United Kingdom

Britain’s security Service, MI5, has increased the threat level to Great Britain from Northern Ireland-related terrorism from moderate to substantial. This means that an attack in England, Scotland or Wales is “a strong possibility”. The Home Office was working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to ensure appropriate security measures were put in place, the home secretary asaid The BBC reports: Home Secretary Theresa May said the level, set by security service MI5, “reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity”.

The latest indication that behind the fake smiles at official, top level summits big tensions linger between British officials and their Chinese counterparts emerged overnight when Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was overheard on camera describing Chinese officials as "very rude" during a conversation with a senior police officer at an event celebrating her 90th birthday.  The monarch was recorded making the candid remark, which followed Xi Jinping's first state visit to the UK last October, as she was introduced to guests at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

Submitted by Mike Krieger via Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,

The City is a semi-offshore state, a bit like the UK’s crown dependencies and overseas territories, tax havens legitimised by the Privy Council. Britain’s financial secrecy undermines the tax base while providing a conduit into the legal economy for gangsters, kleptocrats and drug barons.

 

A ‘Suicide bomber’ detonated explosives in the Trafford Centre, Manchester, ‘killing and wounding’ dozens of people Explosions and gunfire could be heard in one of  Britain’s second busiest shopping centre early this morning in one of the biggest counter terrorism training exercises. The SAS were also involved in the operation, which took place while the shopping centre was closed between midnight and 6am. The Independent reports: A mock suicide bomber acted out an explosion at Manchester’s Trafford Centre overnight as hundreds of people ran screaming and hid in shops and restaurants.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has urged the people of Britain to not allow the Brexit campaign to influence their decision, warning that the Continent could descend into WW3 if Britain leaves the EU. Mr Cameron said Britain must remain in the EU in order to ensure the stability of Europe. Mirror.co.uk reports: Introduced by Labour ex-Foreign Secretary David Miliband at the British Museum in London, he said: “Can we be so sure peace and stability on our continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? Is that a risk worth taking?