This new technology may soon be able to translate your pet's sounds into words

Animal lovers may soon be able to strike up conversations with their furry friends, according to a report commissioned by internet giant Amazon. One author of the study, futurist William Higham, believes the technology could be a reality within the next decade.

The findings come from a report called "Shop the Future" which was commissioned to coincide with the launch of the retailer's new platform under the same name. Alongside Higham, the paper was co-authored by London-based futurist Anne Lise Kjaer.

The idea of so-called pet translators has existed for a few years now, but the technology behind the products is yet to catch up to the vision. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning projects being spearheaded by academics that may soon change.

"Innovative products that succeed are based around a genuine and major consumer needs. The amount of money now spent on pets – they are becoming fur babies to so many people – means there is huge consumer demand for this," Higham told The Guardian.

The authors predicted that future pet translator applications will be able to play back a pet's barks or miaows and tell you what they mean. In the near-future, devices may be placed directly into a dog's collar which would tell the owner what it wants. Despite the lofty ambition, however, any timescale for release remains murky.

The Amazon-funded researcher based his analysis on the work of professor Con Slobodchikoff from Northern Arizona University, who has dedicated 30 years to studying the language and behaviours of North American prairie dogs using cutting-edge technology.

Using his research, Slobodchikoff is currently attempting to raise the necessary funds to build a fully-fledged cat and dog translation device.

"So many people would dearly love to talk to their dog or cat or at least find out what they are trying to communicate," Slobodchikoff said. "A lot of people talk to their dogs and share their innermost secrets. With cats I'm not sure what they'd have to say.

"A lot of times it might just be 'you idiot, just feed me and leave me alone'."

The professor plans to use algorithms to the "language" of pets using huge databases of recorded sounds. Not everyone is convinced it will work. Juliane Kaminski, a psychologist at Portsmouth University, believes animals' sounds are not language as we know it.

"We would not describe dogs' forms of communication as language in the scientific sense [but] they do give out rudimentary signals of what they want and how they're feeling," she said, noting this could be as simple as the wagging of their tails to the left or right.

Some similar products already exist – albeit in rudimentary stages. Back in 2010, Google released its "Translate for Animals" tool which remains in a beta stage. "We hope that Translate for Animals encourages greater interaction and understanding between animal and human," the firm said.

Source: http://www.msn.com

The most deadly creature: the Box Jellyfish

It seems to go without saying that the most poisonous, deadliest and meanest of all the jellyfish inhabits Australia. The variety of box jellyfish known as the sea wasp or marine stinger is widely regarded as one of the most deadly creatures on earth. Along with other box jellies they have been responsible for at least 5,568 deaths recorded since 1954. The Australian variety causes around 1 death a year on average with a further 100 in South East Asia.

As with so many of the deadliest animals it is said that from certain angles there are skull-like marking – in this case on the largely transparent bell. The 15 tentacles can reach up to 3 metres (10 ft) long and each is covered in around half a million venom infused, microscopic darts. It is estimated that each animal contains enough venom to kill 60 adult humans. The venom acts fast too and it can kill within minutes causing cardiovascular collapse. It also attacks the nervous system and skin cells.

The actual sting has been compared to being branded with a red hot iron. It is said that the pain can be so severe that it may result in shock leading to drowning or heart failure on its own. Whilst stings are often survived pain can continue for weeks and there may be permanent scarring resembling whip marks across affected areas.

With 24 eyes, four brains and an impressive 60 anal regions (whatever they are) the box jelly fish are definitely an advanced and formidable creature.

Source: www.planetdeadly.com

Kisses transfer 80 million bacteria

Every time you share a long kiss with your partner, you transfer 80 million bacteria to his or her mouth. That’s the somewhat icky conclusion of a new study of 21 intimate couples at a zoo in Amsterdam. When scientists swabbed the mouths of the participants before and after they locked lips, they didn’t detect a huge change in the bacterial composition—or microbiota—of their mouths.

That could be because the couples had already kissed so many times, they had become home to the same bacterial populations. It could also be that people who fall in love have similar lifestyles and similar diets, which can influence the mouth’s microbiota. To estimate just how many bacteria are transferred during make-out sessions, the team asked the volunteers for one more kiss, right after one of the partners had been drinking a probiotic yogurt, which is filled with bacteria not commonly found in the mouth.

The test revealed that people transfer about 80 million bacteria to each other during a kiss, as the team reports today in Microbiome. That may sound like a lot, but the mouth is home to about a billion bacteria. So perhaps it’s not so icky after all.

Source: http://www.sciencemag.org

US tests Apache helicopters with mounted laser beams

An Apache helicopter has successfully acquired and hit an unmanned target with a laser gun for the first time in history.

Mounted on an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter, the high energy laser tracked and directed energy on the stationary target which was a little less than a mile away.

The achievement proves that laser weapons are no longer the work of science fiction.

Weapon manufacturer Raytheon said that never before has a fully integrated laser system been able to successfully shoot a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over an array of flight regimes, air speeds, and altitudes.

The feat was made possible by combining a variant of the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) — an advanced, electro-optical, infra-red sensor — with the laser used in the attack.

According to a defense specialist, the MTS was responsible for providing targeting information, situational awareness, and beam control.

Vice president of advanced concepts and technologies for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems Art Morrish said collecting data such as the impact of vibration, dust, and rotor downwash would help shape future high-energy laser systems.

“Our goal is to pull the future forward,” Morrish said. “This data collection shows we’re on the right track.”

According to the Pentagon, laser weapons bring sharp advantages to the battlefield as they are silent and invisible to the human eye.

Not only does this make them more difficult for enemies to detect, but lasers are more accurate in hitting targets because they have a near-perfectly straight trajectory.

As lasers don’t have the arc flight path of artillery rounds, they are “more effective at addressing rocket, artillery, mortar, or RAM threats, as well as unmanned aircraft systems and cruise missiles.”

Used by the US military since 1986, the Apache helicopters have previously relied on weapons such as a 30-millimeter gun, 70-millimeter rockets, and heavy-duty AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

As lasers don’t run out of bullets, this discovery could be a cost effective solution for the military seeing as each AGM-114 Hellfire missile costs $110,000.

The test was conducted by Raytheon and the US Army Apache Program Management Office in collaboration with US Special Operations Command at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Source: http://nypost.com

Aston Martin Vantage AMR range launched

Aston Martin has launched its first range of road-going high-performance AMR models, the Vantage AMR. Bringing a bit of Aston’s title-winning FIA WEC sportscar racers to the road, the firm plans to make 200 V8 Vantage AMRs and just 100 V12 Vantage AMRs. They will cost from £97,995 and deliveries will begin later in 2017.

The AMR range was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in March: it’s designed to accentuate Aston’s sportiness by bringing to the road inspiration or direct influence from the track. There will be two levels of AMR, as seen with this new Vantage range: entry-level Vantage AMR models and more extreme Vantage AMR Pro versions that have extra work by the bespoke Aston Martin Q division.

Pick from four colours for the Vantage AMR: Stratus White with orange graphic, Ultramarine Blue with blue graphic, Zaffre Blue with red graphic and Scintilla Silver with grey graphic. There’s also an AMR Halo Pack, which mimics the 2016 Vantage GTE World Endurance Championship racer: it’s Stirling Green with Lime Green accents. It even has a Union Jack AML wings badge on the nose.

There are complementary colours inside, including more Lime Green for the Halo Pack, and optional lightweight carbon fibre seats for the purists. They can also choose from either a six-speed manual with the 430hp V8 Vantage or seven-speed manual on the 595hp V12 Vantage (that’s 30hp up on the regular 565hp), although most will probably go for a paddleshift auto. You can also have either as a coupe or a roadster.

“It’s a real thrill to see our first AMR model go into production said Aston president and CEO Dr Andy Palmer. The Vantage is “the perfect model with which to introduce the exciting AMR range. Unmistakable in look and feel, the Vantage AMR will appeal to our most enthusiastic customers. These are people who love our cars for their motorsport pedigree, and for their unmistakable dynamic and emotional qualities.”

There’s more on top: Aston’s offering an AMR Accessories range, with cool things such as an Aston-branded GoPro track day camera. But Aston reckons the AMR Aero Kit is the coolest. Developed in conjunction with the Aston Martin Racing team, the carbon fibre kit includes front splitter and dive plates, side sills and a fixed rear spoiler. Pair it with forged alloy AMR Vantage wheels and a 14kg-lighter titanium exhaust for racing perfection.

Consider the Vantage AMR range a run-out special; the new Aston Martin Vantage arrives in 2018, complete with V8 engines from Mercedes-AMG. Expected launch location? Quite possibly the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. 

Source:www.msn.com

Chocolate Pizza

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons butter, melted

1/4 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (recommended: Nutella)

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips

2 tablespoons white chocolate chips

2 tablespoons chopped hazelnuts, toasted

1 pound homemade pizza dough, recipe follows, or purchased pizza dough

Pizza Dough:

1/2 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F)

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for bowl

Directions

Position the oven rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.

Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the dough to a 9-inch-diameter round. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. Using your fingers, make indentations all over the dough. Brush the dough with butter, then bake until the crust is crisp and pale golden brown, about 20 minutes. Immediately spread the chocolate-hazelnut spread over the pizza then sprinkle all the chocolate chips over. Bake just until the chocolate begins to melt, about 1 minute. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the pizza. Cut into wedges and serve.

Pizza Dough:

Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Mix the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm draft-free area until the dough doubles in volume, about 1 hour. Punch the down dough and form into ball. The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com

Fish covered in strange "tattoos" caught in the Philippines

Where you would expect plain scales, the fish has intricate blue designs of a crown and a shield, lettering and entwined plant leaves instead.

The fishermen who caught it photographed it next to a regular fish to show the difference.

Since the image was posted on local channel GMA News, it has sparked thousands of comments from people trying to work out what happened.

One possibility is that it was genuinely tattooed and then thrown back in the sea by somebody.

Perhaps a more likely answer was offered by Steve Clark, who wrote: ‘This was probably caused by some sort of trash or fabric that had been embedded in the fish’s skin and over time imprinted this design onto it. Just a thought.’

The fish, caught by fishermen in the province of Lopez, Jaena, Misamis Occidental, has even been accused of having some kind of mystical connection, such as being the reincarnation of a god.

Source: http://metro.co.uk

In case you were wondering, this is what an $8.4 million wedding looks like

As we all know, it’s not hard for wedding budgets to spiral out of control.

It starts with a longer-than-anticipated guest list. Then there’s accommodation for out-of-town relatives. The perfect but over budget wedding dress, an exorbitantly priced cake, wanting flowers that are out of season… the list goes on.

But a wedding that comes in at US$8.4 million as Folarin Alakija and Nazanin Jafarian Ghaissarifar’s did last weekend? Now that’s one hell of a commitment ceremony.

Held at Blenheim Palace (the birthplace of Winston Churchill, no less), the reception reportedly included approximately $1 million in flower arrangements created by celebrity stylist Jeff Leatham, a 3.56-metre wedding cake, a five-course sit-down menu, a performance by Robin Thicke, and naturally, a fireworks display to round out the evening.

Oh, and did we mention guests included Australian model Shanina Shaik and her partner DJ Ruckus?

Discussing the wedding with Harper’s Bazaar earlier this week, Bridebook.co.uk founder, Hamish Shephard, said, “Venue hire would likely be up to $190,000 with the bespoke marquee with marble floor and production around $250,000 on top. The spectacular endless flowers by Jeff Leatham are likely to have cost at least $256,000. With food and drink, Robin Thicke (at $190,000) and all the other items for the big day, including the dress, on top, the wedding will have no doubt cost more than $1.3 million and potentially several million more.”

But it seems Shephard’s estimation was incredibly conservative, with the final cost now being estimated at a much, much higher price tag.

According to the Daily Mail, Alakija, who is a UK-based entrepreneur and the son of a Nigerian oil tycoon, and Ghaissarifar, an Iranian-born model and bioengineer, became engaged last year.

In addition to their incredible weekend festivities, the pair also celebrated their love with a traditional Nigerian ceremony in November.

Source: www.msn.com

UAE Opts To Develop Sour Gas Reserves Amid Uncertainty Over Qatari Supplies

The natural gas shortage in the Middle East has again cast its shadow over the ongoing crises in the Arabian Gulf region. While the region as a whole controls more than 40% of global gas reserves, its countries, with the exception of Algeria and Qatar, face a critical lack of supply.

The combined gas reserves in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) total about 1,500 Tcf, but much of it is associated gas and expensive to extract.

Because it is dependent on the Dolphin gas pipeline that links it to Qatar, the UAE has relatively limited immediate options to replace the 2 Bcf/d of gas it imports if Qatar decides to cut off exports to that country. That is considered unlikely to happen.

The UAE also has an LNG import terminal in Dubai with a capacity of 3 mpta and plans to build another terminal in Fujairah with a capacity of 9 mtpa. The country also faces a deficit of 2 Bcf/d during the peak summer season. It is estimated the UAE will need another 5 Bcf/d for extra power capacity by 2019.

The UAE is having difficulty producing enough gas to meet domestic requirements, though it holds about 5% of the world’s proven reserves. Much of it is sulfur-laced sour gas, which is expensive to produce. Sour gas is highly corrosive, and generally more challenging to process because of its high sulfur content, which requires special handling and infrastructure.

The UAE has already identified this issue and tapped the development of its sour gas fields, one of the most challenging types of fields, which are mainly located in Abu Dhabi. The sour gas prospect is estimated by analysts to contain about 5 Tcf of gas and forecast to produce 1 Bcf/d, which would equate to about 18% of the UAE’s current demand.

“Tapping into undeveloped gas reservoirs is part of ADNOC’s focused strategy to drive a more sustainable and economic gas supply,” the director of upstream activities at ADNOC, Abdul Munim al-Kindy told local media.

Production costs of deep and mildly sour gas projects in the Gulf are between $5 per million Btu (MMbut) and $6/MMbtu, but domestic sales prices range from  75 cents to $2, with negligible prices for household, according to local analysts.

Amid the soaring local gas consumption, the UAE decided to develop its sour gas reserves and had already started up production from Shah gas field. For Shah, selecting the right foreign partner wasn’t easy and included many setbacks. Initially, ADNOC selected ConocoPhillips Co. (NYSE: COP) as a partner to develop the project, but in April 2010, ConocoPhillips withdrew from the $10 billion development saying that it intended to shift its operational focus from midstream and downstream activities to upstream work.

But in January 2011, ADONC selected Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY) as a partner, and set up Al Hosn Gas, a joint venture between ADNOC and Oxy. The project was successfully started up in early 2016. Shah produces a total of 1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), of which 500 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) is delivered to the UAE’s gas grid, as well as producing 33,000 bbl/d of petroleum condensates and 4.4 mtpa of natural gas liquids. Already, Al Hosn has laid out plans to increase output by 50%.

Meanwhile, Bab gas field, another sour gas field, witnessed setbacks as Shell announced in early 2016 that it has pulled out of the $10 billion Bab sour gas project in Abu Dhabi, citing “technical challenges” and the falling price of oil as key factors in its decision. But despite the setbacks, ADNOC is determined to boost its gas output.

In early June, local media reports said that the company is considering greenlighting another huge gas project which could meet nearly 20% of the UAE’s gas demand by the end of the decade. The state oil company’s investment committee is considering proposals for a $20 billion development of the Hail and Ghasha, Delma, Nasr and Shuwaihat “ultra-sour” gasfields, which lie in relatively shallow water southwest of Abu Dhabi.

Source: http://www.epmag.com

Telecoms operator du confirms beIN Sports network suspended in the UAE

Dubai-based telecoms operator du has confirmed that it has suspended transmission of the Qatar-owned beIN Sports network across its cable television services after customers took to social media on Monday evening to complain about an interruption in the service.

“We would like to confirm that the service of beIN Sports are currently suspended. Our customer service teams will be in touch with all the affected customers,” du said in a statement.

The company did not clarify whether the suspension of service is in relation to the ongoing Qatar crisis, in which the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and the Maldives have cut ties with the GCC member over claims that the country supports terrorist organisations.

Customers who attempt to access beIN Sports channels via their du cable box receive a blue screen stating “This channel is currently unavailable”.

Etisalat customers report receiving the same notice, however the UAE state-owned telecoms firm has yet to release an official statement regarding the matter.

The beIN Sports website has also subsequently been blocked by both the telecoms operators in the UAE.

Part of the larger Al Jazeera network of channels, beIN Sports holds the exclusive broadcasting rights to a number of major international sporting tournaments including the UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, La Liga, Formula 1 Grand Prix and the NBA, amongst others.

The UAE has also blocked the Al Jazeera TV channel and website, while Saudi Arabia has also revoked the media group’s licence in the kingdom.

Source: http://gulfbusiness.com

One map shows how much trouble Qatar Airways may be in

As Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates sever diplomatic relations with Qatar, the nations have also closed their airspace to its neighbour.

Unfortunately for Qatar Airways, the lack of access to Bahrainian, Emirati, and Saudi airspace could have a devastating effect on its operations.

 "Losing Saudi, Bahrain and UAE airspace would effectively ground Qatar Airways," CAPA -- Center for Aviation wrote in a report.

That's because Qatar actually has very little airspace relative to the size of the country.

"It is largely surrounded by Bahrain airspace (the Bahrain FIR), a slither on the south is managed by Saudi Arabia while the UAE is on the eastern border," CAPA stated.

While losing access to Saudi airspace will force Qatar Airways into the costly manoeuvre of rerouting its Africa-bound flights, losing access to Bahrainian airspace could be catastrophic because it almost completely encircles Qatar.

That means, should the ban hold up, Qatar Airways flights will need to fly through airspace that it is currently banned from in order to reach its home base in Doha.

Qatar Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how they plan to overcome this challenge.

While the countries are free to refuse landing rights, it is unclear if Bahrain and the UAE can legally ban Qatar Airways from its airspace. As signatories to the International Air Services Transit Agreement, Bahrain the UAE can't legally shut off its airspace to fellow signatory Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, however, is not an IASTA member country and can legally shut Qatar Airways out of its airspace.

According to Flightradar24, Bahrain sent notified pilots that it will limit flights to and from Qatar by Qatari aircraft through its airspace to a single air route. This means, even if Qatar Airways isn't grounded, it will be subject to heavy air traffic congestion.

Over the past two decades, Qatar Airways has grown to become one of the most influential international airlines in the world. In 2015, consumer aviation website Skytrax named it the best airline in the world.

Source: www.msn.com

Eni signs up for Oman offshore hunt

Italian major Eni has acquired rights over the only maritime block offered during the Oman’s latest licensing round, launched late last year. The move comes as a considerable fillip to Muscat’s long-standing efforts to find and develop offshore oil and gas reserves.

The allocation was made in the context of a broader co-operation agreement with state-owned Oman Oil Co. (OOC). It coheres with the broader strategy of enlisting the assistance of IOCs to partner the parastatal’s upstream arm in developing undeveloped acreage across the sultanate.

The block is the only one of four offered during the bid round to have been allocated thus far – presumed to reflect a continued bearishness in the industry rendering investment in Oman’s challenging and dispersed fields relatively unattractive.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Milan by OOC CEO Isam al-Zadjali and his Eni counterpart, Claudio Descalzi, called for the two parties to “to explore co-operation opportunities in the oil and gas sector”. It granted the Italian firm, in partnership with OOC subsidiary Oman Oil Company for Exploration & Production (OOCEP), exploration rights in Block 52 – with neither the size of the respective shareholdings nor the precise nature of the licence agreement revealed.

The block covers a 90,760-square km area off the sultanate’s southeast coast and was described in information released by the Ministry of Oil & Gas (MOG) when launching the latest licensing round in October as being primarily an oil target.

As in the rest of Oman’s offshore territory, the area has a long history of unsuccessful exploration. Ireland’s Circle Oil relinquished the licence in 2015 as part of a wider withdrawal from the country in response to the global industry downturn. Previous work had been carried out by the US’ Sun Oil, Amoco – subsequently acquired by BP – and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).

The last of these – the government-led joint venture with Royal Dutch Shell that is the sultanate’s largest oil and gas producer – drilled the only well in the block in 1991.

Circle said it had found good leads but was unable to attract partners to share the undeniable risk. Meanwhile, the MOG made a case in the bid round documentation for prospective bidders to renew the exploration efforts. It said that the southern and “potentially attractive deeper water” areas were only recently added to the block, while the northern portion had undergone various shape changes, causing it to pass between concession operators.

A wider strategy was enacted by Muscat in the four-block auction of providing more comprehensive information than in past rounds on the acreage on offer. This reflected the fact that all had recently been relinquished by the latest in lines of operators as well as the diminished risk appetite of IOCs under prevailing market conditions.

However, with Block 52 the first to be awarded – more than two months after a decision had been due – and under unique and unusual terms, the approach appears thus far to have proved unsuccessful.

Block 52 was a particularly challenging prospect, with more than a century of exploration off the mainland coast having yet to yield production. However, the MOG’s pitch rested heavily on the renewed hopes raised by the first commercial discovery in the area in 2014 by Masirah Oil, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Rex International, in the adjacent Block 50 to the north.

A second well completed last year was said to have confirmed the presence of a working petroleum system and plans for early production were only abandoned in the wake of the oil price slump shortly after the first strike.

The other concessions awaiting award from the bid round are the 15,438-square km Block 49 in the Rub’ al-Khali Basin along the border with Saudi Arabia – also exited by Circle in 2015 – and the contiguous Blocks 30 and 31 in the north-west. These were both operated previously by Norway’s DNO and are said by the ministry to be predominantly tight gas plays.

All were scheduled to have been allocated by the end of the first quarter. In January OOCEP revealed that it had submitted a joint bid for Block 30 with the US’ Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) – the sultanate’s largest existing independent foreign producer and operator of two adjacent concessions – making the lack of an agreement particularly puzzling.

Al-Zadjali earlier in the year laid out a local expansion strategy for OOCEP calling for partnership with leading IOCs to boost reserves and production from the sultanate’s diverse and complex fields. In April, he signed a heads of agreement (HoA) with Shell for exploration in the 25,600-square km Block 42 in the north-east.

Harnessing Eni’s technical prowess in offshore exploration – demonstrated in the Middle East with the discovery of Egypt’s giant Zohr gas field two years ago – for the Italian company’s first investment in the country was a particular coup.

Descalzi explained the move in the context of a “strategy aimed at diversifying our exploration portfolio across basins with liquid hydrocarbon potential while keeping high-quality stakes throughout the exploration phase”.

In November, the Italian firm signed an agreement with the Bahraini government’s National Oil & Gas Authority (NOGA) to “study and assess the potential of some exploration and production assets in the country” and granted access to existing data on onshore and offshore fields.

Manama has likewise long harboured unfulfilled ambitions to find and develop offshore reserves as its sole onshore oilfield experiences long-term decline.

Source: www.oilpro.com

Rosneft expands in Iraq's Kurdistan with exploration, pipeline deals

St. Petersburg (Reuters)—Russian oil major Rosneft has agreed to explore and develop five fields in Iraq's Kurdistan as the company seeks to become a key player in one of the world's newest and fastest-growing oil provinces.

Kremlin-controlled Rosneft this year became the first oil major to pre-finance Kurdish crude exports, an activity long dominated by trading houses, which bankrolled the semi-autonomous region amid its fight against Islamic State and a budget crisis caused by low oil prices.

On Friday, Rosneft and the Kurdistan government signed production-sharing deals for five oil blocks, with Rosneft saying it would also aim to explore for gas in the future.

Igor Sechin, Rosneft chief executive and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the company was widening cooperation with Kurdistan following the first direct purchases of Kurdish oil for Rosneft's German refineries earlier this year.

Increased feedstock access. "The agreements...set an example of well-weighed investments in one of the key Middle East regions, which will make it possible for the company to expand its exploration and production geography, provide feedstock for Rosneft's growing refining network and raise profitability of our international assets," Mr. Sechin said.

Iraq has long opposed Kurdish independent oil sales, but has lately eased its stance amid joint efforts by the regional government and Baghdad to defeat Islamic State.

Rosneft and Kurdistan also said they had agreed on the "monetization of the export oil pipeline in Kurdistan," with Rosneft getting access to the regional transportation system, which has throughput capacity of 700 Mbpd.

By the end of 2017, Kurdistan plans to expand the pipeline to 1 MMbpd, or 1% of global output, betting on the arrival of new volumes from fresh developments.

Kurdish oil production has been mainly led in recent years by mid-sized firms, including Genel. Larger companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron are still in the exploratory stage and have recently returned some blocks to Kurdistan after disappointing searches.

Rosneft said the deals signed would allow it to talk about "full entry in one of the most promising regions of the developing global energy market.” Kurdistan estimates its recoverable reserves at 45 Bbbl of oil and 5.66 Tm3 of gas.

Source: www.oilpro.com

Why Gordon Ramsey never lets his kids fly first class

Gordon Ramsay is known the world over for his exquisite food and his fiery television personality. His hard work and dedication to his craft has increased his net worth to an estimated $54 million, according to Forbes.

But don’t let his money fool you. Ramsay and his wife, Tana, may enjoy a few of the finer things in life, but they are working hard to ensure their children know the value of hard work.

“I’ve never been really turned on about the money,” Ramsay recently told The Telegraph. “That’s not my number one objective, and that’s reflected in the way the kids are brought up.”

Gordon Ramsay and his family

Ramsay added that he and his wife are so strict when it comes to not spoiling their children that when they travel together, their four kids — Matilda, 15, Jack and Holly, 17, and Megan, 18 — must make the journey in coach, while their parents enjoy the high life in first class.

“They don’t sit with us in first class. They haven’t worked anywhere near hard enough to afford that. At that age, at that size, you’re telling me they need to sit in first class? No, they do not. We’re really strict on that,” he said. “I turn left with Tana and they turn right and I say to the chief stewardess, ‘Make sure those little f------ don’t come anywhere near us, I want to sleep on this plane.' I worked my f------ a--- off to sit that close to the pilot and you appreciate it more when you’ve grafted for it.”

Each child, Ramsay added, is given about $50 a week to pay for their own phones and their bus fare. In addition to financial responsibilities, each of the children also learned how to cook so they understand how to feed themselves.

“They all cook as a life skill as opposed to a career,” Ramsay said. “I never want to put that onus on them. I don’t want them with a badge, going into a kitchen [with people] thinking that’s Ramsay’s daughter or that’s Ramsay’s son.”

On top of sitting in coach and having to cook despite having a world-class chef for a father, the Ramsay kids will also have to forge their own fortunes. As Ramsay said, his money is "certainly not going to them."

"I’ve been super lucky, having that career for the last 15 years in the US. Seriously, it has earned a fortune and I’ve been very lucky, so I respect everything I’ve got," he said.

Source: www.businessinsider.com

UAE is the second safest country in the world

The UAE has been ranked the second safest country in the world by the World Economic Forum (WEF), up one position from 2016.

WEF has profiled 136 countries for safety and security and the UAE fell right behind Finland and also won the highest spot in the Gulf region.

The UAE also holds the title for the third best air transfer infrastructures in the world, in both connectivity and the quality of its services. It has recorded a surge in visitors in the past two years, welcoming 14.4 million international visitors in 2015, four million more than 2013 and 2014. Dubai alone reached a staggering 14.9 million tourists in 2016.

Dubai is now the fourth most visited city in the world and tourists spend more in the emirate compared to any other destination. Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing revealed that at this rate, Dubai could be achieving its goal of 20 million visitors by 2020.  Even Abu Dhabi is showing signs of competitiveness as it is now the third fastest-growing city in the world and tops in the Middle East with a 19.8 growth rate.

The UAE has always been well known for making its residents and tourists feel safe at any time of the day. A recent report by the RTA uncovered possessions found in its ‘lost and found’ by Dubai taxis. The most precious items were a handbag with $20,000 inside and up to 44kg of gold in two separate occasions. The items were all returned to their rightful owners.

Popular holiday destinations such as the United Kingdom and the United States took some of the lowest rankings for safety, coming in at 78th and 84th.

Other countries in the Middle East that rounded up the top 10 for safety and security included Oman, which came in fourth, and Qatar, which filled in the 10th spot.

Source: www.propertyfinder.ae

Fernando Alonso fifth in Indy 500 qualifying as Scott Dixon takes pole

Fernando Alonso will start his first Indianapolis 500 from the middle of the second row of the grid after qualifying fifth for the race on 28 May.

The McLaren Formula 1 driver set an average of 231.300mph on his four-lap qualifying run, while New Zealander Scott Dixon took pole at 232.164mph.

It was an impressive performance from the two-time F1 champion - he had not driven an IndyCar until this month.

Alonso said he was "happy" but had been slightly delayed by an engine issue.

"I think the car was better than yesterday," he said. "We had an over-boost problem (with the turbocharger) in the final corner, so the engine was like hitting the brakes and I lost a bit."

The Spaniard said this cost him 0.3-0.4mph on his average, which equates to the difference between fifth and either second or third.

Alonso, whose engine needed to be changed between final practice earlier on Sunday and qualifying, added on his Instagram account: "With everything that has happened today being among the top five is a dream.

"Fifteen days ago I would never have thought about fighting for the pole. Thanks to the whole team. Now another week of learning and race next weekend."

To put Alonso's performance into context, 1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell qualified eighth on his debut in 1993, in what was the Englishman's fourth IndyCar race after switching to the US-based series.

Alonso's first taste of Indianapolis was in his 'rookie' test on 4 May. He is missing next weekend's Monaco Grand Prix to race at the speedway as part of his quest to win the so-called 'triple crown' of Monaco, which he has won twice, Indy and the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race.

The 35-year-old Spaniard is directly behind two former F1 drivers on the grid.

American Alexander Rossi, who had a brief career with the back-of-the-grid Caterham and Marussia teams, was third and Japan's Takuma Sato, who raced in 90 grands prix for the Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri teams, was fourth.

American Ed Carpenter takes the middle slot on the three-car front row.

Rossi won the Indy 500 from 11th on the grid last year, an illustration of the fact that qualifying positions are not of great importance in predicting race form at the so-called 'Brickyard'.

That is because the set-up of the cars is changed significantly between qualifying and race to ensure drivers can run consistently in heavy traffic during a 500-mile race that is usually punctuated by several 'caution' periods in which drivers are restricted to reduced speeds behind a pace car.

Alonso was consistently fast through the days of practice last week, whether running in qualifying or race trim.

None of the British drivers in the field were in the 'fast nine'. Ed Jones was 11th on his debut, followed by Max Chilton in 15th, Jay Howard in 20th, Jack Harvey in 27th and Pippa Mann in 28th.

Source: http://www.bbc.com

Pipelines are simply the safest way to move energy

Robert Bradley contrasts the safety of pipelines – the safest way to move energy – with the myths perpetuated by anti-growth opponents of energy development.

Our associates from the Institute for Energy Research, who shared this guest post, recently published in Forbes, with us.

Have you heard? Transporting oil through pipelines is a threat to humanity! The many accidents highlighted in the press speak for themselves.

Except that pipeline accidents are rare enough to be big news—and many of those accounts contain exaggerations. Too often, they imply that pipelines, really the energy they carry, should be phased down and out.

Before (left) and after (right) photos of pipeline development

Welcome to the war on fossil fuels, where every mishap is portrayed as the Bad News Bears. It is as if accident-free, effortless alternatives were at the ready.

Consider the recent article from Michigan that Enbridge Line 5, piping crude oil through the Great Lake State’s upper and lower peninsulas, has spilled 1.1 million gallons of oil since 1968.

The catch is, the majority of these incidents happened decades ago, the most significant occurring in 1968, 1972, and 1990.

The real news, in other words, is that technological advances have made pipelines safer than ever. But that lead goes unmentioned. Or it is buried, which may be how the author wishes fossil fuels to remain.

Then, there’s this: an article in the Philadelphia Inquirerreports that “fearful” parents of children attending schools near the soon-to-be-built Mariner 2 pipeline are demanding evacuation routes in case of pipeline leakage.

It is barely mentioned that construction of this pipeline, which will move liquid gas from Pittsburgh to the Marcus Hook refinery in Eastern Pennsylvania, will be heavily regulated and subject to strict oversight. And, more importantly, self-regulated since accidents can ruin the reputation and finances of any company.

Have there been accidents in the 150 years since oil pipelines have been in use? Of course. And a spill or a crack, no matter the magnitude, is never good. But the happy truth is that rapidly advancing technology in pipeline construction and operation is improving safety.

Headlines aside, what is the record of pipeline safety?

In 2016 the number of oil pipeline accidents fell 10 percent from the previous year. Trend-wise, incidents that specifically affected the public and environment ticked up about five years ago, but have since levelled off. That’s because any spike in accidents spurs an immediate, industry-wide effort toward brining numbers back down.

What’s more, nearly 70 percent of pipeline accidents in 2016 only affected operator facilities like pump stations and tank farms. And 60 percent of incidents leaked only miniscule amount of liquid – five barrels or less.

So where are the good-news headlines?

Also, consider that America’s 500,000 miles of interstate pipeline are far safer than any other method of moving crude and petroleum products.

This is evident when comparing the number of pipeline accidents to oil transportation by road and rail. The former, with 19.95 accidents per billion ton-miles, is the least safe method, followed by the latter, with 2.08 miles per billion ton miles. Oil pipelines, by comparison, have .058 mishaps per billion ton-miles.

Similarly, pipelines keep operators and the general public out of harm’s way. Between 2005 and 2009, for example, the average fatality rate for natural gas pipelines was one per year. During the same time span, rail averaged nearly three, and road transport more than 10.

The statistics are so convincing that even those who oppose pipelines can’t credibly deny their safety.

“Many studies say that using a pipeline as a conduit is safer than rail travel and truck travel,” noted New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo — who has repeatedly blocked pipeline projects in his state. “Realistically you have to move fuel, so a pipeline is the safest way if it’s done right.”

The most interesting part of Cuomo’s statement is the qualifier “if it’s done right.” The governor likely knows, though his fellow skeptics are loath to admit, that there are a multitude of measures in place to ensure that oil travels securely through pipelines.

Pipeline operators are constantly evaluating safety procedures and launching new initiatives, including several that help prepare the public to spot and report any possible defects.

Back in 2014, the industry launched the Pipeline Safety Initiative — tasked with revamping everything from inspection technology to emergency response resources.

And 100 percent of pipelines are regularly monitored, both on the ground and aerially.

No wonder then that 99.999 percent of crude oil shipped via pipeline reaches its destination safely.

Another category of the untold (versus the bad news) is the benefits of pipelines for America’s economy.

Consider the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, both long-delayed but now green-lit by President Donald Trump. The Keystone will support 42,100 jobs and generate $2 billion in earnings, while the Dakota Access has already created 12,000 and $3.5 billion worth of investment.

Currently, workers are getting Dakota ready for action by June 1. And despite headlines to the contrary, Dakota is completely safe. The steel that walls the pipe is 50 percent thicker than legally mandated, and the pipeline will be monitored aerially on a weekly basis.

These projects are consumer-driven and pay taxes, not politically-driven tax takers. And that oil feeds refineries that fuel 253 million cars and trucks, 7,000 airplanes, and trains on 600 freight railroads traversing the United States.

Americans should read any news of petroleum pipeline mishaps with caution. While any spill or other accident is one too many, as anyone in the industry will tell you, the trends are positive.

Pipelines are not only the safest way to move oil, but they are now, thanks to technology and rigorous industry standards, safer than ever. All across the country, construction is underway on pipelines that will provide energy and jobs to millions of Americans.

Now that’s something worth reporting.

Source: http://naturalgasnow.org