Euro 2008 Success Unites Thrilled Brits

(NEWSER) - President Obama today brought his displeasure over the release of the Lockerbie bomber directly to Gordon Brown’s attention, the BBC reports. Obama did not specifically blame Brown, but relatives of those who died are outraged at the release, and the president has called it a “mistake.” The UK PM maintains the decision to spring Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was entirely up to the Scottish government. More»

To kilt-wearers' horror, haggis was probably invented down south

(NEWSER) - Alongside bagpipes, whiskey, and plaid kilts, there's naught so Scottish as haggis, the mash of sheep heart, liver, and lung disgusting to many and a delicacy to some. But recently a Scottish historian discovered the earliest ever reference to haggis—in an English cookbook. The idea that the ultimate Scottish delicacy may in fact be from down south is too much for some, reports the Daily Mail. More»

Moderate earthquake felt from London to Manchester

(NEWSER) - Britons are calming down with a cuppa this morning after an earthquake rattled much of the island at 12:56am. The biggest quake here since 1984, the tremor was reported to be between 4.7 and 5.3 on the Richter scale and centered 127 miles north of London. Bricks tumbled and power went out in some places and one injury was reported, according to the Guardian. More»

Head coach is shown the door after soccer team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008

(NEWSER) - Steve McClaren has been fired as coach of England's soccer team after their failure to qualify for Euro 2008, reports the Times of London. England had been thrown a lifeline after Israel's surprise defeat of Russia, which gave them a chance to advance to the continental championships if they beat or drew with Croatia—but they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Wembley. More»

Vote in 2014 could break apart United Kingdom

(NEWSER) - Scottish voters will finally get their chance to throw off the, er, iron hand of Queen Elizabeth in 2014, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has announced. Salmond's Scottish National Party has long argued that Scotland should seek independence from the UK , and Salmond wants a referendum on it held just after the 700th anniversary of a renowned Scottish victory over the English at Bannockburn, the Wall Street Journal reports. But that date is more distant than London lawmakers would like. More»