The father of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is not optimistic about his son's release, despite a videotape published on Friday showing for the first time that he is alive and well.

VOA: standard.2009.10.03

"Something else, which we hope does not happen very often, but which happens from time to time are the accidents which can release huge amounts of chemicals or radioactive-during Chernobyl, the radioactive things.

VOA: standard.2009.03.23

Clinton said the United States continues to demand the unconditional release of the Nobel Peace laureate, who has been detained most of the time since 1990, when her National League for Democracy party won national elections but was barred by the military from taking power.

VOA: standard.2009.11.12

"A sense that a step is made to release prisoners, and the government is trying to build some bridges in certain areas, but at the same time, the revolutionary side is given its moment in which Fidel Castro is able to excoriate the United States and to continue to lay out the revolutionary credentials, or Cuba's role as a leader of the Third World."

VOA: standard.2010.07.13