American Security Council Foundation (ASCF)

FEATURED NEWS POST

Japan Records First Trade Deficit in More Than 30 Years

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:24am

Japan has posted its first annual trade deficit in more than 30 years, as the loss of nuclear power forced it to import more energy and the rising value of the yen slowed exports.

Japan's Finance Ministry said Wednesday the largely export-driven economy logged a $32 billion deficit for 2011.

India Explores Ways to Buy Iranian Oil

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:23am

India is exploring ways to pay for Iranian oil imports in the face of tightening sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union. Asian countries have been under pressure to cut oil imports from Tehran, but India says it will only follow sanctions imposed by the United Nations and not those by individual countries or blocs.

Iranian oil now comprises about 12 percent of the India's supply.

 

Nigeria Struggles With Rise of Radical Islam

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:17am

A series of bomb attacks by Nigeria's radical Islamist sect Boko Haram is challenging President Goodluck Jonathan's government.  The pace of the bombings has picked up in recent weeks, with attacks on police stations in the northern city of Kano and a Christmas Day suicide bombing at a Catholic church near the capital, Abuja. 

In the entry way of St. Theresa's church in Madalla, one can see worshippers coming in for Sunday mass just as they did on Christmas Day.  But outside in the churchyard a scene of destruction remains - twisted metal, chunks of concrete, burned out trees and a huge hole in the road where a vehicle was stopped and detonated by the suicide bomber who killed so many people.  

 

IMF Slashes Global Growth Forecast

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 8:08am

The International Monetary Fund has slashed its 2012 global economic forecast, saying Europe's debt crisis threatens to plunge the world economy into a recession.

Just three months ago, the IMF projected a 4-percent advance in global growth for the year, but on Tuesday cut that to 3.3 percent. It forecast growth strengthening to 3.9 percent in 2013.

 

Western Powers Criticize Russian-Syrian Arms Sales

By American Security Council Foundation ASCF January 25, 2012 @ 7:55am

Britain, France and the United States condemned Russia’s sales of weapons to Syria on Tuesday, saying it is contributing to violence in that country.

Without naming Russia directly, but making it clear that it was the country they were speaking about, the three ambassadors separately criticized Moscow’s arms deals with Damascus during a meeting about the wider Middle East in the United Nations Security Council.