Royal Butler Recalled to Diana Inquest

Opponents argue that infirm, elderly will be disadvantaged

(NEWSER) - The UK plans to phase out the paper check in 2018. Officials say they'll use the next 8 years to push for innovation in payments in the country, especially electronic methods. There is robust opposition to the plan, the Telegraph reports, but the Payment Council—a semi-governmental UK entity made up of banking industry leaders and independent overseers—has pledged to “ensure that everyone has a viable alternative.” More»

Anglo-Saxon gold unearthed by jobless searcher this summer

(NEWSER) - An amateur British treasure hunter and the owner of the field where he struck gold are in for a big payday: His find turns out to be a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cache of the precious metal. The collection is worth about $5.4 million, British Museum tells the AP . The treasure—all 1,500 pieces of it—was found this summer in Staffordshire and generated much excitement among British archaeologists. Two central England museums hope to acquire it jointly. More»

(NEWSER) - Gordon Brown is livid and his colleagues in the Labour Party are ripping up copies of the Sun in public after Rupert Murdoch ended 12 years of support and backed Conservative David Cameron this week. “We don't need an Australian-American coming to our country with a paper that has never supported any progressive policies ... telling us how politics should be run in this country," said one union leader. More»

Princess Diana's estate can't be spent quite yet, but interest will boost his salary

(NEWSER) - Prince Harry’s 25th birthday today made him a millionaire, CNN reports. Princess Diana left a $35 million estate, which means about $21.6 million for Harry and William to share after inheritance taxes. Though the princes can’t spend it until they turn 30, Harry is now entitled to the income generated by his portion—estimated at about $500,000 a year. More»

Planned use of liquid explosives sparked restrictions still in effect

(NEWSER) - Three British Muslims were convicted today of conspiracy to blow up airplanes with liquid explosives in a failed 2006 plot that led to restrictions on drinks and toiletries on flights, the Times of London reports. Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar, and Tanvir Hussain were retried after a jury last year found them guilty only of conspiracy to cause explosions in a plot to place suicide bombers on at least seven flights from Heathrow to the US and Canada. More»