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December 4, 2009 5:30 AM

Alleged U.K. Chicken-Licker Due in Court

(iStockphoto)
A former grocery store worker is facing charges of criminal damage over cell phone video allegedly showed him licking raw chickens before placing them back on shelves in England, according to the BBC.

The brief BBC report says Adeel Ayub, 30, is also accused of slashing co-workers coats and smashing eggs in his bizarre workplace transgressions of 2005.

He is due in court on Dec. 15.

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Tags:
britain ,
england ,
chicken ,
licker ,
lick ,
licking ,
poultry
Topics:
World Watch
September 29, 2009 8:49 AM

Alert After U.K. Cervical Cancer Vaccine Death

(CBS/AP)
Parents, schools and doctors across the United Kingdom were on alert Tuesday after a 14-year-old English girl died from what appears to have been an extremely rare, severe reaction to the now-common cervical cancer vaccine.

The girl became ill soon after receiving the injection to prevent sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) on Monday at her school in Coventry, central England. She died in hospital just hours later.

She was given a vaccine called Cervarix manufactured by British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline.

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton says that is not the shot commonly given to American girls, who are usually immunized with a drug made by Merck.

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Tags:
hpv ,
vaccine ,
human papillomavirus ,
cervical cancer ,
britain ,
merck ,
glaxosmithkline
Topics:
In The News
September 24, 2009 4:48 AM

Obama, U.K. PM Brown Best Friends Forever

(AP/News Team International/pool)
Just for the record, the British and American governments would like you all to know that President Obama and Prime Minister Brown get along just fine. They are good pals and have nothing but respect and admiration for each other, both in their personal and professional capacities.

Both governments are going out of their way to make that point Thursday morning after the latest eruption of indignation by the British press about Mr. Obama "snubbing" the U.K. leader on their simultaneous visit to New York.

"Angry Barack Obama rebuffs Gordon Brown," reads the headline in the conservative-leaning Telegraph. "Brown snubbed by Obama over private talks," was the more liberal Guardian's take.

According to British media, the White House rejected at least five requests for a bilateral meeting between Brown and Mr. Obama on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly. An ominous sign, the reports scare Britons into thinking, for the long-touted "special relationship" between the two allies.

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Tags:
gordon brown ,
obama ,
britain ,
UN ,
special relationship ,
diplomacy
Topics:
Obama Foreign Policy
July 27, 2009 9:36 AM

In U.K. Military, Gay Pride Shines

While the U.S. adheres to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward gays in the military, its staunchest ally across the Atlantic is nine years removed from dramatically changing its own stance toward gay and lesbian service members – allowing completely open military service without fear of reprisal. And nearly a decade after the policy shift, the UK's Independent reports the British military, and its members, have grown pretty comfortable in their own skin.

Openly gay service was allowed in 2000 after a two-year court battle involving four service members that was eventually settled by the European Court of Human Rights. Since then, the report details a steady progression toward fuller openness – from initial reluctance on the part of gay service members to "out" themselves, despite the rule change, to eventually marching in Gay Pride parades and moving into military housing with their partners.

And this month's cover of Soldier magazine, the British Army's official publication, features openly gay Trooper James Wharton next to the headline "Pride."

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Tags:
Britain ,
gay ,
lesbian ,
homosexual ,
military ,
don't ask ,
don't tell
Topics:
Gays in the Military
May 21, 2009 5:34 AM

Obama Picks Crony As U.K. Ambassador

(AP Photo )
The Obama administration may well end cronyism, as promised. It may well usher in a long-called for change in the way America's senior representatives in foreign countries are chosen. But it hasn't yet.

According to Britain's newspapers, Mr. Obama has picked former Citigroup vice-president and Democratic uber-fundraiser Louis Susman as the next Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Susman is a lawyer and investment banker by trade who has no real diplomatic experience. He is, instead, a member of the elite inner circle of Chicago power-brokers who helped propel Mr. Obama into office. He's been nicknamed the Vacuum Cleaner for his ability to suck up donations for Democratic politicians.

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Tags:
susman ,
britain ,
ambassador ,
cronyism ,
obama ,
appointment
Topics:
World Watch
March 25, 2009 5:00 AM

Nervous Stability In Northern Ireland

(AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Arrests have been made in the killing of a Northern Ireland police officer by an IRA splinter group. Two men are charged with membership in the "Continuity IRA."

But despite the efforts of such small groups to bring back "the bad old days," the people of Northern Ireland have had enough. Catholics and Protestants, while still wary of each other in many cases, have taken what seems to be a definitive step toward a cohesive, stable future.

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Tags:
ireland ,
irish ,
ira ,
protestant ,
catholic ,
britain ,
england ,
troubles
Topics:
World Watch
March 14, 2009 4:58 PM

EU Delegation Pushes For Normal Relations With Hamas

(AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)
Members of a high-profile European parliamentary delegation are urging their governments to engage in direct talks with Hamas and end the Islamic movement's international isolation. The push comes after a marathon meeting Saturday between the delegation and Hamas's political leader Khaled Mashaal, who is in exile in Damascus.

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Tags:
EU ,
european union ,
hamas ,
hezbollah ,
syria ,
lebanon ,
damascus ,
britain ,
ireland ,
scotland ,
islamic ,
islamist ,
israel ,
gaza
Topics:
World Watch
March 3, 2009 8:41 AM

Gordon Brown's "Panting Desperation"

(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
I asked a British journalist to characterize the atmosphere of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit to Washington, to set the tone of what's being billed here as the first business meeting between a European leader and the new U.S. President.

"Panting desperation," he said.

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Tags:
gordon brown ,
obama ,
britain ,
british ,
london ,
politics
Topics:
World Watch
February 3, 2009 7:36 AM

Britain's Last Beer Barrel Boss

Struggling to find a position with good job security? Look no further. England's last Master Cooper is desperate to find an apprentice.

Alastair Simms is one of only four craftsmen left in the U.K. who makes wooden beer barrels by hand. After 30 years in the business, Simms is the only one qualified to train a newcomer.

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Tags:
beer ,
britain ,
barrel ,
cooper ,
master ,
england
Topics:
World Watch
January 15, 2009 8:29 AM

God Doesn't Ride London Buses

(AP Photo/Akira Suemori)
"There's Probably No God. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life." Sound like an advertising stunt? It's a serious campaign being waged by Atheists in Britain, anxious to counter evangelism.

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Tags:
god ,
religion ,
atheism ,
bus ,
lonon ,
britain
Topics:
World Watch

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