oak fire mariposa county california firefighter
Couple describes moment they knew to evacuate in wake of raging wildfire
01:03 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

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    The wild home-selling blitz is cooling down in the US, but home prices are still ludicrously high. The average home price last month was up 14.9% from a year ago.

    Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

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    1. Coronavirus

    The Biden administration has proposed a prisoner swap to secure the release of two Americans held by Russia, Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. President Joe Biden has offered to exchange Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year US prison sentence. Multiple sources told CNN that the plan to trade Bout for Whelan and Griner received the backing of Biden after being under discussion since earlier this year. The President’s support for the swap overrides opposition from the Department of Justice, which is generally against prisoner trades. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that the US presented the “substantial proposal” to Moscow “weeks ago” for Whelan and Griner. When asked about the possible swap, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said “so far, there is no agreement on this issue.” 

    2. Debt ceiling

    Russian missile strikes hit the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa just one day after Ukraine and Russia agreed on a deal that would allow the resumption of vital grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
    Video shows Russian missile hitting Odesa harbor
    01:55 - Source: CNN

    3. Immigration

    4. Policing

    5. France

    Uganda has proposed steep penalties for anti-vaxxers that include fines and imprisonment as the country doubles down on its coronavirus vaccine mandate. The proposed bill states that those who do not get vaccinated against Covid-19 will be fined 4 million Ugandan shillings (around $1,137) or receive a jail term of six months. A parliamentary health committee said yesterday it is considering the proposed legislation to “ensure mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.” The East African country of around 45 million people has grappled with a series of lockdowns to manage the pandemic amid misinformation and hesitancy toward vaccines. Uganda has recorded more than 163,000 cases of coronavirus and 3,500 deaths, according to the latest government figures.

    sarah longwell RS 0724
    'Stunning turnaround': GOP strategist explains Jan. 6 hearings' effect on Trump voters
    01:37 - Source: CNN

    BREAKFAST BROWSE

    Otter takes surfer’s board

    For those who dream of going shark diving… chews wisely. Watch the terrifying moment when a shark breaches a diver’s enclosure.

    ‘Black Panther’ 2 trailer is here

    Wakanda forever. Marvel gives the world a powerful glimpse into the next chapter of “Black Panther.” View the two-minute teaser here.  

    Tour de France winner is crowned

    This 25-year-old Danish cyclist won his first Tour de France title in Paris. 

    Woman sentenced to prison for collecting $400K in viral GoFundMe scam

    The New Jersey woman launched an online fundraiser claiming to collect money for a homeless man but instead spent the donations on a BMW, luxury handbags and a New Year’s trip to Vegas. *Shaking my head*

    Taiwan unveils world’s first ‘certified quiet hiking trail’

    Shhhhh. If you want to explore this pristine hiking route, you’ll have to stay quiet to preserve the trail’s natural silence.

    TODAY’S NUMBER

    20 quadrillion

    That’s how many stolen ancient artifacts, worth nearly $14 million, were recently returned to their home in Italy. Dozens of the artifacts belonged to US billionaire Michael Steinhardt, a former hedge fund manager who was once among the world’s most prominent collectors of ancient art, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said. Steinhardt had bought the looted items, including statues and ceremonial vessels, without seeing evidence of their ownership history, investigators said. The announcement follows a years-long investigation into Steinhardt, who avoided charges after he surrendered 180 artifacts, worth an estimated $70 million, and agreed to a lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities.

    TODAY’S QUOTE

    “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions.”

    Google’s unreleased Artificial Intelligence system, called LaMDA, explaining that it experiences feelings in a seemingly human-like way. A Google software engineer claimed LaMDA had reached a human level of consciousness after exchanging thousands of messages with it. But Google dismissed the employee’s claims as “wholly unfounded” after reviewing them extensively. The employee, who had reportedly been at the company for seven years, was recently fired for violating employment and data security policies, Google told CNN.

    TODAY’S WEATHER

    severe storm
    Heat alerts across the US as severe storms hit the Northeast
    01:53 - Source: CNN

    Check your local forecast here>>>

    AND FINALLY

    Happy Peace Day

    If you lived through the recorder days as a young student or parent, this video is for you. Here’s why the musical instrument (that most people disliked) became a requirement in many American schools. (Click here to view)