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.

Belfast Celebrates Centenary of Titanic Launch

Before the world commemorates the centennial of the Titanic's sinking next year, Belfast has decided to celebrate the ship's launch, to remind people of its ship-building legacy. The residual sense of shame about the disaster is fading, replaced with a pride in the city's maritime history.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, europe, ireland, city branding, history

India Relies on Soft Power to Shore Up Africa Engagement

India's focus on using soft power to enhance trade and investment with Africa is clearly far more appealing to local partners than the breathless grab for resources that Africans have come to associate with most of its other foreign investors.

Tags: china, soft power, government pd, india, africa, economic relations

Britain halts anti-extremism film

Britain's government has suspended the distribution of an animated film designed to stop young Muslims from becoming Islamic extremists. The short movie, called "Wish You Waziristan", is a cautionary tale about two British brothers who travel to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region in order to become jihadi fighters after seeing a racist beating.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, media, government pd, islam, film diplomacy, britain

Aid money will boost foreign companies

British development money will be invested directly in private companies in poor countries to stimulate their economies and wean them off traditional aid. The UK will push governments in poor countries to cut red tape on businesses and lower tariffs and taxes, as well as “engaging with firms directly" to help them make more money and employ more people.

Tags: government pd, aid diplomacy, britain, economic development

Chinese medical team offers free eye surgical service in Myanmar

A visiting Chinese medical team, on its international tour, launched a free eye surgical treatment campaign in Yangon. The Chinese medical team's "Tour of Sight" will conduct a week-long surgical treatment on cataract patients by surgeons from the No. 1 People's Hospital of Yunnan province.

Tags: china, non-state pd, myanmar, medicine

South Korea regrets the North cutting ties

South Korea said Tuesday it regrets North Korea's announcement that it will cut all ties with its neighbor. The North said it would launch an "all-out offensive" against Seoul for allowing anti-Pyongyang propaganda to be sent by human rights groups and some politicians in balloons across the border.

Tags: government pd, south korea, north korea

From the Cavern Club to Hampton Court… 100 places that define Britain

The link between the pomp and glory of Hampton Court, a cellar in Liverpool and a copper works in Wales may be obscure. But according to the nation’s foremost historians, they are among the 100 places which define Britain.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, nation branding, europe, britain, history

China Makes Effort to Cool Unrest in Inner Mongolia

Authorities in Inner Mongolia sought to calm some of the worst ethnic strife in two decades by pledging to address concerns of the local Mongol population about the environmental costs of mining in the resource-rich region, and by announcing that a Han Chinese will be tried for murder over the death of a young Mongol man.

Tags: china, government pd, public opinion, social media, asia pacific, conflict resolution, mongolia

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