Congress’ other must-pass measure: Iran sanctions

When Congress returns to Washington later this month to tackle a budget impasse and a massive defense policy bill, there will be one more contentious item on its agenda: extending sanctions on Iran. At the end of the year, the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) expires — and with it, the regime of existing U.S. sanctions lawmakers […]

Putin declares 10-hour ‘Humanitarian Pause’ in Aleppo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has unilaterally declared a 10-hour “humanitarian pause” for Aleppo on Friday, a senior Russian official said Wednesday. “A decision was made to introduce a humanitarian pause in Aleppo on November 4 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (3 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET),” chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said […]

Iraqi Special Forces kill eight ISIS Militants in Mosul as civilians cleared out

Iraqi special forces paused their advance in an eastern district of Mosul on Wednesday to clear a neighborhood of any remaining Islamic State militants, killing eight while carrying out house-to-house clearances. Six of the militants were killed inside a tunnel in the newly-recaptured Gogjali neighborhood, while the other two were shot dead as they advanced […]

Iraqi Forces advance on town where Islamic State conducted executions

U.S.-backed Iraqi forces moved closer on Wednesday to a town south of Mosul where aid groups and regional officials say Islamic State has executed dozens of prisoners. A military statement said security forces advanced to the edge of Hammam al-Alil, a thermal water resort, after an elite unit breached the eastern limits of Mosul, the […]

Amnesty International evicted from Moscow office

Amnesty International, a campaign group which has accused the Kremlin of violating human rights with its bombing campaign in Syria, was evicted from its Moscow office on Wednesday. The Moscow city government, from which Amnesty leased the premises in the Russian capital’s center, said the group was behind on the rent, but Amnesty said it […]

Top Obama officials meet China state councilor in New York

Secretary of State John Kerry and national security adviser Susan Rice held talks Tuesday with a senior Chinese official on managing differences and expanding cooperation between the two world powers. A White House statement provided few details about the meeting with State Councilor Yang Jiechi in New York. National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said […]

China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Jet Debuts at Air Show

China has showcased its long-awaited J-20 stealth fighter in public for the first time. Two of the radar-evading jets performed a 60-second flypast at the Zhuhai air show in Guangdong province – the country’s biggest meeting of plane makers and buyers. Previously the jets had only been seen by bloggers. The fighters are being seen […]

Inquiry Says U.N. Peacekeepers Failed to Respond to South Sudan Hotel Attack

United Nations peacekeepers failed to respond to an attack on civilians by South Sudanese government troops at the Hotel Terrain in the capital Juba in July, less than a mile from a U.N. compound, a U.N. inquiry found on Tuesday. “During the attack, civilians were subjected to and witnessed gross human rights violations, including murder, […]

John Kerry Promises to Work ‘to the Last Moment’ to End Syrian Violence

U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry delivered an impassioned defense of diplomacy Monday, asserting that the nuclear deal he spearheaded with Iran had averted an almost-certain war and vowing to work “to the last moment” to achieve a lasting cease-fire in Syria. In London to accept the Chatham House Prize, given by the prestigious […]

Taliban Envoy Breaks Silence to Urge Group to Reshape Itself and Consider Peace

The Taliban’s internal debate over whether and how to negotiate with the Afghan government is playing out in the open, even as there have been renewed attempts to restart talks. Breaking with nearly 15 years of public silence, Sayed Muhammad Tayeb Agha, who until recently was the Taliban’s chief negotiator and head of their political […]

A simple perspective on Russian and U.S. Policy

Russia and the USA are two fundamentally different countries in how engage in the world. It seems that we can’t get along and Russia is gaining on us. Maybe, in the long term, we’ll have a more envious position. But, it’s difficult to deny that’s something has gone awry with our Russian policy. We’ve lost […]

Veteran spy gives material to FBI alleging Russia intended to cultivate Donald Trump

Reports have emerged claiming that a veteran spy has handed over information to the FBI alleging a Russian operation to cultivate Donald Trump. There isn’t a lot of authority behind this claim and media development. But is there a direct connection, relationship, between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump? Probably not. Trump’s connection to Putin may […]