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.

Justin Bieber and Israel’s missed opportunity

Justin Bieber, the hottest pop music sensation on the planet, just spent a week in Israel. It could have been a public diplomacy bonanza for the Jewish nation-state. This was a no-brainer.

Tags: israel, non-state pd, celebrity diplomacy, justin bieber

Harvard China Forum Marks Century of Revolution

The Harvard China Forum is one of the largest China-focused conferences in North America and annually attracts hundreds of audiences from across the world. Topics at this year’s forum ranged from culture and society, business and innovation, to economics and finance.

Tags: china, united states, cultural exchange, harvard university

Confucius Statue Vanishes Near Tiananmen Square

“When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them,” Confucius once said. Apparently, someone extremely powerful has taken the saying to heart, having decided that a 31-foot bronze statue of the ancient Chinese sage that was unveiled near Tiananmen Square four months ago did not belong on the nation’s most hallowed slice of real estate.

Tags: china, soft power, art diplomacy, confucius

“No, Minister!” British MPs Rebel over World Service Cuts

While some streamlining of U.S. international broadcasting will be necessitated by the House Republicans’ proposed 10 percent cut in the BBG’s current $745 million budget, economies should clearly not be found by the wholesale elimination of key services.

Tags: china, international broadcasting, united kingdom, bbg

Pakistani Parliamentarians urge NATO to revisit its policy on Afghanistan

Pakistani Parliamentary delegation has urged NATO to revisit their policies towards Afghanistan and should hold dialogue with all factions of Taliban to achieve lasting peace. According to NATO spokesman Pakistani delegation met with high level NATO officials from the public diplomacy, political affairs and security policy.

Tags: government pd, pakistan, afghanistan, non-state pd, nato

Sinking Into Quicksand With the Devils We Know

Syria is moving into the ultimate showdown over the fate of the Assad dynasty. President Assad ordered his troops to open fire after today's prayers and they killed another 75 Syrians seeking reform.

Tags: united states, middle east, government pd, iran, egypt, crisis coverage, syria

Israel embraces tablets and e-readers for public diplomacy

The Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles, an official diplomatic office of the government of Israel, has begun a new public diplomacy initiative to utilize e-readers and other tablet devices to streamline the distribution of books and official documents.

Tags: united states, middle east, israel, new technology, e-reader

Editor’s Notes: The moralist

Obviously we have to be active on all fronts. The international media is a front. So you have the IDF Spokesman. You have the Ministry of Public Diplomacy. Everyone must do what they can to improve this situation. But it’s not that important.

Tags: middle east, public opinion, israel, palestine

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