Latest from United Kingdom

Beheading killer released for 'feigning' illness
A man with paranoid schizophrenia who beheaded a British grandmother had been wrongly released from a psychiatric unit for "feigning" his illness.

Murdoch's pay-TV empire unites behind Diabolik crime
Rupert Murdoch prepares to complete the merger of his British, Italian and German pay-TV companies next week.

Harry returns to Afghanistan
Prince Harry returned to Afghanistan today on behalf of the Queen as he led emotional tributes to his friends who died in the name of war.

Plan to stab Queen stymied
A plot to kill Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall during the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance has been foiled.

Why didn't he name Rewa?
Lord Toulson asked New Zealand's Solicitor-General the $50,000 question in the Privy Council in London this week.

Bar/fly: Edinburgh
Whether its an 18-year-old Scotch or a fancy cocktail, you'll be spoiled for choice in Edinburgh, says Paul Davies.

Case review for wife-killer Malcolm Webster
Wife killer Malcolm Webster will have his case reviewed.

Crown accepts Pora's disorder diagnosis
The Privy Council last night heard that the Crown accepts Teina Pora suffers Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - but it disputes it would've led to a different verdict.

Chris Rattue: To England, where the excuses are primed
Looks like that poor little English rugby team is already running up the white flag or at least a distress signal. In other words, one con job over, and on to the next one.

New UK doco spotlights Kiwis' success
An investment banker whose firm has a portfolio worth $8.2 billion, Gwyneth Paltrow's hairdresser and a fashion designer whose clients include the Duchess of Cambridge are among Kiwis profiled in a new documentary.

Why we mark Guy Fawkes Day
For more than 400 years people have been celebrating the foiled plot by Guy Fawkes and his mates to blow up England's Parliament. Here's what you don't know.

Impotence not detailed at trial
An error in not calling evidence regarding erectile dysfunction of a serial rapist led Teina Pora to be wrongly convicted of a rape and murder, Privy Council hears.

Pora's mental age that of a child
Teina Pora has a mental age of nine or 10 years for the purpose of understanding, the Privy Council was told overnight, as his appeal began.

Boris backs call for Kiwi freedom in UK
London Mayor and would-be MP Boris Johnson is backing a report by a British think-tank which calls for Kiwis and Australians to freely live and work in Britain.

UK starts paying off WWI debt
One hundred years after the outbreak of World War I, Britain plans to repay some of the debt issued to help finance the conflict.

A playground for monster jets
London's Heathrow airport says airlines are using more giant wide-body super jumbos to escape the constraints of capacity curbs.

Ireland: A bit of blarney in the Emerald Isle
Drop into any pub in Ireland and you'll not stay a stranger very long, Bruce Morris discovers.

Gotcha! Film doses tabloid editors with own medicine
Senior British tabloid editors are shown naked, embarrassed and scuttling for cover in a new documentary targeting them with the kind of treatment usually dished out by their own newspapers.

'Loud bang' before plane gets RAF escort
A 'massive mystery explosion' shook residents outside of London, before two RAF jets reportedly escorted a Russian-made Latvian cargo jet into Stansted airport.

Security breach or 'brush' with runner?
British PM David Cameron's security detail is under investigation after a passing jogger ran right into him.

New alert to warn of jellyfish swarms
A sonar early warning system is being developed to stop swarms of jellyfish shutting down Britain’s nuclear power plants.

Russell Brand considers tilt at London mayor
Comedian Russell Brand is considering running as London Mayor - despite saying that voting is a waste of time.

Paperweight worth $340,000
A widow whose late husband bought an old paperweight for £70 (NZ$143) while teaching in Hong Kong in the 60s has seen it fetch £170,000 (NZ$348,342) at auction.