PARIS: France has leapfrogged the US and Britain as the world’s top so-called soft power, helped by the election of President Emmanuel Macron, a study of countries’ non-military global influence showed Tuesday.
While France has risen, Donald Trump’s ascent to the White House has seen the US slip from the top last year to 3rd place in the Soft Power 30 study, compiled by PR company Portland Communications and the University of Southern California.
Soft Power 30 measures a country’s ability to secure international alliances and influence others through its attraction and appeal.
The study uses polling in 25 countries and digital data to measure a country’s influence.
It takes into account factors such as the ability of countries to attract foreign students to its universities and tourists, as well as its cultural allure.
France’s rapid rise from 5th place last year, when it was in the doldrums under unpopular ex-President Francois Hollande, is partly due to the centrist Macron’s election in May.
But the country’s diplomatic reach also played a key role.
“France’s greatest strength lies in its vast diplomatic network,” the study says.
“It is unrivalled in terms of membership to multilateral and international organizations, as well as in its diplomatic cultural missions.
“With Macron having long campaigned for cooperation and integration, it is not unreasonable to expect France’s global engagement and influence to grow.”
France also remains the world’s top tourist destination, the report said.
The terror attacks that have cost the lives of more than 230 people since 2015 “have not stopped tourists flocking to France and enjoying its rich cultural offering, cuisine, and lifestyle,” the report says.
The top five countries by order are France, Britain, US, Germany and Canada. Japan has risen to 6th place from 7th, Switzerland is 7th and Australia slips to 8th.
The survey attributes the US decline — it has slipped from first last year to 3rd — to a deterioration of “global sentiment” as a result of Trump’s “America First” policy.
The US was still “unrivalled” in higher education, technological innovation and the production of film, music and TV, it pointed out.
Meanwhile, the report’s authors warn that Britain’s fall — it was top of the rankings last year — “should serve as a warning of what is likely to come for post-Brexit British influence.”
With negotiations under way for Britain to leave the EU within two years, the report says: “It is hard to imagine the direction of travel for British soft power... will be upwards in the future.”
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Macron puts France top of ‘soft power’ rankings: survey
Macron puts France top of ‘soft power’ rankings: survey
Jailed Pakistan former PM loses most vision in one eye: lawyer
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has lost most of the vision in his right eye, his lawyer and family have said, raising fresh concerns about his health.
Khan, who is also a former star international cricketer, has been in jail since 2023 and was sentenced late last year along with his wife to 17 years on corruption charges they both deny.
His lawyer, Salman Safdar, visited Khan in jail this week and later submitted a report to Pakistan’s chief justice and the Supreme Court detailing his concerns and requesting treatment for his client.
“One of his eyes has only 15 percent vision,” Safdar told a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday.
The meeting with Safdar was Khan’s first contact with an outside visitor for several weeks, underscoring concerns raised by his legal team about limited access to Khan.
Safdar said Khan’s eyes were watery and he wiped them repeatedly during their meeting. Khan also complained of persistent irritation and vision problems, he said.
Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, said his father’s condition was the result of “medical neglect” during his confinement .”.. and the deliberate denial of proper treatment in jail.”
“The responsibility lies squarely with the regime in power, the Army Chief and the puppets enabling this cruelty,” Kasim Khan said on social media platform X late on Thursday.
The Supreme Court has already requested a report on Khan’s living conditions in connection with a case that has been pending since 2023.
Authorities had previously confirmed that Khan underwent a 20-minute medical procedure in January at Islamabad’s government hospital but gave no other details.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at the time that Khan was “fine and healthy,” while government officials have repeatedly rejected claims that Khan was being mistreated in prison.
However, Safdar said that no meaningful action had been taken despite repeated complaints.
He has not expressed concerns about security but Safdar said in his report to the court that Khan believed his living conditions could be improved.
Khan was prime minister from 2018-22 before being removed in a no-confidence vote during a political crisis over tensions between his government and Pakistan’s powerful military establishment.
He has since faced multiple legal cases on corruption and other charges.
Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, maintain that the cases against him are politically motivated.
His arrest triggered nationwide protests in May 2023, some of which turned violent and led to hundreds of arrests.
Khan, who is also a former star international cricketer, has been in jail since 2023 and was sentenced late last year along with his wife to 17 years on corruption charges they both deny.
His lawyer, Salman Safdar, visited Khan in jail this week and later submitted a report to Pakistan’s chief justice and the Supreme Court detailing his concerns and requesting treatment for his client.
“One of his eyes has only 15 percent vision,” Safdar told a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday.
The meeting with Safdar was Khan’s first contact with an outside visitor for several weeks, underscoring concerns raised by his legal team about limited access to Khan.
Safdar said Khan’s eyes were watery and he wiped them repeatedly during their meeting. Khan also complained of persistent irritation and vision problems, he said.
Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, said his father’s condition was the result of “medical neglect” during his confinement .”.. and the deliberate denial of proper treatment in jail.”
“The responsibility lies squarely with the regime in power, the Army Chief and the puppets enabling this cruelty,” Kasim Khan said on social media platform X late on Thursday.
The Supreme Court has already requested a report on Khan’s living conditions in connection with a case that has been pending since 2023.
Authorities had previously confirmed that Khan underwent a 20-minute medical procedure in January at Islamabad’s government hospital but gave no other details.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at the time that Khan was “fine and healthy,” while government officials have repeatedly rejected claims that Khan was being mistreated in prison.
However, Safdar said that no meaningful action had been taken despite repeated complaints.
He has not expressed concerns about security but Safdar said in his report to the court that Khan believed his living conditions could be improved.
Khan was prime minister from 2018-22 before being removed in a no-confidence vote during a political crisis over tensions between his government and Pakistan’s powerful military establishment.
He has since faced multiple legal cases on corruption and other charges.
Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, maintain that the cases against him are politically motivated.
His arrest triggered nationwide protests in May 2023, some of which turned violent and led to hundreds of arrests.
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