Britain News and Current Events

British unions press for tax cuts amid downturn (AFP)

A group of builders watch cricket from the roof of a building near The Oval cricket ground in south London, September 2005. Britain's trade unions have called for tax cuts for lower-income workers, and tax hikes for the rich, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown's goverment grapples with a sharp economic downturn.(AFP/File/Alessandro Abbonizio) AFP - British trade unions called Sunday for tax cuts for lower-income workers, and tax hikes for the rich, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown's goverment grapples with a sharp economic downturn.

Brown struggles to mount fightback (AFP)

Prime Minister Gordon Brown watches the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium (also know as the AFP - Beleaguered Prime Minister Gordon Brown will launch a fresh bid to revive his government's dire fortunes this week, but deepening economic gloom and growing party sniping threaten any fightback.

Urgent inquiry as more personal data missing (AFP)

File photo shows a prison van transporting inmates from Lincoln jail. An urgent inquiry was underway in Britain on Sunday after a disc containing the personal details of 5,000 justice staff, including prison officers, went missing in yet another embarrassing data loss blunder.(AFP/File/Adrian Dennis) AFP - An urgent inquiry was underway on Sunday after a disc containing the personal details of 5,000 justice staff went missing in yet another embarrassing data loss blunder.

Minister sorry for behaviour towards aide: reports (AFP)

File photo of Ivan Lewis, who has apologised to a former aide who had complained about him, newspaper reports said Sunday suggesting he had bombarded her with personal text messages.(AFP/File/Thierry Monasse) AFP - A government minister has apologised to a former aide who had complained about him, newspaper reports said Sunday suggesting he had bombarded her with personal text messages.

British school caters to children of Kazakh elite (Reuters)

British teachers (C) listen to Kazakhstan's national anthem during the opening ceremony of Haileybury Almaty, the first British private school in Central Asia, in Almaty September 1, 2008. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters) Reuters - Kazakh businessman Serzhan Zhumashov says some of his friends laughed when he came up with the idea of opening a British school in his home country five years ago.

Muslim lawyer wins payout over Bin Laden joke (AFP)

An undated file picture (released in 1998) of Osama bin Laden, the head of the al-Qaeda terror network, at an undisclosed place inside Afghanistan. A British Muslim lawyer has won an apology and a record compensation payout after she was suspended for making a joke about Bin Laden, officials and reports have said.(AFP/File) AFP - A British Muslim lawyer has won an apology and a record compensation payout after she was suspended for making a joke about Osama bin Laden, officials and reports said Saturday.

Blair return would boost Labour Party: poll (AFP)

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, seen in July. Blair is the only senior figure from the Labour Party who could revive its fortunes, according to a poll released Saturday.(AFP/File/John Thys) AFP - Tony Blair is the only senior figure from the Labour Party who could revive its fortunes, according to a poll released Saturday.

Teen killed as floods hit Britain (AFP)

Raindrops fall near Waterloo Bridge in London, in July 2008. A 17-year-old girl was killed as floods struck Britain on Friday, forcing evacuations from homes as severe weather warnings were issued.(AFP/File/Shaun Curry) AFP - A 17-year-old girl was killed as floods struck Britain on Friday, forcing evacuations from homes as severe weather warnings were issued.

Informa shares fall after it rejects takeover bid (AP) AP - Shares at Informa PLC, the London-based publisher of Lloyd's List maritime newspaper, fell almost 7 percent on Friday after the company rejected a reduced $3.4 billion takeover bid from a private equity consortium.

Man jailed for blackmailing top Premier League player (AFP)

A football hits the back of the net. A goalkeeper who blackmailed a top English Premier League footballer over a sex video has been jailed for 20 months.(AFP/File/Andrew Yates) AFP - A goalkeeper who blackmailed a top English Premier League footballer over a sex video was jailed for 20 months on Friday.

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