Two British Lawmakers Detained by Israel Are Travelling Home, Minister Says

 04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)
04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)
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Two British Lawmakers Detained by Israel Are Travelling Home, Minister Says

 04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)
04 April 2025, Belgium, Brussels: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks to journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at Nato headquarters. (dpa)

Two British members of parliament who were refused entry to Israel and briefly detained are travelling back to London, a British minister said on Sunday.

Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed from Britain's governing Labor Party visited as part of a parliamentary delegation and were barred because they were suspected of plans to "document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred", Sky News reported, citing the Israeli immigration ministry.

"They are on their way home now," Britain's deputy finance minister Darren Jones told BBC television.

"The way that my colleagues have been treated is unacceptable, as the foreign secretary has said."

Both MPs had flown to Israel from Luton on Saturday, Sky News said.

"I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British Parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement released late on Saturday.

"The UK government's focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza," he added.

Israel's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 



China Allows Visa-free Entry for 5 Latin American Nations to Boost Ties

FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
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China Allows Visa-free Entry for 5 Latin American Nations to Boost Ties

FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists use their phones as they visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

China will allow visa-free entry for nationals of five Latin American countries for one year to boost closer connections with the region.

Starting June 1, citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, China's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday. The trial program will be in effect for one year.

“We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, to experience the colorful and vibrant China,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily briefing.

Beijing hosted the China-CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Forum earlier this week, aiming at strengthening its alliances in the region as a counterweight to US influence.

China has been opening up to dozens of countries including most of the European nations, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia to boost the economy after strict pandemic travel measures. China and Uzbekistan will also begin mutual visa-free entry for up to 30 days starting June 1, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.