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Pope Francis Alessandra Tarantino / AP  

The Pope hospitalized – has a respiratory infection 

Pope Francis has been hospitalized for treatment of a respiratory infection after he complained of breathing difficulties, the Vatican announced on Wednesday evening, according to several news agencies.  

The 86-year-old Pope has tested negative for covid-19. He will remain in hospital for a few days and has canceled Thursday's meetings.  

Recently, Franciskus has often been forced to use a wheelchair due to chronic knee pain.  

The FBI has obtained photos of Sergey Cherkasov. FBI  

The Russian invasion The Russian spy at the ICC 

FBI: The Russian spy also struck Washington  

He was sent back to Brazil after it was discovered that he was a Russian spy in the process of infiltrating the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Now Sergej Cherkasov is accused of having - during his time studying at Johns Hopkins University - also spied on the United States, writes the Washington Post.  

According to US court documents, the Russian - who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence - sent reports to his superiors about the Biden administration and its handling of the Russian build-up to the invasion. 

The American intelligence service has gone through Cherkasov's computer and found "reams" of evidence of his activities. Representatives have also met the suspected spy face-to-face at the prison in São Paolo. So far, US authorities have not requested Cherkasov's extradition.  

According to the Washington Post, however, the indictment may have been made to prevent Brazilian authorities from releasing him to Russia. 

Xi Jinping and Zelensky on the train. TT/AP  

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Zelenskyi on China's silence: Wants to talk to Xi Jinping  

After the meeting with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping called on both Russia and Ukraine for peace talks.  But China's president has so far expressed no interest in hearing Ukraine's side of the story. 

Now Zelenskyj formally invites his Chinese colleague to talks: 

- I want to talk to him, Zelenskyy told AP. 

Xi Jinping has been accused by the West of taking Russia's side in the war.  At the same time, Xi has expressed a desire to reach an end to the conflict.  

But all Chinese statements have so far taken place without any contact with the one it concerns: Ukraine, claims Volodymyr Zelensky.  

From the Chinese side, however, it sounds different. Spokesperson Mao Ning states on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Beijing is "communicating with all relevant parties, including Ukraine", AP writes. However, he does not want to answer how Xi approaches meeting Zelenskyi.