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.

Why Scientists Should All Be Diplomats

This Saturday, in over 500 cities worldwide, thousands of people will take to the streets for an unprecedented show of support for all things evidence-based. The range of different groups joining the March for Science — from librarians to artists to teachers to oncologists — highlight the truth behind a phrase that is often dismissed as a cliché: Science really is a universal language. And it is that universality that makes science the ideal conduit for diplomacy in this moment in history.

Tags: science diplomacy, international exchange, march for science, education, cross cultural dialogue, global health, new technologies

Greece Hopes to Exercise Soft Power by Hosting Ancient Civilizations Forum

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said that the upcoming Forum of Ancient Civilizations conference, hosted by Greece, will bring together countries with some of the world's oldest cultures to find ways of exercising soft power across the world.[...] The two-day conference is due to take place in the Greek capital of Athens on Sunday and will feature representatives from China, India, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia as well as Greece.

Tags: smart & soft power, history & theory, greece, ancient civilizations, culture, china, india, egypt, mexico

Dudu Tassa, Israeli-Iraqi-Yemeni Jew, Resurrected his Ancestors' Music

Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, who opened Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with a Friday afternoon performance backed by his band the Kuwaitis and will do the same this weekend, has deep roots. As an Israeli-Iraqi-Yemeni Jew born in Tel Aviv who plays the music of his once-celebrated ancestors.[...] For the last half decade, Tassa has been remaking Saleh and Daud Kuwaity’s songs for new generations as a way to reclaim their glorious musical past.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, music diplomacy, dudu tassa, israel, yemen, iraq, coachella, cultural exchange

Malta Dedicates €251,862 to Foreign Aid Projects

The Foreign Affairs Ministry will this year spend €251,862.16 on development projects to impoverished countries. The money will be distributed across 12 different projects from local non-governmental development organisations (NGDOs) across Asia, Africa and South America as part of the government’s Official Development Assistance policy.

Tags: foreign aid, malta, global aid & development, ngos, poverty eradication, sustainable development, africa, asia, south america

Collaborating to Prevent Terrorist Attacks Against Soft Targets

Overseas, the State Department is working with other countries and organizations to share experiences, ideas, and practices that can assist partner nations to better protect public places.  Under the auspices of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), the United States and Turkey are co-leading the “Protection of Soft Targets in a Counterterrorism Context Initiative,” which aims to raise awareness, identify needs, and leverage expertise and experiences to better protect potential soft targets. 

Tags: armed control, international security, united states, terrorism, turkey, cooperation, counterterrorism, multilateralism

Obama to Hold First Public Event Since Leaving Office

Former President Barack Obama will return to Chicago on Monday to speak to young people at the University of Chicago, in what will be his first public event since leaving the White House. [....] "This event is part of President Obama's post-presidency goal to encourage and support the next generation of leaders driven by strengthening communities around the country and the world," an advisory said.

Tags: barack obama, civic engagement, chicago, young leaders, universities, leadership, youth leadership

Ethiopia's Progress in Human Development

The other key sphere of concern in Ethiopia's HDR is sustainable development which contains a selection of 15 key indicators that cover environmental, economic and social aspects. Environmental sustainability indicators are basically related to renewable energy consumption, carbon-dioxide emissions, change in forest area and fresh water withdrawals by which Ethiopia has shown a remarkable leap.

Tags: ethiopia, human development, sustainable development, government pd, governance, east africa

Nigeria Urges Asian Nations to Strengthen Existing Bilateral Ties

The Nigerian Government has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take relations with Nigeria to greater heights. [...] The Minister says Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy is worthy of emulation by the countries.

Tags: nigeria, asia, bilateral ties, cultural exchange, Cultural Diplomacy, korean cultural center, south korea, film festival, asean countries

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