While describing a hardening of the Iranian&nbsp;government's response to protests that have resulted in more than 300 deaths in the last two months, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations described the situation&nbsp;as "critical."

A spokesperson for U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said at a Geneva news briefing, "The rising number of deaths from protests in Iran, including those of two children at the weekend, and the hardening of the response by security forces, underline the critical situation in the country."&nbsp;

Since the murder of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, in morality police custody on September 16 after she was detained for wearing clothing considered "wrong," the Islamic Republic has been rocked by widespread protests.&nbsp;

The rallies, which have evolved into a popular uprising by Iranians from all social strata and represent one of the most audacious challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution, have been orchestrated, according to Tehran, by foreign foes and their agents.

As a show of sympathy for the demonstrations, Iran's World Cup players chose not to sing their national anthem prior to their opening World Cup game on Monday.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-enriching-uranium-to-60-purity-at-underground-fordow-nuclear-site-536444">&nbsp;Iran enriching uranium to 60% purity at underground Fordow nuclear site</a>

Diplomats, as well as witnesses and victims, are anticipated to attend a discussion on the protests later this week at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.&nbsp;

In a suggestion that will be debated during the meeting, a fact-finding mission on the crackdown in Iran is proposed. A UN&nbsp;document demonstrated that any proof of violations that such a body would uncover could eventually be presented before national and international courts.

(with inputs from agencies)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

While describing a hardening of the Iranian government's response to protests that have resulted in more than 300 deaths in the last two months, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations described the situation as "critical.

While describing a hardening of the Iranian government's response to protests that have resulted in more than 300 deaths in the last two months, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations described the situation as "critical." A spokesperson for U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said at a Geneva news briefing, "The rising number of deaths from protests in Iran, including those of two children at the weekend, and the hardening of the response by security forces, underline the critical situation in the country." Since the murder of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, in morality police custody on September 16 after she was detained for wearing clothing considered "wrong," the Islamic Republic has been rocked by widespread protests. The rallies, which have evolved into a popular uprising by Iranians from all social strata and represent one of the most audacious challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution, have been orchestrated, according to Tehran, by foreign foes and their agents. As a show of sympathy for the demonstrations, Iran's World Cup players chose not to sing their national anthem prior to their opening World Cup game on Monday. Also Read: Iran enriching uranium to 60% purity at underground Fordow nuclear site Diplomats, as well as witnesses and victims, are anticipated to attend a discussion on the protests later this week at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. In a suggestion that will be debated during the meeting, a fact-finding mission on the crackdown in Iran is proposed. A UN document demonstrated that any proof of violations that such a body would uncover could eventually be presented before national and international courts. (with inputs from agencies)

Iran: With more than 300 killed, situation 'critical', says UN rights chief

As the war in Ukraine pushed into its seventh day, fierce Ukrainian resistance continued to deny the Kremlin the easy victory it had anticipated, even as Russian forces advanced in the south while edging closer to a capital buffeted by fear. They were also intensifying the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, potentially altering the war’s dynamics by increasing the human toll.

The Russian military was bearing down on several Ukrainian cities, including Kherson, a port near the Black Sea, whose capture would mark the first major city to come under full control of President Vladimir Putin’s forces since the invasion began Feb. 24. Russia claims it is fully in control of the city, but Ukrainian officials said the municipal government was still in place. Neither claim could be independently verified. Kherson’s mayor said the city was “waiting for a miracle” to collect bodies and restore basic services.

In Kyiv, blasts were reported overnight and Russian forces appeared to be moving to encircle the capital. A military convoy with hundreds of vehicles remained north of the city, a possible prelude to an assault.

Here are the latest developments:

— Attacks by Russian troops were reported on hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure in key cities in Ukraine’s south and east. The forces continued to lay siege to central Kharkiv, where a government building was hit by an apparent rocket strike Wednesday, and where supplies of food and water were running low in the city of 1.5 million.

— Overnight, Russian troops surrounded Mariupol, a port city in the southeast. More than 120 civilians were being treated for injuries in hospitals, the mayor said. Residents baked 26 tons of bread to help people survive the coming onslaught, according to the mayor.

— President Joe Biden predicted that the invasion of Ukraine would “leave Russia weaker and the world stronger” during a fiery State of the Union address Tuesday night. He said the United States planned to bar Russian planes from U.S. airspace and that the Justice Department would try to seize the assets of oligarchs and government officials allied with Putin, part of a global push to isolate Russia.

— A second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine was scheduled to take place Wednesday after a meeting Monday failed to make progress in ending the fighting.

As the war in Ukraine pushed into its seventh day, fierce Ukrainian resistance continued to deny the Kremlin the easy victory it had anticipated, even as Russian forces advanced in the south while edging closer to a capital buffeted by fear.

As the war in Ukraine pushed into its seventh day, fierce Ukrainian resistance continued to deny the Kremlin the easy victory it had anticipated, even as Russian forces advanced in the south while edging closer to a capital buffeted by fear. They were also intensifying the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, potentially altering the war’s dynamics by increasing the human toll. The Russian military was bearing down on several Ukrainian cities, including Kherson, a port near the Black Sea, whose capture would mark the first major city to come under full control of President Vladimir Putin’s forces since the invasion began Feb. 24. Russia claims it is fully in control of the city, but Ukrainian officials said the municipal government was still in place. Neither claim could be independently verified. Kherson’s mayor said the city was “waiting for a miracle” to collect bodies and restore basic services. In Kyiv, blasts were reported overnight and Russian forces appeared to be moving to encircle the capital. A military convoy with hundreds of vehicles remained north of the city, a possible prelude to an assault. Here are the latest developments: — Attacks by Russian troops were reported on hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure in key cities in Ukraine’s south and east. The forces continued to lay siege to central Kharkiv, where a government building was hit by an apparent rocket strike Wednesday, and where supplies of food and water were running low in the city of 1.5 million. — Overnight, Russian troops surrounded Mariupol, a port city in the southeast. More than 120 civilians were being treated for injuries in hospitals, the mayor said. Residents baked 26 tons of bread to help people survive the coming onslaught, according to the mayor. — President Joe Biden predicted that the invasion of Ukraine would “leave Russia weaker and the world stronger” during a fiery State of the Union address Tuesday night. He said the United States planned to bar Russian planes from U.S. airspace and that the Justice Department would try to seize the assets of oligarchs and government officials allied with Putin, part of a global push to isolate Russia. — A second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine was scheduled to take place Wednesday after a meeting Monday failed to make progress in ending the fighting.

Russia moves to encircle and capture critical cities in Ukraine

Georgia's ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has been on a hunger strike for weeks and is now in critical condition. The opposition leader is in jail and thus lacks proper care.

The government has refused to move him from prison hospital to a civilian clinic against the advice of doctors. They have further warned of the risk to Saakashvili's life.

A council of medics has said that his "current status is assessed as critical" and that he faced a risk of fatal complications in the "immediate future".

The pro-Western reformer president from 2004-2013 was arrested on October 1 on his return from exile in Ukraine. He then refused food for 37 days to protest his imprisonment, which he says is politically motivated.

The jailing of the country's foremost opposition leader fuelled a protracted political crisis that gripped Georgia last year after the opposition denounced fraud in parliamentary elections won narrowly by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-protest-to-support-georgias-jailed-ex-leader-saakashvili-427299">Also read |&nbsp;Thousands protest to support Georgia's jailed ex-leader Saakashvili</a>

The US State Department has urged the Georgian government to "treat Mr Saakashvili fairly and with dignity". Also, several opposition lawmakers have been on hunger strike for days, demanding proper medical care for Saakashvili.

Georgia must take steps "to inform the Court about the applicant's current state of health, to ensure his safety in prison, and to provide him with appropriate medical care for the post-hunger-strike recovery period," the European Court of Human Rights said last week. It also urged Saakashvili to "call off his hunger strike."

Thousands in Georgia rallied to show support for country's jailed ex-president amid growing fears over his health.

The protesters waved Georgian flags and chanted Saakashvili's name. The protests were carried out outside the prison in Rustavi city.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-parliament-passes-bill-for-chemical-castration-of-habitual-rapists-430233">Also read |&nbsp;Pakistan parliament passes bill for chemical castration of habitual rapists&nbsp;</a>

One of the demonstrators, actor Bachi Valishvili, 26, said: "The Georgian government is leading us into an abyss of tyranny. We demand our democracy back."

"We demand Georgia's third president be transferred to a proper clinic and treated adequately, so that his life is saved," he added.

With inputs from agencies

Georgia's ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has been on a hunger strike for weeks and is now in critical condition. The opposition leader is in jail and thus lacks proper care.

Georgia's ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has been on a hunger strike for weeks and is now in critical condition. The opposition leader is in jail and thus lacks proper care. The government has refused to move him from prison hospital to a civilian clinic against the advice of doctors. They have further warned of the risk to Saakashvili's life. A council of medics has said that his "current status is assessed as critical" and that he faced a risk of fatal complications in the "immediate future". The pro-Western reformer president from 2004-2013 was arrested on October 1 on his return from exile in Ukraine. He then refused food for 37 days to protest his imprisonment, which he says is politically motivated. The jailing of the country's foremost opposition leader fuelled a protracted political crisis that gripped Georgia last year after the opposition denounced fraud in parliamentary elections won narrowly by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Also read | Thousands protest to support Georgia's jailed ex-leader Saakashvili The US State Department has urged the Georgian government to "treat Mr Saakashvili fairly and with dignity". Also, several opposition lawmakers have been on hunger strike for days, demanding proper medical care for Saakashvili. Georgia must take steps "to inform the Court about the applicant's current state of health, to ensure his safety in prison, and to provide him with appropriate medical care for the post-hunger-strike recovery period," the European Court of Human Rights said last week. It also urged Saakashvili to "call off his hunger strike." Thousands in Georgia rallied to show support for country's jailed ex-president amid growing fears over his health. The protesters waved Georgian flags and chanted Saakashvili's name. The protests were carried out outside the prison in Rustavi city. Also read | Pakistan parliament passes bill for chemical castration of habitual rapists One of the demonstrators, actor Bachi Valishvili, 26, said: "The Georgian government is leading us into an abyss of tyranny. We demand our democracy back." "We demand Georgia's third president be transferred to a proper clinic and treated adequately, so that his life is saved," he added. With inputs from agencies

Jailed Saakashvili ‘critical’ after being on hunger strike for weeks

New&nbsp;Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that a total&nbsp;seven&nbsp;people were wounded in an&nbsp;attack&nbsp;by an Islamist militant in an Auckland shopping mall and&nbsp;three&nbsp;are in&nbsp;critical&nbsp;condition.

Ardern released more details about the&nbsp;attacker, who police shot dead on Friday moments after he launched his stabbing spree, but said his name could not be revealed due to a court order.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that a total seven people were wounded in an attack by an Islamist militant in an Auckland shopping mall and three are in critical condition.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that a total seven people were wounded in an attack by an Islamist militant in an Auckland shopping mall and three are in critical condition. Ardern released more details about the attacker, who police shot dead on Friday moments after he launched his stabbing spree, but said his name could not be revealed due to a court order.

Three of seven New Zealand attack victims are in critical condition: PM

Tunisian&nbsp;security&nbsp;forces&nbsp;on Friday arrested a member of parliament who condemned&nbsp;President&nbsp;Kais&nbsp;Saied's power grab as a "military&nbsp;coup", his party said.

The&nbsp;president's shock move, including a 30-day suspension of parliament, has plunged Tunisia into political turmoil.

"It is a&nbsp;military&nbsp;coup," independent&nbsp;MP&nbsp;Yassine Ayari said on Facebook after the&nbsp;president&nbsp;last Sunday suspended parliament and sacked the premier.

Ayari, 30, is a vocal critic of authorities who has had many run-ins with the law in past years.

He was sentenced to six months in prison in 2015 for defaming the army and was handed a three-month jail sentence in 2018 for criticising the&nbsp;military.

His party, Hope and Labour, said he was arrested by members of the&nbsp;president's&nbsp;security&nbsp;team who did not provide any&nbsp;arrest&nbsp;warrant.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisian-presidency-sacks-head-of-national-tv-channel-401347">Also read |&nbsp;Tunisian presidency sacks head of national TV channel</a>

Ayari's wife said on Facebook that his detention was "violent".

There was no immediate confirmation from the&nbsp;president's office or prosecutors on the&nbsp;arrest.

His opponents accuse him of having staged a "coup", but&nbsp;Saied&nbsp;has said his actions are justified under the constitution which allows the head of state to take unspecified exceptional measures in the event of an "imminent threat".

In a Facebook post, Ayari said the&nbsp;president's actions represented "a reversal of the constitution... with the use of the army".

Saied&nbsp;has also declared a crackdown on corruption, accusing 460 businessmen of embezzlement.&nbsp;

On top of the political turmoil, the North African nation is beset by a crippling economic crisis including soaring inflation and high unemployment, as well as surging COVID-19 infections.

Tunisian security forces on Friday arrested a member of parliament who condemned President Kais Saied's power grab as a "military coup", his party said. The president's shock move, including a 30-day suspension of parliament, has plunged Tunisia into political turmoil.

Tunisian security forces on Friday arrested a member of parliament who condemned President Kais Saied's power grab as a "military coup", his party said. The president's shock move, including a 30-day suspension of parliament, has plunged Tunisia into political turmoil. "It is a military coup," independent MP Yassine Ayari said on Facebook after the president last Sunday suspended parliament and sacked the premier. Ayari, 30, is a vocal critic of authorities who has had many run-ins with the law in past years. He was sentenced to six months in prison in 2015 for defaming the army and was handed a three-month jail sentence in 2018 for criticising the military. His party, Hope and Labour, said he was arrested by members of the president's security team who did not provide any arrest warrant. Also read | Tunisian presidency sacks head of national TV channel Ayari's wife said on Facebook that his detention was "violent". There was no immediate confirmation from the president's office or prosecutors on the arrest. His opponents accuse him of having staged a "coup", but Saied has said his actions are justified under the constitution which allows the head of state to take unspecified exceptional measures in the event of an "imminent threat". In a Facebook post, Ayari said the president's actions represented "a reversal of the constitution... with the use of the army". Saied has also declared a crackdown on corruption, accusing 460 businessmen of embezzlement. On top of the political turmoil, the North African nation is beset by a crippling economic crisis including soaring inflation and high unemployment, as well as surging COVID-19 infections.

Tunisian MP critical of president's power grab arrested: party

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting immediate supply of additional medical oxygen, in line with what was agreed in government meetings held on May 1 and 2.

The letter mentions that Tamil Nadu is facing a looming oxygen crisis and that the requirement of medical oxygen is projected to go from the current 440MT to 840MT.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Referring to the National Oxygen Plan, Stalin says that only 220MT was allocated for Tamil Nadu, following which the officials had requested DPIIT&nbsp;(on May 1 and 2) for an immediate supply. It is added that despite DPITT having agreed to provide 476MT of medical oxygen, such an order has not been issued.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The letter,&nbsp;which was released to the media,&nbsp;also adds that revised allotment orders for nearly 220MTs of medical oxygen from sources in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Rourkela are awaited.&nbsp;

Besides mentioning the death of 13 patients at the&nbsp;Chengalpattu&nbsp;Government hospital near Chennai a few days back, Stalin also requested the Central Government to provide at least 20 ISO Cryogenic Containers and trains to transport oxygen to Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Friday, Tamil Nadu witnessed 26,465 new COVID-19 cases, 22.381 recoveries, thus taking the active cases to 1,35,355. 197 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting immediate supply of additional medical oxygen, in line with what was agreed in government meetings held on May 1 and 2.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting immediate supply of additional medical oxygen, in line with what was agreed in government meetings held on May 1 and 2. The letter mentions that Tamil Nadu is facing a looming oxygen crisis and that the requirement of medical oxygen is projected to go from the current 440MT to 840MT. Referring to the National Oxygen Plan, Stalin says that only 220MT was allocated for Tamil Nadu, following which the officials had requested DPIIT (on May 1 and 2) for an immediate supply. It is added that despite DPITT having agreed to provide 476MT of medical oxygen, such an order has not been issued. The letter, which was released to the media, also adds that revised allotment orders for nearly 220MTs of medical oxygen from sources in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Rourkela are awaited. Besides mentioning the death of 13 patients at the Chengalpattu Government hospital near Chennai a few days back, Stalin also requested the Central Government to provide at least 20 ISO Cryogenic Containers and trains to transport oxygen to Tamil Nadu. On Friday, Tamil Nadu witnessed 26,465 new COVID-19 cases, 22.381 recoveries, thus taking the active cases to 1,35,355. 197 deaths were recorded over the last 24 hours.

Oxygen availability in Tamil Nadu critical, Stalin writes to PM Modi 

Soldiers will be deployed to key sites in Britain to boost security as the country raised its terror threat to the highest level of &quot;critical&quot; following a suicide attack in Manchester that killed 22 people, including children.

Police on Tuesday said they believed British-born Salman Abedi, aged 22, carried out Britain&#39;s deadliest bombing in nearly 12 years and Prime Minister Theresa May said another attack could be imminent.

U.S. security sources, citing British intelligence officials, said Abedi was born in Manchester to parents of Libyan origin.

May said it was possible a wider group was linked to the bombing at a crowded concert hall, prompting the increase in security a little more than two weeks before a national election.

An independent body which sets the threat level recommended it be raised to &quot;critical&quot; from &quot;severe&quot; for the first time since June 2007.

&quot;This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent,&quot; May said in a televised statement from her Downing Street Office after a meeting of the government&#39;s crisis response committee.

&quot;Armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces ... You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches.&quot;

Britain&#39;s top anti-terrorism officer Mark Rowley said events would only go ahead when it was safe to do so and the decision to raise the threat level had been made on a &quot;precautionary basis&quot; due to gaps in police knowledge while the investigation continues.

He told reporters he hoped that, as has previously been the case, the level would not stay at critical for a long period.

The Times newspaper reported that Abedi had arrived back in Britain from Libya recently. He is believed to have travelled by train from London before the attack, U.S. officials said.

The attacker set off his improvised bomb as crowds streamed out of the Manchester Arena after a pop concert by Ariana Grande, a U.S. singer especially popular with teenage girls.

Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for what it called a revenge attack against &quot;Crusaders.&quot; But there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation.

FRANTIC SEARCHES

Witnesses related the horror of the blast, which unleashed a stampede just as the concert ended at Europe&#39;s largest indoor arena, full to its capacity of 21,000.

&quot;We ran and people were screaming around us and pushing on the stairs to go outside and people were falling down, girls were crying, and we saw these women being treated by paramedics having open wounds on their legs ... it was just chaos,&quot; said Sebastian Diaz, 19. &quot;It was literally just a minute after it ended, the lights came on and the bomb went off.&quot;

A video posted on Twitter showed fans, many of them young, screaming and running from the venue. Dozens of parents frantically searched for their children, posting photos and pleading for information on social media.

Singer Grande, 23, said on Twitter she was devastated: &quot;broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don&#39;t have words.&quot; She returned to the United States on Tuesday, Britain&#39;s Daily Mail newspaper reported, as questions lingered over whether she would continue her European tour.

The attack was the deadliest in the UK since four British Muslims killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London&#39;s transport system in 2005. But it will have reverberations far beyond British shores.

Attacks in cities including Paris, Nice, Brussels, St Petersburg, Berlin and London have shocked Europeans already anxious over security challenges from mass immigration and pockets of domestic Islamist radicalism. Islamic State has repeatedly called for attacks as retaliation for Western involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

While claiming responsibility on its Telegram account, the group appeared to contradict the police description of a suicide bomber. It suggested explosive devices were placed &quot;in the midst of the gatherings of the Crusaders&quot;.

&quot;What comes next will be more severe on the worshippers of the cross,&quot; the Telegram posting said.

It did not name the bomber, as it usually does in attacks it has ordered, and appeared also to contradict a posting on another Islamic State account, Amaq, which spoke of &quot;a group of attackers&quot;. That reference, however, was later removed.

&quot;DEPRAVED&quot;

May described the attack as an act of &quot;sickening cowardice&quot;. Campaigning for the June 8 election, which opinion polls suggest May&#39;s Conservative Party is on track to win, has been suspended as a mark of respect.

May spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and several other foreign leaders on Tuesday about the attack, her spokesman said. She also visited the police headquarters and a children&#39;s hospital in Manchester.

The White House said Trump had agreed with May during their telephone conversation that the attack was &quot;particularly wanton and depraved&quot;.

Macron and senior French ministers walked to the British embassy in Paris to sign the condolence book.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it &quot;will only strengthen our resolve to ... work with our British friends against those who plan and carry out such inhumane deeds&quot;.

The U.N. Security Council condemned &quot;the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack&quot; and expressed solidarity with Britain in the fight against terrorism.

Queen Elizabeth held a minute&#39;s silence at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London.

Manchester remained on high alert, with additional armed police drafted in. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said more police had been ordered onto the streets of the British capital.

Police raided a property in the Manchester district of Fallowfield where they carried out a controlled explosion.

On Tuesday evening thousands of people attended a vigil in central Manchester in sombre but defiant mood.

&quot;There&#39;s hard times again in these streets of our city, but we won&#39;t take defeat and we don&#39;t want your pity, because this is the place where we stand strong together with a smile on our face, Mancunians forever,&quot; local poet Tony Walsh said in a poem he read to the crowd that drew loud cheers and applause.

British police do not routinely carry firearms, but London police said extra armed officers would be deployed at this weekend&#39;s soccer cup final at Wembley and rugby at Twickenham. Security would be reviewed also for smaller events.

In March, a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on London&#39;s Westminster Bridge, killing four people before stabbing to death a police officer who was on the grounds of parliament. The man was shot dead at the scene.

In 2015, Pakistani student Abid Naseer was convicted in a U.S. court of conspiring with al Qaeda to blow up the Arndale shopping centre in the centre of Manchester in April 2009.

(Reuters)

Prime Minister Theresa May said another attack could be imminent

Soldiers will be deployed to key sites in Britain to boost security as the country raised its terror threat to the highest level of "critical" following a suicide attack in Manchester that killed 22 people, including children. Police on Tuesday said they believed British-born Salman Abedi, aged 22, carried out Britain's deadliest bombing in nearly 12 years and Prime Minister Theresa May said another attack could be imminent. U.S. security sources, citing British intelligence officials, said Abedi was born in Manchester to parents of Libyan origin. May said it was possible a wider group was linked to the bombing at a crowded concert hall, prompting the increase in security a little more than two weeks before a national election. An independent body which sets the threat level recommended it be raised to "critical" from "severe" for the first time since June 2007. "This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent," May said in a televised statement from her Downing Street Office after a meeting of the government's crisis response committee. "Armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces ... You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches." Britain's top anti-terrorism officer Mark Rowley said events would only go ahead when it was safe to do so and the decision to raise the threat level had been made on a "precautionary basis" due to gaps in police knowledge while the investigation continues. He told reporters he hoped that, as has previously been the case, the level would not stay at critical for a long period. The Times newspaper reported that Abedi had arrived back in Britain from Libya recently. He is believed to have travelled by train from London before the attack, U.S. officials said. The attacker set off his improvised bomb as crowds streamed out of the Manchester Arena after a pop concert by Ariana Grande, a U.S. singer especially popular with teenage girls. Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for what it called a revenge attack against "Crusaders." But there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation. FRANTIC SEARCHES Witnesses related the horror of the blast, which unleashed a stampede just as the concert ended at Europe's largest indoor arena, full to its capacity of 21,000. "We ran and people were screaming around us and pushing on the stairs to go outside and people were falling down, girls were crying, and we saw these women being treated by paramedics having open wounds on their legs ... it was just chaos," said Sebastian Diaz, 19. "It was literally just a minute after it ended, the lights came on and the bomb went off." A video posted on Twitter showed fans, many of them young, screaming and running from the venue. Dozens of parents frantically searched for their children, posting photos and pleading for information on social media. Singer Grande, 23, said on Twitter she was devastated: "broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words." She returned to the United States on Tuesday, Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported, as questions lingered over whether she would continue her European tour. The attack was the deadliest in the UK since four British Muslims killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London's transport system in 2005. But it will have reverberations far beyond British shores. Attacks in cities including Paris, Nice, Brussels, St Petersburg, Berlin and London have shocked Europeans already anxious over security challenges from mass immigration and pockets of domestic Islamist radicalism. Islamic State has repeatedly called for attacks as retaliation for Western involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. While claiming responsibility on its Telegram account, the group appeared to contradict the police description of a suicide bomber. It suggested explosive devices were placed "in the midst of the gatherings of the Crusaders". "What comes next will be more severe on the worshippers of the cross," the Telegram posting said. It did not name the bomber, as it usually does in attacks it has ordered, and appeared also to contradict a posting on another Islamic State account, Amaq, which spoke of "a group of attackers". That reference, however, was later removed. "DEPRAVED" May described the attack as an act of "sickening cowardice". Campaigning for the June 8 election, which opinion polls suggest May's Conservative Party is on track to win, has been suspended as a mark of respect. May spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and several other foreign leaders on Tuesday about the attack, her spokesman said. She also visited the police headquarters and a children's hospital in Manchester. The White House said Trump had agreed with May during their telephone conversation that the attack was "particularly wanton and depraved". Macron and senior French ministers walked to the British embassy in Paris to sign the condolence book. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it "will only strengthen our resolve to ... work with our British friends against those who plan and carry out such inhumane deeds". The U.N. Security Council condemned "the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack" and expressed solidarity with Britain in the fight against terrorism. Queen Elizabeth held a minute's silence at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London. Manchester remained on high alert, with additional armed police drafted in. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said more police had been ordered onto the streets of the British capital. Police raided a property in the Manchester district of Fallowfield where they carried out a controlled explosion. On Tuesday evening thousands of people attended a vigil in central Manchester in sombre but defiant mood. "There's hard times again in these streets of our city, but we won't take defeat and we don't want your pity, because this is the place where we stand strong together with a smile on our face, Mancunians forever," local poet Tony Walsh said in a poem he read to the crowd that drew loud cheers and applause. British police do not routinely carry firearms, but London police said extra armed officers would be deployed at this weekend's soccer cup final at Wembley and rugby at Twickenham. Security would be reviewed also for smaller events. In March, a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge, killing four people before stabbing to death a police officer who was on the grounds of parliament. The man was shot dead at the scene. In 2015, Pakistani student Abid Naseer was convicted in a U.S. court of conspiring with al Qaeda to blow up the Arndale shopping centre in the centre of Manchester in April 2009. (Reuters)

UK raises threat level from severe to critical

Gold turned lower on Thursday, as Sterling bounced higher and US stock markets came well off their lows following the suspension of Britain&#39;s campaign for next week&#39;s referendum after a member of Parliament was shot dead. 
 
British Member of Parliament Jo Cox, who was killed in the street in her constituency in northern England earlier in the day, had been a vocal supporter of Britain remaining within the EU. 
 
The turnaround in bullion prices, their first drop in seven sessions, came after rallying to the highest in nearly two years, buoyed by the US Federal Reserve, which sounded a dovish note after its latest policy meeting on Wednesday. 
 
In Euro and Sterling terms, the metal turned lower after reaching three-year highs. 
 
Spot gold was down 0.4 per cent at $1,285.76 an ounce by 2:40 pm EDT (1840 GMT), after rising to $1,315.55 an ounce, the highest since August 2014. 
 
Spot prices have bounced 6 per cent this month, after the approaching June 23 referendum - when Britons will vote on whether or not to leave the European Union, dubbed &quot;Brexit&quot; - dented appetite for assets viewed as higher risk, sending investors scurrying for bonds and gold. 
 
After the attack, campaigning for next week&#39;s referendum was suspended. 
 
U.S. gold futures for August delivery settled up 0.8 percent at $1,298.40 an ounce. 
 
&quot;A rebound in the euro and sterling, and a mirrored decline in the dollar, set gold up for a retracement,&quot; said James Steel, chief metals analyst for HSBC Securities in New York. 
 
&quot;Recovery in equities may also imply some dimming in risk-off related purchases of gold.&quot; 
 
Yields on most U.S. Treasury yields rose to session highs after British campaigning for the Brexit vote was suspended following MP Cox&#39;s death. 
 
Expectations that the U.S. central bank would press ahead with interest rate increases over the summer faded earlier this month after the release of weak U.S. payrolls data for May. 
 
&quot;Brexit worries then gave us the next boost and yesterday the FOMC provided enough dovish ammunition for it to make a new high,&quot; said Saxo Bank&#39;s head of commodity research, Ole Hansen. 
 
On Wednesday, holdings in the world&#39;s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Shares, rose to the highest since October 2013. 
 
Silver fell 0.4 percent to $17.43 an ounce, platinum lost 0.1 percent to $969.67 and palladium was up 0.2 percent at $533.11. 
(Reuters)

US stock markets came well off their lows following the suspension of Britain's referendum campaign after the death of British MP

Gold turned lower on Thursday, as Sterling bounced higher and US stock markets came well off their lows following the suspension of Britain's campaign for next week's referendum after a member of Parliament was shot dead. British Member of Parliament Jo Cox, who was killed in the street in her constituency in northern England earlier in the day, had been a vocal supporter of Britain remaining within the EU. The turnaround in bullion prices, their first drop in seven sessions, came after rallying to the highest in nearly two years, buoyed by the US Federal Reserve, which sounded a dovish note after its latest policy meeting on Wednesday. In Euro and Sterling terms, the metal turned lower after reaching three-year highs. Spot gold was down 0.4 per cent at $1,285.76 an ounce by 2:40 pm EDT (1840 GMT), after rising to $1,315.55 an ounce, the highest since August 2014. Spot prices have bounced 6 per cent this month, after the approaching June 23 referendum - when Britons will vote on whether or not to leave the European Union, dubbed "Brexit" - dented appetite for assets viewed as higher risk, sending investors scurrying for bonds and gold. After the attack, campaigning for next week's referendum was suspended. U.S. gold futures for August delivery settled up 0.8 percent at $1,298.40 an ounce. "A rebound in the euro and sterling, and a mirrored decline in the dollar, set gold up for a retracement," said James Steel, chief metals analyst for HSBC Securities in New York. "Recovery in equities may also imply some dimming in risk-off related purchases of gold." Yields on most U.S. Treasury yields rose to session highs after British campaigning for the Brexit vote was suspended following MP Cox's death. Expectations that the U.S. central bank would press ahead with interest rate increases over the summer faded earlier this month after the release of weak U.S. payrolls data for May. "Brexit worries then gave us the next boost and yesterday the FOMC provided enough dovish ammunition for it to make a new high," said Saxo Bank's head of commodity research, Ole Hansen. On Wednesday, holdings in the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Shares, rose to the highest since October 2013. Silver fell 0.4 percent to $17.43 an ounce, platinum lost 0.1 percent to $969.67 and palladium was up 0.2 percent at $533.11. (Reuters)

Gold falls from two-year high as Brexit campaign suspended

British&nbsp;MP&nbsp;Jo Cox, 41, has died after being attacked in the street in her constituency today,&nbsp;police confirmed. 
 
West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman Dee Collins told reporters she was &quot;very sad&quot; to report that Cox was pronounced dead at 1.48 pm (1248 GMT). 
 
&quot;Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo&rsquo;s friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo.&nbsp;Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people.&nbsp;She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn&rsquo;t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.&nbsp;Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full&quot;, said Brendan Cox, husband of late British lawmaker

Leading politicians reacted over the demise of Jo Cox&nbsp;&nbsp;on Twitter 
 
(WIONews and Agencies)
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>

The Labour lawmaker, 41, was critically injured on Thursday after being shot and stabbed in her constituency in northern England.

British MP Jo Cox, 41, has died after being attacked in the street in her constituency today, police confirmed. West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman Dee Collins told reporters she was "very sad" to report that Cox was pronounced dead at 1.48 pm (1248 GMT). "Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo’s friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo. Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people. She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn’t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous. Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full", said Brendan Cox, husband of late British lawmaker Leading politicians reacted over the demise of Jo Cox on Twitter (WIONews and Agencies)

Anti-Brexit British MP dead after street attack: Police

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest &quot;The Voice&quot;, was in a critical condition on Friday&nbsp;after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said&nbsp;police on social media. 
 
Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said&nbsp;the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. 
 
The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. 
 
The authorities said that it knew Grimmie&#39;s fans wanted as much information as possible, and it would provide updates as the investigation unfolds. 
 
Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the &quot;The Voice,&quot; a singing competition on NBC. 
 
&quot;We are heartbroken&quot;, The Voice tweeted.

Grimmie, who finished third as a contestant during the 2014 season of 'The Voice', was in critical condition

Singer Christina Grimmie, the former contestant on television singing contest "The Voice", was in a critical condition on Friday after being shot at a concert in Orlando, said police on social media. Grimmie was signing autographs with band members of Before You Exit, with whom she performed earlier, when a gunman approached and opened fire before her brother tackled him at the Plaza Live music venue, said the Orlando Police Department on Twitter. The assailant shot and killed himself, police tweeted. The authorities said that it knew Grimmie's fans wanted as much information as possible, and it would provide updates as the investigation unfolds. Grimmie placed third during the 2014 season of the "The Voice," a singing competition on NBC. "We are heartbroken", The Voice tweeted.

The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie shot in Orlando concert

critical

Critical, News on Critical, stories on Critical, articles on Critical, Critical stories at Wion, Critical news, Critical latest news