Odd long article, referring to another article by Edward J. Epstein in the New York Sun March 19th [ http://tinyurl.com/5epx7t ]. I dont think the case is made with proper academic rigour…in fact I’m not even sure what the case is, but it seems to allege involvement in the smuggling of nuclear material. Demonstrate the … THE LIVINENKO FILES: WAS HE REALLY MURDERED?

18th Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission which reports on the progress of the peace process has just been published. It identifies Oglaigh na hEireann as a serious threat to the lives of members of the security forces. I don’t suppose I should find it odd that the Guardian article has nothing to say about … NEW MILITANT GROUP THREATENS ULSTER PEACE

Actually, the story is that the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Terrorism are out. http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2007/ Iran is named as the most important and active state sponsor of terrorism. I havent had time yet to dig behind the press release level. There may be more interesting stuff in there. It’s all a bit catch 22. … AL QAEDA “GREATEST THREAT TO US”

Ah. The Public Accounts Committee have finally noticed. I do believe the Americans have been pointing this out for years. They’d also like London to clean up its act, but since whoever wins the London election for mayor today has no power over that mystical beast the City of London, they’d better not hold their … BRITAIN’S OVERSEAS TERRITORIES OPEN TO FRAUD AND MONEY-LAUNDERING

At last! Something the UK has taught the Americans! Stick loads of cameras up everywhere and you will always be able to close the stable door after the horse has bolted! Something gone wrong with my daily feed from the Washington Post. This different system is plagued with even more rubbish adverts. Just keep clicking … D.C. FORGING SURVEILLANCE NETWORK

Earlier posts documented the spread of prison gangs back to Central America from US jails. This sounds like a disaster in the making. 60-70% of inmates in France are Muslims, though they are 12% of the population. Information from an Open Society Institute Report given in the article about other European countries. There are so … IN FRANCE, PRISONS FILLED WITH MUSLIMS

Increasingly difficult to distinguish between real news on the BBC and puffs for it’s programmes. Wasn’t there a quote about the media not being the news? All is changed, changed utterly…some rough beast slouching towards Broadcasting House. Anyway, this piece is about the threat from Spain [yes, not France for once]. Boiler room frauds. This … THE BILLION POUND SHARE SWINDLE

Looks like everybody is under surveillance in Russia…and are we really surprised? But the threat to privacy is as much from private enterprise as it is from the FSU. The Moscow Times doesnt seem to have any human rights lawyers to interview on the protection of people’s privacy. Anti-Kremlin activists are, however, quoted. Presumably if … FEARS OF SNOOPING ON SOCIAL NETWORKS

One of two Colombian brothers, Victor Mejia. Miguel survives him.

Good overview of recent events by CNN. Calm and measured, unlike some of the journalism in our recent postings!