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.

A Tour of North Korea's Multimillion Dollar Museum – in Cambodia

North Korean tour guides lead visitors through the regime’s latest cultural showpiece, a grand new panorama museum reported to have cost $24m. [...] Part grand design and part diplomacy project, the Angkor Panorama museum, which opened in December, is the latest cultural export North Korea hopes will bring in much-needed funds for its struggling economy.

Tags: north korea, cambodia, Cultural Diplomacy, museum, arts, design, culture, propaganda, Angkor Panorama Museum

Devyani Now in Race to Promote Girls' Education

Diplomat Devyani Khobragade [...] will later this month undertake a cross-country run in her home state of Maharashtra aimed at promoting women education and empowerment. [...] According to the foreign ministry, the run is a one-of-a-kind public diplomacy initiative intended to promote India-Australia relations.

Tags: india, australia, government pd, advocacy, education, bilateral relations, trade, goodwill, women's rights, culture, 'Spirit of India Run'

Kyary Ride Does Its Part for ‘Cool Japan’

"Cool Japan Heats Up” declares a sign welcoming visitors to an area of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) devoted to the country’s hottest pop culture exports. Now in its second year, USJ’s “Universal Cool Japan” event features special attractions that run until June 26. It promises to deliver “the finest of Japanese entertainment to the world” — assuming everyone who wants to receive it can fly to Osaka.

Tags: japan, Universal Studios Japan, universal cool japan, tourism, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy

Utah Muslims Actively Seeking Understanding Amid Turbulent US Atmosphere

Local Muslims must actively participate, as well and reach out to, neighbors and friends not as missionaries, but as members of the community to help educate about their beliefs and the Quran for instance [...] The only way these kinds of things will stop is to help the community be educated on what is real and by way of caution, build bridges of trust within the local community.

Tags: muslim, middle east, US, terrorism, education, non-state pd

Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrated In Johannesburg In Style

Vice chairperson of the Chinese Association, Maureen Lok Fat said they decided to hold celebrations on Saturday days ahead of the Lunar New Year to allow as many people as possible to attend. The 2016 Chinese Lunar New Year falls on February 8. [...] It’s generally agreed that such events unite the Chinese community and help promote understanding among different people with different cultures.

Tags: china, johannesburg, chinese association, Cultural Diplomacy, international exchange

Music Industry 'Taskforce' Assembled to Tackle US Visa Problems

Crispin Parry - CEO of British Underground - says, 'A vibrant and workable cultural exchange between the US and UK is essential. The music industry is a significant generator of revenue so we are keen to see issues around US work visas for musicians resolved asap.'

Tags: uk, US, Musicians' Union, US Visa, cultural exchange, non-state pd

A K-Pop Star, a Flag, and a Political Imbroglio

South Korea has proudly touted the international success of its music industry. There is even a term coined to describe the popularity of Korean pop culture abroad – Hallyu, or “Korean Wave.” In recent years, Korean entertainment companies have tried to build on this success with localization techniques [...] But when pop stars cross borders, they’re bound to run into some sensitivities.

Tags: south korea, china, taiwan, Chou Tzuyu, flag, JYP, culture, Diplomatic Controversy, Cultural Diplomacy, nation branding

Kremlin is Using Public Diplomacy and Pro-Kremlin NGOs to Strengthen Pro-Russian Moods in Belarus

Russian ideologists specialising on Belarus have launched an aggressive campaign in the Russian media in an attempt to influence public opinion in Russia regarding ongoing processes in Belarus. While doing so, they have attempted to use the same mechanisms and ideological myths about Belarusians, which were used to mobilize pro-Kremlin patriotic electorate during the antic-Kyiv propaganda campaign.

Tags: kremlin, russia, belarus, BeloRussian dialogue, propaganda, public diplomacy, ngo, media campaign

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