Ashish Kumar Sen

Rights groups question Indian activist’s conviction

An Indian court's decision to sentence an award-winning human rights activist and physician to life in prison on charges of sedition has caused an uproar among civil rights groups, who claim that evidence in the case was fabricated.

December 30, 2010

U.S. presses Sudan as south prepares for independence vote

The Obama administration is stepping up efforts to press northerners and southerners in Sudan to reach a deal on an oil-rich province, warning that a failure to do so will lead to instability.

December 26, 2010

Sudanese president warns against secession

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has alarmed human rights activists and non-Muslims in the south of his country by saying that strict Islamic law will be enforced in the north if the south secedes in a referendum next month.

December 20, 2010

Obama vows to be more relentless than Taliban, al Qaeda

The Obama administration on Thursday said it is committed to the strategic defeat of al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, noting that the terrorist group continues to launch attacks against the U.S. and its allies from havens in the region.

December 16, 2010

Afghan report to fault Pakistan safe havens

The Obama administration will identify Pakistan's continuing support for terrorist havens and the absence of good governance in Afghanistan as key factors that are undermining U.S. and coalition efforts in Afghanistan.

December 15, 2010

Also from WikiLeaks cables: First-lady face lifts and alcohol-soaked dinners

U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks do not all contain state secrets bound to embarrass and upset governments. Some reveal the acerbic wit of their authors.

December 15, 2010

Referendum on oil-rich Sudan province likely delayed

A referendum to decide the fate of an oil-rich province of Sudan is unlikely to be held on time as northerners and southerners remain locked in an impasse over issues that include voting rights, demarcation of borders and oil revenue.

December 14, 2010

House OKs resolution to release jailed Chinese dissident

The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for the release of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and congratulating him on winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

December 8, 2010

Clinton: Pakistani militants ran group from jail

Two leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) continued to run the Pakistan-based terrorist group's operations while locked up in a Pakistani prison, according to a 2009 diplomatic message by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

December 7, 2010

War-crimes probe opened against N. Korea

World leaders focused attention on North Korea on Monday, as an International Criminal Court prosecutor opened a war-crimes investigation into the reclusive country's recent military strikes and as U.S., Japanese and South Korean officials conferred at the State Department.

December 6, 2010

Sri Lankan war crimes suspect gets post as representative to U.N.

The Sri Lankan government has appointed a senior army officer accused of war crimes in the conflict with Tamil rebels as its deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

December 5, 2010

Treasury Department acts against members of terrorist group

The Treasury Department on Thursday acted against three senior members of Pakistan-based terrorist groups that have been behind attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, including the kidnapping and beheading of a U.S. journalist.

December 2, 2010

China warns Nobel winner’s kin against going to Oslo

Chinese authorities are warning the family and friends of jailed democracy activist Liu Xiaobo against traveling to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on his behalf and have stepped up a campaign to discourage other governments from sending representatives to the investiture ceremony on Dec. 10.

December 1, 2010

Suu Kyi seeks to review sanctions on Myanmar

Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi wants to review the consequences of sanctions on her country, Myanmar, before she can determine whether these curbs need to be lifted or focused more sharply.

November 28, 2010

North Korea fires on South Korea

President Obama and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak have pledged to hold joint military exercises and enhanced training after North Korea's military forces fired artillery against a South Korean island, prompting the South's forces to return fire.

November 23, 2010

U.S. officials: China must act on N. Korea violation

China must respond firmly to a violation by North Korea of commitments made by Pyongyang during the course of six-party nuclear negotiations, present and former U.S. officials said on Monday.

November 22, 2010

Sudanese accused of trying to ‘extort’ U.S.

The leaders of northern Sudan are trying to "extort" incentives from the Obama administration in exchange for holding an on-time referendum on the fate of Abyei, a senior southern Sudanese leader said ahead of a key meeting to break an impasse over the oil-rich province.

November 21, 2010

Pentagon’s decision to send tanks to Afghanistan praised

The Pentagon’s decision to deploy heavily armored battle tanks to Afghanistan is being hailed as a step in the right direction by military and civilian advisers in that war.

November 19, 2010

Clinton urges Sudanese to make ‘tough compromises’

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday urged the leaders of northern and southern Sudan to make some "tough compromises" to settle their differences on the status of an oil-rich region and allow a referendum to go ahead as planned.

November 16, 2010

Burma releases democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma’s military junta on Saturday released pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest to cheers from overjoyed supporters and cautious optimism from the international community.

November 13, 2010