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Harrison Li holds a photo of his father, Kai Li, one of the three American citizens imprisoned for years by China —AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File WASHINGTON DC — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration. The three are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, all of whom had been designated by the US government as wrongfully detained by China. Swidan had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement. The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin, a Christian pastor from California who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud. US-China relations have been roiled for years over major disagreements between the world’s two largest economies on trade, human rights, the production of fentanyl precursors, security issues that include espionage and hacking, China’s aggressiveness toward Taiwan and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector. The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the US and China, and Wednesday’s development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term, leading to unease among many who fear that an all-out trade war will greatly affect the international economy and could spur potential Chinese military action against Taiwan. Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met this month to discuss potential improvements. In a separate but related move, the State Department on Wednesday lowered its travel warning to China to “level two,” advising US citizens to “exercise increased caution” from the norm when traveling to the mainland. The alert had previously been at “level three,” telling Americans they should “reconsider travel” to China in part because of the “risk of wrongful detention” of Americans. The new alert removes that wording but retains a warning that the Chinese government “arbitrarily enforces local laws, including exit bans on US citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.” The Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including this month when Biden spoke to Xi on during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. Politico was first to report the men’s release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens in American custody had been returned home. Senators from both political parties praised the move. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he was “overjoyed”—Swidan’s mother lives in Texas—and credited senior Biden administration officials for having “worked tirelessly to secure this achievement.” Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the US and lived in New York, was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. A UN working group called his 10-year prison sentence arbitrary and his family has said the charges were politically motivated. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said he had worked for years to try to secure Li’s release, welcomed the news. “Even when it felt like there was no hope, we never stopped believing that one day Mr. Li would return home,” Schumer said in a statement. Leung was sentenced last year to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19. After Leung’s sentencing, the US recommended—though without citing specific cases—that Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Swidan had been jailed for the last 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, was considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained.
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THE first new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years has been developed and could be "game-changing" for millions of people with the condition. Asthma attacks and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-ups - also known as exacerbations - can be deadly. Advertisement 3 Four people with asthma and 85 people with COPD die every day in the UK - the new treatment has been labelled "game-changing" Credit: Getty 3 Asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups are currently treated with steroid tablets Credit: Getty Four people with asthma and 85 people with COPD die every day in the UK, according to official figures - with someone having an asthma attack every 10 seconds. People with the conditions are currently treated with steroid tablets. But now an injection has been shown to be more effective, reducing the need for further treatment by 30 per cent. Researchers say their findings, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, could be "game-changing" for millions of people with asthma and COPD around the world. Advertisement Read more on winter illnesses BUG BEAR Grim winter virus takes hold as killer lung infection targets under-5s SICK OF IT Grim warning as norovirus cases surge by 40% in weeks amid 'tripledemic threat' Lead investigator of the trial Professor Mona Bafadhel from King’s College London said: “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. "Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in fifty years despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined." The injection treat flare-ups called "eosinophilic exacerbation" and involve symptoms including wheezing, coughing and chest tightness due to inflammation resulting from high amounts of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. Eosinophilic exacerbations make up to 30 per cent of COPD flare-ups and almost half of asthma attacks. Advertisement Most read in Health HORROR ORDEAL My GP gave anxiety meds for 'panic attacks' - my mum spotted the truth ON DEATH'S DOOR Teen left fighting for life with 'brain-swelling bug' after sharing a vape HORROR HEALTH BATTLE I lost parents to same deadly condition – then I was struck down by it WOOING POWER Testosterone does NOT make you sex-mad - but will still boost your love life Until now, steroid drugs have been the main medication. Steroids like prednisolone can reduce inflammation in the lungs but have severe side effects such as diabetes and osteoporosis. How to spot asthma in your child and signs of an asthma attack Many patients also " fail " treatment and need repeated courses of steroids, re-hospitalisation or die within 90 days. The study, led by scientists at King's College London and sponsored by the University of Oxford , looked at benralizamab, a drug already available that could be re-purposed in emergency settings. Advertisement The research team explained benralizamab is a monoclonal antibody which targets eosinophils to reduce lung inflammation It's currently used for the treatment of severe asthma. The trial found a single dose can be more effective when injected at the point of exacerbation compared to steroid tablets. Participants in the study, who were high risk of an asthma or COPD attack, were split into three groups by the research team. Advertisement One group received benralizamab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard of care (prednisolone 30mg daily for five days) and dummy injection and the third group receiving both benralizumab injection and standard of care. Neither the people in the study, or the study investigators knew which study arm or treatment they were given. After 28 days, respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze, breathlessness and sputum were found to be better with benralizumab. After 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group that failed treatment compared to standard of care with prednisolone. Advertisement Treatment with the benralizumab injection took longer to fail, meaning fewer episodes to see a doctor or go to hospital. There was also an improvement in the quality of life for people with asthma and COPD. Prof Bafadhel said: “Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. "We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation - to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets which is the only treatment currently available. Advertisement “We hope these pivotal studies will change how asthma and COPD exacerbations are treated for the future , ultimately improving the health for over a billion people living with asthma and COPD across the world.” Geoffrey Pointing, 77, took part in the study Geoffrey, from Banbury, said when you're having a flare up, it's very difficult to tell anybody how you feel - you can hardly breathe. "Anything that takes that away and gives you back a normal life is what you want," he added. On the injections, he said: "It's fantastic. I didn't get any side effects like I used to with the steroid tablets. "I used to never sleep well the first night of taking steroids, but the first day on the study, I could sleep that first night, and I was able to carry on with my life without problems. "I want to add that I'm just grateful I took part and that the everyone involved in the ABRA study are trying to give me a better life.” Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia, who is the first author of the ABRA trial and started the work while at the University of Oxford, said: “Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. "COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. "We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out. Advertisement Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Innovation, at Asthma + Lung UK, added: “It’s great news for people with lung conditions that a potential alternative to giving steroid tablets has been found to treat asthma attacks and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. "But it’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is. Read more on the Scottish Sun LOOKING UP I'm a four-time world champ but my eyesight is going so I've made crucial change ISLE SAY Stunning home with panoramic views for sale for just £135k - but there's a catch “Every four minutes in the UK, someone dies from a lung condition. Thousands more live with the terror of struggling to breathe every day. With your help, we're fighting for more life-changing, life-saving research to transform the future for everyone living with breathing problems. Together, we’ll make sure that families everywhere never face a lung condition without the best treatment and care. “Our vision is a world where everyone has healthy lungs. We can only get there with your help.” Advertisement Side effects of steroids Steroid tablets can be lifesaving but can have side effects, particularly if you’re taking higher doses over a long period of time. Most of these side effects are unlikely with a short course of steroids, but they may happen if you keep needing short courses to deal with symptoms that keep coming back, or because you keep having asthma attacks. Some side effects may be noticeable straight away, such as stomach problems, or changes to your mood (feeling depressed, or feeling ‘high’ or manic). Others may only be noticeable after weeks or months, such as weight gain, or a puffy ‘moon’ face. These are unlikely with a short course of steroids but can happen with repeated courses. Some side effects may develop over time. You’re more at risk of side effects like steroid-induced diabetes, or osteoporosis or thin skin and bruising if you’ve been taking steroid tablets for a long period of time, or if you need several short courses of high dose steroids in a year. Some 93 per cent said they had at least one condition linked to taking oral corticosteroids long-term. Source: Asthma + Lung 3 Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma, but it's now been used in a different way Credit: GettyThe 26-member Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) reached some momentous decisions at its recent annual conference in Suva. That's the view of a member of environmental watchdog group, the Pew Charitable Trusts' international fisheries project, Glen Holmes. The Commission's job is to oversee the management and conservation of the Pacific's stocks of highly migratory fish, especially tuna. The agency has now started the process of embracing electronic monitoring of catches, but Holmes told RNZ Pacific one of the most significant developments was the adoption of a set of labour standards for crew. (The transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) Glen Holmes: And it's the first tuna RFMO [Regional Fisheries Management Organisation] to have done one. So that's a big step forward, even though it's not one that Pew was following very closely. Don Wiseman: What are the labour standards? What have they changed? GH: Well, they've set standards. So they've set a conservation and management measure that determines conditions for crew on fishing vessels. It's something that exists in just about every other workplace, but hasn't existed within the tuna RFMOs yet. So WCPFC has set a benchmark, and hopefully it will have knock on effects to other RFMOs. DW: Well, that's good. And as far as electronic monitoring, which Pew was very keen on, there's an interim arrangement. GH: Yes. The Commission has agreed a set of standards for electronic monitoring use. This effectively opens the door to data that's being collected by EM [electronic monitoring] systems to be incorporated into the WCPFC data set. The WCPFC was actually the last of the tuna RFMOs to get these on board. This is a critical stepping stone to increasing independent data collection across, particularly, the long-lining sector of tuna fisheries. We see it as a really important step forward for the world's biggest tuna fishery and we're very pleased that these standards have been adopted. The next step is to take this further forward and fully incorporate into the management regime, a process for having electronic monitoring as a completely typical operating procedure, in the same way that on-board observers are now. DW: Why was there a reluctance to go all the way this time? GH: It's simply the amount of work that's involved. It's that the measure that's been adopted this time involved a lot of nitty gritty, a lot of in the weeds discussions, and so it would have taken more than the amount of time that was available to take it even further in a single year. It's the same process that other RFMOs have followed as well. DW: Another issue that you and I have talked about, transshipment, and there's been long time a push to improve the transparency of transshipment on the open seas. No progress there or? GH: No, that was an enormous disappointment. The WCPFC hasn't upgraded or improved its transshipment measure in over 15 years, now. Every other tuna RFMO has improved its management of transshipping at sea and the failure of the commission to come to an agreement after extensive discussions this year and even more expensive discussions last year, it's a failure of the Commission, really. It is seriously disappointing and I hope that the members that were unable to come to a compromise situation that improved the management of transshipment take a look at what's happened over the last, particularly the last couple of years, and come to the Commission next year, with the intention of lifting the standards for transshipment in the western Pacific. We are very disappointed at that outcome. DW: The Commission said to us in the past that NGOs love going on about this need for greater accountability, and they make this comparison with the other RFMOs, but - they say - those organisations are for areas where there's very little fish left, so it's irrelevant. GH: No, that's not actually true. The western and central Pacific is by far the richest tuna fishing grounds in the world. I mean, there are, there are more tuna caught in that RFMO than all the others combined. And it was the case, previously, that the status of stocks in the western central Pacific was deemed to be in a healthier state than the other tuna RFMOs. However, those stock status indicators are no longer like that. The stocks in the other RFMOs are not deemed to be in as poor a condition as they had previously been thought, either through improved management or through an improved understanding of the science. It's not by any means the case that it shouldn't really be an issue in the Pacific, it should be an issue in the other tuna RFMOs. Transparency in the management of effectively a public resource is critical. And if people want to have confidence in the processes that are managing where their tuna are coming from, then these processes need to be transparent. DW: One of the big recent concerns in fisheries around the Pacific has been climate change and the impact that this will have on migratory species. Did they talk about this last week? GH: Yes, they did. Climate change is a critical topic across the Pacific for a range of reasons, but within the tuna sphere it's very important, because the tuna fisheries is an incredibly important economic resource, particularly for the islands. And there has been work in the past that has shown that with climate change, it is anticipated that the stocks ranges will shift, and that has implications for future planning and for the potential income over the next coming decades. The Commission has done a bit of work on how it is to address climate change. It will be undertaking a review of the risk that climate change poses to its management regimes. Climate change will be incorporated into the science of the Commission to get a better understanding of the future impacts. And so the Commission is grabbing this with both hands and not ignoring the elephant in the room of climate change.