Europe and Iran have common interests in several areas. In light of their historical and traditional bilateral relations as well as other positive sources, such as the existence of complementary economies, mutually-beneficial cooperation in the fields of energy and technology [...] through both collective and bilateral mechanisms, it is possible to actively pursue the struggle against the important threats such as terrorism, violence, extremism, drug trafficking.

Tags: iran, hassan rouhani, italy, france, EU, europe, middle east, bilateral relations, soft power, government pd

As Japan gears up to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and caters to a surging influx of foreign visitors, the country faces a cultural dilemma: Should it stop identifying Buddhist temples on maps with the traditional “manji” symbol that is often confused with a Nazi swastika?

Tags: japan, tokyo, sensoji temple, tourism, nation branding, Nation Image, religion, buddhism

Terrorist groups may now have a harder time using Twitter as a platform for radical activities. For years, terrorists groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al Qaeda have used social media sites including Twitter and Facebook, to spread extremist messages, recruit followers, and call on sympathizers in the West to commit acts of violence at home.

Tags: twitter, violent extremism, social media, isis, al qaeda, facebook, digital diplomacy & new tech, non state pd, propaganda

Ugandan women’s rights groups are setting up a control centre to monitor any violence against women in the East African nation’s elections this month and to act quickly on any reports. The move comes after the United States voiced concern that the electoral environment in Uganda was deteriorating in the run-up to the Feb. 18 elections

Tags: uganda, united states, east africa, non state pd, elections, women's rights, forum for women in democracy, women's situation room

The world's largest exhibition to be held outside the Vatican of liturgical artifacts used by popes was launched Feb. 4 at the National Palace Museum in Taipei City, Taiwan. [...] It underscores 73 years of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Vatican, and highlights the deepening of bilateral relations and exchanges between the two sides.

Tags: vatican, taiwan, Cultural Diplomacy, government pd, bilateral relations, exchanges, taipei city, diplomatic relations

In the two years since Germany’s president, foreign minister, and defence minister signalled that their country would take on a larger role in international affairs, the country’s leaders have received a crash course in geopolitical realism.

Tags: germany, angela merkel, government pd, smart & soft power, geopolitics, influence, international image, refugee crisis, global power, leadership

A handful of young immigrants who were brought illegally to the United States from México as children will now have the opportunity to travel to reconnect with their roots, improve their Spanish proficiency and learn about their homeland.
 

Tags: international exchange, immigrants, united states, mexico, culture, DACA, latino center for leadership development, dallas, non state pd

The story of the Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble story began in 1980. [...] It was when Roxana Dykyj, along with her husband, Ivan Pylypczak, and fellow dancers, embarked on a journey to establish a dance company that would showcase Ukrainian culture in the Ukrainian diaspora and the world.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, culture, ukraine, dance, diaspora, hromovytsia, ukrainian school of dance, smart & soft power