Exploring all angles to events that shape the world

Drama erupted at the U.S media briefing when RT (formerly Russia Today) reporter, Gayane Chickakyan posed a straightforward question to US State department spokesperson, John Kirby. The question borders on the US backing of illegal Turkish troop’s deployment on Iraq’s territory. Rather than answer the question, Kirby completely lost his composure, throwing all diplomatic ethos into the wind by taking personal issue with the reporter, the media organisation she works for and ultimately her country, Russia.  Gayane Chickakyan had asked U.S State Department spokesperson if United States supports deployment of Turkish troop to Iraq’s Kurdistan region without the consent of Iraq’s central government. The US spokesperson parried the question. The reporter pressed further to ask if U.S was aware of Iraq’s parliament decision to review its security agreement with United States based on the tacit support it gives to the illegal Turkish incursion. John Kirby stressed he was not ...

FIFA's President: Sepp Blatter; Credit: nextimpulsesports.com Hardly anyone who follows soccer would doubt the world’s soccer organising body is corrupt. The corruption is systemic and deeply entrenched that it will take more than rounding up few officials of FIFA to clean up the big mess within the organisation. America’s FBI and Department of Justice swung into action by making arrest of FIFA officials in Switzerland on the eve of FIFA’s congress. Fourteen officials were indicted, two of them American citizens. The FBI claimed their offences range from bribery, kickbacks, racketeering to other forms of underhand deals worth US$150 million. The investigation covered offences which were committed over two decades.  Much as probing criminal conducts of FIFA officials is commendable, it however raises serious question as regards the use of American powers beyond its jurisdiction. FIFA is an international organisation domiciled in Zurich, Switzerland. Hence, probing such orga...

The eyes of the world were  on  South Africa for about ten months the trial of Oscar Pistorius lasted. It was reported as one of the most watched media events in recent history, even surpassing popular sports such as soccer world cup. The climax was on 22 October when the presiding judge pronounced a sentence on the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp by the accused. Oscar was consequently sentenced to 5 years imprisonment which is subject to parole after 10 months. Basically, Oscar may be a free man in ten month time. The ripple effect of the verdict was felt across the society with some sections denouncing the verdict as too lenient while others praise it for being punitive enough considering Oscar’s status and his physical challenges.  The verdict generated debate about the administration of law and judicial system of South Africa. In so far as I’m not a legal luminary and will refrain from casting aspersion on the verdict, it was however clear from public discourse t...

The first incidence of Ebola outbreak occurred in 1976 in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The epidemic was less severe and thus, it was understandable the low response and fewer media coverage of the deadly virus then. However, the recent outbreak in West Africa proved to be more virulent and spreading like a wild fire. Concerns are raised in various quarters but actions seem to fall below the rhetoric coming from concerned institutions. While lives are lost daily to the virus in the affected areas, many countries’ response around the world were panic-driven at best and precautionary at the least. Travel bans were imposed and borders outrightly closed; an action that drew the ire of World Health Organisation (WHO) stating that such actions of border closing and travel bans are counterproductive. This same point was echoed by American president, Barrack Obama that imposing a travel ban could further aggravate the situation and plight of the affected countries. In...

After the downing of the commercial Malaysian airline MH17 over the sky of Eastern Ukraine, the United States and Ukrainian government hurriedly rushed out to blame Russia and the pro-Russian separatists. The Ukranian government released a video purportedly showing the discussion between a pro-Russian commander and a Russian officer over the downing of the plane which they have mistaken for a military aircraft.  United states officials, in support of Ukranian video evidence also pointed to the social media account of a supposed separatist leader boasting of just shooting down a plane. however, both these pieces of evidence could not withstand the slightest scrutiny. the incriminating video was soon deleted from the Ukraine's security website but the video had already been downloaded and a critical analysis showed the video were three components pieced together.  The date stamps indicated recording was done on July 16; a day before the actual downing of the plane (Ju...