Sanitas Weekly Web Summary For the Week of February 19th

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 crisis in Syria continued to make headlines this week after Saudi Arabia came under fire for stating it backed arming the opposition against Assad. In U.S. foreign policy news, the State Department is said to be “quietly warning the region on Syrian WMDs,” according to Foreign Policy Magazine. Other countries in the Middle East, such as Egypt, also made headlines after an Egyptian court ruled the country’s parliament vote system unconstitutional. In other election news out of the Arab Spring, Misrata held the first post-Gadhafi elections in Libya this week. The first post revolution election in Yemen also occurred this week, which, according to Reuters, was hailed by “Washington as a milestone in county’s transition to democracy.” In other leadership transitions, fears of mass protests have swept the Maldives after the first democratically elected president resigned amid pressure from opposition candidates who, according to the recently resigned President Mohamed Nasheed, threatened violent action otherwise. Fear of crisis and a return to the authoritarian rule that once controlled the nation have created panic on the islands.  Political discontent is also present across the world in Malaysia and is said to be finding its voice on social media platforms, which some claim, according to UPI, could undermine government efforts for control over the media. In other digital media news, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a list of government key words for monitoring social media and the news.

This week’s summary highlights these and r 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:

Obama apology resonates in Kabul, on campaign trail

Kim Jong Un issues threat before SKorea-US drills

Putin, Addressing Rally, Casts Himself as Unifier 

Syria blasts Saudi Arabia over arming opposition calls

Crisis Management:

Haiti PM resignation introduces new crisis, threatens quake reconstruction

G-20 Meet: Europe to Face Pressure from U.S., China and Japan for Crisis Management

Crisis in paradise in Maldives' new democracy

Digital Media:

Homeland Security Manual Lists Government Key Words For Monitoring Social Media, News

Social media spotlighted in Rutgers suicide case

Social media challenge Malaysia's political scene

Facebook's Top Cop: Joe Sullivan

Political:

Misrata holds first Libyan elections post-Gadhafi

Egypt court rules parliament vote system unconstitutional

Iranian candidates launch parliamentary election campaign; vote seen as test for Ahmadinejad

Reality bites as Yemen begins life after Saleh

Foreign Policy:

Clinton tells Muslims that campaign rhetoric doesn’t reflect US policy

Exclusive: State Department quietly warning region on Syrian WMDs

Will Russia Yield on Syria?