Sanitas Weekly Web Summary for the Week of July 25th

Sanitas International offers a weekly summary of influential and informative media articles from around the world regarding strategic communications, crisis management, digital media and political affairs.  Particular interest is given to articles discussing topics in developing countries and emerging market.

The U.S. debt crisis dominated news this week with public outcry documented across social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The outrage online has been so palpable that Congress is said to be using Facebook to gather debt crisis feedback. In the midst of this, President Obama has publically stated that the debt crisis is self-created, which has caused many to wonder what the financial ramifications will be if the U.S. receives a downgraded debt score. The debt crisis, in addition to the bleak economic and employment outlook, is said to have led many Americans to question President Obama’s effectiveness as Commander and Chief. The U.S. is not the only country facing financial woes. The IMF recently announced it will be lending funds to a number of other countries in financial turmoil like Greece. Mexico has also been affected by the global economic downturn, however, a new study revealed that this was not the sole cause for the rising level of poverty in the nation despite what Mexican President Calderon stated in the past. Kremlin advisors in Russia also seem to be using the threat of a global economic downturn as a political tool by warning Russian President Medvedev that if he does not continue his mandate and allow Prime Minister Putin to once again assume presidential office, Russian markets will face a swift decline, which will result in an increase in immigration abroad. In other global news, the U.S. government’s position towards potential Arab Spring countries like Syria is said to be shared by governments like Israel and an unlikely counterpart, al Qaeda. As the U.S. continues to look at the potential for other emerging Arab Spring countries like Syria for alliances, the government continues to maintain economic and political ties to countries like Bahrain in an effort to help buoy and promote its influence in the region despite the current controversy that surrounds it.

This week’s summary highlights these and other developments around the world. As Sanitas constantly emphasizes, government and business cannot afford to ignore these growing and evolving challenges. Especially as these and others issues influence reputations, challenge operational decisions and affect overall revenues and influence.

Strategic Communication:

Microsoft apologizes for 'crass' Amy Winehouse tweet

Israeli president says Syrian leader Assad must go

Poverty grew in Mexico to nearly half the population, study finds

Russia faces crisis if Putin returns: Kremlin advisers

Crisis Management:

IMF Seeks to Limit Greece Exposure

Restoring the ISI’s tarnished reputation

President calls debt crisis 'self-created'

Digital Media:

Fans pen Facebook wall posts to lawmakers on debt ceiling

Congress gathering debt-crisis feedback via Facebook

Don't overload your social network

Users with fake names get boot from Google Plus

Twitter revolt over US debt crisis deadlock

Political:

Could a U.S. debt downgrade trigger a financial crisis?

More Americans unhappy with Obama on economy, jobs

Execs blame business drag on Washington politics

Foreign Policy:

Arab spring fuels tourism boom for Turkey

Bahrain and the True Face of US Foreign Policy

Clinton pushes back on proposed bill to curb State Dept. operations

Global gag rule, reinstated?

Iraq more dangerous than a year ago, U.S. review finds

Talks on long-term Afghan-U.S. partnership stalled

U.S. and al Qaeda agree on Syria

Washington Post:

U.S. officials believe al-Qaeda on brink of collapse