Afghan government releases over 300 Taliban prisoners

On the third and last day of a cease-fire with the Taliban, the Afghan government on Sunday announced that it had released over 300 prisoners of the militant group in connection with ongoing peace efforts. Announcing the development, the Office of the National Security Council (ONSC) said in a statement that the government had released 317 more Taliban prisoners from Parwan and other provincial prisons, bringing the total to 4,917. Prisoner releases will continue until the total reaches 5,100 -- 100 more than required by the US-Taliban peace deal signed in February, it said. The Taliban vowed to have already completed their part of the prisoners' swap by releasing 1,000 captive security forces. "While it is a significant step, the Afghan people ask for a permanent cease-fire and imminent start of direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," said a statement issued by the president's office. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com...

Read More........ → August 05, 2020

Germany: even the closest friends don’t like to be fooled

. As the saga sparked by Edward Snowden continues to rage, more countries around the globe join the chorus of those outraged by the US spying programs. Even America’s closest allies seemed to be surprised by the “elastic conscience” of its long-standing partner.  One of the most offended by the NSA eavesdropping was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Considering that as a child of the former East Germany, Merkel grew up with her phone being tapped, no wonder that Der Spiegel’s report on the American surveillance agency listening to her phone calls, had a special resonance for Merkel. "This contradicts the interest of German people. There are no grounds for spying. Every German citizen is disappointed. The level of trust between the two countries needs to be restored,"Angela Merkel said. But sentiments aside, there are serious political consequences for this credibility gap. On October 24, the US ambassador was asked to come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany because of the reports of phone tapping of the German Chancellor. Soon after that Merkel herself called...

Read More........ → May 22, 2014

Rupert Murdoch: hall of fame or den of infamy?

Charles Laurence: Jude Law's claim that his phone was hacked on US soil haunts Murdoch as he prepares for TV honour. NEW YORK – Has Jude Law rained on Rupert Murdoch’s parade? The  octogenarian media magnate is due to be inducted into America’s Television Academy Hall of Fame in a Hollywood ceremony six weeks from now. Murdoch will be honoured on 11 March alongside five others including Jay Leno, the talk show host who will have just retired from decades hosting The Tonight Show, and the actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of Seinfeld and Veep. Academy chairman Bruce Rosemblum explained the reasoning: "The six individuals being inducted into the Hall of Fame have all made a profound impact on the landscape of television, leaving their own mark within our industry and with audiences around the world. "Their groundbreaking contributions will last for generations, making them true icons who could not be more deserving of the Television Academy's highest honour." Murdoch has without doubt made a “profound impact on the landscape of television” since he followed Columbus...

Read More........ → March 18, 2014