live from london, this is bbc news. a temporary ceasefire between two rival branches of sudan's armed forces comes to an end. so far, at least 70 people have been killed in the fighting. four people have been killed and others injured in a shooting at a teenage birthday party in alabama. the leader of the nurses�* union in england, says they're prepared to hold strikes until christmas, unless more money is offered. appeals for calm after a former indian politician, convicted of kidnapping, is shot dead on live tv — along with his brother. the building of new so—called smart motorways in the united kingdom is being cancelled over safety

concerns and costs. hello, i'm anjana gadgil. in sudan, a brief humanitarian pause in fighting has just come to an end. the sudanese army and the paramilitary rapid support forces had earlier agreed to a temporary ceasefire, though it's unclear whether either side stuck to the pact. the world food programme halted its operations in sudan after three of its members were among nearly 70 people reported to have been killed. the head of the african union commission is planning to "immediately" go on a ceasefire mission to sudan. anne soy reports. this is what the sudanese woke up to yesterday, the sound of heavy artillery, gunfire, and relentless fighting. a fragile political

situation just got worse. translation: they are fighting over authority and looting of the country and the people, but we are here fighting for food, drink, education and health services, which they haven't provided for us. tensions between two forces that have been running the country have boiled over, and civilians are caught in the middle. the strongest explosions were this morning, when we also saw some air force being deployed, fighterjets, and we decided to go to the basement for around an hour. we are nine adults and kids. the fighting is a setback to sudan's transition to democracy. talks have been going on to bring it back on track after a 2021 coup. but notorious paramilitary group rsf has resisted a proposal to have itjoin the army in the new arrangement. the rsf grew out of a militia

accused of committing atrocities in western darfur region two decades ago. about 300,000 people died. but global leaders remain optimistic about the transition to democracy. it's a fragile situation. there are other actors that may be pushing against that progress, but this is a real opportunity to finally carry forward the civilian—led transition. the path to democracy from decades of military rule was never going to be easy. i'm joined now by willam carter, the sudan director of the norwegian refugee council. i understand you are currently in new york, but you were in sudan until thursday, and you have more than 300 staff who are on the ground. what are you hearing from them? we ground. what are you hearing from them? ~ ., ., g; i: ::

ground. what are you hearing from them? ~ ., ., ,~,:::: , ground. what are you hearing from them? ., ., ,~,:::: , them? we have got 300 staff across darfur, them? we have got 300 staff across darfur. and — them? we have got 300 staff across darfur. and step _ them? we have got 300 staff across darfur, and stop many _ them? we have got 300 staff across darfur, and stop many parts - them? we have got 300 staff across darfur, and stop many parts of - them? we have got 300 staff across darfur, and stop many parts of the l darfur, and stop many parts of the country there is heavy fighting in urban centres. in places that have been affected by billy long term humanitarian crisis in the past, so it is really desperate situation. fix, it is really desperate situation. a humanitarian corridor has been opened and has been for hours of a humanitarian ceasefire. has not been effective at all? we humanitarian ceasefire. has not been effective at all?— effective at all? we hope it is a confidence _ effective at all? we hope it is a confidence building _ effective at all? we hope it is a confidence building step - effective at all? we hope it is a l confidence building step between effective at all? we hope it is a - confidence building step between two warring generals to come to their senses stop and hasn't really opened up senses stop and hasn't really opened up much operational space. there is well discussed most widespread insecurity, looting, the airport is of operation. we can bring an emergency stop, but can't get out nonessential staff, dependent. we can't bring in a stock. i hope it is the beginning of something more. we need the international community to pull together if we need the

international community to pull together everyone to restart a much larger aid operation to help millions of people across the country. we didn't provide enough window in those shots stretch of time for a humanitarian operation. the country was already in a very vulnerable and powerless person. now it needs charities and organisations like yours even more. what's really able to do at the moment? that was one of the largest _ able to do at the moment? that was one of the largest and _ able to do at the moment? that was one of the largest and most - one of the largest and most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world for someone three people in sudan, about 16 million people, the un asserts that they needed humanitarian assistance, and that was before this really serious outbreak of violence, under march towards the worst—case scenario. we already had millions of who were displaced by conflict and genocide in the decade or two before that, so the country was already on its knees. yeah, after a military read

coup d'etat two years ago, the country, basic services, have grown to a stop. you have to get things moving again. likely millions more people will need assistance in the coming days. people will need assistance in the coming dam-— people will need assistance in the coming days. what you need from leaders and _ coming days. what you need from leaders and international- coming days. what you need from leaders and international leadersl coming days. what you need from | leaders and international leaders in order to restart your operations? we ho -e order to restart your operations? - hope very much that there is a de—escalation of conflict. the socially senseless violence, and some variants, including aid workers, have been attached, been affected. and apart from that de—escalation that we need, we need support to operationally restart what is happening. warehouses are being looted, banks have been looted from aircraft damage. if aid workers are killed your subject,. we also need to focus to deal with reality on the ground, which is that

millions of people are suffering, and in a really desperate situation, and in a really desperate situation, and we are not able yet to operationally restart. the need to be a safer humanitarian access, and we need to come together as well. we openedin we need to come together as well. we opened in emergency session of the security council and tomorrow on sudan, and we will begin to push that agenda forward, as well as de—escalation. that agenda forward, as well as de-escalation._ that agenda forward, as well as de-escalation. ., ~ , ., , . de-escalation. thank you very much for “oininu de-escalation. thank you very much forjoining us- _ in the us, at least four people have been killed in a shooting at a teenage birthday party in the american state of alabama. it happened in the town of dadeville. at least 20 people were shot and wounded — most of them teenagers. at this stage, there is no official confirmation about what led to the shooting, but there seems to have been some sort of altercation that then escalated. the us presidentjoe biden has been briefed on the shooting. phil dowdell has been named by local media as one of the victims.

phil was a senior in high school and was going to jacksonville state university on an american football scholarship. earlier i spoke tojeremy gray, editor of the alabama wide news outlet al.com to find out more details. so far we know that these were mostly teenagers. 0ne so far we know that these were mostly teenagers. one of them was a young man named phil dowdell, who was a high school football player. he was recently committed to play in couege he was recently committed to play in college football and jacksonville stadium in alabama. my understanding it was his sister's sweet 16 party. something transpired that the party, shots were fired, he and three other young people... we believe at least three other from what i hear our teenagers, probably all of them. as many as 20 people injured. d0 teenagers, probably all of them. as many as 20 people injured.- many as 20 people in'ured. do we have an many as 20 people injured. do we have any understanding _ many as 20 people injured. do we have any understanding of- many as 20 people injured. do we have any understanding of who i have any understanding of who committed this? hat

have any understanding of who committed this?— have any understanding of who committed this? ., ., ., committed this? not at the moment. it is really unclear— committed this? not at the moment. it is really unclear whether _ committed this? not at the moment. it is really unclear whether someone | it is really unclear whether someone is in custody. they have asked people to come forward with information, that could be because you have people in custody in the trying to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting, or there could be looking. but they haven't said we are looking for a certain person or anything to that nature.— anything to that nature. incidents like this and _ anything to that nature. incidents like this and dadeville _ anything to that nature. incidents like this and dadeville and - anything to that nature. incidents i like this and dadeville and alabama, jeremy. it like this and dadeville and alabama, jerem . , ., like this and dadeville and alabama, jerem . _, ~:: , ., jeremy. it is about 60 miles north of montgomery. _ jeremy. it is about 60 miles north of montgomery, it _ jeremy. it is about 60 miles north of montgomery, it is _ jeremy. it is about 60 miles north of montgomery, it is a _ jeremy. it is about 60 miles north of montgomery, it is a community jeremy. it is about 60 miles north i of montgomery, it is a community of about 3035 people. the students that were killed attended dadeville high school, which has about 500 students. it a small, tight—knit community. the governor has said that she is a grieving with the people of dadeville and fellow people of dadeville and fellow people from alabama. {elm people of dadeville and fellow people from alabama. gun control in the area produce _ people from alabama. gun control in the area produce love- _ people from alabama. gun control in the area produce love- how- people from alabama. gun control in the area produce love- how is - people from alabama. gun control in the area produce love- how is it - the area produce love— how is it viewed there?

the area produce love- how is it viewed there?— the area produce love- how is it viewed there? this is a state for the majority _ viewed there? this is a state for the majority of _ viewed there? this is a state for the majority of residents - viewed there? this is a state forj the majority of residents believe viewed there? this is a state for i the majority of residents believe in the majority of residents believe in the second amendment right to bear arms. we have had laws passed recently to allow people to carry weapons without permits. it's a nonstarter, really, any kind of political legislation to limit the access of guns. {iii political legislation to limit the access of guns.— political legislation to limit the access of guns. political legislation to limit the access of nuns. , , ., access of guns. of course, these are very young — access of guns. of course, these are very young people- _ access of guns. of course, these are very young people- it _ access of guns. of course, these are very young people. it really - access of guns. of course, these are very young people. it really is - access of guns. of course, these are very young people. it really is a - very young people. it really is a tragedy for the community. what is going to be done now to remember those people in their honour after this tragic incident? share those people in their honour after this tragic incident?— this tragic incident? are you understandable _ this tragic incident? are you understandable be - this tragic incident? are you i understandable be councillors available at the school tomorrow. i believe there is a prayer vigil later this afternoon, there will be times for the students to gather and share remembrances and then to help each other heal from this. let's take a look at the numbers behind all the shootings in the us with our reporter simi jolaoso, who's in our newsroom.

this shooting in alabama is just the latest reminder of how gun violence has become a sort of fixture in american life. let's take a look. you must shooting in the us involves a former people. and it is on the rise. so far this year alone there have been at least 147 stop over the last three years, 2020 — 2022, the rover 600 each year, an average of two a day. you may remember, one of the deadliest since 1991 was in 2017, in las vegas, when a man killed 50 people and slapped a 500 people wondered. in 2020, 70 9% of all homicides in the us involves a gun. compare that to 4% in the uk, 13% in australia, and the 37% in canada. the us has the highest

amount of gun ownership in the world. there are 125 grams per 100 people. it is followed by german, which has around 52. but consider that yemen has been experiencing a civil war and the last ten years. gun control is a contentious issue in the us, and remain so. however, some states, like virginia and washington, have introduced regulations on assault weapons. 0ther regulations on assault weapons. other states, like new york and new jersey, have banned assault weapons in total. but you have got some states, run 26, including georgia and texas, that have introduced laws that don't even require people to have a license or permit to carry a firearm in public.— firearm in public. thank you very much. the chief minister of the indian state of uttar pradesh has appealed for calm after a former politician was shot dead while under police escort.

atiq ahmed — who had been convicted of kidnapping — was shot dead live on tv along with his brother. they were answering questions from journalists when they were killed in prayagraj. 0ur correspondent, roxy gagdekar chhara, gave us his more details. reporters were asking questions to these two people, atiq and his brother, one among them first shot atiq and then ashraf was shot dead. all this has happened amidst heavy police protection, because both were trying to get into the hospital. as soon as they get out from the police van, and they were approaching the hospital, at that time reporters tried to stop them for questions, and three assailants were hiding as journalists among this group of people, and they first kill them and then they started shouting, "jai shri ram," which is a slogan

that has normally been used by hindu extremists in various parts of the country. and then all three, they surrendered themselves, and they did not agitate once they realised both the people were killed. this entire incident has created havoc among many people in the country. it was certainly high—profile, because ahmed was, more than 100 police cases were registered against him, and he was a gangster, but at the same time, he was also a lawmaker and a parliamentarian, and he lost the election before few years, and since then he was arrested, he was in jail since february this year, but more than 100 cases were already registered against him. atiq ahmed, he has been a strong critic for the ruling bjp party during his election campaigns.

so atiq ahmed was trying to... the opposition have said that his murder has created a situation of lawlessness in the state. the former chief minister and current leader of the opposition, akhilesh yadav, has said that when a person who has been under police protections has been killed like this, then what would happen to a normal person who is travelling or commuting in the state? that's about one of our top stories, the shooting of four people dead in dadeville, alabama. but at least 20 others have been injured. we can join raymond porter, the superintendent for education, of the

schools for the county. you have been at the crime scene command. i am aware that your knowledge of what is going on is dependent on what you have been hearing from the press conferences, as a service. your focus is more the children who go to school in that area. how are you able to support them through such a tragic event?— able to support them through such a trauic event? ., ., ., ,. ., ., tragic event? tomorrow, when school is in session. — tragic event? tomorrow, when school is in session. we _ tragic event? tomorrow, when school is in session, we will— tragic event? tomorrow, when school is in session, we will have _ is in session, we will have councillors from the surrounding area. we have councillors from medicalfacilities, we have mental health care professionals that will be on campus. we will have an enhanced police presence on our campuses, just to give her students a feeling of security. this is something that our community is absolutely not used to, and this is

the last resort one would think that something like this would occur. 0ur schools are safe, our town is safe, and we are just schools are safe, our town is safe, and we arejust in all schools are safe, our town is safe, and we are just in all that has happened in your community. hagar and we are just in all that has happened in your community. how is a community in — happened in your community. how is a community in dadeville, _ happened in your community. how is a community in dadeville, and _ happened in your community. how is a community in dadeville, and across . community in dadeville, and across alabama feeling after this tragic event? ., ,., , alabama feeling after this tragic event? ., _ ., event? united. i would say that would be the _ event? united. i would say that would be the budget _ event? united. i would say that would be the budget i - event? united. i would say that would be the budget i would . event? united. i would say that| would be the budget i would use most. i have had an outpouring of love from across the state of alabama. people offering resources, offering help, offering prayers, thoughts, anything that they can do, the local clergy, local hospitals. as i said, local mental health professionals, law enforcement. it is a unified effort to make sure that we provide for our young people, and that we keep them safe. we will never let something like

this happen again, that is our hope. you say that events like this are very rare in the area pretty love, but sadly they are not rare across the united states. gun crime and mass shootings are unfortunately all too common. brothers young people, our young people in the area, changed for events like this? hat our young people in the area, changed for events like this? not in the community. _ changed for events like this? not in the community, but _ changed for events like this? not in the community, but yes, _ changed for events like this? not in the community, but yes, ma'am. i changed for events like this? not in l the community, but yes, ma'am. we train for active shooter in our schools, between with law enforcement, we trained with first responders so that we can react when something like this does happen. but i don't think anything could prepare you for this situation. and as i said, not only does this not happen often, it does not happen in this community.

often, it does not happen in this community-— often, it does not happen in this community. often, it does not happen in this communi . . ~ , . ., community. thank you very much for “oininu us. nurses in england could carry out rolling strikes until christmas if they fail to reach a deal with the government over their current pay dispute — that's according to a union leader. the head of the royal college of nursing, pat cullen, called for the government to put more money on the table. but ministers have insisted the offer is "fair and reasonable". damian grammaticas reports. in an already stretched health service, months more strikes are now a real prospect. the royal college of nursing's leadership had recommended the pay deal, now, taking its cue from its members, escalating action is coming. the government calls for strikes to be put on hold rejected. we will absolutely not do that. we have strike action for the end of this month, beginning of may, and then we will move immediately to ballot our members, and if that ballot is successful, it will mean further strike action

right up into christmas. junior doctors have also been striking. 0ne concern, that they might coordinate actions. there are no plans in place from the royal college of nursing to coordinate strikes with doctors. the offer the government made to health staff was a 5% pay increase plus a one—off payment. members of one union, unison, have accepted it. staff from two more unions will deliver their verdicts in the next fortnight. let's wait and see what the other unions have to say first. there is a lot of other staff out there. unison voted by 74% to accept the offer, which represents a third of the agenda for change staff. there is a lot of people accepting what i think it's a very fair and reasonable offer. the government may be hoping that if those other unions accept the deal, then the rcn will end up looking isolated and the resolve among nurses to continue strike and will weaken. but the problems in health service

run deep, and the pressure is reall in the government to try to sort them out. rishi sunak has put the health service among his five priorities — specifically, cutting waiting lists. they are at a record high — 7 million people waiting to start routine treatment. more strikes will mean more cancelled operations. sorting all this out is the challenge. this was the prime minister's own constituency today. i absolutely support them. it's not the money, it is about the conditions, the 24 hour shifts, the fact that they are not getting a rest. get round the table and sort it out. get together and sort it out. otherwise, it will go on forever and they will be striking all the time. complicating things is that deals have to be reached in each part of the country. while in england the government's offer has been rejected, in scotland, a higher pay settlement has been accepted. in wales, one offer was made and rejected. a higher one may be coming. in northern ireland, there are talks but no offer yet. and pressure from other political parties is growing too.

the liberal democrats today said ministers need to urgently get round the negotiating table instead of sitting on the sidelines. and labout also say the government should engage. we don't want to see an escalation. i do want to see government recognising that their approach to these strikes, the refusal to negotiate for months... the question is whether the labour party backs strike action? no, how could i? there is a risk to patient safety. it wouldn't be the right thing to do. but that risk could increase sharply as the strikes escalate. staying in england, and motoring groups and campaigners have welcomed the government's decision to cancel the construction of new smart motorways but have insisted the announcement does not go far enough to waylay their safety concerns. the motorways — where technology is used to regulate traffic — can also use the hard shoulder as an extra lane. here's mark ashdown with more.

they were hailed as the solution to ease congestion in britain's roads. smart motorways see the hard shoulder either constantly used as an extra lane or added in at busy times. but this is what can happen when someone breaks down. after dozens of deaths on these types of roads, the government has scrapped plans to build more. claire mercer's has beenjason died when he was hit by a lorry after stopping on a smart motorways in 2019. obviously, it doesn't cover existing roads, and it's the existing roads that are killing us, so it's half the battle, but there is still half the battle to go. plans for an extra 14 schemes were on pause but will now be scrapped. seven will remain as dynamic motorways where the hard shoulder is sometimes used. the government says it will save £1 billion. we will not approve any new smart motorways. clearly as a result of public concern and safety concern, and we are going to keep a close eye on the situation with the existing smart motorways. but at the moment,

the announcement is purely about no new smart motorways. but that means there will still be 375 miles of smart motorway, 10% of england's network. in 2020, bbc panorama found that 38 people had died while using them over a five year period, and the number of near misses on one stretch of the m25 had increased twnetyfold. the aa says they all need to be scrapped. basically, drivers don't trust them, the technology is not foolproof, and 37% of breakdowns on smart motorways happen in live lanes, and basically, those drivers are sitting ducks. 0n current roots, £900 million worth of investment is still going ahead to an extra 150 emergency bays and improve technology to detect when a driver is forced to stop. labour and the lib dems say scrapping future projects is long overdue,

but concern remains over the existing network. in the lead—up to this year's eurovision song contest — which is being held in the uk — contestants are taking part in live shows around europe. william lee adams — founder of eurovision bloke wiwibloggs — was at one of the live shows in amsterdam last night. there were nearly 30 acts from this year's competition, they were leaving it all on the stage, confetti was falling, the voices were big and the passion was high. everyone wants to win, and they really are going for it this year. depending on where you are from, the size of your music market, you may not be used to performing live in front of a big audience, so these concerts are sort of the prep work, it's like the boot camp to learn how to perform in front of a big crowd. but also to test out variations of your song. for instance, you may think certain tweaks work well, but then they fall flat with a live audience. so the record labels will often accompany their artist for intelligence to see what they should and shouldn't be changing.

a lot going on in the uk over the next few months. pressure has been building the week in, but a lot of cloud building across the uk today. thick enough apart to light rain and rain and drizzle, and will keep some of that going this evening and overnight, initially across parts of southern scotland into northern england as the night wears on. we could see some are clearer skies across kent for a time, but for most, it's a generally cloudy note. but not as coulter�*s last night. temperatures between five and ten, perhaps two or three if we see those clearer skies developing across parts of kent. the newberry, high pressure in charge. it will stay close by for much of the week. unlike the weekjust gone,

the week. unlike the weekjust gone, the week. unlike the weekjust gone, the week ahead is looking much drier for many. some spells of sunshine too, and a little warmer at first before we start to develop an easterly wind, which will gradually turn things cooler is weak wears on. a lot of cloud to start the day through monday. some outbreaks of rain in a lot of cloud to start the day through monday. some outbreaks of rain initially across central and southern england that was soon clear. sunshine developing for many. just keeping an eye on there is of most perhaps pushing on to the coast of east anglia and south—east england. monday is likely to be the warmest day of the week. temperatures potentially up to 16, 17. once again, that must stand low cloud could push its way a little bit further westwards as we head through monday evening, but clearer skies for the rest. it is of high pressure as we head into tuesday. the changes is orientation slightly. this is probably pick up that used to live in. there should be a good seal of sunshine for many on tuesday. more car drifting in and to parts of east anglia and south—east england to the afternoon, but for

many, dry, fine, plenty of sunshine. the winds that do start to strengthen a little bit, particularly for eastern coast. temperatures may struggle to get above 12 or 13. elsewhere, temperatures may struggle to get above 12 or13. elsewhere, in temperatures may struggle to get above 12 or 13. elsewhere, in the sunshine, it should feel pleasant enough stock 14 or 15. but there is a silly one is a strengthen further as we head through wednesday and thursday. keeping an eye on what is happening to the east and south—east of us, could potentially see some areas of rain kissing in a letter on thursday and into friday. essentially, for most, the week ahead is looking much drier. spells of sunshine. warmer to start and then turning cooler through the week.

this is bbc news, the headlines... a temporary ceasefire between two rival branches of sudan's armed forces — has come to an end. so far at least 70 people have been killed in the fighting. at least 4 people have been killed in a mass shooting in the us state of alabama. several others were injured in the incident at a teenage birthday party. the leader of the nurses�* union says they're prepared to continue strikes in england right up to christmas unless the government puts more money on the table for a pay deal. the chief minister of the indian state of uttar pradesh appeals for calm after a former politician convicted of kidnapping is shot dead live on tv along with his brother.