The British government has blocked US singer Kelly Clarkson from taking a ring once owned by author Jane Austen out of the country, a minister said on Thursday.
Clarkson, who shot to fame as the winner of the "American Idol" TV talent contest in 2002, bought the gold and turquoise ring for more than £150,000 ($227,000, 172,000 euros) at an auction last year.
But junior culture minister Ed Vaizey has barred temporarily the export of the ring in a bid to keep it in Britain.
It is one of only three surviving pieces of jewellery known to have belonged to the 19th century author, whose novels including "Pride and Prejudice", "Emma" and "Sense and Sensibility" are among Britain's best-loved classics.
"Jane Austen's modest lifestyle and her early death mean that objects associated with her of any kind are extremely rare," Vaizey said.
"So I hope that a UK buyer comes forward so this simple but elegant ring can be saved for the nation."
The export bar will last until at least September 30, and can be extended until December 30 if a buyer in Britain shows "a serious intention to raise funds" to match the price Clarkson paid.
Known for hits including "A Moment Like This" and "Since U Been Gone", the 31-year-old Texan singer has sold more than 20 million albums.
She revealed in October that British officials were trying to prevent her from taking the ring home after she bought it at an auction three months earlier.
"We put in an export request but I can't take it out of the UK as they've named it a national treasure," she told the Daily Star newspaper.
She described herself as a "big history nerd" who had visited Derbyshire in central England, where the 2005 film version of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Keira Knightley was filmed.
AFP
Fri Aug 02 2013
![Hands off Jane Austen's ring, Britain tells Kelly Clarkson Hands off Jane Austen's ring, Britain tells Kelly Clarkson](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-08/41375367978_295x200.jpg)
Rakyat UK terancam dengan imigran rampas peluang pekerjaan
Bimbang golongan imigran akan merampas peluang peluang pekerjaan menjadikan rakyat United KIngdom terutamanya mereka yang mempunyai masalah ekonomi melihat imigran sebagai satu ancaman.
Parti Pheu Thai pilih anak perempuan Thaksin calon PM
Paetongtarn, 37, adalah anak perempuan kepada jutawan yang juga bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pemilihan anak Thaksin sebagai PM Thailand dianggap tidak efektif
Pemilihan anak perempuan bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, untuk menggantikan Srettha Thavisin sebagai Perdana Menteri negara itu dianggap sebagai tidak efektif.
![Ketua Hak Asasi Manusia PBB rayu agar konflik di Gaza dihentikan Ketua Hak Asasi Manusia PBB rayu agar konflik di Gaza dihentikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717499145_TBVolkerTurk.jpg)
Ketua Hak Asasi Manusia PBB rayu agar konflik di Gaza dihentikan
Volker Turk berkata, kebanyakan yang terkorban adalah wanita dan kanak-kanak.
![Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723343252_Palestiniansmourn.jpg)
Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera
Perkhidmatan kecemasan masih tidak dapat membantu ramai mangsa dan membawa keluar mayat yang terperangkap di bawah runtuhan.
DNA mangsa kebakaran di Pagoh diperoleh, jenazah dijangka dikebumikan esok
Polis mengesahkan telah menerima laporan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) dua mayat mangsa yang rentung dalam kebakaran rumah di Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh, Johor Jumaat lepas.
Jenazah ibu MB Kedah selamat dikebumikan
Jenazah ibu Menteri Besar Kedah, Allahyarham Meriam Ahmad, 74, selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Sungai Pau kira-kira pukul 5.45 petang Khamis.
MOT sedia sokong pembinaan lapangan terbang di Gebeng
Kementerian Pengangkutan sedia menyokong rancangan Kerajaan Pahang untuk membina Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuantan, kata Menterinya, Anthony Loke.
KDN lulus hampir 14,000 permohonan
Kementerian Dalam Negeri telah meluluskan hampir 14,000 permohonan kewarganegaraan setakat ini, kata Menterinya Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.