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☆ European stocks to extend declines after Bank of England rate cut as global sentiment sours
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boris Roessler | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesLONDON — European stocks were set to open lower Friday, extending losses amid a global downturn as a busy week of market action draws to a close. Germany's DAX was on course to open 104 points lower at 17,984, according to IG data, with France's CAC 40 down 40 points at 7,325. The regional Stoxx 600 index on Thursday suffered its worst session since mid-June, pulled down by financials as French bank Societe Generale downgraded its outlook and the Bank of England cut interest rates for the first time since 2020. The central bank decision took its key interest rate to 5% from 5.25%, in a move that markets had not been fully convinced it would carry out. Asia-Pacific markets saw steep losses Friday, with Japan's benchmark indexes tanking as much as 5%.

Persons: Boris Roessler, Germany's DAX, BOE Governor Andrew Bailey, BOE, Joe Tuckey Organizations: Getty, France's CAC, Societe Generale, Bank of England, CNBC, Argentex, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of, Apple, Intel, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Frankfurt, Bank of Japan, Europe, Asia, Pacific

☆ 11 of the most baffling archaeological finds of all time
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Humans were making rope nearly 40,000 years agoExperts think this ivory baton was used for rope making around 38,000 years ago. One artifact, an eight-inch piece of ivory with grooved holes, wasn't easy to identify. Archaeologists have found similar items, known as batons, in the UK and France. Made of ivory or antler, they have holes with grooves on the inside, and some have notches. Based on descriptions of rope-making with similar tools from the Middle Ages, the researchers recreated the process with a replica of the piece of ivory.

Persons: Nicholas Conard Organizations: of Tübingen Locations: Germany, France

☆ Britain cancels $1.7 billion of computing projects in setback for global AI ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)The U.K. government has canceled £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) worth of computing infrastructure projects, in a big setback to the country's ambitions to become a world leader in artificial intelligence. A government spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that two major taxpayer-funded spending commitments, worth £500 million and £800 million, respectively, were being dropped in order to prioritize other fiscal plans. Earlier this week, British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced a raft of spending cuts after revealing Labour had inherited a projected £22 billion ($28 billion) of unfunded pledges from the center-right Conservatives. The Labour government was widely expected to announce the introduction of the first-ever U.K. AI Bill in a speech delivered by King Charles III last month. A DSIT spokesperson instead told CNBC the government would consult on plans to regulate AI in due course.

Persons: Rasid Necati, Rishi Sunak's, Rachel Reeves, unfunded, codebreakers, Keir Starmer's, King Charles III Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Getty, CNBC, Research, University of Edinburgh, Labour, Department for Science, Innovation, Technology, British Locations: London, United Kingdom, Anadolu, Bletchley, Nazi Germany

☆ Olympics recap: What you may have missed in gymnastics, swimming, rowing and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Rohan Nadkarni | Rohan Nadkarni Is A Sports Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Day 6 of the Olympics saw continued brilliance in women’s gymnastics and women’s swimming, a dominant women’s team given a scare, a banner day for rowing and more. Maddie Meyer / Getty ImagesMen’s rowingThe U.S. men’s rowing team won gold in the four rowing event, the Americans' first Olympic gold in the race since 1960. During the last Olympics in Tokyo, the U.S. men’s rowing team failed to medal in any event for the first time in its history, so Thursday was also about redemption. Three Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and 41 weeks as the world No. 1 — all in the greatest era in the history of men’s tennis along with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Persons: Simone Biles, Biles, Kevin Durant, ” Biles, Suni Lee, “, ” Lee, Katie Ledecky, Larisa Latynina, Maddie Meyer, that’ve, Michael Grady, Emma Meesseman, Zach Randolph, USA’s, Meessemen, Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson, Andy Murray’s, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Murray, Dan Evans, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, “ I’m, ” Murray, I’ve, What’s, Victor Wembanyama Organizations: American, Soviet, Olympic, U.S, Zealand, Social Network, Federer, Wimbledon, U.S ., Laver, NBA Locations: American, Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles, Nanterre, France, U.S, USA, Belgium, United States, Germany

☆ How the Russian prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershkovich unfolded over two years
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Carol-Lee-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Carol E. Lee | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The effort took on extra urgency in March 2023, when the Russians arrested Gershkovich, a senior administration official said. Days later, NBC News reported that a deal that could have sprung Navalny, Gershkovich and Whelan had been in the works. After Biden and Scholz met on Feb. 9, Scholz told Biden he was on board. Vice President Kamala Harris also discussed the prisoner swap with Scholz, telling him that Krasikov was a critical component of getting a prisoner swap with Russia, a White House official said. That was when he called the Slovenian prime minister to make sure his country was ready to release the Russian in their custody.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Brittney Griner, Biden, Viktor Bout, Paul Whelan ’, Whelan, Paul Whelan, Antony Blinken, “, ” Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, Gershkovich, Blinken, Lavrov, ” Lavrov, ”, ” Gershkovich, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, Vadim Krasikov, Zelimkhan, Olaf Scholz, Krasikov, Griner, Whalen, Joe Biden, Scholz, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, Elizabeth Whelan, Sullivan, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kurmasheva, ” Biden Organizations: Wall Street, Marine, AP, NBC News, Berlin, White, Biden Locations: Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Berlin, Moscow, Germany, Chechen, Russian, U.S, Nevada, Slovenian

☆ Germany’s doctors can prescribe four-week spa breaks to frazzled parents
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Those lucky parents may leave with doctor’s orders for a four-week spa break by the sea or in the mountains. Germany has around 350 designated spa towns, with many designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. ‘I had severe sleeping problems’Focused on preventative as well as restorative care, a Kur is frequently aimed at burned-out parents. The proportion of single parents in MGW clinics is disproportionately high in relation to the overall share in society. “Together, solutions are developed that will help patients to cope with everyday life again and prevent (further) health problems,” Gerstkamp explained.

Persons: ”, They’ve, Cécile Poirot, ” Poirot, “, Müttergenesungswerk, Petra Gerstkamp, Gerstkamp, Poirot, ” Gerstkamp Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Heritage, “ Locations: Germany, Baden, Wiesbaden, Bad, Europe, Elmshorn, Hamburg

☆ Videos show the moment Americans were freed from Russian captivity after high-stakes prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewNew video footage reveals the moment that Russia freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, and others in a massive prisoner swap that took place in Turkey on Thursday. Gershkovich, Whelan, and 14 others were released as part of a historic and high-stakes exchange with Russia that marked the most complex prisoner swap since the Cold War. Russia's Federal Security Service, more commonly known as the FSB, released several videos of the tense prisoner exchange at an airport in Turkey. AdvertisementThe Russian FSB released a video showing prisoners from the Russian side being loaded onto a plane bound for Turkey for a prisoner exchange. AdvertisementWhite House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that he could confirm there was no money exchanged or sanctions loosened to facilitate the prisoner swap.

Persons: —, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Gershkovich, Whelan, Joe Biden, Rico Krieger, — Hanna Liubakova, we've, Biden, Evan Greshkovich, eason, hite, J ake S ullivan, ould Organizations: Service, Wall Street, Business, Russia's Federal Security Service, RIA Novosti, FSB, Russian Federal Security Service, lsu Locations: Russia, Turkey, Russia's, Moscow, Ankara, Belarus

☆ Who was freed in major prisoner swap between Russia and the West?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The German court that convicted Krasikov in 2021 said he acted on behalf of the Russian state, shooting Khangoshvili “execution style” in broad daylight. Vadim Konoshchenok, 48An undated photo of Vadim Konoshchenok included in a 2022 court document. He was arrested in February 2022, according to the Polish state news agency PAP. Lilia Chanysheva, 42Lilia Chanysheva stands is seen during a hearing at the Kirovskiy District Court in Ufa, Russia, on June 14, 2023. He was sentenced to four years in a penal colony in July 2022, according to Amnesty International.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Vadim Krasikov, Vadim Krasikov Berlin Police Krasikov, Krasikov, Zelimkhan, Khangoshvili, Ramzan Kadyrov, Putin, Viktor Bout, Whelan, Brittney, Biden, Alexey Navalny, Vadim Konoshchenok, Konoshchenok, Vladislav Klyushin, Klyushin, Roman Seleznev, US Department of Justice Roman Seleznev, Seleznev, Artem Dultsev, Ludvig Gish, Anna Dultseva, Dultsev, Maria Rosa Mayer Munos, Mikhail Mikushin, Pavel Rubtsov, Pablo Gonzalez, Oihana Goiriena, Vincent West, Pablo Gonzales, Natalia Kolesnikova, Kirill Kudryavtsev, US Marine Whelan, Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, Liberty Alsu Kurmasheva, Alexey Nasyrov, Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kara, Vladimir Putin’s “, ”, Rico Krieger, Krieger, Alexander Lukashenko, Kevin Lik, Lick, Dieter, Voronin, Ivan Safronov, Roscosmos, Demuri Voronin, Safronov, Herman Moyzhes, Moyzhes, Patrick Schoebel, Schoebel, Ilya Yashin, Yuri Kochetkov, ” Alexandra Skochilenko, Alexandra Skochilenko, Anton Vaganov, Skochilenko, “, ” Oleg Orlov, Oleg Orlov, Lilia Chanysheva, Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeeva, Maxim Shemetov, Fadeeva, Vadim Ostanin, Alexei Navalny’s, Ostanin, Andrei Pivovarov, Pivovarov Organizations: CNN, Vadim Krasikov Berlin Police, Chechen, Russian, Krasikov, US Department of Justice, US, Office, Eastern, of, Attorney's, University of Tromsø, Reuters, Court, Getty, Street, US Marine, US State Department, Radio Free, Liberty, AP, Belarusian TV, Belteleradio, Human Rights, German Red Cross, TASS, German Federal Intelligence Service, Pulkovo, Ukraine, Amnesty International Locations: American, Russia, Moscow, Berlin’s Kleiner, Russian, Georgia, Estonia, of New York, Boston, Sion , Switzerland, United States, Maldives, Slovenia, Ljubljana, Norway, Brazilian, Nabarniz, Spain, Poland, Spanish, Sverdlovsk, AFP, Irish, Radio Free Europe, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Belarusian, German, Belarus, Berlin, Germany, Europe, St . Petersburg, St, Petersburg, Meshansky, Bucha, Kyiv, Saint Petersburg, Kirovskiy, Ufa, Bashkortostan, Tomsk, Krasnodar

In addition to Mr. Gershkovich, the prisoners freed by Russia included Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested in 2018, and the Russian dissident Ilya Yashin, the official said. The prisoners freed by the West included Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian assassin, the Turkish official said. The deal seemed sure to prompt jubilation among Western nations that had condemned the charges against Mr. Gershkovich and others as baseless and politically motivated. And it represented a political leap for Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, whose government agreed to release Mr. Krasikov as part of the deal. Mr. Putin has referred to Mr. Krasikov as a patriot for his killing of a Chechen former separatist fighter in Berlin in 2019.

Persons: Anton TroianovskiMark Mazzetti, Evan Gershkovich, Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Ilya Yashin, Vadim Krasikov, Biden, Vladimir V, Putin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Krasikov, Ivan Nechepurenko Organizations: Street Journal, U.S . Marine, West, Turkish Locations: Turkey, Russia, Russian, Ankara, U.S, Chechen, Berlin

Keep reading to learn how to watch USA vs. Belgium free from anywhere. Below, we've outlined everything you need to know about watching Belgium vs. USA. How to watch USA vs. Belgium in the USToday's USA vs. Belgium game, in addition to the rest of the Olympics, will live stream on Peacock in the US. Check price at FuboHow to watch USA vs. Belgium in the UKUSA vs. Belgium, along with the rest of the Olympics, will live stream on Eurosport in the UK. How to watch USA vs. Belgium in AustraliaMuch of the Olympics, including USA vs. Belgium, streams through 9Now in Australia.

Persons: we've, Diana Taurasi, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray —, Peacock, Stan Sport, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, States women's, basketball, Belgium, USA, Japan, NBC, Peacock, Eurosport, BBC Locations: States, Belgium, USA, Germany, Paris, Australia, 9Now, Australian

☆ This Filmmaker Saw War Everywhere, and So Can You
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Travis Diehl | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

For Harun Farocki, even as visual media raced from film strips to computers, one thing remained constant: Pictures reveal more than they intend to. Naming the ideologies embedded in workaday images was Farocki’s life’s work. The German filmmaker and artist was born in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1944 to an Indian father and German mother, lived in a divided Germany, and died in 2014, in a booming, unified Berlin. His meticulous style of essay film, combining found images and formidably researched texts, has become essential to the cinematic tool kit. Eight of his works on the perennial theme of war, curated by Antje Ehmann, an artist and Farocki’s widow, are on view at Greene Naftali.

Persons: Harun Farocki, Antje Ehmann, Greene Naftali Locations: Nazi, Czechoslovakia, Indian, Germany, Berlin

☆ Biden celebrates prisoner deal and importance of allies in key moment for his legacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Biden also had multiple conversations about the deal with his German counterpart Olaf Scholz, including when the chancellor visited the Oval Office in February. Convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov, who was jailed in Germany, was critical to getting Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a deal. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!” Trump said. “Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden said before turning to leave the room. A senior administration official defended the release of Krasikov as part of the deal.

Persons: Russia –, Joe Biden, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Kamala Harris, Biden, Donald Trump’s, Harris, “, ” Biden, ” Trump, ”, They’re, Olaf Scholz, Vadim Krasikov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, CNN’s Steve Contorno, Trump, Gershkovich, Whelan, Scholz, Krasikov, Paul, Evan, Alsu, Vladimir, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Alsu Kurmasheva, CNN’s MJ Lee, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Ivana Kottasova, Alex Marquardt, Betsy Klein, Donald Judd, Sam Fossum, Steve Contorno, Kit Maher, Jeff Zeleny Organizations: CNN, Russia, Wall Street, NATO, Slovenian, HOME, WE, White, Munich, Conference, “ Locations: United States of America, Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Germany, Ohio, Berlin, American, Russian

☆ WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, ex-Marine Whelan released in U.S., Russia prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowWall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released Thursday by Russia as part of a major, multi-nation swap of two dozen prisoners. "All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia," President Joe Biden said in a televised address from the White House, where he was flanked by their family members. Eight Russians, including the spy and convicted hitman Vadim Krasikov, are being returned to Russia from the United States, Slovenia, Norway, Poland and Germany. "The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy," Biden said in a statement released by the White House, where Biden planned to meet family members of the released Americans. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the release of Americans detained in Russia during brief remarks from the White House in Washington, U.S., August 1, 2024.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Joe Biden, Vadim Krasikov, Paul Whelan, Krasikov, Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva, Kara, Biden, we've, Jake Sullivan, " Sullivan, Nathan Howard, Reuters Gershkovich, Dieter Voronin, Kevin Lick, Rico Krieger, Patrick Schoebel, Herman Moyzhes, Ilya Yashin, Liliya, Kseniya Fadeyeva, Vadim Ostanin, Andrey Pivovarov, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, Artem Viktorovich Dultsev, Anna Valerevna Dultseva, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, Pavel Alekseyevich Rubtsov, Roman Seleznev, Vladislav Klyushin, Vadim Konoshchenock Organizations: Wall Street, U.S . Marine, White, Biden, National, Reuters Locations: Russia, American, Russian, Turkey, United States, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Germany, Chechen, Berlin, Washington , U.S, Moscow

☆ European markets head for mixed open ahead of Bank of England decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — European markets are set to open mixed on Thursday as investors process a raft of central bank action. The Bank of England announces its latest monetary policy decision at midday London time. Market pricing slightly favors a 25 basis point interest rate cut from the U.K. central bank, kicking off its path of monetary easing. Investors are still processing Wednesday's surprise move from the Bank of Japan, which raised its benchmark interest rate to around 0.25%, its highest level since 2008, and hinted at more tightening to come. The decision powered the yen to a four-and-a-half month high against the U.S. dollar, as Japanese stocks tumbled.

Persons: Germany's DAX, Jerome Powell, Powell Organizations: CAC, Bank of England, U.S, Bank of Japan, U.S . Locations: U.S . Federal, —

☆ Zheng Qinwen reaches Olympic tennis final, beating Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS — Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1, will have to settle for a bronze medal at best in the Olympic tennis tournament after losing to Zheng Qinwen of China. Zheng triumphed 6-2, 7-5, coming back from 0-4 down in the second set after the Pole and four-time French Open champion looked to have started rolling downhill. Even when, at 1-2 down in the first set, she immediately broke Zheng back to love, Swiatek could not sustain the shift in momentum. Swiatek will now face either Donna Vekic of Croatia or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the bronze medal match, while Zheng will play the other for Olympic gold.

Persons: Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Roland Garros, Simona Halep, Maria Sakkari, Zheng, Carl Recine, Philippe, Chatrier, Germany’s Angelique Kerber, Donna Vekic, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Dimitar Dilkoff Organizations: Olympic, Getty Locations: China, Paris, Croatia, Slovakia, AFP

☆ What to watch at Olympics today: Simone Biles, Summer McIntosh look to add to their legacies
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Lukas Weese | Mark Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

On Thursday, Biles and Lee will both return to Bercy Arena eyeing an individual medal in the event. Biles, the 2016 all-around gold medalist in Rio de Janeiro, led the U.S. women to their first team gold since Brazil on Tuesday. She led the individual all-around competition after qualifying and enters as a heavy favorite to capture her sixth gold medal. McIntosh, 17, won her first Olympic gold medal Monday in the grueling women’s 400-meter individual medley. Marchand, 22, has won gold in all three of his events in Paris, with the 200-meter individual medley remaining.

Persons: —, Simone Biles, A’ja Wilson, Katie Ledecky, Pierre Mauroy, Sunisa Lee, Biles, Lee, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, Jordan Chiles, Breanna Stewart, You’re, Diana Taurasi, “ We’re, Stewie Kiefer, Scruggs, Patrick Smith, Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Kiefer, United States hasn’t, McIntosh, Summer McIntosh, American Regan Smith, Ledecky, Jenny Thompson, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm Organizations: Paris Games, Bercy, La Defense, NBC, Olympics, USA, Belgium, WNBA, USA’s, ”, Olympic, United, Le, Tokyo Olympics Locations: Paris, Lille, Nanterre, American, Rio de Janeiro, U.S, Brazil, Japan, “, ” Belgium, Germany, United States, China, Canadian, Saint, Quentin, Yvelines, France

The Russian officials took the proposal back to Moscow. It was a remarkably swift conclusion to years of painstaking negotiations between the US and more than half a dozen countries. Key to the deal was President Biden’s ability to persuade German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to release Krasikov, the Russian prisoner most keenly sought by Putin. Officials worked quietly throughout this year to get the German government to agree to release Krasikov — including entreaties from both Biden and Harris. President Biden sent a letter to Scholz in April, and the Germans at last agreed to release Krasikov in early June.

Persons: CNN —, Vadim Krasikov, who’d, who’s, Vladimir Putin, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Bill Burns, Gershkovich, Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kurmasheva, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Serdar Ozsoy, Biden’s, Olaf Scholz, Putin, Krasikov, Brittney Griner, Burns, –, Viktor Bout, Alexey Navalny, Brendan Smialowski, Antony Blinken, James Rubin, Blinken, Annalena Baerbock, Jake Sullivan, Harris, Scholz, “ Chancellor Scholz, “, Jake, ‘, ’, Sullivan, Navalny, Paul, Evan, ”, Ronald Wittek, Kara, Robert Golob, Kurmasheva’s, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Carstens, Jeff Flake, ” Flake, Flake, ” Sullivan Organizations: CNN, CIA, Wall Street, White, Base Andrews, Aircraft, Ankara Esenboga Airport, US Marine, WNBA, State Department, National Security Council, Krasikov, Getty, German, National, Biden, Munich, Conference, US, Munich Security, Aspen Security, Street, Hostage Affairs Locations: Eastern, Russia, Russian, Berlin, Moscow, American, Turkey, Ankara, Chechen, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Washington , DC, AFP, Germany, ”, Munich, Washington, Slovenian, Mordovia, “

☆ Who Is the Russian Assassin Freed as Part of a Sweeping Prisoner Swap?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Neil Macfarquhar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The assassination took place in broad daylight in a downtown Berlin park. The Russian gunman pedalled up on a bicycle before shooting a former Chechen separatist fighter in the head as children and their parents looked on. On Thursday, he was freed as part of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The deal also included numerous Russian political dissidents that the Kremlin released from jail, while Western nations traded eight Russian prisoners. Mr. Krasikov, in his late 50s, appeared to be the linchpin of the multifaceted deal, since Mr. Putin himself indicated that was whom he wanted.

Persons: pedalled, Vadim Krasikov, Vladimir V, Putin, — Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, Paul Whelan, —, Krasikov Organizations: Street, U.S . Marine, Kremlin, Western Locations: Berlin, Chechen, Germany, Russia, U.S

☆ Russia Freed Evan Gershkovich in a Major Prisoner Swap
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A prisoner swap involving seven countries freed the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, two other Americans and several Russian opposition figures. It was the most far-reaching exchange between Russia and the West in decades. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are planning to greet the released Americans tonight at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The exchange was also a triumph of sorts for Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, who had long sought Krasikov’s release. “So, in the eyes of the Kremlin, Krasikov’s assassination in Berlin of a Chechen separatist leader whom Russia labeled a terrorist was legitimate,” he said.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Vadim Krasikov, Biden, Kamala Harris, “, ”, Vladimir Putin, Neil MacFarquhar Organizations: Wall Street, Base Andrews, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Germany, Chechen, Berlin, Ankara, Turkey’s, U.S, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Maryland

☆ US deal freed a Russian prisoner whose crime was writing anti-war messages on supermarket price tags
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Skochilenko, a 33-year-old artist and musician, was arrested in April 2022 after she was caught replacing price tags in a St. Petersburg grocery store with anti-war messages. She is a pacifist who had no history of political activism before the supermarket incident, The Washington Post reported. AdvertisementAnother of the messages read, "Weekly inflation reached a new high not seen since 1998 because of our military actions in Ukraine. "This is just an incredible event," her mother Nadezhda Skochilenko told AFP.

Persons: —, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alexandra Skochilenko, Skochilenko, Nadezhda Skochilenko, I've Organizations: Service, Wall, Business, Washington Post, NPR, The Washington Post, Amnesty International, CNN, Agence France, Presse, AFP Locations: Russia, St, Petersburg, Mariupol, Ukraine, Germany, Paris

☆ Russia's war pushed Europe to a tipping point on wind and solar
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

For the first time, wind and solar generated more of the European Union's electricity than fossil fuels during the first half of the year. Wind and solar accounted for an all-time high of 30% of the region's energy needs, according to an analysis by the think tank Ember . In a separate report , Ember forecasted a global LNG supply glut by 2026 and a substantial drop in EU gas demand by 2030. But the rush to increase LNG exports from places like the US ignores the reality of rapidly declining gas demand in Europe, she added. Ember's report said that while it's unclear how swiftly fossil-fuel use will drop across Europe, a pipeline of solar and wind projects suggests this tipping point could be permanent.

Persons: it's, Chris Rosslowe, Ember, Sarah Brown, Brown, Rosslowe Organizations: Service, Business, US Energy Information Administration Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Qatar, Asia

☆ Here's what American air-to-air missiles can do for Ukraine's new F-16s against the Russians
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThe US is sending Ukraine air-to-air missiles to go with the new F-16 fighter jets coming this summer from European partners, per a new report on armaments. AdvertisementPowerful air-to-air missilesThe AIM-120 is an all-weather, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile with active radar for decreased dependence on the aircraft for intercepts. On the other missile Ukraine is receiving, the AIM-9X is a short-range air-to-air missile with an infrared seeker and is the newest variant in the Sidewinder family. The Russians are operating Su-35 and MiG-31 fighter jets that carry long-range air-to-air missiles like the R-37. With F-16s, Ukraine can potentially better use these weapons to degrade Russia's vaunted air-defense capabilities.

Persons: —, Boris Roessler, it's, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, George Calin, Netherlands —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, James Hecker, Hecker Organizations: Service, AIM, Air Missile, 9X, Street, Business, Danish Air Force, Getty, Ukrainian Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base, US Air Force, Guardian, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Ukrainian Air, REUTERS Kyiv, Soviet, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Germany, Fla, Ukrainian, Soviet, Fetesti, Romania, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands

☆ Here's how much athletes at the Paris Olympics earn for winning medals
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Olympic and Paralympic medals are shown during the unveiling of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Medals on February 1, 2024 in Paris, France. Pascal Le Segretain | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesThe Paris 2024 Olympics is well underway, with dozens of medals already handed out. Vivian Kong won Hong Kong's first medal at the Paris Games, topping the podium in the women's epee individual event. Vaughn Ridley | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesOther governments dangling six-figure cash rewards for their gold medalists include Israel, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Gold medalists receive 20,000 euros ($22,000).

Persons: Pascal Le Segretain, Hong, Administration Chan Kwok, ki, Vivian Kong, Hong Kong's, Cheung Ka, Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, Joseph, Michael Phelps, Vaughn Ridley, Man Wai Vivian Kong Organizations: Paris, Paralympic, Getty, International Olympic, CNBC, Olympic, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Administration, HK, Paris Games, Singapore, United, Rio, Tokyo Games, Germany's Sports Aid Foundation, Indian Olympic Association, Team Hong Kong, Olympic Games, Grand Palais Locations: Paris, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, United States, Israel, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Grand

☆ What to watch at the Olympics today: U.S. men’s gymnasts back in action, while Katie Ledecky goes for gold
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Lauren Merola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The U.S. men’s gymnastics team took America for a ride Monday, capturing their first team medal in 16 years with a thrilling finish on the pommel horse. AdvertisementElsewhere, Canada women’s soccer will try to overcome the six-point deduction levied by FIFA for flying a drone over New Zealand’s training sessions. Tatum, a three-time first-team All-NBA star and second-leading scorer on the Tokyo Olympic team that won gold, was the odd player out with Kevin Durant’s return from a calf strain. ET, 2:44 p.m. in Paris (men)TV: USA Network and PeacockWhat to watch: The women’s and men’s cycling BMX freestyle finals take place at La Concorde Urban Park. But they face stiff competition from Tokyo gold medalist Logan Martin (Australia) and Great Britain’s Kieran Reilly, who led in qualifying.

Persons: Frederick Richard, Paul Juda, Jayson Tatum, Juda, Stephen Nedoroscik, ” Richard, Richard, Brody Malone, Jayson Tatum’s, Steve Kerr, Tatum, Kerr, Kevin Durant’s, ” Kerr, “, Tatum ‘, ’, Sunday benching, Adam Pretty, Katie Ledecky, Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus, Summer McIntosh, Charlotte Worthington of, Hannah Roberts, Marcus Christopher, Justin Dowell, Logan Martin, Britain’s Kieran Reilly, Simone Biles, Dana O’Neil, Gabriel Bouys Organizations: U.S, America, Bercy Arena, FIFA, Paris Games, NBC, Japan, China, USA, Boston Celtics, Americans, Olympic, Serbia, Team USA, South Sudan, Tokyo Olympic, Sunday, Puerto Rico, Network, Universo, U.S ., Australia, Zambia, Germany, Wednesday, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canada Soccer, New Zealand, Colombia, La Concorde Urban, Charlotte Worthington of Great Britain, Tokyo Games, Getty Locations: Paris, Canada, Colombia, U.S, Australia, Sudan, Tokyo, South Sudan, America, Peacock, Zambia, Germany, France, AFP

☆ Katie Ledecky cruises in 1500-meter freestyle to win gold, set Olympic record
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Nicole Auerbach | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

NANTERRE, France — American swimming star Katie Ledecky cruised to victory in an event that’s become synonymous with her name, earning her first Olympic gold medal of the Paris Games in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle Wednesday. Ledecky set an Olympic record with a time of 15:30.02. 🙌 Katie Ledecky adds another gold medal to her legendary career achievements.#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/skbxzj1CAj — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 31, 2024The Olympic gold medal is Ledecky’s eighth, which ties Jenny Thompson for the most for an American woman. Ledecky needs one more gold to tie Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals for any female Olympian. She won gold in her most dominant event in the most dominant fashion.

Persons: Katie Ledecky, Ledecky, Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, Germany’s Isabel Gose Organizations: Paris Games Locations: NANTERRE, France, American

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