lots of Russians around with lots of money. Little documentation for Russian art because of the Revolution and its aftermath…”Yippee!” shout the forgers!

Independent article seems to be saying 7 million people to be criminalised…so let’s all vote for the Pirate party! a fairly confused article, that manages to attack Mandelson, Labour marginals and puff the Pirates. Sounds like it must originate in Conservative central office. Cui bono, old chap, cui bono?

I wonder if the Independent has been taken over by a bunch of over-excited public school interns for the Summer Holidays? Breathless piece on this week’s jewel robbery, plus a paragraph on the alleged Russian arms dealer on trial in Thailand and the “hijacked” Russian cargo ship. what subeditor let all these stories be conflated?

Interesting piece on the investigation into suspected criminal activity at Kaupthing Glitnr and Landsbanki, the Icelandic banks that crashed in 2008. Well, they wouldnt ever appear in a British court, but an Icelandic one?…That might be more serious.

Issues raised by the shoot-out in Gaza this week. A reminder of the limitations on Hamas and the more extreme threats that exist.

Washington Post site collecting links to articles about the Mexican conflict, including an interactive map.

Calm account from EUobserver. British press a bit over the top so far to make it possible to choose a particular account.

The bishops of England and Wales worry that they might have to calm down some of their stranger attitudes…? or am I misreading this curious piece in the EU Justice and Home Affairs section of EUobserver?

Murky stuff. here comes the US Treasury equipped to data mine EU banking. Who should take part in the talks? Its all about terrorism…of course! Yeah right. Get them tax-dodgers, Marshal Dillon!

Surkov is the Kremlin’s first deputy Chief of Staff. is “Close to Zero” a novel about corruption, his work, published under a pseudonym and if so, what does it all mean?