i assume George Monbiot is OK? This from “the Truth Seeker”, which sounds a bit swively-eyed and green inky: http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/ But fits with today’s other posts: end of the animal rights militia, so the cops need a new enemy!

Aim of carabinieri to prevent the rebuilding of the Sicilian Mafia. Other papers say that those arrested were trying to set up a Supreme Council to resolve disputes

Neo Nazi skinhead gangs being blamed, but for the first time, political demands have been made and an unknown group has claimed responsibility for a beheading.

More beheadings, this time in Mexico. Article effectively argues that this is criminal terrorism the work of “terrorist mafias”, trying to intimidate the government into stopping its crackdown.

Washington Post article on the alleged Madoff fraud, which appears to be affecting UK banking this morning. Here’s the story of the impact on Jewish charities in the US

Transparency International publishes Bribe Payers Index.

University of Queensland has launched a new website on human trafficking in Australia in collaboration wiyh University of British Columbia, Canada.

FT article with links to other pieces on emerging losses from European banks in connection with alleged fraud

FT website tallying reports on losses admitted by banks investing in Madoff.

Apologies for the absence. Your blogger has been having his wrist dewired. Normal service should now resume. This case involves Bernard Madoff, former chair of Nasdaq and later of a hedge fund, unidentified in this BBC piece. It is claimed he admitted his hedge fund was a giant pyramid selling scheme. We shall find out … $50 BILLION FRAUD CHARGE AT HEDGE FUND