United Kingdom

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UK Sells a 500-Year-Old Institution to Foreign Investor

Czech billionaire is buying Royal Mail for $4.6B

(Newser) - Britain's government gave the go-ahead Monday for the sale of Royal Mail's parent company to a Czech billionaire, paving the way for the postal service to pass into foreign ownership for the first time in its 500-year history. Authorities confirmed Monday that the $4.6 billion takeover of...

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:...

UK Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Assisted Dying

Historic bill will move to next stage after 330-275 vote in Parliament

(Newser) - After an emotional debate in the House of Commons, British lawmakers voted to legalize assisted dying on Friday. Supporters of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill praised the result, though they cautioned that there's a long road ahead, with several stages to go before it can become...

London Is Losing Meat Market After Almost 900 Years

Plans to relocate Smithfield Market have been axed

(Newser) - A market in the oldest part of London is getting the chop after more than 850 years as a place where meat and animals were bought and sold. A livestock market was established at the site in 1133, and the nearby Cowcross Junction marks where cattle used to be driven...

Mom Hid Daughter in a Drawer for 3 Years

Judge hands down 7.5-year prison sentence, calling woman's actions 'wicked beyond belief'

(Newser) - A woman who kept her daughter in one of her divan bed's drawers for the first three years of her life is now to spend more than twice as long behind bars. The UK woman, who was not identified to protect her daughter's identity, admitted to four counts...

UK's Top Court Hears Case on Definition of 'Woman'

Group is challenging Scottish law that includes transgender women in definition

(Newser) - The UK Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing a legal challenge focusing on the definition of "woman" in a long-running dispute between a women's rights campaign group and the Scottish government. Five judges at Britain's highest court were considering the case, which seeks to clarify whether a...

World's Oldest Man Attributed Long Life to 'Luck'
World's Oldest Man
Attributed Long Life to 'Luck'
OBITUARY
Nov 26, 2024 2:44 PM CST

World's Oldest Man Attributed Long Life to 'Luck'

England's John Tinniswood, who died Monday at 112, outlived wife by 38 years

(Newser) - For nearly nine months, John Alfred Tinniswood held the title of world's oldest man, marking his 112th birthday during his reign. His record-holding status ended Monday when Tinniswood died in a care home in northwest England near Liverpool, where he was born on Aug. 26, 1912, his family said...

US Embassy Locked Down After 'Hoax Device' Found

Police in London blew it up in a controlled explosion

(Newser) - The US Embassy in London was locked down Friday as police carried out a controlled explosion of a suspicious package found nearby. The embassy later announced that the lockdown had been lifted, but all public appointments for the day were canceled, the Standard reports. "We can confirm that the...

Hear Richard III Speak 540 Years After Death
Hear Richard III Speak
540 Years After Death
VIDEO
Nov 19, 2024 7:50 AM CST

Hear Richard III Speak 540 Years After Death

English king's voice recreated, revealing a Yorkshire accent

(Newser) - A decade after the facial reconstruction of England's Richard III, experts have delivered what is said to be "the most accurate portrayal" yet of the medieval king who's found new popularity since his remains were discovered under a Leicester parking lot in 2012. A digital avatar of...

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,...

After Election, a Spike in Emigration Queries

Inquiries on living abroad follow Trump's victory

(Newser) - As Donald Trump starts to make plans for his next Cabinet, some Americans are potentially making other plans, including getting out of Dodge. Reuters reports that searches on Google for "move to Canada" spiked 1,270% in the day after US polls closed on Tuesday. Similar searches for moving...

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...

London Marchers Demand 'Species Not Feces' in Waters

Sewage spills rose more than 50% last year, agency reports

(Newser) - Holding signs with slogans including "Stop the plop" and "Species not feces," thousands of people marched in London on Sunday to demand a cleanup of Britain's sewage-clogged waterways. Organizers estimated that 15,000 people took part in the march along the River Thames to Parliament, many...

UK Conservatives Make Groundbreaking Choice

Kemi Badenoch is the first Black woman to lead a major British party

(Newser) - The UK's struggling Conservatives announced Saturday that they have made a historic decision in electing the daughter of Nigerian immigrants to lead their party back to power. Kemi Badenoch received votes from 53,806 party members, NBC News reports, to Robert Jenrick's 41,388. Both are members of...

'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...

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