Iraqi Christians reach France after fleeing Islamists

BBC News

France has welcomed about 40 Iraqi Christian refugees who were flown to Paris from Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

 

Shi’ite militia kill dozens of Iraqi Sunnis in mosque shooting

Raheem Salman and Alexander Dziadosz / Reuters

Iraqi Shi’ite militiamen machine gunned minority Sunni Muslims in a village mosque on Friday, killing 68 just as Baghdad is trying to build a cross-community government to fight Sunni militants whose rise has alarmed Western powers.

 

Iran denies report linking Iraq cooperation to nuclear talks

William Maclean / Reuters

Iran denied a report that it is ready to help counter Islamic State insurgents in return for progress in negotiations with world powers over its nuclear program.

 

Russian Trucks Cross Border Without Assent of Ukraine

Andrew Higgins, Andrew Roth, and David Herszenhorn / NY Times

More than 200 trucks from a long-stalled Russian convoy said to be carrying humanitarian aid crossed the border into eastern Ukraine on Friday without Red Cross escorts, drawing angry accusations from Ukraine that Moscow had broken its word and mounted what a senior Ukrainian security official called a “direct invasion.”

 

Russia Moves Artillery Units Into Ukraine, NATO Says

Michael R. Gordon / NY Times

The Russian military has moved artillery units manned by Russian personnel inside Ukrainian territory in recent days and was using them to fire at Ukrainian forces, NATO officials said on Friday.

 

Ebola virus disease update – west Africa

World Health Organization

Ebola death toll rises to 1,427, with 142 new cases and 77 deaths over the last two days.

 

Bangladeshi villagers up to their knees in climate change

Corentin Bainier and Jashim Salam / France 24

Each year, more and more land is flooded around the coastal village of Chittatong in southern Bangladesh. The water is rising around this low-lying nation, which is one of the places most affected by climate change.

 

 

ASP Recent Reports

 

Free Trade and National Security – 5 Key Issues

Dan Day

As the world’s largest economy and the home to many of the most resourceful and innovative industries in the world, it is essential that the US take the lead in setting the standard for global trade practices.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

 

US Countermeasure to IS Social Media Presence

Thomas Campbell

Controlled by State Department’s CSCC, the #ThinkAgainTurnAway public diplomacy initiative challenges advocates of extremist groups over social media.

 

Private Sector Contributions to International Development

Maggie Feldman-Piltch

Government programs play a significant role in international development, but represent only a portion of ongoing projects and potential opportunities. Public-private partnerships (PPPs), and private sector initiatives, are increasingly prevalent and necessary to support the complex nature of human development.

 

Upcoming Events

 

INVITE – Under Secretary Richard Stengel: American Public Diplomacy in 2014 and Beyond

September 16 @ 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

The United States faces many challenges abroad. In a time when the actions of foreign publics are changing political and security landscapes, the need for effective public diplomacy is becoming more urgent. Understanding this need, how should the U.S. best build relationships and influence with target audiences overseas? Join us to hear from Richard Stengel, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, as he discusses his plans for America’s public diplomacy.

 

INVITE –Future of the Middle East and America’s Role

September 18 @ 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

The Middle East is currently brimming with violence – bringing into question the future of the region and the role of the United States. The panel of experts will discuss the possible outcomes of the present turbulence in the Middle East. They will also discuss what options the United States has, and if it should be engaged in the region in the first place.

 

What’s Next? Fostering the Next Generation of Energy Security Conference

September 30 @ 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The next steps in building a cleaner, more resilient energy system and economy will not be easy. The American Security Project intends to build on its years of research into energy security and climate policy by initiating a study into the next generation of energy policy. Join ASP and our panelists as we discuss the next generation of energy technology and climate policy.

 

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