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The US Embassy was placed in lockdown as armed officers swooped on a suspicious package that is now thought to have been a hoax device.

Armed officers from the Met Police arrived at the building in Nine Elms, south west London, following reports of a suspicious package on at around 10am on Friday.

The embassy was immediately locked down as a police unit carried out a controlled explosion of the item within a cordoned area, said to have caused a loud bang.

People who had been queuing up for visa appointments were locked inside for more than an hour before being sent home while staff remained inside as officers searched the area.

In a statement at around 1pm, the force said: “Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow.

“Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down.”

In a statement posted on social media platform X at about 10am, the Metropolitan Police said: “We can confirm that the ‘loud bang’ reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers.”

The embassy is in a high-rise, residential area close to the Thames, with the cordons meaning people who live in the area were unable to get back into their homes.

Firefighters were also at the scene, as well as the dog squad, with dozens of people - many of them people who were attending the building for visa interviews - told to stay behind barriers while authorities responded.

Kevin Tinkler from Aberdeen told the Independent he had been waiting outside for two hours. “There’s been a definite lack of information from the police. The only piece of information I’ve been given was that I was advised to come back another day and rebook the appointment,” said Mr Tinkler.

Another bystander, Jim Prevot, said there were a few hundred people inside having visas processed while the incident was unfolding.

One woman at the scene, who did not want to be named, said she and a companion had been in the building for about three hours. “We didn’t hear anything, it was very calm and chilled in there,” she said. “The cafe stayed open and the amazing thing was they continued processing visa applications throughout the morning. They handled it really well.”

The Met Police dog section is also combing the vicinity (Millie Cooke)
The Met Police dog section is also combing the vicinity (Millie Cooke)

A woman who gave her name as Kawtar said she had been in the embassy since 8am. “Honestly it was calm inside, but we got told we shouldn’t be outside. I’m only now figuring out that something is going on, because nobody knew what was going on,” she said.

The US Embassy said in a statement on X police were investigating the package left outside the building. “Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available,” the embassy said. 

The drama unfolded at the same time Gatwick Airport evacuated “a large part” of the South Terminal due to a security incident.

The Sussex airport confirmed the news in a social media post, with passengers expected to face disruption to their flights. “A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident,” a statement read. By Millie Cooke and Angus Thompson, The Independent 

 

This is the first time there has been an indictment for Netanyahu since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023.

This is the first time that Netanyahu or any Israeli official has been indicted by an international court for the ongoing war on Gaza.

In a decision posted online on Thursday, the ICC charged Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif over Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent genocidal war in Gaza. Israel claimed to have killed Deif in July, however. It is unclear whether he is still alive.

Effectively, the defendants are now internationally wanted suspects and ICC member states are under legal obligation to arrest them.

Israeli officials slammed the move, calling it “anti-Semitic”. Here’s what this all means:

What is the ICC accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of?

In a decision posted online, the court said it had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for “crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October until at least 20 May, 2024” and which related to the use of starvation and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities. Al Jazeera

Targeted financing for methane abatement could yield significant benefits for the continent, addressing both environmental and health impacts

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 13, 2024/APO Group/ -- As methane emissions across Africa continue to rise and existing financing falls short of meeting international climate goals and fulfilling the Paris Agreement, the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs) is becoming increasingly important in supporting methane reduction initiatives across the continent. 

A new study by AfriCatalyst reveals that Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) would need to allocate just 2.4% of their assets to meet the $48 billion annual funding requirement for reducing methane emissions by 2030 (https://apo-opa.co/4eo01XT). Methane emissions pose a significant, but underfunded, threat to Africa’s climate resilience, with the continent receiving only about 1% of global climate finance in 2021-2022—roughly $13.7 billion.

Targeted financing for methane abatement could yield significant benefits for the continent, addressing both environmental and health impacts. For example, achieving a 50% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 in the 19 countries responsible for 80% of Africa’s methane emissions would require $10 billion, but would result in an estimated $4,300 per ton of methane avoided in economic and social benefits.

Methane emissions in Africa largely come from agriculture (50.6%), energy (34.2%), and waste (15.2%), with the greatest concentration found in just 19 countries. As methane has a global warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, it is a major contributor to climate change, driving extreme weather events, poor air quality, and health issues such as respiratory diseases​.

"The energy sector, which holds the greatest potential for methane reductions, received less than 1% of that funding. Given the limited financial resources of many African countries, it is imperative to find sustainable solutions that support the transition to more sustainable energy systems and eco-friendly production and consumption models. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) must play a central role in developing mechanisms, practices, and innovative instruments for methane abatement." outlines the new report.

The report Methane Abatement in Africa: The Role of Multilateral Development Banks highlights policy frameworks and financing measures MDBs can adopt to support methane reduction projects in Africa and bridge the funding gap and align with the Paris Agreement targets.

The energy sector, which holds the greatest potential for methane reductions, received less than 1% of that funding

These include tariff regulation for methane emissions in the energy sector, operationalizing local carbon markets, mobilizing additional financing through MDB Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) reforms, and allocating local currency finance for methane projects.

Key Findings 

  • To meet the $48 billion annual funding requirement for reducing methane emissions by 2030, MDBs would need to allocate only 2.4% of their assets.
  • With Africa currently utilizing only 2% of its annual carbon credit potential, with most credits concentrated in a few countries, MDBs can play a catalytic role in establishing local carbon markets, mobilizing financial resources, and expanding market participation.
  • Modernizing financial governance is crucial to enhancing MDBs’ commitment to climate goals, especially in developing countries where climate financing capacity is often limited. 

The report also summarizes how new and existing reforms and initiatives can help MDBs take a more prominent role in supporting African countries' methane reduction efforts as the 2030 deadline approaches and urgent action is needed.

“Methane is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and there is strong evidence that with ambitious methane abatement efforts in Africa, the continent can meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement,” said Daouda Sembene, CEO of AfriCatalyst. “However, one of the major challenges we face is the limited awareness and debate surrounding methane abatement in Africa. While the issue is discussed, it’s not yet fully mainstreamed across the continent” he added. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AfriCatalyst.

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