A Russian court today released private equity investor Mike Calvey from jail after a 2-month stay, instead ordering him to serve house arrest until his trial on fraud charges.
Why it matters: Calvey is a U.S. citizen who has argued that criminal charges are inappropriate in what he and his firm, Baring Vostok Capital Partners, believe is a commercial shareholder dispute that should be settled in arbitration. His arrest has become a financial flash-point for the few Western investors who still want to invest in Russia, particularly as some of his colleagues remain jailed.
President Obama's former White House counsel Gregory Craig was indicted on Thursday for concealing information and making false statements to federal authorities in an investigation stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into the 2016 election.
Details: Craig, who also served in the President Bill Clinton’s administration, is facing up to 5 years in prison for allegedly lying about his work with former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort for the Russia-aligned government of Ukraine. The investigation of Craig is part of a larger crack down on foreign lobbying by the Department of Justice's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) unit.
President Trump's special envoy for Middle East peace said today that the forthcoming White House peace plan won't be "a sell out" for the Palestinians.
Between the lines: With the end of the Israeli elections, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's victory, the release of the White House peace plan could be imminent. Jason Greenblatt's public message was directed at the Palestinian leadership in an attempt to stress that the plan won't be as bad as they fear.
China's growth and size are setting the country up to be not just a power in global financial markets, but The Power in global financial markets.
What's happening: Right now China is adapting its economy and financial system to fit the U.S.-led capitalistic financial model. But given the way China has operated as a rising military and geopolitical power, its ascent likely means that things will change in global financial markets.
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper criticized Attorney General William Barr on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° for raising concerns about federal surveillance during President Trump’s 2016 campaign with the Senate Appropriations subcommittee Wednesday.
Details: Clapper told host Anderson Cooper it was "stunning and scary" that Barr told a public hearing this. Barr should've sought a briefing from the Justice Department's inspector general on the investigation into whether the FBI mishandled warrant applications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Clapper said.
America is holding on to a narrow lead in a number of new technologies that will shape the future, but China is rapidly catching up.
Driving the news: Per a new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, China is closing the gap — and even edging ahead — as an innovator.
The European Union is offering the United Kingdom an extension to complete Brexit until October 31 — rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's request for a shorter extension through June 30.
The attackers who launched TRITON, a notorious industrial-system-focused malware only known to have been used once, have struck a second target, according to researchers at FireEye presenting at the Kaspersky Lab SAS Summit in Singapore.
Why it matters: FireEye was the first to discover TRITON, which startled researchers by amassing an uncommon amount of control over industrial systems. Due to a mistake in the attack, it inadvertently led to a plant shutdown and nearly caused a deadly explosion. While no one expected TRITON to be a one-time affair, its resurgence is jarring.
President Trump told reporters Wednesday morning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election victory was "a good sign for peace."
"Everybody said you can't have peace in the Middle East with Israel and the Palestinians. I think we have a chance. I think we have now a better chance with Bibi having won."
Driving the news: Netanyahu scored a fifth term in office with his election win yesterday, declaring that he will be "prime minister for all" even as he faces a slew of corruption indictments. Trump called Netanyahu from Air Force One to congratulate him for his victory in the elections, Netanyahu's office said in a statement. Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support, and the two leaders agreed to continue working closely together.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "tremendous victory" in the country's tight election race Tuesday.
What he's saying: "It will be a right-wing government, but I will be prime minister for all," said Netanyahu, whose Likud party tied in seat numbers with Benny Gantz's Blue and White, according to exit polls. "I'm very touched that the people of Israel gave me their vote of confidence for the fifth time, and an even bigger vote of confidence than previous elections."
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) filed a $150 million lawsuit Monday against The McClatchy Company and 2 others, alleging they interfered with his investigations into reported Russian interference in the 2016 elections and Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Details: The lawsuit, first reported by Fox News, comes one day after the House Intelligence Committee ranking member told the network he would send 8 criminal referrals to the Justice Department this week concerning allegations of misconduct by federal authorities during the Russia probe.
