Guinea ex-dictator freed from jail after 2009 massacre pardon: juntaSat, 29 Mar 2025 19:46:16 GMT

Guinea’s ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, jailed for 20 years over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned for “health reasons” by the west African country’s junta leader, with a rights body Saturday saying he has left prison.”Upon the proposal of the minister of justice, a presidential pardon is granted to Mr Moussa Dadis Camara for health reasons,” …

Guinea ex-dictator freed from jail after 2009 massacre pardon: juntaSat, 29 Mar 2025 19:46:16 GMT Read More »

US woman thanks Trump after release by Taliban in Afghanistan

An American woman freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan celebrated her release, in a video shared Saturday by US President Donald Trump, in which she thanked him for helping secure her freedom.In a video shared on Trump’s Truth Social account, Faye Hall is seen smiling and in apparently good health, saying: “Thank you for bringing me home.”Hall, a British couple and their Afghan translator were detained on February 1 as they traveled to central Bamiyan province.Washington’s former envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Hall was in the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul. “American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” Khalilzad, who has been part of a US delegation working on Taliban hostage releases, wrote on X.While at the Qatari embassy, Hall “has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks,” according to a source with knowledge of the release.She was released on Thursday following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar, the source added.In the video promoted by Trump’s account, Hall said she was proud to be a US citizen and urged support for Afghan women held in Taliban jails.”Thank you, Mr President,” she said. “And I just want you to know, all the women in the Afghan jail, they always ask me, ‘When is Trump coming?’ You, truly, they just treat you like their savior. They’re waiting for you to come and set them free.”In the post accompanying the video, Trump said: “Thank you Faye — So honored with your words!”Hall, identified by the Taliban’s interior ministry as Chinese-American, was detained along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who are in their 70s, as they travelled to the British couple’s home in central Bamiyan province. Their Afghan translator was also arrested.Taliban officials have refused to detail the reasons for their arrest, but one report said Hall had been detained on charges of using a drone without authorization.- Hopes for ‘new chapter’ -Khalilzad had been in the Afghan capital earlier this month on a rare visit by US officials to meet Taliban authorities, accompanying US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Following their visit, the Taliban government announced the release of US citizen George Glezmann after more than two years of detention, in a deal brokered by Qatar.He and Hall are among several Americans to be released from Taliban custody this year. In January, two Americans detained in Afghanistan — Ryan Corbett and William McKenty — were freed in exchange for an Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, who was convicted of narco-terrorism in the United States. At least one other US citizen, Mahmood Habibi, is still held in Afghanistan.The British couple detained with Hall remain in Taliban custody.Their daughter has expressed grave fears for her father’s health and appealed to the Taliban authorities to free them. The Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have run school training programs in the country for 18 years.They remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 when the British embassy withdrew its staff. The government in Kabul is not recognized by any country, but several, including Russia, China and Turkey, have kept their embassies open in the Afghan capital. Qatar, too, has maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban and has facilitated negotiations for the release of US hostages.Since Trump’s reelection, the Kabul government has expressed hopes for a “new chapter” with Washington.

US woman thanks Trump after release by Taliban in Afghanistan

An American woman freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan celebrated her release, in a video shared Saturday by US President Donald Trump, in which she thanked him for helping secure her freedom.In a video shared on Trump’s Truth Social account, Faye Hall is seen smiling and in apparently good health, saying: “Thank you for bringing me home.”Hall, a British couple and their Afghan translator were detained on February 1 as they traveled to central Bamiyan province.Washington’s former envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Hall was in the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul. “American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” Khalilzad, who has been part of a US delegation working on Taliban hostage releases, wrote on X.While at the Qatari embassy, Hall “has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks,” according to a source with knowledge of the release.She was released on Thursday following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar, the source added.In the video promoted by Trump’s account, Hall said she was proud to be a US citizen and urged support for Afghan women held in Taliban jails.”Thank you, Mr President,” she said. “And I just want you to know, all the women in the Afghan jail, they always ask me, ‘When is Trump coming?’ You, truly, they just treat you like their savior. They’re waiting for you to come and set them free.”In the post accompanying the video, Trump said: “Thank you Faye — So honored with your words!”Hall, identified by the Taliban’s interior ministry as Chinese-American, was detained along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who are in their 70s, as they travelled to the British couple’s home in central Bamiyan province. Their Afghan translator was also arrested.Taliban officials have refused to detail the reasons for their arrest, but one report said Hall had been detained on charges of using a drone without authorization.- Hopes for ‘new chapter’ -Khalilzad had been in the Afghan capital earlier this month on a rare visit by US officials to meet Taliban authorities, accompanying US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Following their visit, the Taliban government announced the release of US citizen George Glezmann after more than two years of detention, in a deal brokered by Qatar.He and Hall are among several Americans to be released from Taliban custody this year. In January, two Americans detained in Afghanistan — Ryan Corbett and William McKenty — were freed in exchange for an Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, who was convicted of narco-terrorism in the United States. At least one other US citizen, Mahmood Habibi, is still held in Afghanistan.The British couple detained with Hall remain in Taliban custody.Their daughter has expressed grave fears for her father’s health and appealed to the Taliban authorities to free them. The Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have run school training programs in the country for 18 years.They remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 when the British embassy withdrew its staff. The government in Kabul is not recognized by any country, but several, including Russia, China and Turkey, have kept their embassies open in the Afghan capital. Qatar, too, has maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban and has facilitated negotiations for the release of US hostages.Since Trump’s reelection, the Kabul government has expressed hopes for a “new chapter” with Washington.

Allemagne: Olise et Sané portent le Bayern, qui garde son avance en tête

Après deux matches sans victoire en championnat, le Bayern Munich a dû s’employer pour retrouver le chemin de la victoire, samedi contre St. Pauli (3-2), et conserver son matelas de six points d’avance sur le Bayer Leverkusen à sept rencontres du terme.Au soir de la 27e journée, les hommes de Vincent Kompany totalisent 65 points, contre 59 pour le Bayer Leverkusen, champion en titre qui avait mis un bon coup de pression sur les Munichois en s’imposant vendredi soir à domicile contre Bochum (3-1).Dans ce duel à distance que vont se livrer les deux meilleures équipes allemandes cette saison, les Munichois possèdent aussi une différence de buts, qui sert à départager en cas d’égalité de points, très nettement en leur faveur (+52 contre +28).Samedi, les Munichois ont pu profiter de la très belle forme du moment de Michael Olise, impliqué sur les trois buts du Bayern. Il a commencé par servir Harry Kane peu après le quart d’heure de jeu, seul au point de penalty et qui ne s’est pas fait prier pour marquer son 22e but de la saison en Bundesliga.Au retour des vestiaires, Olise a idéalement trouvé Leroy Sané, après avoir vu la défense de St. Pauli avancée. Sané a frappé en force pour tromper Nikola Vasilj (53e). Et à la 71e minute, le vice-champion olympique français de 23 ans a donné dans la profondeur à Harry Kane, qui a centré pour Sané, qui y est allé de son doublé, son premier depuis la mi-janvier.- Tests en défense -Avant une meilleure maîtrise de la rencontre en seconde période, les Munichois ont joué à se faire peur en première période, en laissant St. Pauli revenir au score à la 27e minute, par Elias Saad.Dans une Allianz Arena toujours pleine (75.000 spectateurs), Kompany a pu tester plusieurs solutions en défense après les blessures de ses internationaux français Dayot Upamecano et canadien Alphonso Davies.En défense centrale, c’est l’Anglais Eric Dier qui a été titularisé aux côtés de Kim Min-jae. Sur le côté gauche, Raphaël Guerreiro a joué 50 minutes avant d’être remplacé par Hiroki Ito, revenu seulement jeudi de sélection avec le Japon et à cours d’entraînement. Ito est sorti blessé en fin de rencontre.”Il a senti quelque chose au même pied (droit), qui lui a causé des problèmes cette saison, donc ce n’est pas bon pour nous. Il va passer des tests et on verra”, a expliqué Vincent Kompany en conférence de presse à propos d’Ito.Les Munichois restaient sur deux matchs sans victoire après avoir pourtant mené au score (défaite 3-2 contre Bochum après avoir mené 2-0, match nul à Berlin contre l’Union après avoir mené 1-0), deux contre-performances dont Leverkusen n’a profité qu’à moitié pour réduire l’écart de huit à six points avant la trêve internationale.Dans la course aux deux autres tickets pour la prochaine Ligue des champions (les deux premiers sont promis au Bayern et à Leverkusen), Francfort a joué pendant une grosse demi-heure en supériorité numérique face à Stuttgart et s’est imposé 1 à 0 sur un but de Mario Götze. L’Eintracht renforce ainsi sa place dans le top 4, troisième avec 48 points.Battu sur la pelouse du Borussia Mönchengladbach (1-0), le RB Leipzig stagne à 42 points, alors que Gladbach lui passe devant (43 points) à la 5e place.

Risque d’inéligibilité: Marine Le Pen n’est pas “au-dessus des lois”, pour le PS et le PC

Les chefs des Partis socialiste et communiste ont estimé samedi que Marine Le Pen, qui risque une peine d’inéligibilité dans le dossier des assistants parlementaires d’eurodéputés RN, ne devait pas bénéficier d’un traitement spécial face à la loi.Le premier secrétaire du PS, Olivier Faure, était interrogé sur LCI pour savoir s’il serait “mal à l’aise” face à une telle peine, qui pourrait empêcher la cheffe de file du Rassemblement nationale de se présenter à la présidentielle de 2027, si elle était prononcée avec exécution provisoire.  “Je ne comprends pas pourquoi on a cette espèce de regard particulier pour Marine Le Pen, alors que quand vous avez quelqu’un qui vole une voiture, qui vole une mobylette, qui agresse quelqu’un, il n’y a aucune forme de tremblement au moment où la décision va être prise”, a-t-il dit. “Vous pensez que quand quelqu’un désormais vole une voiture et qu’il se déclare candidat à la présidentielle, on devra aussi l’exempter de sa peine ?” “La loi s’applique à Marine Le Pen comme à moi, comme à toutes celles et ceux qui font de la politique et qui ne sont pas au-dessus des lois”, a ajouté le patron des socialistes, précisant qu’il “respecterai(t) évidemment la décision de justice, quelle qu’elle soit”.Le secrétaire national du PCF, Fabien Roussel, a lui aussi été interrogé sur la question.”Je ne vois pas pourquoi madame Le Pen devrait bénéficier d’une exemption à la loi”, a-t-il estimé sur Ouest-France. “Et je ne dirai pas que c’est un acte antidémocratique. Cette manière de penser a quelque chose de Trump dont nous devons nous garder”, a-t-il estimé.Le tribunal correctionnel de Paris doit se prononcer lundi sur le sort de Marine Le Pen. L’accusation a requis contre elle une peine de cinq ans d’inéligibilité avec exécution provisoire (s’appliquant immédiatement, même en cas d’appel).Si la demande de peine d’inéligibilité réclamée par le parquet était attendue, car obligatoire en cas de condamnation pour détournement de fonds publics, celle d’exécution immédiate l’était beaucoup moins.