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.

Pope Francis Skips Many Niceties in Announcing a Visit to Lesbos

Pope Francis has responded to a moral crisis with a spectacular gesture that transcends all the niceties of correct procedure and inter-religious diplomacy. It has been announced that he and Patriarch Bartholomew, the Istanbul-based cleric who is “first among equals” in the eastern Orthodox church will visit the island of Lesbos, the epicentre of an international crisis triggered by an influx of refugees bent on reaching Europe. It seems this will happen on April 15th.

Tags: papal diplomacy, refugees, non-state pd, lesbos, eastern orthodox, roman catholic, patriarch bartholomew, interfaith diplomacy

Is Normalization With Cuba Irreversible?

The day after President Obama ended his historic trip to Havana, Cubans turned on their TV sets and watched his surprise guest appearance in a skit on the popular weekly show Vivir del Cuento (Live by Your Wits). [...]  It was actually Obama’s second appearance on Vivir del Cuento; he’d taped a mock phone call with Pánfilo from the Oval Office for an episode that aired just before his arrival in Havana. 

Tags: cuba, united states, president obama, government pd, smart & soft power, president-to-people diplomacy, culture

Digital Paper in China Covers Contentious Issues, Now in English

The Paper is a new media success story in a fast-changing marketplace for news. It covers contentious issues — such as official corruption and a recent scandal involving improperly stored vaccines — with a clutch of digital bells and whistles. Its smartphone app, it says, has been downloaded about 10 million times.

Tags: china, media, journalism, digital diplomacy & new tech, international broadcasting, freedom of press, the paper, english language, social media

Netball Scores Key Role in Asian Sports Partnership

Netball Australia is proud to be a key partner in the Australian Government’s $1.4 million Asian Sports Partnership (ASP) program [...]. Under the program, [...] One Netball Asia which will work with countries within the Asian Netball Federation to increase participation levels among women and girls in netball and contribute to health and leadership outcomes. 

Tags: australia, julie bishop, asia, asian sports partnership, government pd, sports diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, leadership, women empowerment

Korean Drama 'Descendants Of The Sun' Breaks Records Thanks To Chinese Investments

The two lead actors of popular Korean drama Descendants of the Sun were in Hong Kong on Tuesday for the series’ first overseas promotional activity. The drama will premiere in the city the next day on local channel Viu TV. The show is already available on Viu’s free K-drama streaming site Viu.com, where it is the most-watched show.

Tags: south korea, hong kong, china, Cultural Diplomacy, television, entertainment industry, culture, smart & soft power

India on Top 10 Ranking of Global Digital Diplomacy

India has been ranked in the top 10 nations in terms of its digital diplomacy performance over the last year by Diplomacy Live, a global research, advocacy, consulting and training platform. India and Mexico are the only two countries from the developing world in this list. India's high ranking is despite a relatively modest budget for public diplomacy. 

Tags: india, narendra modi, digital diplomacy & new tech, diplomacy live, advocacy, mexico, international image, social media, facebook, twitter

BBC Launches World Service Ad to Promote Value to British Public

The BBC World Service has launched its first ad campaign in seven years, in a seemingly counterintuitive move to promote the international service to the British public. The BBC said the decision to promote the World Service at home – it is synonymous with being a popular and trusted news source in foreign countries – was to address the misconception that it is solely for overseas audiences.

Tags: bbc, great britain, international broadcasting, public opinion, international image, smart & soft power, media, youtube

Orphaned, HIV Positive and Abused, She Almost Gave Up — But Didn't

"My cheeks are sore from smiling," says Loyce Maturu. The 24-year-old, who lives in Harare, Zimbabwe, is posing for a photo at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. She's come to be interviewed about her activism. She's a champion for people with HIV/AIDS and TB (she's been diagnosed with both). So really, the pain of smiling is nothing compared to what she's been through.

Tags: non-state pd, international advocacy, international broadcasting, international exchange, AIDS Awareness, zimbabwe, united states, africa

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