March 9, 2023
MAR 09, 2023
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*) Saudi engineer walks free from Guantanamo prison after 21 years

The United States has announced the release from Guantanamo military prison of a Saudi engineer seized over two decades ago as a suspect in the September 11 attacks.

48-year-old Ghassan Al Sharbi was detained in Pakistan in March 2002.

The US military had weighed charges against Al Sharbi and several others but dropped them in 2008.

Thirty-one detainees remain at Guantanamo, down from a peak of nearly 800. Of them, 17 are eligible for transfer.

*) Soldiers say fall of Kabul was US failure with blame touching Bush to Biden

Active-service members and veterans have provided firsthand testimony about the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing in detail the carnage they witnessed on the ground.

The majority of witnesses argued to Congress that the fall of Kabul was an American failure with blame touching every presidential administration from George W. Bush to Joe Biden.

The initial hearing was the first of what is expected to be a series of Republican-led hearings examining the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal.

*) Colombia, ELN rebels to hold next phase of peace talks in Cuba

Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels will hold a third round of talks in Cuba aimed at ending decades of armed conflict, the two sides have said.

According to a statement, the dialogue has made "substantial progress" since resuming in Mexico on February 13, following a first round in Venezuela in November.

The negotiators reported late last month that the Colombian government had recognised the National Liberation Army (ELN) as a political organisation in order to advance the process.

*) Damning probe finds US police in Louisville discriminate against Black residents

An investigation conducted by the US Justice Department has found that American police in the Louisville city of Kentucky state routinely discriminate against Black residents.

The report comes nearly two years after US Attorney General Merrick Garland launched the investigation into the department whose officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor.

The investigation found a wide-ranging pattern of misconduct by police, including the use of excessive force and the conduct of illegal searches.

And finally…

*) Netherlands announces plans to curb tech exports after US pressure

The Dutch government has announced plans for new export restrictions on technology to make computer chips, following pressure from the United States to restrict Chinese access.

The Netherlands, Europe's premier maker of the machines that help manufacture microchips, has been pushed to impose curbs similar to those announced by Washington last year.

The government said the aim of the export controls was to prevent military use, and to protect the Netherlands' "unique and leading position".
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