Tony Blair on Wednesday arrived for his last Group of Eight (G8) summit as British prime minister, hoping to secure movement on climate change and greater commitments to help Africa. Blair, who last week completed a three-country tour of Africa, wants more to be done to boost aid to the world’s poorest continent and progress on a new deal to tackle climate change.
The world’s richest nations need to show greater commitment towards Africa, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday, amid concern that pledges on aid and development were falling short. Ahead of the forthcoming Group of Eight summit, Blair said it was still possible to effect ”real transformation change” in the years ahead.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived on Thursday in Johannesburg on the final leg of his farewell tour of Africa ahead of his departure from office next month. Blair is expected to meet with South African President Thabo Mbeki and his predecessor as president, anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
Tony Blair will head to Africa this week for his last visit as British Prime Minister after a decade in power, during which he made helping the continent a key priority. But while widely praised for tackling poverty and debt, experts say he leaves behind a mixed legacy. Blair is expected in Sierra Leone and South Africa.
A judge handed down life jail terms on Monday to five men convicted of plotting an al-Qaeda bombing campaign in Britain, including one with links to the ringleader of the 2005 attacks in London. Judge Michael Astill said the men were intent on causing ”indiscriminate death and suffering” as he sentenced them at London’s Central Criminal Court.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday threatened to shelve elections for a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland unless Catholic and Protestants settle their differences over policing. Blair cut short his New Year holiday in Miami, Florida, by 24 hours to return to London to address the situation.
An alleged plot to blow up United States-bound aircraft from Britain bears all the hallmarks of al-Qaeda and may have been inspired by a similar conspiracy a decade ago, officials and analysts said on Thursday. Robert Mueller, head of the US FBI, said the reported plan had ”the earmarks of an al-Qaeda plot”.
Britain will fall silent on Friday to remember the 52 people who died and hundreds more who were injured when four suicide bombers blew themselves up on London’s public transport system exactly a year ago. A day-long series of prayers and commemorative events has been planned to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair caused a stir back home on Monday after suggesting he may have made a mistake by stating publicly that he would not stand for a fourth term in office. Blair’s remarks were made in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday sought to dispel views that he is an unquestioning ally of the United States and condemned growing anti-Americanism as a hindrance to closer global ties. Solving the world’s problems needed an "active foreign policy of engagement, not isolation" between countries, the British Labour Party leader told lawmakers.