Businesses have been warned that in order to thrive in a low-carbon future they must first "navigate a mosaic of global realities", that has seen water scarcity hit a variety of regions and threaten to destabilise infrastructure [...] that is the warning from the third annual Earth Security Index (ESI 2016) – released on behalf of the Earth Security Group - The report warns that businesses must align themselves to societal priorities in the countries that they operate as part of a new “business diplomacy for sustainable development”.

Tags: stewart, business, water scarcity, global issues, global aid & development, corporate diplomacy, business diplomacy, sustainable development

Until today, the Muslim and Hindu cultural exchange has been so strong in the villages of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts, that it becomes almost close to impossible to segregate a Muslim from a Hindu or a Hindu from a Muslim from just their attire or language.

Tags: rajasthan, ramazan, muslims, Hindus, india, cultural exchange, Cultural Diplomacy, diwali, cultural festivals

Missoula has a head start. Thanks in large part to the initiative of several young mothers who started an organization called Soft Landing, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is re-establishing an office in Missoula that will serve up to 100 incoming refugees from Syria and elsewhere in the year ahead. The IRC is an officially sanctioned Voluntary Agency (VOLAG) under U.S. refugee policy. 

Tags: world refugee day, refugee crisis, global issues, global aid & development, international rescue committee, missoula, syria, non-government organizations, united states, advocacy, refugee resettlement program

Aoury and her friends came to Cuba on a cultural exchange program because it is still illegal for Americans to visit Cuba solely as tourists, and the U.S. maintains the trade embargo on Cuba that has been in place since 1960.

Tags: united states, cuba, us-cuba relations, tourism, the cold war, barack obama, cultural exchange programs

The clinics are part of the Berklee India Exchange, an initiative aimed at establishing a platform for cultural conversation about Indian music through artist residencies, musical collaborations, and performances. [...] Last year, they were held in Mumbai and Delhi. This year, the clinics were also held in Bengaluru.

Tags: india, cultural conversation, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural exchange, music diplomacy, berklee india exchange, music education, berklee college of music

In a school hall in Dujiangyan — the home of Taoism — hundreds of young people, from all parts of the country, elbowed for mat space, to soak in from an authentic Indian master, the finer points of Yoga, which has become the new spearhead of India’s soft-power push in China.

Tags: india, china, southwest china, yoga, soft power, dujiangyan, taoism, yoga diplomacy, Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh

The programs under the Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange pillar focuses on encouraging a greater understanding of Japan through supporting and promoting Japanese studies overseas, dialogues on critical global issues and shared concerns. 

Tags: japan, philippines, manila, japan foundation, art & culture, language education, cultural exchange, Cultural Diplomacy, people to people diplomacy, exchange programs, asia

The People’s Republic of China is opening China Culture Center (CCC) in Nepal this year to coinicide with 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. [...] The opening of the facility will promote cultures of the two countries, said Melsam Ojha, president of Friendship and Development Academy which has been promoting the Chinese culture in Nepal.

Tags: china, kathmandu, china culture center, nepal, xi jinxing, melsam ojha, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural exchange, international exchange, language, film diplomacy, music diplomacy