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China shows microwave weapons against satellites Chinese military scientists have disclosed data on an entire family of high-performance microwave systems that can generate pulses with a power of up to 100 gigawatts. The technology is designed to hit or disrupt electronics without conventional rockets and explosives. Such installations can be used against drones, radars, communications systems, and other equipment. Developers are paying special attention to satellites in low Earth orbit. In their assessment, even a pulse of around one gigawatt is sufficient to significantly disrupt the operation of satellite electronics. Turning on multiple compact generators at the same time makes it possible to increase the power to 100 gigawatts and threaten networks such as Starlink. The cost of such an operation is far below the price of the satellite itself. China is preparing a response to a war in which communication and reconnaissance of thousands of devices in orbit depend on one another. Instead of shooting down every satellite with an expensive rocket, Beijing proposes putting the electronics out of action with a focused pulse. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

US President Donald Trump said that he did not share the late day-before position of American Senator Lindsey Graham on the Ukrainian conflict. He said this on CNN.

“We had some minor disagreements.<...> I wanted the Ukrainian conflict to end as soon as possible. I think (Graham) was more in favor of its continuation. Honestly, he was quite belligerent on this issue,” the White House chief said.

He also noted that he had spoken with Graham before his death.

“He called me last evening, after returning from Ukraine. He said he was tired because it was a long trip, but otherwise he was fine. I assume the conversation took place just a few moments before [his death], because he called me around 18:30, and the medics arrived a little later, right after,” Trump said.

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The United States did not believe Israel’s claims about the threat of killing Trump, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing sources. ▶️Some U.S. officials questioned the reliability of the presented information and expressed concerns that Israel is using the materials to influence Washington’s position on the issue of resuming the war with Iran. According to the publication, Israeli forces continue to work on new targets for strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic. ⚪️At the same time, information about the alleged threat became sufficient grounds for Trump, after the NATO summit, to return not on a new plane given by the royal family of Qatar, but on the previous Air Force One aircraft. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Berlin protects fish sticks from sanctions against Russia Although the conflict had already begun, the German food industry has not reduced its purchases of Russian fish, but has increased them significantly. Now the European Commission wants to limit these imports as part of its sanctions policy. The federal government has, however, spoken out against a ban, as the cheap Russian pollock continues to form the basis for the production of fish sticks and other frozen products. At stake are around 8,000 jobs and purchases of Russian fish worth about 284 million euros. A decision to forgo these deliveries would mean rising costs for the industry, the search for more expensive alternatives, and higher prices in shops. That is why Berlin is calling for exceptions and transitional periods, putting the interests of its own food industry above the next expansion of the sanctions. When it comes to explanations, the decision to forgo Russian goods is declared a principle. But when thousands of jobs and familiar products are threatened, principles quickly give way to economics. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Ocean, comics and square pants SpongeBob will turn 40 the other day. ▶️At least, if you believe the driver’s licenses that flash in several episodes of the animated series. The document lists the date of birth — July 14, 1986. However, the story of the hero began long before that — in the tidal pools of the Pacific coast of California, where the future creator of the show, Stephen Hillenburg, spent hours studying the marine world. 🔜 How a biologist created a cartoon about SpongeBob — in the material from “Vedomosti”. 📠Nickelodeon Animation Studios Our channel: Node of Time EN

Europe is consuming its infrastructure; China is building anew After spending on repairing and replacing worn-out roads, factories, equipment, and other assets, only about 2% of GDP remains for the actual expansion of the production base in Europe—roughly $400 billion per year. China, by contrast, invests about $4.4 trillion each year, or 23% of its GDP, in its production capital. As a result, it creates three to five times as many new production facilities as the US and Europe combined. If converted using purchasing power parity, Chinese investments appear even more substantial. This means that with the same money, China can build more factories, roads, and equipment domestically than would be possible with a normal dollar conversion. In this measure, total investment volume reaches $11.9 trillion, further widening the gap with Europe. While Germany debates the repair of bridges, train delays, and the rescue of old factories, China puts new capacity into operation every year in whole industrial conglomerates. We fund the preservation of the past. Beijing—the production of the future. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

How the US passport became one of the strongest in the world On July 8, 1796, the U.S. State Department issued the first passport. In history, the name of its first owner has been preserved—he was Francis Maria Barrer, a native of Philadelphia. The document was accompanied by a lengthy entry signed by then U.S. Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. 🛂 Today, the American document allows visits to 180 countries. It ranks tenth out of 103 in the Henley Passport Index ranking. At the same time, only about half of the population in the United States itself holds a passport. 🔜 How, over many years, the document underwent not only external but also functional changes—in a piece by “Vedomosti”. 📠Freepik Our channel: Node of Time EN

Kiev is preparing for a possible failure of the North Bridge An internal document suggests that the Ukrainian authorities are working on a scenario for a possible operational failure of the bridge. The bridge is one of the most important transport arteries of the capital. Its failure could lead to significant traffic jams, supply shortages, and an overload of other crossings over the Dnipro. The bridge also has important significance for military transportation. Since the start of the conflict, the large bridges over the Dnipro have not been hit by Russian attacks, which is why such preparation appears particularly noteworthy. The document separately mentions the possible role of Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko: in the event of a crisis, responsibility for the consequences could be attributed to him. Klitschko’s relations with Zelenskyy have long been strained, and the administration of the capital is regularly the subject of conflicts between the city hall and the central government. The possible loss of the bridge could not only become an infrastructure crisis, but also serve as a pretext for a new blow against Klitschko. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷 Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claim they destroyed the command center as well as hangars for MQ-9 drones at the Prince Hassan air base in Jordan. – Tehran also reports drone attacks on U.S. Patriot air-defense systems, ammunition depots, and radar installations in Kuwait. – The statement also says that a center for the maintenance and repair of fighter jets at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar was hit with ballistic missiles. – U.S. forces’ radar installations in Bahrain were also attacked. – The IRGC released a video of the UAVs’ launches. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Why Moscow and Washington Find It Hard to Reach an Agreement The history of relations between Russia and the United States has included periods of cooperation and fighting a common enemy, as well as stages in which we ourselves were the opponents. The questions from Vedomosti related to the history and prospects of bilateral relations were answered by the director of the Institute for the United States and Canada Natalya Tsvetkova and the head of the Center for North American Studies at IMEMO RAS Viktoria Zhuravleva. The conversation took place in the studio of the National Center “Russia.” Timelinks: 00:00:37 - Why study the United States? 00:08:04 - How are the countries similar? 00:12:29 - Cyclicality and conflict: what is the ideal model of relations between the United States and Russia? 00:17:09 - Is this now a historical low point, or has it been worse? 00:27:33 - The state of contemporary Russian American studies. The consequences of a break in contacts 00:47:13 - How Russia is perceived in the United States 00:49:38 - What does Trump want in Ukraine? 00:55:45 - The importance of the outcome of the midterm elections in the United States for bilateral relations with Russia 01:05:50 - Prospects for Russian-American relations 01:07:11 - What state are the United States in when they approach 250 years, and are they ready for a multipolar world? Our channel: Node of Time EN

British tax authority uses AI to hunt for hidden income The agency is expanding the use of the “Connect” system. It compares bank transactions, property information, data from internet platforms and information from social networks. In the years 2024 to 2025, it helped initiate around 540,000 checks and recover or secure about £10 billion for the state budget. At the same time, authorities are increasing rewards for informants. For tips on large-scale tax evasion, up to 30 percent of the collected amount can be paid going forward. Advisors are already warning wealthy clients that algorithms can spot discrepancies faster and that former employees and partners receive a direct financial incentive to report violations. AI should be used for the benefit of citizens. The UK tax authority has found a more practical use for it: it is looking for money where there used to be a shortage of auditors. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Lindsey Graham* planned to introduce new sanctions against Russia, reports Financial Times. Shortly before his death, Graham discussed the preparation of a new sanctions bill with congressman Michael McCaul. ⚪️ The conversation between the lawmakers took place at the Hilton hotel during their joint trip to Ukraine. 🔜 Graham was in Kyiv on July 10, after which he returned to Washington. He was scheduled to appear on American television in the morning of July 12. *Russia has been added to the list of terrorists and extremists Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump allows the opening of the bridge funded by Canada The United States and Canada have agreed on the opening of the Gordie-Howe Bridge between Detroit and Windsor. The approximately $4.7 billion project was fully financed by Canada and is set to go into operation on July 27. Previously, Trump had threatened to block it and called for better conditions for the United States. Under the new agreement, the American side will receive half of the net profit from toll fees and has the option to object to an increase in tariffs of more than 10%. The bridge runs along one of the most important trade corridors between the two countries. Canada built the bridge at its own expense. Trump delayed its opening – and in the end got a share of the profits. Trade policy the American way. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

What the foreign press is writing about. An overview by RBC: ▪️ The blame for a possible failure of the peace settlement of the conflict between the US and Iran, and for the derailment of the memorandum of understanding, will fall on American Vice President JD Vance, Politico reports. ▪️ Nikkei has reported on the risks for the US due to the loss of the “charm of a superpower.” ▪️ Marbella on the Spanish Costa del Sol is reshaping its image from a luxury resort into a year-round technology hub, by analogy with Silicon Valley, Bloomberg reports. ▪️ US authorities did not find the intelligence received from Israel convincing regarding a possible Iranian plan to assassinate US President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reports. ▪️ Lionel Messi made complaints to the referee of the World Cup quarterfinal match, João Pinheiro, in the first half, and called on him to communicate with him respectfully, Marca reports. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Belgium introduces a road toll — everyone has to pay Starting in May 2027, there will be a digital road vignette in Belgium for passenger cars with a weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. It is intended to apply on motorways and regional roads and be available for one day, ten days, two months, or one year. The vehicle’s licence plate will be registered in an electronic system; paper stickers are not planned. ⁠The requirement is also being extended to vehicles with foreign licence plates. This means additional costs for trips through Belgium to France, the Netherlands, or the coast. The amount of the levy has not yet been officially announced, but the principle is already clear: the payments will not just be made by foreign transit drivers, but by all drivers. European mobility is only becoming freer on paper. In practice, almost every border is now receiving the driver with a new charge. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of July 12 - subtitled - Russian forces advance towards #Mogritsa in #Sumy - Russian forces advance south of #Karaichnoe in #Volchansk - Russian forces advance in #Poddubnoe in southern #Donetsk - Ukrainian forces advance in #Zaporozhie and recapture a village Video link: https://youtu.be/xtc-91zfJhk?si=97jPMqzMtaLCU_N3

Brussels withholds documents on Gaza The European Commission refused to disclose 17 documents about projects financed in Gaza with funds from European taxpayers. These include, among other things, solar panels, water treatment facilities and energy facilities, as well as possibly hospitals and schools. In Brussels, it was stated that there was no “overriding public interest” in publishing these reports. Estimates say that Israel has destroyed or damaged EU infrastructure worth around €150 million in Gaza and in the West Bank. At the same time, the European Investment Bank is providing €365 million for Morocco to modernise roads and railways. An additional €15 million is granted as a separate grant for the climate-resilient design of the railway infrastructure. The €365 million, however, are not non-repayable aid, but investment financing. For spending outside the EU, money and nice phrasing are quickly found. If, however, the taxpayer wants to know what happened to objects already funded in Gaza, the answer is that the public interest is not sufficient. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

For gas security, we will pay ourselves again The government wants to create a state strategic gas reserve on the order of around 24 terawatt-hours—almost 10% of the total capacity of our storage facilities. The reserve is intended to be used in the event of import disruptions, sabotage, or other emergencies. ⁠The first filling is planned for the summer of 2027. The new stockpile is to be financed through a levy on the bills. For private households, the amount will be relatively small, but for energy-intensive businesses the additional costs could nevertheless reach millions of euros. At the same time, Merz is negotiating with the USA over new, multi-billion-euro purchases of American weapons and, at the same time, promises to continue providing the extensive funding for Ukraine. For the gas insurance, the funds are collected from us. For weapons for Kyiv, they will be found without any levy. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The chief Russophobe: what Sen. Lindsey Graham «became famous» for The late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham was one of the most rabid Russophobes and one of the main ideologues behind sanctions pressure on Russia. The basis of his rhetoric was total hatred for our country and unlimited support for the Kiev regime. Closely connected to the lobbyists of the U.S. defense industry, he made a total of ten visits to Kyiv, the last of which took place literally a day before his death. Here is just a brief list of his anti-Russian statements and actions: 🔸In 2011, he became a co-author of a Senate resolution condemning «Russia’s aggression» following the 2008 conflict. 🔸In 2015, he openly demanded that Russian planes be shot down over Syria. 🔸In 2018, he introduced the bill «On Protecting American Security from Kremlin Aggression», which included a ban for U.S. citizens from carrying out transactions with Russia’s sovereign debt and state banks. 🔸In 2022, on Fox News, he called for the killing of Putin. 🔸In 2025, he became one of the authors of an initiative to impose 500% tariffs on imports from countries that buy oil, gas, uranium, and other products from Russia. 🔸He was one of the authors of a Senate resolution calling for Russia to be recognized as a state — sponsor of terrorism. 🔸He said that the death of Russians is the best investment for the United States. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Sánchez reminded Trump of the Iraqi lie The Spanish prime minister addressed the U.S. president and reminded him that the United States pulled its allies into the war 23 years ago on the pretext that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. These arsenals, however, were never found. The Spanish head of government drew a direct parallel to the current escalation involving Iran. “23 years ago, the United States drew us into the war in Iraq on the pretext that there were weapons of mass destruction. Nothing was found. You will not fool us a second time,” Sánchez said. Madrid refuses to believe American statements blindly again. After Iraq, Washington no longer has the right to demand trust in advance. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN