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.
U.S.-Taliban Prisoner Exchange Revives Hopes for Afghan Peace Talks
A deal struck with Taliban militants in Afghanistan to free Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only remaining U.S. prisoner of war, could revive efforts to broker peace talks between the insurgency and the Afghan government, officials in Kabul said.
Yes We Can Still Market: Why U.S. Brands Remain World’s Most Valuable
In the long run, brands’ ultimate value lies in their ability to appeal to consumers outside their home market. Giants like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft derive anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of total revenue from outside the U.S. And that’s the true marker of the power of a brand—and of a country’s economy.
Qatar Corruption Allegations: A Potential Massive Governance, Geo-political and Social Fall-out
A disclosure by British weekly The Sunday Times of millions of documents allegedly revealing massive Qatari vote buying in the Gulf state's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup could rejigger the Gulf's fragile balance of power, reverse hopes that Qatar would initiate significant social change in the region, and return the worst corruption crisis in global soccer governance to the top of the agenda.
Turkish Cultural Festival Presented in Tehran
A number of Turkish artworks have been presented during a cultural exhibition held in Tehran’s Saba Art and Cultural Institute. Turkish Ambassador to Tehran, Umit Yardim, President of the Yunus Emre Cultural Institute, Hayati Develi, and the Director of the Iranian National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), Ahmad Mohit-Tabatabaei, attended the opening ceremony of the festival.
How Stoning Of A Woman Riled The World
More than 20 members of the woman's family stoned her to death for the "crime" of "dishonoring" her family by choosing to marry someone she loved rather than a husband her family had chosen. Social media immediately picked up on the horrific and very public killing. #Farzana became a hashtag that provoked a conversation about the crime of so-called "honor killings" and society's tolerance and the police's alleged indifference to it.
'Meriam To Be Freed' Reports Say Sudan Has Lifted Death Sentence On 'Apostate' Woman
The Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy after having married a Christian is to be freed in the next few days, it was reported on Saturday night. Meriam Ibrahim, who gave birth to a daughter on Tuesday while shackled in heavy chains, has been in jail since January. The announcement came on the back of international outrage that turned into a global campaign to save the mother of two – her 20-month-old son has also been forced to stay in prison with her. David Cameron had joined political leaders in condemning the Sudanese government's actions.
Fixed Matches Cast Shadow Over World Cup
FIFA’s investigative report and related documents, which were obtained by The New York Times and have not been publicly released, raise serious questions about the vulnerability of the World Cup to match fixing. The tournament opens June 12 in Brazil. The report found that the match-rigging syndicate and its referees infiltrated the upper reaches of global soccer in order to fix exhibition matches and exploit them for betting purposes.
Obama's Step Forward On Carbon Undone By China’s Steps Back
President Barack Obama is set to take his boldest step to halt the rise of the oceans and stop the warming of the planet. It won’t be enough unless the rest of the world follows. Trimming carbon emissions from U.S. power plants by 25 percent in coming decades, as Obama is said to be proposing, would be more than overwhelmed by increases in China andIndia where coal-fired power plants are springing up and new cars are rolling out of showrooms.
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