September 30, 2005
24 Sub-Saharan African Nations Face Food Emergencies
"A total of 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa are listed in FAO's [Food and Agriculture Organization] Africa Report as facing food emergencies, caused by problems ranging from civil strife and war to adverse weather and economic crisis," according to a FAO press release.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 04:50 AM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2005
U.N. Reportedly Will Implicate Syria in Hariri's Assassination
"UN investigators will next month directly implicate the Syrian government in the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, potentially igniting a new Middle East crisis," Guardian of London correspondents Ewen MacAskill, Rory McCarthy in Beirut and Brian Whitaker reported September 23, 2005.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:11 AM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2005
U.N. Oil-for Food Scandal Continues to Follow Annan
It seems that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan can't catch a break these days in the U.N. oil-for-food scandal. According to the Globe and Mail of Toronto, "an independent inquiry reopened its investigation into his role in the affair" August 8, 2005.
By the way, did you know that Richard A. Clarke was instrumental in getting Mr. Annan installed as U.N. Secretary General? He mentions it it his book "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror." See page 201.
In fact, he quotes President Bill Clinton as saying, "Get me a crow, I should eat crow, because I said you would never pull it off." What was pulled off was the ouster of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali and the installation of Mr. Annan.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:15 PM | Comments (0)
The Oil-for-Food Investigation: Are the Returns Worth the Cost?
"After spending about US $35 million probing wrongdoing in Iraq's oil-for-food program, UN investigators have accused" Benan Sevan, "the former head of the humanitarian project, of taking nearly $150,000 in cash bribes, notes Haider Rizvi at Asia Times Online.
I hope the U.N. isn't spending millions just to find thousands of dollars in bribes. It's own accountants probably could have done that for far less. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:28 AM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2005
India Won't Accept Security Council Seat Without Veto Power
"India has rejected the possibility of its accepting permanent membership without veto power in the proposed expansion of the UN Security Council," notes The Hindu of India. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 04:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 24, 2005
Peter Daou's 'UN Dispatch' Makes its Debut
Thanks to Gregory Djerejian of The Belgravia Dispatch for highlighting a "new and noteworthy" blog called the UN Dispatch. Peter Daou, author of the Daou Report, is the proprietor. The Dispatch is described as "a blog intended to promote thoughtful discussion about the UN, and to provide an outlet for important news and views on the UN." It's "sponsored by the United Nations Foundation, though the views expressed" in it "do not represent the official views of the United Nations Foundation, or the UN.," according to the Dispatch's about page. I didn't see a comment section.
NOTE: This post can also be found at The Foreign News Observer.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
