U.S. Basketball Star Brittney Griner Prison Sentence Upheld By Russian Court; Biden Official Decries “Sham Judicial Proceeding” – Update

“Well, we had an election yesterday, “said President Joe Biden his afternoon from the White House. “It was a good day I think for democracy, and I think it was a good day for America,” the self-admittedly horse but upbeat Commander-in-chief added.

Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in Russia on drug possession charges, and just last week, her appeal of that sentencing was . Since she was first detained in the country in February, the American government and various human rights organizations have been working round the clock in an effort to bring her home.

Suella Braverman has been called on to resign as Home Secretary for a second time after she admitted sending official documents from her UK Government email to her personal account address six times.

Spun Gold To “Reimagine” BAFTA Coverage

NBA starting this week, stars have stepped up to keep the scrutiny on the efforts to seal her release.  "Free our sister Brittney Griner, please.

It’s been eight months since WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport, and one NBA superstar wants to make sure she hasn’t been forgotten.

reported by CNN, Griner's attorneys, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, spent a few hours with her on her birthday. Before they left, she gave them a statement to share with everyone who has been supporting her.«Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me,» read Griner's statement.The eight-time All-Star is currently only allowed to communicate through her lawyers and letters — all of which are carefully examined by Russian officials before they can be sent.

An adviser to Vladimir Putin has insisted Brittney Griner's release is not a priority for Russia. The 31-year-old basketball star - who normally lives in Houston, Texas with wife Cherelle Griner - was arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling in Russia just days before the country launched the ongoing invasion on Ukraine in February and in August, she was sentenced to nine years behind bars. Although US President Joe Biden has vowed to ensure the sportswoman's freedom, Yury Ushakov - one of the Russian leader's top advisors and the country's ambassador to America from 1998 to 2008 - suggested this was nothing more than a bid to bolster support ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

President Biden's Secretary of Transportation and economic advisers were pressed on inflation and the state of the economy ahead of the midterm elections on Sunday.  CNN's Dana Bash asked Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse about the September inflation report and the president's reaction to the numbers during "State of the Union" on Sunday. "The price of food is part of our inflation challenge," Rouse said.

An aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release is not imminent.

Joe Biden has taken aim at Liz Truss's mini-budget that led to chaos on the markets and to her sacking Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor.

Ringo Starr has cancelled the last five dates of his current North American tour, after contracting COVID-19 for a second time in the span of a fortnight.First testing positive for the virus at the start of October, the Beatle was forced to cancel seven shows between Michigan and British Columbia. He returned to the road on Tuesday (October 11) – flanked by the All-Starr Band – performing in Seattle then and in Portland the following night (October 12).It appears that his comeback was premature, though, as Starr has now confirmed he’s again returned to being COVID-positive.

Kurt Sutter has got the green light for his outlaw western series The Abandons.

Legendary actress Angela Lansbury has sadly passed away.

EXCLUSIVE: Backstreet’s back — in Cannes.