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.

World Cup and Gaza War Among Top Facebook Topics of 2014

Social media giant Facebook revealed Tuesday the most talked about topics of 2014 around the world with the main topic the World Cup.  Other topics in the list included the Gaza conflict, the Ice Bucket Challenge, the Ebola Virus as well as Sochi Winter Olympics.

Tags: facebook, social media, digital diplomacy, FIFA 2014 world cup, operation protective edge, ice bucket challenge

‘BRICS Becoming a Significant Alternative Voice in the International Arena’

BRICS could emerge as a voice for an alternative world view and development model as there is a good scope to take the relationship forward, Rajiv Sikri, former secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, told RT.

Tags: brics, international development, brazil, china, russia, india, south africa

Kazakhstan: Astana Embraces Soft Power to Massage International Image

Kazakhstan is scrambling to keep its diplomatic options open amid rapidly rising Western-Russian tension. Not wanting to get dragged down by Western sanctions imposed on Russia, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s administration is ramping up an international charm offensive.

Tags: kazakhstan, soft power, government pd, russia, western europe, global image

Shifts and Shocks on the Soft Power Scale

I used to be asked how the US could deploy its soft power in the Middle East more effectively. That was in the days of the Iraq and Afghan wars and President George W Bush’s ill-advised warnings to the world that “you’re either with us or against us”.

Tags: soft power, united states, middle east, Cultural Diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy

In Latin America, Growth Trumps Climate

Eco-warriors on the front lines of climate diplomacy often frame the environmental conflict between the developed and the developing world as a version of the notorious skirmish between Lawrence H. Summers and José Lutzenberger, which happened on the sidelines of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, widely seen as the official start of the world’s interest in climate change.

Tags: latin america, climate diplomacy, climate change, brazil, united nations, greenpeace, development

Poll: Most Say Poor Netanyahu - Obama Ties are Harmful

An overwhelming majority of Israelis believes relations with the US have been harmed due to the bad relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama, according to a Smith Research poll taken in honor of Thursday’s Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference.

Tags: obama, netanyahu, united states, public opinion, israel, diplomatic relations, government pd

Obama Could Take a Lesson in Diplomacy From This Top Diplomat

President Obama could take a lesson in Congressional relations from his own top diplomat. Samantha Power, now a year on the job as the US ambassador to the United Nations, says she’s learned the value of investing in relationships with her counterparts from around the world. 

Tags: obama, samantha power, diplomacy, listening, smart power, capitol hill, senate relations, united nations

US Senate Report on CIA Torture Threatens International Relations

The US Senate Intelligence Committee's summary report on the CIA's post 9-11 "enhanced interrogation techniques" – from sleep deprivation to waterboarding – used against suspected terrorists has provoked a domestic furore, but its biggest impact could be outside US shores.

Tags: united states, us senate, cia, torture, public opinion, anti-americanism, obama

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