The ‘Battle of Taipei’ Shows Just How Wary of China Young Taiwanese Are
Emily Rauhala / Time
Taipei police used batons and water cannons to clear protesters from Taiwan’s government headquarters Monday morning. A group of several hundred demonstrators had been occupying Cabinet offices Sunday night as part of a student-led movement against a trade pact with China. The mostly student protesters say the deal hands too much influence to China, is undemocratic and will hurt the island. The government insists it is an economic imperative. By early Monday, people were being pulled from the premises. At least 58 were arrested and 137 were injured, reports the Associated Press.
WHO: Pollution Kills 7 Million People Every Year
Maria Cheng / Associated Press
Air pollution kills about 7 million people worldwide every year, with more than half of the fatalities due to fumes from indoor stoves, according to a report from the World Health Organisation published on Tuesday.
Russian Economy Grinding to a Halt as Ukraine Crisis Takes Heavy Toll
Darya Korsunskaya / Reuters
Russia’s economy is barely growing, inflation is rising fast, and capital is pouring out of the country, the Economy Ministry said on Monday, a sign that international tensions around Ukraine are already inflicting severe economic costs.
Obama Sits Down With Leaders of Japan, South Korea
David Jackson /USA Today
President Obama practices the diplomatic equivalent of marriage counseling Tuesday when he meets with the leaders of Japan and South Korea.
Car Companies Take Expertise in Battery Power Beyond the Garage
Todd Woody / New York Times
As more homeowners generate their own electricity from solar panels, they still need power from a utility after the sun goes down.
Now, automakers say they may have an answer, by storing that carbon-free energy in electric car batteries for later use.
Arab Summit Strives to Heal Rifts, Stave off “Enormous” Peril
Sylvia Westall & Amena Bakr / Reuters
Warning of “enormous” dangers, Kuwait urged Arab leaders on Tuesday to resolve a lengthening list of disputes complicating crises such as Syria’s war and political strife in the biggest Arab state, Egypt
Afghanistan: Taliban Militants Carry out Deadly Attack on Kabul Election Office
Masoud Popalzai & Laura Smith-Spark / CNN
Four people were killed when militants stormed an election commission office in the Afghan capital Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry said.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Is there a Strategic Case for Gas Exports: Yes, and it starts with Ambition on the Trade Agenda
Andrew Holland
Licensing exports of natural gas would help America strategically – but this is not really about the gas, it is about American support for free trade. The real “weapon” we should be talking about is not natural gas exports: it is the power of free and open markets.
Are health partnerships the future of diplomacy? Tackling global health security in the 21st century
Colin Geraghty
Health diplomacy is transforming rapidly, and transforming the way actors tackle global health challenges, fostering new relationships and achieving new levels of coordination.
Is US Trade Keeping You Safe at Night?
Brendan Connell
To further US national security interests, trade policy should be intended to enhance political and diplomatic ties—not just economic ones.
ASP Recent Publications
American Security Quarterly V3 Issue 1
American Security Project
We see it in the news nearly every day. The world is rapidly shifting before our eyes as countries sprout up, struggle to gain a foothold in our international community, and sometimes fall just as quickly. One equally important trend is the interrelationship between the United States and international players on this stage. Never before have we seen the level of interdisciplinary security issues that we see today occurring in all corners of the globe.
National Security and Climate Change
Andrew Holland
The American Security Project, as a national security-focused think tank, believes that concern about climate change should be a non-partisan issue. While we know that the argument about solutions will be partisan, both sides should start with a common understanding that climate change poses real threats to national security.
The Ukraine Crisis and the Geopolitics of Energy
Andrew Holland
A briefing note on the Ukraine Crisis and the Geopolitics of Energy – click to find out the facts and way forward the United States could take.
ASP Upcoming Events
Defense Budget Issues and Prospects for Acquisition Reform: A Conversation with Norman Augustine
March 26, 12:30 – 1:30 P.M.
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.
Extreme Productivity – An Evening with Bob Pozen
March 27, 6:30 – 9:00 P.M.
Bob Pozen is one of the most productive executives. While serving as full time chairman of a large asset management company and teaching a full course load at Harvard Business School, he wrote a popular book entitled Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results; Reduce Your Hours.
Cost: $40.00 Member/ $60.00 Non-Members (cost includes copy of Professor Posen’s book, signed upon request) – Click here to buy tickets
EVENT INVITE: #Egypt – A Conversation with Dr. Aboulghar
March 31, 10:30-11:30 A.M.
Join us on Monday, March 31st as the American Security Project hosts Dr. Mohamed Aboulghar, founder and leader of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.
April 7, 7:30-9:00 P.M.
Today, the U.S. Navy is preparing for an open Arctic, the Marines are deploying in response to historic typhoons, and the Army is preparing their bases to use less energy than they produce. We know the effects of climate change are here. Meanwhile, many American politicians continue to ignore climate change.
EVENT INVITE: Weather, Climate & National Security
April 23, 12:30-1:30 P.M.
Today, the U.S. Navy is preparing for an open Arctic Ocean, the Marines are deploying in response to historic typhoons, and the Army is preparing their bases to use less energy than they produce.
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