Headlines for Aug. 2, 2022: Nancy Pelosi likely to visit Taiwan – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Malaysia on Tuesday believed to be on her way to Taiwan. According to local media there, Pelosi is expected to arrive in the disputed nation tonight. Her visit would defy Chinese warnings. It would also make Pelosi the…

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia has been given a prisoner swap offer for WNBA star Brittney Griner. It would bring Griner home along with another jailed American, Paul Whelan. The U.S. government proposed trading convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in return. Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” is one of…

Russia airstrikes target Ukraine ports – Ukraine’s black sea region ports continued to be bombarded by Russian air strikes Tuesday. The air strikes may further jeopardize Ukraine’s ability to ship out goods amid fears of a global food crisis. “In Odessa, there is a hit in private buildings of coastal villages with the following arson.…

Ten months ago–and one week before Russia’s Ukraine invasion–WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained at a Moscow airport and arrested for drug possession. The charges–stemming from the discovery of vape canisters in her luggage by Russian authorities–could result in a 10-year prison sentence. There is pressure on the U.S. to secure her release and Griner…

Headlines for Thursday morning, July 7, 2022 include: American basketball star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug possession and smuggling charges Thursday morning. According to Russian news agencies, Griner said she unintentionally packed vape canisters with cannabis oil before traveling to Russia back in February. Griner faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted…

Brittney Griner wrote a letter to President Joe Biden from a Russian prison, pleading with him to not forget about her and other American detainees. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star has been illegally detained since February. Russian authorities allege they found THC vape cartridges in Griner’s luggage as she was returning to…

WNBA star Brittney Griner, charged with marijuana possession, is still a Russian prisoner. She was arrested in February, and her trial is scheduled to start Friday. The 31-year-old Griner was arrested Feb. 17 at the Sheremetyevo International Airport. She was returning to the country to play for a Russian team. Law enforcement there allege Griner…

Nearly three months after she was initially detained in Russia, WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention was extended for another month. The extension was the result of a Friday court hearing outside of Moscow. “Today’s news on Brittney Griner was not unexpected, and the WNBA continues to work with the U.S. government to get BG home…

A U.S. Marine has been released as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. Trevor Reed had been jailed for nearly three years in a Russian prison. The Marine veteran was swapped for a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in America, both countries announced Wednesday. The surprise…

Russian state news agency Tass reported a court near Moscow has extended the arrest of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia to May 19. Griner was arrested while going through security at a Moscow airport last month. “The employees found vape cartridges while scanning one of the bags,” the Russian captioning of CCTV footage showing…