Articles for tag: biggest, Cold, EastWest, Evan, Evan Gershkowitz, freed, Gershkovich, Paul, Paul Whelan freed by Russia in biggest East-West prisoner swap since Cold War, prisoner, Russia, swap, War, Whelan

Israel says Egypt-hosted talks yield progress on ceasefire and prisoner swap

JERUSALEM: Israeli officials on Tuesday reported progress in talks hosted in Egypt aimed at achieving a Gaza truce and a prisoner swap with Hamas. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, citing officials, reported that progress was made on important issues during a visit by Shin Bet security chief Ronen Bar to the Egyptian capital, Cairo. However, he did not elaborate on these important matters. Barr returned to Israel early Tuesday from Egypt. An Israeli official, however, urged caution, predicting “complicated negotiations” with Hamas. Barr and Mossad chief David Barnea are due to fly to Qatar on Wednesday to take part in a

July 7, 2024

Yemen prisoner swap talks end without full deal

YEMEN: The latest round of prisoner exchange negotiations between Yemen’s government and the Houthi group ended Saturday in Muscat, Oman, without a comprehensive agreement, according to officials from both sides. The seven-day talks were held under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), aimed at addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding detainees in the conflict-torn nation. Majid Fadail, the official spokesman for the Yemeni government delegation, told the state-run Saba news agency that while no final agreement had been reached, the talks had “achieved some important breakthroughs on the issue of

May 9, 2024

PSO proposes debt-for-equity swap in public sector companies

KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the country’s largest oil marketer, says it is in talks with the government on a plan to acquire stakes in public sector energy companies and offset the mounting debt it owes to companies such as Pakistan International Airline (PIA). Stopping the build-up of outstanding debt in Pakistan’s electricity sector, and eventually settling it, is a key concern of the International Monetary Fund, with which Islamabad is starting talks this month on a new long-term loan deal. “Everything will be done through competitive bidding and we will participate and if we win, the stakes will be

May 9, 2024

PSO proposes debt-for-equity swap in public sector companies

Stopping the build-up of outstanding debt in Pakistan’s power sector and eventually settling it is the IMF’s main concern A petrol pump is seen to give up due to the lack of petrol during crises.— Online/Archive All to be done through competitive bidding, says Taha. “This is our proposal and it is under consideration.” Taha says the IMF reforms have helped by strengthening the ability of creditors to pay. KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the country’s largest oil marketer, says it is in talks with the government on a plan to acquire stakes in public sector power companies and offset

March 17, 2024

Putin says he was ready for Alexei Navalny prisoner swap before his death

Putin critic Alexei Navalny, right, died at the IK-3 prison camp in Harp, a notoriously brutal prison colony above the Arctic Circle. — AFP/File Russian President Vladimir Putin, who won Sunday’s presidential election, said he was ready to swap prisoners of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny for people jailed in Western countries while interacting with reporters in Moscow. Putin’s statement came after an NBC News reporter asked about democratic authorities under Navalny’s illness and other political scandals. Putin, who rarely speaks Navalny’s name, said in response that “several days before Mr. Navalny disappeared, some of my colleagues told me that

February 28, 2024

China agrees to swap $2 billion of debt on existing terms

Islamabad: China has agreed to rollover a $2 billion debt on existing terms after initially seeking a price hike as Pakistan’s policy of holding foreign exchange reserves through deposits from three countries becomes costly due to a 118% increase in interest costs. Treasury officials said an agreement had been reached with Beijing to further extend the repayment period of the $2 billion loan that ends on March 23 – Pakistan Day.The Chinese embassy’s response was awaited. Sources said China had initially asked to raise interest rates further on its $2 billion debt. Pakistan currently pays 7.1% interest based on the

February 27, 2024

Navalny was close to release in prisoner swap, ally says

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was close to being released in a prisoner exchange at the time of his death, a close ally said Monday, repeating a claim by his family and supporters that President Vladimir Putin killed him. Speaking on YouTube, Maria Pevchikh said talks to exchange Navalny and two unnamed US nationals for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian FSB assassin in prison in Germany, were in their final stages at the time of his death. Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic penal colony on February 16. The Kremlin has denied Russian state involvement in his death. Navalny’s death certificate

January 4, 2024

Russia and Ukraine hold major prisoner swap brokered by UAE

Kyiv: Ukraine and Russia announced Wednesday their first prisoner-of-war swap in nearly five months, with more than 200 freed by each side after a complex negotiation that included mediation by the United Arab Emirates. Russia’s defense ministry said 248 servicemen were surrendered by Ukraine. Kiev said it had brought home 230 people – 224 soldiers and six civilians – in what it said was the largest documented exchange of troops so far. The UAE’s foreign ministry acknowledged its role, saying in a statement that the exchange was made possible thanks to “strong friendly relations” with both Moscow and Kiev. It

November 21, 2023