Amsterdam, a co-founder of his law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP, explores connections between public international law and political advocacy. “We need to stop assuming that governments outside of the West behave like ours do,” Amsterdam said. “We are focusing on public diplomacy in Thailand to change the dynamics and change the very thinking of the people. We are using law as a revolutionary instrument.”

Syria has told Russia that a mortar attack that killed five civilians across the border in Turkey was a "tragic accident" that will not be repeated, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Thursday. RIA Novosti news agency said Lavrov had also told reporters during a visit to Islamabad that Russia had urged Syria to acknowledge this in public.

Armenian students, post-graduate students and researchers may apply for German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship program. The number of Armenians to have been granted DAAD scholarships in 2012 exceeded 80.

Colombia's government and FARC guerrillas will start peace talks in Oslo on October 15 and hold a joint news conference on October 17, Norway's government and diplomatic sources said on Thursday, as the sides strive to end five decades of conflict.

The South Korean government will place commercials both at home and abroad next year defending its sovereignty over its easternmost islets of Dokdo, stepping up a public relations drive against Japan's territorial claim to them, foreign ministry officials here said Thursday.

The Korean embassy Tuesday night in Abuja treated invited guests including top Nigerian government officials and heads of establishments as well as diplomats to a full course Korean cuisine which the country's Ambassador, Jong hyun-Choi, said would "open the door to the heart of Nigerians", leading to closer relations.

At the beginning of 2012, we went to Buenos Airesto work with the communications teams across Latin America. We talked about lots of things, including the Falklands, but what really came out of it for me was a gem of an idea about using the GREAT campaign and our soft power to reach out to a new generation in Cuba.

WASHINGTON – David Ensor, Director of the Voice of America, was the lead speaker this week at the first monthly USC public diplomacy lunch forum here on Monday.

Ensor began by discussing U.S. international broadcasters’ coverage of the 2012 election campaign, noting that tonight’s debate will be carried live by several VOA networks.