Tag Archives: pakistan
Al Qaeda terror threat escalates
Al Qaeda terror threat escalates Amanda Fisher and Nivriti Butalia / 4 August 2013 As the threat of Al Qaeda-linked terror attacks extends across the globe, with the German, French and British embassies in Yemen announcing closures on Saturday in addition to blanket US embassy closures, local residents and security experts are remaining sceptical about the danger in the UAE. Extra blockades in place at a checkpoint leading to the US embassy in the Yemeni capital of Saana on Saturday. — AFP The American State Department announced on Thursday that 21 embassies across the Middle East would shut down Sunday, while on Friday a global travel alert was issued warning US citizens to be cautious travelling through the Middle East and North Africa after it revealed it had intelligence Al Qaeda was planning an attack in the region this month. On Saturday, the German and British foreign ministries announced the closure of the Yemen embassies in Sanaa only for both Sunday and Monday, while the French government said its embassy would shut for today only, signalling the threat is centred in the country. Interpol also issued a global security alert, after it revealed a series of prison breaks in Iran, Pakistan and Libya could be related and Al Qaeda-orchestrated. A British Foreign Ministry spokesman told Khaleej Times the closure related only to its mission in Sanaa, as did a German Foreign Ministry spokesman, who cited security reasons. “This is the only closure of a German embassy that has been decided so far and communicated. Of course, we are constantly checking the security situation and we’re in constant exchange with our international partners and we’re ready to take further measures.” He would not be drawn on the security situation in the UAE or whether further closures at different embassies were likely. The British Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was “particularly concerned” about security in the lead-up to Eid Al Fitr. MENEA Travel Security Services regional security director Julian Moro said the threat was “more of a logistics problem than anything”. “We don’t look at it as a sensational threat.” Speaking of the speculated role of Al Qaeda, Moro said the company’s terrorism risk ratings for countries had not changed as a result of the recent alerts, and the rating for the UAE continued to be low. “The terrorism risk varies greatly between the listed countries.” He urged people to put faith in capable authorities. “Individuals should look at this from the perspective that intelligence services are capable and continue to monitor the environment for genuine threats and by taking a conservative approach they are minimising the risk to their staff, citizens and visitors.” John Larson, a media-marketing consultant who has been in Dubai for the past 16 years, said he was not particularly worried about the threat — one that he had heard of through the web and word-of-mouth. “I’ve been here 16 years and there have been just so many alerts and terror threats and warnings, that one is just kind of used to it.” However, he said it did not hurt to be vigilant. “This is a heads-up, sure, and you don’t want to be foolish. But based on the accuracy of these warnings over the last 10-12 years… well, I wouldn’t not do anything that I was going to do anyway. So if I had a plane to catch, I would still catch it.” Meanwhile, Interpol is investigating whether recent prison breaks in the three Islamic countries of Iraq, Libya and Pakistan, were linked, given the suspicion Al Qaeda was behind some of the breaks through which many escaped prisoners have not yet been caught. It asked its 190 member-countries to be on alert for information connected to the incidents. Prison breaks took place in Pakistan on July 31 in a Taleban-led operation, and in Iraq at the Abu Ghraib prison overnight on July 22. Some 500 convicts, among them senior Al Qaeda operatives, escaped from Abu Ghraib. More than 1,100 inmates broke out of a prison on the outskirts of Benghazi on July 27. Interpol also noted that August was the anniversary of several violent attacks over the past years, including in Mumbai and Nairobi. news@khaleejtimes.com (With inputs from agencies) Continue reading
Shifting Global Investments To Clean Energy
By James A. Harmon July 29, 2013 Cattle graze near wind turbines in Paracuru, Brazil, April 24, 2009. REUTERS/Stuart Grudgings When President Barack Obama announced the country’s first national climate strategy, many people wondered what it would mean across the nation. Yet, the strategy may carry even more significant implications overseas. The plan restricts U.S. government funding for most international coal projects. This policy could significantly affect energy producers and public and private investors around the globe. Why is this important? Global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, a major driver of climate change, hit a record high in 2012. Meanwhile, there are more than 1.2 billion people worldwide still without access to electricity. The global middle class is booming — especially in the developing world — and with it, energy demand is surging. In fact, global energy demand is expected to grow by one-third by 2035. This surge in demand, however, does not need to lead to a surge in carbon pollution. It is well past time for the world to embrace the shift to renewable energy — a shift that would bring economic opportunities while leaving a better planet for future generations. In fact, this transition is already underway. Renewable energy (including hydro) is the fastest-growing power generation sector in the world, according to a recent International Energy Agency report. Renewable energy is on pace to comprise one-quarter of the electricity mix by 2018. It is also increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Many developing nations, like South Africa, China and Brazil, are setting the pace. Renewable energy investments in developing countries hit $112 billion in 2012, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, close to the $132 billion from developed countries. Obama’s announcement should have a significant ripple effect, especially on major U.S. lending institutions. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which works with the private sector to invest abroad in support of development activities, committed around $1 billion to renewable energy projects in each of the past two years, with its annual commitments increasing nearly 10-fold since 2009. Its recent renewable energy investments are focused on Peru, South Africa and Pakistan, among others. The U.S. Export-Import Bank, where I was chairman from 1997 to 2001, has similarly increased its share of renewable energy financing. The Export-Import Bank provided $355 million for renewable energy investments in 2012 — more than triple the amount in 2009. Exports to wind farms in Honduras are now powering job growth in states like Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. Obama’s announcement will help the bank balance its portfolio away from fossil fuel projects and toward the renewable energy projects that will help create U.S. jobs by selling clean energy technologies abroad. Momentum is clearly growing as the World Bank just announced that it will restrict funding of new coal-fired power plants to rare circumstances and support universal access to reliable modern energy. Even before its decision, the bank was taking steps in this direction — $3.6 billion of its $8.2 billion in energy investments between June 2011 and June 2012 went to renewable energy projects. The bank has some important test cases, including in Kosovo, in the near future. Also last week, the European Investment Bank said it would stop financing most coal-fired power plants to reduce pollution and meet climate targets. Clearly, renewable energy can be profitable for business. Many companies, like Wal-Mart, Google and General Electric, have made major bets on renewables. Notably Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway firm has been increasing its clean energy investments, with a recent purchase of $5.6 billion for a renewable energy company in Nevada and a $2.4 billion investment in a wind farm in California. As clean energy markets expand, these American companies and investors will be well-positioned to lead. The reality is that emerging economies do not need to go down a path of relying on fossil fuels. Just as many developing countries skipped land lines and went straight to cellular telephones, these countries can leapfrog right to affordable clean energy. Investing in clean energy is not only good for the economic growth, it is good for people. The unfortunate reality is that those in the poorest countries are often the most vulnerable to climate change — whether from rising seas that threaten homes and water supplies or droughts that drive up food prices. This is the human cost of fossil fuels that often goes unmentioned in balance sheets and gross domestic product statistics. Considering the risks of climate change and benefits of clean energy, the president’s climate plan clearly deserves our support. Now, it is our collective responsibility to turn this plan into a reality. Continue reading
Pakistan suicide attacks death toll rises to 57
Pakistan suicide attacks death toll rises to 57 (AFP) / 27 July 2013 Twin suicide attacks rocked a busy marketplace in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 57 people and injuring more than 160 others, officials said, in the deadliest attack to hit the country during the holy month of Ramadan. The explosions at the bazaar in Parachinar, the main town of Kurram tribal district on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, sent handcarts flying as shoppers bought food to open their fasts at sunset. Officials said the death toll has risen to 57 people in the twin blasts. More than 160 others have been injured in the attack. “We have sent 20 critically wounded people to major hospitals in Peshawar and Kohat to save their lives,” he added. Parachinar administration officials said both blasts were carried out by suicide bombers. “There were two blasts in the main bazaar of Parachinar. These were carried out by two suicide bombers who walked into the crowded market,” Riaz Mehsud, a senior administration official, told AFP. Mehsud said the market was packed with people and that handcarts were sent flying after the blasts, which also damaged up to 15 shops and two cars. “We found many body parts, including parts of the suicide bombers. There was blood and human flesh at the blasts site,” he said. The bombers struck in a largely Shia area but officials said they could not immediately identify the victims. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. “Many bodies can’t be identified because they have been mutilated very badly,” Salahuddin, a health technician at the hospital, told AFP. He said lists of the dead and injured were still being drafted, adding “I fear that the number of the dead and wounded people from this attack may rise.” Kurram is frequently the scene of sectarian violence between Pakistan’s Sunni Muslim majority and Shiite minority. Friday’s attacks come two days after suicide gunmen and car bombers attacked a government complex housing offices of Pakistan’s top intelligence agency in the southern town of Sukkur. Continue reading
