msnbc.com (blog) Nouri al-Maliki and Ayad Allawi 'neck and neck' in Iraq election counts The Guardian Nouri al-Maliki: Early results show him almost neck and neck with Ayad Allawi. Photograph: Mohammd Ameen/Reuters Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and his predecessor, Ayad Allawi, are almost neck and neck in early counts after Sunday's general … Secular coalition says fraud hit Iraqi election Times Online Initial Iraqi Election Results Show Maliki Group In Lead Voice of America Iraq opposition parties claim poll fraud Financial Times ABC Online

BBC News Tories to pledge 'fastest broadband' in Europe BBC News The Conservatives have pledged to give Britain the fastest high speed broadband network in Europe, if they win the general election. Launching its “technology manifesto” the party says its plans will boost business and create jobs. … Tories to make UK 'e-capital of the world' This is London Tories vow to put details of public spending over 25000 online The Guardian Tories pat small biz heads in open source IT procurement pledge Register ePolitix

BBC News Election countdown as Budget date fixed Financial Times Gordon Brown yesterday confirmed the Budget will be held on March 24, effectively starting the countdown to what Westminster is now convinced will be a May 6 general election. The Budget will be Labour's last chance … Prime Minister Gordon Brown vows to be himself as May 6 looks certainty for … Mirror.co.uk Countdown to 6 May election as Gordon Brown plays the 'character' card Scotsman Darling to make do with small mercies in pre-election budget The Guardian Independent

Times Online Pay freeze for senior public sector staff brings angry union reaction The Guardian Gordon Brown says the plans amount to a tough and disciplined new approach to pay in the public sector. Photograph: Felipe Trueba/EPA Gordon Brown yesterday announced pay freezes for doctors, top civil servants, army generals and judges in a three-year … Anger over pay freeze for top public servants The Herald Pay freeze for doctors, judges and senior managers but MPs get a pay rise Times Online Senior civil servants have pay frozen to save 3bn Scotsman Telegraph.co.uk

The Guardian Ex-defence chief calls for cuts The Press Association Ministers will have to “ruthlessly” cut back all but the most essential defence projects in order to plug a multi-billion pound gap in funding, a former head of the armed forces has warned. General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank said the priority in the … Make defence spending more relevant to conflict, says Lord Guthrie The Guardian Ex-forces chief Lord Guthrie warns over defence funds BBC News Former defence chief calls for big cuts Financial Times all 30 news articles

The Guardian Amr Moussa: Talks on hold Jerusalem Post Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will not enter indirect peace talks with Israel as planned, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said overnight Wednesday, due to the approval of plans … Arab League Pulls Talks Support Over Israeli Settlements Issue Voice of America The US will no longer turn a blind eye to Israeli settlements Ha’aretz Arab League puts peace talks on the brink Times Online The Guardian

CBC.ca Technology's Richest Billionaires Forbes 1 spot on Forbes' billionaire list this year, with a fortune of $53.5 billion. Despite this coup, the top 10 richest tech billionaires saw their fortunes … Forbes' World Billionaires : Did you Know? Forbes India Mexico's Slim becomes 'world's richest' person Forbes Mexico's Slim named 'world's richest' person Forbes Forbes India

Telegraph.co.uk Pay freeze for mandarins 'won't influence wider salaries' Telegraph.co.uk A pay freeze imposed on senior civil servants, generals, judges and doctors will have no impact on pay deals across the wider economy, the Government's own pay advisers have said. By James Kirkup, Political Correspondent Gordon Brown said that curbs on … Pay freeze for senior public sector staff 'insulting' Independent Civil service pay freeze is insult to hardworking staff, says union The Guardian Salmond backs public sector pay freeze BBC News Financial Times

BBC News PM Gordon Brown questioned on overseas soldiers' vote BBC News An MP has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to ensure British overseas service personnel can vote by post in the upcoming UK general election. Newbury Conservative MP Richard Benyon said during Prime Minister's Questions that postal trials by the … Gordon Brown won't rule out pre-election 'giveaway' in Budget Telegraph.co.uk Gordon Brown's Match of the Day pundit offer turned down by BBC Daily Mail Brown told 'no' by MOTD 2 The Sun Financial Times

Reuters General election on May 6 'practically inevitable' Telegraph.co.uk A May 6 general election is ''practically inevitable'' and a ''no-brainer'', political commentators said as Gordon Brown announced March 24 as Budget day. Holding the general election on May 6 would save money and the efforts of activists as it … Budget will be on 24 March, Darling says BBC News Brown sets March 24 date for budget Financial Times UK's Brown paves way for election with budget date The Associated Press Sky News