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The UK has been accused of turning a «blind eye» to Russia’s «dirty money», putting national security at risk.

The Commons foreign affairs committee said London was being used to hide the «corrupt assets» of President Vladimir Putin and his allies. It said it was «business as usual» for the UK despite the poisoning of Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

This undermined the UK’s efforts to confront the full spectrum of President Putin’s offensive measures, it said.

The UK’s «lethargic response is being taken as proof that we don’t dare stop them… London’s markets are enabling the Kremlin’s efforts,» committee chairman and Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat wrote in the Sunday Times, ahead of the publication of the report.

Security and economic crime minister Ben Wallace said he had not been called to give evidence to the committee: «I fear such an omission weakens the foundation of the report,» he said.

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The government is considering sending hundreds more British troops to Afghanistan.

The defence secretary has written to Theresa May recommending the UK boosts its military presence in the country – but no decision has been made.

The UK currently has more than 600 troops in capital Kabul helping train Afghan security forces. It follows calls by US President Donald Trump and Nato for allies to join him in sending more troops to the country.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson recommended sending up to 400 more army personnel into Afghanistan, joining the 600 already there training Afghan soldiers.

The UK troops would help train Afghan forces and not be in combat. Any announcement was likely to coincide with the Nato summit in July, our correspondent added.

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Front-line officers in remote, rural communities could be routinely armed in order to deal with terror threats, police chiefs have said.

The move is being considered by the National Police Chiefs’ Council because of a lack of specialist counter-terrorist firearms officers. It comes after a drive to recruit these officers in England and Wales fell short by about 100.

Police said arming officers in remote areas would be a last resort.

Counter-terrorist specialist firearms officers (CTSFOs) are trained with special forces to deal with a raft of situations, including hostage rescues and terror attacks. Plans were put in place to bolster the UK’s capacity for armed responses in the wake of the Paris terror attacks in 2015, in which 130 people died.

Over the past two years, the Home Office has funded an extra 874 armed officers in England and Wales – bringing the total to more than 6,400 in April 2017.

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North Korea has said it may pull out of a summit with US President Donald Trump if the US insists it gives up its nuclear weapons.

The highly anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is due to take place on 12 June. But in an angry statement, North Korea’s vice-foreign minister accused the US of making reckless statements and of harbouring sinister intentions.

He pointed the finger squarely at US National Security Adviser John Bolton.

«We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him,» Kim Kye-gwan said.

The White House has responded by saying it is still hopeful the meeting will go ahead. «The president is ready if the meeting takes place. If it doesn’t, we’ll continue the maximum pressure campaign that’s been ongoing,» said spokesperson Sarah Sanders.

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More than 800 people are now known to have suffered physical and psychological injuries after the Manchester bombing, police have said.

Police previously reported 500 people were hurt in the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May 2017 in addition to the 22 killed.

Salman Abedi detonated a home-made device at an Ariana Grande concert.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said the night’s events would be «forever» etched in the city’s history.

«We knew quickly 22 people had been murdered and we now know that there are over 800 people with physical and deep psychological injuries from the attack. «Their lives have been altered forever,» he said.

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