This is an essay calling for global political reform and best practices in the area of promoting human rights and establishing a lasting peace among diverse cultures and civilizations while at the same time supporting state sovereignty.

The Russian and Chinese veto of the U.N. Security Council draft resolution that would have declared the situation in Syria a threat to international peace and security, extended the U.N. diplomatic mission headed by Kofi Annan, and set the stage for new sanctions and possibly U.N.-authorized military action was hardly surprising. More important, it isn’t all that significant.

Earlier this year, the US Department of State issued its detailed report on the status of "Trafficking in Persons" in every country of the world, Albania to Zimbabwe, it ranks each country as Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3.

"We recognise that countries such as China, India and Brazil are gaining influence less because of the size of their armies than because of the growth of their economies," Clinton wrote in an oped in 'New Statesman' published yesterday.

Clinton's itinerary included stops in nine nations: France, Afghanistan, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Egypt and Israel. It focused on two interrelated US foreign policy objectives. The first is the elaboration of Washington's counterrevolutionary strategy for asserting hegemony over the oil-rich regions of the Middle East and Central Asia.

"We will continue to extend diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Kashmir till the resolution of the core issue in accordance with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people," Ashraf said while addressing a public meeting at Athmuqam in Neelum Valley of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Watch live a video chat on US-India Higher Education Dialogue between US Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs & Public Diplomacy Tara Sonenshine and the Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao. The chat is moderated by Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.

Chinese president Hu Jintao on Thursday pledged African governments 20 billion in credit over the next three years and called for more China-Africa coordination international affairs to defend against the "bullying" of richer powers.