Results tagged “unitednations”

After three foreign offices received envelopes containing a suspicious substance on Monday night, three more received similar envelopes yesterday. First, the German Mission to the U.N. reported receiving an envelope, and later in the day, the British and Russian Missions also received envelopes. The NYPD expects more letters to be found in the coming days and Mayor Bloomberg said of the incidents, "Anybody that thinks that it's a joke is making a very bad mistake. If we apprehend you you're going to face criminal charges."

Hazmat teams descended on two United Nations missions and a consulate in midtown Manhattan last evening, after they received envelopes containing an unknown white powder. Decontamination tents were set up outside the French Mission at 245 East 47th, the Austrian Mission at 600 Third Avenue, and Uzbekistan Consulate at 801 Second AVenue.

Last week we got sent a press release about a KFC publicity stunt at the UN, and shrugged it off because we're not corporate tools who reblog each and every publicity stunt (unless it involves American Apparel). But what makes this one interesting is that the stunt has deeply embarrassed UN security, who allowed a guy dressed like Colonel Sanders into restricted areas of the UN without security clearance. The guy even got a photo op with current president of the United Nations General Assembly, Libya’s Dr. Ali A. Treki!

Who cares if the NYPD might have screwed up the federal authorities' investigations of suspected terror suspect Najibullah Zazi? According to Daily News sources, President Obama called Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to express his "appreciation and admiration" for the NYPD's work in stopping Zazi and for the NYPD's security during the U.N. General Assembly.

A few years back, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez famously proclaimed from the U.N. General Assembly podium that President Bush was the "devil" and the podium area still smelled like sulfur because W. had been speaking up there. But this time around, Chavez said, "It doesn’t smell of sulfur, anymore. It’s gone. No, it smells of something else. It smells of hope."

It turns out even Libyan government employees have a hard time dealing with their wild boss: Moammar Gadhafi's translator apparently collapsed during his 95-minute rant on Wednesday! The translator's last words before giving up: "I just can’t take it any more."

       

Yesterday, Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took to the United Nations General Assembly stage—and got the U.S., French, British, Canadian and other delegations to walk out when he referred to Israel in his speech: "It is no longer acceptable that a small minority would dominate the politics, economy and culture of major parts of the world by its complicated networks, and establish a new form of slavery, and harm the reputation of other nations, even European nations and the US, to attain its racist ambitions."

     

Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi is expected to speak to the United Nations today, but yesterday he caused a big stir when reports said a large Bedouin tent was being set up on the grounds of a Bedford, NY estate owned by Donald Trump. After initially denying reports, the Trump Organization now admits, "We have business partners and associates all over the world. The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners who may or may not have a relationship with Mr. [Gadhafi]," sort of allowing it to say it didn't directly rent to Gadhafi.

If this was the week you were thinking about finally signing up for that Driver's Ed class in midtown, think again. The UN General Assembly will be causing a clogged-up rut all around the center of the city, starting tomorrow and lasting all the way through Thursday. The worst of it will be on 42nd Street and 57th Streets, closed from 5th Avenue all the way over to 1st and 2nd Aves, respectively. Second Avenue between 42nd and 57th will be shut down for traffic that aren't emergency vehicles as well. And if you think taking the FDR will help you avoid the mess, think again. It'll be closed in both directions intermittently from 63rd Street to the South Ferry.

NJ lawmakers are probably happy now: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi will not be staying at the Libyan government-owned mansion in Englewood, NJ when he comes to the U.S. next month to address the United Nations. Rep. Steve Rothman announced yesterday, "I am very pleased that Moammar Khadafy will apparently not be coming to Englewood," apparently because Gadhafi's visit—which would include a large Bedouin tent—"would have presented unnecessary safety and security issues for the residents of Englewood and the Libyan diplomats." And the public uproar probably helped pressure the Libyan government, too. Instead, the Daily News reports, "Khadafy is expected to seek rooms for himself and his large entourage at one of New York's luxury hotels." Hmm—will he seek a hotel with rooftop space for him to set up the tent?

The Daily News says that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has essentially been turned into a "hotel booking agent" because the State Department is trying to find a suitable place for Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi to stay—with his air-conditioned Bedouin tent—during his United Nations visit next month. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said, "We are involved in discussions... We, of course, are sensitive to the concerns [of Gadhafi's potential neighbors]. No decision has been made ... regarding where he will stay."

It was 3:30 a.m. on Thursday when Shavit Mekeiten legally parked his Mitsubishi on East 41st Street near Second Avenue. But six hours later, DOT workers dug out the diplomats-only sign that had been behind Mekeiten's car and moved it fifteen feet—to create an extra spot for the New Zealand Consulate. Voilà! Mekeiten was now parked illegally, and an NYPD tow truck soon arrived to take the car away, despite bystanders' protestations. Doorman Nick Perkaj tells the Post he tried to reason with the tow-truck driver: "I know that car! They just moved the sign! The tow-truck driver just said, 'I don't give a f- - -,' and they towed the car." To get his Mitsubishi back from the Manhattan tow pound, Mekeiten had to pay the $185 tow fee and a $95 ticket for not having diplomatic plates. He tells the Post, "They're heartless. They have no conscience. They treated me like I shot someone. This is really, really unfair. I didn't do anything wrong." Earlier this month some NYPD tow truck drivers anonymously informed the Post that they're expected to meet a quota of four tows per day, and if they fall short they're punished with less overtime, assigned undesirable shifts, or have their time-off requests delayed.

Today, North Korea's news agency announced the country had "successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defense in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians." President Obama denounced the test, "North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security," as did China and Russia. The NY Times reports that a security expert "estimated the test had a power of one kiloton of explosives... If correct, that would be a fraction of the size of the blasts from American bombs that destroyed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945 — themselves considered small by current standards." The United Nations Security Council will meet later today to discuss the test; according to Bloomberg News, "Japan and South Korea...called for the UN body to take action against North Korea." Back in April, North Korea launched a rocket, though claimed it was a satellite.

First Lady Michelle Obama is in New York City today. She spoke at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations this afternoon, where she drew a small crowd. According to Newsday, "Dozens of star-struck workers waved, called and snapped pictures with their cell phones." Before her visit, some protesters (drawing attention to the troubles in Darfur) were outside while the Secret Service and other authorities checked the premises (it took a golden retriever bomb-sniffing dog about 30 minutes to check the property). And for the fashionistas, looks like she's wearing the Tracy Feith dress she wore the day after the Inauguration.

Wow, President Bush is making sure he's getting in his NYC time leaving the White House--after visiting the city Tuesday for Veterans Day, he's back! This morning he spoke at the United Nations--a "high-level debate on interfaith dialogue"--and will head to Federal Hall to discuss the economy. According to the White House (hold on, it's a lot), "the President will review the origins of the financial crisis and observe the increased interconnectedness of the global financial marketplace; discuss the importance of making our markets more transparent; ensuring our markets are appropriately regulated, promoting integrity within the markets; and strengthening cooperation among the world's financial leaders; emphasize that free market capitalism, especially free trade, is still the best system to create economic growth and lift people out of poverty." This weekend the President will be meeting with foreign leaders for an economic summit. President-elect Obama is not attending, but his advisers will.

   

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin had a busy day yesterday. While the McCain-Palin spokespeople were disinviting then re-inviting the press, she met with Afghan President Hamid Karzhai, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The press got under 90 seconds—for all three meetings—of access. Even the Fox News producers, on their blog, wrote, "the Palin camp went to new lengths to control the media, which is covering the GOP Vice-Presidential nominee":

It was decided by the campaign that today’s meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, and Former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger would be pooled. This means only one television network with their camera and producer, plus a print reporter, and wire reporters would be let in at the beginning of the meeting and then be ushered out before the leaders and Palin began talking. This is common practice in presidential campaigns, but this morning a little over one hour before the meetings would begin the pool network television producer and print poolers were told they were not allowed to enter the meetings.

Continue reading "Palin Meets Foreign Leaders, But Not the Press"

    

Sure, vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is the woman all the media is following this week in NYC, but Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is a close second. The supermodel-turned-First Lady of France has full schedule this week as her husband President Nicolas Sarkozy attends the United Nations General Assembly.

President Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly today. While he covered terrorism and Russia's invasion of Georgia, his main goal was to reassure the world that the U.S. was working to fix its economy. Some of his remarks:

Our nations must renew our commitment to open economies, and stand firm against economic isolationism. These objectives are being tested by turbulence in the global financial markets. Our economies are more closely connected than ever before, and I know that many of you here are watching how the United States government will address the problems in our financial system.

Continue reading "Bush Speaks to U.N. General Assembly"

Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin is ready to make her Big Apple debut at the Republican vice presidential candidate. She arrived last night and is reportedly staying at a Times Square hotel (The Caucus said husband Todd and youngest child Trig are also here). Which means the lady on the cover of today's Daily News is a Palin imitator.

The Decider in Chief arrived at JFK Airport yesterday: President Bush was welcomed by Mayor Bloomberg and other dignitaries at the start of a trip that will mark his final visit to the United Nations General Assembly as U.S. leader and his first visit to NYC since last week's financial market meltdown. According to NY1, Bush and Bloomberg "spoke about the turmoil on Wall Street, and the president thanked Bloomberg for his ideas on how to curb the current meltdown of the financial markets."

Today's anti-Iran rally, which was to have included politicians but then didn't, attracted thousands of protesters, according to the Jerusalem Post. They gathered across from the United Nations, where the United Nations General Assembly is kicking off; Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is speaking there tomorrow.

City authorities are basically advising New Yorkers to stay off the road in Manhattan this week with the UN General Assemblies bringing leaders from around the globe into town. With President Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expected tomorrow, large portions of of 42nd Street, 57th Street and Second Avenue will shut down to create an emergency vehicle lane. In addition, 49th and 50th Streets between Park and Lexington Avenues are already closed through midnight Thursday. Officials also said to generally avoid the east side and use mass transit in order to avoid the gridlock that will inevitably come from all of the week's motorcades and demonstrations.

Interested observers who want to see Pope Benedict during his April visit to New York, but couldn't score tickets to his appearance at Yankee Stadium, will be able to glimpse the head of the Roman Catholic church's hierarchy as he cruises the city in the Popemobile. Pope Benedict will be taking the bullet proof bubble car from St. Patrick's Cathedral to a residence where he's staying on the Upper East Side April 19th. He'll also be taking the specially outfitted vehicle to the Bronx, where he'll lap the field at Yankee Stadium before he performs mass for ticket holders.

A $114 million plan to put a waterfront park on the East River, just south of the United Nations, came into focus yesterday; the four-acre site is where a parking lot for a Con Edison power plant used to reside. City Councilman Daniel Gardonick said, "The opportunity to create this riverfront park is an opportunity we cannot afford to let slip away." The Municipal Arts Society renderings for the park envision a floating pylon in the river, featuring a restaurant, viewing platform, exhibition space and ferry landing.

After the discovery of a woman's body on the lawn of the United Nations building, the police have identified the woman as Maria DiBiase, who worked with the Austrian consulate. According to the Daily News, DiBiase "apparently jumped after showing up for work at the UN early Sunday."

A woman appears to have fallen or jumped from a very high floor of the U.N. Secretariat Building at 405 East 42nd St. early today. Per wcbstv.com, U.N. security personnel escorted detectives and NYPD officers to the rear of the building, where the woman's body was splayed out on the lawn. She was quickly covered with a sheet and the area was cordoned with yellow tape. It's believed that the dead woman was an employee at the United Nations, although her identity has not been revealed.

Explaining why global warming needs to be stopped in an urgent way, Mayor Bloomberg said, "Terrorists kill people. Weapons of mass destruction have the potential to kill an enormous amount of people. [But] global warming in the long term has the potential to kill everybody...This really is just as lethal. It's just the results are something we will face long term."

Sure Mongolia is a sparsely populated nation with a GDP just over 25% of what Wall St. alone pays out in bonuses, but this is New York City; and you gotta pay what you owe. So said a U.S. District Court judge Friday, when he ruled that India, Mongolia, and the Phillipines owed New York City tens of millions of dollars in back taxes.