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☆ Brittney Griner tells The Cut she ‘worried someone might shoot the plane down’ after her release from Russian detention
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Brittney Griner feared that her plane would be shot down after she was released from detention in Russia, the WNBA star said in a new interview with The Cut. Speaking with former US soccer icon Megan Rapinoe in an interview published in The Cut on Monday, Griner recalled the moment she learned that she was being released. “I got a note underneath my door that said, ‘Be ready at midnight,’ or some late, crazy hour,” she said. I was worried someone might shoot the plane down. The US State Department, however, deemed that Griner had been wrongfully detained, and she was released in December 2022 in a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Megan Rapinoe, Griner, “, ‘, ” Griner, Viktor Bout, Suzanne Cordeiro, ”, Rapinoe, Bash Raymond Griner Organizations: CNN, WNBA, US State Department, Russian, Getty, Phoenix Mercury Locations: Russia, San Antonio , Texas, AFP

☆ Brittney Griner, in Her Own Words
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Sarah Lyall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

COMING HOME, by Brittney Griner with Michelle BurfordIf you weren’t following women’s basketball, you probably hadn’t heard of Brittney Griner when she was arrested at a Moscow-area airport in February 2022. “Fear is one thing,” Griner writes in “Coming Home,” her new memoir, describing the stomach-curdling moment when an inspector seized her passport and told her to wait. “But uncertainty, the unknown, a free fall into mystery — that’s much stronger than fear; it’s terror.”At first, Griner naïvely thought she would be fined and sentenced to house arrest. But possession of even a small amount of drugs is a serious offense in Russia, and she was eventually charged with narcotics smuggling. Days later, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Griner found herself a high-profile pawn in a vicious geopolitical battle.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Michelle Burford, Brittney, —, Griner, ” Organizations: Phoenix Mercury, UMMC, Mercury Locations: Moscow, UMMC Yekaterinburg, Russian, United States, Russia, Ukraine

☆ 5 Takeaways From the Times Interview of Brittney Griner
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( J Wortham | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

star Brittney Griner was starting her nine-year sentence in a penal colony in Russia, sewing uniforms for the Russian military and subsisting on spoiled food. Griner was arrested at the Moscow Airport in February 2022, when officials found two vape cartridges in her backpack with 0.7 grams of cannabis oil. (To treat Griner’s chronic pain, a physician in Arizona had prescribed medical marijuana, but it was against the law in Russia.) She was charged with illegal drug possession and smuggling “a significant amount” of narcotics into the country and was sent to prison. Here are the highlights from my profile of the basketball star after I met her at a practice facility in Phoenix.

Persons: Brittney Griner, she’d, Griner Organizations: Moscow Airport Locations: Russia, Arizona, Phoenix

☆ Brittney Griner tells ABC that she ‘wanted to take my life more than once’ while detained in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Wayne Sterling | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The US State Department deemed that Griner had been wrongfully detained and she was released in December 2022 in a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. I felt like leaving here so badly,” Griner said in the ABC interview which aired on Wednesday. I have to endure this.”Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, also said that she was required to write Russian President Vladimir Putin a letter asking for forgiveness. Natalia Kolesnikova/Reuters“They made me write this letter,” said Griner, not specifying who told her to write the letter. The Phoenix Mercury star is entering her 11th WNBA season having returned to the team in May last year.

Persons: CNN — Brittney Griner, ABC’s, Griner, Viktor Bout, “, ” Griner, can’t, ”, Vladimir Putin, Natalia Kolesnikova, Reuters “, Cherelle Organizations: International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders Worldwide, CNN, WNBA, US State Department, Russian, ABC, Reuters, ”, UMMC Ekaterinburg, Phoenix Mercury, Paris Olympics Locations: Russia, Khimki, Moscow, Russian, Paris

She loaded her carry-ons onto the conveyor belt at the security checkpoint and prepared to walk through the metal detector. “I just felt like they were searching for something.”At first, when they flagged her bags, Griner wasn’t too concerned. This was her eighth season in Russia; she paid taxes there and was familiar with the country and its laws. As soon as she felt the cannabis-oil cartridge stowed in a zippered inner pocket in her backpack, her stomach sank. Griner was told to wait while the agent took the cartridges for testing, along with her passport.

Persons: “, ”, wasn’t, Cherelle, Griner, Lindsay Colas, Colas, Alex Boykov, Boykov, snickered, peered, “ I’ve Organizations: Moscow Locations: Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Russia, Arizona, United States, Russian

☆ Brittney Griner felt ‘less than human’ while being detained in Russia, she tells ABC in interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Surveying her new surroundings in a Russian penal colony, the enormity of her prison confinement suddenly dawned on Brittney Griner, the WNBA star has told ABC. “There was a huge knife sitting on the table, and I was just like: ‘Now, this is going to be a ride,” said Griner. The mattress had a huge blood stain on it. I had no soap, no toilet paper,” added Griner, who the US State Department deemed wrongfully detained and was released last December in a prisoner swap that involved Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: Griner, Robin Roberts, “, ”, Viktor Bout Organizations: CNN, WNBA, ABC, US State Department Locations: Russian

☆ What the conversation about Caitlin Clark’s pay gets wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA’s stars aren’t asking to be paid an equal dollar amount to NBA players, however. WNBA players have made progress on salaries since 2020, when they reached their latest collective bargaining agreement with the league. Sharing the revenue pieBecause it’s a smaller and younger league, women’s players have had less bargaining power with team owners over their pay than men. While NBA players receive 50% of total NBA revenue, the WNBA must hit a certain revenue threshold annually before any revenue sharing agreements kick in. This has held back women’s salaries.

Persons: Caitlin Clark, Clark, Angel Reese, ” Terri Jackson, David Berri, Kelsey Plum, Griner, Jackson, ” Jackson, “ It’s, ”, Alicia Jessop, “ That’s, ” David Berri, David Stern, “, Berri, Cathy Engelbert, ” Breanna Stewart Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, University of Iowa, Louisiana, NCAA, WNBA, ’ Association, CNN, Southern Utah University, Las Vegas Aces, —, Phoenix Mercury, ’, Pepperdine University, longtime, New York Liberty Locations: New York, men’s, Russia

☆ Brittney Spencer is telling her own story and collecting cosigns from her heroes — including Beyoncé
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWhen Brittney Spencer woke up on Monday morning, she had no idea she would hit a major career milestone. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. "That wasn't even on my radar," she told Business Insider of her top-40 debut, adding with a laugh, "My life has been very random." AdvertisementAlthough "My Stupid Life" contains the most explicitly personal lyricism of her career, Spencer has a knack for speaking her own dreams into existence — if not always intentionally. (Morris sang backup on Spencer's album highlight "Night In," while McEntire took Spencer on tour in 2022.)

Persons: —, Brittney Spencer, Parker McCollum, Spencer's, Beyoncé, Spencer, Carter, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, they've, I'm, Queen Bey, Maren, Whitney, Maren Morris, Reba McEntire, Morris, McEntire, Queen Latifah, John Shearer, I've, She's, she'll, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Cowboy Carter Organizations: Service, CMT, Business, Twitter, Stagecoach, Outlaw Locations: Nashville, Instagram

☆ Tiera Kennedy isn't allowed to reveal when Beyoncé recruited her for 'Cowboy Carter'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tiera Kennedy is featured on Beyoncé's new album "Cowboy Carter." "I've always dreamed of collaborating with her, but never knew if that would actually happen because it's Beyoncé," Kennedy, 26, said during a follow-up call this week. AdvertisementHere's what Kennedy can say: She didn't know her contributions to "Blackbiird" and "Tyrant" had made the cut until the tracklist was unveiled online. Asked if coordinating four busy schedules posed any big challenges, Kennedy said simply: "When Beyoncé calls, you show up." At the time, Kennedy didn't know Cam had worked on the song, but now she sees it as the "cherry on top."

Persons: Tiera Kennedy, Carter, Beyoncé, Kennedy, what's, —, didn't, I've, it's, hadn't, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Paul McCartney, they've, Camaron Ochs, Cam, Taylor Swift's, Paul McCartney's Organizations: Service, Beatles, Big Locations: Beyoncé

☆ Paul McCartney says Beyonce’s ‘Blackbird’ cover ‘reinforces’ civil rights message behind it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

“Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud,” he added. The powerful meaning behind the original song adds to the emotional depth of Beyoncé’s 2024 cover, which is amplified by the voices of four up-and-coming Black female country artists featured on the track: Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer and Reyna Roberts. McCartney in his post on Thursday wrote that he spoke to Beyoncé on FaceTime and she thanked him for writing “Blackbird” and for letting her cover it. “I told her the pleasure was all mine,” he wrote. “I thought she had done a killer version of the song.”

Persons: CNN — Paul McCartney, Cowboy Carter, ”, McCartney, ” McCartney, Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, “ Organizations: CNN, Little Locations: United States, Arkansas

☆ Brittney Griner re-signs with Phoenix Mercury ahead of Team USA training camp
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Brittney Griner has re-signed with her longtime WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, ahead of this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Griner also is a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA. Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images/FilePhoenix’s signing of Griner comes the same week that the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will hold a training camp in Cleveland, Ohio. On Thursday, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team announced the 14-athlete April training camp roster, which will be held Wednesday through Friday. When announcing the training camp roster Thursday, USA Basketball said at the time that Clark would attend contingent on Iowa’s progression through the NCAA tournament.

Persons: Brittney Griner, ” Griner, Griner, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Griner –, “, ”, Caitlin Clark, Clark Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Phoenix Mercury, Mercury, Team USA, Griner, Rio, USA Basketball Women’s, Paris, Phoenix, Las Vegas Aces, Team, NCAA Locations: Paris, Russia, United States, Cleveland , Ohio, Clark, Iowa, Cleveland

☆ Beyoncé worked with a variety of artists to make 'Cowboy Carter.' Here are 12 collaborators you may have missed.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Beyoncé released her eighth solo album, "Cowboy Carter," last Friday. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementBeyoncé may be the Rodeo Queen on the cover of "Cowboy Carter," but she lassoed a formidable crew to execute her genre-blending, countrified vision. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, Jon Batiste, Ryan Beatty, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams, —, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Shaboozey, Willie Jones, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Linda Martell Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Raye, Nashville

☆ Beyoncé is opening the door for these Black country artists
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Beyoncé has some people excited about country music. But they aren’t the only ones whose careers could benefit from Queen Bey’s entrance into country music. Andrew Nelles /The Tennessean/USA Today NetworkRVSHVD (pronounced Ra-shad) is another Georgia native who is making his way in the country music industry. Apple TV+Ashlie Amber may not have won a TV competition meant to open doors for underrepresented country artists, but she’s definitely winning fans. Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesTwins Derek Campbell and Brandon Campbell are fighting for inclusivity in country music in more ways than one.

Persons: CNN — Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé, can’t, Dolly Parton’s, Jolene, ”, Tanner Adell, Willie Jones, Tiera Kennedy, Linda Martell, Reyna Roberts, Brittney Spencer, Derek White, Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, Twain, “, ” Twain, ” Kylan Boykin, we’re, Nytere Boykin, Carter ”, ” Nytere Boykin, RVSHVD RVSHVD, Andrew Nelles, Clint Rashad Johnson, Keith Urban’s, — Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Angel Rewis, Johnson, She’s, Amber Ashlie Amber, Amber, she’s, Reese Witherspoon, Kacey Musgraves, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, Orville Peck, ” Micaela Kleinsmith, ” Amber, “ Beyoncé, Derek Campbell, Brandon Campbell, Jason Kempin, we’ve, ” Derek Campbell, WSMV4, Hart, Trea Swindle, Danica Hart, Devynn Hart, Chapel Hart, Evan Agostini, “ Jolene, –, Danica, Trea, America’s, ” Parton, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, The Recording, CMT, USA, Billboard, Florida Georgia Line, Apple, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Winery, Getty, inclusivity, ”, Rolling Stone, Chapel, Channel, Nashville Locations: Atlanta, Nashville, Georgia, Florida, Nashville , Tennessee, Kentucky, Winery Nashville, Versailles , Kentucky, America, Austin , Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana

☆ Beyoncé's covers are landing Boomer country artists in the ears of Gen Z
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She weaves in samples and references to Black artists, including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, and Roy Hamilton. A cover song isn't just a copyThere's a long history of non-country artists doing country covers. Related storiesFor artists, cover songs "are like a stepping stone. Solis, the ethnomusicologist, pointed out that country music has grown out of a history of people playing other artists' songs, particularly Black artists. Beyoncé's "Jolene" cover is #3 on Apple Music Charts, while "Blackbird" is #12.

Persons: Cowboy Carter, Jolene, —, Carter, It's, Queen Bey, she's, Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, Roy Hamilton, Willie Nelson, Linda Martell, Bey, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Tina Knowles, Gabriel Solis, Patsy Cline's, Bing Crosby, Don Cusic, Beyoncé, — Bey, Solis, " Solis, Tracy Chapman's, Luke Combs, Martell, Nelson, Parton, Cusic Organizations: Service, University of Washington, Western Music Hall of Fame, Spotify, Apple, YouTube Locations: America, Beyoncé

☆ Beyoncé references a Marvel supervillain on ‘Cowboy Carter’ and other lyrics
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In case you’ve somehow missed the biggest news in music this week, Beyoncé released her latest album on Friday, and “Act II: Cowboy Carter” goes out of its way to point out that music genres are overly confining labels. The 27-track compendium contains country music, to be sure, but also folk, gospel, rap, pop and even some Italian opera – and it celebrates Bey’s desire to span beyond any labels or limits. (She even spelled it out in a rare caption on her Instagram ahead of the album drop, writing that “Carter” “ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”) The resulting collection is musically rich, lyrically creative and distinctly Beyoncé. Throughout, Beyoncé acknowledges the influence of artists who have come before her, and subverts concepts of country music by connecting past to present.

Persons: you’ve, Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter ”, “ Carter, Linda Martell, ”, ” Thanos, Josh Brolin, Shaboozey, Nancy Sinatra’s, Queen Bey, Jay, Z’s, she’s, ’, Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson ”, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, Willie Jones, Cowboy Carter Organizations: CNN, Black, Marvel Studios, The Beach Boys, Block Party Locations: “, Louisiana

☆ Beyoncé collaborator Willie Jones got his start on ‘X Factor.’ Now he’s featured on ‘Cowboy Carter’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Willie Jones first popped onto the music scene as a young contestant on the singing competition “X Factor” in 2012. He sang a rendition of Josh Turner’s “Your Man” for his audition, making it through to the live rounds before he was eliminated. Signed with Sony Music, he’s singing his own songs these days that blend the sounds of country music and R&B. He’s joins other emerging country music artists of color featured on “Cowboy Carter,” including Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts. And I just, I need to get through thisOr just get used to it‘Cause time heals everythingI don’t need anythingHallelujahI pray to herI pray to her

Persons: Willie Jones, Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, ”, Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, LA Reid, Demi Lovato, Josh Turner’s, Jones, he’s, He’s, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, “ Organizations: CNN, Sony Music, Block Party Locations: Shreveport , Louisiana, Clovis

☆ Beyoncé drops ‘Cowboy Carter’ and hold on to your horses, because it’s an introspective, rollicking good time
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Houston native Beyoncé dropped her eagerly awaited album “Act II: Cowboy Carter” Thursday night, and it will definitely take some time to digest. We now know they include Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Bey’s six-year-old daughter Rumi Carter. And while she previously declared “This ain’t a Country album. “The Linda Martell Show” is an interlude where Martell introduces the song “Ya Ya,” which she says “stretches across a range of genres and that’s what makes it a unique listening experience. I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about,” Parton said at the time.

Persons: Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Rumi Carter, Rumi, ” Nelson, ”, Bey, Willie Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus –, Parton, “ Levii’s, Queen Bey, Linda Martell, Martell, –, ’ ”, Nancy Sinatra, Shaboozey, Dolly, ” Parton, Becky, “ Jolene, Jolene ’, Tanner Adell, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer Organizations: CNN, Post, “ KNTRY, Grand Ole Opry, Knoxville News Locations: Texas

☆ Russian oligarch went to Moscow in effort to broker complex prisoner exchange that included Navalny, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A multi-country prisoner exchange that might have freed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was being discussed and progressing when he died last month, multiple sources have told CNN, and included the direct involvement of a Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich. However, a source close to Navalny’s team told CNN that on the evening of February 15 they had received word that a message had been delivered to Putin. Clinton “initially passed on the message” to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Grozev told CNN. “We had to find a way to package the German asset [Krasikov] into an American negotiation,” the source close to the Navalny team said. Getting the message to Putin was one of the greatest challenges, the individual close to the Navalny team told CNN.

Persons: Alexey Navalny, Roman Abramovich, Navalny, Abramovich, Hillary Clinton, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Maria Pevchikh, “, ”, Dmitry Peskov, it’s, Christo Grozev, Clinton, Grozev, Biden, Viktor Bout, Brittney Griner, Clinton “, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Pevchikh, Vadim Krasikov, Krasikov, Tucker Carlson, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Whelan, Gershkovich, Whelan –, Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, ” Abramovich Organizations: CNN, United Arab, Kremlin, IK, Aspen Ideas, FSB, US National, National Security, Wall Street, Krasikov, Navalny, US Department of Justice Locations: Russian, Moscow, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Siberia, Western, Russia, Aspen, Colorado, Berlin, Chechen, Europe, Germans, Brazil

☆ Caitlin Clark: Iowa’s NCAA record-breaking basketball supernova who everyone is talking about
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In her third season with the team, Iowa reached its first ever NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, though the Hawkeyes eventually lost to LSU. Jensen remembers Clark saying, “Now, what else can we do?” moments after becoming the all-time top scorer in collegiate women’s basketball. I would love to see that.”Clark signs an autograph after becoming the all-time NCAA women's college basketball top scorer. Matthew Putney/APWhat is undeniable are the eyeballs Clark has brought to college women’s basketball. Reese's gesture toward Clark during the second half of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game became one of the biggest talking points of the college basketball season.

Persons: CNN — Clark, Caitlin Clark, ’, She’s, Clark, Pete Maravich, Pete ’ –, Maravich’s, Angel Reese, –, Kelsey Plum's, Matthew Putney, Christyn Williams, Carmen Mandato, Steph Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, skillset, Jan Jensen, Jensen, Joseph Cress, Zion Williamson, Kelsey Plum, Anthony Davis, Maya Moore, Allen Iverson, Brittney Griner, Shaquille O’Neal, – Clark, ‘ Stephen, Sabrina ’ –, “ Let’s, Reggie Miller, Damian Lillard, Steph, Sabrina, who’s, Dame, ” Clark, Caitlin, ” Jensen, she’s, Matthew Holst, LSU’s Reese, Reese, John Cena, Tony Gutierrez, Sheryl Swoopes –, Swoopes –, ”, Sheryl Swoopes, Jay Williams, “, “ I’m, doesn’t, WILT, … — Dick Vitale, @DickieV, Dick Vitale, Wilt Chamberlain Organizations: CNN, NCAA, Clark’s University of Iowa, Gatorade, Nike, State Farm, Louisiana State, LSU Tigers, Hawkeyes, Iowa, LSU, UConn Huskies, NBA, WNBA, Michigan, Iowa City Press, Citizen, USA, Indiana Fever, Hall of Famer, Carver, WWE, ESPN, Duke Blue Devils, FAIR Locations: men’s, Des Moines , Iowa, Iowa, ‘

☆ Opinion: What is Putin afraid of?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. But in its attempt to exercise and display its strength, Putin is showing his fear. Security forces have arrested Russians questioning the war in Ukraine, let alone questioning Putin. According to rights organization Freedom House, Russia has become one of the world’s top perpetrators of transnational repression. Criticism of the war or of Putin can lead to death in a Russian prison camp.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Vladimir Putin, Ksenia, Putin, Karelina, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, Chris Van Heerden, didn’t, Boris Nemtsov, Anna Politkovskaya, There’s Navalny, Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, —, Gershkovich, Vadim Krasikov, ”, Maxim Kuzminov, Russia “, Alexander Litvinenko, Sergei Skripal, “ Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, Kremlin, Russia’s Federal Security Service, KGB, Security, US, Wall Street, House, Police Locations: Russia, Russian, Los Angeles, Ukraine, Yekaterinburg, Germany, Chechen, Alicante, Kuzminov, London, Salisbury, England, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ Beyoncé Becomes First Black Woman to Top Billboard Country Chart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Christopher Kuo | More About Christopher Kuo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

1 on the Billboard country airplay chart this week, making her the first Black female artist to hold the top spot. 9 on the Billboard country chart. “Texas Hold ’Em” has already drawn more than 19 million streams, and “16 Carriages” has 10.3 million streams. But the sudden success of Beyoncé’s country singles comes at a time when Black women have started to receive acclaim within that realm. Beyoncé is the first woman to top both the Hot Country Songs chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since they were established in 1958, according to Billboard.

Persons: ”, Tracy Chapman, Luke Combs, Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer, Beyoncé Organizations: Billboard, “, Verizon Locations: Texas

CNN —A US-Russian dual citizen has been arrested in Russia on charges of treason for allegedly collecting funds for Ukrainian organizations and openly supporting Kyiv. It also accused the woman of taking part in “public actions in support of the Kyiv regime” while in the US. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for the accused,” the statement added. Moscow has detained several US citizens in recent years, some of whom have been exchanged for Russian prisoners held in Western countries. The Moscow City Court on Tuesday rejected Gershkovich’s lawyers appeal and has upheld his pretrial detention until March 30.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, “, Gershkovich, Vladimir Putin, Vadim Krasikov, Natalia Kolesnikova, ” Putin, Tucker Carlson, ”, Brittney, Viktor Bout, Griner, US Marine Paul Whelan Organizations: CNN, Russia’s Federal Security Service, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Embassy, US State Department, Wall Street, Court, Getty, Fox News, basketball, US Marine Locations: Russian, Russia, Los Angeles, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, “, Lefortovo, Germany, Chechen, Berlin, AFP, United States

☆ Brittney Griner’s No. 42 jersey officially retired by Baylor women’s basketball
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Baylor women’s basketball program retired Brittney Griner’s No. Fans in attendance were all given yellow shirts with the number 42 and a silhouette of Griner emblazoned on the front. After finishing her collegiate career as the most decorated player in the program’s history, Griner becomes the seventh player to have her jersey retired in Baylor women’s basketball history. Following her career at Baylor, Griner was the No. She’s also won two Olympic gold medals as part of Team USA’s women’s basketball roster.

Persons: Brittney, Griner, Sims, Melissa Jones, Nina Davis, Suzie Snider Eppers, Shelia Lambert, Sophia Young, LM Otero, she’s, She’s, USA’s, Viktor Bout Organizations: CNN, Baylor, Foster, Bears, Big, NCAA, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA, US State Department Locations: , Texas, Russia, Russian

☆ What Zyn pouches do to your brain, body, and heart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Zyn nicotine pouches are popping up everywhere. Someone using a 3 mg Zyn pouch will absorb 1.59 mg of nicotine, or 3.51 mg from a 6 mg pouch, a spokesperson for Zyn told Business Insider in an email. Middle and high-school-aged kids are using nicotine pouchesZyn says its products are only for consumers 21 and older who already use nicotine. However, unlike nicotine replacement therapies such as gum, patches, and mints, nicotine pouches like Zyn have not yet been proven to be a safe way to quit smoking. A 2023 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that around 1.5% of middle and high school students reported using nicotine pouches in the last 30 days.

Persons: Tucker Carlson, Bellini, Dr, Jonathan Foulds, Brittney Keller, Hamilto, Panagis, Alok Patel Organizations: Business, Penn State University College of Medicine, New York Times, Zyn, National Institute on Drug, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Stanford Children’s Hospital, ABC

☆ Putin references Russian hitman in German jail as he suggests ‘agreement can be reached’ on detained US reporter Gershkovich
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Nathan Hodge | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested “an agreement can be reached” with the United States to release detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich, as he brought up the conviction of a “patriotic” Russian hitman in Germany. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested last March while on a reporting trip in the country. When Putin said Gershkovich was working with US special services, Carlson did push the Russian president, saying: “This guy is obviously not a spy, he’s a kid. In fact, journalists have repeatedly been requesting interviews with Putin, but the Russian President had declined to grant access. The Russian President suggested that the path to ending the war in Ukraine was through direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Evan Gershkovich, Tucker Carlson, Putin’s, Carlson, Putin, “, ” Putin, ”, Natalia Kolesnikova, Gershkovich’s, “ He’s, Evan, ” Danielle Gershkovich, Biden, Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, He’s, Vadim Krasikov, Krasikov, Viktor Bout, Brittney Griner, Whelan, “ Evan, ” “ Evan, “ We’re, Viktor Orbán, Javier Milei, Volodymyr Zelensky, “ Putin, railroaded Tucker Carlson, Jill Dougherty, Dougherty, Armin Wolf, Joe Biden, Dmitry Medvedev Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Street Journal, Federal Security Service, Novosti, US State Department, Getty, White, Russian, Street, Big Tech, International Criminal Court, Rights Watch, Russia’s, Kremlin, NATO, Republicans Locations: United States, American, Russian, Germany, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Russia, US, AFP, Berlin, Chechen, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Austrian, Washington, Poland, Belarus, Israel

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