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.
Getting it Right Down Under
In my recent book touring travels down under, I was struck repeatedly by the sense in which New Zealand and Australia seem for a North American at once remote yet accessible, exotic yet familiar. They are in, but not of the Global South.
US First Lady Arrives in Haiti
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has arrived in Haiti for a brief visit, three months after an earthquake devastated the Caribbean country. A Haitian government official tells VOA she will meet with Haitian President Rene Preval and then visit a children's hospital during the previously unannounced trip.
Somali radio stations comply with Islamists’ music ban
Most radio stations in Somalia have stopped playing music, on the orders of Islamist Hizbul-Islam insurgents who say that songs are un-Islamic. The stations said they had to comply with the ban as if they did not, they would be putting their lives at risk.
Radical Yemeni cleric the new bin Laden?
Terrorism specialists say Mr. al-Awlaki could be more influential than Osama bin Laden, especially among potential radicals within the U.S. Last week, Mr. al-Awlaki, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Yemen, reportedly was put on a CIA hit list.
Rosmah promotes Malaysia in the US
As the US capital marks the annual Cherry Blossom festival, another celebration - the Faces of 1Malaysia - took place at the National Geographic Society grounds here over the weekend. Visitors not only learnt about Malaysia’s rich diversity, some even had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister’s wife.
100,000 Iranian tourists visit Azerbaijan on Novruz holiday
100,000 tourists came from Iran to Azerbaijan on the eve of Novruz holiday, Azerbaijani ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov informed. “Cultural relations, love remove borders. The relations between the two countries are strengthening. The religion, language and culture of the peoples of the two countries help them communicate easily,” he said.
Living in the Imagination of the World: Treme, Cultural Diplomacy and the International Exhibition
The scene from Treme instantly reminded me of the critical role of culture in the regeneration of a post-disaster community or locale. Whether the trauma is caused by a war, a natural disaster or an economic crisis, cultural outreach is a complementary tool to existing methodologies of social recuperation.
Disciples of the Russian World
Russia is currently in the process of building a network of promoting the nation’s language and culture throughout the world. The idea of promoting the Russian language and Russian culture as national heritage and creating a Russian diaspora abroad has received strong support from the state ever since the Russky Mir (Russian World) Foundation was founded in 2007.
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