The Google search “Benjamin Netanyahu” yields 16,100,000 results – but “Gal Gadot” yields 20,700,000. [...] It’s no secret that Israel has an image problem. Gadot’s newfound celebrity is possibly the best international publicity for the Jewish state in years, and is a perfect example of soft power.

Japan on July 17 pledged US$1 billion (S$1.37 billion) over the next two years to back the United Nations' development agenda, raising its profile as one of the world's largest foreign aid donors. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a meeting at the UN that the funding will go to help children and youth worldwide, in particular to promote education, health, disaster response and gender equality.

“In the area of security and defense, France and the UAE are fighting a common battle against terrorism and extremism, both on the ground and in the minds,” said Ludovic Pouille, the new French Ambassador to the UAE. [...] About the joint initiatives of France and the UAE, he said: “I am thinking in particular of the joint Franco-UAE initiative that led to the organization last December in Abu Dhabi of the international Conference on Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage.," the envoy said.

Peru's country brand rose 11 spots in the Country Brand Ranking list released by Bloom Consulting, compared to its previous report. This way, Peru ranked 41st on a global scale for the 2017/18 period. According to Bloom Consulting, the Andean nation is reaping the rewards of a good Country Branding strategy. Peru overtook countries like Panama (42nd), Puerto Rico (43rd), Costa Rica (46th) and Chile (48th) in an overall ranking of 193 nations and territories.

An exhibition featuring sports-related stamps, including more than 1,000 commissioned for the Olympic Games, opened in Taipei’s Zhongshan Hall yesterday. “A stamp is a nation’s business card,” Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je said at the opening. “The art and culture contained in a tiny stamp can demonstrate a nation’s soft power.”