this is bbc news, the headlines. the russian government says one of it s leading war bloggers has been killed in an explosion at a cafe in st petersburg, russia s second largest city. vladlen tatarsky was a vocal supporter of russia s war in ukraine and was holding a meeting at the venue. authorities in the united states have been assessing the damage caused by storms and tornadoes. at least 26 people are known to have died and dozens are missing. the bbc has been told there are positive updates in the case of british men, two of whom are pictured here, who were arrested by the taliban in afghanistan earlier this year. and 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.