BBC News High speed rail plans to be unveiled by Government Telegraph.co.uk Plans to build a high speed line carrying 250mph trains, making it possible to get from London to Birmingham in 47 minutes, will be unveiled by the Government today. By David Millward, Transport Editor The blueprint to be set out by Lord Adonis, … Adonis: wartime thinking needed to build high-speed rail Public Sector Travel High-speed rail plans to be published by government BBC News New station railway station in Birmingham set for Eastside The Birmingham Post The Press Association

BBC News High-speed rail plans to be published by government BBC News Plans for a new high-speed rail network, featuring 250mph trains, will be published by the government later. A White Paper will recommend a route for a new line between London and Birmingham with a future extension to northern England and Scotland. … High-speed rail plan to be unveiled The Press Association High-speed rail network plans to be unveiled The Guardian Fast railway to link London, Birmingham Reuters UK Independent

The Guardian (blog) Budget date gives clearest signal yet of 6 May election Independent By Michael Savage and Sean O'Grady Gordon Brown has given the clearest indication so far that he has decided on a 6 May election, revealing that the Government will set out what could be its last Budget just two weeks before he formally asks the Queen … Countdown to 6 May election as Gordon Brown plays the 'character' card Scotsman Brown's 9billion Afghan blunder: He 'totally miscalculated cost of war Daily Mail Gordon Brown defends Afghanistan funding Telegraph.co.uk The Guardian

The Guardian (blog) Budget date gives clearest signal yet of 6 May election Independent By Michael Savage and Sean O'Grady Gordon Brown has given the clearest indication so far that he has decided on a 6 May election, revealing that the Government will set out what could be its last Budget just two weeks before he formally asks the Queen … Countdown to 6 May election as Gordon Brown plays the 'character' card Scotsman Brown's 9billion Afghan blunder: He 'totally miscalculated cost of war Daily Mail Gordon Brown defends Afghanistan funding Telegraph.co.uk The Guardian

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

CBC.ca Iran admits Afghan role in guerrilla leader's capture Financial Times Iran's president acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that Afghan and Pakistani intelligence helped his government to hunt down the leader of the most dangerous ethnic opposition movement. … Iran leader: US playing `game' in Afghanistan The Associated Press Iran's Ahmadinejad Visits Kabul Voice of America Afghanistan gets vows of friendship from US and Iran CNN International CBC.ca

BBC News Prisoner re-offending costs economy 10bn annually Telegraph.co.uk The majority of thieves and violent criminals who are jailed for less than a year go on to re-offend within 12 months of their release, the public spending watchdog has found. By Christopher Hope, Whitehall Editor A Prison Service spokesman said the … Failure to tackle reoffending rates of short-sentence prisoners 'costs 10bn' The Guardian 10bn bill for failing prison rehabilitation Politics.co.uk Call for more help for offenders Local Government Chronicle The Press Association

Salon Marc Thiessen Defends McCarthyist Witchhunt Against DOJ Attorneys Who Formerly … The Moderate Voice So basically, Thiessen's argument is that the right to legal counsel does not exist for Gitmo detainees because the government has created an alternate … High standards at The Washington Post Salon all 2 news articles

BBC News Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has said efforts are being made to free a … BBC News Paul and Rachel Chandler, 60 and 56, were kidnapped four months ago while sailing in the Indian Ocean. Speaking through a translator, the president said his government was trying to find a “peaceful resolution”. He confirmed that Prime Minister Gordon … Somali leader 'hopeful' couple kidnapped by pirates will be released Independent Reunion for British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates Scottish Daily Record British couple held hostage by Somalian pirates reunited after weeks apart Mirror.co.uk Channel 4 News

BBC News 'Devil dogs' are a symptom, not the cause of our broken society Daily Mail On a day when an independent evaluation of the crime statistics concludes that crime has risen by a staggering 44 per cent under Labour comes news of this Government initiative to tackle dangerous dogs. Certainly the use of dogs as … All dogs could be insured under dangerous breeds plans BBC News Britain's most dangerous dogs revealed in bloody attack files Metro Crackdown on dangerous dogs to make microchips compulsory for all The Guardian Mirror.co.uk