Terrorism convict released early

A man convicted of a terrorism offence has been released 17 days early under the scheme to reduce jail overcrowding, the government has confirmed.

Yassin Nassari left Wakefield Prison on 11 February 2008, after being jailed last summer for three and a half years.

He was arrested in May 2006 at Luton Airport carrying what police said were blueprints for a rocket in his luggage.

The Ministry of Justice said Nassari had met the release criteria because he was not guilty of serious violence.

Under the terms of the government's early release scheme, prisoners are eligible to leave prison 18 days earlier than normally expected, if they had been jailed for less than four years and not committed a serious violent offence.

Nassari, 28, from Ealing in west London, was convicted in July 2007 of having articles of use to terrorists.

Full Article

I do not understand how a potential terroristic threat cannot be considered a serious offense. Although he did not commit any violent acts, he was still in the process of conspiracy.

Grade this.

Watchdog admits failure over Rock

The UK financial watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has admitted that it failed to regulate Northern Rock adequately.

The FSA said there had been "a lack of adequate oversight and review" by the agency of the troubled bank.

It said too few regulators were assigned to monitor Northern Rock, which ran into trouble in August.

The FSA said it would be overhauling its procedures as a result of the weaknesses identified.

Newcastle-based Northern Rock was nationalised in February after the credit crisis forced it to seek a Bank of England lifeline to fund its mortgage loan book.

Last week it said it would cut about 2,000 jobs by 2011 and reduce its residential mortgage lending by half under plans to turn around its fortunes.

Northern Rock must also pay back Bank of England loans worth about £25bn.

Full Story

It appears that the few regulations that Parliament set on Northern Rock Bank have failed. This may cause Parliament to reform their policies on foreign companies.

UK will fight turbulence - Brown

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised that the UK and other EU countries will "lead the way" in fighting "global financial turbulence".

He told MPs that an EU summit at the weekend had agreed "co-ordinated action at a European and global level".

Tory leader David Cameron said the UK was suffering from not "putting money aside in the good years".

It came as an ICM poll suggested the Tories had a 13-point lead over Labour and were trusted more on the economy.

Markets have recorded heavy losses in reaction to the emergency bailout of US investment bank Bear Stearns.

Full Story

The U.K. to the rescue!

Grade this.

Burrell 'removed ring from Diana'

Former royal butler Paul Burrell claimed he had removed an engagement ring from Princess Diana's body, his former bodyguard has told her inquest.

Michael Faux said Mr Burrell had told him he had taken the ring, with blood on it, from her body, in Paris after her fatal car crash in August 1997.

Mr Faux also said he had seen Mr Burrell burning documents, some with Buckingham Palace letterheads.

Mr Burrell denied he had ever spoken of such a ring or burnt important papers.

BBC News royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the ring discussed in Monday's evidence could not be the one described throughout the inquest as an engagement ring bought by Dodi Al Fayed, as that ring was on public display at Harrods department store.

The ring Mr Burrell referred to "could only have been a friendship ring, a Bulgari friendship ring," he said.

Full Story

And Burnell's back.

Grade this.

Darling bumps car and beer tax up

Big increases in duty on alcohol and high-polluting cars have been announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling.

In his first Budget he put 4p on a pint of beer, 14p on a bottle of wine and 55p on a bottle of spirits. Duty on a packet of cigarettes is up 11p.

He announced a one-off £950 tax on the most polluting new cars but put a 2p rise in fuel duty back six months.

Mr Darling, who insisted the UK could "weather economic storms", also increased winter fuel payments.

But Conservative leader David Cameron dismissed his Budget statement as a "a dire list of reviews and reannouncements".

Full Story

Pubs are unhappy.

Grade this.

U.K. All Wet

Fourteen flood warnings are in place across England as a powerful storm moves across the UK, causing widespread travel disruption and power cuts.

On Monday, gale force winds and heavy rain affected roads, rail and air travel, while almost 12,000 homes are without power.

More bad weather is expected in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Environment Agency say the Bristol Channel, Severn Estuary and the Somerset coast are most at risk.

High tides along the south west, southern and west coasts will peak by midnight GMT.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: "The situation has now improved along parts of the south west and southern coasts."

Full Story

This storm is one of the strongest the U.K. has seen in the past several years. The picture really explains it all.

Grade this.

Trivia Question Results

The answer to last week's trivia question was Bo Diddley. Congratulations to those of you who answered correctly! Kritesh is currently leading by 9 points.

Assessment Complete

Trivia Question

Kritesh is ahead by 9 points now. Next week the question will be worth 10 points and only the first answer will be accepted.

Trivia Results

The answer to the special question was Noel Fielding.

Kritesh is currently 4 points ahead of Camp . If anyone reads this 5 points will be given to the first person to tell me Noel Fielding's Birth City.

Behind camp are Sean and Courtney both by one point. Lauren has 0 points.