Belarus has freed 52 political prisoners of different nationalities, the US Embassy in Vilnius said Thursday, in what appeared to be the largest release of detainees in years.

The embassy said those freed were on their way to Lithuania. Belarusian media reported the group included opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich, philosopher Uladzimir Matskevich, and Lithuanian citizen Alena Romanauskienė.

The release was announced as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko met in Minsk with John Cole, a representative of US President Donald Trump.

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Source: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/59912

The post Belarus Frees 52 Political Prisoners After Talks With US Envoy first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The meeting came days after US President Donald Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to make peace or face “very severe tariffs.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly acknowledged Trump’s ultimatum, and Moscow has continued to pummel Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles while its ground troops grind forward in the east.

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Source: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/23/europe/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-third-round-turkey-latam-intl

[Disclaimer]

The post Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap, but little other progress in Istanbul talks first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Russia hit Ukraine overnight with its largest drone attack since the start of the war, causing some damage at a military airfield in the west of the country, the Ukrainian air force said on Monday.

It was the latest Russian onslaught since Ukraine destroyed a number of bombers in drone attacks on air bases deep inside Russia earlier this month.

Ukraine’s air defence units downed 460 out of 479 drones and 19 out of 20 missiles launched by the Russian forces, the air force said in a statement.

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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-ukraine-largest-drone-attack-1.7555915

The post Russia launches nearly 500 drones into Ukraine, as sides exchange more prisoners first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Three Israelis and five Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas before being transferred to Israeli forces and taken to Israel.

A total of 110 Palestinians were later released from Israeli prisons, including 32 with life sentences and 30 minors.

Israel delayed their release in response to the way the hostages were treated as they were handed over.

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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8j6rq855jo

The post Eight Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Government spokesman David Mencer told reporters that Israel had received a list from the Palestinian armed group overnight that provided information on the status of the hostages.

“The list from Hamas matches Israel’s intelligence, so I can share with you that… eight have been killed by Hamas,” he said, without naming them. “The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives.”

Seven women have already been freed alive in exchange for more than 290 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails since the ceasefire began on 19 January.

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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3lynk8493o

The post Israel says eight hostages due to be freed in first phase are dead first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Four Americans were released from Russia, as were 12 German nationals and Russian political prisoners, while the United States, Germany, Slovenia, and Norway agreed to give up eight Russians. The difference in the cases is Russia imprisons journalists and civilians to use as bargaining chips in these types of negotiations, whereas the Western countries are parting with Russians who often had been convicted in courts of law.

The Americans

Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, and Vladimir Kara-Murza are the Americans who were released in the prison swap.

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Source: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3107580/who-released-prisoner-swap-brought-evan-gershkovich-paul-whelan-home/

The post Who was released in prisoner swap that brought Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan home? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Watching mothers and children reunited can’t help but tug at your heart strings.  The terror visited on Jews is now visited on the whole world.  Somebody else can look at the pictures.  The huge demonstrations on American soil claim that there were no atrocities.  These protesters think they’re entitled to their own truth.  Two taps on the chest, and they can come up with anything.  “My truth.”

Another day, with two thirds of the hostages still being held, war has resumed.  As you know, news outlets are all over it with reporters nearby.  Israel’s spokesmen have been resolute.  Hamas must be destroyed for all time.  They’ve purportedly committed mind bending atrocities. 

The interviews are beginning.  For the rest of our lives we’ll be re-living the hell they went  through.  Can you imagine being held underground for six weeks?  That would be psychologically damaging all by itself.  But these returned hostages endured malnutrition and who knows what else.

When you think about it, they’re visiting terrorism on the entire world!  The news reports what they can, and even that isn’t fit for human consumption.  Videos come with warnings, and I for one am not going to watch any of it.  Some of the terrorists wore body cams and helmet cams.  

Their argument is circular.  They’re crazy by their own admission.  “Of course they are crazy,” the story goes.  You know who made them crazy, and therefore it’s not their fault.  They’re just innocent victims, made insane by Israel.  

Some are now reasoning about what happened in 1948 with the UN mandate that created Israel.  That was 75 years ago.  Is history to be undone?  The terrorists think so.  Their rebellion has not gone so well, as you can see.  It’s not going well now.  You’ve seen the utter destruction.  It’s like something out of a horror movie.  

When have you ever seen maps dropped, announcing future bombing locations to stay away from?  Israel told the residents, the innocent victims caught between combatants, to get out.  But that’s not what the terrorists had in mind.  Human shields is the name of the game.  It’s their whole strategy, beyond committing acts not fit for the mind.  

Maybe something is going on.  Personally, I think everybody’s had just about enough of saving the planet, global warming and orders from doctors.  Along that line, did you see what Elon Musk told the advertisers who had fled after Media Matters put out a fraudulent meme, claiming that Elon’s company was placing big name corporate advertisers next to “racists” screeds?  This might make a difference, eventually.  He told them off, like he didn’t even care.  We’ll see what happens.  He’s suing Media Matters.  Hope he puts them out of business. 

There are some signs that people all over the world have had enough of this new age, anti-God philosophy.  Most people don’t want the government breathing down their neck, making prohibitions and demands.  We like the Constitution, thanks very much.  But other nations in the world don’t have our Constitution.  Holland, New Zealand (shock), and Argentina have elected conservatives.  You can only take so much. 

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – December 1, 2023 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Nov. 21 (UPI) — The Israeli government voted Tuesday night to approve a hostage deal with Hamas, that allows for the release of 50 women and children being held by militants in Gaza in exchange for a four-day cease-fire, according to a government source who told CNN, NBC and CBS that the deal was approved by a significant majority of the cabinet.

The deal also calls for the release of about 150 Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners, which is three Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli citizen released, multiple sources told CNN, NBC and CBS.

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Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2023/11/21/Qatar-Hamas-says-Gaza-truce-with-Israel-imminent/7541700558603/

The post Israel approves hostage deal with Hamas, agrees to 4-day cease-fire first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The post Iran prisoner swap: US citizens freed in $6bn deal first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says the Iranian government will spend the $6 billion it gained in a prisoner exchange with the U.S., “wherever we need it.”

Raisi made the comments in an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt on Tuesday after coming to an agreement with the U.S. to release five American prisoners. In exchange, the U.S. will release five Iranian citizens and unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil assets previously locked up in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions.

“This money belongs to the Iranian people, the Iranian government, so the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide what to do with this money,” Raisi said Tuesday. “Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people needs, so this money will be budgeted for those needs and the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.”

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Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/iranian-president-reveals-plans-spending-6-billion-gained-us-prisoner-exchange

The post Iranian president reveals plans for spending $6 billion gained in US prisoner exchange first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.