WNBA star Brittney Griner — who has been held in Russia since February — on Monday made a direct appeal to President Joe Biden for his help to release her and other Americans detained abroad in a handwritten letter delivered to the White House.
Griner, 31, has been held in Russia since mid-February, when officials allege they discovered vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage while she was traveling through Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. She was in the country to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, the Russian professional women's team where she spends the WNBA offseason.
Griner's trial began on Friday. She faces up to ten years in prison. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, on Monday said in a statement that the government was working to secure Griner's freedom.
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Griner, 31, has been held in Russia since mid-February, when officials allege they discovered vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage while she was traveling through Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. She was in the country to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, the Russian professional women's team where she spends the WNBA offseason.
Griner's trial began on Friday. She faces up to ten years in prison. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, on Monday said in a statement that the government was working to secure Griner's freedom.
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✈️ Flight cancellations ease slightly as July 4 weekend ends
Since holiday weekend travel picked up on Thursday, airlines have canceled more than 2,200 US flights, and another 25,000 were delayed. More than 9 million flyers flocked to US airports between Thursday and Sunday, peaking at 2.49 million, a pandemic-era record, on Friday, according to figures from the Transportation Security Administration.
Flying during the peak vacation season has always been challenging. Big crowds and summer thunderstorms can quickly overwhelm an airline’s operations. That has been compounded this summer by shortages of pilots and other workers.
Ed Sicher, the new president of the union representing American’s pilots, said the airline had disregarded their contract by unilaterally reassigning pilots to about 80% of the affected flights.
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Since holiday weekend travel picked up on Thursday, airlines have canceled more than 2,200 US flights, and another 25,000 were delayed. More than 9 million flyers flocked to US airports between Thursday and Sunday, peaking at 2.49 million, a pandemic-era record, on Friday, according to figures from the Transportation Security Administration.
Flying during the peak vacation season has always been challenging. Big crowds and summer thunderstorms can quickly overwhelm an airline’s operations. That has been compounded this summer by shortages of pilots and other workers.
Ed Sicher, the new president of the union representing American’s pilots, said the airline had disregarded their contract by unilaterally reassigning pilots to about 80% of the affected flights.
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Forwarded from BolotskySputnik
Lavrov says situation in Ukraine was discussed at the meeting with Mongolian counterpart, adds that the West blocks access to media outlets which have objective coverage of the situation.
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Forwarded from BolotskySputnik
Russia and Mongolia are working on increasing mutual trade volume beyond $2 bln reached in 2021. Main focus is on free trade zones, transportation projects. As most pandemic-related restrictions are lifted the hope is for further growth-Mongolian FM Battsetseg Batmunkh following talks with Lavrov.
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LIVE UPDATES | Border areas of Russian Kursk region shelled again by Ukrainian Forces, governor says
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⚡️ Ukrainian forces shell Donetsk with NATO munitions, DPR says
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Sputnik International
‼️ At least six people died and 24 were wounded in a shooting at a July Fourth parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, and officers are searching for a suspect who likely fired on the festivities from a rooftop, police said Monday. Highland Park Police…
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The Chicago Police Department has identified a person of interest in the Highland Park mass shooting. It was Robert Crimo III who took the life of six people and injured 26. Robert is also known as 'Awake the Rapper’.
Watch one of his creepy videos
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Watch one of his creepy videos
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⚡️The price of gas futures in Europe has risen by about 3 percent to $1,800 per cubic meter for the first time since March, Intercontinental Exchange says
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⚡️ Kherson region's newly-formed government based on Russian model starts work
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⚡️ NATO Secretary General announces start of membership ratification for Sweden, Finland
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📌 The Russian Defense Ministry has issued its latest update on the special operation in Ukraine:
▪️ The Russian Air Force eliminated up to 150 Ukrainian military personnel and 12 military assets in Kharkov;
▪️ A Russian fighter jet shot down Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft in the Kharkov region during an air battle;
▪️ Russian air defenses intercepted three Ukrainian Tochka-U missiles in the Kherson region;
▪️ Russian Armed Forces hit an ammunition depot near Kharkov, and destroyed manpower in 18 districts, including a mercenary encampment near Nikolaev
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▪️ The Russian Air Force eliminated up to 150 Ukrainian military personnel and 12 military assets in Kharkov;
▪️ A Russian fighter jet shot down Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft in the Kharkov region during an air battle;
▪️ Russian air defenses intercepted three Ukrainian Tochka-U missiles in the Kherson region;
▪️ Russian Armed Forces hit an ammunition depot near Kharkov, and destroyed manpower in 18 districts, including a mercenary encampment near Nikolaev
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⚡️⚡️NATO reps sign protocols on Finland and Sweden's accession to Western alliance
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Russia's Ministry of Defense has published footage of the activity of Russian Missile Troops and Artillery
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🎼🇺🇸The Cancellation of Tchaikovsky?
The 1812 Overture by Russian composer Tchaikovsky, has been a perennial favorite at 4th of July festivities across the US for decades, taking a starring role as it accompanies the fireworks display without which Independence Day celebrations are incomplete.
It was in fact written in 1880 to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon’s army in Russia in 1812 - you can even hear the motif of the anthem of the Russian Empire 'God Save the Tsar' in part of the overture.
This year, because of the special interest the West has taken in Russian culture, the overture seems to have come to the edge of being "canceled". Some US orchestras decided to skip it and others have added renditions of the Ukrainian national anthem to their programs to "counter the overture’s exaltation of czarist Russia", The New York Times says.
"The reconsideration of the 1812 Overture is the latest example of the difficult questions facing cultural institutions since the war began", The New York Times adds.
The 1812 Overture by Russian composer Tchaikovsky, has been a perennial favorite at 4th of July festivities across the US for decades, taking a starring role as it accompanies the fireworks display without which Independence Day celebrations are incomplete.
It was in fact written in 1880 to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon’s army in Russia in 1812 - you can even hear the motif of the anthem of the Russian Empire 'God Save the Tsar' in part of the overture.
This year, because of the special interest the West has taken in Russian culture, the overture seems to have come to the edge of being "canceled". Some US orchestras decided to skip it and others have added renditions of the Ukrainian national anthem to their programs to "counter the overture’s exaltation of czarist Russia", The New York Times says.
"The reconsideration of the 1812 Overture is the latest example of the difficult questions facing cultural institutions since the war began", The New York Times adds.
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A young man set his face on fire while trying to perform a trick by swallowing fire in Feodosia, Russia. The low-quality kerosene he used might be the reason he had his accident. The man was admitted to hospital in a serious condition
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Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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⚡ French football club Paris Saint-Germain sacks head coach Mauricio Pochettino
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Sputnik International
⚡ French football club Paris Saint-Germain sacks head coach Mauricio Pochettino
⚡Christophe Galtier named new Paris Saint-Germain coach
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🤵🍌Cinemas ban teens in suits at screenings of Minions: The Rise of Gru
After a new ironic TikTok trend rocked the internet, youngsters around the world have chosen to don formal attire to go to a screening of Minions, or carry bundles of bananas into the cinema halls. Some theatres kick the filmgoers out because of their loud behavior: teenagers often cheer, clap, shout, and mimic the Minion characters and even throw bananas at the screen.
Some cinema managers had to interrupt screenings and even call the police.
Regardless of this trend (or thanks to it), 'Minions: The Rise of Gru' has generated more than $108Mln in ticket sales during its North American opening weekend.
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After a new ironic TikTok trend rocked the internet, youngsters around the world have chosen to don formal attire to go to a screening of Minions, or carry bundles of bananas into the cinema halls. Some theatres kick the filmgoers out because of their loud behavior: teenagers often cheer, clap, shout, and mimic the Minion characters and even throw bananas at the screen.
Some cinema managers had to interrupt screenings and even call the police.
Regardless of this trend (or thanks to it), 'Minions: The Rise of Gru' has generated more than $108Mln in ticket sales during its North American opening weekend.
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“I cant f***ing believe I was in the middle of a mass shooting”: Fourth of July Highland Park shooting survivor shares bloody images after massacre.
After a woman called Lilli who allegedly survived the Highland Park mass shooting shared graphic photos of her on Twitter, one social media user called her “a cute propaganda crisis actor”. “Literally can't believe,” she answered, “I didn't post for attention to myself, I wanted to share the reality of what is happening to so many people, and help people realize that things NEED to change.”
After a woman called Lilli who allegedly survived the Highland Park mass shooting shared graphic photos of her on Twitter, one social media user called her “a cute propaganda crisis actor”. “Literally can't believe,” she answered, “I didn't post for attention to myself, I wanted to share the reality of what is happening to so many people, and help people realize that things NEED to change.”
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