Investigators have opened a criminal inquiry into millions of dollars missing in Iraq after auditors uncovered indications of fraud in nearly $100 million in reconstruction spending that could not be properly accounted for.The money had been intended for rebuilding projects in south-central Iraq.Yesterday's audit of spending in south-central Iraq was accompanied by two others, both of which also uncovered evidence of poor accounting -Washington Post

Hopes of a global trade deal received a major boost last night after Peter Mandelson offered changes to Europe's controversial farm protection system to break a deadlock in the liberalisation talks.Europe's trade commissioner offered a compromise package at a make-or-break meeting of trade ministers in Paris aimed at bridging the gulf between rich and poor countries -Guardian UK

Britons go to the polls on Thursday to determine whether Prime Minister Tony Blair wins a historic third consecutive term in power despite widespread opposition to his support for the war in Iraq.Four newspaper polls on Thursday gave Blair's Labour a lead of between three and six points over the main opposition Conservative Party

Lawrence Barcella, a former prosecutor under fire for a false affidavit used to convict ex-CIA officer Edwin Wilson on terrorism charges, took part in what appears to be another national security cover-up – of evidence that Republicans sabotaged President Jimmy Carter’s hostage negotiations with Iran in 1980.Wilson, who is now out of prison, has filed complaints against Barcella with the District of Columbia Bar Association, according to ABC News’ “Nightline,” which interviewed Wilson for a that aired on April 27 -Robert Parry/Consortium News

Venezuela's Supreme Court has ruled that the Government should extradite from the United States an anti-communist Cuban exile wanted by Havana on terrorism charges.Luis Posada Carriles, who has Venezuelan citizenship and escaped from prison in Caracas in 1985, has been accused by Cuba of several attacks, including the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed dozens of people

The government has downplayed Argentine criticism of Brazil's ambitions for a larger role in international affairs, but analysts on Tuesday conceded the complaints were valid.On Monday, Argentine Foreign Minster Rafael Bielsa censured Brazil for trying to resolve political crises in Ecuador and Venezuela without consulting regional forums such as the Organization of American States

Colombian police announced Wednesday that two American soldiers have been arrested in a plot to traffic ammunition, the second time in recent weeks that U.S. troops stationed here were detained on smuggling allegations.The Americans were captured Tuesday in the town of Carmen de Apicala, 56 miles southwest of Bogota, after authorities raided a condominium there and found 32,900 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, according to National Police Chief Jorge Daniel Castro -Houston Chronicle

Congressional conferees have reportedly agreed on an appropriations bill to fund military operations, and attached the controversial Real ID Act to the bill.The Real ID Act will therefore likely be enacted without being scrutinized by any hearings or debate.The House is expected to vote on the underlying measure this week; the Senate is expected to vote next week -ACLU

The Defense Ministry said Wednesday that the missile North Korea fired into East Sea is an upgraded version of Russia's SS21, marking the first official confirmation of North Korea's missile launch.

Government-funded researchers tested AIDS drugs on hundreds of foster children over the past two decades, often without providing them a basic protection afforded in federal law and required by some states, an Associated Press review has found.

Jacques Chirac, the French president, argued the case for the adoption of the European Constitution on television last night. Read excerpts from the interview on France 2.'We have debated that for a long time, as you will remember, what Europe is.Is it a great sovereign state which will take over from nations, or is an organisation which allows us to do together what should best be done together, but in which each nation, each people, retains its identity, it's culture, interests, etc?' -London Times UK

Media connect Myers' report about strain on US military with lag in recruitment.-Christian Science Monitor

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) said Wednesday it would cut between 10,000 and 13,000 jobs and record a pre-tax charge of between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion in the second quarter.