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.
Stevie Wonder, Green Day, Pharrell Williams for 2017 Global Citizen Festival
Stevie Wonder, Green Day, The Lumineers, The Killers, and The Chainsmokers are set to headline the Sept. 23 Global Citizen Festival, the annual concert in Central Park that blends music and social activism. [...] As in the past, 60,000 tickets are expected to be given out for the festival, essentially as rewards to participants in Global Citizen’s initiatives to end extreme poverty worldwide and tackle other social ills.
Coaches Trained in Premier Skills, Which Returns This Week
The renowned Premier Skills initiative run by the Premier League and the British council returns to Cape Town this week as part of their three-year Premier Skills programme. The programme, which started last Saturday and will conclude this Saturday, is taking place at the Ikamva home of Ajax Cape Town with intensive training for 60 grassroots coaches and 24 referees from all over the province.
Hagia Sophia: Aspects of Hard and Soft Power
Turkey uses Hagia Sophia as a tool of cultural diplomacy to exert both soft and hard power. The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been a museum since 1935. [...] At this stage, the Turkish government is expected to use Hagia Sophia as a negotiating tool in its diplomatic struggle over Kurdistan and other geopolitical issues.
Cultural Diplomacy: PNCA Troupe Returns from China
A 32-member cultural troupe led by Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Director General Jamal Shah returned from a tour of China on Monday. The troupe comprised folk singers, dancers and musicians specializing in traditional music and instrumentalists from all parts of the country. The troupe performed at four different places in the Xinjiang region of China.
US’ Indiana Teams Up with Indian States for Education Exchange
According to The Economic Times the visit by Jennifer McCormick – who is the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction – will have a long-term impact in fostering people-to-people relationship between the US and India. [...] The Memorandum of Understanding will allow both schools to collaborate on research, faculty and student exchange as well as programmes to allow students to spend a semester abroad.
Afghan Martial Artist Introduces Shaolin to Country-Fellows
Hundreds of the youth come enthusiastically to the newly opened martial art center to see and learn the Shaolin after they have heard about from their friends or relatives. The branch of the Chinese Kung Fu was brought and introducing to Afghans by Hussain Sadiqi, an Afghan-Australian martial artist, who has defied the unsafe situation in his homeland to serve his people by teaching them the art.
Museums Turned into Soft Power
As stated by The Soft Power 30 in their report, not long ago, museums were a form of hard power. They acted as safeguards of the spoils of war and conquest of mankind. It was a form of expression of the state hegemony and cultural diplomacy. However, the role of museums has gone through some changes in the past years.
@StateDept Loses One More Under Secretary as Bruce Wharton Steps Down
One of the State Department's top three senior officials is retiring this week. Ambassador D. Bruce Wharton was designated as Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R) on December 8, 2016. He was one of the top two senior officials who remained at the State Department after the January 20 transition.
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