Saudi-Iran tensions scupper deal to freeze oil output

Kuwait oil workers' strike sees output plunge AFP April 17, 2016 Kuwaiti oil workers arrive at their union headquarter in Al-Ahmadi, 35 km south of Kuwait city, on April 17, 2016, to protest against plans to cut their wages and privatise parts of the oil sector View photos Kuwaiti oil workers arrive at their union headquarter in Al-Ahmadi, 35 km south of Kuwait city, on April 17, 2016, to protest against plans to cut their wages and privatise parts of the oil sector (AFP Photo/Yasser Al-Zayyat) More Kuwait City (AFP) - Thousands of Kuwait's oil workers began an open-ended strike on Sunday in protest at plans to cut their wages, action which saw the emirate's crude production plunge. A spokesman for the Kuwait Oil Co. (KOC), Saad al-Azemi, said on Twitter that "average production reached 1.1 million" barrels in Kuwait on Sunday. Daily production in OPEC's fourth largest producer is normally around 3.0 million barrels per day. Azemi also said natural gas production was at 620 million cubic feet, down from Kuwait's daily average of more than 1.3 billion cubic feet. The strike comes as world oil producers gathered in Qatar aiming to negotiate an output freeze to boost prices. "Thousands of workers began their strike," the oil workers union chief Saif al-Qahtani told AFP, adding that production had been partly halted but without clarifying which sites were affected. "Observed since 7:00 am (0400 GMT), this open-ended strike will continue until the workers' demands are met," Qahtani said. The cabinet strongly criticised the "unacceptable" strike, calling it a "clear violation of the law", and demanded legal measures against those involved. The government also urged Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) to mobilise the manpower needed to ensure continued production. On Saturday, the union turned down an appeal from Kuwait's acting oil minister, Anas al-Saleh, to call off the strike. Hit by the sharp drop in crude prices on world markets, Kuwait is introducing a new payroll scheme for all public employees and wants to include the country's 20,000 oil workers, which would mean an automatic cut in wages and incentives. As the strike began, KPC spokesman Sheikh Talal Khaled al-Sabah said that the national oil conglomerate had activated an "emergency plan" to ensure that local and international markets were not affected by the walkout. "Export operations are going ahead as planned and (KPC) is capable of responding to major international market demands, based on agreements with clients," he said in a statement published on the KUNA news agency's website. The plan ensures that all petrol stations will continue to be supplied, as will Kuwait's international airport and companies operating there, he said. He urged Kuwaitis "not to listen to rumours that the strike has affected the needs of the local market". He said reserves of gasoline and petrol derivatives were "enough to meet the country's demands for 25 days and strategic reserves could suffice for 31 more days". KPC had offered to suspend all spending cuts if the union agreed to join a committee to negotiate a settlement, but said workers had boycotted negotiations called for Thursday by the social affairs and labour ministry. The union is also protesting against plans to privatise parts of the oil sector. ========================== Saudi-Iran tensions scupper deal to freeze oil output Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. Reuters/Ibraheem Al Omari Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Oman's Minister of Oil and Gas, arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Oman's Minister of Oil and Gas, arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. Reuters/Ibraheem Al Omari Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed Saleh Al Sada arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed Saleh Al Sada arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. Reuters/Ibraheem Al Omari Nigerian Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari Nigerian Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. Reuters/Ibraheem Al Omari Bahrain's Minister of Energy Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari Bahrain's Minister of Energy Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza arrives to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar April 17, 2016. Reuters/Ibraheem Al Omari A worker looks at a pump jack at the Rosneft company owned Samotlor oil field outside the West Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk, Russia, January 26, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin A worker looks at a pump jack at the Rosneft company owned Samotlor oil field outside the West Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk, Russia, January 26, 2016. Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin A van is refuelled at Woqod oil station in Doha, Qatar January 28, 2016. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon A van is refuelled at Woqod oil station in Doha, Qatar January 28, 2016. Reuters/Naseem Zeitoon Saudi-Iran tensions scupper deal to freeze oil...X By Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine DOHA (Reuters) - A deal to freeze oil output by OPEC and non-OPEC producers fell apart on Sunday after Saudi Arabia demanded that Iran join in despite calls on Riyadh to save the agreement and help prop up crude prices. The development will revive oil industry fears that major producers are embarking again on a battle for market share, especially after Riyadh threatened to raise output steeply if no freeze deal were reached. Iran is also pledging to ramp up production following the lifting of Western sanctions in January, making a compromise with Riyadh almost impossible as the two fight proxy wars in Yemen and Syria. Some 18 oil nations, including non-OPEC Russia, gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for what was expected to be the rubber-stamping of a deal - in the making since February - to stabilize output at January levels until October 2016. But OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to take part in the freeze, including Iran, which was absent from the talks. Tehran had refused to stabilize production, seeking to regain market share post-sanctions. After five hours of fierce debate about the wording of a communique - including between Saudi Arabia and Russia - delegates and ministers announced no deal had been reached. "We concluded we all need time to consult further," Qatar's energy minister Mohammed al-Sada told reporters. Several OPEC sources said if Iran agreed to join the freeze at the next OPEC meeting on June 2, talks with non-OPEC producers could resume. Russian oil minister Alexander Novak called the Saudi demand "unreasonable" and said he was disappointed as he had come to Doha under the impression that all sides would sign the deal instead of debating it. Novak said Russia was not shutting the door on a deal but the government would not restrain output for now. ADVERTISEMENT Russia is a key ally of Iran and has been defending Tehran's right to raise output post-sanctions while also supporting the Islamic Republic in many of its conflicts with Riyadh. TOUGH SAUDI STANCE The failure to reach a global deal could halt a recent recovery in oil prices. "With no deal today, markets' confidence in OPEC's ability to achieve any sensible supply balancing act is likely to diminish and this is surely bearish for the oil markets, where prices had rallied partly on expectations of a deal," said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande. In December, OPEC failed to agree on output policy for the first time in years after Iran disagreed over a production ceiling proposed by Saudi Arabia, arguing again that it wanted to boost output post-sanctions. "Without a deal, the likelihood of markets balancing is now pushed back to mid-2017. We will see a lot of speculators getting out next week," said Deshpande, who added that prices could fall close to $30 per barrel. Brent oil LCOc1 has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 percent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014. Amrita Sen of Energy Aspects said oil prices could fall below $40 on Monday in a knee-jerk reaction. "While today’s lack of a freeze deal has no negative impact on balances - since Iran is really the only country likely to raise output substantially - it has a huge negative impact on sentiment especially as the deal had been hyped up so much," she said. Related Coverage Russia says door not closed for oil output freeze Qatar says OPEC needs more time for freeze deal OPEC, non-OPEC fail to reach deal on output freeze: sources Russia, Saudi debate oil deal draft at Doha talks Gary Ross, the founder and executive chairman of New York-based consultancy PIRA, said the failure to reach a deal was negative but would not have a long-lasting impact. "The market has recently moved up due to tightening balances. We see geopolitical risks to supply rising, we see U.S. production declining. In many respects, the rebalancing has already started," he said. Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to refuse to participate in the freeze. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday OPEC and non-OPEC should simply accept the reality of Iran's return to the oil market: "If Iran freezes its oil production ... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions." (Reporting by Rania El Gamal and Reem Shamseddine; Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Sam Wilkin, Katie Paul and Tom Finn; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Andrew Torchia; Editing by Dale Hudson)

What we larned from Crystal Brook accident!: 4 Dead Several Injured in 2-Vehicle Crash on Augusta Highway

UPDATE 5.35pm: Police and emergency services are currently at the scene of a fatality south of Crystal Brook in the State’s mid north where four people have died. Just before 12.30pm on Sunday 17 April, a Subaru station wagon and a truck crashed head-on on the Augusta Highway about 2km south of Crystal Brook. Sadly, all four occupants in the Subaru, a 70-year-old man, a 59-year-old woman and two girls aged 5 and 10, who are all from the same family, died at the scene. The driver of the truck, has been taken to Port Pirie Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Two female passengers have also been taken to Port Pirie Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A fourth passenger from the truck has been taken to Crystal Brook Hospital in a critical condition and he has been airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Major Crash Investigators remain at the scene and the Augusta Highway will be closed for some time between Venning Road and Clements Road and diversions are in place. The deaths take the State’s road toll to 27 as compared to 24 for the same time last year. ================ Augusta Hwy closed south of Crystal Brook 5 minutes ago Meagan Dillon and Jade GailbergerThe Advertiser Subscriber Exclusive Icon Scene of an accident on Augusta Hwy near Crystal Brook, in which four people have died. Picture: Tom Huntley TWO young children and their grandparents, all from Adelaide, have died in a horrific head-on crash between a station wagon and a truck on the Augusta Hwy on Sunday. Police and emergency services were called to the crash 2km south of Crystal Brook about 12.30pm, where two girls, aged five and 10, from Daw Park, and their grandparents, a 70-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman from Colonel Light Gardens, died at the scene. The driver of the truck, a 52-year-old man from Wingfield, was trapped and suffered head and leg injuries. He was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment. Three passengers, — two 42-year-old women, one from Wingfield and another from Largs North, and a 50-year-old man from Ingle Farm — were taken to Port Pirie Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Scene of an accident on Augusta Hwy near Crystal Brook, in which four people have died. Picture: Tom Huntley Superintendent Alby Quin, acting officer in charge of the Yorke-Mid North LSA, urged drivers to be careful as families head away for holidays and the Anzac Day long weekend. Other Stories Grant Hackett’s life in the farce lane Grant Hackett’s life in the farce lane Victims call for Health Minister to resign post Victims call for Health Minister to resign post Steel, ships bargaining chips as July election looms Steel, ships bargaining chips as July election looms Bid to end our traffic snarl-ups Bid to end our traffic snarl-ups Crucial learner driver training faces scrap heap Crucial learner driver training faces scrap heap 60 Mins: ‘It’s a nerve-racking time’ “There’s been a family that has been impacted today which will take a long time for them to get over,” he said. “We urge everyone to think about the impact and be considerate on the roads. Think about fatigue, speed and drink driving. Truck driver Neville Mugridge was one of the first people to come across the crash and described it as a sad scene. He said a woman was on her phone, clearly distraught, and asked him to use his truck’s radio to let other drivers know the road was closed. “A man asked me to go up and have a look at the truck to see if there was any dangerous goods on it,” he said. “I went up there to look — it didn’t have any dangerous goods. “I looked inside (the car) to see what was going on. The car was more or less underneath the truck. I saw the young girl in there, I couldn’t watch it. “It’s one of those things — it’s so sad to see, especially at the start of school holidays. I’ve got grand kids that are the same age.” Major Crash Investigators are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, the Augusta Highway was closed for some time before being reopened at 11pm last night. The deaths take the State’s road toll to 27 as compared to 24 for the same time last year. In the 12 months to the end of March 102 people died on SA roads. ===============

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Four people - two grandparents and two children - have died in head-on crash near Crystal Brook @theTiser pic.twitter.com/OD6TG4YabK

— Meagan Dillon (@MeaganDillon7) April 17, 2016

13.5.2 Speed Limit Reviews MOVED Cr Paparella SECONDED Cr Wilson OM117/11 1. That Council NOT support the suggestion made by the Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure to introduce a 50kph speed limit zone to replace the existing 60kph speed limit zones on both the northern and southern access roads to Crystal Brook, being the Goyder Highway and Gadd Avenue respectively. ^ Road Asset Management Section, DPTI (October 2013). "DPTI Maintained Road, South Australia" (PDF). Government of South Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014. RAC pushes optional 30km/h speed zones Kent Acott - The West Australian on April 18, 2016, 1:00 am RAC pushes optional 30km/h speed zones  RAC pushes optional 30km/h speed zones  Share  Tweet  Email       The RAC has called for a trial of “self-enforcing” 30km/h speed zones on suburban streets in a bid to create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. Its its budget submission presented to the State Government, the RAC said a “renewed and improved” commitment to reducing deaths and serious injuries on WA roads needed to be a priority for 2016-17. In 2014, WA recorded more than one road fatality every two days, including 17 pedestrians. “As a State, we need to ensure we do everything we can to bring WA's road fatality rate down,” the submission said. “The introduction of self-enforcing 30km/h zones has ... proven effective, both nationally and internationally, in helping to create safer and more pedestrian-friendly environments.” Self-enforcing speed zones are common in European cities. Streets are designed so drivers naturally slow down because they expect to see pedestrians and cyclists. This could be done with narrower car lanes, wider bicycle and foot paths and more street trees. The RAC submission said the 2016-2017 Budget was an opportunity for the State Government to commit to essential programs and projects that help keep road users safe. “It is evident that to meet the challenges ahead, and to offset the escalating economic and social costs brought on by road trauma and congestion, we must step up — rather than scale back — our investment in infrastructure and initiatives,” it said. “It is clear there is no single solution to fix congestion and a suite of measures will be needed — sustained and widespread investment in public transport, better cycling infrastructure, targeted investment in the operation of our road network and the evolution of a more compact, consolidated and connected city. “Good cities need effective public transport. “By 2031, Perth’s public transport system will be required to carry more than twice as many people as it did in 2011. “However, there is a significant gap between the community’s growing appetite for public transport and the capacity of the existing funding approaches to deliver this infrastructure.” The submission said that shared-use mobility options, such as car sharing and legal ride sharing, could supplement existing transport networks and provide improved travel choices and reduce the number of vehicles on our roads. It said the State Government should investigate changes to the Perth Parking Policy that would allow the levy to be waived for the provision of dedicated car-sharing bays. ================== Having the one way dual overtaking lanes can confuse people, when one direction has two lanes one for overtaking, which then blends back to one lane each way, I've had to flash vehicles coming at me on the wrong side presumably still thinking they were on the overtaking lane. - Why does the dual carriageway finish at Port Wakefield. We have so many people unemployed so labour is not a problem, steel guard rails that would help Whyalla, while we put up with single lane country roads we will still have head on accidents. because this government is in so much debt they can't afford to fix/improve roads. And even if they had the money they won't spend it on rural roads because that's not where most of the votes come from. -- I dont blame roads... i blame drivers and their cars or trucks. People speed... are inattentive and impatient. I've had a fuel tanker lose it back wheels on the verge in gravel and swing it back onto thr road heading straight for me over the line.... thats inattentive driving from the truckie... got to be so aware and careful =========== Family killed in 'horrific' crash between station wagon and truck on SA's Highway One By Daniel Keane, staff Updated yesterday at 10:35pm Debris litters Highway One after a serious crash Photo: The scene of a serious crash on Highway One near Crystal Brook in SA's mid north. (ABC News: Carmen Brown) Map: Crystal Brook 5523 Two young girls and two adults from the same family are dead following a crash between their station wagon and a truck in South Australia's mid-north. Key points: •Man airlifted to hospital with serious head and leg injuries •Another man and two women taken to hospital with no obvious injuries •Reports of another four people involved in the crash The girls were aged five and 10, while the man was aged 70 and the woman aged 69, police said. It is believed the adults were the children's grandparents, although police have not confirmed that. The crash happened about 12:30pm south of the town of Crystal Brook on Augusta Highway, part of National Highway One, near the intersection with Heaslip Road. A passenger in the truck was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with critical injuries. Three other people who were travelling in the truck were taken to Port Pirie Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The car had been towing a caravan and the crash left debris, including luggage and suitcases, strewn across the highway. Arriving truck driver describes 'horrific' scene Truck driver Neville Mugridge was one of the first to arrive at the scene and described what he witnessed as "horrific". "I came across the bridge and onto the straight and I could see there was carnage everywhere. I stopped the truck and jumped out," he said. "It was a pretty big mess. There was a truck on the side. A car was more or less caught underneath the front of it. A caravan was all over, spread all over the road." He said he jumped out to help and could see a woman who was "pretty frantic". "She wanted me to go up and have a look and see if they had dangerous goods on the trailer or on the truck," Mr Mugridge said. "That's what they were worried about — catching alight or chemical spills." Mr Mugridge said the truck was towing vehicles on its way back from drag racing in Whyalla. "There were four in the truck and I don't know how many were in the car. I could see a young girl in there. It didn't look good." Police said cars were being directed down side roads, with heavy vehicles being forced to divert to other major roads. Major crash investigators are at the scene and police have asked motorists to avoid the area. "This is another example of where people need to pay attention on the road," Chief Inspector Alby Quinn said. "We're on school holidays now. We are coming into a long weekend and I just ask people to pay attention." Topics: disasters-and-accidents, road, crystal-brook-5523, sa

Saudi king's visit overshadowed by Egyptian islands row

Wed Apr 13, 2016 | 7:28 AM EDT Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and King Salman of Saudi Arabia shake hands during the reception ceremony in the Egyptian Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt April 7, 2016 in this file handout courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. REUTERS/The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Reuters/Files Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and King Salman of Saudi Arabia shake hands during the reception ceremony in the Egyptian Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt April 7, 2016 in this file handout courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. Reuters/The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Reuters/Files Saudi king's visit overshadowed by Egyptian island. By Lin Noueihed and Omar Fahmy CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi King Salman's trip to Egypt was meant to display the strength of ties between the two allies. But Cairo's transfer of two Red Sea islands to Riyadh during the visit stung Egyptian pride and drew criticism of what some saw as excessive Saudi influence. The visit was meant to bury claims that diverging priorities in Yemen and Syria had damaged relations and demonstrate that Egypt and Saudi Arabia were vital to each other's security. But after five days of official obsequiousness towards the 80-year-old monarch and no sign of any direct Saudi aid money, Saturday's news on the islands overshadowed the visit's original purpose. Outraged Egyptians accused their once-popular president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, of giving up land to curry favor with the Saudis. Cartoons on social media showed the Sphinx in a traditional Gulf Arab headdress while the front page of Al Maqal newspaper asked: "Are we living the years of the Saudi Republic of Egypt?" On Twitter, the hashtag "I feel like selling what to Saudi Arabia" trended on Tuesday, with commentators suggesting Egypt flog everything from self-serving lawmakers to Sisi himself. Beyond the trip's public relations debacle, Sisi faces uncomfortable questions about the future of relations between the two countries as Saudi largesse is shrinking and Egypt appears to have little to offer in return. Egypt has struggled to get its economy back on track since the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Saudi Arabia has showered Egypt with billions of dollars in aid since 2013, when Sisi ousted elected President Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood and banned the Islamist movement, which Riyadh opposes. But falling oil prices have forced Saudi Arabia to overhaul its economic policies and rethink priorities. Early in the royal trip, a Saudi businessman told Reuters there would be no more free money for Egypt. [nL5N17B4P0] After all, despite the billions Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have provided bail Egypt out, Sisi took only a limited role in the Saudi-led war in Yemen and disagrees on key aspects of the war in Syria. With Middle East in turmoil, the two countries still need each other, analysts agree, but are running out of ways in which they can help each other. ADVERTISEMENT Egypt needs Gulf Arab money to keep itself afloat and the controversial decision to hand back the islands should be seen in that context, said Amr Adly, nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Center. "We can expect things that are very desperate. And giving up the islands is already very desperate," he told Reuters. REGIONAL SUCCESS, DOMESTIC DEBACLE Saudi and Egyptian officials said the uninhabited islands of Tiran and Sanafir belong to the kingdom and were only under Egyptian control because Saudi Arabia's founder asked Egypt in 1950 to protect them. But the agreement to hand them over, which still needs ratification by Egypt's parliament, caused consternation among many Egyptians, who were taught in school that the islands were theirs. As the furor filled newspapers and airwaves, Sisi invited a group of parliamentarians, ministers and opinion-formers to the presidential palace to reassure them that he would "not sell our land to anyone and would not take land from anyone." In a speech, Sisi said Egypt did not want to cause problems with Saudi Arabia by refusing to return its land and repeatedly beseeched his audience to stop questioning the move. "I'm not taking this issue personally at all ... but please let's not talk about this issue again," he said. But even Egyptians who were willing to accept the islands as Saudi property were upset that Israel was consulted in advance -- the islands are entangled in Egypt's 1979 peace deal with Israel -- but the Egyptian people and parliament were not. The announcement was buried at the bottom of a cabinet statement issued late on Saturday, giving the impression that the government had hoped no one would notice. "What hurts most is the phone call to Tel Aviv that came before everything, and these massive headlines in the most important newspaper in Egypt reassuring Israel before explaining anything to the Egyptian people," prominent journalist Yosri Fouda wrote on his Facebook page. The next day, King Salman visited parliament, where lawmakers waved the Saudi flag and repeatedly interrupted proceedings with thunderous applause and impromptu poetry recitals. Above the parliament building, next to the Egyptian flag, fluttered the green banner of Saudi Arabia. Al Masry Al Youm newspaper counted the times lawmakers clapped in the 15 minutes the king was in the house -- 23. The spectacle added to a general sense among Egyptians that economic mismanagement and reliance on Saudi aid had left them too beholden to their neighbor. For the Saudis, at least, the king's visit achieved its objectives. The extraordinary length of his stay and engagements that included a meeting with the Coptic Pope and a visit to Cairo University, along with $4 billion in private sector investment pledges, reinforced the message that ties were close, though perhaps uncomfortably close for some Egyptians. "He basically established to the region that Riyadh and Cairo stand shoulder to shoulder even if they don't agree on certain issues and that disagreement on certain issues may be annoying but not to the extent that it is upsetting the relationship in a disturbing fashion," said H.A. Hellyer, senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. "The visit was a failure in terms of Egyptian public opinion because of the islands issue ... But it's dubious to think that upset is going to snowball." (Additional reporting by Eric Knecht, Amina Ismail and Ahmed Aboulenein; editing by Giles Elgood)

5 things to remember when buying a vacant block

5 things to remember when buying a vacant block brand-title logo realestate.com.au Found the perfect patch of land, but not sure where to start or how to set it up? Check out these top tips for setting up your rural retreat. ... Full post... 5 things to remember when buying a vacant block Ashlin Moore for Jeepby Ashlin Moore for Jeep 15 APR 2016 BuildingBuyingFeaturedVideo SHARE Share on Facebook41 Tweet this post Pin this post0 Share this post Share this post0 Email this post Bought a vacant block of land? Here’s some ideas of what you can do with it. It’s the great Aussie dream – a vacant block of land away from the city that’s your own private retreat. With more and more Australians seeking a tree change, buying a vacant block in a regional or rural area is becoming increasingly popular. But what do you do once you’ve found the perfect patch of land, and how do go about creating your rural retreat? Here are five tips to help transform your patch of dirt. 1. Land use Before you sign on the dotted line, do your research about surrounding properties and the zoning that applies. Local planning scheme regulations should state the rules for land use on surrounding properties and which industries can legitimately operate ‘next door’. It’s important to understand what impact that may have on your property and whether it could potentially disrupt your plans for a quiet retreat. You should also be aware of your land management responsibilities – such as weed and pest control. Jeeo_Ruralland_550 2. Water What water sources are available at the property? Is the property connected to a township water supply? Does it have a bore or a dam? Do you need to collect rainwater for use on the property? Identifying a source of potable water is essential, as it could help determine whereabouts on the property you build your home, and will inform your budget as to what infrastructure you need to put in place to move water around the property. Identifying a source of potable water is essential. 3. Utilities Part of making the move away from the city is to disconnect a little, but when it comes to the basics, you’ll still need a source of power. Make sure you determine what the options are for your utilities – electricity, gas, internet and phone connections etc – and include connection costs in your budget. Also consider the possibility to stay ‘off-grid’ and explore options for solar power installation at your property. It may be a better option, especially if you intend to use the property more as a ‘weekender’ than a full-time base. 4. Housing type Building a property is a big, but exciting, undertaking so it’s important to ensure you’re well prepared. The first step is to ensure your budget can cover the cost of building the home you want. You should include a buffer for incidentals and take into account that it may be more expensive to source and/or deliver materials in certain areas. When planning your home it’s important to think about what you’ll be using it for – is it for a permanent move to the country or are you building a ‘weekender’? Ensure you build a home that works within the environment and suits your requirements. Remember that local council areas will have different rules and regulations for building property, depending on the location. Be sure to check with the local authorities to ensure your plans meet requirements. Jeep_land_550 5. Security It’s important to feel safe wherever you live, and if your new property is a little ‘off the beaten track’ then you should consider what type of security you need. This is especially important if you don’t intend to live there full time. Take some time to understand your surroundings and put in place a plan to keep the property secure for when you’re there and when you’re not. See how you could win your own slice of Australian land to build your dream home. Start exploring at Jeep Grand Land. Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Become our mate on Facebook and explore our Pinterest boards. Like this article or found it helpful? Share it! Tags: buildingbuyingfeaturedvideo Ashlin Moore for Jeep About Ashlin Moore for Jeep Ashlin is the Senior Advertising Manager at Fiat Chrysler where she looks after iconic automotive brands Jeep, Fiat, Chrysler and Alfa Romeo. Ashlin has marketing and agency experience working across TV and digital media. On the weekends Ash likes to get away from her busy lifestyle to go camping and is a lover of all things outdoors. When she’s not working on the latest Jeep campaign, or travelling around the world you can find her at her local café’ drinking a large cappuccino. ProfileWebsiteGoogle+FacebookTwitter

Facebook's next frontier: chatbots, live video

Tue Apr 12, 2016 | 2:38 PM EDT Facebook's logo is seen through a magnifier in front of a displayed PC motherboard, in this illustration taken April 11, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Facebook's logo is seen through a magnifier in front of a displayed PC motherboard, in this illustration taken April 11, 2016. Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Facebook's next frontier: chatbots, live videoX By Yasmeen Abutaleb SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it will allow developers to build chatbots inside its Messenger app to enable users to communicate with businesses directly in its latest effort to dominate enterprise transactions and customer service. The chatbots expedite Facebook's moves to build out Messenger as the go-to place for users to contact businesses rather than through third-party websites and 1-800 lines. "You'll never have to call 1-800-Flowers again," Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said during a demonstration of how the chatbots will work. At the company's annual developer conference in San Francisco, Zuckerberg also announced during his keynote address its live video product, Facebook Live, was open to developers to create new features as Facebook seeks to encourage users to share more original content on the 1.6 billion-person site. Zuckerberg's address strayed from the normal company news updates by making veiled references to the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. He referenced comments by Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in particular, saying he heard "fearful voices calling for building walls" and halting immigration. ADVERTISEMENT Zuckerberg kicked off the 30-minute keynote by laying out the company's 10-year plan, which included improvements in artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality Last week, Facebook made its biggest push yet in live video by giving the product more prominent placement on its app and rolling out features that make it easier to create and find video. It is also paying celebrities and media companies to supply video in order to get Live off to a quick start and take on rivals such as Twitter Inc's Periscope and Snapchat. Messenger last week rolled out Messenger Codes, allowing users to scan a code to begin a chat with a business and making it easier to carry out transactions and customer service through the app. Facebook said more than 50 million businesses have pages. Such features will let Messenger users carry out tasks such as making restaurant reservations, placing online orders and scheduling appointments, a move that threatens call service centers and traditional customer service lines. (Reporting By Yasmeen Abutaleb; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)

Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injured

Sun Apr 10, 2016 | 11:13 AM EDT Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injured 8h ago | 00:51 Modi visits injured from Indian temple blaze Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injur...X By Sivaram V PARAVOOR, Kerala (Reuters) - A fire and explosions during a fireworks display to mark the start of the local Hindu new year killed 100 people and injured more than 380 at a temple in India's southern Kerala state on Sunday. Thousands of devotees had packed into the Puttingal Devi temple, about 70 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram in the coastal district of Kollam, to watch the display that started at midnight and went on four hours. The blaze started when a cracker fell onto a shed where the fireworks were stored, sparking a string of powerful explosions that blew the roof of the administrative block of the temple and caused another building to collapse, residents said. "There were body parts on the floor and on the roof there was an arm," Anita Prakash, a resident said. "In the past, there's been fireworks but not on this scale." Kerala is studded with temples managed by rich and powerful trusts that often flout local regulations. Each year temples hold fireworks displays, often competing to stage the most spectacular ones, with judges who decide the winners. Kollam district magistrate A. Shainamol said people living in the area near the temple had complained about the danger of these fireworks in the past. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Kollam with a team of doctors to help state authorities cope with the large number of injured, moving swiftly to head off criticism of a lack of public safety. "The fire at the temple in Kollam is heart-rending and shocking beyond words," he said in a Twitter post. "My thoughts are with families of the deceased and prayers with the injured." Modi has faced public criticism in the past for failing to respond quickly to disasters such as the floods in Chennai late last year. Large parts of the metropolis were under water for days before government help arrived. Earlier this month, a flyover under construction in the eastern city of Kolkata for years collapsed killing 27 people, prompting allegations that shoddy material was used and that the metal parts had corroded during the years of delay. NO PERMISSION Television images from the devastated temple site showed people, some clutching children with burn injuries, being taken to hospitals. Others carried out charred bodies of victims. Kerala's Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told Reuters that 60 of the 100 dead had been identified while the number of people admitted to hospitals in Kollam and the state capital had risen to 383. People stand next to debris after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image taken from video April 10, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via REUTERS TV People stand next to debris after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image... Reuters/ANI via REUTERS TV + People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrives at a hospital to meet the injured victims of a fire, which broke out at the Puttingal Devi temple, in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrives at a hospital to meet the injured victims of a fire, which broke out at the Puttingal Devi temple, in K... Reuters/Sivaram V + A relative sits next to the bed of a victim, who got injured in a fire at a temple at a hospital in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V A relative sits next to the bed of a victim, who got injured in a fire at a temple at a hospital in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April... Reuters/Sivaram V + Policemen cordon off the area after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V Policemen cordon off the area after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V A couple stands next to a picture of a Hindu deity after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V A couple stands next to a picture of a Hindu deity after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V People gather inside the compound of a temple after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V People gather inside the compound of a temple after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V An injured man carries his child before receiving medical attention at a hospital, after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image taken from video April 10, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via REUTERS TV An injured man carries his child before receiving medical attention at a hospital, after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at ... Reuters/ANI via REUTERS TV + An ambulance is seen next to people after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image taken from video April 10, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via REUTERS TV An ambulance is seen next to people after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this sti... Reuters/ANI via REUTERS TV + An injured person is attended to at a hospital, after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image taken from video April 10, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via REUTERS TV An injured person is attended to at a hospital, after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India,... Reuters/ANI via REUTERS TV + People gather around a damaged section of a temple after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V People gather around a damaged section of a temple after a fire broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V Police rush injured into an ambulance after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image taken from video April 10, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via REUTERS TV/ Police rush injured into an ambulance after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this s... Reuters/ANI via REUTERS TV/ + People stand next to debris after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image taken from video April 10, 2016. REUTERS/ANI via REUTERS TV People stand next to debris after a fire broke out as people gathered for a fireworks display at a temple in Kollam, southern India, in this still image... Reuters/ANI via REUTERS TV + People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. REUTERS/Sivaram V People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. Reuters/Sivaram V › With Kerala in the midst of an election for a new state assembly, the fire quickly turned into a political issue as local leaders demanded an investigation. In Kerala, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trails its Congress party and communist rivals. The BJP has focused on building up grassroots strength in the state for decades. Kerala's Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the Kollam district administration had denied the temple authorities permission for the display and the government would investigate why they went ahead anyway. "There was no permission to even store the fireworks," he said. Witnesses said they had repeatedly warned the local administration about the danger of firework displays in the crowded neighborhood. Chennithala said a case for illegal possession of explosives had been registered against the temple. The temple trust was not immediately available for comment. The explosion from the fireworks was so strong that some parts of the temple roof caved in. Local media showed bulldozers trying to clear the area of the debris. The Puttingal temple is one of the oldest in the state. It was built on the site of an ant hill where locals believe a goddess appeared centuries ago. (Additional reporting by Jose Devasia in THIRUVANANTHAPURAM and Vipin Das M. in NEW DELHI; Writing by Sanjeev Miglani and Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Ryan Woo and David Clarke)

Egypt, Saudi Arabia sign 60 billion Saudi riyal investment fund pact

New Royal Adelaide Hospital project director quits amid continued delays 9NEWS By 9NEWS The project director for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Judith Carr has resigned, after building consortium SA Health Partnerships failed to meet a technical completion deadline. (Facebook/SA Health) The project director for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Judith Carr has resigned, after building consortium SA Health Partnerships failed to meet a technical completion deadline. (Facebook/SA Health) FShareTTweetBMailAMore The project director for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Judith Carr has resigned, after building consortium SA Health Partnerships failed to meet a technical completion deadline. Health Minister Jack Snelling is believed issued a major default against the contractor last Monday, taking SA Health Partnerships to task last week for offering “pie-in-the-sky” completion dates, The Advertiser reported. It comes as yet another in a series of setbacks and delays for the $2.78 billion, 11-storey construction venture named the “third most expensive project in the world”. Mrs Carr has declined to comment as to her reasons for quitting, however sources close to the former director believe she had intended to retire following the RAH’s completion. Mrs Carr is also set to depart her position as Executive Director of Procurement at the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. “Judith has made an exceptional contribution to the NRAH (new Royal Adelaide Hospital) project and I thank her and wish her well,” Mr Snelling said in a written statement to the Sunday Mail. Mrs Carr is believed to have acted as mediator between the government and contractors, in the wake of contract disputes over expenses stemming from design changes and cleaning up contaminated soil. Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade has slammed the government for its management of the project, claiming the new RAH is $640 million over budget, and that it will open a year later than originally scheduled. “There is now an engulfing sense of crisis in the new RAH project and Jack Snelling is not even giving a hint that he has the capacity to get it back on track,” Mr Wade said. Mrs Carr will be replaced by her deputy, Simon Morony, SA Health’s long-standing facility development director. Mrs Carr is not the first senior employee to leave the new RAH building project. RAH program director Andrew Nielsen resigned last year, citing personal reasons. Dr David Panter, then-chief executive of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, of which the Royal Adelaide Hospital is a part had quit weeks earlier. Dr Panter held the position of RAH project director previously. Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/health/2016/04/10/16/18/new-royal-adelaide-hospital-project-director-quits-amid-continued-delays#bXv0xEcBtvLhajDD.99 =================== Sat Apr 9, 2016 7:12pm EDT Related: World, Saudi Arabia, Egypt CAIRO | By Ali Abdelaty Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomes Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Cairo, Egypt, in this handout photo received April 7, 2016. Reuters/Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement late on Saturday to set up a 60 billion Saudi riyal investment fund among other investment agreements including an economic free-zone to develop Egypt's Sinai region, Egyptian state television reported. The signing of the agreements took place in Egypt's Abdeen palace in the presence of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi's King Salman, during a rare 4-day visit to Egypt. Egypt has struggled to spur economic growth since the 2011 uprising ushered in political instability that scared off tourists and foreign investors, key sources of foreign currency. Egyptian state TV said the agreement was to establish "a Saudi-Egyptian investment fund with a capital of 60 billion riyals between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the entities belonging to it and the Egyptian government and the entities that belong to it." A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the Egyptian International Cooperation Ministry to set up an economic free-zone in Sinai. No other details were announced. The two countries also signed agreements to develop a 2250 Megawatt electricity plant with a cost of $2.2 billion, set up agriculture complexes in Sinai and develop a canal to transfer water, a statement from the Presidency said. The statement also said that a company was set up to develop 6 square kilometers of the industrial zone around Egypt's Suez Canal worth $3.3 billion, without giving further details. The investments are part of a change in strategy from Saudi Arabia to focus more on financial support that will also benefit Saudi Arabia with return on investment. Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf oil producers, has pumped billions of dollars, including grants, into Egypt's flagging economy since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. Some of the projects announced on Saturday include private sector investments. Last week the deputy head of the Saudi-Egyptian Business Council told Reuters that Saudi businessmen are investing around $4 billion in projects in Egypt and have already deposited 10 percent of that sum in Egyptian banks. Egypt is aiming for direct foreign investment of around $8-$10 billion in 2015/16. On Friday, King Salman announced that a bridge connecting Egypt and Saudi Arabia would be built across the Red Sea. No details were given. Egypt also signed development agreements with Saudi Arabia worth $590 million, Egyptian International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr said on Friday. She said the agreements, signed with the Saudi finance minister, covered development in the Sinai peninsula, agriculture, housing and a university. The agreements also include a memorandum of understanding between Saudi Aramco and Egypt's Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company SUMED. (Reporting by Ali Abdelatty, writing by Asma Alsharif; Editing by Tom Brown and Franklin Paul) ======================= Sat Apr 9, 2016 10:17pm EDT TransCanada receives approval notice for Keystone pipeline restart A TransCanada Keystone Pipeline pump station operates outside Steele City, Nebraska March 10, 2014. REUTERS/Lane Hickenbottom A TransCanada Keystone Pipeline pump station operates outside Steele City, Nebraska March 10, 2014. Reuters/Lane Hickenbottom TransCanada Corp (TRP.TO) said it received authorization from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Saturday evening to restart the 590,000 barrel per day Keystone crude pipeline at reduced pressure. The Canadian pipeline company said that regulator PHMSA has approved a return to service plan for a controlled start. It was not immediately clear when and if the pipeline had restarted. The pipeline, which delivers light and heavy crude from Hardisty, Alberta, to Cushing, Oklahoma, and Illinois, was shut last Saturday after a potential leak was discovered in South Dakota. (Reporting by Catherine Ngai in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)