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, 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 sees 2a prisoners and two minors held in seven countries set free, including hitman vadim krasikov — a member of russia's security service. prayers for ismail haniyeh — the political leader of hamas who was assassinated in iran on wednesday. venezuela's foreign minister claims the us is behind a coup attempt over the disputed re—election of president maduro.

team gb wins three gold medals today in paris. in the past few minutes the equestrian team took gold controversy in the boxing. team gb wins three gold medals today in paris. in the past few minutes the equestrian team took gold in the team jumping final. hello, thank you for being with us. russian dissidents released in a prisoner swap with the west are expected to speak publicly in the coming hours. vladimir kara—murza shared this image of himself, along with ilya yashin and andrei pivovarov, saying there would hold a news conference in bonn shortly. kara—murza, on the right, is a dual russian—british citizen and prominent opposition politician. yashin, in the centre,

and pivovarov are also well—known kremlin critics. the russian prisoners released by the west include convicted hit man vadim krasikov — an agent and hit man who shot dead a kremlin opponent in berlin five years ago in broad daylight. also a family of russian sleeper agents who were pretending to be argentinans — they were so deep under cover their children only found out they were russian after the flight to moscow took off. at an airbase outside washington, presidentjoe biden and vice president kamala harris greeted the returned americans. the plane carrying the two us journalists, evan gershkovich and alsu kurmasheva, and former marine paul whelan landed late at night. president biden said he was grateful for the diplomatic co—operation that led to the swap.

our north america correspondent will grant sent this report from the andrews air force base. cheering. greeted by a presidential embrace. after more days behind bars than they'd care to remember, finally a night they'll neverforget. the arrival of the three americans at andrews air base marks the end of their ordeal in russia, and the defining image of the biggest prisoner swap since the cold war. this is a historic moment, however you look at it — politically, diplomatically or, for the families involved, just emotionally. some of the most high—profile us prisoners of modern times back on us soil. on the tarmac to meet them, president biden and vice president harris. one soon to leave office, the other hoping to take over. myjob 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're going to let

these people rot injail. reached against the backdrop of a full—scale war in ukraine, this prisoner swap was uniquely complex. it involved 26 people in seven different nations. as well as wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich and ex—marine paul whelan, moscow freed a russian—american journalist, alsu kurmasheva. among several prominent kremlin critics released was vladimir kara—murza, while in return moscow got back this man, convicted assassin and fsb colonel vadim krasikov. the family of evan gershkovich echoed the position of all the relatives, expressing heartfelt thanks that their son was free, saying, "we have waited 491 days for evan's release and it's hard to describe what today feels like. "we can't wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close." so even amid the glare of the world's media, this is also a uniquely private moment for the former

prisoners and their families. a homecoming which at times they must have feared might never come. will grant, bbc news, washington. let's speak to james nixey, director of the russia and eurasia programme at chatham house. thank you for being with us. this was a historic prisoner swap, who do you think are the real winners? is russia more of a winner than the united states in some ways? in some wa s, es, united states in some ways? in some ways. yes. but _ united states in some ways? in some ways. yes. but as _ united states in some ways? in some ways. yes. but as a — united states in some ways? in some ways, yes, but as a russia _ united states in some ways? in some ways, yes, but as a russia watcher. ways, yes, but as a russia watcher and pining for democracy, you don't get many good days and yesterday it was absolutely one of them. for those who are interested in the humanitarian welfare of citizens, the return of their citizens, this is a win. that is what the west prizes most, it values the life and freedom of its own. that is not the

case for russia, it does not care for its people because it has sent thousands of them to the meat grinder on the front line of ukraine. it is concerned about pr victories and how they can be redeployed, using what intelligence and what they have learnt when abroad. ., , . and what they have learnt when abroad. ., ,, . ., , abroad. people have speculative this could be dangerous, _ abroad. people have speculative this could be dangerous, for _ abroad. people have speculative this could be dangerous, for example, i abroad. people have speculative this. could be dangerous, for example, the russians taking evan gershkovich, the wall street reporter, arrested for spying. the wall street reporter, arrested forspying. but the wall street reporter, arrested for spying. but they were able to trade him for agents abroad. that means it could happen again. there is no equivalence. _ means it could happen again. there is no equivalence. the _ means it could happen again. there is no equivalence. the western - is no equivalence. the western prisoners were effectively hostages and those who were held in the west were convicted criminals. this is absolutely a topic for radio four�*s moral maze and ultimately, on the base of this, it is impossible to see the future but we have to go

with first principles of saving the lives and freedom of our own. this was a old—fashioned swap in a sense, a bit like a scene from the cold war. does it show that the two sides, particularly the united states and russia can negotiate? some people have speculated that it might mean that in the long run they could negotiate over ukraine. it shows they can negotiate when there is something in it for them both. in this case there was, the lives of the citizens versus the potential redeployment and pr victory for russia. to be honest, this does not show a softer side to russia, the kremlin doesn't have won. really, russia doesn't believe in win—win outcomes, if it has the outcome it believes it hasn't negotiated a hard enough. the fact that the west has when it was an unfortunate side—effect. when it was an unfortunate side-effect.—

when it was an unfortunate side-effect. ., ., side-effect. thank you for your time. hamas has called for "a day of furious rage" to mark the funeral in the qatari capital doha of it's political leader, ismael haniyeh, who was assassinated in iran on wednesday. his body has been taken to a cemetery outside the city where he is being buried in a simple muslim ceremony. hundreds of mourners attended the funeral prayers at the state mosque. officals from a number of arab and muslim countries have been attending, as well as prominent figures from fatah, the main rival palestinian faction to hamas. hamas and iran have both vowed revenge on israel, which has so far refused to confirm that it carried out the attack. earlier in the week israel did claim responsibility for a rocket strike in the lebanese capital beirut which killed fuad shukr, a top commander of the iranian backed group hezbollah. israel blames him for the deaths of 12 children in the golan heights. and on thursday israel also confirmed that an air strike in gaza last month had succeeded in killing

mommahed deif, the leader of hamas' military wing. all this has heightened anxiety about a wider regional conflict in the middle east and ceasefire talks to stop the war in gaza and to secure the release of israeli hostages seem to be at a standstill. our middle east correspondent orla guerin told us what she is hearing about the likely nature of a retaliation. i think we can very possibly see that, iran will want to do something different, it will want to signal clearly that this is a response of a different order because of the nature of what happened at 2am on wednesday morning at the heart of the iranian capital when israel, as is believed, was able to assassinate notjust a allies but the political

head of hamas who had been meeting the supreme leader of iran who, the day after, was saying funeral prayers over his casket. i think the iranians will want to do something that looks and feel different, i think there is ever the possibility they will engage regional allies, we have had hezbollah promising revenge, hamas promising revenge, there are attacks on international shipping going through the red sea. that was our correspondent reporting. we can talk more about what is going on in the middle east. journalist for iranwire.com —

rogheya rezaei. do you think there'll be retaliation from iran to that assassination on iranian territory?— iranian territory? yes, of course there will— iranian territory? yes, of course there will be _ iranian territory? yes, of course there will be a _ iranian territory? yes, of course there will be a retaliation. - iranian territory? yes, of course there will be a retaliation. but l there will be a retaliation. but looking into when and where the retaliation will happen, varies according to the situation going on in iran. a source close to the leader of iran told us that the supreme leader unlike what the new york times claimed, the supreme leader has not decided about the target of the retaliation. they say that it could happen any time, but

it could happen... i am reading the sentence from the source, this could be an israeli embassy in a third country or a location with in israel. it will happen, and this doesn't mean normal, this is not any more one—time confrontation between the two countries. these tensions will lead to face—to—face tensions and they will last. it is will lead to face-to-face tensions and they will last. ..._ and they will last. it is a sort of tit-for-tat. _ and they will last. it is a sort of tit-for-tat. will _ and they will last. it is a sort of tit-for-tat. will it _ and they will last. it is a sort of tit-for-tat. will it escalate i of tit—for—tat. will it escalate into a wider regional war? i of tit-for-tat. will it escalate into a wider regional war? i don't think so, the _ into a wider regional war? i don't think so, the situation _ into a wider regional war? i don't think so, the situation now - into a wider regional war? i don't think so, the situation now in - into a wider regional war? i don't| think so, the situation now in iran is that, less than a month ago the supreme leader of iran decided to give the powers to the conservative

reformists. he is the type of person that gives time to his most recent decisions. i think he will give them the room to participate in it decision—making for the retaliation. and we have another member who has done it before, he has been able to actually help the supreme leader to be less violent and aggressive. during the nuclear deal. i think you will play a role here but it will be really difficult. he knows the mindset of the supreme leader, but he has the commander of the irg see who he needs to deal with. from

he has the commander of the irg see who he needs to deal with.— who he needs to deal with. from the israeli perspective, _ who he needs to deal with. from the israeli perspective, thank— who he needs to deal with. from the israeli perspective, thank you - who he needs to deal with. from the israeli perspective, thank you for - israeli perspective, thank you for being with us. we have seen israel looks like it hit some of its targets, some of the people it believes were behind the october seven attacks, do you see that as a success for israel and by mr benjamin netanyahu? definitely, israel has decided _ benjamin netanyahu? definitely, israel has decided to _ benjamin netanyahu? definitely, israel has decided to eradicate i israel has decided to eradicate hamas— israel has decided to eradicate hamas as a terror organisation in gaza _ hamas as a terror organisation in gaza and — hamas as a terror organisation in gaza and it — hamas as a terror organisation in gaza and it is moving steadily to achieving — gaza and it is moving steadily to achieving this goal. it is amazing to see _ achieving this goal. it is amazing to see that— achieving this goal. it is amazing to see that after two deaths, of leaders — to see that after two deaths, of leaders of— to see that after two deaths, of leaders of hamas, they have not been able to— leaders of hamas, they have not been able to shoot one rocket. i remember about_ able to shoot one rocket. i remember about a _ able to shoot one rocket. i remember about a year— able to shoot one rocket. i remember about a year ago when we targeted terrorists— about a year ago when we targeted terrorists who were high—ranking, they would — terrorists who were high—ranking, they would say that at 90 they would

shoot _ they would say that at 90 they would shoot tel _ they would say that at 90 they would shoot tel aviv, now is not the case any more — shoot tel aviv, now is not the case any more. hamas is being destroyed. you say— any more. hamas is being destroyed. you say it— any more. hamas is being destroyed. you say it is— any more. hamas is being destroyed. you say it is being destroyed, may be senior commanders are being taken out. but the problem is that people say there is still a lot of hamas operatives on the ground in gaza and destroying them completely as benjamin netanyahu has said he wants to do is going to be extremely difficult if not impossible. taste difficult if not impossible. we killed roughly 60% of the terrorists and there _ killed roughly 60% of the terrorists and there are many injured. i can see from — and there are many injured. i can see from the level of freedom of operation — see from the level of freedom of operation that the idf has that we see less _ operation that the idf has that we see less and less ability of hamas to fight _ see less and less ability of hamas to fight a— see less and less ability of hamas to fight. a very different reality from _ to fight. a very different reality from what we saw before. this is moving _ from what we saw before. this is moving steadily towards a win. and now is_ moving steadily towards a win. and now is the — moving steadily towards a win. and now is the moment, israel decided from _ now is the moment, israel decided from the _ now is the moment, israel decided from the beginning that we will be on the _ from the beginning that we will be on the offensive in gaza, we are

dealing — on the offensive in gaza, we are dealing with seven different fronts. but now _ dealing with seven different fronts. but now the time has come to look at the north— but now the time has come to look at the north at— but now the time has come to look at the north at hezbollah and at the moment— the north at hezbollah and at the moment the idf is in high readiness for a full—scale war. moment the idf is in high readiness for a full-scale war.— for a full-scale war. does this mean that possibly _ for a full-scale war. does this mean that possibly a _ for a full-scale war. does this mean that possibly a wider _ for a full-scale war. does this mean that possibly a wider war _ for a full-scale war. does this mean that possibly a wider war across the | that possibly a wider war across the middle east? we are talking about lebanon and iran. you middle east? we are talking about lebanon and iran.— lebanon and iran. you are right, this is not _ lebanon and iran. you are right, this is not a _ lebanon and iran. you are right, this is not a local _ lebanon and iran. you are right, this is not a local war, _ lebanon and iran. you are right, this is not a local war, from - lebanon and iran. you are right, this is not a local war, from day| this is not a local war, from day one it _ this is not a local war, from day one it was — this is not a local war, from day one it was a _ this is not a local war, from day one it was a global war, you have front— one it was a global war, you have front of— one it was a global war, you have front of china and iran, israel is at the _ front of china and iran, israel is at the front— front of china and iran, israel is at the front of this global war but it is still— at the front of this global war but it is still a — at the front of this global war but it is still a global war. we are dealing — it is still a global war. we are dealing locally with hamas and hezbollah that this is a much bigger war. hezbollah that this is a much bigger war~ we _ hezbollah that this is a much bigger war. we see with the iranians strikes. — war. we see with the iranians strikes, we see the us bringing more forces, _ strikes, we see the us bringing more forces, we _ strikes, we see the us bringing more forces, we see very tight coordination on air defence and

ability— coordination on air defence and ability to— coordination on air defence and ability to deal with any retaliation we see _ ability to deal with any retaliation we see from iran or hezbollah. the us said _ we see from iran or hezbollah. the us said that— we see from iran or hezbollah. the us said that if israel is going to be attacked, we will defend. so we are seeing — be attacked, we will defend. so we are seeing a coalition being built at the _ are seeing a coalition being built at the moment, it looks defensive, at the moment, it looks defensive, at the _ at the moment, it looks defensive, at the same — at the moment, it looks defensive, at the same time, with attacks it might— at the same time, with attacks it might change completely. israel won't _ might change completely. israel won't stay quiet if iran attacks, they— won't stay quiet if iran attacks, they will— won't stay quiet if iran attacks, they will pay heavily for that. israel— they will pay heavily for that. israel is _ they will pay heavily for that. israel is able to inflict huge damage _ israel is able to inflict huge damage on iran. we haven't done that yet, damage on iran. we haven't done that yet. it— damage on iran. we haven't done that yet, it doesn't need doing. the chief_ yet, it doesn't need doing. the chief of— yet, it doesn't need doing. the chief of the israeli defensive establishment, i say that they cannot— establishment, i say that they cannot imagine what israel is able to do _ cannot imagine what israel is able to do. there will be a moment they will learn _ to do. there will be a moment they will learn the hard way.— will learn the hard way. thank you briaadier will learn the hard way. thank you brigadier general _ will learn the hard way. thank you brigadier general for _ will learn the hard way. thank you brigadier general for your - will learn the hard way. thank you brigadier general for your time. i will learn the hard way. thank you l brigadier general for your time. and with the iranians perspective, thank

you for you both. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

one of the boxers at the centre of a growing controversy at the paris olympics has won her opening bout to reach the quarter—finals. taiwan's lin yu—ting beat sitora turdibekova from uzbekistan in a unanimous points decision in the women's 57kg class. it comes after the algerian boxer ee—man imane khelif. .. made her way through to the last eight yesterday — in the women's 66 kilo category after her opponent, italy's angela carini, abandoned the bout after 46 seconds. she tookjust one punch to the face and then walked

to her corner where she was heard saying "its not right". the italian boxer was in tears after the match — she told reporters it was the hardest punch she had ever taken — and that she had stopped the fight to preserve her life. khelif — along with taiwan's lin yu—ting — was cleared to compete in paris, despite being disqualified from last year's world boxing championships forfailing a gender eligibility test. a spokesperson for the international olympic committee — the ioc — has been speaking about the situation. it is quite a serious case, there's an awful lot of abuse going on on line, misinformed abuse and we are in close contact with the athletes. the ioc has always tried to do a balance between inclusivity and fairness to put it broadly and also safety. that is a difficult one and something that we will have to look

at. but that is an entirely separate question to what is going on here which is a woman boxer being stigmatised and forced out of competition. i think that is a different issue, but in general in terms of safety, safety of the athletes, we never tire of saying is our number concern. the athletes, we need to look after them, make sure they are safe and there are all sorts of safeguards vertically in combat sports, to make sure that is the case. maayan sudai is a professor of law and gender studies at the university of haida — shejoins me now. this is a complicated and confusing situation. these two boxes, they weren't allowed to compete by the boxing authority but they have been allowed to compete by the olympic

organisers. can you explain why that is? it organisers. can you explain why that is? , , ., , ., is? it might be helpful to give you a brief overview _ is? it might be helpful to give you a brief overview of _ is? it might be helpful to give you a brief overview of the _ is? it might be helpful to give you a brief overview of the sex - a brief overview of the sex verification tests in the olympics. those started in the 1960s, trying to stop men from competing in female competitions. they started off with different kinds of tests, physical tests, genital examination which was highly criticised for being humiliating. then they moved to chromosomal tests and then those didn't quite do the job that the ioc hoped it would. since 2011, they issued a new policy that looks at hormone levels and they are trying to figure out who is in the male range of hormones, the testosterone range of hormones, the testosterone range of hormones for males and females is different. they are

trying to allocate or create eligibility rules to allow females to participate in female competitions only if they have that level of testosterone. as you said, there is growing controversy because there is growing controversy because there are some women who have sex variations and have higher testosterone levels naturally. that testosterone levels naturally. that testosterone policy bars them from participating. this is how we got cases of athletes who filed claims in the arbitration. what happened was there was a big controversy, even a scientific controversy regarding the performance advantage thatis regarding the performance advantage that is given from natural testosterone levels. that is something that has not yet been settled in the scientific literature. in 2021, the ioc issued a new framework that was supposed to

set the ground for future challenges. that was a framework for dealing with fairness, inclusion and non—discrimination for gender identity and sex variation. and what that framework did was asking the governing bodies of each sport to make their own eligibility rules, as long as they follow important principles, among which were inclusivity, non—discrimination, respect... inclusivity, non-discrimination, respect- - -_ respect... the point is that the international _ respect... the point is that the international boxing _ respect... the point is that the l international boxing association, their eligibility rules, they ruled that both these boxes couldn't compete in the world championships last year because they had failed these gender eligibility tests. what were the iba's tests? i am these gender eligibility tests. what were the iba's tests?— were the iba's tests? i am getting to that, were the iba's tests? i am getting to that. one _ were the iba's tests? i am getting to that. one of—

were the iba's tests? i am getting to that, one of the _ were the iba's tests? i am getting to that, one of the points was - were the iba's tests? i am getting to that, one of the points was that it has to be evidence based and from what i saw the ioc issued a supporting statement for those two boxes saying that according to the eligibility rules that the boxing world association had issued or enforced first far, they were fine to compete. i am not sure what they were looking at because there is a great variation and different sports look at different criteria. for example if the swimming organisation looks at hormone levels and they made even more stringent rules, they lowered the bar from five to 2.5 whereas other sports organisations use legal depredations of gender. sorry, we have run out of time. thank you for explaining some of that to us from the university.

thank you for your time. hello. i thought i'd start off with a look back at the enormous thunderstorms that developed yesterday across central and southern england. the storms that went across fairford in gloucestershire dumped 35mm of rain in the space ofjust one hour. i think that's the heaviest downpour i've seen all year. the result of those massive storms was some quite severe localised flooding problems that we had. today it's all changed weather—wise really. for the north and west of the country we've got a band of rain edging in here. for northern ireland and western scotland it's a wet afternoon. holding on to a reasonable amount of dry weather for east scotland for most of the day. for most of england and wales things are looking fine, with some sunny spells breaking through. it's still very humid across eastern england and that humidity could bring a few showers near to the east coast of east anglia and kent as we go on through the afternoon. there is an outside chance of a rumble of thunder, but the storms won't be as severe as the ones we had on thursday.

overnight tonight we'll see that band of rain push its way southwards and eastwards into parts of england and wales, but as the front continues to push eastwards it will weaken. we've got the fresh air behind the front across scotland and northern ireland, but another quite warm and humid night for england and wales. we pick up on that front on saturday morning, draped across east anglia and south—east england, with outbreaks of patchy rain. most of it is going to be quite light, but there could be a few heavier bursts mixed in. eventually that clears through the afternoon. what follows for most of the uk is a fresher feeling day, with sunny spells widespread and just a few showers running into the north and west of scotland. heading into the second half of the weekend, it's not a bad start to the day really. most areas dry with variable cloud and there should be some sunny spells coming through that as the day goes by. however, we end the day in northern ireland and western scotland with the next area of rain moving its way in. that rain is associated with the next area of low pressure that's going to be bringing rain across these north—western areas of the uk into the early part of next week. the rain could turn out to be really quite heavy across these areas,

so there is a risk of seeing some localised flooding. even beyond that, as the rain clears through, we'll be left with quite a few showers around, temperatures generally running into the high teens to low 20s across western areas. the east and south—east of the country fares a bit better. closer to an area of high pressure, at times the weather could become quite warm with some sun.

this is bbc news, the headlines. 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 they don't get there and if they do, we get them back. i don't buy this idea that you will let these people rot in jail. russia admits that the convicted assassin, vadim krasikov, who was released from a german prison as part of a major prisoner exchange, was an fsb agent. the funeral ceremony has been held in qatar for the hamas political leader, ismail haniyeh, who was assassinated in iran on wednesday.

to the paris olympics — where team gb have won their third