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.

Cuban Jazz Students to Present Free New Orleans Concert

Students from Cuba's top music academy will present a free concert of big band jazz with a Cuban accent in New Orleans on Thursday (Jan. 5). The nonprofit group Horns to Havana says the 14-member high school jazz band from Havana's Conservatorio Amadeo Roldan will be in town Monday through Jan. 10 for a jazz and cultural exchange program with the Preservation Hall Foundation. 

Tags: cuba, music diplomacy, jazz diplomacy, new orleans, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural exchange, international exchange, nonprofit group

China’s CCTV Launches Global ‘Soft Power’ Network to Extend Influence

China Central Television (CCTV), Beijing’s largest TV network, said it would launch a new global media platform on New Year’s Day to help re-brand China overseas. [...] President Xi Jinping, in a congratulatory letter, urged the new network to “tell China stories well, spread China’s voice well, let the world know a three-dimensional, colorful China, and showcase China’s role as a builder of world peace”.

Tags: china, cctv, soft power, international broadcasting, nation branding, xi jinping, Digital Diplomacy & New Technology

A Big Year for the U.S.-Africa Partnership

It has been an encouraging year for our partnership with Africa. Alongside our African partners, we have made significant progress advancing democracy, peace, and prosperity throughout the continent, though challenges, of course, remain.

Tags: us-africa relations, united states, africa, partnership, yali, democracy, human rights, global women's issues, global aid & development

Cambodia's Experiment With Responsible Tourism

Over the past few years, more and more Cambodian communities in the rural areas have become willing to open their homes to visitors, inviting visitors to get a taste of the local culture or to explore the wildlife in the country. Unlike general tourism, these Community-Based Tourism (CBT) and Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET) projects are managed by local communities themselves or with the local communities strongly involved in the decision-making process.

Tags: cambodia, tourism, ecotourism, environmental protection, southeast asia, Cultural Diplomacy, non-profit organization

2016 a Year of India's Quiet Diplomacy

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed away this year, India followed a strategy of quiet diplomacy while projecting its soft power at the world body, even as it suffered a setback in the fight against terrorism. India had a low profile on the diplomatic front that masked a lot of behind-the-scenes diplomacy. After having made a trip to Washington to address the Congress, Modi did not attend the annual general debate of the General Assembly.

Tags: india, narendra modi, quiet diplomacy, smart & soft power, united nations, international image, culture, International Yoga Day

Rising Like the Sun

Nepal and Japan are geographically distant but close in terms of culture, religion, way of life and sentiments. [...] Though diplomatic relations were established between Nepal and Japan only in 1956, a spiritual bond has existed since the introduction of Buddhism in Japan in the sixth century. This year, we are celebrating the diamond jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. 

Tags: japan, nepal, diplomatic relations, government pd, global aid & development, culture, religion, bilateral cooperation, economic development

Cuban Dance Company Develops International Following

Callejón de Hamel (Hamel Alley) — a vibrant street in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Central Havana devoted to Afro-Cuban culture —is where Elier Lima first fell in love with dance. [...] This significant cultural space, which also features music, theater and art became the first stage Lima danced son, salsa and rumba before joining the Dance School of the National Theatre of Cuba and the National Folkloric Ensemble of Cuba.

Tags: cuba, dance diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural exchange, united states, switzerland, education, music, theater

Russia’s Rising Role in the World

The end of Cold war and dismantling of mighty Soviet Union along with dissolution of Socialist system in East Europe, Russia, having lost the Cold War to USA, was forced to lay down for years as its allies began dropping the Kremlin and joining the USA and Europe through NATO and EU. Further, dismantling of anti-West military alliance Warsaw Pact increasingly weakened Russia as it gradually lost its influence globally.

Tags: russia, vladimir putin, cold war, eastern europe, smart & soft power, government pd, nato, global influence, strategic partnerships

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