2011 was the year of royal weddings: William and Kate tied the knot in London, drawing international attention, and the Prince of Monaco sealed the deal with the former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. (more)
LONDON (AP) — The leader of the junior party in Britain’s coalition government has criticized Prime Minister David Cameron’s move to block European Union treaty changes, saying it was “bad for Britain” and he was bitterly disappointed by the outcome. (more)
All European Union states except Britain moved toward setting up a new treaty Friday, giving up crucial powers over their own budgets in an attempt to overcome a crippling debt crisis. (more)
As the U.S. and its European allies begin to impose effective sanctions on the Islamic Republic, the Western democracies should anticipate that the regime will initiate more of these fully authorized, staged incidents under the guise of a student movement. (more)
BRUSSELS (AP) — EU foreign ministers failed Thursday to reach an agreement to impose an oil embargo against Iran — a measure that some argued would have choked off funding for Iran’s alleged program to develop nuclear weapons. (more)
In this time of deep economic malaise, Western leaders talk gravely about shared sacrifice and the need to do “whatever it takes” to restore prosperity. So why is Britain shrinking its economic output, tax revenues and job creation for the sake of keeping ethnic outsiders away? (more)
In the 2005 movie “V for Vendetta,” the authoritarian British government has the ability to listen in on the conversations its citizens have inside their homes, at pubs and at other locations as they go about their daily lives. Security officials can then present the findings, including chatter concerning the mysterious protagonist “V,” to the leader of the regime. George Orwell described a similarly invasive surveillance society in “1984.” (more)
The threat of Somali pirates commandeering British ships on the high seas off the east coast of Africa has forced even the gun-shy Brits to re-think their abject aversion to firearms. Unfortunately, the change of heart is pinched and will not help the home folk protect themselves from domestic “pirates” in the form of looters, muggers or home invaders. (more)
Last Friday, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) — the trade association that represents Britain’s recorded music industry — sent a letter to London-based global telecommunications services corporation BT Group asking them to block user access to The Pirate Bay, an intellectual property piracy website based in Sweden. Tech writers and Internet service providers (ISP) are skeptical of the effectiveness of such measures given the defiant, tech-saavy demographic BPI is attempting thwart. (more)
On September 11, 2001, Britain’s then-prime minister, Tony Blair, stated that the United Kingdom stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the United States in its time of internal and external crisis. (more)
There’s no getting around it: Chicks dig the royal wedding. (more)
In honor of the upcoming royal nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton, we’ve compiled a list of the most iconic real and fictional princesses of all-time, to see what kind of competition Britain’s future queen is up against. From Princess Diana and Princess Grace to Cinderella and Buttercup, Miss Middleton’s got some big glass slippers to fill. Take a look at TheDC’s ‘Princess Hall of Fame,’ and decide for yourself who wore the crown best. (more)
BRUSSELS (AP) — The U.S. military was pulling its warplanes from front-line missions Monday and shifting to a support role in the Libyan conflict, officials said. (more)
I’m spending St Patrick’s Day in Boston this year. As I stand in the middle of a bar full of drunk Southies singing along with the Dropkick Murphys, I am reminded of a trip to Ireland that my wife and I took a few years back. (more)
HA LONG BAY, Vietnam (AP) — An anchored boat packed with sleeping tourists sank early Thursday in Vietnam’s scenic Ha Long Bay, killing 12 people from nine countries in the deadliest tour boat accident since the country opened to foreign tourism 25 years ago. (more)
Russia will not support future sanctions against Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in London on Tuesday. (more)
Jemma Benjamin, 18, was kissed by fellow university student Daniel Ross, 21, at his home after a night out together. (more)
Ever dreamed of frolicking around Sherwood Forest like Robin Hood and his Merry Men? Well, pack your sword and green tights, because you can now own a portion of folklore’s most iconic landscape. The British government is selling areas of the woods to cover their massive national debt, reports The Los Angeles Times. Locals are furious at the thought of developers or corporations invading their beloved forest, but the offer remains amidst their objection. As several European nations struggle to balance the books, other iconic, government-owned properties are also facing the auction block. (more)
It’s the pop culture controversy of the day – is MTV’s “Skins” too racy for young American audiences? (more)
LONDON – A U.S. pastor who had threatened to burn a Quran on an anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has been barred from visiting Britain, its government said Wednesday. (more)
