All Blog Posts from Investigative Round-Up

The NY Times:
Despite repeated denials by President Hugo Chávez, Venezuelan officials have continued to assist commanders of Colombia’s largest rebel group, helping them arrange weapons deals in Venezuela and even obtain identity cards to move with ease on Venezuelan soil, according to computer material captured from the rebels in recent months and under review by Western intelligence agencies.
(read the article)

AP:
Despite their denials, influential Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Chris Dodd were told from the start they were getting VIP mortgage discounts from one of the nation's largest lenders, the official who handled their loans has told Congress in secret testimony. (read the article)

New York Times:
The deals, trumpeted loudly by the White House, would each help pay for a sweeping overhaul of the health care system.
(read the article)

Wall Street Journal:
Bank of America Corp. Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis and top federal officials will be asked to testify under oath by a U.S. House panel next month, as congressional investigators probe claims the bank was pressured by the government into completing its deal with Merrill Lynch & Co., a person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday.
(Read the article)

New York Times:
New York State prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating whether the Carlyle Group, one of the nation’s largest and most politically connected private equity firms, made millions of dollars in improper payments to intermediaries in exchange for investments from New York’s state pension fund, according to two people with direct knowledge of the case.
(Read the article)

Haaretz:
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a secret deal with Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman for highly contentious construction on West Bank land known as E1, Army Radio reported Wednesday.

A source close to the negotiations between the pair told Army Radio that the plan had been agreed upon even though it did not appear in the official document detailing the coalition deal between Yisrael Beiteinu and Netanyahu's Likud.
(Read the article)

AP:
Dow Chemical rejected accusations Thursday by members of the Kuwaiti parliament that it paid bribes to secure a $17.4 billion joint venture with a state-owned company.
(Read the article)

AFP:
German industrial giant Siemens is close to reaching agreement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a fine in connection with a corruption scandal, a press report said on Thursday.
(read the article)

CBS News:
European manufacturer Airbus is set to sign a multi-billion dollar deal with Syria's state carrier that would see the U.S.-sanctioned country take possession of 50 new passenger jets in the next 20 years, a senior Syrian official tells CBS News.
(read the article)

New York Times:
Investors dumped shares of Commerzbank on Monday, a day after the lender sealed an agreement to acquire Dresdner Bank from Allianz for 9.8 billion euros or $14.4 billion, on concern that it had overpaid.
(read the article)