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.
A news weekly that believes in China
A nearly brand-new newsweekly was launched this month. The Time-esque red-bordered covers of China Weekly appeared on newsstands in China's major cities on May 5.
The Pope’s Israel Trip Was a Success
Most Israelis seem to agree that the pope's just concluded trip to Israel wasn't a raving success. Far from healing wounds, his address at the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum garnered harsh criticism for failing to adequately address the horrors memorialized there.
Branding Korea: Stressing the ‘Sexy’ in Seoul
A growing gap between a traditional Korea and a cosmopolitan, "cool" Korea is partly to blame for the country's branding problem overseas, because the country's leaders are promoting Korean industry and tradition at the expense of its vibrant youth culture. Ask anyone outside of Korea, "What are the coolest cities in Asia?" and almost everyone will mention Tokyo, Hong Kong or Bangkok, while leaving out Seoul. This branding deficit costs Seoul billions of won in lost tourism revenue every year. Seoul is a modern, cosmopolitan city, but few outsiders know it.
Why Jack Was So Long at the Fair
All told, Mr. Masey, 84, spent nearly 30 years creating exhibitions and pavilions for the government. His efforts at public diplomacy, which culminated with world’s fair pavilions in 1967 in Montreal and 1970 in Osaka, Japan, are the subject of his new book, “Cold War Confrontations” (written with Conway Lloyd Morgan, Lars Müller Publishers).
AFRICOM’s $6 Billion Fiasco in Djibouti
The USA African Command (AFRICOM) is building their new African megabase in the tiny Horn of African country of Djibouti. The first phase is costing $2 billion, according to reports, and eventually another $4 billion will be spent. This latest expansion of USA imperial might, this time on African soil, is turning into a fiasco for the Pentagon and US State Department.
Top Disney Executive Urges [Travel] Partnership
The Travel Promotion Act would create a public-private entity to promote U.S. tourism abroad. “It would complement and augment our nation’s public diplomacy efforts,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts at a Senate subcommittee meeting.
Despite embargo, Cuba imports daquiris from US
Jugs of daiquiri mix and gourmet nuts are among the items sold to Cuba under an agricultural waiver carved out of the decades-old U.S. trade embargo. Amid calls for a fresh start in U.S.-Cuban relations, sales of treats and nonessential items highlight the inconsistencies in the current American policy.
US earns Mexico’s thanks over swine flu response
Swine flu has infected Mexico's relations with China and other countries that have canceled airline flights and halted some trade. But its most prickly neighbor - the United States - now seems like the country's most loyal friend.
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