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.

Parody of Popular Chinese Show on British Food Goes Viral

Created for an English talk show on China Radio International, the parody explains: "There is one secret known throughout all kitchens in Great Britain." The suspense continues: "From an early age, the British are taught…", it pauses, "that small potatoes cook faster than big ones". Co-host Stuart Wiggin is seen carefully sprinkling salt on a potato, explaining that a tasty snack like this can keep British people going "literally all day long".

Tags: international broadcasting, china radio international, satire, gastrodiplomacy, china, great britain

Nigeria Schoolgirls Abduction: France to Host Security Summit on Boko Haram Threat

French President Francois Hollande is set to host security summit in Paris , a month after over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls from Chibok were abducted by Islamist militants Boko Haram.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan will also attend the talks and address security threats the country face from militant groups including Boko Haram and strategies to tackle with them.

Tags: global aid and development, boko haram, nigeria, women rights, france, women and girls empowerment

Foreign Secretary Marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Human rights are universal and apply equally to all people everywhere. The Government is proud to stand up for the rights of LGBT people. We will continue to do so across the world over the coming year, raising LGBT rights in international meetings and through our diplomatic missions around the globe, and maintaining our strong support for the UN’s Free and Equal Campaign."

Tags: global aid and development, united kingdom, homophobia, gender, human rights

Kenya Downplays Terror Threat to Tourists as Bombs Kill 10 in Nairobi Market

Two bombs killed 10 people and wounded 70 others Friday, at a market in Kenya’s capital, while hundreds of British tourists were evacuated from the coastal resort of Mombasa after warnings of an impending attack by Islamic extremists.  President Uhuru Kenyatta, appearing at a previously planned news conference soon after the bombings, offered his condolences.  But he dismissed the tourism warnings from the U.S. and Britain that led to the evacuations, saying terrorism is a common problem and not unique to Kenya.

Tags: government pd, soft power, terrorism, tourism, kenya, africa, great britain, united states, north america, europe

These Lebanese Campaigns Will Change the Way You Think About Advocacy

In a creative approach to upgrade advocacy efforts by civil stakeholders against violence in Lebanon – particularly domestic and gender based violence (GBV) – ABAAD called on Syrian refugee girls to reproduce on dummies their personal stories of violence and discrimination. A public exhibition displaying the puppets is organised today in Taanayel in Lebanon’s Bekaa region.

Tags: media, human rights, lebanon, syria, middle east, advocacy, digital diplomacy

International Conference: Developing Regional Response to Tackle Disasters

The conference, “Sharing Experiences and Developing Regional Hazard and Risk Picture for Joint Action Plan,” comprised of five thematic sessions during which participants gathered to develop a regional risk picture for informed and resilient development planning through disaster risk reduction mainstreaming for contingency planning.  The event, organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), was attended by representatives from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

Tags: pakistan, afghanistan, china, india, iran, turkey, aid diplomacy, middle east, south asia, disaster relief

Police Forces Increasingly Producing Their own Multimedia

Police forces across Australia are acting as their own media organisations: producing video and photos, and engaging with the public via social media. However, with traditional outlets increasingly reliant on multimedia produced by the police, can the public be sure they're getting the full picture?

Tags: social media, new technology, twitter, facebook, media, australia, digital diplomacy

Christian in Sudan Sentenced to Death for Faith; 'I'm Just Praying,' Husband Says

Hours after a Sudanese court sentenced his pregnant wife to death when she refused to recant her Christian faith, her husband told CNN he feels helpless.  "The fact that a woman could be sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion, is abhorrent and should never be even considered," Manar Idriss, Amnesty International's Sudan researcher, said in a statement.

Tags: faith diplomacy, christianity, islam, human rights, government pd, non-state actors, sudan, africa, amnesty international

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