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.
Taliban using media network to undermine government
The Taliban have created a sophisticated media network to undermine support for the Afghan government, sending threats by text message and spreading the militia's views through songs available as ring tones, according to a report released Thursday.
Plastic Bottles Discarded in Olympic Venues to be Recycled
All plastic bottles discarded at each Olympic venue will be collected and recycled to maintain the cleanness in the stadium, according to a meeting for Olympic waste recycling held here on Wednesday. According to the meeting, Coca Cola, World's largest soft drink maker, together with the Beijing-based Income Resources Recovery Company, will jointly do the waste collection work.
Students Weigh In On ‘Rebranding America’
If improving the United States' standing in the world is one of the biggest challenges the next president must address, then students at Occidental College in Southern California have some ideas on how to get started.
Athletes to Get Christian-Atheist Book at Beijing Olympics
The Chinese government has granted American evangelist, Luis Palau, permission to distribute his book, A Friendly Dialogue Between an Atheist and a Christian, to athletes attending the Games. The book records a conversation between atheist Chinese diplomat Zhao Qizheng – a high-ranking Chinese government official – and the Christian evangelist.
China Clamps Down on Business Visas
Government officials confirmed Thursday that visas for business people will be tougher to get during the Olympic period. Authorities have repeatedly said the security measures are needed because the games, which begin in two weeks, are a target for terrorism.
The Hidden Cost Behind China’s Olympic Gold
Many Chinese sports fans may not have considered how a country (China) that is ranked around 100th in the world for GDP per person can win over the U.S.—ranking in the top 10 countries for GDP—to become the top sports nation in gold metal totals. Especially for a country that still has more than 200 million living below the poverty line, some believe China’s anticipated high medal ranking represents a poor allocation of resources.
US Lawmakers Consider Olympic Rights Message to China
A resolution was introduced Wednesday in the US House of Representatives asking China to end human rights abuses and its support for tainted governments in Sudan and Myanmar in line with "Olympic traditions of freedom and openness".
The Art of Global Public Relations
Nicholas Cull's comprehensive history of USIA begins by clarifying what is meant by "public diplomacy." This is a great service, because since 9/11 every committee, think tank, advisory board and broom closet in Washington has published a report on the topic, and while some are less eye-glazing than others, none cuts through the semantic muddle as deftly as Mr. Cull.
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