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.

Friend the pope? John Paul II gets Facebook page

The Vatican will unveil the latest installment in its social media transformation next week - a Facebook page dedicated to the upcoming beatification of Pope John Paul II, officials said.

Tags: faith diplomacy, new technology, facebook, vatican, pope benedict xvi

Living with heavy heart in Bangalore

Just a fortnight before the massive tsunami devastated north-eastern Japan, nearly 300 passionate Japanese nationals in the City were enjoying themselves, exhibiting aspects of their cultural heritage and embracing elements of Indian mores.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, india, japan, cultural exchange, educational exchange

Letter from the UK: The EU’s Assault On Display Advertising

When Eric Schmidt argued recently that online display advertising could become a $200 billion industry within the next decade, his words triggered thousands of bullshit detectors across the media industry.

Tags: social media, united kingdom, branding, advertising

Egypt: A Virtual Smoking Gun?

On January 12, 2009, US Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James K. Glassman joined a group of Egyptian political bloggers from the Virtual Newsroom of the American University in Cairo. Is this the “virtual” smoking gun that indicates American collusion in the subsequent ouster of Hosni Mubarak?

Tags: middle east, egypt, crisis coverage

Russia: Sochi Mascots, Politics, and Some Twitter

Since the whole deal with the public vote for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi began back in September [RUS], the issue seems to have been all but “non-political”: from the selection of 11 emblems-finalists at the end of the solicitation period to the actual call-in and SMS vote on February 26 2011, televised [RUS] on the state channel ORT.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, public opinion, russia, new technology, sports diplomacy, twitter, olympics

Israelis form North Korea friendship group

Israel has no ties, diplomatic or otherwise, with North Korea, but some Israelis dream of a warm relationship between the two countries. The Korean Friendship Association, a North Korean government- affiliated organization dedicated to improving the Hermit Kingdom’s foreign relations, established a branch in Israel last year...

Tags: non-state actors, israel, non-state pd, cultural exchange, north korea

Possible & Necessary: New Media and the State Department

Philip J. Crowley is a funny man. The Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, informally known as “PJ,” visited Boston University’s College of Communication yesterday, speaking at length about the role of social media and WikiLeaks in diplomacy.

Tags: united states, social media, new media, us department of state, wikileaks, pj crowley

Taiwan’s flower power

As visitors from Taiwan and the rest of the world are discovering, however, there are more than flowers on display. The beauty of Taiwanese culture is highlighted through thousands of scheduled cultural performances, and local achievements in horticulture, science and environmental protection can also be seen.

Tags: soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, science diplomacy, taiwan, flora expo

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