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.

Safe Water and a Toilet—Is That Too Much to Ask… for 2.5 Billion People?

Through WaterCredit, we have explored the application of microfinance to water and sanitation needs. The potential of microfinance to democratize access to capital is paralleled by the potential of technology and social media to democratize access to information.

Tags: united states, public diplomacy, non-state pd, water diplomacy, microfinance

Satirical French magazine names ‘Muhammad’ as editor

French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo has named the Prophet Muhammad as "editor-in-chief" for its next issue to mark the electoral victory of Islamist party Ennahda in Tunisia. The publication's editor-in-chief and cartoonist Charb said they were not trying to be especially provocative.

Tags: media, public diplomacy, islam, france, tunisia

Why Engaging Iran Is (Still) A Bad Idea

Conditions within Iran, from rising inflation to widespread unemployment to economic stagnation, suggest that Tehran could still go the way of Tunis, Cairo and Tripoli. Against that backdrop, renewed “engagement” with the Iranian regime wouldn’t just be futile; it would be fatal to prospects for real grassroots change within Iran.

Tags: united states, middle east, government pd, public diplomacy, iran

Strategic Plan for U.S. International Broadcasting Drives Impact through Innovation and Integration

The BBG brands...face intense competition from...emerging media choices as well as the challenges of censorship and extremist voices. To address these challenges and advance the nation’s strategic priorities, BBG’s plan features innovative initiatives: to create a global news network; to leverage new delivery technologies...and to devise sophisticated new means of countering Internet blocking and other forms of censorship.

Tags: united states, media, international broadcasting, public diplomacy, new technology

United States Hosts Pavilion at Baghdad International Trade Fair

As part of our new relationship with Iraq, for the first time in more than 20 years the United States has returned to Iraq’s largest annual trade fair. Over 80 American corporations, universities, and travel and tourism organizations will showcase their products and services to Iraqi businesses and people for the purpose of building greater trade ties.

Tags: united states, middle east, government pd, public diplomacy, non-state pd, us department of state, iraq, trade diplomacy

Chinese navy hospital ship brings medical aid to Jamaica amid regional tour in US backyard

Dozens of doctors and nurses fanned out from a Chinese navy hospital ship to treat poor Jamaicans as part of a global humanitarian mission to portray China’s rapidly growing military as a responsible power. The aim of the operation...is to soften the image of China’s 2.3 million-member military and boost its ties with other nations’ armed forces.

Tags: china, soft power, government pd, public diplomacy, jamaica, medicine, naval diplomacy

World Cup No Cure for Brazil’s Woes

Hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup was supposed to provide an unalloyed boon to Brazil’s global image. Yet tournament preparations have highlighted many structural weaknesses in Latin America’s largest country, and predictions that the World Cup will deliver enormous economic benefits should be treated with skepticism.

Tags: soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, nation branding, public diplomacy, sports diplomacy, tourism, brazil, fifa world cup, economy, image

Egypt’s Tourism Suffers as Its Revolution Stalls

Tourism, a buttress of the economy upon which an estimated 15 million people depend, remains in a tailspin. Desperate to reverse the trend, the tourism authority even test-marketed the uprising.

Tags: nation branding, government pd, arab spring, public diplomacy, egypt, tourism, place branding

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