this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. i'm shaun ley and these are the latest headlines: pope francis presides over palm sunday mass at the vatican — just a day after leaving hospital in rome for treatment for bronchitis. and these are live pictures of st peter's square where the 86—year—old has been addressing tens of thousands of worshippers who've gathered to mark the mass which is a major event in the church calendar. severe storms batter the north—east of the united states after leaving a trail of devastation in the south and midwest. at least 21 people are known to have died. these are two of three british men the uk foreign office

says it is trying to get in touch with since being detained by secret police in afghanistan. more than 100,000 people take part in protests across israel for the 13th consecutive week against judicial reforms — despite the government's decision to pause the legislation. the uk's home secretary tells the bbc the government is looking at further land sites and vessels to house migrants. we do need to increase our detention. we have several thousand places that we use and we have capacity. we will need to increase some of our detention capacity. hello and welcome to bbc news. pope francis is presiding over palm sunday mass at the vatican shortly — just a day after leaving

hospital in rome. the 86—year—old was admitted with breathing difficulties, and later diagnosed with bronchitis. the pontiff's admission to hospital came ahead of the busiest week in the christian calendar. these are live pictures coming to us now, of st peter's square where the pope is taking part in this weekend's service for palm sunday. we will listen in for a moment. i'm joined now by our correspondentjenny hill in vatican city. it isa it is a beautiful spring day there. how has the service been so far? apart from the fact the pope is well wrapped up, has there been much difference to the sight and sound of

the pope as compared to prior to his hospitalisation? mil the pope as compared to prior to his hospitalisation?— hospitalisation? all eyes of course are on him- _ hospitalisation? all eyes of course are on him. the _ hospitalisation? all eyes of course are on him. the one _ hospitalisation? all eyes of course are on him. the one thing - hospitalisation? all eyes of course are on him. the one thing i - hospitalisation? all eyes of course are on him. the one thing i have l are on him. the one thing i have noted is his voice is fluctuating, you can hear him delivering his homily, reflecting on the sufferings of christ and his voice sounds strong, but at the start, he cuffed a little and —— coughed a little and sounded weak. when he said the opening prayer he sounded strong. perhaps not unexpected given he was only released from hospital yesterday having been treated for bronchitis. he was part of procession, the traditional palm sunday mass procession. he struck a sombre figure, with his hands folded. not really looking around him. just straight forward. but i think for the 30,000 or so people gathered here and the millions

watching on tvs around the world, it is a great source of relief and joy that pope francis is here to lead them in the palm sunday mass. because this marks the beginning of holy week, the most important time of the church calendar and many feared he wouldn't be here. he has taken a reduced role. he is seated to the side of the alter and the cardinal has taken on the role of standing to celebrate the mass. the vatican said pope francis is expected to go ahead as planned and take part in all of the easter services, a pretty gruelling schedule ahead of him. he himself was quite keen to show his enthusiasm for getting back to work. we saw that outside the clinic as he greeted well wishers and joking, i'm still alive! greeted well wishers and joking, i'm stillalive! but greeted well wishers and joking, i'm

still alive! but indicating his enthusiasm.— still alive! but indicating his enthusiasm. , . enthusiasm. popes tend to be elected in relative old — enthusiasm. popes tend to be elected in relative old age, _ enthusiasm. popes tend to be elected in relative old age, at _ enthusiasm. popes tend to be elected in relative old age, at least _ enthusiasm. popes tend to be elected in relative old age, at least in - in relative old age, at least in their 70s, we had 30 or a0 years ago a pope that died within days of taking office. so there is that concern. he has said in the past that he would consider retiring if he felt his health was getting in the way of delivering his message? yes, he has indicated that repeatedly in interviews or writings over the years. that is why of course this recent hospital stay has sbeps if ied speculation here —— has intensified the speculation. he has a number of significant health problems. you will remember he was forced into a lesser role last year, because of a knee problem. that has seen him have to use a walking stick and also often a wheelchair, a

source he said of quite deep personal regret. he has other problems too. you will perhaps recall as a young man he had part of his lungs removed. so he has problems and many are looking on today and wondering whether the time he considers it right to stand down might come sooner rather than later. in terms of himself, all i can refer to you back to as he left hospital he was keen to restart the job. he didn't really stop. he baptised a new born baby while he was in hospital. the vatican said he was undertaking over light duties too. but of course the eyes of the world are on the vatican for the coming weeks. . ~ are on the vatican for the coming weeks. ., ~ , ., authorities in the united states have been assessing the damage caused by severe storms and tornadoes.

at least 21 people are now known to have died — as the storms ripped through the south and the midwest — leaving a trail devastation. hardest hit were tennessee, arkansas and indiana. in illinois, one person was killed — when a theatre roof collapsed in chicago. 0ur reporter shelley phelps has more. two tornadoes left a trail of destruction in arkansas. this was the small town of wynne where at least four people were killed. homes and businesses flattened. the local high school torn apart, devastated teachers and students came to see the extent of the damage for themselves. yeah, i've taught here for 25 years. this is my classroom and when i walked out yesterday i didn't realise that would be the last time i would be teaching in this classroom. it's just... god protected this town, and he will rebuild it and everything will be fine again.

i am a sophomore. i have been here since first grade. the school, ijust love it. we have many traditions that... voice waivers. ..that i'm so proud of the school for. i'm just so sad it is gone. i know we can come back stronger. we can build a better school, keep those traditions going. 100 miles away in the state capital of little rock, another person killed, over 50 hospitalised and at least 2000 homes and businesses damaged. this man says he is lucky to be alive after a tornado swept his his van. . , alive after a tornado swept his his van. ., , ., ., ., ~ van. the wind was howling and making almost like screaming _ van. the wind was howling and making almost like screaming noises. - van. the wind was howling and making almost like screaming noises. i - almost like screaming noises. i could hear it blowing through the cracks in the van and shaking the

whole thing. if i didn't have as much equipment in the van and some of the other stuff attached to the van to make it heavier, i'm sure it would have been blown awhey. also hit was the central state of illinois where a storm caused a theatre roof to collapse at a packed heavy metal gig in belvedere. inside wasjessica, whose friend convinced her to go at the last minute. , ., ., ., ., , minute. lights go out, i hear noise, eve hinu minute. lights go out, i hear noise, everything crashes _ minute. lights go out, i hear noise, everything crashes down, _ minute. lights go out, i hear noise, everything crashes down, which - minute. lights go out, i hear noise, everything crashes down, which is l everything crashes down, which is the ceiling, — everything crashes down, which is the ceiling, i felt like a tornado hit. the ceiling, i felt like a tornado hit i_ the ceiling, i felt like a tornado hit i dont— the ceiling, i felt like a tornado hit. i don't know the logistics of it, hit. i don't know the logistics of it. but_ hit. i don't know the logistics of it. but that _ hit. i don't know the logistics of it, but that went down. one person was killed in the tragedy and dozens of others injured. recovery operations are working at pace but some of the affected areas could face more bad storms on tuesday. shelley phelps, bbc news. here in the uk, the foreign office says it's "working hard" to get in touch with three british men who have been detained by the taliban's secret

police in afghanistan. one of those being held is thought to have built an online following by visiting dangerous places while the two others are understood to have been arrested during a raid on accommodation used by foreign aid workers. helena wilkinson has more. back under taliban control since the summer of 2021, now it's emerged that three british men are being held in custody by the taliban in afghanistan. so maybe i might be evacuated tonight, maybe next week, maybe a month. it's understood one of them is miles routledge. he was evacuated from the country during the final days of the occupation in 2021. he's built up a social media following, visiting dangerous places. two other british men are also in custody. one of them is kevin cornwell, a 53—year—old charity worker. it's understood he's a paramedic and has been working in afghanistan for some time. another british man, who hasn't been named,

was detained at the same time as mr cornwell injanuary. no formal charges have been laid against the two men. the organisation supporting the families of mr cornwell, and the man who hasn't been named, said the men are facing challenges. the difficulty that you have in the current system in afghanistan is that there's no codified rule of law as we would understand it, and so when somebody becomes subject to these kinds of procedures there's no legal access, there's no representation, there's no access to consulate officials, so they've essentially been in a diplomatic and legal black hole for some time. in a statement the foreign office said: families who will be no doubt desperate for the men's safe release. helena wilkinson, bbc news.

for the 13th weekend in a row, more than 100,000 israelis have held protests across the country against a radicaljudicial overhaul, despite prime minister, benjamin netanyahu's decision to pause the reforms earlier this week. talks have been initiated between the government and the opposition, but protest organisers fear the legislation — that would give the government control overjudicial appointments — could still be brought to a vote. hopefully the ending will be that we are going to win, because this is not something that we can live with. we cannot live in a state that is not democratic. these people which came out here today to cry for their future, to fight for their future. they feel their future is in danger. dov waxman is a professor of israel studies at the university of california in los angeles. he said he believes prime minister netanyahu will pursue his judicial overhaul. i think, you know, just despite all

the warnings from economists, from members of israel's security establishment, from many experts and obviously the hundreds of thousands of israelis out on the streets, the netanyahu government seem determined to pursue this judicial overhaul. i think it's going to continue to try to do that, if for no other reason than the fact that the prime minister binyamin netanyahu, the survival of his coalition is at stake. even if he wants to scrap this overhaul, his far right coalition partners are really insistent that he pursue it. and if he doesn't listen to them, he will lose his coalition and lose his government. so i think he's really between a rock and a hard place and that suggests that i think he will continue to try to push this through in about a month's time. the british government is preparing to announce alternatives to hotel accommodation for migrants as early as next week. two military sites — and ferries — are expected to be used to house people who arrive in the country

by using small boats to cross the english channel. more than a5,000 people reached the uk via the dangerous route last year — up from around 300 in 2018. let's get more on this now with our political correspondent david wallace lockhart. ina in a sense that gives you a snapshot of how this problem has almost crept up of how this problem has almost crept up on politicians and maybe the rest of us in the uk, not quite unaware, buti of us in the uk, not quite unaware, but i don't think most people grasp the scale, from 300 to a5,000 in five years? the scale, from 300 to 45,000 in five years?— five years? people crossing the channel in _ five years? people crossing the channel in small— five years? people crossing the channel in small boats - five years? people crossing the channel in small boats is - five years? people crossing the channel in small boats is one . five years? people crossing the| channel in small boats is one of government's key priorities in terms of cracking down on that. a piece of legislation they're trying to pass called the illegal migration bill will say that everyone arriving without permission will be detained and then sent to a safe country, unable to climb asylum in the uk.

when it comes to that safe country, the key nation that everyone is looking at is rwanda, the uk government has signed a deal with rwanda that asylum seekers would be sent there and live their lives after in rwanda. now, the home secretary, suella braverman has been speaking to the bbc, saying that rwanda is a safe country for people to be sent to despite she was asked about reports of refugees being shot at with live rounds in 2018. she said it is a safe country to be sent to and talked about how the uk courts have accepted that. she didn't mention there was circumstances where someone could challenge the decision. but you're right to say it is a longer term solution as the government see social security it. questions about detention capacity and that is

something the home secretary touched on. ,. ., ., ., ., on. our scheme to detain and remove does not require _ on. our scheme to detain and remove does not require you _ on. our scheme to detain and remove does not require you know— on. our scheme to detain and remove does not require you know 50,000 i on. our scheme to detain and remove i does not require you know 50,000 new detehti0h_ does not require you know 50,000 new detention places. the government is in no _ detention places. the government is ih no way— detention places. the government is in no way planning to do that. what we need _ in no way planning to do that. what we need to— in no way planning to do that. what we need to do. in no way planning to do that. what we need to �*10-— in no way planning to do that. what we need to de— we need to do. what happened if 50,000 we need to do. what happened if 50.000 people _ we need to do. what happened if 50,000 people arrive? _ we need to do. what happened if 50,000 people arrive? we - we need to do. what happened if 50,000 people arrive? we need| we need to do. what happened if. 50,000 people arrive? we need to increase our— 50,000 people arrive? we need to increase our detention _ 50,000 people arrive? we need to increase our detention space. - 50,000 people arrive? we need to increase our detention space. we l increase our detention space. we need _ increase our detention space. we need to— increase our detention space. we need to increase some of our detention— need to increase some of our detention capacity. but once we are able the _ detention capacity. but once we are able the relocate people from the uk to rwanda, after our world—leading deal, _ to rwanda, after our world—leading deal. that— to rwanda, after our world—leading deal, that will have a significant deterrent— deal, that will have a significant deterrent effect and people will stop making the journey in the first place _ stop making the journey in the first place and _ stop making the journey in the first place and paying the evil people smuggling gangs and numbers will come _ smuggling gangs and numbers will come down. that is not speculation, that is— come down. that is not speculation, that is borne — come down. that is not speculation, that is borne out of experience in other— that is borne out of experience in other countries such as australia. the labour— other countries such as australia. the labour party, the main opposition party, very sceptical about this plan. they don't really tend to attack it on ethical or

moral grounds, more on practicalities saying that the uk signed up to this deal that cost a lot of money and because of legal challenges, no one has been sent to rwanda. the labour party sceptical anyone will ever be sent to rwanda and the shadow levelling up secretary was asked about that. this oli has secretary was asked about that. this policy has cost the british taxnavers _ policy has cost the british taxnavers a _ policy has cost the british taxpayers a huge - policy has cost the british taxpayers a huge amount| policy has cost the british - taxpayers a huge amount and policy has cost the british _ taxpayers a huge amount and hasn't seen a _ taxpayers a huge amount and hasn't seen a single — taxpayers a huge amount and hasn't seen a single person _ taxpayers a huge amount and hasn't seen a single person going - taxpayers a huge amount and hasn't seen a single person going to - seen a single person going to rwanda _ seen a single person going to rwanda the _ seen a single person going to rwanda. the evidence - seen a single person going to . rwanda. the evidence suggests seen a single person going to - rwanda. the evidence suggests it is another— rwanda. the evidence suggests it is another outlandish— rwanda. the evidence suggests it is another outlandish claim _ rwanda. the evidence suggests it is another outlandish claim that - rwanda. the evidence suggests it is another outlandish claim that is - another outlandish claim that is unable — another outlandish claim that is unable the _ another outlandish claim that is unable the get _ another outlandish claim that is unable the get the _ another outlandish claim that is unable the get the basics - another outlandish claim that is unable the get the basics of - another outlandish claim that is - unable the get the basics of getting her own— unable the get the basics of getting her own system _ unable the get the basics of getting her own system working. _ unable the get the basics of getting her own system working. she - unable the get the basics of getting - her own system working. she complain of a system _ her own system working. she complain of a system that — her own system working. she complain of a system that is _ her own system working. she complain of a system that is broken, _ her own system working. she complain of a system that is broken, she - of a system that is broken, she needs— of a system that is broken, she needs to — of a system that is broken, she needs to ask— of a system that is broken, she needs to ask who _ of a system that is broken, she needs to ask who broke - of a system that is broken, she needs to ask who broke it - of a system that is broken, she needs to ask who broke it and i of a system that is broken, she . needs to ask who broke it and the answer— needs to ask who broke it and the answer is — needs to ask who broke it and the answer is by— needs to ask who broke it and the answer is by looking _ needs to ask who broke it and the answer is by looking in— needs to ask who broke it and the answer is by looking in a - needs to ask who broke it and the answer is by looking in a mirror. i answer is by looking in a mirror. this— answer is by looking in a mirror. this is— answer is by looking in a mirror. this is a — answer is by looking in a mirror. this is a con_ answer is by looking in a mirror. this is a con trick. _ answer is by looking in a mirror.

this is a con trick. the _ answer is by looking in a mirror. i this is a con trick. the government have _ this is a con trick. the government have an _ this is a con trick. the government have an enormous _ this is a con trick. the government have an enormous backlog - this is a con trick. the government have an enormous backlog and - this is a con trick. the government. have an enormous backlog and added to the _ have an enormous backlog and added to the costs. — have an enormous backlog and added to the costs, because _ have an enormous backlog and added to the costs, because of— have an enormous backlog and added to the costs, because of the - have an enormous backlog and added to the costs, because of the delays. to the costs, because of the delays caused _ to the costs, because of the delays caused by— to the costs, because of the delays caused by pursuing _ to the costs, because of the delays caused by pursuing these - to the costs, because of the delays caused by pursuing these new - caused by pursuing these new strategies _ caused by pursuing these new strategies— caused by pursuing these new strateuies. ., strategies. now the government adamant the _ strategies. now the government adamant the rwanda _ strategies. now the government adamant the rwanda scheme . strategies. now the government| adamant the rwanda scheme will strategies. now the government - adamant the rwanda scheme will take effect. they won't put a date on when flights with anyone on them start going to rwanda. there has been talk about the summer for those legal challenges being completed and that scheme able to start, but no firm date being put on that yet. so theissue firm date being put on that yet. so the issue of where exactly the large numbers of people coming across the channel will be kept at the moment, first and foremost in a lot of people's minds, there were home office predictions you could look at 0ffice predictions you could look at 80,000 people making the crosses this year. so the government adamant this year. so the government adamant this is a problem they are going to solve. but big questions and how and exactly when. solve. but big questions and how and exactly when-— paris is holding a referendum

today on whether to ban e—scooter street rentals. the french capital was one of the first cities to authorise their use — but they've faced criticism from some who say they're often driven recklessly and clutter the streets. i'm joined now by our correspondent in paris, hugh schofield is there any indication on where public sentiment is on this? it is an unknown _ public sentiment is on this? it 3 an unknown quantity, but i think the operators, the three of them, are pessimistic about the vote. they know most people who use the e scooters are the younger age bracket and most people who vote the end to tend to be old. and the older are the ones who are more angry about e scooters. so sing they think that this referendum, so—called, is a gillick put up by —— gimmick put up

by the mayor, who is minded to have the things banned. she has let it be known that is her opinion. they think she arranged this vote calculating the most likely outcome will be to ban them. but we will have to see. you're right, no one really knows. it will depend on the turn out and whether the younger people who tend to use them more turn out in big numbers. i think thatis turn out in big numbers. i think that is probably unlikely. this isn't going — that is probably unlikely. this isn't going to _ that is probably unlikely. this isn't going to be _ that is probably unlikely. this isn't going to be a _ that is probably unlikely. this isn't going to be a ban affecting every scooter, presumably people can still use scooters. you mentioned operators, what is their involvement that they are considering banning? the e scooters that would be banned if the mayor chose to follow a negative result in the referendum, are what they call the free—floating ones, the ones you pick up on the

street with mentioned operators, what is their involvement that they are considering banning? the e scooters that would be banned if the mayor chose to follow a negative result in the referendum, are what they call the free—floating ones, they call the free—floating ones, the ones you pick up on the street with an app on your phone and pay a small charge and can leave it anywhere else. privately owned scooters are fine. they're nothing to do with it. that is not, they're not an issue. in fact one of arguments of operators is that you know banning just them, the rentals and not the other once is inconsistent. but the operators are here, there are three big ones, they also operate e bike schemes. if they're e scooter operations are stopped, they can still run their e bikes. but they say it may not be worth their while. and they say paris is a bell weather, paris was one of the first cities in the world to authorise the scheme and they're worried if paris sets an example in

the other direction it will create a wave in other cities around the world. ., ~' ,, wave in other cities around the world. . ,, i. .., wave in other cities around the world. . ,, �* world. thank you. in case you're t in: to world. thank you. in case you're trying to get _ world. thank you. in case you're trying to get to _ world. thank you. in case you're trying to get to trance _ world. thank you. in case you're trying to get to trance from - world. thank you. in case you're trying to get to trance from the l world. thank you. in case you're i trying to get to trance from the uk at the —— france at the moment, extra ferries have been put on between france and the uk overnight to try to work through an easter weekend backlog. strong winds and slower processing times by french border officials were said to have contributed to the heavy traffic, which began building up near the port of dover on friday where some passengers waited 1a hours to board their ferry to france. earlier, we were joined by louisa pilbeam live from dover. well, i have the say that the roads are clear in the approach to the port of dover here. it's just when you get the the ferry terminal just over my shoulder here, where you can see the coaches that are backed up. so it's really the coaches that people on board are suffering. so school trips, ski trips, there's

families who are going on holiday, and they're all on board and they have been on board for up to 2a hours. we heard from one school, stjoseph's, who have come from wrexham in wales, and they have been on their coach, or they had been for 2a hours. and they said they had only been given a kitkat each and a drink and the rest of them sort of didn't have any other food. so they have really been going through a lot on those coaches. the problem is if you've got a lot of, a0, 50, 60 people on a coach, then everybody�*s passport needs checking, and since brexit it means that more checks need to happen. so every page of those passports needs to be gone through to make sure somebody hasn't gone to france and been there recently, because you can only spend a certain amount of days in france now. so that's causing some problems. from the port of dover, they said they didn't expect to have

so many coaches come through, which is quite interesting. they said they had put in contingency plans for more vehicles, because this is one of their busiest times of the year, but they didn't expect so many coaches to come. that's why they're all still there waiting for hours. more ferries, as you heard, have been put on, and that seems to have eased things. we have been here since 6am and the roads, i mean the traffic�*s coming through absolutely fine until you get to the ferry terminal. so things are definitely improving here. let's leave you for this hour with some pictures from the pope in st peter's square on palm sunday.

the pope's actual responsibilities at the alter are being handled by a cardinal in the church on his behalf. you may remember he did this on a prior occasion, because of his health. his last significant concern was back in 2021, when he underwent colon cancer. not colon cancer, he had colon surgery, forgive me. he had colon surgery, forgive me. he had a condition which he said recently had also recurred. but that is not in itself a life—threatening condition. nonetheless, he is having to ease his workload. although the bishops in france announced he would be visited toulouse i think it is in the autumn for a celebration of the church there. these are the scenes from palm sunday, the first

significant marking point in the church calendar of the week of easter, which is of course the highlight of christian belief. you're watching bbc news. hello, we have a dry, settled spell of weather. notjust hello, we have a dry, settled spell of weather. not just for today, hello, we have a dry, settled spell of weather. notjust for today, but the next few days. a change from the weather we saw during march. much quieter start to april. a drier and brighter day and more sunshine today. that is down to high pressure building, with highs to the south—west and the north—east, that is keeping the fronts at bay at the moment. we have had a fair amount of cloud this morning, but that will thin and break. lingering in central scotland and wales and south—west of england. northern ireland seeing some patchy cloud in the afternoon. best of the sunshine in central and eastern parts of england. some fair weather cloud and a breeze coming in

across east anglia and the south—east. if you are close to the east coast of england and eastern scotland it will feel cooler in the easterly breeze. 10 degrees here. in the likes of liverpool up to 13. some sunshine in the evening hours and dry over night. that is the recipe for a cold night and we could see a bit of frost. temperatures mostly a degree or two either side of freezing. milder where we have more cloud in northern ireland and western scotland. but monday promises lots of blue sky and sunshine from the word go. any frost clearing quickly. there will be areas of cloud drifting around, specially in scotland and northern ireland and the south—west of england. temperatures about 12 or 13 degrees. but a touch cooler close to that east coast. heading into tuesday and more cloud will work in

from the north—west in northern ireland and scotland. the breeze picking up and a few light showers. further south and east staying dry, clear and again sunny. it will feel warmer. so 1a or 15 degrees. not as cool as it has been close to the east coast. middle of the week sees a few fronts trying to move in. as they do, they willjust move across they do, they willjust move across the area of high pressure. so they will tend to fizzle out, but they will tend to fizzle out, but they will bring some rain in the north—east. at the moment looking dry for good friday and the easter weekend.

this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley and these are the headlines... pope francis presides over palm sunday mass at the vatican — just a day after leaving hospital in rome for treatment for bronchitis. authorities in the united states have been assessing the damage caused by severe storms and tornadoes. at least 21 people are now known to have died and dozens more are missing — after the severe weather left a trail of devastation. these are two of three british men the uk foreign office says it is trying to get in touch with since being detained by secret police in afghanistan. more than a hundred thousand people take part in protests across israel for the 13th consecutive week againstjudicial reforms. that's despite the government's decision to pause the legislation.