47 UN Peacekeepers ‘Abducted by al-Qaeda Linked Syrian Rebels’
Colin Freeman / The Telegraph
Syrian militants have reportedly captured more than 40 United Nations peacekeepers during skirmishes on the Israeli border.
Egypt Queries Mursi Over Documents ‘Leaked’ to Al Jazeera – Security Sources
Yasmine Saleh / Reuters Africa
Egypt is investigating jailed ex-president Mohamed Mursi in connection with documents that judicial investigators say were leaked to the Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite news channel, security sources said on Thursday.
IEA Sees $1.6 Trillion in Clean-Energy Investments Through 2020
Stefan Nicola / Bloomberg
Investments in new clean-energy capacity will total $1.61 trillion through 2020 even as the expansion of renewables is expected to slow, the International Energy Agency said.
Ukraine Crisis: NATO Images ‘Show Russia Troops’
BBC
Nato has released satellite images it says show Russian armed forces inside Ukrainian territory to help rebels fight government forces.
Islamic State Group Kills Captured Syrian Soldiers
Associated Press
The Islamic State group has killed dozens of Syrian soldiers it captured after overrunning a military base in northeastern Syria, shooting some and using knives on others in the latest brutal mass killing attributed to the extremists, activists said Thursday.
Turkey’s Erdogan Sworn In as President
Suzan Fraser / Associated Press
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey’s first popularly elected president on Thursday, a position that will keep him in the nation’s driving seat for at least another five years.
Erdogan Out, Davutoglu In as AKP Leader
Tulin Daloglu / Al-Monitor
After serving for 13 years as chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) since its foundation, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan handed over on Aug. 27 his chairmanship and premiership to his foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu.
NASA Completes Key Review of World’s Most Powerful Rocket in Support of Journey to Mars
Space Industry News
NASA officials Wednesday announced they have completed a rigorous review of the Space Launch System (SLS) — the heavy-lift, exploration class rocket under development to take humans beyond Earth orbit and to Mars — and approved the program’s progression from formulation to development, something no other exploration class vehicle has achieved since the agency built the space shuttle.
Ebola Cases in West Africa Could Rise to 20,000 Says WHO
Lisa O’ Carroll / The Guardian
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the number of Ebolacases could rise to 20,000 as doctors in Liberia say the deadly virus is now spreading so rapidly they can no longer deal with the crisis.
‘Lady al-Qaeda’: The American-Educated PhD the Islamic State Desperately Wants Freed
Terrence McCoy / The Washington Post
Amid the kidnappings, the demands for riches and the executions, a name of controversy and conspiracy has reemerged: Aafia Siddiqui. Once called the “most wanted woman in the world,” she is now more widely known as “Lady al-Qaeda.” And Islamic State leaders want their lady back.
Iraq and Syria Pose Saudi Dilemma – Failed States or Iran Proxies
Angus McDowall and William MacLean / Reuters
With militant Islamists gaining the upper hand in Syria’s rebel movement and grabbing big tracts of Western Iraq, Saudi Arabia’s ruling family faces an increasingly uncomfortable dilemma.
California’s Drought: What Losing 63 Trillion Gallons of Water Looks Like
Nick Kirkpatrick / The Washington Post
A new study says that California’s drought is so severe it’s causing the ground to rise. Angela Fritz of The Washington Post reported scientists estimate 63 trillion gallons of water have been lost in the past 18 months.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Time for an Arab NATO?
Fadi Elsalameen
The terror groups in Libya are just as much a threat to regional stability as ISIL is in Syria and Iraq. These groups have bombed and terrorized Libyans, halted economic development and government reform programs, and have allowed for the export of weapons and terror throughout the wider region – ultimately destabilizing the whole country.
Delegitimizing a Vicious Terrorist Group
Naman Jain
The fact that a prominent entity is taking a stand against radical extremism by countering a terrorist organization’s branding has significant positive implications.
Iran Negotiations Update
Theresa Shaffer
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is slated to meet with the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Brussels on Monday, September 1st to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. This occurs during an extension of the deadline to reach a comprehensive agreement until November 24th of this year.
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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.
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September 30 @ 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
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The post What We Are Reading … August 28, 2014 appeared first on American Security Project.
