Photo from U.S. Maritime Administration

Even as the United Arab Emirates-owned company DP World (Dubai Ports World) requested a 45-day "further review of its deal to buy management rights to terminals at major U.S. ports," it's building a massive public relations team to support the $6.8 billion deal. To "tamp down Congressional criticism," DP World hired the firm Clark & Weinstock, according to O'Dwyer's. The firm's Vin Weber, a former Republican Congressman, will head the account. (PR Week is reporting that firm partner Davis Weinstock said they "represent the embassy of the United Arab Emirates," not DP World.) DP World has also retained the Albright Group, which is headed by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Alston & Bird, which counts former Senator Bob Dole among its lobbyists; and the Downey McGrath Group, which is headed by former Congressmen Tom Downey and Ray McGrath. Downey "is a good friend of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who has been spearheading opposition" to the ports deal. DP World's lead PR firm is the Britain-based Bell Pottinger.

In April 2005, "a breakthrough in television advertising debuted without fanfare" -- a new technology that allows product placements to be digitally added, after scenes are filmed. The technology, called Digital Brand Integration (DBI), was developed by Marathon Ventures, as part of "an unprecedented marketing deal with CBS." DBI has added brands like Kellogg's to the sitcom "Yes, Dear," and StarKist and Chevrolet to "CSI" and "How I Met Your Mother." Marathon "expects to unveil a new pact soon with the Fox network," reports Reuters. But "virtual product placement" dates back to at least 1999, when "images of several brands, including Coca-Cola and Blockbuster video, were digitally spliced into an episode of the now-defunct drama 'Seven Days.'" "According to Nielsen Media Research, network placements in prime time last year numbered 108,261, up more than 30 percent from 2004."

A Maldives news service criticizes the 'New Maldives' project launched by President Gayoom in October 2005 as "nothing more than an image make-over for an unpopular and authoritarian regime." The editorial notes that the opposition political party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has highlighted contradictions between the government's words and actions, including "government rhetoric over judicial reform while MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) is refused a fair trial" and "assertions over press freedom, while the Police Chief harasses foreign-based journalists." For several years, the PR firm Hill and Knowlton has promoted tourism to the Maldives, on behalf of the government. Hill and Knowlton plays a "seemingly central role" in the 'New Maldives' project and "remain [a] close advisor to the 'reform ministers'," according to the editorial.

"Controversy over LNG [liquid natural gas] terminals is growing as demand soars," reports the Boston Globe. There are four proposals for new LNG terminals in Massachusetts -- and one has its own astroturf group. The Coalition for an LNG Solution, which describes itself as "a grass-roots neighborhood organization," supports new LNG terminals on Boston Harbor islands. But the phone number for the coalition "is a line to Regan Communications, a powerful public relations firm that has been hired by AES Corp. of Arlington, Va., the company that wants to build the Boston Harbor terminal on Outer Brewster Island." An AES spokesperson referred calls to Regan, saying the firm does "grass-roots and community organizing, and we rely on them to respond to questions and coordinate those activities." One Boston-area activist, John Vitagliano, has addressed neighborhood associations on behalf of the coalition. Vitagliano said "he receives no compensation" from Regan or AES.

The U.S. Defense Department's Total Information Awareness (TIA) program, "which developed technologies to predict terrorist attacks by mining government databases and the personal records of people in the United States," was not ended, as lawmakers directed in 2003, but merely moved and renamed. While "it is no secret that some parts of TIA lived on," the National Journal reports details of how TIA continued. Two key programs moved to the Advanced Research and Development Activity (ARDA), at the National Security Agency. One, a $19 million contract given to Hicks & Associates "to build the prototype system," was renamed "Basketball." The other is a $3.7 million contract given to SAIC, "to help analysts and policy makers anticipate and pre-empt terrorist attacks." That work, initially called "Genoa II," was renamed "Topsail." Whether these programs are still active is unclear. ARDA itself is being moved to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte's office and renamed the "Disruptive Technology Office."