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.

U.S. Attempts to Combat Islamic State Propaganda

The video that became prominent last week is one of several on a new State Department YouTube channel in English aimed at disaffected young Western Muslims who may be wowed by the Islamic State’s battlefield momentum. The counter message is simple: These guys are lying to you, and if you go to Syria to fight Western oppression you’ll just end up killing innocent Muslims.

Tags: united states, isis, propaganda, youtube, digital diplomacy, iraq

Qatar’s Support of Extremists Alienates Allies Near and Far

 Standing at the front of a conference hall in Doha, the visiting sheikh told his audience of wealthy Qataris that to help the battered residents of Syria, they should not bother with donations to humanitarian programs or the Western-backed Free Syrian Army. “Give your money to the ones who will spend it on jihad, not aid,” implored the sheikh, Hajaj al-Ajmi, recently identified by the United States government as a fund-raiser for Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate.

Tags: qatar, jihad, allies, syria, isis, united states, hamas, terrorism

Bridge 2014: High Tech Entrepreneurship in Iran: Opportunities and Challenges

For the first time, seasoned entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley and Iran will convene to explore and elucidate the opportunities and challenges of high tech entrepreneurship in Iran and its impact on the country’s ongoing economic development. The conference is predicated on the notion that the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation is the indispensable key to sustainable growth.

Tags: iran, united states, entrepreneurship, silicon valley, non-state actors, business diplomacy

Pakistan, India in ‘Flood aid diplomacy’

Pakistan and India have offered each other assistance in dealing with the devastation caused by the floods in the two neighbouring countries. Pakistan on Sunday offered assistance and help to India to mitigate the suffering of the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir due to the floods. While responding to a question regarding floods in held Kashmir, Foreign Office spokesperson said that the government and people of Pakistan express deepest condolences over the loss of precious lives of Kashmiri brethren on both sides of the Line of Control caused by torrential rains and flash floods. 

Tags: pakistan, india, flood aid, global aid, narendra modi, prime minister nawaz sharif, government pd

Foreign Powers Buy Influence at Think Tanks

More than a dozen prominent Washington research groups have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments in recent years while pushing United States government officials to adopt policies that often reflect the donors’ priorities, an investigation by The New York Times has found. The money is increasingly transforming the once-staid think-tank world into a muscular arm of foreign governments’ lobbying in Washington. 

Tags: foreign powers, influence, think tanks, ministry of foreign affairs, united states, economic power

Netflix Tries Charm in France to Smooth Expansion

When top Netflix Inc. executives arrived in Paris earlier this year to help prepare a European expansion, they were greeted with an open letter from a group of French film producers warning of an "implosion of our cultural model." Netflix's response was a charm offensive. In a series of meetings with French government officials, executives said they planned to inject tens of millions of euros into France by marketing the Netflix service...

Tags: netflix, cross cultural understanding, france, united states

Indian Officials to Showcase Country's 'Soft Power' at Toronto International Film Festival

From joint collaboration to single window clearance - an Indian delegation would be showcasing the country's "soft power" at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival. Led by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka, the team, which arrived here on Sep 6, will share details about the country's strength as a film shooting destination for foreign producers and would promote joint collaborations amongst stakeholders, said an Information and Broadcasting Ministry statement. 

Tags: india, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, toronto international film festival, film diplomacy

His Highness PM Underlines Importance of Public Diplomacy

His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah underscored the importance of public diplomacy in strengthening ties between friendly nations. His Highness the Prime Minister's remark was made Sunday during his reception at Seif Palace of a Kuwait media delegation which has recently paid a visit to Iran. His Highness Sheikh Jaber lauded Kuwaiti media delegation's initiative to visit Iran, adding that such popular visits are in essential to build and boost people-to-people relations between countries.

Tags: kuwait, public diplomacy, prime minister, iran, people-to-people relations

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