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.

Sisi-Netanyahu Meeting: Lights, Camera and a New Era of Public Diplomacy?

It is not every day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets leaders of Arab countries publicly and with cameras capturing the moment. In fact, it has hardly ever happened in the eight years since Netanyahu became prime minister for the second time in 2009. And that is precisely why the 90-minute meeting in New York on Monday evening with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was so significant.

Tags: international broadcasting, israel, egypt, prime minister benjamin netanyahu, president al-sisi, middle east, public diplomacy

Campfire Songs in a War Zone: Syria's Girl Scouts Earn Their Stripes

This week, Scouts of Syria will become an official member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, while Arabic could become the organization’s fourth official language – following English, French and Spanish.

Tags: nation branding, syria, syrian civil war, girl guiding, girl scouts, arabic language, female empowerment

Ping-Pong Diplomats Reunite

After 45 years, ping-pong athletes who took part in a series of historic exchanges between China and the U.S. in 1971 and 1972 reunited at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the first stop on the Chinese table tennis team's visit to the U.S. in 1972. [...] "I'm very excited and joyful to be here and meet my old friends today," said Liang. "If it wasn't for Ping-Pong Diplomacy helping to break the ice between the two nations, there wouldn't be as much exchange and communication between China and the U.S. today."

Tags: ping pong diplomacy, china, united states, university of michigan, table tennis, historic exchange, bilateral dialogue

UK Troops Rush to Caribbean Bracing for More Damage Than Irma

MORE than 1,000 British troops are in a race against time to get aid to the Caribbean as yet another hurricane headed towards the batters the region. Royal Marine Commandos and engineers are continuing to gather medical supplies, food, water and building materials to send to the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), Anguilla, and Turks and Caicos after Storm Maria was upgraded to a hurricane overnight.

Tags: military aid, uk, Hurricane Irma, hurricane maria, disaster aid, humanitarian assistance, caribbean

Korea Accelerating Public Diplomacy for 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

With the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics less than five months away, South Korea is accelerating its public diplomacy to promote the South Korea-hosted international sports event where the cultural allure of Korea could be illuminated globally. [...] The ministry is utilizing its 182 overseas diplomatic missions to reach out to the world to promote the sports games.

Tags: sports diplomacy, tourism diplomacy, south korea, pyongchang, cultural exchange, nation branding

UAE Ambassadors Take Part in Cultural Diplomacy at Juilliard School

A senior delegation of UAE ambassadors has been welcomed by the Juilliard School, a performing arts conservatory. The visit came ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and reflected a shared interest between the UAE and the Juilliard School in the power of the arts in the development of society. During their visit, the ambassadors saw student performances and rehearsals, and reviewed manuscripts from the Juilliard Manuscript Collection, including the original score of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, uae, Juilliard, performing arts, mutual understanding, music, beethoven

Soft Power and Public Diplomacy in Latin America: A View from Argentina

As Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan pointed out in his essay for the 2016 Soft Power 30 report, the concept of soft power is still relatively foreign to many diplomatic services in Latin America, but this is beginning to change. Several countries in the region have started developing their capabilities to tap into, systematize, and project soft power internationally. In conducting foreign policy, public diplomacy is a key instrument for countries to assert their views and leverage soft power assets.

Tags: Americas soft power, government pd, Digital Diplomacy & New Technology, social media, public diplomacy, training, 21st century public diplomacy, argentina, latin america

Hold the Egg Sandwich: Egyptian TV Is Calling

Every other day or so, Hatem El-Gamasy connects to a news audience nearly halfway around the world, delivering hot takes on American politics, live from New York, but on Egyptian television. When the broadcast ends, he slips out his earpieces, opens the door of his makeshift studio and returns to his day job. Mr. El-Gamasy owns the Lotus Deli in Ridgewood, Queens, a place known for its sandwiches, extensive craft beer selection, and its gracious, friendly owner.

Tags: international broadcasting, united states, egypt, new york city, united nations, citizen diplomacy

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