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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
The West is transitioning from neoliberal progressive totalitarianism to neoliberal conservative totalitarianism. While the economic logic of neoliberalism remains intact, the “progressive” veneer is being stripped away. Hardly a difficult task when its most degenerate expressions were aggressively promoted for years at the expense of common sense.
▪️Oligarchic realignment is hard to ignore. Figures like Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel etc. are centralizing control to support a new hegemonic narrative while liberal technocrats are being replaced with ideologically aligned operatives, often drawn from militarized or corporate backgrounds. Larry Ellison’s recent moves show a strategic convergence of tech, media, and politics—positioning him as one of the most influential figures in the U.S. power landscape. 👉The co-founder and chairman of Oracle donated $1 million to the Security Is Strength PAC, supporting warmonger Lindsey Graham’s 2026 reelection bid. This is his largest political donation since 2022. 👉Ellison has donated substantial sums to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, a U.S.-based nonprofit supporting Israeli military personnel. 👉Ellison announced a $500 billion AI data center venture called Stargate, in partnership with OpenAI and SoftBank. The initiative was unveiled at a White House event alongside Trump, Sam Altman, and Masayoshi Son. 👉Oracle secured massive contracts tied to cloud and AI services, including a major partnership with OpenAI, fueling a surge in Oracle’s stock and Ellison’s net worth. 👉Ellison’s son, David, led the merger of Skydance Media with Paramount Global. Larry controls the entities behind this deal, effectively creating a new media super-conglomerate that includes Paramount+, HBO Max, and major Hollywood studios.
👉The Ellison family is preparing a majority-cash bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to consolidate even more media assets under their control.
👉Talks are underway to acquire The Free Press, with plans to install Bari Weiss in a leading editorial role at CBS News, which Skydance now owns.
👉Oracle, led by Ellison, is part of a consortium—including Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz—that will hold an estimated 80% stake in a new U.S.-based TikTok entity. Oracle will manage user data in Texas, and the board will be predominantly American.
Trump publicly supported Ellison’s involvement in the TikTok acquisition, stating, “I’d like Larry to buy it, too”. @LauraRuHK
Over the weekend, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of “a growing wave of pro-Russian sentiment and antipathy towards a struggling Ukraine,” claiming this mood was being fueled both by the Kremlin and by “genuine fears and emotions.”
Tusk’s message is clear – if you’re Polish and not enthusiastic about supporting Ukraine indefinitely, you’re either falling for Russian disinformation or helping to spread it.
The data doesn’t support his spin.
According to a survey published by the Mieroszewski Center late last year, only 25% of Poles view Ukrainians positively, while 30% have a negative view. Most (41%) are neutral.
Support for Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership has collapsed: From 80% and 75% in 2022 to 37% and 35% this year, with 42% now opposed to both. This means more Poles likely oppose Ukrainian membership of NATO and the EU than back it.
Just over half (51%) of the respondents believe their country is giving refugees too much assistance, while only 5% think it’s not enough.
None of these figures suggest a secret pro-Russian awakening – just a population growing weary of a burden it never signed up for.
Tusk is also papering over his own government’s political predicament.
Just last year, his administration pushed Brussels to start accession talks with Ukraine and signed a bilateral pact backing Kiev’s EU bid.
In presidential elections this spring, the three right-wing opposition candidates – Karol Nawrocki, Slawomir Mentzen, and Grzegorz Braun – who ran on openly anti-accession tickets, received 51% in the first round. Nawrocki went on to eventually win the presidency.
In other words, Poles may not have shifted right because Moscow told them to – they shifted because Tusk ignored them.
Calling all of this ‘Kremlin propaganda’ is a trick – and an old one.
It allows Tusk and his allies in Brussels to smear dissent as treason, while deflecting blame for their own overreach. The same establishment that still chants ‘Ukraine will win’ and hypes fake stories about Russian jamming of von der Leyen’s plane now paints ordinary Poles as Putin’s pawns.
It’s sloganeering, not statecraft. And it denies Poles something far more fundamental than Ukraine’s EU hopes: The right to their own opinion. Read more 👉https://swentr.site/news/624703-poland-anti-ukrainian-sentiment/
Arab states have called for UN suspension of Israel.
On Monday, the leaders of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation convened an emergency summit in Doha. In a final statement following the summit, the group called on member nations to “consider the compatibility of Israel’s membership in the UN with its Charter” and coordinate efforts to suspend Israel from the organization.
Arab and Islamic leaders branded Israel's strike on Doha a “dangerous escalation that exposes the extremist hostility of the Israeli government.” They also accused Israel of undermining the international mediation and peacemaking process, given that the Qatari capital had been used as a key venue for peace talks with Hamas.
The statement urged all states to review diplomatic and economic relations with Israel and take “legal and effective measures” to stop Israeli actions, including sanctions, suspension of arms, and dual-use exports. Too little. Too late? @LauraRuHK
AI could cut a submarine’s survival chance to 5%: Chinese defence scientists
Era of ‘invisible’ submarines ending with next-gen tech that could prevent one in 20 from escaping attack \ A new defence industry study from China suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon make it extremely hard – even nearly impossible – for submarines to survive in a future naval conflict.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Electronics Optics & Control and led by senior engineer Meng Hao with the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute in August, unveiled for the first time an advanced AI-driven anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system capable of hunting even the quietest submarines through intelligent, real-time decision-making.
According to the research, the new ASW system could reduce a submarine’s chance of escape to just 5 per cent, meaning only one out of every 20 submarines would likely escape detection and attack.
The AI system collects data from sonar buoys, underwater sensors, radars, and information about the water itself.
According to scientists, the era of "invisible" submarines, which have long been considered the cornerstone of naval deterrence, may be coming to an end. @LauraRuHK https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325161/ai-could-cut-submarines-survival-chance-5-chinese-defence-scientists
Whether acknowledged or not, the history of international politics is marked by an almost unbroken chain of state-on-state violence. However, this violence is rarely aimed at the complete destruction or subjugation of adversaries. Among the United States' closest allies, Israel holds a uniquely privileged position. It surpasses Europe in this regard, partly because ensuring Israel's survival does not carry the risk for the U.S. of being drawn into a conflict that could lead to its own destruction or unacceptable losses. Europe, by contrast, faces a different reality: a potential conflict with Russia, toward which European leaders often display entrenched hostility, poses a direct existential threat to the United States. This dynamic explains why serious observers consistently answer "no" to the question, "Would Americans sacrifice New York to save Paris?" Israel occupies a different geopolitical position. None of its neighbors possess weapons arsenals capable of threatening U.S. territory, nor are they likely to acquire such capabilities in the foreseeable future. This has historically allowed the United States to view the Middle East as one of the less complicated regions for its presence and intervention, as noted by Timofey Bordachev in his latest article.
@LauraRuHK
https://ru.valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/trudnyy-vybor-regionalnykh-soyuznikov-ssha/
Egypt has renewed efforts to push for a NATO-style military alliance that would protect Arab countries facing attack.
The proposal was first made some nine years ago by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, but it was dead on arrival. Arab militaries may have some reasons to unite but plenty of valid reasons, and excuses, not to. Today, September 15, an Arab-Islamic Summit held in Doha may consider “a draft resolution on the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar” but don't expect participating countries to give serious consideration to the Egyptian proposal. @LauraRuHK
In response to the UK government’s announcement on Friday of sanctions against entities and individuals from several countries, including three Chinese entities, on the grounds of supplying key equipment to the Russian military, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK said these sanctions are unilateral, without any basis in international law, and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. @LauraRuHK
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More than 12,000 prisoners escaped from Nepal's prisons and at least 51 people were killed during violent protests that inflicted damage to state infrastructure estimated at over $1.4 billion.
Most of these structures are now beyond repair. The Singha Durbar complex housing the government and numerous ministries, as well as the Parliament building, and the Supreme Court, were all devastated. Alongside the loss of buildings, invaluable historical documents and records have also been reduced to ashes. @LauraRuHK
There are several ways to help the Axis of Resistance, providing hypersonic ballistic missiles is certainly one of the most effective. Members of Yemen’s rebel Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement have struck an Israeli military facility in Israel’s Negev desert with a “hypersonic ballistic missile,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.
Houthi leader, Abdel Malik al-Houthi, said his movement carried out 38 military operations against Israel in the past two weeks. @LauraRuHK
Russia has attacked Ukraine’s military enterprises in Ivano-Frankovsk, Khmelnitsky, Zhitomir Regions, as well as in Vinnitsia and Lvov, Russia's Defense Ministry said. Targets in Poland were not planned. The range of the UAVs that allegedly crossed the border with Poland does not exceed 700 km. The Defense Ministry is ready to consult with Poland "on this topic."
The Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to join the Defense Ministry's proposal for contacts with Poland.
The Foreign Ministry said the facts cited by the Defense Ministry have dispelled Polish narratives about the alleged deliberate violation of the republic's airspace by Russian drones, which were spread by Warsaw to further escalate the Ukrainian crisis.(Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK
The author of this article asks the right question — Why did Israel choose to carry out such an operation in Qatar, which not only mediates the negotiations but also hosts the US Central Command military base – the largest in the region? — but then draws the wrong conclusions: "If Washington were eventually to conclude that Israel’s militarism had become a strategic burden, or a drag on Republican election victories in the coming years, Trump could compel Israel to end its war in Gaza and accept a long-term truce." Israel and Washington are testing the Gulf countries. @LauraRuHK https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/9/10/israels-doha-attack-is-a-test-for-trumps-ties-with-the-gulf
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Press TV's Abubaker Abed says the airstrikes in Doha were a coordinated US-Israeli attack that sends a clear message: Israel does NOT want a deal!
@PressTV
Meet Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, the potential successor to Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned earlier today amid violent riots. Balen, a 34-year-old rapper, won the Kathmandu mayoral election in 2022 and, surprise surprise, gets on very well with the US ambassador. He supported the anti-government protests and is regarded as the activists' favourite choice for the post of prime minister. @LauraRuHK 👉https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvwXcDHbTVM
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❗️Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma Oli has resigned, Reuters reported, citing his aide. /channel/LauraRuHK/10474
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The first stage of Russian gas supplies to Iran will start in a few months, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said, adding that a delegation from Russia will arrive in Tehran soon to discuss the price issue.
“Russian energy officials will visit Tehran next week to finalize talks on Russian gas imports,” he said. All issues except the price have already been resolved, the diplomat noted.
The first stage will start “in a few months, but the second and third will require infrastructure,” he said. “And it has been decided that Russia will invest in the creation of infrastructure,” Jalali added.
The evolution of colour revolutions - The phenomenon of colour revolutions—politically orchestrated social movements aimed at overthrowing governments with external support—has undergone a profound transformation in recent decades. Historically, such movements required extensive groundwork, including the deployment of trained agents, the establishment of ostensibly independent media outlets and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the cultivation of a well-funded and organized fifth column. These efforts demanded significant financial resources and prolonged planning to destabilize targeted regimes. However, the advent of social media and digital technologies has fundamentally altered this paradigm, ushering in a new model of regime change that is faster, less resource-intensive, and superficially democratic. In South Asia, digital mobilization, viral narratives, influencers, and algorithmic amplification have accelerated the process of political upheaval. This shift, while reducing the logistical and financial barriers to orchestrating regime change, poses significant risks to governance, stability, and sovereignty in the region, particularly given South Asia’s youthful, digitally connected populations.
Instead of seasoned activists, smartphone-wielding protesters, often lower middle-class youth, become the vanguard, their fury is magnified by platforms designed to reward spectacle and violence over political programs and ideology. Revolutions are being marketed like any consumer product and governments fall under the weight of digital mobilization. Asian countries should not ignore or underestimate the risk. Their Gen-Z is digitally connected and fired up by regional examples.
@LauraRuHK
Romania opposes establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, for the time being. In a statement reported by Aradon (https://www.aradon.ro/romania/nicusor-dan-spune-ca-romania-mai-degraba-nu-sustine-instituirea-unei-zone-de-no-fly-deasupra-ucrainei-2083251/), President Nicușor Dan noted that discussions with government officials, military personnel, and foreign policy experts led to this stance. He emphasized, however, that Romania might reconsider "depending on how the situation evolves." Dan referenced "international traditions" regarding conflict status, suggesting that a no-fly zone could be interpreted as entering a conflict, a view held by many experts. This cautious approach reflects Romania’s concern about Russia’s response and potential pressure from senior NATO allies, given Romania’s limited sovereignty. Romania is already treading a fine line. Reports have surfaced of Ukrainian aircraft operating from Romanian military airfields, potentially exposing Romania to Russian retaliation (/channel/EvPanina/17321). Furthermore, with Bucharest’s involvement, Moldova is being positioned as a logistical hub for a "Coalition of the Willing," potentially preparing for aggression against Transnistria. As the saying goes, "The barn is on fire, and the hut is next." Romanian media have also highlighted Dmitry Medvedev’s warning that a NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine would equate to war with Russia. For now, Bucharest appears to be heeding this caution and holds off on supporting such a measure.
@LauraRuHK
(Source: Elena Panina) /channel/EvPanina/17338
London has launched a new cyberwar unit, the UK Cyber Effects Network, a new initiative to build expertise in offensive cyber operations.
Its primary goal is to create a professional community of government, industry, and academic experts focused on the theory and practice of offensive cyber activities. The network’s initial activities include publishing a collection of articles and offering semi-annual internships to applicants from the UK (or NATO countries if already residing in the UK.) Sponsored by the National Cyber Force—a body formed five years ago to integrate the offensive cyber capabilities of the military and intelligence services—the initiative is led by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the UK’s oldest defense research center. Notably, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office recently designated RUSI’s activities as undesirable, which may or may not be coincidental. RUSI's involvement suggests the rationale for establishing this network extends beyond training cyber warriors to creating an ideological and legal foundation that justifies offensive cyber operations.
@LauraRuHK
https://www.rusi.org/networks/uk-cyber-effects-network?tab=0
SL Kanthan has summarized Xinhua's white paper on US cognitive warfare and provided links to the original paper, which i invite you to read. https://substack.com/home/post/p-173645523
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SERBIA - The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service warns that European elites are aiming to use the anniversary of the tragic events in Novi Sad on November 1 to orchestrate violent provocations and tilt the situation in their favor.
Brussels relies on media and NGO financing to stir up protests, mobilize voters and bring the ‘Serbian Maidan’ to life—following a well-worn blueprint. (Source: Sputnik) @LauraRuHK
Hunger games in the West. Over 150,000 people marched through London on Saturday against immigration and the 'islamization of the UK'. Tech billionaire Elon Musk voiced support via videolink. Musk spoke about "massive uncontrolled migration" and called for a "change of government" in the UK.
"Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die, that's the truth, I think." Musk also told the crowd "the left are the party of murder", referring to Kirk's death. ▪️In The Hunger Games, elites maintain control by deliberately fostering division among the districts, a strategy rooted in the classic "divide and conquer" tactic. This approach ensures the "plebes" remain fragmented, distrustful, and focused on survival rather than uniting against their oppressors while the elites orchestrate and profit from the spectacle. Fear, scarcity, and propaganda are used to distract the masses from systemic inequality — let them fight among themselves. @LauraRuHK
I have no intention to be dragged into the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories about the murders of Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirk. The US has long exported its senseless violence, divide and rule political technology to all corners of the world, to the extent that anyone who has first-hand experience of US imperialism and colour revolutions can't help experiencing the frisson of schadenfreude when the US gets a taste of what it sows. I am only concerned about the true anti-imperialists who will bear the brunt of political repression and further erosion of free speech since no crisis goes to waste in that country. The murders of Zarutska and Kirk are not just crimes but symptoms of a system that prioritizes markets over people and division over unity. For outsiders, this isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a societal one, where the American Dream has turned into a Darwinian nightmare.
Onlookers from more cohesive societies are shocked at the vitriolic dehumanization seen in US discourse, where X posts celebrating Kirk’s death or smearing him as a fascist reflect a culture of tribal hatred. The US media’s role in amplifying this—driven by neoliberal profit motives that reward clicks over truth—creates a feedback loop of rage that feels alien to nations with less polarized public spheres. This isn’t just division, it’s a society eating itself while its economic and political elites tighten their grip and increase their wealth and power. @LauraRuHK
The UK government said Thursday it has agreed a £400 million contract with Google Cloud under a partnership to share classified information with the US, days before Donald Trump, accompanied by several major US tech executives, visits the country. The UK will store data in the US (!) and plans “much more collaboration” with Google DeepMind, which trains AI on copyrighted work without permission.
Google Cloud — including AI, data analytics, and cyber security — will be used by defence intelligence and national security specialists to boost the extensive cooperation the two countries already have. @LauraRuHK
According to numerous reports, one of the reasons the US can't upgrade its F-35 stealth fighter jet is China’s control of rare earths and metals. In 2019, the US Defence Department launched its Block 4 upgrade initiative to improve the aircraft’s detection range, air-to-air engagement and precision strike abilities.
However, the programme has had significant delays and cost overruns. Originally, all 66 capabilities under Block 4 were scheduled to be fully deployed by 2026.
In a September 3 report, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicated that the earliest possible completion is now expected by 2031, five years later than the initial timeline.
The programme has already exceeded its budget by US$6 billion. @LauraRuHK
POLITICO’s wordcloud analysis of von der Leyen’s speeches. Lying in 2020 vs Lying in 2025. @LauraRuHK
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CHINA - Shipments abroad rose 4.4% year on year in August, the weakest pace in half a year, but still an expansion at a time when tariffs, political tensions and slowing global demand should be pulling them down. Plenty of countries could only dream of 4% export growth in this environment. And China is achieving it under the weight of an unpredictable trade war with the United States.
That resilience is striking. Exports to the US collapsed 33% in August, the predictable consequence of Washington’s tariff hikes. Yet China’s overall trade kept expanding because exporters are selling more to the rest of the world.
Shipments to Southeast Asia surged more than 22%, while exports to the EU grew 10%. China’s trade surplus widened to over US$102 billion last month, higher than July’s $98 billion.
The pattern is unmistakable: despite losing ground in the US, China is expanding elsewhere, including in the Global South.
This isn’t simply an accident of arithmetic. Since tariffs exploded in April, exporters have been forced to reconfigure their supply chains and open new markets. ASEAN has already overtaken both the EU and US as China’s largest trading partner, and the August numbers show the relationship is deepening. From electronics and machinery to intermediate goods, Southeast Asia is now the key growth outlet for Chinese exports.
To be sure, some of this is rerouting, as companies redirect goods through Vietnam or Malaysia and then onto other destinations to skirt tariffs.
Yet much of it is meeting genuine underlying demand. Regional economies are integrating with China at a pace that tariffs in Washington cannot slow.
For Beijing, this shift is both economic and strategic, giving it greater influence across Asia and reducing its dependence on the US consumer market. (Source: Asia Times) @LauraRuHK
Donald Trump gave the green light for the Israeli strike in Qatar, a senior Israeli official tells Channel 12.
🔺Israel conducted an airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, involving 15 aircraft and over 10 munitions were used on a single target, Israeli media report. Qatar has strongly condemned the attack. “The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar. The ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas,” he added.
“While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty. Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available,” the statement concluded. 🔺Iran FM spox Baghaei calls Israeli strike on Qatar “criminal, extremely dangerous & a blatant violation” of international law, Qatar's sovereignty & UN Charter. Warns international inaction on Zionist regime’s crimes in Palestine & West Asia threatens all. @LauraRuHK
US playbook - If provoking a direct clash between China and India proves impossible, ignite tensions in the country between them, Nepal. @LauraRuHK
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NEPAL - The Nepalese government, following mass protests, lifted the ban on social media platforms that did not register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Reddit and LinkedIn. The prime minister Sharma Oli explained that the government will create a special committee to investigate the events that led to the riots and provide recommendations to prevent new protests.
As a result of clashes with the police, 19 protesters were killed and more than 300 were injured.
The death of protesters caused the resignation of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nepal, Ramesh Lekhak. ▪️Who stands to benefit from chaos in the country? Nepal’s deepening ties with China, its largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) source since 2015, its inclusion in the Belt&Road Initiative (BRI) combined with its delicate balance with India, make maintaining the status quo more advantageous for all regional players.
The US on the other hand has a long history of sowing chaos through colour revolutions. Nepal’s strategic location makes it a potential pressure point in the US-China rivalry. A pro-Western or less China-friendly government could limit BRI expansion and curb Nepal’s SCO ambitions. The U.S. has funded programs in Nepal (e.g., USAID, $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation grant) to counter Chinese influence and hundreds of Western NGOs are active in the country.
🔺Nepal is a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and prime minister Oli recently attended the 2025 Tianjin summit.
🔺Nepal joined BRI in 2017. Key projects include the Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports, built with Chinese funding, the Kathmandu-Lhasa cross-border railway, part of the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, that will link Nepal directly to China's rail system.
China invests heavily in hydropower (vital for Nepal's energy needs) and telecommunications, with Chinese firms like Huawei expanding 5G networks.
@LauraRuHK
European Council President Antonio Costa has called for tougher secondary sanctions against countries that buy gas and oil from Russia.
The EU may propose an official package of sanctions against Russia before the end of this week, Politico reports, citing two diplomats.
The EU is considering imposing measures against Kazakhstan due to its alleged circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russia, Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed sources. EU officials are also discussing possible sanctions against China for purchases of Russian oil and gas, the Financial Times reports. @LauraRuHK