Diplomacy & Crisis News

(Own report) - In the debate about eventually halting the EU's sanctions on Russia, demands to extend the measures to affect "millions of Russian citizens" are being raised in Berlin. Under no circumstances should the sanctions be lifted, according to an article in the current issue of the foreign policy periodical, "Internationale Politik." They should rather be reinforced and, for example, supplemented by "banning visas for all Russian civil servants." That is the only way the force "the Russian middle class" into a wide-ranging "protest movement" to overthrow the government. The article's author had alleged, already last year, that Russia would only make political progress, "when its laws will be installed from the outside." Whereas some specialists on Russia are agitating against easing any of the sanctions, the German government is heightening tensions between Berlin and Moscow, by announcing that the Bundeswehr is currently considering assuming the command of the NATO battalions stationed in Lithuania. In spite of the Chancellor's allegations to the contrary, this would de facto be in breach of the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act, which, in turn, means further escalation of the conflict between the West and Russia.

Thousands of Yazidis have been saved from the jihadist group, but are now victims of infighting among Kurdish militias and the Iraqi government.

And the campaign to stop him is getting ugly.

Speechwriting at NATO is a self-defeating, creatively stifling exercise -- one that threatens the hallowed institution's very existence. An insider account of how to fix it.

Japan plans a year-long campaign to flight-test its new X-2 fifth-generation fighter technology demonstrator.

A Russian MiG-31 intercepted a U.S. Navy P-8 Maritime patrol aircraft in Northeast Asia on April 21.

Test your knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region with The Diplomat's weekly news quiz!

Mettre en échec la logique médiatique, accompagner les luttes altermondialistes, échafauder de nouveaux grands récits pour remplacer les mythes « toxiques » du capitalisme contemporain : la démarche du collectif d'écrivains bolonais Wu Ming connaît un grand retentissement en Italie et au-delà. / Italie, (...) / Italie, Culture, Histoire, Idées, Idéologie, Internet, Jeunes, Littérature, Livre, Médias, Mouvement de contestation, Politique, Fiction - 2015/05

A l'aube du XXe siècle, le combat des suffragettes britanniques pour l'égalité civique coïncida avec l'introduction des arts martiaux japonais en Europe. L'histoire dépassant souvent la fiction, cette concomitance permit de bousculer — au sens propre — l'Etat patriarcal. / Europe, Japon, Royaume-Uni, (...) / Europe, Japon, Royaume-Uni, Art, Cinéma, Culture, Femmes, Histoire, Mouvement de contestation, Sport, Violence, Répression, Mouvement de libération, Société civile - 2016/02

The deflation disease appears to be spreading rapidly through Asia.

Despite the positive atmosphere of the Yemeni peace talks which prevailed during the past few days, the United Nations envoy for Yemen announced today that the Government&#39s delegation suspended its participation in the plenary sessions because of reports received from Amran governorate.

When it comes to the treatment of journalists, Kiev is starting to look a lot like Moscow.

Taipei says Malaysia deported fraud suspects to Beijing “under pressure from China”.

For the first time, Baghdad's Green Zone has been breached by protesters.

Histoire et actualité s'épaulent dans l'ouvrage d'Alain Ruscio , à l'appui de sa thèse : si les idées coloniales sont toujours si prégnantes en France, ce serait lié au poids de leur passé. Ecrire l'histoire de l'Organisation armée secrète (OAS), c'est alors rendre visible ce qui sourd dans la société (...) / Algérie, France, Armée, Colonialisme, Extrême droite, Histoire, Judaïsme, Guerre d'Algérie 1954-1962 - 2016/05

William Vollmann est une sorte de monstre tout-terrain de la littérature américaine. Reporter audacieux et romancier inspiré, très engagé, il offre régulièrement à ses lecteurs d'énormes pavés jetés dans la mare des écrits bien-pensants. Ses romans historiques (Central Europe, mille pages enchevêtrant une (...) / États-Unis, Culture, Histoire, Informatique, Littérature, Technologie, Fiction - 2016/05

A discussion of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy under President Maithripala Sirisena

PNG’s Manus decision exposes the fundamental ironies at the core of Australia’s immigration policy.

The inauguration of Taiwan’s next president offers a chance for the U.S. to send a signal to China.

Changing dynamics between Nepal, China, and India highlight the need for deft diplomacy in Kathmandu.