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Israeli private eye arrested in UK over alleged hacking for US PR firm
- An initial attempt to extradite Amit Forlit to the United Sates was thrown out by a judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday
- Forlit was arrested under an Interpol red notice at London’s Heathrow Airport
LONDON: An Israeli private investigator wanted by the United States was arrested in London over allegations that he carried out a cyberespionage campaign on behalf of an unidentified American PR firm, a London court heard on Thursday.
An initial attempt to extradite Amit Forlit to the United Sates was thrown out by a judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday on a legal technicality.
Amy Labram, a lawyer representing the United States, had told the court that Forlit “is accused of engaging in a hack for hire scheme.”
Labram said that the US allegations include that an unnamed Washington-based PR and lobbying firm paid one of Forlit’s companies 16 million pounds ($20 million) “to gather intelligence relating to the Argentinian debt crisis.”
Forlit was arrested under an Interpol red notice at London’s Heathrow Airport as he was trying to board a flight to Israel, according to the USauthorities.
Forlit is wanted in the US on three charges: one count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.
A judge ruled that the attempt to extradite Forlit by the United States could not continue as he was not produced at court within the timeframe required under British extradition law.
“He was not produced at court as soon as practicable and the consequences of that ... he must – I have no discretion – he must be discharged,” Judge Michael Snow ruled.
Forlit and his lawyer did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation did not immediately return a message.
Forlit has separately been accused of computer hacking in New York by aviation executive Farhad Azima. Azima, whose emails were stolen and used against him in a 2020 trial in London, is suing Forlit and others in federal court in Manhattan.
Forlit has previously acknowledged retrieving Azima’s emails but has denied hacking, telling Reuters he innocently stumbled across the messages “on the web.”
Top Pakistan medical official resigns for mishandling fast bowler’s elbow injury
- Dr. Sohail Saleem was the director of the Pakistan Cricket Board medical and sports sciences
- Medical committee said Saleem recommended an “inappropriate surgeon” to handle Ihsanullah’s injury
ISLAMABAD: A top medical official with the Pakistan Cricket Board resigned on Thursday after an independent investigation reported fast bowler Ihsanullah’s elbow injury was badly handled.
Dr. Sohail Saleem was the director of the PCB medical and sports sciences.
A three-member medical committee said in its report that Saleem recommended an “inappropriate surgeon, lacking the academics and experience in the field” to look after Ihsanullah’s injury.
Ihsanullah’s right elbow was hurt during the white-ball home series against New Zealand in April last year. The PCB initially believed Ihsanullah’s injury was not severe but the fast bowler was sidelined for almost a year.
The committee said Ihsanullah’s elbow pain was not addressed, treated and operated on appropriately, and there was also delay in reaching the clinical diagnoses.
“He (Ihsanullah) did not receive a formal rehabilitation process as required by his condition,” the committee said. “His surgery was planned hurriedly without any specialist review and preoperative assessment.”
The committee also highlighted “inappropriate prescription of treatment, as well as non-compliance by the fast bowler with the prescribed rehabilitation plan.”
Last month, Ihsanullah was sent to the UK where he met with an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries.
The committee has recommended Ihsanullah should continue with aggressive physiotherapy and “surgery may be the last option if he does not recover in six-12 months.”
Ihsanullah has played four Twenty20s and one one-day international, all last year.
Pakistan says expecting more high-level Saudi business delegations amid investment push
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expects continued visits by high-level business delegations from Saudi Arabia in the upcoming weeks to further explore investment opportunities facilitated under the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Foreign Office announced on Thursday.
The statement came just days after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif concluded his visit to Riyadh, where he addressed the two-day World Economic Forum conference.
During his visit, Sharif met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and several Saudi ministers to strengthen bilateral relations and economic partnerships between the two nations.
Prior to his visit to the Kingdom, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was in Islamabad with a large delegation, saying the Pakistani administration’s resolve to strengthen the economy would yield “significant benefits.”
“Saudi investors have been coming to Pakistan in recent months, and engaged with the SIFC in terms of exploring opportunities for Saudi investments in Pakistan, and this is an ongoing process, and we expect similar high-level business delegations to undertake visits to Pakistan in the coming days and weeks as well,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters in her weekly media briefing.
She added that both countries were involved in robust and mutually beneficial dialogue that had gained significant momentum in recent months.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are engaged in consultations with each other in terms of increased Saudi investments in Pakistan, including in the energy domain,” she added.
Asked about reports of Pakistan providing military bases to the US, Baloch called them rumors.
“Pakistani has no plan to provide any bases to a foreign country against any other country,” she said.
Speaking about the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s summit in Gambia, the spokesperson said the country’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, would highlight the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the imperatives of solidarity and unity of the Muslim ummah, rising Islamophobia, issues of climate change, terrorism, and other contemporary global challenges.
She said Pakistan strongly condemned the escalating violations of human rights by Israel and increasing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“Israel’s actions constitute a breach of international law, including humanitarian laws and other pertinent international laws, and these acts also undermine any prospects of a two-state solution,” she added.
Pakistan double landmine blasts kill one person, wound at least 18
- First mine exploded when a truck was passing through a valley in coal-rich Duki district in Balochistan province
- Second detonated when counter-terrorism officials and civilians were examining initial blast site, police said
QUETTA, Pakistan: Double landmine blasts killed one person and wounded at least 18 on Thursday in Pakistan’s southwest, a police officer said.
The first mine exploded when a truck was passing through a valley in coal-rich Duki district in Balochistan province. The second detonated when counter-terrorism officials and civilians were examining the initial blast site, said district police officer Asif Haleem.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. But Baloch separatist groups have previously struck security personnel or infrastructure in the southwest.
They initially wanted a greater share of provincial resources, but later initiated an insurgency for independence from the central government.
Also on Thursday, an Islamabad-based think tank said that militant assaults killed 70 people nationwide in April, mostly in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies also said the country experienced 323 militant attacks in the first four months of the year, resulting in 324 deaths.
Such incidents are unusual in eastern Punjab province, but police said militants from banned groups are responsible for killing three uniformed officers in Lahore city during the past 10 days.
Inspector General of Punjab Usman Anwar urged people to report any suspicious activity.
A report issued in January by another think tank, the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, said there were 306 attacks last year, killing 693 people.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks with Swiss foreign minister
- two ministers discussed developments of common interest and efforts made by both countries in those areas
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Thursday.
During the call, the two ministers discussed developments of common interest and efforts made by both countries in those areas, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Cassis was in the Kingdom last month to attend the Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh on April 28 and 29, during which he met with Prince Faisal.
Prince Faisal and Cassis also met earlier in the year in February during UN meetings in Geneva.
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