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.

Clinton orders review of J-1 exchange program

As the J-1 program brings over 100,000 young people coming to the U.S. annually, it has become as much about money as cultural understanding. The reforms by State Department would limit and refine the types of jobs students can have and ensure that the objective of the program — positive exposure to the United States — is accomplished.

Tags: united states, public diplomacy, us department of state, exchange diplomacy, cultural understanding

Victory for U.S. Embassy as Beijing chokes on ‘heavy fog’

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing, which broadcasts readings from its own pollution monitoring equipment on an hourly basis through Twitter and an iPhone app, has been instrumental in piercing the veil around air quality in China’s capital, particularly since celebrity real estate mogul Pan Shiyi cited its readings in calling for tougher air monitoring standards.

Tags: china, government pd, public opinion, social media, climate change

India Blog Series: Cooperation With India: An Option Or A Must?

Developing strong and sustainable relations with India should not be considered by Arab states as an option, but as a must. In addition to trade agreements, the two parties should consider other public diplomacy venues to develop substantial social and cultural exchanges, and boost larger people-to-people relations.

Tags: media, public diplomacy, india, cultural exchange, education diplomacy

‘Love’ for Israel winning Twitter war

The phrase “Israelhates” had been tagged onto enough posts on Twitter that the message had become a worldwide trend topic. To combat that message of hate, Jewish Agency's social media head counters anti-Israel trend on Twitter with a message of love.

Tags: public diplomacy, public opinion, social media, israel, non-state pd

‘Sesame Street’ tries to pave new road in Afghanistan

"Sesame Street," the world's most-viewed children's educational television show since the 1960s, has debuted in Afghanistan. Its producers hope their culturally adapted version of the nearly half-century old format can reach Afghan kids facing some of the world's most daunting adversity.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, media, afghanistan, sesame street

Pampered pandas flown into Scotland

Two giant pandas arrived in Scotland on Sunday. British officials said the 10-year loan of the bears by China strengthened ties between the two countries. Over the years, Beijing gave pandas away as goodwill tokens. The black-and-white bear still apparently inspires warm feelings that span across borders. The difference is, now China makes you pay for it.

Tags: soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, government pd, britain, panda diplomacy

China scrambles for high-tech dominance

For China, the quest to develop advanced computing centers is not simply a matter of national pride. It is an attempt to lay the groundwork for innovative Chinese companies and to reshape the technological landscape by doing something more than assembling the world’s desktop PCs.

Tags: china, nation branding, science diplomacy, new technology, internet diplomacy

South Korea to send $5.7 million in aid to North Korea

South Korea had given North Korea $29.5 million in aid through Unicef from 1996 until it halted amid tensions over the sinking of warship last year. Seoul's latest move signals the easing of tensions through nongovernmental aid shipments and exchanges, by resuming donation through Unicef programs for medicines, vaccines and nutrients for malnourished North Korean children.

Tags: public diplomacy, non-state actors, aid diplomacy, south korea, north korea

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