Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Indonesian govt official caught in 'unusual' traffic jam missed ill-fated Lion Air JT610 plane
Sony Setiawan (C) speaks to journalists at Pangkal Pinang airport in Bangka Belitung province on October 29, 2018, following his arrival on another airline after missing his pre-planned flight on Lion Air flight JT 610 which crashed off the coast north of Jakarta.
PHOTO: AFP
THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Oct 30, 2018
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Public servant with the Finance Ministry Sony Setiawan could not hold back his emotions as he started to cry upon hearing the news about the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands.
Sony, who was posted on Pangkalpinang, was supposed to board the plane to be at work on time on Monday morning. He divided his time between Pangkalpinang and Bandung, West Java, to spend time with his family.
Usually, he would arrive hours before the scheduled flight at Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Tangerang. But the traffic was “unusually jammed” on the Cikampek toll road early on Monday and he didn't arrive at the airport until 6:30 a.m.
The flight took off from Jakarta at 6:20 a.m. and contact was lost at 6:33 a.m.
READ ALSO
Indonesia's Lion Air plane had technical problem in previous flight: CEO
Sony later bought a ticket for a 9:40 a.m. flight with another airline and arrived in Pangkalpinang at 10:45 a.m.
“I cried when I heard the news because my friends were aboard the flight,” he said as quoted by Antara on Monday.
ALSO READ: SilkAir operating its five Boeing 737 Max 8 as scheduled
The Finance Ministry announced later on Monday that 21 of its employees were among the 181 passengers on board the ill-fated plane.
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has begun search efforts to locate the victims. Debris of the plane has been reported to be located in Java Sea, 7 nautical miles (12.96 kilometers) north of Tanjung Bungin, Karawang, West Java.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Our Ocean Conference 2018, Bali, Indonesia
Start: 29 October 2018
End: 30 October 2018
Status: Confirmed
Indonesia
Description
About This Event
The Government of the Republic of Indonesia will host the fifth Our Ocean Conference in Bali on 29 and 30 October 2018. Our Ocean Conference is focused on generating commitments and taking actions to maintain the sustainability of our oceans. Since 2014, Our Ocean Conference has successfully generated commitments totaling around 18 billion dollars (USD) and 12.4 million square kilometers of marine protected areas. Our Ocean Conference 2018 will demonstrate significant progress on past commitments and inspire new commitments made for the continuation of a more concerted and integrated actions for protecting the oceans.read more ...
Source link:http://ourocean2018.go.id/
Contact:
Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Republic of Indonesia
ourocean2018@kkp.go.id
+62 21 3519070 ext 7156
+62 21 3864293
Debris Fieldfound in Ocean Indonesia plane crash: flight JT610 plunges into waters off Jakarta
Lion Air plane was leaving the Indonesian capital for Pangkal Pinang when communication was lost
Rescue teams search waters for JT610 - live
Kate Lamb in Jakarta
@_KateLamb
Mon 29 Oct 2018 03.29 GMTFirst published on Mon 29 Oct 2018 02.29 GMT
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A passenger plane carrying 188 people has crashed into the sea off Jakarta, minutes after take-off.
“It has been confirmed that it has crashed,” Yusuf Latif, a spokesman for the country’s search and rescue agency, said by text message, when asked about the fate of the plane.
Flight JT610 lost contact with the ground 13 minutes after takeoff, according to the official. The jet was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which can carry up to 200 passengers, according to air tracking service Flightradar 24.
A search and rescue effort has been launched for the plane, which departed Jakarta about 6.20am on Monday. It was scheduled to land at Pangkal Pinang at 7.20am.
Reports received at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta indicate the remains of the plane had been spotted.
Indonesia’s disaster agency spokesman posted video of some debris on Twitter.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho
✔@Sutopo_PN
Serpihan pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di perairan Karawang. Beberapa kapal tug boad membantu menangani evakuasi. Video diambil petugas tug boad yang ada di perairan Karawang.
11:11 AM - Oct 29, 2018 · Senen, Indonesia
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A vessel traffic officer, Suyadi, told the Jakarta Post that at 6.45am he received a report from a tugboat that thad identified a downed plane.
“At 7:15am the tugboat reported it had approached the site and the crew saw the debris of a plane,” Suyadi told the Post. There were no reports about the passengers on board.
A tanker and cargo ship were approaching the site and a search and rescue vessel was also en route.
The accident is the first to be reported that involves the widely-sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer’s workhorse single-aisle jet. The first Boeing 737 MAX jets were introduced into service in 2017.
This is a developing story ..,. please check back for updates
Lion Air aircraft from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang route crashed in Karawang
1 hour ago
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FLIGHTRADAR24photosImage captionThefootage ofLion Air JT-610 aircraft recorded on Flightradar24 page on Monday (29/10).
Basarnasm confirmed that the Lion Air flight on the Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang route number JT-610 crashed in the waters around Karawang, West Java, after reportedly missing contact shortly after taking off on Monday (10/29) morning.
"Already A1 (must have fallen), in the Karawang area" said Basarnas Public Relations Yusuf Latif.
"The details will be later, we meet with the press, at 10:00," he told Quiniwati Pasaribu from BBC News Indonesia.
Lion Air aircraft with flight number JT-610 on the Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang route reportedly lost contact shortly after taking off on Monday (10/29) morning.
This report is confirmed by Nur Andi from Lion Air. To BBC News Indonesia, he said the flight crew could not be contacted and it was still looking for the existence of the plane.
But he still could not confirm the status of the plane.
"We do not know whether the plane crashed or how. It is reportedly still confusing and we do not want to speculate. We have set up a crisis center and hopefully there is good news," said Nur Andi.
The plane took off at 06.20 WIB and lost contact at 06.33 WIB.
From the page Flightradar24 which detects commercial aircraft all over the world, it is known that JT-610 flights lost contact in the waters north of Karawang, West Java.
Flight JT-610 uses Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with 189 passenger capacity with six cabin crew. The aircraft was only owned by Lion Air for not even one year.Rights to photosREUTERSImage caption of theBoeing 737 Max aircraft in the construction phase in the United States, 2017 then.
In an interview with Kompas TV , Karawang Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Slamet Waluyo said he had received information from people who claimed to see an airplane allegedly falling into the sea.
"We have assigned the Polair unit to the coordinate point to check. If the information can be clarified, we will coordinate with relevant parties," Slamet said.
Indonesia: Flight JT610 crashes after Jakarta Airport takeoff
A plane has reportedly crashed near Jakarta minutes after takeoff. The Lion Air flight was a passenger plane en route to a domestic location in Indonesia, airline officials said.
An Indonesian airplane operated by budget airline Lion air crashed shortly after takeoff at Jakarta's Soekarno airport on Sunday, authorities confirmed. The aircraft reportedly crashed just minutes after takeoff.
Rescue officials said that contact with the plane was lost over Karawang, in West Java province, not far from the capital.
Lion Air said that the aircraft was a passenger plane en route to a domestic location. According to Indonesian newspaper Kompas, the flight was traveling to Pangkal-Pinang on Bangka Island, east of Sumatra.
View image on Twitter
Seref Isler
✔@seref_i
Flight track of #JT610 as captured by @flightradar24. Reuters now reporting that the Lion Air flight from from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang "has crashed", based on an Indonesian search and rescue official.
10:08 AM - Oct 29, 2018
25
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Homemade bombs sent to Obama, Clinton, CNN offices and Holder, officials say
Authorities are investigating suspicious packages sent to former president Barack Obama, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and other political figures. (Joyce Koh /The Washington Post)
By Devlin Barrett ,
Mark Berman and
Cleve R. Wootson Jr.October 24 at 5:08 PM
The discovery of five pipe bombs mailed to prominent Democrats, CNN and a liberal billionaire put the country on edge Wednesday and sent law enforcement officials scrambling to prevent any more packages from reaching their targets.
The hunt for a serial mail bomber began late Tuesday night when Secret Service personnel conducting standard mail screenings found a pipe bomb inside a plain manila envelope with a bubble-wrapped interior addressed to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. A similarly packaged bomb was found hours later in mail addressed to former president Barack Obama.
Neither bomb got close to its intended target, and neither contained a written message, according to law enforcement officials, but the twin discoveries led to other undetonated devices being found elsewhere, including in the mailroom at CNN’s New York headquarters and a district office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).
James P. O’Neill, commissioner of the New York Police Department, said police found what “appeared to be a live explosive device” at CNN addressed to former Obama administration CIA director John Brennan, though officials did not immediately say how effective that or the other devices might have been at causing damage.
As more devices were discovered, a disturbing pattern emerged — the bomber or bombers appeared to be targeting prominent figures on the political left.
The first such package was discovered Monday at the New York home of George Soros, a billionaire activist known to fund pro-democracy and liberal political groups.
[Amid a poisonous political campaign, GOP leaders rush to condemn explosives]
Officials described the devices as attempted acts of terrorism and cautioned that the number of bombs — and intended victims — could grow. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray issued an appeal for the public’s help to catch the bomber and warned people not to touch suspicious packages.
“This investigation is of the highest priority for the FBI,” Wray said in a statement. “We ask anyone who may have information to contact the FBI. Do not hesitate to call; no piece of information is too small to help us in this investigation.”
Officials said the packages used as a return address the office of Wasserman Schultz, who chaired the Democratic National Committee during part of the 2016 campaign. One such package used an incorrect address for former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr., and it was “returned” to her office in Sunrise, Fla., where it was intercepted, according to officials. Authorities do not believe she had anything to do with the packages and think she was a potential victim. A spokesman for Holder declined to comment.
The pipe bomb addressed to Brennan was found in the mail at CNN’s headquarters in New York. Since leaving the government, Brennan has been an outspoken critic of President Trump; he is an on-air analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, rather than CNN.
[Austin bombings renew debate: What crimes do we label as terrorism?]
At a congressional mail-sorting facility, investigators intercepted a similar-looking package addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), but FBI officials did not list that package among those it was examining.
In a statement, Waters said she had been told by police that her office “was the target of a suspicious package that has been referred to the FBI. I am appreciative of the law enforcement entities who intercepted the package and are investigating this matter. I unequivocally condemn any and all acts of violence and terror.”
ATF officials said a package similar to the five devices cited by the FBI had been found by postal inspectors in Los Angeles.
The packages came with computer-printed address labels, six Forever stamps and return addresses with Wasserman Schultz’s name misspelled, officials said.
Law enforcement officials described the devices as pipes stuffed with explosive material and wrapped in electrical wire and tape, but they provided no detail on how they would have been detonated. The FBI, the Secret Service, the NYPD and other agencies kicked into high gear Wednesday morning trying to determine who was behind the bombs — and how many more may be en route to intended victims. At least two of the devices appeared to have been hand-delivered, according to law enforcement officials.
“We will not rest until we stop these hazardous devices from being mailed and bring the individual or individuals to justice,” said C. Bryan Paarmann, an FBI counterterrorism official. The devices have been sent to the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Va., for further analysis.
Malcolm Brady, a former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives official who spent decades investigating bomb suspects, said federal agents are carefully poring over the packages for any clues they may hold as to the identity or location of the sender.
“You have to be extremely careful when you examine this stuff, because a piece of tape could have a fingerprint on it,” said Brady.
Most mail-bombing suspects are “loner types,” said Brady, who added he doubts this bomber made a mistake when he used a bad address for Holder.
“That looks like an intentional manipulation of the system, to try to get it to go to the congresswoman. I strongly suspect he wanted that package to go to her. That suggests he’s really focused on her,” said Brady.
Wasserman Schultz issued a defiant statement.
“We will not be intimidated by this attempted act of violence. This appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted, and I am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used,” she said. “Today, my staff and I will hug each other and our loved ones tightly, and tomorrow get back to work serving the people I was elected to represent.”
‘This is the world we live in’: New York officials address suspicious package found at CNN
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) spoke about the suspicious package found at CNN offices in New York on Oct. 23. (Reuters)
Amid the frenetic pace of the investigation, some alarms turned out to be false. A suspicious package sent to New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) was in fact a thumb drive, according to the NYPD. Authorities also searched an office building in San Diego that houses a newspaper before concluding there was nothing dangerous there.
The known recipients of the bombs are all frequent targets of conservative politicians, including Trump. Speaking at the White House, the president decried the bombs and pledged that the federal government would bring those responsible to justice.
“In these times, we have to unify,” he said. “We have to come together and send one very clear, strong and unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.”
Those words did not satisfy CNN President Jeff Zucker, who issued a statement sharply critical of the administration’s posture toward the news media.
“There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” Zucker said. “The president, and especially the White House press secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that.”
An Obama representative referred questions to the Secret Service. Speaking in Florida on Wednesday, Clinton said her family was “fine, thanks to the men and women of the Secret Service who intercepted the package addressed to us long before it made its way to our home.”
She also spoke to the anger pulsing through American politics: “It is a troubling time, isn’t it? It is a time of deep divisions, and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together.”
[When anthrax-laced letters terrorized Washington and New York]
Politicians of both parties condemned the mail bombs. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called them “attempted acts of domestic terrorism.” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) used similar language.
“This clearly is an act of terror, attempting to undermine our free press and leaders of this country through acts of violence,” de Blasio said.
As news of the homemade bombs spread, authorities vowed to ramp up security measures. The NYPD increased patrols in areas linked to public figures and at media offices.
The Senate sergeant at arms sent a message to senators and their staffers advising them to be cautious when handling mail and reminding people not to bring unopened mail or packages from outside into their Senate offices.
About 30 offices associated with the political work of Tom Steyer, a major Democratic donor, have stepped up security significantly in the past 48 hours in light of the threats to Soros and others, said Erik Olvera, spokesman for Steyer’s group Need to Impeach. They have also increased security measures for Steyer, the biggest donor to super PACs supporting liberal causes and candidates this election cycle.
This image obtained by CNN shows a suspected explosive device received at the CNN bureau in New York City on Oct. 24, 2018. (Courtesy of CNN/AFP/Getty Images) (-/AFP/Getty Images)
Top Republicans, including Trump and McConnell, have sought for weeks now to cast the rising tide of public anger as actual acts of violence and a phenomenon to be laid at the feet of Democrats.
“I think we know who the culprits are here when it comes to the quality of discourse in the country, and it’s not coming from the Republican side of the aisle,” McConnell said in an Associated Press interview this month.
The contentious confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh prompted fierce and occasionally personal protests targeting Republican on Capitol Hill. GOP leaders chided Democratic leaders, including Clinton and Holder, for delivering remarks that they claimed encourage incivility and potential acts of violence.
[Anxiety, painful memories after bomb found in CNN building]
But law enforcement has made arrests in recent incidents targeting members of both parties. A New York man was arrested in August for threatening two House Republican leaders; another New York man was arrested last week for threatening GOP senators over Kavanaugh’s nomination. In April, a California man pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Waters. And a Florida man was arrested this month for posting threats on Facebook against Democrats and Republicans who opposed Kavanaugh. Earlier this month, a far-right group called the Proud Boys attacked left-wing protesters outside an Oct. 12 Republican Party event in Manhattan. New York police have since arrested several members of the group.
The devices sent to Clinton, Obama and Soros this week were all pipe bombs placed inside plain manila brown envelopes with the addresses typed on stickers, according to a law enforcement official. The official said those three devices appeared to be capable of exploding and causing injuries.
Authorities urge anyone who receives a suspicious package to contact law enforcement, the official said.
The devices were sent out just months after a 23-year-old in the Austin, Tex., suburbs set off a string of package explosives in that region, killing two people and wounding several others. That bomber delivered some in person and sent others through the FedEx system, which enabled authorities to track him down.
New York Police stand outside the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018 in New York. A police bomb squad was sent to CNN's offices at the center, and the newsroom was evacuated because of a suspicious package. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)
Unlike the packages intercepted before reaching Obama and Clinton, the device sent to CNN was found while its building was teeming with employees. CNN’s headquarters at the Time Warner Center in New York evacuated suddenly Wednesday morning after the suspicious package was discovered there.
The network broadcast footage of its staffers and others from the building flooding the Manhattan streets below, where anchor Jim Sciutto could be seen on a cellphone calling in on the air. Zucker wrote in a letter to employees that the center was “evacuated out of an abundance of caution” after the package was found in the mailroom. He also told employees that CNN had checked on its other bureaus but found no other devices.
Chi Li, 28, who works at a technology company near CNN’s building, left to run an errand and came back to find the area closed off.
“I always think it’s so cool to be so close to CNN," she said. “Maybe now everyone will stop calling them enemy of the people. ‘Fake news.’ ”
[The instant, inevitable cries of ‘false flag’ after bomb threats targeting the Clintons, Obamas and CNN]
As investigators continued to explore the devices and their origins, White House officials and others in Washington decried the string of packages.
“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures," Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, said in a statement Wednesday morning. “These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Vice President Pence posted a similar statement, calling the devices “despicable” and saying that anyone “responsible will be brought to justice.” Trump chimed in after, writing: “I agree wholeheartedly!”
Suspicious letters and packages have been sent to numerous public figures, including President Trump’s children. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, tweeted: “As someone whose family has directly been the victim of these mail threats I condemn whoever did this regardless of party or ideology. This crap has to stop and I hope they end up in jail for a long time.”
A letter was sent to Trump Jr.'s home earlier this year that resulted in his wife going to the hospital. A man later pleaded guilty to sending threatening letters with white powder to Trump’s sons and other public figures.
Mike DeBonis, Carol Leonnig, Philip Rucker, John Wagner, Souad Mekhennet and Michelle Ye Hee Lee in Washington and Renae Merle in New York contributed to this story, which will be updated.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince couldn’t understand why Khashoggi’s killing was so outrageous
middle east
WHEN news of Jamal Khashoggi’s killing hit the international community, the Saudi Prince made a baffling phone call.
Gavin Fernando@GavinDFernando
news.com.auOCTOBER 23, 201812:10PM
EXPLAINER: Trump 'not satisfied' by Saudi explanation
WHEN news of Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance began making global headlines, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince had one distinct feeling. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t remorse. It was confusion.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is suspected of orchestrating the murder of the 59-year-old Saudi journalist, was reportedly baffled by why his abrupt disappearance sparked such a backlash around the world.
When Turkish investigators began to reveal their findings and anger took hold of the community, the Saudi leader was so shocked that he called White House adviser Jared Kushner to have it explained to him, the Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the newspaper, bin Salman was perplexed and angry that the incident had escalated into a diplomatic crisis.
He called Mr Kushner — Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser on the Middle East — on October 10, eight days after Khashoggi went missing.
Why the outrage, the Prince asked in English. He couldn’t understand why government officials and business leaders were now boycotting rather than praising him.
The Saudi Government has detained 18 people in connection with Khashoggi’s murder. Two senior officials, both close aides of the Prince, have lost their jobs.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was baffled by the outrage surrounding the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Source:AP
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International pressure continues to mount against bin Salman and the Saudis, with France, Germany, the UK and the US pushing for the truth to be revealed.
Numerous companies and prominent individuals around the world are now backing away from doing business with the kingdom.
Representatives from more than a dozen Western news outlets, including The New York Times, The Financial Times, Bloomberg and The Economist, have removed their media sponsorship and withdrawn from an upcoming international conference to be hosted by the Crown Prince, according to Axios.
At the same time, top tech executives are pulling away from the Neom project advisory board, an ambitious $700 billion project spruiked by the kingdom as a sustainable futuristic megacity.
Apple’s chief design officer Jony Ive, former US secretary of energy Ernest Moniz, Sidewalk Labs CEO Dan Doctoroff and former vice president of the European Commission for Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes have all suspended their involvement in the project.
And Hollywood agency Endeavour Content is pulling out of a $560 million investment deal in the country, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Two inside sources said Mr Kushner urged bin Salman to get to the bottom of the journalist’s disappearance as soon as possible.
“He was really shocked that there was such a big reaction to it,” said a person close to the royal court. “He feels betrayed by the West. He said he would look elsewhere and he will never forget how people turned against him before evidence was produced.”
Jared Kushner has opened up about his recent phone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Source:AFP
Mr Kushner is close to the Crown Prince. According to CNN, they sometimes directly text on WhatsApp.
The White House adviser has been relatively quiet on the Khashoggi crisis, but a recent New York Times report claimed he was urging Mr Trump to stand by Saudi Arabia, believing the Prince’s legacy could survive the storm of criticism.
In a subsequent interview with CNN’s Van Jones, Mr Kushner revealed he urged the Crown Prince to be “fully transparent” about the death.
Asked what he told the Saudi leader during the phone chat, he said: “Just to be transparent, to be fully transparent. The world is watching. This is a very, very serious accusation and a very serious situation.”
When asked if he thinks the Prince will listen to his advice, he said: “We’ll see.”
He also noted the US had its “eyes wide open” and said the country was not “reliant” on Saudi Arabia for its Middle East strategy.
“Right now as an administration, we’re more in the fact-finding phase,” he said. “Then we’ll determine which facts are credible.”
Jamal Khashoggi hasn’t been seen since October 2.Source:AFP
President Donald Trump has flipped between defending and hitting out at Saudi Arabia.
He initially warned the kingdom would face “severe punishment” if it was found to be involved in Khashoggi’s murder, but later called for a presumption of innocence, comparing it to the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Yesterday, Mr Trump said US investigators were in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and that he’d know more about the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s death in due time.
“I’m not satisfied with what I’ve heard,” he said of the Saudi Government.
Mr Kushner defended the Mr Trump’s stance. “The President is focused on what is good for America; what are our strategic interests,” he said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will give details over what happened to Jamal Khashoggi.Source:AP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will reveal the details about what happened to slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi this week.
“We are looking for justice here and this will be revealed in all its naked truth, not through some ordinary steps but in all its naked truth,” President Erdogan told a rally in Istanbul.
Mr Erdogan said he will “go into detail” about the case, which has been veiled in mystery and scepticism as the world’s powers demand a credible version of events.
Mr Erdogan is expected to deliver his findings to parliament at around 0800 GMT (6pm AEDT) today.
Saudi Arabia needs to pay for what happened to Jamal Khashoggi
Editor Lawrence at work in Macau China |
My prediction made over a week ago that this was a premeditated murder is now coming to fruition with even Donald Trump telling reporters "that conclusions are soon forthcoming, and that punishment will be "very severe.""
This is a 360° turn around from his initial comments that it was a rogue operation and that the Crown Prince was not involved.
The bottom line is in just a few hours the president of Turkey Erdogan will reveal compelling evidence on exactly what happened after an intensive investigation by the Turkish government.__________________________________
The Editorial Board, USA TODAYPublished 6:45 p.m. ET Oct. 21, 2018 | Updated 5:19 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2018
Saudi authorities released the statement after the journalist had been missing for more than two weeks after entering the Saudi Arabia consulate in Turkey. USA TODAY
Stop helping the Saudi military; levy sanctions against any Saudi responsible for killing the journalist, up to and including the crown prince: Our view
(Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE
President Donald Trump seems to be moving closer to finding Saudi leaders, perhaps even Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, culpable in the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Why isn't clear. Maybe it is the Saudis' evolving and implausible story. Perhaps U.S. spy agencies see the crown prince as inextricably linked to Khashoggi's suspected murder, what with Salman's henchmen populating the Saudi Consulate in Turkey the day the journalist vanished inside. Or maybe it's evidence of Khashoggi's torture provided to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he visited Ankara last week, according to ABC News.
Either way, Trump told reporters that conclusions are soon forthcoming, and that punishment will be "very severe."
But what is justice for Khashoggi, 59, a father of four children — a couple of them U.S. citizens — who lived in Virginia, who was a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, and who's guilty only of criticizing the House of Saud?
Before the reality of this appalling crime became clear to the world, Trump spoke of lost jobs should arms contracts with the kingdom be canceled as punishment. But that's an exaggerated claim. Saudi Arabia hasn't made good on most of the $110 billion in weapons deals Trump boasted about (many of which, incidentally, were negotiated under the Obama administration). So much for jobs at risk.
OTHER VIEWS: Khashoggi’s death haunts any Saudi ties
The United States is dependent on its autocratic Saudi allies in other ways. The monarchy, for all its warts, is a bulwark against the theocratic regime in Iran. The Trump administration is certainly counting on Saudi Arabia to increase oil exports to make up for Iranian crude pulled from the world market when U.S. sanctions against Tehran are fully levied next month. Saudi Arabia's support for a long-awaited Middle East peace plan is seen by the White House as essential.
And there's also Trump's history of personal business ties to the kingdom.
In many ways, however, Saudi Arabia needs America more than America needs Saudi Arabia. The Arab kingdom feels threatened by Iran and its growing clout in neighboring Iraq. To balance that threat, Saudi Arabia needs an open weapons pipeline.
Riyadh remains heavily reliant on U.S. military precision-guided bombs, air-refueling support and other maintenance and spare parts for the F-15s purchased from Washington and used to wage its catastrophic war against Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. Thousands of civilians have been killed in airstrikes with American bombs since the war began in 2015. Wedding parties, markets and a funeral hall have been obliterated. In August, a laser-guided U.S. bomb destroyed a school bus, slaughtering 40 children.
All of them were as innocent as Khashoggi.
As punishment for the columnist's fate, that military assistance could end. The Senate fell four votes short in June of curbing munitions sales, and bipartisan ire toward Riyadh has only escalated in reaction to Khashoggi's disappearance.
If U.S. bombs, munitions, spare parts and air-frame maintenance were withheld, "the Saudi air force would be grounded," says Bruce Riedel, a former CIA official and now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "We shouldn't be complicit in a war in Yemen, which has horrifying humanitarian consequences."
The Trump administration could also levy personal sanctions on any Saudi individuals responsible for Khashoggi's death, up to and including the crown prince. A bipartisan group of more than 20 senators have already triggered this sanctions process under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act with a letter to Trump earlier this month. If any investigation finds that the crown prince is to blame for the murder, the act could freeze his assets held in U.S. banks, bar him from traveling to America, and sever his wealth from the U.S. banking system.
Either move might make Saudi Arabia's rulers think twice about killing the next journalist who provokes their ire.
USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view — a unique USA TODAY feature.
To read more editorials, go to the Opinion front page or sign up for the daily Opinion email newsletter. To respond to this editorial, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.
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Monday, October 22, 2018
Turkey says it will reveal details of its investigation into Jamal Khashoggi killing
Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi Allegedly murdered and dismembered inside a Saudi consulate |
By CARLOTTA GALLThe New York Times
BEN HUBBARD
Sun., Oct. 21, 2018
ISTANBUL—President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, turning up the pressure on Saudi Arabia, promised Sunday to reveal everything his country knows about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi inside a Saudi consulate.
Erdogan’s statement came as the Saudi foreign minister publicly apologized to Khashoggi’s family, but stuck with his government’s contention the killing had been a “tremendous mistake” by Saudi operatives acting “outside the scope of their authority.”
Turkish officials have suggested Khashoggi’s death was ordered at the highest levels of the kingdom. And Erdogan, who has commented little on the matter publicly, on Sunday indicated he has more to say about what happened.
“We said that we will reveal it,” Erdogan said in a speech broadcast live Sunday. “God willing, I will make my statement about Jamal Khashoggi in the parliamentary group on Tuesday.”
Khashoggi, a journalist critical of the Saudi government, disappeared after entering its consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Turkey and Saudi Arabia have conducted what has been described as a joint investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance, conducting searches of both the consulate building and the nearby residence of the Saudi consul.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia announced Khashoggi had been killed in a “brawl” inside the consulate, its first acknowledgment that he was dead, and that Saudis were responsible. It said 18 Saudis involved in the case had been detained.
The statement followed weeks of Saudi insistence that Khashoggi had left the consulate, unharmed, hours after entering.
On Sunday, in an interview with Fox News, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said, “There obviously was a tremendous mistake made, and what compounded the mistake would be the attempt to try to cover up.”
Asked if he had a message for Khashoggi’s relatives, Jubeir said: “This is a terrible mistake. This is a terrible tragedy. Our condolences go out to them. We feel their pain.”
Turkish officials have indicated that the Saudi version — that Khashoggi died in a botched attempt at interrogation and abduction — does not fully satisfy them.
For several days, Turkish officials speaking anonymously have told news organizations that a team of 15 Saudis flew to Istanbul on Oct. 2 to kill Khashoggi, most likely on the orders of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. They have even claimed to have recordings of his torture and killing.
“We are searching for justice and it will be revealed in full nakedness,” Erdogan said Sunday afternoon, at an event to open a new subway line in Istanbul. “Not with ordinary steps, but in full nakedness.”
“Why did 15 people come here?” he asked. “Why have 18 people been arrested? All of this must be explained with all the details. On Tuesday, I will tell this very differently in my parliamentary group speech. I will go into detail.”
Erdogan’s comments came as Saudi Arabia was accused of deception in the case by both President Donald Trump and the publisher of The Washington Post, for which Khashoggi wrote columns.
Trump, in another shift of tone against Saudi Arabia, expressed doubt about the Saudi government’s claim Khashoggi was killed accidentally.
“Obviously, there’s been deception and there’s been lies,” Trump said in a telephone interview with The Post. “Their stories are all over the place.”
Fred Ryan, the paper’s publisher, said the Saudi government had “shamefully and repeatedly offered one lie after another.”
“Offering no proof, and contrary to all available evidence,” Ryan said on Twitter, “they now expect the world to believe that Jamal died in a fight following a discussion. This is not an explanation; it is a cover-up.”
Erdogan had been uncharacteristically quiet about the scandal around Khashoggi’s disappearance, even as a steady stream of leaks from his own government helped the case capture the world’s attention and shook relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Yet Erdogan, who knew Khashoggi personally and took great affront at how Saudi Arabia handled the affair, did use information gathered by his intelligence services to pressure the Saudis into owning up.
In particular, Erdogan has aimed some of his ire toward Crown Prince Mohammed, whose firm grip on power in the kingdom has been called into question over the death of Khashoggi. Erdogan made an apparent swipe at the crown prince in his speech Sunday.
“And right now, what does the world say about whom?” he said. “We will look into all of this.”
Khashoggi, who for years was close to the Saudi royal family, became a critic as Crown Prince Mohammed cracked down on dissent, moving to the United States.
Jubeir, the foreign minister, stuck to his government’s insistence that the kingdom’s leadership did not know of the operation to confront Khashoggi in the consulate in Istanbul, and that it did not know at first he had been killed.
He specifically denied that the crown prince knew of the operation ahead of time,
“The individuals who did this did this outside the scope of their authority,” Jubeir said.
It was not until some time after the killing that Saudi leaders realized that their account contradicted the information the Turks had, he said.
“We discovered that he was killed in the consulate,” he said. “We don’t know in terms of details how. We don’t know where the body is.”
Turkish officials have said that Khashoggi’s body was dismembered by a Saudi forensics expert using a bone saw, and then disposed of. In recent days, investigators have combed through sites, including a forest just outside Istanbul and a farmhouse south the city, looking for evidence of his fate.
In comments published Saturday in the newspaper Hurriyet, Erdogan said he had expressed his irritation at the Saudi handling of the case to a Saudi delegation sent from Riyadh, and also in a phone conversation with King Salman last week.
He said he had complained about the actions of the Saudi consul, who did not cooperate with Turkish officials but invited a camera crew into the building to show that Khashoggi was not there. Turkish investigators were not allowed to search the consulate until 13 days after Khashoggi went there.
“At the end of the day, Saudi Arabia has to shed light on this,” Erdogan told Hurriyet. “It’s not possible for us to leave this unfinished.”
Pro-government Turkish columnists have been echoing the sentiment that Saudi Arabia should come clean. Several have even called for Crown Prince Mohammed to step down.
“Naturally the USA and Saudi Arabia are pleased with the development of events — both have the desire ‘Let’s wrap up it as it is,’ ” one columnist, Mahmut Ovur of the staunchly pro-government daily Sabah, wrote Sunday.
The crown prince, he wrote, “has no chance to emerge clean from this.”
Saudi senior official offers yet another explanation for Khashoggi death
Bali and world news and views editor, Lawrence |
Is the following the truth or just yet another lie from the Saudis trying to cover up a premeditated murder that may have been sanctioned by the highest levels of the government.
A senior Saudi Arabia official on Sunday offered Reuters news yet another explanation for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey earlier this month.
What’s the latest story?
The official claims a team of 15 men acted without permission from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attempted to extradite Khashoggi. He reportedly resisted and was accidentally killed after being placed in a chokehold, Reuters reported.
Kashoggi’s body was rolled up in a rug and disposed. Then, one of the team members dressed in Khashoggi’s clothes to make it appear as if he had left the consulate, said the official, who reportedly spoke to the news agency only on the condition of anonymity.
The Saudi narrative surrounding Khashoggi’s death has changed multiple times. Initially, officials denied the journalist went missing inside the consulate. The government also denied he was killed there. Then, officials said Kashoggi died in a fist fight with officials at the consulate.
The Saudi government is facing growing pressure for the death of Khashoggi, a former insider turned critic. He was also a columnist for the Washington Post.
Karen Attiah, Khashoggi’s editor at the Washington Post, called the narrative of his death “Utter bull***t,” in a tweet.
Turkish investigators claim to have an audio recording from the consulate that they say proves Khashoggi was tortured and had his body dismembered with a bone saw, an accusation the Saudi government denies.
President Donald Trump initially said Saudi Arabia’s explanation of Khashoggi’s death seemed credible.
On Saturday, Trump reportedly said: “No, I am not satisfied until we find the answer. But it was a big first step, it was a good first step. But I want to get to the answer.”
Other world leaders and officials are also demanding answers.
What are world leaders saying?
The Guardian rounded up various comments made by other leaders.
During an interview on BBC TV, the UK’s Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, was asked if he believed the Saudi explanation.
No, I don’t think it is credible,” he said. “We support the Turkish investigation into it and the British government will want to see people held to account for that death.”
French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, said further investigation is needed.
“I note that the Saudi authorities have changed tack, admitted the facts and accepted some responsibility, so we’re making progress,” he said.
German chancellor Angela Merkel and her foreign minster Heiko Maas issued a statement Saturday indicating that they believe information from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was incomplete and lacked transparency.
Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, called Khashoggi’s death a shocking violation of international policies.
Canadian foreign minister Chrsytia Freeland said in a statement on Saturday that explanations offered by the Saudi government “lack consistency and credibility.”
“We deplore the killing of Jamal Khashoggi,” Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison said. “We expect the Saudi government to cooperate fully with Turkish authorities regarding the investigation of this matter.”
Saudi Arabia, despite being a key Western ally in containing Iran, is facing unprecedented pressure over the death. It has also become a “major crisis” for Prince bin Salman, also known as MBS, whose attempts to fashion himself as an Arab reformer are now seriously undermined, the Guardian reported.
______________________________
At these seminars PT. B.A.L.I’s Canadian President, Lawrence, a 22 yr. Bali resident, President of 14 yr. old company with 135 staff, married to Azizah, a fully Licenced Notaris will review the most recent real estate laws for Indonesians and Foreigners in detail. Then they will also provide a full colour audio, visual presentation with many professional charts on the Past, Present, and Future of Bali Real Estate.
Free Seminar Schedules:
(1) Java, Jakarta, Le Meridien Hotel.
Dates & Times:
1. Thursday - Nov. 1st. 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM
2. Saturday - Nov. 3rd. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Location: Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.Kav. , Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10220
Limited Seating & Free Parking: Seating is very limited for these free seminars so please avoid disappointment and make reservations A.S.A.P. Click Here For a Reservation Or Email: seminarsptbali@gmail.com or Tel: Office: 62-361- 284069 For Bahasa English 62-8123814014 – Bahasa Indonesia or 62-8123632177___________________________________
Limited Seating & Free Parking: Seating is very limited for these free seminars so please avoid disappointment and make reservations A.S.A.P. Click Here For a Reservation Or Email: seminarsptbali@gmail.com or Tel: Office: 62-361- 284069 For Bahasa English 62-8123814014 – Bahasa Indonesia or 62-8123632177___________________________________
( 2) Bali, Sanur, Emerald Villas.
1. Thursday - Nov. 8th. 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM
2. Saturday - Nov. 10th. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Limited Seating & Free Parking: Seating is very limited for these free seminars so please avoid disappointment and make reservations A.S.A.P. Click Here For a Reservation Or Email: seminarsptbali@gmail.com or Tel: Office: 62-361- 284069 For Bahasa English 62-8123814014 – Bahasa Indonesia or 62-8123632177
Seminar Topics: At these seminars you will learn about:The Past, Present and Future of Bali, Indonesia, Asian and Australian real estate.
- Why a recent official clarification of foreign ownership laws allows foreigners to totally control Indonesian properties for up to 80 years without leases?
- How to avoid legal problems and make sure a property is safe.
- How to avoid complicated real estate laws affecting Indonesians married to foreigners.
- Why this is the second best time to buy this century.
- Where are the best locations to buy for maximum profits?
- What type of properties will offer the best investment potential of *10% to 20 % per year?
- Discover how you can sell your property fast for the highest prices and lowest commissions on a brand new web site designed after the largest most successful real estate site in America with high tech search features.
- An opportunity for a free listing on B.A.R.E. First Class Beachfront property at almost 50% discount.
- A Quality 5,000 m2 Bali Hotel with 12 bungalows, 3 pools and Restaurant for only $588,000.
- Low cost properties with Luxury Villas starting as low as $158,000 for a three bedroom 650 m² 3 bedroom, 4 bath with private 9 mtr. Pool.
- Ridiculously low priced ocean view building lots starting as low as $25,000 for 500 m².
- Brand new Bali Luxury Retirement Villas starting at $208.00 per mth.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Longtime Bali Bali Expat Resident and Indonesian wife visit several of Bali's and Java,s historic sites
So we visited a historic site that I had wanted to visit for 22 years that I have lived in Bali. The site of the Royal Puputan or the Royal suicide which took place after the Dutch invaded Bali in the early 1900s marched to the spot where the Royal Temple stood and the Royals came out and instead of giving up committed mass suicide. Unfortunately there's not much to remember the event except for a beautiful statue and a midsize park.
The next day we were planned to fly to one of the nation's largest cities Yogyakarta for Azizah to attend a national wide Notaris convention with over 1,000 Notaries from across Indonesia.
The main goal of the convention was to choose a new national leader, which they did.
We arrived early so had some hours to kill before we could check in and I reluctantly agreed, after only a few hours sleep the night before, to book a private car and driver to go on a tour of one of Indonesia's most famous volcanoes, Mount Merapi.
One of the wonderful things of Indonesia as you can book a car and driver for 12 hours for around $40.
So I sat in the front seat, put down the seat and fell asleep for the next hour until we arrived at Merapi.
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi | |
---|---|
Gunung Merapi | |
Merapi, March 2014
| |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,930 m (9,610 ft) [1] |
Prominence | 1,356 m (4,449 ft) [1] |
Listing | Ribu |
Coordinates | 7°32′26.99″S 110°26′41.34″ECoordinates: 7°32′26.99″S 110°26′41.34″E |
Naming | |
Translation | Mountain of Fire (Indonesian) |
Geography | |
Geology | |
Age of rock | 400,000 years |
Mountain type | Active Stratovolcano |
Last eruption | 11 May 2018 |
I argued it’s cloudy, we won’t get to see much, it will be a waste of time I was wrong. Which reminds me of the old saying “Women are always right and rarely wrong”. LOL.
So we climbed in the back of the Jeep and were handed helmets and masks. Obviously it was going to be more than just a easy drive.
Our first stop was a village that a been devastated by the 2010 eruption which killed 353 people. It was eerie indeed.
The prime cause of 353 deaths was a pyroclastic flow which can flow down a volcano at speeds approaching the speed of a jet airplane and with temperatures upwards to 400°C and above.
At the Museum we were able to view first-hand belongings of the people who were killed by the pyroclastic flow melting everything in sight.
Remains of Cal's instantly killed during Eruption |
Artist's rendition of original homes destroyed by the volcano
|
Lahar which is mixture of lava and river |
Bottles |
Television |
Mobile phone electronics |
Melted coins |
Melted bottles |
A cow with large part of its hide burnt off. Unimaginable pain |
Melted radio |
Badly burnt survivor |
Volcanic ash |
Melted bed |
Azizah with local 0wl |
After the village we continued on up the mountain to a site they call the alien stone which looks like someone had carved a face out of the stone.
Alleged alien stone |
Deep caverns where lahar would have flowed |
Our final stop was a bunker which was used to treat the injured and dying
Former lava flow from 2010 eruption |
Beautiful Aziza with Mount Merapi in the background |
Final event is a run through a river with the Jeep |
Following the Mount MERAPI tour we decided to stop at arguably the second-best temple site in Yogyakarta the Prambanan temples which I was thoroughly impressed with.
At these seminars PT. B.A.L.I’s Canadian President, Lawrence, a 22 yr. Bali resident, President of 14 yr. old company with 135 staff, married to Azizah, a fully Licenced Notaris will review the most recent real estate laws for Indonesians and Foreigners in detail.
Bali seminar attendees January 2018 |
Free Seminar Schedules:
(1) Location: Jakarta, Indonesia, Le Meridien Hotel.
1. Thursday - Nov. 1st. 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM
2. Saturday - Nov. 3rd. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Location: Jl. Jend. Sudirman No.Kav. , Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10220 Telepon: (021) 2513131
Limited Seating & Free Parking:
Seating is very limited for these free seminars so please avoid disappointment and make reservations A.S.A.P. Click Here For a Reservation Tel: Office: 62-361- 284069 For Bahasa English 62-8123814014 – Bahasa Indonesia or 62-8123632177
( 2) Location: Sanur, Bali, Emerald Villas,
1. Thursday - Nov. 8th. 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM
2. Saturday - Nov. 10th. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
2. Saturday - Nov. 10th. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Limited Seating & Free Parking:
Seating is very limited for these free seminars so please avoid disappointment and make reservations A.S.A.P. Click Here For a Reservation Or Email: seminarsptbali@gmail.com or Tel: Office: 62-361- 284069 For Bahasa English 62-8123814014 – Bahasa Indonesia or 62-8123632177
Seminar Topics:
At these seminars you will learn about:- The Past, Present and Future of Bali, Indonesia, Asian and Australian real estate.
- Why a recent official clarification of foreign ownership laws allows foreigners to totally control Indonesian properties for up to 80 years without leases?
- How to avoid legal problems and make sure a property is safe.
- How to avoid complicated real estate laws affecting Indonesians married to foreigners.
- Why this is the second best time to buy this century.
- Where are the best locations to buy for maximum profits?
- What type of properties will offer the best investment potential of *10% to 20 % per year?
- Discover how you can sell your property fast for the highest prices and lowest commissions on a brand new web site designed after the largest most successful real estate site in America with high tech search features.
- An opportunity for a free listing on B.A.R.E. First Class Beachfront property at almost 50% discount.
- A Quality 5,000 m2 Bali Hotel with 12 bungalows, 3 pools and Restaurant for only $588,000.
- Low cost properties with Luxury Villas starting as low as $158,000 for a three bedroom 650 m² 3 bedroom, 4 bath with private 9 mtr. Pool.
- Ridiculously low priced ocean view building lots starting as low as $25,000 for 500 m².
- Brand new Bali Luxury Retirement Villas starting at $208.00 per mth.
Limited Seating & Free Parking:
Seating is very limited for these free seminars so please avoid disappointment and make reservations A.S.A.P. Click Here For a Reservation
Or Email: seminarsptbali@gmail.com or Tel: Office: 62-361- 284069 For Bahasa English 62-8123814014 – Bahasa Indonesia or 62-8123632177Search This Blog
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