5 hostages traded for prisoners
- Share via
A German engineer and four Afghans taken hostage in central Afghanistan in July have been freed in exchange for five imprisoned criminals, an Afghan official said.
Local elders handed over Rudolf Blechschmidt and the four Afghans to officials from Afghanistan’s intelligence service in Wardak province, said Mohammad Nahim, a district chief.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Madison McGhee is joined by legendary Dateline host Josh Mankiewicz and esteemed L.A. Times Reporter Richard Winton as the three of them dive into all-things Menendez Brothers, the good, the bad, and the still unknown.
NPR climate editor Sadie Babits talks about why the media has long overlooked the climate crisis, and how that’s starting to change.
