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Woman jailed in Russia over cannabis accusation speaks out in support of Brittney Griner

00:45

Brittney Griner: Woman jailed in Russia offers words of support to detained basketball star

An American Israeli woman, who spent 10 months in a Russian prison for travelling with a small amount of cannabis, has spoken publically after her case drew comparisons with that of WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Naama Issachar was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after 0.3 ounces of marijuana was found in her luggage.

She was pardoned by Vladimir Putin in 2020 and has now shared her story with Kate Snow on NBC Nightly News.

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Up next

Mordaunt urges UK to boost defence spending to counter Russia’s threat

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Mordaunt urges UK to boost defence spending to counter Russia’s threat

Zelensky sends condolences after deadly strikes in Donetsk region

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Zelensky sends condolences after deadly strikes in Donetsk region

Youngest female MP ‘asked more about OnlyFans than manifesto pledges’

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Youngest female MP ‘asked more about OnlyFans than manifesto pledges’

Barefoot man with Palestinian flag climbs Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower

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Barefoot man with Palestinian flag climbs Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower

Editor’s Picks

Singer-songwriter James Bay launches new Music Box series

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Singer-songwriter James Bay launches new Music Box series

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James Bay: ‘It’s taken a long time to be at peace in my own skin’

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James Bay: ‘It’s taken a long time to be at peace in my own skin’

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Travel Smart

What to do when you visit Jamaica

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What to do when you visit Jamaica

How to make the most of your trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

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How to make the most of your trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

Here’s where to avoid the tourist crowds in Spain

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Here’s where to avoid the tourist crowds in Spain

How to make the most of your city break in the USA

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How to make the most of your city break in the USA

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That Dress

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

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How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

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The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

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Binge Watch

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How filming took an actor to the Sahara and Arctic Ocean

The ‘intense challenge’ of filming Netflix’s American Primeval

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The ‘intense challenge’ of filming Netflix’s American Primeval

Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård faced their fears filming Nosferatu

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Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård faced their fears filming Nosferatu

How Gotham got a fresh spin with The Penguin

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How Gotham got a fresh spin with The Penguin

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Music Box

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

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Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

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Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

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Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

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Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

On The Ground

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

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Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

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On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

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Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

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Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

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Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

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What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

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When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

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How airlines greenwash the skies

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Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

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Decomplicated

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

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What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

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Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

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Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

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What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

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Sport

Trump unveils new Club World Cup trophy alongside FIFA chief Infantino

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Trump unveils new Club World Cup trophy alongside FIFA chief Infantino

Emma Raducanu breaks silence after stalking ordeal at Dubai Open

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Emma Raducanu breaks silence after stalking ordeal at Dubai Open

Amorim hits back at Roy Keane over scathing Bruno Fernandes comments

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Guardiola gives Jack Grealish injury update ahead of Plymouth clash

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Guardiola gives Jack Grealish injury update ahead of Plymouth clash

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

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Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

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Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

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Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

Listen: BBC Radio 2 goes silent for first time in two decades

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Drew Barrymore surprises Meghan with photo of Diana in live interview

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Drew Barrymore surprises Meghan with photo of Diana in live interview

Singer-songwriter James Bay launches new Music Box series

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Singer-songwriter James Bay launches new Music Box series

Gwyneth Paltrow reveals how LA wildfires worsened menopause symptoms

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Gwyneth Paltrow reveals how LA wildfires worsened menopause symptoms

Lifestyle

Six-year-old makes Crufts history with first place at show

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Six-year-old makes Crufts history with first place at show

King Charles reveals his favourite songs in new Apple Music radio show

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King Charles reveals his favourite songs in new Apple Music radio show

Meghan reveals advice she follows to keep marriage to Harry alive

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Meghan reveals advice she follows to keep marriage to Harry alive

Martin Lewis shares key steps to boosting your pension up to £50,000

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Martin Lewis shares key steps to boosting your pension up to £50,000

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

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The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

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The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

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To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

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To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

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Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

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Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

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Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

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Galaxy The Ripple Effect

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Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

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Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

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Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

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Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

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SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

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AlUla

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

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Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

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Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

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Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

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Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard