it's a deeply religious building. it's a deeply religious building. it's a deeply religious building. it's a historical building. it's seen so it's a historical building. it's seen so much through france's very turbulent history and it's a cultural building. this means so much to so many different people gci’oss much to so many different people across paris and france, thousands of tourists that come and have their pictures taken outside, the live shots that we are seeing now of specialists with the flashlights and torches, making their first initial investigation. we'll have more from paris in a moment, but let's take a look at some of the day's other news. the international committee of the red cross says it still hopes for the release of three staff members abducted in syria in 2013. a nurse from new zealand and two syrian drivers were taken, probably by islamic state militants, as they tried to deliver medical supplies to idlib. the icrc says it knows that the nurse was seen alive late last year, but the two

drivers have not been heard of since the abduction. matthew morris, icrc‘s spokesperson for the uk explains why it has taken icrc so long to acknowledge these abductions. it's been a very long and complex crisis lasting 5.5 years. we've always made the decision with the best insterests of our colleagues in mind. things started to change the end of 2017, reports that louisa had been seen perhaps giving medical care to people in some towns and villages near the euphrates, and i have to say, since 2013, we've not heard anything about the other two.

we heard that louisa though was there as late as last year, the end of last year, so with islamic state losing its territory in syria in an area where we know louisa had been seen, that was a significant milestone. we had been trying to tap into any possible links, within europe in the americas and the middle east, to try and look at any leads. we've heard all sorts of rumours and leads and we try to check and everything that we've heard. it's been more than three and a half years since the volkswagen emissions scandal exploded onto the world stage. now the company's former chief executive martin winterkorn — and four other managers — have been charged with fraud in germany for their role in allegedly manipulating diesel emissions testing. mr winterkorn could face up to ten years in prison if found guilty. in the uk, the city of liverpool has been marking the 30th anniversary of the hillsborough disaster. a minute's silence was observed at 6 minutes past three, the time the match was stopped. ninety six football fans died in a crush on the terraces during an fa cup semi—final.

tens of thousands of north koreans have attended a huge public rally in pyongyang to honour the country's leaders. known as the day of the sun, it's the most important in the north korean calendar, marking the birthday of the country's founder, kim il—sung in 1912. soldiers, workers, families, newlyweds and tourists queued to place flowers at the base of leaders‘ statues in the capital. maria ressa is a former cnn reporter and was time magazine's person of the year in 2018. she's now running the news site rappler in the philippines. since the beginning of last year, a total of 11 charges have been levelled against ressa and the news site she founded — rappler. ms ressa's most recent arrest was on march 29 for allegedly violating laws barring foreign ownership of media. and shortly she's standing trial in the capital manila.

from there we're joined now by the bbc‘s howard johnson. what is happening right now inside the courthouse? maria ressajust entered the court and she said the very independence of the philippines is on trial with this cyber libel case that has been brought against her. of course this is a cyber libel case dating back to 2012. what was written on the on the rappler case, there are a lot on that side saying

it is politically motivated and that it is critical coverage of rodrigo acro one and rappler always duterte. acro one and rappler always state this is an attack on the freedom of speech stop however, if you take a look at past cases, rappler and maria ressa are the only ones being charged for cyber libel while other agencies and other organisations have not. so what is happening here? what we see here is the government saying this is just a private case. there were allegations that he was involved in drugs and human trafficking, allegations that he had connections with the supreme court chiefjustice at the time he was undergoing an impeachment trial against him. what we say on the other side is rappler saying this is being used to harpoon them and that

this is part of the other 11 cases as well about tax evasion and foreign ownership as a way of trying to silence journalists in this country. we must remember that rappler have been critical on the war of drugs rappler have been critical on the warof drugs — rappler have been critical on the war of drugs — make of the war on drugs where we have seen thousands of people killed. —— the war on drugs. people were killed without due process, no day in court and it is estimated up to 20,000 people and beyond have been killed in this drug war. police say just beyond have been killed in this drug war. police sayjust over 5000. either way today, we will see it today in the court. the charges being laid against maria ressa and rappler, where they fair? human rights groups are coming out and are saying this is blatant political oppression of freedom of speech. this is an attack on freedom of

speech. they have been finding out police officers were involved or allegedly involved with killings in the war on drugs and that those killings were dubious. they have been not shy in attacking president rodrigo due's in a circle and offering allegations about the way that inner circle acted. they are saying that they are just carrying out the letter of the law, that rappler have violated tax evasion laws and foreign ownership laws. really, we will find out during this case which way the philippines see it. thank you, the philippine correspondent howard johnson. it began as a sit in last week — and in just a few days has turned into a mass protest. now the organisers of the huge demonastrations in sudan say they want the full dismantling of the "deep state" left behind by ousted leader 0mar al—bashir.

a spokesman said leaders of the past regime should be put on trial. the bbc‘s alistair leithead reports. great change has already come to sudan but not enough for those who risked it all to overthrow a dictator and believe they still have the momentum to demand more. some soldiers have stood alongside the protesters as they've camped outside the military headquarters chanting for change. "0ne army, one people," they shout. "revolution." but after 30 years of power, senior officers have a lot to lose and there's still suspicion this is not an authority ready to give in but a carefully choreographed transition. translation: we wish that everybody agrees on the formation of a civil government that paves the way and prepares the environment for a social and political

reconciliation, and that it can reach peace. the opposition has been meeting the transitional military council and there have been many concessions. translation: we announce the appointment of a new intelligence chief, abu bakr mustafa. but despite the arrest of former government figures and the promise the opposition can choose a new prime minister, there is still suspicion on the streets and the sense that now is the chance to shape a different, civilian—led future. translation: untilwe see tangible results, we're not moving from the side because we're not asking for a change of people, they're asking for a change of our entire situation. translation: freedom, peace and justice. the revolution is the people's choice. we will rebuild sudan, one that exists for everyone without discrimination and racism. at this point, trust is hard—won and easily lost.

breaking a promise not to disperse the protests would again destabilise this fast—moving political crisis. the question is where the line is drawn — between when the demonstrators are satisfied their demands will be met, and the point when the military leaders feel they can't give any more. alistair leithead, bbc news, nairobi. i want to bring you back to our top story and the devastation and the fire of the notre dame cathedral in the centre of paris. let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. le figaro covers its entire front page with a photo of the notre dame on fire. inside, the paper quotes president macron as saying that "i am sad tonight to see this part of us burn." le monde newspaper's website headlines: "the spire of notre—dame cathedral in paris collapsed in the fire."

it goes onto say president emmanuel macron cancelled other arrangements and went to the cathedral. liberation carries a big photo of the notre dame cathedral on fire. it quotes firefighters as saying that the fire might be "potentially linked" to the renovation of the building. firefighters are working throughout the night. it is at 2am local time. they are dousing to make sure that the stonework is wet and damp and that no fire resumes. every now and again you see flashlights across the top of the building so people are up there, experts are up there, trying

to already establish the extent of the damage and from the pictures that we saw from inside, a lot of the stonework is still very much luckily intact. the firefighters are still dousing with water. political and religious leaders have been giving their response to the events in paris. german chancellor angela merkel said: i am deeply saddened to follow the events in paris and see the horrible images of notre dame in flames. notre dame is a symbol of france and our european culture. british prime minister theresa may tweeted: my thoughts are with the people of france tonight and with the emergency services who are fighting the terrible blaze at notre dame cathedral. president trump gave this response: so horrible to watch the massive fire at notre dame cathedral in paris. god bless the people of france! i want to pick up on donald trump because a little earlier he suggested that perhaps flying water tankers could be used adding that

people must act quickly but the french interior minister and civil service and crisis management service and crisis management service was quickly to tweet in english, not in french, that they we re english, not in french, that they were doing everything that they could to keep it under control except for water bombing aircraft because it could have collapsed the entire cathedral. pretty quick to review donald trump there. trump's predecessor barack 0bama said: notre dame is one of the world's great treasures. it's in our nature to mourn when we see history lost — but it's also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can. a statement from the vatican said: we express oui’ closeness to the french catholics and the population of paris, and assure you of our prayers for the firefighters. and officials at westminster abbey — here in the uk — tweeted: devastated

for our friends at notre dame and for the people of france. you are in our thoughts and prayers tonight. i'll are let's take a look back at the cultural significance of notre dame. it has survived the french revolution and two world wars. it has towered over paris since the 13th century. notre dame sits in the very heart of paris, on the ile de la cite, an island in the middle of the river seine. the fire is believed to have started shortly before 7pm local time, shortly after the structure closed to the public. horrified crowds gathered along the banks of the river to watch their much loved catherdral landmark burn. fergal keane looks now at what notre dame means to france, and its people. in paris, the most desolate of skies, smoke and ruin and history billowing into the air.

fire crews from across paris have come here to save whatever they possibly can, and the striking thing, standing among the crowds on the banks of the seine, isjust the silence, the quiet of people stunned by the destruction of notjust a great french cultural artefact but of one that belonged to the world. notre dame de paris offered an image of france that seemed eternal, even if the age of kings and emperors and powerful cardinals past was long past. it was built more than 800 years ago when kings ruled by divine right, and grand and great cathedrals of stone and stained glass were designed to reach for the sublime. so this is absolutely a cultural disaster, for all of us, notjust the french, but also of european significance.