David Cameron has raised the Alexander Litvinenko case at the start of his bridge-building visit to Russia.

Relations between the UK and Russia have been strained since the Russian dissident was murdered in London in 2006, and Russia then refused to extradite the prime suspect.

The PM said in Moscow that the UK would continue to push for Mr Litvinenko's killer to be brought to justice.

The one-day trip is the first by a UK leader for talks in Russia since 2005.

Fears about Europe’s deteriorating finances intensified on Sunday as new doubts about the health of French banks, as well as Germany’s willingness to help Greece avert default, left investors bracing for another global stock market downturn this week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/business/global/german-dissent-magnifies-uncertainty.html?hp

bluebottles (picture by Gus Leonisky)

Leaked diplomatic cables show the Federal Government watered down reef protection laws in 2009 to avoid a dispute with the US government.

In 2006 the Government extended the Great Barrier Reef's compulsory pilotage system to the Torres Strait to force large carriers and tankers to use a marine pilot to navigate through the Strait.

The system was designed to prevent accidents and spills.

But cables published by WikiLeaks show the United States and Singapore opposed the system.

THE Gillard government is understood to be considering a media inquiry with narrow terms of reference focused on the print media, despite a strong push from the Greens for a much broader probe.

The Greens leader, Bob Brown, will move to set up an inquiry on Wednesday, with draft terms of reference seen by the Herald proposing it consider whether technological change is hurting quality journalism and whether the government can do anything to encourage investment in quality journalism.

Tony Karon in Time.com shows what happens when you brutally occupy another people for decades; the world gets sick of it:

Airspace was still closed to civil flights. British intelligence chiefs had flown by military aircraft to Washington to confer with their American counterparts. After their discussions had been concluded, they repaired to the British embassy and there talked late into the night. One of those present was Eliza Manningham-Buller, then deputy head of the British Security Service and responsible for its intelligence operations and subsequently its chief.

On 13 September, one of the world's biggest arms fairs opens in London, backed by the British government. On 8 September, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry will hold a preview entitled "Middle East: A vast market for UK defence and security companies". The host was the Royal Bank of Scotland, a major investor in cluster bombs.

Legislation brought in since September 11 has hurt social cohesion and civil liberties.

The failed prosecution of Jack Thomas and at least four men from the Benbrika group who were acquitted of being members of a home-grown jihadist organisation in 2008 has not only eroded public confidence in counterterrorism agencies but also hurt our relationship with large sections of the Muslim community.

Engagement and dialogue became a distant secondary consideration during those prosecutions.

A forecast by the immigration department head, Andrew Metcalfe, that London and Paris-style social unrest would break out in Australian cities if 600 boat people arrived a month has caused outrage, and calls for his sacking.

The words have threatened Labor's multicultural credentials, with groups including the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils labelling them ''inflammatory'' and ''devastating''.