Britain

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RBS Posts $34B Loss, Biggest in UK History, Gets 2nd Bailout

British taxpayer may soon own 95% of bank

(Newser) - The Royal Bank of Scotland today announced an annual loss of $34.3 billion, the largest in British corporate history, and the Treasury said it would inject another $36 billion into the troubled bank. The UK government already owns 70% of RBS, a figure that could now rise to 95%,...

UK Conservative Leader's Son Dies at Age 6

Cameron's eldest child suffered from rare neurological condition

(Newser) - The eldest son of David Cameron, leader of Britain's Conservative Party and the country's possible next prime minister, died early this morning at age 6. Ivan Cameron suffered from severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy and required constant care, reports the Times of London. He was born with Ohtohara syndrome, a...

Facebook May 'Infantilize' Your Mind, Expert Warns

(Newser) - A British neuroscientist thinks the children of today, exposed to “instant new screen images flashing up with the press of a key,” will develop differently from past generations, and that’s not a good thing. Facebook, for instance provides an experience “devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term...

Brown to Meet With Obama on Economic Crisis

Soros: world's financial system has 'effectively disintegrated'

(Newser) - President Obama will host British PM Gordon Brown at the White House next week for their first meeting since the election, the Independent reports. The leaders enjoy “a special partnership,” the White House says, and they’ll discuss the global recession ahead of April’s G20 meeting in...

6 Books Top Odd Title List
 6 Books Top Odd Title List 



Feb 21, 2009 6:01 PM CST

6 Books Top Odd Title List

(Newser) - Every year since 1978, Britain's Bookseller magazine has awarded the Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year, the Telegraph reports. The mag's six-title shortlist just came out:
  • Baboon Metaphysics
  • Curbside Consultation of the Colon

At London Restaurant, You Set the Price

Customers offer diverse amounts at popular place

(Newser) - A London restaurant is letting customers pay what they think their meal was worth, and diners are packing the place, the Times of London reports. In the face of tough times, Little Bay owner Peter Ilic decided to run an experiment, writes Vincent Graff: “Will British reserve, and the...

Brit Reality Star Prepares to Die on Camera

Jade Goody's decision prompts questions of who is exploiting whom

(Newser) - Ever since she appeared on Big Brother at age 21, Jade Goody has captivated a British public willing to eat up every detail of the working-class reality star's life. Now that the 27-year-old has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, the public may have the chance to watch her die, reports...

Thanks to Implants, Boxing Career Goes Bust

(Newser) - A British model and recreational boxer has been barred from competition because she has breast implants, ABC News reports. The Amateur Boxing Association of England cited possible health risks, but Sarah Blewden says she should be able to use a breast protector, similar to groin cups for men. “If...

House at Heart of Knox Trial Ransacked

Intruders leave knives, candles in home British student was murdered

(Newser) - Intruders broke into the house in Italy where Meredith Kercher was murdered last year, the Telegraph reports. Their motivation is unclear—they ransacked the house and left candles and four kitchen knives in various rooms, but left the room where the British exchange student was murdered untouched. Police, who discovered...

UK Minister Rips Starbucks Over Economy Jibe

'How the hell are they doing?' exclaims furious politician

(Newser) - One of Britain's leading politicians laid into an unlikely adversary yesterday: the head of Starbucks. Company chief Howard Schultz said on CNBC that "the UK is in a spiral" and was causing Starbucks considerable grief, prompting business secretary Peter Mandelson to fire back: "Why should I have this...

S. African Crew Held in $360K Coke Haul

11 pounds of the drug discovered in suitcase

(Newser) - A South African Airways crew was arrested at Heathrow Airport yesterday after officials found almost $360,000 worth of cocaine on their plane, the BBC reports. Officers seized some 11 pounds of the drug from a suitcase stowed aboard the flight from Johannesburg. The 15 crew members, now in custody,...

Crashed Subs Carried '1200 Hiroshimas'

Lawmakers demand answers after British, French subs collide under the Atlantic

(Newser) - British lawmakers are demanding to know how the flagships of the British and French nuclear submarine fleets—each carrying missiles with enough power for 1,250 Hiroshima bombings—managed to collide earlier this month, the Independent reports. Defense sources say the crash was just incredibly bad luck, but experts are...

Girl's Death Hastened by Fear of Dentists

(Newser) - A British girl who died in 2005 from dehydration and starvation suffered from a severe fear of dentists that kept her from eating, the BBC reports. Sophie Waller was in and out of the hospital after she refused to eat when teeth came lose, but medical professionals mislaid her case....

Killer Talks Up Prison Time on Facebook

'No stress just rest,' UK convict posts while serving life sentence

(Newser) - A murder convict jailed for life is enjoying his “holiday” behind bars—and shares the news on his Facebook page. His British prison is “a place where men can come for a nice relaxin break from their moanin women and crying kids. No stress just rest,” wrote...

Baby-Faced Teen May Not Be the Dad
Baby-Faced Teen May Not
Be the Dad
Feb 16, 2009 8:33 AM CST

Baby-Faced Teen May Not Be the Dad

Will take DNA test to disprove two other teens' claims

(Newser) - Four-foot-tall teen dad Alfie Patten will take a DNA test to prove he really is the father of girlfriend Chantelle Steadman’s daughter Maisie, the Mail reports. Photos of the baby-faced 13-year-old caused an uproar last week, and two other teens came forward to claim they also slept with Chantelle....

Iranian Lesbian Wins Asylum in Britain

Refugee fled after girlfriend sentenced to death by stoning

(Newser) - A woman who fled Iran for Britain after her girlfriend was arrested has won her battle for asylum in the UK. In 2007 Pegah Emambakhsh was refused asylum, but gay rights groups claimed that she would be executed if she was forced to return to Iran and led a campaign...

British, French Nuclear Subs Collide

Investigators probing possible nuclear contamination

(Newser) - A probe into possible nuclear contamination has been launched after British and French  submarines carrying nuke warheads collided in rough seas in the Atlantic, reports the Telegraph. Both subs were seriously damaged in the collision earlier this month that occurred despite state-of-the-art technology on both vessels dedicated to protect against...

Kid UK Parents Might Be Just Fine, Thanks
Kid UK Parents Might Be Just Fine, Thanks
OPINION
Feb 15, 2009 3:08 PM CST

Kid UK Parents Might Be Just Fine, Thanks

They need guidance, sure, but who cares if they go on the dole?

(Newser) - Don’t be so sure 13-year-old Alfie Patten and 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman will be bad parents for their newborn, Sarah Sands writes in the Independent. Sure, the young father “loves computer games and Manchester United,” but that “does not actually set Alfie apart from the adult male...

Docs Alarmed after Mad Cow Linked to Plasma Transfusion

Risk of infection with fatal disease was previously said be very low

(Newser) - Scientists have discovered the first case of mad cow caused by tainted blood plasma, the Telegraph reports. The elderly British man, who died from other causes, received blood transfusions years before doctors imposed restrictions to halt the spread of the fatal disease. Scientists had previously insisted the 4,000 people...

Baby-Faced Dad Is Just 13
 Baby-Faced Dad Is Just 13 
Feb 13, 2009 11:27 AM CST

Baby-Faced Dad Is Just 13

Teen parent stands barely four feet tall

(Newser) - Thirteen-year-old Alfie Patten, who, with his baby face, could pass for eight, became a father on Monday, the Sun reports. The 4-foot-tall Brit—who did not know how much diapers cost but said, "I think it’s a lot"—was not sure how he and girlfriend Chantelle Steadman,...

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