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.
The Hidden Face of Political Islamism
Visitors to Islam Expo would have witnessed such innocent activities as an Islamic arts and crafts workshop for under 12s, live Islamic storytelling performances and lute-playing and poetry recitals in the pomegranate and date garden...But behind the cultural soft power of Islam Expo, there is political hard power, and some of it comes in quite raw, unpalatable forms.
The International Politics of Beauty Pageants
Ordinarily, you would not think a beauty pageant has much to do with the serious business of diplomacy and international affairs...but you’d be wrong. Last night’s Miss Universe pageant may be the catalyst Kosovo has been seeking to gain international recognition of its independence from Serbia.
Post-mortem of govt’s handing of Preah Vihear
In the 133-year history of the Foreign Ministry, the word "traitor" has been used for the first time to refer to the proud bureaucrats who cherish their long tradition of preserving Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity...A post-mortem of the ministry's handling of the Preah Vihear Temple case reveals symptoms linked to the credibility of elected officials and the role of public diplomacy.
US candidates Need a Marshall Plan for Iraq
A third alternative does exist. It involves a massive expansion of current American social and economic reconstruction projects - a Marshall Plan for Iraq as it were - financed by Iraq's windfall profits from oil sales, and an aggressive public diplomacy campaign to bring to the attention of the Iraqi public the contributions Americans have made toward rebuilding the country.
Nigeria Not Against AFRICOM, Says Defense Chief
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Owoye Azazi, said yesterday in Abuja that Nigeria was not against the establishment of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM). “The establishment of AFRICOM is a foregone conclusion, the only thing we can do is to ensure that the command does not do anything inimical to Nigeria’s interest,” Azazi said at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum.
China Olympics Security Undermines Media Freedoms: Experts
China's massive Olympic security drive is undermining media freedoms promised for the Games, Beijing-based journalists say, and risks spoiling a chance for the country to highlight its culture and economic achievements. Recently security officials burst into a government-approved live broadcast, banned a TV crew from an Olympic test event they were authorized to attend, and have been blocking one firm from filming in an ordinary apartment outside the security cordon.
Strange Olympic Bedfellows
The United States has been cautious with its criticism of China. The reason is largely financial. Economic ties between the countries runs deep. China relies on the U.S. as its largest export market, just as the U.S. relies on China to fuel its outrageous consumption with cheap imports.
Olympics Suck Up China’s Already Scarce Water
Changgucheng farmers were never told that the reservoir is one of four in the province tapped to meet the capital's demand for water leading up to and during the Olympic Games, which begin in August. The Games are expected to increase Beijing's water consumption by at least 5 percent, or 162,000 acre-feet, according to a recent report by Probe International, a Canadian environmental group. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons.
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