Protest on Roof of Parliament

Frustrated travelers camp out in airports, train stations

(NEWSER) - Hundreds of thousands of passengers on their way to family holiday festivities in Europe were camped out instead yesterday at mobbed airports and train stations shut down by record snow and cold. London's Heathrow Airport was largely closed for a second day as wanna-be fliers huddled under emergency blankets on trash-strewn floors, some of them for a third night waiting for their plane to take off. "It's very hard," a passenger with a ticket to Dallas told CNN . "All I want for Christmas is to hug my daughter." Charles De Gaulle and German airports canceled more than a quarter of their flights, and several Eurostar trips were delayed or ditched. More»

(NEWSER) - London’s Big Ben will celebrate three 150th birthdays this year, starting with today’s anniversary of the first movement of the huge clock, the Evening Standard reports. July 11 marks the first ringing of “Big Ben,” the Great Bell that eventually gave its name to the tower, and September will see the anniversary of the first time all five bells rang at once. More»

'Plane Stupid' group protests climate change and airport expansions

(NEWSER) - A British anti-pollution group emboldened by protests that shut down an airport outside London yesterday has vowed to do the same at Heathrow, reports the Guardian. The group, Plane Stupid, campaigns against climate change, air travel and airport expansion plans. "We intend to continue to directly challenge airport expansion," said a spokesman. "It's the only responsible thing to do." At least 57 protesters were busted yesterday after chaining themselves together in a restricted area at Stansted Airport. More»

Aircraft carrier-sized ship darted off; pilot ordered to keep silent

(NEWSER) - US fighter jets were ordered to shoot down a UFO over England during the Cold War, newly released files reveal. What appeared to be a massive "aircraft carrier" in the sky hovered before darting off undamaged, said one of the military pilots, who was later threatened by a well-dressed "unnamed man" if he "ever breathed a word" about the incident to anyone. More»

Famous face may draw 6 months for kicking, spitting

(AP) - Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty today to kicking and spitting at two police officers during an April "air rage" incident at Heathrow Airport. The short-tempered supermodel went ballistic when a bag was misplaced during the epic delays surrounding the opening of a new terminal. She faces 6 months in prison or a $10,000 fine for each of six assault charges and will be sentenced later. More»