Hurricane Alex strengthens to Category Two

LA CARBONERA: The first Atlantic hurricane of the year strengthened to a Category Two on Wednesday, as residents of the Mexican Gulf coast and south Texas braced for it to make landfall.

Hurricane Alex rose one notch on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale late Wednesday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, after Mexico evacuated hundreds of people from fishing towns south of the US border.

Alex has already disrupted oil clean-up operations off the coast of Louisiana, and US President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Texas late Tuesday.

Giant waves and strong winds were expected around the US-Mexico border as the storm churned westwards through the Gulf of Mexico, packing winds near 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, according to the latest NHC report.

Obama requested federal aid for relief operations after a hurricane warning was issued for southeast Texas and northeast Mexico.

Texas Governor Rick Perry issued his own state disaster proclamation for 19 counties.

Mexican authorities have already reported one storm-related death.

They evacuated some 2,000 inhabitants near the beach in the town of La Carbonera, close to where the storm was expected to hit overnight Wednesday.

Further north in the city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, the edge of the storm already brought torrential rain which flooded streets.

Alex was some 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of La Pesca, Mexico and 105 miles (170 kilometers) south southeast of Brownsville, Texas, at 2100 GMT, according to the NHC.

The storm was well southwest of the area worst hit by the massive BP oil spill — the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida — though its strong winds have already caused problems for the cleanup effort.

It was not forecast to turn towards the spill, but severe winds have churned up waves that halted some cleanup operations and threatened to push more of the huge slick onto shore.

The NHC has warned that heavy rains could cause life-threatening flash floods, mud slides, and that ocean water could penetrate inland for several miles.

Tornadoes were possible over southern Texas on Wednesday, the NHC added.

Alex is the first Atlantic hurricane to form this early, in June, since 1995, according to the NHC.

Alex has already killed at least 10 people in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador over the weekend.

Tens of thousands to march for democracy in Hong Kong

HONG KONG: Tens of thousands of people were expected to hit Hong Kong”s sweltering streets Thursday for a pro-democracy rally on the 13th anniversary of the former British colony”s return to China.

Organisers were expecting around 50,000 protesters to turn out for the July 1 march, down from 70,000 last year, underscoring fears that a deep split in the city”s opposition camp has deterred potential supporters.

The march has become an annual opportunity for campaigners to show the strength of opposition to Beijing and the local authorities.

Hurricane Alex makes landfall in Mexico

MATAMOROS: Hurricane Alex made landfall Wednesday in northeastern Mexico as a Category Two storm, lashing residents of the Mexican Gulf coast and south Texas with heavy rains and winds.

The first Atlantic hurricane of the 2010 season roared ashore at about 0200 GMT, thrashing the Mexican coast with its eye located some 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of La Pesca, Mexico and 110 miles south of Brownsville, Texas, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Alex rose one notch on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale Wednesday as it churned across the warm waters of the Gulf, the Miami-based center said, after Mexico evacuated 17,000 people from fishing towns south of the US border in the state of Tamaulipas.

Giant waves and strong winds were expected as Alex gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico. It hit the coast with sustained winds of 105 miles (169 kilometers) per hour, according to the latest NHC report.

Mexican authorities have already reported one storm-related death, but could consider themselves fortunate in that the storm slammed into the coast in an area with a relatively small population. They evacuated all 2,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of La Carbonera, close to the storm”s center, with Mexico”s national meteorological service SMN warning of “intense and torrential rains.”

IMF programme helped avert bankruptcy: Dr. Shaikh

ISLAMABAD: Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented Federal Budget for 2010-11 with a total outlay of Rs3.259 trillion with 685 billion deficit before the parliament on Saturday.

In his budget speech at special budget session of the National Assembly, Dr. Hafeez Shaikh announced ad hoc allowance at 50 percent of basic salaries for government employees; raise in GST from 16 to 17 percent; 10 percent cut in Federal Cabinet salaries; capital gains tax of 10 percent on stocks held for six months or less, 7.5 percent on stocks held between 6 months to a year; reduction in customs duty on 29 items; raise in pension by 15 percent for employees retired before 2001 and 20 percent for those retired after 2001.

He said the budget deficit will be around 685 billion, which is 4 percent of GDP.

Tax revenue is targeted at 1.78 trillion rupees out of which the Federal Board of Revenue will collect 1.667 trillion rupees, about 9.8 percent of GDP.

Non-tax revenue is targeted at 632.2 billion rupees. Revenue from direct taxes is targeted at 657.7 billion rupees and revenue from indirect taxes is targeted at 1.12 trillion rupees. Subsidies will be reduced to 126.68 billion rupees from 228.99 billion rupees.

Development spending or the public sector development spending is targeted at 663 billion rupees, with 373 billion rupees allocated for provinces, and 280 billion rupees as the federal component.

Inflation is targeted at 9.5 percent in 2010/11 fiscal year, down from the central bank”s forecast of between 11.5percent and 12.5 percent for the year ending June 30.

The defence budget is set at 442.2 billion rupees, a 17percent increase from last year.

The general sales tax will be reformed to a uniform rate of 15 percent. GST will not be imposed on health, education, food items and on those merchants whose turnover is less 7.5million rupees.

This reform will be effective from October 1, 2010.

Development spending or the public sector development spending is targeted at 663 billion rupees, with 373 billion rupees allocated for provinces, and 280 billion rupees as the federal component.

Medical Allowance for employees of Grade-1 to 15 increased by 100 percent. While the raise in medical allowance for employees of Grade-16 to 22 is 15 percent of their basic pay.

Dr. Shaikh said Rs 1 CED will be imposed on manufacturing of each cigarette while 30 million energy savors will be provided in a bid to conserve electricity.

He stressed upon self-reliance and resource mobilization.

Talking about unemployment, he said jobs are created when the whole economy grows.

He held flawed policies and influence of some government departments responsible for energy shortage in the country where people are willing to pay for the utility but cannot get it due to unavailability.

We have to make our policies right and rise above the petty issues.

He said there is burden of 235 billion on the country’s budget due to losses being incurred by state owned enterprises including PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills and PEPCO.

He said three dams will be built in 2010-11.

He said PEPCO wants subsidy of Rs 180 billion.

All non-developmental federal expenditures will be frozen while 40 billion will be distributed among the poor under Benazir Income Support Programme.

Baitul Maal to continue functioning with Rs2 million.

ADP is being fixed at 603 billion out of which 52 percent will be given to the provinces.

Minimum taxable income for salaried class being raised from Rs200,000 to Rs300,000.

Capital Gains Tax of 10 percent being imposed on gains from stocks held for less than 6 months; 7.5 percent on gains from stocks held for 6 months to 1 year and; no tax on capital gains from stocks held for more than a year.

Pension raised by 15 percent for the employees who retired before 2001 and 20 percent for those retired after 2001.

200,000 unemployed youth will be provided employment for 100 days under Youth Scheme.

Federal Budget with outlay of Rs3.259 trln presented

ISLAMABAD: Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presented Federal Budget for 2010-11 with a total outlay of Rs3.259 trillion before the parliament on Saturday.

In his budget speech at special budget session of the National Assembly, Dr. Hafeez Shaikh announced ad hoc allowance at 50 percent of basic salaries for government employees; raise in GST from 16 to 17 percent; 10 percent cut in Federal Cabinet salaries; capital gains tax of 10 percent on stocks held for six months or less, 7.5 percent on stocks held between 6 months to a year; reduction in customs duty on 29 items; raise in pension by 15 percent for employees retired before 2001 and 20 percent for those retired after 2001.

Tax revenue is targeted at 1.78 trillion rupees out of which the Federal Board of Revenue will collect 1.667 trillion rupees, about 9.8 percent of GDP.

Non-tax revenue is targeted at 632.2 billion rupees. Revenue from direct taxes is targeted at 657.7 billion rupees and revenue from indirect taxes is targeted at 1.12 trillion rupees. Subsidies will be reduced to 126.68 billion rupees from 228.99 billion rupees.

The general sales tax will be reformed to a uniform rate of 15 percent. GST will not be imposed on health, education, food items and on those merchants whose turnover is less 7.5million rupees.

This reform will be effective from October 1, 2010.

Phet passing through Balochistan belt

KARACHI: Tropical Cyclone has moved eastwards in the last six hours along Mekran Coast and now is located at 24 N-62 E southwest of Pasni.

According to a cyclone warning issued by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) here Saturday evening, the system is likely to move eastward during the next 12 hours, making landfall some where west of Karachi on Sunday (with maximum sustained winds 70-90 Km/hour gusting upto 120 km/hour) with associated storm surge of 3-5 meters.

Under the influence of this system, extremely heavy rainfall is occurring in coastal areas of Balochistan (Gwadar 370 mm, Jiwani 208 mm, Pasni 127 mm, Turbat 63 mm) accompanied with very strong wind gusting to 120 km/hour. More rain heavy to heavy accompanied with strong gusty winds are expected in Balochistan during the next 24 hours.

Sindh is also expected to receive widespread heavy rainfall in the next 2 days starting from Saturday evening and gradually increasing allerwards. Heavy rains may cause urban/ clash flooding in Balochistan and Sindh including Karachi, it said.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre of Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan not to venture in open sea till further orders.

The irrigation authorities in Sindh and Balochistan are advised to reduce inflow in irrigation system, it added.

Cyclone Phet heads Pakistan after hitting Oman

KARACHI: Cyclone Phet is heading towards Pakistan after smashing along the coast of Oman.

The Cyclone made landfall at the north-east tip of Oman’s of coast last night and had weakened from “very severe” to “severe”, Pakistan Meteorological Department said Friday.

“This severe Tropical Cyclone is expected to approach Pakistan coastal areas on Saturday evening and make landfall on Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 100 to 120 kilometers per hour and an associated storm surge of 13 to 19 feet (4 to 5.8 metres),” the department warned.

It further said that the storm is to lash Pakistan’s southern and south-western coastal areas with “widespread rainfall accompanied by gusty winds” that may cause flash floods in several areas including Karachi.

Concerned authorities in Karachi said they were preparing for the worst case. DCO Fazl-ur-Rehman said that 22 relief camps and more than 40 emergency centres had been set up.

“These emergency centres are equipped with boats, lifeguards, ambulances, pumps, clean water and medicines,” he said.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal areas of the neighbouring Thatta district and tens of thousands were moved o safer areas in the south-western province of Balochistan.

Hurricane Bill Upgraded To A Major Category Three Hurricane

MIAMI: Hurricane Bill was upgraded to a major Category Three hurricane Tuesday as its sustained winds increased to near 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour, the National Hurricane Center said.

A hurricane hunter plane that flew into the Atlantic storm indicated “that Bill has strengthened and maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 MPH,” the center said in an advisory.

That made Bill “a Category 3 Hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale,” it said.

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Hurricane Bill Upgraded To A Major Category Three Hurricane was first posted on August 19, 2009 at 1:19 pm.

Tropical Storm Ana

Tropical Storm Ana, Tropical Storm Ana has formed over the Atlantic and could strengthen as it heads toward the Leeward Islands, forecasters said Saturday.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ana could trigger a tropical storm watch for parts of the Leeward Islands later Saturday. It may pick up speed and approach the islands by Monday, the hurricane center said. It was 1,010 miles east of the islands early Saturday.

Ana, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, could slowly strengthen in the next couple of days as it moves to the west at 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Guillermo was swirling in the Pacific as a Category 3 storm. Winds were near 115 mph as the hurricane moved to the west-northwest at 16 mph. It was about 1,450 miles west of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula early Saturday morning.

However, Guillermo was expected to weaken Saturday and become even less powerful Sunday as it moves over cooler waters.