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.

Sister Cities Olongapo and Virginia Beach Celebrate Fruits of Dynamic Diplomacy

What was supposed to be a farewell tribute to a friend and collaborator of the government and people of Virginia Beach became a testament to the strength, dynamism and great promise of the Sister City relationship of Olongapo City and Virginia Beach.

Tags: sister cities, united states, philippines, virginia beach, olongapo, Cultural Diplomacy, diaspora, bilateral relations

Boise’s Refugee Resettlement Program Considered an International Success

The success of Boise's refugee resettlement program has attracted international attention. German professionals, public officials and volunteers kicked off a two-day visit to Boise on Friday to learn about how the city welcomes and integrates refugees. 

Tags: united states, idaho, germany, international exchange, refugee crisis, education, syria, international image

The First Black Arts Festival Was Shaped by Cold War Politics

In April 1966, legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington travelled to Dakar, Senegal, with his orchestra to play at the first World Festival of Negro Arts. Organised against the backdrop of African decolonisation and the push for civil rights in the US, the festival was hailed as the inaugural cultural gathering of the black world.

Tags: united states, senegal, history & theory, arts, culture, cold war, soviet union, Cultural Diplomacy, africa

EXPO 2016 Antalya From a Tourism Perspective

Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors internationally with approximately 1.2 billion international tourists and $1.25 trillion in international tourism receipts worldwide. This gives it a direct influence on many areas such as economic development, employment, environmental awareness, cross-cultural peace and dialogue and country image. [...] Thus, it is a source of honor and pride for us to host EXPO 2016 in Antalya under the theme "Flower and Child" and motto, "A Green World for the Next Generations."

Tags: expo 2016, antalya, turkey, nation branding, tourism, economic development, dialogue, culture, international image

Performances and Jam Sessions Break the Ice During First U.S. Cultural Mission to Cuba

They came, they jammed, they danced to Cuban hip-hop, but did they conquer? A group of American cultural officials and a dozen entertainers and other artists returned Thursday from a four-day cultural diplomacy mission to Cuba that was sponsored by the U.S. government and billed as the first of its kind since the thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba.

Tags: cuba, united states, Cultural Diplomacy, culture, us government, diplomatic relations, music, usher, arts

Meet The First European Union Exchange Student In Iran

Valentina Simeone hails from the city of Cagliari on the Italian island of Sardinia, but has spent the past six months a world away — in Iran. The 21-year-old became the first ever European Union exchange student to the Middle Eastern country, studying Farsi at Tehran University under the Erasmus Program, a EU student exchange program established in 1987. 

Tags: european union, iran, italy, international exchange, erasmus, culture, tehran university, nuclear deal

The Last Great Test of Barack Obama’s Soft Power

From the earliest moments of Barack Obama’s candidacy for president, there was an interesting debate about whether he would enhance America’s soft power in the world or not. Over the past eight years there have certainly been some data points that offer evidence of Obama’s soft power — but there has also been a legitimate debate about whether it means all that much for American foreign policy.

Tags: president obama, united states, united kingdom, david cameron, smart & soft power, public opinion, european union, brexit, us foreign policy

A New Base for Chinese Art in Metro Vancouver

While the field in Metro Vancouver is already crowded with proposed Chinese art museums and facilities [...] “This is a cultural bridge between China and Canada,” Ye said. “First, it’s a place where Canadians can get the most authentic, top-level cultural exhibits from China today. Second, it gives Chinese-Canadians — no matter how many generations they’ve been here — to have a visual and tangible link to what their ancestral culture has to offer.”

Tags: china, canada, vancouver, arts, Cultural Diplomacy, museums, diaspora, culture, tourism, asia pacific foundation

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