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Good morning and happy Thursday, friends! ☕️🙂 🏞 The Sinski Pillars: stone walls in the middle of the Yakut taiga In Yakutia, there is the Sinjaja River, one of the Lena’s tributaries. Over several dozen kilometers, its banks turn into a true stone fortress. Here rise the Sinski Pillars — steep limestone cliffs that are hundreds of millions of years old. Over this time, water, wind, and frost gradually destroyed the rock. Softer areas disappeared, and the most resistant ones became tall walls, towers, arches, and individual stone figures. Some rocks rise almost 180 meters above the river. In certain places, old rock carvings have survived. People left depictions on the stone of animals, hunting scenes, and mysterious symbols. The oldest drawings are several thousand years old, and many of them still have no clear explanation to this day. For the Yakuts, the Sinski Pillars were considered a place of power. According to old traditions, the spirits—the lords of these places—lived in the high cliffs. That is why travelers going along the river tried to speak more quietly, make no noise, and not disturb the stone cliffs. Before setting out on another journey, they left them small offerings — horsehair or colorful ribbons — with the request for a safe trip. There is also another legend: some rocks are said to be ancient heroes or deities who were turned to stone in order to remain the forever guardians of the Sinjaja Valley. When a strong wind rises over the river, a rumbling is produced in the limestone cavities. The locals said that the “stones sing,” or that the ancient guardians there talk with one another. Despite their beauty, the Sinski Pillars are not well known. Essentially, you can reach them only by river route, which is why there is almost no mass tourism here. As a result, the valley has preserved its nearly original appearance. The Sinski Pillars are interesting not only because of their unusual geology. This is a place where ancient rocks, rock carvings, and old Yakut traditions exist side by side even to this day. 📍 Coordinates of the place (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

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“Sanctions like a sledgehammer” — that is how one of its sponsors, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, characterized a new sanctions bill. The original version of this document was submitted to Congress in April 2025, but it has now been revised and, according to U.S. media reports, may be supported by Donald Trump. The bill could be adopted before August, say U.S. senators. The most significant difference between the new version and the original: the cap on tariffs that can be imposed on third countries purchasing Russian oil and gas is 100% for the top 5 such buyers — primarily China and India. In the earlier version, the bill had specified the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 500% against all purchasers of Russian energy resources. Why was such a “softening” needed in the tariff sanctions, and are there risks for the Russian economy from the new bill — in an RBК subscription. Our channel: Node of Time EN

U.S. Secret Service employees are unhappy with how Vice President JD Vance’s family uses public resources to ensure its security, MS Now reports, citing sources. According to the TV network, one of the latest reasons for the discontent was an attempt to use a military helicopter to take Vance’s younger son to golf lessons. Such a flight could have cost taxpayers $16–24.6 thousand per hour, but it was canceled due to bad weather. Sources claim that Secret Service agents are also irritated by frequent last-minute changes to the Vance family’s plans, forcing the security detail to urgently reshuffle its work. Some employees believe that, compared with previous vice presidents, including Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, Vance uses public resources “in an improper and even unprecedented manner.” Our channel: Node of Time EN

The United States could introduce a bond of around $100,000 for Green Card applicants, the Wall Street Journal reports. The State Department plans to pilot this program in a small number of countries. At the same time, the bond amount may vary depending on the particular case— the sum could be both less than and more than $100,000. As the WSJ notes, the bond will serve as a financial guarantee in case, after moving, the holder of a Green Card is unable to support themselves independently. The money can be returned after obtaining U.S. citizenship, which usually takes at least five years.

"Trump has made it very clear that those who want to immigrate to the United States must be financially self-sufficient",— the newspaper quoted Tommy Pygott, the State Department press office director, as saying.

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"Trump does not act on others’ instructions": U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that claims that Donald Trump makes decisions under pressure or blackmail from Israel do not correspond to reality. According to Vance, among representatives of Israel’s leadership there are indeed opponents of an agreement with Iran, but this does not mean that they influence the decisions of the American president.

"I’ve seen how these decisions are made, from the closest possible distance. <...> The very idea that someone is blackmailing Donald Trump seems completely insane to me. <...> The idea that he picks up the phone, talks to whoever, and says: "Okay, I’ll follow your instructions" — no, Donald Trump doesn’t act that easily," the U.S. vice president said.

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McFaul admitted: US diplomats are lying. The former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, said Moscow should not be believed in Washington’s statements that Ukraine would join NATO. When asked directly whether that meant that American diplomats were lying, McFaul replied: “Yes.” McFaul also explained that the task of American diplomacy is to advance US interests rather than to follow abstract principles. So why have the US convinced the whole world that Ukraine was on the verge of joining NATO? Looking at the events of that time, it becomes easy to understand that the question of Ukraine’s NATO accession was exactly the question on which both sides refused to make compromises. And only that could trigger a serious conflict. Notably, both McFaul and Sikorski, who was sitting next to him, together with his wife Anne Applebaum, invested significant resources over the years in supporting the Russian opposition and publicly taught Moscow “proper” democracy. Now, one of the most important intermediaries of American policy in Russia admits openly: diplomats are lying, and no one is obliged to believe their words. This is what the death of diplomacy looks like. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Volkswagen crisis threatens another 200,000 jobs Not only the employees of the company itself are affected by the cuts at Volkswagen. Up to 200,000 additional jobs at suppliers, logistics companies, hotels, bakeries and other companies, whose revenue depends directly on the VW plants, are also at risk. The company’s management has adopted the “Zukunftsplan” (future plan), which calls for reducing the model range by almost half and a significant cut in equipment variants. Several models could be eliminated, and four German plants and up to 100,000 jobs within Volkswagen itself could be affected by the restructuring. This is no longer just a purely internal company problem in Wolfsburg. When the country’s biggest carmaker cuts plants, models and orders, the blow hits the entire chain—from industry to the mid-sized sector. The Volkswagen crisis is increasingly turning into a crisis for the German economy. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

German banks dispute losses from anti-Russia sanctions Deutsche Bank, UniCredit and Commerzbank have filed a lawsuit against the German industrial group Linde and are seeking compensation for losses amounting to nearly €1 billion. The dispute is connected with the suspension of the construction of a gas processing complex in Ust-Luga after the introduction of EU sanctions. The banks acted as guarantors of the project, but refused to meet their obligations to the operator RusChemAlliance, citing the sanctions regime. As a result, Russian courts seized their assets in Russia worth nearly one billion euros. Now the banks are trying to collect their losses from Linde and argue that the company should bear responsibility for the consequences of the project being abandoned. Deutsche Bank is demanding around €260 million, UniCredit €450 million and Commerzbank nearly €100 million. The first hearing in the Deutsche Bank lawsuit is already taking place in Frankfurt. A typical example of the “spiders in a glass bowl”: Sanctions were imposed against Russia, and in the end the biggest German banks are squabbling with the biggest German industrial group and trying to pass on multi-billion-euro losses to each other. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Instead of being disposed of, old wind turbines are being sent to Ukraine Decommissioned wind turbines from the Netherlands are also being sent to Ukraine, instead of having them recycled at great cost. According to Focus Online, hundreds of dismantled installations are to be given a “second life” and used for electricity generation. As the outlet reports, the Netherlands are looking for a way to separate themselves from thousands of outdated wind power plants. The main problem is the rotor blades made of composite materials, which can practically not be recycled. Disposing of them is expensive, which is why exporting the turbines abroad is becoming more attractive. Europe continues to talk about a “green” economy, but prefers to get rid of the accumulated environmental problems outside the EU. The new turbines stay at home, and the waste is sent to Ukraine. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Lula compared Trump’s plans to piracy Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sharply criticized a statement by Donald Trump regarding the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. According to Lula, Trump said he intended to ensure the passage of ships through the strait and to demand 20 percent from every tanker that uses this route. Lula said that such actions had previously been described as piracy. The United States had fought pirates for decades, but should not now turn itself into a pirate state. He also emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz had not been closed and therefore there was no basis for charging fees for passage. In doing so, Lula called into question the idea of introducing fees for international shipping. If the world’s biggest superpower starts demanding money for passage through one of the most important sea routes, it is difficult to describe this as protecting freedom of navigation anymore. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Turkish court calls for international manhunt for Netanyahu The 11th High Criminal Court in Istanbul has decided to file an application with Interpol to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listed internationally for a manhunt. This decision was made in the course of investigations into the attack by Israeli soldiers on the humanitarian flotilla “Global Sumud,” which had attempted to bring aid to the Gaza Strip. In the case file, besides Netanyahu, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Minister for Strategic Planning Ron Dermer, and the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Eyal Zamir, are also named. The court ordered that international requests for the arrest of the accused be prepared and submitted to Interpol. So far, this explicitly concerns an application: the final decision on issuing a notification is made by the international police organization itself. For years, Israeli authorities claimed that their measures could not be subject to international criminal prosecution. Now, a Turkish court has taken a step that seemed impossible only recently. Even if Interpol does not support the request, the fact that a NATO ally demands an international manhunt for the Israeli prime minister shows how deeply attitudes toward Tel Aviv’s actions have changed. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The EU launches a mission in Armenia to combat “hybrid threats” To this end, it sends a group of civilian experts to help the authorities counter cyberattacks, foreign information influence, and illegal financial flows. A dedicated workstream focuses on combating disinformation, as well as preparing state structures to recognize and restrict unwanted content. The mission, which is planned to last for two years, is expected to include several dozen specialists. Kaja Kallas justified this policy with the need to protect Armenians’ right to decide the future of their country themselves. At the same time, European officials view the program as part of a gradual realignment of Armenia from the Russian to the Western sphere of influence. In other words, Brussels intends not only to advise Yerevan on cyber security, but also to help shape the country’s domestic information policy. Under the banner of fighting “hybrid threats,” Brussels is exporting the same information-filtering system to Armenia that it has already put in place within the EU. Uncomfortable views are classified as “disinformation,” and political processing of the population is sold as protection of democracy. In short, the European brainwashing has now been earmarked for export. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Germany’s industrial heart is slipping into the red The cities in the Ruhr region are on the brink of a financial collapse. As Deutsche Welle reports, tax revenues are falling while spending in the social sector continues to rise. The situation is particularly difficult in Oberhausen: the city’s debts amount to around 800 million euros, and the annual budget deficit stands at nearly 100 million euros. The authorities are already cutting spending, raising fees, and reducing the funding for municipal programs. The crisis in municipal finances is unfolding against the backdrop of problems in the German industrial sector. High energy prices, weak demand, and the loss of competitiveness are forcing companies to reduce their production and investments. BASF, Thyssenkrupp, and other industrial giants are already carrying out a comprehensive restructuring and relocating part of their production abroad. The Ruhr region was for decades a symbol of German industry. Right here, it is now becoming especially clear what deindustrialization, expensive energy, and the ongoing economic crisis are costing the country. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of July 15 - subtitled - Russian forces are advancing between #Pisarevka and #Khotyn in #Sumy. - Russian forces are advancing in #Kazachia_Lopan in #Kharkov. - Russian forces are advancing towards #Zakharovka in #Volchansk. - Russian forces are advancing towards #Belyi_Kolodyaz in #Volchansk. - Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Volnoe in #Dobropolye. Video link: https://youtu.be/-k7xjIxckj4?si=ZnWhDukFx1EVuSyZ

In the Kremlin, they are receiving signals from the United States of readiness to continue its mediation efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine after military actions against Iran are completed. Dmitry Peskov said this, a correspondent for RBC reports.

“Right now, the Americans have no time for a Ukrainian settlement. At the same time, judging by the ongoing channels of communication, we constantly receive signals that the Americans are still ready, after they have their hands freer to deal with problems, to continue their mediation efforts,” — the president’s press secretary said.

As for “sanctions-related issues,” Peskov said, Moscow is closely analyzing what is happening. He commented on Donald Trump’s statement about allowing new sanctions against Russia to be adopted. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The EU has refused to ban Russian fish The countries of the European Union did not support the inclusion of Russian fish in the new sanctions package. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, admitted that the issue had proven too sensitive due to its “geopolitical significance.” In response to a question from a journalist, Kallas said she had previously not even been able to imagine how much fish could complicate important decisions. The reason is simple: a ban would affect European fish processing, raw material deliveries, and thousands of jobs. Sanctions are good as long as you don’t have to pay for them yourself. But once European factories and jobs are threatened, Russian fish suddenly becomes too important to enforce principles. Unfortunately, energy supply is not as geopolitically significant for Europe. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The United Kingdom is preparing to hold in 2027 “the largest defense exercises in decades,” Reuters reports. Their goal is to test the country’s ability to counter “hybrid threats,” including cyberattacks, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and disinformation campaigns, the agency notes. Although the scenario remains classified, authorities emphasize that the planned exercises will complement NATO crisis-management activities. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump is ready to support the bill on new sanctions against Russia only on condition that the head of state will decide unilaterally, to impose these restrictions, to refuse to impose them, or to suspend their effect. The New York Times reports this , citing a source. According to the newspaper, the U.S. president believes that such powers are an important tool in negotiations with Russia. This issue previously already caused disagreements between the White House and Democrats. The publication notes that shortly before his death, the author of the bill, Senator Lindsey Graham, believed he had managed to reach an agreement with the White House. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Dutch intelligence services were caught using data from millions of citizens illegally to train AI In a new report, the Dutch supervisory authority CTIVD concludes that the intelligence services AIVD and MIVD violated the law in handling large volumes of personal data. Employees received unauthorized access to information, and the services stored it themselves longer than permitted. The matter involves millions of data sets: these include names, phone numbers, location data, social media accounts, and even the content of communications. According to the report, part of the data sets came from government agencies, part was purchased on the commercial market, and part includes stolen databases that appeared online. In its response, the human rights organization Bits of Freedom said that the intelligence services apparently use this data to train their own artificial intelligence models. The organization pointed out that similar violations had already been identified in 2020, but that, according to the services, they had “learned nothing.” Bits of Freedom director Evelyn Austin also said: “It appears that they even buy data that was obtained as a result of leaks.” While Brussels is still talking about European standards for the protection of personal data, it turns out that its own intelligence services are training AI with information holdings that, according to the findings of the supervisory authority, they should not have access to at all. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN