Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
‘Mummy’s home at last’ – Thursday’s papers take their first break from the ongoing war in Ukraine and focus on the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. A picture of her beaming smile features on most front pages after she was freed following six years imprisoned in Iran.
Ukraine is relegated to the second spot for the first time for most national newspapers.
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The Times leads with “Free at last, Nazanin will ‘learn to be happy again’” along with an image of her on the plane out of Iran.
The picture is also on the front page of the Guardian under the headline “Zaghari-Ratcliffe released after six years in Iran jail”. The paper reports on the background about how the deal was achieved, along with an analysis that asks why it took so long for the UK government to pay the reported £400 million debt if that was what was required for her freedom.
The Mirror and the Daily Mail go for the domestic angle inspired by Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband, Richard, saying that “after six years in hell” she is looking forward to sitting down and having a cup of tea and seeing her daughter. “Home … for a nice cuppa.” The Mail splashes Mummy’s home at last!” and reports on Zaghari-Ratcliffe looking forward to an “emotional reunion” with her family.
The Telegraph leads with “Mummy really is coming home,” taking the words of Labour MP Tulip Sidiq as she spoke in the Commons as Richard and Gabriella looked on from the public gallery.
The Metro says its good news at last as “Nazanin jets home.”
The Express leads with the picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe beaming with the headline “Smile that says: I’m free”. The i strikes a similar tone with slightly saying “Smile that says she’s free”, although its main story is “Russia bombs theatre being used as shelter”.
The Financial Times leads on Ukraine too – “Moscow and Kyiv explore neutrality plan in peace talks” the paper carries a picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and the headline “Zaghari-Ratcliffe released from Iran after UK pays $530m debt”.