Britain facing 'most serious threat'
LONDON • Britain's security agencies need greater powers to deal with a growing terrorism threat and the advanced technology being used by militants, the head of the country's domestic spy service said yesterday, in the first live media interview by an MI5 chief in its 106-year history.
In an interview with BBC radio, MI5 director-general Andrew Parker said Britain is facing its most serious terrorism threat since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and foiled six attempted attacks last year.
Britain raised its terrorism threat level last year to "severe", the second-highest category, which means a militant attack is considered highly likely. Last week, British police said they arrested a record number of people on suspicion of terrorism offences.
REUTERS
Islamist rebels killed in Tajikistan
DUSHANBE (Tajikistan) • Tajikistan said on Wednesday that it has eliminated a group of Islamist rebels in a series of battles that left 46 people dead.
The Interior Ministry of the impoverished, former Soviet country, which borders Afghanistan, said it has killed 33 rebels, including the group's commander, former deputy defence minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda, since Sept 4. The fighting also claimed the lives of 13 security officials and left more than ten people wounded.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Looser Anglican Church structure?
LONDON • The Archbishop of Canterbury has called a meeting of leading bishops to discuss loosening the Anglican Church's global structure because of growing differences over homosexuality and female bishops.
The Anglican Communion, the world's third-largest Christian body with 80 million members, has been split between the more liberal churches of North America and Britain, where women are now allowed to become bishops and same-sex couples can marry, and their more conservative counterparts in Africa.
In a more decentralised Anglican Church, different congregations around the world would be able to hold different views without any common Anglican doctrine.
REUTERS
