Universities are now a "crucial" part of the UK's "soft power" in projecting international influence, says former foreign secretary William Hague.  Their recruitment of overseas students "enriches and strengthens our universities and our future economy and our influence in the world", he said.

The Moscow Classical Ballet company, which was founded by Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilyov, will arrive in Israel in February 2015 with "Spartacus," a ballet by Aram Khachaturian.

Only a lucky few North Koreans get the chance to travel out of the country, but the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) first national hearing impaired football team is being given the rare privilege to play their first international friendly game against Australia in Sydney this weekend.

Britain is to establish its first permanent military base in the Middle East since it formally withdrew from the region in 1971.  The base, at the Mina Salman Port in Bahrain, will host ships including destroyers and aircraft carriers.  The UK said it was an "expansion of the Royal Navy's footprint" and would "reinforce stability" in the Gulf.

Education has long been a tool to transmit a culture’s values to its own citizenry as well as conquered territories.  The concept of soft power, developed by political scientist Joseph Nye, can be defined as a persuasive approach to international relations, typically involving the use of economic or cultural influence. 

"It is more important now than ever for Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa to share ideas, knowledge, and skills in order to promote collaboration, enhance economic development and prosperity, address global and regional issues such as climate change, and achieve broader understanding between cultures.”

Indeed, in the era of globalization, nation brand image is more necessary than ever; an increasing number of governments attempt to use the power of commercial branding techniques to valorize their country's image. 

India offers around 1,000 scholarships every year to the Afghan students, which is sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).  At present, the Afghan students are pursuing courses in international studies, economics, bachelors' degrees, B. Tech and many more programmes in various universities across India.