United Kingdom

High levels of ozone on Mt. Everest may have originated from urban pollution

London, Oct 29 : The first ozone measurement taken on the summit of Mount Everest has revealed surprisingly high levels of ozone, which scientists involved in the expedition suggest might have originated from urban pollution.

According to a report in Nature News, the measurement was made by British climber Ian Wade, part of the Karrimor 2005 Everest Expedition, who carried an ozone meter the size of a pack of cards to the mountain’s peak, more than 8,800 meters above sea level.

John Semple from the University of Toronto, Canada, who was team doctor for the expedition, said that Wade had to memorize the measurement.

Brit defence secretary says Iraq war to be over by mid-2010

London, Oct 29 : New British Defence Secretary John Hutton has said that the Iraq war would be over by 2010 when all of UK’s forces would be substantially withdrawn from Basra. A rapid drop in troop numbers is also expected during early 2009.

Hutton stressed that withdrawal of troops would remain subject to conditions on the ground, but added he was “optimistic”.

Even as more than five years after the invasion, there are still around 4000 British soldiers stationed on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city.

Newcastle escape relegation zone with West Brom win

London - Newcastle United beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Tuesday to climb out of the relegation zone.

Prince Charles urges building low-carbon society on Japan visit

Tokyo  - Britain's Prince Charles on Tuesday called for concerted efforts to build a low-carbon society to combat global warming while on a visit to Japan.

"We must not abandon the drive towards a low-carbon economy," the prince of Wales said in a speech marking the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations between Japan and Britain.

He arrived in Tokyo late Monday with his wife, Camilla, for a five-day visit.

The prince called climate change "the biggest challenge our planet has ever seen."

He said that even as the world now faces a financial crisis, it should not divert attention and efforts from protecting the earth.

Nazi memorabilia fetches £90k in London auction

London, Oct 28 : Nazi memorabilia being auctioned in London has raised a whopping 90,000 pounds, despite the recent credit crunch shaking the world.

Jonathan Humbert, of Northamptonshire-based J. P. Humbert Auctioneers, claimed that his three-day grand sale had fetched a massive 90,000 pounds thus far. 

The Nazi items that have been put up for going under the hammer includes a death head ring owned by Nazi SS leader Heinrich Himmler, which was sold for 2,200 pounds.

A number of other Nazi daggers and swords raised hammer prices ranging from 200 to 800 pounds each.

There was also a Nazi pin badge that sold for 180 pounds. 

Ferrari threatens to quit Formula One over standardised engines plan

London, Oct 28 : Ferrari believes that a move to use standardised engines would negate their reason for existing in Formula One. 

Ferrari warned on Monday that they could quit formula one if the sport’s governing body continues with its plans to slash costs, the Guardian reported. 

The famous Italian team, which has been in Formula One since its inauguration in 1950, sent a firm signal to the FIA president, Max Mosley, that his idea of introducing so-called standard engines into the sport would take away their raison d’être for competing in motor racing.

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