Author: William Booth
-
Couple in critical condition after exposure to ‘unknown substance’ in British town where Russian spy poisoned
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save LONDON — British police declared a “major incident” early Wednesday after a man and woman in their 40s were believed to have been exposed to an “unknown substance” near the historic town of Salisbury in south England. Counterterrorism investigators from the Metropolitan Police have been…
-
What Meghan Markle means to black Brits
LONDON – Jean Carter had never bothered to come out for a royal appearance. But when Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle visited Brixton this year, Carter bought a bouquet and weathered a chilly afternoon waiting for a glimpse. Carter was glad to see Harry, the happy-go-lucky, ginger-bearded son of the late Princess Diana. As…
-
France’s epic Bayeux Tapestry is headed to Britain in a loan for the ages
LONDON – It is probably the most famous piece of medieval embroidery in the world, a ribbon of scrolling tapestry 70 yards long that tells in pictures the story of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, an epic tale of gore, glory and God. A near-cinematic work of narrative genius, there is nothing quite…
-
Much ado in Britain about Prince Harry and (maybe) an American bride
LONDON – Merry olde England has had a glum run of news. The divorce from the European Union is going badly – a lot of fuss about alimony. There’s been a “sex pest” scandal in Parliament. And the British pound is getting pounded. So, as if on cue, the flash story this week was the…
-
Rising alarm in Britain over Russian meddling in Brexit vote
LONDON – New investigations released this week suggest the Russians meddled in Britain’s historic referendum last year to leave the European Union, placing an already weakened Prime Minister Theresa May in a most awkward position – just when she needs to be her strongest in Brexit negotiations. The evidence that the Russians, with possible support…
-
Spain’s Senate gives central government unprecedented powers to take over Catalonia
BARCELONA – The Spanish Senate gave the central government in Madrid unprecedented powers over Catalonia on Friday just minutes after the breakaway region declared independence, sharply escalating a constitutional crisis in the center of western Europe. The two votes – one for independence, one to restore constitutional rule – came in dueling sessions of parliaments…
-
Which countries click most on ISIS propaganda?
LONDON – Who looks at Islamist extremist content online? A new study released Tuesday by the Policy Exchange think tank based in London, whose reports often inform government policy in Britain, ranked the top consumers of propaganda produced by the Islamic State, by country of origin, as measured by clicks. The top consumers of Islamic…
-
Just a few more bongs for Big Ben before London bell is silenced for four years
LONDON — So it has come to pass that the Keeper of the Great Clock announced Monday that London’s “Big Ben” hour bell will be silenced for four long years as desperately needed repairs are carried out on the 158-year-old timepiece, a masterwork of Victorian ingenuity and an enduring British icon. Londoners were not happy to…
-
Muslim worshipers confront police as Israel maintains metal detectors at holy site
JERUSALEM -Thousands of Muslim worshipers held prayer services at noon Friday outside the gates of Jerusalem’s Old City after being denied entry to the al-Aqsa Mosque, or refusing to enter in protest, as tensions mounted after the Israeli government decided to keep in place controversial security arrangements at the entrance to the sensitive holy site.…
-
Gunmen kill two Israeli police officers at entrance to Jerusalem mosque complex
JERUSALEM – Three gunmen shot and killed two Israeli police officers early Friday at the entrance to a site holy to Muslims and Jews before the assailants were chased inside the courtyard of the Al Aqsa mosque, where they were shot and killed by security forces, authorities said. Israel’s domestic security service, Shin Bet, said…