Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
Fogel, 63, was serving a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling, after being detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August 2021 with 17 grams of marijuana, which he claimed was for medical use. His release comes as Trump works to strengthen relations with Moscow while seeking an end to the Ukraine war.
Trump told reporters that Fogel would visit the White House upon his return to the U.S. and that he was reunited with his family on Tuesday night. A photo posted by Trump’s chief hostage envoy Adam Boehler showed Fogel aboard a plane, holding a glass of wine and his U.S. passport.
When asked what the U.S. gave up in exchange for Fogel’s release, Trump responded, “Not much”, framing the move as a sign of good faith from Russia.
Fogel’s Russian lawyer confirmed his release but said it was unclear on what legal grounds he was freed. He had been moved from a prison in Rybinsk to a pre-trial detention center in Moscow ahead of his release.
Fogel had previously been excluded from the August 2024 prisoner swap, which saw 16 prisoners freed from Russia in exchange for eight sent back from the West.
Trump has hinted at ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and described “good progress” toward resolving the Ukraine conflict, though he has not provided specifics.
Syria has transitioned from mandatory conscription to voluntary military service, a move that has led to a surge in new enlistments. The policy change comes under the new Syrian administration, which has ruled the country since December, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
Egypt has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza, affirming that no land will be allocated for relocation. Instead, Cairo plans to present a comprehensive proposal to rebuild Gaza while ensuring its residents remain.
Syria has transitioned from mandatory conscription to voluntary military service, a move that has led to a surge in new enlistments. The policy change comes under the new Syrian administration, which has ruled the country since December, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
The Sarandí stream in Buenos Aires, Argentina, turned bright red on Thursday for unknown reasons, raising concerns among authorities and residents. The waterway, which flows into the Río de la Plata, is under investigation to determine the cause.
Uzbekistan’s flag carrier has announced airline’s plan to purchase a dozen of aircrafts from Boeing and Airbus, marking a significant milestone in upgrading and expanding its fleet.
Azerbaijan has halted activities of “Russian House” in Baku according to local media reports on Thursday, following accusations of espionage. This is being described as an escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Elon Musk has called for the shutdown of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA), arguing that the U.S.-funded media outlets serve as government propaganda tools and waste taxpayer money.
A major fire erupted near Istanbul’s historic Spice Bazaar in the Eminonu district on Thursday, quickly spreading to nearby buildings. Emergency teams, including firefighters and medical personnel, were dispatched to control the blaze and ensure public safety.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to provide stunning insights into the universe.
The risk of an asteroid impact on Earth has doubled within a week, though there are currently no plans to build a deflection spacecraft for the 90-metre-wide space rock.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
Syria has transitioned from mandatory conscription to voluntary military service, a move that has led to a surge in new enlistments. The policy change comes under the new Syrian administration, which has ruled the country since December, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
President Donald Trump is pushing a radical plan to cut $1 trillion in federal spending and shrink the U.S. government. With Elon Musk leading the effort, the White House faces legal challenges and economic concerns over the impact of its cuts.
Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.
Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
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