Middle East Government
OpenAI Engineer Accused of Spying on Executives Ordered to Remain in Custody
A judge ordered Abdulrahman Alfozan to remain in custody, likening the Saudi government's offer to secure the former OpenAI engineer's release to a "blank check." The former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging a company conference room must stay in custody while he awaits trial, a federal judge ruled on Monday after expressing concerns about his ties to Saudi Arabia. US prosecutors alleged Abdulrahman Alfozan is a flight risk because the Saudi Arabian government has offered to support him with no strings attached. They cited, for example, the Saudi consulate's offer to work with a bail bonds firm to help fund Alfozan's release. Federal magistrate judge Alex Tse questioned whether Alfozan is an "asset" for the kingdom and how a bond backed by the government could keep him in the country.
Ex-OpenAI employee accused of planting device has Saudi backing: Prosecutor
An ex-OpenAI engineer accused of planting a recording device in an executive conference room at the AI company appears to have received considerable support from the Saudi government, United States prosecutors have said in a court filing. Federal prosecutors allege that the defendant, Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, was in frequent communication with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family and that a Saudi military official paid for a one-way plane ticket for Alfozan's wife and young son to return to Saudi Arabia after his arrest, according to the court document, made public late on Sunday. Alfozan, a Saudi national and lawful permanent resident in the US, is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco later on Monday. The case has highlighted security challenges around sensitive AI research as companies and governments compete fiercely for an edge in the transformational technology. "The defendant went to significant lengths to create customized, encrypted recording devices to secretly record highly sensitive meetings involving senior OpenAI personnel and executives, high-level business counterparts, and government officials, all while communicating with individuals of significance in Saudi Arabia and pursuing opportunities in -- and making plans to travel to -- Saudi Arabia," prosecutors wrote in a detention memo.
Ex-OpenAI worker accused of planting device had Saudi support says court filing
A Saudi national charged with secretly planting a recording device in one of OpenAI's meeting rooms has been accused of having considerable support from the Saudi government, according to a court filing, external in California. US prosecutors claimed Abdulrahman Alfozan, who worked for the AI firm, was in frequent communication... with a member of the Saudi royal family, and say a member of the country's military paid for a one-way flight to Saudi Arabia for his wife and son after his arrest. It was argued the 35-year-old engineer therefore posed a flight risk and should be detained, pending trial. The Saudi government did not immediately respond to BBC requests for comment. Alfozan had worked at OpenAI for around a year before he allegedly made his attempt to plant an audio recorder.
Houthi missile strike on Yemen camp kills 50 security recruits, local authorities say
Image caption, Yemen's government said the missile strike killed recruits to its internal security forces (file photo) More than 50 security personnel have been killed and 200 injured in a Houthi missile strike on a camp in Yemen's central province of Shabwa, local authorities say. A spokesman for the Saudi-backed Yemeni armed forces said the Iran-backed group launched three ballistic missiles at al-Alam camp near Ataq city, which was being used as a training centre for recruits to the security forces and police. The head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, condemned what he called the criminal attack and promised a firm response. The Houthis' military spokesman said they had targeted Saudi enemy concentrations. Yemen's devastating civil war has flared up in recent months.
Turkish police raid opposition TV station, halting live broadcasts
Turkish police have raided the headquarters of a pro-opposition TV channel, halting its live broadcasts. Halk TV said its employees were unable to enter the building in Istanbul on Wednesday morning, and that a new manager had been appointed to run the channel. Reports in Turkish media said financial crimes police were searching the building and 11 people had been taken into custody in the raid linked to the channel's owner. Halk TV has been seen by many in the country as being close to the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). It often voices criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling AK party.
Iran sees 'false flag' operations after UK blames IRGC for airbase incident
Did Iran capture a US submarine? Iran sees'false flag' operations after UK blames IRGC for airbase incident Share Iran sees'false flag' operations after UK blames IRGC for airbase incident on social media Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the United Kingdom's attribution of an alleged plot near a military airbase in the town of Fairford to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which it views as part of a greater Western effort. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Parliament on Monday that the suspected plot last month against the Royal Air Force base was "highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran" and "almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard". The UK announced sanctions against two Iranian nationals over alleged "hostile activity" at RAF Fairford in southern England. It follows an incident around the base, which hosted US military aircraft, in the early hours of September 27, when five British men in their 20s suspected of "terrorism" and explosives offences were arrested.