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.
Chinese shuttler quits, Games host judo diplomacy
The Olympic play-to-lose badminton fiasco took a fresh twist when China's Yu Yang quit the sport in anguish, and later on Thursday black belt President Vladimir Putin and British leader David Cameron will grapple over Moscow's position on Syria in a day of judo diplomacy. Cameron welcomed Putin, honorary president of the International Judo Federation, to Downing Street and will urge the former KGB spy to take a tougher line on the civil conflict in Syria, Russia's firmest foothold in the Middle East.
New era of sports diplomacy
The State Department, like the rest of America, has its eyes fixed on the London Olympics. But officials there aren’t just rooting for Team USA — they’re also looking for new recruits. Today’s gold medalists, after all, are tomorrow’s sports diplomats.
Heading into collective future
...Deng Xiaoping met Henry Kissinger... and asked him: "Doctor, are you familiar with Confucius?" In uncharacteristic modesty, Kissinger said: "Not in detail". Although the Chinese are nowadays trying to return to their traditional culture and values to boost their soft power and political influence, I am afraid most of them have to echo Kissinger's answer, "not in detail", when prompted with the same question.
Can’t Even Keep the Lights On: India and Her Supposed ‘Global Power’ Status
India’s policymakers have been fixated with pursuing major strategic ambitions with the hopes of one day becoming a superpower.... It has been lobbying for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and it has been trying to raise its profile globally through public diplomacy and events such as the Commonwealth Games.
Colombia’s “cultural diplomacy” in Asia promotes trade, investment
Colombia's "cultural diplomacy" in Asia has helped the South American country open new markets and attract more investment, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Is ‘Twiplomacy’ Replacing Traditional Diplomacy?
"If somebody thinks that 140 characters is the diplomatic solution to solving the world’s problems then we’ve got a big problem. Twitter really wasn't created for diplomacy. Twitter’s not even created to have a conversation," he said.
A new strategy for NATO
This new age of brand-aware governments is both good and bad news for NATO. It’s bad, because it gives member states yet another reason to shy away from conflicts that don’t concern them directly, for fear of contaminating their image ... On the other hand it’s good, because if NATO gets this right, it can offer a way for states to enhance those all-important reputations.
Trade between Malta and Tunisia on the rise
The Maltese Embassy in Tunisia is also committed to enhance relations between Malta and Tunisia through cultural diplomacy and humanitarian assistance, amongst others. The embassy’s political work is currently focused on the holding of the Annual Maltese-Tunisian Mixed Commission meeting which this year is due to be held in Tunisia.
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