World - Britain

PARIS (Reuters) - Britain on Wednesday warned its skiers and snowboarders to avoid excess alcohol when taking to France's ski slopes, after a spate of drink-related deaths and serious accidents. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - Angry London bankers and traders accused finance minister Alistair Darling on Wednesday of "lip service" to appease the poor with a levy on bank bonuses. Full Story »

LONDON - A Muslim man was convicted Wednesday of conspiracy to murder for his role in a plan to blow up trans-Atlantic passenger jets using liquid explosives, a plot that sparked sweeping restrictions for passengers carrying on liquids and gels. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - The widow of a British yachtsman murdered off the coast of Thailand on Wednesday told of her horror at the unfolding attack, as a coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man was found guilty on Wednesday of conspiring with the ringleader of a suspected al Qaeda plot to blow up transatlantic airliners bound for North America using liquid explosives. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Three Islamic extremists were found guilty in London Wednesday of involvement in a foiled 2006 plot to blow up passenger airliners flying between Britain and North America. Full Story »

LONDON - The British government slapped a one-time tax of 50 percent on fat bank bonuses on Wednesday as it tried to win over recession-weary voters ahead of a looming general election. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A Christian couple who run a hotel in northern England were cleared on Wednesday of abusing a Muslim guest for wearing a hijab and then insulting her beliefs. Full Story »

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - A court in Liverpool on Wednesday acquitted a devout Christian hotelier and his wife of verbally abusing a Muslim woman guest for wearing a hijab. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's recession-mired economy will shrink by a bigger-than-expected 4.75 percent this year, the government forecast on Wednesday in a keenly-awaited budget announcement. Full Story »

LONDON - A drawing by Raphael and a Rembrandt portrait have set records and together sold for almost 50 million pounds ($82 million) at an auction in London. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Around 15 families in Britain are set to take legal action over injuries to children which they say were caused by Maclaren pushchairs, a law firm representing them said Wednesday. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - British-based emerging markets bank Standard Chartered said on Wednesday that it did not expect "material" charges arising from the Dubai debt crisis -- and forecast record profits this year. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - A top Egyptian official pressed Britain Wednesday to return an ancient stone tablet seen as an icon of his country and denied his countrymen were "pirates of the Caribbean" seeking to steal it back. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - The trade-in-goods deficit in recession-hit Britain expanded to 7.1 billion pounds in October, the highest level in nine months, official data showed on Wednesday. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Budget airline easyJet announced on Wednesday that Andy Harrison will step down as chief executive next year. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Prince Charles borrowed nearly 3,000 pounds from his protection officers after the royal found himself short of cash and needing to fork out for "travel expenses," a report said Wednesday. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - The Hubble telescope has captured some of the oldest galaxies yet seen in the universe using a new infared camera, scientists have said. Full Story »