David Satter, American Journalist, Banned from Russia
Maya Rhodan / Time
The Russian government has denied American journalist David Satter’s visa request and banned him from the country, in what is reportedly the first such ousting since the U.S.S.R. disbanded in 1991.
U.S. Carbon Emissions Rise 2 Percent in 2013, Should be Wake-Up Call for Obama
Will Oremus / Slate
One of the great overlooked environmental stories of the past five years has been the remarkable decline in U.S. carbon emissions. Thanks to fracking, natural gas prices nosedived, prompting many utilities to make the switch from dirty coal. At the same time, the economic downturn and some big gains in efficiency kept a lid on the nation’s electricity demand. The result: a 12 percent drop in carbon emissions between 2007 and 2012. That put the United States on pace to surprise everyone by actually meeting its goal of cutting emissions 17 percent by 2020.
Amid Fast-Track Debate, USTR Unveils Trade Dispute Action Against China
Ian Talley / Washington Wire
As a case in point, Mr. Froman unveiled his office’s latest enforcement efforts: telling China Monday USTR is preparing to take a dispute over exports of specialized steel products to the World Trade Organization’s compliance panel if Beijing doesn’t agree in the coming weeks to lower its tariffs.
Fossil-Fuel Subsidies: The Green-Growth Twofer
C.R. / The Economist
MOST economists agree that fossil-fuel subsidies are a bad idea. They promote a misallocation of resources in the economy, namely, the over-consumption of fossil fuels. They can be a burden on the public finances. What’s more, this waste increases global carbon emissions.
Scientists Help Hackers Pick Perfect Moment to Attack
Matthew Sparkes / Telegraph
Researchers have created a mathematical model to help hackers calculate the optimal moment to launch a cyber attack against a victim and inflict the most damage.
David Kashi / International Business Times
The U.S. lacks “operational experience” in the Arctic region and is conducting a review for a new strategy set to be released in the coming weeks to address the demands of an increase in commercial traffic, oil and gas exploration and tourism have created new demands, according to a new document from U.S Navy.
US and China Discuss North Korea Contingency Plan
Julian Ryall / Telegraph
Washington and Beijing are discussing potential courses of action should the North Korea regime implode and have previously come up with contingency plans before Kim Jong-il’s death.
Mood Growing Tense as Bangkok Shutdown Enters Second Day
Charlie Campbell / Times
The vaguely carnival air apparent in Bangkok on Monday, as tens of thousands of antigovernment protesters swamped several intersections of the city, may not last through today, the second day of protest.
EVENTS:
America’s Energy Choices for 2014
American Security Project
The way America uses and produces energy remains a hotly debated issue in Washington and around the country. We will discuss the various energy choices available to the United States currently and in the years to come.
Defense Budget in 2014: A Conversation with Russell Rumbaugh
American Security Project
Since sequestration and passage of the new budget, the Defense Department has been adjusting to a reduced funding environment – and 2014 won’t be much different. The speaker will discuss the outlook for Pentagon spending in 2014.
FLASHPOINT BLOG:
ASP’s Cheney: Congressional Budget deal is a “Step in the Right Direction for Fusion”
Andrew Holland
On Monday evening, January 13, Congressional Appropriators announced an agreement on the fiscal year 2014 consolidated appropriations bill. Passage of this bill will fund the government through Sept. 30, 2014… The agreement (Energy and Water Appropriations is here) includes $305,677,000 for the domestic fusion program, with an additional $200,000,000 slated for the U.S. contribution to the ITER project, for a total funding of $505,677,000 for fusion. Importantly, this budget will allow important research to continue at all the major research labs currently operating, including MIT’s Alcator C-mod, which had been threatened with closure by the Department of Energy.
ASP Podcast- Report from Cairo – the Referendum and Egypt’s Future
Paul Hamill spoke with Gladys Haddad, a civil society leader in Egypt, about the mood in Cairo, the referendum process, and what she expects next in Egypt.
U.S. Critical Infrastructure Protection is Paramount
Nathan Alvarado-Castle
Nathan Alvarado- Castle shares his thoughts about attending the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), CSIS’s Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program hosted by Dr. Dane S. Egil, a Senior Advisor for National Security Strategies at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory… Egil’s, “Beyond the Storms: Strengthening Homeland Security and Disaster Management to Achieve Resilience“, provides the foundation for critical infrastructure protection at the structural, informational, and policy level.
ASP Statement on P5+1/Iran Agreement
American Security Project
On Wednesday, ASP collaborated with the Harvard Business School for a panel discussion on slipping American Competitiveness. The panel, featuring competiveness expert Dr. Michael Porter, examined the business and national security implications of our diminishing global leadership.
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