Two Oil-for-Food investigators resign in protest over "lax" report News
Two Oil-for-Food investigators resign in protest over "lax" report

[JURIST] Robert Parton and Miranda Duncan, two investigators from a special panel appointed by the UN to investigate the United Nations Oil-For-Food program [official website], resigned Wednesday in protest over a March report [PDF] that they said was too lax on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Parton and Duncan accused the Independent Inquiry Committee [offical website] headed by former US Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker improperly down-played criticisms of Annan and allegations of impropriety against his son Kojo. Mark Pieth, a Committee spokesman, said the parting was amicable. AP has more. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the Oil-For-Food program here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.