News

Basketball star Brittney Griner to spend nine years in a Russian jail

Published

3 years ago

August 5, 2022

Costa Haritos

Women’s basketball star Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years behind bars

Brittney Griner has been convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia.

The 31-year-old American will be imprisoned for nine years and pay 1 million rubles after she was found guilty of bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia.

Judge Anna Sotnikova said she considered Griner’s admission of guilt and remorse, following an apology from the basketball star.

Sotnikova also said Griner’s time in custody will count towards the sentence.

“I want the court to understand that this was an honest mistake that I made while rushing, under stress, trying to recover from COVID and just trying to get back to my team.”
BRITTNEY GRINER

Griner told the court she had no intention of breaking any laws.

She was arrested at a Russian airport in February as the war in Ukraine began. “I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is far from this courtroom,” she said.-

The White House said authorities are working to free all Americans who have been detained abroad.

“Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. She never should have had to endure a trial in the first place,” said White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre.

It’s understood the Biden Administration offered to swap Griner and the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan for a Russian arms dealer.

“As you all know, we have made a substantial offer to bring her and Paul Whelan home. We urge Russia to accept that proposal.”
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, White House Press Secretary

President Biden has described the situation as “unacceptable”, and urged Russia to free Griner so “she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates”.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the Biden Administration has offered a deal to Russian authorities.

“It’s a serious proposal. We urge them to accept it. They should have accepted it weeks ago when we first made it.”
JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON

The details of the proposal have not been made public. Russian officials are yet to comment on the matters.

Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and an NBA champion.

She was detained as she arrived in Russia to play with UMMC Ekaterinburg during the U.S. league’s off-season.

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Costa Haritos

Costa is a news producer at ticker NEWS. He has previously worked as a regional journalist at the Southern Highlands Express newspaper. He also has several years' experience in the fire and emergency services sector, where he has worked with researchers, policymakers and local communities. He has also worked at the Seven Network during their Olympic Games coverage and in the ABC Melbourne newsroom. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Professional), with expertise in journalism, politics and international relations. His other interests include colonial legacies in the Pacific, counter-terrorism, aviation and travel.

News

Australia shuts millions of teen social media accounts

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Published

10 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Nearly five million social media accounts belonging to Australian teenagers have been closed since the nation’s social media ban began in December. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were responsible for removing around 4.7 million accounts held by minors, according to the eSafety Commissioner.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the figures as encouraging, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting children online. The new law holds social media companies accountable, with fines imposed on platforms that fail to prevent underage accounts from being created or maintained.

Despite these measures, some teenagers have reportedly bypassed the restrictions by falsifying their ages or using parental information. The debate continues over the effectiveness of these regulations and the balance between safety and online freedom.

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#AustraliaNews #SocialMediaBan #TeenSafety #eSafety #Instagram #TikTok #OnlineProtection #TechLaw

News

Iran protests and the global fight for freedom

Protests in Iran escalate as citizens demand women’s rights; Rabbi Cooper discusses global solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Protests in Iran escalate as citizens demand women’s rights; Rabbi Cooper discusses global solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Amid escalating protests in Iran, citizens are risking everything to demand women’s rights and basic freedoms. The world watches as these demonstrations grow, with many hoping for meaningful change in the face of a brutal regime.

We speak with Rabbi Abraham Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Center about the advocacy work supporting Iranian voices and the historical context of defending human rights. He explains the vital role of international solidarity and how governments and communities can respond.

From the human cost on the ground to the influence of the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles, this interview sheds light on the stakes, the movement, and why public attention is critical.

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#IranProtests #HumanRights #WomensRights #FreedomMovement #IranNews #SimonWiesenthal #TickerNews #GlobalSolidarity

News

Greenland and Denmark signal security divide with the United States

Greenland, Denmark assert Arctic island not for sale, emphasizing cooperation with the US on their own terms.

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Greenland, Denmark assert Arctic island not for sale, emphasizing cooperation with the US on their own terms.

Greenland and Denmark have used high-level talks in Washington, D.C. to firmly restate that the Arctic island is not for sale, pushing back against long-standing US interest in the strategically vital territory.

Foreign ministers from both Greenland and Denmark acknowledged that major disagreements remain following discussions with US officials, despite what they described as constructive engagement on shared priorities.

Greenland’s government made clear it is open to closer cooperation with Washington, but only on its own terms, rejecting any suggestion of ownership or control.

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#Greenland #Denmark #UnitedStates #Geopolitics #ArcticPolitics #WorldNews #Security #Ticker