this is bbc news, the headlines. back home — three americans and a kremlin critic who were being held in russia arrive on us soil as part of the biggest prisoner swap deal since the cold war. myjob is to make sure that, number one, they don't get them, and if they do, we get them back. i don't buy this idea that you're going to let these people rot injail. the deal frees 2a prisoners and two minors held in seven countries, including convicted russian fsb hitman vadim krasikov. seven men have been charged with violent disorder after a riot broke out in hartlepool, linked to the mass stabbing in southport on monday. the body of the hamas political leader ismail haniyeh, who was assassinated in iran

on wednesday, is now in qatar where he'll be buried later. these are the live pictures coming in from doha's largest mosque where a special service will be held. more questions for the bbc over its handling of the huw edwards scandal. the culture secretary asks the corporation to see if it can recoup any of his pay. hello, i'm kylie pentelow. in the past couple of hours presidentjoe biden and vice president kamala harris greeted detainees from russia. let's ta ke let's take these live pictures. they have been arriving at the us military base. we understand they

are en route to a medical facility in texas. we are waiting for the people to appear before they are taken to a medical facility in texas. obviously after spending all that time in prison. we will keep you up—to—date with that and bring you up—to—date with that and bring you the latest when we have it. the uk culture secretary has raised concerns about the bbc�*s investigation into huw edwards, in a meeting with the corporation's director general. lisa nandy asked tim davie to explore what options are available to recoup some of edwards�* tax—payer funded salary. mr davie has defended the decision not to sack the presenter, despite knowing last november that he had been arrested over the most serious category of indecent images of children. simonjones reports.

huw edwards�* guilty plea has shocked the nation, a spokesperson for the culture secretary, lisa nandy, said. her thoughts are with the victims whose lives have been destroyed. she stressed the need for the bbc to be transparent with the public. the corporation�*s director general was told in november about edwards�* arrest over the most serious category of indecent images, but he insisted he didn�*t know the specific details. we were very shocked, that is the first thing i want to say, knowing that specific allegation. now, when it comes to the decision that we made in november, when we were obviously faced with, i think, a very difficult decision, actually, and we considered it very carefully. the police came to us and gave us information that they had arrested mr edwards. but they wanted to be assured

of total confidence and the reason they rung us at that point was to ensure that — and it�*s a technical process, which is to ensure employees are protected and there�*s no risk. the director general�*s decisions have also faced government scrutiny. a spokesperson for the culture secretary said, "she has spoken to the bbc to raise concerns on a number of points regarding the handling of their own investigations into huw edwards, what safeguards and processes had been followed in this case, and additionally, what further action may be taken, especially with regard to the handling of licence—fee payers�* money." the government has asked to be kept up to date on any future developments, but the questions for the bbc are not going away. one key one is why the findings of an internal investigation into allegations that huw edwards sent inappropriate messages to junior members of staff have not been published. one whistle—blower said edwards sent them this picture of a hotel room he was staying in at the time

of prince philip�*s funeral, messaging, "there�*s plenty of room here" and "you missed a good night". huw edwards was the face of bbc news and its highest—paid newsreader. tim davie insisted the bbc was not sitting on anything it needed to share with police. but a former culture secretary wants more clarity from the director general. we need to know much more about why it was that he came to the conclusion that huw edwards should go on receiving his salary, that he should be allowed to resign rather than be sacked. and why, when the bbc knew about this arrest, and yet we only discover it, what, eight months later. edwards earned £200,000 in the months after his arrest. we can�*t claw back pension. i think, when it comes to pay, you know, again, legally challenging, but we�*ll look at all options. that�*s something the government is urging the bbc to do as edwards awaits his sentencing for accessing

indecent images of children. simon jones, bbc news. with me is our correspondent charlotte gallagher. that seems to be the issue at the moment, charlotte, that is causing quite a lot of tension, the money that you edwards was paid. yes. quite a lot of tension, the money that you edwards was paid. yes, he was arrested _ that you edwards was paid. yes, he was arrested by _ that you edwards was paid. yes, he was arrested by police _ that you edwards was paid. yes, he was arrested by police in _ that you edwards was paid. yes, hei was arrested by police in november 2023. at that time the bbc was informed he had been arrested and they were also told what he had been arrested for and that these images are essentially included category a, which is the most severe. we saw earlier this week that huw edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. there was this period from when he was arrested in november last year to april this year when he resigned. he wasn�*t sacked, he decided on his terms when he was going to go. he didn�*t receive a payoff, but in that

five—month period it is estimated he received around £200,000 for his salary, which is funded by the taxpayer, it is licence fee payer money. the culture secretary, lisa nandy, as doctor tim davie, the director—general, about the possibility of getting some of that money back and also why was he paid that money? jennie bond, used to work at the bbc, royal correspondent here, she said huw should give the money back to the bbc. it is a huge sum of money that he received when he was under investigation for making indecent images of children. there also has been an internal investigation.— there also has been an internal investigation. yes. what we know from that? _ investigation. yes. what we know from that? has _ investigation. yes. what we know from that? has the _ investigation. yes what we know from that? has the report and that been released? h0. from that? has the report and that been released?— been released? no, it hasn't. the --eole in been released? no, it hasn't. the peeple in charge _ been released? no, it hasn't. the people in charge of _ been released? no, it hasn't. the people in charge of that _ been released? no, it hasn't. the people in charge of that will - been released? no, it hasn't. the people in charge of that will have | people in charge of that will have spoken to current bbc staff about their interactions with you edwards and also former bbc staff. one of

those former staff members have said they are very upset and they feel very let down by the way this internal investigation has been handled. we don�*t know the findings of that investigation at the moment. also the bbc had a dossier of allegations from the sun newspaper, the sun newspaper originally reported huw edwards had paid a teenagerfor reported huw edwards had paid a teenager for explicit images. no crime was found to have happened in that incident, but the sun newspaper had that initial report and they have since made further allegations. so the bbc had that dossier from the sun newspaper, so they had a lot to go through. at this moment we don�*t know what that investigation found. you are presumably pursuing that jenson button: yes to see if we can get a summary at least of what the investigation found.— investigation found. finally, there have been incidents _ investigation found. finally, there have been incidents happening, . investigation found. finally, there i have been incidents happening, the artist to painted a mural of you

edwards has to face his own mural. huw edwards in his own village was a hero. he went on to do the most amazing things, he was the uk�*s most famous broadcaster. there was a mural of him and the artist who did that has now painted over it. it had been the face, graffiti was put on it, but the artist has decided to paint over the mural off the record, and the community centre where he was from has removed a picture from the wall. so his hometown and home village don�*t want anything to do with him. village don't want anything to do with him. �* . village don't want anything to do with him. 3 . ~ village don't want anything to do with him. �*, ., ~ i. village don't want anything to do with him. 3 . ~' ,, ., with him. let's take you to the middle east. — hamas�* seniorfigure, the group�*s political leader, ismail haniyeh, will be buried later in qatar two days after he was killed in a strike in tehran. it can take you to live images in qatar where the burial is to take

place. he had been living in doha with other members of the hamas little office and he will be buried in a cemetery north of doha after prayers in that mask, which i assume is the largest mosque in the country. we saw in pictures yesterday that thousands turned out for the funeral procession in iran with iran�*s supreme leader leading the prayers for the hamas leader. israel has not commented on that strike which killed ismail haniyeh, but we heard benjamin netanyahu, israel�*s prime minister, saying his country had delivered crushing blows to its enemies in recent days. hamas has said the death of ismail haniyeh

will have major repercussions. let�*s speak to our middle east correspondent yolande knell who�*s injerusalem. as we are looking at those pictures from qatar that we are getting, coming in live, tell us more about what we are hearing about those potential repercussions. certainly israel remains _ potential repercussions. certainly israel remains on _ potential repercussions. certainly israel remains on a _ potential repercussions. certainly israel remains on a very - potential repercussions. certainly israel remains on a very high - potential repercussions. certainly | israel remains on a very high state of alert. security wise that killing of alert. security wise that killing of ismail haniyeh came on the back of ismail haniyeh came on the back of the assassination of a hezbollah commander, which israel says was carried out in response to the hezbollah killing of 12 children in a rocket strike in the occupied golan heights last weekend. the expectation really is that both

strikes were involving figures who were two senior so they cannot be ignored. also there were security breaches as far as hezbollah is concerned with its commander being killed in a stronghold in the south of beirut and also ismail haniyeh, although israel says it is not responsible, they are widely blamed for his assassination, and he was killed in tehran inside an accommodation block that belongs to the islamic revolutionary guards there. so there is an expectation of a response. we had last night a speech by the hezbollah leader that was closely listen to here. he talked about how the killing of its commander meant a new phase in the conflict with israel and he said as well that there would be very well studied retaliation is. he referred to iran, of course iran is a key backer and supports hamas, and said

iran cannot remain silent with the killing of that hamas leader on its soil. so what we have seen going into both the main israeli and lebanese airports are a number of flights being cancelled or delayed. we had the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu speaking last night to the us presidentjoe biden. the white house said they discussed us military deployments to support israel against missiles and drone strikes. but we also had joe biden talking to reporters afterwards and when he was asked about the killing of ismail haniyeh and what it meant for a ceasefire, he said it was not helpful. for a ceasefire, he said it was not helful. ~ . . for a ceasefire, he said it was not helful. ~ . , ., for a ceasefire, he said it was not helful. . ., , ., . helpful. we are seeing more detail about how ismail _ helpful. we are seeing more detail about how ismail haniyeh - helpful. we are seeing more detail about how ismail haniyeh was - helpful. we are seeing more detail l about how ismail haniyeh was killed. what do you think that tells us about israel�*s capabilities, if indeed it was israel? the

indications _ indeed it was israel? the indications according - indeed it was israel? tie indications according to indeed it was israel? tue indications according to reports, there were initial reports this was some kind of an air strike, perhaps a rocket launch nearby, but the latest reports, including in the new york times quoting security officials including in iran, speaking anonymously, suggest a bomb had been planted in that accommodation, which appears to have been used routinely by ismail haniyeh on his trip to tehran will stop that is what killed him and his bodyguard. it seems to have been a very precise attack because we know that others, including other leaders of armed groups from around the region, were staying very close by and they were not affected by this. the iranians have not said much officially about what exactly happened here, but this does suggest very precise intelligence operation and that could be another reason why

israel has not commented here. it did say it had not carried out any additional air strikes beyond those for which it had already taken responsibility for in the region in recent days. responsibility for in the region in recent days— responsibility for in the region in recent days. responsibility for in the region in recent da s. ., ,, , . ., recent days. thank you very much for now. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

more on our top story. in the past few hours presidentjoe biden and vice president kamala harris have greeted american detainees at an airbase outside washington following their release from russia as part of a prisoner swap, the largest since the cold war. let�*s ta ke let�*s take you to some live pictures that we are getting of those prisoners who are at a us military base en route to a medical facility,

we understand, in texas. we have seen paul whelan speaking earlier. he was the one who was imprisoned for 2000 days. we are seeing evan gershkovich. let�*s have a listen to what he is saying. inaudible. so we are not really hearing much there and we will come back later to hear him speaking directly to the camera. as we have seen, the journalist evan gershkovich as well as ex—marine paul whelan have been arriving at the airbase. they landed late last night. family members were there, there were emotional scenes of course as they arrived on us soil

after spending that time there. let�*s have a listen because mr biden and kamala harris were there as those prisoners got off the aircraft. let�*s have a listen. mr; aircraft. let's have a listen. my 'ob aircraft. let's have a listen. my “0b is to aircraft. let's have a listen. m job is to make aircraft. let's have a listen. m: job is to make sure, number aircraft. let's have a listen. m; job is to make sure, number one, they don�*t get them, and if they do we get them back. i don�*t buy this idea that you are going to let these people rot in jail. idea that you are going to let these people rot injail. i idea that you are going to let these people rot injail.— people rot in 'ail. i am very thankful— people rot in 'ail. i am very thankful for — people rot injail. i am very thankful for our _ people rot injail. i am very thankful for our president l people rot in jail. i am very i thankful for our president and people rot in jail. i am very - thankful for our president and what he has _ thankful for our president and what he has done not only through his entire _ he has done not only through his entire career, but in particular as it relates — entire career, but in particular as it relates to — entire career, but in particular as it relates to these families and what _ it relates to these families and what he — it relates to these families and what he has been able to do to bring the allies— what he has been able to do to bring the allies together on many issues, but in _ the allies together on many issues, but in particular this one. this is 'ust but in particular this one. this is just an _ but in particular this one. this is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of

diplomacy. let�*s speak to cbs news correposndent, leah mishkin. let�*s talk about the politics of the situation. i imagine that donald trump will have been watching this happening. what do you think his response will be?— response will be? well, certainly for the biden _ response will be? well, certainly for the biden administration - response will be? well, certainly for the biden administration this| response will be? well, certainly i for the biden administration this is a significant win, the largest prisoner swap since the end of the cold war. as you mention, former president trump is using this as an opportunity to question that democratic strategy. he made false allegations that cash is involved and trump said he could have got the hostages out of russia without concessions. biden hit back saying why didn�*t he do it when he was president? share why didn't he do it when he was president?— why didn't he do it when he was president? why didn't he do it when he was resident? �* ~ , ., ., ., , president? are we likely to hear any more? we saw _ president? are we likely to hear any more? we saw paul— president? are we likely to hear any more? we saw paul whelan -

president? are we likely to hear any| more? we saw paul whelan speaking president? are we likely to hear any - more? we saw paul whelan speaking to the camera. are we likely to hear more from those who have been released? , , ., released? definitely. evan gershkovich, _ released? definitely. evan gershkovich, the - released? definitely. evan. gershkovich, the journalist, released? definitely. evan i gershkovich, the journalist, i released? definitely. evan - gershkovich, the journalist, i heard gershkovich, thejournalist, i heard from our white house team that he even made a request while he was still in russia to vladimir putin to see if the president wanted to do a sit down interview with him. so he has not lost that sense of journalistic mission and i am sure he will be speaking about his experience, although it might take some time. there is a lot of adjustment coming back after such a long ordeal. taste adjustment coming back after such a lona ordeal. ~ ., ., adjustment coming back after such a long ordeal-— long ordeal. we will have to leave it there, thank _ long ordeal. we will have to leave it there, thank you _ long ordeal. we will have to leave it there, thank you very _ long ordeal. we will have to leave it there, thank you very much - it there, thank you very much indeed. . ~ it there, thank you very much indeed. ., ,, , ., it there, thank you very much indeed._ you - it there, thank you very much indeed._ you can l it there, thank you very much . indeed._ you can keep indeed. thank you. you can keep un-to-date. _ indeed. thank you. you can keep up-to-date, there _ indeed. thank you. you can keep up-to-date, there is _ indeed. thank you. you can keep up-to-date, there is a _ indeed. thank you. you can keep up-to-date, there is a live - indeed. thank you. you can keep up-to-date, there is a live page | indeed. thank you. you can keep i up-to-date, there is a live page and up—to—date, there is a live page and you can scan the qr code and you can see the latest as those us citizens return home after that russia prisoner swap. return home after that russia prisonerswap. it return home after that russia prisoner swap. it is all on the website. you�*re watching bbc news.

it�*s been described as the biggest miscarriage ofjustice in uk history. the post office scandal saw hundreds of former sub—postmasters wrongly convicted of theft and fraud on the basis of incorrect data from a faulty it system. tim brentnall�*s life was destroyed by the scandal, but, 10 years after he was prosecuted, he has cleared his name and is celebrating a very special new arrival. our reporter, fi lamdin, went to meet him. steph and i have joked about it, but it�*s also been a little bit of a joke in the postmaster group that he�*s already got perhaps two dozen grandmothers looking after him. everyone in the group has been with us on thatjourney and everyone is so happy for him. everyone has been overjoyed with it. lando was the first baby of the group and you know what a baby does to most people. everybody sort of goes a bit soft and gooey. it's a dream come true.

we wanted a child for many years and with steph going through cancer treatment, we had to wait for a while. i don�*t think, ten years ago, i would have thought we could have been this happy. we�*ve really got this wonderful, brilliant little man to focus on. good morning. the subpostmasters fighting forjustice. i the evidence i shall give. shall be the truth. the whole truth. the whole truth, and nothing but... and nothing but the truth. i was totally lost in the moment because i knew i hadn�*t stolen — there was no evidence that i�*d stolen anything. i certainly wasn�*t living, you know, the high life from ill—gotten gains. tim was charged with false accounting. 11 years later, he finally cleared his name. it really started to feel like i was trapped in a nightmare. it felt unreal. it felt like i was watching myself

do it because i knew i hadn�*t done anything wrong. but i was stood in front of a judge in crown court pleading guilty to a crime that i hadn�*t done. the thought of going to prison terrified me. tim was one of many subpostmasters who gave evidence at the inquiry. they now both know it added to the stress of trying for a baby. but, three weeks ago, baby lando was born. they told us over and over — you're the only one. the subpostmaster group portrayed here in the itv drama and now a close group of friends, messaging most days. lando brentnall arrived at 10am, 7lb i. mum and baby are doing fine. there are lots of people wishing congratulations. jo sent us this lovely sleep sack, della crocheted, knitted — whatever you call it — a lovely, lovely soft blanket for him. maria sent us a lovely load of babygrows and things like that,

and there�*s so much more, as well. everyone in the group has been with us on thatjourney and everyone is so happy for him. the whole group are sort of celebrating lando�*s birth. yeah, everyone�*s been sort of overjoyed with it. the inquiry listening to all the evidence has now finished and is taking a break for the summer. in the autumn, it will consider recommendations for the future. but 15 years on, tim, like so many others, is still waiting for compensation. living next door is a constant reminder of what happened. i was in my early 20s when we took it on and that was going to be my future and that was all ripped away after five years. can you put it all behind you now? ten years ago, i wouldn�*t have thought it was possible to be this happy and we�*d have sort of this new life ahead of us. it�*s been a constant sword hanging over us, the post office, and the struggle to get a baby, which just happened naturally.

it�*s just been a realjoy to be able to start to build towards the next chapter. fiona lamdin, bbc news. the world health organization says more than 125,000 people die annually from extreme heat in europe. it says heat—related deaths in the region have seen a 30% increase over the past two decades. the who warned that more people would die from heat—related symptoms in the coming years, a result of global warming. it noted that temperatures in europe were rising at around twice the global average rate. now it�*s time for a look at the weather. hello again. this morning�*s mist and fog across parts of southern and

south—eastern england continue to lift. if you have an allergy to pollen, the levels today are higher, more than we have seen in recent days. generally speaking they are low to moderate and we are talking wheat and nettle pollen in particular. the chance of a few showers in eastern england, but for most it will be dry, sunny and warm. we have a cold front bringing in some rain, cloud and strengthening winds to the west. ahead of it the cloud will build with one or two showers. temperatures i6 cloud will build with one or two showers. temperatures 16 to 27, but we could see 28 or 29 and here it will still be muggy in the south—east. in the evening and overnight the weather front continues to sink southwards and eastwards. it starts to break up and turned more showery. ahead of its clear skies and feeling muggy, behind it clear skies but with scattered showers. but it will feel fresher behind that cold front. temperatures in scotland and northern ireland nine to 12 degrees,

15 to 17 as we push further south, it is still muggy in the south. on saturday this is the weather front pushing towards the south—east. it could rejuvenate in the south—western end. although we start with cloud and showers, we could see heavier showers in the channel islands and hampshire and dorset. to the north of that drier with sunshine and again scattered showers, especially across scotland and northern ireland. fresherfor more of us tomorrow, but still quite muqqy more of us tomorrow, but still quite muggy across the south—east even though the temperatures will be that little bit lower. as we head through saturday night and into sunday, we say goodbye to the weather front with a ridge of high pressure building across us, but then we have the next area of low pressure coming in during the day. on sunday a lot of cloud around, some sunnier breaks in eastern areas and we could catch one or two showers from the thickest cloud, but through the day the wind will strengthen and the cloud will build and the rain will arrive in the west. temperatures ia to 2a, but

feeling fresher across the board. beyond that into the new week it still remains fairly unsettled. there will be showers with rain at times and there will still be sunshine and temperatures round about where we would expect them to be at this stage.

live from london, this is bbc news. free at last, three americans and a kremlin critic imprisoned in russia arrive on us soil, part of the biggest prisoner swap deal since the cold war. myjob is to make sure that number one, they don�*t get them, and if they do, we get them back. i don�*t buy this idea that you�*re going to let these people rot injail. the deal frees 2a prisoners and two minors held in seven countries, including convicted russian fsb hit man vadim krasikov. seven men are charged with violent disorder after a riot breaks out in hartlepool, linked to monday�*s mass stabbing in southport. the body of the hamas political leader, ismail haniyeh, is now in qatar where he�*ll be buried. these are live pictures coming in from doha�*s largest mosque where a special service will be held.