1980s synth-pop from the USSR. You can find much better recordings of Na Zare (At Dawn) but for some reasons this video clicked with me...maybe because it was recorded at the Gorbunov Palace of Culture ❤️ a venue that brings back so many good memories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2tKjh-KeqM

The US is preparing for an escalation of the military conflict in the Middle East while, according to a person close to the Biden campaign,"Biden is focused on issues more important to voters like the economy, the future of democracy and abortion rights." That's just surreal. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/04/war-gaza-widen-biden-getting-ready-00133949

Quod erat demonstrandum. In case you still wonder which master the EUnuchs serve. @LauraRuHK

Three separate polls show that Arab perceptions have shifted dramatically over Israel’s war on Gaza, with popular sentiment gravitating to those states and actors perceived to be actively supporting Palestinian goals, and away from those who are perceived to support Israel. if the confrontation between the pro-US/Israel Axis and the Axis of Resistance escalates, Arab perceptions will almost certainly continue to tilt away from the old hegemons toward those who are willing to resist this US-Israeli assault on the region.

There will be no relief for Washington and its allies as the war expands. The more they work to defeat Hamas and destroy Gaza, and the more they lob missiles at Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, and besiege the Resistance Axis, the more likely Arab populations are to shrug off the Sunni-versus-Shia, Iran-versus-Arab, and secular-versus-Islamist narratives that have kept the region divided and at odds for decades.

The swell of support that is mobilizing due to a righteous confrontation against the region’s biggest oppressors is unstoppable. Western decline is now a given in the region, but western discourse has been the first casualty of this war. https://new.thecradle.co/articles/gaza-destroys-western-divide-and-rule-narratives

Timofey Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Club, is not toying with a crystal ball, but in his article reviews the major trends we can already see today and suggests they will intensify. "Since the spring of 2022, the United States, as the most self-isolating major country, began to systematically destroy the globalization it had created after World War II. The economic war against Russia, the pressure on China, and other measures are making everyone think about the need to reduce their dependence on the global economy. The Western Europeans sincerely don’t want to do this, but they lack the political will to do anything to oppose the Americans .As globalization splits into national or regional zones, the prices of many goods will rise, and productivity will fall – simply because the world's countries will have to forgo cheaper but politically risky solutions. How many years it will take to find a balance is hard to say now. But there will certainly be no let-up this year.

By 2023, the consolidation of a weakening West had become increasingly apparent. It is now a military-economic alliance involving the US and a significant group of medium-sized and small countries. It is characterized by strict internal discipline and the fact that the leader reaps most of the benefits.

The consolidation of the West will continue to create problems for international security and the world economy. This is simply because the united West will be – for a long time to come – unable to accept the new reality, to stop fighting the natural course of history, and to start adapting to it. As can be seen from recent statements by politicians in Washington and its allies, the US has no other solution to its problems than to regain at least some of its former power and control. Even if key people realize that this is impossible, they will never admit it, so they will meddle and create confusion in different parts of the planet.

This will be countered by the global majority: The aggregate of the world’s states, comprising about three-quarters of the UN’s membership, which are increasingly focused on their own interests. This term was coined in 2022 to refer to countries that have not initiated or supported the West's economic war against Moscow at the state level – even if their companies and banks are forced to comply with US and EU bans on pain of retaliation. They are constantly looking for and finding ways to continue trading and generally doing business with Russia. In 2023, this phenomenon was already fully obvious." https://swentr.site/news/590124-most-important-foreign-policy-event/

Timofey Bordachev, direttore del programma del Valdai Club passa in rassegna le principali tendenze che abbiamo già sotto gli occhi, suggerisce che si intensificheranno nel 2024 e considera l'espansione dei BRICS il maggiore evento politico del 2023. "Dalla primavera del 2022, gli Stati Uniti, in auto-isolamento, hanno iniziato a distruggere sistematicamente la globalizzazione che avevano creato dopo la Seconda Guerra Mondiale. La guerra economica contro la Russia, la pressione sulla Cina e altre misure stanno facendo riflettere tutti sulla necessità di ridurre la propria dipendenza dall'economia globale. L'Europa occidentale sinceramente non vorrebbe farlo, ma non ha la volontà politica di opporsi agli americani. Con il venir meno della globalizzazione, i prezzi di molti beni aumenteranno e la produttività diminuirà, semplicemente perché i Paesi del mondo dovranno rinunciare a soluzioni più economiche ma politicamente rischiose. Quanti anni ci vorranno per trovare un equilibrio è difficile dirlo.

Nel 2023, l'Occidente ha continuato a consolidare il suo indebolimento. Si tratta ora di un'alleanza economico-militare che coinvolge gli Stati Uniti e un gruppo significativo di Paesi di medie e piccole dimensioni, caratterizzata da una rigida disciplina interna e dal fatto che il leader raccoglie la maggior parte dei benefici.
Questo tentativo di consolidamento dell'Occidente in declino continuerà a creare problemi alla sicurezza internazionale e all'economia mondiale. Questo semplicemente perché l'Occidente unito sarà - ancora per molto tempo - incapace di accettare la nuova realtà, di smettere di combattere il corso naturale della storia e di iniziare l'adattamento. Come si evince dalle recenti dichiarazioni di Washington e dei suoi alleati, gli Stati Uniti non hanno altra soluzione ai loro problemi se non quella di riconquistare almeno in parte il potere e il controllo di un tempo. Anche se le persone in posizioni apicali si rendono conto che questo è impossibile, non lo ammetteranno mai, quindi interferiranno e creeranno confusione in diverse parti del pianeta.

A questo si opporrà la maggioranza globale: L'insieme degli Stati del mondo, che comprende circa i tre quarti dei membri dell'ONU, sempre più concentrati sui propri interessi. Questo termine è stato coniato nel 2022 per indicare i Paesi che non hanno partecipato alla guerra economica dell'Occidente contro Mosca a livello statale - anche se le loro aziende e banche sono costrette a rispettare i divieti degli Stati Uniti e dell'Unione Europea pena ritorsioni. Essi cercano e trovano costantemente il modo di continuare a commerciare e, in generale, a fare affari con la Russia. Nel 2023, questo fenomeno era già del tutto evidente". https://swentr.site/news/590124-most-important-foreign-policy-event/

Western media have been peddling the "China-is-in-trouble" narrative for such a long time that a cottage industry of doomsayers has been created to meet the demand and feed the disinformation machine. Yes, you can actually make a career out of predicting the collapse of the Chinese economy and pandering to the West's wishful thinking. (1/2)
@LauraRuHK

(2/2) Zhang Jun, dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University and director of the China Center for Economic Studies took the time to debunk some of the claims that Western presstitutes repeat on a daily basis. "The narrative that China’s economy is nearing its peak – or has already reached it – has taken hold in Western media. But if you read the doomsayers’ analyses carefully, you will find that many of the reasons they give for their bleak assessments are not new.
On the contrary, they tend to highlight precisely the same challenges that economists and commentators have been harping on for at least a decade or longer. If China was not sputtering then, why should we believe it is now?

To be sure, the global context has changed. Perhaps most important, the prevailing narrative about China has turned largely negative, and the West is now far more hostile towards it than it was 10 or even five years ago (...) China’s programme of supply-side structural reform, for instance, took shape in 2015 and included tighter financial regulations and increased government supervision of – and intervention in – highly leveraged sectors with excess production capacity. While the programme helped prevent a debt or financial crisis, it also constrained growth in many highly leveraged industries, such as real estate.
But the view that a sluggish property sector will trigger China’s economic collapse is overly dramatic. Chinese policymakers understand that a transition is inevitable in the real-estate sector, and are committed to ensuring that it occurs smoothly. China’s economy has not exhausted its development potential, nor has it matured to the point that it has lost its vitality. While the economy’s current status has made rebalancing possible, it also opens a time window for China’s leadership to commit to carrying out the structural reforms that its emerging growth model needs." Read more here https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3247222/chinas-economic-slowdown-could-work-its-favour

Not only are Europeans paying for NATO's war in Ukraine, they will also pay for the conflict in the Middle East as shipping costs increase.

The Red Sea is a vital thoroughfare for the flow of energy — tankers carrying between 8 to 10 percent of the world’s oil and up to 8 percent of its liquefied natural gas transit the strait each year. To avoid it, they are now going the long way around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

Gas futures rose 7 percent in December as shipping companies diverted their fleets and traders expected higher prices for January, while the going rate for Brent crude jumped 2 percent on the news of further clashes earlier this week.

Up to 15% of world trade passes through the Suez Canal, and this route itself is of paramount importance for trade between Europe and Asia: the alternative route around Africa is 60% more expensive (fuel and crew salaries) and two weeks longer.

After a while, the price of literally everything will start to rise in the EU, while the shortage of goods could lead to both inflation and the deepening of recession as consumption will decrease.

And since the EU has antagonized Russia, the Northern Sea Route won't be an option. Sorry, guys. @LauraRuHK

Who stands to gain from the logistical crisis in the Red Sea?

The United States has seen a significant surge in oil exports amid disruptions caused by Houthi rebel attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Robert Yawger, executive director for energy futures at Mizuho Securities USA, said, quoted by MarketWatch.

The tense situation in the Red Sea has prompted European customers to redirect their routes towards the US Gulf Coast, opting to load up on American oil. This shift in preference has distinctly favored the United States, Yawger opined.

In the week ending December 29, US exports experienced a sharp increase, rising by 1.377 million barrels per day to reach 5.292 million barrels per day, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Source: Sputnik) @LauraRuHK

As of 1 January 2024, Kosovo passport holders are allowed to travel to the EU without a visa, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Since the visa liberalization, columns of "tourists" leaving the region have been observed. It's not clear what impact their "exodus" will have on recipient countries. @LauraRuHK

https://t.me/antinatocoalition/14584

Hezbollah hits critical Israeli surveillance base with 62 rockets

The large-scale attack has been described as a 'first response' to the Israeli bombing of the Lebanese capital

US allies vassals are expected to take a customary picture in one of Kiev's bomb shelters...and loosen the purse strings Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa did that yesterday and then pledged $37m aid via NATO. Kamikawa said Japan will deliver an unmanned aircraft detecting system and other aid.

Tokyo will also provide Kiev with five mobile gas turbine power generators.

Her visit comes ahead of a conference the two countries will hold in Tokyo on Feb. 19 aimed at discussing the "reconstruction of Ukraine". @LauraRuHK

In Germany the mood is heating up: the week has started with the planned farmers' protest over cuts to agricultural subsidies and price hikes on diesel, then railway staff and lorry drivers will join them in nationwide protests over grievances ranging from pay and conditions to higher road tolls and fuel prices. Tractors are already paralyzing highways and city centers.
The symbolism that German farmers have chosen to express their discontent with the government is unambiguous: makeshift gallows dangling from traffic-light signs, a reference to the colours of the three parties that are overseeing Germany's assisted suicide. @LauraRuHK

In Germania l'atmosfera si sta surriscaldando: la settimana è iniziata con la prevista protesta degli agricoltori contro i tagli ai sussidi agricoli e l'aumento dei prezzi del gasolio, poi il personale ferroviario e gli autotrasportatori si uniranno a loro nella protesta per rivendicazioni che riguardano salari, condizioni di lavoro, aumento dei pedaggi stradali e dei prezzi del carburante. I trattori stanno già paralizzando le autostrade e i centri urbani.
Il sentimento che gli agricoltori tedeschi provano nei confronti del governo non lascia spazio a dubbi dopo che lungo le strade di campagna si sono viste forche improvvisate penzolare dai semafori: un riferimento ai colori dei tre partiti che stanno facendo da supervisori del suicidio assistito della Germania. @LauraRuHK

Metà degli aiuti UE a Kiev proviene dalla Germania

Il ministro della finanza tedesco Christian Lindner ha rivelato che Berlino paga il 50% di tutti gli aiuti dell'Unione Europea (UE) all'Ucraina. Il suo discorso è stato trasmesso sul canale YouTube del partito di Lindner, FDP.

Secondo Lindner, gli altri Stati economicamente forti del blocco devono fare di più per aiutare Kiev. Lindner ha sottolineato che le sanzioni antirusse hanno portato a un aumento dei prezzi dell'energia, aggiungendo che, oltre a questo, l'economia tedesca sta affrontando problemi dovuti alla situazione negli Stati Uniti, all'inflazione in Cina e all'aumento dei tassi di interesse.

In precedenza, il vicepresidente del Comitato per gli Affari Esteri del parlamento russo, Dmitriy Novikov, aveva dichiarato che la richiesta dei deputati del Bundestag tedesco di trasferire i missili da crociera Taurus alle Forze Armate dell'Ucraina (AFU) per colpire obiettivi in Russia è stata innescata dalle dichiarazioni di alcuni politici europei sulla necessità di porre fine al conflitto ucraino. (Fonte: https://lenta.ru/news/2024/01/08/pomosh/)▪️ L'élite tedesca ormai legata a doppio filo agli USA non sembra disposta a rinunciare al folle obiettivo di guadagnare il controllo dei giacimenti di litio in Donbass e di trasformare l'Ucraina in un suo protettorato. Ricordo che Monika Schnitzer, presidente del Consiglio degli esperti economici del governo tedesco ("Consiglio dei saggi"), ha proposto l'introduzione di una sovrattassa sul reddito per aiutare Kiev - una "tassa di solidarietà per l'Ucraina. @LauraRuHK

Half of EU aid to Kiev comes from Germany

Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner revealed that Berlin contributes 50% of all European Union (EU) aid to Ukraine, military and financial. His speech was broadcast on the YouTube channel of Lindner's party, the FDP.

According to Lindner, economically strong states in the bloc must do more to help Kiev. Lindner pointed out that the anti-Russian sanctions have led to a rise in energy prices, adding that in addition to this, the German economy is facing problems due to the situation in the US, inflation in China and rising interest rates.

Earlier, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Dmitriy Novikov, said that the request of German Bundestag deputies to transfer Taurus cruise missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to strike targets in Russia was triggered by statements of some European politicians on the need to end the Ukrainian conflict. (Source: https://lenta.ru/news/2024/01/08/pomosh/)▪️The German elite, now inseparably linked to the US, harbours this crazy hope of gaining control of the lithium deposits in Donbass and turning Ukraine into its protectorate. Monika Schnitzer, president of the German government's Council of Economic Experts ('Council of Wise Men'), proposed the introduction of an income tax surcharge to help Kiev - a 'solidarity tax for Ukraine. @LauraRuHK