Radicals don’t wake up one day and join Isis or Al Shabaab. Extremism fills a gap; preying on people who feel lost, confused and excluded from society. For some without hope, extremism can offer something different: a future of freedom, adventure and purpose. It also provides food, clothing and protection. [...] We must recognise the importance of soft power to address hard-hitting issues. 

Tags: soft power, counter violent extremism, anti-extremism, social inclusion, kenya, al-shabaab, Kuza project

Google said its grant would help to raise awareness, reduce mosquito populations and support the development of vaccines. "Today we have Google engineers working with Unicef to analyse data, to determine how to map and anticipate the virus," the company said in a blog post. [...] The company is also working with popular YouTube channels in Latin America to produce information videos about the virus.

Tags: google, pika virus, advocacy & awareness, educational campaign, global health, non-state pd, international global health campaign, latin america

Maps provide the people who live in informal settlements, often for longer than they had envisioned, with tools to track down the resources they need, from doctors to Wi-Fi to mosques. And they enable humanitarian responders to provide recovery and relief. There are a growing number of ways to apply cartography to humanitarian and development missions. While some organizations develop new technology and launch new platforms, others are going back to basics, using pencil and paper. 

Tags: global development, migration, across borders, non-state actor pd, openstreetmap, non-profit organization, field papers, missing maps project, high tech, low tech

The BBC has confirmed its intention to create a radio service for North Korea, although, despite a recent report, a start date for this service has not been set. North Korea’s recent test of what it described as a hydrogen bomb, and its launch of a long-range missile, have instilled urgency to the BBC’s plans.

Tags: bbc, north korea, united kingdom, international broadcasting, radio, media, propaganda, south korea, internet

While domestically it defines the debate between Apple and the FBI, we should not minimize its relevance, and consequently the outcome of the court battle, on American soft power. Sinologist David Shambaugh does a side-by-side comparison between the United States and China in his book China Goes Global: The Partial Power. 

Tags: apple, FBI, united states, smart & soft power, china, power, digital rights, digital diplomacy & new tech, diplomatic relations

Keen to strengthen relations with Africa, China will over the next three years train at least 200,000 African professionals in skills-based fields. Ambassador Lin Songtian [...] revealed on Tuesday that the offer was part of the Asian power's commitment to build the continent's capacity to achieve its development vision. 

Tags: china, africa, international exchange, government pd, bilateral relations, economic development, education, xi jinping, partnerships

Mexico is joining the fight for gender equality with the #HeForShe campaign. The Mexican Interior Ministry announced their commitment to NosotrosPorEllas campaign at a launch event with UN Women Mexico on February 22. The international initiative encourages men and boys to participate in creating a gender equal world. 

Tags: mexico, #HeForShe, advocacy, digital diplomacy & new tech, government pd, gender equality, united nations, initiative, facebook, women's empowerment

The United States turned to cultural diplomacy on Tuesday to push gay rights at the United Nations by taking 15 U.N. ambassadors, including those from Russia, Gabon and Namibia, to see an award-winning lesbian musical on Broadway.

Tags: united states, united nations, russia, gabon, namibia, Cultural Diplomacy, gay rights, Broadway, LGBT rights, human rights