BEIRUT: Lebanon thwarted militant plans to attack places of worship and government buildings over the holidays after gaining rare access to a Daesh operative, the interior minister said Friday.
Nohad Machnouk said at a press conference that an elite unit in Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF) had arrested an Iraqi Daesh commander in Beirut last June.
The commander, known as Abu Jaafar Al-Iraqi, had been tasked by the Daesh leadership to establish an Daesh network in Lebanon, according to information presented at the briefing.
This network would not only carry out attacks in Lebanon, but could have potentially hosted top Daesh officials fleeing Iraq and Syria.
Full details of the operation and the current whereabouts of Abu Jaafar were not revealed.
But Mashnuq said that for five months after the Iraqi commander’s arrest the ISF kept tabs on him through a mysterious “volunteer,” who had gained his trust and rented a home for him that was bugged by Lebanese authorities.
“This is one of those rare operations where you have someone this important in the terrorist organization, and you’re able to use him for five months to find out about the plans supposed to happen during the holidays, against places of worship and government buildings,” Mashnuq told reporters.
“The nature of this operation, as we explained, is unprecedented in the Arab world,” he claimed.
Daesh’s now-defunct “caliphate” spread across swathes of Iraq and Syria but never officially included territory inside Lebanon.
Militants from Daesh were entrenched along the Lebanese-Syrian border for several years however and claimed several deadly attacks in Lebanon.
According to a film shown at Friday’s briefing, Lebanese authorities had worked since the end of 2016 to lure Abu Jaafar to Lebanon with the help of Arab and international authorities.
An intermediary, trained in Turkey and cooperating with the ISF, rented out an apartment for Abu Jaafar that was being surveilled and met with him there several times.
Audio and video clips from the apartment were aired during the press conference.
Abu Jaafar allegedly asked Daesh leaders in Iraq and Syria for help in planning attacks on New Year’s Eve in Lebanon, and they said they may be able to provide suicide belts and automatic weapons.
He was ultimately unable to pull together an operation, the clip said.
The film mentioned one Lebanese Daesh member who had been arrested as part of the year-long operation. The minister did not mention any other arrests nor did he elaborate on the intelligence gained.
Lebanon says foiled Daesh holiday attacks using informant
Lebanon says foiled Daesh holiday attacks using informant
Suspected Kashmir rebels kill Indian air force corporal
- Suspected rebels ambushed military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, Indian Air Force says
- Since 1989, rebel groups opposed to Indian rule have waged insurgency in disputed territory
SRINAGAR, India: An Indian air force member was killed and four more injured when suspected rebels ambushed a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, an official statement said, as campaigning for national elections continues in the disputed territory.
The convoy was attacked by an unknown number of armed militants who sprayed automatic rifle fire toward at least one air force truck in the mountainous Poonch area, 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar, the air force said in a statement.
Five air force personnel were hit in the firefight late Saturday and “one Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later,” it said, identifying the dead man as a corporal.
A neighboring constituency took part in the first phase of India’s general election on April 19, and Poonch voters were originally scheduled to cast their ballots this week but the Election Commission of India has postponed the polling to May 25 because of inclement weather in recent days.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both claiming the high-altitude territory in full but administering it in parts.
Since 1989, rebel groups opposed to Indian rule have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir, demanding either independence or a merger with Pakistan.
The conflict has left tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and militants dead.
Rebel activity in the territory has registered an uptick since last month as campaigning for the elections picked up in the restive region.
In April, three suspected rebels were killed and a police officer and three soldiers wounded in three separate clashes across the territory.
Violence has drastically dropped since 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked the region’s limited autonomy and stepped up a security chokehold.
Voting in India’s six-week-long national election, which started last month, will end on June 1.
UAE’s Mubadala Capital plans $13.5bn investment in Brazil’s biofuel sector
RIYADH: Brazil’s biofuel market is set for substantial growth as UAE’s Mubadala Capital has committed to invest $13.5 billion over the next decade.
Oscar Fahlgren, head of Brazil strategy at the sovereign wealth fund, disclosed the budget for the initiative during an interview with the Financial Times. He divulged the details of the fund’s plans to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation kerosene primarily utilizing non-food plant matter.
In his interview with the newspaper, Fahlgren said Mubadala’s Brazilian subsidiary, Acelen, will initiate the development of a large-scale biofuel project by 2026.
The fund’s executive stated that the funds will be sourced through a blend of equity and debt over a span of five to 10 years.
The endeavor will encompass five modules, each valued at $2.7 billion, housing a new biorefinery capable of processing 20,000 barrels of fuel per day. Additionally, it will include the necessary infrastructure and cultivated acreage to sustain the input crop.
“It’s all about feedstock (which) in reality is agriculture. And Brazil is probably the best-placed country on the planet when it comes to agricultural proficiency because of the climate and the fertile soil,” said Fahlgren, adding, “Brazil is to agriculture what Abu Dhabi is to oil.”
The project will also include the conversion of an existing oil refinery in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia acquired from government-owned Petrobras in 2021.
“It’s a very important capital project,” Fahlgren said. “I see tremendous opportunity to invest in the green energy transition space in Brazil,” he added.
Mubadala’s venture into bioenergy will leverage its existing $6 billion investments in the country, constituting approximately a quarter of the group’s global portfolio.
“We’ve been very active investing in Brazil, for the past 10-plus years, in an environment where most foreign investors have been shying away,” Fahlgren said.
Mubadala also plans to open a stock exchange in Brazil next year through its Americas Trading Group.
“Brazil is a very large country. It has only one stock exchange. And I think that’s suboptimal infrastructure for the players that operate in this segment,” said Fahlgren.
“It will probably be a staged launch — perhaps start with equities, then expand. No asset classes are off the table.”
The asset management arm of the Emirati sovereign wealth fund is increasing its bets on Latin America’s largest economy, where its holdings span metro lines and medical universities to a majority stake in the local owner of the Burger King brand.
“We’re very bullish on the investment climate in Brazil right now and the opportunities we see,” said Fahlgren. “We do have a number of assets that are relatively mature today, and could be potential exit candidates in the not-too-distant future,” he added.
Eastern Province showcases environmental opportunities during investment forum
RIYADH: Investors eyeing environmental opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province stand to benefit from a forum held on May 5, amidst efforts to preserve natural resources.
Organized by the Eastern Chamber under the theme “Restoration and Sustainability,” the Environmental Investment Forum 2024 aims to underscore the importance of ecological preservation.
The event, patronized by Prince Saud bin Naif, Gov. of the region, also delves into the effects of environmental regulations and legislation on the business sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Badr bin Suleiman Al-Ruzaiza, chairman of the regional chamber, emphasized the importance of environmental protection within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
He stressed that the country’s ambitious plan views environmental stewardship not only as a religious and ethical imperative but also as a humanitarian duty.
Al-Ruzaiza elaborated that Vision 2030 aims to reduce pollution by improving waste management efficiency across diverse sectors. He underscored the Kingdom’s proactive approach in addressing environmental issues domestically and globally.
The chairman emphasized the paramount significance of the environmental sector in conserving renewable natural resources.
He stressed its pivotal role in laying the essential groundwork for achieving holistic and sustainable growth, ensuring food security, and improving overall quality of life.
He stated that the forum seeks to shed light on the importance of the environment and ways to preserve it, addressing the impact of environmental regulations and legislation on business sectors.
Additionally, it aims to review investment opportunities for businesses in the environmental sector, as well as available financing channels for projects in this vital sector. This represents environmental investment as a key driver and effective element in achieving sustainable development.
Al-Ruzaiza clarified that the forum supports environmental protection practices, presents experiences and solutions, and aims to expand knowledge about investment opportunities related to sustainability. It also focuses on methods for addressing them and implementing associated mechanisms.
He also highlighted the array of sustainability initiatives and programs initiated by the Kingdom to foster green investments across various sectors. Furthermore, he emphasized the nation’s objective of increasing its reliance on clean energy sources, aiming to achieve 50 percent of total energy consumption by 2030.
He also noted the country’s determination to double its spending on investment and financing projects that operate in areas supporting sustainability.
The forum comes against the backdrop of the Eastern Province’s municipality recently unveiling a range of diverse investment opportunities, both permanent and temporary, across cities and governorates in the region.
The municipality had cataloged over 20,000 investment assets covering an area exceeding 116 million sq. m., serving as a database for significant growth in the region, as reported by SPA in March.
These encompass the development of waterfronts, plots, and infrastructure, as well as transportation, markets, and advertising billboards.
Additionally, opportunities for recreational and tourist centers are available. These also cover sports activities, factories, and exhibitions, along with warehouses, workers’ housing, and various tourist and commercial investment sites.
Netanyahu’s Cabinet votes to permanently close Al Jazeera offices in Israel
- Vote comes amid deeply strained ties between Israel and the channel, which have worsened during the war against Hamas
TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shutter the offices of the Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera in Israel.
Netanyahu announced the decision on X, formerly Twitter. Details on when it would go into effect or whether it was permanent or temporary were not immediately clear.
The vote comes amid deeply strained ties between Israel and the channel, which have worsened during the war against Hamas.
It also comes as Qatar is helping to broker a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the war in Gaza.
Saudi riders dominate first World Camel Endurance Championship in AlUla
- Local riders filled the first three places in the men’s category
- Event featured a prize pool of more than SR2 million
ALULA: Saudi competitors dominated the first World Camel Endurance Championship for men and women in AlUla, which was held in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate.
The Saudi racers took the first three places and the championship cups in the first and second rounds of the men’s event. Fares Al-Juhani on Bayan won in a time of 15 minutes 54.27 seconds, with Nayef Al-Faydi riding Munadi second in 32:05.84, and Sulaiman Al-Huwaiti on Motaeb third in a time of 32:11.6.
In the women’s category, Saudi racer Kholoud Al-Shammari on Jabbar took first place with a time of 36:59.91, with the second and third places filled by a Jordanian and a German rider respectively.
Competitors representing 20 countries participated in the championship, with the 16 km races split into two 8 km stages, with a 30-minute break in between. After the first stage, 20 male competitors and 15 women qualified for the final stage, and the result was calculated according to times set across the two stages.
The value of the tournament prizes exceeded SR2 million ($533,333), with the winner in the men’s and women’s categories receiving SR500,000, while the balance of the prize pool was distributed between 10 runners-up in the men’s category and 10 runners-up in the women’s category.
