live from washington, this is bbc news. concerns over us—mexico border crossings, as the end of a controversial immigration policy is just hours away. pakistan's supreme court orders the release of former prime ukraine does not president zelenskyy gives more details about the expected counter offensive in the country was war with russia. pakistan's supreme court orders the release of former prime minister imran khan, saying his arrest was illegal. hello. thanks forjoining us. it's nowjust hours before a controversial immigration policy in the us is due

to expire, and officials have been warning about a potential surge in migrants at the us—mexico border. officials have said that when title 42 is no longer in effect, tens of thousands of people could try to cross over. let's remind ourselves what the policy is, and how it might affect us immigration policy. the temporary law, introduced by donald trump, known as title 42, meant illegal migrants could be removed quickly, and it expires overnight tonight. the policy made it easier for the us to send people back to mexico, using the coronavirus pandemic as justification. the winding down of covid measures means the policy no longer has any public health justification, prompting officials to announce it would end on 11 may, the same day as the official us public health emergency. and when it ends, in a few hours from now, the us will return to a policy where migrants are screened, to determine if they are eligible for asylum and quickly deported if they do not qualify. earlier, us homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas had this warning for those who

are not eligible for asylum. our borders are not open. people who cross our borders illegally and without a legal basis to remain will be processed hotly and removed. meanwhile, the house majority leader kevin mccarthy blamed president biden and his administration for the expected surge of migrants. the white house had two years to plan for the end of title 42. we all knew the deadline. but the white house produced no plan, missed the deadline and bumbled into another crisis. even president biden, who has only been to the border one time in 50 years says this... "there is going to be chaos for a little while." on the other side of the border, in mexico, there's confusion about what will happen once title 42 is lifted, as this mother from venezuela told the bbc. translation: | say| mum, it is too much. here you cannot sleep, the cold is too intense.

i say, lord, what do i do? we are worried they will close the border and tell us everything is over, after all the sacrifice. joining me live from mexico city is our correspondent will grant and our north america correspondent sophie long is in el paso, texas. welcome to you both. so for, let's start with you. is there a sense of what there is to expect when it expires? hat expect when it expires? not reall . i expect when it expires? not really. i think _ expect when it expires? not really. i think it _ expect when it expires? not really. i think it is _ expect when it expires? iirrt really. i think it is fair to say they are bracing themselves for anything. they el paso says they don't know exactly what will happen but they do know there will be more people coming in. just in the last few days, they have already seen a spike in the number of people coming across the border. customs and border patrol have stayed in excess of 10,000 people have been encountered every day since monday. so i think whenever there is a

change to the policy along the us southern border, or indeed a rumour of a change in policy, there is a huge amount of confusion and a heightened anxiety among people who have been waiting, some of them for many months, if not years, on the other side of the border. well, you are on the other side of the border in mexico city, as wejust heard. will, there appears to have been a lot of consuion about what exactly the expiry of title 42 will mean. what have you heard from people you have been speaking to there? do they understand the meaning of what the ending of this policy means?— this policy means? well, bear in mind if— this policy means? well, bear in mind if you _ this policy means? well, bear in mind if you are _ this policy means? well, bear in mind if you are a _ this policy means? well, bear in mind if you are a migrant . in mind if you are a migrant and you are facing a variety of different choices, they all seem equally unattractive. one might be to try to make it to the united states before title 42 is lifted, which people have clearly been doing over the last few days, to try to get in and see if that would be better for their chances. there is the other option of waiting to see if they return to title eight, which is the measure that will

replace title 42, it's better of your chances, but that comes with a harsher crackdown on those who cross the border illegally without the right documentation, and they have been asked to use an app, which simply doesn't seem to be working for them. and then the remaining option is either to go in the hands of people smuggling gangs, or return home, and i can tell you that absolutely every migrant you speak to says that is unthinkable. they absolutely refuse, having got to this point in mexico, to turn round and go back to their countries of origin. and go back to their countries of oriuin. ., , ~ _, and go back to their countries oforiuin. ., , ~ , of origin. how is mexico coping with the large _ of origin. how is mexico coping with the large numbers - of origin. how is mexico coping with the large numbers of - with the large numbers of people who are they are trying to enter into the us? i people who are they are trying to enter into the us?- to enter into the us? i think the president _ to enter into the us? i think the president sees - to enter into the us? i think the president sees an - the president sees an opportunity in all of this. i think if he considers backing the biden administration's change in policy in title 42 has some real political capital

to it, that he might be to get some things later on with the biden administration, so for the time being he is very much unlocked. with president biden, for example bolstering troops on the southern border supposedly as he put it to protect the migrant but that is another 7002 will be joining the troops and national guard down there and that is quite clearly there is a deterrent. similarly, there is going to be an acceptance of some 30,000 deportees from the united states hailing from four nations, cuba, haiti, nicaragua and venezuela. those are the four nations that generate so many migrants. that is a guarantee from the president that he would join this change alongside president biden. sophie, you have been speaking to many migrants in al paso, what have they been telling you about the conditions they are in and the journey? about the conditions they are in and thejourney? i about the conditions they are

in and the journey?— in and the “ourney? i think many of _ in and the journey? i think many of them _ in and the journey? i think many of them have - in and the journey? i think many of them have had i in and the journey? i think. many of them have had very tough journeys. many of them have had very toughjourneys. i was many of them have had very tough journeys. i was talking tough journeys. i was talking to one man from venezuela who said he had been on the road for months and it's very difficultjourney. he said he had made it because he had received threats to his life in his home country, going back for him was not an option. when i asked him for him was not an option. when iasked him how for him was not an option. when i asked him how hopeful he was he would be able to stay, he said hejust didn't he would be able to stay, he said he just didn't know. he would be able to stay, he said hejust didn't know. i askedif said hejust didn't know. i asked if he had been given any information when he arrived in the united states and he said no, and what i have learned from many people have spoken to here over the past couple of daysis here over the past couple of days is when i asked them if they can because the new title 42 restrictions were being lifted or if they were away at all that the rules were going to change, they said no, they had no idea. so i think that is the thing to remember, as well said, for many of his people there is no good option. they are desperate to get into the united states under title 42, if they were expelled from the us they would civilly try again. some people you speak to have come across the border several times. have come across the border severaltimes. one have come across the border several times. one person had come across on the seventh

attempt. now under the new restrictions, taking effect on outcome that will no longer be an option. if they make it into the united states they will then be given an interview where they will try to establish whether they have a credible rate to seek asylum here. if they are found to have come in unlawfully, they will not only be deported, but they will be banned from re—entry for five years. so will be banned from re—entry forfive years. so in will be banned from re—entry for five years. so in some ways, there are much harsher rules that go along with the restrictions that will take place tonight. it has attracted some criticism certainly from migrants rights advocates here. sophie, the biden administration has sent it has sent a surge of troops to the border. have you seen any evidence of that reinforced presence?— evidence of that reinforced resence? ~ . �* , presence? we haven't seen, where i am _ presence? we haven't seen, where i am here _ presence? we haven't seen, where i am here in - presence? we haven't seen, | where i am here in downtown presence? we haven't seen, . where i am here in downtown el paso, we haven't really seen an increase in law enforcement officers or troops here. but we do know this border is very long, it stretches for many,

many miles, and we know that there is a huge number, several hundred extra officers, law enforcement officers and troops, who have been sent down to the border, but they will be hoping in an administrative role to help with the processing of the anticipated surge in the number of people coming across the border. they have gone to great lengths here to be ready for that to happen. there is increased capacity at processing centres, there are new shelters that we've seen that at the moment are empty, ready to house more vulnerable people coming across the border for the time they need to be nl paso before they can move on to their destinations. many of them have sponsors or family members already in the united states that they are hoping to come here and join in. so they have been great efforts are made, certainly in el paso. the mayor of al paso has said he has been in contact with the white house several times daily and they are grateful for this federal support they have got. this of course is the doorstep

to the united states. they are not coming to el paso per se, they are coming to make life in they are coming to make life in the united states. so i think el paso is bracing itself, it has seen a spike in the number of people coming across the board at we wait to see what happens in the hours ahead. thank you both. and in the next hour, we'll hear from two members of the us congress — pramila jayapal, a democrat from washington state — and republican, aaron bean, of florida. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. when i play, i get lost into my own world, so you can forget what's going on in reality. playing every note with a heartfelt passion, matthew richards, from wolverhampton, is registered blind. he has now just released his own original

album, after recently appearing on the channel four programme, the piano. he on the channel four programme, the nana-— the piano. he could be composing _ the piano. he could be composing music - the piano. he could be| composing music for. .. the piano. he could be - composing music for. .. this sounds like _ composing music for. .. this sounds like pirates - composing music for. .. this sounds like pirates of- composing music for. .. this sounds like pirates of the i sounds like pirates of the caribbean _ sounds like pirates of the caribbean.— sounds like pirates of the caribbean. ., ., , ., caribbean. for a computer game. it has caribbean. for a computer game. it has been _ caribbean. for a computer game. it has been a _ caribbean. for a computer game. it has been a dream _ caribbean. for a computer game. it has been a dream to _ caribbean. for a computer game. it has been a dream to perform, l it has been a dream to perform, and to have that opportunity to perform in front of the people, and to have such feedback, such positive feedback from them all. words cannot describe it. he says inspiration for his music reflects the highs and lows of life. you're live with bbc news. the united kingdom has become the first country to send longer—range missiles to ukraine, as its forces prepare to launch a counter—offensive against the russian invasion. our correspondent hugo bachega sat down with ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky to discuss the upcoming attack. so, mr president, i've been

here for a few weeks, and i think every, almost every conversation i've had has touched on the issue of this much anticipated ukrainian counteroffensive. are you ready for this counteroffensive? translation: mentally, - we're ready, in terms of how motivated our military are, we're ready. in terms of enough personnel, and our brigades, we're ready. in terms of equipment, not everything has arrived yet. that's my answer. so you're still waiting for weapons and for the kind of military equipment that have been promised to arrive? yes, we're still expecting some things. they will reinforce our counteroffensive and most importantly, they will protect our people. we're expecting armoured vehicles. they arrive in batches. we can advance with what we've got, and i think we can be successful, but we will lose a lot of people. i think that is unacceptable. we need to wait. we need a bit more time.

just let me talk about something that happened last week, because moscow accused ukraine of trying to assassinate president putin. was ukraine behind that alleged attack? translation: no, clearly we were not behind it. - they're always looking to do something that would look like justification. you do this and we do this in response. but it didn't work. not even for their own people at home. so who was behind it? i think they did it themselves. what kind of magic thing was carrying bombs? it was their launch, there were no victims and no one was wounded. nothing happened there. what happened there?

what kind of magic thing was carrying bombs? why did it fail? no—one was killed. everyone was safe and sound and so on and so forth, and that is why they did it themselves, absolutely. i am confident of this. next year is an election year in america, which is your main ally... translation: i cannot vote, i am a citizen of ukraine, - i cannot say who i would vote for. but apart from that, you consent that, depending but apart from that, are you concerned that, depending on who is elected, you could end up losing this support from your main ally? translation: it is hard to say, to be honest. . elections are internal processes and always affect any country, especially if you talk about elections in the us. first, i do not think we will lose bipartisan support, and, secondly, yes, they are taking place in two years time, who knows where we will be.

i believe we will win. we are here as eurovision is happening in liverpool, england, and you were supposed to be hosting at here but you cannot because of the war. how disappointed are you that you cannot host it? translation: l have great - respect for the united kingdom and its society. it is an amazing country. from the very start, my opinion has been that if we cannot host eurovision it should take place in one of the countries that share a border with us. such as slovakia or poland or any other country which our people can reach easily, something nearby. tensions between israel and palestianian islamichhad in the gaza strip continue to escalate. the palestinian militant group

on thursday fired hundreds of rockets into israel in response to the latest killing of their military leaders. while most rockets were intercepted by israel's iron dome air defence system, one hit a residential building in rehovot and killed an elderly man. this comes as israel's operations costed 28 lives in gaza including women and children. our correspondent yolanda knell has more. the people saw repeated barrages of rockets yesterday when more than 400 were fired palestinian militants in gaza towards southern israel stopping many of them were intercepted by israeli air defences but not all, i have been to a healthier it was badly damaged when it was hit, the owner was in her bomb shelter at the time. now the expectation is of more rocket fire because israel has been carrying out further airstrikes inside the gaza strip and also the funeral has taken place for

the funeral has taken place for the fourth leader of islamic jihad to have been killed in the three days of this israeli operation, and his death brings to 25, at least, the number of palestinians who have been killed, more than half of them civilians including women and young children. egypt is continuing its efforts to try to mediate a ceasefire here but that's going to be difficult. islamichhad will want to avenge its latest lost leader and also says it wants the targeted assassinations to end before it will agree to quiet. pakistan's ex—prime minister, imran khan, is set to attend court in a few hours' time to defend himself against corruption charges. but he will attend as a free man, after the country's supreme court ruled his arrest on related charges illegal. the bbc�*s caroline davies explains.

let's remember where we started this morning with imran khan in police custody and expected to stay there for another week stopping members of his party had also been arrested. 2300 protesters had then arrested according to the police in fact, more than. then there is this very surprising intervention by the supreme court who called imran khan to appear in front of them, that is the first time we have seen him as journalists appear since he was arrested on tuesday. when he did appear in front of thejudges the panel of when he did appear in front of the judges the panel of three told him that the arrest warrant against him was now invalid and unlawful and therefore he was now going to be spending the night still inside the prison compound where he spent last night but instead this time he would be allowed to have visitors. previously he did ask several times to ask if he could go home but was instead told that for his own security he needed to remain within the police compound. imran khan was particularly defiant when he appeared in front of the judges, talking about the way

that he felt he had been treated in this entire process and after the court finished he stayed inside the courtroom for a further 15 minutes to answer questions from reporters too. how significant is this new development? for many of imran khan's supporters, they will see this as a very key point showing that he has been able to push back against the military and intelligence services but in terms of exactly what might happen next, imran khan still has two appear in front of the judge tomorrow in front of the judge tomorrow in the islamabad high court. could be that at this stage this is a very temporary relief. mr khan's arrest sparked protests across the country, some of which turned violent. his supporters say his arrest was designed to muzzle mr khan, who remains a popular and powerful opponent of the current government. i put that point to musadik malik, pakistan's minister of state for petroleum and a member of the cabinet.

welcome to bbc news, thank you forjoining us in the studio stopping the arrest of imran khan has led to a nationwide protests, it has been declared illegal by the supreme court as well and the former attorney general called this arrest and extreme misstep, was it a misstep? i extreme misstep, was it a misstep?— misstep? i won't call it a misstep, _ misstep? i won't call it a misstep, i _ misstep? i won't call it a misstep, i think - misstep? i won't call it a misstep, i think there i misstep? i won't call it a i misstep, i think there were some requirements that should be taken care of like arresting him once he leaves the court. that's about it. if you really look at the case it's amply clear that should have happened and some must happen if we want to maintain the law and pakistan.— to maintain the law and pakistan. ., ., ., ., pakistan. oh no that imran khan has said these _ pakistan. oh no that imran khan has said these are _ pakistan. oh no that imran khan has said these are not _ pakistan. oh no that imran khan has said these are not fair - has said these are not fair charges. i has said these are not fair charges-— has said these are not fair charaes. ., ., , ., charges. i am a member of the cabinet and. — charges. i am a member of the cabinet and, not _ charges. i am a member of the cabinet and, not in _ charges. i am a member of the cabinet and, not in pakistan . cabinet and, not in pakistan but in the united kingdom under the economic crimes act there was a bust and £190 million were busted and they belonged to one of the largest developers, allegedly to one of

the largest developers of pakistan, he is very famous for his developments called town. according to the law and the united kingdom, that £190 million of ill gotten money unexplained wealth needed to come back to pakistan in the exchequer. at belonged to the people of pakistan. this is the law in the united kingdom. find law in the united kingdom. and the uk national _ law in the united kingdom. and the uk national crime industry did say that their case had nothing to do with mr khan. his name is not mentioned in the writing of the case so it comes back to pakistan itself. it’s back to pakistan itself. it's very clear _ back to pakistan itself. it's very clear because - back to pakistan itself. it�*s very clear because the money that needed to come back to the people of pakistan, rather than coming to the people of pakistan, imran khan brought a little piece of paper, just like the cypher that he pulled out in front of the people and said here is the proof that the us has conspired against me in that piece of paper, what he did was he allowed one of his advisers to go to the united kingdom and cut a deal, the

details of which shall never be disclosed. how fair is that? that one of his advisers, in accordance with the decision that was made by the cabinet, led by the prime minister, went back and gave an account number to the united kingdom which belonged to the same gentleman that it this up to the court, though? exactly, and what do you think is happening right now? the process of prosecution is starting. so this is exactly in accordance with laws in pakistan that if under the case some investigation begins, the person is arrested and that is exactly what it has happened. we saw paramilitary go to the capital's high court, legally, according to the supreme court and arrest your party's biggest political opponent. who is in charge here?— political opponent. who is in chare here? , , ., charge here? maybe they should have waited _ charge here? maybe they should have waited a _ charge here? maybe they should have waited a while _ charge here? maybe they should have waited a while and - charge here? maybe they should have waited a while and let - charge here? maybe they should have waited a while and let him l have waited a while and let him come out, out of the court and arrested him there but the irregularity in terms of walking into the courtroom to

arrest him does notjustify... they could wait, though. this i they could wait, though. as i said, they could wait, though. as i said. they — they could wait, though. as i said, they could _ they could wait, though. as i said, they could have - they could wait, though. is i said, they could have waited, they didn't do it. if there is something wrong that irregularity need be taken care of. once that investigation started, you take the person under custody for the duration of the investigation. i5 of the investigation. is another _ of the investigation. is another supreme court has said this arrest was illegal, the way that it happened. fin way that it happened. on technical _ way that it happened. 0'1 technical grounds, that way that it happened. 0�*1 technical grounds, that they will into the court.— technical grounds, that they will into the court. right, the arrest was — will into the court. right, the arrest was illegal. _ will into the court. right, the arrest was illegal. it - will into the court. right, the arrest was illegal. it was - arrest was illegal. it was ille . al arrest was illegal. it was illegal on _ arrest was illegal. it was illegal on technical- arrest was illegal. it was i illegal on technical grounds because they walked into the court. i because they walked into the court. ., ., ., ., ., ., court. i do want to move on to what is happening _ court. i do want to move on to what is happening in _ court. i do want to move on to what is happening in pakistan| what is happening in pakistan at the moment, we've seen these massive protests, unprecedented, also a literary site. why do you think that this has triggered such a massive backlash? i personally think that the _ massive backlash? i personally think that the way _ massive backlash? i personally think that the way the - massive backlash? i personally think that the way the courts i think that the way the courts are making their decisions is, what can i say, quite suspect. the decisions are suspect and i'd tell you why. if you

remember the novo sharif case, about three orfour remember the novo sharif case, about three or four years ago, in that case they basically said that he could have taken money because he was serving on his son's company's board, and as a board member he was eligible for a certain comfort nation, he didn't take that compensation but he could have taken that compensation so therefore he is disqualified. what about the protest on the street because these continue? when people do illegal activities and they ransacked government buildings are basically they burn the government buildings... the pta leads said these _ government buildings... the pta leads said these protests - government buildings... the pta leads said these protests need i leads said these protests need to be peaceful. find leads said these protests need to be peaceful.— leads said these protests need to be peaceful. and by the same token you've _ to be peaceful. and by the same token you've seen _ to be peaceful. and by the same token you've seen all— to be peaceful. and by the same token you've seen all those - token you've seen all those videos that are getting leaked where they are being instructed that to attack the core, the's house and burn it to ashes. they did say these should be peaceful protests.—

peaceful protests. saying it, that these — peaceful protests. saying it, that these should _ peaceful protests. saying it, that these should be - peaceful protests. saying it, i that these should be peaceful, then basically direct and the mob and the party leaders, the local leaders who are going to lead the mob to march onto the military installations and also march onto radio pakistan and also march onto other, one of the party officers, our party office and burn it to ashes, thatis office and burn it to ashes, that is completely contradictory with one man coming on television and saying well, they assume... coming on television and saying well, they assume. . ._ coming on television and saying well, they assume... what about blockinu well, they assume... what about blocking the _ well, they assume... what about blocking the internet? _ well, they assume. .. what about blocking the internet? i - well, they assume... what about blocking the internet? i don't - blocking the internet? i don't 'usti blocking the internet? i don't justify that- _ blocking the internet? i don't justify that- l _ blocking the internet? i don't justify that. ithink— blocking the internet? i don't justify that. i think there - justify that. i think there should be complete freedom of expression and i think blocking the internet is not helpful. would you ask your government to... ~ .,, , �* to... most definitely, i'm auoin to... most definitely, i'm going to _ to... most definitely, i'm going to have _ to... most definitely, i'm going to have a _ to... most definitely, i'm i going to have a conversation and try to figure out, the ministerfor and try to figure out, the minister for information is a dearfriend of mine and i certainly ask her and it could be because of some technical reasons, i honestly don't know why but that, i think should not happen. why but that, i think should not happen-— not happen. 0k, very interesting _ not happen. 0k, very i interesting conversation, not happen. 0k, very - interesting conversation, thank you for your time.

and that is our programme, thanks for watching bbc news. don't forget to download our app don't forget to download our app for all the latest news analysis and headlines. hello, there. over the past few days, we've seen lots of rainbows. there's been some very heavy rain and lots of thunder and lightning. and on thursday, we had some funnel clouds coming down from the base of the cloud. that rotating cylinder of air, if it hit the ground, it would have been a tornado. funnel clouds not unusual at this time of the year. don't think we're going to see any, though, over the next few days because low pressure is going to take the heavy showers into central southern parts of europe. high pressure building across the uk. but we're seeing an east or northeasterly breeze coming in that's dragging in all the cloud from off the north sea.

so a grey start for many central and eastern parts of the uk. that finger of rain moves down briefly to affect east anglia, the southeast, maybe the east midlands, before arriving in dorset. ahead of that, one or two showers for wales and the southwest. for many western parts of the uk, it's going to be dry with some lengthy spells of sunshine. and warm as well, temperatures 18, 19 degrees. where we keep the cloud, though, for eastern parts of england, much cooler, 13 or 14 nearer the mark and a cool breeze blowing in as well. that breeze will blow in more cloud overnight, particularly across central and eastern england on saturday morning. but it should burn back towards some of those north sea coasts, with sunshine developing more widely. and it's going to be warm in that sunshine and light winds as well. temperatures are going to be higher on saturday, probably peaking at 20 or 21 celsius in quite a few places. second half of the weekend sees some changes because the high pressure releases its grip, and this weather front will move down from the northwest. that will bring some rain into scotland and northern ireland and eventually a bit of that rain will move over the irish sea into far western parts of england and wales. ahead of that we'll see some sunny spells, and barring one or two light showers,

it may well be dry. and it's going to be quite warm across the eastern side of england and through the midlands, temperatures again, 20 or 21 celsius. but over towards the northwest, things are turning much cooler nearer 15 or 16 degrees in that rain. that rain then pushes its way down across the country overnight. and then following on from that early next week, we have more of a northwesterly breeze and that's going to bring in some cooler air as well. so the peak of the temperatures looks like being over the weekend. after that, things are cooling down. there'll be some sunshine around into next week. we can see just how low those temperatures are going to be. there will be some showers, but not the heavy ones that we've seen of late.

voice—over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. can you see yourself leaving that house, and do you remember what you did as you left? we were scared. 50 years ago, my family fled their home in uganda. all asian british citizens must leave uganda. i president idi amin gave ugandan asians 90 days to leave. the army people said, "just get

quickly inside the car." most people took the bare minimum — a suitcase and a tiny