Britain

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Prince Andrew: I've 'Ceased All Contact' With Accused Spy

Chinese national was invited by Andrew himself to royal residences, as revealed in court hearing

(Newser) - A businessman who's been accused of being a Chinese spy has had quite a tour of Britain's royal residences—all at the behest of Prince Andrew, according to recent reports. Per the UK Times , which cites info that emerged at a Thursday hearing, the 64-year-old younger brother of...

Porridge, Yogurt Make UK List of Banned 'Junk Food' Items

Slew of food products, drinks will be barred from online and TV ads before 9pm, starting next October

(Newser) - In efforts to tamp down on childhood obesity, the UK government has instituted a crackdown on junk-food ads shown online and on TV before 9pm. Some of the items on the list, however, are unusual ones, and although some praise the move, others are pushing back. The usual suspects make...

UK Official: Putin Had to Have Ordered Hit on Skripals

Jonathan Allen testified that assassination attempt on ex-spy, daughter was 'a warning' from Russia

(Newser) - While America celebrated Thanksgiving, the UK's senior official responsible for Russia policy was testifying across the pond about the assassination attempts against former spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia Skripal . Among the biggest revelations from Jonathan Allen, who spoke in London at the inquiry into the 2018 Novichok poisonings:...

As William, Kate, and Kids Likely Slept, a Royal Break-in

Burglars made their way onto Windsor Castle estate on Oct. 13, swiping 2 farm vehicles

(Newser) - Burglars made their way onto the estate of Windsor Castle last month, swiping a couple of farm vehicles while the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three kids were likely sleeping in a residence on the property. The Sun reports that, during the late-night Oct. 13 intrusion, two masked...

Award-Winning Building Is Being Demolished
Award-Winning Building Has
Become a 'White Elephant'
in case you missed it
Nov 17, 2024 7:01 AM CST

Award-Winning Building Has Become a 'White Elephant'

UK's Centenary Building isn't even 30, but 'aging infrastructure' necessitates demolition, per school

(Newser) - In 1996, the then-new Centenary Building on the campus of Salford University won an esteemed architectural award as Britain's best new building, with judges calling it "a dynamic, modern, and sophisticated exercise in steel, glass, and concrete." Now, less than 30 years later, the empty structure has...

Get Ready to See a Lot More Venison, Brits

Advocates stump for culling of deer, and selling their meat, to keep them from overrunning UK forests

(Newser) - In the half-light of dusk, Martin Edwards surveys the ancient woodland from a high seat and waits. He watches with his thermal camera. Then, the bang of his rifle pierces the stillness. He's killed a buck, one of many wild deer roaming this forest in Hampshire, southern England. Edwards...

Archbishop of Canterbury Resigns, Citing His 'Shame'

Report determined Justin Welby likely knew of concerns around child abuser John Smyth

(Newser) - The archbishop of Canterbury, the topmost figure in the Church of England, has resigned under pressure following an independent report that found he failed to take action against a prolific child abuser. It's "unlikely" Justin Welby was unaware of the concerns around John Smyth, an attorney who sexually,...

Doctor Disguised Self as Nurse, Tried to Kill Mother's Partner

UK's Thomas Kwan has been sentenced to more than 3 decades in prison

(Newser) - Thomas Kwan, the 53-year-old wealthy British doctor who pleaded guilty to posing as a nurse and injecting his mother's partner with poison, has been sentenced to 31 years and five months. The BBC reports Kwan fooled Patrick O'Hara, 71, into thinking he was receiving a COVID booster. Prosecutor...

Bill Would Mean British Kids Could Never Legally Smoke

Government is looking to make it so no one born after Jan. 1, 2009, can purchase cigs legally

(Newser) - Legislation intended to ban today's British children from ever legally being able to smoke began its journey through Parliament on Tuesday. As the AP reports, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also bar smoking and vaping in some outdoor spaces such as playgrounds and the entrances to schools and...

'Witches Marks,' Curses Cover This Historic Manor

20 eerie carvings, 100 burn marks discovered at England's Gainsborough Old Hall

(Newser) - A "staggering array" of markings said to ward off evil spirits and witches have been discovered lining the walls of a historic English manor, along with a curse against a former owner. William Hickman was an "astute and ruthless businessman" who, beginning in 1596, manipulated his authority as...

We Have a Cheating Scandal in the World of Conkers
Drama in the World
of Conkers Is Over
UPDATED
Oct 21, 2024 9:54 AM CDT

Drama in the World of Conkers Is Over

UK's Dave Jakins was accused of swapping chestnut for metal in his first win

(Newser) - The drama in the cutthroat world of conkers is at an end, with Dave Jakins, aka "King Conker," now cleared of cheating, reports the Guardian . Jakins had been accused of using a steel conker instead of a regular chestnut in his win at the World Conker Championships, but...

Swift Joins UK Fight on Hunger With 'Unexpected' Donation

Pop star's 'generous' gift is going toward 1.4K food banks, community groups in United Kingdom

(Newser) - Taylor Swift has long been hailed for making an impact on local economies , but she's been helping out locally in more direct ways, too. The Independent reports that the 34-year-old pop star made an "unexpected" donation to 1,400 or so food banks run by the Trussell Trust,...

Van Gogh Painting Gets a Soup Bath by Climate Activists
They Dumped Soup on a
Van Gogh. Now, Jail Time
UPDATED
Sep 28, 2024 7:00 AM CDT

They Dumped Soup on a Van Gogh. Now, Jail Time

Sunflowers wasn't harmed, but Just Stop Oil protesters will be spending some time behind bars

(Newser) - Two climate activists from the Just Stop Oil group will see jail time after dumping tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting in London's National Gallery. Citing PA Media, CNN reports that Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, received sentences Friday of two years and 20 months, respectively,...

Even the 'Cow Whisperer' Couldn't Escape Bovines' Wrath

Guardian reports on incidents of cattle attacks in the UK

(Newser) - When people spot cows idling in a field, it typically becomes an idyllic photo op. In the UK, however, cattle are the leading cause of accidental death in the nation's agricultural sphere, and they're said to be even more dangerous than dogs when it comes to going on...

PM to Grenfell Families: 'You Have Been Let Down So Badly'

Starmer speaks after yearslong inquiry report is released on 2017 London tower blaze that killed 72

(Newser) - A report on a yearslong $262.4 million public inquiry into the fatal 2017 blaze at the UK's Grenfell Tower has finally been released, and it's a "damning" one, pointing the finger at not a "single" cause, but at "a combination of dishonest companies, weak...

Fighting Cats Kill a 'Friendly Giant' Riding Bike

UK's Chris Reeves, 52, died after furious felines got caught up in bicycle wheel, causing his fall

(Newser) - The family of a UK dad is mourning him after a freak accident during his morning commute. Birmingham Live reports that 52-year-old Chris Reeves was found lying on a road July 30 in Rugby, half-conscious. Reeves, a railroad signal worker, was airlifted to a hospital in Coventry, where he had...

Banksy Is Going Full-On Animal
Banksy Is Going Full-On Animal
Aug 12, 2024 1:00 PM CDT

Banksy Is Going Full-On Animal

Famed street artist is dotting London with depictions of a rhino, wolf, piranhas, and more

(Newser) - Street artist Banksy on Monday unveiled a new mural of a rhinoceros that looks like it's climbing on top of a car in London—the eighth animal-themed artwork he has posted in the past week in a collection that includes elephants, a goat, a wolf, pelicans, and more. The...

Fox Hunters' New Strategy: We're an Ethnic Minority

Group in UK says their hunts should be protected by law

(Newser) - A fox hunting group in the UK is floating a legal argument to protect their hunts that doesn't exactly square with the common image of fox hunters of yore: The idea is that they're an ethnic minority, reports the Guardian . Ed Swales, leader of the pro-hunt group Hunting...

King Charles Responds to Far-Right Riots in UK

King is 'greatly encouraged' by anti-racist counterprotesters who've pushed back

(Newser) - King Charles III has applauded people who took to the streets of British towns and cities earlier this week to help blunt days of unrest fueled by far-right activists and misinformation about a stabbing attack that killed three girls. Charles on Friday held telephone audiences with Prime Minister Keir Starmer...

UK Spirals, With More Locations in Rioters' Crosshairs

Far-right groups plan to target as many as 30 locations on Wednesday

(Newser) - British police are gearing up for another night of violence amid concerns that far-right groups plan to target as many as 30 locations around the United Kingdom on Wednesday following a week of rioting and disorder. Authorities are mobilizing about 6,000 specially trained officers to respond to disorder throughout...

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