Let’s Tune In: Russian Partial Mobilization

On September 21st, Putin announced a “partial mobilization” composed of Russian reservists who will be engaged on the Russian territory, which is threatened by the European uptight attitude to “destroy” the Russian territory and its strength. In his speech, Putin shifted the meaning of the war from a “special military operation” to an existential operation that will depend on Russian unity and its strength. These would have been the words used by Putin in a Russian televised address.

Let’s Tune In: North Korea declares its nuclear potential

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Friday:” “We will not waive our right for self-defense, which is crucial for the country’s existence, for the security of the state and its people, no matter how difficult the situation is,” he said. “Regardless of the political and military situation on the Korean peninsula, brought about by the US, we won’t reject nuclear weapons, because we need to deter the United States, which is a nuclear power.”

Fernet with Vodka

The Argentinians adopted, due to the Italian immigration of the early XX century, a sour herbal wine called “Fernet Branca” – usually mixed with the popular drink “Coca Cola.” The sour taste of Fernet makes it tough to combine it with vodka. However, in harsh times beggars can’t be choosers.

Navalny: Harbinger of Democracy or Flash in the Pan?

The arrest of Alexey Navalny upon his return to Russia has triggered widespread protests. For many, they represent the first step towards democratization. This article, though, argues that things are more complicated. The first problem is that Navalny is a much more controversial figure than he seems. In fact, his idea of democracy might be very different from the Western concept of democracy. The second problem is less idiosyncratic and more strategic. Namely, the Russia regime seems willing to lock up Navalny for quite some time. And this alone, could leave protestors without a leader and without purpose.

Russian Protest: Anti-Corruption, Pro-Navalny, and Violent

On January 23rd, protests across Russia demanded Alexei Navalny’s release from detainment, and called out the corruption unveiled in his latest investigation. The demonstrations grew quickly in size and in violence, instantly attracting international attention.

The New Domain (and Threat) of the Cyberattacks: Russia

Although there has been history of hacking activity especially from Russia, the new report released by Microsoft shows that hacking by nation-state actors has become more prominent than ever, especially from Russia.