DUBAI – The world’s tallest building was unveiled this week to an estimated on-site crowd of over 400,000 and the rest of the world, in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays.

A general view of the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, in Dubai January 3, 2010. REUTERS/Mosab Omar

The official height of the tower, unveiled as “Burj Khalifa,” was announced as 2,716.5 ft.
Burj Khalifa, developed by Emaar Properties, is the world’s tallest building according to the three criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat: Height to Architectural Top, Height To Highest Occupied Floor, and Height To Tip.

The tower is taller than Taiwan’s Taipei 101, which had held the title of world’s tallest building since 2004, the year when the project was announced.

Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said that the tower represented a symbol of hope to the Arab world and a shining example of human achievement.

“Thousands of people from more than 100 countries have contributed to the realization of Burj Khalifa. The tower embodies the spirit and optimism of global collaboration, and shows to the world what can be achieved when communities work in partnership.”

A dramatic sound, light, firework and fountain display described the evolution of the tower, and ended in a breathtaking climax of lasers and fireworks, bathing the tower and the surrounding area in white light.

Burj Khalifa comprises luxury residences and offices, the world’s first Armani Hotel, and the world’s highest observation deck, At the Top, which is located on the tower’s 124th floor. Around 90 per cent of the tower’s offices and apartments have been sold.

At the Top opened officially to the public on January 5. The handover of offices and apartments starts in February, and the Armani Hotel Dubai will be opened by its designer, Giorgio Armani, on March 18.

More than 60 leading consultants including South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realized the design for Burj Khalifa by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM).

Obama stresses need to maintain open society while enhancing security

WASHINGTON– President Obama this week shared the results of a comprehensive review of the security and intelligence procedures which led up to the attempted bombing aboard a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day. The President outlined the failures which allowed the would-be bomber to board a plane heading to the United States, when there was specific intelligence suggesting his direct ties to a terrorist group.

He focused on revamping the intelligence sharing and analysis process as well as updating airport security technologies. He also noted that his review found “a systemic failure” across agencies and departments in being able to connect the dots with the available information.

Towards the end of his remarks, the President focused on the importance of continued engagement of Muslim communities abroad and at home. He noted that the “the vast majority of Muslims reject Al Qaeda,” a group which he said “offers nothing but a bankrupt vision of misery and death including for fellow Muslims.”

Muslim Public Affairs Council Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati responded to the President’s remarks: “Muslims worldwide will be overwhelmingly targets of Al Qaeda’s terror, and Muslim communities continue to offer the authentic narrative on the theology of life versus the theology of death.”

The President closed his remarks by reminding the nation that we are in this struggle together and that remaining united and committed to our values as an “open society” will define the character of our country. While we face this uncertain threat as citizens, the President asserted that “we will not bow to a siege mentality.”

MPAC said it will continue to work towards the goals outlined in the President’s speech in Cairo, where he asserted that the relationship with the Muslim communities across the globe will be based on “mutual interest and respect.”

Yemen seizes ‘Israel-linked’ cell

SANAA– Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said his security forces have arrested a group of alleged Islamist militants linked to Israeli intelligence.

Mr. Saleh did not say what evidence had been found to show the group’s links with Israel, a regional enemy of Yemen.

The arrests were connected with an attack on the U.S. embassy in Sanaa last month which killed at least 18 people, official sources were quoted as saying.

Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected the accusation as “totally ridiculous.”

“A terrorist cell was arrested and will be referred to the judicial authorities for its links with the Israeli intelligence services,” Mr Saleh told a gathering at al-Mukalla University in Hadramat province.

“Details of the trial will be announced later. You will hear about what goes on in the proceedings,” he added.

The September 17 attack was the second to target the U.S. embassy since April. Militants detonated car bombs before firing rockets at the heavily fortified building.

Mr. Saleh did not identify the suspects, but official sources were quoted as saying it was same cell – led by a militant called Abu al-Ghaith al-Yamani – whose arrest was announced a week after the attack.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said the Yemeni president’s statement was without foundation.

“To believe that Israel would create Islamist cells in Yemen is really far-fetched. This is yet another victory for the proponents of conspiracy theories,” Igal Palmor said in remarks reported by AFP.