CNN Observations has confirmed that London-based anchor, Adrian Finighan will leave CNN International sometime in October. While the October date has not been set for his departure, he will return to CNN International on occasion in a freelance-type role.

Below is the note from Deborah Rayner, managing editor for Europe and Africa, which she sent to London staffers last week.

From: Rayner, Deborah
Sent: 28 August 2009 15:21
Subject: Adrian Finighan

I am sad to announce that Adrian Finighan will be leaving us in October.

After much thought Adrian has decided to explore new projects and opportunities outside CNN.

We will miss his cheerful presence, both in the newsroom and on QMB.

Deborah

Just tuned into CNN Domestic and Adrian Finighan from CNN International broke in just recently to break the news of Rudy Guiliani heading to the hospital with flu-like symptoms.

* Adrian Finighan, usually of CNN Today and Business International from London, is in Atlanta this week and has been co-hosting Your World Today. CNN/I's London anchors are occasionally seen in Atlanta, with recent examples being Max Foster and Richard Quest. However, it would appear to have been much longer since a Hong Kong-based anchor was anchoring from Atlanta.

* Sanjay Gupta's new series Project Life premiered on CNN/I on Wednesday evening. This is another 15-minute programme, following on from Becky Anderson's "The Spirit Of…". Project Life is on each Wednesday at 1815 gmt, in place of the last 15 minutes of Your World Today. It also repeats at the weekend. It would appear that this series is exclusive to CNN/I, unless anyone can tell me otherwise

At 0844 gmt this morning, CNN/I came out of a commerical break and into breaking news, interrupting World Sport which was live in progress from London.

Max Foster was live outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster with news of Tony Blair's impending announcement of his retirement as leader of the Labour Party, and as Prime Minister. Live footage was shown of Blair's vehicle convoy heading for RAF Northolt, from where he was to fly to his constituency of Sedgefield in north-east England.

CNN stayed with live shots of Blair entering his jet, the jet journeying to the runaway, and the plane taking off.

Regular programming resumed at 0905 gmt, with Larry King Replay in progress.

During Business International at 1000gmt, CNN/I went back to live coverage of Blair as he arrived in Sedgefield, and travelled to the Labour Club there. Adrian Finighan was anchoring from the London studio, with Max Foster at Parliament and Robin Oakley in Downing Street.

CNN/I brought live coverage of Blair's speech, when he announced he will step aside on 27 June.

Continuing live coverage from Max Foster in Westminster replaced World News Asia at 1100 gmt and part of World News at 1200 gmt. This then continued with Michael Holmes in Atlanta, with more on the story.

As an aside, the CNN/I digital downlink on the Astra 19.2ºE satellite is having some problems today. For a couple of hours, the signal has broken up intermittantly, sometimes disappearing completely with a "bad signal" message appearing. This is transmitted, and is not a local reception problem. It suggests a reception problem at the site of uplink to the satellite.

At 1059 gmt, Adrian Finighan in London introduced a live simulcast of CNN American Morning for continuing coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting massacre. John Roberts and Kiran Chetry were live on-location at Virginia Tech.

CNN/I continued with CNN Newsroom as well.