The 48th Front of FARC and the “Fatman” Oliver Solarte, who makes the money that runs the rebellion. the story is disputed and complex, but is a rare article on drug trafficking, organised crime and terrorism

Just as your blogger leaves on holiday, a device explodes in his home town! This Guardian report seems to offer most details. lots of rumours went round yesterday and turned out to be false. More details will follow today.

High profile story last year. Nobody’s fault, of course. Does sound like it has all the classic ingredients of a cock-up. Public sector really does need to deal with illness and the question of who picks up the ill person’s work while they are ill in a much more systematic way. So many stories of … CPS MADE SERIOUS ERRORS OVER DATA ON DUTCH CRIMINAL SUSPECTS

Worth waiting to see what the Home Secretary actually says.

The sub-editor needs to be reminded that these are all allegations. A story to watch and see how it develops. More likely to appear in the News of the World that the broadsheets, but may give some important insights into how these groups all knit together.

Thought-provoking article on the contemporary situation in Chechnya. Publishe in Moscow Times, but written by Thomas de Waal from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting in London.

Report originating in Morocco where a group has been detained and whose intention allegedly was to target EU buildings and the Sheraton Hotel

This is in total contrast with the last report from Europol. Could it be an Independent spin? Better go find out. Apparently the methodology is changing to include “extremism” Previous posting was a summary by the EU Observer and was of the 2007 report. This is the 2008 Report, I think. Better go do some … BRITAIN IS FOCAL POINT FOR TERRORISM WARN’S EUROPE’S POLICE FORCE

BBC story originating from European Commission. FAQs on the subject at: http://tinyurl.com/4ewwca Despite what the BBC piece says, the amount of goods seized actually decreased in 2007 [mostly due to falls in numbers of cigarettes and DVDs seized]. 34% of seizures were cigarettes followed by 22% of clothing.

Both subjects seem to have been lumped together under the general heading of data protection. Google Street View has, allegedly, been put together with an eye to US legislation, without someone realising that it has to be compatible with other jurisdictions too. Similarly, DNA sharing procedures have been put together without thought for privacy safeguards. … ARTICLE ON GOOGLE MAPS AND LOWER DOWN, ONE ON DNA DATA SHARING