Britain

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'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...

Doctor Disguises Self as Nurse, Tries to Kill Man

UK's Thomas Kwan pleads guilty in scheme related to inheritance money

(Newser) - "Sometimes, occasionally perhaps, the truth really is stranger than fiction." So declared prosecutor Peter Makepeace to a British jury, and a guilty plea on Monday in that trial has proved him right. A UK doctor named Thomas Kwan has admitted that he disguised himself as a nurse, visited...

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...

Children Among 8 Injured in UK Mass Stabbing
2 Children Killed, 9 Hurt
in UK Mass Stabbing
UPDATED
Jul 29, 2024 3:00 PM CDT

2 Children Killed, 9 Hurt in UK Mass Stabbing

Police say teen attacker targeted Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop

(Newser) - Two children were killed and nine others injured in what police described as a "ferocious attack" in northwest England on Monday. Six of the injured children are in critical condition after the attack in Southport, north of Liverpool, the Telegraph reports. Two adults who tried to protect the children...

UK's New PM Gets Right to Work, Scraps Contentious Plan

Keir Starmer says of Rwanda deportation 'scheme': 'Dead and buried before it started'

(Newser) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday that he's scrapping a controversial Conservative policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda as he vowed to deliver on voters' mandate for change, though he warned it won't happen quickly. "The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started,"...

Yes, That Was Michael J. Fox Performing With Coldplay
Coldplay Jams With 'One of the
Most Amazing People on Earth'
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jul 6, 2024 6:00 AM CDT

Coldplay Jams With 'One of the Most Amazing People on Earth'

Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox played with UK band at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend

(Newser) - Coldplay featured multiple cameos during its Saturday evening performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England, but there was one in particular that got the crowd on its feet. "Here's another legendary Michael/One who just totally rocks," crooned lead singer Chris Martin in introducing the band's most...

Sunak Could Lose His Seat in Tory Wipeout
Sunak's Party
Set for Historic
Loss in UK
Elections
THE RUNDOWN
Jul 4, 2024 11:00 AM CDT

Sunak's Party Set for Historic Loss in UK Elections

In a big first, even the prime minister could lose his seat

(Newser) - This year, the Fourth of July is Election Day in the UK—and it's expected to be Rishi Sunak's last day as prime minister, with polls suggesting his Conservative Party faces a loss of historic proportions. The party held 349 of the 650 seats in Parliament when Sunak...

A Manhunt, a Dead Child, and Now 2 Verdicts

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon found guilty of 2 charges, will face retrial on others

(Newser) - "Our focus has always been, and remains, securing justice for baby Victoria." So said a detective with the UK's Metropolitan Police on Wednesday in response to the news the child's parents have been found guilty on two charges and will face a retrial on others, reports...

Stonehenge Vandals Strike Ahead of Solstice

Environmental activists toss orange powder at monument ahead of annual event

(Newser) - A day before celebrations to honor the summer solstice at Britain's iconic Stonehenge, the monument received a surprise paint job. Environmental activists sprayed what authorities described as orange paint at two of the monument's megaliths on Wednesday, per the BBC . A video shared by the Just Stop Oil...

Princess Kate to Make Public Appearance in London
Princess of Wales
Makes a Big Showing
UPDATED
Jun 15, 2024 7:00 AM CDT

Princess of Wales Makes a Big Showing

Kate appears at Trooping of Colour, her first public appearance this year since cancer reveal

(Newser) - Finally, a clear look at the Princess of Wales, after months of rumors and confusion. The AP reports that the former Kate Middleton rode Saturday from Buckingham Palace to parade grounds in London in a horse-drawn carriage with her three young children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, all part of the...

After 'Absolute Hammer Blow,' Women's Bike Team Competes

Rivals come through for Lifeplus-Wahoo team after 14 bikes were stolen before Tour of Britain race

(Newser) - A British women's bicycling team woke up Friday all ready to take part in the multistage Tour of Britain event, except for one crucial thing: More than a dozen of their bikes were stolen overnight, reports the BBC . The women athletes on the Lifeplus-Wahoo team discovered 14 of their...

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