The Clinton Global Initiative, now in its sixth year, will feature Nobel laureates, CEOs, presidents, and a trio of first ladies—making it seem like a 21st century initiative that could ultimately eclipse the older institution. CGI is fast building a track record that has some wondering if its leaner model may be the better way to address the multitude of problems facing the global community.

The festival, which was co-sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) along with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), was marked by extremely poor attendance and below par organisation by the hosts.

From his recent travels to the Persian Gulf—sponsored and paid for by the State Department—Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf returned with a none-too-subtle threat. His project, the Ground Zero Mosque, would have to go on. Its cancellation would risk putting "our soldiers, our troops, our embassies and citizens under attack in the Muslim world."

The British Embassy recently announced the three month American tour of the Tricycle Theatre Company’s production of “The Great Game: Afghanistan” that began September 15 in Washington, DC.... The British government clearly thinks it worthwhile to attempt to influence American public opinion...

This slim volume by a Voice of America director during the early years of the Reagan administration (March 1982 - August 1982) says some reasonable things, but from a rather naïve point of view. It's about U.S. public diplomacy, the subject of dozens of reports since 9/11.

With its slick graphics, smiling young news anchors, and round-the-clock coverage, RT is like any other news channel. But there is one major difference, aside from the content; RT, which stands for Russia Today, is paid for by the Kremlin.

Amid all the furor stirred by the French government’s decision to repatriate hundreds of Romanian and Bulgarian Roma, many would be surprised to learn that Sarkozy is a pretty popular name among the Roma communities in Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. No, not French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but the name Sarkozy -- or rather Sárközy.

American scholar Michael Mandelbaum has sparked much debate thanks to a book he has just published titled The Frugal Superpower: America’s Global Leadership in a Cash-Strapped Era. Mr Mandelbaum’s argument...is that the United States, because of its debt obligations following from the 2008 financial crisis, but also because of its fiscal structure and major entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, can no longer afford to play the international role it has for decades.