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.

China Grants Scholarship to 26 Ethiopians

The scholarship winners would pursue their high learning education in the top Chinese universities [...] Handing out credentials to the winners at a ceremony held on the premises of the embassy yesterday Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia La Yifan said that over the year the Chinese government has granted 236 scholarship to Ethiopian students.

Tags: china, ethiopia, africa, scholarship program, education, international exchange, government pd, economic development

Israeli Musical Diplomacy: A Win over BDS and Israel Naysayers

Steven Goldstein’s connection to Israel predates his now-renowned acting and operatic career. [...] But now, amid an ongoing push by supporters of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure artists to avoid Israel, Goldstein hopes to use his talents and experience to combat these efforts.  

Tags: israel, musical diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, steven goldstein, vocal arts institute, tel aviv, non state pd, opera, culture

Boris Diplomacy, or What Does Brexit Mean for British PD?

The 2012 image of Britain’s new Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, waving the Union Jack while haplessly snagged on a zipline above London, seems an apt image for the situation he has inherited, and indeed played a major part in creating. [...] this piece is limited to considering the implications of “Boris Diplomacy” for British public diplomacy and soft power.

Tags: united kingdom, brexit, boris johnson, london, government pd, smart & soft power, diplomatic relations, boris diplomacy, international image

The Rise of the Digital Diplomat in a Turbulent Age

Digital platforms are enabling an era of digital diplomacy – but, says British High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin, there are certain rules of the game that need to be taken into account. [...] But here’s something different that touches on both aspects, but is itself a discipline in its own right – diplomacy in the digital age.

Tags: digital diplomacy & new tech, digital platforms, ghana, united kingdom, social media, transparency, government pd, engagement

Film Tells Story of First Refugee Olympic Team to 'Show the World Their Potential'

The team, comprised of ten refugee athletes from Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will compete in the Rio 2016 Olympics and march in the Opening Ceremony tomorrow. The International Olympic Committee is funding the team to draw attention to the global refugee crisis. UNHCR released a 90-second film about the refugee athletes today, which is hosted on the organisation’s YouTube page. 

Tags: 2016 Rio Olympics, refugee crisis, sports diplomacy, advocacy, unhcr, film, youtube, digital diplomacy & new tech, #WithRefugees

Bringing the World to the Classroom: U.S. Teachers Abroad

Each year over 400 American and international teachers travel abroad to learn from their peers, share their own knowledge, and experience other cultures through programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and still more travel through other governmental and private programs. The State Department estimates that upon their return these 400 educators reach over 65,000 students in just one year.

Tags: united states, international exchange, culture, teachers abroad, us department of state, education, teachers for global classrooms, smart & soft power

Of Soft Power and Image

In discourses about elements of soft power of Pakistan, the role of the corporate sector is often omitted. Soft power is usually thought to mean culture, arts, fashion, foods, media, sports, film industry, education, and tourism. Economic growth is often termed as hard power alongside military prowess, yet in fact economic status is a significant determinant and reflection of soft power. 

Tags: pakistan, smart & soft power, international image, influence, economic development, corporate social responsibility, business development

International Festival in Bhutan Puts Turkish Author in Spotlight

Aug. 26-28, Bhutan will celebrate its seventh Mountain Echoes Literary Festival. The three-day festival is uniquely set against the backdrop of the verdant Himalayas in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Mountain Echoes is a confluence of art, music, literature and new media, serving as the ideal platform for debate, discussion, and cultural exchange.

Tags: bhutan, literary festival, Cultural Diplomacy, turkey, art, music, new media, cultural exchange

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