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.
Chinese swimmer gets lifelong ban for doping
China's top swimmer, Ouyang Kunpeng, has been banned from competition for life after testing positive for steroids, a top Chinese swimming official said on Friday with only 43 days to go before the Beijing Olympics.
Olympics: Chinese swimmer banned for drugs
The British Olympic Association yesterday issued a stern warning to British athletes and team officials "to eat within the confines of Team GB official catering facilities" in Beijing. The advice comes in the wake of a Chinese swimming medal prospect having been banned for life after testing positive for a steroid that he may have ingested innocently with his dinner.
In Zimbabwe’s political charade, state media plays a key role
While international news organizations quoted voters who were force-marched by government militias to polling stations and threatened with violence if they didn't produce ink-stained fingers — proof they'd cast a ballot — a news anchor on Zimbabwe Television on Saturday described the election thusly: "It has been very peaceful. Everything has gone very well so far."
Hospital Ship Offers Treatment in Southeast Asia, Pacific
The ship is sailing as part of "Pacific Partnership 2008." It is bringing together medical, dental and engineering teams and nongovernmental organizations from multiple nations to coordinate humanitarian and civic action programs..."This is the essence of American soft power...It enhances the image not only of the U.S. Navy and the military, but of America in general."
Alhurra, ProPublica, Media Ethics and Me
ProPublica, working with 60 Minutes, and The Washington Post have each recently produced pieces that depict Alhurra as a mismanaged and wasteful organization. (See here and here.) I'm not writing to defend the network. And if it is indeed a waste of taxpayers' money, perhaps a journalist (in his or her role as a citizen) ought not to work with the operation. I had three interactions with Alhurra that told me little about the overall operation. But the matter of journalists accepting payment for providing commentary to Alhurra is not the easy gotcha the ProPublica piece implied.
Creating a Chinese brand
Xiushui Street or Silk Market, is a must-go shopping destination for foreign tourists in Beijing. And it is in the process to shaking off an image of paradise for counterfeit brand products, as China strengthens its efforts to better protect intellectual property rights.
Olympics boosts TV sales
The coming Olympic Games will boost by 50 percent the flat-panel television sales in China, according to a report from China Electronic Chamber of Commerce. TV producers are competing fiercely for market share.
How tiny Jamaica develops so many champion sprinters
How does a poor Caribbean country of less than 3 million people produce such athletic riches? Improved coaching and a new system to develop raw talent at home have combined with a tradition of seeing sprinting as an inexpensive ticket out of poverty, observers say.
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