While numerous factors contributed to the United States' rise to the top spot in the annual Country Brand Index survey for the first time ever, the most significant factor is the man in the White House: President Barack Obama.

Foreign secretary of the United Kingdom David Miliband told reporters today that the detentions of British Embassy workers in Tehran were harassment and intimidation that are not acceptable. He has called for the release of eight Iranian staff members of the British Embassy in Tehran.

Anti-Armenian statements have been ascribed to a Polish politician in Azerbaijan.

Russia moved on Monday to heal a trade rift with Belarus, with the Foreign Ministry reaffirming its commitment to stronger ties and premier warning officials against harsh statements directed at Minsk.

For his contributions to global peace and international cooperation Dr. Henry Kissinger is being decorated as the first awardee of the Ewald von Kleist Award of the Munich Security Conference 2009.

U.S.-Russian relations have sunk to post-Cold War lows amid disagreements over NATO expansion, missile defense, and Moscow's relations with its neighbors. Are Washington and Moscow ready to turn the page as Barack Obama prepares to take office?

Watch this video of U.S. President George W. Bush’s reception at the G20 summit on the global economic crisis. As you will see, Bush was ignored by every other leader, including Gordon Brown (Britain) and Angela Merkel (Germany). He walked with his head down, ignoring most, no one shook his hand or welcomed him to the meeting.

The Vatican has accepted Juan Pablo Cafiero's appointment as ambassador to the Holy See. The announcement takes place after rejecting Alberto Iribarne, who had been proposed by the government of Argentina in the first place, for being divorced.

It's good that the countries in South Caucasus start to realize that mutual rivary is of no benefit to anyone. It seems that Armenia and Turkey have already understood that. It's not known yet if Azerbaijan gets the message. In the news report today the head of the National Security Council of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan says "our neighbors are not our rivals."

Heads of state, foreign ministers, and other officials from more than 40 countries around the Mediterranean and the European Union have been gathering in Paris to launch a Union for the Mediterranean.

U.S. President George Bush is on his way to Europe for talks with European Union leaders in Slovenia, and discussions in Germany, Italy, the Vatican, France and the United Kingdom. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports it is likely to be his last official visit to the region, before leaving office.

The president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev's first visit to the West since his inauguration as president in May will last barely eight hours.