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.

France to Offer 200 Scholarships to Unprivileged Pakistani Students

France and Pakistan have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU), offering 200 needs-based scholarships to the unprivileged Pakistani students in various subjects for further promoting bilateral educational cooperation. The scholarships would be available from next year. The MOU was signed by French Ambassador to Pakistan Martine Dorance and Higher Educational Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed in a simple ceremony here at the residence of French envoy.

Tags: educational exchange, bilateral cooperation, international exchange, education, france, pakistan

Meet A Doctor From Boston Who’s Helping Prevent the Spread of Cholera in Haiti

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, one Haitian-American doctor is fighting back against cholera, a disease that has devastated her parents’ home country. Starting just after sunrise each morning, Dr. Naima Joseph begins work at the cholera treatment unit in Les Anglais on Haiti’s southern peninsula. For about 12 hours each day, Naima and a dozen Haitian nurses and aides treat patients believed to be suffering from potentially lethal waterborne diseases.

Tags: boston, global aid & development, haiti, cholera, hurricane matthew, non-state pd, humanitarian action

US Aid For Women’s Sexual Health Worldwide Under Threat

Hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid that helps prevent child and maternal deaths and reduces unintended pregnancies worldwide could be at risk under a Donald Trump administration, campaigners and thinktanks have warned. Citing “worrisome” indicators, such as Trump’s U-turn against abortion, his pledge to appoint pro-life justices to the Supreme Court and his choice of Mike Pence, an anti-abortion activist, as vice-presidential running mate...

Tags: US, global aid & development, Donald Trump, us foreign aid, mike pence, us government, leadership

Pakistan to Show Iranian Flims in Cinemas

The Pakistani cinemas are all set to screen Iranian films after a ban on Indian content in the country. The move came in a bid to save the declining Pakistan film industry and restore its glory. The industry was previously functional with screening of Indian movies but after the imposition of the ban it is somewhat facing difficulties, IRNA reported.

Tags: pakistan, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural exchange, film diplomacy, iran, international exchange

Rodrigo Duterte Takes Karaoke Diplomacy to Malaysia

That Mr. Duterte’s contribution to international statecraft, the annals of which already include Ping-Pong diplomacy, would include karaoke might come as little surprise to those he leads. [...] Karaoke bars are an essential part of social life in the Philippines, and virtually every home in the country has a karaoke machine. A passion for public singing has led to competitive television shows, a multimillion-dollar business of migrant worker entertainers and several murders.

Tags: Rodrigo Duterte, malaysia, karaoke diplomacy, Najib Razak, philippine, foreign policy, government pd

An Englishman in North Korea

To Nicholas Bonner, North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is not as isolated as most outsiders believe. Bonner, who runs Koryo Tours in Beijing and offers Westerners trips to North Korea, believes that engagement with North Koreans is an important way to connect the country with the rest of the world, through travel, sports, art and films.

Tags: north korea, tourism, Nicholas Bonner, koryo tours, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural engagement, cultural exchange

Tuning the Voice of India: How to Better Deploy Soft Power

The government needs to be more open, creative and clear in its communications with the wider world, instead of the conservative, secretive and dull methods that are currently the norm. [...] It’s needs a 21st century restatement of mission and objectives, and expansion of coverage to reach more audiences. It also needs a complete technical and content re-gig.

Tags: india, soft power, brand india, nation branding, government pd, international broadcasting, media, communication diplomacy

Xi's Latin America Visit to Boost Bilateral Partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to three Latin American countries will boost the comprehensive partnership of cooperation between China and Latin America [...] This is Xi's third visit to Latin America since he took office in 2013, hailing the flourishing momentum of the development of China-Latin America ties in past years.

Tags: china, xi jinping, latin america, smart & soft power, government pd, bilateral relations, economic development, strategic partnership

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