President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US&nbsppressure to limit its influence in the Middle East.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, a long-time critic of the deal reached between Iran and six powers in 2015 before he took office, has threatened to pull out by not extending sanctions waivers when they expire on May 12, unless European signatories of the accord fix what he calls its “flaws”.

Under the agreement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Iran strictly limited uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs. In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were rescinded in January 2016.

Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had been preparing for every possible scenario, including a deal without Washington - which would still include the other signatories that remain committed to it - or no deal at all.

"We are not worried about America's cruel decisions ... We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.

"If we can get what we want from a deal without America, then Iran will continue to remain committed to the deal. What Iran wants is our interests to be guaranteed by its non-American signatories ... In that case, getting rid of America's mischievous presence will be fine for Iran."

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<h5>If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be,' said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation</h5>
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"If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be," said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation.

"But if they want to weaken Iran and limit its influence whether in the region or globally, Iran will fiercely resist."

Tehran has made repeated threats to walk away if Trump does, but several Iranian officials told Reuters last week that as long as Tehran was not excluded from the global financial and trading system, it could consider respecting the accord.

Diplomats say Tehran would rather the deal remain intact out of concern about a revival of domestic unrest over economic hardships that mounted over the years sanctions were in place.

EUROPEAN POWERS VOW TO UPHOLD DEAL

Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord and, in an effort to address U.S. complaints, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when pivotal provisions of the deal expire - and its role in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

Whatever Trump decides, France, Britain and Germany will stick to the deal because it is the best way to stop Iran developing a nuclear bomb, French Foreign Minister Yean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday after meeting his German counterpart.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the deal, which is being policed by U.N. nuclear inspectors, "makes the world safer", and would do everything possible to uphold it.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, now in Washington for talks, said the deal had weaknesses but these could be remedied. "...At this moment Britain is working alongside the Trump administration and our French and German allies to ensure that they are," he said in a commentary in the New York Times.

"I am sure of one thing: every available alternative is worse. The wisest course would be to improve the handcuffs rather than break them."

Even if Trump rejects a possible remedy being worked out by U.S. and European officials and decides to bring back sanctions, the most drastic U.S. measures targeting Iran's oil sales will not immediately resume.

There are at least two avenues potentially offering more time for talks after May 12.

The agreement has a dispute resolution clause that provides at least 35 days to consider a claim that any party has violated its terms. That can be extended if all parties agree.

And if Trump restores the core U.S. sanctions, under U.S. law he must wait at least 180 days before reimposing penalties on banks of nations that do not slash purchases of Iranian oil.

Iran's clerical rulers have repeatedly ruled out reducing its sway across the region, as demanded by the United States and its European allies. Tehran says its missile capabilities are purely defensive and nuclear ambitions only civilian in nature.

The UN&nbspnuclear watchdog says it is maintaining the "world's most robust verification regime" in Iran and has repeatedly said Tehran is complying with the deal terms.

President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US pressure to limit its influence in the Middle East

President Hassan Rouhani hinted on Monday that Iran could remain in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers even if the United States dropped out but Tehran would fiercely resist US&nbsppressure to limit its influence in the Middle East. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, a long-time critic of the deal reached between Iran and six powers in 2015 before he took office, has threatened to pull out by not extending sanctions waivers when they expire on May 12, unless European signatories of the accord fix what he calls its “flaws”. Under the agreement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Iran strictly limited uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs. In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were rescinded in January 2016. Rouhani said the Islamic Republic had been preparing for every possible scenario, including a deal without Washington - which would still include the other signatories that remain committed to it - or no deal at all. "We are not worried about America's cruel decisions ... We are prepared for all scenarios and no change will occur in our lives next week," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state TV. "If we can get what we want from a deal without America, then Iran will continue to remain committed to the deal. What Iran wants is our interests to be guaranteed by its non-American signatories ... In that case, getting rid of America's mischievous presence will be fine for Iran." If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be,' said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation × "If they want to make sure that we are not after a nuclear bomb, we have said repeatedly that we are not and we will not be," said Rouhani, who engineered the nuclear accord to ease Iran's isolation. "But if they want to weaken Iran and limit its influence whether in the region or globally, Iran will fiercely resist." Tehran has made repeated threats to walk away if Trump does, but several Iranian officials told Reuters last week that as long as Tehran was not excluded from the global financial and trading system, it could consider respecting the accord. Diplomats say Tehran would rather the deal remain intact out of concern about a revival of domestic unrest over economic hardships that mounted over the years sanctions were in place. EUROPEAN POWERS VOW TO UPHOLD DEAL Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the accord and, in an effort to address U.S. complaints, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile programme, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 - when pivotal provisions of the deal expire - and its role in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Whatever Trump decides, France, Britain and Germany will stick to the deal because it is the best way to stop Iran developing a nuclear bomb, French Foreign Minister Yean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday after meeting his German counterpart. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the deal, which is being policed by U.N. nuclear inspectors, "makes the world safer", and would do everything possible to uphold it. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, now in Washington for talks, said the deal had weaknesses but these could be remedied. "...At this moment Britain is working alongside the Trump administration and our French and German allies to ensure that they are," he said in a commentary in the New York Times. "I am sure of one thing: every available alternative is worse. The wisest course would be to improve the handcuffs rather than break them." Even if Trump rejects a possible remedy being worked out by U.S. and European officials and decides to bring back sanctions, the most drastic U.S. measures targeting Iran's oil sales will not immediately resume. There are at least two avenues potentially offering more time for talks after May 12. The agreement has a dispute resolution clause that provides at least 35 days to consider a claim that any party has violated its terms. That can be extended if all parties agree. And if Trump restores the core U.S. sanctions, under U.S. law he must wait at least 180 days before reimposing penalties on banks of nations that do not slash purchases of Iranian oil. Iran's clerical rulers have repeatedly ruled out reducing its sway across the region, as demanded by the United States and its European allies. Tehran says its missile capabilities are purely defensive and nuclear ambitions only civilian in nature. The UN&nbspnuclear watchdog says it is maintaining the "world's most robust verification regime" in Iran and has repeatedly said Tehran is complying with the deal terms.

Iran says could remain in nuclear deal if its interests guaranteed: State TV

Pakistan is well on its way to amassing the world`s third largest nuclear weapons stockpile and its decision to deploy low-yield (5 to 10 kiloton) battlefield weapons, represents a dangerous new strategy that could have a telling impact on South Asia`s future stability, claims a military history and world affairs expert.

In an article written for the www.military.com website, Joseph V Micallef, a best-selling military history and world affairs author and a keynote speaker, warns that if Islamabad continues in this vein, there is every possibility of nuclear device or devices falling into the hands of militant jihadist organisations, both in Pakistan and in other parts of the world.

In his article, Micallef says, "Pakistan`s past ties to militant jihadist groups like the Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Jihad Islami, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba or Hizbul Mujahideen, to name a few, and the emergence of al-Qaida affiliated Ansar Ghawzat-Ul-Hind, have added an additional element of conflict into Indian-Pakistani relations."

"They have also led to a significant deterioration" in bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States, he adds.

He says this conflict between Pakistan and India must be seen in a larger context, ie, expanded to a "larger rivalry between China and India in Asia and the Indian Ocean basin."

"The military intervention by the United States and its allies to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the role of both India and Pakistan in that conflict, have added a further layer of complexity between the two countries," Micallef maintains.

Micallef suggests that what concerns him most is that Pakistan continues to engage in a nuclear arms build-up, which it has been doing clandestinely and illicitly for the past 48 years, and that these arms could be accessed by rogue elements, both in Pakistan and abroad.

Between 1971 and 2016, Islamabad has been developing its own nuclear arsenal, "both plutonium and enriched uranium-based weapons."

Micallef assesses that Pakistan reportedly has four plutonium production reactors and three plutonium reprocessing plants.

Pakistan is also producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), using gas centrifuge enriched uranium.

"The specially designed centrifuges spin uranium hexafluoride gas at high speeds to increase the concentration of the uranium 235 isotope. This is the same technology that Iran had been using in its nuclear weapons program," Micallef states.

"There continue to be reports, however, that rogue elements of that (AQ&nbspKhan) network continue to operate clandestinely. According to unconfirmed media reports, as recently as 2014, the Islamic State (IS) reached out to former members of the Khan network for assistance in securing atomic weaponry," he says.

"While the design and construction of a nuclear device is very likely beyond the capabilities of al-Qaida, IS or any other militant jihadist group, the use of radiological dispersal devices, so called dirty bombs, is well within their capability," he cautions.

He also makes a worrying mention of China`s considerable help to Pakistan in supplying "a broad array of missile and nuclear weapons related assistance.

"Micallef, cites various intelligence sources to say that Pakistan currently has between 140 and 150 nuclear weapons in its control, but has, it is believed, produced and stockpiled around 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms (6,600 to 8,800 lbs) of weapons grade HEU and about 200 to 300 kilograms (440 to 660 lbs) of plutonium.

"The current stockpile is enough for an additional 200 to 250 weapons, depending on the warhead`s desired yield.&nbspAs of the end of 2017, Pakistan has enough HEU and plutonium to produce an additional 230 to 290 warheads. This number could be higher if Pakistan opts for smaller warheads intended for battlefield weapons. This would raise the Pakistani nuclear arsenal to between 350 and 450 nuclear warheads. Pakistan is adding enough HEU and plutonium to its stockpile to produce around 10 to 20 additional bombs a year."

Micallef mentions that since the late 1980's, Pakistan has used a variety of militant organisations as proxies in its ongoing struggle with India over Kashmir and elsewhere.

He certifies that the Pakistan Army`s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) sponsors, organises, trains and funds terror outfits operating from its soil such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Omar, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Sipah-e-Sahaba, the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Jamaat-ud-Da`wah, Harkat-ud-Jihad al-Islami, the Haqqani Network, Jamaat-ud-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and the Afghan Taliban, and uses them as proxies for its covert military operations.

According to Micallef, since 1990, Pakistan`s military strategy has followed a three-fold approach:

(1) use militant proxy organizations to strike at Indian military positions in Kashmir

(2) rely on the threat to deploy nuclear weapons should India try to retaliate with a military invasion of Pakistan and

(3) rely on the US&nbspand China, in particular, and world opinion in general, to restrain India from attacking Pakistan.

He says that the Indian Army has come up with a comprehensively developed "Cold Start," Doctrine to make its offensive capabilities more aggressive, while the Pakistani response has been to emphasize the development of so called "theatre nuclear weapons" to be in a position to meet the challenge of India`s rapid deployment forces with a series of limited nuclear strikes and then rely on international pressure to restrain India from escalating the confrontation into a full-blown nuclear conflict.

Micallef says it is important to note that Pakistan`s nuclear weapons are kept disassembled at separate facilities, which technically prevents a terrorist organisation from obtaining a functional nuclear weapon.

"The combination of a multi-branch command authority and the fact that the weapons are kept in a disassembled state makes it extremely difficult for rogue elements within Pakistan or for militant organizations to secure, divert or launch a nuclear weapon," he adds.

"Battlefield weapons, on the other hand, by their very nature, are more at risk for theft, diversion or unauthorized use," because while they are under the control of the national command authority, their actual use is left to the commander in the field.

He concludes by saying, "the future direction of Pakistan`s nuclear weapons policy is going to be a function of the state of Indian-Pakistan relations on the subcontinent. In turn, this will be shaped both by the state of US-Pakistan relations over the ongoing conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as the broader challenge to India of China`s ambitions in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean Basin."&nbsp&nbsp 
&nbsp

The claim has been made by Joseph V Micallef, a best-selling military history and world affairs author

Pakistan is well on its way to amassing the world`s third largest nuclear weapons stockpile and its decision to deploy low-yield (5 to 10 kiloton) battlefield weapons, represents a dangerous new strategy that could have a telling impact on South Asia`s future stability, claims a military history and world affairs expert. In an article written for the www.military.com website, Joseph V Micallef, a best-selling military history and world affairs author and a keynote speaker, warns that if Islamabad continues in this vein, there is every possibility of nuclear device or devices falling into the hands of militant jihadist organisations, both in Pakistan and in other parts of the world. In his article, Micallef says, "Pakistan`s past ties to militant jihadist groups like the Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Jihad Islami, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba or Hizbul Mujahideen, to name a few, and the emergence of al-Qaida affiliated Ansar Ghawzat-Ul-Hind, have added an additional element of conflict into Indian-Pakistani relations." "They have also led to a significant deterioration" in bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States, he adds. He says this conflict between Pakistan and India must be seen in a larger context, ie, expanded to a "larger rivalry between China and India in Asia and the Indian Ocean basin." "The military intervention by the United States and its allies to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the role of both India and Pakistan in that conflict, have added a further layer of complexity between the two countries," Micallef maintains. Micallef suggests that what concerns him most is that Pakistan continues to engage in a nuclear arms build-up, which it has been doing clandestinely and illicitly for the past 48 years, and that these arms could be accessed by rogue elements, both in Pakistan and abroad. Between 1971 and 2016, Islamabad has been developing its own nuclear arsenal, "both plutonium and enriched uranium-based weapons." Micallef assesses that Pakistan reportedly has four plutonium production reactors and three plutonium reprocessing plants. Pakistan is also producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), using gas centrifuge enriched uranium. "The specially designed centrifuges spin uranium hexafluoride gas at high speeds to increase the concentration of the uranium 235 isotope. This is the same technology that Iran had been using in its nuclear weapons program," Micallef states. "There continue to be reports, however, that rogue elements of that (AQ&nbspKhan) network continue to operate clandestinely. According to unconfirmed media reports, as recently as 2014, the Islamic State (IS) reached out to former members of the Khan network for assistance in securing atomic weaponry," he says. "While the design and construction of a nuclear device is very likely beyond the capabilities of al-Qaida, IS or any other militant jihadist group, the use of radiological dispersal devices, so called dirty bombs, is well within their capability," he cautions. He also makes a worrying mention of China`s considerable help to Pakistan in supplying "a broad array of missile and nuclear weapons related assistance. "Micallef, cites various intelligence sources to say that Pakistan currently has between 140 and 150 nuclear weapons in its control, but has, it is believed, produced and stockpiled around 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms (6,600 to 8,800 lbs) of weapons grade HEU and about 200 to 300 kilograms (440 to 660 lbs) of plutonium. "The current stockpile is enough for an additional 200 to 250 weapons, depending on the warhead`s desired yield.&nbspAs of the end of 2017, Pakistan has enough HEU and plutonium to produce an additional 230 to 290 warheads. This number could be higher if Pakistan opts for smaller warheads intended for battlefield weapons. This would raise the Pakistani nuclear arsenal to between 350 and 450 nuclear warheads. Pakistan is adding enough HEU and plutonium to its stockpile to produce around 10 to 20 additional bombs a year." Micallef mentions that since the late 1980's, Pakistan has used a variety of militant organisations as proxies in its ongoing struggle with India over Kashmir and elsewhere. He certifies that the Pakistan Army`s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) sponsors, organises, trains and funds terror outfits operating from its soil such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Omar, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Sipah-e-Sahaba, the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Jamaat-ud-Da`wah, Harkat-ud-Jihad al-Islami, the Haqqani Network, Jamaat-ud-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and the Afghan Taliban, and uses them as proxies for its covert military operations. According to Micallef, since 1990, Pakistan`s military strategy has followed a three-fold approach: (1) use militant proxy organizations to strike at Indian military positions in Kashmir (2) rely on the threat to deploy nuclear weapons should India try to retaliate with a military invasion of Pakistan and (3) rely on the US&nbspand China, in particular, and world opinion in general, to restrain India from attacking Pakistan. He says that the Indian Army has come up with a comprehensively developed "Cold Start," Doctrine to make its offensive capabilities more aggressive, while the Pakistani response has been to emphasize the development of so called "theatre nuclear weapons" to be in a position to meet the challenge of India`s rapid deployment forces with a series of limited nuclear strikes and then rely on international pressure to restrain India from escalating the confrontation into a full-blown nuclear conflict. Micallef says it is important to note that Pakistan`s nuclear weapons are kept disassembled at separate facilities, which technically prevents a terrorist organisation from obtaining a functional nuclear weapon. "The combination of a multi-branch command authority and the fact that the weapons are kept in a disassembled state makes it extremely difficult for rogue elements within Pakistan or for militant organizations to secure, divert or launch a nuclear weapon," he adds. "Battlefield weapons, on the other hand, by their very nature, are more at risk for theft, diversion or unauthorized use," because while they are under the control of the national command authority, their actual use is left to the commander in the field. He concludes by saying, "the future direction of Pakistan`s nuclear weapons policy is going to be a function of the state of Indian-Pakistan relations on the subcontinent. In turn, this will be shaped both by the state of US-Pakistan relations over the ongoing conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as the broader challenge to India of China`s ambitions in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean Basin."

Pakistan may soon have the world's third-largest nuclear stockpile: Report

British Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s Conservative Party was approached by consultancy Cambridge Analytica, but did not take the proposal forward, a spokesman for May said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

&quot;An approach was made and the party decided not to take that forward,&quot; May`s political spokesman said. He said the approach pre-dated May&#39;s time as leader, but did not have further details immediately available. 
&nbsp;

The approach pre-dated May's time as leader, but did not have further details immediately available

British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party was approached by consultancy Cambridge Analytica, but did not take the proposal forward, a spokesman for May said on Wednesday. "An approach was made and the party decided not to take that forward," May`s political spokesman said. He said the approach pre-dated May's time as leader, but did not have further details immediately available.

UK PM May's party was approached by Cambridge Analytica, but no work undertaken: Spokesman

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			Prime Minister Theresa May&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;paid tribute to world-renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking as &quot;a brilliant and extraordinary mind&quot; whose legacy &quot;will not be forgotten&quot; after his death at the age of 76.

			 
			May wrote on her Twitter page that Hawking was &quot;one of the great scientists of his generation&quot;, adding that &quot;his courage, humour and determination to get the most from life was an inspiration&quot;.
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May wrote on her Twitter page that Hawking was "one of the great scientists of his generation", adding that "his courage, humour and determination to get the most from life was an inspiration"

Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday paid tribute to world-renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking as "a brilliant and extraordinary mind" whose legacy "will not be forgotten" after his death at the age of 76. May wrote on her Twitter page that Hawking was "one of the great scientists of his generation", adding that "his courage, humour and determination to get the most from life was an inspiration".

UK's May hails Hawking as 'brilliant and extraordinary mind'

Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s spokesperson said today Britain will pay a financial settlement between $47-52 billion for leaving the European Union as Britain reached an agreement with EU officials over Brexit.

British officials today struck a deal at Brussels with the European Commission declaring that enough progress had been made in Brexit negotiations to allow a second phase of talks on future relations with the United Kingdom to begin.

European Union President Donald Tusk cautioned that in fact &quot;the most difficult challenge is still ahead because it is much harder to break up and build a new relationship than just to divorce.&quot;

&quot;We have de facto less than a year,&quot; Tusk added.

Britain will be paying into the EU budget until 2020 as part of the deal, AFP reported.

However, former leader of the UK Independence Party lashed out May saying: &quot;It&#39;s not Brexit, a deal in Brussels is good news for Mrs May as we can now move on to the next stage of humiliation.&quot;

The pro-EU Liberal Democrats, who have called for a second referendum on membership in the bloc, said: &quot;How long before it&#39;s torn apart by her own MPs?

&quot;It should be the British people, not Tory Brexiters and DUP, who get to decide whether this deal is good enough.&quot;

Campaign group Leave.EU said &quot;our lily-livered politicians have sold the country down the river&quot;, adding the agreement was,&quot;complete capitulation&quot;.

Shares across the continent surged on the news, Britain&#39;s FTSE 100 Index was higher through the day despite an early rally for the British currency. At one stage sterling gained half a percent to hit a six-month high of 86.9 pence against the euro but fell later.

European banking shares were biggest gainers, pan-European share index rose 0.8 per cent.

The EU wants the final version of the full withdrawal agreement from the 28-nation bloc by October 2018 to allow time for the British government and the European Parliament to approve the document.

The formal withdrawal date is set for March 29, 2019.

European banking shares were biggest gainers, pan-European share index rose 0.8 per cent.

Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesperson said today Britain will pay a financial settlement between $47-52 billion for leaving the European Union as Britain reached an agreement with EU officials over Brexit. British officials today struck a deal at Brussels with the European Commission declaring that enough progress had been made in Brexit negotiations to allow a second phase of talks on future relations with the United Kingdom to begin. European Union President Donald Tusk cautioned that in fact "the most difficult challenge is still ahead because it is much harder to break up and build a new relationship than just to divorce." "We have de facto less than a year," Tusk added. Britain will be paying into the EU budget until 2020 as part of the deal, AFP reported. However, former leader of the UK Independence Party lashed out May saying: "It's not Brexit, a deal in Brussels is good news for Mrs May as we can now move on to the next stage of humiliation." The pro-EU Liberal Democrats, who have called for a second referendum on membership in the bloc, said: "How long before it's torn apart by her own MPs? "It should be the British people, not Tory Brexiters and DUP, who get to decide whether this deal is good enough." Campaign group Leave.EU said "our lily-livered politicians have sold the country down the river", adding the agreement was,"complete capitulation". Shares across the continent surged on the news, Britain's FTSE 100 Index was higher through the day despite an early rally for the British currency. At one stage sterling gained half a percent to hit a six-month high of 86.9 pence against the euro but fell later. European banking shares were biggest gainers, pan-European share index rose 0.8 per cent. The EU wants the final version of the full withdrawal agreement from the 28-nation bloc by October 2018 to allow time for the British government and the European Parliament to approve the document. The formal withdrawal date is set for March 29, 2019.

Will pay $47-52 billion in Brexit divorce deal: Britain

The leaders of France and Britain on Tuesday announced an anti-terror action plan to crack down on radicalisation through social media.

After talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said both countries agreed that social networks were not doing enough to stamp out terror propaganda.

Speaking after terror attacks in Manchester and London, Macron said the two countries had worked on a &quot;very concrete&quot; action plan.

He said one of the key measures would aim at preventing the incitement of &quot;hate and terrorism&quot; on the internet.

May said she and Macron agreed that &quot;more should be done to tackle the terrorist threat online&quot;.

She said the British and French campaign was aimed to &quot;ensure the internet cannot... be used to host the radicalising material that leads to so much harm.&quot;

May said the British government was already working with social media companies &quot;to halt the spread of extremist material and poisonous propaganda that warps young minds&quot;, adding: &quot;But we know they need to do more.

&quot;Today we can announce that the UK and France will work together to encourage organisations to do more and abide by their social responsibility to step up their efforts to remove harmful content from their networks.&quot;

The campaign includes exploring the possibility of legal penalties against tech companies if they fail to take the necessary action to remove unacceptable content, May said.

Britain was rocked by a suicide bombing at a pop concert in Manchester on May 22 which killed 22 people, including children, followed two weeks later by a knife and van attack in central London, which left eight dead.

France has been a constant target for jihadist attacks since 2015, with more than 230 people killed.

After their press conference the two leaders headed to the Stade de France to watch a friendly match between the French and English football teams.

May and Macron agreed that 'more should be done to tackle the terrorist threat online'

The leaders of France and Britain on Tuesday announced an anti-terror action plan to crack down on radicalisation through social media. After talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron said both countries agreed that social networks were not doing enough to stamp out terror propaganda. Speaking after terror attacks in Manchester and London, Macron said the two countries had worked on a "very concrete" action plan. He said one of the key measures would aim at preventing the incitement of "hate and terrorism" on the internet. May said she and Macron agreed that "more should be done to tackle the terrorist threat online". She said the British and French campaign was aimed to "ensure the internet cannot... be used to host the radicalising material that leads to so much harm." May said the British government was already working with social media companies "to halt the spread of extremist material and poisonous propaganda that warps young minds", adding: "But we know they need to do more. "Today we can announce that the UK and France will work together to encourage organisations to do more and abide by their social responsibility to step up their efforts to remove harmful content from their networks." The campaign includes exploring the possibility of legal penalties against tech companies if they fail to take the necessary action to remove unacceptable content, May said. Britain was rocked by a suicide bombing at a pop concert in Manchester on May 22 which killed 22 people, including children, followed two weeks later by a knife and van attack in central London, which left eight dead. France has been a constant target for jihadist attacks since 2015, with more than 230 people killed. After their press conference the two leaders headed to the Stade de France to watch a friendly match between the French and English football teams.

France and UK announce anti-terror action plan

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday condemned the &quot;evil ideology of Islamist extremism&quot; as being behind three terror attacks in Britain since March, saying the perpetrators were &quot;copying one another&quot;.

While not part of the same plot, &quot;they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the evil ideology of Islamist extremism,&quot; she said, adding that the &quot;perpetrators are inspired to attack... by copying one another&quot;.

More to follow

(AFP)

She said the perpetrators are 'copying one another'

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday condemned the "evil ideology of Islamist extremism" as being behind three terror attacks in Britain since March, saying the perpetrators were "copying one another". While not part of the same plot, "they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the evil ideology of Islamist extremism," she said, adding that the "perpetrators are inspired to attack... by copying one another". More to follow (AFP)

London attack: British PM May condemns 'evil ideology of Islamist extremism'

Britain&#39;s Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn took diverging tacks over Brexit negotiations on Monday as they faced a live televised grilling ahead of June&#39;s general election.

Ten days before the snap polls on June 8, the two rivals separately faced wide-ranging questions from members of the public before interrogations by veteran bulldog broadcaster Jeremy Paxman.

May declined a face-to-face debate with Corbyn, whose opposition party has in recent days narrowed the gap in opinion polls, though the ruling Conservatives remain in front.

While Corbyn insisted he would &quot;make sure there&#39;s a deal&quot; with the European Union before Britain leaves the bloc, May said she was &quot;prepared to walk out&quot;.

&quot;No deal is better than a bad deal,&quot; the 60-year-old prime minister repeatedly said in the Sky News/Channel 4 &quot;Battle for Number 10&quot; broadcast.

&quot;We have to be prepared to walk out,&quot; the premier insisted, noting that some people in Europe were &quot;talking about punishing us&quot;.

Her 68-year-old rival Corbyn said the &quot;reality&quot; of last year&#39;s Brexit referendum result had to be respected and insisted: &quot;We will make sure there&#39;s a deal&quot;.

&quot;We won&#39;t start the negotiations with megaphone diplomacy, threatening Europe with some kind of offshore tax haven on the shores of Europe,&quot; he said in a dig at May&#39;s efforts to handle Brexit.

Both candidates officially supported staying in the EU before the referendum held last June, which saw 52 percent of British voters opt to leave the bloc.

Formal talks on Britain&#39;s withdrawal are due to start on June 19, just 11 days after the general election.

May triggered Article 50 -- the formal procedure for leaving the EU -- in late March, opening a two-year timetable for negotiations before withdrawal.

Security was also high on the agenda on Monday, in the wake of the Manchester suicide bombing a week ago which saw 22 people killed and led to brief suspension in political campaigning.

May, who was at times heckled by the audience during the televised questioning, was asked by a serving policeman about &quot;devastating&quot; cuts to police numbers during her six-year tenure as interior minister.

She said the government had had to ensure Britain was &quot;living within our means&quot; given &quot;the economic situation we had inherited&quot;.

She said budgets were currently being protected for both counter-terrorism forces and overall policing.&nbsp;

Corbyn meanwhile was grilled over his controversial relationship with the Irish Republican Army, nuclear deterrence and whether he would abolish the monarchy, given his republican stance.

&quot;It&#39;s not on anybody&#39;s agenda, it&#39;s certainly not on my agenda and, do you know what, I had a very nice chat with the Queen,&quot; he said.

Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party and a leading Brexit campaigner, said in a surprise tweet that Corbyn came across in the broadcast as being &quot;totally sincere&quot;, although he did not agree with him.

&quot;Saying &#39;no deal is better than a bad deal&#39; 4 times will win May the election. But she is a weathercock who believes in very little,&quot; Farage said.

(AFP)

The two rivals separately faced wide-ranging questions from members of the public ten days before the snap polls on June 8

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn took diverging tacks over Brexit negotiations on Monday as they faced a live televised grilling ahead of June's general election. Ten days before the snap polls on June 8, the two rivals separately faced wide-ranging questions from members of the public before interrogations by veteran bulldog broadcaster Jeremy Paxman. May declined a face-to-face debate with Corbyn, whose opposition party has in recent days narrowed the gap in opinion polls, though the ruling Conservatives remain in front. While Corbyn insisted he would "make sure there's a deal" with the European Union before Britain leaves the bloc, May said she was "prepared to walk out". "No deal is better than a bad deal," the 60-year-old prime minister repeatedly said in the Sky News/Channel 4 "Battle for Number 10" broadcast. "We have to be prepared to walk out," the premier insisted, noting that some people in Europe were "talking about punishing us". Her 68-year-old rival Corbyn said the "reality" of last year's Brexit referendum result had to be respected and insisted: "We will make sure there's a deal". "We won't start the negotiations with megaphone diplomacy, threatening Europe with some kind of offshore tax haven on the shores of Europe," he said in a dig at May's efforts to handle Brexit. Both candidates officially supported staying in the EU before the referendum held last June, which saw 52 percent of British voters opt to leave the bloc. Formal talks on Britain's withdrawal are due to start on June 19, just 11 days after the general election. May triggered Article 50 -- the formal procedure for leaving the EU -- in late March, opening a two-year timetable for negotiations before withdrawal. Security was also high on the agenda on Monday, in the wake of the Manchester suicide bombing a week ago which saw 22 people killed and led to brief suspension in political campaigning. May, who was at times heckled by the audience during the televised questioning, was asked by a serving policeman about "devastating" cuts to police numbers during her six-year tenure as interior minister. She said the government had had to ensure Britain was "living within our means" given "the economic situation we had inherited". She said budgets were currently being protected for both counter-terrorism forces and overall policing. Corbyn meanwhile was grilled over his controversial relationship with the Irish Republican Army, nuclear deterrence and whether he would abolish the monarchy, given his republican stance. "It's not on anybody's agenda, it's certainly not on my agenda and, do you know what, I had a very nice chat with the Queen," he said. Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party and a leading Brexit campaigner, said in a surprise tweet that Corbyn came across in the broadcast as being "totally sincere", although he did not agree with him. "Saying 'no deal is better than a bad deal' 4 times will win May the election. But she is a weathercock who believes in very little," Farage said. (AFP)

May, Corbyn spar over Brexit in TV grilling

President Barack Obama on Thursday condemned the deadly attack in Nice and offered any assistance France needed to investigate. 
 
&quot;On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians,&quot; Obama said in a statement. 
 
US secretary of state John Kerry, who had been in Paris earlier in the day for a Bastille Day parade, said: &quot;The United States will continue to stand firmly with the French people during this time of tragedy. We will provide whatever support is needed.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
At least 77 people were killed and scores injured when a truck slammed into a crowd in the French Riviera city during Bastille Day celebrations. 
 
According to the Downing Street, the British Prime Minister Theresa May is being briefed on the &quot;terrible incident&quot; and &nbsp;the UK authorities stand ready to assist their French counterparts. 
 
&quot;We are shocked and concerned by the scenes there. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration.&quot; a Downing Street spokesman said, &quot;We stand ready to help any British nationals and to support our French partners.&quot; 
 
May, who became prime minister on Wednesday after six years as Britain&#39;s interior minister, was due to head to Scotland later Friday for talks on the Brexit vote fall-out. 
 
A foreign office spokesman said that &nbsp;they are in touch with the local authorities and are seeking more information. 
 
&quot;If you are in the area, follow the instructions of the French authorities,&quot; he added, in a message to British citizens. 
 
French local government official Sebastien Humbert told BFMTV that the driver of the truck was shot dead after barrelling down Nice`s palm-lined Promenade des Anglais in what he called &quot;a major criminal attack&quot;. 
 
Witness Roy Calley, who said he lived 200 metres from the promenade, told the BBC there was &quot;all hell breaking loose&quot; and the situation was &quot;pretty horrendous&quot;. 
 
&quot;It was a celebratory atmosphere, it was fun, people were enjoying themselves. Suddenly I heard a huge, what I can only describe as maybe an explosion or a crash. A lot of people were screaming. That was followed by what I thought were maybe gunshots.&quot; 
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday also pledged his support to France . 
 
&quot;Canadians are shocked by tonight&rsquo;s attack in Nice. Our sympathy is with the victims and our solidarity with the French people,&quot; Trudeau said on Twitter. 
 
Canadian opposition leader Thomas Mulcair, head of the New Democratic Party and a French citizen by marriage also offered his condolences ,&quot;We stand with those injured and the families of the many killed,&quot;
Leaders gathering for the first session of the 2016 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) stood for a moment of silence on Friday.&nbsp;

&quot;All the participants of the 11th ASEM summit, we are together with the people of France and the people of Europe. I think it&#39;s appropriate to begin our session with one minute silence,&quot; said Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. 
 
While the United Nations Security Council called the attack &quot;barbaric and cowardly&quot;,&nbsp;European Council President Donald Tusk called it &quot;a sad day for France, for Europe&quot;. He said it was &quot;tragic&quot; that &quot;the subjects of the attack were people celebrating liberty, equality and fraternity.&quot; 
 
&nbsp;Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered his &quot;condolences&quot; to the victims and said China opposed all forms of terrorism. 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemnerd the attack in a series of tweets.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Appalled by the horrific attack in Nice. I strongly condemn such mindless acts of violence. My thoughts are with the families of deceased&quot;&nbsp;he tweeted.&nbsp;&quot;&nbsp;I hope the injured recover soon. India shares the pain &amp; stands firmly with our French sisters &amp; brothers in this hour of immense sadness.&quot; 
&nbsp;
(Agencies) 
?

US, Britain and Canada offered assistance to French government

President Barack Obama on Thursday condemned the deadly attack in Nice and offered any assistance France needed to investigate. "On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians," Obama said in a statement. US secretary of state John Kerry, who had been in Paris earlier in the day for a Bastille Day parade, said: "The United States will continue to stand firmly with the French people during this time of tragedy. We will provide whatever support is needed." At least 77 people were killed and scores injured when a truck slammed into a crowd in the French Riviera city during Bastille Day celebrations. According to the Downing Street, the British Prime Minister Theresa May is being briefed on the "terrible incident" and the UK authorities stand ready to assist their French counterparts. "We are shocked and concerned by the scenes there. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible incident on what was a day of national celebration." a Downing Street spokesman said, "We stand ready to help any British nationals and to support our French partners." May, who became prime minister on Wednesday after six years as Britain's interior minister, was due to head to Scotland later Friday for talks on the Brexit vote fall-out. A foreign office spokesman said that they are in touch with the local authorities and are seeking more information. "If you are in the area, follow the instructions of the French authorities," he added, in a message to British citizens. French local government official Sebastien Humbert told BFMTV that the driver of the truck was shot dead after barrelling down Nice`s palm-lined Promenade des Anglais in what he called "a major criminal attack". Witness Roy Calley, who said he lived 200 metres from the promenade, told the BBC there was "all hell breaking loose" and the situation was "pretty horrendous". "It was a celebratory atmosphere, it was fun, people were enjoying themselves. Suddenly I heard a huge, what I can only describe as maybe an explosion or a crash. A lot of people were screaming. That was followed by what I thought were maybe gunshots." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday also pledged his support to France . "Canadians are shocked by tonight’s attack in Nice. Our sympathy is with the victims and our solidarity with the French people," Trudeau said on Twitter. Canadian opposition leader Thomas Mulcair, head of the New Democratic Party and a French citizen by marriage also offered his condolences ,"We stand with those injured and the families of the many killed," Leaders gathering for the first session of the 2016 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) stood for a moment of silence on Friday. "All the participants of the 11th ASEM summit, we are together with the people of France and the people of Europe. I think it's appropriate to begin our session with one minute silence," said Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. While the United Nations Security Council called the attack "barbaric and cowardly", European Council President Donald Tusk called it "a sad day for France, for Europe". He said it was "tragic" that "the subjects of the attack were people celebrating liberty, equality and fraternity." Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered his "condolences" to the victims and said China opposed all forms of terrorism. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemnerd the attack in a series of tweets. "Appalled by the horrific attack in Nice. I strongly condemn such mindless acts of violence. My thoughts are with the families of deceased" he tweeted. " I hope the injured recover soon. India shares the pain & stands firmly with our French sisters & brothers in this hour of immense sadness." (Agencies) ?

Obama, Trudeau condemn terror attack in Nice

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