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diplomacy

Trump vows to lift US sanctions on Syria, expressing confidence in the country’s new leader

Global Politics

President Trump’s announcement that US sanctions on Syria would be lifted was met with elation by Syrians. Syria has a long way to go to recover from years of civil war and brutal dictatorship. But experts say the country needs to see sanctions lifted just to have a chance at beginning the long process of rebuilding.

President Trump hints at compromise ahead of US-China trade talks

Business, Economics and Jobs

US and Syrian officials visit each other’s countries as Damascus finds footing on global stage

Syria

Former US ambassador to China warns against alienating allies as China seeks greater global influence

US-China relations

Gaza war is putting Egyptian-Israeli relations to the test

Israel-Hamas war
Table top tennis players compete in front of a large blue banner

A fresh call for ‘pingpong diplomacy’ on the 50th anniversary of the first US-China games

Foreign policy

The 1971 Table Tennis World Championship featuring US and Chinese teams has never been forgotten. Now, original players are calling for renewed diplomacy as tensions continue to mount between the two countries.

Richard Holbrooke sits in a small military vehicle holding a bottle.

In ‘Our Man,’ diplomat Richard Holbrooke is both an egotist and idealist

Politics

Richard Holbrooke was an influential diplomat who’s ideas shaped US foreign policy in the late 20th century. Author George Packer spoke with Carol Hills about Holbrooke and his new book, “Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century,” which explores the complex and often contradictory ideas and lifestyle of Hoolbrooke and gives us an intimate look at the major events and people in his life.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Amb. Wendy Sherman speaking at Wellesley College.

Madeleine Albright: ‘Many of the best diplomats are women’

Conflict

Does gender play a role in the art of diplomacy? A discussion with Madeleine Albright and Wendy Sherman on gender, diplomacy and the Trump administration.

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval office for the first time since the Israeli leader lost his battle against the Iran nuclear deal.

‘Palestinians are knee deep in despair, and Israelis are knee deep in denial’

Conflict

An Israeli resident laments, “Hatred in Jerusalem has been more popularized, more endemic, than any time that I can remember in the 43 years that I’ve been living here.”

The annual procession of Our Lady of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba in Havana.

How the Pope lent Washington and Havana a helping hand

Global Politics

The US and Cuba supposedly negotiated in secret for more than a year to bring about a thaw between the two countries. They weren’t the only ones, though: Pope Francis also helped the two longtime enemies conduct their back-channel diplomacy.