The first-ever Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Festival drew its curtains to a marvelous close yesterday at the Katara Esplanade providing visitors a window into the cultural identity of each of the seven participating Asean countries via a blend of performances, cuisine, handicraft and tourism products.

Even as the Narendra Modi government talks big about projecting India’s soft power, India’s main instrument for cultural diplomacy continues to wallow in severe fund crunch, forcing it to now open new cultural centres abroad only in collaboration with private organisations.

On World Press Freedom Day, the United States pays special honor to the importance of media freedom - a crucial element of freedom of expression - at home and abroad. A diverse and independent press is crucial to holding governments accountable and sustaining democracy around the world. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) at the U.S. Department of State details the state of media freedom around the world in the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for not providing a new apology for Tokyo’s wartime actions during a visit to the U.S., but also said Seoul’s diplomacy shouldn’t be “buried in the past,” indicating a desire to improve strained ties. In her first public remarks about Mr. Abe’s recent trip to the U.S., Ms. Park said the Japanese leader had missed an opportunity to improve relations with Tokyo’s neighbors

U.S. and Iranian officials have been insisting the last several years that they wanted to resolve the nuclear issue before discussing the sectarian wars that are raging across the Middle East. Not anymore. As the battles have escalated in recent months, so has talk about regional diplomacy. 

Even as the Narendra Modi government talks big about projecting India’s soft power, India’s main instrument for cultural diplomacy continues to wallow in severe fund crunch, forcing it to now open new cultural centres abroad only in collaboration with private organisations.

Since beginning her new profession as a Public Diplomacy Envoy, Kwan has had the opportunity to work with two presidents and three Secretaries of State, and she continues to make strides in the global arena as a promoter of American values and athletic interests.