Fighting between the government and the Kachin rebels, in northern Myanmar, intensified, despite the widely proclaimed reforms.

Over the past month, Burma's military his reported to have launched mortar rounds targeting the mountainous region in northern Myanmar, near its border with China.

Over the past few months, international human rights groups have expressed growing concern at the Burmese army's atrocities against the Kachin people, citing the looting and burning of homes, as well as the rape, torture and execution of Kachin civilians. As a result, over a thousand villagers have sought refuge in China, whilst tens of thousands more are believed to be at risk of displacement if the Burmese army's actions continue.

The increased conflict has taken place despite Myanmar's President Thein Sein, calling on the military to cease the fighting.

On the border with China, the Kachin region is partly controlled by the Kachin Independence Army. 

Despite renewed tensions with Argentina, UK foreign secretary, William Hague, reiterated Britain's commitment to the Falkland islanders' right to self-determination.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Hague said,

"We believe in the self-determination of the people of the Falkland Islands... That will continue."

His comments came shortly after UK prime minister, David Cameron, had accused Bueonos Aires of "colonialism".

A senior US diplomat, Robert J. Einhorn, urged South Korea to work with the US and increase pressure on Iran, during a visit to Seoul.

Einhorn, the US State Department's special advisor for non-proliferation and arms control, met South Korea's deputy foreign minister, Kim Jae-shin on Tuesday.

Einhorn said,

Egypt's newly elected leaders must "urgently reform the arsenal of laws" used by Mubarak's regime, for law to become "an instrument that protects Egyptians’ rights rather than represses them", said Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a report released Monday - 'The Road Ahead: A Human Rights Agenda for Egypt’s New Parliament'.

Citing the penal code, associations law, assembly law, and emergency law, HRW said,

“Are the “declinists” on the United States, focused on hard power and America’s falling share of global output, missing something?”

“U.S.-based global corporations added 683,000 workers in China during the 1999-2009 decade, a 172 percent increase, and 392,000 workers in India, a 542 percent increase. In all they added 1.5 million workers to payrolls in the Asia and Pacific region, while cutting 864,600 workers at home, according to figures from the Commerce Department.”