US basketball star Brittney Griner says she plans to resume her WNBA career and will work to help bring other detained Americans home, including former US Marine Paul Whelan who is still being held in Russia.
Griner, 32, arrived at the medical centre last Friday after US officials secured her freedom from Russia in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
She was arrested on February 17 at an airport outside Moscow for carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. She was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling and later transferred to one of Russia's most notorious penal colonies, where former inmates have described torture, harsh beatings and slave labour conditions."I intend to play basketball for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say thank you" to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon," she said.
"She's safe, she's on a plane, she's on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia," Mr Biden said at the time, prompting cheers from the sports world and many others but sharp criticism from some Republicans.Former president Donald Trump, who was in the White House when Whelan was detained in late 2018, nevertheless derided the exchange without the ex-Marine, calling it "a stupid and unpatriotic embarrassment".
House of Representatives Republican leader Kevin McCarthy called the deal "a gift to Vladimir Putin".
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Every chemist has a backroom’: how medicalised FGM risks gains made in KenyaA move away from public ceremonies to secret cutting by health workers is one of the greatest threats to eliminating the abusive practice, say campaigners
Read more »
TikTok self-harm study results ‘every parent’s nightmare’Research suggests algorithm promotes self-harm and eating disorder content within minutes of interest being shown
Read more »
Shots going off ‘every five seconds’: Helicopter audio of Wieambilla shooting“Female down, female down,” PolAir pilots can be heard saying in an audio recording.
Read more »
Americans bought at least 150m guns in decade since Sandy Hook shootingEstimated number of US gun owners has grown by 20 million in recent years, which experts say may lead to more firearm deaths
Read more »
The 2022 HSC student honour rollFind every student who achieved a band 6 or E4 in the 2022 HSC.
Read more »
Abattoirs and factories once lined its shores. Now this Sydney Harbour spot will soon be open to swimmersSwimmers will soon be able to dive in at Pirrama Park in Pyrmont after the installation of new technology providing water quality information every 15 minutes.
Read more »