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.
Why Ireland's Farmers Want the Irish Embassy in Iran to Reopen
Farmers have called on the government to reopen the Irish embassy in Iran, which was closed in 2011. Patrick Kent, the President of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA), said there would be “huge opportunities for exports of beef and sheep meat to Iran” if full diplomatic relations were to resume between the two countries.
American TV Stars Visit Israel
A group of Hollywood television stars are touring Israel in an attempt to strengthen ties between the US and the Jewish state, as well as to bolster the struggle against the BDS movement. The trip is organized by America's "Voices in Israel" group (Conference of Presidents) in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry for Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy.
2017: Social Media Is Where Nigerian Arts Will Breathe
From PR to much-needed buzz for new projects, social media has become the tool of choice for artists around the world. This year, more than before, Nigerian artists will catch on fully. [...] Looking across the cultural landscape in Nigeria, it is therefore a no-brainer that the internet will play a crucial role in shaping the year that’s to come, for both the artists and their teeming fans.
New Broadcaster Promises Year-Round Buzz
Fans of the Olympics can expect the spirit of the Games to remain aflame all year round, not just during the sporting extravaganzas, the man now responsible for broadcasting both the Summer and Winter events to hundreds of millions of viewers across Europe told Reuters. "We can make this a year-round experience... because of all the broadcast rights we have to Olympic sports," Eurosport CEO Peter Hutton said in an interview.
'Spochan,' a Safe Variation of Kendo, Spreads around World
Tetsundo Tanabe was running a kendo dojo in Yokohama when he came up with an idea on how children could avoid the pain of getting smashed over the head with a bamboo sword. His solution was simple: Use softer weapons. [...] Forty-five years after that brainstorm, 400,000 people in 65 countries and regions are playing Tanabe’s invention, called sports “chanbara” (sword fighting), or “spochan” for short.
What to Eat for Good Luck in the New Year
In Spain, for example, for every chime of the clock at midnight, people eat one grape. Each of the 12 grapes represents good luck for a month of the coming year, but only for those who can get them all in their mouths before the clock finishes striking. Here is a sampling of other traditions from around the globe that, like Spain’s grape-eating, have found their way to the United States.
Netanyahu Discusses Syria Conflict with Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin spoke on the phone Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the conflict in Syria and “continued security cooperation,” his office said. The talks came as the 15-member UN Security Council unanimously voted to back a Russian-Turkish peace plan for a ceasefire in Syria and the launch of new peace talks for the war-wracked country.
Cuban Jazz Students to Present Free New Orleans Concert
Students from Cuba's top music academy will present a free concert of big band jazz with a Cuban accent in New Orleans on Thursday (Jan. 5). The nonprofit group Horns to Havana says the 14-member high school jazz band from Havana's Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan will be in town Monday through Jan. 10 for a jazz and cultural exchange program with the Preservation Hall Foundation.
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