A year in a Russian prison for an American journalist
One year ago today, Russian authorities arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and charged him with spying for the US government. He is the first American reporter since the end of the Cold War to be held in Russia on espionage charges.
The newspaper and the US government have strongly denied that Gershkowitz is a spy, saying he was a credentialed journalist doing his job. But he remains locked up today, held in the same notorious prison as the people arrested in connection with last week’s terror attack in Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia said in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson that he wanted to exchange Gershovitch for Vadim Krashikov, a Russian national jailed in Germany for a murder in a Berlin park.
Putin is practicing “transactional diplomacy,” but countries worry that such exchanges could potentially encourage more incarcerations, said my colleague Valerie Hopkins, who covers Russia.
“The White House made Evan’s case, President Biden talked about it in the State of the Union,” Hopkins said, adding, “But it’s incredibly difficult to make any kind of deal right now with Putin.”
Earlier this week, Gerskovich’s detention was extended for another three months. No trial date has been set.
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Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX who was convicted of stealing billions of dollars from his clients, was sentenced to 25 years in prison yesterday.
His sentence was a fraction of the 110-year maximum sentence he faced, but still ranks as one of the longest handed down to a white-collar defendant in recent years.
The conviction marked the finale of a sweeping fraud case that exposed rampant volatility and risk-taking throughout the loosely regulated world of cryptocurrencies. In November 2022, FTX collapsed almost overnight, wiping out $8 billion in customer savings. At a trial last fall, Bankman-Fried was convicted of seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.
Bankman-Fried promised to appeal his conviction, but in his post-sentencing remarks he appeared to acknowledge he would be in prison for some time. “My useful life is probably over now,” he said.
Related: How does Bankman-Fried’s proposal compare to those of other fraudsters such as Bernie Madoff and Elizabeth Holmes.
“Catastrophic situation” in Haiti
Gang violence in Haiti has killed more than 1,500 people this year, the UN human rights office said, the result of what it described as a “catastrophic situation” in the country.
Armed gangs have taken over most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, destroying police stations and government offices, looting banks and hospitals, and killing and kidnapping dozens of people. There is also widespread, deadly vigilantism, with community groups targeting people suspected of petty crime or gang involvement.
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Dachshunds, the German dog breed known for their distinctive long bodies and short legs, face an uncertain future in Germany if changes to an animal protection law are approved, the country’s kennel said.
The association is concerned that the current draft law could ban the breeding of dachshunds because their characteristics could cause them suffering. But don’t despair, doxie fans — a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Food said the bill is likely to be amended.
Principles of conversation
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ARTS AND IDEAS
The 25 pieces of furniture that defined the last century
T, The Times style magazine, convened a panel of experts including architects, interior designers, curators and actress Julianne Moore to compile a list of the most influential pieces of furniture of the past 100 years.
The jurors were determined to largely avoid the usual collectibles, although they couldn’t leave out Charles and Ray Eames or Le Corbusier. Their list includes elegant pieces like Ettore Sottsass’ Ultrafragola illuminated mirror, and the instantly recognizable like the ubiquitous plastic Monobloc chair.
You can read the entire list here.
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Cook: This Easter egg nest cake features a rich mixture of whipped cream and melted chocolate in a broken cake shell, topped with sweet Easter eggs.
