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.
Japan’s post-quake kawaii cute movement
IF you thought that the East Japan earthquake and tsunami would shake the cute off this country's young hipsters, think again. Harajuku, Tokyo's mecca for youth culture and fashion, is as cute and colorful as ever. That's the message of the Mighty Harajuku Project, started by Sebastian Masuda three days after the disaster.
China promotes peace in W Asia, N Africa
China on Monday pledged to promote peace and stability in west Asia and north Africa as a delegation of Saudi Arabian lawmakers visit. Premier Wen called on the two sides to conduct closer high-level contacts, support each other's core interest and major concerns...enhance cultural exchanges and coordination in international organizations and mechanisms such UN and the G20.
China gets closer to Latin America
Vice-President Xi Jinping's recently concluded three-nation tour of Latin America is likely to further enhance China's relations with the region, experts said. Beyond its economic ties with Latin America, China is also interested in promoting its image internationally...China's infrastructure projects in the Caribbean are examples of non-economically motivated relationships in the region.
Aung San Suu Kyi: Burmese hungry for justice
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday her nation hungers for justice and progress and the international community must help lift its workers' grim conditions.Myanmar's pro-democracy icon...said her nation once seemed the most likely success story in Southeast Asia but "has fallen behind almost all the other nations in the region."
India’s new face as Asia’s car industry hub
For years, it was the West that engaged with India. The rest of Asia chose to ignore it - it was a country they did not really understand or want to do business with. Now, because of its rapidly growing economy and increasing opportunities, India is home to sizeable numbers of Asians, especially Koreans and Japanese.
Vaccine funding: David Cameron announces new £814m donation boost
Britain and billionaire Bill Gates together pledged more than $2.3 billion (£1.4 billion) at an international donor conference on Monday to fund vaccination programmes to protect children in poor countries. The Prime Minister said the new funding arrangement will vaccinate more than 80 million children against diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea.
You Like Our Music? We Like You!
South Korea and Europe appear to be engaged in a bit of mutual admiration musically these days. In both cases, the news stories were about one nation’s culture rubbing off on another. And both got more attention in the country that was proud of its influence and less attention in the place where the action was happening.
China Bests Japan in Americans’ Eyes
It’s official, at least as far as a Japanese government survey is concerned: Americans see China, rather than Japan, as their most important partner in Asia. The opinion leaders’ view offers even more emphatic confirmation that trade relations are increasingly carrying more weight than political or general ties with the U.S., usually cited as a reason for choosing Japan.
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