putin, russia, sun tzu, the art of war, ukraine, zelenskyy

Lessons From Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ That Putin Ignored

War, an element of the human condition, has existed throughout time. And although the tools of warfare have changed, the strategic rules for preparing for a successful campaign, as codified in an ancient work The Art of War, remain unchanged. Unfortunately, Mr. Putin ignored most of its teachings and is now suffering the consequences. What ...

David Clapp

Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When Ukraine Decided to Be Free

Perhaps once in our lifetime a speech resonants, be it by Churchill, Kennedy, or Reagan. But for the members of the English House of Commons packed into every corner in this room, on this March day in London, and representative of the entire world, this speech by Ukraine’s president was of supreme importance. Public galleries ...

David Clapp

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A Comic Book Café in Russia Is an Inspired Treat

There are many historic and enticing places to explore in Russia, but cartoon and comic book lovers should not miss exploring a comic book café. The comic book café, formally called Café Bw, has become an Internet sensation after its images were uploaded on social media platforms like Instagram. The comic book café has locations ...

Armin Auctor

A woman standing in the Comic Book Café

China’s Arctic Ambitions: Tensions Likely

The Arctic is a region of growing geopolitical importance and China’s Arctic ambitions have turned it into an arena for growing competition. Consider these facts: The Arctic Ocean could potentially connect around 75 percent of the world’s population. It is estimated that the region holds 30 percent of undiscovered natural gas reserves on the planet ...

Mikel Davis

Arctic ice reflecting a blue color from the sky.

Chinese Immigrants Faking COVID-19 Tests in Russia

Chinese citizens living in Russia are apparently faking their COVID-19 test reports in a bid to get back home. This has prompted Beijing’s envoy to Russia to issue multiple warnings. The Chinese embassy stated that such people were causing great harm to the crew and passengers of the flights they boarded, while also putting domestic ...

Max Lu

Passengers at a Russian airport.

Russian Oil Spill Has the City of Norilsk on Emergency

On May 29, an industrial disaster at Norilsk, the world’s northernmost city, resulted in 21,000 tons of diesel oil being spilled into local waters, contaminating the environment. As a result, President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency in the city. The oil spill has polluted the Ambarnaya River and the government believes that it ...

Jack Roberts

A large oil spill.

The Decline in Oil Prices Will Hit Energy Companies and Banks Very Hard

Oil prices are at their lowest level in years due to a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, along with the outbreak of the coronavirus infection. While countries that depend on oil exports to fuel their national budgets will be hit severely by the low oil prices, energy companies, as well as banks, also ...

Jack Roberts

An oil refining plant.

Oil Price Decline: What the Future Holds

A price war led by Saudi Arabia has crashed global oil prices. With prices hovering around US$20-$25 per barrel, this is the lowest level in about 18 years. Combined with the lower demand for oil due to the outbreak of the CCP coronavirus, the near-term outlook for oil and the global economy does not look positive. Plunging ...

Jack Roberts

An oil well.

Why Putin Reduced Presidential Powers in Russia

On January 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a slew of changes to the country’s constitution. A few hours later, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the government resigned to allow the president to make the necessary changes. Mikhail Mishustin was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Russia. Changes in Russia “Under the new ...

Jack Roberts

Vladimir Putin.

As the U.S. Isolates Iran, Russia and China Step In

With the scrapping of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal, and the imposing of “maximum pressure” on Iran, discouraging major European businesses from negotiations with the Middle Eastern country, Tehran is suffering economically. However, China and Russia have stepped in and remained allies, propping up the regime. ...

Jack Roberts

Iranian oil pipeline.