June 11, 2011Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!
Although she was actually born on April 21, the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated each year in the UK on a weekend in June for purely practical reasons. The day usually presents more acceptable weather for a public party!
This year, watch for all the official pomp and public festivities to take place on Saturday, June 11, 2011.
More @ June 11, 2011 Celebration ~ Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
Trade Bank of Iraq under investigation
Snip ~ BAGHDAD: Iraq's prime minister on Thursday ordered a judicial investigation into one of the country's biggest banks, the Trade Bank of Iraq, saying it was suspected of committing "violations".
The bank's president and chairman, Hussein Al-Uzri, could not be reached for comment. A British adviser to the bank's board, Sir Claude Hankes, condemned the move by Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki's government as "political skulduggery".
He said the bank had resisted efforts by members of the government to try to make it undertake "improper banking transactions".
Trade Bank of Iraq was set up in 2003 after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It has been involved in financing trade and investment aimed at supporting reconstruction in the war-ravaged OPEC oil producer.
Hankes called the bank "one of the success stories of Iraq" and said its results were independently audited by PriceWaterhouse Coopers to professional international standards.
In a separate email reaction to Thursday's developments sent to Reuters, Hankes said "members within the Al-Maliki government have been party to trying to persuade the bank to undertake improper banking transactions"
The bank and its management has consistently refused to undertake any such transactions," he added. Hankes said the move against the bank should worry the international community,
"In particular, the US government and the US Federal Reserve, who handle hundreds of millions of payments for and on behalf of the Iraq government (through the Central Bank of Iraq), for which there is no proper oversight."
more @ Trade Bank of Iraq under investigation (update) ...
Trade Bank of Iraq under investigation
Snip ~ BAGHDAD: Iraq's prime minister on Thursday ordered a judicial investigation into one of the country's biggest banks, the Trade Bank of Iraq, saying it was suspected of committing "violations".
The bank's president and chairman, Hussein Al-Uzri, could not be reached for comment. A British adviser to the bank's board, Sir Claude Hankes, condemned the move by Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki's government as "political skulduggery".
He said the bank had resisted efforts by members of the government to try to make it undertake "improper banking transactions".
Trade Bank of Iraq was set up in 2003 after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It has been involved in financing trade and investment aimed at supporting reconstruction in the war-ravaged OPEC oil producer.
Hankes called the bank "one of the success stories of Iraq" and said its results were independently audited by PriceWaterhouse Coopers to professional international standards.
In a separate email reaction to Thursday's developments sent to Reuters, Hankes said "members within the Al-Maliki government have been party to trying to persuade the bank to undertake improper banking transactions"
The bank and its management has consistently refused to undertake any such transactions," he added. Hankes said the move against the bank should worry the international community,
"In particular, the US government and the US Federal Reserve, who handle hundreds of millions of payments for and on behalf of the Iraq government (through the Central Bank of Iraq), for which there is no proper oversight."
more @ Trade Bank of Iraq under investigation (update) ...
As of ~ Monday 6 June 2011 - who is ...
Sir Claude Hankes KCVO
Sir
Claude Hankes is a macro-strategist and has been Chairman of the Windsor Leadership Trust since 2001.
Claude Hankes is a macro-strategist and has been Chairman of the Windsor Leadership Trust since 2001.
Current positions include: Advisor to Iraq, Chairman of Shaw & Bradley Ltd, and he was recently elected a life member of The Council St George's House, Windsor Castle.Former positions include: Director of Robert Fleming (early 70's), Chairman of the Management Committee of Price Waterhouse and Partners, Interim Chairman, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and Advisor to the Board of a major pharmaceutical company.In 1985, he successfully masterminded the resolution to the South African debt crisis. In 1991 he chaired the Nobel Independent Inquiry in Stockholm. It brought to light very serious failings of Swedish Cooperate Governance.
Throughout his career Sir Claude has taken an active interest in the voluntary sector holding such positions as Governing Council, Business in the Community, Chairman ARC, Deanery Synod, and actively involved in interfaith work. In 2003 Sir Claude agreed to become an Advisor to Iraq. He has over 30 years of experience in advising governments including several in the Middle East. He was Chairman of the Advisory Committee to Jordan on Strategic Economic Policy matters after the Gulf War.
In December 2003 he urged the Secretary General of the United Nations to appoint an Independent Committee to look into the Oil for Food programme, and was responsible for bringing the scandal to the attention of the world. He testified on this matter before US Congress in 2004. His role in Iraq has been key in exposing the agenda of many who were pursuing their own interests rather than those of the Iraqi people.
He is an Honorary Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford and Honorary Member of The College of St George, Windsor Castle and a Pilgrim. Other interests include being Chairman of the Support Group of the Greek and Roman Department at the British Museum; Patron of the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery and the Ashmolean Museum; and a member of the Getty Villa Council, Los Angeles.
Sir Claude was made a Knight Commander of The Royal Victorian Order by HM The Queen in 2006.
http://www.windsorleadershiptrust.org.uk/en/1/chankesknighted.html
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November 19, 2009
JP Morgan to take over Cazenove: report
Nov 19, 2009
US investment bank JP Morgan Chase will later Thursday unveil a one-billion-pound (1.67-billion-dollar, 1.12-billion-euro) deal to buy 190-year-old London stockbroker Cazenove, a newspaper said.
The bank is to pay about 535 pence a share for the 50-percent stake of Cazenove which it does not already own, the Financial Times said.
Under the deal, Cazenove chairman David Mayhew would stay on and was likely to receive a windfall of more than 19 million pounds (21.2 million euros, 31.7 million dollars), the newspaper said, citing sources.
JP Morgan to take over Cazenove: reportNov 19, 2009
US investment bank JP Morgan Chase will later Thursday unveil a one-billion-pound (1.67-billion-dollar, 1.12-billion-euro) deal to buy 190-year-old London stockbroker Cazenove, a newspaper said.
The bank is to pay about 535 pence a share for the 50-percent stake of Cazenove which it does not already own, the Financial Times said.
Under the deal, Cazenove chairman David Mayhew would stay on and was likely to receive a windfall of more than 19 million pounds (21.2 million euros, 31.7 million dollars), the newspaper said, citing sources.
British media reported earlier this week that JP Morgan was looking to take full control of Cazenove, which is broker to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.Five years ago, Cazenove and JP Morgan agreed to combine their investment banking operations in Britain into a joint venture called JP Morgan Cazenove, with each group holding a 50-percent share.
Under the terms of the deal, JP Morgan has until February 2010 to exercise an option to buy out its investment banking partner.
VIDEO `Nov 19: JPMorgan in $1bn Cazenove deal
http://video.ft.com/v/63154680001/Nov-19-JPMorgan-in-1bn-Cazenove-deal
