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.

Dreaming of rock music in Kabul

As Kabul has begun to get back on its feet, returnees like anthropology student Siddique Ahmed, his two band mates and their like, have brought an infusion of new and old musical influences to the city of their birth and have begun forging a growing music scene.

Tags: soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, afghanistan

Iran sees threat to its clout amid Arab Spring

As Arab uprisings sweep the Middle East, few images will likely unsettle Iran's leadership more than that of their flag being burned by Syrian protesters angry with the Islamic Republic's deep ties with Syria's dynastic regime.

Tags: soft power, middle east, government pd, arab spring, iran, crisis coverage, syria

China picks cartoon fight with Hollywood

It is designed to be the creative hub that catapults local film-makers towards the heights achieved by Hollywood animation giants such as Pixar and DreamWorks. China has opened a $4.5bn yuan (£420m) facility in Tianjin, near Beijing, aimed at producing films that can compete with the best of the west.

Tags: china, Cultural Diplomacy, asia pacific, film diplomacy

Arab suburbs in East Jerusalem could be rebranded with Hebrew names

The controversial initiative is designed to entrench Israeli "ownership" of East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the Six Day War of 1967 and subsequently annexed – a move that has not been recognised by the international community.

Tags: middle east, government pd, israel, place branding

China needs public diplomacy strategy for cyberspace

Given its lesser standing in terms of international public opinion compared to the West, China should strive for the right to speak in public diplomacy in cyberspace, strengthen the universal participation of the public diplomacy on the Internet, formulate a public diplomacy strategy for cyberspace and proactively build up a national brand.

Tags: china, nation branding, public opinion, new technology, internet diplomacy, social networks

China needs public diplomacy strategy for cyberspace

With a long-term strategy in mind, China should learn to fully utilize the Internet. China's "Internet users-based reporters" can disseminate facts to every corner and Internet community around the world through social networking websites and change the misperceptions about China held by the international community.

Tags: china, media, government pd, internet diplomacy, blogging, cyberspace

Indian Kashmir Steps Away From Violence

But there is more to the story than the simple lack of violence. Earlier this month, a call for a public strike by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the hard-line patriarchal separatist leader at the forefront of last year's anti-India protests, evoked a feeble response in Kashmir.

Tags: government pd, india, pakistan, public opinion, south asia, protests, kashmir

On Turkey’s coast, opponents of Syrian government seek to overcome differences

Opponents of the Syrian regime gathered on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast on Tuesday for a conference aimed at overcoming their differences and bolstering protesters who have endured a bloody crackdown under President Bashar Assad. The meeting has drawn Syrian exiles living in the West and the Middle East, as well as some activists from inside Syria.

Tags: middle east, turkey, non-state pd, crisis coverage, syria, conflict resolution

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