US Defends Taliban Prisoner Swap Deal as Critics Voice Concerns

US defends Taliban prisoner swap deal as critics raise concernsReuters

The US government has defended the Afghan prisoner deal in which five Taliban leaders, Guantanamo detainees, were swapped for American Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, while critics have raised concerns over the exchange.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, who made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, said the release of the US soldier serves as a "powerful reminder" of the country's commitment towards its troops.

"This is a happy day for our country, because we got one of our own back. Fortunately ... no shots were fired, there was no violence. It went as well, not only as we had expected and planned, but I think as well as it could have," Hagel said in his address to a gathering of US troops at the Bagram base in Afghanistan.

He emphasised that Washington decided to press ahead with the exchange after receiving intelligence reports suggesting the 28-year-old sergeant's health and safety were in jeopardy.

Bergdahl, who was handed over to the US, is presently in Germany undergoing medical examination.

Several Republicans have heaped scorn on the deal saying it poses a risk to the US especially if the freed Islamists return to fight.

Republican representative Adam Kinzinger said although he was happy over Bergdahl's release, freeing of the Taliban leaders was "shocking".

Republican senator and former presidential contender John McCain said the Taliban insurgents were "possibly responsible for the deaths of thousands" and the exchange could set a disturbing precedent.

US officials have said Bergdahl was the only American soldier captured by Afghan militants during the conflict.

'Anonymous' Hacktivists Target World Cup Sponsors

A demonstrator of the group called Black Bloc wears an anonymous mask as he holds a banner during a protest in Sao Paulo

International "hacktivist" collective Anonymous is to launch a series of co-ordinated cyber-attacks on the Brazil World Cup sponsors, in solidarity with local protests against the millions being spent that might otherwise have improved the lives of ordinary Brazilians.

In an interview with Reuters, a member of the collective, who called himself Che Commodore, said that preparations for the attacks were underway.

Commodore gave Reuters an outline of the companies the group intends to target, and had a comprehensive knowledge of the group's activities, lending credibility to his claims to be a member.

"We have a plan of attack," Commodore told the agency. "We have already conducted late-night tests to see which of the sites are more vulnerable… This time we are targeting the sponsors of the World Cup."

Companies on the group's hit list include tournament sponsors Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Emirates Airlines and Adidas.

The plans follow mass demonstrations in Brazil, where crowds have taken to the streets to protest against the government's lavish spending on the World Cup, instead of improving the lives of ordinary Brazilians in a country where many do not have access to basic services.

He said that in their tests earlier in the week, they had successfully hacked into the Brazilian Foreign Ministry's server, leaking 333 confidential emails from diplomats and classified documents.

They include a briefing of talks between Brazilian officials and US vice-president Joe Biden and a list of sports ministers who are to attend the tournament.

In response, the Foreign Ministry claims that only 55 email accounts were hacked, and the only documents stolen were attached to emails and were from the ministry's internal documents archive.

In the past, Anonymous has used DDoS attacks, in which a server is overwhelmed with millions of simultaneous requests.

The group's non-hierarchical structure makes it difficult for law enforcement to trace members, say experts.

Neymar's £75m Barcelona Transfer 'Paid for London Orgy for His Father'

Barcelona's Neymar celebrates his second goal against Celta de Vigo during La Liga's soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona.Reuters

The father of Barcelona starlet Neymar sealed his son's £75 million transfer to Spain with an orgy at a top hotel in London, according to the former President of Brazilian football club Santos.

Neymar, 24, moved from Santos in his homeland of Brazil to Barcelona last summer and his bumper contract was celebrated by his father with a wild party with escort girls - in London.

"The fee included 'coffee money'– a tip – for Neymar's father," said former Santos chief Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro in an interview with ESPN Brazil.

"It also paid for an orgy in London. I don't know why Neymar Sr should have made anything in the deal.

"It was one of the most luxurious hotels, where the Queen's had tea.

"That £75m was ­excessive. It included ­hookers and a private jet."

Ribeiro continued to criticise Neymar's father Neymar da Silva saying he is "a liar and only thinks about money."

"I thought Neymar's father was my friend, but today, if I saw him in front on my car, I might step on the accelerator."

The participants in the orgy are unknown and there is no suggestion that Neymar Junior was at the party last year.