soft power

September 5, 2017

A glimpse at how museums like the Canadian Museum for Human Rights can improve the image of the countries and cities where they are located.

From donating millions of dirhams to fighting hunger to personally delivering emergency aid to a cyclone-hit island, HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein’s charitable endeavors are many and often. [...] And now the royal is urging others to do their part – today in particular. September 5 marks the International Day of Charity, an occasion declared by the United Nations back in 2012 to help encourage fund-raising for worthy causes.

Beijing attracts most Chinese overseas student entrepreneurs, according to a report jointly released by Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based independent think tank, and China's recruitment website Zhaopin.com. "Soft power" including interpersonal connections, comfortable environment, cultural diversity, and resources are the most important reasons the returned entrepreneurs consider when deciding on base.

Just as many fans have been grudgingly coming to terms with football’s new reality, Qatar Sports Investments shelled out the £198m to transfer Neymar from Barcelona. This hardly came as a surprise. Neymar is a phenomenal talent. But it is important to understand what lies behind this: governments from across Asia have been targeting football for some time as a means of building their global soft power and boosting their images.

What happens in L.A. happens in the world. Hear from local thought leaders about critical global matters.

Many stories this week focused on how artistic expression can help build stronger relationships and increase a state's cultural visibility.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the International Festival have both had record breaking box offices in their 70th anniversary year. [...] Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "This has been a very special year for the Fringe as we celebrated 70 years of defying the norm, 70 years of the greatest melting pot of arts and culture anywhere on the planet, and 70 years of Edinburgh as an internationally renowned festival city.

Can T-shirts, hoodies and sports socks inspired by God – and worn by Justin Bieber – help to win disciples? Think of church merchandise and you will likely think of mugs decorated with stained glass windows or key chains with bible quotes, sold in a dusty gift shop. But things have changed: for the face of “church merch” in 2017, look in the somewhat unexpected direction of Justin Bieber.

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