A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.
Museum Director at Hermitage Hopes for Thaw in Relations With West
When the British Museum lent one of the sculptures known as the Elgin marbles to the State Hermitage Museum here last year, the move angered Greece, which wants the sculptures back, and set off a spirited debate about restitution. But it was also a diplomatic coup by one man: Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the Hermitage and a skilled cultural ambassador.
NCAA Basketball Is Coming to China, With Help From Alibaba
Alibaba is hoping to re-create March Madness in November. The Chinese online shopping giant is teaming up with top leagues in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to stream the first regular-season games played in the country online.
International Council Celebrates Visit of Ethiopian Public Diplomacy Delegation
The Sudanese Council for International People's Friendship (CIPF), Monday evening organised a celebration at the Oil Club to honour the visit of the Ethiopian public diplomacy delegation. The delegation is currently in the country led by the speaker of the Ethiopian parliament, Abadula Gemeda.The chairman of the agriculture committee of the national assembly, Habeb Makhatoum, the representative of the assembly's speaker, Dr. Al-Fatih Izz Eddin Mannsour, asserted during his address to the celebration the eternal and historical relations between the two countries.
Third-Graders Study Culture Through Japanese Exchange
Students at Emerson Elementary learned more about Japanese culture through exchanging cultural artifact boxes with students from a Japanese classroom. Beth Dalin, a third-grade teacher at Emerson, said she hoped the project showed students that they have more in common with students from Japan than they may have previously thought.
Japan Heading for Toilet Diplomacy
Few foreign visitors make it through their first day in Japan without singing the praises of this epitome of Japanese know-how; a contraption that offers both comforting warmth and a frighteningly accurate bidet jet. Now the government appears ready to capitalise on the enthusiasm and is set to talk up toilet technology as it launches a worldwide drive to promote Japan's prowess in innovation for the smallest room, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.
China, Kazakhstan Agree to Align Development Strategies
Speaking with Xi, Nazarbayev noted that friendly relations with Kazakhstan’s eastern neighbour was a “priority” for Astana. “We have a plan, and we have outlined specific actions that will take Kazakh-Chinese relations to a new level,” he said.
Australian Foreign Aid Cuts Would Hit Indonesia Deepest
Two weeks after recalling the ambassador from Jakarta in protest at the executions of two Australian drug traffickers, the government announced Tuesday it plans to cut Indonesian aid by 40 percent from 543 million Australian dollars ($428 million) to AU$323 million. Australia wants to cut its aid budget to AU$4.1 billion next year.
Ready to Go to Cuba? It Has Gotten Even Easier
Planning a trip to Cuba? These days, Americans who want to visit the island can book a room on Airbnb.com, the home-stay website, and browse flights on CheapAir.com. These are options unimaginable six months ago, and they reflect the growing range of travel choices borne of the détente between the two countries.
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