“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.”

"According to at least two or three sources, a Tibetan layperson set themselves on fire this morning in Ngaba town. As police put out the flames, they beat him severely."

"I withdrew from the Arab observers mission because I found myself serving the regime, and not part of an independent observer group."

"The mission was a farce and the observers have been fooled. The regime orchestrated it and fabricated most of what we saw to stop the Arab League from taking action against the regime,"

"What I saw was a humanitarian disaster. The regime isn't committing one war crime but a series of crimes against its people. Children are killed and they are starved and terrorised."

“I have seen it with my own eyes. I could not shed my humanity in such situations and claim independence and objectivity.”

"It even began killing its supporters to convince the Arab observers that it is carrying out its duties and to gain their sympathy."

“We cannot permit President Assad and his regime to have impunity."

A ceasefire agreement was signed between the government of Myanmar, and the ethnic Karen rebels on Thursday.

Speaking to Reuters, the deputy leader of the Karen National Union delegation, Saw David Htaw, said,

“We have never been more confident in our talks.”

“According to the changing situation everywhere, peace talks are unavoidable now; this is something we have to pass through without fail."

Responding to a video that has emerged showing US marines urinating over the bodies of three, apparently lifeless Afghans, the US military said it was "deeply troubled by the video" and promised a full investigation.

In a statement, the Marine Corps headquarters at the Pentagon said,

"The actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps. This matter will be fully investigated."

"We will campaign for … drivers and teams to boycott. The government wants Formula One to tell the outside world that everything is back to normal. Formula One, if they come, they are helping the government to say [it is normal]. We would prefer it if they didn't take part. I am sure the drivers and teams respect human rights."

"[The FIA] should consider the serious abuse of human rights in Bahrain and the fact that to this day authorities continue to suppress pro-democracy protests."

"I doubt that Formula 1 can be a success in a country where serious human rights abuses have been committed. The political situation is unstable and polarised in Bahrain. We are very concerned about the government's commitment to implement meaningful reform."

"These latest self-immolations confirm that what we are currently witnessing in Tibet is a sustained and profound rejection of the Chinese occupation.

It is a damning indictment of the international community that 14 people, in different parts of Tibet, have now chosen to set themselves on fire and the international community has failed to respond."

Images of North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong-un, driving military tanks, in the cockpit of a war plane and riding a white horse have been broadcast across state television.