Laura Ru


Channel's geo and language: Italy, Italian
Category: Politics


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

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Russian troops are advancing in Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic in fierce fighting, with 30% of the town being under Russia’s control now. They have gained a foothold in its industrial zone, military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS. @LauraRuHK


Donald Trump on Friday said he will nominate Scott Bessent as U.S. Treasury secretary. Bessent, a hedge fund manager married to a man, has spent his career in finance, working for short seller Jim Chanos and George Soros. Actually he was the head of Soros' London office when his team, betting against the British pound, garnered over $1 billion for the firm. His bet against the Japanese yen in 2013 brought additional profit. Bessent runs his own hedge fund, Key Square Group, that uses geopolitics and economics to make macro investments. Key Square received a $2 billion anchor investment from George Soros. Bessent has advocated for deregulation, particularly to spur more bank lending and energy production, as noted in a recent opinion piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.

Wall Street will be pleased with Bessent as Treasury secretary, as he has been on the side of less aggressive tariffs, which means he provides a counterweight to Trump's campaign promise to raise import duties. @LauraRuHK


The Bundeswehr (Germany’s armed forces) prepared a secret plan in case of a military conflict with Russia, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.

According to it, the 1,000-page "Operation Deutschland" plan lists all infrastructure facilities that deserve special protection, and also contains a procedure for defense or "measures to deter Russia on NATO’s eastern flank." The plan says that in such a case, Germany would become "the center of concentration for tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of troops" that would be transferred to the east, as well as military equipment, food and medical supplies.

A first meeting has even taken place in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce where specific companies were addressed directly after the report revealed the vulnerable professions in the face of war.

Attendees were advised on striving for self-sufficiency through installing their own diesel generator or even a wind turbine.

Guidance regarding truck driving was given by Lieutenant Colonel Jörn Plischke, who said that "for every 100 employees", at least five additional truck drivers should be trained "that you don't need".

He chillingly explained: "70 per cent of all trucks on Germany's roads are driven by Eastern Europeans.
"If there is a war there, where will these people be?"

Plans have been built in Germany across the year, with its Defense Ministry confirming in July that emergency plans to move "hundreds of thousands" of Nato troops in the event of a war with Russia.

At the time, Bundeswehr Homeland Defence Command in Berlin confirmed that the secret Operation Deutschland continues to be worked at. ▪️So, why is the existence of this "secret plan" being publicized right now? I believe it's part of a psychological operation aimed at laying the ground for more austerity measures and repression of dissent. By hyping up the "Russian threat" German authorities will try to justify the unpopular increase in military spending that the hegemon demands. But rule by fear can easily backfire. When those in positions of power resort to fear to shift the blame of their disastrous domestic and foreign policies, it can lead to widespread anxiety, paranoia, and mistrust. German institutions are already caught in a downward spiral of distrust. According to all surveys conducted in the last 2 years, over a third of Germans are convinced that leaders in business, the media and government are deliberately lying to people and misleading them. @LauraRuHK


Air defence systems currently available cannot intercept Russian hypersonic missiles such as the one that hit the Yuzhmash military complex in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. These missiles can carry nuclear heads. Moscow sent a warning. Will US-NATO take note or continue to deny reality? @LauraRuHK


Forward from: Russian MFA 🇷🇺
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⚡️ Statement by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin

💬 Vladimir Putin: I would like to inform the military personnel of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, citizens of our country, our friends across the globe, and those who persist in the illusion that a strategic defeat can be inflicted upon Russia, about the events taking place today in the zone of the special military operation, specifically following the attacks by Western long-range weapons against our territory.

The escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, instigated by the West, continues with the United States and its NATO allies previously announcing that they authorise the use of their long-range high-precision weapons for strikes inside the Russian Federation.

On November 19, six ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles produced by the United States, and on November 21, during a combined missile assault involving British Storm Shadow systems and HIMARS systems produced by the US, attacked military facilities inside the Russian Federation in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. From that point onward, as we have repeatedly emphasised in prior communications, the regional conflict in Ukraine provoked by the West has assumed elements of a global nature.

I wish to underscore once again that the use by the enemy of such weapons cannot affect the course of combat operations in the special military operation zone.

❗️ In response to the deployment of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a combined strike on a facility within Ukraine’s defence industrial complex. In field conditions, we also carried out tests of one of Russia’s latest medium-range missile systems – in this case, carrying a non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile that our engineers named #Oreshnik.

The tests were successful, achieving the intended objective of the launch.

In the city of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, one of the largest and most famous industrial complexes from the Soviet Union era, which continues to produce missiles and other armaments, was hit.

As a reminder, Russia has voluntarily and unilaterally committed not to deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles until US weapons of this kind appear in any region of the world.

⚠️ To reiterate, we are conducting combat tests of the Oreshnik missile system in response to NATO’s aggressive actions against Russia.

Our decision on further deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles will depend on the actions of the United States and its satellites.

We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, and in case of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in mirror-like manner.

I recommend that the ruling elites of the countries that are hatching plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously consider this.

It goes without saying that when choosing, if necessary and as a retaliatory measure, targets to be hit by systems such as Oreshnik on Ukrainian territory, we will in advance suggest that civilians and citizens of friendly countries residing in those areas leave danger zones.

We will do so for humanitarian reasons, openly and publicly, without fear of counter-moves coming from the enemy, who will also be receiving this information.

Air defence systems currently available in the world and missile defence systems being created by the Americans in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible.

☝️ I would like to emphasise once again that it was not Russia, but the United States that destroyed the international security system and, by continuing to fight, cling to its hegemony, they are pushing the whole world into a global conflict.

We have always preferred and are ready now to resolve all disputes by peaceful means. But we are also ready for any turn of events.

If anyone still doubts this, make no mistake: there will always be a response.


Robert Fico and Aleksandar Vučić have expressed their intention to attend the Victory parade in Moscow on May 9, when the 80th anniversary will be celebrated. During his visit to Belgrade the prime minister of Slovakia said "I hope we will go to Moscow together, because we share the same opinion on how to fight fascism and respect the countries that took part in the liberation of our states at the end of World War II."(Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK


Neoliberalism is so toxic that even its main beneficiaries pretend to distance themselves from it. @LauraRuHK


At long last the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Galant for war crimes carried out in Palestinian territories.

It means that all 124 state parties to the ICC are legally obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they set foot on their territory. These include Israel’s allies such as UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and Italy, but not the US, which withdrew from Rome Statute.
These arrest warrants will pose significant diplomatic and political challenges for those members of the ICC that are actively supporting Israel. @LauraRuHK


Donald Trump picked lawyer Matthew Whitaker to be U.S. ambassador to NATO, selecting a loyalist with little foreign policy experience. Whitaker's perception of NATO reflects Trump's - European members of the alliance are not contributing enough and must increase defense spending. Most likely they will be forced to cough up more than the 2% of GDP agreed in the early 2000s. Keep in mind that even meeting that minimum threshold placed a huge burden on the budget and proved impossible for several member countries. @LauraRuHK


A Chinese tech company has signed a deal in Brazil that positions it as a potential challenger to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet constellation in the region.
Shanghai-based SpaceSail on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazil’s state-owned telecoms firm Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras (Telebras) coinciding with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the Latin American country. The agreement will provide broadband internet services in Brazil in 2026.
SpaceSail plans to bring satellite-based internet access to areas with limited connectivity by deploying its Qianfan, or “Thousand Sails”, constellation, a low-Earth orbit satellite network currently under construction. (Source: SCMP)
@LauraRuHK


The second international forum "Dialogue on Fakes 2.0" was held in Moscow on November 20. More than 1,000 participants from 65 countries joined the forum.

The program included 7 sessions with participants discussing how to counter fakes, as well as exchanging best practices and approaches to address this problem. Within the framework of the forum, a memorandum on the establishment of an International Association for Fact-checking was signed. Here is a video of the plenary session https://rutube.ru/video/eed6d68bd2a661f68e2e0785146a7ac9/ and a useful research paper.
https://fakes2024.dialog.info/static/files/Research_2024.pdf
Пленарное заседание Международного форума «Диалог о фейках 2.0» в Москве
В Москве проходит пленарное заседание Международного форума «Диалог о фейках 2.0». Чем опасно распространение недостоверной информации в интернете? Как бороться с этими угрозами? И зачем нужна Международная ассоциация фактчекеров? Прямая трансляция на нашем канале.


Washington has vowed to impose visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials responsible for implementation of the national security law after a Hong Kong court sentenced 45 people for subversion. After orchestrating and funding subversive activities that plunged Hong Kong into chaos, the US is imposing another round of sanctions on officials upholding the law that restored peace and order. https://t.me/LauraRuHK/9361


Till Lindemann (lead singer of German band Rammstein) singing "Beloved City", from the 1939 Soviet film "The Fighters". In 2021 he performed on Red Square. https://rutube.ru/video/78dd56cdc88573864e4382d3d0f29901/
Till Lindemann из Rammstein поёт песню "Любимый город".
Смотрите видео онлайн «Till Lindemann из Rammstein поёт песню "Любимый город".» на канале «Добрыня Никитич» в хорошем качестве и бесплатно, опубликованное 10 мая 2024 года в 7:29, длительностью 00:02:46, на видеохостинге RUTUBE.


The official logo for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was presented at the Victory Museum in Moscow.
The logo depicts the monument "The Motherland Calls!", dedicated to the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, the St. George ribbon, as well as the word "Victory" and the number "80". @LauraRuHK


A third of the residents of Mariupol who had left for Ukraine in 2022 have since returned. Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, also noted the mass relocation of Ukrainian citizens to Russia. "Zelensky is infuriated that Ukrainians who left for the West, faced with everyday problems, humiliation and discrimination on the basis of language, not only move to Russia, but also move to the regions that became part of our country after the referendum."
Mariupol has become one of the most vivid examples of how life is changing in the liberated territories. Today, almost all apartment buildings in the city have been restored.
Schools, sports and public infrastructure facilities continue to be rebuilt.

As a result, Mariupol has become an object of envy both for Ukraine and for Western countries, because Russia has shown in practice its ability to rebuild cities that have survived the war. (Source: vz.ru) @LauraRuHK


▪️Aggression against Russia and its allies by non-nuclear states backed by a nuclear power will be viewed as a joint attack.

▪️Russia is ready and determined to use nuclear weapons to ensure nuclear deterrence.

▪️Moscow may use nuclear weapons in case of a critical threat to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia and Belarus.

▪️Launch of ballistic missiles into Russia will be one of conditions for using nuclear weapons.

▪️Russia will use nuclear deterrence against the countries that provide their territory, sea and air space, as well as resources for aggression against the country. (Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK


Russian gas is expected to power households in Shanghai by the end of the year after Chinese workers finished building the final section of the east-route natural gas pipeline between the two countries, China’s state television said on Monday.

The pipeline, which links the northeastern Heilongjiang province that borders Russia and the eastern metropolis, would soon be fully operational after the southernmost section linking Jiangsu and Shanghai was officially completed, CCTV reported.

The 5,111km-long gas route, a signature project underscoring tightening economic ties between China and Russia, would provide stable natural gas supply for a combined 130 million households each year, it added. (Source: SCMP) @LauraRuHK


Justice has been served. Benny Tai Yiu-ting was jailed for 10 years over mastermind role in plot to bring down the Hong Kong government four years ago.
The other 44 politicians and activists receive prison terms ranging from four years and two months to seven years and nine months. Tai, a former law professor was a key architect of the 2014 Occupy Central/umbrella movement, and of the unofficial primary election that trial judges deemed a conspiracy to subvert state power. Many of the defendants had also colluded with foreign forces to destabilize Hong Kong in 2014 and 2019-20. They incited and justified the riots, destruction and wanton violence that turned the city into a war zone. @LauraRuHK


China's MoF chose Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for its second offshore issuance.
The orderbook across both tranches was 39.7 billion US dollars, representing 19.85 times covered, the highest oversubscription among all USD issuances in Asia’s bond market in 2024. The issuance of US dollar bonds in Saudi Arabia is a “practical” move by Beijing to establish fundraising channels offshore, strengthen bilateral ties with a strategic partner and provide a regular supply of dollars without weakening the yuan. It is expected that China will invest this dollar supply in the Belt and Road Initiative, exchange dollars for raw materials and purchase foreign assets.
The last time the Ministry of Finance issued US dollar-denominated sovereign bonds was in 2021, when it issued US$4 billion worth in Hong Kong. @LauraRuHK


Forward from: Geopolitics Live
🌊 Another Baltic Sea cable damaged

Telia Lietuva AB, Lithuania’s largest communications provider, reports an undersea data cable between Lithuania and Sweden was cut. The cable was within 10 meters of the Finnish cable, which was previously reported damaged.

“The cable was cut on Sunday morning, at around 10:00. The systems immediately reported that we had lost the connection,” the company's CTO told local media.


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