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.

India Orders U.S. Diplomats To Follow Traffic Rules. Here’s Why That’ll Be Challenging

In an escalating diplomatic fight, India has demanded that US diplomats adhere to the country's traffic rules. On Wednesday, the Indian government also ordered the US Embassy in New Delhi to stop selling liquor and other duty-free goods to non-diplomats by Jan. 16. The moves are the latest retaliatory measures taken by India following the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade on visa fraud charges in New York last month.

Tags: united states, india, new delhi, diplomatic immunity, devyani khobragade, u.s. embassy, consular corps

Inflection Point

With the fog of war not yet lifted, the news out of Iraq's Anbar province remains ambiguous. What little we can see, however, does not look good. Al Qaeda in Iraq -- along with significant elements of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) -- has been able to take over government buildings in Ramadi, Fallujah, and Karmah. In response, government forces have amassed outside these cities and are preparing for an operation that could reverberate in Iraq's nascent democracy long into the future.

Tags: middle east, iraq, democracy, terrorism, conflict, islamic state of iraq and syria, anbar, karmah, fallujah, ramadi

Snowden, Capital Punishment And Why The U.S. Won’t Get Him Back

The heated debate surrounding NSA leaker Edward Snowden usually revolves around two extreme positions: Some consider him a hero and a whistle-blower worthy of clemency, while others consider his acts treasonous and believe he should be subject to the harshest punishment in our penal system. Ironically, that very same penal system makes getting Snowden back to the United States nearly impossible.

Tags: united states, terrorism, death penalty, edward snowden, treaties, extradition, capital punishment, eric holder, criminals

Dennis Rodman’s Not Alone: 4 Other Famous Visitors To Authoritarian Regimes

While Dennis Rodman is perhaps the most outlandish celebrity to visit an authoritarian regime, he certainly isn't the first. The former NBA star hosted an exhibition game between North Koreans and former NBA players today. He insists his trip is apolitical, although he has repeatedly professed his fondness for Kim Jong-un, his new “friend for life.”

Tags: north korea, tourism, celebrity diplomacy, dennis rodman, kim jong-un, basketball diplomacy, authoritarianism, sting, sean penn, jennifer lopez

2014: The Year Of Public Diplomacy

2014 could be the year of public diplomacy, particularly throughout the Middle East where citizens continue to exercise enormous influence over the direction of events on the ground, from Iraq to Syria, and from Israel to the West Bank. Public opinion in the U.S. matters, as does public opinion “of” the United States around the world in an interdependent world.

Tags: united states, middle east, public diplomacy, tara sonenshine, john kerry,

Bombino: A Musical Mission

The Tuareg, known amongst themselves as the Kel Tamasheq, have long been recognised as warriors, traders and travellers of the Sahara Desert - known both for their grace and nobility as well as their fierce reputation. Tuareg communities in the Sahara, who have often felt overlooked and unrepresented by their governments, have been seeking self-determination for generations. And years of rebellion have escalated in recent times.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, africa, music diplomacy, conflict, rebels, tuareg, bombino, omara moctar, sahara desert

Backlash Against Dennis Rodman On The Eve Of Pyongyang Exhibition Match

Dennis Rodman’s latest attempt at “Basketball Diplomacy” has officials in the U.S. government and the National Basketball Association (NBA) calling for the cancellation of an exhibition match scheduled to coincide with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s 31st birthday.

Tags: united states, sports diplomacy, north korea, basketball, nba, dennis rodman, kim jong-un, basketball diplomacy,

‘Bostonian’ Elitism In China Irritates The Country’s Other College Grads

Chinese students from wealthy families have been pouring into American colleges in record numbers. One of their favorite American destinations is metropolitan Boston and its many elite schools—especially Harvard University, home to the progeny of Communist Party leaders like president Xi Jinping, Jiang Zemin, and the now-disgraced Bo Xilai.

Tags: china, Cultural Diplomacy, higher education, harvard university, boston, babson, brandeis, elitism, mit

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