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.

The West's Obligation To Ukraine

When President Obama and European allies meet next week, they can begin forming a meaningful response to Vladi­mir Putin’s adventurism. This new strategy should note that Putin’s view of the world is rooted in dangerous fictions. Churchill said Russia was a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Under Putin, Russia’s rhetoric can be described as a fantasy inside a delusion wrapped in a tissue of lies. 

Tags: european union, history, jim o'brien, madeleine albright, nato, op-ed, russia, ukraine, united states, vladimir putin

High-End Malls In Southern California Court Shoppers In China

As Chinese tourists spill from their tour bus into the Beverly Center, Charlie Gu hands each one a sleek black envelope. Inside: a Chinese-language map of the mall and a special discount card. Gu, the center's Mandarin-speaking Chinese specialist, asks shoppers about what they're looking for and circles relevant stores on the map.

Tags: california, china, corporate diplomacy, los angeles, tourism, united states

Interview: Israeli President Calls For Peaceful Iran Ties

On the occasion of the Persian New Year, Norouz, Israeli President Shimon Peres sent a message of peace to Iranians. In an exclusive interview with Israel-based journalist Farnoush Ram for RFE/RL's Radio Farda in Jerusalem on March 19, Peres called for peaceful relations between Israel and Iran, insisting his country is against war.

Tags: benjamin netanyahu, conflict, history, iran, israel, norouz, shimon peres

'21st Century Book Burning'

If you’re reading this, you probably live in a country where the Internet provides a portal for the free exchange of ideas. But in many countries, believe it or not, what so many of us take for granted is unfathomable.  In others, it is a smoldering memory.

Tags: censorship, freedom of speech, press freedom, social media, united states

100 Million New Voters Are About To Transform India

With only a few weeks until India elects its next prime minister, the country's "demographic dividend" - the young people who provide its best hope of becoming a major economic power - is about to become its democratic dividend.

Tags: india, youth, elections, democracy, economy, demographics, public opinion, women

Russians Responds To U.S. Sanctions - With A 'We'll Sanction You' Social Meme

Among the US sanctions on Russia this week, one new restriction targets a specific bank, Rossiya. Washington officials described it as a personal bank for senior Russian officials. Well, today, President Vladimir Putin seemed to laugh off the new restriction. He said he personally doesn't have an account at Rossiya, but vowed to transfer his money there by Monday.

Tags: protest, rossiya, russia, sanctions, social media, ukraine, united states, vladimir putin

Streisand Effect Takes Hold As Turkey Bans Twitter

In an attempt to halt widespread allegations of corruption, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shuttered Twitter – but so ineffectively that the number of tweets sent in the country has remained unaffected.

Tags: censorship, elections, recep tayyip erdogan, social media, turkey, twitter

Michelle Obama's China Opportunity

Michelle Obama has embarked on a weeklong trip to China, together with her mother, Marian Robinson, and daughters, Malia and Sasha. Critics of the trip point out that the Robinson-Obama visits to Beijing (Great Wall), Xi’an (terra-cotta army), and Chengdu (pandas), will do nothing to illuminate or alleviate tensions in U.S.-China relations.

Tags: barack obama, china, diplomacy, foreign policy, human rights, michelle obama, peng liyuan, soft power, united states, xi jinping

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