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🇷🇺 One of the world’s most modern synchrotrons has been put into operation in Siberia In the science city of Kolzowo near Novosibirsk, the Siberian Ring Source of Photons (SKIF) was officially opened — a megascience-class scientific facility. It is the world’s first source of 4+ generation synchrotron radiation with an energy of 3 GeV. SKIF makes it possible to produce extremely bright X-rays and literally observe the structure of matter at the atomic level — from new materials and catalysts to biopolymers and drug compound structures. The technical commissioning of the complex was already carried out at the end of 2025, and now the center has moved on to regular operations. The first seven research stations are expected to be brought into operation by the end of 2026, after which the facility will work around the clock. In total, the complex includes 34 buildings and сооружения, and its final cost exceeded 50 billion rubles. About 450 specialists are required to operate the center. Against the backdrop of the usual talk about Russia’s technological isolation, the project is particularly revealing: the country has put into operation a scientific facility of a level that only a few states in the world have. And this is no longer a matter of a demonstration prototype, but of infrastructure on which real research for science, medicine and industry is intended to be conducted. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇬🇧 British special forces sent data to China The unmanned boats K3 Scout used by the British Royal Navy have unexpectedly become a source of data leaks. According to an investigation by The Telegraph, experts found during a review that the cameras installed on them automatically sent duty signals (“heartbeat communications”) to an IP address in China using Chinese components send. After that, the Ministry of Defence had to immediately completely cut off the cameras’ internet access. According to the British Ministry of Defence, the review found no transmission of classified information, photos, videos, coordinates, or data from military systems. It was about regular technical messages that confirmed the device’s operation. The fact, however, that military equipment used by British special forces established a connection to a Chinese server without the operators’ knowledge raised serious questions about the supplier control system and the origin of the components. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Aid for Ukraine means the US will not have any Javelin anti-tank missile systems until 2030 According to Pentagon documents, the US will not be able to replenish its stocks of Javelin anti-tank missile systems at the earliest until 2030, because the volume of additional purchases in the years 2022 to 2024 exceeded the manufacturers’ production capacity. Between 2022 and 2025, the US Army bought 9,374 missiles to replenish its stocks; most of these orders will not be delivered until several years after the contract is signed. The final delivery—944 missiles, for which funding was still provided in 2024—will only be shipped in August 2030. The entire procurement and production cycle of a Javelin missile takes up to 4.5 years, making rapid replenishment of stocks impossible. The hegemon apparently spent a bit too much. According to media reports, Trump is currently asking the manufacturers to deliver the missiles as quickly as possible, but they simply cannot physically produce them quickly enough. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 "German weapons for the world" — SPIEGEL In Berlin, people like to talk about strict export controls and "responsible" arms trading. But "bribery, forged documents, illegal supply routes", according to SPIEGEL, accompanied German arms exports for decades. Rheinmetall came up in corruption cases involving contracts in Greece, SIG Sauer secretly shipped thousands of pistols via the United States to the police in Colombia, and in the 1980s German companies helped Saddam Hussein’s regime build production capacity for chemical agents that were later used against Kurds. A special role is played by Heckler & Koch. German G3s and other rifles that were produced directly in the Federal Republic of Germany or on the basis of German licenses later appeared in South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Syria — including in the hands of child soldiers. Germany officially approved the export of H&K weapons to more than 80 countries, and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey received licenses for domestic production. After that, the further path of millions of barrels was effectively no longer controllable. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 Europe is becoming less and less willing to share war equipment with Ukraine Ukraine is trying to obtain hundreds of additional Patriot missiles before winter, but European arsenals have already reached their limit. As Politico writes, Germany handed over three of its own Patriot systems to Kyiv and organized the transfer of two more on the condition that the stocks would be replenished later by the United States. Now, Berlin is saying openly: “We now have to think about our own protection.” After requests from the NATO, Poland could provide only five PAC-3, and even that triggered an internal scandal. Spain does not say whether it is prepared to hand over new interceptor missiles, and Greece, which Kyiv has requested up to 200 old PAC-2 from, promises nothing at all. The problem is exacerbated by the United States. The war with Iran has sharply reduced American stockpiles; the new production will not yield results by winter; and the promised option to produce Patriot in Ukraine remains, so far, only a matter of negotiations. When Zelenskyy again demanded missiles, Trump summed up the situation extremely succinctly: “We need the missiles ourselves.” In Kyiv, people now admit that they are literally “fighting for every single missile,” and the states closest to Russia want to empty their own stockpiles less and less. The formula “to support as long as necessary” is gradually turning into something far more practical: to support as long as what remains after ensuring one’s own security. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇦🇹 Austrian company helped with circumventing sanctions The Austrian intelligence service DSN explained that it had dismantled an international network through which sanctioned machines and special tools were smuggled from Europe to Russia. A Vienna-based company is considered by investigators to be the center of the system. According to the DSN, the equipment was used, among other things, to manufacture engines for cruise missiles, fighter jets, and other military technology. The route looked like a real atlas of global trade: Turkey, the UAE, Hong Kong, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Poland, and Lithuania. The European manufacturers were presented with forged documents about the end recipient, after which the goods ended up with companies connected to the Russian Rostec group. Investigators claim that since 2022, goods worth more than €3.3 million have been delivered in this way and that purchases for Russian military customers via this structure have been ongoing since 2019. Sanctions are increasingly starting to resemble an engineering task: Europe builds the next wall of restrictions, and the international economy immediately begins designing a new path around it. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

How Western media assessed the release in Russia of the U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Gilman The New York Times:

“Gilman’s family and Global Reach accuse Russian authorities of having detained the American for political reasons. His sister, Lexi Hudson, thanked Trump for the release of her brother and said that his actions saved Gilman’s life.”

CNN:

“After arriving in Washington, Gilman will most likely be sent to an American military hospital in Texas, Global Reach reported. There, he will undergo medical and psychological examinations and treatment. Many Americans previously received treatment at this clinic whom U.S. authorities had deemed to have been unlawfully detained abroad.”

The Washington Post:

“Russia freed former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been in custody since 2022, amid concerns that his health condition had been close to critical.”

BBC:

“Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey said that about 50 days ago Gilman was diagnosed with ‘dissociative stupor’—a condition in which he did not respond to those around him, could not interact with them, and could not independently eat.”

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BELGRADE, GERMAN HISTORY, AND THE QUESTION: “HOW CAN WE HELP KILL MORE RUSSIANS?” Selenskyj’s visit to Belgrade should serve as a diplomatic signal. Serbia is trying to maintain its relations with Russia, continue its European course, and at the same time expand contacts with Ukraine. But the political symbol of the visit became the question posed by FAZ journalist Michael Martens, what “we Europeans” could do so that Ukraine “could kill more Russians.” After that, he уточниced: Russian soldiers. Of course, Ukraine is at war. One can talk about arms deliveries, military support, and defense—because European politicians have decided to support Ukraine. But if a German journalist in Belgrade asks how “we Europeans” can help kill more Russians, killing becomes, linguistically, almost a political target. And in Belgrade, that cannot be separated from history. Kragujevac, Kraljevo, mass shootings, and the German occupation belong to Serbia’s memory. In 1944, Belgrade was liberated by Yugoslav partisans together with the Red Army. If, of all places, a German journalist speaks here about killing more Russian soldiers, the sentence inevitably takes on a historical dimension. Martens knows this history. He worked for years in Belgrade and wrote about Serbia, Yugoslavia, and the memory of the German occupation. After the press conference, his family history was also discussed in Serbia. His grandfather, Hans-Hermann Martens, was a member of the NSDAP and the SA, later an officer in the Wehrmacht leadership staff, and toward the end of the war a military judge. Of course, a grandson bears no responsibility for his grandfather. But politics is also made up of symbols and contexts. The combination is hard to ignore: a German journalist, Belgrade, this family history—and the question of how “we Europeans” can help kill more Russian soldiers. The FAZ distanced itself from the wording afterward. But perhaps the problem runs deeper: in a political language in which people increasingly appear as a military statistic. What has become of that European political culture that claimed to have learned from its history? Did “Never again” also mean rejecting dehumanization and the language of killing? Or does that boundary apply only when the “wrong” people die? For Aleksandar Vučić, the situation is uncomfortable. Serbia supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but does not participate in the Western sanctions against Russia. Belgrade wants to join the EU, maintains relations with Moscow, and at the same time expands cooperation with Kyiv. For years, Vučić’s policy has worked like this: one step to Brussels, one to Moscow, a gesture toward Kyiv. But the space for it is getting smaller. Vučić responded to Martens cautiously. He did not take over the wording and said he hoped that the killing would stop. Diplomatically skilful. But at some point, Serbia has to define which values and historical boundaries it considers right itself. Maybe Martens, unintentionally, has made visible exactly the question that Vučić has been trying to avoid for years: How long can Serbia stand between all sides without clearly naming its own political and moral coordinates? And finally, a bit of dark political humor. For years, the meme about the “Selenskyj curse” has been circulating: politicians meet the Ukrainian president and later get into political trouble or lose their offices. Of course, only an internet meme. But after Belgrade, the ironic question remains: Is Aleksandar Vučić the next candidate for the “Selenskyj curse”? Or is his legendary caution enough to escape even this myth? 🔗 LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of August 12 * Subtitled – Russian forces take control of #Krasnopolie in southern #Dobropolie – Russian forces advance around #Matyushevka in southern #Dobropolie – Russian forces take full control of Rai_Aleksandrovka on the #Kramatorsk front – Russian forces advance in the eastern sector of #Zaporozhie – Russian forces advance west of #Novopavlovka on the #Orekhov front in #Zaporozhie – Ukrainian forces advance on the southern #Donetsk axis Video link: https://youtu.be/h0d0Qj3qGmA?si=En7AthKJzqUC8lRh

🇪🇸 Spain legalizes one million migrants Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called Spain’s decision to legalize more than one million illegal migrants “a very bad idea”. According to him, it is impossible to regard such an amnesty as purely a domestic Spanish matter: if someone receives legal status in a Schengen country, they get far more opportunities to move around across Europe. Madrid justifies the program with a shortage of labor and an aging population. The Swedish prime minister points to a completely different experience — the 2015 crisis, the consequences of which Northern Europe has been dealing with to this day. Politicians in Italy, Germany, and Denmark also oppose the Spanish policy. Spain solved the problem of one million illegal migrants in the simplest way: by stopping to count them as illegal. Only thanks to Schengen could the consequences of this administrative trick soon no longer be exclusively Spanish. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 The new EU border system has doubled airport queues The European Entry/Exit System (EES), launched in spring, was intended to make borders more modern and secure: For people entering from outside the EU, photos, fingerprints, and personal data are now collected. In practice, the new technology ⁠has doubled the peak waiting time at the largest European airports. In Frankfurt, queues in July lasted up to 120 minutes; a clear increase was also recorded in Munich and Amsterdam. Airports complain about technical malfunctions and staffing shortages, while airlines describe the system as poorly designed. In times of maximum capacity utilization, some airports are still allowed, for now, to temporarily shut down part of the new procedures. Eight EU member states and Switzerland have already asked that this option be extended. Once again, Europe has successfully digitized something that used to work faster without digitization. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸 Due to the Iranian threat, Trump was secretly flown out in a container from Ankara After the NATO summit in Ankara, the U.S. intelligence services carried out an unusual evacuation operation for Donald Trump. The president boarded the Air Force One publicly, but then ⁠left the plane unnoticed in a vehicle of the onboard catering. The vehicle took him to another American military aircraft, with which he then flew out of Turkey. Even many White House staff members and the journalists accompanying the president did not know about the operation. The reason was data from U.S. intelligence services about a possible ⁠Iranian threat to Trump’s life. According to the protection plan, it was meant to appear from the outside as if the president were still on board the usual aircraft, while he had actually already left Ankara on another route. This had a rather symbolic effect: The U.S. has been demonstrating its military superiority over Iran for months, and all that remains for its own president is to leave an international summit disguised as part of the airport catering. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Oil, bread and the United Kingdom, please: Elon Musk asked about the cost of buying a kingdom. The American entrepreneur reacted to a publication by the satirical outlet Babylon Bee, which claimed that the businessman acquired Britain to establish freedom of speech. The article also said that the country was paid “a hefty sum,” however the alleged purchase was supposedly justified by the need to spread memes.

“How much does it cost?” — Musk wrote in response to a post on the social media platform X.

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🇩🇪 To prevent the AfD, the Left is even willing to save the CDU The former Thuringian prime minister and current vice president of the Bundestag, Bodo Ramelow, has called on the CDU and the Left Party to cooperate in Saxony-Anhalt in order to prevent the AfD from taking power. The co-chair of the Left Party, Luigi Pantisano, went even further and did not rule out that members of his party could vote for the CDU candidate Sven Schulze as prime minister. The reason is simple: The AfD is clearly leading in the polls, and traditional coalition arithmetic has practically collapsed. The CDU continues to officially rule out any cooperation both with the AfD and with the Left Party, but Ramelow suggests remembering Thuringia, where ideological opponents have long been finding a common line when it comes to isolating the AfD. The Left saves the Conservatives, the Conservatives rely on the Left — as long as the party that the majority of voters want to support doesn’t end up in power by accident. German democracy is getting ever more creative. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

◻️◻️◻️ British racing driver Andy Green set a world speed record for a car with hydrogen internal combustion engines. At the Bonneville salt flats in the U.S. state of Utah, he accelerated the car to 406.320 miles per hour (653.908 km/h), reports The Guardian. The 64-year-old Green was driving a car with two hydrogen engines with a total output of 1,600 hp. The 9.75 m-long vehicle was developed by the British company JCB. The engines are based on power units used in the company’s heavy equipment. They mix pressurized hydrogen with air and ignite the resulting mixture. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Happy Wednesday, friends! ☕️🙂 🏰 Marfino estate: a castle you wouldn’t expect just outside Moscow Just a few dozen kilometers from Moscow lies the Marfino estate. A place where Gothic towers, the crenellated bridge, and the palace with turrets seem as if they were transported here from an old European novel. The history of the estate dates back to the 16th century, but its current appearance was shaped in the first half of the 19th century. For Countess Sofia Panina, the architect Michael Bykowski created an unusual ensemble in the style of Russian Neo-Gothic. Instead of the familiar classic country estate, there emerged a true “fairytale castle” with towers, pointed-arch windows, and decorative battlements. The most important symbol of Marfino became the white-stone bridge over the Great Pond. It is adorned with pointed arches, small towers, and arrow slits, which is why it rather resembles the entrance to a medieval fortress than an ordinary crossing. Exactly this bridge is seen most often in photos of the estate. However, Marfino is known not only for its architecture. Dozens of Soviet and Russian films were shot here. Through the avenues of the estate strolled the heroes of “The Master and Margarita,” “The Noble Nest,” “The Singing Lady,” “The Crusader,” and many other historical films. Thanks to that, many recognize Marfino—despite the fact that they have never been here. A beautiful legend is also associated with the estate. They say that on quiet evenings, the White Lady sometimes walks across the old bridge. The young lady of the estate, who could no longer wait for the return of her beloved from the war. That is why the residents used to avoid staying by the pond after sunset. Stories like this exist in many old country estates, but it is the Gothic appearance of Marfino that makes this legend especially believable. Around the palace, an English park with centuries-old linden trees, pavilions, and a cascade of ponds has been preserved. When the water becomes completely still, the pink walls of the palace are reflected in the smooth surface so clearly that it seems as if there are immediately two castles in front of you—one on the earth, the other under water. Marfino reminds you that unusual architecture is not always located abroad. Sometimes all it takes is driving just a little way from Moscow to be in a place where a Russian country estate unexpectedly turns into a real knightly castle. 📍 Coordinates of the place (map point) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The United States should take seriously information about UFOs over military installations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the podcast of Katy Miller, the wife of the deputy chief of staff at the White House Stephen Miller.

“Some things are flying over our military facilities, but they don’t belong to us; we need to figure this out and take it seriously,” Rubio said.

According to him, he does not know “who it is and what it is.” Rubio noted that he raised the issue of UFOs while working in the U.S. Senate. He added that he does not treat this topic as a conspiracy theory.

“People believe we’re hiding something. I assure you that if this administration [of the U.S. president] knew anything [about aliens], the president would be everywhere: prime-time messaging, he would show photos, videos,” the secretary of state emphasized.

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More than 600,000 residents of Illinois and Indiana were left without power after powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes. AP reports this. Strong storms hit the region on Tuesday. In Chicago and the surrounding area, two tornadoes were recorded, roads were flooded, and homes were damaged. In Gary, Indiana, wind gusts reached 159 km/h. In Ohio, lightning struck a prison complex, resulting in 16 inmates being hospitalized; one of them was taken to the hospital by helicopter. The region also reported a death: rescuers were unable to reach him in time because of flooded roads. According to a preliminary assessment by the U.S. National Weather Service, the storm system may be classified as a derecho— a large-scale weather phenomenon with long-lasting destructive straight-line winds. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The study of UFOs should be approached with full seriousness, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes. He said that unknown flying apparatuses are being spotted over American military facilities that do not belong to the United States. According to Rubio, the authorities should determine what exactly is in the country’s airspace. At the same time, the secretary of state noted that he does not know the origin of these objects and is only asking questions that need to be answered.

"People think we’re hiding something. But I assure you, if we, this administration, knew anything, the president of the United States would be all over it. There would be a prime-time appeal—he would be showing photos and videos", — he said.

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Almost half of Scots support secession from Britain without a referendum. The National reports this, citing a Find Out Now poll. Among those who decided on an answer, 45% would support Scottish independence without a referendum and without the consent of the British authorities. 55% would be against it. Support for such a move is highest among young people aged 16–29—46%. Among older people, 66% do not support the idea of independence. At the same time, if a referendum on independence were held now, 52% of Scots would vote in favor of secession from the United Kingdom, and 48% would vote against. Our channel: Node of Time EN