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Greed and Corruption United Nations, EU & UK |
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WHO wants their own 'climate-change' tax system UN - The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations' public health arm, is moving full speed ahead with a controversial plan to impose global consumer taxes on such things as Internet activity and everyday financial transactions like paying bills online - while its spending soars and its own financial house is in disarray. The scheme would leave WHO in the middle, helping to manage a "global health research and innovation coordination and funding mechanism," as the experts' report calls it. In effect, the plan amounts to a pharmaceutical version of the UN sponsored climate-change deal that failed to win global approval at Copenhagen last December. (Fox)
Public sector has been good for us LONDON - Public sector workers earn 7% more on average than their peers in the private sector - a pay gulf that has more than doubled since the recession began. (Times online) REPORT: An economy in need of intensive care
BRUSSELS - EU finance ministers have agreed plans for a new Europe-wide system of financial regulation. The deal paves the way for the establishment of several new watchdogs responsible for supervising the financial system in all EU countries. (BBC)
UNITED NATIONS - The UN is quietly preparing an exit strategy for its troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the biggest UN peacekeeping mission in the world, diplomats and officials said. (Reuters) Joseph Kabila MONUC.
VIENNA - A British nuclear expert who fell from the 17th floor of a United Nations building did not commit suicide and may have been hurled to his death, says a doctor who carried out a second post-mortem examination. Timothy Hampton, 47, a scientist involved in monitoring nuclear activity, was found dead last week at the bottom of a stairwell in Vienna. (Daily Mail) MORE: UN stops investigation Nuclear expert dies in 40-metre plunge
UK's payments to EU jump by 60% LONDON - Britain's payments to the European Union will soar by almost 60% next year, according to figures "buried" in government documents. The Treasury statistics show that the UK's net contribution to the EU will increase from £4.1B this year to £6.4B in 2010/11. (Telegraph UK)
BRUSSELS - Gordon Brown looks to have surrendered significant powers over the City of London to new bodies of European Union financial regulators, according to a high-ranking Brussels official. (Telegraph UK) RELATED: EU agrees Irish treaty compromise
UN civil war over do-nothing-bureaucracy UNITED NATIONS - At issue is the accountability and effectiveness of the entire UN Secretariat - a ponderous bureaucracy that everyone agrees is in need of reform, but somehow continues to evade it. (Fox)
UNITED NATIONS - A special UN investigative unit has warned that the UN's management of all worldwide treaties and programs for environmental protection is completely out of control and approaching chaos. (Fox) REPORT: Review of environmental governance .pdf Wikileaks: JIU reports
UNITED NATIONS - The ultimate responsibility for preventing genocide lies with states, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says on 9 December, as the world marks the 60th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention). (United Nations) MORE: 33 countries face possible genocide Canada should prosecute Iran for inciting genocide
Barlow named 1st UN water adviser Canadian activist Maude Barlow has been appointed as the United Nation's first senior adviser on water issues, a role she hopes to use to establish water as a human right and to convince Canada to "change its shameful position" on the issue. Barlow, chair of the citizens' advocacy group Council of Canadians, will work with the current president of the UN General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann. She is also co-founder of the Blue Planet Project, a group that works to protect fresh water from trade and privatization around the world. (CBC) PREVIOUS: Activist cash: Maude Barlow |
UN - Libya and Thailand were among 14 countries elected as new members of the UN's top human rights body in a vote that rights advocates criticized as uncompetitive and "pre-cooked." (AFP) PREVIOUS: UN Human Rights Council Human Rights gala
LONDON - The break-up of BAA could be overturned after an official ruling that there was "apparent bias" in the two-year investigation by the Competition Commission. Professor Peter Moizer, a member of the competition watchdog's six-strong panel, was during most of the investigation also an adviser to one of the bidders for Gatwick, which was recently sold by the company. (Guardian UK)
Billions fail to boost standards LONDON - Billions of pounds channeled into schools under Labour have failed to produce a corresponding improvement in standards, the Government’s statistics agency said. (Times online) RELATED: Smart meters, aren't
In the last two decades, the world has spent more than $196B trying to save people from death and disease in poor countries. But just what the world's gotten for its money isn't clear, according to two studies published in the medical journal Lancet. (AP) MORE: More than 1B hungry 1.02B people hungry Displaced at record high 2008 Global Trends
BRUSSELS - Political leaders in the European Parliament have awarded their parties millions of euros in extra funding only weeks before the deadline for the money to be spent because of a large budget surplus. Documents leaked to the Guardian show that the political chiefs decided to share €6M ($8M) among the parliament's seven political groups rather than return the money to the EU member states and so indirectly to the European taxpayer. (Guardian UK)
EU offers softer line on bailouts BRUSSELS - The European Commission, accused of being too "bureaucratic," caved into pressure from EU governments on Tuesday to take a softer line on state bailouts of troubled banks. (AFP)
UNITED NATIONS - The comments by Inga-Britt Ahlenius came as she presented a UN committee with a report by a task force that details its investigations over the past year into cases of alleged graft linked to UN contracts worth over $20 million. Ahlenius heads the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which runs the controversial and soon-to-be-disbanded Procurement Task Force. (Reuters)
ABUJA - Some $2B-worth of Nigerian energy contracts were awarded without a bidding process by the former president and his energy minister, officials say. (BBC) Abdulsalami Abubakar Olusegun Obasanjo
BANGLADESH - Police in Bangladesh today arrested the former prime minister Khaleda Zia as part of the interim government's campaign against corruption. Ms Zia is the second former prime minister to be detained in the anti-corruption drive. Her arch-rival, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, has been held since July on blackmail charges. (Guardian UK) MORE: Bangladesh crisis UN Development Program UN's Board of Auditors Britain raises red flags over UN peacebuilding program
Tanzanian PM to resign over graft TANZANIA – "Because I have been linked to this scandal, I have decided to write to the president asking to be relieved of my duties," Edward Lowassa told MPs. (BBC)
HAITI - Impoverished Haitians are increasingly resorting to eating biscuits made of mud as food prices soar in the Caribbean country. The discs are made from dried yellow clay mixed with water, salt and vegetable shortening or margarine. (Telegraph UK) PREVIOUS: Genocide a la bonne femme CIDA helping the people of Haiti improve their living conditions
UNITED NATIONS - Islamic countries Monday won UN backing for an anti-blasphemy measure Canada and other Western critics say risks being used to limit freedom of speech. (CanWest) MORE: General Assembly approves 8 resolutions
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Thai court issues arrest warrant BANGKOK - Thailand's Supreme Court issued arrest warrants for exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife on corruption charges. (Reuters) MORE: Thailand seeks extradition of ousted leader for corruption |
Ex-President gets life for corruption MANILA - Deposed President Joseph Estrada was convicted and sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after a landmark six-year trial on charges that he took bribes and kickbacks in office. (AP) |
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The United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP), is preparing to launch a mammoth, three-year relief operation in Afghanistan this year for 7.4M people at a cost of $1.2B - but less than half of that amount will actually go to purchasing food for the war-ravaged country. The majority of the money - nearly $730M - is being spent on shipping, land transportation, handling, office construction and UN staffing and administration costs. (Fox) |
UN corruption probe 'at full throttle' UN official pleads not guilty to corruption charges UN official held, accused of graft UN's program wants unlimited spending power UN ignores its own procurement ban UN peace missions in fraud probe And now the UN cash for visas program? UN high court exonerates Serbia of genocide |
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UNDP official stonewalling request Canada must deal with new UN reality The UN's tyrant friendly bureaucracy UN to elect human rights members Zimbabwe seeks travel ban waiver for Nhema CIDA criticized for lack of accountability Experts say UN Agencies spin data Child mortality worldwide hits record low: UNICEF First S Leone war crimes verdicts UN probes sale of stamp archive |
Canada told not to use term 'visible minorities' Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Members Muslim countries reject gay activist group UN troops 'helped smuggle gold' Canada takes UN fight to world media UN finds waste in Peacekeeping work How corrupt is the United Nations? Oil-for-food report 'implicates 2,200 firms' Volcker cites two Canadian oil firms IIC Oct 2005 Report .pdf |
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COPENHAGEN - A United Nations document on "climate change" that will be distributed to a major environmental conclave envisions a huge reordering of the world economy. (Fox) |
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UN - Without fanfare, the UN elected Iran to its Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), handing a four-year seat on the influential human rights body to a theocratic state in which stoning is enshrined in law and lashings are required for women judged "immodest." (Fox) UN economic & social council press release Western States shun UN conference Fault lines split UN racism summit Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
Britain should get rid of the monarchy Arbour backs away from endorsing Arab charter Arbour should have known better Human rights take a step sideways UN human rights commissioner backs plan Canadian top UN official ignores anti-Semitism Canadian top UN official ignores anti-Semitism Canadian Muslim leader condemns Bush UN Champions of the Earth Award UN rights body back Israel probe Human rights abusers hijacking UN UN rights body: It's still a mess UN votes rule changes for Human Rights Council Evaluation of 2008-2011 HRC candidates .pdf
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LONDON - MPs will still be able to employ their wives and other family members after the consultation into the future of Commons expenses ignored the overwhelming views of the public. . (Telegraph UK) MPs told they can keep employing family Immunity and secret justice system Parliament has been good for us |
Hospital makes a profit trading NHS drugs 'I have complied with the MPs' code of conduct' Whitehall paying salaries of union officials Cost of politicians still climbing Ministers 'to take control' of hospital charity cash Tax allies 'subsidized' by the taxpayer Mystery of Blair's money solved Sleaze watchdog steps down, over sleaze Parliamentary standards & privileges committee Discredited watchdog committee Labour depends on votes of Welfare Britain Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall |
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Super-tax of 50% on the bonuses France follows UK with bank bonus tax Pain for middle class, bankers and public sector 'Culture of excess' in public sector Lobby firms focus on 'persuadable' candidates Expenses 'enforcer' backs down |
UK Parliamentary expenses scandal Investigator 'surprised and shocked' at MPs Home Secretary to be investigated Sleaze watchdog asks Smith to explain expenses Curbs on expenses will not increased salaries 6M public sector Audit Commission Expenses purge will 'castrate' Parliament |
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Conservatives will not support pay freeze UK local elections 2009 Political elite blowback UK Parliamentary expenses scandal Shamed MPs set for major pay hike MPs' expenses: what you've found |
Blair's expenses 'accidentally' shredded Peers face 1st suspension since the 17th Century Plot to keep expenses under wraps Appointed boss linked to tax cheats |
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BBC banned from showing honours story UK pension grab secret revealed Cash for honours police give file to CPS Blair 'misled' Labour on loans Blair denies 'cash for peerages' Fury over 'loans for peerages' Guardian Special: House of Lords |
MPs ordered to get their noses out of the trough Blunder exposes MPs' expenses plan MPs reveal expenses row solution Parliament faces new crackdown on sleaze British seek power to expel wayward lords Cash for honours: Insufficient evidence |
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Lords undertake consultancy work |
No MP prosecutions over expenses Scandal deepens contempt for MPs Committee on Standards in Public Life Health minister's expenses scam The high life offered to MPs through expenses Thinktank attacks basis for party funding reform Paying for the party .pdf |
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NIGER - Four days after they went missing in Niger, there have been no hard clues as to the fate or whereabouts of Canadian UN special envoy Robert Fowler and his aide Louis Guay, also a former Canadian diplomat. (Reuters) |
What was Fowler doing in Niger? Diplomat lacked Niger government approval Missing diplomat did visit gold mine |
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UN find 217 sex abuse claims GENEVA - A United Nations probe collected 217 allegations of abuse of girls and women by peacekeepers in eastern Congo, from sex with teenagers in the back room of a liquor store to threats of "hacking" victims for cooperating with investigators. |
Sex abuse by NGO's & peacekeepers Sexual abused by UN peacekeepers Peacekeepers 'abusing children' Report of investigation case 0618 .pdf No one to turn to .pdf |
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For all the billions of dollars worth of surveillance technology directed at North Korea as it breathes fire this weekend, its closed society is so impervious to spying that diplomats in Asia are forced to admit that they might as well rely on Google Earth. A set of images - North Korea Uncovered, released by Curtis Melvin, a keen American amateur - includes a tantalizing view of the site where the North Koreans detonated a nuclear device last. (Times online) |
US won't allow a nuclear N Korea NK planning to launch long range rocket N Korea threatens military action UN announces audit of N Korean fund UN paid North Korean millions in cash North Korea's misuse of UNDP funds |
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BRUSSELS - Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president, has signed the EU Lisbon Treaty into law after a court cleared the final legal obstacle standing in its way. Mr Klaus was the last head of state to sign the Treaty. It now has legal force across the European Union's 27 countries. (Telegraph UK) |
Offensive to keep treaty alive Treaty likely to be imposed by stealth |
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BRUSSELS - An overseas holiday used to be thought of as a reward for a year’s hard work. Now Brussels has declared that tourism is a human right and pensioners, youths and those too poor to afford it should have their travel subsidized by the taxpayer. (Times online) 'Nonentities' is a fair description EU gives Nigeria $1B 'for peace' How to make a million in 5 years |
MEPs try to block pension black-hole cost cutting Extremists and fringe parties the winners EU swings to the right amid voter apathy European Parliament election 2009 Battle to nail an MEP fraudster Taxpayers must bail out MEPs' pension EU leaders vow oversight of markets Parliament approves Lisbon Treaty Labour MEP paid boyfriend from expenses MEPs won’t publish expense report MEPs vote to cover up expenses inquiry Internal EU Audit report on MEP expenses Secret report will remain secret 'Criminal abuse' of expenses by Euro-MPs |
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EU accounts failed for 13th year LUXEMBOURG - The auditors for the EU have refused to sign off the bloc's financial accounts - for the 13th year in a row. A report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) criticizes nearly every major area of the EU's expenditure. The auditors say there are weaknesses across the board and complain of neglect and presumed attempts at fraud. (BBC) |
EU budget fails health check for 13th year Why aren't we shocked by a corrupt EU? Found: EU's 29,000 hidden employees How Brussels regulates our daily lives |
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NAIROBI - Two Kenyan human rights activists who provided evidence to a senior UN investigator over execution-style murders by police were assassinated on a busy Nairobi street yesterday evening. Oscar Kamau Kingara, the director of the Oscar Foundation, and its programme coordinator, John Paul Oulo, were shot at close range in their car by gunmen less than a mile from the presidential residence. (Guardian UK) Slayings part of pattern of extrajudicial killings |
The Looters of Kenya; Forgiven by Parliament Kenyan MPs torpedo graft probes The looting of Kenya under President Moi Cabinet cost 80% of national budget Opposition leader sworn in as PM Kenyans killed in sect protests |
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Taiwan's Chen in corruption case Taiwanese prosecutors say they have enough evidence to charge President Chen Shui-bian with corruption - but he is protected by presidential immunity. (BBC) |
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President's son buys $35M home An anti-graft pressure group has called for a probe into the alleged purchase of a luxury US beach house by the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president. Theodoro Nguema Obiang bought a $35m house in California's exclusive Malibu area in February, Global Witness says. His pay as a minister is $60,000 a year. (BBC) |
Inquiry into 'lost' Sudan funds KHARTOUM - The government of southern Sudan has launched an inquiry into what happened to $60m it received in 2005. A panel has been set up to trace the money President Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir said was given to former southern rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. (BBC) |
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