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.
Kremlin Greenlights Patriotic Epic
Central Partnership, Russia's leading independent production company, has won a government tender to make the first fully state-funded feature since Soviet times — $8 million budgeted patriotic war film, “The Brest Fortress” — in association with state film studio Belarusfilm in Russia’s Western neighbor Belarus. It is the first of a raft of similar government-backed patriotic films that will roll out from 2010 onwards under a new policy that switches state funding to projects more in line with wider Kremlin political priorities.
Petition Urges China to Free Dissident
More than 160 prominent writers, scholars and human rights advocates outside mainland China have signed an open letter to President Hu Jintao asking him to release a well-known intellectual and dissident who was detained this month. The letter was posted on the Internet on Tuesday. The letter to Mr. Hu indicates that the case of the intellectual, Liu Xiaobo — one of the driving forces behind a bold manifesto demanding democratic reforms that has received worldwide attention — is quickly turning into the latest human rights cause célèbre in China.
Indians Condemn Media Coverage Of Mumbai Attacks
Emerging from decades of government control and regulation, India's media are quickly evolving into a boisterous, zealous fourth estate, most observers agree. Coverage of the 67-hour Mumbai terrorist attacks, however, has brought unprecedented condemnation, especially of 24-hour television news channels.
Clinton Gets Two Deputies In Beefed-Up State Department
Incoming secretary of state Hillary Clinton's two deputies were named Tuesday with the former first lady reportedly planning a more muscular State Department under president Barack Obama. Both of the deputies -- former deputy national security adviser James Steinberg and ex-budget director Jacob Lew -- served in the presidency of Clinton's husband Bill.
Chinese pandas arrive in Taiwan in charm offensive
A pair of giant pandas arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday as a gift from China, the latest move in rapidly warming ties between the longtime rivals. A green-liveried Eva Airways jet carrying "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan" set down at Taipei airport after the three-hour flight from Chengdu in Sichuan province. Taken together the pandas' names mean reunion — underscoring Chinese hopes that the animals' arrival in Taiwan will spur unity between the sides, 59 years after they split amid civil war.
Fixing Indonesia’s image problem
Indonesia has an image problem. Yes, Indonesia is the third largest democratic country in the world. Yes, Indonesia is also the country with the largest Muslim population. But at the same time, we are witnesses to how messy our democracy can be and the use of religious symbols in many conflicts in Indonesia. The gaps between who we are, how we wish to be seen and how we are actually seen are widening...Since our Foreign Ministry established a special director general for public diplomacy in 2002, much has been done to promote our national image abroad.
Thou Shalt Rise Again
The Pakistan issue, a strike here or there, may help to some extent. But the purpose is not to punish Pakistan or to teach it a lasting lesson...The challenge in the present circumstances is to evolve a genuine, long-term Pakistan policy that is immune from the intermittent skirmishes or small-time love affairs on public diplomacy front. We are not dealing with one entity that is known collectively as Pakistan. India's Pakistan policy has to address the Sindh, Balochistan and Pakhtun factors as significantly as the Punjabi aggressiveness and deep hate for anything us.
Obama’s Darfur Conundrum
“[Obama’s] strategy would be much more inclined to figure out a cooperative effort with China and the UN instead of telling others what to do,” Zweig said. He noted that a soft-power approach concerning diplomatic relations rather than outright opposition would allow for progress on both sides as diplomatic engagement would enable a more cooperative relationship.
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