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.

Post-Brexit Britain’s Biggest Economic Worry May Be its Language Barrier

As the UK prepares to leave the EU, it has a huge number of considerations to ensure its economy prospers. One, which is perhaps overlooked, is Britain’s language policy and how important this is as an economic resource. A strategic language policy and the cultivation of language experts in post-Brexit Britain are essential if it wants to connect with fresh markets overseas. This has long been a feature of international diplomacy—stretching back long before globalization as we know it. 

Tags: government pd, Cultural Diplomacy, trade, brexit, united kingdom, language diplomacy, globalization

Trump Prepares for Critical Week of Diplomacy

President Donald Trump faces his most critical week of statesmanship so far -- and it will reflect sharp changes of direction he has already wrought in US foreign policy. Trump will hold his most important meeting with a world leader yet when he welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday, after putting Beijing on notice that if it does not do more to rein in its ally North Korea over its nuclear program, the US will take tough action.

Tags: government pd, diplomatic relations, foreign policy, President Trump, china, egypt, united states, human rights, international image

Peace Diplomacy: Finding Entry Points for Female Mediators

A key component of this initiative is the plan to increase the number of female mediators in peace processes. The government is trying, among other means, to achieve this by creating a network of female mediators. In addition, Sweden is part of the network of Nordic Women Mediators, a network of women from the Nordic countries with professional mediation and negotiations experience.

Tags: global aid & development, government pd, peace diplomacy, finland, norway, nordic countries, gender peace security, mediation, women empowerment

Committed to Myanmar

Mark McDowell was a career diplomat for 20 years with the Canadian Foreign Service, where he made a name for himself as a pioneer in e-diplomacy. Defying the strictures of government bureaucracy, he pushed use of the internet and social media to engage with foreign publics and bring about cultural exchange. Mark brought his web-savvy and unconventional approach to public diplomacy to Myanmar

Tags: digital diplomacy & new tech, cultural exchange, government pd, canada, myanmar, e-diplomacy, social media

Kilted Yoga Sensations Take on Tartan Day in New York

It is considered one of the best shop windows for Scotland to showcase its wares, and now the country's biggest and hottest new internet export, the Kilted Yoga duo, are to boost this year's Tartan Day in New York by turning up as ambassadors. The pair – who appear topless in Perthshire forests in their Kilted Yoga videos, which have had more than 50 millions views – will represent Dundee marketing firm Scot Street Style at the flagship event in the Big Apple on Thursday where up to 30,000 are expected to take to the streets to celebrate all things Scottish.

Tags: cultural ambassadors, Cultural Diplomacy, tourism, tartan day, scotland week, scotland, new york, kilted yoga, visitscotland

Israeli Emergency Teams Support Flood Survivors in Peru

Israeli emergency teams have deployed to Peru to support affected communities following floods and mudslides that have eviscerated much of the country’s infrastructure. The Peruvian government said it needed international aid to help hundreds of thousands of people displaced by flash floods and landslides. IsraAID deployed a team to support affected communities in impoverished and remote areas.

Tags: humanitarian aid, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, israel, peru, israAID, iAID

How Baseball Became a Hit Again in Taiwan

As superstar players from around the world step up to the plate this weekend for the start of the 117th Major League Baseball (MLB) season in the United States, a far smaller league is already in full swing in Taiwan, an island falling back in love with the nearest thing it has to a national sport. [...] First introduced to Taiwan more than 100 years ago by Japanese occupiers, baseball has become so ingrained in the island’s culture that it is even depicted on the NT$500 (HK$128) note.

Tags: baseball diplomacy, baseball, sports diplomacy, soft power, international image, taiwan, cpbl, MLB

Geologists Converge in Cuba for Earth Sciences Convention

The 7th International Earth Science Convention will begin here [in Havana] tomorrow with geologists, geophysicists and miners from Latin America, North America, Europe and Africa. Organized by the Cuban Geological Society, the congresses of Geology, Mining, Geophysics, Informatics and Geosciences as well as the Oil and Gas Congress will be held in parallel. [...] Geosciences 2017, as it is also called, will be attended by Latin American researchers from Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Haiti.

Tags: science & technology, scientific cooperation, science diplomacy, cuba, latin america, north america, europe, africa, geosciences 2017

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