Prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington frees a US-Russia dual national

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Russia has freed a Russian American convicted of treason in exchange for a Russian German man jailed on smuggling charges in the U.S. Thursday’s prisoner swap comes as the two countries work to repair ties. Karelina was arrested in 2024 on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. U.S. authorities have called the case “absolutely ludicrous.” Karelina is expected to arrive back in the U.S. on Thursday evening. “They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good. So we appreciate that,” President Donald Trump said Thursday. Russian officials said Arthur Petrov was released as part of the swap. He was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the U.S. on charges of smuggling sensitive microelectronics.

Memorials begin for some killed in Dominican Republic nightclub collapse

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The number of people killed when a roof collapsed at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic has surged to 221. Burials and funerals are taking place Thursday for some of the dead, including merengue icon Rubby Pérez who was performing on stage early Tuesday when the cement roof fell onto clubgoers at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo. The Center of Emergency Operations finalized its search after crews rescued 189 people alive from the rubble. Doctors are warning that some of the two dozen patients who remain hospitalized are still not in the clear, especially eight who are in critical condition.

Israel releases 10 Palestinians detained from Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has freed 10 Palestinians detained from Gaza, the latest in periodic releases from the thousands of people troops have seized during the military campaign in the territory. The men returned to the Gaza Strip and said they had suffered frequent abuse while imprisoned, including beatings. They were welcomed by family members at a hospital in central Gaza. There was no immediate comment by the military. Israeli officials have said that they abide by the letter of the law in the treatment of prisoners and investigate violations. But there have been widespread reports of abuse of Palestinian detainees in military prison camps and civilian prisons.

Turkey releases over 120 people charged with taking part in anti-government protests

ISTANBUL (AP) — More than 120 people detained during anti-government protests in Turkey have been released from prison after more than two weeks behind bars. Courts in Istanbul on Thursday released 127 defendants, most of them university students, who were arrested at their homes on March 24 after taking part in demonstrations sparked by the jailing of the city’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 22-year rule. Those who were freed are among more than 2,000 people arrested for taking part in the country’s largest mass demonstrations in more than a decade.