While the story of the goofy panda who sets out to be a kung fu master enthralled audiences three years ago, the second edition of this animated feature has run into controversy with the Chinese public. Many feel that the film twists the premise and base of Chinese culture to its convenience.

To attract foreign students and academics, the Taiwan Parliament approved spending $197 million over four years to make its higher education system more competitive globally. Funds will go to creating more English-language degree programs and internship programs for foreign students.

Thus, if Bangladesh wishes to use soft power in international politics it has to display its dominant values... If a country's culture and ideology are attractive, other nations are more willing to follow. Precepts and teachings found in the literature of Tagore, Nazrul and Jashimuddin could be significant sources of our soft power.

State Department Award is one of the most prestigious awards by U.S. government, and two American Indians students Aparajit Sriram and Avanti Dabholkar, have bagged it for creating a website named "Cultural Diplomacy With the Muslim World" for its 2011 Doors to Diplomacy Award.

On Monday, May 30, the completion ceremony of the Japanese Language Programs for Foreign Service Officers and Public Officials, which are conducted jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Foundation, will be held inside the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A high level delegation from Jersey visited Israel as part of a three-day visit, concluding on May 24, to promote the island and drum up interest from businesses and individuals in investing in the island. The meetings encompassed business, political and cultural discussions...

Bollywood fever is sweeping Africa's political capital, with a week-long festival of 14 films, including blockbusters like Sholay and 3 Idiots, enthralling cinegoers.

The programme on May 21 here was yet another feather in the hat of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi which has in the last two years unleashed cultural diplomacy. The cultural diplomacy has seen holding of a first-ever Bangladesh Film Festival in the Indian capital a year ago and screening of films by directors like Zahir Raihan.