Oil prices drop on possible Iran deal, dollar

Oil prices drop on possible Iran deal, dollar Mon, Mar 30 06:13 AM EDT image By Christopher Johnson LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Monday as officials from Iran and six world powers discussed a possible deal over Tehran's nuclear programme that could bring an end to sanctions and allow an increase in Iranian oil exports. The two sides have until the end of Tuesday to come up with an agreement at talks in Lausanne, Switzerland. Officials close to the talks have said progress has been made and many investors believe a deal is in the making. Few expect the talks to end without some sort of agreement. "Regarding Iran, there are two possible outcomes: a framework deal or an extended deadline," Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB Markets in Oslo, told the Reuters Global Oil Forum. Brent crude was down 40 cents at $56.01 a barrel by 0938 GMT as the market began to price in a deal with Iran. U.S. crude was down 80 cents at $48.07. Oil markets are well supplied and recent figures show global production outstripping demand by around 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), filling oil inventories. "Further downward pressure may come at any time from a nuclear agreement with Iran," said Michael Wittner, analyst at Societe Generale. "If a framework agreement is reached, we would expect an immediate bearish knee-jerk reaction in the markets, with oil prices quickly losing on the order of $5." Barclays said a build in U.S. stocks would make its way into an oversupplied global market in the second quarter and that demand would unlikely be strong enough to support oil prices once that happened. "Continued dollar strength is (also) a headwind to the oil price recovery," Barclays said, forecasting the dollar would rise above parity with the euro by the fourth quarter of 2015. Few investors expect the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which pumps around a third of the world's oil, to restrain production to help push up prices. Oil producers are much more focused on maintaining market share, analysts say. Lower oil prices have encouraged some oil and gas companies to stop drilling, particularly in the United States, but this is unlikely to affect oil production until later this year. "The current rig count is pointing to U.S. production declining slightly sequentially in 2Q15 and 3Q15," Goldman Sachs said, adding that activity could bounce back in 2016 as drillers benefit from falling production costs. (Additional reporting by Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Jason Neely and Dale Hudson) ----------------------------- Air strike kills at least 40 at Yemen camp for displaced Mon, Mar 30 17:41 PM EDT image 1 of 11 By Mohammad Mukhashaf and Sami Aboudi ADEN (Reuters) - An air strike killed at least 40 people at a camp for displaced people in north Yemen on Monday, humanitarian workers said, in an attack which apparently targeted nearby Houthi fighters who are battling President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Yemen's state news agency Saba, which is under the control of the Houthis, said the camp at Haradh was hit by Saudi planes. It said the dead included women and children, and showed the bodies of five children laid out on a blood-streaked floor. A Saudi military spokesman said the kingdom was seeking clarification on the incident. "It could have been that the fighter jets replied to fire, and we cannot confirm that it was a refugee camp," Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri said. "We will ask the Yemeni official agencies to confirm that," he told reporters. Hadi's Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin earlier blamed Houthi artillery for the explosion. The International Organisation for Migration, which initially reported 45 deaths, said 40 people were killed and 200 wounded - dozens of them severely. A humanitarian worker said earlier that the strike hit a truck of Houthi militiamen at the gate to the Mazraq camp, near Haradh, killing residents, guards and fighters. The medical aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres said at least 34 wounded people were brought to a hospital in Haradh which it supports. Another 29 were dead on arrival. "People in Al Mazraq camp have been living in very harsh conditions ... and now they have suffered the consequences of an air strike on the camp," said Pablo Marco, MSF operational manager for Yemen. Mazraq, in the province of Hajja next to the Saudi border, is a cluster of camps that are home to thousands of Yemenis displaced by over a decade of wars between the Houthis and the Yemeni state, as well as East African migrants. Saudi Arabia, supported by regional Sunni Muslim allies, launched an air campaign to support Hadi after he withdrew last month from the capital to Aden. He left Yemen on Thursday to attend an Arab summit and has not returned. The fighting has brought civil war to the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country. Sunni Muslim tribesmen allied with Hadi are battling northern Zaydi Shi'ites backed by soldiers loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped down after 2011 mass protests against his 33 years in office. Yemen was already sliding into chaos with a growing southern secessionist movement and a covert U.S. drone campaign -- now stalled -- against al Qaeda in the east. The growing power of the Houthis, part of a Shi'ite minority that makes up about 20 percent of the country's 25 million people, also means Yemen has become the latest stage for Saudi Arabia's power struggle with Iran. The two regional rivals support opposing sides in Syria's civil war and in neighboring Lebanon. Tehran also supports and arms Shi'ite militias in Iraq, although it denies Riyadh's accusations that it supports Yemen's Houthis militarily. WARSHIPS FIRE ON HOUTHIS In the capital Sanaa, controlled by the Houthis, jets struck around the presidential palace overnight and made more raids throughout the day. Most of the air strikes, launched on Thursday, have taken place so far only at night. In the south, Houthi fighters closed in on the port city of Aden, the last major stronghold of Hadi supporters, and residents said warships believed to be Egyptian shelled a column of Houthis advancing along the coastal road. It was the first known report of naval forces taking part in the conflict. A Reuters reporter heard heavy explosions and saw a thick column of black smoke rising from the area about 15 km northeast of Aden, apparently after air strikes. Saudi-led war planes also shook buildings in Aden's Khor Maksar district when they fired at least one missile at the airport, where Houthi-allied fighters are based, residents said. A stray shell killed at least three people on a mini-bus in the same area, local fighters said. A Hadi aide told the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV that Houthi fighters also shelled the president's private residence in Khor Maksar killing a number of guards. While Hadi's fighters ceded ground around Aden, Pakistan announced it would send troops to support the Saudi-led coalition. "We have already pledged full support to Saudi Arabia in its operation against rebels and will join the coalition," a Pakistani official said. In a cabinet statement, Saudi King Salman said Riyadh was open to a meeting of all Yemeni factions willing to preserve Yemen's security, under the auspices of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council. The Arab leaders agreed at their meeting in Egypt to form a unified military force to counter growing regional security threats such as the Yemen conflict. But working out the logistics of the force will be a protracted process and Yemen's rugged geography, internal power struggles and recent history all present challenges to any military campaign. Just four years after the 1990 unification of North and South Yemen, civil war erupted when southerners tried to break away, but were defeated by Saleh's northern forces. In the 1960s, intervention by Saudi Arabia and Egypt on opposing sides of a civil war in North Yemen led to a long and damaging military stalemate. Saudi Arabia says it is focusing for now on air strikes against the Houthis, rather than a ground campaign, promising to increase pressure on them over coming days. On Sunday, sources said Yemeni exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were running as normal despite the shutdown of major seaports. But French oil firm Total said on Monday operations at its Block 10 had been reduced, with gas production maintained only for local power generation and to supply nearby areas. Several countries have evacuated citizens from Yemen in recent days. About 500 Pakistani nationals were flown out of the Red Sea port of Hodeida on Sunday, and India said on Monday it was preparing to fly out 500 people from Sanaa. (Additional reporting by William Maclean, Noah Browning and Rania El Gamal in Dubai, Angus McDowall in Riyadh, Stephanie Nebehay in Lausanne; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Catherine Evans) ----------------------------------

Better banking push for agribusiness, farmers

Better banking push for agribusiness, farmers NIGEL AUSTIN The Advertiser March 28, 2015 12:00AM Chris Block and Michael Bagshaw. Pic by Bianca De Marchi. THE farming and agribusiness sector is being urged to get much better interest rates by taking a more professional approach to borrowing needs. Finance industry specialists Chris Block and Michael Bagshaw believe about 90 per cent of rural and regional borrowers should be able to gain a better financial outcome and improved relationship with their bankers. If successful, the potential rewards are significant for the farm sector, regarded by the nation’s banks as one of their major growth segments. Farmers owe large financial institutions $65 billion, double the amount of the mining sector, but they pay much higher interest rates than the housing sector. Mr Block, a former National Australia Bank managing partner in Adelaide, said that borrowing money is one of the main costs in farming. He believes that interest rate savings of one to two percentage points is not out of the realms of possibility and offers major gains for the farming sector. Finance is the second largest cost after fertiliser for SA farms where the average debt of broadacre farms is $484,000, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences March Agricultural Commodities report. Mr Block and Murray Bridge businessman Mr Bagshaw formed Capital and Wealth Partners, based in Kent Town, to help country clients enjoy the same benefits of financial industry competition that is enjoyed by city businesses. “There is an enormous opportunity to save money for businesses operating in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Block said. “We’re targeting a genuine services gap in the country compared to what is available in the city. “Financiers have historically enjoyed and leveraged loyalty in the country as a key means of servicing rural clients, while engaging in aggressive new client acquisition and client retention programs in the city.” Mr Block said agribusiness is a fertile area for the finance sector because it is one of the two key Australian industry segments recognised for its significant growth potential. He has recently completed banking reviews for various large agribusiness companies and saved them many thousands of dollars in the first year by rigorously examining their interest rates, fees and charges and by applying readily available financial products and services. “The potential financial benefits for rural borrowers are really quite substantial,” he said. “A key part of our new service will be providing total transparency so that rural and regional clients know the true cost of financial services to their business enterprise.” Mr Block said that his extensive banking background enables him to quickly recognise opportunities to sit down with financiers to both review and update the services being provided to their clients. “It most certainly doesn’t mean moving banks, but it does mean extracting present day efficient and market competitive financial products and services from their existing provider,” he said. “It’s more cost-effective for banks to retain a customer than loose them and we view our work as helping financiers to better engage with their clients, while we are backing ourselves to deliver a material benefit for our clients.” Their aims include helping to link their country clients to more savvy knowledge across the legal, accounting and general professional services sector to provide further benefits. Mr Bagshaw said it means agribusiness and regional business clients will be able to enjoy direct access to a professional knowledge and financial services business network in line with the proactive services available to city businesses. “City-based clients who have an interest in investing in agriculture will have direct access to my professional skill set,” he said. The alliance will also provide access to foreign investors seeking investment opportunities in the agribusiness sector through Mr Block’s longstanding expertise in this area. “The Chinese investing community is huge and there is a large middle tier wealth segment that wants to come here and buy a property,” Mr Block said. “They are particularly targeting the grain and beef sectors and they want scale for the purpose of exporting produce back to China.” Mr Block said their contact base of Chinese investors offers a direct market for their produce that is linked to consumers, providing an alternative to dealing through intermediary traders. “We have a unique offering which we are both passionate about and we are genuinely focused on achieving beneficial financial services outcomes and banking relationships for rural clients.” Mr Block said. He retired from NAB in 2009 after 33 years and then worked in a professional services practice for five years before establishing his consultancy business Corporate Advisory and Business Services in Kent Town. Mr Bagshaw formed Statewide Consulting & Finance in 2004 after a career in farming and provides a range of financial service options to business owners and individuals in regional areas.

Developer says $500 million revamp of SA courts has been terminated by State Government

6000-job plan for former multi-function polis site at Gillman CAMERON ENGLAND chief business reporter The Advertiser December 22, 2013 6:44PM Start a New BusinessProven Perfomance. Not a Franchise Watch our Video & See For Yourself propertymaintenancecashbusiness.com.au/ Former Port Adelaide Mayor Hans Pieters pictured in 1996, at the ex multi-function polis site at Gillman. Former Port Adelaide Mayor Hans Pieters pictured in 1996, at the ex multi-function polis site at Gillman. DEVELOPMENT at the former multi-function polis site at Gillman could start as soon as next year after a deal was struck between the State Government and a consortium led by former Santos chairman Stephen Gerlach. Adelaide Capital Partners intends to develop a 400ha industrial hub it has dubbed "Lipson Estate" to support the state's growing resources industry. The company intends to buy the first 150ha of land in 2014-15, subject to finalising its business case. Mr Gerlach said Lipson Estate would be a key part of realising South Australia's resources potential. "Apart from meeting the more immediate-term needs of large-scale transport logistics and other local industrial warehousing operators, Lipson Estate is the ideal gateway for the world's major resource companies to establish and support the global-scale projects that will underpin the South Australian economy over coming decades," Mr Gerlach said. "The Lipson Estate precinct has long been regarded as having state economic significance by successive governments. The capabilities and resources of ACP have solved the challenges of this site and can create the gateway.'' Housing and Urban Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis said once fully developed, the proposed precinct could support more than 6000 jobs. "Our vision for the Gillman area is a large-scale employment precinct. ACP is keen to join us in turning this vision into a reality," Mr Koutsantonis said. EPA workers at Adelaide Ship Construction International at Gillman in 2002. EPA workers at Adelaide Ship Construction International at Gillman in 2002. "By working with the private sector we hope to create a modern industrial precinct where businesses can flourish and create jobs across a diversity of industries. "The site is the ideal location for businesses with unparalleled access to road, sea and rail networks and links to Port Adelaide, the broader metropolitan area, regional South Australia, interstate and overseas." ACP chief executive Andrew Gerlach said the site would also serve the agriculture industry. "We think it can drive the industrial part of the South Australian economy over 20 or 30 years; it's a critical piece of infrastructure that can be transformational for the state,'' he said. Mr Gerlach said final development designs would be completed over the next 12 months and potential investors and tenants for the site would also be approached. The failed MFP project was to be a joint venture between the Federal Government and Japanese investors, and would have included up to 100,000 residents and a hi-tech industrial hub. In 1998, 11 years after it was first proposed, then state premier John Olsen announced that the MFP, which cost Australian taxpayers about $150 million, would not go ahead. Adelaide Capital Partners is a joint venture between Gerlach Asset Development and ResourceCo. ==================== Developer says $500 million revamp of SA courts has been terminated by State Government Chief Court Reporter Sean Fewster The Advertiser March 12, 2015 4:44 Lend Lease says the planned $500 million redevelopment of the courts has been terminated Lend Lease says the planned $500 million redevelopment of the courts has been terminated by the State Government. THE State Government has decided to terminate the proposed $500 million redevelopment of the courts precinct, the developer that won the project tender has announced. A Lend Lease spokeswoman today told The Advertiser the much-hyped project, slated to have begun earlier this year for completion by 2017, would not go ahead. “We are aware of the decision by the State Government to terminate the Courts Precinct Renewal Process, which did not reflect on the high quality of our proposal,” she said. “Lend Lease looks forward to working with the Government on future capital projects, including other options for renewal of the Courts Precinct.” In a statement this afternoon, Attorney-General John Rau said the decision on the proposed private/public partnership came down to “value for money”. “The process involved seeking a value for money, PPP solution to the undoubted need for investment in courts infrastructure, including IT,” he said. “The actual build proposed was fit for purpose, however it did not achieve the value for money proposition needed by Government for the project to go ahead. “Further consideration of a courts precinct development and IT provision will now occur in the context of budget deliberations.” The vacant lot behind the Supreme Court building in January. Picture: Roger Wyman The vacant lot behind the Supreme Court building in January. Picture: Roger Wyman Opposition deputy leader Vickie Chapman said the government must now reveal how much it had spent on the “abandoned” proposal. “There was $300,000 spent on a scoping study, and we estimate millions have been spent on expressions of interest and to ensure there were staff overseeing this process,” she said. “The process has now been abandoned — we want to know why, we want to know how much has been spent. “We want the government to issue a timeline for any restart to this process.” Mr Rau, Premier Jay Weatherill and then-Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis announced the project in September 2013, calling it the centrepiece of a “massive” justice system reform. The announcement followed a $300,000 “scoping study” in 2012 to ascertain the need for redevelopment. Judges and lawyers have long called for an upgrade of the facility, which features malfunctioning elevators, limited disability access, cracked walls and crumbling exteriors. One of the State Government’s ideas for how the new courts precinct could have looked. One of the State Government’s ideas for how the new courts precinct could have looked. Its IT systems are more than 25 years old and considered to be at “high risk” of failure, with the cost of upgrading them alone estimated at more than $50 million. In March 2014, Mr Rau said contracts would be signed by December of that year, construction would begin in 2014 and the building would be finished by 2017. By January, however, work had yet to begin on the project and, in February, a Parliamentary Committee was told it faced significant delays and would not be completed on schedule. Lend Lease was part of the Activate 408 consortia chosen, by the government, as its “preferred negotiating partner” for the tender. The consortia also included developer and financier Capella Capital, design and project manager Mott MacDonald Australia and engineers Aurecon. Today, top barrister David Edwardson, QC, said the situation was “appalling”. He has previously dubbed SA’s court system “the worst in the nation” due to “chronic” under-resourcing by the government. One of the State Government’s ideas for how the new courts precinct could have looked. One of the State Government’s ideas for how the new courts precinct could have looked. “All the promises in the world turned out to mean nothing,” Mr Edwardson said. “We are in a worse position now than we were when I made those comments because more time has passed, we have fewer judges and even longer trial lists.” He said the outdated state of the courts posed real safety risks. “In a recent trial, several high-security prisoners had to be moved from the dock to the jury box because they could not see a DVD of evidence that was being played,” he said. “Can you imagine that, in 2015? It’s breathtaking.” Ms Chapman said Lend Lease’s announcement would prompt “many questions” in State Parliament next week. She said the redeveloped courts precinct was supposed to be a centralised location for courts, the Attorney-General’s department and prosecutors, as well as an opportunity for private business. One of the State Government’s ideas for how the new courts precinct could have looked. One of the State Government’s ideas for how the new courts precinct could have looked. “There are a lot of unhappy parties that have presented, to the government, to be part of this precinct,” she said. “This was to be a major opportunity, a major development, and for it to just be abandoned would be very, very disappointing.” Law Society of SA president President Rocco Perrotta called the revelation “a regrettable development for the justice system”. “The state is in dire need of new courts facilities and it seems we will have to wait significantly longer for our tired, inefficient courts infrastructure to be revamped,” he said. Mr Perrotta said the proposed redevelopment had “somewhat mitigated our grave concerns” about the “chronic underfunding” of the courts. He said that, if it were not going ahead, then IT systems should be overhauled and upgraded “as a matter of urgency”. “This should be an absolute priority — it is inexplicable that well into the 21st century files have to be hand delivered to the court,” he said. “Backlogs in the court are not going away ... the government must confront the problems facing our court system and come up with some solutions.” However, Mr Perrotta said he expected the government would “remain committed to building a new courts precinct”. ============== Mark Mar 12, 2015 No contract was ever signed. I feel sorry for the 3 consortia who submitted tenders, including extensive design work, and have not received a dollar towards their costs. I think the same consortium was shortlisted for the prison project that also was cancelled. The new courts built interstate in the past few years have featured smaller courtrooms that use video links to take evidence etc, and IT systems that allow the use and sharing of electronic documents. We don't have any of those features, and the state government still mandates the use of paper documents for all records. It's hard to see how a new court system could become obsolete in our lifetimes, especially given the current state of affairs. Why was the contract signed in March 2014 if it is considered not value for money? Is the person who signed it being held accountable for the waste of money? --------- Well firstly was it ever value for money, secondly if the contract was signed and now knocked on the head how much was the contractor paid out , Or are we going to be hauled through the very courts that were to be overhauled for compensation. Either way I do not see it as VALUE for MONEY giving a contractor cash for doing NOTHING. More waste more stuff ups. After all the contractor does have a signed contract. What was he paid or what will he be paid.? -------- Cam Mar 13, 2015 All too often there is an attitude that we can't fix anything without pouring taxpayers dollars into a megaproject. This thinking has left a legacy of expensive white elephants such as the mothballed desalination plant, the $40 million dollar footbridge and the billions spent on urban rail which benefits very few people. Therefore it is both surprising and refreshing to see a more responsible approach by government in this case. Surely it can be argued that there is more chance of fixing IT problems and employing more judges to cope with the workload in the longer term without the additional budgetary strain from blowing half a billion on a piece of real estate? I'm sure the footbridge is very useful, but $40 million? Why so expensive? As for the desal plant, in case you'd forgotten the Libs actually supported the first stage. I suggest to you it would have been much cheaper to negotiate a bigger share of the Murray to cover all contingencies. But do you agree that building an additional $500m palace for the courts is expensive overkill that actually threatens the long term sustainability of our criminal justice system? ---------- asa Mar 13, 2015 @Cam The footbridge is not a white elephant Cam, it has had a huge amount of use. Also the desal plant will get a huge amount of use when we have a drought which we seem to be in the start of one right now and also when our population grows. The desal plant is ready to go, if we left it up to the liberals we would be drinking runoff from our streets. Also the desal plant plant in another decade would probably cost 10 billion to build. ---------- Earl Peregrine Mar 13, 2015 "Value for money", as the Attorney-General claims, is obviously a subjective argument when compared to the Adelaide Oval project. It's amazing that South Australia hasn't progressed much since the times of the Roman emperors. As Tiberius Caesar (BC42-AD37) said: "It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them." Obviously the administration of justice isn't a high priority with this flaccid government. -------- Gary Mar 12, 2015 Yet they will happily spend $160,000,000 on a O'Bahn extension /tunnel so four minutes can be shaved off a bus trip! Are they for real? How is that value for money? This is a government that has no clue, no idea and making it up on the fly. ----- Close Mar 13, 2015 They plan on selling anything not bolted down so we can rent.. SA Water buildings owner have a tax free exemption go figure. You have forgotten to tell us that the tax exemption is due to the fact that a Catholic school is the owner? Don't twist fact please. Add it to the list of cancelled or deferred squeals from this lot. Electric trains to Gawler? Tunnel taking South rd under Port n Grange rds..wow thats two elections ago now, Mt Bold reservoir expansion, trams to Westlakes, trams to St Clair, trams to Semaphore.. even the pretty coming soon tram billboards have faded in the sun and been taken down.Announce and forget about it. The only thing they canbe counted on to do is raise taxes and their own salary. -------------------------- Des Mar 13, 2015 @deluded @John be glad we're not W.A. or Qld , their combined debt is close to $100b and the downturn in mining in both states leaves them navel gazing to find ways to pay back , the decision is a good one but like most who post only negative opinions you can't see the forest for the trees ------------- Peter Mar 12, 2015 Not really a surprise. The fiscal over reach of the last 12 years has finally hit home since they won the election that was supposed to go to the Libs ,so they could be saddled with budgetary problems ( like the feds have been ) and they can't blame the feds for the State problems can they ,when the funds to the states have been "rivers of gold " since the GST came in. Now for the Billion dollar Torrens Riverbank redevelopment . No election in the near future so that will be delayed until six months before we go to the polls and suddenly the money will be found no doubt ( if they can find another Mt Gambier worth of forest to sell ) . --------------

Business tycoon Malik Riaz loses 'Bahria' brand name

🔍  Dunya Today صفحہ اول پاکستان دنیا کھیل شوبز ٹیکنالوجی صحت خواتین بلاگ / کالم آپ کی رائے ملٹی میڈیا بچوں کا ادب . اہم خبریں والد معاف کر دیں گے، آؤ قندیل کو قتل کریں امریکیوں کا سینیٹ میں آنا کوئی نئی بات نہیں ورن کی دھشوم کامیاب، گرل فرینڈ کے ساتھ سیلفی موو آن چیئرمین کا مزید جسمانی ریمانڈ گیزلے بینڈن کی اولپمکس واک فرانس میں آگ سے 13 ہلاک بحریہ ٹاؤن میں مظاہرین سے مذاکرات، ایکسکلوزو ویڈیو بحریہ ٹاؤن متاثرین،آج پنجاب اسمبلی کے سامنے احتجاج ریو اولمپکس گیمز 2016کاباقاعدہ آغاز بارش کی تباہی، مرادہ علی شاہ کی پھرتیاں . malik riaz ملک ریاض لیکس سامنے آ گئیں، اینکر بے نقاب 3 دن پہلے 1 Comment بحریہ ٹاؤن کے چیئرمین ملک ریاض سے کس کس نے پیسے وصول کئے۔۔ یہ ھے پانامہ لیکس کے بعد،ملک ریاض لیکس۔ ذرائع کے مطابق لینڈ مافیا ڈان ملک ریاض نے سوشل میڈیا اور پاکستان کے نوجوان صحافیوں کی جانب سے بحریہ ٹائون کراچی اسکینڈل ، جنگلات کی زمینوں پر قبضے ، نیب کے سابق ڈی جی کی ملی بھگت سے انکوائریوں کو سرخ فیتے کی نذر کرنے سمیت مسلسل تحقیقاتی خبروں کے بعد بھاری رقم دیکر نوازے جانے والے اینکرز، کالمسٹ کے بنک اکائونٹس کی تفصیل اپنے سابقہ ملازم کے ذریعے ایک دفعہ پھر ریلیز کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔ ذرائع کے مطابق اس دفعہ جو دستاویزات انٹرنیشنل میڈیا اور سوشل میڈیا پر جاری کی جارہی ہیں ، ان میں جو بنک اکاؤنٹس کی تفصیلات دی گئی ہیں انکے بارے میں تحقیقاتی صحافیوں کو بھی یہ کہا جا رہا ہے کہ وہ بنک اکائونٹس کی تفصیل سے حقائق جان سکتے ہیں۔ ان لیکس میں الزام لگایا گیا ہے کہ مبشر لقمان جب دنیا ٹی وی سے وابستہ تھے تو انہوں نے ملک ریاض سے2کروڑ پچاسی لاکھ روپے تین اقساط میں وصول کئے اور یہ رقم نیشنل بنک کے اکاؤنٹ کے ذریعے مبشر لقمان کو ٹرانسفر کی گئی جبکہ ایک مرسیڈیز بنز بھی تحفہ کے طور پر دی گئی۔ mubashir-luqman اسی طرح قوم کو سچ کا بھاشن دیتے نا تھکنے والے ڈاکٹر شاہد مسعود کے متعلق دعویٰ کیا گیا ہے. کہ انہوں نے ایک کروڑ سات لاکھ روپے کی پہلی قسط نیشنل بنک کے ذریعے ہی وصول کی جبکہ موصوف نے سات ٹرپ دوبئی کے لگائے جس میں ہوٹل کا سٹے اور کرائے پر کار کی سہولت بھی فراہم کی گئی۔ Dr-Shahid-Masood نجم سیٹھی نے ایک کروڑ 94لاکھ روپے لینڈ مافیا ڈان سے وصول کئے اور موصوف نے تین امریکہ کے دورے اور ہوٹل سٹے کی سہولت بھی حاصل کی انکو یہ رقم ڈی ایچ اے لاہور پاکستان بحریہ ٹاؤن اکاؤنٹ نمبر14/7swift code mucbpkkaa کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ najam sethi کامران خان نے 62لاکھ روپے وصول کئے دو کروڑ اور بحریہ میں گھر کی آفر خود قبول کرنے کی بجائے کسی تھرڈ پارٹی کے ذریعے وصولی کی یہ رقم جو کامران خان کو ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ این آئی بی سی بنک لمیٹیڈ بحریہ ٹاؤن برانچ اکائونٹ نمبر8283982کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ kamran khan معروف کالم نگار اور ہر وقت الفاظ کے تیر برساتے اور خود کو قوم کو مسیحا ثابت کرنے کی ناکام کوشش کرنے والا اور دوسروں کو گریبان دکھانے والا حسن نثار بھی کسی سے پیچھے نہ رہا جنہوں نے ایک کروڑ اور دس لاکھ روپے وصول کئے اور دس مرلے کا بحریہ ٹاؤن میں پلاٹ بھی حاصل کیا انکو جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی اسکا بھی اکاؤنٹ ٹائٹل بحریہ ٹائون پرائیویٹ لمیٹڈ اکاؤنٹ نمبر42279 اور حبیب بنک لمیٹڈ ایل ڈی اے پلازہ برانچ لاہور کوڈ13پندرہ Swift Habbpkkax315 ہے۔ hasan nisar پاکستان کے بڑے اینکر جو جیو ٹیلی ویژن پر بیٹھ کر میڈیا اور قوم کو سچ کا بھاشن دیتے اخلاقیات کی بات کرتے اور اپنے آپ کو دیانتداری کا پیکر سمجھتے ہیں جی ہاں حامد میر جنہوں نے دو کروڑ پچاس لاکھ روپے لینڈ مافیا ڈان سے وصول کئے پانچ کینال کا پلاٹ اسلام آباد میں حاصل کیا انکو جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ این آئی بی سی بنک لمیٹڈ/بحریہ ٹاؤن اکاؤنٹ نمبر82840597کے ذریعے ٹرانسفر کی گئی۔ Hamid Mir پی ایف یو جے کے سابق سیکرٹری صحافیوں کو ضابطہ اخلاق اور دیانتدار ی سکھانے والے سینئر صحافی مظہر عباس بھی کسی سے پیچھے نہیں رہے موصوف نے90لاکھ اور دس مرلے کا پلاٹ لاہور میں حاصل کیا اسلام آباد سے پلاٹ لینے سے شائد وہ اس لئے گریز کر گئے کہ لاہور میں پتہ نہیں چلے گا انہیں جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ ایم سی بی بنک اکائونٹ نمبر 0075232201000124 کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ mazhar abbas مہر بخاری نے شادی ہونے سے قبل ہی اسلام آباد میں ایک کینال کا پلاٹ اور پچاس لاکھ روپے کی سلامی حاصل کرنے میں دیر نہیں لگائی۔ mehir bukhri اسی طرح این جی او مافیا کی کرتا دھرتا ماروی سرمد بھی فیض یاب ہونے والوں میں شامل ہیں انہیں جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ بحریہ ٹاؤن برانچ سے اکائونٹ نمبر8284059کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ marvi-sirmed سینئر صحافی ارشد شریف جن کو ملک ریاض کی خصوصی سفارش پر دنیا ٹی وی میں بیورو چیف کی سیٹ پر تعینات کیا گیا موصوف نے دو اقساط میں پچاسی لاکھ روپے وصول کئے انکو جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ اکائونٹ نمبریوبی ایل اکائونٹ نمبر 37100154کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ arshad sherif عینک لگائے جمہوریت کا لیکچر دینے والے نصرت جاوید بھی 78لاکھ روپے اور ٹیوٹا کرولا کار لینڈ مافیا ڈان سے چپکے سے لے اڑے انہیں جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ مسلم کمرشل بنک Main boulevard DHA لاہور اکاؤنٹ نمبر بحریہ ٹاؤن پرائیویٹ لمیٹڈ 14-swift code MUCBPKKA کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ nusrat javed مسلسل25سال سے پریس کلب کے صدر اور سیکرٹری کے عہدوں پر تعینات رہنے والے میڈیا ٹاؤن کی مرکزی باڈی سے لیکر جموں و کشمیر ہائوسنگ سوسائٹی کے صدر بننے تک بول ٹی وی کو لانچ کرنے کے نام پر شعیب شیخ کو بھی چونا لگانے والے مشتاق منہاس کی دولت کمانے کی ہوس ختم نہیں ہور ہی موصوف نے بھی 55لاکھ روپے دو اقساط میں وصول کرنا ضروری سمجھا انکو یہ رقم بحریہ اکاؤنٹ پرائیویٹ لمیٹڈ کے اکاؤنٹ نمبر51077-6 اور حبیب بنک لمیٹڈ ایل ڈی اے پلازہ برانچ لاہور کوڈ 1315swift HABBPKKAX315 سے کی گئی۔ mushtaq minhas معروف کالم نگار اور اینکر پرسن جاوید چوہدری تو پہلے ہی میڈیا مینجمنٹ کے ماہر ہیں پنجاب حکومت سے لیکر سوشل میڈیا پر بھی رقم کمانے کے فن سے وہ خوب آگاہ ہیں انہون نے تو ملک ریاض سے کالم کے پیسے وصول کرنا ضروری سمجھے جو وہ ملک ریاض کے نام سے انہی کے اخبار روزنامہ جناح میں پبلش کرتے رہے 10مرلے کا بحریہ ٹائون میں گھر اور ملک ریاض کی طرف سے لکھی گئی کتاب بھی موصوف کی کارکردگی تھی اور ان کو جو رقم ایک کروڑ روپے ٹرانسفر کی گئے وہ یو بی ایل اکائونٹ نمبر37100154کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ Javed Chaudhry ثنا بُچّہ بھی کیسے کسی سے پیچھے رہتیں انہوں نے83لاکھ روپے لاہور میں10مرلے کا گھر اور مسلم کمرشل بنک Main boulevard DHA لاہور اکاؤنٹ بحریہ ٹاؤن اکاؤنٹ نمبر14-7swifcode MUCBPKKAA سے کی گئی۔ sana baucha نجم سیٹھی کے ساتھی اینکر منیب فاروق نے بھی سمجھا کہ بہتی گنگا میں وہ بھی ہاتھ دھو لیں موصوف نے بھی پانچ لاکھ روپے دوبئی کا ٹرپ ایک ہفتہ فائیو سٹار ہوٹل میں سٹے حاصل کیا گیا انہیں جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ عسکری بنک کے اکائونٹ نمبر010001011011180 کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ muneeb farooq آفتاب اقبال کو 2010 میں انکا پروگرام جیو ٹیلی ویژن پر خبرناک شروع کرانے میں ملک ریاض نے ہی اہم کردار ادا کیا انہیں ملک ریاض کے علاوہ مسلم لیگ ن کی جانب سے بھی مبینہ طور پر سہولتیں فراہم کی گئیں۔ aftab iqbal ملک ریاض نے ہمیشہ ہارنے اور جیتنے والے دونوں اراکین اسمبلی ہوں وزیراعظم ہوں یا اپوزیشن لیڈر ہوں انکے ساتھ اچھے تعلقات کو ترجیح دی اور مسلم لیگ ن کی امیج بلڈنگ کیلئے آفتاب اقبال کو2010 سے 2012 تک یہ ٹاسک دیا گیا جسکے2کروڑ روپے موصوف نے وصول کئے اور ایک ٹیوٹا جیپ اور ملک ریاض نے ہی بیدیاں روڈ لاہور پر انہیں زمین بھی فارم ہاؤس کیلئے خرید کر دی انہیں جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ بحریہ ٹائون برانچ اکاؤنٹ نمبر3620 سے کی گئی۔ ایک دن جیو کے ساتھ پروگرام کے اینکر سہیل وڑائچ نے بھی ملک ریاض کے ساتھ جو پروگرام کیا اسکے 15لاکھ روپے اور ہنڈا سوک گاڑی حاصل کرنے میں دیر نہیں لگائی انکو جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ بحریہ ٹائون کے اکاؤنٹ نمبر42279-2 سے کی گئی اور اسی طرح حبیب بنک ایل ڈی اے پلازہ برانچ لاہور کوڈ1315 swift HABBPKKAX315 سے کی گئی۔ sohail warriach عاصمہ شیرازی کیسے کسی سے پیچھے رہ سکتی تھیں انہوں نے45لاکھ روپے وصول کئے انہیں جو رقم ٹرانسفر کی گئی وہ بحریہ ٹائون کے اکاؤنٹ نمبر51077-5 اورحبیب بنک ایل ڈی اے پلازہ برانچ لاہور 1315 swift HABBPKKAX315کوڈ کے ذریعے کی گئی۔ عاصمہ شیرازی نے اس خبر کی تردید کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ سپریم کورٹ ایسی لسٹوں کو مسترد کرچکی ہے،، وہ، حامد میر، مظہر عباس اور ارشد شریف اس معاملے میں عدالت سے رجوع کرچکے، باقیوں کا انہیں علم نہیں۔ asma sherazi سمیع ابراہیم نے تو امریکہ سے آکر بھی بحریہ ٹاون کے چیئرمین ملک ریاض سے اپنا پورا حصہ وصول کیا موصوف نے ایک کروڑ روپے ایک کینال کا بحریہ ٹائون میں پلاٹ اور ٹیوٹا کرولا گاڑی حاصل کی انہیں یہ رقم KASB بنک بحریہ ٹائون برانچ3710581401hکے ذریعے کی گئی۔ sami ibrahim باوثوق ذرائع کے مطابق بحریہ ٹائون کا سابق ملازم اس بات پر بضد ہے کہ تحقیقاتی صحافت کرنے والے اور نیب، ایف آئی اے اور رینجرز کی مشترکہ ٹیم ان اکائونٹس کی تفصیلات سامنے لائے – نوٹ : سوشل میڈیا کے ذریعے سامنے آنے والے ان الزامات کی تصدیق یا تردید کے حوالے سے کوئی اینکر موقف دینا چاہے تو یہ صفحات حاضر ہیں – شیئرکریں • • • • دیگر خبریں qandeel baloch (2) والد معاف کر دیں گے، آؤ قندیل کو قتل کریں 6 منٹ پہلے cyber-crime-bill--660x330 امریکیوں کا سینیٹ میں آنا کوئی نئی بات نہیں 22 منٹ پہلے COAS Banner 2 موو آن چیئرمین کا مزید جسمانی ریمانڈ 38 منٹ پہلے One comment Pingback: Dunya Today- دنیا ٹوڈے بلاگ / کالم neelum 2 ذلت سے نجات کا کوئی راستہ محنت کشوں کے پاس نہیں ہے! 2 گھنٹے پہلے france فرانس میں اسلام کی اصلاح 24 گھنٹے پہلے shamim ara شمیم آرا کی زندگی پر ایک نظر 1 دن پہلے 05-karoshi موت کی وجہ ’’زیادہ کام‘‘ 2 دن پہلے Asif Ali copy دودھ مینگیاں ڈال کر کیوں؟ 3 دن پہلے ریو اولمپکس 1 گیزلے بینڈن کی اولپمکس واک 55 منٹ پہلے 2016 Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony ریو اولمپکس گیمز 2016کاباقاعدہ آغاز 2 گھنٹے پہلے 2016 Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony ریو اولمپکس کا رنگا رنگ افتتاح 8 گھنٹے پہلے syria اولمپکس میں شرکت کا خواب، شہر کی طرح برباد 14 گھنٹے پہلے google dodle ریو اولمپکس: گوگل نے ڈوڈل جاری کردیا 19 گھنٹے پہلے ملٹی میڈیا بلند عمارتوں پر موت کا کھیل بلند عمارتوں پر موت کا کھیل 12 منٹ پہلے اسٹار وراز، روگ ون کا نیا ٹریلر اسٹار وراز، روگ ون کا نیا ٹریلر 1 گھنٹہ پہلے بحریہ ٹاؤن میں مظاہرین سے مذاکرات، ایکسکلوزو ویڈیو بحریہ ٹاؤن میں مظاہرین سے مذاکرات، ایکسکلوزو ویڈیو 1 گھنٹہ پہلے تازہ ترین qandeel baloch (2) والد معاف کر دیں گے، آؤ قندیل کو قتل کریں 6 منٹ پہلے بلند عمارتوں پر موت کا کھیل بلند عمارتوں پر موت کا کھیل 12 منٹ پہلے cyber-crime-bill--660x330 امریکیوں کا سینیٹ میں آنا کوئی نئی بات نہیں 22 منٹ پہلے varun ورن کی دھشوم کامیاب، گرل فرینڈ کے ساتھ سیلفی 30 منٹ پہلے COAS Banner 2 موو آن چیئرمین کا مزید جسمانی ریمانڈ 38 منٹ پہلے آپ کی رائے rasheed مت بول کہ لب قید ہیں تیرے 2 دن پہلے M R MALIK طاہر القادری کی تحریک قصاص 4 دن پہلے amamr سندھ سندھی ھندوئن سان تھیندڑ ظلم 6 دن پہلے neelum مسیحا مٹی کے بےزبان دیکھے ہیں 7 دن پہلے ڈاکٹر آن لائن فیس بک فیس بک ٹوئٹر یوٹیوب رابطہ کریں صفحہ اول موسم کھیل By Web Desk Published: March 28, 2015 1 SHARES Share Tweet Email Riaz’s legal adviser says after examining court's detailed verdict, Bahria Town will file an appeal. PHOTO COURTESY: PAKISTAN TODAY RAWALPINDI: A court in Rawalpindi accepted the petition of naval subsidiary Bahria Foundation to restrain business tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain’s from using the name ‘Bahria’ for his housing society. The court handed down a verdict in the over a decade old case filed in 2002. Riaz’s legal adviser, Qaiser Qadeer Qureshi, said that so far the court announced a short order and are awaiting a detailed verdict. “After examining that, Bahria Town will file an appeal”, he told a local newspaper. According to the details of the case, Hussain Global – a property firm linked to Malik Riaz – signed an agreement with the Bahria Foundation in 1996 to set up Bahria Town. Under the agreement, Riaz signed with the foundation, the naval subsidiary was offered a 10 per cent share for the use of the name ‘Bahria’ for the private housing scheme. The remaining was to be divided between Hussain Global, Malik Riaz and his family members. In the year 2000, the foundation asked Riaz not to use the ‘Bahria’ name for his housing society and on Feb 24 of the same year, the property mogul signed an agreement with the Bahria Foundation to the same effect. However, in 2002, Malik Riaz obtained a stay order from a local court, alleging that Bahria Foundation has forced him to sign the agreement. Since then, the multi-million tycoon expanded his housing project manifold and, to date, has sold a massive number of housing and commercial units in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

East Village Explosion Injures at Least 12; Buildings Collapse

New York buildings collapse in possible gas blast, 19 hurt Fri, Mar 27 02:59 AM EDT Photo: 3-alarm fire in New York City at 66th and 1st - @bettemarston - By Ellen Wulfhorst and Sebastien Malo NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four apartment buildings in New York's East Village neighborhood caught fire from an apparent gas explosion on Thursday and three collapsed, causing 19 injuries, authorities said. The blast shortly after 3 p.m. sent flames leaping into the sky and rocked the residential area in Manhattan. Bloodied victims ran from the buildings, collapsing on the street, witnesses said. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference that preliminary evidence indicated it was a gas-related explosion. A Fire Department spokesman said late on Thursday that three of the four buildings had collapsed or partially collapsed. The fourth building "is still involved with some pockets of fire, it's still an active scene. Investigation is still ongoing," he said. Nineteen people were hurt. Four, all civilians, were in critical condition, the spokesman said. The Con Edison (ED.N) utility said in a statement that its inspectors had been at the site on Thursday to evaluate work a building plumber was doing in a building for a gas service upgrade. The work failed to pass inspection, it said. The seven-alarm blaze in the neighborhood of small businesses, restaurants and apartments involved more than 250 Fire Department personnel. Moishe Perl, 64, who owns Moishe’s Bake Shop nearby, said he heard an explosion, ran outside and saw the lower floors of a building start to crumble. "Most of the people were running out of the building and climbing down the fire escape," he said, while others were helped out of windows by passersby. Ben Mackinnon, 28, said he was drinking coffee in a cafe when he heard an explosion from across the street. "The explosion was big enough that the door of the cafe blew open," Mackinnon said. He said he saw several bloodied men emerge from a sushi restaurant where the explosion appeared to originate. One of them fell to the pavement. Shameem Noor, a cashier at the Veselka restaurant about a block away, said he heard the blast and saw three or four people fall to the street. The four buildings contain 49 apartments, according to a spokesman for the American Red Cross at the scene. The ground floors were occupied by small eateries. A relocation center for displaced residents was set up in a nearby elementary school, the Red Cross spokesman said. Early on Friday morning, firefighters were battling a separate apartment blaze burning on the top floor of a six-story building some 3 miles (5 km) north, the New York Fire Department said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. (Reporting by Sebastien Malo and Ellen Wulfhorst; Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington and Laila Kearney in New York; Writing by Ian Simpson; Editing by Sandra Maler, Eric Beech and Peter Cooney) ======= By MARC SANTORA and AL BAKERMARCH 26, 2015 Witness videos show the scene in the East Village after an explosion caused a fire in two buildings on Second Avenue, one of which collapsed soon afterward. Publish Date March 26, 2015. Photo by Victor J. Blue for The New York Times. A powerful explosion in the East Village on Thursday caused two buildings to collapse and ignited a large fire that quickly spread to neighboring buildings, leaving at least a dozen people injured, three of them critically. Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York, speaking at a news conference at the scene, said that “preliminary evidence suggests a gas-related explosion” was caused by plumbing and gas work being done at 121 Second Avenue, near Seventh Street. The explosion and ensuing fire destroyed that building and led to the collapse of an adjacent building, 123 Second Avenue. Two other buildings were damaged, and one of those buildings was still in danger of collapse, officials said. Mr. de Blasio said workers from the utility Consolidated Edison had been on the site about an hour before the explosion and had found the work being done there to be deficient. But the mayor said there were no calls reporting gas leaks before the explosion. Michael S. Clendenin, a spokesman for Con Edison, said several buildings on Second Avenue had been “undergoing renovations” since as far back as August. Continue reading the main story Slide Show Slide Show|11 Photos Buildings Collapse From Fire in East Village Buildings Collapse From Fire in East Village CreditRobert Stolarik for The New York Times “Based on records here, the building has had some work done inside; new gas service pipes; a lot of things; piping and such,” Mr. Clendenin said. The first reports the Fire Department received were for a building collapse, and witnesses described a dramatic scene, with residents of the buildings scrambling down fire escapes to escape the raging flames and others dashing out of the rubble as the walls collapsed around them. Niraj Desai, 36, a video game animator who works nearby, said he saw one woman stuck on a fire escape struggling to get the ladder unhooked. “This poor girl was stuck upstairs,” Mr. Desai said. “She was having a hard time. You could tell there was a lot of emotion going on. A bunch of guys were down at the bottom helping her get down.” Another man also made his way down the fire escape ladder before smoke started to pour from the building, he said. “It was pretty crazy, pretty fast,” Mr. Desai said. The authorities said that there were no initial reports of people missing and that those who were seriously injured seemed to have been hurt in the explosion. Blake Farber, 29, a film director, said he had smelled a lot of gas and watched as two people who appeared to be working at the site were frantically running between Sushi Park, the ground-floor restaurant, and the residential entrance. Seconds later, Mr. Farber said, he felt the blast and was enveloped by dust and smoke. “And then I saw a bunch of people running out of the restaurant — I saw a man crawling on the ground,” he said. “He was crawling and he turned around and his face was bloody. Then I saw some guy getting out of the basement, the metal grate, and he looked like a worker, who works in the kitchen. He was crawling out, his face was full of dust and his mouth was full of dust. His hands were sticking out and his arms kind of saying, help me.” Photo People shouted toward a man climbing up the ladder to the third floor. He climbed back down safely. Credit Michael Seto Photography Several people rushed to help as others screamed warnings to get away from the building. Continue reading the main story The authorities were closing down the surrounding streets, concerned that the building might entirely collapse and send debris flying. Con Ed said it was shutting off gas in the area as well. The blast happened just over a year after a gas explosion leveled two buildings on Park Avenue in East Harlem, killing eight people. Federal investigators found a crack in a Con Ed gas main near the site and a separation between that main and a smaller pipe that led to a building next to the two that were destroyed. The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet released its final report, which will provide its conclusions about what caused the explosion last March. On Thursday, the fire seemed to build in intensity after neighbors heard what they described as a loud boom. With flames rising from the top of the buildings, firefighters battled the blaze and raced to keep it from spreading. The police said the chaos was reflected in several calls to 911, which began streaming in around 3:17 p.m. Several callers described hearing an explosion. Nathan Blaney was nearby at a bar on St. Marks Place when he heard an explosion. His hands still shaking minutes later, he recounted running to the corner and finding about six injured people laid out on the sidewalk. Continue reading the main story Recent Comments Michael S 16 minutes ago The City is full of hundred year old plus buildings that were tenements and other structures that were substandard when new. You can... ZoetMB 1 hour ago I think people are too ready to blame Con Edison just because they're an easy target. The article reports that work was being done on the... La123 1 hour ago So sorry to all of those injured and displaced from this horrible explosion and fire. I thank God that no one was killed. Thank you for... Mr. Blaney took photographs of the wreckage. The facade of the first floor of the building, which housed an Asian restaurant, was entirely blown out. Shards of glass reached the sidewalk across the street. Blood was splattered up and down the block and across the street. One man in a black apron had blood seeping from his head. Several other people were bleeding and covered with dust. Site of explosion MANHATTAN East Village DETAIL MANHATTAN By The New York Times; Image from Pictometry One woman was trapped on the building’s fire escape, apparently after climbing out of her apartment, Mr. Blaney said. She was stuck on the second floor, afraid to come down. So a pedestrian from the street — visible in pictures Mr. Blaney took — jumped onto the hanging ladder, climbed up and helped her descend to the sidewalk. “I was shaking like a leaf,” Mr. Blaney said. At 3:59 p.m. a loud rumble sounded and the lower facade of one of the buildings began moving. A moment later, it slid slowly to the sidewalk in a mix of glass and loose bricks. Heavy gray smoke filled the air, and a few moments later as the smoke began to lift, it was evident that no part of the building was left standing. Jordy Trachtenberg was smoking an electronic cigarette on St. Marks Place, trying to calm down after an explosion “rocked his apartment and made him jump” from his chair. Mr. Trachtenberg, who lives at 30 St. Marks Place, which faces the back of buildings on Second Avenue, said he thought the explosion was in his building, where he has lived for eight years. “I felt the ground shake underneath me, and then all this debris — plaster and glass — started pelting my windows,” he said. “I ran from my building when I saw the flames go up and my apartment filled with smoke. I couldn’t breathe. I started gagging.” Continue reading the main story 14 Comments “My first thought really was it was my home,” he added, “because we haven’t had gas for six months, and Con Ed was doing work outside today.” He shouted out to neighbors who passed by, asking them if they were all right. “Of course I know them,” he said. “I want to make sure everyone is O.K. St. Marks is the tightest community in New York.” Reporting was contributed by Joseph Burgess, Jim Dwyer, Emma G. Fitzsimmons, Colin Moynihan, Benjamin Mueller, Sarah Maslin Nir, Patrick McGeehan, Tatiana Schlossberg, Kate Taylor and Alex Vadukul, and research by Susan C. Beachy.

There was no guarantee of success, a deal was possible but not certain

Iran, powers explore nuclear compromises, Israel alarmed Sun, Mar 29 16:39 PM EDT By Louis Charbonneau, John Irish and Parisa Hafezi LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Iran and six world powers tried to break an impasse in nuclear negotiations on Sunday, but officials cautioned that attempts to reach a preliminary deal by a deadline in two days could yet fall apart. The two sides explored compromises in areas including numbers of centrifuges used to enrich uranium that Iran could operate, and its nuclear enrichment work for medical research. But Israel, which feels especially threatened by the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran, said details of a possible framework agreement emerging from the talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, were even worse than it feared. Foreign ministers from the six countries will hold ‎the first full meeting with Iran's foreign minister on Monday morning. The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China want at least a 10-year suspension of Iran's most sensitive nuclear work. Tehran, which denies it is trying to develop a nuclear weapons capability, is demanding an end to international sanctions that are crippling its economy. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said there had been "some progress and some setbacks in the last hours". "I can't rule out that there will be further crises in these negotiations," he told reporters in Lausanne. Officials warned that deep disagreements remained on several points but said the two sides had been closing in on a preliminary deal that could be summarized in a brief document which may or may not be released. Several officials told Reuters that Tehran had indicated a willingness to cut the number of centrifuges it uses to fewer than 6,000, thereby slowing its program, and to send most of its enriched uranium stockpiles for storage in Russia. Senior Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi told reporters dispatching stockpiles abroad "was not on Iran's agenda". Western powers were meanwhile considering allowing Iran to conduct limited and closely monitored enrichment-related work for medical purposes at an underground facility, the officials added on condition of anonymity. Iran had originally insisted on keeping in operation all the nearly 10,000 centrifuges it currently uses, but said in November that Washington had indicated it could accept around 6,000. Iranian officials say they have been pushing for 6,500-7,000. All parts of an emerging nuclear deal are interrelated. "Everything could still fall apart" before Tuesday's self-imposed deadline for a framework agreement, a Western official told Reuters. Araqchi said he believed a deal was possible but that serious decisions remained to be taken. One concerns Iran's demand to continue with research into a new generation of advanced centrifuges that can purify uranium faster and in greater quantities for use in nuclear power plants or, if very highly enriched, in weapons. Another question is over the speed of removing United Nations sanctions on Iran. A senior U.S. official said there were other unresolved questions but expected those would fall into place if the big sticking points could be worked out. The U.S. official said negotiators were working towards something that would be called an "understanding" rather than a formal agreement, which would form the basis of a comprehensive deal, including all technical details, to be tied up by June 30. ISRAEL FURIOUS A senior European diplomat said ministers were engaged in a "a political push to convince Iran" before Tuesday's deadline, adding: "All the pieces of a possible accord are there. We have to try and put them in place so that everything adds up." The powers' aim is to ensure that for the next decade Iran is kept at least one year away from being able to produce enough fissile nuclear material for a single weapon. "It has to be a deal which puts the bomb beyond Iran's reach. There can't be any compromise about that," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. "If we're going to get this done here ... Iran has got to take a deep breath and take some tough decisions." His remarks contrasted with hostility from Israel, which is believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal but is not a party to the talks. "This deal, as it appears to be emerging, bears out all of our fears, and even more than that," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet in Jerusalem. Referring to advances made by Houthi rebels allied to Tehran in Yemen, he accused the Islamic republic of trying to "conquer the entire Middle East". "The Iran-Lausanne-Yemen axis is very dangerous to humanity, and must be stopped," Netanyahu said. Israel has previously threatened to attack Iran if it is unhappy with an eventual deal. Ahead of the six powers' first full ministerial meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had a light-hearted exchange. Asked by reporters if he was optimistic a deal could be reached, Lavrov said: "I'm not paid to be optimistic." "You're not paid enough to be optimistic," responded Kerry. (Additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Sui-Lee Wee in Beijing and Michael Nienaber in Berlin; Editing by David Stamp and Catherine Evans) -------------------- Fighting, airstrikes throughout Yemen as dialogue remains distant Sun, Mar 29 07:20 AM EDT image 1 of 10 By Mohammed Mukhashaf and Sami Aboudi ADEN (Reuters) - Yemeni fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi clashed with Iranian-allied Houthi fighters on Sunday in downtown Aden, the absent leader's last major foothold in the country. Hadi loyalists in the southern port city reported a gun battle in the central Crater district in which three people were killed, and said they recaptured the airport, which has changed hands several times in the last five days of fighting. The Health Ministry, loyal to the Houthi fighters who control the capital, said Saudi-led air strikes had killed 35 people and wounded 88 overnight. The figures could not be independently confirmed. The Houthi fighters, representing a Shi'ite minority that makes up around a third of Yemen's population, emerged as the most powerful force in the Arab world's poorest country last year when they captured the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia has rallied Sunni Muslim Arab countries in an air campaign to support Hadi, who relocated to Aden in February and is now in Riyadh after leaving Yemen in the past week. The fighting has brought civil war to a country that was already sliding into chaos and which had been a battlefield for the secret U.S. drone war against al Qaeda. In the eastern province of Shabwa, tribal sources said armed tribesmen were fighting a major battle with the Houthis and their army allies at a military base, killing around 30 Houthis. This also could not be independently confirmed. Saudi-led coalition warplanes struck military targets at airports in the capital Sanaa and in Hodeida, the main Red Sea port. In the northern city of Saada, a Houthi stronghold near the Saudi border, strikes hit Houthi military bases belonging to the militia and their ally, former President Ali Abdullah Saleh who still controls most army units. Saleh stood down after a 2011 uprising but still wields wide influence in Yemen. He appealed on Saturday to Arab leaders meeting in Egypt to halt their four-day offensive and resume talks on political transition in Yemen, promising that neither he nor his relatives would seek the presidency. In an apparent rebuttal, a Yemeni official said Hadi had sacked Saleh's son as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia's military intervention, is the latest front in its widening contest with Iran for power in the region, a proxy struggle also playing out in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Iran denies accusations from Sunni Gulf rulers that it has armed the Houthis, who follow the Zaidi branch of Shi'ite Islam. Zaidi Shi'ites led a thousand-year kingdom in Yemen until 1962. Former leader Saleh himself is a member of the sect, although he sought to crush the Houthis while in office, only allying himself with them after his downfall. FIGHTING IN ADEN CENTRE Across the country, there were heavy clashes in seven southern and eastern provinces between the Houthis and pro-Saleh army units on the one hand, against Sunni tribesmen, pro-Hadi loyalists and armed southern separatists on the other. Fighters loyal to Hadi said on Sunday they recaptured Aden airport after fighting which lasted all night. Heavy fighting in the area during the last week meant that foreign diplomats had to be evacuated from the city by boat, ferried by Saudi naval vessels to the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Saturday. Witnesses in Aden's northern Dar Saad district reported seeing two tanks destroyed by Hadi loyalists battling army units who are fighting alongside the Houthis. Five members of the Shi'ite militia were killed in the suburbs, loyalists said. In comments addressed to Arab heads of state meeting in Egypt, Saleh appealed to the Saudi-led coalition on Saturday to stop "the aggression and return to the negotiations table", saying Hadi had failed to run the country. "Let's go to dialogue and elections, and I promise you that neither I nor any of my relatives will run for the presidency." But in public at least, Saudi Arabia and Yemeni officials loyal to Hadi appeared to give Saleh short shrift. Saudi Arabia's King Salman told the summit that military operations would continue until their objectives were achieved. Hadi's Foreign Minister Riyadh Yaseen said: "We are not thinking about dialogue in the present time until the conditions are arranged on the ground." In a rare move, Saudi-owned television channel Al-Arabiya broadcast a detailed account of what it said was a proposal last week to the Saudi leadership by Saleh's son Ahmed to head off military intervention by breaking with the Houthis. It said two days before the Saudi-led campaign began, Ahmed Saleh offered in a meeting with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman to organise a coup against the Houthis. In return, the channel said, Saleh requested U.N. sanctions on his father be lifted, immunity be granted to him and his father, and media campaigns against his father be halted. Al-Arabiya said Prince Mohammad rejected the proposal. "There must be a return to legitimacy in the form of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to lead Yemen from the capital Sanaa," it quoted him as saying. (Additional reporting by Noah Browning in Dubai, Mohammed Ghobari in Cairo and Yara Bayoumy in Sharm el-Sheikh; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Peter Graff) Iran's Rouhani intervenes as deadline for nuclear deal approaches Thu, Mar 26 17:52 PM EDT image 1 of 4 By John Irish and Louis Charbonneau LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Iran's president spoke with the leaders of France, Britain, China and Russia on Thursday in an apparent effort to break an impasse to a nuclear deal between Tehran and major world powers. He also raised the Saudi-led military operation against Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen, as did U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of nuclear negotiations in Switzerland with Tehran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The United States is pushing for a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers before a March 31 deadline, and officials close to the talks said some kind of preliminary agreement was possible. However, a senior British diplomat acknowledged: "There are still important issues where no agreement has so far been possible. "Our task, therefore, for the next few days is to see if we can bridge the gaps and arrive at a political framework which could then be turned into an agreement," the diplomat told reporters on the sidelines of negotiations in Lausanne, Switzerland. The six powers, which include Germany and the United States, hope to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement by June 30. Western powers fear Iran wants to build nuclear bombs, though Tehran says its atomic research is for peaceful purposes. The powers hope to persuade Iran to scale back its nuclear activity in return for the removal of economic sanctions. Israel is believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal and has in the past threatened Iran with military attack. The spokeswoman for U.S. President Barack Obama's National Security Council, Bernadette Meehan, confirmed that "a letter from President Rouhani to President Obama was passed to the U.S. negotiating team in Lausanne." She offered no details. In a rare direct exchange between Paris and Tehran, French President Francois Hollande said Iran had a right to civilian nuclear power but insisted on a "lasting, robust and verifiable Iranian nuclear program that guarantees Iran will not get an atomic weapon", a statement from the French presidency said. Last week officials close to the negotiations said France was demanding more stringent conditions than its Western allies for any future agreement. Rouhani reiterated Tehran's principal demand - that the most crippling sanctions be lifted immediately. "All unjust sanctions against the Iranian nation should be lifted," he said on Twitter. "Lifting all sanctions is the main issue that can help us reach the final solution." Western powers insist that sanctions relief must come gradually, though European and U.S. measures against Iranian energy and financial sectors and some U.N. sanctions could be suspended quickly, officials close to the talks said. British Prime Minister David Cameron's spokeswoman told reporters after the call that the two sides agreed it was possible to conclude a framework nuclear deal by end-March. Rouhani also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said. On his Twitter feed, Rouhani said he raised military operations in Yemen launched by Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia with all four leaders. KERRY MEETS ZARIF Kerry and Zarif met twice on Thursday in Lausanne and Kerry raised the Yemen crisis, a State Department spokesman said, though a senior U.S. official told Reuters the issue did not have any impact on the nuclear negotiations. Washington and Tehran take opposing stands on Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen against Shi'ite Houthi rebels allied to Iran who are fighting to oust Yemen's president. Earlier, Iranian media quoted Zarif as condemning the Saudi-led military operation and demanding that it stop. Kerry spoke to the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council members and welcomed their action against the Houthis, a senior U.S. official said. Iran and the six powers are seeking a political framework accord by the end of this month that would lay the foundations for a full nuclear deal by June 30. Under a final settlement, Tehran would halt sensitive nuclear work for at least a decade and in exchange, international sanctions would be lifted. Speaking to reporters traveling with Kerry from Washington on Wednesday, a senior State Department official said the six powers would not rush to complete a framework agreement just because there was a March 31 deadline. But the official said: "We very much believe we can get this done by the 31st ... We see a path to do that." The official added, however, that there was no guarantee of success. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, also said a deal was possible but not certain. "It is difficult to forecast whether we can reach a result at this round of talks but we are moving toward reaching a mutual understanding in all technical issues," he told Iranian state television. Israel, Saudi Arabia, France and the U.S. Congress have all raised concerns that the Obama administration might be willing to conclude a deal that would allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons capability in the future. (Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Ankara, Jason Bush in Moscow and Kylie Maclellan in London; editing by Andrew Roche/Ruth Pitchford)

800 new homes in $240m Evanston development : Gawler is a suburb of Adelaide. It is not a country town any more

SARAH MARTIN The Advertiser May 21, 2010 12:01AM 20/05/2010 BUSINESS: Evanston Gardens estate aerial view – site of the new Devine homes development A $240 million, 800-home development will be built near Gawler to tap into the growth potential of the northern suburbs, a major developer announced yesterday. Devine property group has entered into an agreement with a landowner to develop a 59ha site at Evanston Gardens, 35km north of Adelaide. The development will provide housing for 2000 residents and will be completed over the next five to six years, with the first stage expected to be ready for release next year. Devine managing director David Keir said the company was keen to tap into the area's growth potential which would be boosted by such government infrastructure projects as the Northern Expressway and the Adelaide-Gawler rail upgrade. The company says it entered into an agreement with the landholder which will enable Devine to develop the land and make staged payments to purchase the site. "From our perspective, it is about conserving our capital to enable us to continue our growth plans," Mr Keir said. He said the development agreement equated to a land purchase price of about $20 million. The development will include 800 homes and will include a network of walking and cycling tracks linking the estate to the Adelaide-Gawler rail line. The area has been earmarked in the State Government's 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide as a residential growth area. It is expected to grow by 150 per cent in the next decade. Retail and commercial development adjacent to the railway station and the development site also has been flagged by the Land Management Corporation. Devine's new investment, with its $300 million Lakeside development, indicated the company's faith in the South Australian market, Mr Keir said. "Adelaide is an attractive market for us. It is a very stable market and we have got an established brand and we can produce an affordable offering here," he said. The development site is undergoing rezoning, which is expected by late this year. ============================ Comments on this story Emporer of The North Posted at 1:06 AM May 21, 2010 Oh boy, I can hear the whinging and howls of outrage already. I live not more than 500m from this proposed development and have lived here for over 35 years but it will be those neighbours of mine that have been here 10 years and less that will scream the loudest. I did not care when they built their homes and I dont care about this. I am still waiting for a local supermarket so I dont have to trek 3 to 4 kms every time I do my shopping. Gawler council is notorious for protecting its main street traders, but if this development helps to change things I will be the first to cheer. Maybe Ill be the only one. Emporer of The North Posted at 12:49 PM May 21, 2010 I said it, didnt I. Whinge and complain. Been a Gawlerite all of my life but Ive never heard more whinging than from the Johnnie come latelies who made this "best of town and country" crap up and then destroyed the town trying to make it live up to the claim. Please give up. Gawler can be an outer suburb and still retain its dignity. Complaining and trying to stop the inevitable is the root cause of most of the regions ills. Comment 1 of 40 tony of london Posted at 3:42 AM May 21, 2010 and the sprawl continues... Comment 2 of 40 Paul of Northern Suburbs Posted at 6:08 AM May 21, 2010 Say good bye to the country feel , Gawler, you are about to loose your rural feel........ Comment 3 of 40 red&blueblooded of Location, Location, Location Posted at 6:40 AM May 21, 2010 Just another attempt to eliminate the Green Belt between Smithfield and Gawler. With the ongoing northern expansion of Adelaide from Smithfield soon the Green Belt will cease to exist altogether. So now we will have to find another 60Ha of less productive land somewhere else to grow our food. Comment 4 of 40 scarlet of everywhere Posted at 7:06 AM May 21, 2010 How about some decent sized allotments instead of these ludicrously small blocks we are seeing lately. What ever happened to the standard quarter acre? Comment 5 of 40 Tony of Exeter Posted at 7:15 AM May 21, 2010 800 new homes but not a cent to improve public transport to the region, not a cent to provide for the increased demand on local health care and not a cent to support manufacturing jobs in the northern suburbs! A government with its eye firmly on stamp duty revenue, develepors compaign donations and little if nothing else! Comment 6 of 40 Rob of Adl Posted at 7:26 AM May 21, 2010 Yay another piece of farming land gone Comment 7 of 40 Robert Stewart of Lameroo 5302 Posted at 7:50 AM May 21, 2010 Here's the chance for a green label.Solar for water and energy on the roof, stormwater recovery storage and distribution both as a residential co-operative for service and maintenance of these facilities. SA Water increase of 20% and electricity 30% just to maintain profit margins of the suppliers must be sufficient reason. Comment 8 of 40 Carol Jackson of Willaston Posted at 8:01 AM May 21, 2010 How can they ! The infrastructure of the north can't cope now. the 'best of town and country' will cease to exist. Comment 9 of 40 Andrew of Adelaide Posted at 8:54 AM May 21, 2010 There goes the neighbourhood. So much for living the quiet life in Gawler, no more! I can see the headline now, 'police captured 2 men from Evanston Gardens overnight after a short police chase through the streets of Gawler'. Comment 10 of 40 Tony Frost of 5118 Posted at 9:05 AM May 21, 2010 Gawler best of town and county? not much county left now!!!!!the main nth road ia saturated with traffic now bet these think tanks in the state goverment don,t live anywhere near Gawler. Five yrs time the traffic will be at Ingle Farm somewhere waiting for the lights at Gepps X to turn green. Comment 11 of 40 Jay of Gawler Posted at 9:44 AM May 21, 2010 R.I.P. the beautiful town of Gawler!!! Comment 12 of 40 Bringing the future to Gawler Posted at 9:48 AM May 21, 2010 woo hoo! about time Gawler was dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century! Maybe now we can get some people to live up here who will realise they are in the metro area and not in the country!!! Comment 13 of 40 ASH of GAWLER Posted at 9:53 AM May 21, 2010 Thank goodnes I am getting OLD . Comment 14 of 40 David Beres of Holden Hill Posted at 10:00 AM May 21, 2010 Tambelin station will be the Next Transit Oriented Development. Comment 15 of 40 Ruth of Adelaide Posted at 10:04 AM May 21, 2010 As usual,the name says it all. A plan for a Greater Adelaide is as absurd as it is pompous. We should be initiating a plan for the re-location of generations of disadvantaged people in the northern region of Adelaide to other cities where they and their children can escape this outcome. Lack of services in education, health, job opportunities have taken their toll. Adding more to this number is just madness and reeks of another real estate venture for the usual quick profits. Comment 16 of 40 Yes please of Reality Posted at 10:07 AM May 21, 2010 Carol...would this create new jobs with the need to build "infrastructure"? I think Adelaide is one of the worst planned cities in Australia....the urban sprawl is ridiculous.. Gawler is a suburb unless you live 10kms out of town on at least 5 acres, dont kid yourselves. Comment 17 of 40 country at heart Posted at 10:12 AM May 21, 2010 And with it all goes not only the "country" lifestyle but some of the best farming land in SA. Someone please explain to our so-called knowledgable experts where their food comes from and the more land we use for housing the more we ALL pay, in the long run. Comment 18 of 40 Gotta love those Bottlenecks every morning! Posted at 10:14 AM May 21, 2010 6 years ago it took about 20-25mins to get from Craigmore to Gepps Cross in peak hour traffic. Currently it is 45-50mins. What will it be after this latest development is completed? Main North Road and Salisbury Hwy just cannot cope with the current traffic congestion. Especially where 3 lanes merge into 2. All for more housing, but fix the roads first! Comment 19 of 40 Tim G of Adelaide Posted at 10:49 AM May 21, 2010 This is funny,as those new residents will take longer to get to the city via main north rd than someone who lives at Pt.Wakefield. I would have thought land closer to the city would be utilised for development first. Comment 20 of 40 Mark SA of Adelaide Posted at 10:54 AM May 21, 2010 Original bushland? Farms? Parks and gardens? Open spaces? Pfft who needs 'em. So long as every new McMansion has a home theatre room we can watch them on TV. In 3D no less! So keep breeding and building people the PM has population targets to meet! (and he doesn't apologise for that) Comment 21 of 40 Shaun of country SA Posted at 10:58 AM May 21, 2010 Typical South Australia, someone announces a new development and every one complains that their 18th century life style will be ruined. Hello... news flash Gawler is a suburb of Adelaide. It is not a country town any more. Comment 22 of 40 Andy of Gawler Posted at 10:58 AM May 21, 2010 How can so many houses be approved without the infrastructure in place required to accommodate the population. Based on this the Gawler - Adelaide train will be full by the time it hit's Smithfield. Comment 23 of 40 my 2c Posted at 11:05 AM May 21, 2010 The land in question was/is used for growing grain. The average yeild, using published data, would be about 155 tonnes of wheat or barley which will have to be grown somewhere else. But it's the loss of the open space and the green belt that's of concern. Gawler is becoming part of the greater Adelaide urban sprawl. Maybe it's time to move to Roseworthy... oh yes the urban sprawl will reach out to Roseworthy in a few more years too. Comment 24 of 40 mike of adelaide Posted at 11:07 AM May 21, 2010 this is great news , but unless they provide a train service its all but useless really........ high speed express trains to the city would make it a very tempting proposition! Comment 25 of 40 Raul Duke of radelaide Posted at 11:12 AM May 21, 2010 to those complaining about main north road and the lack of infrastructure, the northern expressway passes about three minutes drive from this estate. Comment 26 of 40 over an hour from Elizabeth to City of stuck on Main North Road Posted at 11:24 AM May 21, 2010 Gotta love those Bottlenecks - see what happens when the northern expressway is open, giving Gawler commuters another route to get to the city, might ease pressure off Main North Road. I think certain areas of Main North Road could be extended to 90 rather than 80 and traffic light cycles could be improved. Also, the trains are now being upgraded on the Gawler line which may increase commuters on the trains and leaving less traffic on the roads. Comment 27 of 40 Never cross the bogun fence of my own accord Posted at 12:07 PM May 21, 2010 Is this past Gepps Cross? I thought that was the end of the road... Comment 28 of 40 Flossy of North Posted at 12:19 PM May 21, 2010 And the great scab that Adelaide has become festers out even further. What used to be separate communities is now engulfed in a morass of smell, noise, traffic jams and endless shopping complexes. The secret of the north is out and its over! Gawler is about to become the new Old Noarlunga,lost completely and forever. Comment 29 of 40 Andy of Gawler Posted at 12:42 PM May 21, 2010 Raul Duke, and I guess there will be extra trains?? Infrastructure does not just extend to roads! Comment 30 of 40 Comment 31 of 40 Ray of Gawler Posted at 12:50 PM May 21, 2010 Thankyou Tony Picollo for the complete lack of infrastructure to accommodate it and other proposed developments around the town. Comment 32 of 40 Bill of Gawler Posted at 1:21 PM May 21, 2010 Andrew of Adelaide Posted at 8:54 AM Today - the neighbourhood went a long time ago, along with any dream of living the quiet life. You only have to read in the local paper's Police news to realise that Evanston Gardens has a high crime rate already. As for those worried about public transport, don't you know that Piccolo is going to fix the problem? With his mate Pat, they're going to electrify the rail system. Well whoopee doo! Comment 33 of 40 Gee Jay of Adelaide Posted at 1:25 PM May 21, 2010 To all those complaining about road congestion;there is a train service, that will become better with electrification,and much quicker than driving! There should be a decent green belt between all new estates. Comment 34 of 40 Benno of Gawler Posted at 1:47 PM May 21, 2010 How long will it be before Gawler is renamed North Elizabeth? Comment 35 of 40 Clive Charman of Hillier Posted at 2:17 PM May 21, 2010 When is Gawler council gong to get up to date, and realise that the town is no longer a heritage asset, but part of 2010. Comment 36 of 40 John of Adelaide Posted at 2:33 PM May 21, 2010 This is good news along with the new express way and the train track upgrade starting soon out north. The train will make it faster and more efficient than driving. They just need to put enough trains on to handle the capacity. It would also be good to see some sort of fast inter connection service between other suburbs also. Say an O-Bahn track along Main North Road linking into the North-East Suburbs. I don't understand why everyone is complaining. Oh yeah, this is in Adelaide. As for other infrastructure, it will only get better for the people who already live there. More people makes it more cost effective to provide infrastructure, so all you people complaining will get the benefits in infrastructure and house price increases. The North has so much potential that has been wasted over the years. Comment 37 of 40 Steve Harrison of Clare Posted at 3:04 PM May 21, 2010 What a potential nightmare for more little boxes to built on farm land. The Northern Expressway was never planned to carry commuters, it is a freight route designed a decade ago! Can you imagine the tailbacks from Port Wakefiled Road back into Gawler on teh Expressway when Buckland Park comes online as well... what horrendous short term planning. The potential residents of these homes should be living in inner city Adelaide in townhouses and apartments. We really need to change our thinking and stop developers perpetuating the urban myth that we can all have a home, two car garage and front and back yard...it is totally unsustainable. Comment 38 of 40 Brian of Adelaide Posted at 3:22 PM May 21, 2010 Doesn't anyone read the article? This is for 800 homes with 2000 people....not 200,000 people. The impact on infrastructure will be minimal. Comment 39 of 40 Steve T of Evanston Gardens Posted at 3:17 PM September 14, 2011 I have been living in Evanston Gardens for several years and generally speaking it's a pretty good place to live. Of course you get a few yobos who rent from Housing SA & the odd graffiti vandal but everywhere has their share of those morons. What I want to know is - how this will affect the value of my older home? One thing I am looking forward to is having some shops within walking distance. Comment 40 of 40

Race driver Trent Clare in critical condition at RAH after crash at Lake Gairdner

Race driver Trent Clare in critical condition at RAH after crash at Lake Gairdner ANDREW HOUGH The Advertiser March 25, 2015 7:00PM Trent Clare (second from left) at Lake Gairdner last year with family relatives including from left, father Colin, brother Blake and uncle Trevor and their 1993 Streamliner fast car. TRENT Clare loves cars, motor racing and going fast. Every year he and members of his family join hundreds of other drivers at a remote salt lake in the state’s far north for a land speed event in an area known as the Last Fast Place. But Mr Clare, 26, of Broken Hill, was fighting for life on Wednesday night after he rolled his specially-built bright orange 1993 Streamliner fast car during a high-speed crash while trying to reach 322km/h (200mph). Witnesses told how the racer, also a successful rally car driver and motocross rider, rolled his car several times while attempting a land speed record for his car type along nine miles of salt flats. The accident at the annual Speed Week occurred at 530pm on Tuesday at the southern end of Lake Gairdner National Park, 150km northwest of Port Augusta, in cool, but fine, conditions. His distraught father, Colin, brother, Blake, and uncle, Trevor — who held his own speed record — watched in horror as paramedics, and an off-duty doctor, treated him at the scene before he was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Trent Clare, who has been involved in a car at Lake Gairdner while trying to set a land-speed record. Racing was immediately suspended and the track remained closed for much of Wednesday amid fears water, wind and a build-up of salt on the lake’s outskirts had triggered dangerous conditions. Local traffic police from the Moomba Highway patrol are investigating and have been liaising with the Adelaide-based major crash unit. Mr Clare was on Wednesday night in a critical, but stable, condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit as his family, including father, mother, Paula, brother and girlfriend Becky Townsend, maintained a bedside vigil. CLARE BROTHERS AT SPEEDWEEK The family, who operate Clare Brothers Racing and have been involved in motorsport for decades, were too distressed to publicly comment. The first major crash in the past few years has left Broken Hill residents shocked and locals have rallied around the family, also successful farmers. Friends told The Advertiser how the builder, whose personal racing best was 251km/h at the outback event, had developed a passion for racing in the past few years. Video online showed him racing in 2013. “He is just a normal fun-loving bloke — everyone loves him,” said one. “He is a very good driver and he just loved heading up to the lake. It was one of his favourite things.” Another added: “Everyone up here is in a bit of shock. We are all praying that he pulls through.” Organisers hope to restart today the competition, which attracts more than 1000 people, after police interviews. Dry Lake Racing Association officials say the cold conditions helped with fast racing as it prevents car engines from overheating. An event spokesman described Mr Clare as a “popular” competitor and a “good guy”. Speed Week, which is celebrating its 25 anniversary, continues until Friday.

Opinion of Strand high-rises split on science

Good thinking @DanielGannon - this is a great opportunity to convert older buildings into contemporary apartments. pic.twitter.com/JJifZrp2zV

— Martin Haese (@MartinHaese) March 24, 2015

Opinion of Strand high-rises split on science Anthony Templeton • Townsville Bulletin • November 06, 2013 12:00AM The Save Our Strand committee is concerned over the future of The Strand . Picture: Megan Taylor TOWNSVILLE City Council conducted 13 scientific studies before presenting its draft City Plan for public consultation but concerned residents worry the science is being used to justify the desires of developers instead of protecting the atmosphere of The Strand. Planning and Development Committee chairman Cr Tony Parsons said research from dozens of scientists, engineers, social demographers, ecologists, heritage experts and urban planners had been used by the council to underpin the recommendations in the draft plan.

"It was important for council to rigorously test the findings of these studies and it is for this reason that we have had these documents peer reviewed," he said. "The future plan for our city needs to appropriately balance the competing interests of the community, business and the environment while maintaining and enhancing the lifestyle attractions of living in Townsville," he said. "We realised the importance of investing time and resources in a broad range of technical and community studies to underpin the development of the draft City Plan." Cr Parsons said extensive preparation and community consultation were undertaken in the development of the draft City Plan to ensure it reflected community needs and priorities. "We are confident in the key policy directions of the draft City Plan because it is based on an extensive range of background data documented in earlier planning studies," he said. Data from studies identifying the availability and future demand of land supply, effects of natural disasters, heritage and cultural precincts, open space and recreation areas and landslide hazards was used to underpin recommendations in the draft City Plan.

However, Save Our Strand committee spokeswoman Anne Atkinson said the council needed to protect the experience of visiting The Strand for future generations. "There has to be more than just scientific data that goes into this (draft) City Plan because the council needs to protect The Strand for the public 30 and 40 years from now," she said. "The changes (in the draft City Plan) won't cause massive changes straight away but in a two or three decades there will be a wall of buildings obscuring the view of Castle Hill from the beach. "There should be a definitive height limit, and three storeys seems about right." Mrs Atkinson said the future plans for development on The Strand needed to be protect the atmosphere of the area, instead of just being based solely on data. "What we have on The Strand is really unique compared with almost every other beachfront in Australia," she said. "What we have right now is really precious and we need to do everything possible to keep it the way it is." Ads By Google Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. QLD_CP_NEWS_SOT_27JUN14 Sacked security guard HMAS Townsville 2011 Lavarack Gunman Plan for funds to help new stadium Undated : generic fishing rod and tackle box QLD_CP_NEWS_AFP_18NOV14 Rear Admiral Robyn Walker AM, Commander Joint Health Command, appears before a Senate Estimates Committee hearing at Parliame... End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.       Have your say Skip to:Read commentsAdd comments Add your comment on this story Comments Form Enter your comment here * 1200 characters left Your details Name (as it will appear on the site) * Email Address * Location (optional) Post Options Remember my details Email me if my comment is published Submit Comments on this story Read all 24 comments Warren BUTTERWORTH of TOWNSVILLE Posted at 6:50 PM November 06, 2013 Re comment by "Billy Knows of Townsville", so what if the LNP are receiving funding from developers/businesses. Where does the ALP get their funding? From the Unions and it works out the more you pay, the more say you have on what the ALP do. Don't call the kettle black. It's about time that each & every candidate was given a sum of money for the campaign and there should be no outside support. If they can't manage the budget for their campaign, they could manage the massive budget of the State/Federal Government. Johnny Posted at 3:45 PM November 06, 2013 No high rises! Go to the Gold Coast if you want big buildings. Ramble of Tsv. Posted at 2:54 PM November 06, 2013 Plenty of room for High Rise in places other than the Strand foreshore. Plenty of space South and SoutWest of Castle Hill, City centre, and even Rocky Springs comes to mind even. 5 stories seems a reasonable limit anyway. A developers party only means people are getting ripped off. Additionally, anywhere within the historical beach-line footprint ought not be developed in the first place; and there is no point making a larger problem within those areas already built on. A wonder the climate scaremongers have not pulled that rabbit out of the basket. Michael of Townsville Posted at 2:26 PM November 06, 2013 Height restrictions are good thing but i think it should be 10stores hight 5 is to low only to protect views of rich people on the hill. Jenny Stirling of Townsville Posted at 1:55 PM November 06, 2013 Everyone I have ever heard comment in how great the Strand is comments on how good itnis that itnhas no high rise. It is that simple. I have no problems with medium density housing in various parts of the city depending on arguments for and against by local residents. However the Strand is 'different' because the values embedded in it are not commercial first and foremost. And it needs to stay different for it to keep its appeal to the very people it was designed to serve. Us. Candace of Townsville Posted at 1:39 PM November 06, 2013 A wall of buildings? Perhaps those making a song and dance should actually read the draft city plan. The 5 storey height limit is for a very small part of the strand and in my opinion 5 storey is pretty far from being 'highrise'. AUSSIE BURKA of Mundingburra Posted at 1:33 PM November 06, 2013 it does not matter who you vote for,in the long run you lose,you go to university to expand & better your " career " why should politics be different........?

German Airbus crashes in French Alps with 150 dead, black box found

Co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing Germanwings jet Thu, Mar 26 18:07 PM EDT image 1 of 26 By Tim Hepher and Jean-Francois Rosnoblet PARIS/SEYNE-LES-ALPES (Reuters) - A young German co-pilot barricaded himself alone in the cockpit of Germanwings flight 9525 and apparently set it on course to crash into an Alpine mountain, killing all 150 people on board including himself, French prosecutors said on Thursday. They offered no motive for why Andreas Lubitz, 27, would take the controls of the Airbus A320, lock the captain out of the cockpit and deliberately set it veering down from cruising altitude at 3,000 feet per minute. German police searched his home for evidence that might offer some explanation for what was behind Tuesday's crash in the French Alps. The scenario stunned the aviation world. Within hours of the prosecutors' announcement, several airlines responded by immediately changing their rules to require a second crew member to be in the cockpit at all times. That is already compulsory in the United States but not in Europe. Canada said it would now require it of all its airlines. EasyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Air Berlin were among other carriers that swiftly announced such policies. Among those that didn't was Germanwings parent company Lufthansa, whose CEO said he thought it was unnecessary. But the airline came under swift pressure on social media to make such a change and later said it would discuss it with others in the industry. French and German officials said there was no indication Lubitz was a terrorist but offered no rival theories to explain his actions. Acquaintances described him as an affable young man who had given no sign of harmful intent. Lubitz acted "for a reason we cannot fathom right now but which looks like intent to destroy this aircraft", Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said. Setting the plane's controls for rapid descent was an act that "could only have been voluntary", Robin said. “He had... no reason to stop the pilot-in-command from coming back into the cockpit. He had no reason to refuse to answer to the air controller who was alerting him on the loss of altitude." The captain, who had stepped out of the cockpit, probably to use the toilet, could be heard on flight recordings trying to force his way back in. "You can hear banging to try to smash the door down," Robin said. Most of the passengers would not have been aware of their fate until the very end, he said: "Only toward the end do you hear screams," he said. "And bear in mind that death would have been instantaneous...the aircraft was literally smashed to bits." FlightRadar24, an online air tracking service that uses satellite data, said it had found evidence the autopilot was abruptly switched from cruising altitude to just 100 feet, the lowest possible setting. The plane crashed at about 6,000 feet. "Between 09:30:52 and 09:30:55 you can see that the autopilot was manually changed from 38,000 feet to 100 feet and 9 seconds later the aircraft started to descend, probably with the 'open descent' autopilot setting," Fredrik Lindahl, chief executive of the Swedish tracking service, said. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said its air crew were picked carefully and subjected to psychological vetting. "No matter your safety regulations, no matter how high you set the bar, and we have incredibly high standards, there is no way to rule out such an event," Spohr said. Attention was focused on the motivations of Lubitz, a German national who joined the Lufthansa-owned budget carrier in September 2013 and had just 630 hours of flying time - compared with the 6,000 hours of the flight captain. "SUICIDE" THE WRONG WORD "Suicide" was the wrong word to describe actions which killed so many other people, Robin, the French prosecutor, said: "I don't necessarily call it suicide when you have responsibility for 100 or so lives." The family of the co-pilot, whose age was earlier misstated as 28, arrived in France for a tribute alongside other victims. They were being kept apart from the others, Robin said. Police searched the co-pilot's home in Montabaur, Germany, leaving with large blue bags of evidence and a computer. A man was led out of the building, shielded by police holding up jackets. Acquaintances in the town said they were stunned. "I'm just speechless. I don't have any explanation for this. Knowing Andreas, this is just inconceivable for me," said Peter Ruecker, a long-time member of the local flight club where Lubitz received his flying license years ago. "He was a lot of fun, even though he was perhaps sometimes a bit quiet. He was just another boy like so many others here." A photo on Lubitz's Facebook page, which was later taken down, shows a smiling young man posing in front of San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge. Investigators were still searching for the second of the two black boxes on Thursday in the ravine where the plane crashed, 100 km (65 miles) from Nice. This box would contain data from the plane's instruments. Under German aviation law, pilots may temporarily leave the cockpit at certain times and in certain circumstances, such as while the aircraft is cruising. Cockpit doors can be opened from the outside with a code, in line with regulations introduced after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, but the code can be overridden from inside the cockpit, making the door impenetrable. Germanwings said 72 Germans were killed in the first major air passenger disaster on French soil since the 2000 Concorde accident just outside Paris. Madrid revised down on Thursday the number of Spanish victims to 50 from 51. As well as Germans and Spaniards, victims included three Americans, a Moroccan and citizens of Britain, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Iran and the Netherlands, officials said. However, DNA checks to identify them could take weeks, the French government said. The families of victims were being flown to Marseille on Thursday before being taken up to the zone close to the crash site. Chapels had been prepared for them with a view of the mountain where their relatives died. (Additional reporting by bureaus in Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt and Madrid; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) ===== German Airbus crashes in French Alps with 150 dead, black box found Tue, Mar 24 17:30 PM EDT image 1 of 17 By Jean-Francois Rosnoblet SEYNE-LES-ALPES, France (Reuters) - An Airbus operated by Lufthansa's Germanwings budget airline crashed into a mountainside in the French Alps on Tuesday, killing all 150 people on board including 16 schoolchildren. Germanwings confirmed its flight 4U 9525 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf went down with 144 passengers and six crew on board. One of the plane's black box recorders has been found at the crash site, about 100 km (65 miles) north of the Riviera city of Nice, and will be examined immediately, France's interior minister said. In Washington, the White House said the crash did not appear to have been caused by a terrorist attack, while Lufthansa said it was working on the assumption that the tragedy had been an accident, adding that any other theory would be speculation. Aerial photographs showed smoldering wreckage and a piece of the fuselage with six windows strewn across the steep mountainside cut by ravines. "We saw an aircraft that had literally been ripped apart, the bodies are in a state of destruction, there is not one intact piece of wing or fuselage," Brice Robin, prosecutor for the city of Marseille, told Reuters after flying over the wreckage in a helicopter. Germanwings believed 67 Germans had been on the flight. Spain's deputy prime minister said 45 passengers had Spanish names. One Belgian was also aboard. Also among the victims were 16 children and two teachers from the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in the town of Haltern am See in northwest Germany, a spokeswoman said. Barcelona's Liceu opera house said on Twitter that two singers, Kazakhstan-born Oleg Bryjak and German Maria Radner, had died while returning to Duesseldorf after they had performed in Wagner's Siegfried at the theater. French police at the crash site about 2,000 meters (6,000 feet) above sea level said no one had survived and it would take days to recover the bodies due to difficult terrain, snow and incoming storms. Police said search teams would stay overnight at altitude. "We are still searching. It's unlikely any bodies will be airlifted until Wednesday," regional police chief David Galtier told Reuters. In Paris, Prime Minister Manuel Valls told parliament: "A helicopter managed to land (by the crash site) and has confirmed that unfortunately there were no survivors." It was the first crash of a large passenger jet on French soil since the Concorde disaster just outside Paris nearly 15 years ago. The A320 is a workhorse of aviation fleets and one of the world’s most used passenger jets. It has a good safety record. However, according to data from the Aviation Safety Network, Tuesday's crash was the third most deadly involving an A320. In 2007 a TAM Linhas Aereas A320 shot off a runway in Brazil, killing 187 people, while 162 people died when an Indonesia AirAsia jet went down in the Java Sea in December. SHARP DESCENT Germanwings said the plane started descending one minute after reaching its cruising height and continued losing altitude for eight minutes. "The aircraft's contact with French radar, French air traffic controllers, ended at 10.53 am at an altitude of about 6,000 feet. The plane then crashed," Germanwings' Managing Director Thomas Winkelmann told a news conference. Winkelmann also said that routine maintenance of the aircraft was performed by Lufthansa on Monday. Experts said that while the Airbus had descended rapidly, its rate of descent did not suggest it had simply fallen out of the sky. France's DGAC aviation authority said air traffic controllers initiated distress procedures after they lost contact with the Airbus. "The aircraft did not itself make a distress call but it was the combination of the loss of radio contact and the aircraft's descent which led the controller to implement the distress phase," a DGAC spokesman said. In emergencies, pilots are trained to try to fly the aircraft as their first priority, then pay attention to navigation and only then communicate with the ground. The aircraft came down in an alpine region known for skiing, hiking and rafting, but which is hard for rescue services to reach. The search and recovery effort based itself in a gymnasium in the village of Seyne-les-Alpes, which has a small private aerodrome nearby. STORMS, SNOW, CLOUD As helicopters and emergency vehicles assembled, the weather was reported to be closing in. “There will be a lot of cloud cover this afternoon, with local storms, snow above 1,800 meters and relatively low clouds. That will not help the helicopters in their work,” an official from the local weather center told Reuters. Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr, who planned to go to the crash site, spoke of a "dark day for Lufthansa". "My deepest sympathy goes to the families and friends of our passengers and crew," Lufthansa said on Twitter, citing Spohr. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would travel to the site on Wednesday. Germanwings and the Catalan regional government were preparing to take Spanish relatives there. Family members arrived at Barcelona’s El Prat airport, many crying and with arms around each others’ shoulders, accompanied by police and airport staff. In Llinars del Valles, the Spanish village that hosted the German schoolchildren, Mayor Marti Pujol said the whole village was distraught. "The families knew each other," he told Reuters. "The parents had been to see them off at 6 this morning." King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain called off a state visit to France in a sign of mourning for the victims. They had arrived in Paris minutes after the crash happened. In Washington, President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with Germany and Spain after what he called the "awful tragedy". Airbus confirmed that the plane was 24 years old, having first been delivered to Lufthansa in 1991. It was powered by engines made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and France's Safran. (Additional reporting by Robert Hetz, John Irish, Nicolas Bertin, Gregory Blachier, Tim Hepher, Alwyn Scott, Elena Gyldenkerne, Robert-Jan Bartunek, Matthias Inverardi and Sabine Siebold; writing by Giles Elgood and David Stamp; editing by Mark John and Peter Millership)