The path of two prisoners of war, from induction in Russia to captivity in Ukraine, was arduous, filled with broken promises, insufficient training, and poor equipment. But having survived, they offer insight into Russia’s brutal, yet effective, battle plan.

• Eyes on Venezuela: An International Criminal Court prosecutor says the ICC is “actively monitoring the present events” there. Security forces in the Latin American nation launched a crackdown on the opposition after its disputed presidential election. 
• Hong Kong convictions: The Court of Final Appeal upholds the convictions of seven of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy activists over their roles in one of the biggest anti-government protests in 2019. 
• Trial begins in reporter’s killing: Jury selection is set to start Aug. 12 for the murder trial of Las Vegas-area politician Robert Telles, who has pleaded not guilty in the September 2022 stabbing death of reporter Jeff German. 
• Top Hawaii Democrat loses primary: Hawaii’s House Speaker Scott Saiki loses to Kim Coco Iwamoto, a state Board of Education member from 2006 to 2011 who campaigned on tackling corruption in government, and was the highest-ranking openly transgender person elected in the U.S. at the time.
• Disputed Olympic bronze: U.S. Olympic officials say they will appeal a court ruling that resulted in American gymnast Jordan Chiles being asked to return the bronze medal she won in the Paris Olympics floor exercise.

Read these news briefs.

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Recent anti-government protests united Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines. Now the challenge is how to maintain that solidarity. 

A bill in Congress would honor 60 diplomats who helped Jews escape the Holocaust. Amid a spike in antisemitism and a growing generational knowledge gap, proponents say it offers a timely reminder of both the atrocities and selfless heroism of that time. 

When you’re used to playing the expert, diving into the unknown can be daunting. But as our essayist learns, being a novice can be exhilarating.

The 2024 Paris Olympics may be over, but one heartwarming video has gone viral on social media. It shows the medal ceremony for the floor exercise of women’s gymnastics. The two Americans, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, bow to the gold medal winner, Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, who smiles, raises her hands, and then poses for pictures with the pair and hugs them. [The bronze medal is still in dispute.] The moment was the first time that three Black medalists had ever shared the podium in the sport, and the crowd loved it.

Moments like these at the Olympics create memories of athletes cheering for one another and hugging. Fans mimic this behavior despite being from various countries. In Paris, most stood for the playing of the national anthem of every country that won. They decked themselves out in national attire and partied in the streets.

Three years ago, when COVID-19 delayed and altered the Summer Olympics, these celebrations didn’t happen. Even this year, turmoil from wars, natural disasters, and political shake-ups have turned many people off from each other and made them unwilling to celebrate. Nonetheless, at least 6 million people descended on the French capital for a cool two-week delight in sporting excellence.

There were many firsts at these Games. Gymnast Carlos Yulo was the Philippines’ first male athlete to win Olympic gold. The Caribbean island of Dominica won its first Olympic medal when Thea LaFond won the women’s triple jump. Athletes were celebrated, win, lose, or draw. At the closing ceremony, newly formed friendships of athletes were on display as they stood shoulder to shoulder with renewed spirits.

Three-time shot put gold medal winner Ryan Crouser says the closing ceremony is the best part of the Olympics because it represents the best of every athlete. “Coming together through sport and finding what unites us, competing in a friendly way, and just seeing a unity amongst athletes with so many smiles and so many memories being made” are what make the experience priceless, Mr. Crouser says. “Regardless of how the athlete performed – you have a select few that won a medal – but everyone there is happy to have that Olympic experience.”

With people the world over often at odds, an event like the Olympics shows that competitors can be friends. The Games are not a distraction from daily life. They are a way to lift every person’s life with moments of eternal glory and gratitude.