The leaders of several key U.S. allies have been reaching out to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a sign that efforts to isolate the country over its 2014 annexation of Crimea may be faltering.<br>Courtesy of the Kremlin

ANALYSIS

Are US efforts to isolate Russia faltering?

The leaders of several key U.S. allies have been reaching out to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a sign that efforts to isolate the country over its 2014 annexation of Crimea may be faltering.

58 minutes ago

Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas.<br>Stars and Stripes file photo

HASC chairman proposes defense strategy for next president

Budget cuts, downsizing and rising global threats have put the next president of the United States in a precarious position when it comes to national security and defense, U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry asserts in a paper published in the magazine "Foreign Affairs."

10:27 August 21, 2016

Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend uncases the XVIII Airborne Corps colors during the transfer-of-authority ceremony of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, held at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Aug. 21, 2016. Lt. Gen. Townsend and XVIII Airborne Corps took authority of the task force from Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland and III Corps. The task force was created to defeat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.<br>Chris Church/Stars and Stripes

New head of anti-Islamic State coalition vows to destroy caliphate

Army Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, who leads the 18th Airborne Corps, took over from Army Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland.

10:05 August 21, 2016

In this frame grab taken from video provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center a child sits in an ambulance after being pulled out or a building hit by an airstrike, in Aleppo, Syria on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. <br>Aleppo Media Center via AP

Brother of Aleppo boy who became the latest symbol of civil war dies

The rescue of 5-year old Omran Daqneesh, pulled from the rubble of his bombed-out Aleppo, Syria, home Wednesday, was broadcast around the world, dominating front pages and drawing tears from television anchors.

00:21 August 21, 2016

United States' Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo, who won silver, celebrates with the American flag during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.<br>Matt Slocum/AP Photo

In the end, Army Spc. Paul Chelimo got his Olympic silver medal

American runner Paul Chelimo won an Olympic silver medal. Or did he?

00:15 August 21, 2016

Giant panda Mei Xiang and her cub Bei Bei are shown on Bei Bei's first birthday at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington on August 20, 2016. <br>Linda Davidson/The Washington Post

Baby panda becomes diplomat in US-China relations

In an election year in which both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have forecast tougher times ahead for U.S.-China relations, the kickoff for Bei Bei's first birthday bash took on an especially bilateral feel in the nation's capital.

19:29 August 20, 2016

Today's ePaper

Veteran jobs

See more at the Stars and Stripes Veteran Job Center.

Find your 2016 Basic Allowance for Housing rate

Ombudsman

Tobias Naegele, Stars and Stripes' ombudsman

Ex-soldier’s case tests whether flirting is in the eye of the beholder

Djoulou K. Caldwell was given a bad conduct discharge from the Army after his conviction on charges of abusive sexual contact and maltreatment of a subordinate. His last shot is a long one, as his lawyers urge the Supreme Court to hear a rare military court challenge.
Venezuela’s military emerges stronger during crisis

Venezuela’s opposition has promised to hold a huge demonstration in the capital Sept. 1, demanding a presidential recall during a deep political and economic crisis that has many going hungry and emotions on edge. One question looms: Will the military allow the protest?
Brazil wins gold in soccer; US grabs more track medals

Brazil won the medal it wanted the most Saturday, claiming its first Olympic gold in soccer and providing a lift to a beleaguered nation in the process.
Young suicide bomber attacks Turkey wedding party; 51 dead
Iraqi church hopes to heal trauma of displaced children
Sailor sentenced to one year for taking photos of nuclear submarine
Shift in Army's tattoo regulation makes it easier to get inked
North Korea calls diplomat who defected 'human scum'
Search for living, dead: Louisiana fights back from flooding
Official: Afghan forces retake northern district hours after it falls to Taliban

Fort Carson center is supermarket for military paperwork

The Mountain Post Soldier Center, formally opened last week, has been years in the making, with the first plans coming shortly after the post got a new military grocery store in 2012.
Army veteran struggles to save interpreter stuck in Afghanistan

Inaction in Congress -- fueled by what some see as rising anti-Muslim sentiment -- has left the immigration program's future in doubt. About 2,500 visas remain available to around 12,000 applicants.
Does all voting happen on Election Day? Think again
Prosecutors seek 30-year sentence for ex-Illinois guardsman
Army sergeant retires after 21 years of service as son enlists
Fort Carson event will focus on civilian job opportunities for veterans, outgoing military
Milestone a reminder of Fort Vancouver's layers of history
Trump campaign doubles spending, not ground game

Iraq executes 36 men convicted in Islamic State massacre

The Speicher massacre sparked outrage across Iraq and partially fueled the mobilization of Shiite militias in the fight against IS, a Sunni extremist group.
Palestinian rocket strikes Israel, drawing Israeli reprisal

Israel and the Hamas militant group fought a 50-day war in the summer of 2014. Since then, a cease-fire has largely held.
Baghdad authorities clear site of deadly mall bombing
Gunmen kill 2 policemen in Egypt

Syrian refugees support each other in Britain

While Britain initially resisted international pressure to accept large numbers of refugees, more than 9,000 Syrians have filed for asylum in the U.K. since 2011.
Turkish PM says US should 'speed up' cleric Gulen's extradition

Turkey wants the United States to speed up procedures for extraditing U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of orchestrating last month's violent coup attempt, the country's prime minister said Saturday.
Italy seeks to relaunch EU ideal with symbolic summit
Turkey shrugs off U.S. talk of NATO exit following failed coup

Chinese ships, planes hold war games in Sea of Japan

Along with its island dispute with Japan, China is involved in an intense rivalry with the U.S. over military dominance in the region.
3 Filipino sympathizers of IS killed in Philippines

Military officials said the militants, led by their leader, Mohammad Jaafar Sabiwang Maguid, were spotted in a hinterland by villagers, who notified the troops.
Indian army kills 3 rebels in Kashmir fighting
Regatta helps and honors injured military vets

North Korea calls diplomat who defected 'human scum'

ANALYSIS

Are US efforts to isolate Russia faltering?

Failure to locate leak keeps Vicenza pool closed

Feud with Gold Star family sparks public focus on service, sacrifice

New head of anti-Islamic State coalition vows to destroy caliphate

GALLERY

Monocacy: The little-known 'battle that saved Washington'

OPINION

Trump ‘pivots’ further toward xenophobia

It’s one thing to take a stand against illegal immigration because, as Trump said early in his campaign, without laws and borders, you don’t have a country. But it’s another thing to make it harder to immigrate legally.