http://britain.web2announcer.com/ Web 2.0 announcer top stories for britain en Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:11:41 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2037128 unknown@Netscape.com The story of possible corruption between BAE and the Saudi government, and how the British government ignored it, is shocking. But we should not regard this episode as an aberration. Instead, it should force us to question the way foreign policy is thought about and practised in government today. Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:11:41 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2037128britainsaudiarabiaBAEBlairNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2017324 unknown@Netscape.com BAGHDAD: Hundreds of Iraqi and U.S. troops cordoned off sections of Baghdad's Sadr City slum early Wednesday and conducted a series of raids in an apparent effort to find five British citizens abducted from a nearby government building the day before, local residents and police said. The five men were pulled out of a Finance Ministry office by abou Wed, 30 May 2007 17:00:37 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2017324iraqsadrterrorismbritainkidnapNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2015732 unknown@Netscape.com Four people in Britain who tested positive for a mild strain of bird flu should serve as a reminder that a virus other than the feared H5N1 strain could also provoke a flu pandemic, experts say. Tue, 29 May 2007 20:52:03 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/20157324peopletestPositivebirdFlubritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2005298 unknown@Netscape.com It looks more like the latest in saucepan technology than the future of crime fighting. But police are confident that this miniature remote- controlled helicopter will be an invaluable weapon in the war against wrongdoers. The Microdrone measures only 2ft between the tips of its eight rotor blades, Wed, 23 May 2007 08:18:01 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2005298privacybritain1984News http://web2announcer.com/go/1958132 unknown@Netscape.com So it was no surprise at all that Bush and Blair would be discussing al-Jazeera during that fretful confab in April 2004. Nor is it any surprise that Bush's answer to the "problem" of an independent Arab news agency would be to kill the s where they stand. Sat, 19 May 2007 01:55:13 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1958132bushBlairbritainiraqNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1928327 unknown@Netscape.com Some military families expressed unhappiness at what they saw as special treatment. Thu, 17 May 2007 21:16:22 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1928327britainDividedoverreversalHarryNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1918336 unknown@Netscape.com The Prince had previously stated that he wanted to be involved in active service with his unit. But the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has confirmed the Prince will not go with his regiment, the Blues and Royals. Wed, 16 May 2007 18:56:33 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1918336princeHarryiraqgreatbritaindeploymentNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1854713 unknown@Netscape.com Two government officials acting out of their conscience to expose President Bush's plans to bomb journalists are found guilty. Sat, 12 May 2007 10:35:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1854713britainstateSecretsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1839254 unknown@Netscape.com Chancellor Gordon Brown is set to officially launch his bid to be the next Labour leader. Fri, 11 May 2007 05:04:01 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1839254PoliticsGordonbrownlabourpartygreatbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1823128 unknown@Netscape.com Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday that he will step down as prime minister on June 27, after a decade in office in which he brokered peace in Northern Ireland and followed the United States to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Blair will leave office as soon as a new leader is elected for the Labour Party. He remains as head of government until h Thu, 10 May 2007 14:21:19 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1823128TonyBlairPrimeMinisterlabourpartyresignationbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1793065 unknown@Netscape.com From the article: "Northern Ireland has a new power-sharing government in an historic day at Stormont. DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness have taken their pledges of office as devolution returns to Northern Ireland. Five years of direct rule by London appointed ministers officially ended at midnight." Tue, 08 May 2007 14:04:12 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1793065NorthernirelandstormontgovernmentgreatbritainassemblyNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1752029 unknown@Netscape.com A retired British army general says Iraq's insurgents are justified in opposing the occupation, arguing that the US and its allies should "admit defeat" and leave Iraq before more soldiers are killed. Sat, 05 May 2007 04:54:02 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1752029britainiraqwarNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1680486 unknown@Netscape.com Britain's first convicted war criminal was sentenced to one year in jail for mistreating Iraqi prisoners in a case that exposed senior commanders to accusations that they had authorised abuse. Tue, 01 May 2007 02:30:48 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1680486britainiraqNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1673102 unknown@Netscape.com From the article: "Five men have been convicted of an al-Qaeda-linked bomb plot in Britain which could have killed hundreds. Jurors in the massive year-long Old Bailey trial, heard of plans to target a shopping centre, nightclub and the gas network with a fertiliser bomb. Police smashed the plot in 2004 after MI5 had watched an Islamist extremist network with links across the world." Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:36:05 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1673102alqaedaAlQaedagreatbritainenglandbombconvictedJuryNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1659528 unknown@Netscape.com Britain is in danger of "committing slow social suicide" as such Big Brother techniques as surveillance cameras and recording equipment spread into every aspect of our lives, the nation's information watchdog will warn this week. Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:28:57 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1659528bigbrothergreatbritainlisteningdevicesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1545260 unknown@Netscape.com A massive child porn sting that targeted more than 7,000 Brits was built on shaky and inconclusive evidence. Many of the men were targeted after their credit card numbers showed up in transaction records for porn sites. According to the Guardian UK, 39 men have committed suicide since authorities began pointing fingers. Fri, 20 Apr 2007 22:02:13 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1545260pornStingbritainbadevidenceNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1514184 unknown@Netscape.com Argentina was today accused of laying economic siege to the Falkland Islands and having "colonialist aspirations" towards the British overseas territory. Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:26:53 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1514184falklandsargentinabritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1456782 unknown@Netscape.com Government attempts to persuade thousands of young people to stay away from drugs have failed and done nothing to curb the soaring popularity of illegal substances, a devastating report will warn this week. Sun, 15 Apr 2007 09:12:58 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1456782britaindrugsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1456169 unknown@Netscape.com But Mr Baker didn't believe a word of it. He said at the time: "The public out there can smell a rat and they don't think it's finished business either." The scientist's death was, the MP said, just too convenient, too riddled with inconsistencies and so unlike a man like Dr Kelly. Sun, 15 Apr 2007 08:50:07 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1456169davidKellyBlairbritainsuicidedbbcNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1368427 unknown@Netscape.com "The Iranians are not our enemies. We are not at war with them. Our rules of engagement at that time stated that we could only use lethal force if we felt that we were in imminent danger of a loss of life. By the time the true intent of the Iranians had become apparent - and we could have legitimately fought back - it was too late for action. Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:54:11 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1368427britainiranNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1350103 unknown@Netscape.com British sailors and marines who were held hostage in Iran for 13 days told a press conference in Devon, England, on Friday that they had been arrested in what were undoubtedly Iraqi waters. Sat, 07 Apr 2007 20:32:03 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1350103iranbritainpersiangulfNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1279096 unknown@Netscape.com British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the way is open for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of 15 sailors captured by Iran, and "the next 48 hours will be fairly critical." Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:13:27 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1279096iranwnglandbritainTonyBlairhostagessailorsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1264146 unknown@Netscape.com Fifteen British sailors and Marines detained by Iran for over a week have confessed to illegally entering the country's waters, Iranian state-run media reported on Monday. Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:03:54 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1264146irantehranbritainsailorsconfessionNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1256430 unknown@Netscape.com "In modern international law, that's a pretty low threshold. We would all be at war all the time," Crane said. "If we lower that threshold, it would be a pretty testy world indeed." Sun, 01 Apr 2007 21:25:36 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1256430iranbritainhostagesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1245615 unknown@Netscape.com As negotiations continue between the Foreign Office and Tehran to ensure the release of 15 British sailors, Jason Burke reveals the faction-ridden world of Iran's politics where nothing is as it seems. Sun, 01 Apr 2007 05:50:43 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1245615iranbritainhostagesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1234800 unknown@Netscape.com Jon Stewart tries to talk some sense into the Iranian leadership. Sat, 31 Mar 2007 15:55:42 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1234800iranjonstewarthostagecrisisgreatbritainbritishsaliorsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1151565 unknown@Netscape.com One or two Americans have asked me why it is that the English like tea so much, which never seems to them to be a very good drink. To understand, you have to know how to make it properly. [via reddit] Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:48:29 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1151565teabritainamericaNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1141792 unknown@Netscape.com The average age of first-time buyers is now 34. They have to accumulate larger deposits and spend more of their earnings on crippling mortgage debts. They are taking significantly higher financial risks than any previous generation. High house prices transfer wealth from the young to the old and from the poor to the rich. Sat, 24 Mar 2007 22:11:21 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1141792britainhousingNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1074312 unknown@Netscape.com British Prime Minister Tony Blair struck a secret deal with the king of Saudi Arabia, assuring him there would be no criminal charges against anyone implicated in bribery in Britain's biggest arms deal. Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:20:49 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1074312TonyBlairbritainSaudiaarabiaBAEsystemsBriberyNews http://web2announcer.com/go/906649 unknown@Netscape.com Britain is pushing the U.N. Security Council to discuss climate change to try to highlight its potential threat to global stability, government officials said on Thursday. Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:04:48 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/906649britainPushingSecurityCouncilClimatedebateNews http://web2announcer.com/go/842641 unknown@Netscape.com The British government plans to begin storing the fingerprints of children who apply for passports. Leaked Home Office documents reveal that the program is set to begin in 2010, The Times of London reported. The creation of the fingerprint database for children ages 11 to 16 is part of a plan for a biometric passport and an identity card that all B Sun, 04 Mar 2007 07:26:22 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/842641britainchildrenFingerprintdatabasehomeofficeNews http://web2announcer.com/go/824405 unknown@Netscape.com Five Britons are feared kidnapped after going missing while travelling in a remote desert in eastern Ethiopia. Fri, 02 Mar 2007 20:37:10 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/824405britainethiopiakidnapNews http://web2announcer.com/go/810887 unknown@Netscape.com A new exhibition gathers photographs of Britain's coast and countryside, which at first glance appear to be as far afield as Australia or Africa. Catch an exclusive preview Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:04:06 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/810887greatbritainphotographylandscapesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/763121 unknown@Netscape.com Britain's Defense Secretary Des Browne said Monday he will deploy 1,400 extra troops to Afghanistan to tackle a threatened Taliban spring offensive, days after Tony Blair announced a major withdrawal from Iraq. Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:09:35 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/763121TroopsAfghanistanbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/753033 unknown@Netscape.com Ministers are negotiating multi-million-pound contracts with private security firms to cover some of the gaps created by British troop withdrawals. Days after Tony Blair revealed that he wanted to withdraw 1,600 soldiers from war-torn Basra within months, it has emerged that civil servants hope "mercenaries" can help fill the gap left beh Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:34:54 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/753033iraqwarmercenariesbritaincorporateContractsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/720038 unknown@Netscape.com When the Guardian referred to Martin Amis as 'Britain's greatest living author' last week, one reader was so outraged she threatened to emigrate - or worse. So if not Amis, who? Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:05:51 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/720038booksmartinamisgreatbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/694384 unknown@Netscape.com Second Lieutenant Harry Wales, also known as Prince Harry of Britain, is preparing for a tour of duty in Iraq. He and his unit will deploy soon as a member of the light infantry Household Cavalry. Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, has chosen the military as his career and indicated he would resign his commission if not allowed to deploy. Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:51:30 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/694384princeHarryiraqwarbritainQueenElizabethNews http://web2announcer.com/go/683261 unknown@Netscape.com British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday that Britain would reduce its troop levels in Iraq by 1,600 over coming months, but its soldiers would stay in the country into 2008 as long as they were wanted. Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:58:27 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/683261BlairbritaintroopcutiraqNews http://web2announcer.com/go/685291 unknown@Netscape.com Islamic leaders have accused state schools of failing to accommodate the wishes of Muslim children. The Muslim Council of Britain criticised state schools for not organising sex education, changing rooms and assemblies to suit the Islamic sensibilities. Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:56:31 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/685291britainschoolmuslimNews http://web2announcer.com/go/570774 unknown@Netscape.com New U.S. rules for war crimes tribunals at Guantanamo fail to correct fundamental flaws that are undermining Western efforts to defeat global terrorism, the British government's top lawyer said on Monday. Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:07:40 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/570774guantanamochangestoolatebritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/511082 unknown@Netscape.com British police said on Friday they had arrested a 48-year-old man who claimed to have sent one of a series of letter bombs to hit the country in recent weeks. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:20:47 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/511082englandletterbomblondonarrestbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/363976 unknown@Netscape.com Sacha Baron Cohen, creator of the hit comic character Borat, has been named one of Britain's most powerful men on a list that puts him one place behind Prince William. Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:03:37 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/363976BoratSachaBaronCohencreatormostpowerfulMenbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/284669 unknown@Netscape.com For almost 60 years, the evidence of Britain's clandestine torture programme in postwar Germany has lain hidden in the government's files. Harrowing photographs of young men who had survived being systematically starved, as well as beaten, deprived of sleep and exposed to extreme cold, were considered too shocking to be seen. Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:47:01 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/284669ukbritaintorturewarNews http://web2announcer.com/go/209703 unknown@Netscape.com Ethnic minority Britons often find themselves at a disadvantage compared with their white neighbours in their everyday lives. Many are more likely to be expelled from school, jailed, unemployed, poorly paid, living in sub-standard housing and victims of crime. Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:43:08 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/209703racismbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/99935 unknown@Netscape.com British women are giving birth to more premature babies than anywhere else in Europe, a new study will reveal. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:30:34 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/99935BabybritainwomenEuropebirthNews http://web2announcer.com/go/79112 unknown@Netscape.com British detectives are certain they know who murdered former Soviet spy Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive poison. But they say authorities in Russia are unlikely to send his two killers here to face trial. Police will submit a file to the Crown Prosecution Service naming the two. Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:43:07 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/79112AlexanderLitvinenkobritainrussiaKGBNews http://web2announcer.com/go/5970 unknown@Netscape.com They chase each other at high speed wielding axes and hammers. But the famous cartoon duo of Tom and Jerry are in trouble in Britain for smoking on screen. Mon, 21 Aug 2006 21:04:27 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/5970Televisiontom and jerryaxesmokingbritainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/5027 unknown@Netscape.com Britain has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to provide it with 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a newspaper reported. The deal is worth 10 billion pounds (18.8 billion dollars, 14.7 billion euros), and could more than double in value over the next 25 years if BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence manufacturer, maintains and upgrades the Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:56:18 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/5027MoneySaudi Arabiabritain10 billion pounddefence dealNews http://web2announcer.com/go/4873 unknown@Netscape.com Bold plans to regenerate a corner of Manchester's Gay Village have divided the community. Thu, 17 Aug 2006 21:01:02 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/4873Gay & LesbiangaybritainmanchesterNews http://web2announcer.com/go/4729 unknown@Netscape.com A 12-year-old managed to evade heightened security and board a jetliner without a passport or a boarding pass. Thu, 17 Aug 2006 09:24:35 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/4729NewsbritainAirlinesSecurity