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☆ Abnormal Security, valued at $5.1 billion amid email security push, eyes eventual IPO
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Riley De León | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The cybersecurity software contender has more than 2,400 customers, including Maersk, Xerox and Mattel — in all, some 17% of the Fortune 500, according to the company. Cybersecurity company Abnormal Security said Tuesday it has raised $250 million in a Series D funding round that values the firm at $5.1 billion. With Microsoft surpassing $20 billion in cybersecurity revenue last year, competition has picked up among cybersecurity sector incumbents Cloudflare, Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks. Additionally, CrowdStrike veteran James Yeager was recently hired to head up public sector sales, an area that the email security vendor is targeting for growth. In March, Abnormal hired CFO Smita Sanadhya, a former executive at Microsoft Hong Kong and HP as well as startup Okta, which she helped to scale to a $2 billion public company.

Persons: Evan Reiser, Cloudflare, Reiser, Michael DeCesare, James Yeager, Smita Sanadhya, Jeff True Organizations: Twitter, Maersk, Xerox, Mattel, Fortune, Wellington Management, Greylock Partners, Menlo Ventures, Insight Partners, Security, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, Software, Cloudflare, CNBC, Forescout Technology, Microsoft Hong Kong, HP, Abnormal Locations: Zscaler, Palo, Exabeam

☆ Pakistani national with ties to Iran charged in connection to a foiled assassination plot potentially targeting Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Evan Perez | Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The plot revealed by US prosecutors on Tuesday adds to a growing list of detailed Iranian plans to allegedly kill Trump, according to national security officials. Although Merchant is a Pakistani national, prosecutors say he spent time in Iran and has family there. Once in the United States, Merchant allegedly contacted someone who he believed would assist him in the murder-for-hire plot. Merchant allegedly then told the confidential human source that the work was not a one-time opportunity and made a “finger gun” motion with his hand. Merchant planned to leave the country before the assassination, prosecutors say, but was arrested before he could go.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Asif Merchant, Merchant, Qasem, John Bolton, ”, General Merrick Garland, ” Merchant Organizations: CNN, The Justice, FBI, US, Service, Iranian, United Nations, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: New York City, Brooklyn , New York, United States, Pennsylvania, Butler , Pennsylvania, Iran, US, Pakistani, New York

☆ How a VP pick shaped U.S. politics for decades: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

In today’s edition, we report on how Vice President Kamala Harris’ search for a running mate is nearing the finish line. In case that wasn’t already clear from the vetting, the interviews and the obsessive media attention, consider the long — and still lengthening — list of ways one selection shaped decades of national politics. The pick influenced not just Obama’s electoral victories and the Obama administration but also every successive presidential election since then. And it could keep doing so for years, as Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to make her choice Tuesday. And Harris’ running mate selection could anoint the Democratic Party’s next presidential favorite, potentially into the 2030s.

Persons: Kamala Harris ’, Scott Bland, Barack Obama’s, Joe Biden, Obama, Kamala Harris, Obama’s, David Plouffe, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Harris, Sen, Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, —, Cori Bush, Julie Tsirkin, Kyle Stewart, “ I’m, ”, Bush, Wesley Bell, Bell, Louis County’s, Israel —, Jamaal Bowman, J D, Lou Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Democratic, Virginia Gov, Kyle Stewart Democratic, NBC News, Israel, Justice Department Locations: Israel, Indiana, Ferguson, Washington, U.S, York, Gaza

CNN —Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva said she’s “finally being treated as a human being” following her release from Russian detention in a historic prisoner exchange between Washington and the Kremlin last week. “I’ve been waking up from that nightmare,” Kurmasheva told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” in her first television interview since her release. Kurmasheva rushed into the arms of her husband and daughters on the tarmac after greeting Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden. The US-backed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist had been detained in October 2023 and found guilty of spreading false information about the Russian army – charges her family and employer deny. Kurmasheva and her husband, Pavel Butorin, have two daughters, including one who turned 13 just minutes after reuniting with her mother.

Persons: Alsu Kurmasheva, she’s “, “ I’ve, ” Kurmasheva, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Kurmasheva, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Pavel Butorin, Tapper, ”, Pavel, ” Pavel, wasn’t, —, Gershkovich, haven’t, Vladyslav, Ihar, Andrey Kuznechyk, Kurmasheva’s, she’s, we’ll, Vadim Krasikov, Biden, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Carstens, Trevor Reed, Brittney Griner, we’ve, We’ve, ” Carstens, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, Marc Fogel, Fogel, someone’s, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, Base Andrews, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Wall Street, RFE, Ukrainian Service, publication’s, publication’s Belarus Service, Belarus Service, ” Hostage, Biden, Hostage Affairs, US, Fox News, South Carolina Republican Locations: American, Washington, Maryland, Radio Free Europe, Russian, Kazan, Moscow, Ankara, ”, Russia, Crimea, publication’s Belarus, Minsk, Belarus, Germany, Berlin

☆ Bloomberg Disciplines Journalists Over Prisoner Swap Article
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Katie Robertson | More About Katie Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bloomberg News’s editor in chief said on Monday that the publication had disciplined multiple journalists involved in breaking an embargo last week tied to the major prisoner swap, in what he said was “a clear violation of the editorial standards.”John Micklethwait, the newsroom’s top editor, said in an email to its staff that Bloomberg had disciplined the people after an investigation by the organization’s standards editor into how the embargo, which was set by the Biden administration, was broken. He said Bloomberg would “be reviewing our processes to ensure that failures like this don’t happen again.”The email did not specify what the disciplinary actions were or who they involved. Bloomberg published an article at 7:41 a.m. on Thursday detailing the complicated prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the The Wall Street Journal, and many others. Jennifer Jacobs, a senior White House reporter who had the first byline on the article, has left the company, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. An editor involved in the story was demoted, according to two other people.

Persons: John Micklethwait, Biden, “, Evan Gershkovich, Jennifer Jacobs Organizations: Bloomberg, Street Journal, White House

☆ What Russia’s arrest footage of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan really tells us
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Russia’s pro-Kremlin media know how to create an alternative reality, and last week’s historic prisoner swap was no exception. On Monday, Russian state-backed media outlets treated viewers to lurid footage of the arrests of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan. And we see a handcuffed Paul Whelan on a hotel bed, flanked by Russian security officers. But in the cases of Gershkovich and Whelan, the aim of the Russian state was to build a bank of human collateral to trade for its valued agents held abroad. But the good news is that Gershkovich is out of Russian custody and can now write the definitive and reliable account of what happened during his arrest.

Persons: CNN — Russia’s, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Gershkovich, Whelan, –, Dow Jones, Almar Latour, Emma Tucker, “ Vladimir Putin, ”, Evan Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Wall Street, Bolshoi Theater, Gershkovich, US State Department, State Department, Dow Locations: Russian, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Russia, British

New York CNN —Bloomberg News took disciplinary action Monday against a “number” of its staffers after the outlet broke an embargo last week on news of the release of several American prisoners held by Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. In a memo sent to the outlet’s staff on Monday and obtained by CNN, Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait wrote that an initial story, published at 7:41 a.m. News organizations, including CNN, had agreed to hold on to news of the prisoners’ release so as not to endanger the process. Ahead of the prisoner swap, the White House had briefed reporters from multiple news organizations around 8 a.m. ET on the activity, with an embargo time on the news of later that day, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, John Micklethwait, Gershkovich, ”, ” Micklethwait, “, Emma Tucker, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vadim Krasikov Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bloomberg, Wall Street, CNN, News, White, RFE Locations: New York, Russia, US, Turkey’s Ankara, Belarus, Germany

☆ Road tripping through Russia: American woman shares challenges of solo trip from Georgia to Mongolia
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Essay Breanna Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And I’d be doing it solo, an American female, in a vintage Land Cruiser that was anything but inconspicuous. Planning a 7,000-kilometer road tripRussian visa in hand, it was time to start route planning, make my final vehicle preparations, and pack. With a car my size, bearing Georgian plates, driven by an American who doesn’t speak any Russian, I was increasingly nervous. An American girl, traveling alone, saying she’s moving to Mongolia, driving a car with Georgian plates. I had a summer of overlanding and adventuring across Mongolia, and a new life in Ulaanbaatar, to get underway.

Persons: Breanna Wilson, Andrey Orekhov, Evan Gershkovich, Russia – Organizations: Mongolia CNN, Cruiser, US State Department, Google, Astana, Russia, Toyota Top Motors Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Tbilisi , Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, American, Russian, Tbilisi, Tbllisi, Georgia, Georgian, Kazbegi, Chechnya, Dagestan, Mariupol, Donetsk, Baku, Alat, Europe, Japan, Kuryk, Altai, Bayan, Ölgii, Astana, Semey, Soviet Union, Russia's, Siberia, –, Tsagaannuur, Mongolia’s, @breannajwilson

And each finalist offers the newly minted Democratic Party leader a particular way to balance the ticket. Here’s how each could uniquely help the Democratic ticket — plus the potential drawbacks already getting attention. Andy BeshearNo current Democratic governor has won a redder state than Kentucky, where Beshear has won statewide three times. That appeal could help boost the Democratic ticket with working-class, independent and even some Republican voters in battleground states across the U.S. Tim WalzWalz has won Democratic plaudits for a string of progressive policy wins in his state.

Persons: Kamala Harris ’, Harris, we’ll, Andy Beshear, Pete Buttigieg, Sen, Mark Kelly of, JB Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Tim Walz, Beshear, Jon Cherry, Kelly, wouldn’t, Trump, JD Vance, Shapiro, Shawn Fain, “, ”, “ He’s, Pete Buttigieg Buttigieg, Evan Vucci, Buttigieg, Biden, He’s, Donald Trump, Vance, he’s, Joe Biden, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Eric Thayer, Arizona —, Gabby Giffords, UAW’s Fain, Kelly isn’t labor’s, JB Pritzker Pritzker, Pritzker, It’s, Josh Shapiro Shapiro, Matthew Hatcher, Shapiro “, who’ve, Tim Walz Walz, Stephen Maturen, Walz, He’d, Harris ’, they’ve, George Floyd, Walz’s Organizations: Democratic Party, NBC News, Kentucky Gov, Mark Kelly of Arizona ,, Mark Kelly of Arizona , Illinois Gov, Minnesota Gov, Democratic, Getty, Concordia Unlike Shapiro, Democrat, U.S, United Auto Workers, CNN, ”, Fox News, Biden, The Washington, U.S . Navy, NASA, Republican, PRO, Illinois Gov, Chicago, Michigan . Pennsylvania, Trump, Pennsylvania Republicans, Capitol, National Guard Locations: Philadelphia, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Mark Kelly of Arizona , Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Harris, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Appalachia, South Bend , Indiana, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Arizona, Central, Mexico, U.S, Illinois, Wisconsin, AFP, Israel, Minnesota, Wisconsin , Michigan, Minneapolis

As he stood on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews late Thursday night, Pavel Butorin was in disbelief. Days before, his wife of two decades — Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva — had been sentenced to 6½ years in a Russian prison for spreading false information about the country’s military, a conviction press freedom and human rights groups denounced as politically-motivated. “It was only then when I realized it is actually happening,” Butorin told NBC News. While on the tarmac, their younger daughter described how much she just wanted to touch Kurmasheva, Butorin said. "No matter what verdict or sentence a corrupt Russian court issued against her, we know that she’s not a criminal."

Persons: Base Andrews, Pavel Butorin, Alsu Kurmasheva —, Butorin, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, ” Butorin, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Alsu Kurmasheva, Roberto Schmidt, Taylor, Miriam, wasn’t, ”, Bibi, ” Kurmasheva, ” Bibi, “, Kurmasheva Organizations: Base, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Wall Street, Marine, NBC News, Base Andrews, AFP, Getty, White Locations: American, Prague, Russia, Radio Free Europe, Maryland, Poland, United States

☆ 3 Americans returned in Russia prisoner swap may face challenges
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Ashley R. Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Brittney Griner, left, and Trevor Reed, were released from detention in Russia in 2022 and returned to the United States in separate prisoner exchanges. Getty ImagesAfter the dust settlesWhelan, Gershkovich and Kurmasheva headed to Brooke Army Medical Center for medical evaluations and additional care for as long as necessary, a US official told CNN. The non-profit supports detainees and hostages while they’re still held in captivity and after their release back to the US, Cathcart told CNN. Matthew Heath was released from being detained in Venezuela in a prisoner swap in October of 2022. Matthew HeathReturnees might return to a different family dynamic than what they were used to, according to Cathcart.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Whelan, Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout, Roger Carstens, “, ”, Matthew Heath, he’s, ” Heath, Trevor Reed, Griner, Liz Cathcart, they’re, Cathcart, ” Cathcart, ” Readjusting, Jorge Toledo, CNN reintegrating, ” Toledo, CNN’s Pamela Brown, who’s, they’ve, It’s, ” Arianna Galligher, ” Griner, you’re, Heath, CNN’s Simone McCarthy, Anna Chernova, Nathan Hodge, Jennifer Hansler, Rosa Flores, Colin McCullough, Nouran Salahieh Organizations: CNN, Base Andrews, Wall Street, US State Department, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Russian, Associated Press, Brooke Army Medical Center, Hostage, Citgo Corporation, The Ohio State University Wexner, Resilience, New York Times Magazine, Phoenix Mercury, ” Locations: Maryland, Russia, Russian American, Moscow, Prague, Radio Free Europe, San Antonio , Texas, Knoxville , Tennessee, Venezuela, United States, Heath, “, Cathcart

They spent six years behind bars until they were freed in 2022 in another prisoner exchange engineered by the Biden administration. And like the newly sprung Americans, Pereira’s first stop back in the U.S. was the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. “When you come back from something like this, you are like a bottle of Coca-Cola. And sometimes we were treated better and sometimes it was worse.”“The questions they kept asking us were, ‘How did you do it? “I didn’t realize there were so many people supporting my family and working to free me.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, José Pereira, ”, Biden, Pereira’s, Pereira, he’d, readjust, Jorge Arreaza, Jose Angel Pereira, Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, Jose Luis Zambrano, Tomeu, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Paul Whelan, Alsu, Vladimir Kara, Murza, “ Everybody, ” Pereira, Jason Rezaian, ” Rezaian, “, ’ ” Pereira, you’re, it’s, Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva, Rezaian, Sam Goodwin, Goodwin, Sam, I’m Organizations: Wall Street, Brooke Army Medical Center, Twitter, Venezuela's, Bolivarian National Intelligence Service, Ministry, NBC News, Washington Post, Brooke Army Medical, military’s, Medical Center Locations: American, Venezuela, U.S, San Antonio , Texas, PISA, Caracas, Germany, Washington, North Carolina, Kara

☆ With a fire burning just miles away, residents of a Washington town dig in
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“There’s a lot of mistrust going on there.”As fire behavior grows intense because of climate change and overgrown forests, doubts can fester in rural communities as fire managers operate more conservatively than in the past. “Now, we’re seeing fires act more radically, make their own weather and be more unpredictable.”This dynamic is playing out in rural communities elsewhere. Stasiewicz said that based on her own focus groups, surveys and interviews, sentiments like Courtney’s are becoming more common in rural communities. Evacuation often carries a stiff financial cost, she said, and some rural residents worry their properties won’t be prioritized. “We can sometimes see rural communities lose compared to more developed areas.

Persons: we’ve, ”, Amanda Stasiewicz, “, ” Stasiewicz, they’d, Brad Bramlett, ’ ” Courtney, Courtney, Johnston, Magnussen, Stehekin, Stasiewicz Organizations: University of Oregon, “, San Francisco Chronicle, National Interagency Fire Center, National Weather Service, ”, Tourists Locations: West, Northern California, Pacific, Oregon , Washington and Idaho, Lake Chelan, North, Stehekin, U.S

Why did Russian President Vladimir Putin greet the children of just-freed Russian spies in Spanish? In “The Americans,” two Russian spies posing as a married couple in suburban America run Soviet agents and collect intelligence, unbeknownst to their young children. President Vladimir Putin meets convicted Russian spies released as part of a prisoners' swap at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. Their children attended an international school in Ljubljana and, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, were only told on the plane to Moscow that they were Russian. “To the bulk of the Russian public, the Russian president showed that he has not yet lost the remnants of adequacy and is capable of well-calculated, rational actions,” Gallyamov said.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, “, ”, Ludwig Gisch, Maria Rosa Mayer Muños, Mikhail Voskresenskiy, Artem Viktorovich Dultsev, Anna Valerevna Dultseva, Evan Gershkovitch, Paul Whelan —, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, ” Peskov, ” Abbas Gallyamov, ” Gallyamov, — Putin Organizations: Vnukovo, Associated Press, AP, Kremlin, KGB, Federal Security Service, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, “ Locations: Russian, Slovenia, America, Soviet, Moscow, U.S, Europe, Ljubljana, Slovenia's, Moscow’s Vnukovo

☆ Instead of Taylor Swift on her birthday, daughter of journalist held in Russia gets even better gift — her mom
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Caroline-Radnofsky-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Caroline Radnofsky | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Nearly one year ago, the family of Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva purchased tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday as a birthday gift for her daughter Miriam. Now Miriam, who turns 13 on Friday, gets to celebrate a more special gift: her mother’s freedom and safe return. From left, Pavel Butorin, Bibi Butorin, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Miriam Butorin at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Aug. 1, 2024. “The Taylor Swift tickets were the original birthday gift for Miriam who turns 13 today. Her original birthday gift were these Taylor Swift tickets, but an even bigger present was her mom returning,” he said.

Persons: Alsu Kurmasheva, Taylor, Miriam, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan —, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Pavel Butorin, Bibi Butorin, Miriam Butorin, Roberto Schmidt, ” Ari Goldberg, “, Alsu, ” Goldberg, Taylor Swift, ”, It's, Bibi, Kurmasheva Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Wall Street, Marine, Joint Base Andrews, AFP, Getty, today’s, RFE, Inc, NBC Locations: American, Warsaw, Poland, Radio Free Europe, Russia, U.S, Maryland, today’s Warsaw

☆ Gershkovich advocates for Russian dissidents in first comments after arriving in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Aurora Almendral | Aurora Almendral Is A London-Based Editor With Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich chose to advocate for dissidents languishing in Russian prisons, in his first public comments on U.S. soil after he was freed as part of a prisoner exchange. “I just spent a month in prison in Yekaterinburg where basically everyone I was sat with is a political prisoner,” he added. Seven Russian citizens, including four who worked with the late opposition figure, Alexey Navalny, were among the the 24 people freed in Thursday’s major multinational prisoner exchange. On the dissidents he’d met behind bars Gershkovich said no one knew them publicly, but they had various political beliefs. President Joe Biden called the deal a “feat of diplomacy and friendship.” It was cut among seven nations, involving 24 people, including five Germans and seven Russian citizens held in Russia, and eight Russians imprisoned in the U.S., Germany, Slovenia, Norway and Poland.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, “, ” Gershkovich, Andrew Roth, ”, Alexey Navalny, he’d, Gershkovich, “ They’re, Paul Whelan, Joe Biden, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Biden, Whelan, ” “, ” Whelan, Putin, “ I’m Organizations: Guardian, Base Andrews, AP, Getty, Marine Locations: Russian, Maryland, Yekaterinburg, Russia, U.S, Germany, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Turkey, United States

In May, former President Donald Trump declared that he was the only person who could obtain the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison. That’s the way it should be, or this situation will get worse and worse.”Facts First: Trump’s claim that he gave opposing countries “NOTHING” to secure the freedom of American prisoners is false. “The previous administration also conducted prisoner exchanges. It’s not easy.”FactCheck.org debunked this Trump claim about his record on securing the release of American prisoners abroad when he previously made it in 2022. Read more here about four prisoner exchanges under Trump.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evan Gershkovich, Joe Biden, Gershkovich, Trump, ’, Jake Sullivan, John Kirby, Whelan, Trevor Reed, Biden, “, …, You’ve, It’s, FactCheck.org, Read Organizations: Wall Street, Biden White House, National Security, CNN, Trump Locations: Russia

☆ Freed prisoners return to U.S. from Russia and the race to define Kamala Harris: Morning Rundown
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Elizabeth Robinson | Elizabeth Robinson Is A Newsletter Editor For Nbc News | Based In Los Angeles. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva make an emotional return to the U.S. Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky add to their Olympic medal collections. Jamie Squire / Getty ImagesBiles won gold in the women’s all-around gymnastics final, reclaiming her 2016 title and becoming the first American to win the Olympic all-around gold medal more than once. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade won silver, and American Suni Lee, who won the all-around gold medal three years ago in Tokyo, took home the bronze. Katie Ledecky made Olympic history when she won a silver medal in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay final on Thursday. The battle intensifies to define HarrisIt goes without saying that Vice President Kamala Harris’ path to de-facto Democratic presidential nominee has been unprecedented.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu, Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Sonya Massey, Biden, Harris, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Alsu Kurmasheva, Whelan, Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, “, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Antony Blinken’s, Sergei Lavrov, Suni Lee, Jamie Squire, Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, Maddie Meyer, Peacock, Read, rance, wimmer, ▶️, ure, Ana l, J uly, dow, ros, Pres, ena, Gray, ood, Joh, edd, maki, abou, , in Organizations: U.S, Russia, Marine, Joint Base Andrews, Wall Street, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Paris, unt, pla, us. Locations: Maryland, Germany, U.S, Russia, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Radio Free Europe, Berlin, Paris, American, Tokyo, Belgium

☆ How Aleksei Navalny’s Death Restored Evan Gershkovich’s Life - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( M. Gessen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A few days ago, Russian political prisoners started vanishing from their prison colonies: Their lawyers would come to see them only to be told their clients were no longer there. The disappearance of an inmate is often bad news — it can mean a move to a more remote colony, illness or death. “A trade,” a prominent Russian in exile posted on his Facebook page, without bothering to explain the reference. “Definitely a trade,” posted a young Russian activist in exile, a day later. On Thursday, Russia released the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, along with 15 other inmates.

Persons: ”, “, Evan Gershkovich, Vadim Krasikov, Christo Grozev, Maria Pevchikh, Aleksei Navalny Organizations: Street Locations: Russian, Russia, Germany, United States, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Vienna, Los Angeles

☆ Photos capture the moment Americans released in a historic prisoner swap touch down on US soil
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Sarah Gray | Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) 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. Read previewThe Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kumasheva touched down at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday night. The trio were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after being freed from detention in Russia as part of a massive multi-country prisoner swap, the largest exchange in post-Soviet history. Former US Marine Paul Whelan was the first to disembark, where he was greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Evan Gershkovich hugging his mother Ella Milman after speaking to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Persons: —, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kumasheva, Joint Base Andrews, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Whelan, Whelan's, David, Whelan wasn't, Britney Griner, Paul, Former US Marine Paul Whelan, Andrew Harnik, Gershkovich, Ella Milman, Kurmasheva, Pavel Butorin, Bibi, Miriam, Kevin Mohatt Organizations: Service, Street, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Joint Base, Business, Marine, CBS, Former US Marine, Getty, Reuters, Brooke Army Medical Center Locations: Radio Free Europe, Russia, American, San Antonio , Texas

☆ Evan Gershkovich’s close friend reflects on his return
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Annie Klingenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Freed American’s family to miss Taylor Swift concert for the very best reason
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Miriam Butorin was supposed to attend Taylor Swift’s concert on Friday for her 13th birthday. Miriam’s mother, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, was released Thursday from Russian detention in a historic prisoner swap. When CNN spoke with Kurmasheva’s family in mid-July, her husband, Pavel Butorin, had mentioned the concert tickets. “We were so confident that she would get back to us that I bought Taylor Swift tickets…in June or July…for August 2024,” Butorin said at the time. Even though they are missing Friday’s concert, Butorin expressed confidence the family would still get to go to a Swift concert in the future.

Persons: CNN — Miriam Butorin, Taylor, Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Kurmasheva, Joe Biden, Miriam, Pavel Butorin, Bibi Butorin, Miriam Butorin, Manuel Balce Ceneta, Biden, Kamala Harris, Kurmasheva’s, Taylor Swift, ” Butorin, “, ”, Butorin Organizations: CNN, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, White, Andrews Air Force Base, Base Andrews Locations: American, Radio Free Europe, Russia, United States, Maryland, Warsaw

☆ A Triumphant Biden Welcomes 3 Freed Americans Home
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Wall Street Journal reporter greeted his waiting colleagues with a wide grin and open arms. In the middle of the emotional scene that unfolded on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews late Thursday was President Biden. Hours earlier, Mr. Biden had triumphantly announced that his administration’s diplomatic efforts had secured the release of three American prisoners held by Russia. “It feels wonderful,” Mr. Biden told reporters. And for Mr. Biden, they provided a seeming vindication of the type of patient, multilateral diplomacy that he proudly practices but that has so far proved unable to halt wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Persons: Base Andrews, Biden, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Mr, “ Organizations: Street, Base Locations: Russian American, Russia, Maryland, Gaza, Ukraine

Among the Americans freed from Russia on Thursday was the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The prisoner exchange involved the release of two dozen people. Credit... Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Haiyun Jiang Organizations: Street, The New York Locations: Russia

☆ Defense secretary abruptly revokes plea deal with alleged 9/11 mastermind KSM, co-conspirators
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin abruptly revoked a plea deal for the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks and his co-conspirators, and he relieved the overseer in charge after years of effort to reach an agreement to bring the cases to a close. Prosecutors in the case had been discussing the possibility of a plea deal for more than two years, which would have avoided a lengthy trial complicated by questions over the admissibility of evidence obtained during torture. The US had said it would seek the death penalty for Mohammed. US criminal courts for decades have dealt with high profile terror trials, including with death sentences, which Holder had authorized. “They were dealt a bad hand by political hacks and ideologues who lost faith in our justice system.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Bin ‘ Attash, Hawsawi –, Susan Escallier, ” Austin, Mohammed, ”, Brett Eagleson, Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham, “, George W, Bush, Eric Holder, Barack Obama’s, Holder, ” Holder, Daniel Pearl, ideologues, CNN’s Manu Raju, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN —, Pentagon, Prosecutors, Democratic, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, CNN, South Carolina Republican, Wall Street Journal Locations: Guantanamo, Pearl, Richard Blumenthal of, Manhattan, Pakistan

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