The Chicago-based Manual Cinema puppet troupe recently returned from a week in Iran at the Tehran Mobarak Puppet Festival, where their performances were welcomed with multiple standing ovations. Drew Dir, one of the US troupe's artistic directors, says the experience was a bit of shadow-puppet diplomacy. “Right before our first show, we were handed a note that told us this was the first time since 1979 that an American flag had been flown in the central city of Tehran - in our honor for participating in the festival," he says. 

Tags: iran, united states, Cultural Diplomacy, shadow puppet diplomacy, non-state actors

President Nicos Anastasiades paid tribute to Cyprus-Israel relations during the opening of an exhibition in New York titled ‘Jewish refugees in Cyprus en route to Israel’, which was held at the Sam and Esther Minskoff Cultural Centre in Manhattan. 

Tags: israel, cyprus, Cultural Diplomacy, museum diplomacy, government pd

Britain will promote new links with businesses  to manage scarce natural resources and stop deforestation in the developing world, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has announced.  The UK Government’s Department for International Development says it will establish new partnerships between businesses and farmers in developing countries to create multinational supply chains free from unsustainable deforestation.

Tags: united kingdom, environmental diplomacy, international development, foreign investment

City officials addressed outreach methods to partner with global cities at a Sister City Collaboration Committee meeting Monday.  Each committee member presented ideas they have implemented with Madison’s sister cities as well as plans they have for the future that could improve the city’s culture sharing and world relations.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, cultural relations, sister-cities, japan, united states, east timor

It's been several weeks since the coup that wasn't in Lesotho, yet there's been little progress in unravelling the tense political stand-off there. This comes despite the best efforts of President Zuma and his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, who have both invested plenty of time and diplomatic capital in efforts to find a solution. SA's influence only stretches so far, apparently.

Tags: south africa, soft power, jacob zuma, public opinion, region branding

"Lack of knowledge and myths about the disease are killing people as surely as Ebola is," said BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks. Quality information from both within and outside the countries affected about how the risks of Ebola can be safely managed will save lives. "The range of emergency activities on Ebola from the BBC World Service are in the finest traditions of the humanitarian instincts of our broadcasting."

Tags: bbc, ebola, international broadcasting, west africa, humanitarian aid

It is time for China to explore the "recipe" for British cultural soft power, which generates many economic benefits. Cultural charm makes the United Kingdom an attractive option for foreign tourists, students and investors, and it oils the wheels of trade and business. A recent example involved wealthy Chinese businessmen who splashed out as much as 100,000 pounds ($163,160) on a hunting trip in Scotland. 

Tags: soft power, united kingdom, economic rewards, china, academic exchange, culture

Richard Stengel has a bleak vision of the world's future - so bleak, in fact, he compared it to Westeros. During Monday's Social Good Summit, the under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs provided a dystopian outlook for 2030 - in contrast to the optimistic visions several other panelists presented - in hopes of mobilizing today's youth to get more involved and start preparing for the future as soon as possible.

Tags: richard stengel, public diplomacy, global conflict, social good summit, middle east, ebola