A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.
British Council Launches International Conference
Over one hundred participants, representing the vocational industry from the Arab World and the UK, will take part in a conference organised by The British Council on "Quality in Skills Education and Workforce Development" in Amman. This initiative is part of the Skills for Employability programme developed by the British Council which addresses the demand for skills in a global economy so that national educational and training systems are better able to respond to labour market demands and learner needs.
The FARC and the ‘Peace Community’
In Colombia, a former guerrilla commander says that in "peace communities" controlled by NGOs, the population was exploited and peace-niks helped the terrorists. In exchange for a reduced prison sentence, he had to come clean about what he did in over two decades in the FARC.
Testing Obama’s ‘smart power’ foreign policy
Approaching the end of his first year as president, Barack Obama has taken a bold step in deciding to increase the number of American troops in Afghanistan to over 100,000. Obama thus risks becoming the third Democratic president whose domestic agenda will be overshadowed by a difficult war.
Guy W. Farmer: PR not a substitute for policy
President Obama's recent Asia trip demonstrated yet again that foreigners generally like our charismatic president a lot, but exactly how does his personal popularity translate into concrete accomplishments in the defense of U.S. national interests? In my considered opinion as a retired diplomat, there's a huge disconnect between Obama's popularity and successful foreign policies.
Obama’s wars and peace
In accepting the Nobel Peace Prize and talking about the wars in which his nation is involved and the conditions under which he would approve America warring again, the world learned much about Barack Obama's view of war and peace.
A New Memorandum of Understanding has been Signed Between the British Council and Arts Council
The collaboration recognises the shared territory between the two organisations, offering the benefits of their expertise and relationships to further artistic practice in England, supporting artists and arts organisations to take their work to audiences worldwide, and bringing the best of international practice to audiences across the country.
Confucius Institutes short of teaching materials
Confucius Institutes around the world are now facing a short of teaching materials due to lack of translators and channels for publication and sale, said Xu Lin, director of the Confucius Institutes Headquarters. Compared with Germany-based Goethe Institute and Spain-based Cervantes Institute, Confucius Institute is lagging behind in providing effective Chinese teaching materials.
Wanted (badly): US and China to get along
Leaving aside events espousing a spiritual solution to global warming and speeches about the role the scouts can play in arresting climate change, the most surreal part of the day in the convention centre hosting the climate negotiations comes late in the afternoon, when China rolls out its public face to greet the press. For more than an hour, chief negotiator Su Wei plays Jekyll and Hyde in public diplomacy.
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