It's such a great, simple idea: Young Brazilians want to learn English. Elderly Americans living in retirement homes just want someone to talk to. Why not connect them?  FCB Brazil did just that with its "Speaking Exchange" project for CNA language schools.

Tags: brazil, united states, new technology, internet diplomacy, education diplomacy, digital diplomacy, international exchange, north america, south america

An international uproar mounted Tuesday over the fate of hundreds of Ni­ger­ian schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants in mid-April, with the Obama administration preparing to send a team of specialists to Nigeria to help recover the missing girls and U.N. officials warning that the kidnappers could face arrest, prosecution and prison under international law.  A social-media campaign called Bring Back Our Girls has gained rapid traction on Facebook and other sites over the past several days.

Tags: aid diplomacy, united states, barack obama, nigeria, new media, digital diplomacy, government pd, terrorism, africa

Since the new pope was elected in the spring of 2013, commentators have been eagerly speculating about the "Francis effect," or the possibility that the popular pontiff might attract more people to the flock. But Hispanics make up the biggest population of Catholics in America, and if they continue leaving the Church at this rate, it could be particularly problematic. 

Tags: faith diplomacy, catholicism, united states, public diplomacy, non-state actors, non-state pd, catholic church, hispanic, pope francis

In spite of ongoing tensions in Ukraine, which have seriously soured relations between Russia and the U.S. & Europe, Moscow has not altogether forgotten the Western Hemisphere. While Lavrov’s trip did not end in any particularly major deals between Moscow and his Latin American hosts, the visit came months after declarations by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that the Russian armed forces require some form of overseas military facilities.

Tags: russia, united states, military diplomacy, latin america, foreign policy, europe, north america, government pd, foreign affairs

London crowds can get ready to lose themselves at the sight of Eminem, who will be the first rapper to headline at the Wembley Stadium in July.  The show will be Marshall Mathers' first London concert in 13 years and he’ll play to a 90,000-capacity stadium.

Tags: music diplomacy, london, united states, entertainment, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy

He’s grinned through countless national TV shows and public appearances, but backstage at a Beijing bookstore, China’s ‘most famous foreigner’ is feeling a little nervous. A minute or so into his Dashan & Friends comic ensemble, the Mandarin-fluent Canadian comic Mark Rowswell comes perilously close to choking.

Tags: comedy, Cultural Diplomacy, china, united states, canada, media

Last Saturday, May 3, was annual World Press Freedom Day. This year, the state of press freedom is especially grim; journalists face imprisonment, kidnapping, and death for doing their jobs. “Unfortunately, we really don’t have a lot to celebrate,” said Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Tags: world press freedom day, committee to protect journalists, human rights, press freedom, journalism, eritrea, china, japan, egypt, ukraine, media

The inaugural Guardian Cities brand barometer ranks world cities on everything from transport and weather to crime and social ‘buzz’ – and they won't all be pleased with the results.

Tags: guardian cities brand barometer, nation branding, city branding, tourism, branding, los angeles