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WORLD NEWS Friday 14 april 2023

Diplomat: Russia might discuss swap for jailed U.S. reporter

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia sion on the case Wednes-
might be willing to discuss day at Columbia University
a potential prisoner swap in New York, the newspa-
with the U.S. involving jailed per’s chief news editor, Ele-
Wall Street Journal reporter na Cherney, said the Jour-
Evan Gershkovich after his nal’s lawyers had visited
trial on espionage charges, Gershkovich three times,
a top Russian diplomat said that he appears to be in
Thursday. good spirits and health,
Gershkovich, 31, his em- and that he had received
ployer and the U. S. gov- updates on one of his fa-
ernment all deny he was in- vorite soccer teams, Arse-
volved in spying and have nal.
demanded his release. U.S. Secretary of State Ant-
Deputy Foreign Minister Ser- ony Blinken urged his Rus-
gei Ryabkov told the state sian counterpart, Sergey
news agency Tass that talks Lavrov, this month to imme-
about a possible exchange diately secure the release
could take place through of both Gershkovich and
a dedicated channel that Whelan.
Russian and U.S. security President Joe Biden spoke
agencies established for to Greshkovich’s parents
such purposes. Tuesday and again con-
“We have a working chan- In this handout photo released by The Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation, Russian Deputy demned his detention.
nel that was used in the Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov attends a session of the Federal Assembly in Moscow, Russia, “We’re making it real clear
past to achieve concrete Wednesday, April 12, 2023. that it’s totally illegal what’s
agreements, and these Associated Press happening, and we de-
agreements were fulfilled,” ing the judicial process be- hind bars. olution, rather than public clared it so,” he said.
Ryabkov said, adding that fore considering exchang- Another American, Michi- statements and specula- On Monday, the U.S. gov-
there was no need for the es. gan corporate security ex- tion. ernment declared Gersh-
involvement of any third It’s not clear how long the ecutive Paul Whelan, has Gershkovich could face kovich as “wrongfully de-
country. investigation could last, been imprisoned in Russia up to 20 years in prison if tained,” a designation that
However, he emphasized but other espionage cases since December 2018 on convicted. Russian lawyers means that a particular
that Moscow would only have lasted for a year or espionage charges that his have said past investiga- State Department office
negotiate a possible pris- more. family and the U.S. govern- tions into espionage cases takes the lead on seeking
oner exchange after a In December, American ment have called baseless. took a year to 18 months, his release.
trial. “The issue of exchang- basketball star Brittney Gri- During the Griner case, the during which time he could Russia’s Federal Security
ing anyone could only be ner was exchanged for Kremlin repeatedly urged have little contact with the Service, or FSB, arrested
considered after a court Russian arms dealer Viktor the United States to use outside world. Gershkovich in Yekaterin-
delivers its verdict,” he was Bout following her trial and the “special channel” to A Moscow court has re- burg, Russia’s fourth-largest
quoted by Tass as saying. conviction on drug pos- discuss it and work on a ceived a defense appeal city, on March 29. He is
That practice is in keep- session charges. She had potential prisoner swap, of his arrest and it’s sched- the first U.S. correspondent
ing with previous cases in been sentenced to nine saying such private com- uled to be considered April since the Cold War to be
which Russian authorities years in prison and ended munications were the only 18. detained in Russia for al-
have insisted on complet- up spending 10 months be- appropriate means for res- Speaking at a panel discus- leged spying.q

Northern China blanketed with floating sand and dust

BEIJING (AP) — Many ar- regions, including major cit- affected by floating sand caster, Gui Hailin, earlier Running enthusiast Tu Jiax-
eas in northern China were ies like Beijing and Shang- and dust on Thursday. said the sandy and dusty ian said the sandstorm had
blanketed with floating hai, would see some areas The center’s chief fore- weather began Sunday in a “huge impact” on her life
sand and dust on Thursday, southern Mongolia. As cold because it interrupted her
and a sandstorm was ex- air moved southward, the marathon training plans.
pected to sweep through weather spread to various “I want to run but I dare not
parts of Inner Mongolia. regions including northern run because of the weath-
The sandy, dusty weather and northeast China, he er. That is very painful,” Tu
and strong winds will last said. said, adding she had quit
until Sunday, the National In Beijing, buildings and her daily 10-kilometer (6.2-
Meteorological Center said traffic were shrouded by mile) jogs for three days this
in a statement, adding the low visibility. The IQAir web- week due to the weather.
public should take precau- site showed an air quality Cao Yuanyuan, a new-
tionary measures to guard index of 540 for the capital comer to Beijing, was sur-
against poor air quality. and labeled its air pollution prised at first to see the hazy
It renewed a blue alert for level as “hazardous.” scenes and took photos of
sandstorms — the least se- The Beijing Municipal Eco- them. But the bad weather
vere warning in the coun- logical and Environmental forced her to wear glasses
try’s four-tier weather warn- Cars drive an along expressway during a dust and sandstorm in Monitoring Center issued as a protective measure
ing system — and forecast Beijing, Thursday, April 13, 2023. the highest air pollution and keep the windows in
that more than a dozen Associated Press warning. her room shut.q