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.

ScreenSingapore 2011 comes to a close

Celebrities added a lot of glitz and glamour to ScreenSingapore 2011. But besides the red carpet extravaganza - organisers said the event also helped local film companies network with international counterparts, something which organisers said will bear fruit in future.

Tags: asia pacific, film diplomacy, singapore

Britain as the ‘superpower of aid’? Beware the delusions that may bring

On Monday morning, David Cameron – in his first major initiative in development diplomacy in the UK – will chair a summit for pledges to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi). There's a shortfall of £2.3bn, and it's being seen as a litmus test of how well aid can survive in the age of austerity.

Tags: soft power, aid diplomacy, united kingdom, health diplomacy, development diplomacy, david cameron

Sentro Rizal: A Philippine cultural exhibit in Spain

Named after the country's national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the center aims to promote the Philippine heritage across the world in the same way the France, Spain and Germany did with Alliance Francaise, Spain with Instituto Cervantes and Goethe-Institut respectively.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, language, art diplomacy, spain, diaspora, philippines

NATO at the crossroads after Gates speech

The alliance has grappled with diverging internal views over whether NATO should be an instrument of "hard" combat missions—generally the U.S. view—or the preference among some in Europe for "soft" power, like "humanitarian, development, peacekeeping, and talking tasks," as Gates put it.

Tags: soft power, hard power, nato, libya, gates

U.S. Underwrites Internet Detour Around Censors

The Obama administration is leading a global effort to deploy “shadow” Internet and mobile phone systems that dissidents can use to undermine repressive governments that seek to silence them by censoring or shutting down telecommunications networks. The effort includes secretive projects to create independent cellphone networks inside foreign countries.

Tags: united states, government pd, new technology, internet diplomacy, networks, mobile

Students from Nordic Society visit Consulate General

Recently, a group of nine students from Fudan University, one of China’s most prestigious universities, visited the Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai. Though they study different subjects, these students are united by one shared love: An appreciation for the culture, society and values of Nordic countries.

Tags: norway, exchanges, language exchange, scandinavia, nordic culture, nordic society

Those on the Front Lines of Diplomacy

We are led to think that diplomacy is a function of this or that Secretary of State, or the exchanges between Presidents -- and of course, that's true. But the foundation of public diplomacy happens through the tight knots tied through high quality, high impact people to people encounters.

Tags: government pd, social media, us department of state, people-to-people, partnership

Don’t Silence Voice of Hope

To this end so-called “soft power” – the ability to win the battle of ideas not just the war – will become increasingly crucial. Unfortunately the Government is making cuts to institutions such as the BBC World Service and the British Council, which are key assets in our soft power capability.

Tags: soft power, government pd, united kingdom, bbc, british council, arab revolutions

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