the authorities in iran are vowing to enforce the wearing of a headscarf by women more rigorously, despite months of protests. a growing number of women have been seen unveiled in public, and hardline politicians are giving judges ultimatums to punish those who ignore the rules. earlier i spoke to bbc s parham ghobadi and asked what prompted this latest move. in big cities like in tehran and in other major cities, they just walk around on the streets without headscarf and without her and without hijab, it s not only headscarf, it s also a kind of trench coat that for four decades, iranian women had to wear in order to walk on the streets. so now we see, especially younger women, walking on the streets without any sort of hijab and iranian politicians and it has frustrated iranian hardliners. and so iranian regime is in a really difficult position because they have this tiny margin of supporters that are hard liners, and these are the people who are willing to pick up arms and
welcome to bbc news. the authorities in iran are vowing to enforce the wearing of a headscarf by women more rigorously , despite months of protests. a growing number of women have been seen unveiled in public, and hardline politicians are giving judges ultimatums to punish those who ignore the rules. earlier i spoke to bbc s parham ghobadi and asked what prompted this latest move. in big cities like in tehran and in other major cities, they just walk around on the streets without headscarf and without her and without hijab, it s not only headscarf, it s also a kind of trench coat that for four decades, iranian women had to wear in order to walk on the streets. so now we see, especially younger women, walking on the streets without any sort of hijab and iranian politicians and it has frustrated iranian hardliners. and so iranian regime is in a really difficult position because they have this tiny margin of supporters that are hard liners, and these are the people who are willi
welcome to bbc news. the authorities in iran are vowing to enforce the wearing the latest series of tornadoes to have ripped through parts of the united states has left at least 11 people dead, they were killed in the states of arkansas and illinois. dozens have been injured and tens of thousands have lost power. some pictures coming through to us in the last half hour show the extent of the damage to homes in this residential area in the state of illinois. the picture is no better in arkansas where you can see homes have been completely flattened and businesses forced to close after devastating damage. the governor there, sarah huckabee sanders, has declared a state of emergency. here s sancha berg. dozens of storms and tornadoes left a trail of destruction. two of the fiercest touchdown in the southern state of arkansas, tearing off roofs, bringing down power lines, sweeping through homes with incredible force. the volume of itjust seems rather intense and it was extremely
as he left rome s gemelli hospital, the pontiff greeted well wishers and joked he was still alive. the vatican said he d resumed some work duties while in hospital, baptising a new born baby as well as sharing a dinner with some of the doctors and nurses. 0ur correspondentjenny hill sent us the latest from rome. yeah. i think the message from pope francis and the vatican is very much business as usual. you talked about how he spoke to people waiting outside the hospital. he appeared to be in extremely good spirit, smiling and joking, as you say, with the reporters who d been camped outside that clinic for several days, but also doing what he appears to really enjoy doing best, speaking to ordinary people, signing the plaster cast of a young boy, but also comforting a couple whose daughter had died in the hospital overnight. he s also, though, as you say, promised to be here tomorrow in st peter s square for the all important palm sunday mass. now, it is significant because that is the
whose daughter had died in the hospital overnight. he s also, though, as you say, promised to be here tomorrow in st peter s square for the all important palm sunday mass. now, it is significant because that is the beginning of holy week, the week long easter tide, culminating, of course, on easter sunday next weekend. and the vatican have said that he will participate in all easter services as originally planned. now, we don t quite know what his role will be tomorrow. he will be here. he will be presiding. but a cardinal will actually celebrate the mass at the altar. presumably, the pope will be seated at the stage behind me there so people can see him. but he will be in the square, notjust up at the balcony. the new school year started last week in afghanistan. but for the second year running, a taliban ban is keeping teenage girls out of school. so what are the options for young afghans who want to keep