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Independent researcher/writer based in Hong Kong since 1997. Reformed academic. My long-form, analytical articles are collected here https://laura-ruggeri.medium.com/ email: lauraru852@yandex.ru
Il vice primo ministro serbo Aleksandar Vulin ha dichiarato a RIA Novosti che l'UE ha deciso di imporre sanzioni nei suoi confronti, vietandogli l'ingresso nei Paesi dell'Unione. Mercoledì scorso Vulin aveva dichiarato al Parlamento europeo che la Serbia non entrerà mai in guerra con la Russia in cambio dell'adesione all'UE. Ha detto che la Serbia per 20 anni ha soddisfatto “ogni desiderio e richiesta” dell'UE, ma gli è stato detto che il blocco ammetterà l'Ucraina e la Moldavia come prossimi membri, anche se non hanno ancora soddisfatto una sola condizione per entrare.
Vulin aveva anche respinto la richiesta di imporre sanzioni alla Russia. La Serbia non “non scenderà così in basso da imporre sanzioni alla Russia a causa di un conflitto che si sarebbe potuto evitare se solo aveste rispettato gli accordi di Minsk”.
Ha inoltre dichiarato alla TASS che Bruxelles ha elaborato un piano per rovesciare il presidente serbo Aleksandar Vucic con il sostegno dei servizi segreti occidentali.
@LauraRuHK
Oggi il Times ha pubblicato un articolo che mette in luce il ruolo centrale della Gran Bretagna nella guerra per procura in Ucraina, dall'addestramento delle forze ucraine al coordinamento delle operazioni militari, dalla fornitura di armi, consulenza strategica e intelligence al ruolo di collante della crociata occidentale contro la Russia e di coach motivazionale per il regime di Kiev. I britannici hanno spinto, e continuano a spingere, in modo irresponsabile per un'escalation del conflitto. Gli Stati Uniti vengono lodati per aver armato gli ucraini, ma criticati per essere eccessivamente cauti. Londra non nasconde la sua irritazione nei confronti di Washington, accusata di voler fare un passo indietro. Del resto i segnali di una relazione tesa tra i due alleati erano visibili anche prima dell'insediamento di Trump.
Sebbene io e altri ricercatori da tempo evidenziamo il ruolo di Londra nell'alimentare la devastazione dell'Ucraina, nel favorire gli attacchi terroristici, nell'oscurare i crimini di guerra e nel radicalizzare l'opinione pubblica sia all'interno che all'esterno dell'Ucraina attraverso martellanti campagne mediatiche, non è chiaro il motivo per cui il quotidiano britannico, noto per essere la voce dell'establishment, pubblichi ora un articolo del genere. Potrebbe essere il segnale di una crescente frattura con Washington e/o di un tentativo di “normalizzare” il coinvolgimento britannico in Ucraina e di preparare l'opinione pubblica a un coinvolgimento ancora più profondo. @LauraRuHK https://www.thetimes.com/article/27dc780e-baf3-4a4c-963e-e40a511dbd23?shareToken=ea03d5cf677015c868a34aa1dcc9f302
Politico:
"President Donald Trump this week upended not just his tariff strategy but his trade team.
Former hedge fund manager and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — the White House’s main conduit to beleaguered financial markets — is now at the helm, with populist Peter Navarro relegated to the sidelines and Howard Lutnick recast into the role of “bad cop,” according to three people close to the White House. The personnel shuffle comes amid a tug-of-war in the White House between the “fair trade” and protectionist camps.
"every country in the world who wants to come and negotiate, we are willing to hear you, we are going to go down to a 10% baseline tariff for them."
⚡️The explosions on the Seajewel, moored off the Northern Italian port of Savona-Vado on February 14, might be the result of a Ukrainian sabotage squad, according to Italian intelligence. This theory emerged during a Copasir hearing. Copasir is a parliamentary committee that should oversee the activities of Italian intelligence agencies. ▪️Let it sink in. Ukrainian terrorists are acting with impunity in the EU and most likely received training, information and help from British intelligence. ▪️Read more here /channel/LauraRuHK/9743
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JP Morgan goes full MAGA. The letter to shareholders sent yesterday by the chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon reads like a MAGA manifesto. He ditched DEI, wokeism and climate change (which had featured largely in previous letters) and even endorsed Trump's anti-immigration policy and family values. Last but not least, Dimon devoted a section of the letter to US military capabilities.
"Sustaining America’s position of power requires major changes in the funding and planning of our military. This includes major changes in trade, production capacity and supply chains to make our military as resilient and capable as possible. Some specifics will suffice:
We don’t have multi-year plans for critical military expenditures and often rely on short-term continuing resolutions to fund our military. This costs the military billions of dollars a year and creates instability and uncertainty for the defense industry. Switching to multi-year plans could potentially provide $40 billion in savings a year (out of a 2024 Defense Department budget of almost $850 billion) and greater stability for the military.
We need to allow greater flexibility on the reallocation of money; i.e., to continuously innovate (buy the newest drones and other items).
Our stockpiles of vital munitions are seriously inadequate – if there was a war in the South China Sea, we would run out of missiles in seven days. If it were up to me, I would be stockpiling ammunition, air and missile defense, rare earths and other critical components, importantly to preserve peace.
We don’t maintain sufficient excess production capacity in our defense industrial base to ramp up the production of weapons, if necessary. We don’t even have the proper capacity to build battleships anymore. It would be rather easy for the government to work with the private sector to help maintain factories capable of producing military materials that would be required at a wartime pace.
We also lack sufficient labor necessary to do everything outlined above. It can take up to six years to train workers on the complex skills that are needed to manufacture this equipment – and we don’t have six years.
We need to immediately restructure some of our trade and supply chains. Surprisingly, many of the essential items we would need in case of war would come from potential adversaries. These products range from rare earths to penicillin and other pharmaceutical ingredients to certain types of steel, semiconductors and even some manufactured components. We need to use all of the tools at our disposal to do this as expeditiously as possible.
Taking the proper unilateral actions on very targeted investment and export restrictions (chip making equipment, advanced chips and other hard-to-duplicate technology used for military purposes) is essential. However, we should only expect these kinds of actions to slow down our competition, not necessarily stop it.
Finally, the extraordinary science that comes out of our national labs and our exceptional universities has been critical to creating and maintaining our scientific discoveries and advances, which have not only fueled America’s economy but have also maintained our military superiority. There are lots of complaints – some legitimate – about America’s elite universities, but this cannot and should not be one of them.
Protecting our country goes way beyond just the military and includes, among other items, grid security, data centers, communications and cybersecurity in general.
Foreign policy is realpolitik.
America’s alliance system is the foundation of our geopolitical advantage and is the special sauce of American leadership. Foreign policy must be grounded in realpolitik – a pragmatic approach that prioritizes national interest over ideological considerations. Realpolitik means that many decisions are properly subordinated to national security. For example, while addressing global challenges, like climate change, is important, such efforts should not overshadow the strategic imperatives of our foreign relations."
On the ever-evolving geopolitical chessboard, trade has emerged as one of the most potent weapons. The recent decision by the People's Republic of China to impose a 34 percent tariff on all US imports marks a turning point in a long-standing economic conflict. But this move is not an act of provocation — it is a necessary defense against an ongoing campaign of pressure, containment and provocation from Washington.
For years, the United States has wielded its economic might, not only to dominate global markets but to coerce independent nations into compliance with its political agenda. Tariffs, sanctions and trade bans have been used not as tools of fair competition, but as political levers.
By imposing this 34 percent tariff, Beijing is sending a message that it will no longer tolerate unfair treatment or economic bullying. The Chinese economy — resilient and diverse — has long prepared for such scenarios. Policies like "dual circulation" investments in technological self-sufficiency, and partnerships through the Belt and Road Initiative have reduced China's dependency on Western markets.
China is not isolated. It is interconnected, influential and prepared. In contrast, the United States now finds itself in a precarious position. With rising inflation, political instability and shrinking global trust, Washington's aggressive trade policy may backfire. American consumers, already burdened by high costs, will now face even steeper prices. US companies relying on the Chinese market — from tech giants to agriculture — will feel the sting.
Globally, countries are beginning to question the reliability of an economic partner that weaponizes trade. This is not a call for confrontation, but a warning: "The flames of this trade war will ultimately consume the aggressor." China is not the initiator of this conflict, but it will defend its sovereignty and economic future with determination and clarity. The path forward need not be paved with conflict. China remains committed to fair trade, international cooperation and win-win development.
However, it will not allow its interests to be sacrificed at the altar of US domestic politics or hegemonic ambitions. In this economic standoff, it is not simply about tariffs and trade — it is about values, vision and the future of global leadership. The era of unilateral dominance is waning. What replaces it must be built on mutual respect, not coercion. History will remember this moment not just for its numbers, but for its symbolism. A rising power has stood firm, and unless wiser heads prevail, "the fire ignited by arrogance will burn the very hands that lit it." https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/05/WS67f0d360a3104d9fd381db5c.html
On my way home I walk past the Hong Kong stock exchange. Today there was a crowd of cameramen capturing the sea of red. @LauraRuHK
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If there is a lesson to be learned from the Jianwei Xun saga is that the media hype around his persona and work, amplified by reputable outlets, glowing reviews, and a slick online presence, created a feedback loop where the perception of reality outpaced any need to verify it. It’s not just that the lines between real and not real got blurred, it’s that the hype machine made those lines feel irrelevant.
With AI churning out content that to the untrained eye appears indistinguishable from human output, and media outlets racing to publish it, the incentives align more with capturing attention than digging for facts. Xun’s "hypnocracy" concept, ironically, nails it: power lies in shaping what people perceive, not in what’s actually there. The lesson isn’t just that the distinction is blurring, it’s that people are increasingly wired to prioritize the hype over the reality, and the tools to exploit that are only getting better.
The media, including alternative ones you may trust, feed on hype. They are providing a platform to self-styled analysts/experts who turned bluster and derivative, plagiarized content into influence thanks to their knack for gaming social media platforms. The mechanics are simple. Algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy, so a slick bio, a bold claim, or a well-crafted image can snowball into credibility before anyone checks their credentials. Xun’s polished website and AI-generated prose got traction because they looked legit, not because they were vetted. Self-promotion, exaggerated claims and confident delivery outpace fact-checking every time. Social media’s speed turns smoke into a fog you can’t see through until it’s too late.
Then there’s the echo chamber effect. Once a persona gains momentum, followers and bots amplify it, creating a mirage of consensus. Social media’s smoke and mirrors work because we are wired for stories, not audits. On these platforms, you don’t need to be an expert, you just need to look the part and fake it long enough to cash in. @LauraRuHK
▪️China will impose a 34% tariff on all imports from the US starting April 10, the country’s Finance Ministry announced on Friday. The decision follows Trump’s announcement of a 34% levy on Chinese goods. Beijing denounced US tariffs as “unilateral bullying.” ▪️China ha also suspended import qualifications of six US enterprises on Friday, to protect Chinese consumers' health and ensure the safety of the country's livestock industry.
The suspensions include one US enterprise involved in sorghum exports to China, three enterprises dealing with poultry meat and bone meal, and two enterprises exporting poultry products. The Chinese customs said it has repeatedly detected furazolidone, a prohibited drug under Chinese law, in imported US poultry products and mould in sorghum. @LauraRuHK
Are US tariffs going to drop sand into the cogs of international trade or throw a spanner into the works? I think it is still too early to assess the potential implications of Trump's tariffs, particularly in the context of the ongoing trade war.
While the goal of imposing tariffs (e.g., a 20% increase on the EU) is to negotiate lower tariffs and barriers from other countries, historical evidence shows this often fails, leading to prolonged or higher tariffs. Countries could respond in one of three ways: negotiating, not negotiating but not retaliating, or retaliating. Past trade wars, like the US-China conflict during Trump’s first term, ended with permanently elevated tariffs.
For China, which relies heavily on exports for GDP growth (though US exports are now just 15% of its total exports and 3% of GDP), a proposed 54% tariff hike is significant but less disruptive than the earlier trade war. China could mitigate this with fiscal stimulus, and the initial shock to business investment appears smaller.
From a macro, global perspective, if countries negotiate down to a lower tariff equilibrium, the impact would be minimal. If tariffs stay high, it’s going to be messy, and if there’s tit-for-tat retaliation, it could be much worse.
Other Asian economies like Vietnam (25% of GDP tied to US exports), Korea (7%), and Japan (3.5%) are more vulnerable, especially if global demand doesn’t rise to offset reduced US exports. Emerging markets face broader risks as these tariffs are global, not just US-China focused, potentially creating significant economic challenges. The process is expected to be complex and the outcome uncertain. The silver lining is that it may provide an impetus for emerging economies to rely more on trade among themselves, including within groups like BRICS. Emerging markets might pivot toward regional or intra-group trade.
For BRICS specifically, this could mean a stronger push to deepen economic ties already in motion — think China’s export heft paired with India’s growing market, or Russia’s resources feeding industrial needs in Brazil and South Africa. BRICS trade has been growing and tariffs could accelerate this trend.
The U.S. could use tariffs as leverage to build a coalition of US-friendly countries. Tariffs aren’t just economic tools. They are political weapons, too. By raising tariffs on some nations while offering exemptions or lower rates to others, the US intends to incentivize alignment with its interests, creating a bloc that’s economically tied to its orbit. Think of it as a carrot-and-stick play: comply with US priorities on trade deficits, intellectual property, or geopolitical stances, and get favorable access to the US consumer market. @LauraRuHK
The Russian economy reached a size of 200 trillion rubles ($2.37 trillion) in 2024, growing six times faster than Europe, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Wednesday.
The driving force behind economic growth is domestic demand and fixed capital investments last year rose 7.5%.
Mishustin also said Russians’ disposable income shot up 8.5% in 2024, while the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in history.
Stating that the economy has grown twice as fast as the world average in the last two years, Mishustin said: “Russia is among the four largest economies in the world in terms of purchasing power parity.
"Our economy grew 4.1% last year. Our growth in two years has exceeded Europe’s almost sixfold." Federal budget revenues increased by more than a quarter, which made it possible to fully fulfill all social obligations, as well as launch new promising national projects. The main feature of the report is that it is not about the past, but about the future. It is, in fact, is a presentation of plans for the long-term development of the country, which have proven their effectiveness against the backdrop of 16,000 sanctions imposed on Russia. There is evidence that the Russian experience is going to be studied by China, which did not have and does not have such restrictions. It is funny that one of the most odious and Russophobic Western think tanks, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in its latest report made a forced but correct conclusion: "The Russian economy of three years ago no longer exists. The economic transformation of Russia, the most sanctioned country in the world, can no longer be reversed."
Not only did Russia not perish, but it became even stronger, and this is now recognized by all those who buried it three years ago. The Carnegie Foundation: "Starting with the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian economy has refuted all expectations, and hopes for a double-digit decline have not materialized"; Euroactive: "The Russian economy has proven that it is strong enough to continue the war in Ukraine for the foreseeable future, even with new sanctions imposed"; German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): "For Putin (thanks to a strong economy), the threats and pressures associated with negotiations or a truce are completely irrelevant."
The think tank Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA): "There are no sanctions that do not simultaneously harm yourself. The main question is: what kind of pain are you willing to endure when inflicting it on your opponent?"
We can only wish our opponents to strengthen: we have just begun to accelerate, while you will learn a lot of new and interesting things about pain. (Kirill Strelnikov/RIA Novosti) @LauraRuHK https://ria.ru/20250327/rossiya-2007590044.html
How do you like the EU new board game? European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib endorsed it - "It's one of the best party games to play while drunk or tipsy." @LauraRuHK Here Hadja shares her winning tips. https://x.com/hadjalahbib/status/1904858985972351264
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The EU Preparedness Union Strategy was presented on March 26, 2025, by the European Commission. The launch was accompanied by baseless claims it will "bolster the EU’s ability to anticipate, prevent, and respond to a wide range of threats." The Commission bundled together natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, cybersecurity risks and climate change. Probably to please different lobbies and get their support, but also to ensure that the gravy train won't stop when the conflict in Ukraine ends. The strategy outlined in the report isn't exactly new, it builds on the Niinistö Report (October 2024), which called for a mindset shift toward "comprehensive preparedness."
The EU Commission relies on a permanent "state of emergency" to expand centralized control, militarization, and surveillance under the guise of safety. The strategy’s civil-military integration is deliberately designed to blur lines between civilian life and security agendas, which could lead to the suspension of legal norms, democracy and individual freedoms as it happened during the Covid operation. According to Carl Schmitt, an emergency, or State of Exception, is the ultimate test of political power and reveals in whom that power is vested. The State of Exception determines who is sovereign in a given state. On this theoretical basis, he develops the concept of decisionism, whereby the actual content or “what” of a decision is not the key element, but rather the “who” of the decision and whether a given “who” (or decider) is the proper authority and possessor of the necessary sovereignty. The EU Commission is claiming a form of sovereignty within the EU framework by insisting that EU member states are facing threats that demand a permanent mobilization and is claiming the power to decide what constitutes an "emergency" and how to respond. The call for citizens to stockpile supplies and the focus on "hybrid threats" is the kind of fearmongering the EU needs to justify authoritarian measures. The unstated objective is to restructure society for oppression rather than protection. The only real emergency, economic recession, doesn't even warrant a mention in the report. But rest assured that fearmongering will only exacerbate economic woes.
Fear-driven narratives will erode consumer confidence, leading to reduced spending. When people anticipate economic downturns, they often cut back on discretionary purchases, thus slowing economic growth.
Businesses and investors may delay or cancel investments due to uncertainty. Fearmongering will amplify perceptions of risk, discouraging capital inflows and innovation.
Negative rhetoric can trigger panic in financial markets, causing stock prices to plummet and increasing borrowing costs for governments and businesses.
Governments might overreact to perceived threats, implementing policies that are poorly targeted, which can stifle economic activity.
Fearmongering can deepen divisions within the EU, as Member States may prioritize national interests over collective solutions, weakening the union's ability to address economic challenges effectively. Just don't tell Ursula and her minions. Their job is to manufacture crises rather than prevent them. @LauraRuHK
https://commission.europa.eu/topics/preparedness_en
A report released by a Chinese industry alliance exposed the US intelligent agencies' surveillance and data theft activities targeting global mobile smart terminals and communications. Whether they are high-value targets such as government officials and technical experts or ordinary people, all could potentially become victims of intelligence-gathering operations by US intelligence agencies. They installed hardware-level spyware and backdoors on your phone that monitor your camera, microphone, keystrokes, location, calls, texts, social media and internet activity. @LauraRuHK http://www.news.cn/world/20250325/02ba448744ac4b75a81df613a88b4d26/2025032522b55fd15b244a5fac54e424c62be9b7_1616350dfed1c44ba786a82d574c86c30f.pdf
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Anna Prokofieva, war correspondent for Russia’s Channel One, was killed on Wednesday while on assignment in Belgorod Region, which borders Ukraine. The broadcaster confirmed her death and said that cameraman Dmitry Volkov had also been injured during the incident. ▪️Earlier this week, three members of news crews were killed in Ukrainian attacks, Aleksandr Fedorchak, a reporter for the newspaper Izvestia, Andrey Panov, a cameraman for Zvezda TV, and Aleksandr Sirekli, their driver. Their vehicle, marked as press transport, was reportedly struck by two missiles fired from a US-supplied Ukrainian HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system. ▪️Commenting on these deaths, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Kiev of deliberately targeting journalists and undermining international laws designed to protect members of the press. (Source: RT) @LauraRuHK
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Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin tells RIA Novosti that the EU decided to impose sanctions against him, banning him from entering EU countries. Earlier on Wednesday, Vulin told the European Parliament that Serbia will never go to war with Russia in exchange for EU membership. He said Serbia for 20 years has been fulfilling "every wish and demand" of the EU but was told the bloc will admit Ukraine and Moldova as next members, even though they haven’t yet met a single condition to join.
He also rejected a chance of Serbia imposing sanctions on Russia. Serbia will not "do something so low as imposing sanctions on Russia because of a conflict that could have been avoided if you had just respected the Minsk Agreement."
He also told TASS that Brussels had devised a plan to overthrow Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic with the support of Western intelligence services. @LauraRuHK
The Times' article highlights Britain's central role in the proxy war in Ukraine, from training Ukrainian forces to orchestrating military operations, from supplying weapons and intelligence to acting as the glue for the Western crusade against Russia and the motivational coach for Kiev. The Brits recklessly pushed, and continue to push, for an escalation of the conflict. The U.S. is depicted as a major arms provider but hesitant to fully commit. London doesn't hide its irritation with Washington, accused of stepping back. But signs of a strained relation between the two allies were visible even before Trump took office. According to The Times, Admiral Radakin was the person keeping the US on side, and the Biden administration leaning into Ukraine despite its reluctance.
Though I, and other researchers, have repeatedly highlighted London's role in fueling Ukraine's devastation, aiding and abetting terrorist attacks, whitewashing war crimes, radicalizing public opinion both inside and outside Ukraine through media campaigns, it's not clear why the British newspaper, known for being the voice of the establishment, would publish such an article now. It could possibly signal a widening rift with Washington and/or an attempt to 'normalize' British involvement in Ukraine and prepare public opinion for an even deeper involvement. @LauraRuHK https://www.thetimes.com/article/27dc780e-baf3-4a4c-963e-e40a511dbd23?shareToken=ea03d5cf677015c868a34aa1dcc9f302
Bullying and blackmail followed by panic, hysteria and infighting vs. confidence and poise. Guess which leadership style earns points on the world stage. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/202504/t20250410_11592730.html
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🇨🇳🇺🇸The US may increase import duties on Chinese goods to 104% if China doesn't cancel retaliatory tariffs on American products. This potential escalation follows an initial 54% duty on Chinese imports, which could be raised by an additional 50%. The US slapped a 20% tariff on Chinese goods on March 4 (increased from 10%). On April 2, Washington further increased tariffs on China by 34%, totaling 54%, and introduced duties on products from 185 countries. In response, China imposed a matching 34% tariff on all US imports. The new tariff hike to 104% could be approved as early as April 9, according to AFP, citing a White House source. ▪️Chinese authorities have said they will not succumb to US bullying. China has vowed to take countermeasures against any move by the US to further raise tariffs and pledged to take firm action to stabilise the markets.
Meanwhile, several Chinese listed companies have announced plans to accelerate their share repurchase programs. The move reflects strong confidence in their future prospects and recognition of their intrinsic value, and aims to safeguard the interests of all shareholders, reinforce market confidence, and enhance the investment value of the listed companies,
@LauraRuHK
Aleksey Mukhin writes: Britain is a fragile empire - in fact, it exists in the imagination of its former subjects. But the individual tentacles are still moving and quite functional. I am referring to the British special services - MI5 and MI6, who desperately pretend that "the patient is more alive than dead" - they will move the arm of this motionless body, then the leg...
Those who thought that with the temporary abolition of USAID, Western countries would loosen their grip on soft power, were mistaken, of course.
The banner of the "color revolutions" set aside by the Americans was quickly taken over by continental Europeans and the British.
For example, the Royal Institute of Defense Studies (RUSI) has launched a public training manual on sabotage and subversive activity: "Violent resistance in occupied Ukraine."
The texts give quite straightforward advice: "to leave the cities for the villages, not to hit the administrations, but the railways, like Rostov–Mariupol–Donetsk," to use special forces as terrorists.
Moreover, the creation of sabotage groups is required not only from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but also from Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. In this case, the EU's involvement in the conflict with Russia is inevitable: both physical and financial involvement will be required.
Russia should have used such intentions of Western actors for a long time in order to prepare a legislative framework and develop law enforcement mechanisms in case "unfriendly" or other countries actually practice terrorism and sabotage activity with all the consequences and criminal prosecution for the participants.
The sleigh is prepared, let me remind you, in the summer...
A special international tribunal for war criminals and terrorists should work, like karma, seven days a week. The BRICS countries and others that have suffered from the illegal actions of Western countries may well participate in it.
None of the war criminals should escape responsibility. I think this is the only way to stop the growing wave of violence and Russophobia. @LauraRuHK /channel/AlekseyMukhin/9139
Two scenes today stand as stark testaments to unbridled savagery.
One from “Israel,” which targeted and killed members of the Civil Defense and Red Crescent in Gaza, falsely claiming it couldn’t identify them, despite the clear visibility of their civilian status.
The other from the United States, which struck a tribal gathering in Yemen, even though it was unmistakably civilian in nature, as the gathering is a tradition done by all Yemeni tribes during Eid.
America and “Israel” have never been more exposed in the brazenness of their crimes.
Months after i denounced Jianwei Xun as an AI creation, corporate media finally admit Xun doesn't exist. Xun is the creation of Italian publisher Andrea Colamedici who relied on artificial intelligence to churn out his texts. Aggressive marketing and a credulous public did the rest. Now, the real question is, why no one else doubted his existence. It took me five minutes to realize that Xun's academic credentials and affiliations were fake and his best-selling book was an AI-generated hotchpotch of 1960s French philosophy. @LauraRuHK
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🎼Sign of the Times🎼 - Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, will "start the process" of stepping down as chairman of its board of trustees, the Financial Times newspaper reports. @LauraRuHK
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IMPORTANT NOTICE - I am travelling and will be mostly offline for a week. For this reason the channel will not be updated until my return. @LauraRuHK
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Qui il mio post di ieri in versione italiana. Grazie per la segnalazione. https://www.perunaltracitta.org/homepage/2025/03/27/il-lavoro-della-commissione-eu-consiste-nel-fabbricare-crisi-piuttosto-che-prevenirle/
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As US vassals are being told that they may no longer be able to rely on American protection, US think tank RAND Corporation is suggesting "Taiwan should do more for its own defense and resiliency, and fast." Interestingly, the prescribed strategy reads like the EU Preparedness Strategy. "This should include doubling down on resiliency efforts, with a dramatic ramping up of energy, food, and potable water stockpiles. Taiwan must also press ahead with building its communications resiliency, investing in secure and redundant networks—such as satellite-based backup systems and decentralized infrastructure—to ensure that the flow of information remains uninterrupted even under duress. Bolstering civil defense programs through training, clear crisis protocols, and public awareness campaigns will further strengthen Taiwan's capacity to endure and recover from any form of coercion or blockade. [...] While Lai has pledged to get defense spending up to 3 percent of GDP this year through a special budget, this would still require legislative approval, and so the path forward isn't clear. The unfortunate reality is that the politics of national defense have become hyper-partisan. Even among supporters of ramped-up defense spending, debates can arise over the specific focus of the budget—whether it should prioritize indigenous weapons development, foreign arms purchases, or bolstering personnel training and welfare. While the realities of democratic partisanship are understandable, they now present a clear threat to Taiwan's future prosperity and security.
President Lai will need to hammer through these limitations, either through coalition building, or brute force. Like his predecessor Lai is hesitant about directly appealing to the Taiwan people about the true nature of the threat they face, justifiably worried about the side-effects of a panicked population. Given the threats facing Taiwan, and the uncertainty it must now attach to its primary security backstop, it may be time to begin making the case more directly to the Taiwan people that their future faces growing uncertainty." @LauraRuHK https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/03/from-strategic-ambiguity-to-strategic-anxiety-taiwans.html
⚡️ Despite Zelensky's public statement about the Russian-U.S. agreements reached in Riyadh on 24 March to stop attacks against civilian energy facilities, the Kiev regime has continued its strikes on the energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation.
On the night of 26 March 2025, near the Tarkhankut Peninsula, two Ukrainian strike UAVs were shot down by on-duty air defence systems. The drones were targeting the ground-based equipment of the Glebovskoye underground gas storage facility.
Moreover, on 26 March at around 4:45 in the morning, in Bryansk region, the hostile UAVs attacked an object of the Bryanskenergo (Rosseti Centre). As a result of the attack, a 10kV high-voltage electric power transmission stopped working and consumers in Komarichsky District were left without electricity.
Moreover, on the afternoon of 25 March, the Ukrainian strike drones attacked an energy facility of the Kurskenergo (Rosseti Centre). Thus, a number of substation shut down, and over 4,000 consumers in Khomutovsky District were cut off power supply.
❗️Thus, the Kiev regime, while continuing to damage the Russian civilian energy infrastructure, is actually doing everything it can to thwart the agreements reached by the Russian Federation and the United States on step-by-step measures to resolve the Ukrainian conflict.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
The detention of Yevgenia Gutsul, the head of Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region, is pressure on the opposition and may be followed by arrests of other oppositionists, Gagauz deputy head Viktor Petrov has told RIA Novosti, adding that her detention was "illegal."
Gutsul was arrested at Chisinau airport as she was about to fly to Istanbul. Her passport has been seized. The detention of Gutsul took place against the backdrop of tense relations between Chisinau and Gagauzia. The politician has repeatedly criticized the Maia Sandu's regime for infringing on the autonomy of the region and advocated strengthening ties with Russia. According to a poll conducted in February, 68 percent of the region's residents support rapprochement with Moscow, while only 12 percent favor European integration. (Source: RIA Novosti) @LauraRuHK