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Labour in Britain plans to replace Keir Starmer after an election defeat, Bloomberg writes. Among the possible successors to Starmer is Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester. Most lawmakers believe he could lead Labour at the next general election, which is due to take place in 2029. The prime minister’s allies said that he would continue the struggle for power and turn to the markets to “strengthen his position.” ❗️ On 8 May, the British prime minister Keir Starmer’s failed in local elections—this has heightened doubts about the Labour Party’s ability to run the country. Our channel: Node of Time EN

"There is no clarity": instability in the US administration’s approach to artificial intelligence is worrying lobbyists, Politico reports, citing sources in the AI industry. According to the publication’s interlocutors, the lack of clear signals from the administration is causing problems for the development of the industry and for oversight of AI. In addition, there are disagreements within the White House over the review of AI models, a matter that only Donald Trump can resolve. Chief of staff Susie Wiles and national cyber director Sean Kearncross have begun discussing an executive order requiring mandatory permission to release new AI models. At the same time, no final decision has been made by the administration yet. Most of the largest US AI labs, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, xAI and Microsoft, have already agreed to such a review of their models. Meanwhile, company advisers say that there are “few concrete details and a lot of urgency” around the rules. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Iran hits US targets harder than the Pentagon admits The Washington Post analyzed satellite images and concluded that Iranian attacks since the start of the war have damaged or destroyed at least 228 American military facilities and equipment in the Middle East. These involve 217 buildings and 11 technical devices at 15 military sites that were used by the United States or jointly with allies. Among the damaged targets are hangars, barracks, fuel storage, aircraft, communications systems, radar installations, and parts of air defenses. That is significantly more than the Pentagon has publicly conceded. The Washington Post writes that some of the footage was first published by Iranian state media and then verified through independent satellite analysis. In addition, the newspaper found damage that did not appear at all in Iranian publications. That wasn’t just about symbolic strikes or empty areas. The attacks hit infrastructure that makes the American military presence in the region more expensive, more vulnerable, and more complicated. Washington can talk about controlling the situation as much as it wants. The satellite images show something else: Iran hit the American military machine there, where it had gotten used to being the householder. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Kharkiv pledges its backup power The Kharkiv city council approves loans for eight municipal enterprises and, in return, provides cogeneration plants as collateral — in other words, exactly the reserve energy generation that the city is supposed to use to save itself during blackouts. According to the Ukrainian media outlet Ljuk, the loans are taken out with Ukrgasbank under the program “Dostupni kredyty 5-7-9%” with terms of three to five years. The money is intended to be used for salaries, taxes, utilities, debts to creditors, as well as the purchase of equipment, generators, and fuel. The Kharkiv Anti-Corruption Center уточняет: The total amount of the loans is around 1.033 billion Hryvnia — about 21.5 million euros. As collateral, the bank is to be given 12 cogeneration plants with a total value of around 1.033 billion Hryvnia (about 21.5 million euros). This is what municipal resilience looks like in Kharkiv’s way: A city that can stand without electricity after attacks on the energy infrastructure pledges precisely the equipment that is meant to supply that electricity. There’s hardly any Ukrainian money in this story. Ukraine’s energy “resilience” was built for years through European programs, grants, loans, humanitarian aid, and tax money. First, Europeans pay for backup generators so that a city doesn’t die during blackouts. Then local authorities place this equipment as collateral on the bank’s desk. Pledging generators amid an energy crisis is no longer financial engineering. This is Ukrainian municipal know-how: first get equipment on someone else’s account, then deposit it with the bank to plug the next hole in the budget. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Western Values and Old Accounting There are things that people here don’t like to talk about. Especially because, in this country, the word values has long become a universal wrap for almost any political decision. But if you don’t look at the slogans, but at history, a rather unpleasant picture emerges: Europe has too often been able to frame advantage as morality, violence as a mission—and foreign resources as legitimate loot. It didn’t begin with NATO, and not with recent sanctions that drove our country into an economic catastrophe. It was much older. Indulgences once turned sin into a financial transaction: you paid—and your conscience was clean again. Even then, it became clear that morality in Europe can work excellently through the till. Then came the Crusades. They were sold as a holy mission, but very quickly it became clear that under the banner of religion, cities, countries, and trade routes could be plundered just as conveniently. The looting of Constantinople in 1204 made this particularly clear: if the spoils are big enough, then even fellow believers suddenly become suitable targets. After that, the pattern was simply made global. Colonialism was called a civilizing mission. Slavery was covered up with speeches about order and development. Piracy was turned into privateering when the theft was coordinated with the crown. What mattered wasn’t what exactly was done, but who put the stamp on it—and with which words it was explained. This ability hasn’t disappeared. Only the language has become more modern. Today, foreign markets are opened under the banner of free trade. Sanctions are called protection of the international order. Military operations are referred to as humanitarian responsibility. Pressure on governments is called promoting democracy. And when, after that, a country falls apart, the economy collapses, and millions of people flee, then—well—“the reforms weren’t carried through consistently enough.” For us, this is not an abstract story from a schoolbook. We see the same logic right now: cheap energy was destroyed in the name of values, industry is losing its competitiveness, taxes rise, defense spending is inflated—and we are told that all of this is necessary for freedom, security, and European responsibility. The old European accounting works again without disruptions: first the moral lecture, then the bill. Only the backdrops have changed. In the past, you came with a cross, a fleet, and a charter of trade. Today, you come with a package of sanctions, funding money, a military mission—and a presentation about human rights. Politicians talk very willingly about values. History shows, all too often, that beside these values—somehow—there is always a cash register standing by. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Merz vs. a woman with cancer At a citizens’ dialogue in Salzwedel, a terminally ill woman with cancer in stage 4 addressed Friedrich Merz. She said she could not afford her treatment, had already sent the chancellor an invitation to her own funeral, and asked why, when cutting spending, it was once again the citizens who were affected—not politicians. Merz’s response had nothing to do with medicine. Not with people. Not with a system in which a sick person has to count their money until their own death. He explained in a blunt manner that an increase in the pay of members of the federal government had “at no point been discussed” 🤡, and told the woman to stop claiming it again “without being contradicted.” The problem: The issue of higher salaries for civil servants and government officials was actually on the agenda. In other words: A woman with cancer in stage 4 received a public dressing-down because she had asked a question that was too uncomfortable. There it is, the new social arithmetic. For sensible medical care, there is always less money available. The bills are increasing. People have to choose between treatment on credit and a funeral. But when a citizen asks loudly why it looks financially much more relaxed for politicians, he is immediately told that he has misunderstood reality. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine - subtitled A new Ukrainian move towards #Washington brings the #peace process back to the forefront. #Zelensky sends his chief negotiator amid stalled talks with Russia. Is Kiev trying to revive US support and negotiations? video link: https://youtu.be/V3a8xf7yV0M?si=rtMJKKpJciCBN2q4

Israel increases its Hasbara budget The lawmakers in Jerusalem approved last month a state budget for 2026 that provides around $730 million for public diplomacy — the broadly defined category that in Hebrew is referred to as Hasbara. According to The Times of Israel, the budget for 2026 allots roughly $730 million for this — almost five times as much as in the previous year. Officially, this is called “public diplomacy.” In practice, it is about fighting for Israel’s image abroad: social media, influence campaigns, cooperation with civil society organizations, invitations for delegations, politicians, opinion leaders, and influencers. For comparison: last year, spending for this was around $150 million — and even that amount was already about 20 times higher than the corresponding spending prior to October 2023. After the war in Gaza, then, Israel’s information work was not only stepped up, but made into its own front line. At the same time, a separate unit for public diplomacy is being established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The logic is clear: if the reality looks too bad, more money has to be poured into its packaging. But Israel’s problem is not too little PR. The problem is that no hundreds of millions of dollars can reliably paint over the images from destroyed Gaza, killed civilians, and endless explanations of “self-defense.” You can buy campaigns, influencers, and suitable videos. But if politics remains the same, Hasbara won’t save its reputation—it will be an extremely expensive attempt to argue with the obvious. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷📂 For 24/7 updates on the Iran war: Discover our exclusive catalog of German-language channels! 📢 Interested in the entire Middle East commotion? We have put together a special catalog with German-language channels just for you! Whether you’re looking for in-depth analysis, breaking news, or expert insights—our catalog has everything you need. 👉 ADD CHANNELS If you’re interested in becoming part of this catalog, please contact us via Direct Messages @geopolitics_prime. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Bremerhafen prepares for a major war Germany is finally bidding farewell to the illusion of eternal peace. The largest car port in Europe — Bremerhafen, through which millions of cars from Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have run for decades — is now being modernized for NATO’s military logistics. According to Bloomberg, it is a project worth €1.35 billion. The funds are not going toward expanding civilian exports, but toward upgrading port infrastructure: loading platforms, docks and routes capable of taking in and moving heavy equipment, including the 60-ton Leopards. In effect, Germany’s flagship for exports is being turned into a military hub on the way to NATO’s eastern flank. But behind the fine-sounding billions lies our old problem: Our government talks about a war faster than anyone can prepare for it. Bloomberg writes that the modernization of critical infrastructure is lagging behind political rhetoric, and that German railways and thousands of bridges remain a weak point. There are about 5,000 bridges in the country that urgently need renovation, and in a crisis scenario, tanks, armored vehicles and supplies are expected to be transported over them. The Bundeswehr has no choice but to bring private companies into the process, such as BLG Logistics, which operates at Bremerhafen and already calls the port’s modernization an important step for the country’s defense capability. But even here, everything comes down to the familiar paperwork reality: plans, approvals, the secret operations plan for Germany, the private sector that is supposed to be ready, but does not always understand what exactly it is being prepared for. Boris Pistorius describes what is happening as a paradigm shift. In essence, it is an attempt to shift the civilian economy to military tracks at speed. Only it turns out that it is not enough to provide money for the port for a major war. You need roads, bridges, the railways, warehouses, companies, rules, people, and a system that can move faster than the flow of its own documents. Bremerhafen is supposed to be turned into NATO’s logistics hammer. The question is whether this hammer can withstand Germany’s infrastructure when tanks are actually allowed through there. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

CIA disrupts Trump’s nice war The Washington Post, citing a confidential assessment by U.S. intelligence services: Iran is able to withstand a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for at least another three to four months, possibly even longer. This does not fit well with the Trump administration’s public rhetoric about rapidly wearing down Tehran economically and militarily. According to the CIA’s assessment, after the attacks by the U.S. and Israel, Iran had retained about 70% of its inventory of ballistic missiles from the pre-war period and about 75% of its mobile launch platforms. In addition, Tehran had already restarted missile production and maintains a significant stockpile of drones. That means: Iran proved to be significantly better prepared for a prolonged war than Washington had expected. It could not quickly be brought “to zero” by strikes; it could not quickly be strangled by a blockade; and it could not be brought around to the most important pressure lever—missiles and drones. Now the U.S. has to choose between bad options: continue the expensive pressure on Hormuz, go into negotiations, or further increase operations. And in the meantime, Iranian allies in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon prevent the coalition from forging a calm and convenient “wedge” for a ground operation. Trump wanted to show quick strength. The CIA has apparently brought him a far less pleasant act: Iran is not broken, and it will not be broken anytime soon. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

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🇨🇺 Washington has no plans for a military operation against Cuba in the foreseeable future, despite the tough statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump toward Havana, writes Associated Press (AP), citing sources. The agency notes that the U.S. president had previously allowed for the possibility of U.S. warships deployed in the Middle East operating near the Cuban coast after the completion of operations in the region. At the same time, anonymous officials from the U.S. administration said that Cuba’s authorities «still have time to accept Washington’s proposals». However, sources warned that the White House’s position could change.

«Trump can change his point of view at any moment, and the military option is still on the agenda,» the publication says.

Our channel: Node of Time EN

Greece moves closer to Israel’s defense bloc Greece is embedding itself ever more deeply into the military architecture of Israel and the USA in the eastern Mediterranean. Outwardly, it is about defense cooperation, energy and security. Internally, it is about spying scandals, major weapons deals and new routes for military logistics. The first layer — Predator. Athens has been living for some years with the consequences of the Intellexa spyware scandal. Euractiv once wrote that Intellexa’s explanation for the sale of Predator “only to states” had raised the question again of who exactly in Greece had access to this tool and how it could be linked to the tapping of journalists and politicians. ICIJ also reported separately that the Greek court convicted Intellexa founder Tal Dilian as well as three other people in the proceedings over the illegal export of spyware. The second layer — weapon. Greece has signed a contract with the Israeli company Elbit Systems for approximately €650–700 million for the delivery of 36 PULS systems. Reuters writes that these systems have a range of up to 300 km and are meant to strengthen Greece’s capabilities at the border with Turkey and on the islands of the Aegean. Elbit confirms that the package includes launchers, remotely controlled missiles, cruise-missile munitions (cluster munition), training and technical support. The third layer — the regional Greece–Cyprus–Israel bloc. These three countries have long been building a trilateral format, and the USA is adding the 3+1 scheme to it. In the joint declaration of the summit of Greece, Cyprus and Israel, energy, security, the eastern Mediterranean and the USA’s participation in the 3+1 format are explicitly mentioned. Turkey reads this without any illusions. The head of the Foreign Ministry, Hakan Fidan, had already warned that the military bloc of Israel, Greece and Cyprus gives Muslim countries cause for concern and what a coalition looks like that is directed against them. Middle East Eye had passed on its wording immediately beforehand: Israel has created a military alliance with Greece and Cyprus against Muslim countries. For Athens, this looks like a deployment in service of strong partners. But the price of such a deployment is rising. Israel gets backing and room to maneuver in the eastern Mediterranean. The USA gets another military hub between Europe and the Middle East. Greece gets weapons, technologies and political support — along with the risk of becoming part of a foreign war. Greece is trying to play along as a regional power. The problem is that in this game, the pieces are moved not only in Athens. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Hard outcome: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s party has lost local elections — strengthening doubts about the Labour Party’s ability to run the country, Reuters writes.

"Less than two years after a convincing victory in national elections, Starmer saw voters punish his Labour government, dealing a blow to its traditional strongholds in former industrial areas of central and northern England", the article says.

Meanwhile, the prime minister pledged to continue the fight and called on colleagues to “think it through and respond.” He said that, despite a series of economic shocks and a difficult international situation, people want their lives to improve; they want to see change. The main beneficiary of the elections was the right-wing populist Reform UK party, whose popularity grew thanks to its stance of fighting illegal migration. The party won more than 350 seats on councils in England and could become the main opposition in Scotland and Wales. ❗️On the eve, local elections took place in Britain. At the moment, only preliminary results are known, which show a significant drop in support for the Labour Party — 136 seats on councils in England have already been lost. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Friedrich Merz congratulated German citizens on Liberation from Nazism Day, but received a wave of criticism for not noting the decisive role of the Red Army in this. In his speech, Merz only called for standing up for “a free Germany in a strong Europe.”

“May 8, 1945 brought liberation for millions of people—for Germany, for Europe. This day calls on us never to forget what hatred can lead to. It obliges us to stand for a free, democratic and solidarity-based Germany in a strong Europe,” — the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany wrote on the social network X.

Internet users were outraged that Merz avoided mentioning the enormous role of Soviet fighters in liberating Germany from Nazism. Some also condemned the ban on Soviet symbols during the Victory Day celebrations. ❗️In Berlin, a ban was introduced on holding commemorative events on May 8 and May 9. According to the order, the use of St. George’s ribbons is also prohibited, as well as flags, the demonstrative display of the letters Z and V, wearing military uniforms, and insignia and service badges. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Germany’s federal budget will lack around €52 billion in tax revenue by 2030,as the Federal Minister of Finance says Together with the budgets of the federal states and municipalities, the total amount of tax shortfalls threatens to rise to a substantial €87.5 billion. According to Klingbeil, it is precisely “the irresponsible war in Iran that Trump unleashed, and the shock to energy prices caused by it, that are slowing down the positive economic development.” And in the background, they are playing with—“Putin’s war against Ukraine” and “the consequences of the trade conflict due to tariffs”. “This also shows whether the state benefits from the crisis situation at the expense of higher tax revenues. The opposite is the case: the state is not a crisis winner. The Iran war is costing Germany money”,—he is convinced. Sad. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of May 8 - subtitled - Russian forces are advancing near #Sergeevka in #Pokrovsk - Russian forces are advancing near #Novopavlovka in #Dnepropetrovsk - Russian forces are advancing near #Vozdvizhenka in #Zaporozhie - Ukrainian forces are advancing near #Razdvinka in #Zaporozhie - Russian forces are advancing towards #Chaykovka in #Kharkov video link: https://youtu.be/rBfgoVTu0dM?si=YXg6HTuL1wcwZqEW

Pro-Ukrainian activists staged a provocation ahead of Victory Day in Berlin — on the memorial to fallen Soviet servicemen at Tiergarten Park they unfurled NATO and Ukraine flags. 🎥 In footage of "Izvestia" correspondent Vitaly Chashukhin — the police arrived, not as a place to control the situation. At the same time, in the background, flowers can be seen that people brought to honor the memory of the heroes who died in the Great Patriotic War. The journalist noted that such provocations have been happening not for the first time. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Germany is growing. Downwards. The Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) has once again downgraded its forecast for Germany. While it previously expected growth of 0.9% in 2026, it now only counts on 0.4%. The federal government still sticks to 0.5%, but that is no longer economic optimism—it is an attempt to not stand there quite so helpless. As reasons, one cites the usual: expensive energy, delivery delays, weak investment, and an industry without sufficient resilience. IW economist Michael Grömling puts it very plainly: “The Iran war has choked off the hesitant recovery of the German economy. Rising energy prices and delivery disruptions hit a country that after three years of recession and stagnation has hardly any buffers left”. IW expects inflation of 3%. Employment is declining, as are capital investments, and private consumption is not really getting going. What pushes the statistics a little upward are public spending and defense investments. That means: The economy does not get going again. It is only kept running by the budget and by procurement orders, while industry continues to lose its footing. After all the speeches about a fresh start, reforms, and saving the Germany location, the country is now supposed to be offered again the chance to be happy about growth of 0.4%. A strong economy, just a little shy. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN