Pakistan conservatives suspicious of US agenda
Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, praised Pakistan’s military for progress in fighting the Taliban.
In his latest visit to Pakistan, he also met some of the leaders of conservative groups who often blame the US for the violence in the region.
Anita McNaught reports on the attempt at dialogue amid long-standing suspicions.
Kim Dae-jung aids Korean unity in life and death
In life and in death, Kim Dae-jung, the former South Korean president, has helped to inch the two Koreas towards warmer ties.
Kim’s “sunshine policy” led to rapprochement between the rivals in the 90s and now his death has led to a cooling of tensions that have been rising in the peninsula for the last few months, with North Korea announcing plans to send a delegation to attend his state funeral.
Tony Birtley reports from Seoul.
Afghan women in the US watch polls closely
Tens of thousands of Afgahns live in the United States after fleeing their native country. Some of them have had to leave relatives behind.
Al Jazeera’s Mike Kirsch reports from “Little Kabul” in Fremont, California, where women are watching the Afghanistan’s presidential election closely.
They hope the outcome will improve the lives of their daughters and sisters.
Lockerbie convict release travesty of justice
Huge crowds in Libya have welcomed Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bombing convict freed from a Scottish prison. The US, whose nationals accounted for the majority of the 270 that perished in the bombing, has called the decision to free al-Megrahi a “mistake”.
Al Megrahi is the only man to be convicted of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, which blew up blew up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. He is now dying of cancer, but for many of his victims’ families, his release on compassionate grounds is a travesty of justice.
Al Jazeera’s Clayton Swisher reports.