Friday 29 July 2011
Letter From 2007 Clearing News of the World Comes Under Fire
It's the scandal that just keeps growing.our editor recommendsBSkyB CEO Jeremy Darroch Defends 'Unanimous' Board Support for Chairman James MurdochMurdoch Pie Man Convicted: 'Most Humble Day of My Life' A one-paragraph letter produced in 2007 that helped to convince lawmakers of the innocence of News of the World's senior editors in the recently-shuttered paper's phone-hacking scandal is now being investigated, reports the New York Times. PHOTOS: News of the World's Top 10 Scandals The letter, written by London law firm Harbottle & Lewis, which was hired to review the emails of the tabloid's royal reporter, Clive Goodman, said NOTW's senior-level staff were not knowledgeable of Goodman's Illegal activity. Its final draft, dated May 29, 2007 read:"I can confirm that we did not find anything in those e-mails which appeared to us to be reasonable evidence that Clive Goodman's illegal actions were known about and supported by both or either of Andy Coulson, the editor, and Neil Wallis, the deputy editor, and/or that Ian Edmondson, the news editor, and others were carrying out similar procedures." STORY: Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks Summoned to Answer Phone Hacking Allegations But, the recent release of more information regarding the emails has brought the letter's content -- and whether both the paper and its parent company, News International, participated in a four-year coverup -- into question. The Times reports that two people familiar with the contents of the emails, say they show knowledge of payoffs being issued to the police by NOTW staffers in exchange for information. Citing correspondences between Goodman and the tabloid's former top editor Coulson (who was arrested July 8), the report says Goodman specifically requested money to pay Scotland Yard contacts as well as £1,000 for a police officer's classified Green Book directory (containing the personal phone numbers of the queen and other members of the royal family). STORY: Second Murdered Girl Tied to News of the World Phone Hacking The emails were not turned over to British police until last month, despite Harbottle & Lewis and News International's knowledge of them in 2007 when the investigation began. This news comes amidst reports that BSkyB chairman and News Corp deupty COO James Murdoch will "very likely" be called before Parliament againto answer additional questions on the ever-widening phone-hacking scandal. Related Topics Rupert Murdoch News Corp. News of the World James Murdoch
Friday 15 July 2011
The Kite Runner
In Kabul, prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, well-to-do young boy Amir and his loyal young Hazara servant Hassan are best of friends. Amir enjoys writing and literature, reading stories to the eager but illiterate Hassan. Amir's Baba (father), is contemptuous of Amir's writing and privately regards him as a weakling for letting Hassan protect him from bullies. Baba's friend Rahim Khan demonstrates interest and encourages Amir. Assef, a bully with rancor towards Hazaras confronts Hassan and Amir, but Hassan prevents the attack with a slingshot, a birthday gift from Amir. Assef swears revenge, ridiculing their relationship as mere master and servant.
Soon the Soviets invade Afghanistan; forcing Baba, a known anti-communist, to flee the country leaving Rahim Khan as property caretaker. En route to Pakistan, Baba bravely risks his life defending a female refugee from a Soviet soldier who demands to rape her in return for safe passage for all. Baba and Amir eventually reach the United States as humble refugees in San Francisco, California. Baba tends a gas station while Amir attends community college and vends at a weekly flea market. There, Amir meets Soraya Taheri; Soraya is interested in Amir's writing although her father, the ex-General Taheri, a proud traditional Pashtun, is contemptuous. Baba is stricken mortally ill but manages to obtain General Taheri's permission for Amir to marry Soraya. Although Soraya feels bound to confess her previous relationships, they are happily married despite an inability to conceive children. As foreshadowed in the movie's first scene, Amir's debut novel is published, dedicated to Rahim Khan who encouraged his writing.
Rahim Khan soon contacts Amir to hurry to Pakistan, indicating "there is a way to be good again". Amir arrives to learn that Hassan eventually became caretaker of Baba's house, but the Taliban executed him and his wife for loyally refusing to abandon the property. Rahim further reveals that Hassan was in fact Amir's half-brother, son of Baba and the sterile Ali's wife. Amir, angered for being deceived so long, reads a heart-wrenching humble letter from Hassan decrying what happened to Afghanistan and asking Amir to one day return. Rahim Khan now reveals he wishes Amir to retrieve Hassan's now orphaned son, Sohrab. Amir, overcoming fearful reluctance, arrives in Taliban-controlled Kabul complete with fake beard. Amir's driver, Farid, helps him observe the subjugated life under the cruel and ruthless Taliban.
Tracing Sohrab to an orphanage, they learn that a powerful Taliban official who regularly demands children for nefarious purposes (in return for much needed donations) has recently taken Sohrab. Reluctantly Amir accompanies Farid to a football match, witnessing a half time stoning of accused adulterers, in order to see this official. Amir arranges an appointment at the official's heavily guarded home and discovers that this is none other than the bully Assef. Despite the ban on music and dancing, a numbed Sohrab is presented as Assef's dance boy.
Amir finally stands up to Assef, demanding Sohrab be released to him. Assef agrees but brutally beats Amir. Witnessing this, Sohrab, secretly in possession of the slingshot his father received from Amir so long ago, gravely wounds Assef. Amir and Sohrab daringly escape the house under heavy fire. They flee the country to find that Rahim has died. Sohrab runs away but returns, saying he felt dirty because of what Assef did to him.
Amir takes the traumatized and withdrawn Sohrab back to the US. When General Taheri one night asks why Amir brought "that Hazara boy" back with him, Amir, again standing up to an overbearing figure, informs the General of their familial relationship and demands he never deride Sohrab as Hazara again. Later, Amir shows Sohrab the tricks of kite flying. Slowly Sohrab begins to interact with Amir, who enthusiastically runs the kite, pledging to Sohrab with the phrase that Hassan offered to Amir so long ago: "For you, a thousand times over."
Soon the Soviets invade Afghanistan; forcing Baba, a known anti-communist, to flee the country leaving Rahim Khan as property caretaker. En route to Pakistan, Baba bravely risks his life defending a female refugee from a Soviet soldier who demands to rape her in return for safe passage for all. Baba and Amir eventually reach the United States as humble refugees in San Francisco, California. Baba tends a gas station while Amir attends community college and vends at a weekly flea market. There, Amir meets Soraya Taheri; Soraya is interested in Amir's writing although her father, the ex-General Taheri, a proud traditional Pashtun, is contemptuous. Baba is stricken mortally ill but manages to obtain General Taheri's permission for Amir to marry Soraya. Although Soraya feels bound to confess her previous relationships, they are happily married despite an inability to conceive children. As foreshadowed in the movie's first scene, Amir's debut novel is published, dedicated to Rahim Khan who encouraged his writing.
Rahim Khan soon contacts Amir to hurry to Pakistan, indicating "there is a way to be good again". Amir arrives to learn that Hassan eventually became caretaker of Baba's house, but the Taliban executed him and his wife for loyally refusing to abandon the property. Rahim further reveals that Hassan was in fact Amir's half-brother, son of Baba and the sterile Ali's wife. Amir, angered for being deceived so long, reads a heart-wrenching humble letter from Hassan decrying what happened to Afghanistan and asking Amir to one day return. Rahim Khan now reveals he wishes Amir to retrieve Hassan's now orphaned son, Sohrab. Amir, overcoming fearful reluctance, arrives in Taliban-controlled Kabul complete with fake beard. Amir's driver, Farid, helps him observe the subjugated life under the cruel and ruthless Taliban.
Tracing Sohrab to an orphanage, they learn that a powerful Taliban official who regularly demands children for nefarious purposes (in return for much needed donations) has recently taken Sohrab. Reluctantly Amir accompanies Farid to a football match, witnessing a half time stoning of accused adulterers, in order to see this official. Amir arranges an appointment at the official's heavily guarded home and discovers that this is none other than the bully Assef. Despite the ban on music and dancing, a numbed Sohrab is presented as Assef's dance boy.
Amir finally stands up to Assef, demanding Sohrab be released to him. Assef agrees but brutally beats Amir. Witnessing this, Sohrab, secretly in possession of the slingshot his father received from Amir so long ago, gravely wounds Assef. Amir and Sohrab daringly escape the house under heavy fire. They flee the country to find that Rahim has died. Sohrab runs away but returns, saying he felt dirty because of what Assef did to him.
Amir takes the traumatized and withdrawn Sohrab back to the US. When General Taheri one night asks why Amir brought "that Hazara boy" back with him, Amir, again standing up to an overbearing figure, informs the General of their familial relationship and demands he never deride Sohrab as Hazara again. Later, Amir shows Sohrab the tricks of kite flying. Slowly Sohrab begins to interact with Amir, who enthusiastically runs the kite, pledging to Sohrab with the phrase that Hassan offered to Amir so long ago: "For you, a thousand times over."
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