Ashish Kumar Sen

Western governments on Thursday condemned a Russian court's decision to extend the prison sentence for imprisoned oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky in a ruling widely viewed as flouting the rule of law and evincing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's political ambitions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A first lady who has a problem showing a "full range of facial expressions" as a result of extensive cosmetic surgery? A soulful rendition of "Layla" by rock legend Eric Clapton to thaw frosty U.S.-North Korea ties? David Letterman: No. 1 weapon against religious extremism?