International News Coverage

 

Middle East, Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Al Qaeda Group in Yemen Claims Responsibility for Charlie Hebdo Attack

Rukmini Callimachi and Alan Cowell / The New York Times

Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen formally claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the deadly assault a week ago at the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people, saying that the target was chosen by the Qaeda leadership and referring to attackers as “two heroes of Islam.”

Syria Peace Hopes Dim Further as Opposition Rejects Moscow Talks

Anne Barnard / The New York Times

For months, Russia has been working to persuade government and opposition figures to attend preliminary talks in Moscow on Jan. 26 that are aimed at starting a new peace process. But in recent days, several leading opposition figures, apparently doubting Russia’s credibility as a mediator, said they would not attend, undermining the initiative.

Hollande says aircraft carrier could support Iraq operations

Julien Ponthus / Reuters

France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in air strikes in Iraq against Islamic State insurgents, who have also taken control of large parts of neighboring Syria during the course of the civil war there. However, it has ruled out striking the group in Syria.

After Paris march, Netanyahu leads the pack in Israeli election

Jeffrey Heller / Reuters

In the cold reality of politics, the killing of four French Jews in a Paris supermarket seems to have helped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver a strong message to Israeli voters that he has their back.

 

Africa

New Study Suggests End of Ebola in Liberia by June

James Butty / Voice of America

A new study found Ebola could come to an end in Liberia by June, if the trend toward better hospitalization and preventive care continues.

 

The Americas

U.S. Racks Up Smallest Deficit Since 2007

Josh Zumbrun / Wall Street Journal

Capped off by a $2 billion surplus in December, the government ended the calendar year with a deficit of $488 billion, $72 billion less than the 2013 tally, according to data from the U.S. Treasury.

U.S. judge rejects request to delay Boston bombing trial

Scott Malone / Reuters

A U.S. judge on Wednesday rejected the latest plea by lawyers for accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to pause jury selection for his trial due to the recent attacks in Paris.

A day after deadly Metro incident, few details on emergency response

Paul Duggan, Peter Hermann, and Mary Pat Flaherty | The Washington Post

On Tuesday, as the National Transportation Safety Board continued investigating the tragedy near the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station, District officials, public-safety authorities and the NTSB declined to comment on the specifics of what happened, including the timeline of how Metro and firefighters responded to the incident.

 

Asia

S Korean activist arrested for ‘praising’ North

BBC News

South Korean police have arrested an activist on allegations of praising North Korea, banned under the controversial National Security Act.

Hong Kong Leader Singles Out College Magazine For Helping Cause ‘Anarchy’

Wall Street Journal

A relatively unknown student magazine at the University of Hong Kong may get a surge in readership after Hong Kong’s leader made a reference to the publication, warning that support for ideas it propagates could lead to “anarchy” in the city.

 

Energy Security, Science and Technology, Climate Change

The Nations Most Likely to Survive Climate Change, Mapped

Brian Merchant | Motherboard

“We produced this map to highlight that while climate change is caused primarily by rich, technologically advanced countries, it will be the poorest countries that will be hardest hit,” Jon Whitling, the map’s creator and an employee at the UK-based Eco Experts.

In Twitter hack, Pentagon learns perils of social media exposure

Phil Stewart | Reuters

In the wake of Monday’s breach of U.S. Central Command’s Twitter and YouTube feeds by apparent sympathizers of the Islamic State militant group, U.S. officials updated passwords and some distributed tip-sheets to help bolster online security.

White House to curb methane emissions from oil, gas production

Valirie Volcovici and Jeff Mason | Reuters

The proposal is a hybrid of voluntary and mandatory measures. It lays out future regulations for new or modified oil and gas drilling facilities and voluntary measures to tackle existing sources, where the bulk of methane emissions stem.
Oil Output Seen Rising, Despite Fall in Its Price

Clifford Krauss / The New York Times

For 2016, the Energy Department expects American oil production to increase to 9.5 million barrels a day, which would be its second-highest annual average level of production ever, and the highest since 1970.

 

ASP Recently Published

Libya: On the Brink
Giancarlo Lima
This report analyzes the recent events that have placed Libya on its current path. In order to understand events on the ground, this report includes a breakdown of key Libyan parties and figures as well as an examination of the economic and energy dimensions of the conflict. The report then concludes with a look forward for Libya and recommendations for the U.S. and international community.

U.S. Fusion Program Recommendations
Caroline Julia von Wurden and Andrew Holland
This report on fusion energy is informed by a roundtable discussion of fusion energy that was hosted by ASP on December 4, 2014. The report goes on to explain the potential benefits of fusion energy in the U.S. as a safe and clean source of power, but only if certain barriers to the implementation of this technology are overcome.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

ASP’s Von Wurden and Holland in: “U.S. Fusion Program Must Have Energy Mission”
American Security Project
ASP’s Fusion Energy Research Intern Caroline Von Wurden and ASP’s Senior Fellow for Energy and Climate Andrew Holland wrote an Op-Ed published on January 13 in The Hill citing the need for strong political leadership and clear policy goals in developing a fusion energy program in the U.S. They argue that short-term budgets and lack of a unified plan for advancing the U.S. fusion program are hampering its progression.

CENTCOM Hack- A Big Deal? Yes, but not in the way you think.
Paul Hamill
Today CENTCOM’s twitter and YouTube accounts were hacked by an ISIL affiliated group. The hack, claimed by the ISIL affiliated group CyberCaliphate, resulted in offensive messages, distribution of already published documents that the hackers dubbed as “secret” and postings of office contact details of several generals.   During the same time of the hack, the President was speaking on the need for stronger cyber-security.

Taking Action on Infrastructure
Luke Lorenz
Don’t call it traffic. Call it congestion. An excessive accumulation consolidating in one artery with no possibility of swift passage.  At a minimum, we are subjected to this malady of the American causeway twice daily regardless of mode of transportation.

Threat of Disease Could Rise with Climate Change
Philip Rossetti
As global temperatures rise, disease vectors are changing. While it is still too early to predict how bad future disease patterns will be, the WHO claims that, “changes in infectious disease transmission patterns are a likely major consequence of climate change.”

President Obama Speaks at Auto Plant Idled by Low Gas Prices
Andrew Holland
One would hope that the American consumer wouldn’t be so short-sighted as to base a major purchase – one that could affect their personal economic health for five years or more – on short term fluctuations in gas prices.

 

Upcoming Events

Economic Diplomacy: How Economic Ties Can Strengthen National Security with Amb. Rivkin

January 15 @ 12:30pm – 1:30pm

Join ASP on January 15, 2015 as we welcome Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Charles H. Rivkin for Economic Diplomacy: How Economic Ties Can Strengthen National Security.

Conference – Energy Security in the Caribbean: Unique Challenges

February 4 @ 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Join ASP as we host a conference on February 4, 2015, discussing the challenges facing the Caribbean in securing their energy future and how to move forward in the years to come.

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