Dec 09 Watch 6:03 News Wrap: Brittney Griner returns to the U.S. amid discussions about more prisoner swaps In our news wrap Friday, Brittney Griner lands in the U.S. a day after Russia exchanged her for a convicted arms dealer, health experts urged older Americans to get COVID boosters before the holidays, Ukraine says Russian shelling in the… Continue watching
Dec 09 Biden administration accuses Russia and Iran of moving toward a full defense ‘partnership’ By Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Associated Press The Biden administration is accusing Russia of moving to provide advanced military assistance to Iran, including air defense systems, helicopters and fighter jets. Continue reading
Dec 09 Russian politician sentenced to over 8 years for criticism of war in Ukraine By Associated Press A prominent Russian opposition figure has been sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison after being convicted on charges stemming from his criticism of the Kremlin's action in Ukraine. Continue reading
Dec 09 Bulgarian lawmakers approve military aid to Ukraine By Associated Press Bulgaria previously agreed to repair Ukrainian military equipment at its factories but refused to send weapons directly due to opposition from President Rumen Radev and the country's Moscow-friendly political parties. Continue reading
Dec 09 WATCH: State Department announces new sanctions for human rights abuses By Lekan Oyekanmi, Eric Tucker, Associated Press The U.S. is imposing sanctions on a broad array of people and companies around the world for corruption and human rights abuses — from illegal fishing operations in Chinese waters to kickbacks in Guatemala. Continue reading
Dec 09 NATO chief fears Ukraine war could broaden into wider conflict By Jamey Keaten, Associated Press The head of NATO expressed worry that the fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control and become a war between Russia and NATO, according to an interview released Friday. Continue reading
Dec 09 Brittney Griner arrives home in U.S. after months of Russian imprisonment By Lekan Oyekanmi, Eric Tucker, Associated Press Griner's status as an openly gay Black woman, her prominence in women's basketball and her imprisonment in a country where authorities have been hostile to the LBGTQ community heightened concerns for her. Continue reading
Dec 08 Watch 11:43 American Brittney Griner released from Russian detention in exchange for arms dealer By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn, Teresa Cebrian Aranda Brittney Griner is finally free after a dramatic prisoner swap. The WNBA star had been held by Russia for most of this year on a minor drug offense, and was serving 9 years in a prison camp. But on Wednesday… Continue watching
Dec 08 Watch 8:27 With Griner’s release, questions remain over fate of Americans still held in Russia The Biden administration on Thursday secured the release of Brittney Griner from Russia the controversy persists around the still-imprisoned American Paul Whelan, who remains inside Russia. John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, joins Judy Woodruff… Continue watching
Dec 08 Watch 7:25 ‘I cried tears of joy’: Griner’s former coach discusses WNBA star’s newfound freedom Dawn Staley is the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks and a Hall of Fame player. She coached Brittney Griner and her teammates when they won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year, and she has tweeted… Continue watching