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.

Social Media Battle Augments Iraq Bloodshed

It's a truth of warfare in the digital era: Bullets and bombs often are augmented by status updates and tweets.  The bloody conflict taking place in Iraq is no different.

Tags: social media, twitter, iraq, isis, conflict, digital diplomacy, new technology

American Jews Take Up Cause of Kidnapped Israeli Teens

The disappearance of three Israeli teens in the West Bank last week is being taken as a call to action uniting many disparate elements of the American Jewish community.

Tags: diaspora diplomacy, israel, conflict, united states, social media, judaism, faith diplomacy

Butterfield’s Historical Hypothetical: Diplomacy and Linear Time

Butterfield’s almost wistful point is clearly rhetorical - but it raises important questions about the way we organize our thoughts on diplomacy, the flows and breaks in its development - even how diplomacy is conducted by constantly evolving states.

Tags: history and theory, diplomacy, public diplomacy

It’s Sweet Cupcake Heaven — Magnolia Bakery Opens Very First Shop in Japan to Huge Crowds!

Before we had mouth-watering croissant doughnuts and doughnut sandwiches, we had … good ol’ cupcakes! But we’re not talking about just any ordinary cupcake here. We’re talking about cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery in New York, made famous the world over by the hit TV Series Sex and the City. And yes, the TV series was an enormous success in Japan too, meaning that countless Japanese fans were left coveting not just gorgeous Manolo Blahnik shoes, but the delectable looking Magnolia Bakery cupcakes as well. 

Tags: soft power, gastrodiplomacy, japan, united states, new york city

Private Sector is the New Approach to Foreign Aid

The private sector, innovation and the Asia-Pacific region will be the main focus of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's "new approach" to foreign aid. Ms Bishop announced the policy on Wednesday during a speech at the National Press Club, with the focus on economic partnerships, rather than a "donor-recipient" top-down approach to aid. The changes will come in the form of a new innovation hub at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra.

Tags: global aid, private sector, julie bishop, australia, asia-pacific, innovation

Japan Fans Did What No Other Soccer Fans Would After Their World Cup Team Lost

When American fans win a major sporting event, they often like to celebrate by turning over cars and burning everything in sight. When Japanese teams lose, it turns out that fans commiserate by cleaning the stadium. On Saturday, Japan lost its first World Cup match with the Ivory Coast by 2-1. While that could have been a demoralizing start for most sports enthusiasts, a bunch of Japanese fans who attended the event at Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil decided to respond with an unbelievably classy move: cleaning up the stadium.

Tags: japan, united states, FIFA 2014 world cup, soccer, soft power, sports diplomacy

Why this Minnesota Farmer went to Iran to Talk about Organic Food

Jim Riddle was surprised when he got an email from Iran. The Minnesota farmer, and former chairman of the US National Organic Standards Board, says he was invited to speak at the Second International Organic Agriculture conference in Tehran. Since Riddle had never been to Iran before, he says he wasn't sure if his trip would conflict with US sanctions against Iran. So he checked with the USDA and State Department and he says they told him about some cultural, sports and academic exchanges that are going on. "[It's] kind of like soft diplomacy," he says.

Tags: united states, iran, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, agriculture, farming

Kurdistan's Public Diplomacy Imperative

Once the Iraqi situation calms down, Kurdish leaders should embark on a public diplomacy campaign that stresses Kurdistan’s political and economic stability and its value as a partner to the West in sorting out the regional mess.

Tags: kurdistan, iraq, conflict, social media, public diplomacy

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