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.
A #Hashtag Spreads the Seeds to Stamp Out World Hunger
One small "hashtag" fueled by a big dream has spread from the West Coast to the East Coast, inspiring everyone -- kids, parents, even celebrities -- to pack lunchbags for those in need. The idea behind this nationwide grassroots movement, dubbed Hashtag Lunchbag, is quite simple: Gather a group of your friends to pack lunches, pass those lunches out to people living on the streets of your neighborhood, and then document your efforts on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to inspire others to do the same.
The Uighurs, China’s Embattled Muslim Minority, Are Still Seeking an Identity
In the winter of 2009, I was spending my weekends in the northeast Chinese city of Tangshan, and eating most of my food from the far-western province of Xinjiang. Like many minorities, the Uighur, the native people of Xinjiang, have made their chief impact on mainstream culture through cuisine. I have always favored their ubiquitous restaurants when traveling.
Archaeo-Diplomacy: US Gives Million-Dollar Cup Back to Iran
Here's one more sign of a thaw in U.S.-Iranian relations: A 2,700-year-old silver drinking cup, looted from a cave in Iran and seized by U.S. Customs officials a decade ago, was returned to Iran this week. Its value is estimated at a million dollars or more.
Former PQ Leader Leaves Diplomatic Post to Fight Drug Allegations
Former Parti Québécois leader André Boisclair has been relieved of his functions as Quebec’s official representative in New York City at his own request so he can fight allegations involving his past cocaine use.
Conrad Black: Toward a Theory of Canadian Exceptionalism
Last week, an eminent American industrialist who is an old friend, a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, a patriotic but very reasonable and moderate citizen and a respecter of all other serious nationalities (including Canada), visited me and volunteered that he is in a state of despair about his country.
Sudan’s Revolts: Internet Blackouts and Dead Protesters on the Streets
Sudan is literally on fire. The past five days in Sudan were filled with blocked roads, gas stations on fire, and live ammunition at the funerals of dead protesters, and there have been multiple reports of live ammunition and heavy tear gas in multiple neighborhoods just this afternoon.
Twitter Diplomacy Takes Center Stage
As Twitter heads toward its high value IPO, the attention is on its revenue and growth numbers. However, a big part of the story is the pervasiveness and influence of the messaging service. Compared with Facebook, with over a billion users, Twitter is a midsize town, with about a quarter of the audience.
Obama’s Post-Humanitarian Interventionism
The responsibility to protect is a bad idea. But it could be worse. President Obama’s speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday hinted how. At the conclusion of remarks that focused heavily on the Middle East, the president offered a strong endorsement of the doctrine.
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