weefied, l weefted, i am“ fixer? saying? he has tweeted, i am very leased saying? he has tweeted, i am very pleased to — saying? he has tweeted, i am very pleased to confirm _ saying? he has tweeted, i am very pleased to confirm that _ saying? he has tweeted, i am very pleased to confirm that the - saying? he has tweeted, i am very pleased to confirm that the unfed l pleased to confirm that the unfed attention of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe and dimi petratros, who is the engineer who has also been held and treated in an unfair manner —— anousheh ashouri, who is the engineer who has also been detained, will be reunited with their loved ones. liz truss has said they will be coming back today. we don't know all the details of how they will arrive, the logistics haven't been made public. but she is out. earlier, we said she was at the airport. out. earlier, we said she was at the airort. �* , , . airport. and there is the picture, look at that. _ airport. and there is the picture, look at that. that _ airport. and there is the picture, look at that. that is _ airport. and there is the picture, look at that. that is nazanin - airport. and there is the picture, look at that. that is nazanin on i airport. and there is the picture, | look at that. that is nazanin on a plane out of iran.— look at that. that is nazanin on a plane out of iran. you can see the relief written _ plane out of iran. you can see the relief written all _ plane out of iran. you can see the relief written all over _ plane out of iran. you can see the relief written all over her - plane out of iran. you can see the relief written all over her face. . relief written all over her face. and imagine the relief for the families as well. her daughter was not yet two when she was arrested. her daughter will be eight injune, and now she is heading home to her daughter and husband, who has worked so hard, literally day and night, to

try and get her home. she is on her way. try and get her home. she is on her wa . �* . try and get her home. she is on her wa , �* ., , ., try and get her home. she is on her wa .~ . ., try and get her home. she is on her wa.~ . .,, try and get her home. she is on her wa. . ., way. amazing, so good to be able to re ort way. amazing, so good to be able to report something — way. amazing, so good to be able to report something positive. _ way. amazing, so good to be able to report something positive. thank - report something positive. thank you, caroline. time for a look at the weather. here's susan powell. some very wet weather across central and eastern areas of the uk. ahead of that, some weird images this morning, particularly in southern england, with a distinctly orange tinge. you may have seen skies like this before. the orange tinge comes from saharan dust. to pick up saharan dust, we need to source our airfrom saharan dust, we need to source our air from the sahara saharan dust, we need to source our airfrom the sahara and if we saharan dust, we need to source our air from the sahara and if we follow our isobars, this one is like a pipeline all the way up to the south of the uk. you can see how we have pulled in that saharan dust ahead of this area of low pressure that developed across central england, and it is that loan that is now dropping heavy rain and slowly plodding eastwards through this afternoon. some western areas are already emerging into brighter conditions but for some, this rain is going to stick around until the day is out. a fine afternoon for

northern ireland. increasingly dry across scotland. sunshine for wales and the south—west, rather stubborn in the hours ahead for the midlands, east anglia and southeast lincolnshire and parts of north—east england too. it will probably take until midnight for us to finally lose the rain from eastern counties of england. but then the sky is clear and there could be a bit of mist forming first thing on thursday. certainly looks like a chilly start to thursday, with a frost particularly across eastern scotland. forthursday, frost particularly across eastern scotland. for thursday, a fine start. lots of sunshine to get the day under way, but showers through the day will come crowding into northern ireland and scotland. fine initially, but western scotland will be wet to the money. it dries out a bit in the afternoon, but then more showers come as we get later into the afternoon. so it will be on and off with the rain for scotland and northern ireland through the day on thursday. it stays fine across england and wales, and then temperatures are positively springlike. the promise of more

warmth as we look further ahead in our forecast. warmth as we look further ahead in ourforecast. friday, high pressure builds across the uk to chase that front away. lots of fine weather. perhaps a mist and fog first thing. that will generally lift through the day, perhaps initially into some low cloud, but it will burn back as the hours go by. that is what this white gives you an indicator of, the places at greatest risk of fog first thing on friday. by the afternoon, a loss of sunshine and again, some very springlike temperatures, mid—teens across england and wales. by mid—teens across england and wales. by the weekend, we push the warmth further north as well. a definite feeling of spring really setting in now. that's all from the bbc news at one, so it's goodbye from me, and, on bbc one, we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. good afternoon, i'm chetan pathak with your latest sports news. we start with cricket,

england still have hope at the women's world cup after beating india by four wickets in mount maunganui. after three straight defeats — it's their first win of the tournament — and means they're still able to qualify for the semi finals but can't afford any more slip ups. our senior sports news reporter laura scott was watching. there backs against the wall, what else could england do but come out swimming? in the field, they looked transformed, how is that for precision? delivering under pressure, charlie dean spun her way to four wickets in her second world cup match. nds scheduled forjust 131i. cup match. nds scheduled forjust 134. but england pub chaz got off to a nervy start losing two early wickets. sometimes, you just need a bit of luck. that was saved by the bales. she went on to score a5. the

captain added 53, helping england secure victory with 18 overs to spare. secure victory with 18 overs to sare. , ., ., ., secure victory with 18 overs to s n are. , ., ., ., ., spare. great to get a win on the board. spare. great to get a win on the board- we _ spare. great to get a win on the board. we had _ spare. great to get a win on the board. we had a _ spare. great to get a win on the board. we had a pretty - spare. great to get a win on the board. we had a pretty good - board. we had a pretty good performance and hopefully this is kind of the start of some wins. it is one of four that we know we need to win. ., is one of four that we know we need to win. . , to win. england relieved, but realistic. _ to win. england relieved, but realistic, knowing _ to win. england relieved, but realistic, knowing they - to win. england relieved, but realistic, knowing they are i to win. england relieved, but| realistic, knowing they are on to win. england relieved, but - realistic, knowing they are on the board, but not out of the woods. to the men next. matthew fisher will make his test match debut for england against west indies this afternoon. he replaces craig overton who felt unwell overnight. it's a double blow for england as mark wood has also been ruled out. he'll be replaced by lancashire's saqib mahmood who'll be making his test debut. wood injured an elbow on day three of the drawn first test in antigua. and captainjoe root says its now an opportunity for others. it is obviously disappointing. a very disappointing for him because he has been exceptionalfor us very disappointing for him because he has been exceptional for us of late. we see him as a big part of this team. it is a bit of a blow,

but it gives other guys opportunities and as i said at the start of this trip, the guys have got this chance to step up and show their worth and take on some slightly newer roles. it is exciting as well. it is exciting as well. uefa says its waiting for reports from match observers before deciding whether to charge manchester united over the behaviour of their supporters at old trafford last night. atletico madrid manager diego simeone was pelted with missiles as he sprinted down the touchline after his side's1—0 win in the champions league. united say they're reviewing cctv footage to identify those responsible for throwing bottles. the result ended united's hopes of ending a five—year trophy drought, meaning they're on their longest run without silverware in nearly a0 years. chelsea take on lille tonight in the champions league, holding a 2—0 lead as they look to reach the last eight. the government's issued a special licence to allow the club to continue operating after freezing owner roman abramovich�*s assets, because of his links to russian president vladimir putin.

gareth bale and aaron ramsey have been named in the wales squad ahead of their world cup qualifier play—off semi—final against austria in cardiff next week. the pair have been included desipte both having limited game—time this season. bale's only made two appearances for real madrid since wales last played in november. ramsey has only started twice for rangers, sincejoining on loan in january. that's all your sport for now. there's full coverage of day two of the cheltenham festival on the bbc sport website where you can follow all of today's big races. i'll have more for you later. back to you, victoria. we are going to show you this photograph again of nazanin zaghari photograph. this is the recent photograph. she is

smiling, of course she is, she's on her way home. that confirmed by liz truss. she is accompanied by another british iranian, anousheh ashouri. mrs zaghari—ratcliffe was arrested six years ago and convicted of plotting to overthrow the iranian government — a charge she's always denied. she said that was complete nonsense. this photo was tweeted by tulip siddique, her mp. they will return from iran today. this is the result of tenacious and creative british diplomacy, nazanin has been held for almost six years

and anoosheh almost five. they will be reunited with their families and loved ones. there the result of result of years of hard work and dedication by our brilliant diplomats and intensive efforts over the past six months. "i pay tribute to our predecessors and the prime minister who have all worked hard to resolve this issue" and liz truss goes on," they have faced hardship that no family should ever experience, and this is a moment of great relief. " and here is the key bit in "in parallel, we have also settled the ims debt as we said we would." i'm understanding that to be the debt of £400 million which the iranians always said the british owed them for a military order. liz truss said," i made the debt payment

my top priority when i entered office in september 2021. " let's speak to one of liz truss's predecessors, jeremy hunt. what is your reaction? it is predecessors, jeremy hunt. what is your reaction?— your reaction? it is quite emotional actuall . your reaction? it is quite emotional aetually- it's _ your reaction? it is quite emotional actually. it's been _ your reaction? it is quite emotional actually. it's been such _ your reaction? it is quite emotional actually. it's been such a _ your reaction? it is quite emotional actually. it's been such a terrible i actually. it's been such a terrible injustice and there have been so many awful things happening in the world today. to see the sight of nazanin and anoosheh getting on a plane and about to get their freedom back, it's quite overwhelming actually and i pay tribute to liz truss and her team at the foreign office who have worked so hard to make it possible. but i think the person who deserves most of the credit is nazanin�*s husband, richard, who is frankly the bravest person i met in my time as foreign

secretary. thanks to him, we have notjust secretary. thanks to him, we have not just fought hard secretary. thanks to him, we have notjust fought hard for her release, but also fought hard about how we stop this horrible, vile hostagetaking. why do you say he is one of the bravest people you met when you were foreign secretary?— foreign secretary? because when iran took hostages — foreign secretary? because when iran took hostages before, _ foreign secretary? because when iran took hostages before, not _ foreign secretary? because when iran took hostages before, notjust - took hostages before, notjust british people and other people from other countries as well, the foreign ministry always said keep it quiet we will negotiate behind the scenes thatis we will negotiate behind the scenes that is how we will get them home most quickly putting and richard ignored that advice and said no, i want the world to know that iran takes hostages and i want notjust to get nazanin home, but i want to stop this 19th—century practice of taking individuals, innocent people hostage in order to achieve

political ends. hopefully this will be the end of this horrible business of hostagetaking. it be the end of this horrible business of hostagetaking.— of hostagetaking. it appears that this 400 million _ of hostagetaking. it appears that this 400 million debt _ of hostagetaking. it appears that this 400 million debt that - of hostagetaking. it appears that this 400 million debt that we - of hostagetaking. it appears that i this 400 million debt that we owed for tanks if i recall correctly, it was never honoured because the tanks were never sent there, but the iranians had paid for them, why was that not paid earlier?— that not paid earlier? well, i think it was always _ that not paid earlier? well, i think it was always something _ that not paid earlier? well, i think it was always something the - it was always something the government hesitated to do. because they are a sponsor of terrorism across the middle east in friendly countries and it foments discord and we were worried what the money might be used for. when we decided, which i think sort of happened around the time i was foreign secretary that we should pay this debt and it was said in an international court we owed it. there were practical and

principled issues that had to be resolved. if you ask me if it took too long, i think it did and i think thatis too long, i think it did and i think that is one of the things we were going to have to ask ourselves. all going to have to ask ourselves. all the things you have just described are still relevant now, the sanctions are still in place. you could argue that iran still full meds terror around the world and yet the british government has paid it. yes, because it is not a ransom, it is a debt. we are a country that pays our debts and if you owe a debt, you have to pay it to whoever you owe it to and the international court agreed that we owed this. and so it was right that we paid this. we will have to work closely with the americans to make sure that the debt we used —— the bank we used to pay it will not be penalised. do debt we used -- the bank we used to pay it will not be penalised.— pay it will not be penalised. do you recret it pay it will not be penalised. do you regret it was _

pay it will not be penalised. do you regret it was not _ pay it will not be penalised. do you regret it was not done _ pay it will not be penalised. do you regret it was not done when - pay it will not be penalised. do you regret it was not done when you i pay it will not be penalised. do you i regret it was not done when you were foreign secretary? l regret it was not done when you were foreign secretary?— foreign secretary? i would have loved to have _ foreign secretary? i would have loved to have gotten _ foreign secretary? i would have loved to have gotten nazanin i foreign secretary? i would have - loved to have gotten nazanin home. i really focused on it. i'm just delighted that liz trust was able to do it. —— liz truss. let's hope it can be the start of an alignment between democratic countries to stamp out hostagetaking so no other families have to go through with this family have been through. some of our viewers _ this family have been through. some of our viewers will _ this family have been through. some of our viewers will know _ this family have been through. some of our viewers will know a _ this family have been through. some of our viewers will know a little - of our viewers will know a little less about the other two people who have been released. anoosheh ashoori, who we are told is also on the same plane as nazanin and also this man who we're showing you a picture of in happier times. we are told he has been released from jail as well but on furlough. what does that mean?— as well but on furlough. what does that mean? . ., , , ,., ., that mean? that means he is sort of under house — that mean? that means he is sort of under house arrest _ that mean? that means he is sort of under house arrest in _ that mean? that means he is sort of under house arrest in tehran - that mean? that means he is sort of under house arrest in tehran and - that mean? that means he is sort of under house arrest in tehran and he | under house arrest in tehran and he is not allowed to leave the country.

he does not have his freedom back, but it is better that he is at home rather than injail. it is a but it is better that he is at home rather than in jail. it is a step forward. there is also another dual national who we do not know what has happened to him at this stage. real good news for anoosheh ashoori whose family i had the privilege to meet and as an end, but of course we want to get everyone home. i am and as an end, but of course we want to get everyone home.— to get everyone home. i am reading a little bit more — to get everyone home. i am reading a little bit more about _ to get everyone home. i am reading a little bit more about liz _ to get everyone home. i am reading a little bit more about liz truss's - little bit more about liz truss's detailed statement about what has happened today. the breakthrough, the paying of this debt. she goes on to say that the debt has been settled in full compliance. and all legal obligations. these funds will be used solely for the purpose of humanitarian goods. l be used solely for the purpose of humanitarian goods.—

be used solely for the purpose of humanitarian goods. i think that is where the scale _ humanitarian goods. i think that is where the scale of _ humanitarian goods. i think that is where the scale of our _ humanitarian goods. i think that is where the scale of our diplomats l humanitarian goods. i think that is l where the scale of our diplomats are very important. in order to pay that money we would have had to demonstrate to the united states that it was not going to be in breach of sanctions. given that the united states did exactly the same thing under president obama and 2016 and joe biden was very close to obama, i never really believed the united states was going to block this. it might have been a different matter if president trump had still beenin matter if president trump had still been in office. i think in the end, the us administration was going to help us make this happen. in the us administration was going to help us make this happen. in terms of uk relations _ help us make this happen. in terms of uk relations with _ help us make this happen. in terms of uk relations with iran, _ help us make this happen. in terms of uk relations with iran, as - help us make this happen. in terms of uk relations with iran, as we - of uk relations with iran, as we look towards the future, how does this affect that?— this affect that? there are many, many issues- _ this affect that? there are many, many issues- i— this affect that? there are many, many issues. i think _ this affect that? there are many, many issues. i think the - this affect that? there are many, many issues. i think the ukraine | many issues. i think the ukraine crisis has shown us how concerning it is when irresponsible powers have nuclear weapons. it is when irresponsible powers have nuclearweapons. it it is when irresponsible powers have nuclear weapons. it is incredibly important that iran does not have nuclear weapons and finding some sort of way to secure that

international agreement should remain a top priority. we are also very concerned at the way iran sponsors terrorism in syria, lebanon, yemen and other parts of the middle east. i think there is a very important future for iran as a major regional power if it is prepared to play a constructive role and not a destructive role. it still believes that israel should be wiped off the face of the map. i know they have got a hard—line leadership, but i hope they look at what has happened to president putin and the i solution —— and the isolation that has been put on russia and say to themselves, however hardline we are however fundamentalist islamic we want to be, this is not the way forward for iran. perhaps nazanin's release is a small sign that there is a better way to engage with the rest of the world.—

is a better way to engage with the rest of the world. have you had any contact with — rest of the world. have you had any contact with richard _ rest of the world. have you had any contact with richard ratcliffe? - rest of the world. have you had any contact with richard ratcliffe? i - contact with richard ratcliffe? i know you will have messaged him. i was in touch yesterday with both richard and nazanin. and i have been in touch with them constantly since i've stepped down and when i was foreign secretary. and it has to be said that the other person who has been incredibly brave is nazanin. to been incredibly brave is nazanin. to be separated for her daughter for so long. one of the most emotional moments as my time as foreign secretary was when i went to tehran to try to negotiate for her release and nazanin's parents brought along their granddaughter. i've got a daughter who was roughly the same age and as a father it is a big moment for me. you can imagine the agony that nazanin has gone through and she has faced it with such

stoicism and courage. i think she is a remarkable person and i think richard is as well. i think we can be very proud of those two very fine reddish citizens.— reddish citizens. thank you. jeremy hunt, conservative _ reddish citizens. thank you. jeremy hunt, conservative mp _ reddish citizens. thank you. jeremy hunt, conservative mp and - former foreign secretary. you can hear more on nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe's story in a special programme five—part documentary by ceri thomas on bbc sounds. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, is making a rare video address to the us congress as washington prepares to offer further military aid to his country. president biden is expected to approve the provision of more anti—tank and air defence systems, worth a further $800 million. applause

lawmakers greeted president zelensky with a standing ovation. president zelensky urged the us to change its policy on supplying fighterjets, and impose a russian no—fly zone. and he appealed to americans' sense of their own history as he called for help. ladies and gentlemen, friends, americans. in your great history, you have pages that would allow you to understand ukrainians, understand us now when you need it right now, when we need you right now. remember pearl harbour — terrible morning of december 7th, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you. just remember it. remember september the 11th, a terrible day in 2001, when evil tried to turn your cities — independent territories — in battlefields.

when innocent people were attacked from air, yes. just like no one else expected it. you could not stop it. our country experienced the same every day right now at this moment, every night for three weeks now. various ukrainian cities, odesa and kharkiv, chernihiv mariupol... russia has turned the ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people. russian troops have already fired nearly 1,000 missiles at ukraine. countless bombs. they use drones to kill us with precision. this is a terror that europe has not seen, has not seen for 80 years, and we are asking for a reply, for an answer to this terror

from the whole world. is this a lot to ask for? to create a no—fly zone over ukraine to save people, is this too much to ask? humanitarian no—fly zone, something that russia would not be able to terrorise our free cities. if this is too much to ask, we offer an alternative. you know what kind of defence systems we need, as 300 and other similar systems. you know how much depends on the battlefield, on the ability to use aircrafts. powerful, strong aviation to protect our people, ourfreedom, our land. aircrafts that can help ukraine, help europe. and you know that they exist and you have them.

but they are on earth, not in the ukrainian sky, they do not defend our people. i have a dream. these words are known to each of you. today i can say i have a need, i need to protect our sky. i need your decision, your help, which means exactly the same, the same you feel when you hear the words "i have a dream". that was president zelensky. let's listen to that statement from the foreign secretary liz truss. she is talking about the release of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. l she is talking about the release of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. i am nazanin zaghari-ratcliffe. i am deli . hted nazanin zaghari-ratcliffe. i am delighted that _ nazanin zaghari-ratcliffe. i am delighted that nazanin - nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe. i {fl delighted that nazanin and acra one have been released by the iranians. and that nazanin and anoosheh ashoori will return home back to the uk. this has been an appalling ordealfor nazanin and iran

uk. this has been an appalling ordeal for nazanin and iran and theirfamilies who have ordeal for nazanin and iran and their families who have suffered greatly. i am sure that everybody across the uk is delighted for them being released and will be celebrating that fact. mira; being released and will be celebrating that fact. being released and will be celebratin: that fact. ~ , .. . celebrating that fact. why now, what has changed? _ celebrating that fact. why now, what has changed? we _ celebrating that fact. why now, what has changed? we have _ celebrating that fact. why now, what has changed? we have been - celebrating that fact. why now, what has changed? we have been working hard over the — has changed? we have been working hard over the last _ has changed? we have been working hard over the last six _ has changed? we have been working hard over the last six months - has changed? we have been working hard over the last six months to - hard over the last six months to ensure that we were able to secure the release of these detainees. and to make sure that they are able to return back to the uk. i want to say my sympathies are with the families for what they have suffered over this appalling time and i'm delighted to be welcoming them back to the uk later today. thank you. twins, who are believed to be the most premature to survive in the uk, have returned home following 140 days in hospital. harry and harley crane were born atjust 22 weeks and five days

and have already undergone six operations between them. rob sissons has this report. at last out into the big wild world after 139 days in the neonatal unit, baby harley was reunited with her twin brother harry. off home with their aunt and mum and dad. absolutely ecstatic. it has been such a long time. and though it has been a really treacherous journey. 140 days ago, we didn't think we would be here. just absolutely excited, can't wait to get them home where they belong and start our life as a family — harley and harry, of course, were not aware of all the fuss. it is just so affirming to see them together and to be walking out the door, however many friends we have made. and the absolutely stunning doctors and nurses and surgeons who have all been part of making this moment. it is hard to say goodbye to them. but i hope i never see them again.

it has been some journey already. harley and harry were born at 22 weeks and five days into pregnancy. mum and dad had spent 11 years and around £50,000 on ivf fertility treatment. getting them both home, something they feared at times may never happen. they have had months to get home ready. they are 8lb now, so eight times their birth weight. that is incredible. harley is the feisty one, she is very well—known as a feisty one. she tells you what she wants, shall we say. whereas harry, he is mr laid—back. the twin's onto says the twins have been amazing. —— she said the family has been amazing. it makes me so proud to be there aun— able to experience... oh, it is ok. there is so much love

and support forjean and steve and harley and harry. the twins will now be supported by health workers in the community. it is a new chapter, a joyous time notjust for the family at home derbyshire, but all the team and nottingham's neonatal unit. now it's time for a look at the weather with susan powell. hello. some rather wet weather for the eastern side of the uk on into this evening. further west, already looking drier, some light brightness to come, but that rain in the east has been proving just a little bit unpredictable in how quickly it will clear off into the north sea. slightly complicated structure bringing it. we've got a weather front coming across from the west and then an area of low pressure that's pushed up from the south, and those two elements combining just slow things down a little. so wet on into the evening, certainly across eastern england. into the small hours, it's looking a lot clearer. by then, though, some showers just starting to approach the west of northern ireland. clear skies overnight, however, accompanied by light winds. it looks like it's going to be

a pretty chilly night, with lows in eastern scotland perhaps rurally down to minus three or minus four. through thursday, high pressure will largely dominate the weather across the uk, but this front here towards the northwest will come into play for scotland and northern ireland. so initially a lot of fine and sunny weather, but some of these showers marching across northern ireland and scotland could be heavy, maybe even a little thundery at times through the day. they could be wintry as well above around 300 metres across scotland. there will be some decent spells of sunshine on and off through the day as well, but a rather more mixed forecast here, whereas across england and wales it's looking dry and fine. could be some early morning mist and fog, a few light showers getting into the north west of england. for the end of the week, however, high pressure asserts itself again. that front scoots off towards scandinavia under the influence of this big high. for friday, we will be left with a lot of fine weather. first thing, though, we could see perhaps a little bit more in the way of fog developing, certainly across central reaches of the uk, parts of the midlands and mid wales. that's what this white mass here on the map

is trying to indicate. through the day, though, the sun should gradually burn it off. perhaps in a few areas it'll linger in the form of low cloud, but essentially i think we're looking at a lot of sunshine for friday. always cooler along eastern coasts thanks to an onshore breeze, but in central parts of england we could see temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees. and that same high is going to stay with us on into the weekend. a lot of fine weather to come through the weekend, some chilly starts, but a lot of sunshine by day and some pretty healthy temperatures. mid—teens possible in many areas. always a little cooler, though, along the north sea coast.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the globe. i'm yalda hakim. our top stories: volodymyr zelensky makes an historic address to the us congress, calling on american fighterjets to impose a no—fly zone above the skies of ukraine. translation: i have a need. i need to protect our sky. i need your decision, your help, which means exactly the same, the same you feel when you hear the words, "i have a dream." russian attacks continue against kyiv and other cities — but the uk's ministry of defence says they're struggling to progress.

in the western city of lviv, grandmothers,