United Kingdom news stories on Newser

Bomb-Plot Busting Double-Agent Is British

Kevin Spak — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:19:20 CDT

Another tantalizing—and potentially damaging—tidbit has leaked about the double-agent who foiled an al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula underwear bomb plot. The agent is of Saudi descent but lived for years in Britain, where he spent some time with jihadist sympathizers and acquired a British passport, sources tell CNN...

UK Considers Blocking All Porn Sites

Kevin Spak — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:40:37 CDT

British Prime Minister David Cameron is considering a move forcing Internet service providers to block all porn unless users specifically request it, the Guardian reports, in a move likely to be vigorously opposed by the ISPs, free speech groups, and teenagers sneaking onto their parents' computers. Cameron will consult on...

Yum? Great Lakes Provide Lampreys for Queen's Pie

Dustin Lushing — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:38:22 CDT

The slimy eel-like creature known as a sea lamprey happens to be the special ingredient in a traditional English pie that will be cooked up for Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her reign in June, reports the Detroit Free Press . But the animals are endangered and...

Will and Kate's New Neighbor: Prince Harry

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:44:28 CDT

Roll out the royal couch. Prince Harry is crashing with his older bro and sister-in-law for the foreseeable future. Things likely won't get too tight as there is plenty of space on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where Harry, William, and Kate reside. Harry, 27, has moved into a small...

'Widespread' Abuses by Groupon: UK Regulator

Kevin Spak — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:35:08 CDT

The UK's Office of Fair Trading today found Groupon guilty of "widespread" violations of consumer protection rules, citing concerns over "pricing, advertising, refunds, unfair terms, and the diligence of its interactions with merchants," the BBC reports. The regulator gave Groupon three months to clean up its act, which the discounter...

Jamaica PM Would Like Apology From UK for Slavery

Kevin Spak — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:41:05 CST

Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller didn't mince words when asked yesterday about her country's history with Britain—just as Prince Harry arrived in the country for a visit. "No race should have been subjected to what our ancestors were subjected to," Miller said, according to the Telegraph . "It was...

UK to Demand Record of Every Call, Text, Email

Kevin Spak — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:11:29 CST

The UK government is working on an anti-terror plan that would require service providers to record and store details on every call, text, email, or even Twitter direct message sent by anyone in the country—along with all their complete browsing history. Companies would then keep that info on file...

Scotland Schedules Independence Vote

Kevin Spak — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:43:42 CST

Scottish voters will finally get their chance to throw off the, er, iron hand of Queen Elizabeth in 2014, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has announced. Salmond's Scottish National Party has long argued that Scotland should seek independence from the UK , and Salmond wants a referendum on it held just...

Brazil Ousts UK as World's No. 6 Economy

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:10:00 CST

London had better hear Brazil calling: The South American powerhouse has overtaken the United Kingdom as the world's No. 6 economic power, reports the BBC . The shift is hardly shocking, given Brazil's hefty 7.5% economic growth last year, and represents an overall slide back for traditional economic powers in...