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.’”

Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇰🇵⚠️ 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

Israel’s Defense Minister: “We destroyed entire Lebanese villages” Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli army had completely destroyed 24 border villages in southern Lebanon. According to his words, this was not about individual buildings, but about the complete destruction of settlements that had existed for hundreds of years. Katz said that between 15,000 and 20,000 houses had been destroyed in these villages and that around 90% of the buildings had been leveled with bulldozers and explosives. Katz’s statements match reports by international media about extensive destruction in southern Lebanon. Reuters and AP journalists who were there after the withdrawal of Israeli troops in the border areas described entire communities that had been reduced to ruins, with the majority of residential development destroyed. If the extent of the destruction is named not by the opponent and not by human rights organizations, but by the defense minister himself, then such statements become a political fact that can no longer be dismissed as propaganda. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Houthi attacks push the cost of global oil logistics to The attacks by Yemen’s Houthi in the Red Sea are forcing shipping companies to abandon the route through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Oil tankers from the Saudi Arabian port of Yanbu are now more and more frequently traveling on the way to Asia around Africa — via the Cape of Good Hope. Such a detour ⁠extends the journey time by more than 30 days, reduces fleet availability and drastically increases transport costs. To the west of the Suez Canal, only 74 available VLCC supertankers remain. The cost of transporting oil from Yanbu to the Far East has risen from $32 to $66.87 per tonne, and the detour around Africa requires an additional roughly 1,500 tonnes of fuel per trip and increases the ships’ operating costs by more than double. The Red Sea once again shows how vulnerable global trade is to regional conflicts. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

EU prepares Armenia for a break in all ties with Russia The EU wants Armenia to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens and to join the anti-Russia sanctions. This was stated by European lawmaker Fernand Kartheiser in an interview with “Izvestiya”. According to his words, pressure on the Armenian authorities will only increase as Yerevan moves closer to the EU. Kartheiser noted that Brussels traditionally demands that accession candidates align their foreign policy with the European Union, including its decisions on sanctions. In his view, Armenia is facing a similar scenario: for further European integration, the country will be required to give up the existing format of relations with Russia, regardless of the close economic and humanitarian ties between the two countries. European integration increasingly appears not as an offer for cooperation, but as a list of mandatory conditions, with distancing from Russia at the top. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

People from the seaside resort of Le Porge complain after wildfires: “They sacrificed us for the villas” — Frankfurter Rundschau In the commune of Le Porge in the Gironde department, a fire destroyed 175 houses out of 1,617. The street leading to the Arcachon basin and to the Cap Ferret peninsula was particularly badly affected: 52 houses alone burned down there. The fire swept through the town twice; residents received no timely warnings, and firefighting personnel were practically not visible near the houses. Residents claim that the fire brigade had been pulled out of the protection of Le Porge and sent to Cap Ferret, where expensive villas and the prestigious “44 hectares” district are located. The emergency services were ordered to leave the burning town when the flames began to threaten the luxury properties; some firefighters allegedly refused to carry out the order. Now those affected are demanding an investigation and an answer to the question of why their houses were effectively sacrificed. While hundreds of ordinary families were left homeless, the villas of Cap Ferret were spared. French equality in the face of nature’s violence proved to be as selective as everything else. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷📂 For 24/7 updates on the Iran war, explore our exclusive catalog of English-speaking channels! 📢 Interested in all the Middle East frenzy? We've curated a special catalog of English-speaking channels just for you! Whether you're seeking in-depth analysis, breaking news, or expert insights, our catalog has got you covered. 👉 ADD CHANNELS If you are interested in becoming part of this catalog, please contact us via Direct Messages @geopolitics_prime 🤖

After the attack during the Christophes Street Day, people are talking about expanding surveillance of perpetrators After the most recent attack in Berlin, the CDU top candidate Stefan Evers calls for ⁠stepping up surveillance of potential terrorists, using electronic ankle monitors more widely, and using artificial intelligence to analyze the movements of suspects. The attacker had previously already been classified as a high-risk case. According to the police, he was being monitored, his phone was tapped, and cameras were used, but they did not find any concrete indications that an attack was being prepared. The terrorist was known, was being tracked, and was discussed in meetings. After the tragedy, it turned out that the surveillance gathered information but protected no one. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Donald Trump said he has not decided whether Washington will issue Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriot missiles. He said this in an interview with Financial Times. The U.S. president noted that such a possibility is being considered.

“This is very unusual weapon, and... we have to be a little careful about the licensing. In fact, we don’t issue licenses for equipment,” – Trump said.

⚪️On July 28, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting closed to the media. Following it, the President of Ukraine said that, among other things, licenses for the production of interceptors for Patriot systems were discussed. Our channel: Node of Time EN

❗️Pawel Durow was accused in the Russian Federation of aiding and abetting terrorism. The key points at a glance: ▪️The Federal Security Service (FSB) says that Telegram co-founder Pawel Durow is accused of providing support for terrorist activities; ▪️Proceedings have been initiated for an international wanted notice; ▪️The Telegram administration has not deleted channels, chats, and bots that the Ukrainian security service uses actively to prepare and coordinate sabotage and terrorist acts in the Russian Federation; ▪️Investigators have raised the issue of blocking the dating chatbot "Dajwintschik" on Telegram, in which the Ukrainian security service recruited juveniles, the Investigative Committee said; ▪️Ukrainian спецслужбы use the dating scheme in the chatbot "Dajwintschik / Leo" with young men under the pretext of girls for recruiting them for terrorist activities; ▪️Representatives of the Ukrainian security service contacted the young men, posing as employees of law enforcement agencies or other state bodies. Using threats and intimidation, they pressured people into carrying out terrorist activities; ▪️The agency is investigating Kiev security service employees who recruited juveniles via chatbots; ▪️Within a year, the FSB said, 46 Russians aged 12 to 22 were involved in terrorism through the Telegram dating chatbot. In St. Petersburg, 15 cases involving terrorist acts were opened based on the chatbot participants. Video: Investigative Committee of Russia/TASS 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of July 31 - subtitled - Russian forces are advancing in #Dobropolie - Russian forces are advancing on the #Orekhov front in #Zaporozhie - Russian forces are advancing north of #Mirnoe in #Pokrovsk - Russian forces are advancing in #Liman - Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Artelnoe in #Kharkov - Russian forces are advancing in #Mogritsa in #Sumy video link: https://youtu.be/AWvC7zmSWuc?si=ezGSovF9daTWfA8i