Latest news with #Waleed


Khaleej Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
'Loud sounds, sleepless kids': UAE expats say Iran attack terrified loved ones in Qatar
UAE residents with family members in Qatar expressed concern and worry about the loud explosions heard over the country. Many said their relatives spoke about seeing what looked liked missiles in the sky, feeling the glass shaking and experiencing sheer panic in an area which is usually calm and safe from regional conflicts. For Qatari expat Mariam, the news was unsettling and worrying and she rushed to call her aunt. 'She told me that everything is fine and there's nothing to worry about,' she said. 'But I know she's trying to reassure me and doesn't want me to panic. Right now, I'm living in a state of stress and anticipation. My entire family is in Qatar, and I'm scared they aren't telling me the full truth just to protect me.' Mariam, who was scheduled to fly to Qatar this weekend, said she would take work from home tomorrow as she felt too uneasy to go into work. Iran attacked the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday in retaliation for the US bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran. UAE condemned the move in the strongest terms, saying it was a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, and a clear contravention of international law and the United Nations Charter. Meanwhile, Dubai resident Sahar T. received videos at 8.48pm from her cousin in Doha showing what looked like missiles flying across Qatar's skies. In the family group chat, her cousin Waleed, who has lived in Qatar his whole life, said, 'This is now. I've never seen anything like this.' Sahar said she was stressed and worried. Just an hour earlier, she had been reassuring a friend after hearing about the closure of Qatari airspace, saying it was likely just a precaution and that nothing would ever happen there. Springs resident Parul Randhawa, who formerly lived in Qatar for 15 years, said, 'I have spoken to about seven to eight families. We have a big group of friends there since I've lived in Qatar for a decade and a half. Some of my friends are scared and worried, others are not. They were asked to take precautions. But thankfully, nothing is really happening in the city of Doha currently.' She added, 'As per the WhatsApp chats, some people said they heard loud blasts, others confirmed it too. Residents of Doha have been messaging each other to stay near the entrance. It seems like the blasts happened at the Al Udeid Air Base. People have been saying that the US already emptied the base two days ago, but we're not sure about that. However, it's good to know that our friends and civilians in general are safe, though understandably, most people are reasonably concerned.' Another UAE resident said that she reached out to a friend in Qatar. 'She said that she felt her glass shake and heard loud sounds,' she said. 'It was a scary experience for her and her children were very frightened. Her youngest child refused to let go of her or to sleep because she was terrified.' A Dubai resident, Waqar, tried to reach out to her family in Qatar. When she finally heard back, her family said, 'You can't imagine how scary this is.' Samar, a resident of Qatar for seven years, said, 'You know how small Qatar is, you can hear everything. The skies were lit up, and the sounds were very loud. Thank God it's all calm now.' Qatari residents noted chaos in the supermarkets, with everyone rushing to get supplies. 'It's a weird situation we've never, ever witnessed before. We tried to reassure the children by saying it was just fireworks.'


Business Recorder
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Solar net-metering capacity in Pakistan jumps to 2,813MW
Solar net-metering capacity in Pakistan has jumped to 2,813 megawatts (MW) as of March 31, 2025, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, reflecting a 12% increase over the first nine months of the current fiscal year. This represents a rise of over 300MW from the previous fiscal year, when the capacity stood at around 2,500MW, as per NEPRA's State of the Industry Report 2024. The 300MW jump in net-metering capacity is largely attributed to a sharp fall in solar panel prices and the financial incentives net-metering offers to consumers. China exports more solar panels to Pakistan than to many G20 nations in 5 years: report The system allows consumers to install rooftop solar panels, sell surplus power generated during the day to distribution companies (DISCOs), and purchase electricity at night — offsetting monthly bills and contributing to the national grid. Experts say the expansion has also improved voltage stability and reduced transmission and distribution losses, showcasing tangible benefits to the power system. Despite the growth, net-metering still accounts for a fraction of the total potential. Pakistan is estimated to have imported solar equipment capable of producing 20,000–22,000MW in recent years, most of which is installed off-grid — particularly in agriculture, residential, and industrial settings. The surge in clean energy coincides with broader developments in the country's power sector. As of March 2025, Pakistan's total installed electricity generation capacity reached 46,605MW, up 1.6% from 45,888MW a year earlier. This includes the operationalisation of the 884MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, and progress on new solar, wind, and bagasse-based projects, as well as the termination of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with some independent power producers (IPPs). Of the total capacity, 44.3% now comes from hydel, nuclear, and renewable sources, marking a continued shift away from thermal power, which now accounts for 55.7% of the energy mix. Renewable energy data reveals that hydel sources contribute 24.4%, nuclear power 7.8%, and solar and wind (including net-metering) 12.2% to the installed capacity. Meanwhile, Khalid Waleed, an energy expert at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), warned against proposed tariff reductions for net-metering. From crisis to clean energy: Pakistan emerges as top solar market in 2024 The government is considering slashing the current Rs27 per unit buyback rate to Rs10, which Waleed argued would 'disincentivise clean energy' and reverse recent gains. Instead, he recommended a phased reduction to Rs15-18 per unit to maintain investor and consumer interest. The Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2022-31 set a target to add 3,420MW under net-metering by 2031. NEPRA believes this goal can be met — or even exceeded — if distribution companies avoid obstructing the ongoing rooftop solarisation momentum.

Sky News AU
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
The Project host Waleed Aly left stunned after Ice-T roasts him live on-air: 'Real life square'
Waleed Aly copped a brutal on-air roasting from none other than American rap icon Ice-T during Tuesday night's episode of The Project. The 46-year-old Melbourne-based broadcaster interviewed the Grammy Award-winning artist about his new film Zombie Plane, which is currently being filmed on the Gold Coast. "Wonderful to have you on the show Mr T, and congratulations on this film," Waleed said, as Ice-T joined the program via video link. "I have to ask- we watched a little bit of, I don't know what it was, frankly, because it looked bonkers. Did you know what you were signing up for?" Ice-T laughed, replying: "Uh, not really, I mean, I got the offer, they called me and said 'Would you like to come down to Australia to do a zombie movie?', I'm like, 'Nah, I'm good'. "And then my daughter was like, 'C'mon daddy, zombies, zombies, we love zombie movies'," he said, adding that his wife, TV personality and model Coco Austin, also encouraged him to take the role. "So I'm on a plane, next thing I know I'm on my way Down Under. So here I am." Waleed tried to keep things light with a cheeky question: "What is it with rappers and ice? Like, what, there's T, Cube (referencing Ice Cube), Vanilla, why?" The 67-year-old rapper, whose real name is Tracy Lauren Marrow, bluntly responded: "Everybody wants to be cool. You know what I'm saying? "Being ice is the epitome of cool. "I'm Ice-T and I'm not iced tea to drink, I'm Ice capital T. My name starts with a T, my real name is Tracy." He added: "So, you know, I was like considered Cool T. I was named after Iceberg Slim. My friends call me Iceberg. They call me Berg." Then cohost Sam Taunton chimed in, asking if people who have to ask that kind of question might actually not be that cool. Without missing a beat, Ice-T replied: "Yeah. I would say that. "That's kind of a question you get from a real life square." The brutal but hilarious comeback left panellists Georgie Tunny and Kate Langbroek in fits of laughter, while Taunton admitted he was "dying" from the deadpan takedown of Aly. In the film, which also stars Chuck Norris, Vanilla Ice, and Australia's own Sophie Monk, Ice-T said he plays a no-nonsense "general" who is called in to handle chaos in the skies. "I'm the guy they call about this plane, and I'm on a yacht on vacation with my wife when I get this call about the zombies from Chuck Norris," he explained, though he kept the rest of the plot under wraps. "I let them know that they better handle these zombies in the plane or I'm going to blow that plane right out of the sky." Zombie Plane is set to hit Aussie cinemas later this year.


News18
06-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Terror Launchpads In PoK
Last Updated: Operation Sindoor is India's retaliatory measure to avenge the deaths of innocent civilians at the hands of Pakistan-trained terrorists. Videos of India striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir were released on social media in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. India launched 'Operation Sindoor' where it struck nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), a press release by the Press Information Bureau said. The videos released on social media could not be independently verified by News18. The government in its press release said that the locations Indian forces struck are believed to have been directly involved in planning and facilitating the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including a foreign national from Nepal. Images from a camera capturing the Air strike in Bahawalpur — Waleed (@weethelawyer) May 6, 2025 The government in its press release said that the strikes were 'focused, measured and non-escalatory," stressing that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. Bahawalpur — Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) May 6, 2025 'Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution," the press release said. First Published:

Sky News AU
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Pretty disappointed': Aussie holidaymakers, expats deliver damning federal election verdict as polling day approaches
Aussie holidaymakers and expats have delivered a damning verdict on the 2025 Federal Election ahead of casting their ballots at Australia's embassy in London. There is now just one week until most Australians head to the polls, but some for some voters the election is proving an unwelcome distraction as they attempt to enjoy a European break. Hundreds of Aussies will pass by Australia House in the coming days in order to perform their civic duty, although more than 16,000km from Australia the mood at the booths is far less festive than what many polling places will see on May 3. Voters from across the nation told they were "pretty disappointed" with the campaigns run by both major parties, highlighting a lack of "leadership" from both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Waleed, 38, from Victoria explained it felt as though Labor and the Coalition were simply "trying to win the short-term game", while Tasmanian resident Wayne said "nothing" had stood out to him from either party's election pledges. Both men agreed the cost of living was the biggest issue facing voters, but neither felt as if the major parties were actually addressing the problem. "Been a bit weak, from both parties, been a bit weak," Waleed says dismissively. "It's been pretty light on on the policy front. It seems like they're looking to buy votes and the policies they've announced; seems like they're just catering for the lowest common denominator and trying to win the short-term game rather than being game-changing and something that can change the nation." Asked what has stood out from Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton's campaigns, Wayne appears stumped. "Nothing great that's stood out. They're always talking about cost of living and stuff, but don't seem to do anything," he says. The perceived lack of action from both parties is a recurring theme among those taking a break from their break by lining up to vote. It reflects statements from both sides of politics that the election remains finely balanced, despite recent polling showing Labor pulling ahead. Dissatisfaction with both major parties has placed support for alternatives at 31 per cent, according to the latest Newspoll, with the Greens sitting on a 12 per cent share of the primary vote, Pauline Hanson's One Nation on seven per cent and other independents, including the Teals, on 12 per cent combined. Such is the level of apathy toward Labor and the Coalition, several voters told they had not even bothered to examine the major parties' policy platforms before casting their ballot. "To be quite frank I haven't actually had a good look at what the major parties (are proposing) because I'm not voting for either of them," Joy, 65, said. Carl and Paula, both 40, from the Australian Capital Territory said they were relieved when they found out they would be on holiday in the lead-up to the election, explaining they had deliberately blocked out the campaign while travelling. "I haven't checked anything, I've made a very strong mental note to not check. I don't really want to hear it. It was a bit of a relief when they announced it and we knew we'd be away, we thought: 'Okay we'll miss all of that'," Paula said. Asked why they had been so keen to skip the campaign, Carl explained "no real issues" were being addressed by either side of politics. "A lot of stone throwing from the major parties, no real issues being addressed. Definitely a lack of leadership, 100 per cent a lack of leadership from both parties," he said. Leadership was another recurring theme among holidaymakers at the booth, perhaps unsurprisingly in an an election year in which both Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton have struggled to achieve and maintain positive approval ratings. In a worrying sign for the Opposition Leader, his leadership style was called into question by several of those who spoke to "I think I'm looking to see some leadership and I haven't seen any from the Liberal Party at all, from Peter Dutton," Joy declared. The Tasmanian local highlighted the Coalition's stance on asylum seekers, suggesting Mr Dutton had set the tone for policies which she believed were robbing those fleeing conflicts overseas of "justice". Paula also expressed concerns over the opposition leader's position on some issues, saying she was worried by comparisons with United States President Donald Trump. "I've been surprised at some of the alignment with Trump and what's going on in the US as well," she said. "People have aligned Dutton with Trump, you know, some of the messages and stuff like that. What I'm hearing is that people are aligning his policies and his vision with some extreme things coming from that side." Labor has repeatedly accused Mr Dutton of seeking to introduce "Trump-style politics" throughout the campaign, claims the opposition leader has rejected. However, polling suggests Joy and Paula are not alone in viewing Mr Dutton unfovourably. Newspoll has recorded a five point swing, in two party preferred terms, from female voters toward Labor since March 26, while Mr Albanese is overwhelmingly viewed as the preferred Prime Minister by women - 50 per cent to Mr Dutton's 36 per cent. Even among male voters, the Opposition Leader is being urged to do more. Shai, 68, from Victoria, said Mr Dutton needed to "get out of the square" and clearly lay out practical plans to tackle the main issues facing Australians. "Dutton needs to show more leadership. Australia is Australia, I cannot say compare yourself to Trump because he is totally crazy, but it should be something like Trump only less Trump-y," he said. "He has to lead Australia in a certain direction, to say: 'Okay guys this is what I'm going to do. I have 100 days (to make an impact in office), so this is what I'm doing: one, two, three, four'. Cover the main issues for Australia. "The main issues, of course, are the cost of living, security, safety." Shai's call for Mr Dutton to mirror the US President style hints at the tightrope the opposition leader has at times been forced to walk, but the 68-year-old's focus on crime pointed toward something many analysts have suggested could be an advantage for the Coalition in his native state. Labor is on the nose with voters in Victoria, with soaring crime rates a key reason for community dissatisfaction. Some believe Mr Dutton, who was a Queensland Police officer before entering politics and has built his career since on protecting the community, is well placed to exploit that sentiment, potentially taking key seats away from the Albanese government. Crime has not featured prominently in the election campaign to date, but it, alongside a handful of other issues, appears to be simmering below the surface. Waleed pointed to what he called "the waste in government programs", suggesting both sides needed to cut spending following a campaign full of major cash splashes. Wayne and Scott, a 39-year-old Victorian expat, meanwhile, highlighted retirees. "My parents are still in Victoria and so's my sister so as long as it's (the government) helping pensioners," Scott explained. The 39-year-old was unaware of Labor's plan to increase taxation on superannuation balances over $3 million, but Wayne was. "Definitely worried about it," he said. Former Labor MP for Dawson, James Bidgood, who was out canvasing for the party, told many people were concerned about the Coalition's nuclear plans. "Coming from Queensland, I come from Mackay in Queensland, country people, one thing they really don't want is a nuclear power station in their backyard," he explained. "They do not want the risk of a one in 50-year accident and nuclear contamination of the countryside for 5,000 years. That is a sleeper issue a lot of people haven't anticipated. "Cost of living, obvious, interest rates, obvious, work, employment, obvious, housing, obvious, but the sleeper is the nuclear power. I think Peter Dutton has vastly underestimated the resistance in the country to nuclear power." Mr Bidgood, who served one term during the Rudd government in 2007 after flipping a previously safe National Party seat, added he felt "a Labor swing on", although he conceded: "Obviously I'm a Labor man and I'm going to give the Labor spin on it". While polling has shown the party pulling ahead in recent weeks, most analysts believe a minority government is still the most likely outcome. That has been a source of concern for many, but not all, voters. "I think one of the other issues people need to remember is it's not just two parties, there's multiple parties and minority government's not such a bad thing as well. It gives accountability, and things like that, as long as it's used correctly," Carl says as he and Paula head inside to cast their ballots. The 2025 Federal Election will be held on May 3.