then you hold the line on the record, i want to be in the newspapers, americans, when you're feeling altogether, you realize it's called just another way of living. are you ready to meet the driver and then join me, right? just do it on b, w. no. ah ah, this is a w is leih from berlin, brittany griner, free and back in the united states after months to the russian prison camp. applying, carrying the u. s. basketball star touched on. she was handed over and a prisoner swap, an exchange for a notorious russian army dealer, also on the program,

international outrage and calls for more sanctions against iraq. and after a 23 year old man is executed for taking part anti government protest. lights groups warm that more hanging on the way will smith's new movie emancipation arrives in cinema? the oscar when is 1st released since his infamous oscars assault on comedian chris rock, on the world cup in katara reaches the quarter final stage is little messy. takes to the field for argentina against the netherlands, but what could be these final international favorites, brazil face croatian. ah, i'm sure gail, welcome to the program. us basketball star, brittany griner is back on us soil after being released from a russian penal colony. these pictures were taken a short while ago as

a u. s. government plane touched down in san antonio, texas. a deal done between the u. s. and russian governments saw her released in exchange for russian arms dealer hughes of supplying al qaeda and the taliban. amongst others. a prisoner swap on the tarmac of ab without the effort. it was hill, but captivity ended for us basket bold star, brittany greenow, senior on the left and the russian army dealer weak to boot on the right. you as president joe biden spoke to griner shortly after her release. i'm glad to be able to say the brittany's in good spirits. she, she's relieved to finally be heading home. and the fact remains that she's lost months of her life experienced the needless trauma. she deserves space privacy in time with their loved ones to recover and he'll from her time being wrong through detained dryness. wife sherylin thanked those involved and bringing brittany home

so over the last 9 months, you all have been. i'm so privy to one of the darkest moments of my life. and so today i'm just standing here. i'm overwhelmed with the emotions, but the most important emotion that i have right now is just sincere gratitude. while griner was still on her way to the u. s. boat was already being welcomed by his family in moscow. he had been in a u. s. jail since 2012. solving a 25 year sentence for arms trafficking thing. and i'm here because it greiner was arrested at moscow airport in february and sentenced to 9 years for the possession of cannabis by a russian court. these emergence published by the russian government shall have been released from the penal colony. she was held in and put on a plane to abu dhabi once inside. she was asked about her well being a riddle

and with that, her long ordeal is finally over. straight to the us and we join our washington correspondent, mckayla kaufman. welcome mckayla. so what sort of condition is brittany griner and well, we know is what we heard from joe biden. she's in good spirits. she was also described to be very gracious. we saw a walking on the tarmac, but her 1st trip will actually be to a medical facility in san antonio to half authority, checked after 10 months of detention. in the end, in this penal colony, she's a top athlete after all, 2 times olympic champion. so either way, this will take toll a toll on her fitness, and there was talk also by joe biden of trauma that she may be facing. and everybody around her, including her team, which spoke for the 1st time this morning. want to give her the space that she

needs to recover. right? no rush is claiming this as a great diplomatic success. how's the u. s. reacting or both sides are claiming this as a success. this clearly is a feeding the propaganda mill of vladimir putin. some m p 's describing this who are on this side quite clearly as a total cap, a to lation of the united states. note the will rhetoric that clearly this is against the backdrop of russia being on the defensive in its attack on ukraine. it is something that is badly needed to let the united states appear weak. here, of course we saw joe biden, the secretary of state, the vice president harris, and all sit together and deliver this news. because this is also a political victory. and that it proves that joe biden can indeed bring wrongfully

detained us citizens. home not without will. and who has been detained us citizen in russia for several years going live on national television here, saying that he to once that kind of return that he wants joe biden to deliver that . this of course, is also russian propaganda. he's also in a penal colony and has access to a phone to go on us television. so this is big diplomacy playing out here at victory at home for joe biden. but also a debate here where they're doing these kinds of deals could endanger us citizens in the future. the russians clearly determined to try and make the americans appear weak. but the bottom line is, is one person security back home at a very high price of an arms dealer with intelligence links. now, having been freed, a in washington will

speak to douglas a far i was a journalist, an author of the book merchant of death. the money guns plans of the man who makes will possible about a victim, a boat to join us from miami. welcome to the w, just give us a thumbnail sketch, victor, a boot the amount on the other end of this a christmas wall. and why russia so came to having back to, to come out of the cold war and built this amazing air fleet and weapons transfer system. this business that turned along for almost a decade. but he was one of the russian soviet intel operatives. he had very good friendships with people who become very close to put in through the years. and i think that the ultimate explanation for why they were so interested is that they really didn't want to leave anyone behind. they felt very strongly that he was one of them. they also felt very strongly that this would be embarrassed, and i think for the united states,

and i think it deprives the u. s. government and others are deprived, is not maybe not the right word. it takes away the brittany reiner human rights elements that have been used successfully. i think, to tarnish image abroad. the victim who is this is a really smart man. he speak 6 languages, start out very young. he started out in this twenty's, amassing this giant empire that provided weapons to charles taylor in liberia, multiple sized and go to war, the congo war of the taliban. the northern alliance and the rest of british forces in iraq and afghanistan. so it was quite a, quite a polyglot, and what he was able to do, right? so, so we have a basketball star traded for a man whose business activities have resulted in the deaths and a naming of thousands, tens of thousands of people. this right here was a fair deal. no, i don't think it's fair at all, but i think it was the right deal. i think the in fair and the fairness. i think

there were if there were just as victor who would never leave prison. but i think that his ability to influence or carry out his arm straight is done. he's been in prison since he was arrested in thailand in 2008. he has no currency left in the world that where he was once a king. and so i think he's not a threat on the international scene anymore. and i think that makes it in my mind possible or necessary to save brittany grant of the enormous suffering she was going to be going through incoming years because she was clearly done nothing, not remotely, anything like that. victor had done and to get her back and safe and sound and to ease her enormous suffering. i think that it was, it was a bad deal that need to be needed to be made. right. and you mentioned that in, you know, your, your 2nd answer. mister booth is a man whose business has that taken him into not only various wars across africa, but he also worked for the us and british governments and afghanistan. so how did a man who has worked for the u. s. government to come to be locked up in

a u. s. federal prison for 25 years. well, in the circumstances of the worst against and iraq, you know, everyone was desperate to be able to move a logistical support into their troops on the ground to save troops lives. and so even though they were, they knew who he was, he was the only one flying into war zones in the early days of those of those conflicts and was able to get the contracts to do that, even though people found him distasteful. he was very efficient. once that necessity was gone and other logistics were set up, he was cut off and then the final straw came when he began to negotiate with people . he thought were park gorillas in columbia to sell the mass amounts or weapons that they specifically said would be used to kill americans. and he said, yes, there are my enemies. this is my war 2. and that was sort of the impetus for really wanting to bring him down because you clearly had gone from being

a weapon supplier to going to supplying terrorist groups that wanted to kill americans. that's very clear. thank you so much for joining us. a journalist douglas. so far, thank you. take a look at now. it's almost or is making news around the world. through us as a representatives has approved a record defense spending of 858000000000 dollars next year. 45000000 more than the president biden asked for a bill also scraps and kofi, 900 vaccine mandates for military personnel. cable course in moscow has found the opposition. politician india. yeah. should i guilty of spreading false information about the russian military and ukraine? nation to describe the killings of so if it is in boucher by russian forces as a massacre could face up to 9 years in prison. father broke out of the shopping law. moscow has claimed at least one life and he go the entire building.

initial reports, i broke out at 6, i am local time. the cause of the blaze hasn't yet been determined. just as in south korea, i haven't invest 16th a strike. they were demanding an increase in minimum, in the minimum weight, the weight for increased fuel prices. government refuse to meet that demands and use a 2004 law to order drivers back to work. a truck as unit says it will continue its campaign. international condemnation has followed iran's execution of a protest. i who took part in the anti government demonstrations, began in september ocean shikari was hanged on 1st day and activists a warning, but at least a dozen other iranian protesters faced the same fate. behind the walls of the notorious evian prison most in shaker, he was hanged on thursday. the death sentence against the 23 rolled was only handed down in november and has now been very quickly carried out. war to live up as

iran's judiciary, a q shakera of injuring a militia member during the protests. human rights groups condemned the proceedings as a fast track show trial lacking and independent defense intended to scare off other protesters, bahama, or on thursday morning broadcast. as close to the iranian regime shed this video on social media, it was supposed to prove she carries guilt, accompanied by dramatic music, and the use of computer generated scenes of violence. the regime staged a dubious admission of guilt will observe as believed that the confession was extracted under torture and duress, iranian turkish political scientists. the reef gaskin says that systematic in iran minucci excell since the foundation of the islamic republic in 1979. the regime is repeatedly imprisoned, opponents tortured them and put them in front of cameras. and now they're doing

that with the demonstrators a week. they want to show them as fearful and weak people like normal as people who break when they're put under enough pressure. on little core cock, only a few days ago, a regime propaganda channels published a video with the famous rappa too much to lay. he was who also faces the death penalty. in the video, extracts from one of his music videos were cut together with an interrogation. in it to lay he apologizes for inciting people to protest. when on john that you are, if gaskin believes the regime propaganda strategy is having the opposite of his intended effect to lay he and others. now heroes to many good people see these stage confessions law really is a sign of the weakness of this regime that's trying to prevent its downfall. a regime that is increasingly under pressure because the resistance in a rollin shows no signs of going away or german present. frank valdosta my added

his voice to the international condemnation. a journey of meeting with a group of iranians who work in science, journalism, and culture. these are not the counter, iran has signed the charter of the united nations. it has ratified binding international treaties. but the regime and tyrann, it's bringing fear and terror to its own people, acting of dimension m ogden and lunt. mine respect, go to my respect today, goes to all iranians who are taking to the streets in their country to demonstrate against violence, injustice, and oppression. knowing full well that they are putting their lives in danger. i admire their courage, begin to wonder in mood. let's look at this with a professor son martin who is a middle east and listen professor of international politics at lancaster university. he joins us from lancaster in england, a welcome to d w. so we have various countries and international bodies condemning iran's

actions and announcing more sanctions, but as well as signaling their displeasure, what are more sanctions meant to achieve? well, i think what i meant to achieve, they will actually achieve 2 very different thing. they're meant to put pressure on the, on the regime on the system. a government a very i think he to say this is not acceptable. the international community will not accept this repression, peaceful protests, assign. it's a statement from the international community to say, this is not acceptable. the reality of course, is the sanctions hit, the poorest hardest. they hit people ordinary people, they typically do not hit the wealthiest. so there's a clear response here from the international community. but i feel like with other forms of sanction regimes, it's actually going to have

a devastating on ordinary people. right. and as these ordinary people suffer the weight of sanctions and take it to the streets. we find the iranian authorities now under pressure from the usual international players, but also from within the country as well. you want to fight them, making even token changes to try and a piece that domestic critics. well, we've seen prominent former officials from unvil, my radiant officials calling on the regime to do just that. and i think ultimately dies will have to happen because the protests have got such a strong social base across the country. this is not just a sort of liberal, an elite such as what we've seen previously and already in protest. this is a mass popular movement that cuts across social, political, and geographic divisions. and as a consequence,

the only way to really take the status of the iranian regime is to bring about some form token change, a former president to me is been calling for that as well. so i think ultimately that's where we're going to go. but the question is, to what extent will the regime continue to crack down forcefully on the protest? us who are incredibly brave, incredibly, who are heroic colon for this change and how devastating will not be until they finally decide to get it. thank you for that. a professor simon mavin, middle east analyst and lancaster, england. thank you. thank you. and apologies for some of the up sound difficulties we experienced that. a chinese presentation ping has met arab leaders and the saudi capital re at this during the china arab summit. after fall after signing a series of trade agreements with saudi arabia, president j and the saudi crown prince mohammed,

ben salman stress the importance of a stable global oil market. chinese presents holding talks with several arab leaders in his meeting with the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas. he said that china supports the palestinian peoples demand for national rights in the early molar. ah, are you watching a dw years live from berlin? so let's look at what's happening in the world cup and play resumes and the coming out with 8 teams in the quarter finals. there are some interesting matches including the tina argentina against the netherlands. and we repeat of the $978.00

world cup final, which argentina one here 2022 match likely to be a little messy. so final game for his country, anticipation is high. last sports correspondent mark matters is in doha and says that guitars a love for lino massy really shows. yes it does. there absolutely may seem man here in qatar, let's be honest, there aren't that many dutch fans here. there are a few argentinians were playing beach football with them yesterday, but the vast majority of fans in the loose sales stadium tonight will be cattery, although be migrant workers who live there. although be from the wider gulf region, and they all love messy and the all of superstars. i was at the portugal switzerland game a few days ago. all they wanted to see was christiana rinaldo. but he was on the bench. they even started brewing the po to go coach cuz he wasn't bringing him on. his side is winning for one. so they, there will be such a focus on messy to night. and that might be

a big advantage to argentina. but let's not forget the dutch are a big side. they are probably the biggest football team never to win the world cup . having been runners up 3 times, including that 1978 final and football fans will also remember a classic between the sides in the quarter finals in 1998 when dennis spoke. come one it for the dutch, we've one of the great wilcock goals will be hoping for similar drama later on tonight. but mendoza guitar, well as we count down the are hours to that to those kick off. so we asked our colleagues ideal bat in the eastern indian state of been go. what messy mania looks like in a city like called cutter. bah, in colquitt, thus city, walter fewer is added speak with flags billboards, and cut out of their favorite dean's fans, or trying desperately to outdo each other in their displays of and to season. this st. named fee far afterward walls international gardening body is $1.00 site where

fans regularly gather to take a look at woke up team gravity of their favorite players. when we develop baggy are they, are they up as a football fan when i see all this beautiful graffiti around me? it awakes. my passion and love for football is well, and i take inspiration from it. the other over juggled that india is racked 154 in the world by fif off and is not the 1st choice for international footballs. but you wouldn't know that here in calcutta. india may be cricket crazy. but in calcutta, football is followed up with the religious fervor and ty, neighborhood conversations are dominated by the 2 favorites. in tournament brazilian, argentina messy, rinaldo neimark, a larger than life peer a window. india is not playing. they feel woke up at home on this freezing night.

fans are leaving their houses for a spatial screening of one of the big matches. so now our chucker booty has come to watch his present blue argentina. striker luna, messy league, his 1000, madge. any worship, almost worshipping we do offer our favorite themes. we read for this world cup for 4 years, and then this work comes and we are so much excited for this world, especially the match which is happening today. that is our deleda. and when messy schools, the 1st goal of the match, the crowd goes crazy. but we'll get those fans do not just shoot the allow for. the bill came by cheering in front of logs, fees hot every morning, thousands of football players assemble in split ground and leave for hours. browsing supporter in a fond she dreams that one day india was playing up was dub. the false caught also

cleans young leaves me yet that they have i encourage young kids to join football and play this game so that they can make a bright career and future out of it. so this game also keeps them healthy. i'm also surprised how the thief, i will campus it positively impacting children these days. like up that way. all most video will you look in the city. some one is doing something football related here. for them, many unable to crowd to cut their to watch the matches lie. go cut off. what is a pretty good alternative to it? soccer enthusiasts now will smith's new movie is out. he started more than 50 film, but this role carries particular significance in emancipation. the oscar, when it betrays a slave who seraphic physical scars would 8 the push towards abolition. movies release comes assa. will smith rebuild his reputation after assaulting comedian

chris rock on live tv? ah, hollywood star will smith in the lead role of his new civil war drama, emancipation. it's the 1st major release for smith's since his assault on comedian chris rock during this year's oscars in march as punishment for the slap. smith has been banned from attending the ceremony. for 10 years, something the crew hopes will cloud reception of the film. they're going to be people who have come with preconceived notions and, and that's why i do open that. let people who are open minded to, to seeing a film that deals with the subject of such magnitude will smith starz as a slave who makes a daring escape through the swamps of louisiana, with his sadistic master in hot pursuit. it's based on the true story of

a former slave known as whipped, peter, and the shocking photograph of his scarred back published in 18. 63. it gave american abolitionists hard proof of the atrocities of slavery. it was just a picture that i see when i was young. and now for me, all of those scars have stories to you know, not just one beating. that's a lifetime. work of being. the movie is already generating plenty of oscar buzz, and many reviews have focused on whether it could be a path to smith's redemption in hollywood and wills. apologize and 20 i. he feels horrible and there's nothing more he can do. he has apologize. he is learning his ways, he is owned it fully. it is what it is. so you know, we're hoping that film and all the people that made the film or recognize and that slap is

a thing that leads and i will be hard for the emancipation. stark and brutal imagery may be too much for some viewers. but it story of defiance and resilience is a reminder of the lessons of history. the watching d. w, coming up next, a news asia look like online gambling is gaining popularity across the continent and the impact it's happening and people's health response able have fat and more in just a moment and i'll be back at the top of the a good time. ah ah, with

who a ico, india. how can a country's economy grow in harmony with people and the environment when there are

doers who look at the bigger picture? india, a country that faces many challenges and whose people are striving to create a sustainable future clever projects from europe and india. eco, india. in 60 minutes on d, w. b, every day counts for us and for our planet. a global ideas is on its way to bring you more conservation. how do we make reader? how can we protect habitat, what to do with them all our ways? we can make a difference by choosing smart news solutions over stains, said in our ways global ideas. the environmental series included

$3000.00 on d, w, and online. what are sports all about in winning fighting scoring. we say they're about never giving up the most exciting sport stories about people passion and their dr. sports life every weekend on d w. ah, ah, this is deed of the news asia coming up today. online gambling souls and gulf inanity across asia. with casino, you can hold your hand. smartphones offer easy access to gambling site, but from his big wins within minutes. but campaign does warm, it's designed to make your news.