i was in motion architecture, news credit on the street. believe me. starts december 25th on d w. a. ah ah, this is david with you news line from berlin. brittany griner is free and back in the united states after months in a russian prison camp. the plane carrying the us basketball star touched down after she was handed over in a prisoner, a swap in exchange for a notorious russian arns dealer. also on the program iran head with more

international sanctions following the execution of a 23 year old man with the anti government protest. rights groups are outraged and warned that more hanging are on the way and then katara, brazil's long wait for world cub glory goes on as the favorites crash out to croatia in the puerto findings. ah, i'm the cough relief to those. joining us on p b. s in the united states and our viewers all around the world. welcome you. as basketball star, brittany greiner is back on us soil. after being released from a russian penal colony. she touched down in san antonio, texas 10 months after being detained in moscow. a deal between the us and russian government saw her released an exchange for a russian arms dealer,

accused supplying al qaeda and the taliban, and fueling armed conflict around the world. a prisoner threw up on the tarmac of abu dhabi airport. it was here that captivity ended for us basketball stop brittany griner scene here on the left and the russian arms dealer, victor boot on the right. u. s. president joe biden spoke to griner shortly after her release. i'm glad to be able to say the brittany is in good spirits. she, she's relieved to finally be heading home. and the fact remains that she's lost most of her life experiences. needless trauma, she deserves space privacy and time with their loved ones to recover and heal from her time being wrong through detained greiner was arrested at a moscow airport in february after she was caught with less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. she was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

the man she was exchanged for victor boot was in a u. s. jo serving a 25 year sentence for arms trafficking. his role in selling weapons to rogue states rebel groups and warlords around the world and him the nickname, the merchants of death. the exchange is no doubt a victory for both prisoners and their families. but some in the us, including republican lawmakers, have slammed it as a gift to putin, anemia. you believe you owe me to assist you though? i got a miracle can, you know, they've also taken aim at biden's failure to negotiate the release of former u. s. moraine paul whalen, who is currently serving a 16 year sentence for espionage falling on that surcharge. the u. s. has continually denied, however, you can see how they treated her. that in a sign of hope, putin said more prisoner exchangers were on the cards, look,

must feel the proud law of contact. the political contact is ongoing on the level of special services, it never stopped or other exchanges possible. yes, everything is possible. this is the result of negotiation soon in the search for compromise, the boys could compromise. in this case, the compromise was found. we aren't ruling out a continuation of this work in the future. so that is patient continues to wage his war of aggression in ukraine and washington through its full support behind cave hopes of more cooperation may be premature. earlier i spoke to d. w. corresponding curly mentioned more in washington and asked her how brittany griner is now that she's landed back home in the u. s. she arrived this morning in texas as we heard on the report and was taking it to the brook army medical center where she will be examined and where she will receive medical treatment in

a statement. the medical facility said that the u. s. government is focused on ensuring that griner antar families well being r prioritized and that all assistance available should be offered. we also know that a w and be a leak where griner place has expressed their happiness, of course, about this release. but the commissioner also added that greiner now need time and space to recover, and that the leak will be patient, and that they are prepared to assist griner in whatever she needs. the greiner family has also a react with the thanked president biden at the same time, and they have also expressed sympathy for mister wilson's family. keep in mind that poll whelan, he is another american citizen. citizen, has also consider is wrongfully detained in russia. and who has been there in prison for almost 4 years. russia is claiming as a grade diplomatic success. how have people in the us reacted. we've already heard

a bit about mixed reactions there in the report. exactly what the u. s. is also claiming victory. of course, and this is a huge win for the biden administration. we have to say bringing wrongfully detained. american citizens back home is always a victory for the administration in charge, especially of course, weeks before christmas. we have seen that the popularity of us presidents usually goes up with a release of this kind. that was also the case under obama, especially if there has been public pressure. and that has been definitely the case with griner. so the announcement brought definitely celebration, but also some criticism. and that is because the trade did not include you as a marine pull whelan and american citizen who is also in the russian custody. as i just mentioned, how is the, is the white house going to go about his case going forward? because what are we putting already hinted at possible, further

a prisoner swamp. is he talking about? we live there. we don't know if he is talking about whelan and to give you a bit more of background on whelan whelan is being charged with espionage by the russian government. something that the administration denies. and therefore they say that he has been wrongfully detained in russia. whelan supposed lee was the one who was planned to be exchanged for victor boot the russian army dealer who has been released in exchange for a greiner. but that was, of course, before griner was detained in february this year in russia. so while the administration and people here are celebrating the release of greiner, the pressure to fight for the release of poll, we only is, of course, also growing. president biden said yesterday, during his peach, and that his administration will keep on fighting for we went to release and secretary of state on, on the blink. and also pointed out that there was no alternative. it was either the release of reiner or no release at all. thank you

w. corresponding currently no more in washington dc. i also spoke to a correspondent and russia analyst constantine i got in vilnius and asked him how the prisoner exchange is being perceived in russia. well depends who, who looks at it. i think that put me on to raj is very glad it's really pushing the scoring appoint with the he's a chuckle. delete both was in the box of their attention for nearly 15 years since he was detained. and that provides for quite a lot of speculation about why the government is really civil. was so key to jackie to take him out of russia because there are suspicions that he performed services for the russian intelligence. there are other suspicions on prove that some of his arms, the going into the pockets of someone very close to the criminal or company side

comment. so there are many theories as for the so called ordinary russians. well, it depends on how the russian propaganda will played out. he's not that familiar to russian public, but i'm sure he both will be presented to someone who is a big team over american imperialism in germany. and now the question is, what he's going to do after that. some people like both, he's one job, they usually prefer quiet and they usually prefer to remain in the shadows, which she probably well, after the swap, president clinton said that thursdays exchange of greiner for a boat involved compromises the u. s. certainly had to compromise on unwilling, especially at dick rush, have to make any compromises. well, it's only a supposition, bugs, some american, her old let's media. let's reported that mister portal really wanted one person out, but this person serving a life sentence in germany's name is virgin carson go. and he's been sentenced to

life for the killing of a former church on wall, or in the middle of berlin in 2019 at maybe maybe so he, my supposition solely, my suspicion couldn't wanted biden to pressure on the shots of the german government to also release our classic off and then william would have been exchanged, but it seems it did work out, but that is only a hypothesis. firms, as more us prisoner is saying is, are possible. there are, of course, other western prisoners being held in rational and dubious charges. what are their chances of release in this climate? well, i think we're speaking mostly about whelan. i'm my fear or is bouts do or guilt. mr. classical are released this many serving like germany. ah, maybe put in a little boy to have another hostage and the so probably a german s for whelan. i think that with quite a few

a legit russian spies being detained recently the last few months against the bank drop off, but with his aggression goes to crane. maybe that will be candidates for a smoke and poll. we'll and we'll go pre ration affairs analyst concerning and environment. thank you so much. let's take a look now at some other stories making headlines around the world today. a court in moscow has found opposition. politician ilia yashimi guilty of spreading false information about the russian military and ukraine. yashimi had described the killings of civilians and boucher by russian forces as a massacre. he faces 8 and a half years in prison. a fire that broke out at a shopping mall near moscow was claimed at least one life and engulfed the entire building. initial report say the fire broke out at 6 am local time. the cause of the blaze is still being investigated. free condoms are being made available to young people in france from january 1st. anyone between 18 and 25 years old will be

able to receive free condoms from pharmacies, french health authorities. as to may, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases increased by around 30 percent in each of the past 2 years. brittany has placed new sanctions on iran, including numerous government officials for their part in a crackdown on anti regime protesters. as comes as a european union announced it to is planning further sanctions. international condemnation has all terrence execution of a protest. her. most n shikari was hanged on thursday and activists or warning at at least a dozen more iranian protesters face 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. wharton live up as a ryan's judiciary accused shakera of injuring

a militia member during the protests. human rights groups condemned the proceedings as a false tract show trial. lacking an independent defense intended to scare off other processes behind moral on thursday morning, broad costs 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 believe that the confession was extracted under torture and duress, iranian turkish political scientists. the reef kesslin says that systematic in iran minutia 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. if we,

they want to show them as fearful and weak people. i'm normal as people who break when they're put under enough pressure on little cock, only in lieu days ago, a regime propaganda channeled published a video with the famous repre. too much so les, 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 its delay, he apologizes for inciting people to protest. when on john, you irish 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 as a sign of the weakness of this regime is trying to prevent its downfall. a regime that is increasingly under pressure. because the resistance in a rollin shows no signs of going away are corresponding jack park and brussels

reported earlier about the likely form of the easily the sanctions package. we've heard now from france, an island to say the foreign ministers meeting in brussels at the start of next week. all going to sign off on fresh sanctions against iran. they could potentially involved putting 20 people on the black list of travel bonds. and asset freeze is clearly a lot of those people probably don't actually have an intention to travel into the european union or perhaps the assets here. but it will be symbolic. also, they'll do something similar to one entity. this is also over the protest since the since the death of masha many but also now, since, since in a rainy, a gentleman as part of those protests was, was executed in iran, which the european union broadly is completely against the death penalty anywhere and is very concerned about this issue. now we won't know the exact details of what the sanctions that a put on our until the foreign ministers need. but we are pretty sure that they,

that they will come into place. the question is, what does this mean for the broader context of the european union trying to pull iran on the united states back into the iran. you can a deal which is intended to prevent iran from gaining access to and you can a weapon, but which around mean says then once economic opening up to the rest of the world and also the questions of its relations to russia. because sciences have been placed on iran for sending drone equipment to russia to support it's a invasion of ukraine. the big question is, is what power can the sanctions have neither around no rush effort for that matter have really changed that path or that ways in the way that the western powers would like them to no matter how many sanctions have been put on. chinese president, she jing has met with arab leaders in the saudi capital. ria during the china arab summit. chinese president praised closed security and energy ties with golf nations

. as he held talks with several arab leaders, she and saudi crown prince mohammed, when solomon stressed the importance of a stable global oil market. the 2 sides announced $46.00 bilateral agreements and memorandums saudi crown prince promised to continue arab chinese co operation for their common goals. pre michel martin, how did to us this summit establishes a new phase in the history of relations between china and saudi arabia. drug that aims to deepen cooperation with china in all sectors and to coordinate views on regional and international matters. the co operation council considers china an essential and important partner. this partnership has positively affected our common interests, as well as the security and stability of a regional knows to call. china has begun relaxing much of its strength, 0 cobit policies, the move away from coven 19 carbs as being greeted by many chinese people, especially the young after 3 years of harsh controls. but as the country begins to

slowly open up again, many are nervous about the current higher rates of infection. proving a return to normal life is still quite a way off. long lines and val han, where the corporate pandemic 1st started. after nearly 3 yos, china has dropped some of its strict measures covert clinics. a see a soldier admissions this will be the high demand, is if we were in lockdown at least only asymptomatic cases, either be quarantined at home or sent a makeshift hospitals. but now with everything opening up, all these people are out of the infection rate is higher, have a lot of friends who already have a cold or fever. symptoms that are logged in. i'm one of them is so in spite of being sick, sion is outside. she has docked up buying a whole bag of medicines and is happy to see things opening up. would you either?

kyra, i think opening up as great as brit only in on 20th, if these not downs continued, that would mean our entire youth would be spent sitting in a home to ambush guided by la. despite that sentiment was barely any one at one of her hands. bell, no night markets. people are wary of rising infections. and still getting used to the big change. so this is a has, it has actually, i'm still a little watered way in my work business travel was normal, but at the moment as things opened up, i'm not really prepared to travel to the town called a deal window. what did this daniel lily the, i think the last 3 years would a little difficult. it felt like we were fighting a war. hold on. now i think that i just while i'll do my best to protect myself. yeah. even if i eventually really do catch those wires, i won't be afraid. now, jones, out the why does it usually did the up china's exit from it's 0 corporate policy

has been sudden and rapid. now it's citizens are playing catch up. a return to normal is still some way off. let's take a look now. it's a war world news tuckers in south korea and that they're 16 days strike. they were demanding an increase and minimum wage and the wake of increased fuel prices. the government refused to meet their demands and used a 2004 law to order drivers back to work. the truckers union says that it will continue its campaign. microsoft plans to purchase video game company, activision lizard for $69000000000.00 may be on indefinite owned as the u. s. federal trade commission sues to block the move. us and european regulators have voiced fears over competition, including gaines being exclusive to the x box. ah,

the world cup in katara now and 5 time winners. brazil are out of the tournament after losing to croatia in the quarter finals, croatia held their nerve to win on penalties after a tense period of extra time. meaning brazil's wait for a 1st world cup in 20 years, goes on the crowd inside the education city stadium had watched more than a 100 minutes of golden spool. where name all solo effort, fortunately, broke the deadline for brazil. a sleek passing move, culminating in his 2nd goal of the tournament, one that looked like a certain winner, but in the 170 minute, croatian substitute bruno petrovich, converting his team's 1st shot on target. a deflection from martinos ensuring that croatia would be heading into a 2nd successive pendency shootout. and for a 2nd successive time, it was they who prevailed while croatia,

how much home clinical sport takes brazil twice failed to convert. it was more keen your smith's that finally settled things sending croatia into the foreign will for once again. the vaughan is up in russia have high hopes for could talk. while ne mind coat are once again heading home empty handed straight after the final whistle . daintily a reporter barbara basil joined us from a bar in zagreb and we asked her to describe the atmosphere which turned out to be a rather needless question. ah . c a okay, so that was a. 7 rise

a diagram so all the public viewing took place inside inside the many bars of the city and people with their head to head back and forth. and megan for i don't need to tell you what the mood is like. you just got a little taste. they, i absolutely over the mood, it was not here. i mean brazil was, there was still one side. they were really afraid of that. what you have, what is great, a, if we look at the players, we know we have to be afraid of them. like they really thought it out and that they showed this tremendous build it. that seems to be the strength of the creation of

the phrase, the team. and so people are absolutely all of a joy. this is going to be one hell of a party tonight. you know, we, it's for, it's tanya. barcelona is in katara and she told me more about how the brazilian team and fans are reacting. this is a massive disappointment for brazil, i mean, coming into this game. they were definitely the favorites. coming in to the entire tournament. brazil were favorites to win. there is so much believe here in doha, in brazil really everywhere that this brazil side would be able to win another world cut this time around. i mean, they had, they have such a skilled team from their goal keeper, all the way to their forwards. everybody. we talked to here thought that brazil were going to win the tournament. i mean, especially after their strong performance against south korea. everyone was really flying high thinking brazil would went now. maybe they got

a little bit too overconfident because tonight that was definitely not the case. now we know brazil historically then struggled a little bit against european opponents. in the knockouts, this is the 6th time they lawson a knockout to a european opposition. of course, croatia is not an easy team to play against the finalists of the last world cup. not meant to be i can tell you who is not upset though, and that was argentinian bands who are going into the stadium behind me. they were seeing and dancing, glad that there perennial rivals brazil are now going home. croatia were extra time specialists at the last world cup already. how do they keep coming up with these winds? i mean this game for croatia was absolutely massive. i mean it's such a small country. there's under 4000000 people that lived there and they knew that coming in to this game, they were going to be the underdogs. and actually it's kind of become a hallmark of croatia. is that when their bats are against the wall,

they prove they produce some of the most spectacular gains and results. now croatia knew, of course, that brazil were probably have more skilled side than they did. and the way that they were going to be that was through grit and determination. that's been really been the way that they've approached this world cup. they've been more solid than spectacular. but they know how to get the job done. they do not stop fighting at no point in the game, did they give up? and actually probably an extra time in a world cut. there is no better side than croatia. i mean 8 of their last 9 naco game have gone into extra time. they've now $14.00 to $4.00 penalties, shoot out. so really if you think about it, it might have been kind of a walk in the park for croatia once the game went to extra time. diane barcelona, in katara. thank you. japanese billionaire, you suckle my isabella. has announced he will take the k pop star top on a trip around the moon on a space ex spaceship. next year. 35 year old top is

a member of one of the world's most famous boy bands. and one of 8 people mind saw was selected for his dear moon project. the japanese tycoon launched his lunar voyage plans in 2018 and bought all of the seats on the space ship. last year he and his producer became the 1st self funded tourist to visit the international space station since 2000 and 2nd, remember coming up for quite a stay with us now after a short break, i'll be back with a review of today's top stories in the day hope to see in there with a

with oh mm ah what's making the headlight is and what's behind them? dw news africa. the show that faculty issues shaping the continent was only getting back to normal. yeah. well, the streets to give you enough reports on the inside of our cars,

funds and was on the ground reporting from across the continent and all the trend stuff, the mazda to you in 60 minutes on d. w. o. every detail for us and for our planet. global ideas is on its way to bring you more conservation. how do we make cities green? how can we protect habitats? we can make a difference. global ideas, the environmental series in global 3000 on d. w and online power games on the melting ice. a reporter tracks down the arctics. major players with new c out. beacons,

a dangerous game. people overseas that yeah, we are here. we're patrolling the area now, the cards are being re, shuffles, and who has the best headed? russia is quite active economic in the arctic. if you see something that looked like james bond, it has to do with the military. it starts december 23rd on d w 10 months ago. this scene seemed almost. busy impossible, w n b a star, brittany griner on a us government plane heading home her release and a prisoner swap is a huge diplomatic success for the biden administration, dealing with a country that has proven time and again to be anything but a reliable negotiating part.