Protesters to Egypt’s Morsy: You Have One Day To Step Down
Salma Abdelaziz / CNN
Egyptians who helped overthrow a 29-year dictatorship in a widely hailed revolution have now given the country’s first democratically elected president one day to step down from office.
Kerry Hails China in Urging N. Korea to End Nuclear Program
Daniel Ten Kate and Sangwon Yoon / Bloomberg Business week
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hailed China’s efforts to push North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons aspirations, saying such a move would help spur normal relations between Kim Jong Un’s regime and the region.
Hollande: Bugging allegations threaten EU-US trade pact
BBC News
Negotiations over the EU-US pact, the biggest bilateral deal ever negotiated, are due to start on 8 July. Mr. Hollande said there could be no negotiations without guarantees that spying would stop “immediately”.
Egypt ministers resign amid unrest
Aljazeera
Five Egyptian ministers have tendered their resignations from Mohamed Morsi’s cabinet, a senior official has said, as protests against the president’s rule filled the streets of cities throughout the country.
U.K. Set for Biggest Clean-Power IPO in Shift Toward Equity
Reed Landberg and Louise Downing / Bloomberg
The Renewables Infrastructure Group Ltd. plans the biggest initial public offering of a U.K. clean-power company as developers turn to stock investors to pay for projects because utilities have less cash for acquisitions.
The Economist
These men, from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), would soon be trading the rainforest for the Sahel to engage in their first peacekeeping assignment with the Africa-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).
May construction spending approaches four-year high
Reuters
Construction spending increased 0.5 percent to an annual rate of $874.9 billion, the Commerce Department said on Monday. That followed a revised 0.1 percent gain in April.
Fracking London Stockbroker-Belt Looms as U.K. Hunts Oil: Energy
Nidaa Bakhsh / Bloomberg
The rolling country south of London is called the stockbroker belt for the residents who pay 50 percent above the U.K. average to live in pristine villages. The advent of shale oil under their lawns may shatter the idyll.
El Nino Was Unusually Active in Possible Link to Climate Change
Rudy Ruitenberg / Bloomberg
The El Nino weather pattern that can bring drought to Australia and rain to South America was “unusually active” at the end of the 20th century, possibly due to climate change, a University of Hawaii study found.
U.S. International Broadcasting “Defunct”- Congress Finally Steps In
Helle Dale / The Foundry
Last Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) tackled an issue long overdue for congressional oversight—the state of affairs at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Energy Security for Europe: the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)
Warren Dym
The partnership working the Shah Deniz gas play in the Caspian Sea announced its decision today for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to Italy. The TAP will be the last leg connecting Caspian gas to Europe over Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Albania, and Greece.
Kidnapping for Ransom too Lucrative for Terrorists
Ollie Engebretson
Kidnapping Western nationals for ransom has unlocked an alarming source of funds for terrorist organizations, and current counter-strategies don’t seem to offer an effective deterrent. According to David Cohen at the U.S. Treasury Department, terrorist organizations have accumulated over $120 million through kidnapping for ransom (KFR) between 2004 and 2012—a fairly enticing supply of cash for organizations that have increasingly turned to criminal networks and techniques to finance attacks.
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. As the U.S. has declined in competitiveness rankings, both the American Security Project and Harvard Business School have cited education reform as a necessary step to enhance the ability of the U.S. to compete abroad.
ASP’s New York Event: “Redefining Energy Security in the 21st Century”
Andrew Holland
On Tuesday, June 25, members of the American Security Project’s Board and the Consensus for American Security spoke at event during New York Energy Week, entitled “Redefining Energy Security for the 21st Century.” The event was cosponsored by The Climate Group and PwC. Approximately 100 people attended. The event was hosted at PwC’s global headquarters at 42nd St and Madison Avenue in Manhattan.
Infrastructure Investment Greatly Needed for Competitiveness and Security
Wes Reichart
America’s critical infrastructure is very important to ensuring both competitiveness and security. The movement of goods, people, energy, and information is vital to a strong economy and defense. In order for such transit to take place efficiently, effectively, and safely strong infrastructure systems and networks must be in place and maintained.
Will the R&D Tax Credit Spur Innovation?
Justin Winikoff
Technological innovation is essential to a nation’s competitiveness in the global economy. Research and development (R&D) projects led by private companies often trigger this innovation. R&D has inspired private sector breakthroughs that have revolutionized the American economy in industries such as computers, medicine, and energy.
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. Today I will be discussing his policy observations and opinions.
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. Current energy policies, if maintained, will lead to an increase of global temperature between 3.6 and 5.3 degrees Celsius.
Greasing the Wheels: Canadian Public Diplomacy
Katrina Trost
Tuesday, President Obama gave remarks at Georgetown University on climate change. He outlined several climate change plans, including comments on the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. A month prior to his speech, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the US in an effort to build popular support for Canadian energy partnership.
ASP in the News
The American Security Project congratulates it’s Chairman Gary Hart on his appointment as the chair of the State Department’s International Security Advisory Board (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.
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 discussing the Unites States’ approach to combating North Korean nuclear capabilities.
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.
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.
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
