The government is trying to get yoga recognized throughout the world as India's cultural property. Since his election last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist and devout yoga practitioner, has persuaded the U.N. to announce an International Day of Yoga and has even appointed a minister of yoga in his cabinet. 

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale-2014 stays clear of snob appeal, while its location is highly relevant and part of the success, according to Swiss Ambassador to India Dr Linus von Castelmur, who said that the 108-day festival was a perfect forum to foster cultural exchange between the two nations. Simultaneously, Norwegian Ambassador Eivind S Homme said, “the Biennale could be the beginning of another beginning. Spread across eight venues in the city, the event inspires us to think in new ways. We feel challenged,” he noted.

What does the movie The Interview have in common with a 2,700-year-old Persian drinking cup? Each demonstrates the powerful role that art and culture can play in international affairs, and each had global implications that the creators may not have envisioned.

The Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the UAE’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development signed an agreement to launch an executive programme for cultural cooperation on 29 January.

Adish Mammadov, Azerbaijani ambassador to Sweden met with Per Olsson, State Secretary to the Minister for Culture and Democracy of Sweden.  The sides discussed development of cultural and humanitarian ties between Azerbaijan and Sweden, AzerTag state news agency reported.

Media organizations in China and India are expected to forge a synergy in a bid to help advance relations between the two emerging economies, said a top Chinese information official at the Second India-China Media Forum in Beijing on February 1.