Richard Stengel has a bleak vision of the world's future - so bleak, in fact, he compared it to Westeros. During Monday's Social Good Summit, the under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs provided a dystopian outlook for 2030 - in contrast to the optimistic visions several other panelists presented - in hopes of mobilizing today's youth to get more involved and start preparing for the future as soon as possible.

No wonder NASA is looking up. It just awarded contracts, worth up to $6.8 billion, to Boeing and SpaceX to carry astronauts back and forth to the International Space Station, ending our reliance on the Russians for travel services in space. The deal sets the scene for a new and exciting chapter in American space travel at a time when Americans need a "boost. 

Former US public diplomacy officials fear the sophisticated, social media borne propaganda of the Islamic State militant group (Isis) is outmatching American efforts at countering it.  Aimed less at Isis itself than at potential supporters, a bevy of US diplomatic and communications initiatives seek to undermine Isis’s portrayal of itself as an authentic, successful Islamic resistance.

With a wealth of 'soft power' resources, Japan continually strives to enhance the attractiveness of its image overseas through human, cultural and intellectual exchange, and public diplomacy. In particular, Japan's so-called sub-culture of animation (anime), movies, comics (manga), pop music and Japanese cuisine, has significant global reach.

North Korea appears to be launching an unusual diplomatic marathon. Earlier this month, the South Korean daily, Joongang Daily, reported that North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York. It will be the first time a North Korean foreign minister has attended the forum in 15 years, and only the third time ever Pyongyang’s top diplomat has attended the annual summit in the country’s history.

In the post-Cold War international system, and an increasingly globalised world, 'soft power' has gained prominence. However, 'soft power' has always been significant for post-WWII Japan, which renounced military 'hard power' as a means of pursuing state policy, embracing pacifism. With a wealth of 'soft power' resources, Japan continually strives to enhance the attractiveness of its image overseas through human, cultural and intellectual exchange, and public diplomacy. 

While Turkey and Japan celebrate the 90th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, a joint symposium will be held, hosted by three institutions: the Embassy of Japan, Center for Strategic Research (SAM) and Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM). The joint symposium, "Japan and Turkey - Where did we come from? Where are we going?" will be held on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 at the Ankara Hilton Hotel...

Over the years, the United States has shown considerable ingenuity in its effort to slow Iran’s production of nuclear fuel: It has used sabotage, cyberattacks and creative economic sanctions. Now, mixing face-saving diplomacy and innovative technology, negotiators are attempting a new approach, suggesting that the Iranians call in a plumber.