As President-elect Donald Trump continues making his picks of US officials, including the controversial announcement on Friday of Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, his upset poll victory is still sending shock waves around the world. [...] The continued shock at Trump’s election, and some of his early decisions and appointments, threatens to potentially damage the reputation of the United States (so-called ‘Brand America’) internationally. 

Under the threat of violating international law and hurting its global reputation, Japan will submit its long overdue annual contribution to UNESCO by the year-end, according to government sources. The government's decision also reflects concerns that its continued refusal to pay could allow China to hold more sway in UNESCO, while eroding Japan’s standing in the organization.

The news cycle about Brazil’s abundant economic and political problems – combined with issues during the Olympics – have damaged Brazil’s national brand. Latin America’s largest country dropped to 23rd place in the Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index. It is Brazil’s worst ranking to date. NBI rates the image of 50 countries based on interviews and panels held in several parts of the world. It evaluates nations in six different criteria: politics, culture, population, tourism, the potential for immigration, and business friendliness.

First Lady Mahmooda Mamnoon Hussain says Pakistan Foreign Office Women's Association (PFOWA) is playing an important role in informal diplomacy and charity work. She was addressing a charity ceremony organized by Pakistan Foreign Office Women's Association at Foreign Office in Islamabad today. The First Lady said charity work and other activities of the Association are highlighting positive image of the country.

A stroll around the UAE section at the recent World Travel Market (WTM) in London confirms the country’s tourism industry is in rude health. Every booth, table and VIP area of each opulent stand was occupied, with Emirati representatives in deep discussions with tourism professionals from all over the world. [...] While Dubai and, more recently Abu Dhabi, have both become firmly placed on the international tourism map, the country’s smaller emirates are also pushing to attract more overseas visitors, as evidenced by their presence at the WTM.

Despite Trump’s campaign rhetoric, the US is not in decline. Because of immigration, it is the only major developed country that will not suffer a demographic decline by mid-century; its dependence on energy imports is diminishing rather than rising; it is at the forefront of the major technologies (bio, nano, information) that will shape this century; and its universities dominate the world league tables.

Chinese leaders and scholars claim that China’s foreign policy is not to seek control and hegemony, nor to export its model by military means. Instead, it is to accumulate its soft power through trade, investment and cultural exchanges.