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The report said the hackers have been able to infiltrate U.S. and allied government agencies, as well as think tanks on foreign policy, using adaptable and stealthy techniques to go unnoticed as long as possible, the Associated Press reported. It was about a year ago when Mandiant disclosed that Russian state hackers had been able to breach about 100 organizations through common software provided by SolarWinds. Major U.S. agencies, including part of the State Department, Homeland Security Department and Pentagon, were targeted, as well as some private companies like Microsoft and Intel, Business Insider reported....

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on February 24, hoping for a quick victory, but Ukraine in recent weeks launched two counteroffensives—one in the southern city of Kherson, and the other in areas around Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city. While the Kherson offensive has seen slower progress, the Kharkiv front appeared to catch Russia by surprise, allowing Ukraine to quickly take back territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a Monday night address that his troops recaptured more than 2,000 square miles....

Now, the wait is over. MORE: Harper hits walk-off, gets showered in chocolate | Pirates turn historic triple play Bryant came to bat in the bottom of the third inning against the Brewers, his team down 2-0, and proceeded to give the Cubs a lead with a three-run shot to left-center. The rookie clearly struggled to contain a smile as he smugly rounded the bases. Even in Milwaukee, a strong contingent of Cubs fans stood and cheered the milestone....

During a mic’d-up moment at the All-Star Game, Bryant was prodded by Fox play-by-play man Joe Buck about the trade rumors surrounding the Cubs’ star, which made for a fairly awkward on-field moment. Bryant’s dad, Mike Bryant, took issue with Buck’s line of questioning. “I simply cannot express my disappointment at Joe Buck asking my son about his future with the Cubs while he was playing left field in the All-Star Game,” Mike Bryant told Cubs Insider....

Chicago reacquired the winger, who was part of their 2010 Stanley Cup team, along with forward Phillippe Lefebrve, for forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen. Florida will also pick up half—half!—of Versteeg's remaining salary. That means he'll count $2.2 million against the cap through the 2015-16 season. Versteeg, 27, has played four full, healthy seasons, and has scored at least 20 goals in all of them. He'll immediately improve Chicago's bottom six, at minimum....

Porzingis has played at that level during New York’s first six games of the 2017-18 NBA season. After dropping a career-high 38 points in a 116-110 victory over the Nuggets, he is the first Knick ever to eclipse the 30-point mark in five of the team’s first six contests. There’s no longer a question that the 22-year-old “unicorn” is the Knicks’ go-to scorer. New York traded Carmelo Anthony to the Thunder in late September, making Porzingis the team’s No....

Porzingis might have some competition for Rihanna within the NBA community. Sixers center Joel Embiid has made a career out of fake-dating Rihanna, J.R. Smith tried to hit on her on Instagram and the talented singer sat courtside during the NBA Finals rooting for LeBron. MORE DRAFT: Best sleepers | Okafor’s giant hands | Towns’ media lesson from middle-schoolers We’re not saying Porzingis doesn’t have a chance, but he’s going to have to work hard for that dinner date....

The moderators choose the debate topics, so Welker, NBC’s White House Correspondent, decided that Trump and Biden would discuss fighting COVID-19, American families, race in America, climate change, national security, and leadership. Welker was praised by both Republicans and Democrats for keeping the debate on track and keeping the presidential candidates in control. MSNBC journalist Mika Brzezinski said: “Kristen Welker debate moderator, she was on point, sharp, didn’t make herself the story, kept it moving, asked excellent questions and follow-ups, did not waste a moment—exceptional performance!...

Andersen runs a lab at the Scripps Research Institute that studies the genes of viruses to understand what causes outbreaks. On March 17, 2020, he and colleagues published a paper in the journal Nature Medicine that concluded COVID was not made in a laboratory or “purposefully manipulated.” Correspondence between him and Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, earlier in 2020 is among 3,200 pages of Fauci’s emails that have been obtained and published by BuzzFeed News following a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit....

Madrid are without injured stars Marcelo, Karim Benzema (both hamstring) and Mateo Kovacic (adductor tear), but Kroos comes back into the fold after missing the 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves with a rib complaint. Madrid 7/2 to win CL Kroos was a pivotal player for Madrid in their retention of the Champions League last season, creating more chances than any other player in the competition. Dani Ceballos, who scored twice in the German’s place against Alaves on Saturday, is also included in the squad alongside Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo....

Authorities said Sobchak’s Moscow home was raided in connection with a criminal case that has been opened against her commercial director, Kirill Sukhanov. “[Sobchak’s home] is being searched in an extortion case, in which her commercial director Kirill Sukhanov was detained. Sobchak herself has no procedural status,” Tass cited law enforcement agencies as saying. The search comes a day after Sukhanov was detained and taken to the Main Investigation Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Moscow....

On Wednesday, Angle was one of nearly two dozen stars furloughed by the WWE because of financial issues created by the COVID-19 crisis, also known as the coronavirus pandemic. Angle on Twitter thanked “WWE Universe” for his tenure, calling its followers “the best fans in the world.” “I wanted 2 say thank you to the WWE for the time I spent there.I made many new friends and had the opportunity to work with so many talented people....

As Sprint Cup teams began practice for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, Busch made a statement. And it was loud. His best lap at Charlotte was more than a mile an hour faster than the nearest competitor. MORE: NASCAR goes patriotic | More downforce changes coming | 10 drivers to watch Qualifying was scheduled to begin about 7:15 p.m. ET at Charlotte. Busch speed on Thursday: 192.843. Jimmie Johnson did 191.252. The rest of the fastest five: Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson....

It’s not an exact replica and it’s not a tribute to the Will Ferrell movie from 2006. It is a move by Wonder’s new owners to reintroduce the brand in a way that might generate some buzz. Busch ran a cougar “Me” paint scheme from "Talladega Nights" last year and a City Chevrolet paint scheme from “Days of Thunder” in a Nationwide race this year. He had to convince Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser to run the Wonder bread paint scheme instead of having his own company on the car....

Parker, a 6-2 high school junior, has some pretty insane athleticism, which he showed off at the camp and also in his latest mixtape. MORE: Top 25 in the Class of 2015 | Malik Monk’s mixtape There are multiple dunks where his head is inches above the rim. That’s some serious bounce. The Fayetteville, N.C., native has offers from Charlotte, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Western Carolina, according to 24/7 Sports, but you can expect the young point guard to see a spike in national interest this fall....

Busch charged to front after a green-white-checkered restart, taking the lead from his brother Kurt and Tony Stewart. Larson followed him, but could not catch Busch on the final lap. MORE: Race results | Bowyer mad | Larson happy with second | Drivers not happy about tire problems Larson, a Sprint Cup rookied, finished second, followed by Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger. The race was plagued by a rash of tires problems as more than a dozen drivers had flat tires, many of them causing spins and crashes....

They used it to upstage the four title contenders — at least in qualifying. Hamlin, who was eliminated in Round 2 of the Chase, won the pole with a speed of 176.655 mph. Logano, who leads the series with six wins but was eliminated in Round 3, qualified second. MORE: Debating who will, won’t win Sprint Cup | Breaking down the contenders Among the championship contenders, Kyle Busch qualified third, Jeff Gordon was fifth and Martin Truex Jr....

Hendricks didn’t get high marks for his start Sunday night vs. the Braves: He allowed four first-inning home runs, becoming the first Cubs pitcher and ninth pitcher in MLB history to do so. The Cubs started a comeback after that on the power of two Anthony Rizzo home runs, but they were still down big, 7-3, in the early part of the game. (UPDATE: They lost big, 13-4.) Hendricks is the team’s de facto ace after Chicago traded Yu Darvish this past offseason....

Larson paced the only practice session (which was also cut short my rain) with a best speed of 182.537 mph. Brad Keselowski, a two-time winner at Kentucky, will join Larson on Row 1, while Jeff Gordon will start on the inside of Row 2 seeking his first win at Kentucky. MORE: SN power rankings before Kentucky | Toughest drivers | NASCAR’s eligible bachelors “I think we’re off to a good start, Keselowski said....