live from washington, this is bbc news. a this is bbc news. power struggle between sudan's a power struggle between sudan's army and a paramilitary force rocked the country. at least 30 people have been killed. disruption of the grand national horse race as animal rights protestors storm the racecourse. and after it was almost destroyed by fire, we see the remarkable restoration of the notre dame cathedral in paris. hello, i'm helena humphrey. good to have you with us. we start in sudan, where heavy fighting is continuing into the night between two rival factions of the military. earlier, gunfire and explosions

rocked the capital, khartoum. the sudanese military has ordered citizens to remain inside amid clashes at the presidential palace and the city's airport. the two sides are in dispute over who governs the country. sudan has been run by the military since a coup in october 2021. a journalist from the washington post newspaper reported 30 people dead and nearly 400 injured, citing the united nations. at least two of the dead are reported at khartoum international airport. footage there showed large plumes of smoke and fighter jets flying low overhead, and this video from inside the khartoum airport shows passengers taking cover on the floor. major airlines have reportedly suspended flights. 0ther victims include three united nations aid workers who were killed in the crossfire at a military base. un secretary general antonio guterres has denounced the clashes, with a spokesperson saying he spoke with sudan's abdel fattah al—burhan and rsf leader general mohamed hamdan dagalo, also known as hemedti, and is calling for an immediate end to violence and a return to dialgue.

we want to show you what happened earlier on sudanese state tv. the newsreader briefly appeared, talking about clashes, but listen carefully and you can hear gunshots in the background. gunshots as you see, the picture then froze, and a short while later the broadcast suddenly cuts off. violence is also being reported in several other cities across the country. the reuters news agency is reporting eyewitness accounts of sudanese army air strikes in the city of 0mdurman. the target is a base belonging

to the rsf paramilitary group north—east of the capital, khartoum. earlier i spoke to zeinab salih, a journalist in khartoum. we have been hearing heavy gunfire all around the city. i'm in the western parts of the city, i am i'm in the western parts of the city, iam in i'm in the western parts of the city, i am in 0mdurman. i'm in the western parts of the city, iam in 0mdurman. we i'm in the western parts of the city, i am in 0mdurman. we saw militaryjets flying over us heading to the southern parts of the city. we understood they are going to hit a military base for the rss, for the rapid support forces. so it seems like there are clashes over — between the rss and the sudan armed forces. it started early in the morning at 9am in the southern part of khartoum and then it's quickly spread

towards strategic places like the khartoum international airport, the military hq and the palace. all of them are in khartoum. i5 the palace. all of them are in khartoum-— the palace. all of them are in khartoum. is it clear who is in control of— khartoum. is it clear who is in control of the _ khartoum. is it clear who is in control of the country - khartoum. is it clear who is in control of the country at - khartoum. is it clear who is in control of the country at this i control of the country at this moment? it control of the country at this moment?— moment? it is not clear, because _ moment? it is not clear, because everyone - moment? it is not clear, because everyone has i moment? it is not clear, i because everyone has been moment? it is not clear, - because everyone has been just claiming things. the rss in the beginning they controlled khartoum international airport, and they said they are going into the military hq, and at the same time i was receiving statements from the army denying all this, they are saying that is not true, we are in control of all of these strategic places. so we don't know, actually, who is in control of what.- know, actually, who is in control of what. might so claims and _ control of what. might so | claims and counterclaims. control of what. might so i claims and counterclaims. is there any potential for talks between the two sides for a political solution here anytime soon? ., ., ,, ,,

political solution here anytime soon? ., ., ,, ., soon? the head of the rss, for example. _ soon? the head of the rss, for example. was _ soon? the head of the rss, for example, was calling _ soon? the head of the rss, for example, was calling burhan i soon? the head of the rss, for example, was calling burhan a | example, was calling burhan a liar and says he is going to drag him as a dog tojustice. it doesn't seem like there will be. at the same time saudi arabia, for example, has a huge sway in sudan and was calling for both of them to sit down for both of them to sit down for talks. the international community, as well, the us and the uk, all of them are calling for that. we don't know. probably in the coming days they will change their position and sit down for talks. 50 they will change their position and sit down for talks.- and sit down for talks. so you oint to and sit down for talks. so you point to those _ and sit down for talks. so you point to those international . point to those international calls for both sides to come to the table, but from the perspective of people there in the capital, the sudanese population, i mean, is there any sense of what the country could be heading for?- could be heading for? yes, --eole could be heading for? yes, peeple are _ could be heading for? yes, people are actually - could be heading for? yes, people are actually very i people are actually very worried that this could turn into a civil war, because the

army has been controlled, i would say, has been led mainly by people from the northern part of the country and the r sf are coming from the western part of the country, and sudan seems to be divided based on these lines. and that's really worrying for most of the people here. i hope it will not turn out to be like this, but it is very worrying. the clashes come after months of tensions between sudan's military and the rapid support forces paramilitary group and are raising fears of a wider conflict. 0ur reporter simi jolaoso gives us more context now. it all begins with the former president of sudan, this man, the president 0mar al bashir.

he led the country for 26 years until 2019, when there were protests across the country, in khartoum included, against his rule. and that eventually led to a military coup. civilians and military leaders came together to form the southern council, and the idea was for thisjoint committee to this joint committee to eventually lead the country into a civilian led government. it was led by these two men, the military leader al—burhan and the leader of the rapid support forces, general mohamed dagalo. the rapid support forces are a group that grew in power under the leadership of the previous president, 0mar al bashir. but these two were always at odds, and that takes us to october 2021, when there were pro—democracy protests again following several unsuccessful coups which eventually led to the military taking power. they had the prime minister arrested, they

took over the state tv and radio headquarters. they even restricted internet access. so it's been years of this southern council allegedly trying to transition the country into civilian led leadership. but now, with the open conflict and the general elections that are planned for july of this year, only time will tell if they will actually happen. to the uk, and 118 people have been have been arrested at the grand national, one of the most prestigious horse races in the world. they were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and public nuisance offences in relation to disruption. a large number of police had been deployed to the ground after animal rights activists had warned they would try to disrupt the race. 0fficers went onto the course to remove the protesters. the start of the race was delayed for 1h minutes whilst the group were cleared, but it did eventually go ahead and was won by corach rambler, ridden by the jockey derek fox. 0ur correspondent sharon barbour was at aintree racecourse. well, it's been a really tense

day here at aintree, a day of high drama. it began with the protesters animal rising, which all week had threatened to disrupt that most important of races in the racing calendar, the grand national, which was due to start at 5:15pm. everybody said that they couldn't possibly. there were so many police here surrounding the racecourse and inside as well. the protesters arrived, they began their rally, they began a protest. they sat down on the ground. when we spoke to them, they were determined, they said, to disrupt the race. but still it wasn't believed that it was possible. well, they did. the race was stopped for around 15 minutes as they got onto the track. nine animal rising protesters were arrested. a little bit about that organisation— it was until a few days ago animal extinction, it was a sister organisation to extinction rebellion. we don't know how many were here, but certainly they got onto the track. they

managed somehow to get through security and disrupted a race thatis security and disrupted a race that is so important not only here in liverpool, where the income is around £60 million from the event, but right around the world. £500 500 million, thejockey club say, watch the race, in 140 countries. so certainly even though the race got under way, for the activists it was a success in raising what they say are issues around animal welfare. certainly there are going to be a lot of questions not only about security and what they can do to now protect that race, but also questions about what they can do, perhaps, about the safety of the horses taking part. back to you. staying in the uk, prime minister rishi sunak is to ban the construction of new smart motorways which use technology to regulate speed and traffic flow on the country's biggest roads. 14 planned smart motorways, including 11 that are already

paused, will be removed from government road building plans. the bbc�*s panorama programme in 2020 investigated smart motorways, revealing 38 people have been killed on them over a space of five years. it led to the government reviewing the smart motorway network. here's a snippet from the documentary by richard bilton. we put in a freedom of information request for one stretch of the m25. 0ne warning sign was out of action for nearly a year. 336 days. there was also a 20 fold rise in near misses, 72 in the five years with the hard shoulder, 1485 in the five years without. earlier, i spoke to our political correspondent damian grammaticas and asked him how smart motorways work and what prompted the government decision. yes, so the way these work is

that in order to try to improve the flow of traffic on the motorways and keep traffic moving, what the government has done here over recent years is bring in these sort of measures. now, some are simply electronic boards that advise you to change the speed limit and try to keep traffic moving. the one that is most controversial is a scheme that exists already on quite a number of motorways where the hard shoulder, so the edge of the motorway, what would not be used in traditional motorways, an area that you could park up if you had a problem, that had been converted on some motorways into an extra lane for permanent moving traffic. now, the idea was that it is monitored by cameras. there are these billboards. if you had trouble or a problem you were told to stay in your car, the traffic would be directed to slow down and go around you. now, part of the problem was

that there were accidents happening there and as that panorama programme revealed, there had been some 30 plus deaths on some of those motorways in recent years. so this had led to a safety review, a pause in the development of new areas of smart motorway, and what we now get is this announcement that the projects that have been paused, so 14 of them have been paused, so 14 of them have been paused or planned, will not go ahead. two projects which are nearing completion will actually now be done, but crucially, i think it's important to say the ones that are already in place will stay. they will continue, with some safety upgrades. so those will not change. 50 safety upgrades. so those will not change-— safety upgrades. so those will not change. so damien, is this actually the — not change. so damien, is this actually the end, _ not change. so damien, is this actually the end, then, - not change. so damien, is this actually the end, then, of i actually the end, then, of smart motorways? and can the government do this?— government do this? know, by any means _ government do this? know, by any means it's _ government do this? know, by any means it's not _ government do this? know, by any means it's not the - government do this? know, by any means it's not the end. i government do this? know, by any means it's not the end. so j any means it's not the end. so smart motorways cover already something like 10% of the

motorway network, some 400 miles here in the uk. so the ones that are in place will stay in place. what the government has done today is to say that for the sort of timeframe can look into, up to the end of the decade, all road building plans, and smart motorways are part of that, they are now being removed from those plans. nothing before the end of the decade, and it will continue to look at how users view this. but it's worth saying, too, this is notjust about safety. a large part of this is about cost. inflating prices for the work to convert motorways into smart ones, the bill for the project upcoming put at about £1 billion, so that's £1 billion worth of savings the government is making, so there is a cost saving it can make here as well as, it says, listening to or responding to public concerns about safety.

in the uk, where coordinated strike action involving doctors and nurses isn't being ruled out according to the union, the british medical association, as their pay dispute continues. nhs leaders say the further planned walkouts by nurses in england pose serious risks. the royal college of nursing yesterday rejected a 5% pay offer. simonjones reports. preparing for more picket lines. members of the royal couege lines. members of the royal college of nursing will strike again over the may day bank holiday in england. for the first time, it will involve those working in emergency departments, intensive care units and cancer care. hospital bosses are _ units and cancer care. hospital bosses are concerned. - units and cancer care. hospital bosses are concerned. that i units and cancer care. hospital| bosses are concerned. that will present an unprecedented level of action that we haven't yet seen from nursing staff and therefore the challenges with that, you know, the organisation and all of the work that will go into managing and mitigating that, will be enormous. and mitigating that, will be enormous-— and mitigating that, will be

enormous. ., ., enormous. the pay deal on the table would — enormous. the pay deal on the table would amend _ enormous. the pay deal on the table would amend a _ enormous. the pay deal on the table would amend a 596 i enormous. the pay deal on the table would amend a 5% rise i enormous. the pay deal on the | table would amend a 596 rise for table would amend a 5% rise for this year plus a one—off payment for last year. jessica collins, a paediatric nurse from cambridgeshire, voted against the deal. it from cambridgeshire, voted against the deal.— from cambridgeshire, voted against the deal. it 'ust isn't the -a against the deal. it 'ust isn't the pay restoration i against the deal. itjust isn't the pay restoration we i against the deal. itjust isn't| the pay restoration we asked for. in fact it's nowhere near and i think there is a lot of disappointment in the unions for trying to encourage us to accept it. for trying to encourage us to accept it— for trying to encourage us to acce -t it. ., .,, ., , accept it. kent cooper, a nurse in yorkshire. — accept it. kent cooper, a nurse in yorkshire, was _ accept it. kent cooper, a nurse in yorkshire, was in _ accept it. kent cooper, a nurse in yorkshire, was in favour- accept it. kent cooper, a nurse in yorkshire, was in favour of. in yorkshire, was in favour of the deal. in yorkshire, was in favour of the deal-— in yorkshire, was in favour of the deal. absolutely gutted. i understand — the deal. absolutely gutted. i understand why _ the deal. absolutely gutted. i understand why my _ the deal. absolutely gutted. i | understand why my colleagues have rejected it, but i stand by my word. i will not leave my patients. by my word. i will not leave my atients. , ., ., patients. this morning, “unior doctors returned i patients. this morning, “unior doctors returned to i patients. this morning, junior doctors returned to work i patients. this morning, junior| doctors returned to work after four days of strike action. they are asking for a 35% pay rise and their union has not ruled out co—ordinating stride action with nurses and future. —— strike. it's difficult to hypothesise that all options are very much on the table and involve easing health secretaries call to prevent any further strike action. the

ro al further strike action. the royal college _ further strike action. the royal college of - further strike action. the royal college of nursing responded that it is in close contact with the bma but insist there is no planned co—ordinated action. the government says the 5% pay offer made to nurses is fair generous. it has been accepted by another union, unison. ministers say that what the best patients and staff. malcolm spent the night in saint thomas hospital in london after falling saint thomas hospital in london afterfalling and saint thomas hospital in london after falling and breaking a finger. i after falling and breaking a finer. ., �* ~' , finger. i don't think they should be _ finger. i don't think they should be allowed i finger. i don't think they should be allowed to i finger. i don't think they should be allowed to go | finger. i don't think they i should be allowed to go on strike. �* , v should be allowed to go on strike. �* , �*, ., strike. because it's an important _ strike. because it's an important job. - strike. because it's an l importantjob. hospital strike. because it's an - important job. hospital bosses say importantjob. hospital bosses say the nhs needs a period of stability. instead, it's facing more disruption. simonjones, more disruption. simon jones, bbc more disruption. simonjones, bbc news. in other news: protests continue in israel over the government's planned judicial reforms. tens of thousands of people took to the streets in tel aviv, with similar demonstrations across the country. the reforms include plans that would give the government decisive control over the committee which appoints judges. critics say this will hurt democracy.

the last three nuclear power stations in germany have ceased generating electricity as the country brings to an end its nuclear eraanti—nuclear campaigners have welcomed the move, describing it as a triumph, but surveys show most germans oppose the closures as they see nuclear power as cleaner than fossil fuels. new york city has appointed its first "rat czar". she said she would take on the city's estimated 2 million rats by tackling litter and food waste and using new products to exterminate the rodents. there have been at least 149 mass shootings in the us since the start of the year. and now experts are concerned over so—called "ghost guns". these are untraceable firearms that can be built with parts acquired online. despite federal rules regulating them and a dozen states banning them, anyone without a background check can still build a ghost gun. 0ur north america correspondent neda tawkif has been investigating. there are still so many americans who are unaware of

what a ghost gun is and it is such a divisive issue for those who are passionate about it. for law enforcement and gun—control advocates, they say that this is the fastest growing gun safety problem that the united states faces right now and that it will soon become an international problem. if you look here in new york, it was just a few years ago back in 2018 when they recovered only about 17 ghost guns. fast forward to 2021 and they have more than 250 ghost guns recovered from crime scenes. if you go and speak to gun rights groups, they say that this whole issue is being exaggerated, so i want to speak to all sides for myself, take a look. targeting gun violence just got harder for law enforcement. at this centre run by the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, listing evidence is evaluated in matches crime

scenes, an essential part of cracking down on the illegal use and trafficking of firearms.— use and trafficking of firearms. , ., �* ., firearms. they don't have serial numbers. - firearms. they don't have serial numbers. but i firearms. they don't have serial numbers. but a i firearms. they don't have i serial numbers. but a growing phenomenon. _ serial numbers. but a growing phenomenon, so-called i serial numbers. but a growingj phenomenon, so-called ghost phenomenon, so—called ghost guns that are unregistered and untraceable, has added a new layer of complexity. in my hand is a ghost gun, and it looks, feels, shoots like a regular traceable weapon. the problem is, these are now flooding the streets and on crime scenes, it's increasingly ghost guns that are recovered. the number has increased more than 1000% since 2017 but because they don't have serial numbers, there is no way to knowjust how many are in circulation. making them the fastest—growing gun safety problem, according to experts. gun safety problem, according to exoerts-_ to experts. they are kind of hard to trace _ to experts. they are kind of hard to trace because i to experts. they are kind of hard to trace because the l hard to trace because the firearms are ultimately identified by the frame itself. 0n identified by the frame itself. on line, anyone can buy without a background check. tutorials explain how to assemble the pieces into a fully functioning firearm in less than one hour.

it was a 17—year—old who had this gun? it was a 17-year-old who had this gun?— it was a 17-year-old who had this gun?- manuel- it was a 17-year-old who had this gun?- manuel had| this gun? yeah. manuel had never heard _ this gun? yeah. manuel had never heard of— this gun? yeah. manuel had never heard of a _ this gun? yeah. manuel had never heard of a ghost i this gun? yeah. manuel had never heard of a ghost gun l never heard of a ghost gun until his daughter was killed by one, according to prosecutors. she was one block from her school in the bronx in new york and she and two other teens got caught in the crossfire of a gunfight. she wasn't the _ crossfire of a gunfight. she wasn't the target, - crossfire of a gunfight. she wasn't the target, it i crossfire of a gunfight. sue: wasn't the target, it was somebody else. he didn't even hit none of them. you would think that things like that, you can'tjust order it on line, as if it was a toy. who do ou line, as if it was a toy. who do you think _ line, as if it was a toy. who do you think holds - line, as if it was a toy. who do you think holds blame, l line, as if it was a toy. who do you think holds blame, what is the problem here? i do you think holds blame, what is the problem here?— is the problem here? i would sa the is the problem here? i would say the manufacturers. i- say the manufacturers. i wouldn't let it happen to my kids — wouldn't let it happen to my kids. ., , , wouldn't let it happen to my kids. . , , ., kids. lauren kelly is a ghost run kids. lauren kelly is a ghost gun manufacturer. - kids. lauren kelly is a ghost gun manufacturer. he i kids. lauren kelly is a ghost gun manufacturer. he feels| kids. lauren kelly is a ghost i gun manufacturer. he feels the angellyh's family but despite data showing firearms of the leading cause of death for american children, he is against government regulation. people need to separate in their minds violence and guns. they have to separate them. they have to separate them. they are often times, in

certain situations, related because it's an implement used but violence is a thing unto itself. �* , ., but violence is a thing unto itself. �*, . , . ., , itself. it's a distinction this family does _ itself. it's a distinction this family does not _ itself. it's a distinction this family does not make. i itself. it's a distinction this i family does not make. angellyh died just a few months after her 16th birthday. they are now hoping to turn their personal tragedy into something positive, with a foundation in her name to prevent the loss of another child. here in new york where i am, they actually issued a ban against ghost guns along with about a dozen other states and what they've done is, they were with task forces to try to really target some of these rings so if you lookjust backin these rings so if you lookjust back in the last few months, from december to march, they already dismantled two different drug trafficking and ghost gun and regular gun rings. in march, they recovered 12 ghost guns and in december, they removed 51 ghost guns. so new york says they are making sure to go after this as best

they can, because remember, they can, because remember, they are unsure just exactly how many ghost guns are out there and anyone who can't get a gun legally, this is a very attractive option for them. the law enforcement has to stay on top of this, they say, to make sure that communities remain safe. new york also wanted to stop ghost gun manufacturers, ten of them, from selling unfinished frames and receivers. here in new york they have a lawsuit against several of those manufacturers. but what experts are saying is despite bans in states, despite the biden administration putting several regulations in place, you see often that a lot of these traffickers are just going to other states and bringing guns into new york, for example, and that's what we saw happened in those instances i mentioned. now to france. it's been four years since the notre—dame cathedral was nearly destroyed by fire. but it turns out that the restoration is on track for completion in late 2024.

0ur paris correspondent hugh schofield has the story. four years ago, the world watched aghast as fire devoured notre—dame and the terrible climax, the spire of the cathedral crashing to its destruction. the spire has become a symbol. at a site in eastern france they've been rebuilding, exactly as the original. dozens of oaks from ancient forests have been felled and shaped another first part, the massive base, is ready for assembly. bang on time. ~ ., ready for assembly. bang on time. . . ., time. we have said we will do this in five years _ time. we have said we will do this in five years so _ time. we have said we will do this in five years so our i this in five years so our reputation is at stake. inside the cathedral, _ reputation is at stake. inside the cathedral, it _ reputation is at stake. inside the cathedral, it still - reputation is at stake. inside the cathedral, it still a i the cathedral, it still a sci—fi film decor of metal, scaffolding reaching up to the vast hold which was once the roof but everywhere, craftsmen and women are at their work of architectural healing. 0ne and women are at their work of architectural healing. one of the big tasks has been treating the big tasks has been treating the stained glass. like the spire, these windows are not in

fact mediaeval but 19th—century. unlike the spire, they were saved. firefighters knew not to spray them with water, or they would have shuttered. the disaster for them, ironically, is an opportunity to remove 200 years of dirt. ~ ,, �* opportunity to remove 200 years of dirt. ~ ,, ~ , of dirt. translation: it is the rice of of dirt. translation: it is the price of millions _ of dirt. translation: it is the price of millions of _ price of millions of worshippers, sought from candles and stains left by condensation. it is all left its mark. it condensation. it is all left its mark-— its mark. it may still look like an unimaginably i like an unimaginably complicated task but in fact the reconstruction of notre—dame has been advancing much quicker than the doubters ever thought was possible. just in the last few days, the base of the spire which we saw being assembled earlier has been transported here to paris and hoisted into place. soon, they will be building upwards and, by the end of the year, it's confidently expected that there will be a new feature on the paris skyline. 0r,

will be a new feature on the paris skyline. or, rather, a very old one — the spire of notre—dame. hugh scofield, bbc news, paris. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. most of us got to see some sunshine on saturday. i suspect that sunday will be a slightly cloudier affair. the cloud rolling its way in from the west. that said, if you do get some sunshine, it will feel relatively warm. but those cloudier conditions, courtesy of this frontal system pushing its way in from the west, even bringing some splashes of rain. high pressure still holding firm just about so we're looking at mainly dry weather and when we are closest to the centre of the high across parts eastern england, sunny but rather chilly start with some early fog patches. further west though a lot of cloud, spots of rain and drizzle. through the afternoon, northern ireland could well but not but it could

see sharp showers. north—east scotland, spells of sunshine, lifting temperatures to around 70 degrees. between 12 and 16. sunday night, quite large areas of cloud. the cloud will make in places but if you do see clear spells for any length of time, they could fill in with some patches of mist and fog. cloudy where you are, relatively mild but in the clearer spots, temperatures could drop relatively close to freezing. into monday, still, this patchwork of clear spells and cloudy areas. it could well be that we see quite a lot of cloud rolling its way in from the north sea and that, coupled with a bit of a breeze from the north sea will make it feel really rather chilly for some of our eastern coast. temperatures in hull for example, 13, safer aberdeen but glasgow, 17 and some spots up to 18 as as we had deeper into the week, this area of high pressure stays with us, meaning it will be largely dry but with

this high building to the north—east of us, this easterly wind will to strengthen a little so that breeze, quite noticeable coming in of the chilly north sea will make it feel rather cool for some of these eastern coasts. we could see more cloud developing on tuesday, maybe giving rise to the odd shower. some spells of sunshine elsewhere. the highest temperature is likely to be across the north and west of the uk and that is a theme that will continue as we had deeper into the week. always a little bit chilly the further east you are. could turn quite cloudy around the middle parts of the week. there will always be some spells of sunshine and generally warmest in the west.

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. asa as a parent, you always want to give your child the best start in life. ., . ., give your child the best start in life. ., ., ., , in life. you want them to be better than _ in life. you want them to be better than you, _ in life. you want them to be better than you, have i in life. you want them to be better than you, have more| in life. you want them to be i better than you, have more than you. if better than you, have more than ou. , ., u. , better than you, have more than ou. , ., . ., , . better than you, have more than ou. , ., you. if you recognise that your child has a _ you. if you recognise that your child has a talent, _ you. if you recognise that your child has a talent, you - you. if you recognise that your child has a talent, you have i you. if you recognise that your child has a talent, you have to j child has a talent, you have to follow — child has a talent, you have to follow that path.