WSJ reporter denied appeal against pre-trial detention extension

Moscow accused Evan Gershkovich of espionage and he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following WSJ reporter denied appeal against pre-trial detention extension [Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2023.] Credit: Dmitry Serebryakov/AP Russia A court in Moscow has [denied an appeal]( by Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich against the extension of his pre-trial detention, which was extended until Aug. 30. He was arrested in March on accusations of espionage and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He and the newspaper have denied the claim. His [parents were in the courtroom](, but US Ambassador Lynne Tracy was not allowed to attend the closed-door proceedings. Gershkovich’s parents had emigrated from the then-Soviet Union to the US in the late ‘70s. France World leaders, bankers, climate activists and other representatives from about 80 countries are gathering in Paris this week for the [Summit for a New Global Financing Pact](. They will focus on a range of initiatives, including boosting crisis financing for low-income states to ease their debt burdens and [reforming financial systems]( to tackle climate change. These leaders are calling for existing monetary systems to be made more inclusive and forward-facing. China An [explosion at a barbecue restaurant]( in northwest China on Wednesday has left at least 31 people dead and seven others injured after cooking gas ignited. Local fire and rescue services [dispatched more than 100 people]( and 20 vehicles to the scene. The incident is the latest in a history of deadly industrial accidents, despite government pledges to clamp down on lax standards and poor oversight. Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched a national safety campaign on Thursday to encourage workplace safety after ordering an investigation into the cause of the blast. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Sierra Leone elections: Familiar faces vie for voter trust as economy stagnates]( [There's a great deal of concern among civil society groups over how ethnic tensions may influence Sierra Leone’s June 24 elections.]( Credit: Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman/The World As Sierra Leone readies for elections on June 24, incumbent President Julius Maada Bio will face off against against main contender Samura Kamara. [Important issues]( for many voters include economic stagnation, corruption and national security. [‘Open lines of communication’ are crucial to improving relations with Beijing, Amb Nicholas Burns says]( [US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, front right, is welcomed by US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and Yang Tao, far right, director general of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, as he arrives in Beijing on Jun. 18.]( Credit: Leah Millis/Associated Press US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns was in the room this week when Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Amb. Burns spoke with The World’s host Marco Werman about Taiwan, Ukraine and why US and Chinese military leaders have [stopped talking to one another](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Kenya is planning to launch what will be the [largest school lunch program in Africa]( this August. In a $8.6 million joint initiative between the government of Nairobi County and the nonprofit Food4Education, 10 new kitchens will be built to provide 400,000 daily lunches to 225 primary schools and daycares in Nairobi. It will also employ 3,500 people. The program aims to improve school attendance and performance, as well as overall health among students. 🥪🍎 [Screenshot of Food4Education tweet]( Credit: Twitter In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.