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.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The Soft Power Exponent of India

In times of terror, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an icon of world peace. The spiritual leader speaks to S Gurumurthy about his mediation in Colombia to bring the armed rebels to the negotiation table and how he applied the Gandhian principle of non-violence, and ancient Indian values of yoga and meditation to rid the world of violence and mould it into One Family.

Tags: sri sri ravi shankar, soft power, india, Opinion, non-state actor, gandhi, non-violence

From Refugee Camp to New York City: An Entrepreneur’s Tale

For fashion entrepreneur Monica Phromsavanh, the pathway to success started in the camp for Laotian refugees in Argentina where she was born and spent her first years. She was a hard charger even as a child, never letting poverty or family difficulties discourage her. She came to the United States at 17, worked for upscale clothing retailers and rose rapidly up the management ladder, helped by mentors impressed by her keen sense of style and business acumen.

Tags: economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, refugees, women's empowerment, fashion, fashion entrepreneur, refugee camps, argentina

Trudeau: Trump Won’t Affect Canada-Cuba Relationship

The Canadian PM said that good relations with the United States were compatible with Canada maintaining strong political and trade ties with Cuba. “Canada has always been a true and sincere friend of Cuba and we have never seen a contradiction between being great friends of Cuba and being good friends and partners with the United States,” he said.

Tags: justin trudeau, canada, cuba, Donald Trump, united states, government pd, foreign policy

La Crosse Group Plans Another Trip to Ireland

“The cultural exchange is so important for finding commonalities and learning about differences, traditions and every day life, and you really become more immersed in the cultural than you would by just reading about it,” West said. “We have members from Iowa, Minnesota — people really want to support the connection to Ireland.”

Tags: la crosse, ireland, cultural exchange, Cultural Diplomacy, international exchange, ngos

Xi's Peru Visit a Milestone in Bilateral Relations, Says Ambassador

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Peru is set to deepen political mutual trust, consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries and mark a new milestone in the development of bilateral relations, said Chinese Ambassador to Peru Jia Guide.

Tags: china, peru, President Xi Jinping, bilateral relations, friendship, government pd, onfucius Institutes, chinese language

What Germany Can Learn From the U.S. on Counterterrorism

Behind the growing terror threat is Germany’s ongoing debate about privacy and data collection, highlighted by a recent law to reign in Germany’s intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) [...] Yet Germany’s new push to ban Islamist recruitment organizations and crack down on suspected terrorists reveals a newfound realism from Germany's leaders.

Tags: germany, US, counterterrorism, europe, government pd, Migrant Crisis, terrorism, syrian crisis, refugee

Displaced by War, Refugees Find Hope in their Food Culture

According to the United Nations, 6.6 million people have been displaced by Syria's civil war. They have found refuge across the globe, facing economic hardship, language barriers, social and cultural acclimation. Despite their challenges, Syrians find hope and solace in their traditional food culture as a source of normalcy, stability, and hope in bridging cultural divides. 

Tags: syrian refugees, gastrodiplomacy, culture, paris, new york, berlin, amsterdam, cultural exchange, eatoffbeat, food festival

Qatari Soft Power Efforts: Two Steps Forward, One Step Backwards

Efforts to leverage Qatar’s 2022 World Cup hosting rights to create the soft power the Gulf state needs to punch above its weight and ensure a sympathetic hearing in the international community in times of emergency operate on the Leninist principle of two steps forward, one step backwards.

Tags: qatar, smart & soft power, FIFA 2022 World Cup, international image, gulf region, influence, human rights

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