Negative stories dominate New York media
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Fazle Rashid
The media in New York was full of horror and negative stories last Friday. Most brutal and deadly was that of an army psychiatrist, selected for deployment in one of the American war zones. He went on a rampage, killing 12 in Ford Hood Army post in Texas. Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, accused of mass shooting, resented being posted either in Iraq or Afghanistan.
It was one of the worst mass shootings ever at a military base in the United States, the New York Times reported. Nihal Malik Hasan joined the US army in 1995. His main job was to treat post-traumatic stress disorder at the famous Walter Reed Army Medical Centre and later at Fort Hood.
Major Nidal Hasan Malik knew all too well the terrifying realities of war, the NYT said. Nidal himself received four bullet wounds in the fracas.
Bernard B Kerik , a former commissioner of the New York Police and once designated to be Secretary of the Homeland Security, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and perjury.
The tax fraud charges ' stemmed in part from Kerik's acceptance of $250,000 for renovation of his Bronx apartment'. Kerik who faces a 30 year jail term was also ordered to pay restitution of nearly $188,000.
Not only ballot box stuffing, taking control of polling booths forcibly, intimidating voters to turn away and such other electoral crimes will in future render election results to be declared void and unacceptable to UN, US, EU and others but the contestents could face an international investigation into violence and fraud. International Criminal Court has stated that crime against humanity has been committed in Kenya and it will be investigated.
The United Nations would relocate 600 of its international staff posted in Afghanistan temporarily. They will either be sent to Dubai or to some Central Asian countries. The decision has come in the aftermath of the attack on UN offices in Afghanistan recently. The fraud in the August presidential election has worried US and others. Karzai has been forced to review election oversight procedures and investigate the involvement of government officials in facilitating fraud.
Diplomatic rupture between Thailand and Cambodia. Thailand has recalled its ambassador from Cambodia for the latter's appointing of Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted Thai prime minister, to a high profile position. He was removed from office in 2006 and is now trying to reassemble his party from outside.
South Africa has terminated a contract for the delivery of eight A400 military aircraft that were to be used by the UN peacekeeping forces. The price hike and delay have led to the cancellation order. South Africa expects to recover $400 million it paid in advance for the purchase.
In Paraguay, President Fernando Lugo in a dramatic move, dismissed chiefs of army, navy and airforce who were readying to topple the president in a coup.
After mounting pressure two senior law enforcement officials in Indonesia's anti-corruption office were forced to resign. They were charged with accepting bribe. Anglo-French ties, which were never smooth, soured again after a French minister accused Britain's Conservative Party leaders of highhandedness and calling their policy on Europe "Pathetic and reflecting a bizarre sense of autism".
The Indian government moved recently to impose restrictions on the media coverage of Dalai Lama's coming trip to a disputed Himalayan region, a visit that has become a sore point between China and India. All travel permits given to foreign media for the coverage have been cancelled including that of the NYT.
Saudi warplanes bombed a group of Yemeni rebels late last Wednesday on the countries' remote border a day after rebels overran a strategic hilltop. The Iraqi parliament failed to approve a law to regulate a national election in January deepening doubts about whether the nation can vote as scheduled. The elections are set for January 16. The delay could lead to withdrawal of the current schedules of the US troops from Iraq.
The media in New York was full of horror and negative stories last Friday. Most brutal and deadly was that of an army psychiatrist, selected for deployment in one of the American war zones. He went on a rampage, killing 12 in Ford Hood Army post in Texas. Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, accused of mass shooting, resented being posted either in Iraq or Afghanistan.
It was one of the worst mass shootings ever at a military base in the United States, the New York Times reported. Nihal Malik Hasan joined the US army in 1995. His main job was to treat post-traumatic stress disorder at the famous Walter Reed Army Medical Centre and later at Fort Hood.
Major Nidal Hasan Malik knew all too well the terrifying realities of war, the NYT said. Nidal himself received four bullet wounds in the fracas.
Bernard B Kerik , a former commissioner of the New York Police and once designated to be Secretary of the Homeland Security, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and perjury.
The tax fraud charges ' stemmed in part from Kerik's acceptance of $250,000 for renovation of his Bronx apartment'. Kerik who faces a 30 year jail term was also ordered to pay restitution of nearly $188,000.
Not only ballot box stuffing, taking control of polling booths forcibly, intimidating voters to turn away and such other electoral crimes will in future render election results to be declared void and unacceptable to UN, US, EU and others but the contestents could face an international investigation into violence and fraud. International Criminal Court has stated that crime against humanity has been committed in Kenya and it will be investigated.
The United Nations would relocate 600 of its international staff posted in Afghanistan temporarily. They will either be sent to Dubai or to some Central Asian countries. The decision has come in the aftermath of the attack on UN offices in Afghanistan recently. The fraud in the August presidential election has worried US and others. Karzai has been forced to review election oversight procedures and investigate the involvement of government officials in facilitating fraud.
Diplomatic rupture between Thailand and Cambodia. Thailand has recalled its ambassador from Cambodia for the latter's appointing of Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted Thai prime minister, to a high profile position. He was removed from office in 2006 and is now trying to reassemble his party from outside.
South Africa has terminated a contract for the delivery of eight A400 military aircraft that were to be used by the UN peacekeeping forces. The price hike and delay have led to the cancellation order. South Africa expects to recover $400 million it paid in advance for the purchase.
In Paraguay, President Fernando Lugo in a dramatic move, dismissed chiefs of army, navy and airforce who were readying to topple the president in a coup.
After mounting pressure two senior law enforcement officials in Indonesia's anti-corruption office were forced to resign. They were charged with accepting bribe. Anglo-French ties, which were never smooth, soured again after a French minister accused Britain's Conservative Party leaders of highhandedness and calling their policy on Europe "Pathetic and reflecting a bizarre sense of autism".
The Indian government moved recently to impose restrictions on the media coverage of Dalai Lama's coming trip to a disputed Himalayan region, a visit that has become a sore point between China and India. All travel permits given to foreign media for the coverage have been cancelled including that of the NYT.
Saudi warplanes bombed a group of Yemeni rebels late last Wednesday on the countries' remote border a day after rebels overran a strategic hilltop. The Iraqi parliament failed to approve a law to regulate a national election in January deepening doubts about whether the nation can vote as scheduled. The elections are set for January 16. The delay could lead to withdrawal of the current schedules of the US troops from Iraq.