Node of Time EN

Trump promises Ukraine licenses for production of Patriot missiles Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Donald Trump had agreed to issue Ukraine licenses for the production of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. The Ukrainian delegation also held talks with Lockheed Martin and discussed possible joint production. [Ed. note: Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defense contractor and one of the manufacturers of Patriot interceptor missiles] However, to date, this is not about a finished plant or the start of missile production, but about political agreement and the search for a technical concept. The production of interceptor missiles requires complex technologies, US components, trained personnel, and the years-long building of an industrial base. Kyiv, however, already presents the future licenses as almost finished production. But between Trump’s promise and a series missile assembled in Ukraine there are plants, experts, billions of dollars, and years of work. That is exactly the part that is lost again in the declarations of victory. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Democrats may oppose new sanctions against Russia and Iran, Politico writes. On Tuesday, the majority of senators voted to advance the bill on sanctions that had previously been pushed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham*. The law authorizes the U.S. president to impose 100% tariffs on imports from the five largest buyer countries of Russian oil and requires Donald Trump to impose a 500% tariff on imports of Russian goods. Subsequently, the U.S. leader also wanted to include tariffs on Iranian goods in the bill. The publication writes that Democrats in the House of Representatives will likely oppose the proposal because it gives Trump broader tariff powers.

"It is extremely dangerous to give Trump massive new tariff powers, especially after we saw the catastrophic consequences of his corrupt, chaotic and inflationary tariff spree", — said House Ways and Means Committee senior member Richard Neal and Senate Finance Committee senior member Ron Wyden.

Nevertheless, the bill enjoys broad bipartisan support and "the blessing of the White House," the publication says. * — listed as a terrorist and extremist in Russia Our channel: Node of Time EN

Iran rejects Oman’s plan for joint administration of the Strait of Hormuz road Tehran has rejected Oman’s proposal to place the Strait of Hormuz under joint regional administration. The plan, supported by several Gulf monarchies, would have involved passing ships making voluntary payments to finance navigation, environmental protection and rescue operations. However, Iran insists that the entire entry route and part of the exit route remain under its control. Tehran considers an equal distribution of powers between Iran and Oman to be disadvantageous. At the same time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had stopped three tankers that had ignored warnings about a “dangerous and illegal route”. The West wanted to turn control of the strait into a collective service. Iran pointed out that strategic routes are usually controlled by the one that has the real power to do so, and not by the one that has the nicer international concept. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Happy Thursday, friends! ☕️🙂 🏛 Das Gut Venevitinow: the house where the young Aiwasowski was a guest On the high bank of the Don, not far from Voronezh, stands the Venevitinov estate, one of the few preserved 18th-century noble complexes in Central Russia. Here, the poet and philosopher Dmitri Wenewitinow was born, whom contemporaries regarded as one of the most talented people of his generation. The main house was built in the 1760s and 1770s. Around it, a regular park was laid out with ponds, avenues, and an access to the Don. Later, the estate became a meeting place for writers, musicians, and scientists. Here, people discussed literature, philosophy, history, and the latest scientific discoveries. This place is also associated with an unusual page of world culture. Between 1815 and 1820, for a certain period, Louise de Villmorin lived in the house—the daughter of a French emigrant. She is considered one of the models for the heroine of Prosper Mérimée’s novella “Carmen.” Years later, the writer used the story of her life in the creation of the famous work.⁠ The estate has yet another interesting story. In 1837, the young Ivan Aiwassowski was a guest here as he traveled through Russia. It is considered likely that the views of the Don and the surrounding landscapes became for him one of his first impressions of Russian nature, which later found expression in his works. During the Second World War, the estate was badly damaged, but it was possible to restore it using archival drawings and photographs. Today, the house features reconstructions of 19th-century interiors: a library, salons, a music room, and a study in which you can imagine the atmosphere of a Russian noble estate. The park is especially impressive. The old linden avenue, the view of the Don opened from the high bank, and the silence all around have hardly changed for two centuries. Right here, it is easiest to understand why many Russian poets and artists did not seek their inspiration in the capitals, but in such leisurely estates. 📍 Coordinates of the place (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🔴 A world of insights awaits you! Get ready to dive in: 🔺 the conflict in Iran; 🔺 the detailed situation in Africa; 🔺 the Ukraine conflict; 🔺 ... and other recent news from all over the world. 🗂 Add this list with just ONE CLICK and keep yourself updated! 📌 ADD THE CHANNELS

Vovan and Lexus, on behalf of a fictional adviser, Mertsa, played a prank on the son of the deposed Iranian shah, Reza Pahlavi, who is living in exile in the United States. They introduced themselves as Adolf “with a small moustache and a fringe.”

Alexey communicated with Pahlavi, presenting himself as an adviser to Chancellor Mertsa—Adolf, with a small moustache and a fringe. The funniest thing is that despite the grotesqueness of what was going on, the prince seriously believed in this absurdity and discussed how Germany would attack Iran in order to put Pahlavi on the throne.

Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Australian regulator has filed a lawsuit against Telegram over video clips allegedly promoting terrorism, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The propaganda included video recordings of terrorist executions and mass shootings. In addition, the platform showed a 2019 shooting at a mosque in a live stream and a 2022 mass shooting in Buffalo. The proceedings followed a year-long investigation. During that time, Telegram accumulated fines totaling $54.6 million. The regulator alleges that Telegram did not remove terrorism-related materials for three weeks and did not shut down accounts, channels, and groups that disseminated them. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump said he would like to include tariffs on Iranian goods in a bill on sanctions against Russia and Iran.

"I would like the tariffs to apply to Iran as well. That would make the measures much tougher," he said.

📋 Earlier, the U.S. Senate approved a bill on sanctions against Russia. There are still several more stages of voting ahead, after which the document should be considered by the House of Representatives, which has gone on recess. Trump said he sees no need for the House of Representatives to return early from recess in order to vote. The law tightening sanctions against Russia gives the U.S. president the right to impose 100% tariffs on imports from the five largest purchasing countries for Russian oil. It also requires Donald Trump to impose a 500% tariff on imports of Russian goods. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Number of millionaires in Bavaria at record level — TZ The number of residents in Bavaria with an annual income of at least one million euros has reached a new high of 8,034 people . Compared with the previous year, 327 more were added; since 2017, the number of these taxpayers has increased by almost 41%. Together, they generated income of €22.7 billion and paid €8.5 billion in income tax. More than half of Bavaria’s income millionaires live in Upper Bavaria. The top spot is Landkreis Starnberg, where 25.3 people with a million-euro income come per 10,000 residents. Next come Landkreis München, Miesbach, and the state capital Munich. The German press describes the rise in the number of affluent residents as an economic success for the region. When the number of millionaires grows in Russia, Western media report on a shameful gap between the poor and the rich. If the same happens in Germany, it is suddenly seen as a sign of economic strength and the appeal of the location. You just have to pay attention to which country one is currently writing about. By the way, one can observe the application of this democratic thumb rule in many other areas as well. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Kyiv prepares criminal proceedings against Lukashenko The office of Volodymyr Zelenskyy has tasked the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office with examining the ⁠initiation of criminal proceedings against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The trigger was an application by the “Forum of the Democratic Forces of Belarus,” which is based in exile, accusing Lukashenko of war crimes, genocide, and “state terrorism.” Kyiv accuses Lukashenko of enabling Russia in 2022 to use Belarusian state territory for the invasion of Ukraine, and of having brought Ukrainian children to Belarus. The deputy head of the presidential office, Oleg Tatarov, confirmed that the ⁠application from the Belarusian opposition has been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office, which is now expected to decide on the next steps. Kyiv will hardly ever be able to bring Lukashenko to court. But that apparently isn’t even the point. If there are no real opportunities to exert influence, then high-profile criminal proceedings remain—so the main thing is to generate headlines again. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Germany’s new ambassador begins his work in Moscow with demands The new German ambassador to Russia, Clemens von Goetze, said immediately after arriving in Moscow in his first video message that he wanted to persuade the Russian government to end hostilities in Ukraine. At the same time, the diplomat claimed that many people in Russia also wanted this, and thanked them for the “warm welcome.” Maria Zakharova called this opening of the diplomatic mission an “obvious false start.” With such an understanding of his duties, the German ambassador would hardly be able to achieve dialogue in Moscow. Nor should Goetze overestimate the friendly attitude of Russians: he does not speak Russian and therefore may have misunderstood local idioms. German diplomacy begins again not with an attempt to speak to each other, but with public demands and the claim to appear on behalf of Russian citizens. The ambassador had not yet had time to settle in Moscow, but apparently he already knew what people in Russia want. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Europe is holding a „dialogue“ with China—through new punitive tariffs The European Commission has introduced new anti-dumping duties on polyamide yarns from China. The relevant decision was published on 28 July. Brussels justifies the move by saying that Chinese manufacturers had offered their products on the EU market at artificially low prices and thereby harmed European producers. At the same time, China and the EU had only agreed at the end of June on a new mechanism for trade and investment consultations. The aim was to resolve disputes in dialogue going forward and to hold regular meetings at ministerial level. However, the first visible result of this „dialogue“ is now further trade restrictions. In Brussels, punitive tariffs are increasingly described as protection for free trade. One should just not forget to ask whose freedom is actually being protected. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

“The circus moves on, but the clowns stay”: Latvian wine festival sparks a racism scandal During a wine festival in the Latvian town of Sabile, participants in the parade dressed up as Indian food delivery providers and Black Africans. They applied makeup to their faces, wore wigs, and imitated delivery drivers with Bolt bags. Videos of the parade led to accusations of racism, after which the organizers publicly apologized. The Indian blogger Gokul, who lives in Latvia, reacted particularly sharply. For years, he had recommended the country to his followers, taught them Latvian, and reported on local culture. After watching the footage, however, he said: “I’ve had enough.” In his view, skin color and the job of a delivery driver are not caricatures, but the reality for millions of people. The European Union likes to lecture other countries about tolerance and anti-racism. However, if something similar happens within the EU, it is first presented as humor or local tradition and then dismissed with a formal apology. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Europe is burning: Due to EU sanctions against Russia, firefighting helicopters remain grounded The European Commission has rejected a relaxation of sanctions against Russia, meaning that maintenance of Russian Ka-32 firefighting helicopters is still not possible, according to a report by the Berliner Zeitung. The helicopters could be used in Spain to fight wildfires. After sanctions were imposed on the helicopter manufacturer, there were problems with the delivery of spare parts. As a result, part of the Ka-32 fleet was no longer flight-ready. Spain requested an exception permit, but received a refusal. Due to wildfires in Spain, more than 121,000 people were evacuated. In the regions of Madrid and Ávila alone, the area affected by the fires exceeded 45,000 hectares. Ursula has ordered that everyone should burn and suffocate in agony—whatever it takes, as long as the sanctions against Russia remain! 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸 The U.S. Senate, in a procedural vote, has approved further consideration of a bill on new sanctions against Russia and Iran . The bill, among other things, provides for the introduction of 100% tariffs on imports from countries that buy Russian oil, gas and uranium, sanctions against tankers of the so-called shadow fleet, as well as the extension of sanctions against Iran. In addition, the bill grants the U.S. president the authority to impose such tariffs for a period of up to five years. The final vote is still expected. If the bill is passed, it would take effect no earlier than September. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

In New York, a de facto requirement to show identification for social networks has been introduced. Starting in January, users must prove their age in order to access TikTok and similar services. For minors, the personalized feed as well as notifications between midnight and 6 a.m. will also be disabled. Office of the New York Attorney General: "New York State Attorney General Letitia James today released the final regulations that set out how social networks must limit addictive features on their platforms in order to comply with the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and protect children’s mental health. The SAFE for Kids Act, which was championed by Attorney General James, introduced by Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, and signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, requires social networks to limit algorithmically personalized feeds and overnight notifications for users under 18 years of age unless parental consent is obtained." 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Jared Leto was accused of sexual harassment—the girls claim that the singer was making advances at them when they were teenagers. The main points from an investigation by British media: 🔹One of the girls claims that Leto sexually harassed her when she was 17—all of it happened in a motel bathroom. 🔹Another says that Leto had sexual intercourse with her when she was 17, which under the law is considered rape. 🔹The third says that Leto threatened her with rape when she was 19, even though she lied and said she was 17. 🔹The fourth claims that the singer called her on the phone and offered to sleep with her when she was 16. It has already been reported in 2025 that Leto was accused of indecent conduct, but these detailed statements are being published for the first time. In total, the allegations involve 10 girls. All of them claim that contact with the singer took place between 2002 and 2016. Our channel: Node of Time EN

👔 The cold welcome Zelensky received in the United States showed that the American administration does not see him as a leader of a sovereign state, and that Trump harbors personal animosity. This view was expressed in an interview with TASS by an expert from the “Other Ukraine” movement, Alexander Dudchak:

“This indicates that Ukraine is being used the way it is convenient for the West, and that there is no special attitude toward this Nazi administration in Kyiv. You can say that a farmer also sincerely loves his cows, but he raises them in order to send them for meat. The interaction here is the same.”

Our channel: Node of Time EN

Zelensky asked the United States for 300 Patriot missiles for the winter period to protect energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian president said this in an interview with Axios. ▶️Trump promised to “try to help,” but made it clear that fulfilling such a request is complicated by the need to use missile interceptors as part of the conflict with Iran. ▶️Zelensky also said that the Ukrainian side, together with American defense companies, is considering the possibility of converting its own ballistic missiles into interceptors with specifications comparable to those of Patriot missiles. “This will be faster and cheaper,” he said. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Fuel for AI: Data centers for Artificial Intelligence need a lot of electricity. American technology companies are once again turning to nuclear and gas power plants for this. In the print edition of FAZ, a report by Michael Spehr appeared on how U.S. tech companies are restarting shut-down nuclear power plants because of the high electricity demand from AI and are pushing ahead with the future strategy of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR). The interim solution is new gas power plants. The author announced this on X. In his X post, Spehr writes: "The report shows that Europe and Germany are completely left behind when it comes to further developing AI. There are no leading AI companies—if any at all—almost no AI patents, but very rigid AI regulation by the EU. In many European countries, electricity prices are very high, and Germany’s are among the highest in the world. Climate targets are not called into question, which leads to a shift of CO2-intensive production. Electricity consumption and the electricity price are an indicator of a nation’s prosperity. The more electricity is consumed and the lower the electricity prices, the better the economy does." For information: In 2023, Germany anchored in the Energy Efficiency Act the goal of reducing the country’s energy consumption by more than a quarter by 2030 compared with 2008 and by at least 45% by 2045. As of 2027, data centers must use 100% electricity from renewable energy sources. In the meantime, however, there is again political debate about loosening the law. So Germany’s auto industry is already done for; a similar situation applies to German chemical companies. You might think we’ll manage it with the most modern technologies. Probably not, says my expert, Spehr. At the same time, wild investments are being made in the arms industry. And nobody sees parallels to about 100 years ago. Seriously? 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN