Chaos as suspected terrorist attack brings Arian Grande gig to an abrupt end

Chaos as suspected terrorist attack brings Arian Grande gig to an abrupt end

World Unknown   10:35

Wailing and mourning in Manchester after a suspect terrorist attack left 19 persons dead, while 50 persons have sustained different degree of injuries’

The police in Greater Manchester has announced that the tragedy would be handled as an alleged terror attack.

According to eye witnesses a "huge bang" was heard at the 21,000-capacity venue at the end of a sell-out Ariana Grande gig.

The US singer, who was unharmed, tweeted to say she is "broken".

"From the bottom of my heart, I am so, so sorry," she said. "I don't have words."

Her manager Scooter Braun said they mourned "the lives of children and loved ones taken by this cowardly act".

Accordingly, the city’s Victoria station has been closed after evacuating everyone and cancelling train services.

Residents in the city have been offering shelter to all those who went to the concert, even as taxi drivers offered to render free rides, while one of the hotel close to the venue has provided shelter for several children.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in his tweet handle said: "My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. A terrible night for our great city."

Theresa May in her message said her thoughts were with the victims and families of those affected and has condemned "what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack".

Home Secretary Amber Rudd also condemned the "barbaric act" and said: "The full details of exactly what happened are still emerging, but I am proud of the police and first responders who reacted to this tragic incident so swiftly."

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected and especially the families who lost their loved ones tonight - utterly heart-breaking," they said.

If it at the end is confirmed that the attack was an act of terrorism, the explosion will become the worst atrocity in the UK since the deaths of the 56 people killed in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.

Battle line drawn, as Theresa May perfects plans to give Brussels Britain’s Brexit divorce bill

Battle line drawn, as Theresa May perfects plans to give Brussels Britain’s Brexit divorce bill

World Unknown   06:07

In a response to the huge Brexit divorce bill levelled against the United Kingdom, Theresa May’s led government has also concluded plan to hit Brussels with a huge Brexit bill.

According to the PM, Brussels is also owing Britain several billions of pounds as a result of its share of the European Investment Bank and other joint projects.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph the PM mentioned that “money paid in the past” by the UK must be taken into account in any final financial settlement.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the UK had financial “rights” which must be respected during Brexit negotiations about payments as well as “obligations” to the EU as it leaves.

The PM’s intervention is a clear refusal of hardline EU countries who have contended that the UK should not get back its proportion of EU assets.

According to the PM: “There is much debate about what the UK’s obligations might be or indeed what our rights might be in terms of money being paid in in the past. We make it clear that we would look at those both rights and obligations.”

“There’s the investment bank, there’s the investment fund, and there are various areas. This will be, as you know, an important part of the negotiations.”

The comment is the first time the Prime Minister has indicated publicly she wants to keep a share of the European Investment Bank.

It was also reported by Government sources that the UK’s share of the bank has been estimated at 16 per cent - which equals to around £8.5 billion.

Britain can rejoin EFTA in order to access the EU’s single market - Norway

Britain can rejoin EFTA in order to access the EU’s single market - Norway

World Unknown   05:49

It has once again be emphasized that if all efforts to keep Brexit Britain in the EU single collapses, the UK could still be allow membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a stop-gap measure.

Three member countries of EFTA: Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland have all indicated their readiness to welcome the UK into their organisation, which enjoys single market access, in the event of divorce proceedings with Brussels breaking down.

Though if such becomes the case, it would only be used as a transitory measure by the British government, due to the fact that EFTA member countries are made to adhere to EU free movement and some EU regulations.

This measure is made to also ensure that Switzerland and the other three members of the club, maintain their close friendship with the UK which is one of their major trading partner.

EFTA member states are permitted by to enter into trade deals with as many countries they want to enter trade deals with, which EU countries are not to do.

Therefore, if that becomes the situation, the British government would be able to have sufficient time to draw out a strategy for its future economic plan, to enter into a new trading talks with EU.

Liechtenstein's foreign minister Aurelia Frick in his address stated that: "Solutions to soften the landing should be available to us. When the EU is negotiating the divorce from the UK, it automatically means a divorce from the EEA-EFTA countries as well.

"We are not ordinary third countries, but the EU's closest partners and friends.”

According to Ms Frick EFTA countries were "not first thing on the EU's mind when dealing with Brexit", but said they were "in the same boat" as the rest of the continent when it comes to what ties Britain decides to retain with the EU.

Also in a tempting message to the UK she said: “As a minister, I try to raise awareness about the EEA and the fact that it's actually functioning very well.

“In a time of populism and globalisation critics, we should be very happy that we have unexciting integration politics.”

Also speaking, Norway’s EU minister Frank Bakke Jensen said he was “open-minded” about the UK returning to a club it actually helped found in the 1960s, and which it belonged to before joining what was then the Common Market.

He said: "The EEA agreement has proven it is viable, useful, possible to adapt to an ever changing landscape and still relevant for us.

"Our relationship with the EU is a dynamic relationship. When EU changes its laws and agreement we do the same. We are working on this every day.

On Britain, he added: “The initiative would have to come from the UK. For the moment, the question is not on the table.”

Norway’s political elite has repeatedly tried to persuade voters to sign up to full EU membership, but they have twice rejected such a move first in the 1970s and then again in 1994. 

EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

World Unknown   05:39

It is becoming apparent everyone in Brussels is now fully ready for the mother of all negotiations to kick start almost immediately after the UK’s general election coming up in June.

According to sources in Brussels the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier has proposed June 19 as the beginning day of the Brexit talks that will formerly lead to Britain’s exit.

Once the proposed date is confirmed by the European Commission on Monday, the newly elected Prime Minister will be engaged in the Brexit hot seat to save the country’s future as demanded by the British people.

"The 19th (of June) is tentative, because Britain cannot confirm anything until after the elections," one official involved in the Brexit negotiation process said.

"The 19th is the earliest date they can envisage."

Information about the proposed date comes a day after EU Exit Secretary David Davis made it known to Daily Express that the PM had shown the Government "means business" and will not put up with "silly games" by Brussels if she returns to Downing Street after the general election. Where it was also warned that a "tense period" was ahead in the negotiations.

The Brexit Secretary also slammed the notion that Britain could be forced to pay up to £85billion to leave the EU.

In previously unpublished remarks from his Daily Express interview, the EU Exit Secretary said: "Picking numbers out the air doesn't work. I'm not going to do the negotiation in public anyway.

"What is plain is that the period of paying over vast sums of money into the EU is coming to an end - that is the most important thing."

He added: "We have said we will talk to them. We will meet our obligations. One of our great reputations globally is that we meet our obligations whatever they may be.

"We're going to have a very careful look. The numbers you see banded around, they are not legal obligations.

 "It is not in our interests to treat our allies badly, but on the other hand it's also not in our interests to hand over a load of taxpayers' money."

On the other hand, the EU chief negotiator told the Commission leaders at the beginning of this month that securing the rights of all EU nationals living and working in the UK and the divorce bill be given priority during the negotiations. Which he believes could be concluded between October and December.

All things being equal, if the proposed timetable is adhered to, both parties would begin talks on the future trade relationship.

Mr Barnier has proposed that his face-to-face talks with Mr Davis will be held in four-weekly cycles.

Week one would be all about preparations by the remaining 27 governments and the European Parliament and the second to an exchange of documents with Britain. While week three would be for negotiations, where EU officials would be expecting their UK counterparts to come over to Brussels for the week - and the fourth to report the results to the 27 governments and the European Parliament and prepare the next round of talks.

Scottish MEP condemns EU for threatening Britain over Brexit

Scottish MEP condemns EU for threatening Britain over Brexit

World Unknown   09:19

The European Parliament has come under and serious attack from a Scottish MEP David Coburn as they threaten to punish Britain for choosing to leave the union.

The MEP told his EU colleagues that Britain would be far better outside the bloc’s “socialist paradise” to contribute to the Continent’s financial markets. He also lambasted the French president elect for saying that there would have to be “consequences” for Britain as it leaves the EU.

Addressing an audience in Strasbourg, Mr Corburn said: “We hear the new French president and his Macaroons want to draw bankers from London and the EU wants to stop London clearing euros.

“These ladies and gentleman are not realistic threats. There is so much hot air from Mr Macron he could power a Montgolfiere!”

The Scottish MEP also said: “The EU should recognise even the socialist utopia, like the EU, is a properly functioning financial market.

“London’s pre-eminence in global finance could service this EU more easily from outside your socialist paradise.

“The UK has all of the attributes that could make it the EU’s best friend. But, instead, we are told by Macron that voting for Brexit is a crime that the UK must be made an example of so that no country considers leaving.”

Mr Coburn concluded: “He may be taking his orders from German Chancellor, but what sort of club is the EU that can only maintain…”

The Scot’s tirade was cut short by the chair of the parliament’s economic and monetary affairs committee.

However, during his speech in parliament on Wednesday, Michel Barnier reiterated the bloc weren’t seeking to punish Britain.

The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator said he had no intention of ending up without an agreement between the EU and UK.

The US military achieves another scientific feat as its robotic co-pilot flies and lands Boeing 737 simulator aircraft

The US military achieves another scientific feat as its robotic co-pilot flies and lands Boeing 737 simulator aircraft

World Unknown   08:57

Another scientific breakthrough emerges from the US military, as its funded project invents a robotic co-pilot which managed to fly and land an aircraft Boeing 737 in flight simulator. The robotic project is named ALIAS (Aircrew Labour In-Cockpit Automation System), the robotic system can help a pilot fly and even land a Boeing 737.

The scientific feat was designed by Aurora Flight Sciences which is one of its research projects to support more automation on existing aircraft

The project was embarked on due to how expensive both civilian and military aircraft operations are, as it needs extreme and skilled experts are needed to react in the right direction during unforeseeable circumstances.

Taking the seat of the co-pilot, ALIAS makes use of machine vision to enable the computer running the automated system take and understand visual feedback as humans. Just like human beings, it can as well manipulate the flight control.

Just like the Amazon Alexa voice command assistant, it has the ability to recognise speech and synthesis, formulating responses to communicate with the pilot.

"Having successfully demonstrated on a variety of aircraft, ALIAS has proven its versatile automated flight capabilities," said John Wissler, Aurora's vice president of research and development.

"As we move towards fully automated flight from take-off to landing, we can reliably say that we have developed an automation system that enables significant reduction of crew workload."

The work was completed for a project for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the US.

DARPA, is the US military's research wing, which supported projects that have been useful in non-military situations, including the ARPANET, the earliest predecessor of the internet.

The aims for ALIAS include it ultimately supporting the execution of an entire mission from take-off to landing, even in the face of serious aircraft system failures.