microphone live from washington, this is bbc news. three americans are on their way home, after the largest prisoner swap between the west and russia since the end of the cold war, including the journalist, evan gershkovich. new reports are emerging about the assassination of hamas�*s political leader ismail haniyeh. and here in the us democratic delegates begin voting for the party's presidential nominee, which is set to be kamala harris. this hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. we begin with the breakthrough in diplomatic negotiations which saw the largest prisoner swap between russia, the us and other western nations since the cold war. three us citizens who are among those released are making

their way home to the us, expected to arrive in the next couple of hours. they are wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich on the left, and on the right, former us marine paul whelan, and radio free europe journalist alsu kurmasheva. this photo shows them on a phone call with presidentjoe biden after their release. in addition, vladimir kara—murza, the russian—british journalist who holds a us green card, was freed in the deal. in an address to the nation after news of the deal was made public, president biden said the deal was the result of difficult, complex negotiations. he said that the us will continue to work to free americans who are detained abroad. the president and the vice president, kamala harris, are scheduled to welcome the freed americans on the tarmac ofjoint base andrews in maryland. this is expected to happen in a little more than two hours from now, at 11:30pm local time. with more now on the prisoner swap, here's our russia editor, steve rosenberg.

—— will grant. describe what the mood is at the moment? figs the mood is at the moment? as ou can the mood is at the moment? sis you can imagine, the mood is at the moment? is you can imagine, it is beginning to grow in anticipation, the sense that there is only less than two hours until that airline arise bringing the most high—profile us prisoners in modern time back to your soul. a real moment of celebration, obviously, for the families, emotionally for the families this is a huge moment, and it is also historically politically important. vice president harris will be standing next to president biden when he receives them at the tarmac. we understand the political undertones. both of them want this sort of reflected glory of the hard work that has quite clearly gone into making this uniquely complex prisoner swap possible. as well as the president and

vice president, who was is expected to receive them? our family members are likely to be there? , , ., there? yes, we understand, we are trying _ there? yes, we understand, we are trying to — there? yes, we understand, we are trying to exactly _ there? yes, we understand, we are trying to exactly ascertain i are trying to exactly ascertain where the meeting will take place. some of the details are still under wraps, they are making it very clear president and vice president will be receiving them but we're not entirely sure if that will take place in a more private setting. it is important the glare of the world's media is that an families have requested that an families have requested that they are given time. obviously, this has been a huge ordealfor theirfamily members, simply getting through the days, weeks, months and years in some cases that they have spent behind bars in russia, wrongly detained, i need to now come back to a huge amount of media interest. this

is also an intensely private moment for the families so that will be taking place somewhere... they will be celebrating them being back home and back on us soil. this has been _ home and back on us soil. this has been described _ home and back on us soil. this has been described by the president and others as one of the most complicated prisoner swaps in history. teiiii the most complicated prisoner swaps in history.— swaps in history. tell us why. it really is- — swaps in history. tell us why. it really is. i— swaps in history. tell us why. it really is. i mean, _ swaps in history. tell us why. it really is. i mean, 26 - swaps in history. tell us why. | it really is. i mean, 26 people involving seven different nations. right there, that is complex enough. then you add in all the different agencies, the interagency work that goes into this, intelligence services, the white house, and that is just in the us. it has been very complex. clearly, both the personal involvement of president biden and vice president biden and vice president harris has been included, particularly on certain key players in these, persuaded for example germany to give up one that was clearly

important to the kremlin. a lot of political capital has been spent on this but i think quite clearly the biden administration feels it has been worth it and this is a moment for them for celebration.- moment for them for celebration. ., ~ , ., ., celebration. thank you for the march. celebration. thank you for the march- will — celebration. thank you for the march. will grant _ celebration. thank you for the march. will grant at _ celebration. thank you for the march. will grant at joint - celebration. thank you for the j march. will grant at joint base march. will grant atjoint base andrew and we will be with him as they return at 11:30 local time. to discuss this in more detail i am joined by russia expert, a seniorfellow detail i am joined by russia expert, a senior fellow at the brooklyn institute and a professor at georgetown university. welcome to the programme, angela. one of the most complex prisoner swaps in history. you are expert in russia, what was in this? the main thing — russia, what was in this? the main thing that _ russia, what was in this? tie: main thing that vladimir putin wanted was the return of vadim

krasikov, the russian assassin gelled in billing for killing in broad daylight chechen dissident, and opposition figure and it was involving german and that they were reluctant to give up someone who was imprisoned in germany, committed of assassination and in the beginning, or a few months ago, it was believed that they were willing to do this because they wanted to trade him for alexei navalny, the opposition leader who of course died before this was possible. and so it took some persuading of germany and the other countries involved, too, but particularly germany to go along with this and you will see that five of the people, prisoners released from russia are either dual or russian german citizens or german citizens and many wait for alexei navalny�*s association. you talk about the role germany

platelets of the german chancellor to go ahead and release a convicted russian assassin was very hard. this was not an easy decision for him? it very hard. this was not an easy decision for him?— all. decision for him? it was not at all- germany _ decision for him? it was not at all. germany is _ decision for him? it was not at all. germany is a _ decision for him? it was not at all. germany is a sovereign . all. germany is a sovereign country and this was their prisoner and essentially the us was asking germany to give them up was asking germany to give them up in return for these american hostages, paulwhelan, hostages, paul whelan, hezbollah, alsu hostages, paulwhelan, hezbollah, alsu kurmasheva, vladimir kara—murza who is british but has american citizenship. the american wanted putin to return these other people and in a sense putin got what he wanted because he did get vadim krasikov return.— because he did get vadim krasikov return. what has the reaction in — krasikov return. what has the reaction in russia _ krasikov return. what has the reaction in russia been - krasikov return. what has the reaction in russia been to - krasikov return. what has the | reaction in russia been to this and how will mr putin spend this at home?— and how will mr putin spend

this at home? needless to say, vladimir putin _ this at home? needless to say, vladimir putin was _ this at home? needless to say, vladimir putin was at _ this at home? needless to say, vladimir putin was at the - vladimir putin was at the apple, he welcomed the russians home and remember there's are all disposal may convicted criminals. in the case of one of them, in the us cyber credible. he embraced them and them as heroes are so he clearly spinning this as a for him. and as i say, i think his message to the russian people, particularly people who work for the intelligence services is we have your back, we will never let you rot in a western presence he was trying to use is to burnish his credentials as a great leader. d0 as a great leader. do you think this is going — as a great leader. do you think this is going to _ as a great leader. do you think this is going to change - as a great leader. do you think this is going to change the - this is going to change the board are that many russians washers have about any dissent being suppressed, about political prisoners being held liy political prisoners being held by the russian authorities, could this now stop? h0. by the russian authorities, could this now stop?- could this now stop? no, i do not think— could this now stop? no, i do not think so. _ could this now stop? no, i do not think so. i _ could this now stop? no, i do not think so. i do _ could this now stop? no, i do not think so. i do not - could this now stop? no, i do not think so. i do not think. not think so. i do not think this is going to make any difference. we know that part of putin modus operandi is to

arrest westerners and hold them as hostages and the fact that this deal occurred, that putin had this interest in having this happen before the american elections because he's not sure what will happen after that, but that does not mean he will stop doing what he's doing and in fact national security council spokesman, admiral kobe, again reiterated that it would be very dangerous for americans to travel to russia because putin does this. —— admiral kirby. 50 because putin does this. -- admiral kirby.— because putin does this. -- admiral kirby. so you think it is significant _ admiral kirby. so you think it is significant it _ admiral kirby. so you think it is significant it came - admiral kirby. so you think it is significant it came before . is significant it came before the election in the us? i do because — the election in the us? i do because they _ the election in the us? i do because they have - the election in the us? i if because they have worked over a number of years at this very complicated deal. they were dealing with the biden administration and they knew it would happen and they were not sure what might happen after november because despite everything that donald trump has set about wanting better

ties to russia, there is a level of uncertainty is that and so putin was quite content to do the swap now because he got what he wanted.— got what he wanted. angela stent, thank _ got what he wanted. angela stent, thank you _ got what he wanted. angela stent, thank you very - got what he wanted. angela stent, thank you very much | got what he wanted. angela i stent, thank you very much for taking us through that story. and we will have more on that throughout the evening on bbc news. antony blinken has said edmundo gonzalez has won the most votes in venezuela. it comes as the president of brazil, mexico and colombia: venezuela to release the full details of the contested result last sunday. the country's top god is also called to present a verification process. the

supreme court in venezuela is an extension of government and its independence has been questioned. meanwhile, on thursday, on thursday opposition leader maria corina machado said she was in hiding for hello. the disputed election is feeling regional tensions that mr maduro is expelling diplomats. the carter centre invited to monitor the rate accused the national electoral council of a complete lack of transparency and said the poll could not be considered democratic. jenny lincoln is a director of the latin american and caribbean programme at the carter centre. the carter centre was invited by the electoral council of venezuela and welcomed by the opposition, which is part of the requirements, to be able to undertake an independent

mission to send technical observation to any election. we were in the country for a month before the election and then present for election day when we saw massive amounts of people voting, people who had not had this opportunity for many years in venezuela, to go to the polls and be able to express their political will. later in the afternoon then, it became questionable about how the end of the day would happen because the nicolas maduro forces were mobilising to celebrate their went before the polls even close. the polls close and the electoral council did not produce results very quickly. i should did not produce results very quickly. ishould mention did not produce results very quickly. i should mention that one of the international standards for elections is to have an impartial electoral council, which venezuela did not have, does not have right

now, so very quickly to tell you, at the end of the day, did not happen until after midnight when the president of the electoral council announced with just a global flood, electoral council announced withjust a globalflood, no explanation of the numbers, that present maduro had been re—elected when at the same time, national observers were reporting a massive landslide for edmundo gonzalez, of the opposition. those were the headlights that led to a controversial situation where the trust in the electoral council was questioned. they reported a total vote after having only 80% and again, they did not include the data from the individual polling stations which calls this election into question. which calls this election into question-—

around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the 17—year—old boy charged with murdering three girls and attempting to murder 10 others in southport has appeared in court in liverpool. the judge lifted reporting restrictions. seen here in an earlier school photograph, he can now be named as axel muganwa rudakubana. after the judge lifted reporting restrictions. it's understood that the teenager from lancashire has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. the prime minister has condemned protesters, following two nights of violence across parts of england, in the wake of the killings in southport. after crisis talks with police chiefs, sir keir starmer held a news conference announcing that police forces across the country are to co—operate more on tackling violent disorder. i have just held a meeting with senior police and law enforcement leaders where we have resolved to show who we are, a country that will not allow understandable fear to curdle into division

and hate in our communities. and it will not permit under any circumstances a breakdown in law and order on our streets. an investigation published in the new york times has revealed new details about the assassination of ismail haniyeh in iran. ismail haniyeh was in tehran for the inauguration of the newly elected iranian president, masoud pezeshkian. as a high—level ally, haniyeh was staying inside the presidential palace complex at a vip guesthouse hosted by the islamic revolutionary guards corps. in the early hours of wednesday morning, there was an explosion in the guesthouse, killing mr haniyeh. the new york times, citing sources within the irgc, reports that the explosion wasn't from a missile, but rather from a bomb that was hidden in the guesthouse, weeks or even months before it was detonated. it's not clear how or precisely when the bomb was planted. hamas and iran blame israeli for the attack, while israel has not commented

on mr haniyeh�*s death. thousands of people turned up for his funeral procession in tehran's adazi sqaure. iran has vowed to retaliate against israel. mr haniyeh�*s coffin is now in the qatari capital doha, before his burial on friday. former us security co—ordinator of the israel—palestinian authority mark schwartz joins us. where do you see things going from here in terms of first of all hamas's capability. israel has long said it wants to take out key hamas targets. we have seen this week to keep hamas figures being killed. it was announced as well that another figure had been killed intojuly. as well that another figure had been killed into july.— been killed into july. what comes next? _ been killed into july. what comes next? i— been killed into july. what comes next? i think - been killed into july. what comes next? i think what | been killed into july. what i comes next? i think what we been killed into july. what - comes next? i think what we saw this week was the different lines of operation that israel is taking to ultimately eliminate hamas. obviously the

fight in gaza going on since seven october, the attacks against hamas leadership that reside outside of gaza, outside of the west bank, the attacks in lebanon, syria for the leadership advising lebanese hezbollah and hamas and just this week the elimination of ismail haniyeh, the political leader of hamas. so i think there has been a lot of rhetoric and that should be retaliation for this track but i believe israel are determined that will be useful in the ongoing negotiation for the release of hostages, and a temporary ceasefire and ultimate ceasefire had outlived its usefulness and therefore he was targeted. it its usefulness and therefore he was targeted.— was targeted. it took about those talks _ was targeted. it took about those talks to _ was targeted. it took about those talks to come - was targeted. it took about those talks to come to - was targeted. it took about those talks to come to a i those talks to come to a ceasefire. as a war in gaza

continues on and tens of thousands of people have been killed in gaza. where does ismail haniyeh�*s death leave things on that regard? i ismail haniyeh's death leave things on that regard? i would assess that — things on that regard? i would assess that the _ things on that regard? i would assess that the israeli - assess that the israeli leadership has determined that yahya sinwar is the voice of any type of forthcoming negotiation or a temporary or permanent ceasefire and that is why ismail haniyeh was eliminated. the israelis have the ability to communicate. we have seen the defector leader inside of gaza for hamas and their movement and if there are ongoing negotiations, several leaders of the terrorist organisation that remain in qatar, to include the negative political leader that was in tyrone when it is assassination took place, the elimination of a terrace took place by israel

although they have not openly claimed responsibility. —— tehar. claimed responsibility. -- tehar. ~ ., ~ claimed responsibility. -- tehar. ~ . ,, ., tehar. we talk about the wider issues in the _ tehar. we talk about the wider issues in the region, _ tehar. we talk about the wider issues in the region, becomingj issues in the region, becoming of the heals in the killing of a senior hezbollah commander as well and we heard from hezbollah that they will retaliate in some way. what do you think that could look like? he came up very quickly after the loss of a senior military commander and also hamas in southern lebanon so i do believe there will be a response potentially. potentially hamas will try to target that they do have a degree of precision guided munition that has been concerned for multiple assessments by the intelligence community that i could envision them attacking significant infrastructure and cyber operation but it is not in

hezbollah's interest to escalate to their degree to a full offensive, a cou nteroffe nsive full offensive, a counteroffensive on behalf of israel and it would do him no good but i do believe he has to respond just for his constituency which is obviously lebanese inaudible.- constituency which is obviously lebanese inaudible. thank you for sharing _ lebanese inaudible. thank you for sharing your _ lebanese inaudible. thank you for sharing your story. _ lebanese inaudible. thank you for sharing your story. with - for sharing your story. with us. my reaction to the killing of one of hezbollah's most senior commander in beirut. hassan nasrallah who is the head of the lebanese militant group has said israel crossed a line and can expect revenge, for the attack. the leader of yemen's iran—backed houthi movement has also vowed a harsh response on behalf of its ally. turkey's president recep tayyip erdogan declared august 2nd a national day of mourning, he said "in solidarity "with the palestinian cause". israel's army also considered

the leader of hamas's military wing saying he was killed in an abstract. of people much in the streets of tel aviv with the months release the hostages. friday make 300 days since the hamas attack on october seven. here in the us, delegates from the democratic party are choosing their nominee for president and there's only one name on the ballot — kamala harris. the party is holding an online vote from thursday until monday before its formal convention so it can meet the deadline for getting a candidate onto the presidential ballot in certain states. and has kamala harris vet potential candidates for vice president, let spare a thought for contenders which one described as a colonoscopy. i spoke to an expert about what they have to go through to land

they have to go through to land the coveted position of second in command. we have been looking at how presidential pics are chosen. it looking at how presidential pics are chosen.— pics are chosen. it is an exhausting _ pics are chosen. it is an exhausting vetting - pics are chosen. it is an - exhausting vetting process, as you would expect for someone who is a heartbeat away from being president. the fbi do not complete them so it leaves vetting lawyers as a last line of defence. they will look at every facet of their life. they are legal _ every facet of their life. they are legal experts. _ every facet of their life. they are legal experts. you - every facet of their life. they are legal experts. you say i are legal experts. you say every thing from scandals, skeletons in the closet, what else? ., , ., , else? no stone is left unturned in this process. _ else? no stone is left unturned in this process. you _ else? no stone is left unturned in this process. you have i else? no stone is left unturned in this process. you have an i in this process. you have an army of up to 200 lawyers who will fire off a question, at least 100 questions, as much as 200 questions in past election

cycles and they will ask the most probing and intimate questions about a potential nominee's personal life. you can think of. they have to answer them before they can even get a sit down with a potential presidential nominee so they will look into their social media, into their children's social media, even into grandchildren social media, family members, anything that could come back to haunt the ticket later and they have been warned because it will come out. in been warned because it will come out-— come out. in this particular instance. — come out. in this particular instance, with _ come out. in this particular instance, with kamala i come out. in this particular. instance, with kamala harris the likely democratic nominee trying to find her running mate, she has not had much time to go through this process. it is moving at a high speed. typically, it has been a month. kamala harris only has a couple of weeks to get this now down. she has a filing deadline coming up and the convention is coming up and the convention is coming up and the convention is coming up so all hands to the

pump. coming up so all hands to the n um n . ., coming up so all hands to the um . _ ., ., , , coming up so all hands to the pump. how has this process chanced pump. how has this process changed over _ pump. how has this process changed over the _ pump. how has this process changed over the years? it i pump. how has this process | changed over the years? it is pump. how has this process l changed over the years? it is i was a big moment in a presidential cycle when in the vice presidential pic and has the centre stage. i remember the centre stage. i remember the repayment, for example, when she was unveiled asjohn mccain's running mate. —— sarah pailin. mccain's running mate. -- sarah pailin. , ., a mccain's running mate. -- sarah pailin. , ., n , pailin. george mcgovern picked someone. _ pailin. george mcgovern picked someone. a _ pailin. george mcgovern picked someone, a missouri _ pailin. george mcgovern picked someone, a missouri senator. pailin. george mcgovern picked i someone, a missouri senator and had to dump him 18 days after picking him and that was because reports emerged that mr eagleton had had electric shock treatment after suffering from clinical depression a decade earlier. so this was at a time when mental health was even less understood than it is now. he was taken off the ticket. then we had a much wider look at some family members and more

detail and that was in 1984, the democratic not nominee needed a vote changer in his race for ronald reagan and he picked geraldine ferraro, the first female running mate in a national party ticket and soon after she was picked, it emerged conflict of interest and business dealings of her husband came under scrutiny. and while it did not affect the back she was kept on the ticket, but the campaign lost the momentum coming out of the gate. the momentum coming out of the ate. ., the momentum coming out of the ate, ., . ., ., , the momentum coming out of the ate, ., . , . . gate. you can read his article on the bbc — gate. you can read his article on the bbc news _ gate. you can read his article on the bbc news website. i gate. you can read his article i on the bbc news website. let's take it to the scene live at joint base andrew in maryland. reporters waiting on the tarmac as free americans on their way home after the largest prisoner swap between the west and russia since the cold war. we

will bring you the very latest on that. they are due to land in about an hour from now. on that. they are due to land in about an hourfrom now. stay with us. hello, there. thursday was another day of heat and humidity, particularly across central and southern wales, where we saw temperatures widely into the high—20s. but temperatures did peak in wisley, surrey, and bournemouth, at 30 celsius once again. it did, however, come at a price, this heat and humidity, because, through the afternoon, we saw a cluster of sharp, thundery downpours moving their way eastwards. now, they started off across south wales, and then steadily pushed their way east. there were quite slow—moving, because the winds pretty light, and they brought a lot of heavy rain in a short space of time. those sharp, thundery downpours still continuing to drift their way eastwards during the early hours of friday, but they will clear away. clearer skies behind — sign of a change to come on friday, with more cloud and rain gathering in the far north west. but friday will start off on a warm, sultry note in the south east —

17 celsius to greet us first thing in the morning — and still the risk of a few sharp showers easing away from east anglia. but the real change will come with this area of low pressure, up into the north west — it will gradually introduce stronger winds, more cloud, and eventually some rain. so, we start off with a few scattered showers across east anglia, slowly brightening up and warming up once again — another warm, humid day here. but heavier rain developing into northern ireland, north—west scotland, as the afternoon progresses. it may well stay relatively dry across eastern parts of scotland. temperatures in scotland and northern ireland, 16 to 21 celsius, but a warm, sultry afternoon across eastern england, with highs of 27 celsius. somewhat fresher conditions will arrive as we move into the weekend, because as this front — a cold front — sinks south and east, it will introduce slightly less humid air. but there is still a risk of a cloudy start across parts of england and wales, and a line of sharp, thundery downpours moving their way south and east. behind it, brighter conditions,

a few scattered showers into the north west, and saturday, not quite as warm right across the country, ranging from 15 to 24 celsius, and that trend is going to continue into the week ahead. temperatures, perhaps, back to where they should be for this time of year. there will be more in the way of rain around, but all in all, for some, still some good, dry, usable weather. take care.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. the headlines this morning — the metropolitan police saysl it's investigating possible i fraud linked to the it scandal which led to the conviction i of hundreds of sub—postmasters and sub—postmistresses. from the age of 13, my childhood was gone. it was nonexistent. it all happened in whispers. it all happened like stigma. it all happened by pointing fingers. and we had no explanation, that was the problem. it's the biggest miscarriage ofjustice in a generation, which dozens ofjournalists have exposed, and even actors like me played their part.