good afternoon. the home secretary, suella braverman, has said she sympathises with people who've faced long delays trying to get across the channel from dover this weekend. she rejected any suggestion brexit is to blame. miss braverman insisted the responsibility for delays lies with transport companies and port authorities at what is a busy time of year. extra ferries were laid on overnight to try to clear the backlog, which led to some coach passengers facing waits of 1a hours. our correspondent simonjones is in dover.

day three of the delays at dover, and once again it is coach passengers who are bearing the brunt of the problems. this group is trying to get to luxembourg for a short break, clear customs and then get on the ferry, so we are looking at ten hours. the problem is we have got one driver so i don't think we will get to where we are going tonight. i don't really know what we're going to do. how are you feeling? unhappy, my birthday celebration _ how are you feeling? unhappy, my birthday celebration is _ how are you feeling? unhappy, my birthday celebration is not - how are you feeling? unhappy, my birthday celebration is not often . birthday celebration is not often the best— birthday celebration is not often the best of starts but what can you do? ., , . . the best of starts but what can you do? , ., ., ., ., ., do? those that have made it onto the ferries are still _ do? those that have made it onto the ferries are still concerned _ do? those that have made it onto the ferries are still concerned about - ferries are still concerned about their onward journeys.— ferries are still concerned about their onward journeys. their onward “ourneys. most of the drivers have — their onward journeys. most of the drivers have been _ their onward journeys. most of the drivers have been up _ their onward journeys. most of the drivers have been up all— their onward journeys. most of the drivers have been up all night - their onward journeys. most of the drivers have been up all night so i drivers have been up all night so we are having _

drivers have been up all night so we are having to— drivers have been up all night so we are having to organise _ drivers have been up all night so we are having to organise for— drivers have been up all night so we are having to organise for a - drivers have been up all night so we are having to organise for a driver. are having to organise for a driver to come _ are having to organise for a driver to come and — are having to organise for a driver to come and meet— are having to organise for a driver to come and meet us— are having to organise for a driver to come and meet us to - are having to organise for a driver to come and meet us to take - are having to organise for a driver to come and meet us to take us. to come and meet us to take us to the resort— to come and meet us to take us to the resort to — to come and meet us to take us to the resort to start _ to come and meet us to take us to the resort to start the _ to come and meet us to take us to the resort to start the kids' - to come and meet us to take us to the resort to start the kids' ski - the resort to start the kids' ski trip a — the resort to start the kids' ski trip a day— the resort to start the kids' ski trip a day late _ the resort to start the kids' ski trip a day late-— the resort to start the kids' ski trip a day late. extra ferries were laid on overnight _ trip a day late. extra ferries were laid on overnight and _ trip a day late. extra ferries were laid on overnight and freight - laid on overnight and freight traffic and cars are getting through without any major hold—ups. the government says the ongoing issue with coaches is a matter for the ferry companies.— with coaches is a matter for the ferry companies. they have seen an acute pressure _ ferry companies. they have seen an acute pressure of _ ferry companies. they have seen an acute pressure of bookings, - ferry companies. they have seen an acute pressure of bookings, of- acute pressure of bookings, of coaches and journeys across the channel. it's a very busy time of year. there's been some bad weather, but they have been putting on extra journeys overnight. they are positive that this will be eased very soon. fin positive that this will be eased very soon-— very soon. on the part itself says french immigration _ very soon. on the part itself says french immigration checks - very soon. on the part itself says i french immigration checks following brexit have been an issue. it says it is deeply frustrated by the problems this weekend. the port of dover had been hoping the backlog by now would have been fully cleared but coaches are still proving to

francis left this is a really important moment in the church calendar. pam sunday kicks off next weekend it is most important time in the christian church calendar. he will know what it to the people to be there presiding over events. hospital events have intensified speculation.

he has said repeatedly he would stand down where his help to really fail him. so there are many here who think this is a man of 86 who has a number of significant health problems who start to wonder perhaps that time may come sooner rather than later. but for now everyone here feels rather cheered, buoyed up by having seen and heard from the pope today at times. his voice and sometimes strong, sometimes weak, to be expected given that he is only just finished treatment. but the vatican has assured worshippers, the millions of catholics that he will participate as originally planned in all of this week's upcoming easter services. upcoming easter services. authorities in the united states have been assessing the damage caused by severe storms and tornadoes. at least 26 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. our 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 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. cody says he is lucky to be alive after a tornado swept over his van, tearing up trees around him. the wind was absolutely howling. it was almost making, like, screaming noises. i could hear it blowing through the cracks in the van, just kind of pushing it and shaking the whole thing. if i didn't have as much equipment in that van, and it didn't have the pocket

and some of the other stuff just kind of attach to the band make it a little bit heavier, i'm pretty sure it would have been blown away. 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 had convinced her to go at the last minute. lights go out. i hear noise. everything crashes down which is the ceiling and i felt like the tornado hit. i honestly don't know the logistics of it or anything like that but liker 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. i'm joined now by cbs correspondent bradley blackburn. just first of all, bring us up to date with the latest numbers on this. we have been watching over the last couple of days

as, unfortunately, the number of people killed here has been rising. it of people killed here has been risinu. ~ , , of people killed here has been risinu. ~ ,, . ~ of people killed here has been risinu. ~ ,, ., ~ , rising. it keeps taking up. riuht rising. it keeps taking up. right now _ rising. it keeps taking up. right now we _ rising. it keeps taking up. right now we know - rising. it keeps taking up. right now we know that i rising. it keeps taking up. | right now we know that at rising. it keeps taking up. - right now we know that at least two dozen people had died, slightly more than that because the numbers do keep increasing. the storm system moved into the north—east last night and displaying for at least one death in delaware where a tornado touched down and affected home, knocked down trees. it's in the death toll in places and communities in tennessee. as many as nine people died in one county. in arkansas, five deaths there. so the storm system took a serious toll in terms of lives and many, many structures damaged. the power of tornadoes is so fascinating because it is sporadic but it is so intense. the intensity, too. and also where this is all impacting. give us an idea of the extent of all of this. it give us an idea of the extent of all of this.— of all of this. it is across a broad part _ of all of this. it is across a broad part of _ of all of this. it is across a broad part of the - of all of this. it is across a broad part of the united l broad part of the united states. multiple states, at least, eight states affected by this where there were serious

damage but, as i mentioned with tornadoes, it can be isolated in particular community so in illinois, where you mentioned the incident that happened in the incident that happened in the theatre in northern illinois, we know that 90 mph winds were recorded in that community and it was strong enough to pull the off of that theatre. hundreds of people are inside attending a concert and it sent parts of that roof caving down on them. rescuers were trying to pull people out of that rubble. at these one death reported there and dozens of people were hospitalised so you see pictures like that and of course, many homes and other structures destroyed. people trying to pick up the pieces. they will need a lot of help. what assistance is there? in what assistance is there? in the what assistance is there? in the us, this comes down what assistance is there? ii�*u the us, this comes down to the state so it is on governors to assess the damage and then request assistance from the federal government. we know that process is already under way in arkansas. the governor the has requested president by

didn't make a disaster declaration. that would clear the way for federal funds to with rebuilding. she has also declared a state of emergency in her state, acting with the national guard. they were trying to comb through homes looking for people who may be trapped inside some of that rubble to try to vendor them aid. . «a , . rubble to try to vendor them aid. . , . ., ., thanks very much for that. the bbc has been told there are �*positive updates' in the case of the british men, arrested by the taliban in afghanistan. the government said it had been in negotiations following the news of their detention. yetunde yusuf has more. back under taliban control since the summer of 2021, now it's emerged that three british men have been held in custody by the taliban in afghanistan. so i maybe on my way back tonight, maybe next week, maybe a month. it's understood one of them is myles routledge, who was evacuated from the country during the final days of occupation 2021.

he's gained a social media following, visiting countries deemed dangerous by the authorities. two other british men were also arrested. kevin cornwall, a 53—year—old charity worker and paramedic and another british man who hasn't been named. in the last few hours, the organisation supporting the families of the two men told us there have been some developments. we have had confirmation that the two detained britons are in good health, and we have further positive events to hopefully relay very shortly. and we believe that this is a strong indicator that we're moving towards a situation of a resolution, hopefully. meanwhile, the home secretary says people should be cautious about travelling to dangerous countries. if there are risks to people's safety, if they're a british i citizen abroad, then the uk government is going to dol whatever it takes to - ensure that they're safe. updates on the men are expected in the next 2a to a8—hours. yetunde yusuf, bbc news.

the british home secretary has defended the government's plans to send migrants, who arrive in britain by crossing the english channel in small boats, to rwanda. suella braverman described the plans as being a �*significant deterrent�*, but the opposition labour party has criticised the move, accusing the government of failing to �*get a grip' of the migration system. it comes as the bbc understands the government could announce alternatives to hotel accommodation for migrants as early as next week, two military sites and ferries could be used to house arrivals, thousands of whom are currently staying in hotels at a cost of nearly six million pounds a day to the british taxpayer. let's get more on this from our political correspondent, david wallace lockhart whojoins me now in the studio. more on this rwanda plan which we have been hearing about for a while. what is the latest? 50 a while. what is the latest? so the a while. what is the latest? sr the home secretary is very keen to see this plan become a reality but it is bogged down in legal challenges at the

moment. no timescale, get, on that. of course, this is a key plan of the government's migration policy that they want anyone who rides in the country without permission to be detained and then sent to another country. in the case that they can't go back to their home country the most likely country they would go to would—be rwanda, under ideal that they have signed. the home secretary was asked this morning when she was on the bbc, about incident when there were protesters, refugee protesters in rwanda who were fired upon with live rounds resulting in 12 deaths. she did not know about that particular incident but stressed she is still confident rwanda remains a safe country to send refugees too. 0bviously, a safe country to send refugees too. obviously, the big issue for the government at the moment due to the numbers crossing the channel in small boats. the question around where they are kept at the moment has well and that is something the home secretary spoke about this morning.

well, let's be clear that our scheme to detain and swiftly remove does not require 50,000 new detention places. the government is in no way planning to do that. what we need to do is... what happens if 50,000 people arrive? we do need to increase our detention stay. we have got several thousand places already that we use and we have got capacity there. we will need to increase some of our detention capacity. but what we believe to work is that once we are able to relocate people from the uk to rwanda, pursuant to our world—leading deal, that will have a significant deterrent effect and people will stop making the journey in the first place. they will stop paying the evil people smuggling gangs in the first place, and the numbers will come down. and that is notjust speculation, that is actually born out of experience of other countries who rolled out a similar scheme, for example, australia. now, that idea that that the rwanda scheme being up and running will therefore deter people trying to cross the

channel, that is not being bought by opposition parties. labour have actually been criticising the policy, not really from an ethical point of view but really focusing on the fact that they think it is extensive, they think it is unworkable, it has been talked about for months and months, yet no one has been sent to rwanda under the scheme and the shadow levelling up secretary was on television this morning essentially saying that, given how long the conservatives had beenin how long the conservatives had been in powerfor, they have to take responsibility for the state of things at the moment. let's have a listen to what she had to say. let's have a listen to what she had to say. for a policy that has cost the british taxpayer a huge amount of money and has sent seen a single person go to rwanda. so i think the evidence so far suggest this is just yet another outlandish nonsense came from a home secretary that is unable to do the very basics of getting her own system working. she complains about an asylum system that is broken. i think she really does need to ask who broke it, and the answer to that lies by looking in a mirror. i think this is a con trick being perpetrated on the british people. the government is not processing asylum claims.

they have got an enormous backlog. they have added £500 million to the costs because of these delays that have been caused by the pursuing of all these new strategies. now, much of that criticism there are shared by the liberal democrats. they called scheme botched today. they said it won't stop any boats crossing the channel. now, the home office's own figures, where their own estimations this year was figures could reach up to 80,000. that will come of course, be something the government will be trying their is not a figure they will want to see given that one of rishi sunak�*s key policies is to stop these boat crossings but with that rwanda scheme still tied up that rwanda scheme still tied up in legal challenges and questions about where exactly asylum seekers would be detained under the government's new migration policy, lots of questions about how that number will be avoided and when the schemes will be operating.

thanks for that. thank you. thank you. 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. according to the port of dover authorities, over 300 coaches departed on saturday, with all of the freight backlog cleared and tourist cars processed successfully. there remain pockets of coaches still waiting to be processed with smaller volumes of coaches expected today. earlier we werejoined by simonjones live from dover. it does seem a familiar story because last summer there were big problems with people facing weights of hours to try to get across the channel and this time last year we had a similar problem. now, if you talk to the government, they blame it

on the fact that so many people want to get across the channel, wants to go away on easter holidays, but particularly now that there are no covid travel restrictions. plus of course we had some bad weather over the weekend particular the friday night. it was very windy and that did cause some delays. but if you speak to the port operators they would say an ongoing issue is checks that have been introduced after brexit. and that particularly relates to coach passengers so if you come to the port on a coach each passenger has to get off that vehicle, and then show their passports to the french authorities because the french do their checks on british soil. what we're now is a great desire for people to get away and the traffic that we have seen during the course of this weekend is similar to the traffic we saw before the covid pandemic. so we are now seeing larger levels than we have seen four recent years but it is when you add in those extra

passport checks. in fact, to taking people longer to get through those french checks and thatis through those french checks and that is certainly causing a big issue. to be fair, easter has always been a busy time for the port of dover but when you add in those new text, it is causing concern. and i think this port was designed, it was really built on the fact that you turn up and you get on the ferry straightaway so these problems, when there are these delays, the consequences of it i really felt. delays, the consequences of it i really felt-— thanks for that. 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. 0ur correspondent hugh schofield has more. in paris the operators are producing figures to show that there are 400,000 regular users. it is certainly, if you go out folks popping, people

say they rely on them for their daily trip to work. they find it very useful coming home late at night and it is cheap. there is relatively green and so on and they are fun so they certainly have their supporters but, to say the least, they also have their detractors, some of whom include the mare. she is the one who has called this referendum, you know, the clear intention, one senses, that she wants them banned. there is no question of banning e scooters in general but of the free—floating variety and, yes, the complaint is that they clutter up the space so there have been moved to try to regulate them but also the free—floating ones are often picked up by youngsters who write very recklessly. if it is not your bike you don't really care how you ride it. if it is your scooter you will look after it, it is your regular means of getting about. and it

is true. everyone knows, everyone has had a horror story i heard a horror story or had a close brush with someone coming down the road or the pavement towards the more down the street the wrong way, and that is why a lot of parisians, parisians are very angry. and the thing about this referendum, so called, is that it will be older people who turn out to vote. younger people who use them or not vote and that is the point made by the operators are very, very angry about this referendum. people working with children in england, will be legally required to report child sexual abuse — orface prosecution under government plans. the move was recommended by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse and will be subject to a consultation. the nspcc said the plans were a "step in the right direction". king charles has offered "heartfelt thanks" to the volunteers who helped plant more than three million

trees across the uk, in honour of the late queen elizabeth. an idea, as a seat, is where we started. an idea, as a seat, is where we started. the actress dame judi dench narrated a special film to commemorate the end of the green canopy project. the initiative was then extended following her majesty's death and has been brought to a close by the king and the prince of wales planting the final tree clothes swapping events are a popular way to give used items a new lease of life, but for plus—size fashion lovers — it can be a frustrating experience. after one woman found it almost impossible to find larger items of pre—loved clothing, she set up a sustainable fashion event to try to tackle the issue. as rebecca brice reports. size 22, size 20, size 18. this clothes swap event is trying to bring more size diversity into the pre—loved market by encouraging

plus size people to address sustainability and feel stylish. i still want to look cute, gorgeous, sexy, why should i not because i am bigger and disabled? there is literally no excuse to be as ignorant as we are being in society, we need to be more inclusive, we need to think about the fashion and help plus size people like to dress because we don't like to dress like we are in the 19605. we are in 2023 so let's start catering. the mission of the big swap to provide an alternative to fast fashion which many plus—size shoppers rely on because of the range being more inclusive. the big swap is definitely not about promoting obesity. the big swap is about promoting inclusion and about empowerment and making people feel safe and secure and included in shopping forfashion and for sustainable fashion. zoe turned her back on a career in the fashion industry

because of the barriers she faced as a 6—foot plus—size woman. for years ijust wore men's clothes, and what that does to your confidence and what that does to how you portray yourself, and how you want to come across to other people, it is. it is really sad and it's really damaging. what i want to achieve with the big swap is i want people to come and i want it to be freeing for them and i want them to feel liberated. i think fashion realy makes you feel good, for me, it is about expressing who i am, feeling nice, having to wear something that you don't like, something that makes you feel drab or down, just because things that uplift you aren't available in your size, that is the worst for me. 0rganisers estimate more than 1700 kgs of clothing have been diverted from landfill thanks to the events, with any clothing which isn't swapped donated to charity shops like white rose. when you come to somewhere like this and you know that everyone is in it together, it gives you that bug,

it gives you that pre—loved passion where you want to start recycling your clothes because we finally feel welcome in a sustainable environment. rebecca bryce, bbc news, nottingham. just before i go i wanted to collide tojerusalem. we have these pictures. a significant day in the calendar. this is worshippers attending palm sunday procession is there from the mount of olives to the old city ofjerusalem. today, of course, today, marking the start of holy week, which ends on easter and of course, linked to one of our main stories this hour that pope francis who we sawjust hour that pope francis who we saw just a little hour that pope francis who we sawjust a little time ago did preside over the palm sunday mass at the vatican. there are questions over whether he would

be able to do that because of course, on saturday, he was in hospital in rome, but he was released and was there to preside over the palm sunday mass. that is it. we have got a fairly dry, settled spell of weather, notjust for today but certainly over the next few days as well. a real change from the weather we saw during march. a much quieter start to april. a drier and brighter day than we had yesterday. more sunshine today. that is down to the fact we have high pressure building. both the south—west and the north—east of the uk. and that is keeping the weather fronts largely at bay at the moment. we have had a fair amount of cloud earlier this morning but that tends to thin and break in most places, lingering longest through central scotland, perhaps into wales and south—west of england. northern ireland seeing patchy cloud into the afternoon. the best of the sunshine for central and eastern parts of england but some fair weather cloud and a bit of a breeze coming in across east anglia

and south—east as well, and if you are close to the east coast of england and eastern scotland it will feel cooler in that easterly breeze. 9 or 10 degrees here, where it is further west for the likes of liverpool, we are set to see temperatures of 13 celsius. some late sunshine into the evening hours and then overnight looking clear and dry, light winds for most of us. that is a recipe for quite a cold night. we are likely to see frost around. you can see the blue hue returning to the map. temperatures a degree or two either side of freezing, milder, more cloud for northern ireland and western scotland. but monday promises lots of blue sky and sunshine. frost clearing away really quickly and there will be areas of cloud drifting around, especially across parts of scotland, northern ireland and perhaps the south—west of england. temperatures generally about 12 or 13 degrees, a touch cooler close to that east coast. heading into tuesday, a bit more cloud that will work in from the north—west across northern ireland and scotland.

a breeze picking up. some light showers. further south and east you will be staying dry, clear and sunny and it will feel warmer. 14, possibly 15 degrees. not as cool as it has been close to the east coast. middle of the week sees some weather fronts trying to move in from the atlantic. as they do, they move across the area of high pressure so they will tend to fizzle out but they will bring some outbreaks of rain, especially across northern and north—western parts of the uk through the middle part of the week, but mostly dry further south and at the moment it looks dry for good friday and into the easter weekend. goodbye.

this is bbc news. pope francis has led mass in st peter's square in front of more than 30,000 people, kicking off the year's easter services just a day after leaving hospital in rome follwing treatment for bronchitis. authorities in the united states have been assessing the damage caused by storms and tornadoes. at least 21 people are known to have died and dozens are missing after the severe weather left a trail of devastation. the uk home secretary says the government is looking at further land sites and vessels to house migrants who travel to the uk on small boats, just days after announcing three former military sites will be used. coach travellers in dover face estimated waits of six to eight hours, despite extra ferries being laid on overnight to try and help clear the backlog

as passengers travel abroad for the easter holidays.