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.
Armenia: Parliamentary Vote Deals Blow To Turkish Reconciliation Chances
The Armenian parliament on February 25 approved legislative amendments by a 70-4 margin that make it easy for the country’s leaders to suspend or abrogate international treaties. In effect, the amendments enable the Armenian government to withdraw from protocols signed last October with Turkey that govern a process to normalize relations.
U.S. returns ‘cultural treasures’ to Iraq
The United States gave Iraq a bit of its long history back Thursday in the form of ancient golden earrings, an old Roman coin, a rifle emblazoned with Saddam Hussein's image and more."It is a great privilege and honor, on behalf of the United States, to return to the people of Iraq a collection of cultural treasures that reflects their nation's rich history and heritage," Morton said.
Friendship day brings Americans, Japanese together
Giggles and laughs abounded among the 300 American and Japanese children as they tried to communicate in English and Japanese. The event was part of the Japan-U.S. Sports and Cultural Exchange Program sponsored by the Okinawa Defense Bureau.
Re-branding Nigeria: when enough is enough
In March 2009, a campaign was launched with the aim of re-branding Nigeria’s battered reputation. This was the second attempt at this task. The first came in the era of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; needless to mention, millions of dollars were wasted.
Free Flow of Information: A Great Tool Against Totalitarianism
In the case of North Korea, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and four South Korean broadcasters supported by the National Endowment for Democracy have growing audiences in this most totalitarian of societies. Currently Voice of America and Radio Free Asia each broadcast five hours a day into North Korea.
New Zealand at Shanghai Expo 2010
Every five years or so a World Exposition takes place under the auspices of the Bureau International des Expositions. The last Expo was in Aichi Prefecture, Japan in 2005, when some 22 million people visited more than 150 national and corporate pavilions on a two square km site. The Expo made a profit for organisers of 10 billion yen.
The Propaganda Battlefront
Diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus for BBC News remarks that it is precisely this propaganda that shapes the battlefield where “information has become the new front line.” Aware that perception is pivotal in this war, the Pentagon and NATO have been devising a strategic communication plan to reach out to local populations.
Social Media Creates Opportunities and Challenges
The popularity and growth of social media networks and blogs offers federal agencies new tools to get their message to the nation’s citizens. However, the openness of social media platforms also presents a security challenge. A panel of government and commercial media experts pondered the implications of widespread adoption of social media platforms at AFCEA’s Homeland Security Conference.
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