Australia was seen as a "pariah state" by a growing number of countries after violent attacks against Indian students badly damaged its global standing, a public diplomacy expert said on Thursday...widespread publicity about crime against Indian students in the southern city of Melbourne, including muggings, beatings and a murder, had soured global views of Australia as a just and friendly nation.

The United States continues to lead the world in global image, according to GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, a division of GfK Custom Research North America and Simon Anholt, the leading policy advisor. Results from the 2010 Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index(SM) (NBI), which measures the global image of 50 countries, shows the United States holding the top spot for the second year in a row as the country with the best overall brand.

Sri Lanka has finally got the stage ready to launch an aggressive Nation branding campaign that can propel the country to be the ‘Wonder of Asia’. In fact, the total media blitz from ground zero echoed some of the pillars of an effective Nation Branding strategy of a country.

Sri Lanka is one of many countries today that have developed a strong and active interest in its international image, and are beginning to try and understand whether it is possible to exercise some influence over it, rather than leave it to the mercy of international public opinion, ignorance, and the media.

South Africa: Global economist Dambisa Moyo and nation branding guru Simon Anholt are among the 14 global thought leaders and decision makers scheduledBrand Africa, a new African initiative to drive the continent’s reputation, image and competitiveness, will be launched on Thursday 16 September 2010 at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre. for the inaugural Brand Africa Forum 2010.

What we have failed to notice is how it [foreign aid] also makes pariahs of those countries in international public opinion, stealing their dignity as proper states with history, culture, nature, wisdom, language, learning and human endeavour by branding them as nothing more than victims and beggars for decades to come.

An interview with Nobels Colloquia winner Simon Anholt on the concept of "nation branding", and the impact the World Cup could have on South Africa...Here he talks to Sean Carey about brands and marketing, the reputations of the UK, London, China, and India, and the impact of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup on South Africa.

United Kingdom-based author and expert in the field of Nation Branding, Simon Anholt, will be in Botswana for a stimulating Masterclass being hosted by BEDIA. Anholt is a leading authority in managing National, Regional and City identity and reputation.