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 at the UN Mixes Tax-Free Beer with Diplomacy

Watching World Cup matches while drinking tax-free imported beer is an important part of diplomacy at the United Nations. The roars and groans of the thousands of diplomats who represent the UN’s 193 member states and support their national teams are loud enough to be heard across the world body’s New York headquarters. Right now, at least, international competition is taking center stage over cooperation on unrest in Iraq, the Syrian civil war and conflicts in Africa.

Tags: united nations, FIFA 2014 world cup, ambassadors, sports diplomacy, government pd

Another Setback for French Foreign Aid

France's budget for public development aid continues to fall. The French government presented its altered, and reduced, budget for this year's foreign aid. "The ministry contributed in the collective effort of reducing France’s public deficit, but everyone has to take part," said Annick Girardin, France’s Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie. A finance law will reduce the foreign aid budget by €73 million in 2014. It was originally €2.9bn. 

Tags: france, global aid, international development, africa, government pd, european commission

World Cup TV Makes Unlikely 'Friends' of Enemies in Egypt

The popularity of the World Cup is making for some unexpected relationships in Egypt, especially after a mooted deal to show the games on Egyptian TV fell through. As Algeria takes on Germany in the second round of the World Cup in Brazil this evening most Egyptian fans will be rooting the Algerians, an incredible happenstance when one considers the enmities around the Egypt v Algeria match in November 2009 which saw attacks on Algerians in Cairo and on the Egyptian embassy in Algiers.

Tags: FIFA 2014 world cup, algeria, egypt, middle east, international broadcasting, arab world

Radio Sawa Mobile App Launches to Engage Arab Youth

Radio Sawa is giving fans access, anywhere and at any time, to the most popular radio network in the Middle East through the launch of the new Radio Sawa app. Owners of iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets will have instant access to Radio Sawa’s streams of breaking news, music, Radio Sawa programs and hourly news updates. 

Tags: international broadcasting, united states, bbg, radio sawa, middle east, digital diplomacy

YouTube Jihadist Urges Brits to Quit ‘Gangster Life’

A video on YouTube showing a young man preaching out to his “brothers and sisters” in Britain to unleash their jihad upon the United Kingdom has been reported on by The Sunday Times.  The video is just the latest in many more showing young Britons drawing on their western roots and Islamist inspiration to instigate, what might be termed, a YouTube jihad, according to the newspaper.

Tags: youtube, social media, new technology, digital diplomacy, great britain, isis, iraq

Moscow Beefs Up Military Support for Iraq

A senior Iraqi official pointed out that the latest support from Moscow demonstrated America's diminished role in the conflict. "The American influence is getting sidelined ... due to the lack of security and military support to the Iraqi government and people in its war of survival," the official told Foreign Policy.

Tags: russia, iraq, foreign aid, aid diplomacy, military aid, united states, influence

Isis Announces Caliphate in 'Declaration of War'

The announcement of a formal Islamic state by insurgents in Syria and Iraq is a "declaration of war against the West and al Qaida", an expert has warned. The Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (Isis) group has sought to solidify its leadership of worldwide jihad today by declaring that its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is the new caliph, or head of state.

Tags: jihad, non state actors, al qaeda, isis, islam, faith diplomacy, iraq, syria

The Diplomacy of Culture

Culture can play a crucial role in diplomacy, according to the director general of the Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar) in Brussels. In an interview with New Europe, Paul Dujardin, who also serves as the centre’s artistic director, described culture as a “soft power”.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, culture, diplomacy, europe, soft power, belgium

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