Iran's national police spokesman, Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, announced on Friday (January 9, 2026) that field observations indicate general calm has returned to cities nationwide following a wave of riots. Speaking to Tasnim News Agency, he attributed the unrest to armed groups, foreign-backed elements (primarily the United States and Israel), and terrorist actors orchestrating violence, arson, and attacks on public infrastructure. What Western media omit to mention in their glorification of the riots are the protests against the criminal actions of foreign-backed agents of chaos: ordinary Iranians reportedly prevented further violence.
Provincial reports noted no major gatherings or disturbances on Friday night despite limited attempts at disruption.

The statement highlighted deadly attacks on security personnel: Three police officers killed Friday night in Shiraz (Fars province) and surrounding areas; funerals planned with bodies to be transferred to Mazandaran, Markazi, and Fasa.
Several members of Tehran's criminal investigation police killed Thursday night by Kalashnikov fire.
Two police killed Thursday night in Qom.
Two security force members killed in Shushtar (Khuzestan province).
One Basij militia member killed Thursday night in Qazvin after confronting rioters attempting to burn a fuel station.
A local prosecutor and four security force members (two police, two Basij) killed in Esfarayen (northeastern town) after assailants set fire to the main mosque, a Qur’anic center, and a retail store.

By Thursday, at least 270 police officers had been injured (some by military-grade firearms). Montazer al-Mahdi noted police initially exercised restraint amid economic protests (triggered by inflation, price rises, and currency instability), distinguishing between legitimate protesters and rioters, but vowed a decisive response to armed terrorists going forward.
Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani, in a national TV interview, detailed unprecedented attacks Thursday night: Armed assailants targeted emergency services (hospitals, firefighters), burning more than 24 fire engines.
Over 26 banks, 10 government facilities, over 25 mosques, and at least 47 buses set on fire.
Three police stations and 25 Basij centers attacked. Over 100 rioters were arrested in Baharestan, Isfahan province. (Source: PressTV)
@LauraRuHK

Those watching protest porn, aka #IranRevolution2026 on X, are actually jerking off to old footage. 😅 @LauraRuHK

Malicious fake news, amplified by biased Western media, along with rampant rumour-mongering and outlandish claims, form a core ingredient in sustaining color revolutions.
The August 31, 2019 Prince Edward metro station incident (commonly called "831") in Hong Kong is a case in point. During a police clearance operation targeting protesters, officers made several arrests. In the hours and days that followed, explosive rumors spread rapidly on platforms like Telegram, LIHKG, and social media, claiming police had beaten protesters to death inside the station, with bodies allegedly hidden or removed in a cover-up.
The rumors turned "831" into a collective psychosis: for over a year, people held monthly vigils at the station, laying white flowers for non-existent victims. The unsubstantiated claim that the police had committed a "massacre" escalated the violence.
Keep this in mind when you watch Western media coverage of protests in Iran. @LauraRuHK

Le fake news, amplificate dai media occidentali, insieme al dilagare di voci incontrollate e stravaganti teorie, costituiscono un ingrediente fondamentale per alimentare le rivoluzioni colorate.
L’incidente del 31 agosto 2019 alla stazione della metropolitana Prince Edward (noto come “831”) a Hong Kong ne è un esempio emblematico. Durante un’operazione di polizia, gli agenti effettuarono diversi arresti. Immediatamente si diffusero voci assurde su Telegram, LIHKG e vari social media, secondo cui la polizia avrebbe picchiato a morte i manifestanti all’interno della stazione, rimuovendo i corpi in un tentativo di insabbiamento.
Queste voci trasformarono l’“831” in una psicosi collettiva: per oltre un anno, persone si riunirono ogni mese alla stazione per veglie, deponendo fiori bianchi in memoria di vittime inesistenti. L’affermazione priva di fondamento che la polizia avesse compiuto un “massacro” contribuì all'escalation della violenza.
Tenetelo a mente quando sentite parlare di proteste in Iran. @LauraRuHK

In a televised interview on Sunday, Iranian President Pezeshkian emphasized his administration’s determination to resolve economic hardships and ensure justice, including fair distribution of subsidies regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.

He acknowledged complaints from business owners and bazaar merchants, invited them to government meetings, and affirmed that protests are a legitimate right. His cabinet is holding daily talks to address concerns.

He accused the US and Israel of exploiting Iran’s economic problems to incite riots, arson, and desecration of religious sites, claiming that trained outsiders and terrorists were behind violent acts.

Pezeshkian described rioters as non-Iranian criminals responsible for killings, decapitations, and burnings, stressing that such acts are unacceptable to Iranian civilization.

He urged citizens, guilds, and industry leaders to help eradicate corruption, defend neighborhoods against rioters, and attend pro-establishment rallies. He promised that Iran will overcome current challenges despite external pressures as Iran’s defense and security forces act decisively against violent rioters. @LauraRuHK
(Source: Tasnim) https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2026/01/11/3492402/rioters-trained-by-outsiders-iranian-president

China slams US tariffs on Iran's trading partners, vows to take necessary measures to protect its rights and interests

After Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on any country that conducts business with Iran, China voiced its opposition to any illicit unilateral sanctions and vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the US, said

"China's position against the indiscriminate imposition of tariffs is consistent and clear. Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems. Protectionism harms the interests of all parties."

Since China is Iran's largest trading partner, and buys most of Iran’s oil, there is little doubt about the main target of these tariffs. But as usual, this ill-conceived policy will backfire. In the meantime, it risks escalating the US-China trade war at a fragile moment, disrupting tentative "trade peace" and inviting retaliation.
It could raise US import costs (adding to inflation), hurt global supply chains, and alienate countries such as Brazil, India, Turkey, UAE, Iraq which also trade with Iran.
It also pushes targeted countries closer together without achieving Iran isolation.
@LauraRuHK

La Cina condanna i dazi statunitensi sui partner commerciali dell’Iran e promette di adottare le misure necessarie per tutelare i propri diritti e interessi.

Dopo che Donald Trump ha annunciato dazi del 25% su qualsiasi Paese che intrattenga rapporti commerciali con l’Iran, la Cina ha espresso la sua opposizione a sanzioni unilaterali illecite e ha dichiarato che prenderà tutte le misure necessarie per salvaguardare i propri diritti e interessi legittimi.

Liu Pengyu, portavoce dell’Ambasciata cinese negli Stati Uniti, ha affermato:

"La posizione della Cina contro l’imposizione indiscriminata di dazi è coerente e chiara. Le guerre tariffarie e le guerre commerciali non hanno vincitori, e coercizione e pressioni non risolvono i problemi. Il protezionismo danneggia gli interessi di tutte le parti."

Poiché la Cina è il principale partner commerciale dell’Iran e acquista la maggior parte del suo petrolio, non vi è dubbio sul vero obiettivo dei dazi. Ma, come spesso accade, questa misura si ritorcerà contro chi l’ha proposta. Nel frattempo, rischia di intensificare la guerra commerciale tra Stati Uniti e Cina in un momento delicato, interrompendo la fragile “pace commerciale” e invitando ritorsioni.

Potrebbe anche aumentare i costi delle importazioni statunitensi (alimentando l’inflazione), danneggiare le catene di approvvigionamento globali e alienare Paesi come Brasile, India, Turchia, Emirati Arabi Uniti e Iraq, anch’essi legati commercialmente all’Iran. Inoltre, spinge i Paesi colpiti a rafforzare i propri legami reciproci senza riuscire nell'intento di isolare Teheran. @LauraRuHK

In the ongoing trade war, China clearly holds the upper hand. Despite Washington's tariffs and a 20% drop in exports to the US, Beijing delivered a record US$1.19 trillion trade surplus in 2025 by swiftly redirecting shipments to faster-growing markets like ASEAN and Africa

China's exports rose 5.5% year-on-year to US$3.77 trillion while imports stayed essentially flat at US$2.58 trillion.
Shipments to ASEAN countries surged 13.4% for the year (and 11.2% in December), making it China's largest trading partner bloc, while exports to Africa jumped an impressive 25.8% annually (21.8% in December). Exports to the EU were up 8.4% and Latin America up 7.4%.

This strategic diversification demonstrates China's greater industrial depth, global market access, and ability to adapt—qualities the US has struggled to match while relying on protectionist measures that have failed to curb China's exports.
@LauraRuHK

Nella guerra commerciale in corso, la Cina è imbattibile. Nonostante i dazi imposti da Washington e un calo del 20% delle esportazioni verso gli Stati Uniti, Pechino ha registrato nel 2025 un surplus commerciale record di 1,19 trilioni di dollari, grazie alla rapida riallocazione delle spedizioni verso mercati in più rapida crescita come l’ASEAN e l’Africa.

Le esportazioni cinesi sono aumentate del 5,5% su base annua, raggiungendo i 3,77 trilioni di dollari, mentre le importazioni sono rimaste sostanzialmente stabili a 2,58 trilioni di dollari. Le spedizioni verso i paesi dell’ASEAN sono cresciute del 13,4% nell’anno (e dell’11,2% a dicembre), rendendo questo blocco il principale partner commerciale della Cina; le esportazioni verso l’Africa sono balzate di un impressionante 25,8% su base annua (21,8% a dicembre). Le esportazioni verso l’UE sono aumentate dell’8,4% e quelle verso l’America Latina del 7,4%.

Questa diversificazione strategica dimostra la maggiore potenza industriale della Cina, un migliore accesso ai mercati in crescita e una grande capacità di adattamento — qualità che gli Stati Uniti non riescono a eguagliare, affidandosi a misure protezionistiche che non sono riuscite a frenare le esportazioni cinesi. @LauraRuHK

Something went wrong in the process of reforming NED and USAID.

Soft power turned to mush.
😅
@LauraRuHK

Piccolo esempio per spiegare, a chi ancora me lo chiede, il motivo per cui disattivo le traduzioni automatiche dei miei post su FB e cerco, quando il tempo me lo permette, di tradurli in italiano io stessa.
Ieri ho pubblicato quello che vedete https://t.me/LauraRuHK/10856. La schermata di un'affermazione delirante di Trump.
E' accompagnata da un mio commento sarcastico, frutto di un gioco di parole tra il Potere "Morbido" (Soft Power) americano e lo stato del cervello di Trump, che "e' andato in pappa" (mush).
Le traduzioni automatiche del mio commento che molti hanno condiviso in rete non rendono questa idea del rammollimento del Soft Power americano dietro alle sparate in stile "ce l'ho duro" del presidente.
Quando scrivo uso spesso espressioni idiomatiche. Le amo non solo per la loro ricchezza figurativa, ma anche perche', come insegnava Bakhtin, rappresentano la natura stratificata e dialogica della lingua.
Le parole portano con sé una memoria sociale, un'appartenenza a un certo ambiente, epoca, gruppo, vale a dire la memoria dei loro usi precedenti, siano essi usi letterari o popolari.

Ed e' proprio la loro polifonia a renderne difficile la traduzione.
Solo chi abita le lingue sa cogliere e riprodurre le sfumature, lo stridore di certe parole, la musicalita' di altre, la volgarita' e la raffinatezza intenzionale. L'Intelligenza Artificiale sta omogeneizzando la lingua e troppi omogeneizzati stanno mandando in pappa i cervelli.
Un mese fa ho ordinato la versione italiana di un libro americano, per regalarlo a un amico che non conosce l'inglese. Quando l'ho sfogliato sono inorridita. La lingua in cui e' stato tradotto era scomposta e sfigurata come un corpo precipitato dal 20esimo piano. Era inerte, non respirava piu'.
Ero cosi' furente per lo scempio commesso, che ho buttato il libro nella spazzatura.
Reazione esagerata e futile, penserete.
Non per me, che ho passato gran parte della mia vita ad abitare le lingue. E a tradurle. Se avessi avuto un braciere a portata di mano, l'avrei dato alle fiamme pronunciando quelle formule rituali che usano gli sciamani per allontanare gli spiriti maligni. In ogni caso mi sono tolta la soddisfazione con il cassonetto della differenziata. Molti dei gesti, apparentemente futili, che compiamo quotidianamente assolvono a una funzione importante. Ci ricordano chi siamo.
Quel libro era per me l'equivalente di un OGM piantato vicino a una coltivazione biodinamica e andava estirpato prima che la contaminasse. @LauraRuHK

"Germany will send 13 soldiers to Greenland on Thursday as part of a reconnaissance mission with other European nations."

Herr Merz, this is frankly pathetic. The wannabe defender of Europe is sending 13 soldiers to Greenland, while NATO Sec Gen Mark Rutte thinks the US annexing Greenland is not such a bad idea, but he would rather change the subject, that is, talk about Ukraine. Sure, let's keep obsessing over the big bad Russian bogeyman, although Moscow wouldn't touch the dysfunctional EU cesspit with a ten-foot pole.

Nothing says "strategic genius" like posturing with a platoon-and-a-half while the wannabe land-grabber is sitting in the White House tweeting about how Greenland would look fabulous in red, white, and blue. Priorities, people. Priorities. @LauraRuHK

US manufacturing is stagnating at best, far from the industrial boom Trump touted when rolling out tariffs. Tariffs didn't protect US factories, they increased production costs because 91% of manufacturers rely on imported materials and components. Supply chains have been disrupted, reorganizing them is time-consuming and expensive, if feasible at all. Many firms are delaying hiring, investment, and expansion amid uncertainty, rising costs, and shrinking demand. Manufacturers shed 63,000 jobs over the year (per Bureau of Labor Statistics data).
The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing index fell to 47.9 in December, marking the 10th consecutive month of contraction.
New orders remain weak.
China, on the other hand....Read more ➡️ https://t.me/LauraRuHK/10853

A recent RAND commentary reveals growing US fears about Armenia's political trajectory ahead of the June 2026 parliamentary elections. Washington is particularly concerned about its puppet's unpopularity — Nikol Pashinyan's approval rating, has dropped to 13% and a poor electoral performance could lead to a government change more favorable to Moscow, reversing Armenia's drift toward the West. And since Russia has recently improved relations with Azerbaijan, Washington fears Moscow will regain leverage in the South Caucasus, jeopardizing the prospects of a transport corridor designed to bypass Russia and Iran (Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor + Zangezur Corridor). To mitigate these risks, the author of the commentary stresses the need for sustained US and EU engagement, i.e. increasing support to Armenia's Western aligned forces, media and NGOs. The usual colour revolution ecosystem. The RAND report laments the recent USAID shutdown and stresses that without active Western backing, the combination of Pashinyan's low popularity and Russian re-engagement could derail the Trump-brokered agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. @LauraRuHK
➡️ https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2026/01/what-prospects-for-lasting-peace-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan.html

Un recente articolo della RAND Corporation rivela le crescenti preoccupazioni statunitensi riguardo alla traiettoria politica dell’Armenia in vista delle elezioni parlamentari di giugno 2026. Washington è particolarmente allarmata per l’impopolarità del suo “burattino”: il tasso di approvazione di Nikol Pashinyan è sceso al 13%, e una sua scarsa performance elettorale potrebbe portare a un cambio di governo più favorevole a Mosca, invertendo la deriva dell’Armenia verso l’Occidente. Poiché la Russia ha recentemente migliorato le relazioni con l’Azerbaigian, Washington teme che Mosca possa riconquistare influenza nel Caucaso meridionale, mettendo a rischio le prospettive di quel corridoio logistico progettato per bypassare Russia e Iran (Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor + Zangezur Corridor).

Per mitigare tali rischi, l'analista dlla RAND sottolinea la necessità di un impegno costante da parte di Stati Uniti e Unione Europea, ossia un aumento del sostegno alle forze, ai media e alle ONG allineate con l’Occidente in Armenia: il consueto ecosistema delle “rivoluzioni colorate”. Il rapporto della RAND lamenta la recente chiusura di USAID e sottolinea che, senza un attivo sostegno occidentale, la combinazione di bassa popolarità di Pashinyan e il rinnovato leverage russo potrebbe compromettere l’accordo tra Armenia e Azerbaigian mediato sei mesi fa da Trump. @LauraRuHK ➡️ https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2026/01/what-prospects-for-lasting-peace-between-armenia-and-azerbaijan.html

For years, the US has driven tech decoupling through export controls, most notably limiting Chinese firms' access to Nvidia's cutting-edge GPUs critical for AI development. However, developments in early 2026 show Beijing shifting from being purely defensive to becoming a driver of decoupling itself by restricting US tech within its borders. Beijing has instructed domestic tech companies not to purchase Nvidia’s high-end H200 chips unless absolutely necessary.
The new rules impose caps on the total number of advanced AI chips that local firms can import, while data centres will reserve server stack space for domestic chips rather than Nvidia H200-based solutions, even when serving major clients like Alibaba Group Holding and ByteDance.
The Chinese government has also launched an official probe into Meta Platforms’ (Facebook's parent) acquisition of Chinese-founded AI start-up Manus, signaling tighter scrutiny of foreign takeovers of Chinese AI talent/tech.
Beijing is pursuing digital sovereignty by pushing toward greater technological self-reliance, effectively building its own protective "high fence" against US technology in response to, and in parallel with, American restrictions. This mutual fencing can only accelerate the bifurcation of the global tech ecosystem between the two superpowers.
@LauraRuHK ➡️ https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3340168/fighting-back-beijing-builds-its-own-small-yard-high-fence-shut-out-us-tech?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

La produzione in serie del satellite "Зоркий" (Zorky), che in russo significa "occhio di falco", progettato per il telerilevamento della Terra (remote sensing) inizierà in Russia nel 2026. Lo ha annunciato il 16 gennaio 2026 Dmitry Bakanov, capo di Roscosmos. Il satellite Zorky effettua riprese ad alta precisione dallo spazio. Le immagini ottenute servono a creare mappe digitali aggiornate, utilizzate per la navigazione di veicoli autonomi e droni.

Entro il 2027 è previsto il dispiegamento di una costellazione orbitale composta da più di 300 satelliti Zorky.

Molti media russi (tra cui Izvestia, TASS e MK) hanno descritto Zorky come "analogo russo di Starlink", enfatizzando l'obiettivo di indipendenza tecnologica nelle comunicazioni satellitari e nel supporto a veicoli autonomi/droni in zone difficili. Altre fonti sottolineano che i satelliti Zorky sarebbero principalmente dedicati al telerilevamento ottico (fotografia ad alta risoluzione per cartografia e monitoraggio), non alla fornitura diretta di internet broadband come fa Starlink. Il vero progetto russo equivalente a Starlink per connessioni internet ad alta velocità sarebbe invece la costellazione Rassvet: centinaia di satelliti previsti nei prossimi anni, con servizio commerciale atteso intorno al 2027. Zorky e Rassvet rappresentano un passo importante nella sovranità spaziale e digitale russa. @LauraRuHK

Russia to Begin Serial Production of Zorky Satellites in 2026

Russia will launch serial production of the “Zorky” satellite — whose name in Russian means “sharp-sighted” — in 2026, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov announced on January 16. Designed for Earth remote sensing, Zorky is capable of capturing high-precision images from orbit. These images will be used to generate updated digital maps, supporting navigation for autonomous vehicles and drones.

By 2027, Russia plans to deploy an orbital constellation of more than 300 Zorky satellites.

Russian media outlets including Izvestia, TASS, and MK have described Zorky as a “Russian analogue of Starlink,” highlighting its role in advancing technological independence in satellite communications and autonomous systems. However, other sources emphasize that Zorky’s primary mission is optical remote sensing — high-resolution photography for cartography and monitoring — rather than providing broadband internet access like SpaceX’s Starlink.

The actual Russian project aimed at delivering high-speed satellite internet is the planned Rassvet constellation, which envisions hundreds of satellites and commercial service expected around 2027.
Zorky and Rassvet satellites mark a major step in bolstering Russia’s space and digital sovereignty. @LauraRuHK

The European Union may resort to economic sanctions, the introduction of trade tariffs, or the threat of eliminating US military bases on its territory to pressure the US over the future of Greenland, The Economist wrote on Saturday.

According to the magazine, it will be extremely difficult for Washington to project its military power into Africa and the Middle East without access to European military bases such as Ramstein. For example, the success of the recent seizures of oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela directly depended on access to resources at British military airfields. It is noted that the White House's ability to monitor and counter threats in the Arctic will require cooperation with Greenland, Iceland, the UK, and Norway, as well as other NATO allies. The magazine notes that a confrontation with the US is unlikely, as it would require the EU to rapidly increase military spending due to its dependence on American troops and the military-industrial sector. Furthermore, a trade war would place a huge burden on EU budgets.

On January 17, Trump announced on Truth Social that the Washington administration has imposed 10% duties on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, Finland and the Netherlands, which will remain in force until agreements are reached on "the full and final acquisition of Greenland" by the United States.

This decision comes into effect on February 1, Trump added. As he stressed, from June 1, the rate of these duties will increase to 25%. Furthermore, Trump criticized Europe's intention to send its forces to Greenland, calling it "a very dangerous game." He argued that possession of Greenland is necessary to strengthen US national security and the effective deployment of the American Golden Dome missile defense system.
(Source: TASS) @LauraRuHK