Britain

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How a Stolen iPhone Unraveled a Massive UK-China Theft Ring

Police say suspects smuggled as many as 40K phones out of Britain

(Newser) - A single iPhone's digital breadcrumb trail has led British police to what they describe as the country's biggest-ever crackdown on mobile phone theft. The Metropolitan Police say they've busted an international gang suspected of funneling as many as 40,000 stolen devices from the UK to...

Risqué Author Jilly Cooper Dies at 88
Risqué Author
Jilly Cooper
Dies at 88
OBITUARY
Oct 6, 2025 10:30 AM CDT

Risqué Author Jilly Cooper Dies at 88

British author of bestselling romance novels, including Rivals, mourned by the queen and prime ministers alike

(Newser) - Jilly Cooper, the bestselling British author known for her chronicles of class and sex, including Rivals and Riders, has died unexpectedly, her agent and family said Monday. She was 88, reports the AP . The author died on Sunday after a fall, according to a statement from literary agency Curtis Brown,...

6 Suspects Questioned After UK Synagogue Attack

Authorities are investigating whether Jihad Al-Shamie, shot dead by police, acted alone

(Newser) - Police on Saturday were questioning six people arrested on suspicion of terror offenses after an attack on a synagogue in northwest England that left two men dead and Britain's Jewish community shocked and grieving. Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police on Thursday outside the Heaton Park Hebrew...

On Holiest Day for Jews, a Synagogue Attack in the UK

Attacker, believed to have been fatally shot by cops in Manchester, is said to have killed 2

(Newser) - Two people were killed and three others were seriously wounded Thursday in a synagogue attack in northern England on the holiest day of the Jewish year, police said. The suspect is also believed to be dead after being shot by officers, but that couldn't be immediately confirmed due to...

3 Major Allies Break With US to Recognize Palestinian State

UK, Canada, Australia make announcements ahead of UN General Assembly in New York

(Newser) - In a a break with the US and a dramatic departure from long-held policy, the UK, Canada, and Australia officially recognized a state of Palestine on Sunday. Reflecting international opposition to Israel's attacks in Gaza, the announcement by the nations' prime ministers was made the day before United...

UK Spy Agency's New Recruiting Tool: 'Silent Courier'

MI6 rolls out portal on the dark web to bring in spies from Russia, elsewhere

(Newser) - Britain's MI6 is taking an unconventional step to bolster its intelligence ranks, rolling out a secure dark-web portal aimed squarely at attracting would-be spies—especially those inside Russia. Dubbed "Silent Courier," the platform is designed to make it easier for potential recruits, wherever they may be,...

Trump Will Dine at Royal Table That Took 5 Days to Set

US president, first lady arrive in UK for state visit marked by military greetings, lavish banquet

(Newser) - President Trump's historic trip to the UK—the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for a second state visit by the royals there, per ABC News —kicked off on Wednesday, and the British royals are rolling out the red carpet, just as anticipated. The...

King Charles Offers Trump a First for a US President

Trump is first US leader to have 2 state visits in the UK, which is seeking trade leverage

(Newser) - King Charles III is set to show some royal hospitality to President Trump during his high-profile state visit to Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The two-day affair, featuring a horse-drawn carriage, military bands, and a formal banquet, marks the second such state visit for Trump—a distinction claimed by no...

Aristocrat, Boyfriend Get 14 Years in Baby's Death

British couple went on the run after secret birth

(Newser) - A British aristocrat and her boyfriend were sentenced to 14 years in prison on Monday for killing their newborn through negligence while on the run from authorities. Constance Marten, 38, and her boyfriend, Mark Gordon, 51, a convicted sex offender, were sentenced Monday after being found guilty of gross negligence...

Elon Musk Talks Charlie Kirk, 'Woke Mind Virus' at UK Rally

Tens of thousands march in one of Britain's biggest far-right rallies in decades

(Newser) - Elon Musk was on hand via video link to rally more than 100,000 far-right protesters who gathered to march in London Saturday. "Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die, that's the truth, I think," the...

UK Ambassador Canned After 'Additional' Epstein Info Arises

PM Starmer removes UK envoy to US after more apparent notes to Jeffrey Epstein are published

(Newser) - British PM Keir Starmer had gone to bat for Peter Mandelson, his ambassador to the US who wrote a note that was included in sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's so-called birthday book—but it wasn't enough to save the latter's job. Bloomberg reports that Starmer has fired Mandelson,...

Time Capsule Buried by Diana in '91 Is Unsealed Early

London hospital uncovers relics, including Kylie Minogue CD and pocket TV, in cancer center rebuild

(Newser) - A time capsule sealed by Princess Diana at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital in 1991 has been uncovered, revealing a collection of items that offer a window into early '90s life. The capsule, intended to remain hidden for centuries, had to be retrieved early due to the...

UK Gives American Would-Be Assassin 30 Years

Aimee Betro, 45, gets a hefty sentence after gun jammed in victim's face in 2019 attempted killing

(Newser) - A Wisconsin woman who took a transatlantic detour into the world of contract killing has been handed a 30-year prison sentence in Britain after the gun jammed at the crucial moment. Aimee Betro, 45, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and other crimes earlier this month, after a failed...

'Astonishingly Rare' First Edition of The Hobbit Sells for $58K

Discovered in Bristol, the book lacks its original dust jacket

(Newser) - A first edition of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, uncovered during a routine estate clearance in the UK city of Bristol, has fetched nearly $58,000 at auction—more than quadrupling initial estimates, per the Guardian . The volume, one of just 1,500 originals printed in 1937, was discovered...

No 'Mope-Fest' for Ozzy's Final 'Celebration'

Tens of thousands pay tribute in the UK's Birmingham, along with Osbourne's family

(Newser) - It was essentially a funeral, but it felt like a celebration Wednesday in Birmingham, England, as Ozzy Osbourne's body moved through his hometown . Among the tens of thousands of people gathered to watch were Osbourne's own family—children Kelly, Jack, and Aimee, who supported their visibly distraught mother,...

Rising Film Star in UK Charged With Rape

Eddington 's Micheael Ward is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in January 2023

(Newser) - British actor Micheal Ward has been charged with rape and sexual assault, police said Friday. The Metropolitan Police force said the 27-year-old faces two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The charges relate to one woman, and the offenses reportedly took place in January 2023, per the...

Brits Finally Get Their Errant $115M Jet Back

F-35 fighter jet stranded in India for more than a month takes off after inspiring memes

(Newser) - A British F-35B fighter jet stranded at an Indian airport for more than a month, sparking memes and cartoons on social media, took off Tuesday after being repaired by a team of UK engineers, an Indian official said. The $115 million stealth fighter, one of the world's most advanced,...

On an Empty TP Roll, a Long-Lost Message
On an Empty TP Roll,
a Long-Lost Message
in case you missed it
Jul 19, 2025 6:00 AM CDT

On an Empty TP Roll, a Long-Lost Message

British homeowners find 35-year-old note from little girl (now 43) scrawled on cardboard tube

(Newser) - From bowling ball graveyards to human remains , homeowners sometimes find the most unexpected things while exploring or renovating their new digs. For one British couple, their discovery was of the "heartwarming" kind, and one decades in the making, per SWNS . The outlet reports that Charlotte England-Black, 30, and her...

Harry Potter Actor Banned From Getting Behind the Wheel

Emma Watson can't drive for 6 months over speeding in Oxford with prior points on her license

(Newser) - Emma Watson, best known for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, apparently didn't have her magic wand handy when she was caught exceeding the speed limit in Oxford last July, reports the BBC . The 35-year-old actor has been handed a six-month driving ban after...

Sycamore Gap Vandals Sentenced for 'Moronic Mission'

Duo who cut down England's beloved tree get more than 4 years in prison for the stunt

(Newser) - The vandals who cut down England's beloved Sycamore Gap tree were sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison for causing irreversible damage and serious distress. The tree stood for nearly 150 years before Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers set out on a dark and stormy night...

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