Sanitas Weekly Web Summary for the Week of April 2nd

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.

Syria continued to make headlines this week after the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the crisis there is continuing to get worse. Some have speculated Russia’s recent criticism of Syrian President al-Assad is evidence that the country maybe bracing itself for a future without him. In other news from the Middle East, according to Foreign Policy Magazine, the U.S. announced it would offer a $10 million reward for the capture of “Hafiz Mohamed Saeed, the founder of the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba and the suspected organizer of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.” In other U.S. foreign policy and national security news, according to the New York Times, President Obama is said to have “embraced national security as a campaign issue.” The Obama campaign is also said to be looking into having “national security ‘surrogates,’ such as former Secretary of State Madeline K. Albright,” who will write on national security issues in op-eds on behalf of President Obama’s national security platform. Although national security is a hot topic issue in the 2012 election, presidential campaign tactics are becoming news as well after GOP front-runner Mitt Romney attacked President Obama’s campaign saying it “lacked candor.” In other political news, according to the Wall Street Journal, political opponents of French President Sarkozy are accusing him of using terror raids to boost his reelection campaign’s impact by employing fear tactics. In other headlines, Hungarian President Pal Schmitt resigned after he was accused of plagiarism in his doctoral thesis written in 1992. Schmitt, however, reiterated the accusations of plagiarism were unfounded despite his resignation. In digital media, as presidential campaigns get into full swing, some have started to measure whether social media buzz is an accurate predictor of election results. In other digital media news, Marine Corps officials are said to be seeking DOD guidance on  how service members should use the medium as a Camp Pendleton sergeant is undergoing discharge proceedings after criticizing President Obama on Facebook.

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:

U.N. chief: Syria crisis getting worse

Pakistan's $10 Million Terrorist Talks

Russia’s criticism of Syrian leader suggests it’s preparing for a future without him

Crisis Management:

Hungarian President Resigns Amid Plagiarism Scandal

Murdoch hacking scandal spreads to Sky News

Potential crisis looms in Malawi amid reports of president's death

Digital Media:

Marines seek DOD guidance on social media use

Can Social Media Buzz Predict Election Results?

What Fuels the Most Influential Tweets?

Political:

Sarkozy Accused of Using Terror Raids to Boost Election Campaign

Obama Embraces National Security as Campaign Issue

Romney takes aim at Obama after latest primary victories

Mexico ruling party's campaign off to shaky start

Foreign Policy:

Foreign Policy: Don't Fear A Nuclear Armed Iran

Chinese Insider Offers Rare Glimpse of U.S.-China Frictions

Influential Iranian lawmaker rejects Turkey as venue for nuclear talks

The End of Drone Strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan?