[Guardian UK]

Liam Fox faced fresh accusations of running a shadow foreign policy after it emerged he was involved in setting up a private investment firm to operate in Sri Lanka in apparent contravention of UK government policy, with his controversial friend Adam Werritty as its key contact.

[Full Story]

[ Foreign Policy ]

UN Dispatch’s Mark Goldberg wrote for The New Republic yesterday that Sri Lanka — the first humanitarian crisis to unfold entirely under the new administration — has been handled more or less well. His point is an excellent one: the United States has pushed to delay an IMF loan to the country until certain conditions are met. “With this move, the Obama administration has, literally, put its money where its mouth is,” Goldberg writes. All true, and a good start. As Goldberg admits, it’s just that: a start. Still, several points are left dangling.

[Full Story]

[BBC]

A leading advocacy group called today for US President-elect Barack Obama to put human rights at the centre of US foreign, domestic and security policy. The US-based Human Rights Watch called on Mr Obama to undo “the enormous damage” of the Bush administration. The group’s annual report criticises Israel and Hamas for what it calls a human rights crisis in Gaza. The report said Human Rights Watch had also documented abuses - including attacks on civilians - during conflicts in Afghanistan, Colombia, Congo, Georgia, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

[Full Story]