London, United Kingdom | AFP | Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and sole surviving Bee Gee Barry Gibb were each awarded a knighthood in Britain’s traditional New Year Honours, announced late on Friday. The two music legends were joined on the prestigious annual achievement list by Golden Globe-winning actor Hugh Laurie, …
Read More »Obama warns of social media dangers, in interview with Prince Harry
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Former US President Barack Obama told Britain’s Prince Harry he was concerned social media was “corroding civil discourse”, in what he said was his first interview since leaving the White House, aired Wednesday. “One of the dangers of the internet is that people can …
Read More »At least 10,000 killed in 1989 Tiananmen crackdown: British cable
Beijing, China | AFP | At least 10,000 people were killed in the Chinese army’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in June 1989, according to a newly released British diplomatic cable that recounts the bloodshed in gruesome detail. The document, made public more than 28 years after …
Read More »Britain’s May dubbed ‘Madam Brexit’ by translator
Warsaw, Poland | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May was left smirking at a press conference with her Polish counterpart on Thursday after a translator accidentally called her “Madam Brexit”. May was in Warsaw for talks with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, with the discussions inevitably turning to Britain’s 2019 departure …
Read More »Spain breaks ring that used bank warehouses to grow marijuana
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spanish police said Sunday they had dismantled an international hashish trafficking ring which allegedly used industrial warehouses that had been repossessed by banks to grow huge amounts of marijuana. The authorities detained two Spaniards and a British national they believe headed the ring as part …
Read More »‘Youthquake’ named Oxford Dictonaries’ word of 2017
London, United Kingdom | AFP | “Youthquake” was crowned Friday as Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year 2017, following a five-fold increase in usage. The word is defined as “a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people”. It first rose during Britain’s …
Read More »Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to marry on May 19
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle will marry on May 19 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle near London, Kensington Palace said on Friday. “His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms Meghan Markle will marry on 19th May, 2018,” …
Read More »British city refuses licence for Uber
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The city of York in northern England has refused to grant US ride-hailing app Uber a licence to operate, creating more headaches for the company in Britain after a similar move by regulators in London. The city’s council explained its decision on Tuesday by citing …
Read More »EU warns Britain against Brexit deal ‘backtracking’
Strasbourg, France | AFP | The EU on Tuesday warned Britain against “backtracking” as it rounded on a top minister for suggesting that London could back out of its Brexit divorce promises if it does not get a trade deal. Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis caused alarm by saying that a …
Read More »In food waste fight, Brits turn bread into beer
Driffield, United Kingdom | AFP | At a brewery nestled in rolling farmland in northern England, the process of making beer begins with dropping dozens of unwanted loaf ends, thrown away by a sandwich factory, into a large stainless steel tank. Add water, hops and yeast, and out comes the unmistakable …
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