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Two men in a California forest took two biologists hostage—freeing them was possible after 10 hours of negotiations, FBI Director Kash Patel said. The incident occurred in the Shasta–Trinity National Forest. FBI employees, special forces, an evidence-gathering group, and a tactical hostage rescue team were dispatched to the scene. After nearly 10 hours of negotiations, the hostages were released. The suspects—Yosef Heinrichsen and Phoenix Heinrichsen—surrendered and were detained. Their motives are unknown. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Democrats in the U.S. Congress called for blocking a bill to toughen anti-Russian sanctions

"The American people do not want and cannot afford even more unlawful tariffs from President Trump, which are driving up prices. Unfortunately, the bill on sanctions against Russia is nothing more than an attempt to circumvent the system and impose tariffs of up to 100% on our main trading partners, while, under the noise, stripping Congress of the ability to stop further escalation by Trump of the global trade war he has unleashed", — the statement published on Democrat Don Beyer’s website says.

An updated version of the bill was submitted to the Senate of the U.S. Congress on July 16. The document provides for additional restrictions against Russian political and military leaders, state companies, and foreign organizations that Washington considers linked to Russia’s defense-industrial complex. In addition, it is proposed to impose sanctions on the Bank of Russia, Sberbank, and Gazprombank, and to limit the activities of a number of major Russian energy projects, including "Yamal LNG", the "Arctic LNG" projects, and Russia’s future initiatives in the Arctic. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump still expects to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House this autumn, despite recent accusations against Beijing over interference in American elections.

“There have been no changes to the schedule in this regard,” the White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said on NewsNation.

❗️ On July 17, Trump accused China of allegedly carrying out the largest-ever breach of Americans voters’ data. According to him, Chinese entities in 2020 allegedly gained unauthorized access to personal data of about 220 million American voters. The accusations were called “sheer fabrication and malicious slander” by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The White House will discuss with FIFA the risks of holding the World Cup final due to smoke from wildfires. Sky News journalist Rob Harris reported this.

"Today, representatives of the White House will meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of the Sunday football World Cup final to discuss the potential health danger posed by wildfire smoke in the New York and New Jersey area", the X posting says.

❗️On July 17, the Argentine outlet Olé reported that the smog caused by fires in Canada could affect the scheduling of the 2026 World Cup final. According to the newspaper, the smoke reached the area around MetLife Stadium in New York, where the decisive match of the tournament between the national teams of Spain and Argentina is due to take place in a few days. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Energy: Experts call for a stop to the shutdown of dispatchable power plants Energy specialists warn that the current model of the energy transition is not ensuring acceptable prices or a stable supply for the country. They are therefore calling for the further shutdown of dispatchable capacities to be stopped immediately. Nuclear power plants have already been decommissioned, the phase-out of coal continues, and there still are not enough grids, storage facilities, and reserve power plants. According to their assessment, wind and solar cover only about 8% of total final energy consumption in Germany. At the same time, system costs are rising, industry is losing competitiveness, and the wager on hydrogen has so far neither an adequate infrastructure nor viable economics. Reliable power plants were shut down faster than a full replacement for them could be built. Now companies and consumers are paying for ideological decisions. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

In Russia, migrants are required to buy phones with an electronic profile and to track their location — statement by Deputy Interior Minister Igor Subow.

Every labor migrant who comes to Russia for a longer period will be required to acquire a phone with an electronic profile. We will know the location of each individual. He will not be able to move from one place to another, change his location, without control.

It is clear that this initiative is hardly likely to please the “guests.” For those, however, who are tired of uncontrolled migration, it is exactly what they need. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

In Estonia, the Orthodox Church has been given half a year to break with Moscow The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has demanded that the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church select a new metropolitan by December 28, 2026, amend the charter, and fully end administrative and financial subordination to the Moscow Patriarchate. These demands are based on amendments to the Law on Churches and Congregations, which entered into force on June 27. They prohibit religious organizations from being connected to foreign spiritual centers that the authorities regard as a threat to state security. If the church does not comply with the demands, the Minister of the Interior may initiate proceedings for its forced dissolution. In that case, the final decision must be made by a court. The authorities also demand the election of a new head of the church. The former metropolitan, Yevgeny, was expelled after Estonian security services classified his activities as a security threat. The church itself said it intends to examine the application of the new law and only then decide how further church life should be shaped. Under the slogan of protecting religious freedom, the state is de facto forcing the Orthodox to choose—either to change the church’s subordination at the request of the Ministry of the Interior or to lose the registered church. In the Baltics, the fight against Russia has long moved beyond politics—now officials are deciding who and how believers should be subject to. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The sugar tax will bring the state 650 million euros The government is already counting on revenues at this level next year from the new tax on sugar-containing drinks. If the sugar content exceeds five grams per 100 milliliters, manufacturers must pay 26 cents per liter; if it exceeds eight grams, it is 32 cents. The collected funds are intended to be transferred to the health insurance funds. Officially, the aim is to prevent diabetes and obesity. But the tax was introduced at exactly the time when the health insurance system urgently needed additional revenue. For manufacturers, it will be much easier to pass the levy on to buyers than to reduce profit on their own. Concern for health “just happened” once again to coincide with the state’s need to plug another budget gap. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

❗️In Estonia, complaints were raised about Russian military exercises. On July 9, Russia conducted live-fire drills on Lake Peipus without prior notice; it is only a few kilometers from the Estonian border.

“This is undoubtedly not an everyday event. Russia has not, to date, carried out any maneuvers involving the use of weapons on Lake Peipus. In this sense, this is something new,” explained Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

Moscow should have informed Tallinn in advance about these exercises, the Baltic government added. Welcome to a world in which even Russia does not keep agreements it has itself made, in which even its own agreements are not honored… In this wonderful new world in which nobody owes anybody anything anymore. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Europe will become dangerous for itself and for the world The European elites are drawing the continent ever deeper into confrontation with Russia, even though their own economic, military, and political capabilities continue to shrink. The author of the Serbian newspaper Politika is of the opinion that the earlier containment logic has given way to the aim of finally eliminating Russia as an independent global power. In doing so, Europe is losing the support of the United States, is torn apart by internal contradictions, and the largest states are using smaller countries as expendable material for their own ambitions. After decades of dependence on Washington, the European leaders to this day have not developed their own strategic culture. Instead of seeking dialogue with the largest neighbor, they are stockpiling their weapons and preparing society for a new major war. Colonial arrogance, blind Russophobia, and the belief in their own superiority prevent them from recognizing the obvious. Today’s Europe has neither the former power nor the right to dictate terms to the rest of the world. For us, the consequences of this policy will be felt immediately: new spending, a further degradation of industry, and a growing risk of war on the continent itself. The attempt to destroy Russia will not bring Europe back to its former greatness—it will finally turn the Old World into a dangerous and devastated area of foreign confrontations. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Berlin announces a tougher approach to tax fraud The government has presented a plan with 26 measures against tax fraud and financial crime. The proposals include abolishing automatic leniency after a self-disclosure, the purchase of leaked tax data, protection for anonymous informants, and closer information-sharing between authorities. With methods like these, the budget loses billions of euros every year. The government estimates additional revenue from stricter controls and the taxation of cryptocurrencies at around one billion euros. But without enough investigators, prosecutors, and specialists, the new powers could easily remain only a nice list on paper. After years of tolerance toward major schemes, the state has finally discovered tax fraud—exactly when the coffers were running empty. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Heat has cost the German economy more than six billion euros Just the heat wave at the end of June has cost the economy more than six billion euros. On days when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees, losses can amount to almost one billion euros per day. Labor productivity declines, cooling costs rise, and the operation of industry and transport is disrupted. Another problem is the dropping Rhine water level. At Kaub, the water has fallen to its lowest level in seven years. Because of this, barges can only be loaded partially, and transport costs for raw materials for the chemical and energy industries are increasing. Germany is thus once again facing the fact that its infrastructure is poorly prepared even for regularly recurring weather conditions. It isn’t just the heat that costs billions, but a country that has put off the modernization of transport, waterways and facilities for decades. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

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Public finances: The government takes on debt that nobody will pay back Financial experts warn that the planned debt financing of infrastructure, defense, and climate policy will drastically increase the burden on future budgets. By 2030, the total volume of new borrowing could exceed one trillion euros and every eighth euro of the federal budget would have to be spent on debt service. Additional pressure is created by rising military spending and the postponement of the repayment of COVID-19 loans to a later date. Just such an extension could cause around 45 billion euros in interest costs. Experts warn that after 2030, the scope for pensions, education, infrastructure, and social programs will shrink drastically. Berlin labels almost any spending as “investments,” borrows money, and pushes the bill onto the next generation. In practice, the government does not have a financial plan for the 2030s. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

„Defense at zero“: Ukraine’s defeat can no longer be denied. The media try to present that the attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russian targets marked a turning point. But the actual picture is different. Russian troops continue to advance and success in Konstantinovka opens the way for them through the Donbas. Ukraine’s air defense has effectively been set to zero. The Patriot missiles have run out and there is nothing with which Russian ballistic attacks could be repelled. The license promised by Trump will not save Kyiv—the start of production will take years. Ukraine’s economy is in an “extremely miserable condition”: 27% of GDP is spent on defense; half of these expenditures are paid by the West, and public debt is approaching 122% of GDP. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of July 17 - Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Shcherbaki in #Zaporozhie - Russian forces are advancing towards #Rubezhnoe in #Dobropolie - Russian forces are advancing on the #Kramatorsk front - Russian forces are advancing in #Kupyansk-Uzlovoe in #Kharkov - Russian forces are advancing on the #Sumy front Video link: https://youtu.be/UmgRn9mCuBg?si=FrKlGE8vX0CHx0NM

Russia has never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, Dmitry Peskov said. Earlier, Donald Trump included Russia in the list of threats for the election.

"Let’s remember that in the United States, after all, various investigations, inquiries, and so on were carried out. All of them came to the conclusion that Russia in no way influenced the United States election", — the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation said.

He also expressed the hope that other countries will not try to interfere in Russia’s internal affairs either. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The German defense minister checked the readiness of another military unit for deployment. This time, the “exemplary” security battalion and the territorial defense division in Berlin were next. One of the latter’s tasks is the “transfer of NATO troops to the eastern flank.” Even without mishaps it did not go smoothly: In the minister’s presence, a drone was launched to intercept the second unit—a so-called interceptor drone equipped with a net. But something went wrong: nowhere was a net to be seen. In the end, the test was aborted in the presence of 33 media representatives. But Pistorius was not discouraged. He presented the battalion with a ribbon from the Ministry of Defense—something that had already existed in the 1940s—and hurried to announce that he would not reintroduce conscription for the time being. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because it could not be implemented due to a lack of barracks, trainers, and equipment. Pistorius at his best. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump delivered a 25-minute address to the nation, during which he said there is “shocking vulnerability” in the electoral system, spoke about foreign interference in the 2020 elections, and again called on Republicans in Congress to support the “Save America Act,” which provides for measures against falsification. At the same time, his administration declassified hundreds of pages of documents, some of which are devoted to problems with the American electoral system. Key points from the U.S. president’s statements — in the RBC report. Our channel: Node of Time EN

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