In a conference on ‘Pak-Brazil relations,’ participants highlighted development of soft power, sustained macro-economic stability and conflict-free environment as keys to progress scored by Brazil in the last two years from which Pakistan should learn lessons.

The plan to end the Nunn-Lugar program appears to be the latest step by the Russian government in an expanding effort to curtail American-led initiatives, and especially the influence of American money, in various spheres of Russian public policy.

When I first started out in cultural diplomacy, I was surprised to learn that a very girly manga Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You)--which is about a girl who doesn't realize she's fallen in love--was popular in Italy and Spain. But that's old news. Since then, I've learned that people's sensibilities and emotions are the same across all borders.

Following the recent declassification of 70,000 files, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in the process of "finalizing a major project to declassify another set of 220000 files- records covering: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka, East Asia, Eurasia and the Americas.

Let me say at the outset, I am proud to be an American. I believe that with my citizenship comes a responsibility to be engaged and pay attention not just to what is happening domestically but also to what is happening in the world. In addition to being a proud American, I also see myself as a citizen of the world. So much of America is interconnected with the world and much of what we do here in the U.S. – from who we elect, to the goods and services we buy, to the media we consume – touches millions of lives around the globe.

The Geneva International Cultural Exchange Committee invites the public to join them as they welcome their next cultural exchange with our sister city Croissy-sur-Seine, France. A delegation of 20 of which six are from the Rive Droite/Rive Gauche Swing Band will be coming to Geneva on Wednesday, Oct. 10.