Putin of Russia for many years had worked on invading former Soviet Union Eastern territories like Ukraine and Georgia,to a dysfunctional state—economically and politically While China's actions in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries' territorial waters threatened economic growth, peace, security, safety and maritime freedom in the Asean region. Each state is angry with China over its claim that it maintains full ownership rights to nearly all of the sea's islands and resources. And there are moves by various countries to take advantage for secure access to the Arctic resources. Accordingly the tactic of these countries has been because of energy - oil.One-third of the world's oil flows are consumed in Asia. An interruption in supply would force Asian importers to seek additional supplies, moving up prices for all oil importers and affecting both the global shipping and oil markets.

China and Russia may have been challenging the American-led international system. However, Russia is troubled in its economy and regime legitimacy accordingly, while China is experiencing demographic decline, degraded environment, and worsening racial and ethnic turmoil. Moreover,happening now is abreakdown in the world order, America's power is also declining. The United States is depending on Canada increasingly to provide its energy needs. Canadianleaders had pronounced Canada an “emerging energy superpower.” But, will Canada be up to the job? As reported, Canada needs to invest in infrastructure, science, research and development, and commercialization. On the other hand, one stands out today, and that is radical Islam, or political Islam. This is a movement whose main goal is the universe of believers, against the West and Israel. The world is always complex and problematic.

***

Tidbits:

A multinational week of action by the ITF and maritime unions in ports around the Black Sea, took place despite the current political difficulties in the region. The new report found continuing poor standards of living and working conditions, low wages and unseaworthy vessels still operating in the area two years after the ITF launched an intensive campaign to expose the shameful conditions for seafarers working in the region. The ITF says the Black Sea remains one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a seafarer. As well as giving support to individual seafarers and improving conditions for crews by negotiating for CBAs, the action week stressed the need for the governments of the Black Sea states to take drastic action to prevent it continuing to be a "sea of shame".