KEN SILVERSTEIN
Imagine that a gigantic corporation privately informs the government that it won an important deal overseas that might have involved the bribery of foreign officials. Journalists discover a confidential document written by the company itself that highlights its concerns. But they can't write about the story because the corporation hires a white shoe law firm that threatens legal action against media outlets that make inquiries about the document.
The deal which saw Prince Andrew's marital home sold for £3 million more than its asking price is being examined by two international money-laundering investigations.
The Maltese Authorities say that they do not know that he is in our country.
A University of Cambridge college has denied it intended to "celebrate" the autocratic president of Kazakhstan after advertisements appeared in the country for a fellowship in his name.
Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev and his son-in-law Timur Kulibyev are facing a lawsuit for laundering at least $436 million, Swiss media reported a lawyer involved in the case as saying on Monday.
Staatspräsident Nasarbajew bezeichnete den Sieg seiner Partei Nur Otan als "ehrlich" und von "beispielloser Transparenz". Die Organsation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa widerspricht dieser Darstellung nun vehement: Die Abstimmung habe internationale Standards klar verfehlt.
This is a holiday season the people of Kazakhstan will not soon forget. On Dec. 16 security forces in the western city of Zhanaozen killed and wounded hundreds of unarmed demonstrators, mostly striking oil workers, occupying a public square. Officials claim only 15 people died but reports from local people — impossible to confirm — say the death toll was higher. A startling video on YouTube — blacked out in Kazakhstan — shows police firing on fleeing civilians.
