Blair in first official portrait

The oil painting by artist Jonathan Yeo shows the former prime minister wearing a commemorative poppy, to represent his leadership role during the Iraq war.
Yeo said Mr Blair, 54, "came bouncing in" for sittings and described his subject as having "Tigger-like energy".

Mr Blair, who refused previous official portrait requests, agreed to the painting before leaving office. It will be displayed at London's Lincoln's Inn.
Of all the things that people remember him for, the war in Iraq is going to be one of the main things that people discuss
Artist Jonathan Yeo

Yeo, son of the Conservative MP and former minister Timothy Yeo, said the poppy featured in the painting was symbolic, but was not meant to be judgemental.Of all the things that people remember him for, the war in Iraq is going to be one of the main things that people discuss," he said.

"I was thinking that I had to find some kind of representation of that, but that it shouldn't be trite or too judgemental. "It was November and of course when he came in he was wearing a poppy. I thought that was perfect."

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This story is signifigant because Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of the UK during a lively time in British history . He is most notable for his use backing of President Bush in The Iraq War . Him and Bush were very close on international affairs.

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The mystery of flight BA038

Why did a modern airliner, with an experienced crew on board, suddenly lose power in the seconds before landing? It is a question that many in the aviation industry simply can't stop asking.

The mystery of flight BA038 intrigues them in so many ways. The Air Accident Investigation Branch is admired around the world as the gold standard in crash investigation. Its experts are either experienced pilots or engineers.

Their task: to produce a highly detailed report of the crash that explains, rather than blames.
Pulling together information from a variety of sources, including the AAIB's initial reports, it's possible to describe the last minute of the flight. BA038 had been descending gradually into Heathrow, the autopilot and the automatic throttle system controlling the aircraft.

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This story is signifigant because is shows how serious the British take there national security , maybe even more then us in the United States. This story is yet to be solved and when it is more news will be added

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UK's Brown seen delaying poll until at least 2009

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Mounting problems facing British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, ranging from a weakening economy to a police investigation into party funding, virtually ensure he will put off an election until at least 2009, analysts say.

Cabinet minister Peter Hain quit on Thursday after electoral authorities referred to the police his late declaration of 100,000 pounds ($195,800) of campaign funding.

The party funding scandal, coupled with a bank crisis, a darkening economic outlook and a series of government blunders, has sent Brown's popularity plunging.

With his Labour Party trailing the opposition Conservatives by up to 10 points, political analysts believe Brown will try to batten down the hatches during this year's expected economic slowdown.

He will hope the economy will improve enough for him to regain the political initiative and win a fourth consecutive election for Labour in 2009 or 2010, the latest date he can go to the polls.

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This is important because it tells of what the future may have in store for the Gordon Brown's Labour Party and whether or not his party will remain in control. The U.K. may see a change in power in Parliament after the next election.

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Terror detention plans unveiled

The government has unveiled plans to let police hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without them being charged.

The Counter Terrorism Bill also proposes "full use of DNA" in investigations and greater use of post-charge questioning.

Some senior police officers support extending terror detentions beyond the current 28 days, but it is opposed by Lib Dems, Tories and rebel Labour MPs.

The bill says such powers should be used only "if exceptional circumstances require it".

A survey by the Independent newspaper last month suggested 38 Labour MPs were against the 42-day detention plan - more than the 34 needed to defeat it.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, mindful of a potential rebellion, has been meeting backbenchers to press her case.
In a statement she said:

"We all need to work together to tackle the terrorist challenge and we have
consulted widely on the proposed measures. We have listened to the concerns of
community groups and others and the proposals brought forward today aim to
strike the right balance between the need to protect human rights and ensuring
police have the powers they need, when they need them, to tackle terrorism."

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This is importatnt because it shows that the U.K. is willing to do more to fight terrorism within thir country. It also shows that Parliament is divided on the issue and that ths bill may take time to be enacted.

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