this is bbc news. i'm sally bundock with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. back home. after six years in captivity in iran, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe arrives back in britain to be reunited with her family. i think it's been a really difficult 48 hours. the expectation that they would be released, but we weren't sure and right until the last minute. families reunited. the first picture of nazanin back with her husband and daughter. ukrainian officials say a theatre in mariupol being used as shelter for civilians has been destroyed. russia denies attacking it.

and we meet the locals in one scottish village who've made it their mission to take in as many ukrainian refugees as they can. hello and welcome to the programme. two british—iranians, nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe and anoosheh ashoori, who've been freed after years in detention in tehran, have land back in the uk, shortly after one o'clock this morning. mrs zaghari—ratcliffe was arrested in 2016, and mr ashhoori has been held since 2017. both were arrested while visiting their families. their release came after the uk paid off a debt to iran of nearly £400 million dating back to the 1970s. 0ur correspondent, simonjones,

was at raf brize norton when nazanin landed. we know that this journey back from iran today has taken around 12 hours but the campaign to get nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe freed and allowing her to return back to the united kingdom has taken almost six years. there has been a huge amount of diplomacy, stepped up in the past six months or so and then, really, a whirl—wind 2a hours when the family were suddenly told that there was a possibility that nazanin could be returning home and could be returning home very quickly. it's something that they feared may never happen and even once the news emerged yesterday about a possible return to the united kingdom, they almost did not dare believe it. but now this has fully happened. she is now back in the uk

and the reunion is certainly going to be an emotional one. we have heard from richard ratcliffe who says that he just can't wait to begin what he's describing as a new chapter in the life of the family. but it's certainly going to be a challenging chapter, given what nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe has been through, almost six years in detention, psychological torture, a trial that was considered unfair by charges that were considered trumped up, accused of spying and then plotting to overthrow the government in iran, something she always denied. but now, a chance back in the united kingdom tojust enjoy some family time, to try to get back to a sense of normality. what we are expecting is that the family are likely to go away for a couple of days to have some quiet time and privacy, just to spend time together for the first time in years. there will also need medical checks for nazanin

after what she has been through but really a sense here really in the early hours, after one o'clock uk time, a sense of relief that, finally, this has happened. the british foreign secretary, liz truss, was also there for the arrival. she gave this statement shortly after. first of all, it's fantastic to see anoosheh and nazanin come off the plane and safely back in britain for the first time in years. and that is truly fantastic for everybody and i think everybody across the country understands that. i've met the families, they're safe and well, people are in very, very good spirits. i think it's been a very difficult 48 hours, the expectation that they would be released, but we weren't sure right until the last minute, so it's been very emotional but also a really happy moment for the families and i'm pleased to say that both and nazanin and anoosheh are in good spirits,

and they're safe and well, back here in britain. jason rezaian, a former tehran correspondent for the washington post, spent almost 18 months in the iranian capital's evin prison until his release in january 2016. he told the bbc that ms zaghari—ratcliffe and mr ashoori would have suffered significant psychological trauma. during those ridiculous times when we were held in solitary confinement you are told consistently you won't come out of this place alive, that you will be executed, we have recorded in our state media you died in a car accident, you will find the rest of your life in prison juxtapose that with

them telling you at various times your release is imminent it might happen tomorrow or this afternoon. the confusion that breeds and not having any outlet or opportunity to bounce misinformation off of anybody that you can rely on, is designed to make one go mad. and it works. but, you know, again i spend a lot of time communicating with richard, and with the family of anoosheh ashoori, and the family of many others who have been through this situation, and, you know, the one thing that i try to tell them is that your ordeal will come to an end, and, sometimes, in some cases it is sooner than others but there will be an after, as richard said, new chapter to the life together.

some pictures of mezzanine being reunited with her husband and daughter. the daughter apparently asking is that mummy? photos on social media sees the happy family, the family of anoosheh ashoori as well, all of them together, what a fantastic moment for them all. we have got more on them all. we have got more on the hogan coming a little late on in this programme. —— on their homecoming. president zelensky of ukraine has accused russia of intentionally dropping a powerful bomb on a theatre in the besieged city of mariupol where hundreds of people were hiding from shelling. the details of the attack have not been independently verified. in his nightly television address, mrzelensky said his heart was breaking from what the russians were doing to the ukrainian people. russia has denied carrying out the attack. mark lobel reports.

could this be the heaviest strike on civilian in this war so far? this building was a key part of the southern port city but seen from above on monday before the strike, the mariupol drama theatre was clearly marked and be quiet words of warning, and russian on either side, the red, children, as it had become a designated shelter from the horrors of this war. russian aircraft purposefully dropped a huge bomb on the drama theatre in the city centre. hundreds of people were hiding from the shelling there. the building was destroyed. the death toll is still unknown. 0ur death toll is still unknown. our hearts are broken about what russia is doing to our people. citizens of russia, how is your blockade of mariupol different from the blockade of leningrad and world war ii. the

kremlin denies _ leningrad and world war ii. the kremlin denies bombing it. president zelensky showed this video a brutal russian bombardment as he received a hero �*s welcome from us lawmakers drawing parallels with pearl harbour and 9/11, he again tried in vain for a no—fly zone over ukraine. but the us president did plead another $800 million to rearm ukrainians handsomely. and was frank than ever on his russian counterpart. he frank than ever on his russian counterpart-— counterpart. he is a war criminal. _ counterpart. he is a war criminal. the _ counterpart. he is a war criminal. the kremlin i counterpart. he is a war i criminal. the kremlin says that's unforgivable - criminal. the kremlin says. that's unforgivable rhetoric. president putin thinks as military planners working and warned fellow russians of the threat of so—called traitors within. notably, oligarchs. they are trying to bet on a so—called fifth column, on traitors of the nation, on those who earn money here that

live over there. and live there notjust in live over there. and live there not just in a live over there. and live there notjust in a geographic sense but in their minds, and consciousness. which is that of slaves. i don'tjudge those with villas in miami or the french riviera area or those who can't get by with oysters or foie gras also called gender freedoms. the problem is they mentally exist there and not here with our people, with russia. ., ., ., , ., russia. yet negotiators have apparently — russia. yet negotiators have apparently thrashed - russia. yet negotiators have apparently thrashed out - russia. yet negotiators have apparently thrashed out a i apparently thrashed out a framework for a way out of all this destruction, a tentative 15 point peace plan including a ceasefire and russian withdrawal, hinging on ukraine's neutrality and renouncing its ambition to join nato. but ukraine's p everett remains on edge, after these recent attacks during the city's curfew. possibly final moves to squeeze out more concessions before a ceasefire,

or, more bleakly, further strikes, with many more planned. no—one knows what's coming next. mark lobel, bbc news. there's a human toll being paid in russia too, with thousands of soldiers being sent to ukraine to fight in president putin's war. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg has been to one military funeral in the west of the country. in russia, they are grieving, too. mikhail was killed in action in ukraine. angelika is his widow. how many russian soldiers have been killed in what the kremlin still refuses to call a war? 0ne family's pain is being repeated across the country.

it's a criminal offence in russia to quote anything but official figures. and those are 498 russian servicemen dead. that was on march 2nd. there has been no update for two weeks. many russians rally around their leader in times of crisis. it's as if they don't want to believe their president may have taken a fatal decision. "we're doing the right thing," nikolai says. "nato wanted to set up shop right next to us in ukraine, "and they've got nuclear weapons. "well done, putin, for stopping them." the kremlin wants russians to believe that what their troops are doing in ukraine is both necessary and heroic.

it's what the state media is telling them from morning till night. because if people stop believing that, in large numbers, they'll start wondering why sons, brothers and husbands have been sent into ukraine for what's been called here "the special military operation". father ivan is wondering why. he recently delivered an anti—war sermon, and he criticised the kremlin�*s offensive on the church website. he was detained and fined under a new law for discrediting the russian armed forces. translation: i believe that any bloodshed, however you try to justify it, is a sin. blood is on the hands of the person who spilled it. if an order was given, it's on the hands of whoever gave the order, supported

it, or stayed silent. on his finaljourney, full military honours for soldier mikhail. his country calls him a defender of the fatherland. and yet it was russia's army that attacked ukraine, on the orders of president putin, to restore russian power, and to force ukraine into russia's orbit. russian national anthem plays. but at what cost? steve rosenberg, bbc news, kostroma. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: we will be finding out how one family made homeless by the war

in ukraine are among many being givena warm in ukraine are among many being given a warm welcome in a scottish village. today, we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision — all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. now, this was an international trophy and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats of the west,

offering reunification as quickly as possible, and that's what the voters wanted. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe has returned to britain for the first time since she was detained in iran six years ago. the british aid worker's release comes after years of campaigning and diplomacy by herfamily and the uk government. here's our diplomatic correspondent james landale. it's now almost six years since nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe was arrested at tehran airport. repeated attempts to secure her release failed, so why is she being freed now? ultimately, it's because iran's revolutionary guards and judges

have decided they no longer need to keep her hostage to put diplomatic pressure on the uk. and that's in part because the uk has paid iran a long—standing debt. britain owed iran money for tanks sold in the 1970s, but never delivered after the revolution. the uk feared paying the debt would fund terrorism and breach sanctions. but in a deal finessed by the gulf state of oman, £393 million was finally transferred to iran today, money the government claims will be used for humanitarian purposes, thus avoiding the risk of sanctions. it isn't a ransom, it's a debt, and the point about debt is, first of all, we're a country that pays our debts. and secondly, if you owe a debt, you have to pay it whoever you owe it to. mrs zaghari—ratcliffe's also been released because of diplomatic efforts — above all by her husband, using everything from publicity to hunger strikes to put pressure on iran and british ministers, who did not always help matters, such as when

borisjohnson told mps this... when you look at what nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as i understand it. this was a false claim that was used against her repeatedly on state media. but other foreign secretaries kept up the pressure, likejeremy hunt, who visited iran in 2018, and then finally liz truss, who sent teams of diplomats to iran to do a deal. what has changed in the last six months is we do have a new government in iran. and i was able, when i went to new york in september, and met minister abdollahian to reset the relationship and be clear that we were serious about resolving the outstanding issues that iran had, and they were clear they were serious about resolving the outstanding issues we had. she also met her counterpart from 0man, who played a key mediation role, facilitating

the payment of britain's debt through his country's central bank. i really hope what has been achieved here may stand as a beacon for future progress, notjust in the relationship between the uk and iran but also in international relations. certainly, broader international relations did also play a role. iran's economy has been struggling under international sanctions, less able to trade and sell oil, penalties it wants to see lifted as part of negotiations to secure a new deal, curbing the country's nuclear activities. that agreement�*s hanging in the balance. releasing detainees could help. for six years, politics kept nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe apart from herfamily. now it's played a part in her release. james landale, bbc news. more than 122,000 british families have registered their interest to host

ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. jayne mccubbin has been to visit the people of one scottish village that have made it their mission to take in as many of the displaced as they can. there is kindness here in the scottish highlanders. there's so many peeple _ scottish highlanders. there's so many people out - scottish highlanders. there's so many people out there - so many people out there want to help, have opened up their homes. ,, ~' to help, have opened up their homes. ,, ~ ., homes. shelter, ithink, would be the chosen _ homes. shelter, ithink, would be the chosen word, _ homes. shelter, ithink, would be the chosen word, and - homes. shelter, ithink, would be the chosen word, and a - homes. shelter, ithink, would be the chosen word, and a bit| be the chosen word, and a bit of passion. _ be the chosen word, and a bit of passion, a bit of love. an esca -e of passion, a bit of love. an escape from _ of passion, a bit of love. an escape from their war—torn country _ escape from their war-torn count . , escape from their war-torn country-— escape from their war-torn count. ,., ., a , country. this town of aberfeldy is planning _ country. this town of aberfeldy is planning to _ country. this town of aberfeldy is planning to open _ country. this town of aberfeldy is planning to open its - country. this town of aberfeldy is planning to open its hard - is planning to open its hard sometimes to help in a crisis more than 3000 miles away. we've got a tradition of welcoming in aberfeldy, it is a great community. this is a list so far. q; :: great community. this is a list so far. as ., , so far. 30 odd people here, isn't there? _ so far. 30 odd people here, isn't there? and _ so far. 30 odd people here, isn't there? and you - so far. 30 odd people here, isn't there? and you think | so far. 30 odd people here, | isn't there? and you think it isn't there? and you think it is going to grow again? 10096.

shared flat, — is going to grow again? 10096. shared flat, shared flat, - shared flat, shared flat, staffed guesthouse, 25 people... staffed guesthouse, 25 peeple- - -_ staffed guesthouse, 25 --eole... ., ., , , people... holiday homes, rooms in their houses, _ people... holiday homes, rooms in their houses, one _ people... holiday homes, rooms in their houses, one guy - people... holiday homes, rooms in their houses, one guy has - in their houses, one guy has offered the top floor of his house. ~ ., ., ., ., ., house. we got a great database and we will _ house. we got a great database and we will do _ house. we got a great database and we will do everything - house. we got a great database and we will do everything we i and we will do everything we can in— and we will do everything we can in the _ and we will do everything we can in the short term to try to marry— can in the short term to try to marry this _ can in the short term to try to marry this all up.— marry this all up. without any official database _ marry this all up. without any official database it _ marry this all up. without any official database it is - marry this all up. without any official database it is down . marry this all up. without any official database it is down to | official database it is down to individuals and charities to match those in need with those who can help. match those in need with those who can help-— who can help. this is tatiana... _ who can help. this is tatiana... to - who can help. this is| tatiana... to sponsor who can help. this is i tatiana... to sponsor a who can help. this is _ tatiana... to sponsor a refugee ou tatiana... to sponsor a refugee you must _ tatiana... to sponsor a refugee you must first _ tatiana... to sponsor a refugee you must first have _ tatiana... to sponsor a refugee you must first have the - tatiana... to sponsor a refugee you must first have the name i tatiana... to sponsor a refugee | you must first have the name of a refugee. today governors meeting the first name he hopes his town can help.— his town can help. hello! tatiana _ his town can help. hello! tatiana had _ his town can help. hello! tatiana had baby - his town can help. hello! tatiana had baby mark i his town can help. hello! | tatiana had baby mark by c—section three weeks before she fled kyiv by trying to a friend in poland.— she fled kyiv by trying to a friend in poland. tatiana, our whole community _ friend in poland. tatiana, our whole community here - friend in poland. tatiana, our whole community here wantsj friend in poland. tatiana, our. whole community here wants to help, as much as we can. we hope that can happen. we hope that we can find a way to get you over to scotland, if that is where you want to be. thank ou ve is where you want to be. thank you very much. _ is where you want to be. thank you very much, we _ is where you want to be. thank you very much, we really - you very much, we really appreciate all your help. in

providing us with new homes. baby— providing us with new homes. baby burps. providing us with new homes. baby swaps.— providing us with new homes. baby burps._ providing us with new homes. baby burps. sorry, but was a resonse baby burps. sorry, but was a response from _ baby burps. sorry, but was a response from mark. - baby burps. sorry, but was a response from mark. callum . baby burps. sorry, but was a | response from mark. callum and nikki didn't _ response from mark. callum and nikki didn't need _ response from mark. callum and nikki didn't need to _ response from mark. callum and nikki didn't need to think - nikki didn't need to think twice. forthe nikki didn't need to think twice. for the past two summers, theirfarm on the edge of town has been helped by young ukrainians. untested eo - le. young ukrainians. untested people- we _ young ukrainians. untested people. i've been _ young ukrainians. untested people. i've been keeping l young ukrainians. untested| people. i've been keeping in touch, jane, with these guys, and sadly one of the chapter said too busy now this year to pick fruit. said too busy now this year to pick fruit-— pick fruit. that's what he said? that's _ pick fruit. that's what he said? that's what - pick fruit. that's what he said? that's what he - pick fruit. that's what he l said? that's what he said. pick fruit. that's what he - said? that's what he said. it is so sad. — said? that's what he said. it is so sad, isn't _ said? that's what he said. it is so sad, isn't it? _ said? that's what he said. it is so sad, isn't it? really i is so sad, isn't it? really sad. is so sad, isn't it? really sad- nice _ is so sad, isn't it? really sad. nice guy, _ is so sad, isn't it? really sad. nice guy, must- is so sad, isn't it? really sad. nice guy, must be l is so sad, isn't it? really| sad. nice guy, must be in is so sad, isn't it? really - sad. nice guy, must be in his early 20s last year, lovely chap, know him very well. he will be a different character when he comes back. the vast ma'ori when he comes back. the vast majority of _ when he comes back. the vast majority of men _ when he comes back. the vast majority of men have - when he comes back. the vast majority of men have been - majority of men have been forbidden from leaving ukraine, but there are exceptions. you are able to get out with your husband,is are able to get out with your husband, is andre with you? tatiana tells me her husband andre was one of only two men on their packed train allowed to leave for poland, because

she could not cope alone with her baby after surgery. hi. her baby after surgery. hi, andre! hello! _ her baby after surgery. hi, andre! hello! he- her baby after surgery. hi, andre! hello! he has- her baby after surgery. hi, andre! hello! he has beenj her baby after surgery. hi, - andre! hello! he has been torn b this. andre! hello! he has been torn by this. absolutely. _ andre! hello! he has been torn by this. absolutely. of - andre! hello! he has been torn by this. absolutely. of course, | by this. absolutely. of course, he would rather be there with all the rest of the men protecting our country and fighting for our freedom, our people, but in turn, we also need him and can't be without him at the moment.— need him and can't be without him at the moment. there are no easy decisions — him at the moment. there are no easy decisions in _ him at the moment. there are no easy decisions in war. _ him at the moment. there are no easy decisions in war. it - him at the moment. there are no easy decisions in war. it is - easy decisions in war. it is 'ust a easy decisions in war. it is just a young _ easy decisions in war. it is just a young couple, - easy decisions in war. it is just a young couple, newborn child, — just a young couple, newborn child, that deserves to get a start— child, that deserves to get a start in— child, that deserves to get a start in life that we all take for granted. underthe quicker for granted. under the quicker we for granted. underthe quicker we can— for granted. underthe quicker we can do— for granted. underthe quicker we can do it and the quicker the red _ we can do it and the quicker the red tape is lifted, the quicker— the red tape is lifted, the quicker it gets done. jayne mccubbin, _ quicker it gets done. jayne mccubbin, bbc _ quicker it gets done. jayne mccubbin, bbc news. - let's get some of the day's other news. two people have died injapan and more than 90 others were injured when a powerful earthquake struck off the country's north—eastern coast. two million homes were left without power and a bullet train was derailed. none of its passengers

were hurt. ajudge in honduras has authorised the extradition of the former president juan 0rlando hernandez to the united states on drugs trafficking and firearms charges, which he denies. officials say mr hernandez has three days to appeal against the verdict. the supreme court in cuba has said that 128 people who took part in lastjuly�*s anti—government protests have been given jail sentences ranging from 6—30 years. only one defendant was acquitted in the trials that took place between last december and february. ireland's prime minister micheal martin has tested positive for covid—19 while on a trip to the us for st patrick's day. he will no longer be able to attend a ceremony at the white house, during which he was due to presentjoe biden with a traditional bowl of shamrock. the actorjussie smollett has been released on bond from jail

in chicago pending an appeal against his conviction for falsely claiming he was the victim of a hate crime. last week the former empire star was found guilty of lying to police and sentenced to 150 days in prison. if you want to keep up with events in ukraine as they happen, just go to our website. there you'll find the live page which is continually updated with the latest news and developments. that's all at bbc.com/news, or you can download the bbc app. lots of background detail and reaction to nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe's release from iran. and shortly, i will be interviewing someone from the disaster and emergency committee, a key fundraiser, £150 million in the uk has been raised so farfor the £150 million in the uk has been raised so far for the ukraine

appeal. where does that money go? what choices are made with that? i will be speaking to a key stakeholder in a moment. stay with us. hello there. there's going to be a different look to the weather on thursday and a change of fortune for much of the country as well. with the rain having cleared away, we had the sunnier skies across more western parts of scotland. there was almost an inch of rain in wiltshire and, for a while, we actually had some quite heavy rain here in lincolnshire as well. with that wetter weather clearing away out into the north sea and these showers yet to arrive from the northwest, we're going to have some clearer skies developing. so, by the time we get to early thursday morning, it could be quite cold and frosty in a few places. temperatures will be close to freezing, maybe down to “i! or so in the northeast of scotland. we'll find those showers coming in from the northwest across scotland and northern ireland — notjust one band of showers, but two, and they could be quite heavy as well. some sunshine in between.

those showers tending to die out as they move over the irish sea, one or two in the afternoon for northern parts of england and wales. but for much of england and wales, it will be dry with more the way of sunshine this time and lighter winds towards the southeast — temperatures here making 1a, perhaps even 15 degrees. we do have some weakening weather fronts moving down from the northwest, bringing those bands of showers, but high pressure is going to be building by the end of the week, so it looks like it'll be dry on friday. could have some moisture left over from the earlier showers, giving this patchy mist and fog across parts of wales and the midlands. that will tend to lift, and we'll see a good deal of sunshine, i think, on friday, the breeze starting to pick up in some areas later in the day, but those temperatures are tending to climb as well. 13 degrees in the central belt of scotland, 15 or 16 perhaps in the east midlands and towards the fens. the weekend remains quiet and dry as well. a lot of sunshine around this weekend, but we're likely to have some stronger winds, too. after a chilly—ish start, i think, on saturday, it looks like a fine spring day — lots of sunshine around, dry day, but a noticeably stronger east or southeasterly wind, which means the highest temperatures are likely to be along the coast of northwest

england and around the moray firth — 16 or 17 celsius. high pressure in charge this weekend. the centre of the high is drifting to the east of the uk, allowing these stronger winds to arrive and maybe threatening one or two showers in the evening on sunday in the far southeast of england. 0therwise, sunday is a dry day. temperatures a little bit lower. we may see a bit more cloud on monday and perhaps one or two showers.

do with, this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. fears of supply chain chaos as covid surges again in china, plunging millions back into lockdown. plus: a million pounds donated every hour. we look at the huge fundraising response to the humanitarian crisis in ukraine.