welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: dozens are killed as fighting between rival armed factions continues to spread in sudan. a mass shooting at a teenage birthday party in alabama les four dead and 28 injured. appeals for calm after a former indian politician and his brother are shot dead on live tv. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday.

welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin in sudan, where rival military factions are fighting for control of the capital khartoum. fighting has continued into the night, with dozens killed. earlier, the sudanese army and the paramilitary rapid support forces announced a temporary humanitarian pause, but it's not clear how well it was observed. the world food programme halted its operations in sudan after three of its members were among nearly 70 people reported to have been killed. international efforts to end the fighting are ramping up — with the head of the african union commission planning to go on a ceasefire mission and the presidents of kenya, south sudan and djibouti also trying to mediate. anne soy reports vt. a clash of forces. the sudanese army using its military might to crash a rival paramilitary unit. the fighting was sparked by political fallout among the generals running the two units and governing the country.

they've battled over the control of the presidential palace, airports, and key security installations over the last two days. locals and foreigners were caught unaware. katerina from save the children had gone to school to pick up her child. 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. in total, we're now nine adults and kids. with two heavily armed forces fighting, including in the residential areas, it is virtually impossible for civilians to go out safely — and that is the advice to them, to shelter indoors. that has also affected some of our colleagues in khartoum, and i've been speaking to one and asked him what he has been hearing. the fighting is to continue on their side, including at army headquarters, the military base, still the fighting continues between the two parties.

persistent street protesters helped to topple the long serving leader in 2019. generals he had been working with, including those implicated in war crimes committed in the western darfur region two decades ago, entered an arrangement with military leaders. the deal was to transfer power to civilians after two years, but instead the generals staged a coup. the man they ousted has called for peace. translation: we need - to at least reach a truce that will establish a humanitarian corridor that will allow civilians access to medicine, treatment, and food. amid the uncertainty about sudan's future, global powers are calling for the de—escalation of tensions and a return to dialogue. the path to democracy from decades of military rule was never going to be easy. a once thriving economy is in dire straits —

and it is the sudanese who continue to bear the brunt of this bumpy process. anne soy, bbc news. earlier i spoke to carmen hudson from the centre of strategic studies africa programme, a former director for african affairs at the us national security council. he told me how concerning what we are seeing on the ground is. —— cameron hudson. it are seeing on the ground is. -- cameron hudson.— cameron hudson. it is very concerning. _ cameron hudson. it is very concerning. not _ cameron hudson. it is very concerning. not only - cameron hudson. it is very concerning. not only are i cameron hudson. it is very l concerning. not only are the two main military vaccines fighting, they are fighting it out in highly urban areas, now fighting across khartoum, the capital, and several major cities across sudan. so it's very concerning because the death toll to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure is already beginning to mount and it could become even higher as this drags on. become even higher as this drags on-— become even higher as this draus on. ~ . ., ., drags on. we are hearing that several african _ drags on. we are hearing that several african leaders -

drags on. we are hearing that several african leaders say i several african leaders say they want to travel to khartoum to try and mediate a truce. is that likely, in your view, to try and mediate a truce. is that likely, in yourview, is there any incentive either side to enter into talks to try to get to a truce at this point? well, i think get to a truce at this point? well, ithink it get to a truce at this point? well, i think it is difficult to really envision any kind of ceasefire holding right now. both sides have been preparing for this fight for some time. we have been seeing them with increasingly bellicose statements against one another and, of course, moving troops and, of course, moving troops and armaments into position, preparing for this fight. and so now that it has started i think it will be very difficult to pause it until a least one side gains a tactical advantage over the other. so i do think it's important that the region reach out and try to intervene. but, again, this has been building for some time and world leaders have been watching a build for some time and not taking the requisite steps to avoid this worst—case

scenario. now we are in the worst—case scenario scenario feels like a little bit too little too late.— feels like a little bit too little too late. ~ . u, ., little too late. what can world leaders, particularly - little too late. what can world leaders, particularly the - little too late. what can world leaders, particularly the us, l leaders, particularly the us, as you have pointed out before, it has had a long history there, what can officials do at this point to help people in sudan? i this point to help people in sudan? ~ , ., sudan? i think first and foremost _ sudan? i think first and foremost what - sudan? i think first and i foremost what washington sudan? i think first and - foremost what washington is trying to do is build a diplomatic coalition to put pressure on the parties. but then, separately, to make sure that the neighbouring states stay out of this conflict. i think there is great concern that this could quickly become a regional conflagration with states lake chad on one side, ethiopia, eritrea, south sudan all having an interest in who governs sudan and what the future of sudan looks like, so what we want to do is make sure that those regional actors are not fuelling the conflict, they are not introducing new weapons or new troops, taking sides in the conflict that we keep the outsiders out and that we try to build a diplomatic coalition

to build a diplomatic coalition to put pressure on the parties to put pressure on the parties to refrain from fighting and if they are going to fight, not to do it in urban areas where casualties to civilians will be maximised.— casualties to civilians will be maximised. . ., ~ ., maximised. cameron, you know, as the possibility _ maximised. cameron, you know, as the possibility of _ maximised. cameron, you know, as the possibility of what - as the possibility of what looks like a pretty slim possibility of some kind of a negotiation or truce appears to be in the distant future, what does that mean for the future of the people of sudan as the fighting continues?— of the people of sudan as the fighting continues? they have already been _ fighting continues? they have already been suffering - fighting continues? they have already been suffering quite l already been suffering quite a bit underfinancial already been suffering quite a bit under financial collapse. they have been waiting with a great deal of anticipation that the political talks that have been going on for the better part of the last six months are going to bear some fruit and they were eventually going to see a civilian government reinstalled in the country. i think that this fighting, this episode believes that substantially. i think they are going to have to hold on much, much longer right now to see a civilian government installed. i think with the focus is on right now is ensuring that the

electricity stays on, that the internet and telephones are stay on, and they have access to medical care and humanitarian supplies. those are not yet under threat because the fighting has only been going on for two days, but especially in urban areas it could be very difficult to reach some of these populations and so it is something we have to be cautious about as the fighting begins to drag on. that was cameron hudson for the centre for strategic studies africa programme speaking to me earlier on newsday. i am going to take you to the us now. four people have been killed and 28 others have been injured in a shooting at a teenage birthday party in the us state of alabama. the shooting happened in the town of dadeville. there's been no information on the motive. us presidentjoe biden has called the shooting "outrageous and unacceptable", saying he and the first lady were praying for the victims' families. jess parker reports.

what happened ? confusion and fear, the almost routine eruption of gun violence in america, but uniquely devastating for a small community in rural alabama, after a shooter opened fire at a 16th birthday party. police tape quietly hiding what you then can hear, the sound of horror and grief. people wail there were four lives tragically lost in this incident and there's been a multitude of injuries. as far as the injuries, there are 28 individuals they were injured during the course of the incident. this local dance hall was a place for young people to have fun. they were out to celebrate that rite of passage for girls, a sweet 16, it became a fatal crime scene. most of the victims, dead and wounded, it's believed, are teenagers. phil dowdell was a star athlete

and senior in high school. local media says he's one of those to lose his life after bullets ripped through the night at his own sister's birthday party. our thoughts and prayers are with all the families. there are just with all the families. there arejust — with all the families. there are just — there are no words to discuss the emotions we are all feelings. millions of firearms are in circulation in this country. for some, it's part of a nation's promise of freedom. for others, it's a kind of madness that's costing the lives of america's children. jessica parker, bbc news. earlier on spoke with colin scroggins chief crime reporter with cnaw2news.com. he has been at the crime scene this evening and is now at his home in smith station alabama. 50 and is now at his home in smith station alabama.— station alabama. so what we know so far _ station alabama. so what we know so far is _ station alabama. so what we know so far is the _ station alabama. so what we know so far is the police - station alabama. so what we know so far is the police and | know so far is the police and surrounding agencies all the way from the county, i believe chambers county, all in that

surrounding area of dave hill supported the shooting at around 10:34pm central standard time here in alabama. when they got on scene they found, i believe, nearly 30 gunshot wound victims, they were all transported to nearby hospital, some in a closed city, columbus, georgia, others in alabama, others transported to hospital right down the road, which is lake martin hospital as well. we were just told by a state in alabama that there were four people disease and 28 individuals were injured, some of which were critical. i understand that you also spoke to a dj who was at the event. are you able to tell us what he said it to you and what he himself witnessed? said it to you and what he himself witnessed ?- said it to you and what he himself witnessed? yes, so while we — himself witnessed? yes, so while we were _ himself witnessed? yes, so while we were out - himself witnessed? yes, so while we were out at - himself witnessed? yes, so while we were out at that l himself witnessed? yes, so - while we were out at that scene we started to talk with the dj,

his name was kenny cooper. he had gotten there around 9:40pm. he said party started around 7:30pm. when he got on scene he started playing music as he was the dj, he claims the lights were turned off as music started to play at this with 16 birthday party, and that is when, about two hours later, thatis when, about two hours later, that is when shots erupted into the dance studio party where the dance studio party where the dust as barty whiley dan suter was taking place. so, again, that is all he said, he said he shouldered —— shielded five teenagers from gunshot that rang out, he said after the gunshots rang out he checked on the five teens to make sure they were 0k, they were 0k, he then called his girlfriend and his mother to let them know that he was ok and not shot.— and not shot. the community that this has _ and not shot. the community that this has happened - and not shot. the community that this has happened to, i and not shot. the community that this has happened to, as they understand it, it is very

close we heard from officials just in the last hours saying their thoughts and prayers are with the people going through this right now, they've also asked for any information that people might have with regards to what has happened. is there any sense at this point, no it is early days, of motive or why it happened this evening? trio. it happened this evening? no, honestly. _ it happened this evening? no, honestly. we _ it happened this evening? no, honestly, we have _ it happened this evening? i457, honestly, we have only been told a very limited amount of info, the only real info we have gotten from authorities was how many people have died and how many were injured and where it took place and what time. they really haven't set out a motive or a suspect, they are urging if anyone has any information to contact authorities, but they have not told us anything about a suspected shooter or shooters at this time. identical to the dj, he did say there were multiple, possibly 4— five shooters involved, but that has not been said by law enforcement. �* ,.,

enforcement. indeed. and so much information _ enforcement. indeed. and so much information that - enforcement. indeed. and so much information that hasn't| much information that hasn't been confirmed yet, the authorities have yet to come out with a sort of statement about motive and, as you point out, who is responsible for this. if you canjust out, who is responsible for this. if you can just talk us through what the community is going through today. i understand there are already vigils being held in some parts and what have people there been telling you? 50. and what have people there been telling you?— telling you? so, really, they havejust — telling you? so, really, they have just been _ telling you? so, really, they have just been spreading - telling you? so, really, they. have just been spreading how sad they are and how this really doesn't happen here in dadeville, this is truly a shock to them. i know a reporter with one of our other local news stations here was their on the scene and someone was notified of the passing of their loved one and they were screaming in anguish because theyjust screaming in anguish because they just found out their loved one was lost. i did say a flag at half staff, the american flag at half—staff, other than that there was just very emotional prayers were offered as well, a lot of thoughts and prayers needed for this community as they are going

through a rough time. they did try to speak with one person, they said that they needed time to get their nerves settle before they could talk to me. that was colin scroggins chief crime reporter with cnaw2news.com speaking to me a little earlier. lots more on that story on the bbc website as always. but for now, around the world anna cross the uk, you are watching bbc news. why are capibaras taking over the internet again? videos of these friendly rodents have had millions of views worldwide on tiktok. but did you know there's a group of capibaras who call west london their home? they're kind of like toddlers. they're kind of like toddlers. they like brightly cullered and sweet foods. their favourite would be sweet potato and

carrot. ., .., would be sweet potato and carrot. ., , , carrot. you can see these internet _ carrot. you can see these internet sensations - carrot. you can see these internet sensations for i internet sensations for yourself at h.— internet sensations for yourself at h. internet sensations for ourself at h. ~ �* ., , yourself at h. we've got sonny here - he's _ yourself at h. we've got sonny here - he's the _ yourself at h. we've got sonny here - he's the easiest - yourself at h. we've got sonny here - he's the easiest tell - here — he's the easiest tell too tell the difference of — he's the lightest colour and the smallest. cory�*s the biggest. they are so sweet. laughs everyone la u g h 5 everyone loves laughs everyone loves them. that's what people of all ages have in common — they come away loving them. you're watching bbc news. 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 more details. reporters were asking questions

to these two people, atiq and his brother. first atiq and then his brother was shot dead. police protection to both of them — they were both trying to get into the hospital. as soon as they get out from the police van, they were approaching the hospital. at that time, reporters tried to stop them for questions. assailants were hiding among journalists, amongst that group of people. they first killed them and then they started shouting a slogan that has normally been used by the hindu extremists in various parts of the country. all three surrendered themselves and did not — they realised that both the people were killed. this entire incident has created havoc among many people in the

country because i think ahme — more than 100 police cases were registered against him and he was a gangster. at the same time, he was also a law—maker. he was a parliamentarian. and he lost elections for a few years. since then, he was arrested, he was injail since february this year. but more than 100 cases were already registered against him. i think mohamed has been a strong critic for the ruling djp party during his election campaigns. so i think ahmed was trying to sort of — the opposition has so far said that his murder has created a situation of lawlessness in the state. the former chief minister and current leader of the

opposition has said that, when 0pposition has said that, when a person who has been under police protection has been killed like this, then what would happen to us normal people who are struggling or commuting in the state? to japan now, where the foreign ministers of the g7 nations are meeting to come up with an agenda for their bosses at the g7 summit that's happening next month hiroshima. they are likely to reiterate calls for russia to immediately end its war against ukraine, and to issue a tacit warning against china over attempts to change the status quo by force. for g7 chairjapan, the only member in asia, for more, we can speak to james brown, professor of political science and international affairs at temple university japan. hejoins me now from tokyo. this is very much about putting the pieces in place so it will be a successful summit next month in hiroshima. so the priorities, i think three stand out in particular.

the first one is actually to do with nuclear weapons. that's why the summit next month is taking place in hiroshima — it's something very crucial to the japanese prime minister. i think emphasis on nonproliferation issues, on denuclearisation, is one. then also you have the ukraine and china issues. and japan sees those as linked, showing that changes to the status quo by force — whether in europe or in asia — are unacceptable. professor, just tojump asia — are unacceptable. professor, just to jump in there — my sense, of course, is that both the war in ukraine and the issue of china — there is some division on this, right? are we sort of expecting a united front, a united approach to these issues? 0r a united front, a united approach to these issues? or do you see some splintering in opinion amongst members? that's riuht. opinion amongst members? that's right- that's _ opinion amongst members? that's right. that's going _ opinion amongst members? that's right. that's going to _ opinion amongst members? that's right. that's going to be _ opinion amongst members? that's right. that's going to be one - right. that's going to be one of the goals — to smooth over any frictions in that area. these frictions have resulted from the french president macron's visit to china, where

that visit was accompanied by a media interview by the french president in which he seemed to suggest divisions over the taiwan issue, seeming to suggest that that was more of an asian issue rather than one for europe. that was directly against what japan wants to hear. 0ne against what japan wants to hear. one of the main reasons why japan has been hear. one of the main reasons whyjapan has been so hear. one of the main reasons why japan has been so forceful in supporting ukraine is that they want reciprocity. they want european countries to show similar commitment when it comes to taiwan issues. so i think this is an opportunity here for the members to show that these divisions are not deep and actually it was just, in a sense, a one—off — that, overall, they are united on these very important issues. how successful do you think japan will be in trying to achieve those goals of getting everybody at the table, so to speak, to move forward with a united view? i speak, to move forward with a united view?— united view? i think they will be successful. _ united view? i think they will be successful. i _ united view? i think they will

be successful. i think- united view? i think they will be successful. i think that, l united view? i think they willl be successful. i think that, on theseissues be successful. i think that, on these issues of ukraine and china, i expect there will be language about unity. i think there'll be language also about there'll be language also about the importance of maintain maintaining peace and security in the taiwan strait. and also urging china to be a responsible stakeholder internationally. if there is disagreement, it might be more on the nuclear issues because, whilst the japanese prime minister really wants to push that as part of his identity as a politician, others might think it's perhaps not quite the ideal time to be moving forward with arms control when relations between the united states and china and russia are so difficult. states and china and russia are so difficult-— so difficult. that was james brown there, _ so difficult. that was james brown there, professor - so difficult. that was james brown there, professor of l brown there, professor of political science and international affairs at temple university injapan, speaking to international affairs at temple university injapan, speaking to me international affairs at temple university injapan, speaking to me earlier international affairs at temple university injapan, speaking to me earlier on international affairs at temple university injapan, speaking to me earlier on newsday. international affairs at temple university injapan, speaking to me earlier on newsday. 0ther to me earlier on newsday. other stories making headlines around the world today:

16 people have been killed and 5 others injured in dubai. a fire in the old part of the city. all those confirmed to have died so far are from overseas. a mass prisoner exchange between the warring parties in yemen has been completed successfully after three days. nearly 1,000 detainees have been reunited with their families. the prisoner swap comes as efforts to agree a new possibly permanent ceasefire have gained momentum. police in iran say that more than 150 commercial premises have been shut down in the past 24 have been shut down in the past 2a hours for not ensuring that female employees wear their compulsory hijab, as iranian authorities step up measures to enforce the regulation. police have also said that several hundred cases of women not wearing the headscarf as required inside cars have been recorded by speed cameras. before we go, a little bit of space for you. elon musk�*s spacex

is hoping to carry out the first test flight of starship later on monday. it's the most powerful rocket ever built and designed to send astronauts to the moon and eventually beyond. 0ur reporter nicky schiller is in the newsroom with more. this is starship, and it could be a game—changer when it comes to space travel. it is a fully reusable space transportation system that can carry up to 100 people. now spacex have shared these pictures of it on its launch pad at its base in texas, ready for this test flight. it has a 150—minute launch window — but look, it is absolutely massive. let me give you a sense ofjust how huge it is. take a look at this — here's the starship, at 120 metres. the space shuttle was less than half that. these are the 33 raptor engines that will get it into space. and in february, spacex engineers did this.

a successful test firing — what's known as a static fire — simultaneously igniting 31 out of the 33 engines at the base of the vehicle's lowest segment. the spacex founder, elon musk, has often talked of building cities on mars. last week, the firm shared this computer—generated video showing astronauts landing on the red planet. this launch will be uncrewed, but elon musk isn't100% sure that it'll be successful. take a look at this tweet he posted... "success maybe — excite guaranteed!" —— excitement guaranteed!" well, the us space agency will be hoping that it is successful — it has chosen the starship capsule to take its astronauts to the moon as part of its artemis iii mission, which is due in late 2025. 0ur our top story: fighting has continued into the night between rival military factions in the capital of

sudan, khartoum. nearly 70 people have been killed. that's it from us on newsday in singapore. thanks so much for joining me. do stay with bbc news. hello. it was a drier weekend for many. still quite a bit of cloud around, but in the sunshine we saw temperatures reached just about 19 degrees celsius in northern ireland. that's the warmest day of the year so far. and we could see the high teens again during the day on monday, the start of the week, certainly a little warmer with some sunshine. and on the whole, it's a drier week ahead, but there will be some showers around. and as this high pressurejust drifts a little bit further northwards, we introduce more isobars, tightly packed lines here, stronger winds and one or two showers as well. and that keen easterly wind coming off the chilly north sea will be noticeable, particularly across the eastern half of the country. but as we go through the remainder of the night, its low cloud, mist and fog with generally light winds

and a few showers here and there. so largely frost—free, just a little bit chilly where we keep the clear skies and they could, as i say, could well be some fog around first thing on monday morning with some fog over the hills as well as that. so generally quite leaden skies, but brightening the april sunshine strong now, pushing the showers away, breaking the cloud up, butjust enough still for the odd shower here and there. but where we see the lengthy spells of sunshine, 17 or 18 on the cards, again, perhaps central and eastern areas up towards northern scotland, northern ireland once again. but as we go through the evening and overnight, we start to pick up a bit more of an easterly breeze, as you can see, coming off the north sea, just ushering in some lower clouds, some sea air and fret on the east coast and foggy conditions around first thing on tuesday morning under this slack ridge of high pressure in the north. and it's the north, scotland, northern ireland, where we keep that high pressure for longest. in the south, we've got this little weather front starting to make its way across from the low countries to increase the risk of cloud on tuesday showers on wednesday, but it's that keen north wind,

sorry, that keen east wind coming off the north sea that we are going to notice because at this time of year our sea temperatures are about as low as they get. so while inland, we'll see temperatures getting up into the mid possibly high teens, you can seejust on the coast, they'll be pegged back because of those cold waters of the north sea. into wednesday, we've still got these tightly packed bars, brisk winds pushing in, a few showers as well. and that risk continues, particularly across the southern half of england, wales through the rest of the week. so after warmish start, still a lot of dry weather, but temperatures just tapering off a little. more online.

china tops the agenda as ministers from the group of seven major economies gather in japan. plus, a's booming beauty industry is embracing digital tools, but will it be enough to raise profits? —— a's. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm karishma vaswani. we started japan where foreign ministers from the group of seven major economies are gathering for a three day meeting. dinah and its assertiveness within the region is expected to