A sweeping year-long probe of the Iraq oil-for-food program has concluded that the United Nations allowed “illicit, unethical, and corrupt behaviour” to overwhelm the $64bn (€51.2bn) operation, and must adopt sweeping reforms to reclaim its credibility before taking on such tasks again.

DAMIEN DUFF remains a major injury concern for the Republic of Ireland with two days to go to the crucial World Cup qualifying game against France.

THE former head of the United Nations oil-for-food programme in Iraq could face charges after a committee investigating the tainted programme said it had found enough evidence of a kickback scheme to support prosecution.

FORMER UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali spent the weekend in hospital after collapsing at a conference in Monaco on Saturday.

Kofi Annan won election to a second term at the helm of the United Nations today with support from every corner of the globe, a unanimous endorsement of his sensitive and effective leadership.

The United Nations Security Council today nominated Secretary-General Kofi Annan by acclamation for a second term at the helm of the world body, paving the way for his election by the 189-member General Assembly.