The group came to the United States as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program. The decades-old program has built relationships with emerging leaders from countries all over the world. [...] Many diplomats have praised the program as an extremely effective tool in creating international understanding between the U.S. and other countries.

Tags: entrepreneurship, business, oregon, partnership, international exchange international visitor leadership program

Over the last year, emoji developers and public figures have argued that the universal emoji keyboard makes it difficult, if not impossible, for women to represent themselves beyond a bride or princess. Recent successful proposals will rectify that problem by offering dozens of new female characters who do things like work in tech, ride a bike, lift weights and weld.  

Tags: hijab, muslim, Digital Diplomacy & New Technology, emojis, Cultural Diplomacy, women's rights, tolerance, diversity

THERE ARE SOME rather remarkable aspects of the increasingly heated debate about China’s influence in Australia. First, the idea that China actually has any “soft power” to exert is actually rather surprising. Soft power, after all, is something that has generally been associated with our cousins in the U.S. — not “Communist China”.

Tags: china, australia, soft power, international relations, south china sea, joseph nye, propaganda, confucius institute

Global challenges that affect millions of citizens and nations must be examined collectively, inclusively and jointly. The large influx of migrants does not represent a single isolated issue that can be easily dealt with, but rather demands greater efforts. The United Nations can provide a more robust platform for addressing the migrant crisis. All nations together must participate in addressing and offering support to refugees and the host nations.

Tags: refugee crisis, europe, united nations, global aid & development, multilateralism, partnership, migration

Since 2014, the Crosscut Asia non-competition category has been organized to increase Japan's cultural interaction with other countries in Asia. The category helps to strengthen the filmmakers network across Asia and their exchange with journalists and film critics. Each year, the festival focuses on one country. This year the festival is celebrating "Colorful Indonesia."

Tags: the national ballet of china, indonesia, film diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural exchange, internet governance, asia, japan, film festival

Two secondary teacher education students at the University of Delaware recently studied and taught in Eastern Europe in separate programs that each described as “a fantastic opportunity.” [...] Being immersed in another country and another culture was a valuable experience in itself, Fligor said, but she also gained new perspectives on teaching methods and education systems.

Tags: international exchange, university of delaware, united states, hungary, eastern europe, education, culture

The European Union has launched the ‘2016-2020 Human Rights and Democracy Country Strategy’ for Papua New Guinea. [...] The priority areas are to promote a Human Rights culture in PNG society; support the ratification and implementation of Human Rights international conventions and instruments; and strengthen good governance, democracy and rule of law.

Tags: european union, global aid & development, papua new guinea, non-state pd, government pd, human rights, democracy, education, 2016 Rio Olympics

Recently concluded first BRICS film festival  which was held in New Delhi in the run up the to the BRICS summit to be held in Goa next month, has left a very positive impact amongst the film critique and film lovers’ community. [...] it might open up for forging the long-term alliances to enhance mutual cooperation amongst the participating nations in the field of films, art, and culture.

Tags: brics film festival, Cultural Diplomacy, india, art, culture, cooperation, narendra modi