Tokyo's announcement over the weekend that it will bid for the 2020 Olympics is intended to show the world it can recover and stage a successful Games after the devastation caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The Vatican - once the world’s premier art patron - is again reaching out to artists, organizing an exhibit of contemporary works. Sixty living artists, including two Americans, were invited to reflect on the theme of truth and charity. The exhibit is part of the Vatican’s bid to reconcile with contemporary art.

Ireland Reaching Out is hoping to raise funds to expand to the rest of Galway and serve as a central Web site and database for similar reverse genealogy efforts elsewhere in the country. And by appealing to the Irish to come home, if only for a visit, the project could even help revive the local economy.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that former NBA player Sam Vincent and WNBA Legend Andrea Stinson will travel as sports envoys to Jordan from July 17-22. Vincent and Stinson will conduct six youth basketball clinics, work with disabled athletes, and meet with Jordanian sports officials.

Like the economy itself—though less noticed abroad—Italy’s ancient monuments and cultural heritage are crumbling. At stake is not just sentimental attachment to national monuments. Italy draws more than 45 million visitors every year, making tourism the country’s primary industry. Italy, as a brand, doesn’t just denote quality and beauty, but translates into euros.

Stratford Summer Music Festival starts Monday at Lower Queen's Park with fireworks at dusk and 10th-anniversary music composed by former Stratford Shakespeare Festival music director Bertie Carriere..."It's a perfect example of cultural diplomacy," Miller commented...

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, both in office and in the opposition, has demonstrated staunch support for Israel, and Canada Day proved to be a great opportunity for Israelis to show their appreciation for that country’s friendship.

But Brody, now a 68-year-old grandfather, hasn’t stopped representing Israel in the international arena. After embarking on a successful career as an insurance agent for many years, the tall, trim former star has embarked on what he calls his “third career”- advocacy for Israel.