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.
Radiohead in China
The rock band Radiohead has made a move to join the world of social networking in China. The group has been critical of the Chinese government’s censorship in the past...but the band has started a page on the “weibo” site of Sina.com, which has been described as the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
Reel China: It’s rough out West for Chinese films
The stakes are high for China as it seeks to penetrate the global film market. The government and private companies are pouring significant resources into the film industry; officials are eager to boost their country's cultural exports in a way that matches the already booming business in factory goods. Yet Chinese movies have remained a largely local affair, experts say.
Ballet Points to U.S.-Cuba: Friendship Is Not an “Impossible Dream!”
Uniting families and promoting cultural exchange by ensuring opportunity to travel for all citizens should become a priority for all nations. Less political posturing and more "people to people" interaction through tourism is good for the future of humanity.
Can you try a religion for a month?
...[There] are a few faces looking less than confident about what comes next. Barbra Taylor, from Hawaii, and Terry Goldsmith, from Bury, Greater Manchester, are two of them. They're not Muslim, but guests for nine days. This is part of "Muslim for a Month" - a programme from social enterprise group The Blood Foundation where participants get to "test-drive" a religion.
Japan’s Soft Power Chance
Between humanitarian tours of the Pacific Rim and South Pacific, as well as natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, tsunamis and earthquakes, such a fleet of vessels wouldn’t be idle. The service they could provide the Japanese people, and the goodwill they could generate abroad, could be of far greater value than resources spent on military power.
The House of Lords Debates Soft Power
...what triggered this is that I’ve just noticed that the House of Lords actually had a debate on the coordination of UK soft power at the beginning of May. It’s all quite sensible. There’s a link to the transcript and a briefing note...
Palestinian passport art cries freedom
When you pass through a country's borders, what does it mean to have immigration issue that authoritative stamp in your passport? For Palestinian artist, Khaled Jarrar, it means a great deal because his country does not exist as a nation state.
Could Wills, Kate connect with Canadians?
Britain's Queen Elizabeth connects with people easily, Prince Charles sometimes struggles and Diana had connectivity in spades.The big test for William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on their first international tour was how they would take to the crowds and how the crowds would take to them.
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