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.
Persian Station in Britain Rattles Officials in Iran
As Iran’s ruling ayatollahs tell it, the main strike force plotting to end Islamic rule in their country is not on the streets of Tehran but on the upper floors of a celebrated Art Deco building in central London. The BBC's Persian News service are "the propagators of an 'all-out war' against the Islamic republic," according to Iran’s semiofficial news agency.
Guam, Niigata Celebrate Being Sister Cities
Guam and the Japanese city of Niigata will celebrate seven years of being sister cities today. The Guam/Niigata Friendship Exchange Association will hold a friendship dinner at the Holiday Resort Guam, with 60 visitors from Japan and 40 representatives from Guam, R&C Tours said in a press release.
Taiwan Launches First Cruise Service With China
A Taiwan company launched a cruise service with China Sunday, making it the first such cross-strait service in 60 years. The voyage across the Taiwan Strait takes only four-and-a-half-hours, but it took Taiwan and China 60 years to ease tension and for Taipei to agree to lift the ban on sea links with the mainland.
Interview with Ukranian Magazine on Russia’s Image
Russia is associated on its brand base with the usual suspects: matriushkas, cold weather, the Soviet Union, vodka, tsarist palaces and classic music and literature. More recently and on top of it, Russia is associated with blond tennis female players, mafia, Abrahamovic, an aggressive foreign policy and an authoritarian state.
Russia forms commission to improve its image
Some weeks ago, Russian newspapers reported that President Medvedev had just created a new commission in the Kremlin to promote a positive image of Russia abroad. It is not a new case of nation branding by far, but this high-level commission points out that countries are increasingly conscious of how critical image and reputation are to a country’s prospects in today’s world, especially on economy and foreign affairs.
Honorary “Brand Spain” Ambassadors Receive Credentials
The new honorary ambassadors for Brand Spain, among them Agencia Efe, NBA player Pau Gasol, tenor Placido Domingo and researcher Margarita Salas, received their credentials on Thursday from Crown Prince Felipe. The crown prince praised the leadership and achievements of the individuals and institutions joining the group of ambassadors, calling them a “dream team” of “21st century public diplomacy” that would improve Spain’s presence in the world.
Full Transition: Are we Ready for Web 2.0?
What does Web 2.0 mean for democracy? Web 2.0 at its root implies user contribution and collaboration — two-way communication as opposed to one-way messaging. The challenge in the public sector is to ensure the exchange of ideas remains productive and viable, instead of complaint-ridden and harassing.
Cultural Swap A Hit
Tuesday’s game, and others scheduled through the weekend, are part of the Vermont-Dominican Republic Baseball Cultural Exchange 2009, a program of the Vermont Institute on the Caribbean aimed at building cross-cultural relationships and fostering understanding between Vermonters and Dominicans.
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