In The News

Koreas in Border Artillery Clash

John Sudworth November 23, 2010
North Korea disrupted South Korean military drills, lobbing artillery shells over the border to Yeonpyeong Island. South Koreans returned fire in a clash that raises tension to some of its highest levels since the Korean War ended in 1953 without peace treaty, reports John Sudworth of BBC News. The action, just days after the unveiling of a uranium-enrichment facility, triggers a UN Security...

Endgame for Afghanistan

Sreeram Chaulia November 17, 2010
The US and Iran have been at odds since militants overthrew the government and stormed the US embassy more than 30 years ago and, more recently, over Iran’s nuclear program and resistance to UN inspections. But the two nations still share common interests – animosity for the Taliban, Al Qaeda and Sunni extremism – particularly since the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, points out author Sreeram...

The Long Road to Reunification

Yoav Cerralbo November 17, 2010
A goal for many Koreans since World War II has been reunification of North and South, and hopes are high with dictator Kim Jong Il designating a young successor. One-time bitter foes can unite into one nation, as demonstrated by Germany, though the possibility of Korean reunification depends on neighboring China, which supplies and controls the North, explains Hans-Gert Poettering, chairman of...

Israeli Settlement Plan Sparks International Outrage

Harriet Sherwood November 11, 2010
A key component of any peace deal between Palestinians and Israelis is a freeze on construction of Israeli settlements. Settlements on occupied territory are illegal under international law. Yet Israeli leaders refuse to commit to a freeze; newly disclosed plans for settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank threaten the latest US attempt at peace talks and spur widespread international...

Iraq War Logs: UN Calls on Obama to Investigate Human Rights Abuses

David Batty, Jamie Doward October 25, 2010
After the online release of nearly 400,000 documents from the Iraq War, the UN's chief investigator on torture has called for an investigation. Notably the documents reveal a higher number of civilian deaths than admitted publicly by the US military; chaos with military reliance on security contractors; and increasing Iranian influence in Iraq. Individual soldiers reported incidents of abuse...

With Talks Stalemated, Demographics Define Israeli-Palestinian Future

Joseph Chamie October 6, 2010
The basic components for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are clear. Factions blocking the terms assume that, by holding out, the other side will give up and go away. They stubbornly overlook how ongoing demographic trends could create a new political reality. “Differential rates of population growth already redefine the relative demographic standing of Arab-Israelis, Jewish-Israelis and...

Iran’s Global Ambitions – Part II

Willem van Kemenade September 15, 2010
Holding the third largest oil reserves in the world, Iran is an attractive trade partner, giving it an edge in the world economy. This YaleGlobal series examines Iran’s big power ambitions and its ability to divide the international community to achieve its goal. As Iran rejects demands to end high level enriching nuclear fuel, the UN Security Council in June approved a fourth round of sanctions...