The war in Ukraine continues to send shockwaves around the globe. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a disaster foretold, yet there was little action on the part of most of the trading partners of these countries. In spite of the fact that tensions had been simmering and continually escalating over the previous eight years, our […]Continue Reading
Most military analysts expected Ukraine to fall within days when Russia launched its invasion on February 24, 2022. Yet one year into the war, Ukrainians have put up a fight and demonstrated remarkable resolve against a powerful military. In fact, some of those military analysts, including former US secretary of defense Mark Esper, have begun […]Continue Reading
With a beautiful design and the view of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto is a fine introduction to the hospitality group’s new Garrya brand, one of many new ventures as part of its global expansion plan. Continue Reading
Over the past year, images from Ukraine have often portrayed a war resembling other conflicts from the past half-century. Russian forces deploy tanks, fighter planes, warships, amphibious vehicles and attack helicopters. Ukrainians fight back with anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers and anti-aircraft missiles. This is how much of the war appears on the ground. But there’s […]Continue Reading
After decades of progress on limiting the buildup of nuclear weapons, Russia’s war on Ukraine has prompted renewed nuclear tensions between Russia and the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation address on February 21, 2023, that Russia is “suspending” its participation in the US and Russia’s last […]Continue Reading
The US and four dozen other countries have imposed punishing sanctions on Russia in reaction to its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The sanctions were unprecedented in their scope and severity for an economy of Russia’s size. The initial sanctions included the freezing of Russian assets abroad and a ban on the export […]Continue Reading
The recent bout of shuttle diplomacy around the capitals of Europe by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, appears to be yielding results. Zelensky’s appearances in the UK, France and Brussels had two main aims. The first has been constant since the war begin a year ago: to maintain Western focus on his message that Ukraine will […]Continue Reading
The EU is preparing to abandon its longstanding restrictions on state aid to take on US and Chinese subsidies over green technologies. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is spearheading a new commitment from EU leaders to “act decisively to ensure its long-term competitiveness, prosperity and role on the global stage.” She has talked […]Continue Reading
The US military is intensifying its commitment to the development and use of autonomous weapons, as confirmed by an update to a Department of Defense directive. The update, released January 25, 2023, is the first in a decade to focus on artificial intelligence autonomous weapons. It follows a related implementation plan released by NATO on […]Continue Reading
Wars are world-shaping. Beyond their immediate human and physical tolls, wars alter the fates of societies and states; of clans, cultures and leaders. They establish new lines of access to resources and influence, determining who has what – and who doesn’t. They set precedents for how future wars are justified and, in the case of […]Continue Reading