Temperatures Could Hit 120 in the West
The Associated Press
The heat wave that is gripping the western U.S. is one of the worst in years, with desert locations in the Southwest seeing temperatures approach 120 degrees. To give some perspective on the heat, here are five facts about the punishing nature of the heat wave.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Boston Bombing Suspect, Was Influenced By Internet: Indictment
Denise Lavoie and Tom Hays / Huffington Post
What Dzhokhar Tsarnaev needed to learn to make explosives with a pressure cooker was at his fingertips in jihadist files on the Internet, according to a federal indictment accusing him of carrying out the bombings at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured dozens more.
Pakistan judge wounded in bomb attack
Aljazeera
A bomb attack in Pakistan’s business capital Karachi killed at least seven people, police officials say. The blast on Wednesday morning targeted Maqbool Baqir, a senior judge at the high court of the southern province of Sindh, where Karachi is the main city, the police said.
Armed Kurds clash with protesters in Syria
Basma Atassi / Aljazeera
Members of a dominant Kurdish party have opened fire at a protest in the Syrian Kurdish-dominated town of Amuda, killing at least three people and leaving at least 10 others injured, activists have told Al Jazeera.
UK given carbon emissions warning
Roger Harrabin / BBC
The UK is not on track to hit its climate change targets through the 2020s, government advisers have warned. The Committee on Climate Change said carbon emissions rose in 2012 by 3.5%
Duke Energy Expands Position in Downstream Distributed Solar Space
William Pentland / Forbes
Earlier this week, Duke Energy (DUK +0.67%), the largest electric power holding company in the U.S. based in Charlotte, NC, became the most recent mega-utility company to invest in distributed generation.
As Egypt nears boil, leading religious institution calls for calm
Ariel Zirulnick / Christian Science Monitor
Egypt’s leading religious institution made an urgent appeal for calm and encouraged the defiant opposition to accept President Mohamed Morsi’s calls for dialogue after a member of the Muslim Brotherhood was killed today.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Education: Key to American Competitiveness
Wes Reichart
The ability of American firms and workers to compete successfully in a globalized economy is directly dependent upon the quality of education our students receive. American Competitiveness is therefore linked with the success of the U.S. primary, secondary, and higher education systems.
ASP’s New York Event: “Redefining Energy Security in the 21st Century”
Andrew Holland
On June 25, the American Security Project spoke with The Climate Group during New York Energy Week, about “Redefining Energy Security for the 21st Century.” The growth of oil production in the United States does not automatically mean that we are increasing our national security.
Infrastructure Investment Greatly Needed for Competitiveness and Security
Wes Reichart
Crumbling infrastructure throughout the United States has not only reduced American productivity but has left the nation vulnerable to to being overwhelmed via homeland disasters. Major public-private infrastructure investment is desperately necessary to help ensure future American competitiveness and security.
Will the R&D Tax Credit Spur Innovation?
Justin Winikoff
The R&D tax credit has been renewed fourteen times since its enactment in 1981. Would making the credit permanent and more competitive encourage innovation?
Climate Change Considered Top Global Threat According to Recent Pew Research Survey
Evan Meltzer
In the just-released Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project 2013 Spring Survey, climate change and international financial instability ranked as the top global threats, according to survey responses in thirty-nine countries.
Greasing the Wheels: Canadian Public Diplomacy
Katrina Trost
Canada recently employed public diplomacy to garner support for the Keystone XL Pipeline.
IEA: Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map
William Joyce
In a recent report called Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map, the IEA stated that the world is not on track to honor the 2 degrees Celsius limit set by governments on global temperature change. This report charts a way in which the world may be able to stay under the 2 degree Celsius mark.
Event Recap: Joel Wit and Policy Observations about North Korea
Chris Smith
Two days ago Joel Wit, a former State Department satellite imagery analyst now with 38 North, spoke here at the American Security Project on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and his observations about American policy in regards to these programs. Previously, I wrote about his imagery analysis in regards to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, today I will discuss his observations on American diplomatic policy in regards to North Korea.
ASP in the News
ASP has benefitted from Senator Hart’s knowledge and wisdom since he founded this organization in 2006. His co-founders – Senators Warren Rudman, John Kerry, and Chuck Hagel – understood what he brought to the table in regards to the strategic national security issues facing our nation. We are delighted that he will make an even more valuable contribution to our nation by being Chair of the ISAB.
Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate with the American Security Project, was recently quoted in a piece by Ethanol Producer Magazine about a survey conducted by Research Now that identifies American attitudes towards oil and renewable fuels as a response to high gas prices.
ASP’s Andrew Holland Quoted in The Detroit Bureau’s Article on Renewable Energy Options
Andrew Holland, Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate with the American Security Project, was recently quoted in a piece by The Detroit Bureau about American interest in renewable fuel options in response to recent gas price jumps.
The National Journal Discusses Joel Wit’s Speech on Satellite Images During Tuesday’s ASP Event
The National Journal discussed Joel Wit’s talk on Tuesday at the American Security Project, during which he spoke about digging seen in satellite photographs around North Korea’s Punggye-ri test site. Joel Wit, a former State Department satellite imagery analyst, edits 38 North, a website that records developments within North Korea.
The Korea Herald Covers Joel Wit’s Satellite Imagery Analysis from Tuesday’s ASP Event
The Korea Herald mentioned the American Security Project’s event with Joel Wit, a former State Department satellite imagery analyst and expert on North Korea, in their recent article critiquing the Unites States’ approach to combating North Korean nuclear capabilities. They agree with Wit, who argues that the United States is beginning to accept the actions of North Korea by relying on China to help pressure North Korea.
AP Discusses Satellite Imagery Analysis that Joel Wit Covered in His Event at ASP on Tuesday
Joel Wit, a former State Department satellite imagery analyst and a highly regarded American expert on North Korea currently at 38 North, spoke on Tuesday at ASP on North Korea’s Nuclear and Missile programs and American policy responses to them. At the same time his organization, 38 North, worked with the Associated Press to publish an article discussing some of the observations he made during his talk about North Korea’s nuclear testing site based on commercial satellite imagery.
Joel Wit, a former State Department satellite imagery analyst and a highly regarded American expert on North Korea currently at 38 North, spoke on Tuesday at ASP about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and American policy responses to them. At the same time his organization, 38 North, published portions of his observations in regards to North Koreas nuclear testing site.
Upcoming Events
Restoring American Competitiveness: A National Security Crisis
Recent reports by the American Security Project and the Harvard Business School reveal that American competitiveness is slipping, posing a severe threat to our country’s national security. Join our panel of experts as they discuss these challenges and potential solutions to restore America to a position of global leadership in the 21st century.
The panel will take place Wednesday July 10th from 1:00-2:00 pm in Cannon House Office Building, Independence Ave and New Jersey Ave, SE, Room 122.
If you would like to attend, please email events@americansecurityproject.org by July 8 to RSVP.
The Case for American Competitiveness: A Reception
ASP and the HBS Club of DC are proud to co-sponsor a reception for HBS professor Dr. Jan Rivkin, as well as prominent military leaders. This reception culminates the American Competitiveness Day to inform a bipartisan discourse on Capitol Hill. The reception will take place on Wednesday, July 10th from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Alliance Bernstein Board Room, 800 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 1001.
Cost is $35 for members and $60 for non-members
Tickets can be purchased at http://www.hbsclubwdc.net/store.html?event_id=596
