Diplomacy & Crisis News

As the number of civilian casualties in the Yemen conflict tops 1,000, the United Nations human rights office today urged all parties – coalition forces, the Yemeni armed forces, Houthis and other non-State armed groups – to adhere strictly to their obligations under international law and do all in their power to protect civilians.

A $100 monthly housing stipend per family for Palestine refugees who have fled war-torn Syria for Lebanon will be suspended because of lack of funds, prompting the UN agency assisting those refugees in the Middle East to urgently appeal to donors “to provide the bare minimum assistance” to protect Palestinians from “disastrous” risks such as detention, abuse and deportation.

The Norwegian super author goes to attack against what he sees as Sweden's narrow, parochial view of literature.

Kayla Mueller chose to stay behind because she didn't want to abandon a fellow foreign aid worker, a decision that may have cost her life.

Before Axact, there was the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

The Twitter account for China's mission follows lots of pop star but not Samantha Power.

But will the army continue to back the president if the economy starts to tank?

Before risking deadly deserts and a perilous Mediterranean crossing, the first steps of a desperate attempt at a new life cross Sudan.

Barack Obama became president by campaigning against wars of choice. Unless he is able to turn an increasingly desperate situation around, his legacy as president may well be defeats of choice. The “wars of necessity vs. wars of choice” framework never could handle the burdens placed on it by partisan politicians. It purports to distinguish ...

The State Department released a tranche of Hillary Clinton's private e-mails on Friday, which include her correspondences following the 2012 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya in her capacity as secretary of state. The first batch of 296 e-mails can be viewed here on the State Department's website.

There has been some polite jostling going on this week between the U.S. Navy and Chinese military over the tepid waters of the South China Sea.

It is not just about drinking a few beers, though that can be part of it.

Editor’s note: The South Asia Channel will not publish a daily brief on Monday, May 25th in honor of Memorial Day. Regular publication will resume on Tuesday, May 26th. Afghanistan Deal with Pakistan causes controversy Reports of dissatisfaction and disagreement over an intelligence deal that Afghanistan signed with neighboring Pakistan have surfaced (RFE/RL, Pajhwok).  It ...

Why, from Syria to the two-state solution, the Obama administration should channel a little California.

By Paul McLeary with Ariel Robinson BREAKING: The U.S. Central Command announced this morning that Iraqi forces have broken through the Islamic State’s months-long siege of the Baiji oil refinery and are now resupplying the beleaguered Iraqi troops inside the facility. “In the past 72 hours, we have seen the ISF make steady, measured progress ...

The Islamic State is consolidating its hold on Palmyra after seizing the city this week. Militants have used the speakers at mosques used for the call to prayer to tell residents to turn in soldiers and government employees, and people remaining in the city have reported dozens of public executions. The Syrian government is reportedly ...

A powerful group of lawmakers is asking Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to reconsider the Pentagon’s recent decision to eliminate funding for Vets4Warriors.

With Thailand’s ailing monarch fading from the scene, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha is positioning himself to rule indefinitely — by silencing all dissent.

A member of a pro-Islamic State forum has chipped in a rather out-of-the-box idea for jihad: turn Americans consumers off of salty snacks by associating them with beheadings -- a scheme he says will destroy the American economy.

A U.S.-led coalition is grappling over how to fight the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed allies in Libya and beyond without taking its eyes off Iraq and Syria.