welcome to bbc news. i'm rich preston. our top stories: us basketball star brittney griner is released from a russian prison colony, exchanged for a notorious russian arms dealer nicknamed the �*merchant of death'. her team—mate tells us she's thrilled. the lost hope, i spent 294 days and it has been 294 days of hope. in a much—hyped new documentary series: harry and meghan go into detail about their relationship, press intrusion and racism. iran carries out its first execution of a protester who took part in the recent anti—government demonstrations. my my own ms took my career down.

we speak to the actress selma blair, one of the bbc�*s 100 women for 2022, about her life with multiple sclerosis. mbappe, mbappe! and he's become a hero for millions: french footballer kylian mbappe and his rise from paris suburb to worldwide stardom. hello and welcome to the programme. the american basketball player brittney griner has been released from prison in russia after nearly 10 months. moscow and the us agreed to a prisoner swap in exchange for a russian arms dealer who sold weapons to warlords and rogue governments, and who'd been sentenced to 25 years injail in the us. victor boot has already arrived in moscow. here's our north america editor sarah smith. still in the dark, brittney griner doesn't know

why she's being led onto a plane. this footage, released by the russian authorities, shows her being given the news. do you know where you're heading to? no. you're flying back home, to the us. she is safe, she's on a plane, she's on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in russia. here on the tarmac in abu dhabi, the handover. brittney griner, in the red jacket, being released, and swapped for a notorious russian arms dealer, viktor bout. the basketball star had been detained in russia since february, when she was arrested at an airport in moscow for trying to smuggle vape cartridges containing marijuana into the country. something she described as an honest mistake. i understand everything that's being said against me, the charges that are against me, and, therefore,

i'm pleading guilty. after that guilty plea, she was sentenced to nine years injail, and last month was moved to an extremely harsh labour camp. viktor bout, the russian arms dealer known as the �*merchant of death', has been injail in america since 2011. he's now also free man. the white house offered to swap bout for ms griner and paul whelan. he's an american who is being held on charges of espionage which the us says are false. russia refused to include mr whelan in the exchange. brittney griner has become a real celeb in the us and herfreedom is being celebrated, but the president is being criticised for releasing a man as clearly dangerous as viktor bout. ms griner�*s wife campaigned tirelessly for her release. it's a happy day for me and my family so i'm going to smile right now! brittney griner will soon arrive back in america after ten months in russia. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. a short time ago, i spoke to brianna turner, a team—mate

of brittney griner�*s at phoenix mercury, the wnba team. i asked her how she reacted to the news of griner�*s release. pure joy and excitement. it's been a wonderful day for me. tell us a bit more about what the last ten months have been like. brittney was locked up in february, and since then, it was never really clear when she would be released, if at all. yeah, definitely. it has been a lot of confusion, a lot of uncertainty, it's been 294 days and it's been 249 days of hope. i imagine when the news came through a few hours ago, the text messages started back and forwards with your friends and colleagues. tell us a bit more about what brittney is like both on the court and off as a friend. 0n the court, she is one of the best women's basketball players in the world. she is a two—time 0lympian.

she has won numerous world championships, numerous all—star appearances. off the court, i would say she is a kind, nice and giving person, always willing to give a helping hand, always willing to help someone in need whether it is a free meal or a ride. she is one of the most generous people that i know. during her incarceration in russia, were you or any of her colleagues able to have any contact with her at all? i was not able to talk on the phone with her, but i was able to write her letters a couple of times. we heard in the news storyjust there, her wife and also president biden talking about their relief that she is now back home. do you think the us government did enough to fight her corner while she was still in prison? i mean, i would say yes. she is here. it has obviously been a long time, but i am just happy she is home. the us government, i think they were doing what they could

and obviously right now was the right time to make a trade happen, so i am happy that she was able to get released. she is now back home. as you say, she will need a bit of time to decompress, spend time with her family and herfriends. moving forward, what do you hope will happen next? do you hope to see her back on the court? that is up to her. if she does not play another basketball game in her life, i will not be mad at her. i am going to support her any way i can. i think the main focus is to get her recovery in from her time away and be with herfamily. breanna turner, brittney griner�*s team—mate. prince harry has criticised what he called a media "feeding frenzy" over his relationship with meghan in the first episodes of a new netflix series about their lives. he said he felt it was his duty to expose exploitation and bribery in the media, and criticised some press coverage for having racist undertones. in the series, his wife meghan speaks of her belief that the media wanted to "destroy" her, and says race was never an issue for her

until she came to the uk. buckingham palace hasn't commented on the film. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. it is the truth according to harry and megan. the story of two people who fell in love, but whose lives, in their view, were compromised by others conspiring against them. no—one knows the full truth. we know the full truth. the institution knows the full truth and the media know the full truth because they've been in on it. the behaviour of the press is a constant theme. harry believes there was a racial undertone to media coverage when it emerged that he was in a relationship with meghan markle, a woman of mixed race. the couple think the royal family and buckingham palace should have done more to support them. it was almost like a rite of passage and some of the members thought, "my wife had to go through that,

"so why should your girlfriend get special treatment?" i said, "the difference here is the race element." meghan believes she was not given a fair chance by the palace or the press. but truth be told, no matter how hard i tried, no matter how good i was, no matter what i did, they were still going to find a way to destroy me. there's no explicit allegation against royal family members on the race issue, though harry says there is unconscious bias. in this family, sometimes you are part of the problem rather than part of the solution and there is a huge level of unconscious bias. the thing with unconscious bias is it is actually no—one�*s fault, but once it has been pointed out or identified within yourself, you then need to make it right. it's education.

it's awareness. queen elizabeth, though, was warm and welcoming. meghan recalled their first meeting at windsor castle and her first curtsy. i curtsied as though i was like... "pleasure to meet you, your majesty. " so, have these programmes changed anything? this morning, king charles was out and about on a official visit. buckingham palace is saying nothing publicly, though privately, officials are growing weary. i think there is a sort of sense of both disappointment and exasperation at the palace. the couple feel the need to keep going on about how miserable they were in their own existence. at the same time, the couple feel they need to keep telling the world why they left. i accept that there will be people around the world who fundamentally disagree with what i have done

and how i have done it, but i knew that i had to do everything i could to protect my family. three more hours of harry and meghan telling their truth will be released next week. especially after what happened to my mum. yeah, that's your grandma, diana. i don't want history to repeat itself. let's get some of the day's other news. the us house of representatives has passed legislation protecting the rights of same—sex and interracial couples in federal law. 39 republicansjoined democrats to vote in favour. president biden says he'll sign the legislation proudly and promptly. ajudge in peru has ordered that the ousted president pedro castillo be held in custody for at least seven days while he's investigated on charges of rebellion and conspiracy. mr castillo was removed from office by congress on wednesday. and the canadian singer celine dion has revealed she has a rare, incurable neurological disease, which has forced her to postpone concerts in the uk and europe.

she says she's been diagnosed with stiff—person syndrome, which causes severe muscle spasms. in the middle east, iran has carried out its first execution of a protester who's taken part in recent anti—government demonstrations in the country. at least 11 have so far been sentenced to death, prompting widespread international condemnation. many more people have been killed in the unrest, which has gripped the country since september. tom brada reports. this is mosan. on thursday morning, he was hanged, guilty, according to a revolutionary court, of emnity against god. he was accused of blocking a street in tehran and injuring a member of a paramilitary force with a machete. human rights courts have condemned the process that decided he should be killed as a sham. the trial process lasted around seven weeks without lawyers present.

what is really worrisome is that the even shorter time that it has taken the judiciary to issue an execute — a sentence of this nature. more than 18,000 people have been detained since the unrest began, sparked by the death of 22—year—old mahsa amini in police custody. the execution of mohsen shekari has people concerned that the brutality of the state could get worse. with the lawlessness that we see in the iranian judiciary, they can basically sentence anyone they want to death and execute them, unless the international community and people inside iran show a reaction. parts of the international community have spoken out. the uk foreign secretary tweeted: the german foreign minister said that:

and later that day, they summoned the iranian ambassador. for some, this response does not go far enough. governments and people all around the world are reacting on social media and through statements, but it is time for action. unsurprisingly, the iranian regime is not impressed by criticism. translation: the west thinks iran is like other countries - who might give in to the rioters. here we have educated men and women. no, the iranian students won't let the protesters do whatever they want. iran's leaders are taking a gamble. by executing a young protester, they hope others will be too frightened to take to the streets. but they risk more rage from the many thousands of people still desperate for change.

tom brada, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we visit the london exhibition setting the record straight on the contribution made by black kenyan archaeologists to colonial—era excavations. john lennon was shot at the entrance to the dakota building in the centre of new york. there's been a crowd here standing in more or less silent vigil and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th ceasefire of this war ended at the walls of the old city of dubrovnik. this morning, witnesses said shells were landing every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man. they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. - elsewhere. — people have been gathering to mourn his passing. imelda marcos, the widow of the former president of the philippines,

has gone on trial in manila. she is facing seven charges of tax evasion, estimated at £120 million. she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had been reached amicably. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: us basketball star brittney griner has been released from a russian prison colony — exchanged for a notorious russian arms dealer nicknamed the merchant of death. in a much—hyped new documentary series — harry and meghan go into detail about their relationship, press intrusion and racism. the american actress selma blair became a household name after starring in box—office hits such as cruel intentions, legally blonde and hellboy. after years of suffering from fatigue and speech disturbances, she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018.

selma has been named one of the bbc 100 women for 2022 — and in this exclusive interview with sophie long she reveals how the disease brought her acting career to a halt — and her reaction when she was given the diagnosis for the first time. when the doctor told me the night of the mri that i had multiple sclerosis, i cried, but it had a name and it was an amazingly comforting feeling. i don't wish disease on anyone but it was comforting knowing there was a whole community. so i did not feel like it was the end of the world, i felt like it was the beginning, of understanding. i have a dog that can help me with a lot of the counterbalance orjust for balance. i have a cane, a bike

if i want to take a long walk. i have aids to help with my balance issues.— i have aids to help with my balance issues. what impact do ou think balance issues. what impact do you think multiple _ balance issues. what impact do you think multiple sclerosis - you think multiple sclerosis has had on your career? m5 you think multiple sclerosis has had on your career? ms took my career— has had on your career? ms took my career down. _ has had on your career? ms took my career down. i _ has had on your career? ms took my career down. i had _ has had on your career? ms took my career down. i had to - has had on your career? ms took my career down. i had to stop i my career down. i had to stop working. disability was taking me out of the workforce and when i spoke about it there was so much support but i never got a job again. and so much support but i never got ajob again. and i so much support but i never got a job again. and i am so much support but i never got ajob again. and i am not bitter about that. i don't know how much i said i was willing to be on a set all day and i am wanting to go back to work. how would you describe _ wanting to go back to work. how would you describe hollywood's relationship with challenges like the ones you face? there are so many _ like the ones you face? there are so many stories _ like the ones you face? there are so many stories of - like the ones you face? there are so many stories of people that need to catch up and represent so i am happy to be a visible ally. some people may see me as someone with a disability and some may not. that is not for me to judge. that is not for me to judge. that is not for me to judge. that is for whoever wants whatever encouragement i might have for them.—

have for them. well turned out. your memoir. — have for them. well turned out. your memoir, again, _ have for them. well turned out. your memoir, again, super - your memoir, again, super candid. you had dependency on alcohol, you got drunk at a very early age. tell us about that and how that sculpted your life, really. i that and how that sculpted your life, really-— life, really. i wanted to write a book for— life, really. i wanted to write a book for all— life, really. i wanted to write a book for all the _ life, really. i wanted to write a book for all the little - a book for all the little selmas who are out there and afraid. let's take away the stigma of saying you are final the time because saying that is what made me drink in the bathroom at the age of nine. until i would pass out. if there was any conversation that people could have with each other over the great shames of their life, the things they got themselves into and felt they had to keep to themselves and that shane created healthy —— unhealthy habits, than that was the i could do. —— the least i

could do. actress selma blair, in conversation with bbc 100 women. she was one of the women on the list this year — you can find out more about the bbc 100 women season at bbc.co.uk/100women much more from the 100 women series on the special section on our website. you can find interviews and features — and this series about the rise of the virtual k—pop princess. just log on to bbc.com/news — or go via the bbc app a new exhibition has opened at the horniman museum in london — to commemorate and celebrate black kenyans, whose contribution to archaeology was deliberately omitted from records and archives during the colonial era. the museum has received recognition for not being shy in asking itself some hard questions about its dark legacy during british imperialism. the bbc�*s nyasha michelle, went along for a preview. music plays the faces and names

of the canyons that colonialism tried to wipe from the records. these are never before seen images of archaeologists and excavators who contributed their expertise to expeditions in tenure. their fines were excised and names attributed to european bosses. but an exhibition here at the horniman museum in london is seeking to celebrate the canyons who stand amongst others in this picture who contributed to archaeology in the east african nation. my grandmother told me that — african nation. my grandmother told me that my _ african nation. my grandmother told me that my grandfather- african nation. my grandmother| told me that my grandfather was an excavator and when i tried to find anything about his worker could not find anything about it. he died a long time ago so i went to kenya and i

went to the places where he excavated and still could not find him. he was only in the minds of old men who had retired and were telling me about his story. so when i went to fortjesus, one of the monuments he excavated and noticed that there was only one name, a european name. a grand dad was nowhere to be found and neither were any other african heritage professionals. canyons that worked on these excavations have a lot of local knowledge and they brought a lot of expertise and the fact that they lived around these sites and had family members who had lived around those sites for generations so when archaeologists came from europe and to excavate they employed these teams for their expertise did not include them in the writings in the research papers, they were not included in any awards or accolades so they were very much instrumental. that is why it is important for me to make sure

their names are put back and they get the acknowledgement they get the acknowledgement they deserve. the they get the acknowledgement they deserve-— they deserve. the horniman museum _ they deserve. the horniman museum has _ they deserve. the horniman museum has partnered - they deserve. the horniman museum has partnered with| they deserve. the horniman . museum has partnered with the national museums of tenure who also opened their own exact vision. —— kenya. it is a fantastic idea to have this exhibition in the very place. the hope is that this exhibition will bring visibility and recognition of the canyon archaeologists and the canyon archaeologists and the valuable contribution to the valuable contribution to the country's history. with five world cup goals to his name already in qatar, kylian mbappe is this tournament's top scorer and the player many teams fear most of all. he's also a hero to millions around the world — not least in the suburbs of paris where he grew up — as our correspondent lucy williamson has been finding out. it was once kylian

mbappe practising his footwork here in bondy. he's now scoring goals in this year's world cup — five of them so far. they speak french. and there's fierce argument here over whether, at 23, he's already the best player in the world. translation: when i saw all those goals he scored l last sunday, i thought, "wow, france will win the world cup. with him, no—one can stop us". mbappe trained here from the age of six. his former trainer, still a family friend, translation: he was fast, | but not faster than the others because they were bigger and stronger than him. he was a little shrimp, a skinny little shrimp, but technically very strong. at 23, mbappe is already more thanjust a footballer for france.

a star from the paris suburbs who takes a stand on social issues and is used to receiving phone calls direct from president macron. he speaks french. last year, president macron called mbappe while on a popular social media game show. he also urged him privately this year not to leave his french club for real madrid. now, with training underway for saturday's match, his career goals are clear. the only objective for me is to win the world cup — now to to win the next game, quarterfinal is the most important thing, and that's what i dream. back in bondy, there's respect for the england squad too. they speak french. especially captain harry kane. and the predicted outcome — victory for france, of course.

a decade after he trained on this patch of ground near paris, kylian mbappe, the "skinny shrimp" from bondy, has the hopes of a nation on his shoulders and the world at his feet. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. not long to go before christmas — and that means that in the italian city of naples, the famous nativity figurines are once again on display. here they are — traditionally hand—carved and painted, with many of the characters you would associate with christmas, such as wise men and shepherds — and a few you might not — like batman, thejoker, and various politicians. according to tradition, neapolitans buyjust one figure each year — adding to their festive displays, piece by piece. you can reach me on twitter —

i'm @richpreston. from all of us here, thank you for watching and we will see you next time. well, it looks like this cold weather is going to stick around for quite a few more days. it's not desperately cold during the day. it's the night—time that's especially chilly, with temperatures perhaps getting as low as minus ten in rural spots in the next few nights. but snow showers, icy stretches, sharp frosts, those are the main points as this cold air arrives and has indeed arrived from the northern climes all the way from the arctic. but we'll see subtle changes in the wind direction over the coming days. so that means that snow showers will be affecting perhaps different areas. but the northerly winds have been bringing in quite persistent snow showers to scotland. we've had some grazing the eastern counties of england as well, even reports of hail showers in places. and through the course of the night,

icy stretches in some areas. it's also going to turn quite cloudy across parts of the midlands, east anglia, the south—east. maybe a few flakes of snow from that as well, but really not an awful lot. these are the inner city temperatures, so minus three, minus four. but in rural spots, as i indicated earlier on, it will be a good deal colder than that. so here's the morning — lots of sunshine right from the word go, but not necessarily in the south—east. could be really quite raw and dull for a time before the sun arrives. wintry showers continue in the north, in some western areas, northern ireland, too. and again, briefly in the afternoon, temperatures for most of us touching around about three to five celsius. and then the following night, so friday night into early saturday, again, these are the inner city values with lower temperatures expected in rural spots. so this weekend, of course, it's staying cold, but freezing fog, lingering freezing fog could be a problem. now, let's have a look at the forecast map, then. and you can see a low pressure establishing itself across the uk. all that means lighter

winds if we're in the centre of the low. that will help the fog to form. and also notice that blobs of blue, white are starting to appear in other parts of the country. that's an indication of the winds shifting around the uk and perhaps pushing in some of the wintry showers to areas that haven't seen anything so far. so, yes, the outlook staying cold, not desperately cold by day, certainly not subzero for most of us, but chilly nights. and of course, you can track the weather as always on our fabulous weather app. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the american basketball player brittney griner has been released from prison in russia after nearly ten months in a prisoner swap. her freedom was exchanged for a notorious russian arms dealer nicknamed the �*merchant of death' who sold weapons to warlords and rogue governments. in a much—hyped new documentary series, harry and meghan have gone into detail about their relationship, press intrusion and racism. prince harry has criticised what he called a media "feeding frenzy" over their relationship, saying he felt it was his duty to expose exploitation and bribery in the media. there's been widespread condemnation after iran carried out its first execution of a protester who took part in the recent anti—government demonstrations. at least 11 protesters have so far been sentenced to death.

many more people have been killed in the unrest,