Zacarias Moussaoui, a former al-Qaida operative sometimes referred to as the "20th hijacker" involved in the 9/11 attacks, claims that members of the Saudi royal family supported the terrorist organization.
In sworn testimony given last October from a Colorado federal prison where he is serving a life sentence, Moussaoui alleged that in the late 1990s he was directed by Osama bin Laden to create a digital database of al-Qaida's donors.
“Sheikh Osama wanted to keep a record who give money ... who is to be listened to or who contributed to the jihad," Moussaoui said, according to a transcript of the deposition filed in federal court in New York on Monday and published Wednesday by the New York Times.
Among them: Prince Turki Al-Faisal, then the Saudi intelligence chief; Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the longtime Saudi ambassador to the United States; and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, a prominent billionaire investor.
Moussaoui — a French national who was detained in Minnesota weeks before 9/11 and pleaded guilty to six terror-related charges in 2005 — also alleged that he once delivered letters from bin Laden to King Abdullah's brother, Prince Salman, and other members of the Saudi royal family. Abdullah died last month, and Salman was installed as king.
In a statement, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington dismissed Moussaoui's allegations.
"There is no evidence to support Moussaoui's claim. The Sept. 11 attack has been the most intensely investigated crime in history, and the findings show no involvement by the Saudi government or Saudi officials," the statement read. "Moussaoui is a deranged criminal whose own lawyers presented evidence that he was mentally incompetent. His words have no credibility. [Moussaoui's] goal in making these statements only serves to get attention for himself and try to do what he could not do through acts of terrorism — to undermine Saudi-U.S. relations."
In 2004, the 9/11 Commission concluded there was no evidence that the Saudi government funded al-Qaida.
"It does not appear that any government other than the Taliban financially supported al-Qaida before 9/11, although some governments may have contained al-Qaida sympathizers who turned a blind eye to al-Qaida's fund-raising activities," the commission's report said. "Saudi Arabia has long been considered the primary source of al-Qaida funding, but we have found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded the organization."
Moussaoui's deposition was taken as part of a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed against Saudi Arabia by relatives of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
During his 2006 sentencing, Moussaoui tried to fire his lawyers, who argued that he had a mental illness. But a judge ruled that he was fully competent.
And Sean P. Carter, a lawyer who participated in the October deposition, told the Times, “My impression was that he was of completely sound mind — focused and thoughtful."
In his testimony, Moussaoui also described in detail a planned truck-bomb attack on the American Embassy in London, as well as plotting attacks using crop-dusters.
Additionally, Moussaoui said that he had been directed to meet with an official in the Islamic Affairs Department of Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington to explore "the feasibility of shooting Air Force One."
“I was supposed to go to Washington ... find a location where it may be suitable to launch a Stinger attack [on Air Force One] and then, after, be able to escape,” he said.
Anong sinabi ng SAF troopers nang makaharap si PNoy?
Pelicans halt Hawks' 19-game winning streak
Anthony Davis had 29 points and 13 rebounds to help New Orleans win for the sixth time in seven games, a stint which includes victories over several contending squads including Dallas and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jeff Teague scored 21 for Atlanta, but the Hawks fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and failed to even tie it.
Eric Gordon scored 20 points for New Orleans, while Tyreke Evans scored 15 points and tied a season high with 12 assists for the fourth time in five games.
Cleveland's Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, and LeBron James added 18 points and 11 assists as the Cavaliers staggered to their 11th straight win 97-84.
The winning streak is Cleveland's longest since reeling off 13 in a row — a franchise record — in 2010, the last season of James' first stint with the club. The Cavs had trouble putting away the young Philadelphia Sixers, who did all they could to stay close but don't have the firepower to keep up with Irving, James and one of the NBA's hottest teams.
At Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook's second triple-double of the season and 10th of his career helped the Thunder defeat the Orlando Magic 104-97 without the injured Kevin Durant.
Westbrook, an All-Star point guard, had 25 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds.
Durant sat out with a sprained big toe on his left foot.
Victor Oladipo scored 22 points and Nikola Vucevic scored 20 points for the Magic, who lost their ninth straight.
The Charlotte Hornets downed the Washington Wizards 92-88 after Al Jefferson had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 13 points and 13 rebounds, Brian Roberts scored 18 points, and Gerald Henderson put in 17 for the Hornets.
In other games, Khris Middleton scored 25 points, and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors 82-75, the Brooklyn Nets edged the Los Angeles Clippers 102-100, the Dallas Mavericks downed the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-94 and the Memphis Grizzlies narrowly beat the Phoenix Suns 102-101.
In Toronto, Khris Middleton scored 25 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks snapped a six-game losing streak against the Toronto Raptors.
Reduced to nine players when guard Brandon Knight was ruled out before the game with a sore right quadriceps muscle, Milwaukee lost another body when guard O.J. Mayo was ejected after picking up a double technical at 4:07 of the second.
Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 13 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 16 and Lou Williams 12 for the Raptors, who had won six straight overall.
In New York, Jarrett Jack made a tiebreaking jumper with 1.3 seconds left, and the Brooklyn Nets used a late rally to beat the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets ended a seven-game home losing streak by erasing a nine-point deficit in the final 1:35, getting two 3-pointers from Alan Anderson — one a four-point play — one from Joe Johnson and another from Deron Williams in his return from an 11-game absence.
After Chris Paul's layup tied it at 100 with 8.6 seconds to go, Jack lofted a jumper over 6-foot-11 center DeAndre Jordan.
Brook Lopez scored 24 points and Johnson had 22 for the Nets, who snapped an overall four-game skid and won at home for the first time since beating Sacramento on Dec. 29.
Jordan executes 2 terrorists after IS kills pilot
The Jordanian military confirmed the death of 26-year-old Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, who was captured by the extremists in December when his F-16 crashed while he was flying a mission as part of the US-led air campaign against the Islamic State group. He was the first airman participating in the US-led bombing raids against Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq to be captured by the militants.
In Washington, Jordan’s King Abdallah II and President Barack Obama vowed in a hastily arranged White House meeting not to let up in the fight against Islamic State. Jordan, a staunch Western ally, is a member of the coalition.
Sajida Al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman, was executed before daybreak Wednesday, along with another prisoner, Zaid Al-Karbouly, also linked to Al-Qaeda, said government spokesman Mohammed Al-Momani. Another official said they were executed by hanging.
The executions took place at Swaqa prison about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordanian capital of Amman. At sunrise, two ambulances carrying the bodies of Al-Rishawi and Al-Karbouly drove away from the prison with security escorts.
Over the past week, Jordan had offered to trade Al-Rishawi, a failed suicide bomber, for the pilot, but froze any swap after failing to receive any proof that the pilot was still alive. Jordanian TV said the pilot was killed as long ago as Jan. 3.
Al-Rishawi had been sentenced to death after her 2005 role in a triple hotel bombing in Amman that killed 60 people. Al-Karbouly was sent to death row in 2008 for plotting terror attacks on Jordanians in Iraq.
Al-Kaseasbeh had fallen into the hands of the militants in December when his F-16 crashed near Raqqa, Syria, the de facto capital of the group’s self-styled caliphate.
In the 20-minute video purportedly showing his killing, he displayed signs of having been beaten, including a black eye. Toward the end of the clip, he is shown wearing an orange jumpsuit. He stands in an outdoor cage as a masked militant ignites a line of fuel leading to it.
The video, which threatened other purported Jordanian pilots by name, was released on militant websites and bore the logo of the extremist group’s Al-Furqan media service. The clip featured the slick production and graphics used in previous Islamic State videos. The video could not immediately be confirmed independently by The Associated Press.
The killing of the 26-year-old airman appeared aimed at pressuring the government of Jordan — a close US ally — to leave the coalition that has carried out months of airstrikes targeting Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq. But the extremists’ brutality against a fellow Muslim could backfire and galvanize other Sunni Muslims in the region against them.
At their White House meeting, the Jordanian monarch and Obama affirmed that “the vile murder of this brave Jordanian will only serve to steel the international community’s resolve to destroy ISIL,” said White House spokesman Alistair Baskey, using an acronym for the extremist group.
Abdullah, who was on a previously scheduled trip to Washington, arrived after nightfall Tuesday and made no remarks to reporters as he and Obama sat side by side in the Oval Office.
In a statement before his meeting with Abdullah, Obama vowed the pilot’s death would “redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of our global coalition to make sure they are degraded and ultimately defeated.”
Abdullah has portrayed the campaign against the extremists as a battle over values.
But Jordan also faces increasing threats from the militants. Jordan borders areas of Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq, while there are have been signs of greater support for the group’s militant ideas among Jordan’s young and poor.
The video was released three days after another video showed the purported beheading of a Japanese journalist, Kenji Goto, who was captured by Islamic State in October. The militants had linked the fates of the pilot and the journalist. A second Japanese hostage was apparently killed earlier last month.
In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the pilot’s killing as “a despicable terrorist activity.”
“From our hearts, we express solidarity with the Jordanian government and people,” Abe said, reading a statement.
“We will not give in to terrorism,” he added. “Our country will actively contribute, along with the international community, and we will fulfil our responsibility in the international community to fighting terrorism.”
___
Laub reported from Jerusalem.
PANOORIN: 'Ballet show' sa himpapawid ng Israel
MILF leader: ‘Not logical’ to delay Bangsamoro process after Maguindanao clash
A top leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it is "not logical to delay" the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BLL), despite the firefight between their group and elite police officers in Maguindanao province on Sunday.
In an interview, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said doing so "will be [a] disadvantage to all parties concerned," particularly to those residing in the concerned area.
Jaafar said: "I don't think it will affect discussions of the BBL, I don't think this should delay the process."
"'Pag na-delay [nang] masyadong matagal ang pagiging batas ng BBL, ... made-delay ang establishment ng Bangsamoro government, which is a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Mindanao. So 'pag walang Bangsamoro government sapagkat na-delay ito, sapagkat walang batas ito, walang BBL, 'yung situation sa Mindanao remain(s) as it is," he said.
He added that "technically, there is still war in Mindanao, because what we have only here now is a ceasefire agreement."
'No coordination made'
While he "cannot categorically" say that MILF members first opened fire in the clash, Jaafar echoed the information earlier given by MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who said it was triggered by lack of coordination on the operation of the PNP-Special Action Force.
"Hindi ko nga alam kung sino ang unang nagpaputok, but what I can categorically pronounce now is that there was no coordination made and I think this is a violation to the provision of the ceasefire agreement," he said.
Sources said the police operation was to serve an arrest warrant on Malaysian bombmaker Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as “Marwan,” whose presence had been confirmed in the area. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered a $5-million reward for information on "Marwan."
He also said he did not know if there were casualties on the rebel groups' side.
Senior Superintendent Noel Armilla, director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), earlier said the number of police officers killed has gone up to 50, a report on GMA News Tv's News to Go said Monday.
Hearings suspended
Meanwhile, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, chair of the Senate committee on local government, suspended "indefinitely" the discussions and hearings related to the passage of the BBL.
"We cannot, in conscience, proceed with these hearings while a cloud of serious doubt hangs over the security situation in the south. A peace agreement cannot be legislated under the threat of such extreme violence. Violence has no room in a civilized society," he added.
However, the hearing to be conducted by the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, headed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, will push through as scheduled on Monday morning, according to the lady senator's office.
The hearing is set to tackle the constitutional issues surrounding the proposed BBL. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News
In an interview, Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, said doing so "will be [a] disadvantage to all parties concerned," particularly to those residing in the concerned area.
Jaafar said: "I don't think it will affect discussions of the BBL, I don't think this should delay the process."
"'Pag na-delay [nang] masyadong matagal ang pagiging batas ng BBL, ... made-delay ang establishment ng Bangsamoro government, which is a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Mindanao. So 'pag walang Bangsamoro government sapagkat na-delay ito, sapagkat walang batas ito, walang BBL, 'yung situation sa Mindanao remain(s) as it is," he said.
He added that "technically, there is still war in Mindanao, because what we have only here now is a ceasefire agreement."
'No coordination made'
While he "cannot categorically" say that MILF members first opened fire in the clash, Jaafar echoed the information earlier given by MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, who said it was triggered by lack of coordination on the operation of the PNP-Special Action Force.
"Hindi ko nga alam kung sino ang unang nagpaputok, but what I can categorically pronounce now is that there was no coordination made and I think this is a violation to the provision of the ceasefire agreement," he said.
Sources said the police operation was to serve an arrest warrant on Malaysian bombmaker Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as “Marwan,” whose presence had been confirmed in the area. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered a $5-million reward for information on "Marwan."
He also said he did not know if there were casualties on the rebel groups' side.
Senior Superintendent Noel Armilla, director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), earlier said the number of police officers killed has gone up to 50, a report on GMA News Tv's News to Go said Monday.
Hearings suspended
Meanwhile, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, chair of the Senate committee on local government, suspended "indefinitely" the discussions and hearings related to the passage of the BBL.
"We cannot, in conscience, proceed with these hearings while a cloud of serious doubt hangs over the security situation in the south. A peace agreement cannot be legislated under the threat of such extreme violence. Violence has no room in a civilized society," he added.
However, the hearing to be conducted by the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, headed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, will push through as scheduled on Monday morning, according to the lady senator's office.
The hearing is set to tackle the constitutional issues surrounding the proposed BBL. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News
MILF ang 'pumatay' sa Bangsamoro Basic Law -- Sen Alan Cayetano
Ayon sa senador, hindi tapat ang liderato ng MILF sa isinusulong na usapang pangkapayapaan ng pamahalaan kasunod ng madugong sagupaan sa Mamasapano, Maguindanao na tinawag na "misencounter."
Mahigit 40 kasapi ng elite Special Action Force (SAF) ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang nasawi sa naturang engkuwentro sa tropa ng MILF noong Linggo.
“May it not be said that it was this administration, nor this Congress, that killed the Bangsamoro Basic Law but it is the MILF and its actions during and after this event which showed their lack of commitment to peace, development, and the rule of law,” pahayag ni Cayetano sa sulat na ipinadala nito kay Senate President Franklin Drilon.
Ang sulat ay naglalaman ng pormal na pagbibitiw ng suporta ni Cayetano bilang co-author sa BBL, na magiging gabay sa bubuuing Bangsamoro entity na papalit sa Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Basahin: Doubtful of peace deal, Cayetano withdraws support for Bangsamoro Basic Law
Basahin: JV Ejercito also withdraws as co-author of Bangsamoro Basic Law
Ayon kay Cayetano, ang “masaker" na ginawa sa tropa ng PNP-SAF sa Mamasapano noong Enero 25, 2015 ang nagtulak sa kaniya para pagdudahan ang katapatan ng MILF na ipatupad ang "rule of law and democratic process."
Idinagdag niya na naging madali para sa MILF na bigyan katwiran ang umano'y masaker dahil sa paliwanag na hindi nakipag-ugnayan sa kanila ang pamahalaan na may isasagawang operasyon sa kanilang lugar.
“This is unacceptable,” giit ni Cayetano.
Idinagdag pa niya na nagawang punahin ng MILF ang pamahalaan sa kabiguan na makipag-ugnayan sa kanila, gayung hindi naman nila kinondena ang ginawang pag-atake ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) sa mga kasapi ng PNP-SAF.
Sinasabing ang BIFF, na splinter group mula sa MILF, ang unang nakasagupa ng mga pulis kaya napapunta ang mga ito sa teritoryo ng MILF at doon na nangyari ang sinasabing "misencounter."
“In fact, if the MILF had called the attention of the government to the presence of the suspected terrorist within their areas, and even apprehended him on its own, there would have been no need for the SAF (Special Action Force) to enter the territory,” anang senador.
“It is important to note that these members of the SAF entered the territory of the MILF not as combatants but as law enforcement agents upholding Philippine law and apprehending a suspected criminal, whose presence should presumably be cause for alarm by all peace-loving citizens,” dagdag niya
Una rito, iniulat na nagtungo sa Mamasapano ang tropa ng PNP-SAF upang arestuhin ang bomb expert na Jemaah Islamiyah leader na si Zulkifli bin Hir o Commander Marwan, na isang Malaysian.
Ilan taon nang sinasabing nagtatago sa Mindanao si Marwan na kabilang sa most wanter person din ng Amerika, na naglabas pa ng $5 milyon reward sa kaniyang ikadarakip.
Nilinaw naman ni Cayetano na hangad pa rin niya na magkaroon ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa Mindanao pero ang pagbibitiw niya ng suporta sa BBL ay bunga nang naging aksiyon ng MILF na nauwi sa isang malagim na trahediya. — FRJ, GMA News
Days after clash, peace panels to discuss MILF disarmament in KL
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Apple profit hits record on ‘staggering’ iPhone sales
The California tech titan also announced that it had sold its one billionth device powered by its iOS mobile operating system, on a day of dizzying figures — even by Apple’s high standards.
And it said that its highly anticipated Apple Watch wearable devices, unveiled last year to fanfare, are on track to begin shipping in April.
“We’d like to thank our customers for an incredible quarter which saw demand for Apple products soar to an all-time high,” declared chief executive Tim Cook.
“Demand for iPhone has been staggering, shattering our expectation.”
Blockbuster sales of the recently released iPhone 6, in particular, are signs of huge pent-up demand for larger-screen smartphones, likely to boost sales throughout this year, according to Forrester analyst Frank Gillett.
“I would expect the surge in China and elsewhere to hold for quite a while before it settles down,” Gillett said.
“People have been waiting for an iPhone with a bigger screen and smartphones are only increasing in importance in our lives.”
The record quarterly profit — on unprecedented revenue of $74.6 billion — was driven by the sale of 74.5 million iPhones, well ahead of most analysts’ expectations.
The staggering profit topped the $15.9 billion made by ExxonMobil in the second quarter of 2012, according to Standard and Poor’s, to write Apple into the history books.
As well as the larger screen iPhone 6 models, analysts credited a partnership with China Mobile as powering sales.
Sales of iPhones doubled in Greater China, its number two smartphone market, according to chief financial officer Luca Maestri.
Cook described the fevered excitement around the debut of iPhone 6 models in China as “phenomenal.”
“We are a big believer in China,” Cook said. “It is an incredible market. I think people there love Apple products.”
But it was not just China: iPhone sales leapt 44 percent in the United States and doubled in Brazil.
Sales of iPads dipped, but Apple set new records in the quarter for sales of Macintosh computers and revenue from digital goods bought from its App Store.
Cook remained optimistic about the long-term potential for Apple’s iPad line.
He noted that the ranks of first-time iPad buyers remain strong in China, Britain, the US and elsewhere and that the devices account for the bulk of online activity and shopping seen from tablets.
“I believe that, over the arc of time, the iPad is a great business,” Cook said. “I am thinking over the long run.”
Apple and others are still trying to tune into the rhythm of the market when it comes to how long people typically own tablets before replacing them.
Cook also noted that large-screen iPhones might be nibbling at one edge of iPad sales and Macintosh computers at another edge.
He was confident that an alliance between Apple and IBM announced last year will lead to iPads becoming more enticing for workplaces.
Cook also said Apple is seeing rapid adoption of the Apple Pay mobile financial transactions system, which is synched to the latest generation of iPhone.
Apple Pay is limited to the US, but the company has been barraged with requests for it from businesses in other countries, according to Cook.
“I think this is the year of Apple Pay,” Cook insisted.
Apple’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of 47 cents per share to be paid on February 12.
Apple shares rose more than five percent to $115.20 in after-market trades that followed release of the blow-out earnings figures.
Stellar iPhone 6 sales, especially in a China market considered more inclined to low-priced smartphones such as those powered by Android, are a major win for Cook, according to independent analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
“Tim Cook clearly took a position on iPhone 6 that Steve Jobs never would have taken, and it paid off magnificently,” Enderle said of Apple’s move to field the bigger screen smartphones.
“He is kicking ass.”
Airlines halt Baghdad flights after gunfire hits plane
A prolonged disruption in flights could seriously limit travel options for Iraqi travelers and overseas businesspeople, diplomats and aid workers who rely on foreign carriers to deliver them to larger international transit hubs, particularly in the Gulf.
Iraqi Transportation Minister Bayan Jabr said authorities believe the shooting was unintentional — possibly from someone firing off rounds at a social event such as a wedding or funeral — but they are not ruling out the possibility that it was an intentional terrorist attack.
He said three rounds struck the plane, including one that penetrated the passenger cabin, and that a girl onboard was slightly wounded.
Security was tightened around the airport after the shooting.
Officials have examined the location from where they believe the shots were fired, Jabr said, as he urged airlines to resume flights to Iraq.
Discount carrier FlyDubai said flight 215 was struck on the fuselage by what appeared to small-arms fire as it touched down on Monday. All passengers were able to disembark normally and none required medical attention at the airport, the Dubai government-owned carrier said.
Passengers heading back to Dubai were put on a different plane. A FlyDubai flight due to depart to Baghdad on Tuesday has been canceled.
The airline later said it was working with authorities to determine what happened but that the damage “at this early stage appears to be non-intentional.”
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iraqi ambassador to express its concern over the shooting and demanded that Iraqi authorities launch a “comprehensive investigation ... and take necessary measures to enforce international agreements on civil aviation safety,” according to a ministry statement.
Emirates, the region’s biggest airline, said it is suspending flights to and from the Iraqi capital because of “operational and safety concerns” until further notice. Emirates will continue to fly to the northern Iraqi city of Irbil and the southern oil hub of Basra.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, said it also was suspending its Baghdad service indefinitely following a directive from the Gulf country’s civil aviation authority. Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, also confirmed it was suspending flights.
Other regional airlines followed suit.
Both Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, and Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines canceled their Tuesday flights to Baghdad.
Customs intensifies bomb and drug checks
Customs officers are using hi-tech equipment and 452 specially trained sniffer dogs to help them during inspections, according to a report published recently in a local publication.
The dogs have already been able to detect thousands of illicit items at the country’s borders. Four dogs take seven minutes to inspect a vehicle and 25 minutes for a 747 plane, the report stated.
The department has deployed 363 teams specializing in the detection of illegal drugs, and 82 teams to detect explosives. In addition, it has posted 150 teams at land border points, 81 at airports and 64 at the country’s harbors.
The department said it is using 86 specialized fixed and mobile systems to check for radioactive material in containers and trucks at all border checkpoints.
The department stated in a press release that it had seized 56 million narcotic pills and 109 fake and counterfeit items in 2014.
It said that it would soon set up a training center in Riyadh, the first of its kind in the Middle East, to train local and regional officers.
Saudi Customs is currently working to integrate its operations with various government bodies to ensure efficiency and optimal performance.
To mark International Customs Day, the department said in a release that it would be working to ensure 2015 is dedicating to promoting the campaign “Coordinated Border Management — An inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders,” which has been adopted by the World Customs Organization.
Partners in progress: King Salman, Obama to continue strategic ties
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Barack Obama pledged to work closely on a range of regional and international issues at a meeting on Tuesday, including terrorism, the Iranian nuclear talks and conflicts in neighboring states.
In their first formal meeting, the talks focused broadly on counter-terrorism and regional stability with special reference to bilateral Saudi-US relations. Obama’s meeting with King Salman comes just days after the death of King Abdullah, who was buried on Friday.
The White House said the main reason for Obama’s trip was to pay his respects to the country that has been a key ally in the region. Obama had arrived with his wife Michelle, accompanied by a delegation of about 30 members. During his four-hour stop in Riyadh, Obama also attended a dinner with Saudi officials at Erga Palace.
A member of the delegation said the trip was an opportunity to “pay respects to the legacy of King Abdullah, who was a close partner of the US, and also discuss some of the issues where we are working together, which include Islamic State, Yemen, the Iranian nuclear negotiations and the broader US-Saudi relationship.”
According to a Royal Court statement, the meeting was significant.
“During the visit, official talks were held between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and President Obama on regional and international issues of common interest in addition to setting out the means to enhance bilateral relations.”
Earlier, Johann Schmonsees, press attache at the US embassy here, said: “We adjusted the president’s schedule in coordination with the Indian government so that he would be able to depart India on Tuesday, to stop in Riyadh during the return trip and meet with King Salman and other Saudi officials, and offer his condolences on behalf of the American people.”
The US delegation was met at the airport by King Salman with a full guard of honor and the playing of the national anthems of the two countries.
King Salman also introduced his senior ministers to Obama, including Crown Prince Muqrin; Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, who is also Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister; and Prince Khaled bin Bandar, chief of general intelligence.
Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah, Saudi ambassador to the US Adel Al-Jubeir and his counterpart in Riyadh Joseph Westphal were also present at the airport.
According to the US embassy Riyadh, Obama led a delegation of current and former US officials, which include John Kerry, secretary of state; John McCain, senator from the state of Arizona; and Mark Warner, senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The others included Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and public engagement; Susan Rice, assistant to the president and national security adviser; Jennifer Palmieri, assistant to the president and director of communications; Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter terrorism; and Peter A. Selfridge, United States Chief of Protocol.
The other members included John Brennan, director of the Central Intelligence Agency; General Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of US Central Command; James Baker, former secretary of state; Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state; Brent Scowcroft, former national security adviser; and several other foreign policy leaders from past administrations. Vice President Joe Biden had remained in Washington.
Baker is revered in the Arab Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, for his role in orchestrating the alliance against Saddam Hussein in 1990 and 1991.
Filipinos’ name on terror list shocks compatriots
A recent media report which indicates that two of the 29 alleged terrorists arrested by Saudi law enforcement officers this week are Philippine nationals has sent OFWs into a state of shock across the Kingdom.
A local daily report released on Saturday confirmed that after detaining a Malaysian expatriate in Saudi Arabia on terrorism charges, Saudi security men arrested two Philippine passport holders in the Kingdom.
Commenting on this news, various OFWs community leaders expressed their state of shock over the disclosure.
“It’s quite alarming to note that the alleged involvement of those two Philippine passport holders who were on KSA’s terrorist list,” said Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator, John Monterona.
He said, “As far as we are concerned, Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia are law-abiding expatriates who are here to work and to support their loved ones in the Philippines.”
Monterona observed, “We would not hesitate to condemn those who are involved in terrorist acts here in KSA, in the Philippines or elsewhere.”
He called on the Philippine government, through its diplomatic post in Riyadh, to verify and confirm the identity of the two Philippine men, saying that, at this stage, it would be premature to conclude that they were indeed Filipinos.
“Our countrymen should be aware that we should stay away from deviant ideas and avoid all subversive activities. We should all work together with the authorities to maintain the peace and security in the Kingdom,” said another community leader, Deen Mohammad.
Sigrid Goldsmith asked the Saudi authorities to punish the guilty in accordance with the law once their involvement in this particular case has been confirmed.
The report said that Saudi authorities has recently conducted a week-long campaign that resulted in the capture of 29 new terror suspects, most of them Saudis. The anti-terrorism drive led to the capture of accused Filipino’s and a Saudi, Egyptian’s and one Indian on the first day,” while nine others (seven Saudis, one Syrian and a Lebanese national) were captured the next day.
On the third day, the authorities arrested another two Saudis, while the fourth day saw the capture of another Filipino among the five accused. On the fifth day, the security authorities arrested three Saudis.
Ice likely caused AirAsia crash, Indonesian agency says
PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia: Weather was the “triggering factor” in the crash of AirAsia Flight 8501 with icing likely causing engine damage, Indonesian officials said, as rough seas on Sunday hampered the search for more bodies and wreckage.
The Airbus A320-200 crashed into the Java Sea on December 28 carrying 162 people from Indonesia’s second biggest city Surabaya to Singapore. Searchers are hunting for the “black box” flight data recorders to determine the cause of the crash.
An initial report on the website of Indonesia’s meteorological agency BMKG suggested the weather at the time the plane went down sparked the disaster after it appeared to fly into storm clouds.
“Based on the available data received on the location of the aircraft’s last contact, the weather was the triggering factor behind the accident,” said the report, which referred to infra-red satellite pictures showing peak cloud temperatures of minus 80 to minus 85 degrees Celsius at the time.
“The most probable weather phenomenon was icing which can cause engine damage due to a cooling process. This is just one of the possibilities that occurred based on the analysis of existing meteorological data,” the report said.
“It’s irrelevant to make an assumption on the cause of the crash as we haven’t found the black boxes yet,” former air force commander Chappy Hakim told AFP.
Five major parts of the Airbus A320-200 have now been found off the island of Borneo. But rough weather last week hampered the search, a huge operation assisted by several countries including the United States and Russia.
During a momentary respite from bad weather, a team of divers went down to the biggest part of the wreckage Sunday morning and recovered one body, while another three were found floating in the sea, bringing the total number recovered to 34.
The divers “managed to go down but the visibility at the sea bottom was zero, it was dark and the seabed was muddy, with currents of three to five knots,” search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters.
He said the fifth major part of the plane, located early Sunday, measured about 10 meters by one meter (33 by 3.3 feet).
The search, focused on a site southwest of the Borneo town of Pangkalan Bun, has also been extended east because parts of the plane may have been swept by currents, Soelistyo said.
The operation has prioritized finding the bodies of those on board the flight, of whom 155 were Indonesian, with three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, one Briton and a Frenchman — co-pilot Remi Plesel.
Indonesian warship commander Yayan Sofyan told MetroTV Sunday that three of the bodies so far recovered had been found still strapped into their row of seats, detached from the main plane body.
Pilot's daughter makes a plea
The daughter of the plane’s pilot, Captain Iriyanto, made a televised plea to the public not to blame her father.
“He is just a victim and has not been found yet. My family is now mourning,” said Angela Anggi Ranastianis.
“As a daughter, I cannot accept it. No pilot will harm his passengers,” she told TV One.
The families of victims have been preparing funerals as the bodies are identified in Surabaya, where a crisis center has been set up at a police hospital with facilities to store 150 bodies.
Yunita Syawal, at a wake for her 23-year-old brother, said she first feared that he was on the AirAsia Flight when she was sent a selfie of him and his friends boarding one of the carrier’s planes at Surabaya airport.
“Even after days, we still kept thinking he’s alive, but now that we have seen his body, we know he’s gone for sure,” she said.
“There is a void left in my heart, but I hope in time I will heal.”
Indonesia has pledged to investigate alleged flight violations by AirAsia, saying the aircraft had been flying on an unauthorized schedule when it crashed. The airline has now been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route.
But the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said it had granted permission for the airline’s Sunday flight.
It was unclear how the airline, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, had been able to fly without the necessary authorization from its starting point.
Before take-off, Iriyanto had asked for permission to fly at a higher altitude to avoid the storm. But the request was not approved due to other planes above him on the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia’s air traffic control.
In his last communication, the experienced former air force pilot said he wanted to change course to avoid the menacing storm system. Then all contact was lost, about 40 minutes after take-off.
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