Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 7h

Meanwhile, the EU views China as bad in helping Russia in its war efforts, but India as good in helping Russia, considering how desperate the EU is to close its trade deal w 🇮🇳 by the end of the year.

And fwiw, 🇨🇳 should be held responsible for being the biggest enabler of Russia’s war machine. 3/3

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 7h

In August, Modi “reiterated India’s commitment to extend all possible support [for the earliest restoration of peace]” in Ukraine directly to Zelenskyy.

And yet, as many times before, Modi calls Putin—a war criminal—his friend. 2/3

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 7h

Inconsistency in foreign affairs is the new normal.
Modi just congratulated Putin:
“Spoke w my friend President Putin and conveyed warm birthday greetings and best wishes for his good health and long life. Deeply appreciate his personal commitment to deepening India–Russia ties over the years.” 1/3

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Reposted by Dr Sari Arho Havrén

Aarne Granlund @aarnegranlund.bsky.social · 6d

Energy experts want to build thousand wind turbines on the Finnish eastern border as part of the #DroneWall

They would provide a platform for airspace monitoring from the height of 200 meters.

#Defence

yle.fi/a/74-2018462...

Itäsuomalaiset vaikuttajat haluavat itärajalle tuhat tuulivoimalaa – toimisivat EU:n droonimuurin osana

Lappeenrannassa selvitetään, voidaanko Venäjän ilmatilaa valvoa tuulivoimaloista. Aiemmin Puolustusvoimat on rajoittanut tuulivoimaloiden rakentamista itärajalle, koska ne häiritsevät Puolustusvoimie...

yle.fi

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 17h

⤵️ tells us that treating China on the basis of not upsetting it undermines national security and judicial processes. The prosecution couldn't bring official evidence to prove China as an enemy because the government documents refer to it as a Geo-Strategic Challenge.

Matthew Brooker @mbrooker.bsky.social · 18h

If China isn’t a threat to national security then no country is 🤯

on.ft.com/3IxutVG Spying case collapsed after UK refused to label China a ‘threat’, prosecutors say

Spying case collapsed after UK refused to label China a ‘threat’, prosecutors say

Crown Prosecution Service had charged two Britons with espionage offences

on.ft.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 19h

“How can we move from a reactive attitude to a proactive attitude, one where we are not just trying to protect ourselves against weaknesses, but where we are also leveraging our strength?”

Superb reporting from @fbermingham.bsky.social once again 3/3

www.scmp.com/news/china/a...

Europe hunts for chokepoints it can weaponise in a new age of economic warfare

Bureaucrats look for leverage against coercion from Beijing and Washington but what would it take for Brussels to act?

www.scmp.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 19h

“We have dependencies that others weaponise, but others are also dependent on us,” Sabine Weyand, the EU’s top trade official, said in the European Parliament last week.
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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 19h

This is fundamentally necessary, and as a European, I am pleased that our policymakers are finally doing the bare minimum. This has been obvious for a decade (if not more, considering the number of industries we would have lost to China). 1/

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Reposted by Dr Sari Arho Havrén

Etienne Soula @etiennesoula.bsky.social · 1d

So, to summarize: EV tariffs aren't working, the EU is now more dependent on China than ever, member states are cooling on a joint response, and the continent's two biggest economies are either paralyzed or lethargic. Everything is going great @noahbarkin.bsky.social.

www.gmfus.org/news/watchin...

Watching China in Europe—October 2025

www.gmfus.org

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 1d

⬇️ The US moves fast, the EU by design like a 🐌. Yet, the risks and dependencies are the same as in the US. The bloc launched its de-risking two and a half years ago; nothing considerable has happened.

Iikka Korhonen @iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · 1d

”..likely to be more such White House deals for mining projects — specifically those that would produce metal needed by the defence sector, such as antimony. Those materials were likely to be more of a focus than battery metals such as lithium and nickel”🇺🇸

on.ft.com/3VSE7oU

White House says it will take 10% stake in Trilogy Metals

Shares in mining company more than double on announcement from US secretary of interior

on.ft.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 1d

Based on national legislation in most countries, such tankers could be stopped and inspected. The European-wide inertia is staggering.

The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 2d

At least five tankers from Russia’s “shadow fleet” have leaked oil into European waters over the past year, according to a new investigation.

Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tankers Linked to Oil Leaks in European Waters – Politico - The Moscow Times

At least five tankers from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — vessels used to evade Western sanctions — have leaked oil into European waters over the past year, an investigation by Politico and the j...

www.themoscowtimes.com

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Reposted by Dr Sari Arho Havrén

Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 1d

OTD in 2006 journalist & activist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead. Whoever is responsible for having her killed is still at large. And turns 73 today.

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 1d

⤵️ tells us that treating China on the basis of not upsetting it undermines national security and judicial processes. The prosecution couldn't bring official evidence to prove China as an enemy because the gov documents refer to it as a Geo-Strategic Challenge.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

China threatened to retaliate against UK over foreign influence rules

Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would negatively affect relations

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 1d

That [self-driving tech] expansion is already underway. Reuters spoke to a dozen company executives who described how Chinese firms are using Europe as a beachhead for global expansion, mirroring the push with EVs. 2/2

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 1d

Blocked from the U.S. market, Chinese self-driving technology firms are accelerating their push into Europe, setting up headquarters, striking data deals, and road-testing - prompting alarm from local rivals over competition concerns.1/2

China bets on Europe for self-driving tech expansion

Blocked from the U.S. market, Chinese self-driving technology firms are accelerating their push into Europe, setting up headquarters, striking data deals, and road-testing - prompting alarm from local rivals over competition concerns.

www.reuters.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

Build the dependencies and they will kowtow. Beijing’s geoeconomic power on display in the 🇬🇧 — without 🇨🇳 doing anything, simply harvesting the benefits.

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

In her interview, Mrs Merkel gives the impression that Poland and the Baltic states prevented diplomacy with Moscow, and therefore, after her departure, Russia’s aggression broke out.

There’s also, if not entirely another, but a complementary explanation.
It was and is all about HER.

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

While Macron is right, with regulation or top-down wishes, Macron, France or the EU will not create equivalent, competing digital platforms.

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

3/3 Source

Where will the US draw its defense line in East Asia?

asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/co...

Where will the US draw its defense line in East Asia?

Uncertainty over commitments to South Korea and Taiwan raises new strategic questions

asia.nikkei.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

“A former senior U.S. official who knows Trump well said the U.S. president does not fully recognize that the U.S. and China have entered a new phase of all-out strategic competition for global leadership.” 2/

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

“Although Trump has railed against China over trade, he has shown little appetite for deepening U.S. military engagement in Asia to counter Beijing's military buildup. He has shown no inclination to contest spheres of influence with China by viewing the world as a geopolitical chessboard.” 1/

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

Sounds like something the PRC does, although 🇨🇳 has - for the most part - automated the surveillance long ago.

Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 5d

NEW: ICE is planning to hire a team of nearly 30 people to surveil social media 24/7, build dossiers on people, and flag them for arrest and deportation. @dell.bsky.social has the scoop: www.wired.com/story/ice-so...

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

Countries that use hybrid attacks and influence seek to exploit weaknesses and loopholes in their opponents’ systems and legislation. To avoid such incidents, NATO member states should bring their national legislation up to date. 4/4

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

There was also not enough evidence that the cables had been cut intentionally, another reason that torpedoed the court’s ability to assess criminal liability. 3/

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Dr Sari Arho Havrén @sariarhohavren.bsky.social · 2d

The court interpreted that the Finnish Criminal Code cannot be applied to the case, as the alleged crimes occurred before the vessel entered Finnish territorial waters.
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