International News Coverage
Middle East, Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Emirates launches airstrikes from Jordan on Islamic State
Adam Schrek / Associated Press
The United Arab Emirates launched airstrikes Tuesday against the Islamic State group from an air base in Jordan, marking its return to combat operations against the militants after it halted flights late last year.
Iraqi Yazidis take revenge as Islamic State atrocities unearthed
Isabel Coles / Reuters
Some members of Iraq’s Yazidi minority are turning on their Arab neighbours, staging deadly reprisals against Sunni villagers they believe collaborated in atrocities inflicted by Islamic State on their community.
In Yemen, Houthi Leader Pledges to Pursue Power-Sharing Accord
Rod Nordland and Shuaib Almosawa / The New York times
In his first interview since the Yemeni government collapsed, the leader of the Houthi militants in control of Sana, the capital, depicted his movement as eager to share power with its rivals and to reach out to the country’s traditional allies, including the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Kerry rules out extension of Iran nuclear talks
Carol Morello / The Washington Post
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said in an interview broadcast Sunday that it would be “impossible” to extend nuclear negotiations with Iran if an agreement on fundamental principles is not reached in the coming weeks.
Baghdad Suicide Bombing Kills At Least 22; Dozens Wounded
Sinan Salaheddin / The Huffington Post
Attacks in Baghdad killed at least 22 people and wounded dozens on Monday, just days after the government lifted a nighttime curfew that had been in place in the Iraqi capital for over a decade.
US Islamic State hostage Kayla Mueller confirmed dead
BBC
The US has confirmed the death of aid worker Kayla Mueller, who had been held hostage by Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. Her family said they were “heartbroken” to learn the news, and released a letter written during her captivity.
Europe
Ukraine Forces Open New Front Against Separatists Near Mariupol
Paul Sonne / The Wall Street Journal
Fighting surged in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday ahead of planned peace talks, as Ukrainian forces launched an offensive to try to push back rebels outside a key port and suffered a rare attack on their eastern military command center.
EU targets interim Greek debt deal by next week
Alkis Konstantinidis / Reuters
The European Union is aiming to clinch an interim debt deal with Greece at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Monday, with “low expectations” for a breakthrough at meetings of ministers and EU leaders this week.
Greece ‘may go elsewhere for new deal on debt’
BBC
The Greek defence minister has said Greece could turn to the US, Russia or China if it fails to reach a new debt agreement with the eurozone.
The Americas
Argentine forensics flag flaws in Mexico probe into abducted students
David Alire Garcia and Miguel Gutierrez / Reuters
Argentine forensic experts have voiced serious doubts about a Mexican government probe into the abduction and suspected massacre last year of 43 trainee teachers, who officials have declared dead.
Petrobras gets new board member from pro-government union
Anthony Boadle / Reuters
Brazil’s state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA) announced on Monday that Deyvid Souza da Silva, a member of a pro-government union, was elected to represent its unionized employees on the board of directors.
Africa
Niger approves sending troops to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram
The Telegraph
Niger’s parliament has unanimously approved the deployment of troops to northern Nigeria as part of a regional offensive against Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has launched several cross-border attacks in recent days.
Kenyan Crackdown Stokes Anger, Militancy
Heidi Vogt / Wall Street Journal
Police are cracking down on extremism in this bustling port city, but some young Muslim men say their tactics are only serving to amplify violence.
Asia
Chinese inflation falls to 0.8%, fuelling fears of deflationary spiral
The Guardian
Chinese inflation plunged to 0.8% in January, its lowest level for more than five years, official data showed on Tuesday, fuelling fears the world’s second-largest economy is on the brink of a deflationary spiral.
Anti-corruption party sweeps Delhi elections in blow for Narendra Modi
Jason Burke / The Guardian
India’s political elite has been left reeling after a radical anti-corruption, anti-establishment party led by a self-confessed anarchist swept to power in the capital of the world’s biggest democracy.
Afghan cadets training in Pakistan, a sign of warming ties
Ali M. Latifi / The Los Angeles Times
For the first time, Afghanistan has sent members of its security forces for training in neighboring Pakistan. The 18-month training program at a military facility in the northwestern Pakistani city of Abbottabad involves only six Afghan army cadets, but is a sign of increased cooperation between the two countries under new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Energy Security, Science and Technology, Climate Change
New agency to sniff out threats in cyberspace
Ellen Nakashima / The Washington Post
The Obama administration is establishing a new agency to combat the deepening threat from cyberattacks, and its mission will be to fuse intelligence from around the government when a crisis occurs.
SpaceX signs deal for landing pad in Florida
Irene Klotz / Reuters
Space Exploration Technologies will take over a mothballed rocket launch site in Florida to develop landing pads for its Falcon family of rockets, the U.S. Air Force said on Tuesday.
Senators: Science settled on vaccines
Peter Sullivan / The Hill
Senators from both parties stressed the importance of vaccinations on Tuesday amid a measles outbreak and a debate on vaccinations that burst into the presidential race. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senate health committee, stressed at a hearing that the science is settled.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Caribbean Energy Security Conference-Panel 3 Review
William George
The final panel delineated the prominent energy issues facing the Caribbean and offered prescriptions for how to deal with these problems.
Caribbean Energy Security Conference- Panel 2 Review
William George
The second panel discussed policy challenges and viable energy alternatives to fossil fuels in the region in an effort to reduce energy dependence. Natacha Marzolf of the Inter-American Development Bank discussed her institution’s efforts in the Caribbean, including funding for infrastructure and green energy projects. Ms. Marzolf stated that these projects can potentially result “in a 20-25% reduction of fossil fuel dependence.”
Caribbean Energy Security Conference- Panel 1 Review
William George
The first panel examined the complex overlap of geopolitics and Caribbean economics. The panelists discussed the impact of falling oil prices, Venezuela’s spiraling economy, and Cuba’s potential role in the region moving forward
U.S. Made “Plantibody” vs. Ebola
Luke Lorenz
ZMapp burst from obscurity when it was used for the treatment of two American aid workers who had contracted the Ebola virus in Liberia. While analysis of the results of the drug are ongoing, we do know that both Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol survived their encounter with the virus and that their conditions rapidly improved after receiving the ZMapp antibody.
ASP Statement on Climate Change in 2015 National Security Strategy (NSS)
The American Security Project
“…the Obama Administration released its second official National Security Strategy (NSS), and for the first time it will list climate change as one of the top threats facing the US. While the Obama Administration has consistently placed emphasis on climate change as a significant threat to national security, this new NSS delves further into the research…”
Upcoming Events
Building Effective Measures to Combat Climate Change – Does Divestment Work?
February 12 @ 9:00am – 10:00am
On Thursday, February 12th, the American Security Project, a nonpartisan think-tank, will publish a report on effective measures to tackle climate change. It will highlight the ineffectiveness of divestment as a way to fight climate change and call for a campaign that instead focuses on effective measures to reduce emissions. The report will explore effective solutions that would actually reverse the effects of accelerating changes in our climate.
Obama’s National Security Policy: A New Assessment
February 25 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
On Thursday, February 12th, the American Security Project, a nonpartisan think-tank, will publish a report on effective measures to tackle climate change. It will highlight the ineffectiveness of divestment as a way to fight climate change and call for a campaign that instead focuses on effective measures to reduce emissions. The report will explore effective solutions that would actually reverse the effects of accelerating changes in our climate.
Discussion with Gov. Christine Todd Whitman: Climate Change Calls for Clean and Safe Energy
April 10 @ 10:00am – 11:00am
Join Governor Whitman at the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head Island as she discusses the important issue of climate change and its impact on clean, safe energy. She will recount her experience as governor as well as the Administrator of the EPA. Come join this exciting event.
ASP Recently Published
White Paper – Military Public Diplomacy
American Security Project
The U.S. Department of State is hardly America’s sole player in the public diplomacy realm. For decades, the U.S. military has been at the forefront of America’s efforts to inform and influence public audiences abroad. Members of the United States Military are often the first Americans many foreign publics meet, and have a role in forging relationships and perceptions of America.
American Security Project
Yemen has entered a new phase of instability and uncertainty, as a conflict between the Houthis and the country’s government led by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi eventually forced him and his cabinet to resign in January 2015. On January 25, Hadi then withdrew his resignation.
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.
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