Reuters: UK

Osborne to drop Merlin lending targets as SME loans lag

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:36:45 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - The government will not extend a deal with banks requiring them to meet fixed lending targets to businesses, a Treasury source said, scrapping a scheme designed to revive the ailing credit markets that have formed a barrier to economic recovery.

Insight-Quebec's lessons for Scotland in how to pop the question

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:20:08 +0000

OTTAWA (Reuters) - For Brits grappling with the idea of Scottish independence, it may be worth looking across the Atlantic.

Cameron hits back at Argentina over Falklands

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:18 +0000

STOCKHOLM/BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron hit back at Argentina on Thursday over its plans to protest to the United Nations against British "militarization" of the Falklands, saying islanders would have London's backing for as long as they wished to remain British.

Sky-high London apartments have matching price tag

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:22:49 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - High-rise London homes cost an average 36 percent more than low-rise dwellings as the city's residential towers shake off a grim reputation earned in the 1960s, spurred by overseas demand, data from global property consultancy CBRE showed.

Further cargo of British wheat destined for U.S.

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:55:55 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - UK feed wheat is continuing to flow to the United States with a further cargo of around 50,000 tonnes due to be loaded in the next week to 10 days from a port on the east coast of England, market sources said on Friday.

Giggs extends United contract for another year

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:54:16 +0000

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester United's 38-year-old midfielder Ryan Giggs has signed a one-year extension to his contract, the Premier League champions said on Friday.

UK retailer Comet to axe 450 jobs

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:08:22 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's No. 2 electricals retailer Comet said about 450 jobs will be axed as part of a plan to reduce its repairs service unveiled just a week after Kesa Electricals completed the sale of the business to private investment firm OpCapita.

Beatle's ex-wife says Piers Morgan heard hacked call

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:50:22 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Paul McCartney's ex-wife said on Thursday she had not leaked a voicemail of the former Beatle begging her for forgiveness to CNN talk-show host Piers Morgan, saying the recording he has boasted of hearing had been illegally hacked.

UK going great guns on tourism push

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:48 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain launched on Thursday its biggest ever campaign to attract visitors to its shores, exploiting a unique year in which London will host the Olympics and Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years on the throne.

New mental health manual is "dangerous" say experts

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:27:42 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) - Millions of healthy people - including shy or defiant children, grieving relatives and people with fetishes - may be wrongly labelled mentally ill by a new international diagnostic manual, specialists said on Thursday.