It's about knowing when to say stop. That concept is lost on the North Korean regime who have announced that their recently deceased leader, Kim Jong-ill,  is to be embalmed and put on public display so that the sorrowful commoners can pay their respects. Not just that, but statues, murals and memorial towers will be built accross the country to remind people of their Dear Leader - who is estimated to be responsible for millions of deaths, starvation, economic lunacy and generally, running one of the most corrupt, brutal and secretive regimes in the world.

Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador after a leaked UN report into last year's Israeli raid on a Gaza bound Turkish ship concluded that the Israeli's had used "excessive and unreasonable" force. The document, which has since been published in full by the UN, found that the blockade of Gaza by Israel is legal, but the raid was unacceptable. Israel had not provided any reasonable explanation for killing nine Turkish citizens onboard the ship who were "shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range."

Next week's US- China Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting will see a range of issues raised by both sides as old (waning?) superpower meets new superpower. It could be another small step in gently pushing the Chinese to allow the Yuan float freely against world currencies and the dollar in particular. The high level meeting between American and Chinese officials takes place over two days in Washington D.C.

A meeting designed to soothe tensions between Pakistan and the U.S. went relatively smoothly with both sides keen to emphasise their 'solid relationship.' CIA Director Leon Panetta hosted Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency in Pakistan. Pakistan is worried about what it sees as a loss of sovereignty from American drone strikes on al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan. America is worried funds destined for Pakistan are finding their way to al-Qaeda and suspects that some within the ISI are secretly helping al-Qaeda and the Taliban.