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.
Talking about Public Diplomacy in the Middle East
I made the case that Arab states do an exceptionally poor job of conducting public diplomacy and that their standing in the global political community suffers as a result. I made the same point in Qatar and Egypt, and in all three places I encountered little disagreement, even when I added that the only country in the region to do a decent job of public diplomacy is Israel.
Fixing Foreign Aid
On Tuesday, after a 10-month delay that further rattled a demoralized staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Obama finally announced his nominee to head the agency. Dr. Rajiv Shah, currently an undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a popular choice among aid experts, a medical doctor who, at 36, has a resume that would be highly impressive for a man twice his age. If he is confirmed, he will inherit an agency in transition, with a disappointing past and an uncertain future.
Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan visits US
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale acclaimed the two nations’ building and approval of the education task group’s reports, including directions and measures to elevate education ties as agreed upon by senior leaders during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to the US in June 2008.
Cuba’s Soft Power: Exporting Doctors Rather Than Revolution
There are more than 51,000 Cuban doctors and health care professionals working around the world today, primarily in developing nations. Many of these are working collaboratively with US and European NGOs actually in third countries -- particularly in Africa in dealing with AIDS/HIV, river blindness, malaria, and a number of health maladies.
Singapore gets two pandas from China (finally)
The Chinese government has adopted “panda diplomacy” as a projection of its soft power since 1994. Due to their rarity, only countries which enjoy very good relations with China are able to receive the pandas. Pandas are natural ambassadors of goodwill with their iconic black eye patches, jolly expression and roly-poly gait. As national treasures of China, they are the most tangible sign of close ties between Beijing and the receiving country.
Israel and Iran compete to expand influence in Latin America
Latin America has become the battleground for competing Middle East powers, whose leaders are criss-crossing the continent seeking support from an increasingly strategic region. President Peres of Israel is using the first visit to Brazil by an Israeli head of state in 43 years to urge his hosts to resist the growing influence of Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group, in the region.
Obama visit to cement good relations
There is still a huge gap between China and U.S. especially in terms of soft power. As the gap narrows, differences in values and political systems will gradually come to the fore. But because of their highly integrated economies, China and the U.S. will continue emphasize strategic cooperation rather than strategic conflict,"said Professor Li Haidong, of the Institute of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University.
Dance group brings taste of Korean culture to Abu Dhabi
"I felt I visited Korea again," said Kholoud Al Alawi, an Emirati woman who had visited South Korea as a tourist. "I had watched Korean dance and music there and the programme relived those nice experiences," she said. Korean music has been influenced by Chinese, Indian [through Buddhism] and even Arab [through the historical silk route] cultures, explained Dr So In-hwa, a senior researcher at NCKPTA who accompanied the artists.
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