Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
1. Prisoner swap
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva have landed in the US following a historic prisoner exchange between Russia and the West. In an emotional scene Thursday, the returnees were met by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their joyous families on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The agreement involved months of complex negotiations with allies and adversaries alike, involving seven countries and 24 prisoners. The swap also included the release of convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov and other individuals accused of spying or cybercrimes.
2. Campaign funds
Donald Trump’s campaign said Thursday that its operation raised nearly $139 million in July for the former president’s election effort — and amassed $327 million in cash reserves for the roughly three-month sprint to the election. Trump’s total represents a jump from June when his campaign and aligned committees reported bringing in nearly $112 million, but the July total was dwarfed by the fundraising haul of his newly minted Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. The Harris campaign said it raked in a whopping $310 million in its July fundraising efforts, with more than $200 million raised in the first week of her candidacy. The Harris team has $377 million cash on hand, marking the latest sign of how the change at the top of the Democratic ticket has energized grassroots and high-dollar supporters.
3. Middle East
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh will be buried today in Qatar as his killing raises fears that Israel’s war with the Palestinian militant group in Gaza could spiral into a fully-fledged Middle East conflict. President Biden said the assassination had “not helped” the chances of a ceasefire deal and expressed concern about the escalating tensions in the region after Iran vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death. Biden is now weighing more US defenses in the Middle East as the US prepares for an Iranian retaliation against Israel that could include an attack on American forces. Haniyeh was killed in Tehran using a hidden explosive device, a source told CNN, becoming the third high-profile figure in Iran-backed militant groups to be killed in recent weeks.
4. Airline fees
The Biden administration has proposed a new rule banning airlines from charging parents extra fees for their kids to be seated next to them. “Families don’t need any additional stresses or costs when flying on top of how demanding it can be to be a parent flying with your kids,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said when announcing the proposed rule. White House officials say their “fee-free family seating” proposal could potentially save parents up to $200 per round-trip flight. The rule would require airlines to seat children 13 and under next to their parents within 48 hours of purchasing the ticket. The proposed mandate still needs to clear a public comment period and is unlikely to be enacted until sometime next year.
5. Veneuela election
The US has said “it is clear” that President Nicolas Maduro lost the popular vote in Venezuela’s election last week as a key opposition leader said she is in hiding in fear for her life. Though Maduro had promised free and fair elections, the process was marred with allegations of foul play — with opposition figures arrested, their key leader María Corina Machado banned from running, opposition witnesses allegedly denied access to the vote count and overseas Venezuelans largely unable to cast ballots. Protests broke out across Venezuela after the country’s electoral body announced Maduro as the winner with 51% of the votes. Many young opposition supporters said they would leave the country if Maduro was re-elected, pointing to the devastating collapse of Venezuela’s economy and violent repression under his rule.
