Booman Tribune

Brand Barack Obama USA Soars to #1

by Oui
Mon Oct 5th, 2009 at 03:06:39 PM EST

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America is Now the Most Admired Country Globally - Jumping to the Top of the 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index

  • United States Experiences Biggest Improvement in Reputation Among 50 Countries Measured
  • Anholt Attributes Change to the Election of Barack Obama

    NEW YORK - October 5, 2009 - Brand America is now ranked #1 by global citizens, according to the GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, a division of GfK Custom Research North America. Results from the 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index(NBI), which measures the global image of 50 countries, show the United States taking the top spot as the country with the best overall brand, up from seventh last year.

    "What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States in 2009," explains Simon Anholt, NBI founder and an independent advisor to over a dozen national governments around the world. "Despite recent economic turmoil, the U.S. actually gained significant ground. The results suggest that the new U.S. administration has been well received abroad and the American electorate's decision to vote in President Obama has given the United States the status of the world's most admired country."

  • "While most nations' reputation does not undergo major change from year to year, the U.S. has clearly bucked the trend. What's key for the U.S. and other world's leading nations is to strike while the iron is hot and develop focused policies and communication that draw businesses, financial investors and tourists -- in order to help lift their national economies and their global credibility."

    What good is the #1 rating?  I do hope it will make economic recovery sooner and start job creation by increased exports. The low dollar rate must be another big stimulus. Or is it just a 'feel good' rating of the USA in the world?

    "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."



    Display:
    And then there is the UNDP Human Development Report, published today.

    Here's the AFP-article:

    Afghanistan, which returns to the list for the first time since 1996, is the only Asian country among the bottom ten which also include Sierra Leone in the 180th spot, just below the Central African Republic.

    The top ten countries listed on the index are: Norway, Australia, Iceland, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Switzerland and Japan.

    The United States ranks 13th, down one spot from last year.

    The report is based on 2007-data; it will be interesting next year to see how the financial crisis will affect the index.

    by ask on Mon Oct 5th, 2009 at 05:28:22 PM EST
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    A presidency certainly with more passion ...

    Berlusconi Immunity Law Struck Down by Italy's Constitutional Court

    Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Italy's highest court struck down an immunity law that has shielded Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from two corruption trials that he says are politically motivated.

    The Rome-based Constitutional Court ruled the 2008 measure violated the 1948 constitution, saying the grant of immunity required an amendment to the charter, not an act of parliament.

    Berlusconi has been acquitted in eight corruption trials since entering politics 15 years ago, according to public records and the 2001 book "Odore dei Soldi" by Elio Veltri and Marco Travaglio. He has won two elections while facing criminal charges.

    Berlusconi has said that prosecutors and judges who put him on trial are a "cancer" on society that must be defeated.

    Fraud and Bribery

    One of the Milan cases that can be revived alleges that Berlusconi bribed David Mills, a U.K. lawyer, to lie on his behalf under oath. The other accuses the premier of tax fraud in purchasing film rights for Mediaset.

    Mills, who separated from U.K. Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, was sentenced in February to four years and six months in jail for accepting a bribe from Berlusconi.

    "I want all our opposition to know that this government will bring to completion its five-year mission," Berlusconi said in a statement two days ago after a civil court ruled Oct. 3 that he was "co-responsible" for corrupting judges two decades ago. His holding company, Fininvest SpA, was ordered to pay 750-million-euro ($1.1 billion) in damages in the civil case.  

    "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

    by Oui on Wed Oct 7th, 2009 at 01:51:14 PM EST
    .
    Support for Suicide Bombings and Bin Laden Still High Among Some Muslims

    Pakistan recorded the most striking drop: In 2004, 41 percent of respondents justified suicide terrorism, whereas the number recorded this year was five percent. Terrorism has surged in Pakistan since 2007, and this year alone, at least 750 people had been killed and 2,276 injured in 365 bombings inside Pakistan as of the end of August, according to figures compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal in New Delhi.

    The Pew survey also found although majorities in Nigeria (54 percent) and the Palestinian territories (52 percent) expressed "confidence in the al Qaeda leader [Osama bin Laden] to do the right thing regarding world affairs."


    Confidence in Obama Lifts U.S. Image Around World

    In the other countries surveyed, the Saudi terrorist enjoyed the backing of 28 percent of respondents in Jordan, 25 percent in Indonesia, 23 percent in Egypt, 18 percent in Pakistan, 16 percent in Israel, four percent in Lebanon and two percent in Turkey.

    The biggest drop in support for bin Laden was measured in Indonesia (down 34 points since 2003), Jordan (down 28 points) and Pakistan (down 28 points). The trend in Nigeria was in the opposite direction - up 10 points since 2003.

  • Bin Laden's popularity peaked under Bush/Musharraf

    "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

  • by Oui on Thu Oct 8th, 2009 at 12:32:00 PM EST


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