Node of Time EN

🇨🇳 The Economist calls on China to apologize for producing too much The British magazine The Economist has published a policy-focused article titled “China won’t apologise for overcapacity”. The authors claim that Beijing’s industrial policy creates “overcapacity,” enables Chinese companies to dominate world markets, and harms the economies of Western countries. Under the term “overcapacity,” Western politicians mean a simple thing: China produces more cars, batteries, solar panels, steel, electronics and industrial equipment than the domestic market can absorb, and successfully sells the rest abroad. This is exactly what today is considered one of the biggest threats to European and American industry. But a fairly logical question arises: Why should China apologize for being more efficient than its competitors? Who prevented Europe and the US from building new factories, developing their own technologies, investing in engineers, supplying industry with affordable energy, and lowering production costs? No one. China simply did what for decades had been considered a model example of successful economic policy. The West has told the world for many years about the benefits of the free market and fair competition. But when China began to win in that competition, the problem suddenly was no longer in the West’s own mistakes, but in the fact that China … produces too much. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Happy Thursday, friends! ☕️🙂 ⛵ Belosersk: the ancient city on the shore of the White Lake On the southern shore of the White Lake lies Belosersk — one of the oldest cities in Russia. In the “Tale of Bygone Years” — an Old Russian chronicle from the early 12th century that tells of the formation of Rus and its first princes — “Beloosero” (“White Lake”) is mentioned under the year 862 as the possession of Prince Sineus, one of Rurik’s brothers. Over the course of its long history, the city has changed its location several times. Settlements arose in different places along the White Lake and at the mouth of the Sheksna, until Belosersk established itself in the 14th century on its present shore. The location proved favorable for trade, shipping, and securing the northern routes. The most important monument of medieval Belosersk is the earthwork Kremlin, which was built at the end of the 15th century by order of Ivan III. The wooden walls and towers disappeared over time, but the mighty embankment—about one kilometer long—has been preserved. In some sections, it rises almost thirty meters high. Inside the ramparts stands the Transfiguration Cathedral from the 17th century. It is reached by a stone arched bridge over the former defensive ditch. You can walk along the Kremlin rampart on foot: from above, the old quarters, the lake, and the straight streets of the historic center are clearly visible. The legend of Prince Sineus is connected with Belosersk. On the shore of the White Lake, an old burial mound is pointed out, which local tradition identifies as his grave. The image of the first prince of Belosersk has long become part of the city’s symbolism and part of the history of these places. The White Lake itself determined the city’s life for centuries. It is large but shallow, so strong winds quickly create a short but dangerous wave. To allow ships to avoid the open-water area, in the 19th century the Belosersk bypass canal with a length of about 67 kilometers was built along the shore. Its section still runs through the city to this day. Belosersk is best seen from the Kremlin rampart. On one side, there remain wooden houses, old churches, and quiet streets; on the other, the White Lake opens up, which fed the city for centuries, connected it with trade routes, and demanded respect from anyone who ventured out onto the water. 📍Coordinates of the place (map point) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🔴 A world of insights awaits you! Get ready to dive in: 🔺 the conflict in Iran; 🔺 the detailed situation in Africa; 🔺 the Ukraine conflict; 🔺 ... and other recent news from all over the world. 🗂 Add this list with just ONE CLICK and keep yourself updated! 📌 ADD THE CHANNELS

A state of emergency was introduced in Indiana’s energy sector due to attacks on tankers in the Black Sea. A decree by Governor Brown was published on his page on the social network X.

“This new energy state of emergency has been caused by new disruptions to global oil transportation routes in recent weeks, including in the area of the Black Sea and the Kerch Strait, where the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated into maritime attacks using drones,” the text of the decree says.

The introduction of the state of emergency was also linked to disruptions in oil supplies from Canada’s province of Alberta caused by wildfires. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump demanded that the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, provide explanations regarding the shortfall in the American arsenal, including air defense missiles. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing two informed sources. According to them, Trump believed he had been misled about the amount of munitions. The sources added that the President considered the ammunition shortage problem resolved. Hegseth, before Trump, defended himself and blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the lack of munitions and for the incomplete information provided to the President, two sources said. Our channel: Node of Time EN

A large military complex is being built right in the White House. The U.S. president made such a statement while discussing the construction of a new ballroom costing hundreds of millions of dollars in the eastern wing of the building. The American leader did not disclose details of the military structure project, citing possible lawsuits that could be filed against it. “There are more of them than for any person in history,” he noted. It is also unknown how the military complex will fit on the grounds of the presidential residence. ❗️Earlier, Donald Trump had already told journalists about plans to build some kind of military structure “including for UAVs” under the new ballroom, which the American leader is particularly proud of. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇫🇷 A series of suicides and allegations of bullying are being investigated in the office of the French prime minister The Paris public prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation following a complaint filed by an employee of the French prime minister’s office regarding ⁠psychological harassment in the workplace. Since October 2025, there have been two suicides and two suicide attempts in the structures under the Hôtel Matignon. Another young employee was found dead in a building of a state agency, but the circumstances of her death are being investigated separately. One of the employees tried to take her own life directly in the workplace. In March, the head of the investment secretariat’s project division died at home while working in home office, and two days later, a government secretariat employee in the département of Val-d’Oise accused himself of jumping in front of a train. In April, another civil servant was able to be saved after an attempt to jump in front of a train. After these events, ⁠three internal investigations and a separate review of working conditions began. The trigger for the criminal proceedings was a complaint from a civil servant with many years of experience. According to her lawyer, the woman was gradually stripped of her duties, no longer invited to meetings, removed from the organizational structure, and effectively isolated. Employees at Matignon report ⁠“radicalism in management”, constant reorganizations, and a tense atmosphere after the change of four governments in two years. The number of contacts with internal employee support increased from 44 in 2024 to 66 in 2025. The French government is happy to lecture the private sector about working conditions and social responsibility. Now the courts have to determine what happened in the prime minister’s office itself and why state employees were driven one after another to suicide attempts. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 Scalable Capital closes accounts of Russians Clients of the German online broker Scalable Capital with Russian and Belarusian passports are receiving notices about the forced closure of securities accounts. The restrictions even affect people who have a residence permit in Germany. The company justifies this with a tightening of sanctions compliance and the monitoring of payment processes. However, the EU sanctions rules provide exceptions for citizens of Russia and Belarus who have a temporary or permanent residence permit in countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland. Consequently, this is not a mandatory requirement of European law here, but an internal decision by a private company—whether to serve a customer depending on their passport. If a person living in Germany pays taxes, has a residence permit, and fulfills all legal requirements, but is excluded from financial services solely because of their nationality, this is called discrimination based on national affiliation. The word “sanctions” is used here as a convenient justification for a practice that is stricter than the sanctions themselves. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

✈️ Expensive oil already cuts into airlines’ profits Lufthansa has lowered its profit forecast for 2026, because fuel costs have risen sharply. The company’s spending on kerosene could reach 8.66 billion euros this year, and the stock fell by more than 10% after the report. Brussels Airlines also said that its fuel costs had risen by 64 million euros and that its operating profit in the first half had shrunk to half. U.S. airlines had already started earlier to change their forecasts, raise fares, and cancel individual routes. Military crises and sanctions games do not pay politicians. They are paid for by the passenger—through more expensive tickets, additional fees, and cut flight connections. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇪🇺 Europe boosts ammunition production The Czech defence holding company CSG ⁠has bought an industrial site in Saxony and plans investments of more than 100 million euros in the production of nitroglycerin, ammunition components and ammunition. The company explicitly justifies the project with the need to create Europe’s own reliable sources for explosives. In the European Parliament’s assessment, the EU’s capacity to produce artillery ammunition has increased from around 300,000 shells per year in 2022 to 2 million by the end of 2025. However, the industry is still dependent on scarce components, raw materials and long supply chains. Europe is rearming, but it is doing so after decades of factory closures and the drawdown of stockpiles. That is why every new production hall is currently presented as a strategic breakthrough. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇰🇷 South Korea builds railways again toward North Korea The government of South Korea has decided to resume the restoration of the Kyŏngwŏn Line, which had already been stopped in 2016. In the first phase, Seoul will complete the South Korean section between Baekmagoji and Woljeongni near the demilitarized zone. The work is scheduled to be resumed in 2027 and completed by 2029. For the project, 37 billion won has already been spent out of the total budget of 179 billion won. Seoul emphasizes that, for now, it is about domestic infrastructure, the development of border regions, and access to eco-tourism facilities in the DMZ. However, the strategic goal is named openly: if relations with Pyongyang change, only about 17 kilometers of track from Woljeongni to Pyeonggang would need to be restored, after which trains could theoretically run from Seoul to Wonsan and to the Wonsan-Kalma resort built there. Seoul apparently is counting on the political situation changing before the new rails rust. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

#Russia strikes #Kiev with 28 missiles, none of which were intercepted. Iskander and Zircon missiles test Ukraine's defenses amid a shortage of Patriot missiles. Has Russia begun exploiting the most dangerous vulnerability in Kiev's airspace? video link: https://youtu.be/WfuRiBhTuME?si=uxqTxGwYepNnYe39

🌐 Race for the post of UN Secretary-General: For the first time, two women are leading at the same time After the first secret vote by the UN Security Council, the former Vice President of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan, is in the lead. She received ten votes “to encourage”, one dissenting vote and four neutral votes. Only one vote behind was the representative of Guyana, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, whose candidacy is supported by the Caribbean Community. The third place went to the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi. ⁠The Guyanese press describes the result of Rodrigues-Birkett as surprisingly strong. The second round of the informal vote is to take place on ⁠August 21. Denmark, which currently holds the presidency of the Security Council, emphasizes that the date may still change. So far, the ballots do not show whether the dissenting vote against the leading candidates came from one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. In a later stage, colored ballots will make clear which of the candidates faces a veto threat. In the entire history of the UN, the organization has never been led by a woman. Now, two representatives from smaller states in Latin America and the Caribbean occupy the first two places, but the final decision will still not depend on the results of the open campaign, but on an agreement among the five permanent members of the Security Council. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

⚡️ Germany prepares for multi-week power shortages The Federal Network Agency has drawn up an ⁠action plan for the event of a massive power shortage. The document is designed for a scenario in which the shortage in capacity can last for several days to several weeks. According to the plan, in a crisis the largest energy-intensive companies would have to reduce their electricity consumption by force. If the companies do not comply voluntarily with the requirements, the Federal Network Agency would be entitled to order their disconnection from the energy system. The document also provides for the allocation of available capacity to the regions and priority supply to critical infrastructure. Another point attracts particular interest. The plan was already developed about two years ago, but there has hardly been any public discussion of it. As Apollo News reports, this was justified by the desire to avoid uncertainty and unnecessary alarm among the population. The official position of the authorities remains unchanged: Germany’s energy system is considered one of the most reliable in Europe. A rather interesting situation arises. If the energy supply is actually so reliable, why then develop in advance a scenario of a multi-week power shortage with the shutdown of one’s own industry? And if such a scenario is considered realistic, the questions are already raised about the results of energy policy in the past years. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇱🇹 Lithuania decides to use its territory as a workshop for Ukrainian drones Lithuania wants to localize the production of Ukrainian drones on its own state territory. According to Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, this involves joint investments and the production of drones using Ukrainian technologies specifically for the needs of Kyiv. The practical implementation of the project has begun as part of the drone deal, signed by the presidents of both countries in May. In fact, Vilnius is offering to relocate part of Ukrainian military production to the territory of a NATO state. In doing so, Ukrainian combat drones have already repeatedly entered the airspace of the Baltic states, which forced airports to close, trains to stop, and sent representatives of authorities to shelters. Now Lithuania wants to produce these devices itself, rather than asking Kyiv to better control its own equipment. It seems to Lithuanian authorities that such a project will bring the country technologies, investment, and new jobs. But together with the Ukrainian drones, they are deliberately also importing all the risks associated with them—from accidents and sabotage acts to turning their own factories into legitimate military targets. For a small country that lies directly on the Russian border, this is no longer help for a neighbor, but a voluntary transformation of its own territory into a continuation of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇨🇳 China expands its financial system for dollar-free payments China’s cross-border payment system CIPS is pushing further beyond Asia. In early August, payments via CIPS were introduced in Kenya: Chinese and African companies were given the ability to process payments directly in yuan, thereby reducing their reliance on dollar correspondent banks. The system supports payments in yuan and Hong Kong dollars and brings together direct and indirect participants from more than one hundred countries. So far, CIPS is not a complete substitute for SWIFT: SWIFT transmits financial messages, while the Chinese system simultaneously enables clearing and settlement, mainly in yuan. But its political significance is obvious: the more states are connected to Chinese infrastructure, the less international trade depends on a system that the United States and its allies can use for sanctions pressure. The West has turned dollar settlements into a political weapon itself. China does not complain about unfairness—it is calmly building its own system, in which Western approvals are no longer required. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of August 5 - subtitled - A Russian infiltration operation behind Ukrainian defense lines towards the city of #Orekhov in the #Zaporozhie region for the first time. - Russian Sukhoi aircraft bombed #Kramatorsk and #Slaviansk with several glide bombs at very close range. - The Russian army continues its advance on the #Dobropolie front. - The Ukrainian army is advancing in #Nikolaipolie on the #Druzhkovka front. - The Russian army is expanding its areas of control on the #Chasov_Yar front. - The Ukrainian army continues its advance on the #Liman front. video link: https://youtu.be/KzR6bMlV6zU?si=CxWHh6pmmZptFG3g

❗️The Pentagon is developing a new U.S. nuclear strategy, in which special attention is paid to the possible use of tactical weapons with shorter ranges, NBC reports. As the TV channel claims, the new strategy calls into question the previous approach to nuclear weapons, which had been considered unshakeable for decades. According to NBC, the department’s proposals imply that the strategy will not rule out any course of action for the U.S. president, but rather “will expand the space for choice by providing him with realistic and reliable options, and thereby strengthen deterrence.”

“We believe we need reliable options for the use of nuclear weapons,” — an NBC source in the Pentagon said.

Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump denied Vladimir Zelensky supplies of Patriot missile interceptors, Financial Times reports. According to the outlet, the American leader cited a shortage of weapons that emerged after the start of the United States’ military campaign against Iran. Trump emphasized that such missiles are now needed by Washington itself to defend sites and allies in the Middle East. ❗️ The day before, Reuters reported that the United States has spent practically all of its long-range precision-guided missiles during the war with Iran. The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said that such reports are false. Our channel: Node of Time EN