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.
China’s Olympic ‘madman’ gives life—and body—to Games
Sun Dingguo rewarded himself with his 36th Olympic-themed tattoo after completing a 10-month journey across China, pedaling his rickshaw for the glory of the Beijing Games. Sun, 30, one of China's so-called Olympic 'madmen', gave up his job last year to devote his entire life -- and his body -- to the Olympics.
U.S.-Funded Arab TV’s Credibility Crisis
America has been struggling with its image in the Middle East for decades but, after Iraq, Arab opinion plummeted. The Bush administration felt it had to act fast to explain America to the Arab world. So it began spending about $100 million a year on a U.S. government news channel in Arabic. It's called "Al Hurra," meaning "The Free One."
Global interfaith dialogue set for July 16 in Madrid
The Muslim World League (MWL) will organize a global interfaith dialogue in Madrid on July 16, it was announced here yesterday...The call to have Muslims and non-Muslims work together to solve problems afflicting the world came with a recommendation to set up a center for dialogue to be named King Abdullah International Center for Cultural Relations and the establishment of King Abdullah Prize for Cultural Dialogue.
Muslims and the West need to be more sensitive
In the past few months, political and cultural relations between the West and the Muslim world have been strained by two major developments: the republishing of the offensive Danish cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad, and the production of a Dutch film portraying Islam in a particularly negative way.
Facebook is new face of young people’s protests
Following examples in Venezuela and Colombia, youths in Nicaragua have used the Internet as an outlet for opposition to President Daniel Ortega. A new brand of subversive is being born in a country with a history of traditional guerrilla movements: clean-cut youths who wear Hollister shirts and conspire on Facebook.
Guitarist Thibault Cauvin thrills Malawi
French guitarist Thibault Cauvin on Saturday night produced a scintillating performance showing the power of the guitar during his concert held at French Cultural Centre (FCC) in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre...Cauvin who is on a world tour sponsored by Cultures French showed why he is among the best guitarists as he played Jazz songs.
Enfeebled superpower: how America lost its grip
The mighty US has held the best ever hand in global political history but played it spectacularly badly. Now its influence is waning on all fronts...The task for today is to construct a new approach for a new era, one that responds to a global system in which power is far more diffuse than before and in which everyone feels empowered.
Soft power games: Beijing vs Delhi
When the Economist recently concluded a debate on whether China was the right country for hosting the Olympics, it threw up some interesting pointers for Delhi too...For some years now, the world has been wearing different lenses and much now depends on what is called soft power: the ability to attract and influence people ideologically without coercion. It encompasses everything from human development and cultural expression to food, drink and street life.
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