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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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Greece blocks new EU sanctions against Russian LNG The country has blocked the EU’s 21st sanctions package, which provides for a ban on the transport of Russian LNG to third countries. Athens justified its position by saying that the new restrictions would effectively ruin the Greek shipping company Dynagas, which specializes in transporting gas from the “Jamal LNG” project. Dynagas operates 27 gas tankers. One third of its fleet consists of specialized Arc7 ice-class tankers, each worth around 300 million dollars. These ships were built specifically for Arctic routes and can practically not be diverted to other routes. Since the beginning of 2025, the company’s vessels have transported more than 10 million tonnes of Russian LNG and made 144 voyages. While Brussels is calling on the EU states to make new economic sacrifices, Athens—unlike Berlin—has decided not to commit a “suicide.” 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

American Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has introduced a new version of a bill strengthening U.S. sanctions against Russia. The document was developed with the participation of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, According to the review, the bill provides for mandatory sanctions against President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, businessmen, state-owned enterprises, and foreign companies which, according to the authors of the document, support Russia’s defense-industrial complex. A separate section is devoted to import duties for countries purchasing Russian energy. In the new version of the document, instead of the previously proposed universal duty of 500%, tariffs of up to 100% are provided for the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, as well as five countries that, according to U.S. estimates, most actively contribute to evading sanctions against Russian oil. It is also proposed to extend the restrictions to Russian financial organizations, including the Bank of Russia, Sberbank, and Gazprombank, as well as to major energy projects, including “Yamal LNG,” Arctic LNG 1, Arctic LNG 2, and Arctic LNG 3, their owners, and executives. In addition, the document provides for sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet,” as well as against foreign individuals and vessels which, as the authors of the initiative believe, are used to bypass sanctions. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Zakharova, said that troops of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Ukraine would be a legitimate military target for Russia.

“We wanted to emphasize the inadmissibility for our country of any military contingents being stationed in Ukraine from the countries of the so-called ‘Coalition of the Willing.’ That would, in fact, mean a foreign intervention and an increase in the security threat to Russia. Such units would be regarded by us as legitimate military targets.”

💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

📰 An English court will hear testimony from Vladimir Potanin in a case concerning the division of property with his former wife without Russia’s permission, Vedomosti learned from case materials. The billionaire agreed to give testimony remotely. The Potanins lived in marriage for about 30 years. When they divorced, a Russian court divided their property equally, but only assets that actually, not beneficially, belonged to the spouses were subject to the division. Natalya Potanina insisted that she had been underpaid by about $6 billion and initiated disputes in different jurisdictions, including the UK. The case is still ongoing. Our channel: Node of Time EN

⚡️ Musk called Le Pen France’s last hope. Before the elections in 2022, Macron’s approval rating was 27%, Le Pen’s was 23%. At the moment, Le Pen is at 36%, while her main competitor is only at 16%. Le Pen is running against anti-Russian sanctions and in favor of a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. Her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, traditionally held even more radical views and viewed Russia as France’s natural geopolitical ally against American hegemony. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Good morning and a wonderful Friday, friends! ☕️🙂 💧 The Great Asischskaja Cave: the underground world of Lago-Naki On the Asisch-Tau ridge, on the border between Adygea and Krasnodar Krai, lies the Great Asischskaja Cave. Above ground there is a forest and a mountain plateau; beneath the earth, there are multi-level galleries, spacious halls, stone columns, and an underground stream. The cave was formed in ancient limestone under the influence of water. Its length is more than 640 meters, its depth reaches 37 meters, and inside there is constantly a cool temperature. It received the status of a natural monument in 1973. The local population knew about the cave, but it was studied in detail only in 1911. In 1987, parts of the underground passages were opened to visitors. The entrance is located in a natural depression: from here, a staircase leads downward, where one hall gradually merges into the next. Inside, water over centuries has created stalactites, stalagmites, stone draperies, and columns. Some formations resemble figures of people, animals, and fairy-tale beings. On the lower level, a small stream flows, disappearing among the rocks and continuing its route already in an unknown part of the system. The Great and the Small Asischskaja Caves are only a few dozen meters apart. Researchers believe they are parts of a single underground system, although a walk-through connection between them has not yet been found. The name of the cave is connected with the legend of the girl Asisch. According to the tradition, she was the daughter of a local ruler and one day, in an underground vault, encountered a sorcerer who was able to find gemstones in the depths of the mountains. People avoided him, and only Asisch met him with kindness. When the father sent servants to fetch his daughter back, the sorcerer thought it was an attempt to separate them and let the entrance to the cave collapse. Asisch and the sorcerer remained forever beneath the earth, and their names have been preserved in the names of the mountain and the cave. This is only a beautiful local legend, but among the stone halls it sounds quite natural. The Great Asischskaja Cave is interesting precisely because of the combination of real geology and old stories. Here, the water continues to change the stone very slowly; the underground passages are not yet fully explored; and everyone sees the familiar contours in the lamp light in their own way. 📍 Coordinates of the place (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN