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.
Japan's Soft Power: Squaring the Cool
In Akihabara, Tokyo’s centre of anime and manga sales and fandom, a new government plan is wildly popular. The idea is to project an image of “Cool Japan” around the world (like Cool Britannia in the 1990s, but without the rhyme). Kyon, a costumed maid touting one of the area’s many maid cafes, says she feels fully part of the effort. Tsukamoto Hiroshi, a retail buyer of manga, says that the fragile Japanese comic industry could do with some official support. But isn’t a government-driven attempt to manufacture “cool”, well, just the opposite?
How ISIS Games Twitter
The advance of an army used to be marked by war drums. Now it’s marked by volleys of tweets. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Sunni militant group that seizedIraq’s second-largest city last week and is now pledging to take Baghdad, has honed this new technique—most recently posting photos on Twitter of an alleged mass killing of Iraqi soldiers.
E-Magining Public Diplomacy
In this day and age, public diplomacy is all about social media. Any grass-roots effort that could help shape public opinion on the world stage while condemning and rebuking the acts of terror should be encouraged.
Huawei Following World Cup Lead In Bid For Global Domination
Over the past 12 months, Huawei has signed deals with Borussia Dortmund (Germany), AC Milan (Italy), Arsenal (England), Paris Saint-Germain (France) and Ajax (Holland), all major European clubs who between them have won an average of four European trophies, 16 league championships and 11 domestic league cups.
Relativity Media Expands in China with New Deal, Partners
Relativity Media is leaping into the business of distributing Chinese films in the U.S. and is taking on new investment from Chinese partners that will allow it to expand its annual release slate to over 15 movies by 2015-2016, the company announced Monday at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Biden heads to Brazil for World Cup, Diplomacy
US Vice President Joe Biden begins a four-nation trip across Latin America on Monday, starting with some World Cup action at the US-Ghana game in Brazil. Biden will fly directly to the flood-stricken city of Natal to cheer on the United States as they face the Black Stars in their first Group G clash on Monday.
Israel, Germany Sign Deal to Cooperate on Nazi-Looted Art
Under a new agreement, Israel and Germany will cooperate on museum research to establish the owners of Jewish-owned art stolen by the Nazis, AFP reports. Culture and Sports Ministry director general Orly Froman and German Culture Minister Monika Gruetters signed the agreement on Sunday, officials said. Under the accord, German and Israeli experts will go through training, and will set up join databases.
Italian Politician Under Fire After Labeling English ‘Pretentious Pricks’
Backlash is mounting against the vice-president of the Italian senate after he celebrated Italy’s World Cup win over England with a vulgar Twitter outburst calling English people “pretentious pricks”. Maurizio Gasparri, former minister of communications under Silvio Berlusconi and one of the media mogul’s most loyal party faithful, posted a tweet at 2am local time from Salerno, just as Italy’s victory over England was sealed.
Pages
Visit CPD's Online Library
Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.