palmed off with decades of idle chatter about the need for security for all while the other side carries out its own plans. and the renowned american journalist and author joan didion dies at the age of 87. hello and welcome to bbc news. a jury in the us state of minnesota has found a white, former police officer guilty of manslaughter for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man. the prosecution argued that kimberley potter had shown culpable negligence when she killed daunte wright during a routine traffic check in april. the jury was shown bodycam footage — stopping short of the moment when the victim died. taser, taser, taser. kimberly potter told the court she thought she'd drawn her taser, rather than her handgun, when she shot mr wright in the chest. this is the moment the judge read out the verdict. we thejury on we the jury on the charge of manslaughter on the first degree while committing a misdemeanour, on or about 11 april, 2021, in the state of minnesota find the defendant guilty. the mother of daunte wright, katie wright, gave this reaction to the verdict outside court. the moment that we heard "guilty" on the manslaughter one, emotions, every single emotion that you could imagine just running through your body at that moment. a kind of let out a yell, because it was going to build up in anticipation of what was to come while we were waiting for the last few days. and now we have been able to process it. we want to thank the entire prosecution team, we want to thank communities, support, everyone who has been out there who has supported us in this long fight for accountability. that was katie right there. the incident led to several nights of intense protests at a very sensitive time in the united states and not far from the court where white police officer, derek chauvin, was standing trialfor the murder of a black man, george floyd. let's have a listen to kimberly potter's tearful evidence in court. i remember yelling "taser, taser, taser," and nothing happened. and then he told me i've shot him. let's get more on this story with our north america correspondent david willis. a very sensitive time, obviously, with similar cases to this one, what has the reaction be like to the verdict? i reaction be like to the verdict?— reaction be like to the verdict? ., ., , ,, ., verdict? i have to see, simon, it is unusual _ verdict? i have to see, simon, it is unusual for _ verdict? i have to see, simon, it is unusual for a _ verdict? i have to see, simon, it is unusual for a police - it is unusual for a police officer to be charged and convicted in a case like this. juries in the past year, where prosecutors have actually brought cases against police officers to trial, have tended to be somewhat reluctant to convict, reluctant to second—guess the sort of pressures that policemen going about their daily business are under. but this case, coming anyway, of course, of the george floyd killing at the hands of a police officer in minneapolis in may of last year, that seems to have changed the mood here. we saw a conviction a few months ago, actually last month of three white men who were convicted of killing ahmaud arbery, a black man who wasjogging killing ahmaud arbery, a black man who was jogging in the state of georgia. now we have this conviction of kimberly potter, a former policewoman, and it seems that prosecutors are more willing to bring cases against police officers and juries are more willing to convict them.— juries are more willing to convict them. you talk about several cases _ convict them. you talk about several cases similar - convict them. you talk about several cases similar to - convict them. you talk about several cases similar to this | several cases similar to this and verdict similar to this, do you think this verdict will force change to happen within policing in america? i force change to happen within policing in america?— policing in america? i think if nothin: policing in america? i think if nothing else _ policing in america? i think if nothing else it _ policing in america? i think if nothing else it will _ policing in america? i think if nothing else it will send - policing in america? i think if nothing else it will send a - nothing else it will send a signal to those in law enforcement that times are indeed changing. neither the prosecution nor the defence in kimberly potter's trial disputed that she didn't mean to kill daunte wright. but the prosecution made the point that this was an act of recklessness, rather than simply a tragic mistake. the prosecution called it a blunder of epic precautions and said accidents can still be crimes —— epic proportions. all the jury —— epic proportions. all the jury clearly agreed with them. and the people who are campaigning for the conviction, what are they calling for at the moment?— what are they calling for at the moment? ~ ., , ., the moment? well, there was a u-rou the moment? well, there was a grow) outside — the moment? well, there was a group outside the _ the moment? well, there was a group outside the court - the moment? well, there was a group outside the court who - group outside the court who applauded this verdict and it seems that some of them bearing pictures of daunte wright, some of them bearing black lives matter slogans and it seems the verdicts in cases like this are hailed really as verdicts for all of those in minority communities, particularly african—americans, who have suffered in this way at the hands of law enforcement in this country.— hands of law enforcement in this country. david willis live for us there _ this country. david willis live for us there in _ this country. david willis live for us there in los _ this country. david willis live for us there in los angeles. | for us there in los angeles. thank you very much indeed for bringing us up—to—date with that. some breaking news. in the last few minutes, it's been announced that the former south korean president park goon—hay, who was jailed for 22 years on corruption charges is to be granted a pardon by the government. miss park was impeached and removed from office in march 2017 after widespread protests in south korea. the 69—year—old has been in hospital three times due to chronic shoulder and lower back pain. the current president moonjae—in had previously ruled out a pardon. a study from the british government offers hope that the omicron variant of coronavirus is less likely to cause severe disease than delta, the previously dominant strain. earlier studies from the uk and south africa also suggest that omicron is causing a more mild version of the disease, although the sheer number of cases could still overwhelm health systems. our medical editor fergus walsh reports. between 30 and 40, these are the ages of some of the people fighting for their lives on a covid ward, not one of them has been vaccinated against covid—19. a powerful illustration of the dangers facing the unvaccinated and the pressure on nhs staff, filmed in the intensive care unit of royal liverpool hospital, where four out of five covid patients are notjabbed. the intensive care society said at least two thirds of covid patients were unvaccinated in 12 out of 16 critical care units it contacted in england. it's not for us to judge people who haven't been vaccinated, it's for us to look after them as well as we can, but it's very sad when people come into hospital who haven't been vaccinated. they're very unwell and they ask to have the vaccine then, which of course they can't, because you have to get better from covid before you can be vaccinated. evidence that omicron causes milder disease has been reinforced by preliminary analysis from the uk health security agency. it suggests that someone infected with omicron is 30—45% less likely to attend a&e, compared to a delta patient, and between 50 and 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital. but the extra protection that the boosterjab gives against the infection does wane more rapidly against omicron than delta, being about 15 to 25% lower ten weeks after the boosterjab. it shows that people with omicron have a reduced risk of hospitalisation compared to delta. now, it's very early days, only a small number of individuals, about 100 were admitted to hospital with omicron in this period, but nonetheless, it is the first signs of cautious optimism we can have for a while. as daily cases hit another new record, uk researchers estimate that half of people with cold—like symptoms actually have coronavirus. fergus walsh, bbc news. ecuador is to make the covid—19 vaccine mandatory for most people over the age of five. those with a medical justification will be exempt. the government says it's necessary because of a rise in infections and the spread of variants such as omicron. the country suffered a crippling first wave of the virus in 2020, with dead bodies left on the streets as hospitals and mortuaries were overwhelmed. let's get some of the day's other news. the belgian government has decided to close the country's two nuclear power plants and their seven reactors by 2025. the decision could leave belgium with an electricity shortfall, if alternative generating capacity is not brought on stream. ministers have, however, pledged funds for research into other forms of nuclear power. the actorjames franco has admitted having sex with students from his acting school, almost four years after allegations were made against him. the 43—year—old agreed to pay over two million dollars injuly, after being sued for engaging in, quote, "sexually—charged behaviour towards female students". but he said he didn't start the school to lure women for sexual purposes. tiktok is now the world's most popular online destination, getting even more hits than google. that's according to it security company, cloudfare. one of the reasons is thought to be the covid pandemic, as lockdowns meant people were stuck at home and looking for entertainment on the social media platform. joan didion, a literary icon who chronicled �*60s and �*70s us culture, with screen writing credits including the 1976 film a star is born, has died at the age of 87. the novelist and essayist examined the fragmentation of life in america through books such as slouching towards bethlehem and the white album. her award—winning book on grief, the year of magical thinking, was inspired by the death of her husband and daughter. adam dalva is a book critic and author, who teaches her writing to university students. he's in new york. adam, when you think ofjo gideon, what did she represent to you? gideon, what did she represent to ou? ., ~ ,, gideon, what did she represent to ou? ., ~ ., ., to you? thank you for having me on, to you? thank you for having me on. simon _ to you? thank you for having me on. simon -- — to you? thank you for having me on, simon -- joan _ to you? thank you for having me on, simon -- joan didion. - to you? thank you for having me on, simon -- joan didion. she . on, simon ——joan didion. she represents several things to every american writer, she said they have already lost touch with a couple of the people are used to be. i think the tooth things she is most remarkable for its her use of creative fiction any personal essay, which totally changed the genre, there are dozens showing today that she was their favourite writer and they would not have known how to write with other —— two things. and her writing in grief later on in her life is one of the most fabulous allergenic writing we have. , , ., ., 4' have. ute students who work, obviously. _ have. ute students who work, obviously, goodbye _ have. ute students who work, obviously, goodbye to - have. ute students who work, obviously, goodbye to all- have. ute students who work, i obviously, goodbye to all that, how they react to that? it is the story — how they react to that? it is the story of _ how they react to that? it is the story of a _ how they react to that? it is the story of a young - how they react to that? it 3 the story of a young didion coming to new york and having a mythical expense but also puncturing that mythical expense because she is aware of it. just today i had a student e—mail me about an hour before it went on to say thank you for teaching me that is a. a student in 2020, an 18—year—old, saying that about nazareth in 1968, speaks of how fresh and contemporary didion feels. she teaches students so much about how much to describe things in a limited perspective —— about an essay. aha, things in a limited perspective -- about an essay.— -- about an essay. a lot of --eole -- about an essay. a lot of people in _ -- about an essay. a lot of people in social _ -- about an essay. a lot of people in social media - -- about an essay. a lot of. people in social media today saying it helped them in times of trouble. is that something you agree with and can understand?— you agree with and can understand? ' :: :: , , , . you agree with and can understand? iif , , . . understand? 10096. it is such a challenging _ understand? 10096. it is such a challenging book _ understand? 10096. it is such a challenging book because - understand? 10096. it is such a challenging book because it. understand? 10096. it is such a challenging book because it is | challenging book because it is so painful and sad. but i think anyone going through a difficult situation perhaps anticipating a difficult situation will see themselves in the magical thinking that didion is talking about, which is essentially leaving a pair of shoes so that her late husband can come back to them stop these ideas of... americans don't handle grief very well, as i'm sure you might know, and didion really captures how it feels. it is a remarkable.— captures how it feels. it is a remarkable. �* ., , ., , remarkable. alongside that she was also a _ remarkable. alongside that she was also a pretty _ remarkable. alongside that she was also a pretty cool— was also a pretty cool character, right? yes, actually. _ character, right? yes, actually, there - character, right? yes, actually, there is - character, right? yes, actually, there is a - character, right? yes, | actually, there is a tote character, right? yes, - actually, there is a tote bag with her on it that was the hottest item in new york in 2017. she had e—cigarettes and the sunglasses. a young harrison ford was a carpenter in the 1970s in california. she through amazing parties, she hung out with the doors. she could not have weighed more than 80 lbs and james may cigarettes. this idea of the writer of a —— as a character really helped her in her writing and we all loved her. she was a prickly presence and that made her really fun. i’d that made her really fun. i'd lather that made her really fun. i'd gather you have one passage in particular that means a lot you. would you mind reading that out for us? i you. would you mind reading that out for us?— that out for us? i would be honoured. _ that out for us? i would be honoured. thank - that out for us? i would be honoured. thank you - that out for us? i would be honoured. thank you very | that out for us? i would be - honoured. thank you very much. this is the very end of the year of magical thinking and she is writing about her late husband. "i think about swimming with him in cave the portuguese bank on the tide had to bejust right. we had to be in the water at the very moment the tide was right. we could have only done as a half—dozen times at most during the two years we lived there but it was not i remember. each time we did it was afraid of missing this well, hanging back, timing is wrong. john never was. you had to feel this will change. you had to go with the change. he told me that. no eyes on the sparrow. but he did tell me that." sparrow. but he did tell me that.“ �* ., sparrow. but he did tell me that.“ ~ ., ., sparrow. but he did tell me that." . . . ~' sparrow. but he did tell me that.“ ., ., ., that." adam dalva, thank you very much- — that." adam dalva, thank you very much. that _ that." adam dalva, thank you very much. that is _ that." adam dalva, thank you very much. that is adam - that." adam dalva, thank you | very much. that is adam dalva reading a passage from the year of magical thinking in new york. of magicalthinking in new york. ., ~ of magical thinking in new york. . ~ , ., of magicalthinking in new york. . ., ~ of magical thinking in new york. . ~ ., ~ of magical thinking in new york. . ~' . ~' ., york. thank you. thank you for havin: york. thank you. thank you for having me _ york. thank you. thank you for having me on. _ stay with us on bbc news. still to come: with christmas just around the corner, we take a look at how one man in particular is busy preparing for his busiest night of the year. the world of music's been paying tribute to george michael, who's died from suspected heart failure at the age of 53. he sold well over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than three decades. the united states' troops have been trying to overthrow the dictatorship of general manuel noriega. the pentagon said that it's failed in its principle objective to capture noriega and take him to the united states to face drugs charges. the hammer and sickle| was hastily taken away. 6 its place. — the russian flag was hoisted over what is now— no longer the soviet union, but the commonwealth of independent states. | day broke slowly over lockerbie, over the cockpit of pan am's maid of the seas, nosedown in the soft earth. you could see what happens when a plane eight storeys high, a football pitch wide falls from 30,000 feet. christmas has returned to albania after a communist ban lasting more than 20 years. thousands went to midnight mass in the town of shkoder, where there were anti—communist riots ten days ago. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: kimberley potter, a former minnesota police officer, has been found guilty of manslaughter — for killing daunte wright during a traffic check. let's stay with the story now. we can speak to the reverend jim bearjacobs who's program directorfor racial justice for the minnesota council of churches. thank you very much forjoining us. it may sound like an obvious question, what was your reaction on hearing the verdict today? reaction on hearing the verdict toda ? ., ., ~ , ., reaction on hearing the verdict toda ? ., ., ~ ., today? yeah, thank you for havin: today? yeah, thank you for having me _ today? yeah, thank you for having me on. _ today? yeah, thank you for having me on. my- today? yeah, thank you for l having me on. my immediate reaction was one of relief. as the jury deliberations went on, i must admit i began getting a it more sceptical about whether we would see guilty verdicts in this case. �* i. �* we would see guilty verdicts in this case-— this case. and you're calling of course — this case. and you're calling of course for _ this case. and you're calling of course for police - this case. and you're calling of course for police to - this case. and you're calling l of course for police to change the way they operate, to issue citations and summons rather than force, in the wake of what happened?— than force, in the wake of what hauened? , , ., happened? yes, absolutely. you know, happened? yes, absolutely. you know. there's — happened? yes, absolutely. you know, there's - _ happened? yes, absolutely. you know, there's - there's - know, there's — there's different ways of doing policing. there's different ways of engaging community and i think we need a whole scale — a wide scale re—examination of the training and procedures that officers go through. and that officers go through. and obviously _ that officers go through. and obviously with _ that officers go through. and obviously with all _ that officers go through. and obviously with all the media surrounding daunte wright and a number of other cases in america over the last few months, do you think there is the mood in america for change to happen within the police force? i to happen within the police force? ., ., ., force? i get more and more hoeful force? i get more and more hopeful with _ force? i get more and more hopeful with it. _ force? i get more and more hopefulwith it. here - force? i get more and more hopefulwith it. here in - hopeful with it. here in minneapolis, we saw the guilty verdict return on officer derek chauvin for the killing of george floyd, and now, today, with this guilty verdict bringing accountability to our police officers and our police forces, i think there is hope that something needs to be done and something can be done. within the community in minnesota, surrounding daunte wright, his family, what's it been like over the last few days? it must have been pretty trauma leading up to the trial? it absolutely was. i was — i was there, with the family, on the evening that daunte was killed. it was very heartbreaking. with this trial coming so close to the christmas holiday, there is a lot of — a lot of hope this would be drawn to a conclusion with these guilty verdicts before the christmas holiday. and obviously, this — this is notjustice, it's not the desired — obviously, the desired — obviously, the desired outcome would be that daunte would be spending this holiday with his family, but i think the family and i think, really, kind of all of minnesota is breathing a sigh of relief this is over and we have demonstrated that police officers, you know, there is accountability for your actions. and that, you know, you make a mistake, but mistakes — it does not mean you — they don't have consequences. yeah, accountability and hopefully some closure for the family of daunte wright. thank you so much forjoining us. mt; you so much for “oining us. my pleasure. h you so much forjoining us. ii pleasure. thanks for you so much forjoining us. ii1 pleasure. thanks for having you so much forjoining us. i=i1 pleasure. thanks for having me. russia's president has again insisted that the west must give russia guarantees that nato won't expand eastwards — and admit ukraine as a member. vladimir putin rejected accusations that russia is preparing to invade ukraine, after amassing thousands of troops on the border between the two countries. during his annual press conference, he said any expansion by nato would be a threat to russia's long—term security. our moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg, reports. it's the most wonderful time of the year, if you happen to like long news conferences. vladimir putin's end—of—year press briefing is always a marathon affair. forfour hours, the kremlin leaderfielded questions, and he used the event to vent his resentment at how nato enlarged after the fall of the soviet union. translation: "we won't move one inch towards the east," they told us in the 1990s, and what happened? they deceived us. they brazenly tricked us. there were five waves of nato expansion, and now missile systems are appearing in romania and poland. is this russia's response? a build—up of russian troops near ukraine's border. the kremlin denies it plans to invade, but this is pressure, and on the west, too, as moscow demands an end to nato enlargement and nato military activity in eastern europe, what it calls security guarantees. translation: you must give us guarantees. you must do it immediately, now. we won't be palmed off with decades of idle chatter about the need of security for all while the other side carries out its own plans. vladimir putin spoke for a long time, but gave little away about his intentions regarding ukraine, about whether, as the west fears, he's planning a large—scale military operation there. but what we do know now is that next month, us and russian officials will sit down to discuss the security guarantees that moscow is demanding, so there's still hope for a diplomatic resolution. vladimir putin has done 17 of these press conferences now as president. you need plenty of stamina to do this and to listen to it, and since all main tv channels in russia show it live, it's wall—to—wall putin, a reminder, as if russians didn't know it, who's in charge here. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the duke and duchess of sussex have issued the first photograph of their daughter lilibet on their festive card. the image shows meghan raising lilibet in the air as she sits alongside prince harry, who is holding their two—year—old son archie on his knee. it's the first time lilibet, who was born injune, has been seen in a publicly released image. the photo was taken at their home in santa barbara, california. it's very nearly here — the big day itself. all around the world people are making final preparations for christmas. last—minute presents are still being bought — food and drink is already being consumed. but for one man in particular — the next day or two are going to be quite a challenge — as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. be it delta or omicron, nothing stands in the way of a man on a mission. # on the road again # just can't wait to get on the road again # from his home in lapland, father christmas sets off for what will be a very, very long journey. what will be a very, very long “ourne . �* , ., journey. let's give time to children- _ journey. let's give time to children. and _ journey. let's give time to children. and young - journey. let's give time to l children. and young people. journey. let's give time to - children. and young people. and do something together. let's make this christmas happy and unforgettable for everyone. christmas is about hearts full of hope. {lii christmas is about hearts full of ho e. . ., , christmas is about hearts full ofhoe. , ., of hope. of course, he did have time to carry — of hope. of course, he did have time to carry out _ of hope. of course, he did have time to carry out a _ of hope. of course, he did have time to carry out a few- of hope. of course, he did have time to carry out a few errands| time to carry out a few errands before he left. this was santa, really, honestly, going fora dip in an aquarium in paris. like you do. apparently it's an annual tradition around here. it certainly impressed the local children. it it certainly impressed the local children.— it certainly impressed the local children. it was nice, said these _ local children. it was nice, said these sisters. - local children. it was nice, said these sisters. he - local children. it was nice, i said these sisters. he played his part well, he swam well. we thought it was good. once he dried out, he headed to italy, to descend down the outside of a chimney at this hospital in rome. then he handed out presents to the young patients inside. a quick p0p young patients inside. a quick pop across the atlantic, and father christmas was giving out food parcels rather than toys. they were queuing up at this favela in rio dejaneiro, gratefulfor favela in rio dejaneiro, grateful for any favela in rio dejaneiro, gratefulfor any help favela in rio dejaneiro, grateful for any help they can get. translation: i'm very happy because today all the people here in the community are satisfied that our christmas will be a happy one. and since he was in the area, he paid a quick trip to the amazon, to hand out a few pressies there as well. how does he get to so many places in such a short space of time, you wonder? it must be the magic of christmas — probably. he gets there without quarantining either, it's unbelievable. that's about it for me and the team. you can reach me at twitter. you can get more information on our website. thanks for watching and i'll see you soon. hello there. snow has been falling across the hills of scotland through the night. that will continue, although it is tending to peter out. we could have several centimetres lying towards morning. also fog is going to be an issue for those travellers on friday morning, quite thick patches in places, reducing the visibility, and that's because we've had a lot of mild and moist air move northwards during the day on thursday. still with us friday, but so too that cold air, and where those weather fronts bump into the cold air, as i say, across scotland at the moment is where we are likely to see the snow. but that boundary may come further southwards into christmas day. so, several centimetres over the hills, relatively low levels, that's 100 metres or so, some fog though into the clearer skies further south where it's at least milder, but it's the light winds that we've got an issue with here. so going through the day on friday, we've got that mild air with us, the fog issue slow to clear, and then our rain starts to sweep into the southwest across wales later. some drier weather, just drizzly rain for northern ireland, our weather fronts petering out across scotland and northern england, but the best of the sunshine will be in the far north here after a frosty start with some fog patches here too. but it's here where we keep that cold air through the day, while for most, because we've still got that legacy of atlantic air, it is a little bit milder, 9—11 celsius. but that cold air looks like it may well be on the move, so as we head through friday night, christmas eve into christmas day, that may well push a little bit further southwards. our weather fronts still with us coming into that cold air. so the likes of the pennines possibly the hills of north wales just might see a smattering of sleet or snow. but it looks like some good spells of sunshine across the north and perhaps northern england, and then further south on christmas day, we've got some more wetter...some more rain to come in. so, again, we will have the contrast, still that mild air across western areas, but perhaps a crisp start in northern and eastern parts, a little bit of wintriness, as i say, over the hills. so we are not going to be the records of christmas day across the four nations, they are not going to be that high, the temperatures, as i say, more likely 4—5s in the north, 11—12 in the south, but the next few days, we are most likely to see if we see snow, it will be over the high ground of the northern part of the country from north wales northwards. at lower levels, most likely we'll see some rain. so for boxing day, still that cold air around with us, and you can see we've got some unsettled weather as well. you can keep up to date online. this is bbc news. the headlines: a former police officer who killed a black man in a routine traffic stop has been found guilty of manslaughter at her trial in minneapolis. kimberly potter mistook her handgun for a taser when she shot daunte wright. a uk government study has shown that people who catch the omicron strain of covid are far less likely to end up in hospital. but there is concern the boosterjab protection begins to wane after ten weeks. ecuador has made it compulsory for everyone aged five or over to get the coronavirus vaccine, in response to the increase in covid infections. only those with a medical justification will be exempt. the renowned american authorjoan didion has died at the age of 87. in an illustrious career she chronicled contemporary us life in the 1960s and �*70s. didion worked as a novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. it was christmas eve last year that britain and the eu finally managed to seal