Until recently, Beijing’s policy in Afghanistan could be characterized as masterful inactivity: It sat on the sidelines of a war that it wanted neither side to win. But the late September visit by security chief Zhou Yongkang, the first by a senior Chinese leader in almost five decades, is the most visible sign that the US 2014 withdrawal date is bringing that spectator status to an end.

The deportation back home of hundreds of Nigerian female pilgrims by the Saudi Arabian authorities is yet another blot on the country’s record of Islamic pilgrimages. That this happened amid official claims of adequate preparations further exposed an incompetent system and dented the morale of the Muslim faithful in the current pilgrimage, perhaps more than at any other time.

Brand new embassies, booming trade in agriculture, precious stones and information technology together with shadowy security deals: Israel is back in Africa. But this time tycoons and generals are leading the charge.

Ever since the 9/11 attacks, American Muslims have been subject to an intense campaign which has questioned their loyalty to the United States. Charges ranged from claiming that they have not been outspoken enough in their condemnation of terrorism to complicity, incitement, and even specious claims of active participation in anti-American activities.

If you bring in the best chefs of your area, your country, to bring people around the table so you can get to know them better in a way that doesn’t so much involve words as it does flavor, and the history of flavor, and the experience of flavors and textures.

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.”

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.

A recurring theme in this year's presidential election is (fear of) American decline, with both candidates seeking to convince voters that they will reverse recent trends and foster an American resurgence... Power is most usefully conceived as capability, and stronger states can generally do more things and affect others more than weaker states can. But having a lot of power doesn't translate directly into influence, which is the capacity to get others to do what you want.