i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. the headlines: grief and shock across sri lanka as a wave of bomb attacks on churches and hotels leaves more than 200 dead. the islands deadliest violence in a decade. translation: i heard the explosion and then the roof fell on us. we took the children and ran out from the rear door. but when i came to the rear door. but when i came to the hospital i saw my brother—in—law and son on the ground. a government minister tells the bbc police were briefed about the threat ten days ago, but the prime minister wasn't told. the million—dollar question was, this was sent on the 11th of april

and no proper government official actually had their hands on it. i'm lewis vaughanjones in london. also in the programme: comedy actor volodymyr zelensky wins ukraine's presidential election run—off by a landslide despite no political experience. and we hear from one of the world's largest environmental movments as it marks its annual earth day, this yearfocusing on pollution in india. good morning. it's 7am in singapore, midnight in london and 4:30 in the morning in sri lanka, where the country is in shock following a wave of bomb attacks on sunday morning that has left at least 207 dead and a further a50 injured.

three churches were targeted during easter services and three hotels in the capital colombo were also hit. eight people have so far been arrested and a curfew has been imposed. it is by far the worst violence to rock the island since the end of the civil war almost exactly ten years ago. the bbc‘s yogita limaye reports from colombo. this is where people had gathered to pray. but a bomb ripped through the peace of easter sunday. dozens were killed here at st anthony's shrine in colombo. this amateur video is believed to show the moment when the explosion occurred. translation: i heard the explosion and then the roof fell on us. we took the children and ran out from the rear door but when i came

to the hospital i saw my brother—in—law and son on the ground. at around the same time an explosion took place here at this catholic—dominated town just north of the capital colombo at a church which is just down the street. we're not allowed to go past this point right now because of security reasons but this is believed to have been the deadliest of all the bombings. a church in eastern sri lanka was also attacked. families rushed to hospitals looking for loved ones. for hundreds, that search ended in heartbreak. sri lanka is home to more than a million christians. a community that's been left shaken. i would also like to ask the government to hold a very impartial, strong enquiry and find out who is responsible behind this act and also to punish

them, mercilessly. three luxury hotels in colombo were also targeted, popular with tourists. many foreign travellers are among those killed and five british citizens have also lost their lives. investigators have been searching for evidence. a guest staying on the 25th floor of this hotel, the shangri—la, describes what happened. we could hear two loud bangs and the entire room was shaking. i could see that a lot of guests here have been taken to hospitals. they're all casualties, staff and guests. for many, a holiday has turned into a nightmare. 20—year—old jason allen is from america. he's being treated for his injuries.

security forces raided a house where they believed some of those involved in the attack were hiding. three policemen died. several people have been arrested in connection with the bombings. we must also look into why adequate precautions were not taken in this respect. but first and foremost, we have to meet ensure that terrorism does not lift its head in sri lanka. a curfew is in place across the country. security has been heightened at churches, hotels and the airport, among other places. since its bloodiest civil war ended ten years ago, it's the deadliest day sri lanka has seen. yogita limaye, bbc news, colombo. yogita limaye with that report from colombo, and we'll be hearing more from her in just a few minutes here on newsday. a few hours after the attack, a government minister,

harin fernando, told my colleague martin stanford that sri lankan police were briefed about the threat of an attack 10 days ago but the prime minister wasn't informed. the report from the ministry investigation department, the security commission, had this political details. as you are aware, the law and order minister is the president, so therefore there was a problem of miscommunication, and this was raised by the cabinet ministers how this particular report was not taken seriously. the million—dollar question was, this was sent on the 11th of april and no proper government official actually had their hands on it.

u nfortu nately, had their hands on it. unfortunately, none of the government members of the cabinet have security clearance like the president. they are hoping to meet the president tomorrow to see how this gap of communication really happened, because it is quite a serious one. the information in this warning, tell me the detail you know. was it specifically about easter sunday? was it specifically about suicide bombers? it is clearly said that there could be four sort of attacks, it said they could be suicide bombs, weapon, or it could bea suicide bombs, weapon, or it could be a knife attack or it could be a truck attack, so these were actually mentioned, and names have been mentioned, and names have been mentioned as well. they have given a lot of details in this report, so i myself am quite amused by this

situation, because how did any of us not know about this, because of the security report, and cabinet ministers all the prime minister didn't know about it. are you telling us that the information was stuck somewhere in the president's office and didn't get distributed to other people and the prime minister's office? really, there has been a gap for sure. the report is in document, we have it in document and now we have the document in our hands, but how come relevant authorities were not informed and alerted, there should have been an emergency meeting called to look into the situation, so what this report clearly says is that we should be mindful that these attacks could happen, that is what the report clearly says, and it mentions names as well. names of organisations or individuals? individuals as well as it mentioned organisations as well. do you know

if it is those two individuals who are among those who were arrested today? what i heard is that the investigations are now - very investigations are now going very well, they know exactly where it came from, so i am quite certain by tomorrow evening, that by monday evening we should have complete details and know exactly what happened, how it was formulated, who was supporting it and who was behind it. the sri lankan minister for telecommunications, harin fernando, speaking to my colleague martin stanford. there's more detail and background to the deadly attacks on our website, including eyewitness accounts and updates as we get them on the victims. log on to bbc.com/news. we'll have more on sri lanka in just a few minutes, before that, let's take a look at some of the day's other news. teen climate activist greta thunberg addressed protesters in london on sunday. it comes as the extinction rebellion

movement, which has blocked key routes throughout the city, offered to pause their string of peaceful protests. the 16—year swede told the crowd the world has to wake up. we are now facing an existential crisis. a climate crisis and ecological crisis, which have never been treated as crises before. they have been ignored for decades, and for way too long the politicians and the people in power have gotten away with not doing anything at all to fight the climate crisis and ecological crisis. but we will make sure that they will not get away with it any longer. in other news: a landslide in southwestern colombia has killed at least 14 people. at least five others were injured as houses were buried by mud. rescue operations are continuing in the rural rosas municipality.

the slide was triggered after days of torrential rains in the region. the leaders of protests in sudan that led to the ousting of president omar al—bashir say they have suspended talks and cooperation with the transitional military council that is running the country. they urged demonstrators to continue their peaceful sit—ins and intensify their protests, until a transition to a civilian government is achieved. two teenagers arrested over the murder ofjournalist lyra mckee in northern ireland have been released without charge. ms mckee was shot dead during a riot in londonderry on thursday. her funeral will be held in belfast on wednesday. the police service of northern ireland has appealed for anyone with information to come forward. the bodies of three renowned climbers who went missing on wednesday have been recovered in canada. it's been presumed the us and two austrian alpine climbers were killed in an avalanche. they were attempting to scale

howse peak in banff national park. and finally, queen elizabeth, the world's longest—ruling monarch, celebrated her 93rd birthday on sunday. she attended an easter service in st george's chapel at windsor castle, joined by family members including the duke and duchess of cambridge and the duke of sussex. let's return to sri lanka. as we've heard, the authorities have arrested eight people, but we still don't know who was behind the attacks. sri lanka has seen a decade of relative calm since the brutal civil war which ended in may 2009. 0ur diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley looks at what might have led to these attacks. sri lanka's no stranger to violence, to civilian suffering,

but this is completely different to anything it's seen before. christians now mourning en masse, after they'd come together to celebrate and pray. for almost three decades, the country was at war — a civil war between the government and tamil tigers, that killed tens of thousands of people. but ten years ago, that conflict came to an end and since then it's enjoyed a relative calm. this is how sri lanka would like to be known — for its beautiful beaches. tourism is vital to its economy, but there have been simmering political and intercommunal tensions. last year, buddhist mobs attacked muslim properties, and christians too have complained of being intimidated by hard—line buddhists. interreligious and interethnic violence is not new. we still don't know who was behind today's attacks. despite the arrests made, no finger of blame has been pointed yet and no group has come forward to say it carried out the bombings.

we have updated our travel advice, as of now it hasn't changed but we will be reviewing that in the light of anything new that comes to light. the sri lankan government has warned that hard—line groups could exploit the aftermath of these horrific attacks to stoke communal tensions. it's appealing for calm as condemnation continues to pour in from around the world. caroline hawley, bbc news. ukrainian comedian and tv star volodymyr zelensky looks set to win the country's presidential run—off election by a landslide. exit polls show he received more than seventy % of the vote. the incumbent, petro poroshenko, has conceded defeat but told supporters gathered in kiev that he will not leave politics. this report from jonah fisher contains some flash photography. the latest episode of the volodymyr zelensky show started at the polling station. are you ready to be president? i don't know, the people

will decide it in the evening. i'm ready. he doesn't, however, have any political experience, or, judging by his election campaign, that many ideas. the choice ukraine must make today is whether to stick with the president they've had for the last five years, or take a leap into the political unknown, with this man, the comedian volodymyr zelensky. across town, there were fewer smiles. mr zelensky‘s opponent, president petro poroshenko, has been blamed for the stalling of reforms. "it's important people vote with their minds and not for thejokes", he said. that's what mr zelensky is best known for — slap stick humour and for playing the part of a principled, honest president in a popular television series. this evening, with the music from his tv series playing, mr zelensky took to the stage. exit polls immediately confirmed an overwhelming win. so, there we have it, fact will follow fiction. ukraine's television president is now going to become this country's real president. incredible!

cheering. this is a fairy tale win for mr zelensky, but it's also a protest vote against notjust the president, but a political class that are widely seen as self—serving and corrupt. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: we'll get an update from colombo as sri lanka tries to deal with the aftermath of these deadly attacks. also on the programme: we hear from one of the world's largest

environmental movements as it marks its annual earth day, this year focusing on pollution in india. the stars and stripes at half—mast outside columbine high. the school sealed off, the bodies of the dead still inside. i never thought that they would actually go through with it. one of the most successful singer songwriters of all time, the american pop star prince has died at the age of 57. he was a great musician and, you know, a genius. for millions of americans, the death of richard nixon in a new york hospital has meant conflicting emotions. a national day of mourning next wednesday sitting somehow uneasily with the abiding memories of the shame of watergate.

mission control: and lift-off of the space shuttle discovery with the hubble space telescope, our window on the universe. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. and i'm lewis vaughan jones in london. our top stories: police in sri lanka have made eight arrests after a wave of bomb attacks on churches and hotels left more than 200 people dead. a government minister has told bbc news police were briefed about the threat ten days ago but the prime minister wasn't informed. let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. the straits times are leading with the sri lanka attacks. easter sunday services were shattered after eight explosions across churches and hotels left more than 200 people dead and a50 injured.

police say two of the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers and authorities have imposed a 6pm to 6am local time curfew. in thejapan times, prime minister shinzo abe has suffered what's being called a "significant set back." his ruling liberal democratic party lost both lower—house by elections — usually a harbinger for upper house elections a few months away. the vote comes as japan's economy looks more uncertain partly due to trade frictions between china and the us. and, finally, in the south china morning post, hong kong's weather forcasters are turning to social media to improve their weather warnings. people are being urged to post weather details to an app to help send more timely warnings ahead of threatening weather. this follows the death of two people in a thunderstorm on saturday,

which the observatory failed to forecast. more on the attacks in sri lanka now, where the country is trying to come to terms with the devastating attacks on churches and hotels that have left over two hundred people dead. my colleague sharanjit leyl has arrived in colombo and sent us this report. it is 2am in the morning here in colombo and the streets are eerily quiet, as they should be at this time of the day, save for the soldiers we saw at the airport and on the streets trying to get here to oui’ on the streets trying to get here to our hotel and, of course, their security personnel at the hotel who extensively checked our bags before we could even get in. now, there is a curfew in place, which started at 6pm local time and will continue until further notice, the authorities say. and we are restricted in our movements too, venturing only out in the lobby to film this. many sri lankans remember the day of ethnic strife when the country was torn apart by tamil and sinhalese groups. sunday's lasts have added a new dimension, bringing

back memories that many would rather forget. reacting to the attack, india's prime minister narendra modi has condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with his country's south asian neighbour. translation: militancy is so terrifying. every day somewhere in the world it paints us all. today whatever happened in sri lanka, india stands in unity with the people. in this hour of crisis, india is ready to help sri lanka in whatever way possible. monday is earth day, the annual day to promote activities for environmental protection. it's run by earth day network, the largest recruiter to the environmental movement, with partners in nearly 200 countries. it says more than one billion people now participate in earth day each year. on monday earth day is centred on endangered species, but it also wants to focus attention on dealing with pollution in india. earlier i wasjoined

by the president of the earth day network, kathleen rogers. i asked her why the organisation was focussing on pollution in india this year. we are actually focused on plastics in particular is one of our other major campaigns and the ganges u nfortu nately major campaigns and the ganges unfortunately is one of those very important rivers, it is a holy river, that is also terribly polluted, and so it is one of the top ten rivers in terms of responsibility for plastics in the ocean. and so we have begun our countdown to our 50th anniversary of earth day and we are starting in the northern himalayas and cleaning up the ganges all the way down to this under buns in honour of the 50th anniversary next year tomorrow. and that figure ofi anniversary next year tomorrow. and that figure of i billion anniversary next year tomorrow. and that figure ofi billion people being involved in some way seems a remarkably high figure. what are people doing? -- sundarbans. it is a combination of school children learning about the earth on earth

day. we are being educated through television, radio, buta day. we are being educated through television, radio, but a giant number of people, very significant number of people, very significant number of people worldwide, taking pa rt number of people worldwide, taking part in cleanups, treeplanting, protests as you reported on earlier, petition drives, meeting with their city councils, commitment from governments and corporations. the vatican always does something big, the sikhs in india, 2a million people banning plastics in their temples. so it's a wider range of activities. kathleen, ijust want to pick you up, because that is a huge range of activities, but you did mention those rebellions, protest, the direct action that's been happening in london and other european cities. is that something you get behind, direct action, or is earth day separated out? absolutely. the first earth day brought 20 million people out into the streets in the united states. it remains the largest civic engagement event in human history and that is our goal,

particularly for the 50th. it is a major year in 2020. but i do think the extension rebellion and gretha are an antidote for the inertia that i think global leaders have found themselves in that place and so i'm really supportive of youth engaging in that. i did it when i was young and it is something that can be really important for leaders when they are looking to the next election or just they are looking to the next election orjust in terms of voting with your pocketbook. so young people need to be engaged in this movement. they have been the missing link for some time, so i'm really happy to see it. kathleen rogers speaking earlier. you have been watching newsday. i'm lewis vaughanjones in london. and i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. stay with us. do you need some caffeine to get you started in the morning? i think ithinki i think i could do with one right now. we will be looking at the way

that dubai is cashing in on the caffeine craze on asia business report coming up after this. and before we go, police investigating the bomb attacks which killed more than 200 people in churches and luxury hotels. they have made eight arrests. a cabinet minister has told the bbc that he learned that one group, which he didn't name, had warned of possible attacks, but that the sri lankan president failed to pass on the information to the government. of course, we will bring you any new developments out of sri la nka you any new developments out of sri lanka as we get them. just before we 90, lanka as we get them. just before we go, iwant lanka as we get them. just before we go, i want to leave you with these pictures of the eiffel tower, which is usually lit up, but this is the moment it went dark at midnight in a touching tribute to the victims of the sri lanka bomb attacks. that's all for now, stay with bbc world news. goodbye.

hello. there are weather changes on the way this week, but we're going to see out the last day of this holiday weekend with plenty more sunshine and warm. and what we can it has been. good friday 2a degrees, saturday 25.5 and then for easter sunday in the sunshine it was the warmest easter sunday on record. in scotland, northern ireland and in wales. the record in england, 25.3, still stands. it claimed close to that, topping out at 24.6 at wesley in surrey. as i indicated earlier, another fine day on the way. the satellite pictures showed on easter sunday cloud in north—west scotland, western side of northern ireland. that has actually pulled away and we are starting today dry and clear across the bulk of the uk. a little

chillier than this in rural parts of central and eastern england, maybe a little misty in one or two spots, but it is a sunny day in north—west scotland, the northern and western isles, the western side of northern ireland where you have had a few of cloud. but there will be high cloud spilling northwards across england and wales, sun will be hazy, there will be more cloud around in recent days, and may be a late shower somewhere in south—west england and south wales especially on the hills, very isolated. temperatures height means very isolated. temperatures height m ea ns low very isolated. temperatures height means low 20s, filling every bit as one, mid—20s in the warm spots, it could be the warmest easter monday on record so we will keep you updated on that. it will be breezy, mind you. on through monday night into tuesday a lot of high cloud around, still the chance for a few showers, the channel islands, south—west england, south wales and temperatures where they have been chilly in recent nights will be higher. big picture for tuesday are drifting up from the south and along with the high cloud a bit of saharan dust as well so cameras at the ready, they could be some fiery looking sunrises and sunsets to be

watched on tuesday. maybe for a few days beyond as well. a lot of fine weather again on tuesday. it is hazy sunshine. still fairly breezy out there. still the further west you are you could pick up one or two showers as the day goes on. it is still very warm, temperatures might have come down a degree also on where they have been and that is a process that accelerates from mid—week. losing the wants, low pressure setting up, it becomes u nsettled pressure setting up, it becomes unsettled in the cooler air moves in particularly at the end of the week and into next weekend. so, gradually turning cooler as the week goes on. this process is under way here. we are changing from sunshine to increasing chances of wet weather, not necessarily a bad thing on the gardens and the fields. so the cooling trend, temperatures may be below average next weekend. some showers, even some thunderstorms spreading northwards. goodbye.

i'm lewis vaughan jones with bbc news. our top story: there's been worldwide condemnation of the bomb attacks on churches and hotels in sri lanka, which left more than 200 people dead. the prime minister, ranil wickremesinghe, said the attacks would be fully investigated. but a government minister told the bbc that police were briefed about the threat ten days ago but the prime minister wasn't informed. comedian volodymyr zelensky has won a landslide victory in ukraine's presidential election. full results are not yet in, but exit polls show he's won about 70 per cent of the vote. and this story is trending on bbc.com. queen elizabeth has celebrated her 93rd birthday. the world's longest reigning living monarch attended the traditional easter service at windsor castle, accompanied by members of her family, including prince william and prince harry.