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Brittney Griner Freed By Russian Authorities In Exchange For Arms Dealer Viktor Bout

(CTN NEWS) – Brittney Griner, an incarcerated American basketball player, and Viktor Bout, a renowned arms dealer who spent 12 years in an American prison, have been traded by the U.S. and Russia.
Brittney Griner is safe and returning home from the United Arab Emirates, according to President Joe Biden.
At the White House, he stated, “I’m happy to report Brittney is in good spirits… she needs time and space to recover.”
Griner was detained for having cannabis oil at a Moscow airport in February, and he was later transferred to a prison camp.
In July, the Biden administration suggested a prisoner swap, knowing that Moscow had long demanded Bout’s release.

U.S. President Joe Biden announces the release of WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner by Russia, as her wife Cherelle Griner listens, during an appearance in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, U.S. December 8, 2022.
Two private aircraft flew the duo from Moscow and Washington, respectively, to Abu Dhabi airport for the elaborate swap, then flew back home.
They allegedly passed each other on the airport tarmac as they went by.
The Russian foreign ministry said, “The Russian citizen has been returned to his hometown.”
He called his family a few hours later to let them know he was back in Russia. According to reports, his aircraft made a refuelling stop in the Dagestan region, three hour flight from Moscow.
Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner’s wife, expressed her gratitude for the Biden administration’s efforts in gaining her release in the Oval Office, saying, “I’m just standing here overwhelmed with emotions.”

Cherelle Griner talks about the release by Russia of her wife, WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner, during an appearance with U.S. President Joe Biden in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 8, 2022.
According to a joint Saudi-UAE statement, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan played key roles in the mediation efforts.
The Saudi heir to the throne enjoys good ties with Vladimir Putin of Russia, and in September, he assisted in organizing a complicated exchange of hundreds of captives held by Russia and Ukraine.
The U.S. made it plain that it wanted ex-marine Paul Whelan to be a part of an exchange when discussions to obtain Griner’s release during the summer began.
But it soon became apparent that Whelan, imprisoned in 2018 on spying charges, would not be included in the Russian exchange, shattering hopes for his family.
On Russian television, Alexei Tarasov, Bout’s attorney, said that the U.S. had always demanded the release of two of its citizens, and Russia’s foreign ministry lamented that “Washington categorically refuses to engage in talks.”
Given that he had committed no crime, Paul Whelan told CNN that he was “greatly unhappy” that more hadn’t been done to secure his release. “I don’t know why I’m still waiting here,” he added.

Members of a special police unit escort suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout after a hearing at a criminal court in Bangkok on October 5, 2010. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang/File Photo
Bout’s 25-year prison sentence was finally commuted by President Biden, who directly swapped Brittney Griner for Bout.
“Ultimately, as we have seen, the deal was conducted one for one. Since a true exchange should involve an equal exchange, “Mister Tarasov added.
Alla, Bout’s wife, claimed on Russian TV that she had only spoken to him two days prior: “He was slated to give me a call tonight. We’ll now meet up and give each other hugs. Better than any phone call, that.”
One of the most sought persons in the world, Viktor Bout supplied weapons to warlords and despotic regimes.
The Russian’s deeds inspired the 2005 Hollywood film Lord of War, which was partially based on his life.
And earned him the moniker “merchant of death” for running guns in the years following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Biden just traded the guy that inspired “Lord of War” for Brittney Griner, who didn’t even make the cut for “Space Jam 2” pic.twitter.com/eR9gQN7jRB
— Harrison (@HarrisonKrank) December 8, 2022
An extensive U.S. sting operation in 2008 resulted in his arrest at a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, ending his covert career, to the chagrin of the Russian government.
After being deported two years later, he has spent the last 12 years sulking in an American prison for plotting to aid terrorists and assassinate Americans.
The situation facing Bout and his counterpart in the prisoner swap could not be more unlike.
One of the most well-known sportswomen in America is Brittney Griner, 32. During the U.S. basketball season, the two-time Olympic champion plays centre for Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
HONEST MISTAKE
She only travelled to Moscow because she had a game in Russia during the U.S. off-season. She claimed at her Russian trial that the marijuana oil discovered in her suitcase was an “honest mistake.”
President Biden included a tweet picture of himself and Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, taken in the Oval Office.
Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner.
She is safe.
She is on a plane.
She is on her way home. pic.twitter.com/FmHgfzrcDT— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022
“I just had a conversation with Brittney Griner. She’s secure. She’s in the air. She is travelling home, “He composed. Soon after, they both made public statements broadcast live on US TV networks.
Presidential envoy Roger Carstens, travelling with Brittney Griner from the UAE, was singled out for praise by Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his efforts.
Leading U.S. basketball figures hailed her release, including two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm.
https://twitter.com/breannastewart/status/1600843953644834817?s=20&t=VrUxtvXMqij6Kuv-z9eVHQ
Last month, Brittney Griner was transferred to a penitentiary camp in Mordovia, a secluded region located 500 kilometres (310 miles) southeast of Moscow.
She was detained not far from the prison where spying defendant Paul Whelan is receiving a 16-year sentence.
President Biden claimed that Russia had treated Whelan’s case differently than Brittney Griner’s for wholly unjustified grounds in his statement.
While we haven’t yet been able to secure Paul’s release, he swore, “We haven’t given up; we won’t give up.”
David Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, applauded Brittney Griner’s release and said that U.S. officials had informed the family beforehand that Paul Whelan was not included in the trade.
He stated, “it’s obvious the U.S. administration needs to be more proactive.” “The United States needs a quicker, more direct response if evil actors like Russia are going to seize innocent Americans.”
The Biden administration’s compromise was denounced by former White House national security adviser John Bolton as a surrender rather than a swap.
Meet Brittney Griner & Marine Paul Whelan.
Both Americans.
Both were convicted in Russian courts on dubious charges.
Both serving multi-year sentences in Russian prison.
Brittney hates America
Paul served AmericaGuess which one Biden traded a terrorist to free?
Semper fi Paul pic.twitter.com/tuP1R6AZpf
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 8, 2022
Saying that “terrorists and rogue nations all over the world will take note of this, and it endangers other Americans in the future.”
Russia and the U.S. have exchanged prisoners before this year, including on Thursday.
Before being exchanged for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot found guilty of smuggling cocaine, last April; US Marine Trevor Reed served three years in prison for assault.
Speaking from a Russian jail colony, Paul Whelan claimed that because he had been charged with spying, Russia “placed me at a level higher than what they did with Trevor and Brittney.”
Before their international journey, Americans were cautioned by Vice President Biden to exercise caution and be aware of the possibility of being unlawfully imprisoned by a foreign government.
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Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding, But Still Accounting 48% Search Revenue

Google is so closely associated with its key product that its name is a verb that signifies “search.” However, Google’s dominance in that sector is dwindling.
According to eMarketer, Google will lose control of the US search industry for the first time in decades next year.
Google will remain the dominant search player, accounting for 48% of American search advertising revenue. And, remarkably, Google is still increasing its sales in the field, despite being the dominating player in search since the early days of the George W. Bush administration. However, Amazon is growing at a quicker rate.
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding
Amazon will hold over a quarter of US search ad dollars next year, rising to 27% by 2026, while Google will fall even more, according to eMarketer.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the forecast.
Lest you think you’ll have to switch to Bing or Yahoo, this isn’t the end of Google or anything really near.
Google is the fourth-most valued public firm in the world. Its market worth is $2.1 trillion, trailing just Apple, Microsoft, and the AI chip darling Nvidia. It also maintains its dominance in other industries, such as display advertisements, where it dominates alongside Facebook’s parent firm Meta, and video ads on YouTube.
To put those “other” firms in context, each is worth more than Delta Air Lines’ total market value. So, yeah, Google is not going anywhere.
Nonetheless, Google faces numerous dangers to its operations, particularly from antitrust regulators.
On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Google must open up its Google Play Store to competitors, dealing a significant blow to the firm in its long-running battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games. Google announced that it would appeal the verdict.
In August, a federal judge ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on search. That verdict could lead to the dissolution of the company’s search operation. Another antitrust lawsuit filed last month accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising business.
Meanwhile, European regulators have compelled Google to follow tough new standards, which have resulted in multiple $1 billion-plus fines.

Pixa Bay
Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding
On top of that, the marketplace is becoming more difficult on its own.
TikTok, the fastest-growing social network, is expanding into the search market. And Amazon has accomplished something few other digital titans have done to date: it has established a habit.
When you want to buy anything, you usually go to Amazon, not Google. Amazon then buys adverts to push companies’ products to the top of your search results, increasing sales and earning Amazon a greater portion of the revenue. According to eMarketer, it is expected to generate $27.8 billion in search revenue in the United States next year, trailing only Google’s $62.9 billion total.
And then there’s AI, the technology that (supposedly) will change everything.
Why search in stilted language for “kendall jenner why bad bunny breakup” or “police moving violation driver rights no stop sign” when you can just ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “What’s going on with Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny?” in “I need help fighting a moving violation involving a stop sign that wasn’t visible.” Google is working on exactly this technology with its Gemini product, but its success is far from guaranteed, especially with Apple collaborating with OpenAI and other businesses rapidly joining the market.
A Google spokeswoman referred to a blog post from last week in which the company unveiled ads in its AI overviews (the AI-generated text that appears at the top of search results). It’s Google’s way of expressing its ability to profit on a changing marketplace while retaining its business, even as its consumers steadily transition to ask-and-answer AI and away from search.
Google has long used a single catchphrase to defend itself against opponents who claim it is a monopoly abusing its power: competition is only a click away. Until recently, that seemed comically obtuse. Really? We are going to switch to Bing? Or Duck Duck Go? Give me a break.
But today, it feels more like reality.
Google is in no danger of disappearing. However, every highly dominating company faces some type of reckoning over time. GE, a Dow mainstay for more than a century, was broken up last year and is now a shell of its previous dominance. Sears declared bankruptcy in 2022 and is virtually out of business. US Steel, long the foundation of American manufacturing, is attempting to sell itself to a Japanese corporation.
SOURCE | CNN
News
2024 | Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal From Elon Musk’s X Platform Over Warrant In Trump Case

Washington — Trump Media, The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear an appeal from social media platform X about a search warrant acquired by prosecutors in the election meddling case against former President Donald Trump.
The justices did not explain their rationale, and there were no recorded dissents.
The firm, which was known as Twitter before being purchased by billionaire Elon Musk, claims a nondisclosure order that prevented it from informing Trump about the warrant obtained by special counsel Jack Smith’s team violated its First Amendment rights.
The business also claims Trump should have had an opportunity to exercise executive privilege. If not reined in, the government may employ similar tactics to intercept additional privileged communications, their lawyers contended.
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal From Elon Musk’s X Platform Over Warrant In Trump Case
Two neutral electronic privacy groups also joined in, urging the high court to hear the case on First Amendment grounds.
Prosecutors, however, claim that the corporation never shown that Trump utilized the account for official purposes, therefore executive privilege is not a problem. A lower court also determined that informing Trump could have compromised the current probe.
Trump utilized his Twitter account in the weeks preceding up to his supporters’ attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, to spread false assertions about the election, which prosecutors claim were intended to create doubt in the democratic process.
The indictment describes how Trump used his Twitter account to encourage his followers to travel to Washington on Jan. 6, pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to reject the certification, and falsely claiming that the Capitol crowd, which battered police officers and destroyed glass, was peaceful.
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal From Elon Musk’s X Platform Over Warrant In Trump Case
That case is now moving forward following the Supreme Court’s verdict in July, which granted Trump full immunity from criminal prosecution as a former president.
The warrant arrived at Twitter amid quick changes implemented by Musk, who bought the company in 2022 and has since cut off most of its workforce, including those dedicated to combating disinformation and hate speech.
SOURCE | AP
News
The Supreme Court Turns Down Biden’s Government Appeal in a Texas Emergency Abortion Matter.

(VOR News) – A ruling that prohibits emergency abortions that contravene the Supreme Court law in the state of Texas, which has one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the country, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The United States Supreme Court upheld this decision.
The justices did not provide any specifics regarding the underlying reasons for their decision to uphold an order from a lower court that declared hospitals cannot be legally obligated to administer abortions if doing so would violate the law in the state of Texas.
Institutions are not required to perform abortions, as stipulated in the decree. The common populace did not investigate any opposing viewpoints. The decision was made just weeks before a presidential election that brought abortion to the forefront of the political agenda.
This decision follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended abortion nationwide.
In response to a request from the administration of Vice President Joe Biden to overturn the lower court’s decision, the justices expressed their disapproval.
The government contends that hospitals are obligated to perform abortions in compliance with federal legislation when the health or life of an expectant patient is in an exceedingly precarious condition.
This is the case in regions where the procedure is prohibited. The difficulty hospitals in Texas and other states are experiencing in determining whether or not routine care could be in violation of stringent state laws that prohibit abortion has resulted in an increase in the number of complaints concerning pregnant women who are experiencing medical distress being turned away from emergency rooms.
The administration cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that bore a striking resemblance to the one that was presented to it in Idaho at the beginning of the year. The justices took a limited decision in that case to allow the continuation of emergency abortions without interruption while a lawsuit was still being heard.
In contrast, Texas has been a vocal proponent of the injunction’s continued enforcement. Texas has argued that its circumstances are distinct from those of Idaho, as the state does have an exemption for situations that pose a significant hazard to the health of an expectant patient.
According to the state, the discrepancy is the result of this exemption. The state of Idaho had a provision that safeguarded a woman’s life when the issue was first broached; however, it did not include protection for her health.
Certified medical practitioners are not obligated to wait until a woman’s life is in imminent peril before they are legally permitted to perform an abortion, as determined by the state supreme court.
The state of Texas highlighted this to the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, medical professionals have criticized the Texas statute as being perilously ambiguous, and a medical board has declined to provide a list of all the disorders that are eligible for an exception. Furthermore, the statute has been criticized for its hazardous ambiguity.
For an extended period, termination of pregnancies has been a standard procedure in medical treatment for individuals who have been experiencing significant issues. It is implemented in this manner to prevent catastrophic outcomes, such as sepsis, organ failure, and other severe scenarios.
Nevertheless, medical professionals and hospitals in Texas and other states with strict abortion laws have noted that it is uncertain whether or not these terminations could be in violation of abortion prohibitions that include the possibility of a prison sentence. This is the case in regions where abortion prohibitions are exceedingly restrictive.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which resulted in restrictions on the rights of women to have abortions in several Republican-ruled states, the Texas case was revisited in 2022.
As per the orders that were disclosed by the administration of Vice President Joe Biden, hospitals are still required to provide abortions in cases that are classified as dire emergency.
As stipulated in a piece of health care legislation, the majority of hospitals are obligated to provide medical assistance to patients who are experiencing medical distress. This is in accordance with the law.
The state of Texas maintained that hospitals should not be obligated to provide abortions throughout the litigation, as doing so would violate the state’s constitutional prohibition on abortions. In its January judgment, the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with the state and acknowledged that the administration had exceeded its authority.
SOURCE: AP
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