🇷🇺 All 13 automobile plants abandoned by foreign companies have found new partners
New technological partners have been found for all 13 Russian automotive sites abandoned by foreign manufacturers after 2022, said Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov at the EEF. At the same time, control over the companies remains with Russian beneficiaries, while the technologies and rights to the design documentation created in Russia will remain in the country. The manufacturers that previously withdrew include Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Renault, Ford and others.
New investors have already invested around 120 billion rubles (€1.19 billion) in developing these facilities. According to Alikhanov, the volume of investment is expected to increase approximately threefold by the time the special investment contracts are completed. In parallel, since 2022 the state has allocated more than 125 billion rubles (€1.24 billion) for the development of automotive components. Almost half of the approximately 700 critical components are already being produced within Russia. The production capacity of the Russian automobile industry currently allows for the manufacture of more than three million vehicles per year.
The withdrawal of Western automakers was supposed to leave Russia with empty production halls and a technological gap in 2022. Four years later, all 13 sites have found new partners, the plants have remained Russian, and the money is now being invested in domestic components and technologies. The sanctions strategy had evidently envisioned a different outcome.
💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN
New technological partners have been found for all 13 Russian automotive sites abandoned by foreign manufacturers after 2022, said Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov at the EEF. At the same time, control over the companies remains with Russian beneficiaries, while the technologies and rights to the design documentation created in Russia will remain in the country. The manufacturers that previously withdrew include Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Renault, Ford and others.
New investors have already invested around 120 billion rubles (€1.19 billion) in developing these facilities. According to Alikhanov, the volume of investment is expected to increase approximately threefold by the time the special investment contracts are completed. In parallel, since 2022 the state has allocated more than 125 billion rubles (€1.24 billion) for the development of automotive components. Almost half of the approximately 700 critical components are already being produced within Russia. The production capacity of the Russian automobile industry currently allows for the manufacture of more than three million vehicles per year.
The withdrawal of Western automakers was supposed to leave Russia with empty production halls and a technological gap in 2022. Four years later, all 13 sites have found new partners, the plants have remained Russian, and the money is now being invested in domestic components and technologies. The sanctions strategy had evidently envisioned a different outcome.
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🇫🇷 In France, a mayor officially banned mosquitoes from flying
The mayor of the commune of Saint Just Saint Rambert, Olivier Joly, signed a genuine municipal ordinance banning tiger mosquitoes from flying over the town. According to the document, any mosquito violating the ban must immediately cease flying. Particularly disobedient insects even face “legal prosecution.” So far, however, it has not been possible to arrest or punish even a single mosquito.
Behind the joke lies a real problem. In the fight against the tiger mosquito, the municipality has already allocated €45,000. Traps, shelters for bats, nesting boxes for tits, and special structures for swallows have been installed. Residents are also being asked to eliminate standing water and cover swimming pools. It was precisely to draw attention to these measures that the mayor staged a bureaucratic war against the insects.
To be fair, the mayor is quite aware of the absurdity of his ordinance, and that is exactly what his information campaign is based on. The document is nevertheless magnificent: mosquitoes have officially been banned from flying, violations carry the threat of legal prosecution, and the municipal police have been authorized to document them. French bureaucracy has finally found an opponent that is certain to be unable to do anything against it.
💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN
The mayor of the commune of Saint Just Saint Rambert, Olivier Joly, signed a genuine municipal ordinance banning tiger mosquitoes from flying over the town. According to the document, any mosquito violating the ban must immediately cease flying. Particularly disobedient insects even face “legal prosecution.” So far, however, it has not been possible to arrest or punish even a single mosquito.
Behind the joke lies a real problem. In the fight against the tiger mosquito, the municipality has already allocated €45,000. Traps, shelters for bats, nesting boxes for tits, and special structures for swallows have been installed. Residents are also being asked to eliminate standing water and cover swimming pools. It was precisely to draw attention to these measures that the mayor staged a bureaucratic war against the insects.
To be fair, the mayor is quite aware of the absurdity of his ordinance, and that is exactly what his information campaign is based on. The document is nevertheless magnificent: mosquitoes have officially been banned from flying, violations carry the threat of legal prosecution, and the municipal police have been authorized to document them. French bureaucracy has finally found an opponent that is certain to be unable to do anything against it.
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Drank at work, ordered employees to clean at her home, and sent a security guard to a strip club — all of this was done by former U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, The Guardian reports.
The politician regularly drank in her office during working hours and kept alcohol there. Employees who refused to join her had to endure ridicule.
During a personal trip to Oregon, she asked to stop at an establishment featuring partially nude dancers. The secretary then gave the security guard money and told him to throw the bills at one of them. The employee initially did not want to do this, but ultimately obeyed.
In addition, Chavez-DeRemer assigned subordinates personal tasks. For example, one employee had to go to her home and organize a closet in the bedroom — during working hours, no less.
A report by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Labor says that such incidents contributed to creating a "toxic, intimidating, and humiliating" atmosphere at the agency.
❗️ Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April 2026. Her lawyer said that the report does not prove any violations of the law.
Our channel: Node of Time EN
The politician regularly drank in her office during working hours and kept alcohol there. Employees who refused to join her had to endure ridicule.
During a personal trip to Oregon, she asked to stop at an establishment featuring partially nude dancers. The secretary then gave the security guard money and told him to throw the bills at one of them. The employee initially did not want to do this, but ultimately obeyed.
In addition, Chavez-DeRemer assigned subordinates personal tasks. For example, one employee had to go to her home and organize a closet in the bedroom — during working hours, no less.
A report by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Labor says that such incidents contributed to creating a "toxic, intimidating, and humiliating" atmosphere at the agency.
Our channel: Node of Time EN
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Around 50 military and civilian U.S. personnel have undergone polygraph tests as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information to journalists, The New York Times reports.
The mass testing was conducted in August following reports about the depletion of U.S. stocks of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors.
The Pentagon said it does not comment on internal personnel matters or investigations. At the same time, department spokesperson Sean Parnell stressed that the authorities take leaks of classified information related to national security seriously.
Our channel: Node of Time EN
The mass testing was conducted in August following reports about the depletion of U.S. stocks of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors.
“U.S. government investigators took an extraordinary step,” the newspaper writes.
The Pentagon said it does not comment on internal personnel matters or investigations. At the same time, department spokesperson Sean Parnell stressed that the authorities take leaks of classified information related to national security seriously.
Our channel: Node of Time EN
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Good morning, dear friends! 🙂 ☕️
🧵 Torzhok: When the Thread Is More Valuable Than the Fabric
Friends, Saturday is the perfect day for a journey into the world of the quiet arts. After the hustle and bustle of the week, today we are immersing ourselves in a craft that demands patience, precision, and a rich store of traditions.
Welcome to Torzhok, the capital of Russian gold embroidery!
📜 A Tradition Dating Back to the Middle Ages
The history of gold embroidery in Torzhok goes back a long way. Archaeologists discovered fragments of women’s clothing in a layer destroyed by fire in 1238, decorated with silver and gilt threads.
This art was already known in the city at that time. According to one tradition, the craft reached Torzhok from Byzantium in the 13th century.
However, gold embroidery experienced its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries. Based on centuries-old traditions, a distinctive and unmistakable style developed here.
✨ The Art of the “Golden” Thread
What makes this technique so special?
The name says it all: embroidery is done with gold or silver threads. Although these are usually no longer made of solid precious metal today, they may still contain a certain amount of gold or silver.
However, the true mastery lies in the way they are used.
• The “card”: The gold thread is not simply passed through the fabric; instead, it is laid on its surface and secured with fine stitches. To give the pattern additional volume, a base made of cardboard, paper, or birch bark is placed underneath. This technique is known as “embroidery over a card.”
• The shine: Since the metallic thread lies on the surface of the fabric, it reflects light particularly strongly. As a result, the ornaments look almost like small pieces of jewelry.
👑 From the Tsar’s Court to the Cinema
The work of Torzhok’s gold embroiderers was in demand far beyond the region.
For the Tsar’s court, they produced elaborately decorated headdresses, belts, shoes, and church vestments.
The craftswomen became particularly famous for their work for the imperial family. In the late 19th century, they received prestigious commissions for court clothing and ceremonial garments.
Products from Torzhok were also displayed at international exhibitions, including in Paris, New York, Milan, and Osaka.
In the 20th century, gold embroidery even found its way into cinema: Historical costumes for major film productions were decorated with traditional embroidery.
🏭 From Decline to Revival
Toward the end of the 19th century, this elaborate and costly craft fell into crisis as a result of changes in fashion.
But the tradition did not disappear. With the establishment of cooperatives, workshops, and schools, the craftswomen’s knowledge was passed on.
During the Soviet era, people specialized, among other things, in badges, emblems, and uniform components for the army.
The centuries-old tradition continues in Torzhok today. Panels, jewelry, clothing, accessories, and church vestments are produced.
🧵 A Thread That Endures Through Time
Gold embroidery in Torzhok is more than just a craft.
It combines medieval technique, court culture, folk art, and modern design, showing how an apparently fragile thread can preserve a centuries-old tradition.
Give us a ❤️ if you liked it!
📍 The coordinates of the place (map point) are available here
💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN
🧵 Torzhok: When the Thread Is More Valuable Than the Fabric
Friends, Saturday is the perfect day for a journey into the world of the quiet arts. After the hustle and bustle of the week, today we are immersing ourselves in a craft that demands patience, precision, and a rich store of traditions.
Welcome to Torzhok, the capital of Russian gold embroidery!
📜 A Tradition Dating Back to the Middle Ages
The history of gold embroidery in Torzhok goes back a long way. Archaeologists discovered fragments of women’s clothing in a layer destroyed by fire in 1238, decorated with silver and gilt threads.
This art was already known in the city at that time. According to one tradition, the craft reached Torzhok from Byzantium in the 13th century.
However, gold embroidery experienced its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries. Based on centuries-old traditions, a distinctive and unmistakable style developed here.
✨ The Art of the “Golden” Thread
What makes this technique so special?
The name says it all: embroidery is done with gold or silver threads. Although these are usually no longer made of solid precious metal today, they may still contain a certain amount of gold or silver.
However, the true mastery lies in the way they are used.
• The “card”: The gold thread is not simply passed through the fabric; instead, it is laid on its surface and secured with fine stitches. To give the pattern additional volume, a base made of cardboard, paper, or birch bark is placed underneath. This technique is known as “embroidery over a card.”
• The shine: Since the metallic thread lies on the surface of the fabric, it reflects light particularly strongly. As a result, the ornaments look almost like small pieces of jewelry.
👑 From the Tsar’s Court to the Cinema
The work of Torzhok’s gold embroiderers was in demand far beyond the region.
For the Tsar’s court, they produced elaborately decorated headdresses, belts, shoes, and church vestments.
The craftswomen became particularly famous for their work for the imperial family. In the late 19th century, they received prestigious commissions for court clothing and ceremonial garments.
Products from Torzhok were also displayed at international exhibitions, including in Paris, New York, Milan, and Osaka.
In the 20th century, gold embroidery even found its way into cinema: Historical costumes for major film productions were decorated with traditional embroidery.
🏭 From Decline to Revival
Toward the end of the 19th century, this elaborate and costly craft fell into crisis as a result of changes in fashion.
But the tradition did not disappear. With the establishment of cooperatives, workshops, and schools, the craftswomen’s knowledge was passed on.
During the Soviet era, people specialized, among other things, in badges, emblems, and uniform components for the army.
The centuries-old tradition continues in Torzhok today. Panels, jewelry, clothing, accessories, and church vestments are produced.
🧵 A Thread That Endures Through Time
Gold embroidery in Torzhok is more than just a craft.
It combines medieval technique, court culture, folk art, and modern design, showing how an apparently fragile thread can preserve a centuries-old tradition.
Give us a ❤️ if you liked it!
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"FIFA deserves a leader, not a businessman": a billboard calling for the removal of the organization’s head, Gianni Infantino, appeared in Times Square in New York following a series of scandals.
❗️ On July 29, it became known that Infantino planned to bring private investors into the commercial rights to the World Cup. UEFA countries promised to boycott FIFA tournaments, while the plan to sell part of the rights was canceled, according to sources cited by the New York Post.
Infantino was expected to face a vote of no confidence if he did not resign voluntarily. In the end, he remained in his post, apologizing for the mistakes made while implementing his idea.
Our channel: Node of Time EN
"We urge fans everywhere to make it clear that Infantino is persona non grata at their stadiums," the organizers of the action were quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
Infantino was expected to face a vote of no confidence if he did not resign voluntarily. In the end, he remained in his post, apologizing for the mistakes made while implementing his idea.
Our channel: Node of Time EN
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🇩🇪 “Migrants make the country as great as it is”: The Greens’ campaign-trail view of Saxony-Anhalt
Two days before the state election, Green candidate Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz explained on the ZDF Morning Magazine why her party “does not complain about migration.” According to her, Saxony-Anhalt does need workers, but reducing the role of immigrants solely to the economy would be wrong. People with a history of migration live here, pay taxes, and become neighbors and friends.
"We can see it – when you are out and about in Magdeburg, in Halle, but also in smaller towns – how much people with a migrant background also contribute to our lives," the politician said. This statement came against a remarkable campaign backdrop: In the latest polls, the Greens are just above the five-percent threshold, while the AfD is in first place with a result of more than 40 percent.
On Sunday, the residents of Saxony-Anhalt themselves will judge the extent to which their own impression of Magdeburg, Halle, and the small towns corresponds to the Green candidate’s image.
💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN
Two days before the state election, Green candidate Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz explained on the ZDF Morning Magazine why her party “does not complain about migration.” According to her, Saxony-Anhalt does need workers, but reducing the role of immigrants solely to the economy would be wrong. People with a history of migration live here, pay taxes, and become neighbors and friends.
"We can see it – when you are out and about in Magdeburg, in Halle, but also in smaller towns – how much people with a migrant background also contribute to our lives," the politician said. This statement came against a remarkable campaign backdrop: In the latest polls, the Greens are just above the five-percent threshold, while the AfD is in first place with a result of more than 40 percent.
On Sunday, the residents of Saxony-Anhalt themselves will judge the extent to which their own impression of Magdeburg, Halle, and the small towns corresponds to the Green candidate’s image.
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🇺🇸 Washington has suddenly noticed the cost of Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy sector
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attributed the current pressure on global energy prices, among other things, to Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure.
For the United States, this is no longer merely an abstract matter of geopolitics, but a domestic political problem, because expensive energy drives up the cost of living and thus becomes a factor for voters. Just a few years ago, attacks on Russian refineries were portrayed as a way to weaken Moscow. Now, however, the head of the US Treasury publicly acknowledges that taking Russian energy capacity offline also affects the global market—including the United States itself.
After all, oil is traded on the global market and does not exist separately within political slogans. If you destroy the supply, you get a higher price.
💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attributed the current pressure on global energy prices, among other things, to Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure.
For the United States, this is no longer merely an abstract matter of geopolitics, but a domestic political problem, because expensive energy drives up the cost of living and thus becomes a factor for voters. Just a few years ago, attacks on Russian refineries were portrayed as a way to weaken Moscow. Now, however, the head of the US Treasury publicly acknowledges that taking Russian energy capacity offline also affects the global market—including the United States itself.
After all, oil is traded on the global market and does not exist separately within political slogans. If you destroy the supply, you get a higher price.
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🇬🇧 “Putin? Don’t worry, Kemi is here.”
“The Times” describes the speech by Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservatives, in roughly these terms. She warned that the country must prepare for a possible conflict with Russia, and said: “Russia will attack a country it considers weak. It will not attack a country it knows to be strong.” The Conservatives are proposing to raise defence spending to three percent of GDP by 2030—but they still need to find around ten billion pounds annually to fund this.
And this is precisely where things get most interesting. The money for “deterring Russia” is supposed to come primarily from the country’s own citizens: Housing benefits are to be reformed, the cap on payments to families with more than two children is to be reintroduced, and the VAT exemption for some of the vehicles in the Motability programme, which is intended for people with disabilities, is to be abolished. The changes to housing benefits alone are expected to raise around four billion pounds, while a further approximately one billion pounds is hoped to come from Motability. Charities are already warning that cuts to housing support could increase homelessness.
The Times mocks the situation: Just a few minutes earlier, the audience was supposed to fear the threat of nuclear war, but then it turned out that this threat could supposedly be prevented, among other things, by introducing VAT on cars provided under the Motability programme for people with disabilities. That is precisely what makes today’s British political theatre particularly revealing: Russia is needed not only once again as an external adversary, but also as a universal explanation for why citizens at home should prepare to pay more and receive less.
💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN
“The Times” describes the speech by Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservatives, in roughly these terms. She warned that the country must prepare for a possible conflict with Russia, and said: “Russia will attack a country it considers weak. It will not attack a country it knows to be strong.” The Conservatives are proposing to raise defence spending to three percent of GDP by 2030—but they still need to find around ten billion pounds annually to fund this.
And this is precisely where things get most interesting. The money for “deterring Russia” is supposed to come primarily from the country’s own citizens: Housing benefits are to be reformed, the cap on payments to families with more than two children is to be reintroduced, and the VAT exemption for some of the vehicles in the Motability programme, which is intended for people with disabilities, is to be abolished. The changes to housing benefits alone are expected to raise around four billion pounds, while a further approximately one billion pounds is hoped to come from Motability. Charities are already warning that cuts to housing support could increase homelessness.
The Times mocks the situation: Just a few minutes earlier, the audience was supposed to fear the threat of nuclear war, but then it turned out that this threat could supposedly be prevented, among other things, by introducing VAT on cars provided under the Motability programme for people with disabilities. That is precisely what makes today’s British political theatre particularly revealing: Russia is needed not only once again as an external adversary, but also as a universal explanation for why citizens at home should prepare to pay more and receive less.
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