Ashish Kumar Sen

Syrian rebels gather to fight at key border town Hundreds of Syrian rebels have poured into a besieged town near the border with Lebanon in preparation for a “ great battle” against President Bashar Assad ’s forces and their Lebanese Hezbollah militant allies, the Syrian opposition said Friday.

Tunisian government displeased with punishments for Embassy attack The Tunisian government is “not happy” about a decision by a court in Tunis to hand suspended two-year sentences to 20 people who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia last year, a Tunisian official said on Friday.  

Two years after Arab Spring, Tunisia struggles with security, economic challenges Tunisia is grappling with immense security and economic challenges more than two years since pro-democracy Arab Spring protests toppled the government of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, leader of the Tunisia’s ruling moderate Islamist party said on Friday.  

Myanmar, rebels agree to cease-fire Myanmar has reached a preliminary cease-fire agreement with Kachin rebels fighting near the border with China and India , raising hopes for an end to two years of conflict that has overshadowed reforms taking place in the Southeast Asian nation.

Syrian rebel leader cites Hezbollah in attack on town The Syrian rebels’ top military commander says more than 12,000 Lebanese Hezbollah militants have infiltrated Syria and are now fighting alongside President Bashar Assad’s forces.

Pakistan: Drone strike kills key Taliban terrorist The deputy leader of Taliban militants in Pakistan was killed in a U.S. drone strike Wednesday, Pakistani officials said, but the Taliban denied he had died.

Libyan leader resigns under new anti-Gadhafi law The president of Libya ’s General National Congress resigned Tuesday, becoming the most-senior casualty of a new law that bans officials who had served under late dictator Moammar Gadhafi from holding public office.

Iran ensures no change with West in presidential election Iran ’s June 14 elections are expected to produce a president loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and not improve prospects for an end to the country’s nuclear standoff with the West or its support for President Bashar Assad ’s embattled regime in Syria .

Myanmar Prez meets Obama, pledges more reforms Myanmar’s President Thein Sein met US President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday, becoming the first leader of the South-east Asian nation to visit Washington since Lyndon Baines Johnson hosted military strongman Ne Win in 1966.

Cabinet shake-up begins in Libya under new law   Libya ’s prime minister has nominated a new interior minister to fill the first spot vacated in his Cabinet, a consequence of a new law that bars officials who had served under late dictator Moammar Gadhafi from holding public office.

McConnell calls for end of import sanctions on Myanmar Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday urged Congress not to extend import sanctions on Myanmar , warning that sticking with the sanctions would be “a slap in the face” to reformers in the Southeast Asian nation.

Libyan leaders expected to step down soon A political crisis is brewing in Libya with the imminent resignations of the president of the legislature, dozens of lawmakers and as many as eight Cabinet ministers, following the adoption of a law that bans officials who had served under late dictator Moammar Gadhafi from holding public office.

Taiwan-Philippines dispute erupts after fisherman’s killing Taiwan and the Philippines are embroiled in a major diplomatic dispute after the Philippines coast guard fatally shot a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters earlier this month.

Myanmar president pledges to press ahead with reforms Myanmar ’s leader met President Obama at the White House on Monday and pledged his government’s commitment to democratic reforms, an end to communal violence and a cease-fire with ethnic minority rebels fighting in the northern part of his Southeast Asian nation.

Erdogan can’t change Obama’s mind on Syria Recep Tayyip Erdogan surely knew he couldn’t change any minds when he visited the White House on May 16 -- but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try.

Myanmar’s promises unfulfilled as leader meets with Obama Myanmar ’s president will meet Monday with President Obama amid criticism that the Southeast Asian country has done little to end its war against ethnic minority rebels, protect stateless Muslims or institutionalize democratic reforms that have been promised since its military junta was dissolved in 2011.

Turkey’s Erdogan to press Obama to do more for Syrian rebels Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan , in a meeting Thursday at the White House , is expected to urge President Obama to arm the Syrian opposition and enforce a “no-fly” zone in an effort to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad ’s regime.

Syrian activists warn of regime attack near Lebanon Syrian opposition activists are warning of an imminent assault by President Bashar Assad ’s forces and Lebanese Hezbollah militants on a rebel-held town near the border with Lebanon .

Pakistan’s ambassador resigns after election Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington has resigned following the defeat of the ruling party in Saturday’s parliamentary elections.

Sharif poised to lead Pakistan again Nawaz Sharif, a two-time former prime minister who has talked about ending Pakistan ’s role in the U.S.-led war against terrorism, was set to win a third term as the South Asian nation’s leader on Sunday.

Pakistan’s elections likely to yield anti-U.S. government Pakistan ’s historic national elections on Saturday will likely produce a hung parliament and a government intent on distancing itself from the U.S.

S. Korean leader calls for global unity on N. Korea South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Wednesday that her nation will respond “decisively” to North Korean provocations, and called for a unified international response to threats from Pyongyang.

U.S., U.K. and France denounce intimidation of Libyan parliament The United States, Britain and France said on Wednesday that the “international community” is concerned over “armed intimidation” of Libya ’s elected government as it struggles to consolidate a democracy more than a year and a half after the death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi .

Libyan defense minister rescinds resignation, premier says Libya ’s defense minister agreed to remain in his post hours after he had resigned in protest, accusing armed militias who laid siege to several government ministries in Tripoli of committing an “assault on democracy.”

Israel’s attack turns Syria’s civil war into regional war Syria ’s civil war turned into a regional conflict when Israeli warplanes bombed a Syrian military base over the weekend to stop weapons from going to Lebanese terrorists, expanding the warring factions and changing “the rules of the game,” as one analyst said.

Once bitten, twice shy (Iraq experience shapes Obama's Syria policy)  An explanation for U.S. President Barack Obama’s reluctance to get his hands dirty in Syria lies in recent history -- when George W. Bush's administration rushed headlong into a war with Iraq and swiftly became entangled in a conflict that took an enormous toll in treasure and lives -- both American as well as Iraqi.

Syrian rebel chief slams Obama phrasing Syrian opposition leaders are accusing President Obama of emboldening the embattled Syrian regime by backing away from his “red line” on the use of chemical weapons in the 2-year-old war against President Bashar Assad .