Yahoo! News: World - Britain

Britain to guarantee loans to small firms (AP)

Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:59 AM CST

AP - The British government announced a plan Wednesday to ensure small- and medium-sized businesses can get access to credit.

Councillor used false name to praise own work (AFP)

Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:51 AM CST

AFP - A councillor came under fire after being caught using an alias to praise his own work on a local newspaper's website.

"Sooty" friend defends Prince Charles in new royal race row (AFP)

Posted: 14 Jan 2009 02:38 AM CST

AFP - An Asian friend of Prince Charles to whom the heir to the throne refers as "Sooty" has insisted that the nickname was "a term of affection" amid the second royal race row in as many days.

Ex-PM Howard gets Bush praise and medal (AFP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 09:46 PM CST

AFP - President George W. Bush praised three "true friends of the United States" as he awarded the nation's highest civilian honor to Tony Blair, John Howard and Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's skycar (AFP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 05:38 PM CST

AFP - A British adventurer plans to set off Wednesday in a home-made vehicle which can transform itself from a car into an aircraft in minutes -- destination Timbuktu.

UK bank Barclays to cut 2,100 jobs due to downturn (AP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:36 PM CST

AP - Barclays PLC will cut 2,100 jobs in its investment banking, fund management and private banking units in response to the global economic downturn, according to a person knowledgeable about the decision.

Friend not bothered by Prince Charles' nickname (AP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 02:33 PM CST

AP - A friend of Prince Charles insisted Tuesday that the prince is not racist, after a newspaper reported that the heir to the throne refers to him as "Sooty."

British census: A new foothold on the family tree (AP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 12:39 PM CST

AP - Britain's National Archives released the 1911 census online on Tuesday, giving historians, genealogists and people interested in their family trees easy access to records containing the details of 27 million people.

Bernanke: Obama stimulus helps, more action needed (AP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 11:20 AM CST

AP - A mammoth stimulus package being crafted by President-elect Barack Obama could give the economy a much-needed lift, but other steps must be taken to bolster the wobbly financial system and for any recovery to stick, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday.

EADS says protecting cash is priority amid crisis (AP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 10:01 AM CST

AP - EADS chief Louis Gallois said Tuesday that the European aerospace and defense group pulled out of a "significant" U.S. acquisition at the last moment after the board decided protecting cash is a bigger priority.

Beckham ancestor was binman, census reveals (AFP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:34 AM CST

AFP - David Beckham's great-great grandfather was a "scavenger," or rubbish collector, according to the census data which went online Tuesday, giving an eye-opening view of life a century ago.

Home turbines fail to deliver as promised, warns study (AFP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 08:32 AM CST

$A study warned that home wind turbines are only generating a fraction of electricity promised by the manufacturers while some even fail to yield enough energy to run the turbine?s electronics.(AFP/File/Barbara Sax)$ AFP - Home wind turbines are only generating a fraction of electricity promised by the manufacturers while some even fail to yield enough energy to run the turbine's electronics, a study warned on Tuesday.

British retailers suffer worst December on record (AP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 06:51 AM CST

AP - Britain's retailers suffered their worst December in at least 14 years while the wider economy experienced a "frightening deterioration," business leaders said Tuesday.

Eight arrested over Post Office death (AFP)

Posted: 13 Jan 2009 04:52 AM CST

AFP - Eight people have been arrested by the police on Tuesday after the son of a sub-postmaster was shot dead during a robbery in Worcestershire.