The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited Division will bring 13 Iraqi taekwondo athletes, eleven youth and two coaches, to the United States, June 5- 15th, to participate in a U.S. Government sports visitor program. This will be SportsUnited’s second-ever taekwondo sports visitor program and the fourth sports exchange with Iraq.

Turkey, a rapidly growing economy and multi-party democracy that has applied to join the European Union, is widely regarded as a model for Muslim and other developing countries. It has also raised the flag over trail blazing construction projects across former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

China urgently needs to carry out more effective public diplomacy if it is to overcome the misunderstandings, prejudice and suspicions that people in other countries have toward it. Public diplomacy is an indispensable part of a country's approach to foreign relations as well as an important supplement to its traditional diplomacy. Effective public diplomacy is essential if a nation is to promote its national interests and achieve its foreign policy objectives.

The United States intends to use its public diplomacy efforts in Pakistan to bridge the differences between the people of the two countries, newly-appointed US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine said on Friday. She was speaking to a gathering at Kinnaird College University during her day-long visit of the city.

Hu's next trip to Australia - now as leader - was in October 2003. The Chinese had suggested the visit, with Hu flying on directly after the APEC leaders' summit in Bangkok. The Howard government was pleased and arranged for Hu to visit Canberra on the Thursday. But then US president George W. Bush said that he, too, would like to visit Australia after APEC, nominating the Thursday as his preferred time.

There is much misconception in the general public about the role and functions of diplomats in today’s world. The popular view of diplomats being past masters in deception is the opposite of the truth. Good diplomacy does not try to deceive. When once a diplomat gains a reputation for intrigue, his value gets badly affected.

Jon Carson, the White House Director of the Office of Public Engagement, will deliver keynote remarks during the opening session of the Uncommon Alliances Forum on June 4 in Washington, D.C. The event is a one-day interactive workshop about public-private partnerships and is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute for Corporate Responsibility at the George Washington University School of Business.