tim allman, bbc news. you are watching bbc news. i am ollie foster live at the stadium ahead of the world cup final between argentina and france. we arejust under two hours away for what could be a match for the ages. i'm frankie mccamley in the studio with the rest of today's stories... the iranian film actress, taraneh alidoosti, is arrested after she expresses solidarity with anti—government demonstrators — they're now into their fourth month. the government has confirmed that 1200 members of the armed forces — and 1000 civil servants — will be drafted in to cover striking ambulance and border force staff over christmas. the family of a 33—year—old

rebecca ikumelo who died after being injured at a gig in south london say she was full of care, kindness and love. china sees a sharp increase in coronavirus cases 11 days after the country eased its zero—covid strategy. and, ukraine has chosen pop duo tivorchi as its act for next year's eurovision song contest in a live broadcast from a kyiv bomb shelter. hello there. welcome along to their stadium, to viewers in the uk and around the world. we are under two hours away from the world cup final here in qatar between argentina and

france. both nations looking to left that famous trophy for a third time. the narrative is that this will be lionel messi's argentina's captain against the young french star, kylian mbappe who is looking to become the youngest man since pele to win the world cup trophy twice. france are looking to win back—to—back titles. that was brazil back—to—back titles. that was brazil backin back—to—back titles. that was brazil back in 1958 in 1962. the argentina were inspired on theirjourney here by diego maradona and in turn lionel messi who is playing his final world cup game here. and he has said that that will be a fitting finale to his glittering career. obviously it is the world cup, the one piece that he is missing in that career. let's had first to paris, where millions will be watching now. certainly the french fans here,. deja vu for you

because it was just four years ago that the french beat croatia in that russia final. how are they feeling ahead of this one?— russia final. how are they feeling ahead of this one? well, atmosphere buildin: ahead of this one? well, atmosphere building definitely. _ ahead of this one? well, atmosphere building definitely. we _ ahead of this one? well, atmosphere building definitely. we are _ ahead of this one? well, atmosphere building definitely. we are in - ahead of this one? well, atmosphere building definitely. we are in a - ahead of this one? well, atmosphere building definitely. we are in a bar i building definitely. we are in a bar and restaurant and lunches over, clearing up and everyone is settling in now. they have got a few hours of preparation and then kick off. in two hours' time. it is a bit of deja vu. last time it was high summer, we were all outside on the terraces and it was a great outdoor atmosphere. it is freezing right now everyone is very much stuck in bars and in their homes. a great atmosphere building up homes. a great atmosphere building up and a great deal of confidence i would say about this match. no one is underestimating the argentinian side but what everyone has been saying over and over again is how poised this french team is, how

psychologically mature this french team is. how it manages to ride through the problems and the setbacks and with this wealth of experience that is got now and its depth of talent, everyone feels that it should be france's for the taking. and of course, no one is overconfident and assumes anything. messi is an unpredictable force, they know him well he plays just down the road here at psg. they know he has a loose cannon, as far as they are concerned, they can produce magic out of nothing. they have been backin magic out of nothing. they have been back in return. they don't expect anything to be given in this match. thank you, lives in paris, under two hours to kick off. as millions that watch to see if france can make it back—to—back titles. let's had to have one else i raise, and south america correspond and south america correspondent is there. katie, it

has been a long wait, 1986, diego maradona. there was a near argentina eight years ago when they to germany in the final is there a feeling that this is it, this is their moment? if you see the atmosphere behind me it is a death— you see the atmosphere behind me it is a death they have already won. what _ is a death they have already won. what they— is a death they have already won. what they really want and it's become — what they really want and it's become a personal obligation rry to cheer_ become a personal obligation rry to cheer on_ become a personal obligation rry to cheer on lionel messi. it is his last_ cheer on lionel messi. it is his last world _ cheer on lionel messi. it is his last world cup, they want him to win, _ last world cup, they want him to win, they— last world cup, they want him to win, they want the team to win. they say this_ win, they want the team to win. they say this is_ win, they want the team to win. they say this is a _ win, they want the team to win. they say this is a great team this year. lionei— say this is a great team this year. lionel messi of course is the start of the _ lionel messi of course is the start of the show, but they really feel that this — of the show, but they really feel that this is like a personal crusade, _ that this is like a personal crusade, that it matters so much. it is hot _ crusade, that it matters so much. it is not a _ crusade, that it matters so much. it is not a question of wanting to win, it is aimost— is not a question of wanting to win, it is almost a — is not a question of wanting to win, it is almost a question of needing to with _ it is almost a question of needing to with 0h— it is almost a question of needing to win. on top of that you have a country— to win. on top of that you have a country that _ to win. on top of that you have a country that has really been battered in terms of its economy, rising _ battered in terms of its economy, rising inflation. i have friends here — rising inflation. i have friends here and _ rising inflation. i have friends here and everyone has said that this

is a moment— here and everyone has said that this is a moment large argentina can feel happy _ is a moment large argentina can feel happy. in _ is a moment large argentina can feel happy. in a _ is a moment large argentina can feel happy. in a time of hardship, someone _ happy. in a time of hardship, someone watching the game said we need this, _ someone watching the game said we need this, argentinians need this. we need _ need this, argentinians need this. we need some happiness, we need some positivity— we need some happiness, we need some positivity to _ we need some happiness, we need some positivity to make us feel good. when _ positivity to make us feel good. when the — positivity to make us feel good. when the world cup is over win or lose it _ when the world cup is over win or lose it is _ when the world cup is over win or lose it is back to normality. that normality — lose it is back to normality. that normality has become increasingly hard in _ normality has become increasingly hard in the — normality has become increasingly hard in the last years here. the everyone — hard in the last years here. the everyone here, it is not an arrogance _ everyone here, it is not an arrogance but there is an absolute need _ arrogance but there is an absolute need for _ arrogance but there is an absolute need for this victory today. katie watson, need for this victory today. katie watson. our _ need for this victory today. katie watson, our south _ need for this victory today. katie watson, our south american - watson, our south american correspondence. doesn't it sound lively and noisily inborn as iris? as you might expect. i can see thousands pouring off the metro here, we are just about seven or eight stops north of doha, which is the centre of things really. this modern city that has risen from the desert as the stadium has as well.

this will be argentina's fourth match here, no nation has played more matches here and there fans, there are not any more of them, there are not any more of them, there are not any more of them, there are over 50,000 hair they will vastly outnumber the french. we have been speaking to some of the funds are today. iamso i am so excited for argentina we hope they will win today. we are so excited and hope they win their world cup 2022. i excited and hope they win their world cup 2022.— excited and hope they win their world cup 2022. i have come here toda to world cup 2022. i have come here today to sopport — world cup 2022. i have come here today to sopport my _ world cup 2022. i have come here today to support my team - world cup 2022. i have come here today to support my team and - world cup 2022. i have come here | today to support my team and wish them _ today to support my team and wish them att— today to support my team and wish them all the best and to sing. chair for a aood them all the best and to sing. chair for a good match _ them all the best and to sing. chair for a good match it's _ them all the best and to sing. chair for a good match it's ok. _ them all the best and to sing. chair for a good match it's ok. if- them all the best and to sing. chair for a good match it's ok. if messi l for a good match it's ok. if messi wins i'll for a good match it's ok. if messi wins i'll be _ for a good match it's ok. if messi wins i'll be happy _ for a good match it's ok. if messi wins i'll be happy for _ for a good match it's ok. if messi wins i'll be happy for him, - for a good match it's ok. if messi wins i'll be happy for him, if- wins i'll be happy for him, if france wins, they have a better chance, i will be happy for them. some of the fans, the gates are open, they are getting her nice and early. they will not want to mess

this. let us speak now to... i'm joined now by adam white, who is the chief features writer for the "get french football news". let's get some news then. how the french going to win this? it is let's get some news then. how the french going to win this?— french going to win this? it is a very good _ french going to win this? it is a very good question. _ french going to win this? it is a very good question. when - french going to win this? it is a very good question. when you | french going to win this? it is a - very good question. when you look at this french team, there is a lot of talk about kylian mbappe and that is fair enough. i think he is one of the best players in the world right now. unlike argentina i think they have multiple ways to hurt the argentina. if you look at their forward line, their players have been exceptional. their players have excellent relationship with back pat’- excellent relationship with back pgy- “ excellent relationship with back pay. —— and mbappe. i think versatile attacker is the way to go for france. versatile attacker is the way to go for france-— versatile attacker is the way to go for france. .,, ., , ._ , ., for france. those other players have really stepped _ for france. those other players have really stepped op — for france. those other players have really stepped up whereas _ for france. those other players have really stepped up whereas if - for france. those other players have really stepped up whereas if you - really stepped up whereas if you look at argentina, messi has been carrying his team forward. do you feel though that if france had to

have a chance, you really do need to see mbappe step up? is a quiet quarterfinal and semifinal, ese has set up a couple of goals because that. i set up a couple of goals because that. ~' ., , ., set up a couple of goals because that. ,, ., , ., , ., , , ., that. i think the fans are perhaps a more balanced _ that. i think the fans are perhaps a more balanced team _ that. i think the fans are perhaps a more balanced team not _ that. i think the fans are perhaps a more balanced team notjust - that. i think the fans are perhaps a more balanced team notjust an i more balanced team notjust an attack, you look at their midfield that has been very solid. even defence, they have been 0k of late, despite a lot of changes. i think the french balance and they are harmonious group as well. the manager has done a brilliantjob of putting his team together. there are so many ways that france could win this game, yes, kylian mbappe is the prime payer but i think unlike argentina who probably only when this game if messi puts on a masterclass. as you say, he is perhaps not carrying them but they rely on his creativity. for france, i do think that is the case with

mbappe. —— i don't think that is the case with mbappe. the mbappe. -- i don't think that is the case with mbappe.— mbappe. -- i don't think that is the case with mbappe. the french captain as well, he case with mbappe. the french captain as well. he was _ case with mbappe. the french captain as well, he was ready _ case with mbappe. the french captain as well, he was ready criticised - as well, he was ready criticised coming into this tournament, a lot of opposition coaches felt that he was the weak link here, he certainly has not been and he will be looking to become the first captain in the history of the world cup to left that cup twice. so many historical markers that both teams are looking to achieve. the french this one, four uk viewers, knocking out england in the quarterfinals. we are waiting for this, the english head coach southgate was arming and hiring about whether he should carry on. within the last hour we have heard from the football association that he will be honouring the last couple of years on his contract so he'll be taking that young england side through to the european championship which is just 18 side through to the european championship which isjust 18 months away. germany are hosting that. but it is all eyes on this world cup

final now. the teams are be arriving very shortly, team use after that and then kick off between argentina and then kick off between argentina and france. it could be one for the ages. back to our london studio. in iran, the well—known film actress taraneh alidoosti has been arrested, as anti—government protests continue into a fourth month. an iranian news agency said ms alidoosti, who's best known for her starring role in the oscar—winning iranian film, the salesman, was detained for publishing what it called false and distorted content and inciting chaos. the bbc�*s azadeh moshiri reports. she is one of the most prominent actresses in iran, a woman making headlines and this is why she has been caught in the islamic republic's cross hairs. taraneh alidoosti has shown support for protesters before. she showed a picture

of herself without her hijab carrying the words, "woman, life, freedom." this time she has been made an example of, and has been arrested for what state media has said is "spreading falsehoods," after she condemned the hanging of mohsen shekari, one of the two men executed for protesting, after what human rights people say are sham trials. taraneh alidoosti wrote:. earlier this week, the us state department condemned the mass arrests. we are greatly concerned that authorities reportedly continued to kill more of their own people in an effort to suppress peaceful protest, protests we're seeing being led by women and girls and the youth of iran.

we also are deeply concerned about reports of mass sham trials and now death sentences being handed down to protesters and carried out as well. iran's protests were sparked by the death of mahsa amini in september and now they are facing one of the most violent phases of the crackdown on many protesters are still being killed by forces or dying under questionable circumstances, like aida rostami. she was a young physician treating protesters who were too scared to go to hospital. earlier this week, police returned her body to her family, bruised and mutilated. when the protest began, taraneh alidoosti said she would not leave her country, no matter the risks she is taking, you are a sentiment echoed by young protesters in the chanting. with its violent response, the islamic republic

is testing their resolve. azadeh moshiri, bbc news. nina navid, is an iran expert and the crisis and tactical iran campaigner for amnesty international uk. she gave me her reaction to what's happened. again, this is a shocking new development but as your report said what we are now seeing is a new face of the government's crackdown on protesters. they are now targeting really high profile celebrities, sportspeople, athletes. no one is being spared at this stage. you mention there sports and athletes. we have got the world cup final today, of course. the iranian football team representation there, they made a few statements. a do you think they could face punishment? i think the issue with the iranian football team is quite separate. there was a lot of controversy around the football team. in their stance heading into the world cup.

i hope that they won't face any source of persecution but we know, amnesty has said, 26 individuals are at risk of imminent execution. one of them is a footballer as well and there are athletes amongst that group. so, we are seeing protesters are being targeted within the last week and a half, we have had those two young men who were executed following sham trials. so, to just emphasise these arbitrary executions that are taking place with the clear tactic of trying to undermine and break the back of the protest movement. they are taking place under a thin veil of some sort ofjudicial proceedings. for those two individuals, those cases were fast tracked and they were hung from a frame within a few weeks. no right to determine who your lawyer is, no right to appeal.

often the prosecutor is also the judge. this is the state really cracking down and now with the arrest of alidoosti we are also seeing prominent individuals are being targeted and potentially in the same way. what kind of punishment do you think taraneh alidoosti could face? it's... it's very difficult to say. she has been accused, i believe, of inciting riots or supporting what the state has termed anti—iranian movements, of course. movement for women, life, freedom in iran. it is to be determined. amongst that list that number, the 26 individuals the are at risk of imminent execution, 11 have already been sentenced to death.

one of them who has been charged is a famous international rapper who may also face the death penalty. so it's a really dire situation but let's see. what we do know is covering the story, talking about taraneh alidoosti, advocacy, campaigning on international pressure can make a difference. the headlines on bbc news... will it be messi's moment, or another marker for mbappe, as argentina take on reigning champions france in the world cup final. the iranian film actress, taraneh alidoosti, is arrested as anti—government protests continue in iran for a fourth month. and, ukraine's 2023 entry for eurovision — chosen in a live show from a kyiv bomb shelter. unions in the uk have criticised government plans to draft in troops to cover staffing shortfalls during ambulance and border force strikes over christmas.

1200 military personnel are being called up — along with a thousand civil servants — but unions say they're not sufficiently trained. it's as the nursing union, the rcn, says it will announce further strike dates forjanuary if the government continues its refusal to discuss pay. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, has been following today's developments. any hope of resolution before more strikes by nurses in the coming week and ambulances workers as well, seem to be nonexistent. the prime minister has described the unions as grinches trying to steal christmas and caused misery for millions. the royal college of nursing has threatened more strikes if ministers don't agree to sit down and talk about pay within 48 hours of their walk—out in the week ahead. as you say, we have been hearing from the government. the cabinet office minister oliver dowden, in charge of the contingency planning for strikes, has said of the government will be resolute in its response, and again, that it would be irresponsible

to allow public sector pay and inflation to get out of control. he defended the government's decision not to offer nurses any more. i would love to give nurses an enormous pay rise. of course and the prime minister would love as well to give them a 19% pay rise. the reason we are not doing that is because our duty is to everyone public and private sector to ensure that we have stability in our finances. look at the progress we have made already and restoring that we don't want to put that at risk. legitimate point. also your viewers and listeners and everyone else engaging of those who have longer memories, will remember what we allowed public sector pay to get out of control last time, the kind of inflationary pressures you get out of that. if we deal with this now, we help to get the economy stronger, we get the economy growing and then we can afford the kind of pay rises we desperately want.

oliver dowden the. giving the government defence. he has also talked about this figure of £1000 per family which it would cost to give public sector pay rises in line with the inflation. the government has been using the around it has been widely dismissed by economists and politcal opponents as well. but he says its figures are robust. the labour government says that the government should get round the table and talk about pay with unions in an attempt to resolve the strikes but so far they have shown no intention of doing that. and we have heard as well this morning from sarah who is from the unison union representing many of the health care workers going on strike in the coming days and says that there is no prospect at this stage of them being called off. health workers want to be part of the solution, trade unions want to be part of the solution to the staffing crisis in the nhs. we started this year with a request

to government to sit down and work with us to find ways to stop people leaving jobs in the nhs. they have been stubbornly and ignoring us and we have seen the number of those vacancies grow every single month. every single month, more people are waiting for treatment. leave jobs in the health service. we have to do something to turn the situation around. so, there is a prospect of those strikes going ahead in the coming week before christmas. we have heard more about the government's contingency planning in response. we know that there will be 1200 members of the armed forces filling in for ambulance staff and border force workers as well. so checking documents and passport as well are driving ambulances. there will be around 1000 civil servants stepping into jobs they didn't normally do as well to help things moving. but unions say that military staff

will do the best they can but they are not properly trained and can't do the job is to the standard that the ambulance service workers would do. so, the normal levels of service just won't be there. there is a bit of concern coming from military quarters too, the head of the armed forces saying in an interview with the daily telegraph today that the military will take its work in its stride, but they are not spare capacity. it he said that they will be relying on the armful is to do these is an ultimate backstop. jonathan blake reporting there. breaking news. a man has been charged afterfour people died and 39 were rescued when a migrant boat capsized in the channel this week. just to give us a bit more information on this. let's talk to our reporter, vincent mcaviney. just talk us through what we know so far. . , ~ just talk us through what we know so far. ., , ,, ,., , , far. earlier this week we saw boats caettin far. earlier this week we saw boats getting into _ far. earlier this week we saw boats getting into distress, _ far. earlier this week we saw boats getting into distress, there - far. earlier this week we saw boats getting into distress, there was - far. earlier this week we saw boats getting into distress, there was a l getting into distress, there was a huge rescue operation by the royal navy, the french navy and the rnli. as you mention there, a lot of people in the water and four of them

tragically died. we had a statement in the last hour from kent police that they have arrested a teenager and charged him with people smuggling. in the full statement they say, the crown prosecution service has authorised a charge for knowingly facilitating the attempted arrival in the united kingdom of people he knew or had reasonable cause to believe were asylum seekers. this individual is 19 years old. he is of no fixed address and he is being remanded in custody. he will appear at folkestone magistrates�* court on monday in relation to this. find magistrates' court on monday in relation to this.— magistrates' court on monday in relation to this. and have we heard an hinu relation to this. and have we heard anything from _ relation to this. and have we heard anything from the _ relation to this. and have we heard anything from the government - relation to this. and have we heard anything from the government in i anything from the government in regards to this.— regards to this. well, it is a persistent _ regards to this. well, it is a persistent problem - regards to this. well, it is a persistent problem is - regards to this. well, it is a persistent problem is that l regards to this. well, it is a i persistent problem is that the government they have been trying to tackle it, but we know each year the numbers crossing are going up. it was that there was a peak season in the summer when the weather was better but it now seems to be all year long. more than 40,000 people have made this very perilous journey, in one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes this year alone. the home secretary, suella

braverman earlier this year were then there will be a new law preventing legal entrance replying should they make it to the uk but that would then deter people from making these crossings, from paying people to go on the small boats which really aren�*t up to the job. that has been criticised by labour as being unworkable and the un�*s refugee agency said the law is not consistent with international law. so, it is a persistent problem the government is struggling with. thank ou so government is struggling with. thank you so much — government is struggling with. thank you so much for— government is struggling with. thank you so much for that _ government is struggling with. thank you so much for that update. - the family of a woman who died after being injured at a gig in south london say she was full of care, kindness and love. 33—year—old rebecca ikumelo who was a mother—of—two and a nursing graduate — was hurt in a crush at the 02 academy in brixton on thursday night. two other women remain in a critical condition. a 52—year—old man has been charged with the murder of a nurse and her two children. saju chelavalel was arrested

after officers were called to his home in kettering on thursday morning. he�*ll appear before northampton magistrates tomorrow, charged with murdering 35—year—old anju asok and her young children — who were found at the same property. ukraine�*s president zelensky says the country has managed to restore power to almost six million people after massive russian strikes against the electricity generating system. ukrainian officials said russia fired more than 70 missiles on friday, in one of its heaviest barrages since the invasion began in february. the attacks forced emergency blackouts nationwide. ukraine has become the first country to pick its entry for next year�*s eurovision song contest. the nationalfinal was held in a metro station which had been converted into a bomb shelter in kyiv. the winners are called tvorchi — and they�*re hoping their song, heart of steel, will repeat last�*s

years success by their compatriots, the kalush orchestra. # don�*t care what you say # don�*t care how you feel # get out of my way # �*cause i got a heart of steel police in germany say they�*ve recovered some of the precious items stolen during the country�*s biggest ever art heist three years ago. it happened at the green vault museum in the eastern city of dresden. authorities say they had a breakthrough in the investigation. gareth barlow reports: it was the robbery that shocked germany back in 2019, as masked men forced their way into the green vault museum inside dresden castle, and left with priceless pieces from the collection of the saxon ruler augustus the strong. to get to the jewels they�*d

started a fire nearby to cause a power outage, then cut through iron bars to get inside the museum. the lost treasure included a diamond encrusted sword and a series of 18th century pins and necklaces. local police vowed get the jewels back but despite their best efforts, the trail went cold. translation: what is the chance i of finding this treasure again? i we showed ourselves always decidedly optimistic but now i can be honest, it was a bit of a fib. the longer the investigation�*s lasted, the more our confidence melted. therefore we are very happy to be here right now. and right now the whole case has flipped, with police saying most of the items have been recovered in berlin, but not all of them, after information came to light during an ongoing trial. around 40 people were thought to be part of the heist with six members of a known crime syndicate facing charges for it currently. the exact details of the deal made with prosecutors were kept secret but a total of 31 items are now

on their way back to dresden where they will be examined by experts to confirm the authenticity and where security are sure to be confirming some new security measures. the oscar—winning film director, steven spielberg, has said he regrets what happened to the shark population in the wake of his breakthough success, jaws, in 1975. the film has been criticised for misrepresenting great whites, and leading to trophy hunting in the us. spielberg was speaking on desert island discs on radio 4. that�*s one of the things i still fear. not to get eaten by a shark, but that sharks are somehow mad at me for the feeding frenzy of crazy sport fishermen that happened after 1975, which i truly and to this day regret. the decimation of the shark population, because of the book and the film. i really truly regret that.

it�*s one week to go until christmas and children in venezulea kicked off the season with a makeshift carts street race in the captial caracas. the "carruchas" are hand—made, four—wheeled wooden carts. the aim is to preserve venezuela�*s tradition and bring the community together. every year around 300 people gather to ride carts down the hilly roads of the venezuelan capital. strictly come dancing had its big finale last night. if you don�*t want to know who won — look away now. for the rest of us, here�*s our media and arts correspondent david sillito with a round—up of a spectacular night. your 2022 strictly come dancing finalists! after 13 weeks, it was down to the final four. fleur, hamza, helen and molly. three contestants who had made their name on children�*s tv and fleur east, who bought a bitt of her own barnstorming x—factor to strictly.

for helen skelton, a night when all doubts, nerves and personal turmoil evaporated. there was more than a touch of personal triumph in herfinal dances — this really was one of those strictly journeys. you put faith in me that i didn�*t have. for molly rainford, a final rhumba, and a strictly thank you to her partner, carlos. i�*m so lucky i got to be your first partner. if i could give him the glitterball in his first year, that would honestly be the best thing in the world. the night, though, belonged to hamza yassin. 11 years ago, he was living in his car in scotland with hopes of being a wildlife cameraman. born in sudan, he arrived in the uk aged eight, and in his 20s moved to the highlands of scotland. when he began, he was more used to rugby than dancing but by the end the judges in the crowd were all on theirfeet.