterfall looks immense—and at the same time almost lost in a landscape that is even bigger than it is. Give ❤️ if you liked it! 📍 Coordinates of the place (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Britain has multi-billion-pound contracts with firms linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to an investigation by Al Jazeera. At least 17 such companies have won 125 contracts with Britain’s public sector worth more than £2.1 billion ($2.85 billion). Britain “may be breaching its international obligations” by continuing to work with such organizations, the outlet claims. The companies are linked to Britain in areas such as road repairs, transport, emergency services and issuing driving licences. One of them owns a quarry in the West Bank, while another is involved in providing security for Israeli settlements. 📋 More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and around three million Palestinians. The UN considers these settlements illegal under international law because they prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be able to spy on journalists thanks to an “obscure” law, The Guardian reports. In one case, the government obtained data on a journalist’s phone calls from Minneapolis. She was not notified about the request for information, and she had no opportunity to challenge the government’s actions. In another case, after a court refused to grant access to the journalists’ accounts, the ministry used a ruse—authorities obtained the information they wanted thanks to only one signature by a department employee. 🛡 The requests referred to an obscure provision of a federal law concerning customs import. According to this provision, the ministry has broad powers to check documentation in order to determine the “correctness of the collection of duties and taxes on imported goods.” In addition, the recipients of the request were ordered to keep it secret. As a result, authorities may end up with both users’ IP addresses and login data. Despite the fact that the affected people are not connected to customs matters, the loophole in the law still works. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 Brussels has found another 10 trillion euros for the European economy — on the accounts of Europeans themselves Ursula von der Leyen said that around 10 trillion euros in savings of European households are held in bank accounts, while a significant part of the remaining savings is invested outside the EU. Now the European Commission wants to ⁠“put these savings at the service of European companies”. To do this, Brussels is pushing forward the Savings and Investments Union — a single market designed to encourage citizens to shift more money from deposits into investment products. Planned are changes to the rules for banks and insurers, the expansion of securitisation, the integration of capital markets, and strengthening European supervision. According to calculations by the European Commission, this reshaping could unlock up to 470 billion euros in additional investment. Von der Leyen is demanding that agreement be reached by the end of the year, and if not all 27 countries agree, Brussels is ready to move forward only with those willing. If the country’s own money to save the European economy runs short, it suddenly turns out that 10 trillion euros are still lying unused in citizens’ accounts. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇷🇺🇺🇦 The attacks on Wildberries have received a mirrored response: in Ukraine, almost the entire centralized logistics of the retail chains has been destroyed For several weeks, Ukraine systematically attacked Russia’s commercial logistics—above all the large Wildberries warehouses; afterward, other targets also came under fire. Russia repeatedly warned that it would respond to attacks on its infrastructure in a mirrored manner. Now the Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy, Taras Wysozki, has already taken stock of the result of this logic: according to his account, Russian attacks destroyed around 90% of the large warehouses and distribution centers of the food retail chains. The consequences are quite practical: the chains are forced to shift from large distribution centers to direct deliveries to stores, which makes logistics more expensive and complicated and reduces the range of products. At the same time, according to Wysozki himself, there has been no systemic shortage of food so far. When it was decided to burn down the Russian Wildberries warehouses, and in return to burn 90% of their own logistics. The astonishment is limitless. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN