(From the FT.com) International opinion of America’s role in the world has turned positive for the first time in more than five years, according to an annual poll for the BBC World Service. In 20 of the 28 countries polled, the United States was viewed favorably; with an average of 46 per cent of the 30,000 adults surveyed saying its influence in the world was positive compared with 34 per cent saying its influence was negative.

More than a year after Barack Obama’s inauguration, “it appears the ‘Obama effect’ is real,” said Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland, which conducted the survey with Globescan, a polling group.

“Its influence on people’s views worldwide, however, is to soften the negative aspects of the United States’ image, while positive aspects are not yet coming into strong focus,” he added.

Read more here: Poll shows US image improving abroad