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.
Chicago out after first round of voting
Chicago has been eliminated in the first round of International Olympic Committee voting, and Tokyo was eliminated in the second round, leaving Rio de Janeiro and Madrid in the running for the 2016 Summer Games as the voting continues. The final announcement of the winner will be made about noon.
Does Afghan War Have Strong Public Support?
President Obama is weighing whether to send more troops to Afghanistan — even as polls show support for the war declining. In what's known as the Powell Doctrine, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who also is a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, argued that military force should be used only if there was a clear exit strategy. He said the force used should be overwhelming and the operation must have strong public support.
NY Philharmonic shelves Cuba trip
New York's Philharmonic Orchestra has put off its first trip to Cuba after sponsors were barred from visiting the Communist-led country. "The postponement is due to existing US government restrictions on travel to Cuba," it said in a statement. The visit was viewed as an unprecedented show of cultural diplomacy between the US and the reclusive state, which have endured frosty relations for decades.
So much more Down Under
Now, with visitor numbers dropping, there is a new realization that Australia needs to sell itself with more than just cliches. The Australian government is sufficiently alarmed that it recently announced a $20 million competition for a new marketing label to promote Australia overseas. Creative agencies are being encouraged to submit tenders. The winning bid — complete with a new catchphrase and logo — will be launched internationally in May at the World Expo in Shanghai.
Iran, world powers plan second round of nuclear talks
As world powers meet in Geneva, representatives of Iran and the U.S. hold a rare one-on-one meeting and discuss Iran's nuclear program and human rights. U.S. officials are cautiously upbeat. "Today's meeting was a constructive beginning but it must be followed with constructive action by the Iranian government," President Obama said this afternoon.
Nigeria, U.S. to Partner On Sports Tourism Development
Nigeria and the United States of America have initiated an agreement which would provide platform for both countries to share knowledge and build a mutually beneficial relationship enabling more American tourists to Nigeria to watch and participate in traditional and contemporary sports and other related tourism activities in Nigeria.
Democratic Taiwan and the PRC at 60
The CCP rulers could have chosen to highlight less bellicose fruits of three decades of modernization, such as China's success in becoming "the workshop of the world" or aspects of "soft power" instead of showing off DF-41 missiles that can destroy aircraft carriers, advanced Jian-10 and Jian-11 jet fighters and Type 99 "king of tanks."
India to open 16 new culture centres to project soft power
Riding on the soaring popularity of yoga and Bollywood, India is poised to nearly double its network of cultural centres across the globe in places as diverse as the US, Africa and Latin America. The opening of new cultural centres is an important initiative in cultural diplomacy to achieve range and depth of cultural coverage, said Karan Singh, president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), here Friday.
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