News
Russia and US Set for Historic Prisoner Swap Including Gershkovich and Whelan
In a significant development, Russia and the United States are poised to conduct a major prisoner exchange on Thursday, involving the release of three US citizens imprisoned in Russia. The individuals expected to be freed include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. The deal, confirmed by a senior US official, marks a notable diplomatic effort by the Biden administration.
The prisoner swap is anticipated to involve a total of 24 prisoners held across Russia, the US, Germany, and three other Western countries. Among those expected to be returned to Russia are eight Russian nationals, some of whom have suspected ties to Russian intelligence. Notably, Vadim Krasikov, identified by German officials as a colonel in Russia’s FSB intelligence service and serving a life sentence for the 2019 murder of a Kremlin opponent in a Berlin park, is included in the exchange.
The arrangement follows days of intense speculation regarding a major swap involving multiple countries, spurred by reports that several dissidents and journalists jailed in Russia had been moved from their prison cells to undisclosed locations. One such detainee, Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin opponent with dual Russian-British citizenship, has been unaccounted for, raising hopes that he too might be part of the exchange.
Other potential individuals on the list include Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin and veteran human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov. While secret prison transfers are not uncommon in Russia, the simultaneous “disappearance” of high-profile prisoners has been notably unusual.
Additionally, earlier this week, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned a German citizen, Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to death on terrorism and other charges, further fueling expectations of a significant diplomatic deal in the works.
In a devastating incident in eastern India, at least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while celebrating the Hindu Jivitputrika festival. The fatalities, which occurred across 15 districts within the past 24 hours, resulted from victims ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding.
The three-day festival, which honors children’s wellbeing, is traditionally marked by mothers fasting and families participating in ritual baths. This year, the swollen water bodies, exacerbated by recent floods, have turned the celebratory ritual into a deadly disaster.
Local disaster management officials have expressed fears that the death toll could rise further. State authorities have promised compensation for the families and relatives of the victims.
Fatal accidents during religious festivals are not uncommon in India, where large gatherings often take place with insufficient safety measures. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such gatherings, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted airstrikes in Beirut, reportedly killing Mohammad Hussein Surur, a senior Hezbollah air unit leader. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed two deaths and 15 injuries from the attack. The strikes come amid escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire throughout the night and into the morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF would continue to fight “with full force” against Hezbollah, aiming to dismantle the Iran-backed militant group. This marks a significant intensification of hostilities between the two sides, which have been exchanging rockets and airstrikes for days. The Lebanese health ministry also reported that 28 people were killed today by Israeli airstrikes.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched 80 missiles targeting northern Israeli cities, including Safed. Israeli authorities have reported no casualties but noted significant property damage in Safed and Rosh Pina.
Amid the intensifying conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin renewed calls for a diplomatic solution. The U.S., along with 11 other allied nations, has urged both Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire to prevent further escalation and civilian casualties.
Ferry travel between the Isle of Man and Lancashire continues to face disruption due to strong winds over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has cancelled Thursday’s 08:45 BST sailing of the Manxman to Heysham and its scheduled 14:15 return journey. This follows the cancellation of the vessel’s return trip from the Lancashire port on Wednesday evening.
The disruptions have affected postal services, with the Isle of Man Post Office reporting delays in deliveries from the UK. While local deliveries within the island remain unaffected, items posted on Wednesday for UK delivery may not reach Royal Mail’s network in time for Friday delivery.
Additionally, the ferry cancellations have caused a delay in newspaper deliveries, with no papers available on the island on Thursday, as confirmed by the island’s wholesale distributor.
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