And we begin with more news, breaking news out of north korea. American citizen merle newman has been frie freed after beingd bheldby north korea for a month. New dollarsman wags was te detaa sightseeing tour. Melissa is live in san lan witht developmentses. Developments. As you can imagine the family has been zpi distraught. The north koreans famously unpreictable. The u. S. State department had this statement. We are pleased that mr. Newman has been allowed to depart from the dprk and rejoin his family zplmp. This positive decision shows the continuing detention of mr. Bay who has been in dprk custody for over a year. The dprk the official name of north korea. Vice President Biden had comments about merle newmans release. Its a positive thing they have done they have mr. Bay who has no reason to be held. He should be releaseddeded reley and wimmediately and we are goio tip to demand his release as well there is one ray of sunshine today that mr. Newman will be reunited with his famil
With the white tilers. For Merrill Newman the war was ancient history. For north korea, ever ready to fight american imperialists. Merrill newman was an enemy of the state. The two countries never signed a peace treaty, are techniy at war and as such his release likely required the personal approval of the countrys leader kim jong un. Why he let Merrill Newman go now remains a mystery. After Merrill Newman is home and has a rest, well have more to say about his unusual and difficult journey. For now, though, we ask you to allow us time to be with him as a family. We ask that you not forget another american, kenneth bae. He sentenced to prison. Caught spreading the word of christianity viewed as a greater threat than a soldier Merrill Newman. What is interesting about the situation is something revealing about releasing Merrill Newman. If you look at the two people, a soldier and missionary. After all Merrill Newman was a soldier fighting in the korean war and was probably responsible f
T against any u. S. Company. Good morning. Welcome to Al Jazeera America. Im mad forward. An american war veteran detained in north korea is on his way back to the United States. The u. S. Is calling on the koreans to release another american, merrilman was met by american officials in budget airport early saturday. Merrill newman is expected to arrive at San Francisco around noon eastern time and al jazeeras correspondent has more. Merrill newman is headed home. The 85yearold was held captive for a month in north korea. Im glad to be on my way home. I appreciate the tolerance the dprk has given for me to fe on my own. A veteran of the korean war. He was pulled from his flight back from to the United States. He admitted to his wrongdoing and apologised. His age and medical condition played a part. Merrill newmans spoke to his son briefly. Hes in excellent spirits and eager to be reunited with his family. He was accused of hostile acts. Last week television stations put out a video of h
He was to post apartheid south africa what George Washington was to us, the father of his nation. There is time for the healing of the wound has come. He bore no grudges in spite of spending 27 years in prison. He went in a revolutionary and came out a statesman who spent the rest of his life reconciling white and black in a country where the racial divide was a chasm. Later this sunday morning, what made Nelson Mandela a great man. Osgood we will consider mandelas place among the greats of history. And then turn to the manner of centuries beneath the square, a symbol of the freemasons, just who the masons are and who, what they do are one of the mysteries mo rocca will investigate. It is the worlds oldest fraternity known for its rituals symbols and secrecy. What would happen if i found out the secret handshake and i werent a mason. Nothing. Would you have to kill me . We might take you out and buy you a beer. Ahead on sunday morning, meet the masons. Osgood ethan hawke is an actor wh
Mandela. His death this past thursday saddened people all over the world and remind us how much he accomplished against such daunting odds. Martha teichner will be reporting our cover story. He was to post apartheid south africa what George Washington was to us, the father of his nation. There is time for the healing of the wound has come. He bore no grudges in spite of spending 27 years in prison. He went in a revolutionary and came out a statesman who spent the rest of his life reconciling white and black in a country where the racial divide was a chasm. Later this sunday morning, what made Nelson Mandela a great man. Osgood we will consider mandelas place among the greats of history. And then turn to the manner of centuries beneath the square, a symbol of the freemasons, just who the masons are and who, what they do are one of the mysteries mo rocca will investigate. It is the worlds oldest fraternity known for its rituals symbols and secrecy. What would happen if i found out the se