April 25, 2004

Oil-for-food inquiry says 'key' is $1bn UN paid itself in fees Telegraph - More than $1 billion (£560 million) collected by the United Nations as its "commission" on Iraq's oil-for-food programme has become a fresh focus for the inquiry into the biggest scandal ever to engulf the organisation. At least $1.1 billion was paid directly into UN coffers, supposedly to cover the cost of administering the $67 billion scheme, while Saddam Hussein diverted funds intended for the poor and sick of Iraq to bribe foreign governments and prominent overseas supporters of his regime. 10:56:43 PM

Don't be afraid of the big bad Gmail Salon (subscription) - Privacy advocates are frothing about Google's plan to scan e-mail for advertising purposes. A report from an early tester of the service says their concerns are overblown. 10:51:22 PM