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.

Art Project Celebrates Korea-Australia Friendship

The Australian Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday launched the “Australia-Korea Friendship Tree” art project to celebrate 125 years of contact between South Koreans and Australians. The project will explore the connection between the two nations through old and new artistic mediums. Smartphone users will be able to scan posters around Seoul to access a digital model of a tree, where they can view 125 images of Australian-Korean friendships, watch music videos from both countries, and even upload their own selfies. 

Tags: south korea, australia, Cultural Diplomacy, bilateral ties, public diplomacy, government pd

Ukraine Hosts American Jazz Violinist

In an effort to highlight “cultural diplomacy” with the embattled nation, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine invited jazz musicians Christian Howes and Douglas Droste to perform in Lviv. The Lviv Philharmonic Hall in Ukraine played host for workshops, rehearsals and performances infusing American jazz with classical music featuring violinist Howes and conducted by Droste.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, music diplomacy, united states, ukraine, public diplomacy, jazz diplomacy

Armenians Worry Over Erdoğan's Probable Presidency

Armenians are feeling concerned over Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's presidential candidacy and believe that placing centralized power in his hands is a potential threat to the safety and security of Armenians, given his divisive manner of ruling.

Tags: erdogan, turkey, armenia, turkish-armenian relations, genocide, soccer diplomacy

How the Most Improbable Doubles Team at Wimbledon Is Using Tennis to Promote Peace

The partition of British India followed World War II, and ever since the independent states of India and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the two countries have had a volatile relationship.  On the tennis court, however, India's Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have mended some of the political and sporting divide between their two countries by forming a successful partnership on and off the court.

Tags: india, pakistan, sports diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, tennis

The Kurdish Moment is Now

As Iraqi Kurdish president Massoud Barzani asked legislators to prepare for an independence referendum Thursday, dozens of Kurds in the region's capital Erbil rallied in support, waving flags and chanting slogans of freedom and independence.

Tags: kurds, public opinion, iraq, united states, independence, isis

Video Purportedly Shows Islamic State Leader

A man claiming to be the self-appointed caliph of the Islamic State jihadist group made what is thought to be his first taped appearance in a video that circulated on social media Saturday.  Previously there were only two known images of the notoriously elusive Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi.

Tags: isis, islamic state, caliphate, social media, media, islam, iraq, syria, new technology, digital diplomacy

Behind the Propaganda Wars / China, South Korea Using Soft Power to Win Support

China and South Korea have refined their propaganda war strategies every year. It is noteworthy that they have adopted a so-called soft power strategy in skillful ways to attract support and sympathy from other countries by improving their image through cultural activities.

Tags: china, south korea, japan, propaganda, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, confucius institute

Sri Lanka Government Protests USAID Project Aimed to Enlighten Sri Lankan Voters

The Sri Lankan government through diplomatic channels has protested the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding a project supposedly aimed at enlightening the Sri Lankan public on election systems and voting rights.

Tags: democracy, usaid, sri lanka, human rights, aid diplomacy, assistance diplomacy, education diplomacy

Pages

Stay in the Know

Public Diplomacy is a dynamic field, and CPD is committed to keeping you connected and informed about the critical developments that are shaping PD around the world. 

Depending on your specific interests, you can subscribe to one or more of CPD's newsletters >.

Visit CPD's Online Library

Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.