UN panel cites irregularities in US administration of Iraq oil industry News
UN panel cites irregularities in US administration of Iraq oil industry

[JURIST] A high level UN panel set up to monitor the administration of the Iraqi oil industry and revenues under Security Council Resolution 1483 [PDF], granting the Coalition Provisional Authority the right to spend from Iraq oil money "in the interests of the Iraqi people", reported Tuesday that it had found "important weaknesses" in program management, including lack of financial controls and inconsistently-applied contracting procedures which resulted in millions of dollars in tenders being awarded to Halliburton and other US companies without competative bid. The International Advisory and Monitoring Board is made of representatives from the United Nations, the Executive Heads of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank; its report also noted that billions of dollars had been lost by oil smuggling and misuse of funds at responsible Iraqi ministries. Read the full text of the Board report here. The Financial Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.