Next Stage Of HS2 Would Slash Journey Times
27 Oct, 2014 - Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky
The Government has welcomed plans to give a multi-billion pound rail boost to northern England.
Details of the second stage of HS2 are due to be unveiled on Monday morning.
They will show the north-of-Birmingham route will go to Leeds as well as Manchester.
Train services running east to west between Liverpool and Hull will also be upgraded.
HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins said northern connectivity plans - dubbed "HS3" - would be "as important to the north of England as Crossrail is for London".
If the plans go ahead, it would mean journey times between Leeds and Manchester could almost be cut in half.
Journeys between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham, and Nottingham to Birmingham could also be slashed by a half or more, and many more journeys substantially shortened.
Phase one of HS2 involves a new high-speed line from Euston in London passing through the Chilterns to Birmingham, with an expected completion date of 2026.
Phase two was originally due to be completed in 2032/33, although Sir David is keen for this date to be brought forward.
The project is strongly supported by the Government but is bitterly opposed by some councils and residents along the phase one route.
Sir David's four main proposals in his report are:
:: Need to take forward both legs of the proposed HS2 Y-network - the alternatives will not bring the same capacity, connectivity and economic benefits.
:: Improve the rail services between east and west - sharply reducing journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull will stimulate local economies.
:: Northern cities should speak with one voice - local authorities from five key cities should join together to form a new body.
:: Set out a timetable to develop a new transport strategy to decide on an approach for improving rail and road connectivity across and within the region north of Birmingham.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he welcomed the report which will "create a northern powerhouse and ensure that HS2 delivers the maximum economic benefits".
Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin said Sir David's report "showed that the original plans for HS2 weren't thought through properly".
He added: "Changing the mess that is phase two doesn't change the fact that phase one is still a complete mess, as is the entire concept of HS2."
Pilots Demand 'Safe Drone Zone' In UK Skies 27 Oct, 2014 - Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky
Pilots are demanding the UK becomes a "safe drone zone" to protect against potential risks such as remote hijacks and poorly-trained operators.
BALPA, the pilot's association, will tell the House of Lords today that tighter rules are needed to govern larger drones.
It wants them to be subject to the same safety standards as traditional aircraft, including only being flown by operators with pilot-equivalent training, as well as protection to reduce the chance of hackers seizing mid-air control.
"The technology is developing quickly and we could see remote aircraft the same size as a Boeing 737 being operated commercially in our skies within 10 years," said BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan.
"Large unmanned aircraft, when they come, should be as safe as manned aircraft and the British public should be fully consulted before companies fly large, remotely-piloted aircraft over their homes alongside passenger planes."
Drones - officially referred to as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) - are becoming more popular for both hobby and commercial use.
Television and video production companies are increasingly using them to film high-quality birds-eye footage.
Drones can only currently be flown in the UK over private property with the land owner's permission.
Amazon has tested out drone parcel drops and the United Arab Emirates wants to use them to deliver documents such as driving licences.
The commercial market is estimated to be worth £7.5bn globally over the next decade.
But now a House of Lords committee is hearing evidence on whether laws need updating to keep up with the drone boom.
A report led by the former head of GCHQ has said the devices pose "significant safety, security and privacy concerns".
It warned they could be exploited by burglars, train robbers, poachers and the paparazzi.
The drone's potential for mischief was highlighted earlier this month when an airborne flag sparked a mass brawl between Serbia and Albania football players.
Jennifer Gibson, a legal expert on RPAS, told Sky News: "Parliament needs to step up.
"They need to make sure that outdated laws - which historically were used for things like CCTV cameras or manned aircraft - are updated to address this unmanned threat that is coming and can be used by the average person on the street, or by police forces.
"There need to be codes of conduct, we need to have discussions about what privacy means in this new world where you can fly something up to someone's window."
Rangers CEO Quits As Ashley Agrees Bailout 27 Oct, 2014 - Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky
07:42, UK, Monday 27 October 2014
Newcastle United and Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley's interest in Rangers Football Club has gathered steam.
More follows...
Musk Warns Of Artificial Intelligence Dangers 27 Oct, 2014 - Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky
Tesla boss Elon Musk has warned that artificial intelligence - such as self-aware robots - is probably the biggest threat to the human race.
"With artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon," the founder of SpaceX said during a speech.
"In all those stories where there's the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, it's like yeah he's sure he can control the demon. Didn't work out."
Mr Musk was addressing the MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics department's Centennial Symposium when he discussed oversight to "make sure we don't do something very foolish".
Major technology companies including Google and Facebook are exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, which uses computers for tasks which usually require human intelligence.
Mr Musk hinted that some form of global oversight of artificial intelligence is needed to keep technology in check.
"Increasingly scientists think there should be some regulatory oversight maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don't do something very foolish."
Mr Musk has previously tweeted dark warnings that the results of artificial intelligence could be "more dangerous that nukes".
'HS3' Northern Rail Link: Commuters Fear Cost 27 Oct, 2014 - Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky
As bleary eyed passengers boarded the 06.57 train to Leeds at Manchester Piccadilly this morning, most had already heard about plans that could halve their commute between the two northern cities.
It's a popular commuter route and the trains are regular at peak times. In fact, there are no fewer than 12 trains between Manchester and Leeds that reach their destination before nine o'clock in the morning.
Despite that, the 06.57 was less than half full as it pulled away from Manchester on time to begin its scenic route across the Pennines, which currently takes 49 minutes.
On board, Ian Bennett, 45, and from Manchester, described himself as a reluctant commuter. Despite making the journey every day, he is dubious about plans for new investment, dubbed High Speed 3 (HS3), to cut the journey time to less than half an hour.
He told Sky News: "It's under an hour anyway and I think a faster train will cost more than we pay now.
"I already pay nearly £3,000 a year. I wouldn't use it if it was more, definitely not."
Sitting next to him was Kendall Isaac, 44, from Leeds. He travels between Manchester and Leeds about three times a week and said: "I would definitely like faster trains. I'd even be willing to pay a bit more but it would depend how much."
On the seat behind them passenger Frank Taff agreed.
"I'd certainly use it, but it all revolves around how much it costs," he said.
He added that he is happy with the current journey time between Manchester and Leeds, but he would prefer it if his journey on to York was quicker.
As the train pulled in to Leeds (on time at 07:46) passengers quipped that they would be retired by the time HS3 was ready anyway.
But the Government will hope the plan is attractive enough to northern commuters to win some votes in next year's general election.
Thousands March In Hungary Over Internet Tax 27 Oct, 2014 - Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky
More than 10,000 people have marched on Hungary's economy ministry over plans to impose a tax on internet usage.
The crowd held up smartphone torches outside the building in Budapest - echoing democracy protests in Hong Kong - while chanting and waving signs.
Organiser Balazs Gulyas told the crowd: "There will be no internet tax. We will block it.
"If the tax is not scrapped within 48 hours, we will be back again."
Economy minister Mihaly Varga announced the tax of 150 forints (38 pence) for every gigabyte of traffic handled by internet service providers last week.
It was met by online outrage, with petitions gathering thousands of signatures.
Members of the crowd outside the economy ministry held up banners with messages including: "Free Wifi! Free internet! Free Hungary!"
Critics of Prime Minister Viktor Orban say this is his latest anti-democratic measure.
The crowd chanted "Orban get lost!" as it marched down the main boulevard of the capital after the rally.
Mr Orban, 51, was re-elected with a second consecutive two-thirds majority in April.
He has been under pressure in recent days after the United States issued entry bans on several government officials over suspected corruption.
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