What’s your standard for loving your fellow man? Most people probably include family, friends, neighbors — all of the easy ones. But what about telemarketers or people who post politically belligerent statuses on Facebook? And what about people who aren’t merely annoying, but might actually be out to get you? Democrats, for example, or Ute fans.

The Arab League, officially called the League of Arab States, is a notoriously fractious regional organization of 22 Arab states based in Cairo. It was founded on March 22, 1945, with the aim of strengthening the relationships between member states through political, cultural and economic cooperation.

Contrary to popular belief, Angela Merkel does not hold all the aces in her game of high stakes poker with Enda Kenny and the Irish taxpayer. For unless she plays her cards most carefully, Ms Merkel in the longer term could back herself into a corner, and her options might suddenly become very limited indeed.

The history bears testimony to the fact that legitimate aspirations for freedom may be suppressed for some time but cannot be denied for-ever. Kashmiris are destined to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, however difficult this proposition may seem at present, says a press release received from Berlin on Friday. This was stated by Pakistan's Ambassador to Germany, Abdul Basit at a seminar organised by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) in Berlin to mark the 27 October as the Kashmir Black Day.

“With 20% of Georgian territory occupied and two Russian embassies operating in the occupied territories, diplomatic relations with Russia will not be restored”, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze told journalists after the meeting with the employees of the foreign ministry.

My Brookings paper which launched today, Baked in and Wired: eDiplomacy @ State, tracks State’s remarkable emergence as the leading innovator in its field. It drills into three areas where its use of ediplomacy has been particularly striking: public diplomacy, internet freedom, and knowledge management.

The looming federal budget crunch, coming as the United States reduces its military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, should not slow the State Department’s push to hire more Foreign Service officers, a new report from retired diplomats said.

"The four month long Oz Fest will celebrate and promote these expanding links and foster a better understanding of culture," says Strahan. Incidentally, food has become the gastronomical tactic for cultural diplomacy, India's rise as a preferred destination for Australians could also be one of the reasons for unveiling this mega fest, that reportedly has a budget of three million dollars.