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⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ In Berlin, an action against the militarization of the country took place at Brandenburg Gate. This was reported by Izvestia correspondent Margarita Kostiva. 🎥 The footage shows the participants of the action marching with posters, Germany flags, and symbols of a peace dove. 🗣 One of the demonstration participants, Kristina, said that she came to the event because she considers it important to preserve friendly relations with Russia. She specified that she is taking part in the rally for the future of her children and grandchildren and hopes for reconciliation between the countries.

"My mom, who died in Potsdam, went through the war. [She] told me a lot about Russia. <...> And for me, all of this is important. I want to do at least something", — Kristina emphasized.

🗣 Another participant in the action, Jutta, said she does not want future generations to have to face combat operations.

"We want peace. I have two grandchildren — boys. Maybe they’re next? And why should children or ordinary people go to the front?" — she said.

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France brings forces together at the Spanish border due to the crisis in Ceuta Emmanuel Macron said that France had increased checks at the border with Spain. Four mobile units, aircraft and drones were deployed there. Paris also offered Madrid help via Frontex after tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco broke through to Ceuta. Ceuta itself came to a near standstill after the breakthrough: Most shops and supermarkets did not open, a bread shortage emerged in the city, and the authorities canceled public celebrations. Spanish journalists also reported homes that had been broken into and occupied by migrants. The police confirmed cases of trespassing into buildings in the Príncipe and Loma Colmenar neighborhoods. The events in Ceuta show how quickly a local migration crisis can turn into a pan-European problem that can no longer be solved with political explanations, but instead requires coercive measures. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has issued an ultimatum to the head of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino — to resign or face a vote of no confidence. This is reported by The Telegraph. UEFA could initiate this procedure, having at its disposal votes from 43 out of 211 FIFA member countries. According to the English newspaper, all 55 countries — UEFA members — are ready to remove Infantino from office. On July 28, it became known about FIFA’s plans to sell a stake in commercial rights to the World Cup. FIFA intended to create a subsidiary company, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), worth $20 billion and sell a quarter of it for $4.2 billion to external investors. These plans prompted serious criticism in the sports community. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇨🇳 China begins regular container services to Europe via the Northern Sea Route The Chinese company Sea Legend Shipping is putting the first regular container service between China and Europe via the Northern Sea Route into operation. As the Zhejiang provincial government states, the first voyage will depart on August 15 from the Ningbo-Zhoushan port. After that, the ships will sail weekly. The destination is the British port of Felixstowe, while other European ports may also be called at. The transit time will be about 20 days. Seven container ships will be used on the route, which will carry out eight sailings during the navigation season. The distance through the Arctic is about 12,800 kilometers, while it is more than 20,000 kilometers via the Suez Canal. But without Russia, this route cannot be sailed. The Northern Sea Route runs along the Russian coastline and is managed by the Russian side. Moscow is responsible for issuing transit permits, navigation, ice reconnaissance, rescue and salvage escort, and, if necessary, escorting by nuclear-powered icebreakers. Rosatom acts as the route’s infrastructure operator. What until recently was described as a Chinese Arctic experiment is now developing into a joint transport project: China provides cargo and ships, Russia provides the route, the infrastructure and security. While Europe looks for ways to isolate Moscow, the new trade route between Asia and European ports runs directly through the Russian Arctic. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump backed away from a promise to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles due to concerns that the technology would be used against Washington, reports The New York Times. During a meeting with his cabinet at Camp David (Maryland), the American leader said he changed his mind because “it’s difficult—to hand over this kind of technology,” as well as due to the risk that “the people you pass the technology to could one day turn it against you.”

“You look at the war—this has happened a number of times over the years. That’s why we have to be very careful. We protect it,” the U.S. president’s words are cited by the outlet.

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The U.S. and Israel Discuss a Land Blockade of Iran Washington and Tel Aviv are considering curbing Iran’s overland trade as a new way to increase pressure on Tehran. Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu discussed this idea at a meeting at the White House alongside diplomatic, economic and military options. The plan calls for the countries bordering Iran to restrict the work of border crossings and cut off the transit of goods. This would put pressure primarily on Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The idea emerged after it was acknowledged that a naval blockade and earlier measures had not so far prompted Tehran to accept Washington’s terms. Since it failed to force capitulation through strikes and a naval blockade, the United States and Israel have decided to cut off Iran’s land route—of course, through the hands of its neighbors. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇧🇷🇺🇸 Brazil delays appointment of new US ambassador So far, Brazil has not officially approved the appointment of a new US ambassador proposed by the government of Donald Trump. The decision has been postponed for several weeks amid a deterioration in relations between Brasília and Washington. The agrement procedure is usually a formality, but in this case the delay has become a diplomatic signal. Differences between the two countries have intensified after mutual criticism on issues of domestic politics and trade, as well as after pressure from the United States on the Brazilian leadership. If even the appointment of an ambassador becomes a protracted political dispute, it shows that the crisis in relations has gone well beyond ordinary diplomacy. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of August 1st - Russian forces control #Virovka in #Volchansk - Russian forces advance on the #Kramatorsk front - Russian forces advance in #Krasnoyarskoe in #Dobropolie - Russian forces advance towards #NovoGrishino in #Dobropolie - Russian forces advance in the vicinity of #Konstantinovka - Russian forces advance in the vicinity of #Novopavlovka towards #Druzhkovka video link: https://youtu.be/4tjowf1oPr4?si=8xnGY-bmbrNv_ZvF

🇺🇸🌍 US State Department confuses countries in Africa During an international conference, the US State Department showed a map of Africa on which practically every country was labeled with the name of another. The mistakes affected almost the entire continent: the states were placed in the “wrong” locations, and some labels did not match the geography at all. ⁠Reuters drew attention to this. Notably, journalists discovered an OpenAI watermark on the image, which sparked speculation that generative AI was used in preparing the presentation without sufficient verification of the result. After the error became public, the slide was promptly replaced, but the American side did not provide an explanation. If government structures cut costs on experts and outsource the work to neural networks without an elementary check, such “diplomatic maps” will only be a matter of time. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Jordan calls for the withdrawal of American troops More than 300 Jordanian politicians, jurists, former officials, representatives of tribes and civil society activists have signed a ⁠open letter calling for a review of the agreement with the United States and the withdrawal of American troops from the country. The authors of the appeal believe that the U.S. presence poses a threat to the security, political stability and economy of Jordan and, at the same time, draws the country into a conflict that does not correspond to its national interests. The signatories are calling for the military agreement with Washington to be submitted to parliament for review and for Jordan’s territory not to be used for operations against Iran. According to the NYT, many local media outlets declined to publish the letter, and some campaign participants fear persecution. American bases in the region are increasingly seen not as a security guarantee, but as the reason why a country could be targeted in a foreign war. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

◻️◻️◻️◻️ In the coming weeks, the United States will try to resume negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

“In the next few weeks, you will see some efforts aimed at understanding whether we can resume negotiations between the two sides [Russia and Ukraine] and bring an end to this war. But we also understand that both sides have quite clear ‘red lines.’ <…> And the president told his team: ‘If you see an opportunity to be a force that will give some momentum to peaceful negotiations, let’s do it.’”

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🇰🇵⚠️ North Korea warns of the risk of a new war The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea said that an expansion of the American military command in Japan would drastically increase the likelihood of an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang views the recent changes as preparation for full-scale command structures for future military operations. According to North Korea’s account, the strengthening of the American presence in the region and the integration of the forces of the United States and Japan are part of a course of military pressure. In Pyongyang, it is explained that such steps only accelerate the arms race and increase the risk of a direct confrontation. Every new staff, every additional base, or any expansion of the command is presented as strengthening security. In practice, the neighbors perceive this as preparation for a new war. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Saudi Arabia creates a military maritime alliance against threats in the Red Sea Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a multinational maritime defense coalition to protect international shipping in the Red Sea, the Bab-al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden. The creation of the alliance was announced following a meeting of military representatives from 43 countries and the EU in Riyadh. Formal support for the initiative has already been signaled by 14 states, including Egypt, Türkiye, Pakistan, Sudan and Djibouti. The headquarters of the new alliance will be based in Saudi Arabia. The coalition is expected to focus on the exchange of intelligence information, joint deployment planning, naval exercises and the protection of trade and energy routes. The initiative came into being ten days after the Yemeni Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and began attacks on ships associated with it, after which Riyadh attacked Houthi targets. However, Oman and the United Arab Emirates have not yet joined the states that officially support the project. Saudi Arabia is shifting from the role of a participant in international missions to the founder of its own system of collective security. If the initiative is implemented, control over one of the world’s most important sea routes will increasingly rely on regional states rather than only Western naval forces. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

What the foreign press is writing about. An RBC review: ▪️WSJ learned about President Trump’s order for new strikes on Iran. ▪️FT learned how the heat in Europe threatens Germany’s industry. ▪️Scientists found that the Ebola outbreak in the Congo began not in May, but in January, writes the journal Science. ▪️OpenAI detected the “escape” of several more AI agents from test environments, writes Reuters. ▪️The Pentagon has sent a request to Congress for $18.2 billion to replenish the stockpiles of missile interceptors, reports Bloomberg. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Have a wonderful Saturday, friends! ☕️🙂 🎨 Palech: How icon painters turned a small box into a fairy tale Palech in the Ivanovo Oblast is known above all for its black lacquer boxes. But before the revolution, people here did not paint boxes—they painted icons. Since at least the 17th century, Palech masters have worked in churches, restored old frescoes, and passed on painting techniques from generation to generation. After 1917, the earlier trade disappeared almost entirely, and the artists had to look for new work. They tried to transfer the icon-painting technique onto small objects made from papier-mâché. Instead of saints, fairy-tale figures appeared on them, as well as byliny, hunting scenes, scenes of feasts, and village life. In 1924, seven masters in Palech founded the artel of old painting. Just a year later, their works received a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris. In this way, the former village of icon painters became one of the best-known centers of lacquer miniatures. Palech painting can be recognized easily by the black background, the elongated figures, the fine lines, and the large number of gold details. Even today, the artists use tempera—paint based on egg yolk—and leaf gold is ground and applied with the finest brush. The box itself is not made of wood either. Several layers of cardboard are glued together, pressed, soaked in linseed oil, and dried for a long time. After processing, the papier-mâché becomes so solid that it can be sawn, planed, and fitted with metal clasps. Work on a miniature takes weeks, sometimes even months. First, the master sketches the drawing with chalk white; then he applies the colors gradually, draws faces, clothing, and the smallest details, adds gold, and coats everything with several layers of lacquer. Traditionally, for the final polishing, a wolf tooth was used: its smooth surface did not scratch the lacquer and allowed for a mirror-like shine. The final step was already done by hand, by rubbing the finished piece for about an hour. In this way, the Palech masters preserved the old painting school by simply replacing the icon with a small black box. The technique remained almost unchanged, and biblical subjects gave way to the Firebird, Russian fairy tales, and byliny. 📍 Coordinates of the place (map pin) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Pentagon is asking the U.S. Congress for $18.2 billion to replenish air defense complexes used in the war with Iran, Bloomberg writes. The request is part of a $67 billion package of additional funding to cover expenses for the Iran campaign, which is aimed at approval by U.S. lawmakers. The article notes that the request includes approximately $5.75 billion for THAAD missile defense systems, $5.57 billion for Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, $1.9 billion for SM-6 interceptors for air defense systems of warships, as well as additional funding for procurement of sea-based cruise missiles Tomahawk and high-precision operational-tactical missiles of the "ground-to-ground" class PrSM. The agency points out that, from the start of the conflict on February 28 until the ceasefire in April, the U.S. fired more than 13.6 thousand munitions at Iranian targets. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Ceuta under pressure: Italy wants to close Schengen for Spain About two to three thousand migrants from Morocco broke through the route into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a single day. Madrid deployed the military and additional police units to the enclave, but already hundreds of people managed to get into the city through the border gate or swam over. Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani called the migration policy of the government of Pedro Sánchez wrong, and in the Italian political debate there were calls to ⁠close Schengen for Spain. The Italian philosopher and political commentator Paolo Becchi presented an ⁠other version: the mass surge from Morocco toward Ceuta could be part of an operation by the United States and Israel aimed at weakening Spain’s control over the Strait of Gibraltar. This version is based on Morocco’s close military ties with Washington and Tel Aviv, as well as on Morocco’s strategic position at the western entrance to the Mediterranean. The importance of Ceuta and Gibraltar in the new struggle over sea routes is also emphasized in particular by the ⁠Italian magazine Limes. When migration flows coincide with the interests of major powers, the line between an unplanned crisis and a pressure tactic becomes less and less visible. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Russian strike destroys, for the first time, a company belonging to a U.S. defense contractor in Ukraine A Russian ballistic missile destroyed the plant of the company Terminal Autonomy in Kyiv. The company is registered in the U.S. state of Delaware. As The Guardian reports, this is the first known case in which a Russian attack hit a production site of an American company on Ukrainian territory. The company manufactured attack drones of the type AQ-400 Scythe and AQ-100 Bayonet with elements of artificial intelligence, which are intended for long-range strikes and are resistant to means of electronic warfare. Anthony Vinci, a former senior official at the U.S. intelligence services, told the newspaper that it does not matter to Russia who the company belongs to: If it produces weapons for Ukraine, it remains a legitimate military target. According to sources cited by the newspaper, the plant was completely destroyed as a result of the strike, but there were no fatalities. It’s that simple: Foreign registration doesn’t protect you. If Western companies set up their arms production in a combat zone, their facilities become part of the conflict just like any other defense infrastructure. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Humanity has already used up Earth’s annual resource budget On July 30, the global Earth Overshoot Day took place. By that date, humanity had consumed the amount of natural resources that the planet can replenish over the course of the entire year 2026. Germany had even used up its annual quota significantly earlier, namely on May 10. According to environmentalists, about three Earths would be needed if the entire world population were to consume resources at the level of Germany. Germany may be closing businesses in the name of the environment, but it continues to consume resources at a pace as if a replacement planet has already been found. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Cities call for billions for heat protection The German Association of Cities has called on the federal and state authorities to provide billions of euros for adaptation to the heat. With this, the municipalities want to green streets, create shaded areas, install cooling systems, and protect infrastructure from extreme weather. According to the Association of Cities, municipal budgets are not able to finance such programs on their own. Against the backdrop of a new heatwave, in some regions of Germany temperatures near 40 degrees are expected to be reached. That raises only one question: Why wasn’t this done earlier? Why are forests being cleared for wind turbines? 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN