London

LONDON - The Chinese warning that Britain's protest against the execution of drug trafficking-accused British citizen, Akmal Shaikh, could harm diplomatic ties between the two countries, has its roots in the historical China-Britain Opium Wars in the 19th century.

LONDON - Formula One champion Jenson Button and Ross Brawn, his team boss, will be honoured in the New Year's honours list.

LONDON - Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rejected the offer of 20 "karate ladies" as bodyguards at an economic summit in Japan, as she didn't want to be singled out as a "woman per se."

LONDON - Umar Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian bomber who tried to blow up the Detroit-bound US airliner on Christmas Day, is a sexually frustrated loner who nurtured fantasies about holy war, according to The Sun.

LONDON - The Iranian government has blamed Britain for the bloody protests sweeping across the country, saying that London deserved a "punch in the mouth" for its role as the "chief culprit" behind the ongoing turmoil.