Britain

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New $130M Global Ponzi Scheme Busted

(Newser) - London investigators have uncovered a $130 million Ponzi scheme that duped hundreds of celebrities and businessmen around the world, reports the Telegraph. The scammers were so slick that many of their victims refuse to believe they were sucked in by the ersatz high-yield fund, and are still expecting payment, according...

UK Slammed for Dumping Toxic Waste in Developing World

(Newser) - Britain is accused of flouting international law by dumping toxic industrial and medical waste in Brazil and Ghana, the Times of London reports. Brazilian authorities were outraged to find over 1,000 tons of hazardous waste in 90 shipping containers labeled as holding recyclable plastic. "It is disgraceful that...

World's Oldest Man Dies at 113
World's
Oldest Man
Dies at 113
Jul 18, 2009 6:03 AM CDT

World's Oldest Man Dies at 113

British man was one of the last surviving WWI veterans

(Newser) - Britain's oldest surviving veteran of World War I has died aged 113, the BBC reports. Henry Allingham, who became the world's oldest man after the death of a Japanese 113-year-old last month, passed away peacefully at a care home for veterans. Politicians and veterans' groups paid tribute to Allingham, who...

Vatican Warms to Wilde
 Vatican 
 Warms 
 to Wilde 
OPINION
Jul 17, 2009 9:38 AM CDT

Vatican Warms to Wilde

Paper praises writer's 'lucid' analysis of his world

(Newser) - The Vatican long regarded Oscar Wilde as a “dissolute homosexual,” but things have changed, writes Richard Owen in the Times of London. A review in the Vatican newspaper of a study on the Irish writer celebrates him as “one of the personalities of the 19th century who...

Swine Flu Soars in England
 Swine Flu Soars in England 
Jul 16, 2009 5:20 AM CDT

Swine Flu Soars in England

(Newser) - Diagnosed cases of swine flu have jumped sixfold in some parts of England over the last week, the Guardian reports. Suspected cases have risen almost 50% across the country. The pandemic has killed 16 people in the UK so far. British doctors say they are being overwhelmed by patients demanding...

Orgasm a Day Keeps Doc Away: Brits on Sex Ed

(Newser) - A brochure being circulated by Britain's National Health Service advises that children be taught more positive lessons about sex as part of a healthy life, along the lines of "an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away," reports the Daily Telegraph. The leaflet, entitled Pleasure, says sex should...

Brit Cops Face Probe Over Media Bribes

MPs may investigate whether journos pay police for information

(Newser) - British Parliament may investigate police over reports that journalists pay them for dirt on celebrities and criminal suspects, the Guardian reports. Since police opted not to reopen a probe into alleged phone hacking by Rupert Murdoch’s tabloid News of the World, several politicians have been seeking to determine if...

Brit Envoy Quits Russia After Hooker Video

Officials accuse Russia of set up

(Newser) - A senior British diplomat was forced to resign his post in Russia after a video of him canoodling with two prostitutes was posted on the Internet, reports the Daily Mail. British officials were livid about the scandal, but also angrily accused Russian officials of a sting. The 4-minute video, called...

Help Wanted: Witch, Good W/Potions, $75K

(Newser) - A British tourist attraction is seeking to conjure up a new resident witch, the BBC reports. Wookey Hole Caves has advertised for a witch willing to live in the site's caverns and practice her—or his—trade for an annual salary of $75,000. Applicants need to have strong cackling...

Wife of Would-Be Brit Spy Chief Blows Cover on Facebook

Posts beach trip photos, location information

(Newser) - Britain’s incoming spy chief has blown his cover even before he takes office this fall, thanks to his wife, who posted family pictures on Facebook—without that pesky privacy protection, the Daily Telegraph reports. Anyone in the London network could see vacation photos of the soon-to-be head of MI6...

Brits Find Rare Copy of Declaration of Independence

(Newser) - An original print of the Declaration of Independence has been discovered stashed away in the British National Archives in West London, the Daily Mail reports. One of 26 known surviving copies from the document’s initial print run, it's thought to be worth more than $8 million. The archive doesn’...

Nun-Priest Snog Gets Ice Cream Ad Banned

Image of 'forbidden Italian temptation' sparks UK furor

(Newser) - An ice-cream ad showing a priest and a nun apparently about to lock lips has been banned in the UK after readers complained, the Daily Telegraph reports. People told an advertising-standards group that the magazine image, promoting Antonio Federici gelato, demeaned those who pursued a “religious vocation.” The...

Iran Bars EU From Nuke Talks
 Iran Bars EU From Nuke Talks 
Jul 1, 2009 1:32 PM CDT

Iran Bars EU From Nuke Talks

(Newser) - The European Union is “disqualified” from participating in further nuclear talks with Iran, the country’s top general said today, accusing it of “interference” in post-election riots. At the same time, the EU is considering withdrawing its ambassadors in response to the arrest of nine British embassy staffers...

Buckingham Palace Guards 'Ran Porn, Poker Rings'

Accused palace Ponzi mastermind denounces colleagues' lax lifestyle

(Newser) - A royal bodyguard accused of running a multimillon dollar scam opened his defense yesterday by accusing his palace colleagues of running poker and porn enterprises, the Telegraph reports. Paul Page told the court that his fellow royal protection officers had an "easy life" and ran gambling operations and sold...

S. African Wines Aim to Put Brakes on 'Burnt Rubber' Rap

Exporters try to cast off a critic's harsh judgment

(Newser) - South African is the ninth-largest producer of wine, with several distinctive varietals that should be poised to break into the global marketplace, the New York Times reports. But the country’s wines have been dogged by comments made in 2007 by an influential British wine critic, who said after a...

Iran Detains British Embassy Staff

Says 8 local employees had taken part in election protests

(Newser) - Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that Britain's foreign secretary today called "harassment and intimidation" and reflected a hardening of the regime's stance toward the West. Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in...

No Sex (After 9), Please—We're the BBC

Survey prompts British channel to cut back on racy content, swearing

(Newser) - Responding to viewers’ concerns, the BBC will no longer give free rein to potentially offensive material after 9pm, the Telegraph reports. A network survey of 2,700 people age 11 and up found that its audience, especially older viewers, is unhappy with the content. Now, foul language may be subject...

Charles, Camilla Cut Personal Spending by $1M

(Newser) - It's belt-tightening, royal style. Prince Charles and Camilla slashed their personal spending by about $1 million (American) last year because of the recession, reports the Guardian. Among the draconian cutbacks: Charles skipped his usual ski holiday to Switzerland, and Camilla scrapped her annual sailing trip to Greece. Both are said...

UK Kicks Out Iranian Diplomats
 UK Kicks Out Iranian Diplomats 
Jun 23, 2009 11:37 AM CDT

UK Kicks Out Iranian Diplomats

(Newser) - The UK will expel two Iranian diplomats, in retaliation for Tehran’s own banishment of two British diplomats yesterday, the BBC reports. Gordon Brown said that he was “disappointed that Iran has placed us in this position.” He defended the UK diplomats, saying the accusation that they were...

Eat Our Steeds? Horsefeathers!
Eat Our Steeds? Horsefeathers!
Jun 23, 2009 4:50 AM CDT

Eat Our Steeds? Horsefeathers!

Brits scoff at having to sign EU pledge not to eat their horses

(Newser) - British horse owners are sputtering at a European Union directive requiring them to sign a pledge stating they won't eat their animals, the Telegraph reports. The Brits say the order—aimed at preventing veterinary drugs from entering the food supply in countries where horses are commonly eaten—has left them ...

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