A sixteen-year-old, who cannot be named under UK law, was acquitted of the murder of Christopher Faulkner last week. Mr Faulkner died after being stabbed during a scuffle in King George’s Playing Field, Stevenage in April this year.

The youth pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted inflicting the single stab wound to the chest that led to the death of 20-year-old Mr. Faulkner. The jury at St Albans Crown Court found him guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter. Judge Michael Baker QC will sentence the youth later this month after reports have been prepared.

UK uses anti-terrorist legislation to seize assets of Icelandic banks

The UK government has used a law introduced combat terrorism to freeze £4 billion (US$6.84 billion) of assets of the Icelandic bank, Landsbanki. There is no suggestion that Landsbanki was involved in financing terrorism.

When questioned in Parliament, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms confirmed that the freezing order had been issued under the 2001 Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, saying, “that’s where the power happened to be.” The act was introduced the in the climate of fear generated by the 9-11 attacks. At the time, there was concern that it was open to abuse.

The summer of 2008 will go down as, "The Summer Aliens (Almost) Invaded the UK."

It started in May, when the British Government released previously secret UFO files to the National Archives. The files included corroborated reports from reputable sources of UFOs hovering over British cities.

In one amazing incident from 1984, air-traffic controllers describe a, "brilliant solid ball of light, bright silvery in colour," land on a runway in front of them, then takeoff in a near vertical climb. These stories appearing in both the national press and on TV caused quite a stir.

The Open Rights Group (ORG) will not verify the result of London’s May elections. Saying, "There is insufficient evidence available to allow independent observers to state reliably whether the results ... are an accurate representation of voters’ intentions."

The elections for the Mayor of London and the 25-member London Assembly are among the most important local elections in the UK. An independent body, London Elects, organizes them.

A small English town is in shock and mourning at the killing of a local young man. Christopher Faulkner, 20, of Stevenage, was attacked besides the town’s cricket club last Monday at 7pm. He died later in hospital of a single stab wound to the chest.