Latest Prisoner exchange News

Biden heaps praise on Slovenia PM for aiding release of Americans in major US-Russia prisoner swap

Oct. 22, 2024 16:31 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden heaped praise on Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob on Tuesday for his role in the recent seven-nation prisoner swap that freed Americans Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan from Russian prison. The deal, completed in August,...

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

Oct. 18, 2024 20:30 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — Govs. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich., Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., Tony Evers, D-Wis., and Chris Sununu, R-N.H. ___ NBC's “Meet the Press” — Shapiro; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. ___ CBS’ “Face...

Venezuela's Maduro appoints to his Cabinet a close ally pardoned by the US in a prisoner swap

Oct. 18, 2024 16:42 PM EDT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Friday appointed to his Cabinet a close ally who was pardoned by U.S. President Joe Biden last year as part of a prisoner swap and following assurances that Venezuela would hold a fair presidential election in 2024. ...

What's next for Hamas after its leader Yahya Sinwar's death?

Oct. 18, 2024 16:02 PM EDT

BEIRUT (AP) — The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces in Gaza this week leaves the Palestinian militant group considering new leadership for the second time in less than three months. Will Hamas now turn away from its hard-line wing or will it double down, and...

Biden is making quick trip to Berlin before US election to discuss Ukraine and democracy with allies

Oct. 17, 2024 16:11 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — President Joe Biden has long believed diplomacy is about personal relationships — and he'll spend Friday in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as his time in office is on the cusp of ending. There is also a meeting with other leaders in the “European...

Zelenskyy appeals to allies to keep up aid as Germany pledges new weapons package

Oct. 11, 2024 11:43 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday it's important that allies' aid to Ukraine doesn't decrease next year as he received a pledge of a new weapons package from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on a European tour meant to win backing for his “victory plan” aimed at ending the...

An American once imprisoned in Russia is sentenced in absentia as Ukraine mercenary

Oct. 09, 2024 06:09 AM EDT

MOSCOW (AP) — An American who spent three years behind bars in Russia before being released in a prisoner exchange has been convicted in absentia for fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, Russia's Investigative Committee said Wednesday. The committee, Russia's primary criminal...

A year of blood and anguish: The Mideast war in AP photos

Oct. 06, 2024 00:04 AM EDT

A year after Hamas launched a cross-border attack into southern Israel on Oct. 7, the images of that day and its ongoing aftermath still defy belief. No one thought they would see heavily armed Hamas gunmen going door-to-door on quiet Israeli streets or storming a crowded music...

Blinken says surprise escalations threaten to derail talks for a cease-fire in Gaza

Sep. 18, 2024 12:17 PM EDT

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed frustration Wednesday at surprise escalations that threaten to derail efforts to broker a cease-fire deal in Gaza, noting that the United States is assessing a deadly attack that caused pagers used by Hezbollah to explode in Lebanon. ...

Blinken is heading back to the Middle East, this time without fanfare or a visit to Israel

Sep. 16, 2024 19:32 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Egypt on Tuesday for his 10th trip to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began nearly a year ago, this one aimed partly at refining a proposal to present to Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire deal and release of hostages. ...