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.
Tehran Softens Image Abroad But Remains Hard-Line At Home
Soft on the outside, hard on the inside. That may be the best way to describe the often startling contrast between Iran's current foreign and domestic policies. Since taking office in August, President Hassan Rohani has won widespread praise for showing greater flexibility in nuclear talks with the international community.
Major Campaign Launched to Encourage Young People to Study Overseas
In its drive to double the number of Japanese youths studying abroad by 2020, the education ministry has launched a campaign involving the private sector, which is eager to hire more graduates with overseas experience. Under the campaign titled “Tobitate! Ryugaku Japan,' the ministry in cooperation with business people, athletes and artists, will stage a series of promotional activities to encourage more young people to seek out educational opportunities in other countries.
India: End Funding Restraints on Organizations
The Indian government should vigorously investigate allegations that officials are using the law on foreign contributions to repress groups critical of the government. The government should amend the 2010 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act to protect the right to freedom of association and expression.
Venezuela Unveils Orwellian Ministry of Supreme Social Happiness
Consider the latest from the gatekeeper of the late Hugo Chávez's experiment in "21st-Century Socialism": the Deputy Ministry of Supreme Social Happiness. Last week, to much fanfare, Nicolas Maduro unveiled this new government subdivision, which he said will oversee and troubleshoot some 30 separate social programs, known collectively in Venezuela as "missions."
Can An Ancient Artifact Promote Contemporary Dialogue?
This week at CPD, we hosted Dr. Timothy Potts, the director of the J. Paul Getty Museum, who discussed the Cyrus Cylinder as a cultural icon and museums as vehicles for promoting global dialogue. Potts shared with us the history and meaning of the Cylinder; a clay foundation deposit no larger than a loaf of bread inscribed following Cyrus the Great’s incorporation of Babylon into the Persian Empire in 539 BCE.
Pakistan allows Afghan meeting with Taliban
Senior Afghan officials will travel to Pakistan soon to speak to former Taliban deputy commander following a breakthrough in negotiations during a London summit, the Afghan presidential palace said. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is a long-time friend of reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and is seen by some in Afghanistan as the key to restarting peace talks.
Brazil Commemorates 25 Years of the Post-Dictatorship Constitution
The four ex heads of state and other politicians received the Ulyses Guimarares medal the highest decoration of the Brazilian Congress for their contributions to the current constitution. The constitution, the seventh in the country's history, was promulgated on 5 October 1988, after a year and eight months of discussions by a constituent assembly elected in 1986.
Is the Muslim Brotherhood Using Puppies as Bombs? (Spoiler: No.)
Here's a story fit for Halloween from CBS's New York affiliate (hat tip to journalist Patrick Galey): According to reporter Amy Dardashtian, Muslim Brotherhood members marching on Tahrir Square were caught "using puppies as gas bombs -- dipping them in gasoline and lighting them on fire."
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