In brief: Israel releases more prisoners

BEITUNIA, West Bank – Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners late Sunday, the second and final phase of a swap with Gaza Hamas militants that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.

Under the Egypt-brokered deal, Israel agreed to exchange a total of 1,027 prisoners for Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza militants in June 2006. Schalit returned home in October when Israel freed the first batch of 477 prisoners. Sunday’s release of 550 prisoners completed the swap, the most lopsided in Israel’s history.

The release Sunday night was not infused with the same drama as the first phase, since the most significant players in the trade had already been freed.

President returns from medical trip

KARACHI, Pakistan – Pakistan’s president returned home early today, nearly two weeks after a surprise trip to Dubai for medical treatment sparked rumors that he might step down under pressure from the country’s powerful military.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s arrival will likely help quell speculation about his future. But officials have not spelled out exactly what was wrong with the president, and he is still under threat from a memo scandal that has upset the army and already forced the Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. to resign.

Ice-locked crew awaiting airdrop

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – The crew fighting to stop their iceberg-damaged fishing boat from sinking in the Antarctic waited today for an airdrop of equipment to help them repair a hole in the hull.

Three ships were on the way to help the Russian-flagged Sparta, but one was at a standstill only 22 miles away, stuck in thick pack ice. It will be several days before the others, including an icebreaker, can reach the Sparta.

With 32 crew members, the fishing vessel sent out a distress call Friday, saying it was sinking in the Ross Sea near the Antarctic ice shelf, about 2,300 miles southeast of New Zealand. The boat had struck an underwater iceberg.