UK

30 June 2007 -- Police in Glasgow, Scotland, have arrested at least two people after a burning four-wheel-drive vehicle rammed the main terminal at the airport there.

Witnesses say the vehicle was on fire as it drove at high speed toward the terminal building. The flames spread after it hit the terminal.

No injuries have been reported.

British television showed cellphone images and other video of a vehicle burning at the terminal, with large clouds of black smoke rising from the scene.

Source: VOA News

01 July 2007 -- The United States is increasing transportation security after a car bombing and other attempted terror attacks in Britain in recent days. The top U.S. security official says although he sees no links to any specific attacks in the United States, he is worried about what he calls terrorist copy cats.

Traffic backs up at a vehicle checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport after security measures were tightened following bombing attempts in Britain    » read more »

02 July 2007 -- Elton John, Rod Stewart, and the English National Ballet were just some of the dozens of performers who paid tribute to Britain's late Princess Diana in London Sunday on what would have been her 46th birthday.

Her sons, Princes WIlliam and Harry, hosted the memorial concert amid high security at Wembley Stadium.

They said the concert celebrated what their mother loved in life - music, dance, charity, and her friends and family.

William said he does not want Diana's charitable activities for victims of AIDS and landmines to be forgotten.    » read more »

02 July 2007 -- British officials are continuing their hunt for suspects in the recent attempted terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow.

Security has been increased and the country is on its highest state of alert - critical - warning that a terror attack could be imminent.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown told British television Sunday that the country faces what he called a "long-term" threat from al-Qaida-linked extremists.    » read more »

June 30, 2007 -- "We have been in close contact with our counterparts in the U.K. regarding today’s incident at the Glasgow airport and yesterday’s car bomb discoveries in London. Our law enforcement and intelligence officials are closely monitoring the ongoing investigations. The senior leadership of the U.S. government has been meeting on these issues both yesterday and today. DHS and the FBI have provided updates and protective measures guidance to our state and local homeland security and law enforcement partners.    » read more »

29 June 2007 -- British police say they have defused a bomb found in a car parked in central London near Piccadilly Circus. No one was hurt.

Police early Friday were called to the Haymarket area of central London after a passerby noticed a suspicious car. An investigation found what police called "a potentially viable explosive device."

The area was cordoned off as a precaution, and the device was defused. Police later confirmed it was a bomb.

No details have been released about what kind of bomb it was or if it was an act of terrorism.

Source: VOA News

06-27-2007 -- Mayor Rudy Giuliani released the following statement on Prime Minister Tony Blair:

"Like all Americans, I was deeply moved by Prime Minister Tony Blair's strong support for America after 9/11. The people of New York and of America will forever remember how articulately and passionately Mr. Blair stood by America's side. I was fortunate to meet with him outside of St. Thomas Church at a memorial service for UK citizens who died on 9/11. It was clear then that the Prime Minister saw very real similarities between the war we are currently fighting and World War II.    » read more »

If approved by Senate, agreement will boost military industry cooperation

27 June 2007 -- Washington -- The United States and the United Kingdom have signed a treaty to remove bureaucratic barriers and export license requirements between the defense industries of the two allies.

President Bush and former Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed on the treaty June 21. They did not meet in person, but instead exchanged signed copies of the treaty via trans-Atlantic courier. Blair stepped down June 27 after serving a decade as prime minister.    » read more »

27 June 2007 -- Gordon Brown took over as Britain's new prime minister after his long-time political friend and rival, Tony Blair stepped down just hours earlier, after 10 years in office. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London on the transfer of power and on Mr. Blair's appointment as special international peace envoy to the Middle East.

It was a day of political tradition, ceremony and drama, the official transfer of power from one prime minister to another.    » read more »

27 June 2007 -- Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the absolute priority in the Middle East is reaching a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr. Blair is expected to be named an envoy to the region on behalf of Quartet of Middle East mediators.

Making his last appearance as prime minister before the House of Commons, Mr. Blair said he believes it is possible to achieve a two-state solution but that it will require "a huge intensity of focus and work."    » read more »

27 June 2007 -- Britain's Tony Blair addressed parliament Wednesday for the last time as prime minister, just hours before he is to deliver his resignation to Queen Elizabeth.

Mr. Blair fielded questions and received accolades from members of the House of Commons. He told lawmakers he was sorry for the deadly peril faced by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but made no apology for backing the United States in the war on terror.    » read more »

26 June 2007 -- With the departure of Tony Blair this week as prime minister of Britain, U.S. President George Bush has lost his biggest ally in the war in Iraq. While he faced skepticism, and even open hostility from much of the rest of the world over the war in Iraq, President Bush could rely on Tony Blair to stand by him throughout, even as that loyalty eroded Mr. Blair's support at home.

When it comes to world leaders, there is no one George Bush has relied on more for support and solidarity than Tony Blair.    » read more »

27 June 2007 -- An era in Britain ends Wednesday when Prime Minister Tony Blair steps down after 10 years in office.

After his last question and answer period with parliament, Mr. Blair will head to Buckingham Palace and formally hand his resignation to Queen Elizabeth.

The queen will then ask Finance Minister and new Labor Party chief Gordon Brown to form a governmment, making him the new prime minister.    » read more »

06/26/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and British Prime Minister Tony Blair today met and participated in a series of events to discuss the progress of California and the United Kingdom’s global warming agreement entered into last July to share economic, scientific and technological best practices on global warming.    » read more »

22 June 2007 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair steps down June 27th after a decade in power during which he re-energized his Labor Party, embarked on an interventionist foreign policy and forged ever-closer ties with the United States. But, as Mr. Blair hands over the reins of power one damaging decision follows him out of office, his unfailing support for the war in Iraq. VOA's Sonja Pace takes a look at the Blair legacy in this report from London.    » read more »