KABUL: The Afghan government announced it would free 900 prisoners on Tuesday, its single largest prisoner release since the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal earlier this year that spells out an exchange of detainees between the warring sides.
The announcement came as a three-day cease-fire with the insurgents draws to an end. The Taliban had called for the truce during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
There are expectations that the prisoner release could lead to new reductions in violence, and Taliban officials say they are considering an extension of the cease-fire.
A senior Taliban figure confirmed this to The Associated Press.
“If these developments, like the announcement of prisoner release continues, it is possible to move forward with decisions like extending the brief cease-fire and to move in a positive direction with some minor issues,” the Taliban official said.
The prisoners were being released from Bagram prison, where the US still maintains a major military base, north of Kabul, as well as from the infamous Pul-e-Charkhi prison on the eastern edge of the Afghan capital.
By late afternoon, the AP witnessed scores of men pouring out of the Bagram compound — presumably the released prisoners. It was not immediately possible to verify their numbers or whether they were all Taliban members.
The prisoner release is part of the US deal with the Taliban, signed on Feb. 29 to allow for the eventual withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, bringing to an end the country’s protracted war and America’s longest military involvement.
When the deal was signed, it was touted as Afghanistan’s best chance for peace after decades of war but political feuding in Kabul and delays in prisoner exchanges have slowed the deal’s progress toward intra-Afghan negotiations, considered the second and most critical phase of the accord.
Under the deal, Kabul is to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners while the insurgents are to free 1,000 captives they hold, mostly government officials and Afghan forces, before intra-Afghan negotiations can begin.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had welcomed the Taliban cease-fire announcement during the Muslim holiday.
Javid Faisal, a national security spokesman in Kabul, urged the Taliban to extend the cease-fire and said the government would release 900 prisoners on Tuesday.
That would bring to 2,000 the number of Taliban prisoners released so far under the US-Taliban deal. The Taliban say they have released 240 of captives they held.
However, the Taliban have yet to confirm whether those released so far by the government were among the 5,000 names the insurgents had given US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad, the architect of the Feb. 29 deal.
A second Taliban official told the AP that those released so far were n fact on the Taliban list of demands, including the uncle of Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada. Key in deciding which names would appear on the list was Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, a senior figure who had recently recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
Turabi was the much feared vice and virtue minister during the Taliban rule, known for beating men who were found listening to music or not attending the mosque. He once slapped a Taliban commander who spoke with a woman journalist.
Both Taliban officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.
Many Afghans have expressed frustration at the slow and often stalled peace process; many have known only conflict in their homeland for the past several decades.
“If both sides stop this war and sit at the negotiating table ... maybe my youngest children will experience a good life, which we never experienced,” said Sayed Agha, a truck driver from eastern Logar province who was wounded in April, caught in the crossfire during a battle between the Taliban and Afghan soldiers.
“I have spent my whole life in war,” said Agha, 45.
Afghan gov’t to free 900 prisoners; Taliban may extend truce
https://arab.news/686n4
Afghan gov’t to free 900 prisoners; Taliban may extend truce
- The announcement came as a three-day cease-fire with the insurgents draws to an end
Saudi Arabia’s business landscape witnessing dynamic shift as AI adoption rises
- Companies urged to set their agenda without delay, prepare to adapt to evolution
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s business environment has witnessed a drastic shift in recent years as employers consider artificial intelligence a critical tool for their operations.
With the Kingdom hosting major technology events like LEAP, regional business owners and employees have recognized the need to upskill their proficiency in AI-related operations to catalyze growth.
Talking to Arab News, Rami Mourtada, partner and director of Boston Consulting Group, said companies in Saudi Arabia should set their AI agenda imminently and prepare to adapt to this dynamic evolution.
“Transformative AI adoption in the Kingdom cannot happen without proper business adoption, and businesses that haven’t should quickly set their own AI agenda, define a strategic AI roadmap, pilot promising use case, and engage the organization properly for this change,” said Mourtada.
He added: “As business leaders progress this journey, events like LEAP are important for learning from other businesses’ experience, engaging with experts to help refine their agenda, and getting new ideas for use case to pilot.”
Bridging the AI gap between employers and employees
A current report by US-based management consulting firm Oliver Wyman disclosed that Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region have invested heavily in national AI strategies in recent years, and the approach is paying off.
The study revealed that the Kingdom’s young population born between 1997 and 2010 has already recognized the benefits of this new technology, with more than half acknowledging the advantages AI will offer in enhancing productivity.
Ana Kreacic, chief knowledge officer at Oliver Wyman, said that bridging the gap between employers and employees is necessary to ensure the smooth adoption of AI in businesses.
“Currently, there is a big disconnect between employers and employees. While CEOs recognize AI’s potential and many already are redesigning work to improve productivity, streamline operations, or gain a competitive advantage, they underestimate many aspects of the technology,” said Kreacic.
She added: “Businesses should create a shared mission around AI’s adoption, not only around improved business productivity but also how the technology will affect workers and their roles. Business leaders right now must prioritize how to motivate younger workers, develop and train them, and allay their anxieties.”
The analysis by Oliver Wyman underscored that about 57 percent of the employees surveyed in Saudi Arabia revealed that the training provided by their companies on AI was insufficient, while 40 percent demanded peer-to-peer mentorship programs to adapt to the change.
“There is a lack of understanding and trust about how AI will affect work and how businesses plan to support their employees through the AI transition. More than ever, businesses need to communicate regularly with their employees about their plans, providing clear guidelines, and also double down on ongoing AI skill-building and training,” noted Kreacic.
She further emphasized that business leaders should prioritize motivating and training young workers, which will ultimately reduce their anxieties surrounding the tech adoption.
“Most AI-enabled tools are continuously improving, which means employees not only need to learn how to use these tools once but that they will continue to learn new things as they engage with the tools over time. This is different from most past technologies we’ve interacted with, and part of the reason why employees ranked AI as their top reskilling priority,” Kreacic told Arab News.
Kreacic further pointed out that businesses also need to focus on digital training for individuals born between the mid-1990s and the mid-2010s, or Gen Zers, who lack the skills required for AI despite their computer training and knowledge.
“Businesses also need to help them develop the soft skills that are becoming even more crucial as AI eliminates repetitive roles. Many Gen Zers were onboarded during the pandemic or spend less time in the office because of remote and hybrid work and haven’t yet acquired the skills that older generations learned while working alongside senior colleagues,” she added.
The vitality of encouraging AI adoption by alleviating fears
Even though adopting AI will increase businesses’ productivity, the majority of workers are worried that this trend will negatively impact their job security.
“There is increasing anxiety from the general workforce about AI’s impact on their job security, especially as its adoption rises — more employees see its capabilities and impact 1st hand. BCG research has shown that the optimal setup — i.e., resulting in the least risk of bias or error — is where humans act as oversight, with key checkpoints, for AI-transformed processes,” said Mourtada.
He added: “Employees should first influence their employers to adopt this hybrid approach and second engage with it to capture the benefits directly.”
The Oliver Wyman study revealed that 69 percent of Saudi Arabia’s young people are worried about the impact AI will have on job security, compared to 59 percent of older adults.
According to the report, senior employees may feel more secure in their careers because they believe AI will have less impact on higher-level employment.
“That fear already is impacting talent retention. 24 percent of Saudi Gen Zers are looking for other jobs that are more secure in the AI transition compared to 14 percent globally,” said Kreacic.
She added: “Business and government can address these fears and discourage workers from fleeing unnecessarily by communicating clearly and regularly about how generative AI will affect work and which activities will be substituted, augmented or transformed — as well as how they plan to support their employees through the transition.”
According to Kreacic, businesses should create a shared mission around the adoption of AI, not only around improved business productivity but also how the technology will affect workers and their roles.
“As companies become increasingly reliant on AI technology, younger workers may feel less and less connected to a company, so nurturing the young workers’ sense of belonging will be critical to allowing them to reach their full potential at work,” she told Arab News.
Indonesia and Japan advance at U23 Asian Cup. South Korea out of contention for Paris Olympics
- Indonesia reached the last four by winning the shootout 11-10 against South Korea after the score remained tied 2-2 through extra time
- Japan knocked out hosts Qatar 4-2 after extra time to stay on course for an eighth straight Olympic appearance
- On Friday, defending champions Saudi Arabia face Uzbekistan, while Iraq meet Vietnam
DOHA: South Korea will miss the men’s soccer tournament at the Olympics for the first time since 1984 after losing a penalty shootout to Indonesia at the Under-23 Asian Cup quarterfinals on Thursday.
The top three teams will qualify for the Paris Games, and Indonesia reached the last four by winning the shootout 11-10 after the score remained tied 2-2 through extra time.
Rafael Struick put Indonesia ahead after 15 minutes only for Komang Teguh’s own goal to level the scoreline after 45 minutes. There was still time before the break, however, for Struick to score again.
Jeong Sang-bin equalized with 14 minutes remaining despite Korea being reduced to 10 men minutes earlier when Lee Young-jun was shown a red card.
Lee Kang-hee missed in the shootout, leaving Pratama Arhan to score the winner.
Earlier, Japan knocked out hosts Qatar 4-2 after extra time to stay on course for an eighth straight Olympic appearance.
Fuki Yamada scored early for Japan but Ahmed Al-Rawi and Jassem Gaber netted to put Qatar ahead.
Seiji Kimura made it 2-2 midway through the second half and after the tie went into extra-time, Mao Hosoya put Japan ahead once more and Kotaro Uchino scored after 113 minutes to secure the win for Japan.
On Friday, defending champions Saudi Arabia face Uzbekistan, while Iraq meet Vietnam.
The team that finish fourth will face Guinea in a playoff in May with a place in Paris at stake.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
- David Pecker, publisher of the tabloid National Enquirer, has testified that his publication helped buy stories about Trump's extramarital affairs to keep them from getting out
- His testimony was a critical building block for the prosecution’s theory that their partnership was a way to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election
NEW YORK: As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
But when it came to the seamy claims by porn performer Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, the tabloid’s longtime publisher, said he put his foot down.
“I am not paying for this story,” he told jurors Thursday at Trump’s hush money trial, recounting his version of a conversation with Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen about the catch-and-kill scheme that prosecutors alleged amounted to interference in the race. Pecker was already $180,000 in the hole on other Trump-related stories by the time Daniels came along, at which point, he said, “I didn’t want to be involved in this.”
Pecker’s testimony was a critical building block for the prosecution’s theory that their partnership was a way to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. The Manhattan district attorney is seeking to elevate the gravity of the history-making first trial of a former American president and the first of four criminal cases against Trump to reach a jury.
Trump’s lawyers also began their cross-examination of Pecker, using the time to question his memory of years-old events and to suggest his account had evolved over time.
But the hush money trial was just one of the consequential legal matters facing the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday.
The US Supreme Court also heard arguments over whether Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution while he was the president, stemming from federal charges over his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. The high court justices appeared likely to reject his claims of absolute immunity, though it seemed very possible that trial could be delayed beyond November’s election.
Trump’s many legal problems collided this week. The hush money case includes a looming decision on whether he violated a gag order and should be held in contempt. His former lawyers and associates were indicted in a 2020 election-related scheme in Arizona. And a New York judge rejected a request for a new trial in a defamation case that found Trump liable for $83.3 million in damages.
But the former president has a long history of emerging unscathed from sticky situations — if not becoming even more popular.
The Supreme Court’s decision will have lasting implications for future presidents, because the justices were seeking to answer the never-before-asked question of whether and to what extent does a former president enjoy immunity from prosecution for conduct during his time in office. But it may not impact the New York City case, which hinges mostly on Trump’s conduct as a presidential candidate in 2016 — not as a president.
Trump had asked to skip his New York criminal proceedings for the day so he could sit in on the Supreme Court’s special session, but that request was denied by Judge Juan M. Merchan, who is overseeing Trump’s trial on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments, which involved buying the rights to someone’s story but never publishing it.
“I think the Supreme Court has a very important argument before it today,” Trump said outside the courtroom. “I should be there.”
Instead, he sat at the defense table in a Manhattan courtroom with his lawyers, listening intently to Pecker testify how he and his publication parlayed rumor-mongering into splashy stories that smeared Trump’s opponents and, just as crucially, leveraged his connections to suppress unflattering coverage.
Trump has maintained he is not guilty of any of the charges, and says the stories that were bought and squelched were false.
“There is no case here. This is just a political witch hunt,” he said before court in brief comments to reporters.
As Pecker testified in a calm, cooperative tone about risque tales and secret dealings, the atmosphere in the utilitarian 1940s courtroom was one of quiet attentiveness. Two Secret Service agents were stationed in the first row of the courtroom gallery directly behind Trump. Ten court officers stood around the room. Jurors intently listened, and some took notes.
Pecker recalled that the publication bought a sordid tale from a New York City doorman and purchased accusations of an extramarital affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal to prevent the claims from getting out. There was some talk of reimbursement from Trump’s orbit, but Pecker was ultimately never paid.
The breaking point came with Daniels, who was eventually paid by Cohen to keep quiet over her claim of a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. The ex-president denies it happened.
Pecker recalled to the jury that he was dining with his wife the night after the public learned of the infamous 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump discussed grabbing women sexually without permission, when then-editor Dylan Howard called with an urgent matter.
Howard said he heard from Daniels’ representatives that she was trying to sell her story and that the tabloid could acquire it for $120,000, Pecker told jurors. Pecker was tapped out; he told Cohen as much.
At the same time, Pecker advised that someone — just not him — should do something to prevent the story from going public.
“I said to Michael, ‘My suggestion to you is that you should buy the story, and you should take it off the market because if you don’t and it gets out, I believe the boss will be very angry with you.’”
Cohen followed his advice.
Pecker testified that Trump later invited him to a White House dinner in July 2017 to thank him for helping the campaign. The ex-publisher said Trump encouraged him to bring anyone he wanted, recounting that the then-president told him, “It’s your dinner.”
Pecker said that he and Howard, as well as some of his other business associates, posed for photos with Trump in the Oval Office. Pecker said others at the dinner included Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and press adviser Sean Spicer.
At one point during the evening, Pecker said Trump asked him for an update on Karen McDougal.
“How’s Karen doing?” he recalled Trump saying as they walked past the Rose Garden from the Oval Office to the dining room.
“I said she’s doing well, she’s quiet, everything’s going good,” Pecker testified.
But months later, in March 2018, the president became furious when McDougal gave an interview to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Pecker testified.
“I thought you had and we had an agreement with Karen McDougal that she can’t give any interviews or be on any TV channels,” Trump told Pecker by phone, the former National Enquirer publisher said.
He said he explained to the then-president that the agreement had been changed to allow her to speak to the press after a November 2016 Wall Street Journal article about the tabloid’s $150,000 payout to McDougal.
“Mr. Trump got very aggravated when he heard that I amended it, and he couldn’t understand why,” Pecker told jurors.
Later, Trump defense attorney Emil Bove opened his cross-examination by grilling Pecker on his recollection of specific dates and meanings. He appeared to be laying further groundwork for the defense’s argument that any dealings Trump had with the National Enquirer publisher were intended to protect himself, his reputation and his family — not his campaign.
In other developments, prosecutors argued Trump again violated a gag order, all while waiting to hear whether he would be held in contempt on other suspected violations. Merchan has barred the GOP leader from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and others connected to the case. He set a hearing for next Thursday on the new claims.
Trump was dismissive about the looming decision. When asked by reporters if he would pay fines if ordered, he replied, “Oh, I have no idea.” He then said, “They’ve taken my constitutional right away with a gag order.”
A conviction by the jury would not preclude Trump from becoming president again, but because it is a state case, he would not be able to pardon himself if found guilty. The charge is punishable by up to four years in prison — though it’s not clear if the judge would seek to put him behind bars.
China warns Blinken over deteriorating ties in talks
BEIJING: China on Friday urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to address rising disagreements or risk a “downward spiral” between the two powers as talks opened in Beijing.
Blinken, paying his second visit to the rival country in less than a year, voiced hope for progress but said he would directly raise areas of difference, which are expected to include Russia, Taiwan and trade.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, receiving Blinken at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in the capital’s ancient gardens, said relations between the world’s two largest economies were “beginning to stabilize” after leaders Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met at a November summit.
“But at the same time, the negative factors in the relationship are still increasing and building,” Wang said.
“The relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions. China’s legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges,” he said.
“Should China and the United States keep in the right direction of moving forward with stability, or return to a downward spiral?
“This is a major question before our two countries and tests our sincerity and ability.”
Blinken’s aides previously said he would address a range of concerns including China’s support for Russia, which has rapidly rebuilt its military base two years into its invasion of Ukraine.
As he opened the meeting with Wang, Blinken said he would be “very clear, very direct,” but added: “I hope we make some progress on the issues our presidents agreed” on.
The two countries should be as “clear as possible about the areas where we have differences — at the very least to avoid misunderstandings, to avoid miscalculations,” Blinken said.
“That really is a shared responsibility that we have not only for our own people, but for people around the world.”
Joel Embiid scores 50 points to lead 76ers past Knicks 125-114 to cut deficit to 2-1
PHILADELPHIA: Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.
With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.
The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.
Last season’s NBA MVP, Embiid finally turned the crowd — which had a distinct New York flavor in South Philly --- into one rocking for the home team. The All-Star center played more like a sharpshooting guard in the third, when he saved the season.
The Sixers pecked away at a three-point halftime deficit when Embiid got hot. He hit one 3 and then two more — — the last two with assists from Tyrese Maxey — that gave the Sixers an 82-72 lead. His fourth 3 pushed the lead to 98-85.
Not bad for a career 34 percent 3-point shooter.
Maxey added two 3s in the quarter and the 76ers went a whopping 9 of 12 from beyond the arc for 43 points.
After getting punished in New York, the Sixers pushed back.
Embiid’s bulky left knee brace helped sturdy the 7-footer after dealing with injuries all season. He mostly kept his cool and was in the mix on both ends of the court all game. Embiid had 17 points, three fouls and he even grabbed Mitchell Robinson and dragged him to the court in a first half where they again weren’t good enough to look like a team that could beat the Knicks.
The Knicks won the first two games in New York, highlighted by Donte DiVincenzo’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in Game 2. Against the backdrop of two Villanova national championship banners they helped the program win, the trio of former Wildcats were largely stifled in Game 3.
Jalen Brunson did lead the Knicks with 39 points and 13 assists. Josh Hart — whose spectacular 3-point shooting in New York was an unexpected bonus for the Knicks — scored 20 points but DiVincenzo had five.
They must felt at home inside a Sixers’ arena that sounded more like Madison Square Garden as chants of “Let’s Go Knicks!’ echoed throughout the arena for a chunk of the game. John Starks wildly cheered them on from his courtside.
The Sixers countered with Allen Iverson.
But nostalgia didn’t matter much between two teams that played each other in a postseason series for the first time since 1989.
This one could be shaping up as one to remember.
Embiid was serenaded with “MVP! MVP!” chants as he stretched the lead from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
“Joel Embiid has been banned from the Empire State Building,” was posted on the skyscraper’s social media account.
Maxey finished with 25 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 15 points and showed no lingering effects following his reported involvement in a car crash after Game 2.
Game 3 was played without any significant disputes with the officiating after the NBA said the referees missed several late calls in Game 2.
