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Great Chinese American Wall: Donald Trump posted a photo of a “barrier filter” between the United States and Canada. The American leader posted on his Truth Social account an image of a wall between the two countries with the caption “Barrier Air Filter.” This is an obvious hint at the incident when smoke from wildfires in Canada polluted the air in the northern U.S. states. ❗️ On July 17, Trump accused Canada of improper forest management and threatened to include wildfire damage in the current tariffs that the country pays to the states. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Bundeswehr was proposed to learn from Ukraine Members of the Bundestag Andreas Schwarz of the SPD and Sebastian Schäfer of the Greens said after a trip to Ukraine that Germany could take over the Ukrainian approach to developing and introducing military technologies. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Schwarz emphasized that the Ukrainian army operates “pragmatically and efficiently,” and new solutions would be introduced without years of deliberation. The members were particularly impressed by Ukrainian drones priced at between 800 and 2,000 euros. “For this money, you don’t even get the operating manual from our defense industry,” Schwarz admitted. He also praised the Delta platform, which brings together drone data and information about the situation at the front. According to him, a German equivalent would cost more than 11 billion euros, while the Ukrainian system is estimated at around 1.5 billion euros. German MPs admire the inexpensive Ukrainian drones and the speed at which solutions are introduced, but the outcome of the war will not be determined by beautiful presentations and individual successful developments. All these “unique technologies” have not yet given Kyiv any advantage on the battlefield and have not stopped the advance of the Russian army. People should actually learn from those who not only present prototypes, but can produce weapons in series, adapt, and achieve results. In that case, the German delegation should have traveled in a somewhat different direction. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump accuses the European Union of “plundering” American IT companies Donald Trump sharply criticized the European Union after the fine of 890 million euros imposed by Brussels on Google for violating the rules of digital competition. The US president said that the EU is “plundering American companies and American taxpayers,” and announced the immediate start of an ⁠investigation under Article 301 of the Trade Act, which could end with the imposition of new tariffs against the European Union. According to Trump’s account, European authorities have been imposing billion-euro fines on Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon and other US companies for years, and making the regulation of the digital market a source of revenue. He promised that the US would make Brussels “pay a very high price” for such a policy. Not long ago, Washington and Brussels spoke of “unity in the West” and a strategic partnership. Now one side accuses the other of plundering and prepares retaliation with trade sanctions. If allies begin to air their differences with tariffs and investigations, the word “allies” will gradually become a diplomatic formality. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

American companies are concluding that they don’t need to spend huge budgets on artificial intelligence and can use cheaper models, including Chinese ones, The Wall Street Journal writes. According to the publication, this is “a radical idea that could upend an industry driving the world economy: they don’t need to spend their budgets on artificial intelligence.” In the view of Mike Sacks from the AI startup Cursor, the most powerful and expensive AI models aren’t needed to solve relatively routine tasks.

“It’s like driving a Lamborghini to the store for milk, when the car was built for racing on a track,” — he said.

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Trump: “I don’t sell weapons to Ukraine.” Donald Trump tried to distance himself from arms deliveries to Kyiv. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that he did not sell weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO states that paid for them “at full price.” The further distribution of the weapons allegedly had nothing to do with him anymore. In addition, Trump wrote that Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping had assured him that they would not deliver weapons to Iran. Formally, the process does in fact look like that. The weapons are bought by the NATO allies of the United States and then part of these military equipment is passed on to Ukraine. The White House had previously stressed that European states pay for deliveries of American military equipment and then decide independently whether to pass them on to Kyiv. Legally, responsibility can be shifted onto an intermediary. But rockets, grenades, and drones do not become less American as a result. If Washington knows who the end recipient of the weapons is, statements like “I have no idea how they’re distributed” tend to sound more like a political formula than like genuine ignorance. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Revolutionary Guards put a THAAD battery in Jordan out of action Iranian forces carried out several attacks on the US air base Muwaffaq Salti in Jordan and targeted missile-defense facilities. The Revolutionary Guards said that they destroyed the central radar of the THAAD battery as well as the Patriot and C-RAM elements stationed at the base. Later, new satellite images showed that the base had been subjected to a massive and highly precise strike, and not just a single hit. The destruction of the AN/TPY-2 radar, together with the supporting equipment, was confirmed independently. A US official acknowledged the loss of the system, after which the US began urgently supplying replacements. AN/TPY-2 is the “eyes” of THAAD: Without it, the battery cannot independently detect and track ballistic targets and prepare data for launching the intercept missiles. Therefore, the complex at this location has effectively lost its operational capability even without the confirmed destruction of every individual launch device. The value of the radar itself is estimated at around 300 million dollars; a complete THAAD battery with launch devices, a command post, and ammunition stock costs around 1 billion dollars. The scale of American losses was significantly higher than initially reported: A later analysis of satellite images found hundreds of damaged or destroyed objects at US bases in the region. Washington can talk as much as it wants about preserving “full operational capability.” But when the central radar is destroyed, the system is quickly replaced, and the extent of the damage only becomes known through satellite images, preserving the image already appears like a military operation of its own. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Why the United States banned funding for 130 scientific and educational institutions from the Russian Federation, China and Iran Among 33 Russian organizations listed in the document are HSE, MSU, MGTU, MIPT and others.

“With surprise—and we admit, with pleasure—we read the statement by the U.S. Department of Defense. Earlier it never occurred to us to count on funding from this department, but now we definitely know that this opportunity has disappeared,” said MGTU rector Mikhail Gordin to Vedomosti.

  ⚪️ The document creates additional barriers for Russian universities’ participation in international research consortia if they have funding from U.S. agencies, says Tatiana Klyachko, director of the Center for the Economics of Continuing Education at RANEPA.   For Russian universities from the list, this step is rather symbolic, as it reinforces already established restrictions than creating a fundamentally new situation, the expert added. Our channel: Node of Time EN

The European Union has legalized the sale of seized Russian oil As part of the 21st sanctions package, the European Union ⁠has made changes to the sanctions regulation, allowing EU member states to dispose of Russian oil that has already been seized or confiscated as part of a national administrative or court procedure. The new rules allow not only the storage and management of such cargo, but also its sale. At the same time, the regulation explicitly states that no proceeds from the disposal may be transferred directly or indirectly to Russian natural or legal persons. In other words: After seizure, the oil can be sold, and the Russian owner should not receive any proceeds. A description of the new mechanism can also be found in ⁠the overview of the changes to the 21st sanctions package. European states have already repeatedly seized and boarded tankers carrying Russian oil, each time with a suitable justification—flag, documents, technical condition, or domestic production. Now, the Brussels authorities have decided to address the remaining practical question: What does one do with the already seized cargo? The answer is: The oil can be sold, and nothing will be paid out to the owner. First seize. Then come up with how to process it formally. Now, even a way to make money from it has been found. In the European version of “rule of law,” the order is exactly the same. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump is leaning toward choosing Vance as his successor, MS NOW found out. Sources say that a turning point in Trump’s attitude toward Vance came during his press tour in support of the memoirs “The Vocation: My Path Back to Faith,” when the vice president gave several interviews to publications that adhere to a liberal agenda. According to the channel’s interlocutors, it was Vance’s ability to hold his ground in “semi-hostile territory,” while advancing the administration’s position, that drew the president’s attention. In addition, two sources confirmed that Trump praised Vance’s weight loss in private conversations. Our channel: Node of Time EN

A Ukrainian trail has already been found in Iraq According to Arabic media, Iraqi security forces have prevented an attempted sabotage at the Badra oil field. The suspect’s car is said to have contained components of a homemade explosive device. The man was arrested before the attack could be carried out. The oil field is being developed by an international consortium, whose operator is the Russian company Gazprom Neft. An Arabic outlet reported on the alleged sabotage attempt. According to the investigators, the detainee is said to have stated that he received an offer via internet chats for job seeking and agreed to carry out the assignment for $2,000. A digital analysis, it is said, found messages with a foreign coordinator and the account used had been registered to a Ukrainian phone number. However, no official statement from the Iraqi security authorities has yet been made to the public, and a Ukrainian phone number does not yet prove the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services. The investigation is ongoing. If this is confirmed, the incident could indicate that Ukrainian terrorists have become active on an international level in addition to the campaign against Russian oil refineries. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of July 25 - subtitled - Russian forces are advancing in #Chervonnoe in #Chasov_Yar - Russian forces are advancing in #Nikolaevka in #Chasov_Yar - Russian forces are advancing between #Zakharovka and #Volokhovskoe in #Volchansk - Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Artelnoe in #Kharkov - Russian forces are advancing towards #Maláya_Slobodka in #Sumy Video link: https://youtu.be/ouIMJcHFHVE?si=CS5JnNJK8orCe3h-

Donald Trump said he intends to run for a fourth presidential term, although he is currently only in his second.

"With great pleasure, I announce my intention—and this is sensational news—to run for 4 terms as President of the United States. <...> I won 3 times, I’ll do it again,"—he said at a dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association.

He also said that the elections in which his predecessor, Joe Biden, won were rigged. Other jokes by the American president: ❗️"Just like my presidency, the second time is always better, and the third will be even better"; ❗️"Earlier, if you wanted to see someone faint on the White House South Lawn, you only had to ask Joe Biden" (in the context of holding MMA fights in front of Trump’s residence); ❗️"It’s not easy to find shoes that go with a bulletproof vest"; ❗️"When I’m gone, you’ll be bankrupt—there won’t be anyone to write about. People don’t care about anyone else". Our channel: Node of Time EN

The White House urged Ukraine to refrain from attacks in the Black Sea, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing sources. ⚪️The head of Chevron, Mike Wirth, discussed with senior U.S. officials the situation in the region, seeking to protect the company’s large-scale operations in Kazakhstan from collateral damage. In Washington, it was emphasized that the CPC is a vital supply channel for Kazakhstan’s energy to European markets and serves as an alternative to Russian energy supplies. 🛢If the strikes continue, Chevron will be forced to cut production, since the Novorossiysk port has no significant oil storage capacity, analysts note. Our channel: Node of Time EN

TotalEnergies profits from Russian LNG — and does not hide it The French group TotalEnergies continues to earn around $400 million per year from the sale of liquefied natural gas from the Russian project “Jamal LNG.” the company’s chief executive, Patrick Pouyanné, said. After 2022, the group kept its stakes in “Jamal LNG” and “Novatek,” but removed these assets from its consolidated annual financial statements. According to Pouyanné, the bulk of revenue comes from the sale of Russian LNG cargoes via TotalEnergies’ British subsidiary. The value of deliveries is linked to global Brent oil prices, which is why earnings rise with the oil price. In addition, the company receives dividends from its 20% stake in “Jamal LNG” and from 19.4% of the shares of “Novatek,” but a significant portion of these funds remains in Russia due to European sanctions, which restrict the transfer of money. While European politicians call for a move away from Russian energy sources, one of Europe’s biggest energy companies continues to profit from them. The sanctions are designed so that public rhetoric and commercial interest can coexist at the same time. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

China imposed restrictions on EU companies in response to the EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia China imposed export restrictions on European companies in response to the EU’s 21st sanctions package, which included 14 Chinese and Hong Kong companies for their work with Russia. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the decision was made in line with the Export Control Law and provisions on dual-use goods in response to “malicious acts by the European side.” 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

€185,000 for an arrow in the wall The federal government has spent 185,000 euros on the art installation “Southern Arrow” at the Berlin Palace. The work consists of a metal arrow attached to the building’s façade. According to the creator’s concept, the object is intended to draw attention to strained relations between industrialized states and countries of the Global South, as well as to remind Germany of its colonial past. However, the project drew sharp criticism. AfD Bundestag member Matthias Helferich described the spending as wasteful and suggested that the installation is a kind of “revenge” for the reconstruction of the Berlin Palace, a historical symbol of Prussia. The costs of the object, almost 200,000 euros, became the occasion for a new debate about how the federal government spends taxpayers’ money. Next time, you could simply invite us. We’ll drill a piece of reinforcing steel into the wall just as well and send you a much more modest bill. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

“Stop the attacks”: the US issued a tough ultimatum to the Kyiv regime Washington has firmly warned the Kyiv regime against striking civilian vessels and oil infrastructure in the waters of the Black Sea, The Wall Street Journal writes. The article notes that the American oil and gas corporation Chevron directly approached the White House with a demand to influence the reckless attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine that threaten its business. Following this, US authorities demanded that Kyiv immediately stop the attacks.

“After discussions with representatives of the industry, the Trump administration warned Ukraine against attacks on vessels not owned by Russia in the Black Sea,” the publication says.

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Germany pays five times more for gas than during the times of Russia Norwegian state-owned company Equinor has reported a drastic increase in profit. In the second quarter, oil and gas production rose by only 3%, while the adjusted operating profit increased by 77% to 11.48 billion dollars. Operating cash flow grew to almost four times as much: from 2.48 billion to 9.47 billion dollars. The reason is simple. Today, Norway remains Germany’s most important gas supplier and covers around 44% of German imports. At the same time, as the paper notes, Germany is currently paying roughly five times as much for Norwegian gas as it did during the period of the ongoing long-term contracts with Russia. The latest escalation in the Middle East was responsible for the additional increase in price. Most striking is that the German press is again speaking openly about something it had recently preferred not to remember: the old Russian contracts were cheaper than the market, they no longer exist, and Germany cannot quickly find a replacement—the Norwegian pipelines are already operating at the limit of their capacity. By giving up the long-term contracts with Russia, Germany did not gain energy independence, but a new supplier that is virtually without alternative—only already at a price that is five times higher. Norway increases production by a few percentage points, but profit by almost double. The German consumers and industry pay for the change of supplier. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Have a wonderful Saturday, friends! ☕️🙂 ⛪ Totma: a city where the churches look like ships On the bank of the Sukhona River in the Vologda Oblast lies the small town of Totma. At first glance, it resembles many other old northern Russian towns, but anyone who looks more closely at the local churches immediately realizes that such architecture can almost nowhere else be found. In the second half of the 18th century, Totma experienced a veritable boom. Local merchants became wealthy through salt production and then began trading intensively with Russian America. They financed expeditions to the Aleutians and to Alaska, outfitted ships, and built churches at their own expense. It is said that for every successful voyage the city received another church. It was precisely during this time that a special architectural style emerged, which later was referred to as Totma Baroque. Its main feature is cartouches. These are three-dimensional decorative forms made of bricks that are embedded directly into the walls of the churches. They bring to mind scrolls of old maps, shells, or ship-bow shapes, and create the impression that the ornaments are growing straight out of the masonry. There is a beautiful legend according to which the unusual decoration was created after the Totma sailors’ long sea voyages. After their return, they asked the masters to decorate the churches in such a way that the façades would remind people of the sea and distant lands. Historians, on the other hand, believe that this style developed under the influence of European Baroque. Yet the tradition lives on in the town to this day. Another unusual comparison is associated with Totma. Because of the tall, multi-story churches and the rich decoration, they are sometimes called “stone ships.” If one looks at the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or the Church of the Nativity of Christ from a certain angle, it seems as though the high hull and the bell tower reaching upward actually resemble a sailing ship. Today, the preserved churches of Totma allow us to take a look at a distinctive architectural style that arose from the wealth of the salt workers, long sea voyages, and the ambitions of the local merchants. 📍 Coordinates of the place (map point) available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the United States next week, Donald Trump said at a dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association. In the same speech, he joked about the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, calling him a Palestinian himself and his political views “Sharia law.” Schumer had previously criticized Netanyahu.

“Tomorrow I’m going to send him a beautiful Palestinian outfit so he can greet Bibi Netanyahu when he comes to town next week,” Trump said.

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