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Researcher & writer based in Hong Kong. Former academic. Longform articles archived at https://lauraruggeri.substack.com and https://laura-ruggeri.medium.com. Email: lauraru852@yandex.ru
Iran's Security Council: “It is clear that those who protested economic conditions would not do anything to cause economic damage, worsen the situation, or add insecurity alongside economic problems”.
“The presence of security and law enforcement forces is to prevent insecurity in the country, and these forces, alongside the proud and steadfast nation, neutralize the plan of insecurity by Israel and its godfather, the United States, providing a safe environment for the people's lives. In this path, security forces and the judiciary will show no leniency towards saboteurs”.
@LauraRuHK
The Trump administration’s latest moves mark a dramatic escalation in US unilateralism and military posturing.
In rapid succession, Washington seized two Russian‑flagged oil tankers in international waters, a violation of international maritime law that fits the definition of piracy.
Unhinged warmonger Lindsey Graham announced after meeting with Trump that the president had given the "green light" to advance a long-stalled bill that would impose secondary sanctions on countries (such as China, India, and Brazil) that continue purchasing Russian energy exports.
The US withdrew from 66 international organizations, agencies, and commissions, including 31 UN-affiliated bodies, marking a retreat from global cooperation, isolating the US further.
Any potential savings will be poured into a colossal military budget. Yesterday Trump unveiled plans to boost the defense budget to an unprecedented $1.5 trillion for 2027, a 66% jump from the current $901 billion. The proposed increase, described by Trump as essential for building a “dream military” in “troubled and dangerous times,” would be the largest single‑year surge in U.S. history. Funds are expected to flow into modernization, nuclear forces, missile defense, and overall readiness, with the stated goal of deterring rivals like China, Russia, and Iran.
These confrontational moves follow the military raid in Venezuela, where US forces kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro, and underpin that "America First” strategy that favors coercion, blackmail and raw power projection.
Peace through strength? More like delusions of strength through chaos.
@LauraRuHK
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning today responded to US State Department claims that 'non-Hemispheric competitors' should get out of Venezuela: "This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened." https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1352548.shtml It's easy to see why China rejects Washington's resurrection of the Monroe Doctrine. From Beijing’s perspective, the "spheres of influence" model is outdated, undermines global peace and prosperity, ignores the interconnected nature of today’s world and runs counter to China’s vision of shared security and cooperative development, embodied in initiatives like the Belt and Road. While proponents argue that spheres of influence might bring stability by clarifying zones of control, China sees them as fundamentally flawed and disproportionately harmful to its interests. A system of rigid divisions would confine China largely to Asia, restricting access to other markets and natural resources. It would also heighten regional tensions with neighbors and coalitions like the Quad, increase the risk of encirclement and leave China exposed to sanctions and blockades. In short, the "Donroe Doctrine", which comes with a side dish of mafia-style warnings, is yet another ruse by the US to weaken China after the failure of previous attempts. @LauraRuHK
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Non desideriamo forse tutti di avere poteri soprannaturali, quei poteri che esistono solo nel mondo della finzione letteraria e cinematografica? La strategia militare non si basa sui desiderata, sebbene alcuni leader europei sembrino operare sotto questa pericolosa illusione riguardo al conflitto in Ucraina. Cina e Russia agiscono entro il perimetro di ciò che è realisticamente possibile. Ecco perché intrattengono cooperazione militare e partenariati strategici con diversi paesi amici, ma tale cooperazione non è stata elevata a un’alleanza militare o a un patto di difesa. Né la Cina né la Russia hanno basi militari in Venezuela: come potrebbero mai “intervenire più energicamente”, come alcuni internauti chiedono? Le proposte dovrebbero rientrare nell’ambito del possibile, non del desiderabile. Risposte non militari, o asimmetriche, offrono una via e con ogni probabilità saranno perseguite con determinazione. In un influente articolo del 2016, Fyodor Lukyanov scrisse: «la ricostruzione dell’ordine mondiale iniziata all’inizio di questo decennio continuerà ad accelerare, caratterizzata dal caos fino a quando emergerà un nuovo ordine entro il 2030».
Putin stesso ha sottolineato più volte che il mondo sta entrando in «una nuova era di cambiamenti fondamentali» con una «struttura globale imprevedibile» che emerge man mano che i vecchi sistemi svaniscono. Tutte le grandi potenze globali si stanno concentrando sul rafforzamento della propria base militare-industriale e sull’assicurarsi le risorse necessarie per farlo. Pechino e Mosca comprendono il senso di urgenza ma agiscono secondo piani a lungo termine, senza clamore, senza strombazzate. L’unica potenza che agisce al di fuori della legge e ignorando le conseguenze delle proprie azioni, sono gli Stati Uniti.
Esiste una differenza abissale tra la politica estera americana e quella cinese. Ad esempio, il 15° Piano Quinquennale della Cina (2026-2030) pone l’accento sulla crescita di alta qualità per rafforzare il mercato interno e sull’adattamento strategico, per accelerare l’attuale riorientamento delle esportazioni (ancora un motore chiave della sua economia) verso il Sud Globale. Al momento, l’Occidente — definito in senso ampio come le economie sviluppate quali Stati Uniti, paesi dell’UE e Giappone — rimane il più grande mercato della Cina. Il benessere e la prosperità dei cittadini cinesi dipendono in larga misura dal commercio estero. Ecco perché Pechino non intraprenderà alcuna avventura che possa mettere a repentaglio la stabilità economica e sociale della Cina. Il tempo ci dirà quale approccio sia più sensato. @LauraRuHK
C’è un peculiare sogno che ricorre nelle pieghe occidentali di internet, nelle sezioni commenti e nei thread geopolitici notturni: la visione di navi da guerra cinesi e russe che solcano i mari per salvare il Venezuela, o di squadriglie di Su‑57 e J‑20 in volo verso l’Iran.
Questa fantasia compensatoria attinge al tropo classico del salvataggio in extemis popolarizzato dai film western: squillano le trombe e appare la cavalleria. Questi strateghi da divano si aspettano che Mosca e Pechino si impegnino militarmente contro una potenza nucleare per una questione di principio, cioè per dare una lezione agli Stati Uniti. La fantasia del salvataggio persiste perché soddisfa al tempo stesso diversi bisogni psicologici e ideologici. Offre infatti l’arco narrativo gratificante della hybris seguita da una meritata punizione e fornisce un deus ex machina che consente di esternalizzare magicamente la resistenza popolare contro i regimi occidentali che rendono miserabile la loro vita ad un onnipotente cavaliere anti‑imperialista,
La realtà è molto più prosaica. Né Caracas né Teheran coltivano l’illusione che truppe russe o cinesi interverranno per preservare i loro governi. Ricevono sì aiuti: armi, intelligence, contratti petroliferi, veti all’ONU e la continuazione di sistemi di pagamento alternativi. Ciò che non si aspettano, e che non è mai stato promesso, è la carica della cavalleria. @LauraRuHK
Boris Rozhin: "Maduro is ostentatiously driven around New York. As in the days of the ancient Roman triumphs.
When someone mentions international law now, you wonder if that person is really adequately perceiving reality or just trolling others." /channel/boris_rozhin/193154
L’attacco di Trump al Venezuela e il rapimento del presidente Maduro e di sua moglie rappresentano l’ultimo capitolo di una strategia statunitense decennale che fa ricorso alla forza per assicurarsi risorse e difendere il sistema del petrodollaro. La ricerca della supremazia nei mercati energetici e valutari attraverso la coercizione non è un’eccezione; è la regola che definisce la politica estera degli Stati Uniti. Washington ignora abitualmente il diritto internazionale, piegando o infrangendo le norme globali quando lo ritiene opportuno. In questo senso, gli Stati Uniti corrispondono alla definizione di uno stato canaglia: violano le norme internazionali, disprezzano la diplomazia e minacciano la pace globale con azioni aggressive. Gli Stati Uniti agiscono principalmente perseguendo il proprio interesse, e sotto Trump lo hanno fatto senza il tradizionale velo retorico del “difendere i diritti umani e la democrazia”. Sebbene i Democratici possano criticare i metodi di Trump, le loro stesse politiche rivelano una continuità negli obiettivi imperialisti, sebbene perseguiti con maggiore sottigliezza. Entrambi i partiti condividono un imperativo bipartisan: impedire che le vendite di petrolio siano denominate in yuan o in altre valute, poiché tali transazioni minano la supremazia globale del dollaro e complicano la gestione dell’inflazione all'interno del paese. Nel frattempo, prezzi globali più elevati del petrolio aumentano la redditività delle esportazioni di shale americano, rafforzando la supremazia energetica degli Stati Uniti. Questo risultato non è incidentale, ma centrale nella strategia statunitense. La difesa del sistema del petrodollaro e la consolidazione della supremazia energetica rimangono priorità bipartisan, guidano interventi all’estero ed erodono le fondamenta del diritto internazionale. @LauraRuHK
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The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces carried out one large-scale strike and six coordinated attacks against Ukrainian drone production facilities, energy infrastructure, and other military-related sites.
According to the ministry’s statement on Friday, the bombardments were launched in retaliation for terrorist attacks by Ukraine on civilian targets in Russia. The strikes employed high‑precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Targets included factories producing long‑range drones, launch sites, and other enterprises within Ukraine’s defense industry, as well as the energy systems that sustain them. The ministry added that transportation hubs, port infrastructure, arms and fuel depots, and temporary bases used by Ukrainian troops and foreign fighters were also hit. (Source: /channel/mod_russia/60043) @LauraRuHK
Iran’s top national security official Ali Larijani warned Donald Trump that any American interference in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the region and destroy US interests. He accused Washington and Israel of coordinating behind the scenes and cautioned the American public about the risks to their soldiers. Larijani emphasized that Iranian authorities distinguish between legitimate economic grievances and acts of sabotage. Protests in Tehran erupted over the sharp fall of the rial, which officials acknowledged as a legitimate concern but warned could be exploited by foreign-backed actors. Attorney-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad Movahedi-Azad slammed unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions, noting that when such measures restrict access to essential goods, medicine, financial services, and vital resources, “it is difficult to separate them from the concept of collective punishment,” which international law rejects. Movahedi-Azad emphasized the need to clearly separate lawful protest from criminal behavior.“ Economic pressures can lead to the formation of social demands and protests, and in this framework, peaceful economic protests must be pursued through legal channels,” he said. He warned that some actors seek to manipulate public demands.“Sometimes, by exploiting guided media networks, distorted narratives, and the instrumentalization of deceived individuals or elements disrupting public order, there are efforts to turn these demands into insecurity,” he said. (Source: Press TV) @LauraRuHK
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Mentre le famiglie di Khorly, sul Mar Nero, brindavano al 2026 – ridendo, festeggiando con i bambini – l'esercito ucraino ha scatenato un attacco con droni su un caffè e un hotel pieni di civili. Tre UAV, presumibilmente carichi di una miscela incendiaria, hanno centrato in pieno i locali affollati, scatenando un incendio devastante. Almeno 24 persone sono state uccise, tra cui un bambino, e più di 50 altre sono rimaste ferite. Molti sono stati bruciati vivi, intrappolati tra le fiamme. Il governatore della regione di Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, ha dichiarato che questo attacco a Khorly può essere paragonato solo al massacro di Odessa del 2 maggio 2014, quando gli ucronazisti hanno inseguito decine di persone nella Casa dei Sindacati, l'hanno data alle fiamme. Ecco come Kiev si vendica contro gli ucraini che hanno scelto la Russia invece del regime di Bandera. Ecco come i nazisti "celebrano" il compleanno di Bandera, che cade proprio il 1° gennaio. I funzionari russi hanno ragione a qualificare come terrorismo, ai sensi dell’Articolo 205, questo attacco infame. E chi arma e finanzia questi terroristi ne condivide la responsabilità e la colpa. Questo crimine non resterà impunito, ha promesso il segretario del Consiglio di Sicurezza russo Dmitry Medvedev. Ha sottolineato: «A una persona sana di mente mancano le parole per descrivere le azioni di questa feccia banderista».«Ciò che ci vuole è il linguaggio spietato della vendetta. La rappresaglia è inevitabile mentre il nostro esercito avanza». Ha aggiunto che i banderisti vanno eliminati ovunque si trovino, in Ucraina come in Europa. @LauraRuHK
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С новым годом! Всех благ! Auguro a tutti noi un anno migliore. E che il cielo ci sorrida. Happy New Year!
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La dimensione dell’attacco — 91 droni a lungo raggio diretti contro la residenza presidenziale di Vladimir Putin a Novgorod — mostra chiaramente che si è trattato di un tentativo mirato di eliminare fisicamente il leader russo. Il regime di Kiev invece dei negoziati sceglie ancora una volta il terrorismo di Stato. Un’operazione di tale portata, avvenuta subito dopo i colloqui tra Washington e Kiev, non avrebbe potuto essere condotta senza il via libera dei partner europei.
L’attacco dimostra che il governo di Zelensky e i suoi sostenitori stranieri sono pronti a tutto pur di impedire la conclusione del conflitto: non rispettano principi morali né regole di guerra. È prevedibile che si stiano preparando a condurre altre azioni terroristiche in un continuum irresponsabile e criminale volto a sabotare i negoziati. Hanno scelto di seguire la strada del terrore invece di quella del dialogo e del compromesso.
Valentin Bogdanov osserva:
Se Trump davvero non era a conoscenza dell’attacco UAV contro la residenza di Putin — e un’operazione simile difficilmente sarebbe stata possibile senza l’infrastruttura della NATO — allora significa che i partner minori degli Stati Uniti nell’alleanza hanno agito bypassando Washington. Ciò segna il collasso del principio di comando unificato, un fallimento ben più grave del cosiddetto “incidente Zelensky”. @LauraRuHK
The massive scale of the drone assault—91 long-range UAVs targeting the presidential residence of Vladimir Putin in Novgorod—makes it clear this was a direct attempt at the physical elimination of the Russian leader. This act reveals the desperation of the Kiev regime: cornered and facing collapse, its only remaining option is capitulation—or escalation into outright state terrorism. The attack demonstrates that the Zelensky regime and its foreign curators will stop at nothing to prevent the war from ending: they are unconstrained by moral principles or any rules of warfare. Terrorist activity will only increase, with attempts to strike significant high-value targets. The drone raid is an irresponsible and criminal attempt to disrupt peace efforts, complicate the negotiation process, and deliberately choose the path of terror instead of constructive dialogue and compromise. @LauraRuHK
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Nel 2025 i maggiori gruppi europei della difesa si preparano a inondare i propri azionisti con dividendi record pari a cinque miliardi di dollari. Mentre i comuni cittadini contano il costo del conflitto in vite umane perse o sempre piu' nude , l’industria bellica lo calcola in punti percentuali. La quota di ricavi destinata a spesa in conto capitale e ricerca e sviluppo è stimata in aumento dal 6,4% al 7,9%.
Più il mondo brucia, più i loro bilanci risplendono. E non c’è da stupirsi: i produttori di armi europei hanno persone di fiducia nelle posizioni apicali a Bruxelles e nelle capitali europee. Esse garantiscono che le decisioni politiche si allineino agli interessi dei loro mandanti. @LauraRuHK
CONFLITTO CAMBOGIA‑THAILANDIA – La mediazione della Cina, che ha portato al cessate il fuoco del 27 dicembre, è riuscita laddove gli sforzi di Trump erano falliti, grazie a un approccio più sfumato e attento alle dinamiche regionali. Pechino ha fatto ricorso alla diplomazia itinerante e a una facilitazione neutrale, inviando l’inviato speciale Deng Xijun a Bangkok e Phnom Penh il 18 dicembre per colloqui diretti, mentre il ministro degli Esteri Wang Yi sollecitava entrambe le parti a ridurre l’escalation. Questi sforzi si sono innestati su iniziative precedenti, come l’incontro di luglio a Shanghai che aveva prodotto un programma in 13 punti.
La Cina si è posta come ponte, insistendo sulla consultazione piuttosto che sulla pressione. Pechino disponeva anche di una leva maggiore grazie ai profondi legami economici con entrambi i paesi: Cambogia e Thailandia partecipano all’Iniziativa Belt and Road (la nuova Via della Seta) e gli investimenti e i progetti infrastrutturali cinesi hanno avuto un impatto positivo.
Pechino ha inoltre chiarito di non fornire armi, sottolineando che l’uso da parte della Cambogia di vecchi missili cinesi non equivaleva a un sostegno, contribuendo così a disinnescare le accuse di escalation.
Diversamente dagli accordi di Trump, molto strombazzati ma deboli nell’applicazione, la Cina ha inquadrato il conflitto nei termini delle eredità coloniali (i confini furono tracciati all’epoca dell’Indocina francese), ha affrontato le complessità commerciali e storiche ed ha posto l’accento sulla solidarietà tra i paesi dell'ASEAN. Prioritizzando la stabilità regionale ed evitando di apparire faziosa, ha favorito il consolidamento della fiducia.
Il successo della Cina segnala il suo crescente ruolo nella risoluzione dei conflitti, non solo nel Sud‑Est asiatico, sebbene il cessate il fuoco resti fragile in assenza di una soluzione permanente alle questioni di confine. @LauraRuHK
The declaration signed by the so-called Coalition of the Willing, led by the UK and France, seems designed to ensure the continuation of war in Ukraine. /channel/MFARussia/27964
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La portavoce del Ministero degli Esteri cinese Mao Ning ha risposto oggi alle affermazioni del Dipartimento di Stato americano secondo cui i “competitori non emisferici” dovrebbero lasciare il Venezuela: «Questo è il NOSTRO Emisfero, e il Presidente Trump non permetterà che la nostra sicurezza venga minacciata.» https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1352548.shtml
È facile capire perché la Cina respinga la resurrezione da parte di Washington della Dottrina Monroe. Dal punto di vista di Pechino, il modello delle “sfere di influenza” è obsoleto, mina la pace e la prosperità globali, ignora la natura interconnessa del mondo odierno e contrasta con la visione cinese di sicurezza condivisa e sviluppo cooperativo, incarnata da iniziative come la Belt and Road. Sebbene i sostenitori di questo modello affermino che le sfere di influenza possano portare maggiore stabilità chiarendo le zone di controllo, la Cina le considera fondamentalmente obsolete e sproporzionatamente dannose per i propri interessi. Un sistema di divisioni rigide confinerebbe la Cina principalmente in Asia, limitando l’accesso ad altri mercati e risorse naturali. Inoltre, accrescerebbe le tensioni regionali con i vicini e con coalizioni come il Quad, aumenterebbe il rischio di accerchiamento e lascerebbe la Cina esposta a sanzioni e blocchi delle rotte commerciali. La cosiddetta “Dottrina Donroe”, con contorno di avvertimenti mafiosi, non rappresenta altro che l’ennesimo tentativo degli Stati Uniti di indebolire la Cina dopo il fallimento di quelli precedenti. @LauraRuHK
At an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia condemned the US actions as “international banditry”, and slammed Washington’s hegemonistic ambitions in Latin America and its desire to gain “unlimited control over natural resources” as neo-colonialism and imperialism. https://russiaun.ru/en/news/05012026 Like Russia and China, the Global Majority is appalled by Washington’s predatory actions, and the more reckless the hegemon becomes, the greater its isolation. Recent 2025 polls show declining favorability toward the US, with significant drops among allies and in parts of the Global South, low confidence in US leadership, and rising perceptions of the country as unreliable and destabilizing.
Resentment is growing, which doesn't bode well for the US. Washington under Trump may have embraced Machiavelli's Madman Theory, projecting an image of irrationality, unpredictability, or extreme volatility to intimidate adversaries and make threats more credible. But Machiavelli in The Prince warned about the dangers of any behaviour that provokes hatred. Although he advises that it is better for a ruler to be feared than loved if both cannot be achieved, crucially, the ruler must avoid being hated—since hatred provokes backlash and rebellion. Applied to Washington, the ideal balance of soft power (love/admiration) and hard power (fear/respect) has eroded. From a Machiavellian perspective, this slide toward widespread resentment invites a consolidation and expansion of counter-alliances. @LauraRuHK
Don’t we all wish we had supernatural powers, the kind of powers that exist in the world of fiction? Military strategy is not based on wishful thinking, although some European leaders seem to operate under this dangerous illusion with regards to the conflict in Ukraine. China and Russia operate within the realm of what is realistically possible. That is why they have military cooperation and strategic partnership with several friendly countries, but cooperation hasn't been elevated to a military alliance or a defense pact. Neither China nor Russia has military bases in Venezuela, how on earth could they “intervene more forcefully” as some Netizens demand? Suggestions should fall within the scope of the possible rather than the desirable. @LauraRuHK
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There is a peculiar recurring daydream that surfaces in certain Western corners of the internet, comment sections, and late-night geopolitical threads: the vision of Chinese and Russian warships steaming into the Caribbean to save Venezuela, or squadrons of Su-57s and J-20s flying to Iran.
This compensatory fantasy draws on the quintessential trope of salvation in Westerns: the trumpet blasts and the cavalry appears. These sofa strategists expect Moscow and Beijing to militarily engage a nuclear power on a matter of principle, that is to put the bully in his place. The rescue fantasy persists because it satisfies several deep psychological and ideological needs at once. That is, it offers the satisfying narrative arc of hubris followed by a dramatic comeuppance and provides a ready-made deus ex machina that allows one to mentally outsource popular resistance to the Western regimes that make their lives miserable to an imaginary, almighty anti‑imperialist knight.
The reality is more prosaic. Neither Caracas nor Tehran labors under any illusion that Russian or Chinese troops will intervene to preserve their governments. They do receive help: weapons, intelligence, oil contracts, UN vetoes, and the continued existence of alternative payment systems. What they do not expect, and have never been promised, is the cavalry charge.
@LauraRuHK
🇺🇸🇻🇪🇨🇳🇷🇺🇮🇷 US War on Venezuela is Part of Wider War on Multipolarism
▪️Neocon Lindsey Graham praises US war of aggression against Venezuela but can't help but brag about THE BIGGER PICTURE many analysts are failing to see - this is aimed DIRECTLY at China and its allies - including Russia and Iran;
▪️Venezuela primarily exported oil to China;
▪️The US is currently backing violent terrorists in the streets of Iran and preparing for another wave of attacks - Iran which exports oil primarily to China;
▪️The US is now admittedly attacking Russian oil production INSIDE Russia & tankers around the globe - Russia being China's LARGEST energy partner;
▪️The US has been attacking Chinese Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure for years now!
▪️This is shaping toward a total blockade and containment of China;
▪️The US is erasing all red lines and putting the world on notice - it insists it will win against China and if you don't submit to the US you will end up like Venezuela;
Trump’s Venezuela strike and the kidnapping of President Maduro and his wife represent the latest chapter in a decades-long U.S. strategy of employing force to secure resources and defend the petrodollar system. The pursuit of dominance in energy and currency markets through coercion is not an aberration; it is the defining rule of U.S. foreign policy. Washington routinely disregards international law, bending or breaking global norms when expedient. In this respect, the United States conforms to the definition of a rogue state: it violates international norms, dismisses diplomacy, and threatens global peace through aggressive actions.The U.S. acts primarily in pursuit of self-interest, and under Trump it has done so without the traditional rhetorical cover of “defending human rights and democracy.” While Democrats may criticize Trump’s methods, their own policies reveal continuity in imperial objectives, albeit pursued with greater subtlety. Both parties share a bipartisan imperative: to prevent oil sales denominated in yuan or other currencies, as such transactions undermine the dollar’s global dominance and complicate domestic inflation management. Higher global oil prices, meanwhile, enhance the profitability of American shale exports, reinforcing U.S. energy supremacy. This outcome is not incidental but central to U.S. strategy. The defense of the petrodollar system and the consolidation of energy dominance remain bipartisan priorities, shaping interventions abroad and eroding the foundations of international law. @LauraRuHK
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Il principale responsabile della sicurezza nazionale iraniana, Ali Larijani, ha avvertito Donald Trump che qualsiasi interferenza americana negli affari interni dell’Iran destabilizzerebbe la regione e distruggerebbe gli interessi degli Stati Uniti. Ha accusato Washington e Israele di coordinarsi dietro le quinte e ha messo in guardia l’opinione pubblica americana sui rischi per i propri soldati. Larijani ha sottolineato che le autorità iraniane distinguono tra legittime rimostranze economiche e atti di sabotaggio.
A Teheran sono scoppiate proteste a causa della svalutazione del rial, che i funzionari hanno riconosciuto come una preoccupazione legittima, avvertendo però che potrebbe essere sfruttata da attori sostenuti dall’estero. Il Procuratore generale Mohammad Movahedi-Azad ha criticato le sanzioni unilaterali ed extraterritoriali, osservando che quando tali misure limitano l’accesso a beni essenziali, medicine, servizi finanziari e risorse vitali, "si tratta di punizione collettiva”, che il diritto internazionale respinge.
Movahedi-Azad ha sottolineato la necessità di distinguere chiaramente tra protesta legittima e comportamento criminale. “Le pressioni economiche possono generae rivendicazioni e proteste, che pero' devono essere perseguite attraverso canali legali”, ha dichiarato. Ha avvertito che alcuni attori cercano di manipolare la situazione: “Talvolta, sfruttando reti mediatiche, narrazioni distorte e l’uso strumentale di individui manipolati o di provocatori, si tenta di amplificare il malcontento per destabilizzare il paese”, ha aggiunto.
(Fonte: Press TV) @LauraRuHK
Ukrainian authorities immediately denied any involvement in the barbaric drone strike that targeted families celebrating the New Year in Khorly, in the Kherson region. 27 people, including a child were burned alive, several others were seriously injured. /channel/LauraRuHK/10822
Kiev also denied targeting Vladimir Putin's residence in Valdai on the night of December 28-29 /channel/LauraRuHK/10817, dismissing the entire incident as a Russian "fabrication."
A coordinated Western disinformation campaign was launched almost instantly to corroborate Ukrainian claims: US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expressed doubt, stating it was "unclear whether it actually happened" and emphasizing the need for intelligence verification. Major outlets like CNN and The Wall Street Journal amplified reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed President Trump, concluding the attack was a "fantasy" — or, if any occurred, it stemmed from a "technical error" unrelated to the residence.
The New York Post went further, arguing that Putin's "noise" around the incident proved Russia itself was blocking peace.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeled Moscow's statements a "deliberate distraction" aimed at derailing progress in negotiations.
The Russian Defense Ministry maintained deliberate silence at first, allowing the opposing side to overextend their narratives.
Once the denials peaked, the Ministry responded decisively: American military attaches were invited to the Main Directorate of the General Staff, where they received compelling physical evidence — the intact navigation controller from one of the downed Ukrainian UAVs, plus its full decrypted data. This device contained comprehensive telemetry: the flight mission (origin, timing, route, and target), every course adjustment, environmental readings (temperature, pressure, wind), and other objective parameters sufficient to reconstruct the operation unambiguously. The Ministry stated that the decoded flight plan irrefutably confirmed the target on December 29 was a building within Putin's residence complex.
If it reaches President Trump undistorted — and he appears genuinely intent on clarity — consequences may follow for those who deliberately misled him, including elements within the CIA.
Russia already knows the perpetrators and has decided on responses; if Washington claims "no evidence," the full technical data will be released publicly, making further denials impossible. (Partly based on https://ria.ru/20260102/ukraina-2066021811.html) @LauraRuHK
While families in the Black Sea village of Khorly were ringing in 2026 — laughing, toasting, celebrating with children — the Ukrainian army unleashed a cold-blooded drone strike on a cafe and hotel packed with civilians. Three UAVs, one of which allegedly carried an incendiary mixture, hit the crowded venue, triggering a massive blaze.
At least 24 people were killed, including a child, and more than 50 others injured. Many were burned alive.
Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the Kherson region, said the attack in Khorly could only be compared to the Odessa massacre on May 2, 2014, when Ukronazis chased dozens of people into the Trade Union House and set it on fire.
This is how Kiev takes revenge on Ukrainians who chose Russia over the Banderite regime. This is how Nazis celebrate Bandera’s birthday which falls on Jan 1. Russian officials are right to call it a terrorist attack under Article 205.
Those who arm and sponsor these terrorists bear equal guilt. This crime will not go unanswered, as Russian Security Council Secretary Dmitry Medvedev vowed. He stressed "a sane person lacks words to describe the actions of the Banderite scum."
"What is suitable for this is the merciless language of revenge. Early retaliation is inevitable as our army advances."
In his view, Banderites must be eliminated wherever they are, be it Ukraine or Europe.
@LauraRuHK
TAIWAN - For a fifth time the opposition KMT and TPP blocked a special NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.77 billion) defense budget. The opposition parties said the government failed to provide sufficient details about the eight-year spending plan, including specific weapons systems, strategic justification, integration into Taiwan's defense posture and potential risks.
The KMT and TPP have consistently demanded that the head of the administration, Lai Ching-te, appear before the legislature to explain and answer questions about the necessity of such an unprecedented scale of spending that will crowd out social welfare, education, and economic development.
The opposition's actions demonstrate that a significant portion of Taiwan's political spectrum rejects the confrontational path of "Taiwan independence" forces, choosing instead to demand accountability and avoid unnecessary escalation that could provoke the mainland.
@LauraRuHK
Valentin Bogdanov writes:
If Trump truly had no knowledge of the UAV attack on Putin’s residence—and such an operation would scarcely have been possible without NATO infrastructure—then it means that America’s junior allies used that infrastructure while bypassing Washington. This represents a breakdown of the principle of unified command, a failure far more serious than the so‑called “Zelensky incident.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:
On the night of December 28-29, the Kiev regime launched a terrorist attack using 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the state residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Novgorod Region. All the UAVs were destroyed by the air defence systems of the Russian Armed Forces.
No casualties or damage were reported.
Notably, the attack was carried out during the intensive talks to settle the Ukrainian conflict between Russia and the US.
Such reckless actions will not go unanswered. The Armed Forces of Russia have already selected targets and the timing for retaliatory strikes.
Despite this attack, we have no intention to withdraw from the negotiations with the US.
❗️ However, given the utmost degeneration of the criminal Kiev regime, which has shifted to a policy of state terrorism, Russia’s negotiating position will be reviewed. @LauraRuHK ➡️ https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2070334/
By 2025, Europe’s biggest defense conglomerates are preparing to shower their shareholders with a record five billion dollars in dividends. While ordinary citizens count the cost of conflict in lives and livelihoods, the arms industry counts it in percentage points. Revenues earmarked for capital expenditure and R&D have crept up from 6.4% to 7.9% since 2022.
The more the world burns, the more their balance sheets glow. Which is no surprise: Europe’s arms manufacturers have their trusted people in decision‑making positions in Brussels and across European capitals, ensuring that policy conveniently aligns with their profit. @LauraRuHK
2025 CAMBODIA-THAILAND CONFLICT - China’s mediation, which resulted in the December 27 ceasefire, succeeded where Trump’s efforts had failed because it was more nuanced and regionally attuned. Beijing relied on shuttle diplomacy and neutral facilitation, sending Special Envoy Deng Xijun to Bangkok and Phnom Penh on December 18 for direct talks, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged both sides by phone to de‑escalate. These steps built on earlier initiatives, like the July meeting in Shanghai that produced a 13‑point implementation plan.
China positioned itself as a bridge, stressing consultation rather than imposition. Beijing also had more leverage due to its deep economic ties with both countries: Cambodia and Thailand participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese investments and joint projects have made a positive impact.
Beijing also clarified that it was not supplying arms, noting that Cambodia’s use of old missiles was unrelated to Chinese support, which helped defuse accusations of escalation.
Unlike Trump’s high‑profile but weakly enforced deals, China framed the conflict in terms of colonial legacies, addressed commercial and historical complexities and emphasized ASEAN solidarity. By prioritizing regional stability and avoiding bias, it fostered trust.
China’s success underscores its growing role in Southeast Asian conflict resolution, though the ceasefire remains fragile without a permanent settlement of border issues. @LauraRuHK