The Internet has become an increasingly important part of the distribution channels for U.S.-funded international broadcasting operations. Here’s one example. Radio Liberty’s Persian-language radio service Radio Farda broadcasts on short- and medium-wave, the Internet and satellite radio to Iran 24/7.

The new website CienciAmérican (Science of the Americas) -- the brainchild of a Cornell neurobiologist -- combines some functions of Facebook and Craigslist. It launched Aug. 16 to help Latin American scientists exchange ideas among themselves and their North American colleagues.

Most Arab columnists agree with the argument that the anti-mosque movement will badly harm Arab and Muslim views of the United States, contra Rashed, but there isn't as much active discussion of it in the forums as you'd expect. That isn't a reason to relax, though.

Across the world, the bruising struggle over an Islamic center near ground zero has elicited some unexpected reactions....For many in Europe...America’s fight over Park51 seems small fry...But others, especially in countries with nothing similar to the constitutional separation of church and state, find it puzzling that there is any controversy at all.

For now, Washington is focusing on "people-to-people" exchanges under which academics, corporations, humanitarian groups and athletic teams could travel to Cuba as a way to promote cultural exchanges and programs with universities.

Analysts in Seoul said Mr. Carter, on his second trip to Pyongyang, would also try to help break an impasse in relations between the United States and North Korea. Mr. Carter was greeted at Pyongyang airport by Kim Kye-gwan, a senior North Korean diplomat, according to the North’s official news agency, KCNA.

The New York program has been offered for the past two years through the Russian American Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes cultural relations between Russia and the United States.

Nigeria is now one of just six African nations to have gained the "Category 1" status from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, allowing domestic carriers to apply to operate direct flights to the United States with their own aircraft..."This achievement is an important milestone for Nigeria and U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relations," U.S. Ambassador Robin Sanders said at a news conference, adding the move was the culmination of years of work between the two nations.