Luck Runs Out for Fugitive Drug Lord

Colourful account of el Nene, a Ceuta-based drug smuggler. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave in North Africa.

Hizbollah Builds up Fighting Force

Again, the headline in this Guardian/Observer article is misleading. Everyone expects a new round of fighting between Hizbollah and Israel. This piece offers an insight into the fact. It also gives evidence that there were far fewer fighters than previous estimates, but there will now be a whole generation trained in camps in other countries. The article is based on a chat with a single person, it needs to be said. An untitled "US military study" describes the military wing as autonomous and completely decentralised. Intriguing piece, though to be treated with caution.

How Savage Pirates Reign on the World's High Seas

Breathless headline from the sub editor here. The story is actually about Somali waters, where, according to the last couple of paragraphs of the article, a lot of boats are fishing illegally. On the other hand, there is no reliable government to issue permits. Warlords or the Islamic courts: there's your choice.

Hackers warn High Street Chains

BBC report on the "Hackers' Panel" at the InfoSecurity Conference. Interesting argument about role for ISPs in policing botnets and claims that neither China nor Russia responsible for recent attacks. Both private individuals and murky Western agencies routing their attacks through those countries to disguise the origin of attacks. Sounds like trouble in cyberspace. Commercial companies good targets because their security is so poor.

Updated Drugs and Drving Website

Public info website including advice about the impact of individual drugs on driving ability.

Counting the Costs of Crime in Australia: a 2005 Update

Don't be fooled. The small print says it relies on US and UK data. Important stuff for researchers here, including new challenges like cybercrime.

FBI wants to move hunt for criminals into internet backbone

Thanks Monty for this link to an important article. One quote:

"The current debate over who gets to do what and how with network hubs is akin to the foundational debates over property and taxes with which we started America, so it's important that we have it in the light of day and that we all participate."

You'd better all go look at this and think about it! Today's three hour essay question."What is the optimum balance between the threat to individual liberties from terrorism and organised crime and the threat from the government and security service response to it?"

Get setting that for your final year students. A three hour one question essay.

Terror Talk: no more islamist jihads

Oh dear. The neo-cons don't even seem to understand that their use of the terms actually causes offence and diminishes them in the eyes of the Muslim world. So what terms are we allowed to use in this Orwellian world? The term "terrorist" isnt very helpful either. All it means is "people the US government doesnt like."
An interesting challenge for academics here. Perhaps a competition for some new concepts?

EU deal on Immigrant Detentions

This means that all EU member states have agreed a 6 month maximum for detention of illegal immigrants and a readmission deal before sending them home. But in essence, it means that illegal immigrants will all now be returned to their country of origin. There is some opposition from the Socialist group of MEPs and this is the BBC spin on the decision, rather then the EUObserver report, which I will hope to post tomorrow.

UK Asylum Stistics for Fourth Quarter

Too much detail to summarise. Applications slightly down year on year, slightly up quarter on quarter. Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan areas from which largest number of asylum applicants originate.
Journalists might like to write a short essay on the difference between asylum-seekers, legal immigrants, trafficked human beings and illegal immigrants. Hah! That will be the day!