In the news today: Arrests of Americans in Russia are becoming increasingly common; the Olympics are now just one month away; and everything you need to know about rip currents. Also, a look at the picks for 2024’s best albums so far. | Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Wednesday. (AP Photo)
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More Americans are ending up in Russian jails
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One was a journalist on a reporting trip. Another was attending a wedding. Yet another was a dual national returning to visit family. All are U.S. citizens now behind bars in Russia on various charges. Read more. |
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Arrests of Americans in Russia are becoming increasingly common with relations sinking to Cold War lows. Washington accuses Moscow of using U.S. citizens as bargaining chips, but Russia insists they all broke the law.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, an American-born son of immigrants from the USSR, is the first Western journalist to be arrested on espionage in post-Soviet Russia. Detained in March 2023, he is on trial today for espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government deny.
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It’s unclear how many Americans are jailed in Russia or if negotiations are in the works to have them freed. The U.S. successfully negotiated swaps in 2022 for WNBA star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Trevor Reed — both designated as wrongfully detained. Still, the designation is applied to only a small subset of Americans jailed by foreign countries.
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The Olympics are more than fun and games
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The Olympics are the world’s largest celebration of sports, with about 10,500 athletes from 200 countries or regions attending. But they’re also a proxy for geopolitical influence. Read more. |
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It’s a business, not a charity: The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that generates 91% of its income from selling broadcast rights and sponsorships, with the income for the latest four-year cycle of Winter and Summer Games bringing in around $7.6 billion. The IOC says it puts 90% of its income back into sports, though athletes get only a small slice.
Sports and politics mix: The IOC says the Olympics transcend politics. But in reality, they are highly political, as seen through standings in the medal tables, the presence of world leaders at the opening ceremony, and the national anthems serenading gold-medal winners. The IOC even has observer status at the United Nations.
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Scandals and corruption: The Olympics have frequently been embroiled in scandals or corruption, likely due to the large amount of public money involved and rushed deadlines. The most recent Tokyo Games involved a bribery scandal over contracts, sponsorships and the bid itself.
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Things to know about dangerous rip currents and how swimmers caught in one can escape
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About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.S. beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association, and more than 80 percent of beach rescues annually involve rip currents. The National Weather Service lists 16 known deaths so far in 2024 from rip currents in U.S. waters, including six Florida fatalities in two days. Read more.
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What is a rip current: Rip currents are narrow columns of water flowing rapidly away from the beach. They don’t pull swimmers underwater, but can carry them out a fair distance from shore. Look for flag warnings of rip currents, and online, for potential hazard spots.
How can someone escape a rip current: The most frequent advice from beach rescue teams and weather forecasters is to not panic and look for a chance to swim parallel to the shore until the swimmer is out of the rip current’s grip.
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Should I attempt a rip current rescue: It can be dangerous to try to rescue someone caught in a rip current, officials say, and often the people trying to perform the rescue can get into trouble themselves. It’s best to find a lifeguard if there is one, or call 911.
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A combination of album covers. (AP Photo)
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The best albums of 2024 so far
The sun is hot, but the tunes are hotter. We’re only halfway through 2024, and some of the biggest names in music have already released albums. That’s as good a reason as any to take stock of this year’s releases. Here are The Associated Press’ picks for the year’s best...so far. |
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Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Sarah
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