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The threat level in the UK has been raised to the highest level.

The announcement came after a meeting of the government committee, Cobra. It met after a burning car being driven into a Glasgow airport terminal, and two car bombs were found in central London.

Police have said they think the incidents are linked.

Home Secretary’s statement

In a statement, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

‘I can confirm that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has raised the national threat level to CRITICAL. This is in response to the events of the last 48 hours. Critical is the highest level of threat, and the threat level will be closely reviewed on a regular basis. Appropriate security measures have been put in place.’

A threat level of critical means that an attack is expected imminently. This is only the second time the threat level has been raised to that level..

Source-Home Office

The UK’s national terrorism threat level has been raised to “critical” after attacks in Glasgow and London. Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged the public to be vigilant and added: “I know the British people will stand together, united and resolute.” for more click here

Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond has reaffirmed his commitment to independence, as the Queen marked the third session of parliament. But he also acknowledged Her Majesty’s “vital role” as Queen of Scots during a ceremony at Holyrood in Edinburgh. for more click here. for more click here

A car on fire has been driven at the main terminal building at Glasgow Airport before exploding, police have confirmed. for more click here

Upon learning that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would become a new envoy intervening in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a former senior Israeli intelligence official confided to an old colleague a two-word comment in English: “It’s nuts.” One can only imagine what the Palestinians said in private. for more click here

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — His makeshift art gallery survived warlords, gangsters and Islamic zealots during Somalia’s 16-year civil war. But when the transitional government took charge of Mogadishu, the artist known as Happy got two hours’ notice that his tiny shop was to be torn down.

As friends raced to salvage his collection of paintings depicting Somalia’s years of anarchy, government troops swept away scores of commercial squatters who had been operating in tin-roofed shacks along the capital’s oldest shopping avenue. for more click here

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s chances of forging cooperation between his Shiite-led government and Sunni Arab foes suffered another blow Friday when the main Sunni bloc withdrew from the Cabinet to protest a criminal investigation of one of its ministers. for more click here

To live by the sword is ignoble. To die by it, cowardly.

Yet, the almighty blade and its representation in the Muslim world is sweet mother’s milk to a zealous mindset that has gained uncontrolled momentum and lost global sympathy in its quest to revel in its barbaric side.  for more click here

“My daughter Delara is accused of a crime that she did not commit… Help me and help us until justice is properly served. There are no signs of humanity and justice in here.”
father of Delara Darabi who is awaiting execution in Iran, 11 January 2007

Amnesty International is calling on Iran’s judicial and political authorities to order an immediate moratorium to prevent further executions of child offenders and to amend the laws so no children who commit crimes can be sentenced to death. In a new report, the organization said at least 71 child offenders were awaiting execution in Iran, where more child offenders have been executed than in any other country since 1990.

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THE Queen was being handed the keys to Edinburgh today as she begins her annual stay in the Capital. for more click here