The government of British Prime Minister Tony Blair recalled two senior ministers from overseas trips for a high-stakes vote yesterday on controversial anti-terrorism laws.
Amid concern about the degree of opposition to the proposals, the government recalled Foreign Secretary Jack Straw from Russia and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown from Israel shortly after they had arrived in those countries.
"The foreign secretary will be returning to the UK for the vote," but would still have the time to attend meetings involving his French, German and Russian counterparts, a foreign office spokeswoman said.
"He will attend the EU troika [British, German and French diplomats] meeting and then fly back. He was meant to be in Moscow today for meetings but he is returning a little early," she said.
Brown said he was summoned back from Israel for the vote on anti-terrorism measures, including one that extends the period for which suspects can be detained from the current 14 days to 90 days without charge.
Blair, who had long backed police demands for such an extension in the wake of the July 7 London bombings, faced a rebellion last week by fellow members in the governing Labour Party seeking to set the limit at 28 days.
"On important issues of national security, one of the most important votes we will have in this parliament, it is important that all of us who can be there are going to be there," Brown said.
Brown spent only minutes in Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in the early hours of yesterday morning before boarding a plane back home after receiving a message from Government Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong.
Heavy rain and strong winds yesterday disrupted flights, trains and ferries, forcing the closure of roads across large parts of New Zealand’s North Island, while snapping power links to tens of thousands. Domestic media reported a few flights had resumed operating by afternoon from the airport in Wellington, the capital, although cancelations were still widespread after airport authorities said most morning flights were disrupted. Air New Zealand said it hoped to resume services when conditions ease later yesterday, after it paused operations at Wellington, Napier and Palmerston North airports. Online images showed flooded semi-rural neighborhoods, inundated homes, trees fallen on vehicles and collapsed
‘COST OF DEFECTION’: Duterte’s announcement could be an effort to keep allies in line with the promise of a return to power amid political uncertainty, an analyst said Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday announced she would run for president of the Southeast Asian nation of 116 million in 2028. Duterte, who is embroiled in a bitter feud with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, was impeached last year only to see the country’s Supreme Court throw the case out over procedural issues. Her announcement comes just days before her father, former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, begins a pretrial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands over crimes against humanity allegedly committed as part of a brutal crackdown on drugs. “I offer my life, my strength and my future
POST-UPRISING: Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmakers were yesterday expected to formally elect Tarique Rahman as their leader and new head of government Bangladesh’s prime minister-to-be Tarique Rahman and lawmakers were yesterday sworn into parliament, becoming the first elected representatives since a deadly 2024 uprising. Rahman is set to take over from an interim government that has steered the country of 170 million people for 18 months since the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina was overthrown. The lawmakers, who promised loyalty to Bangladesh, were sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmakers are expected to formally elect Rahman as their leader, with President Mohammed Shahabuddin then to administer the oath of office to the prime minister and his ministers
NOT YET THERE: While the show was impressive, it failed to demonstrate their ability to move in unstructured environments, such as a factory floor, an expert said Dancing humanoid robots on Monday took center stage during the annual China Media Group’s Spring Festival Gala, China’s most-watched official television broadcast. They lunged and backflipped (landing on their knees), they spun around and jumped. Not one fell over. The display was impressive, but if robots can now dance and perform martial arts, what else can they do? Experts have mixed opinions, with some saying the robots had limitations and that the display should be viewed through a lens of state propaganda. Developed by several Chinese robotics firms, the robots performed a range of intricate stunts, including martial arts, comedy sketches and choreographed
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