live from london, this is bbc news. rival forces continue to engage in fierce fighting in sudan. a 24—hour armstice is agreed by one side only so civilians can leave. inside a glass and metal box in a moscow court — us journalist evan gershkovich appeals against his detention after spying charges. and in the us, police charge an 85—year—old white man for shooting a black teenager who mistakenly rang the wrong doorbell. hello. in sudan, four days of fighting between rival forces have killed almost 200 people and wounded another 1,800. in the capital khartoum

there has been air strikes, shelling and other heavy gun fire reported. and in the last few hours, the general of the rsf — the rapid support forces — in sudan has approved a 2k hour ceasefire. general mohamed hamdan daglo tweeted... he had spoken to the us secretary of state antony blinken and agreed the pause to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of people who are injured. mr blinken had called for the ceasefire during the g7 foreign ministers meeting taking place injapan. but, the sudanese army has released a statement denying any knowledge of the ceasefire. despite that tweet, these are the latest pictures from rsf paramilitary forces at khartoum international airport showing black smoke rising from burning plane. let's take a look at the area more closely. sudan is part of this eastern area of africa,

known as the horn of africa and has a history of instability. the area's intergovernmental authority on development, or i—gad, will send the presidents of south sudan, djibouti and kenya to the country to try to broker peace. the fighting is between army units loyal to two generals who have been in charge of the country since 2019 when long—time leader omar al—bashir was toppled. here on the left, mohamed hamdan dagalo, better known as hemedti, is sudan's deputy leader. he commands a paramilitary force called the rsf, the rapid support forces. and on the right, the de facto leader, general abdel fattah al—burhan. both of them want to control sudan's military but disagree on how to restore civilian rule to sudan. live now to nairobi to speak to our correspondent merchuma. what is the latest, what is going on on the ground, particularly in

khartoum with the fighting? goad khartoum with the fighting? good afternoon. today _ khartoum with the fighting? good afternoon. today it _ khartoum with the fighting? good afternoon. today it is _ khartoum with the fighting? (13mm afternoon. today it is difficult and residents in khartoum and other areas in sudan are still holed up in their houses, waiting to see if the gun fires will still go down and if there will be allowed to go out and shop for supplies and visit relatives. a lot of conflicting information coming from sudan at the moment, like you say, one general says they are happy and 0k to go ahead with a 24—hour ceasefire to allow for safe passage of civilians and to allow those who are injured to get some help. and this was corroborated with the other general, thatis corroborated with the other general, that is the army chief, talking to one of the international media houses are saying they are ok with that. but now on the facebook page, yummy spokesperson says there is no such thing as a ceasefire, they are not aware of that. —— make the army

spokesperson. we don't know if there is any ceasefire or it will go on. that aside, there is also no information, as yet, if any key people from the african continent, the three leaders, presidents, will be able to go to sudan, because for now khartoum is inaccessible, the airport is closed, no apple derma cleanse can take off or land. the conditions there cannot allow the three african presidents to go ahead. a lot of international pressure, for a ceasefire, but so far, nothing yet.— far, nothing yet. people are too scared to leave _ far, nothing yet. people are too scared to leave their _ far, nothing yet. people are too scared to leave their homes, i far, nothing yet. people are too| scared to leave their homes, but they are almost 2000 people who have been injured in this fighting and many killed, as well. how are the hospital scoping? the many killed, as well. how are the hospital scoping?— many killed, as well. how are the hospital scoping? the hospitals are under a lot of— hospital scoping? the hospitals are under a lot of pressure, _ hospital scoping? the hospitals are under a lot of pressure, first - hospital scoping? the hospitals are under a lot of pressure, first of - under a lot of pressure, first of all, there are hospitals that have already been shelled, hit by the explosions and all the fighting that

is going on. we are getting reports of hospitals being looted, people in armed gear getting into hospitals and going away with supplies that are meant to take care of children. a hospital was looted, taking things, refrigerators, but from that, the hospitals, most of them, do not have enough water, they don't have electricity and the doctors in sudan say they are being forced to evacuate most of their patients. so it is almost going into an humanitarian crisis, because in all of this, even the agencies, humanitarian organisations, they are packing up and leaving, because they are not able to offer assistance as things are, at the moment. thank you so much, things are, at the moment. thank you so much. we — things are, at the moment. thank you so much. we can _ things are, at the moment. thank you so much, we can take _ things are, at the moment. thank you so much, we can take you _ things are, at the moment. thank you so much, we can take you life - things are, at the moment. thank you so much, we can take you life to - so much, we can take you life to khartoum. live now to dallia abdelmoniem, a khartoum resident who is taking shelter with 10 people, including family members.

good to see you, how are you all, how is the family? we are making do, trying the best we can, it is a very horrible situation for anyone to be in? ~ . ., ., in? where we are, we are the heart ofthe in? where we are, we are the heart of the clashes _ in? where we are, we are the heart of the clashes between _ in? where we are, we are the heart of the clashes between the - in? where we are, we are the heart of the clashes between the rss - in? where we are, we are the heart of the clashes between the rss and the army, we have had no sleep whatsoever —— the rsf. we are agitated, we don't know what happening, we cannot get a clear picture. i tagged you must all be so tired, do you have a food and water? -- , we tired, do you have a food and water? --_ we are - tired, do you have a food and water? --_ we are doing i -- you must feel tired. we are doing 0k. what about — -- you must feel tired. we are doing 0k. what about power, _ -- you must feel tired. we are doing 0k. what about power, electricity, l 0k. what about power, electricity, do ou 0k. what about power, electricity, do you have _ 0k. what about power, electricity, do you have solar _ 0k. what about power, electricity, do you have solar power? - 0k. what about power, electricity, do you have solar power? we - 0k. what about power, electricity, do you have solar power? we havej 0k. what about power, electricity, - do you have solar power? we have had no ower do you have solar power? we have had no power since — do you have solar power? we have had no power since saturday _ do you have solar power? we have had no power since saturday afternoon. - no power since saturday afternoon. we have a solar battery which we charge and then we can switch on for

a few hours, which allows us to charge our phones, laptops and that's about it, basically. flan charge our phones, laptops and that's about it, basically. can you cive us that's about it, basically. can you give us an — that's about it, basically. can you give us an idea _ that's about it, basically. can you give us an idea of _ that's about it, basically. can you give us an idea of how— that's about it, basically. can you give us an idea of how noisy - that's about it, basically. can you give us an idea of how noisy it. that's about it, basically. can you | give us an idea of how noisy it is? we were woken up at 4am this morning with the sound of blasts and explosions and gunfire and it hasn't let up, it is nearly now ipm explosions and gunfire and it hasn't let up, it is nearly now 1pm and it hasjust been ongoing let up, it is nearly now 1pm and it has just been ongoing since 4am this morning. and we tried to grab a nap here and there and then you get woken up by a huge blasts, the wind are shaking, our house is made of cement, it is concrete walls and the whole house was shaking. so we just jump whole house was shaking. so we just jump out of bed, the server we are sleeping on and we just move into this room, which isn't exposed to glass or to windows and we just sit there. and wejust glass or to windows and we just sit there. and we just wait. glass or to windows and we just sit there. and wejust wait. until things calm down and then we can go back to our rooms, the space where

we can move into. it is back to our rooms, the space where we can move into-— we can move into. it is no way to live, do we can move into. it is no way to live. do you _ we can move into. it is no way to live, do you have _ we can move into. it is no way to live, do you have any _ we can move into. it is no way to live, do you have any children i we can move into. it is no way to i live, do you have any children with you? live, do you have any children with ou? , , , ., , . you? yes, my nephew and my niece, the are you? yes, my nephew and my niece, they are with — you? yes, my nephew and my niece, they are with us. _ you? yes, my nephew and my niece, they are with us. how _ you? yes, my nephew and my niece, they are with us. how do _ you? yes, my nephew and my niece, they are with us. how do you - you? yes, my nephew and my niece, they are with us. how do you explainj they are with us. how do you explain what is happening — they are with us. how do you explain what is happening to _ they are with us. how do you explain what is happening to them? - they are with us. how do you explain what is happening to them? to - they are with us. how do you explain what is happening to them? to the l what is happening to them? to the two-year-olds. _ what is happening to them? to the two-year-olds. i— what is happening to them? to the two-year-olds, i keep _ what is happening to them? to the two-year-olds, i keep telling - what is happening to them? to the two-year-olds, i keep telling her l what is happening to them? to the j two-year-olds, i keep telling her it two—year—olds, i keep telling her it is a big plane, it is a small plane, it's a big line. the elder, my nephew, he is understanding, he is old enough, he knows what is happening. but is is also my 11—year—old, who is not doing so well, she was here when the revolution started, she was here when the massacre at at the general command happened and for the past four years of her life, all she has been hearing is gunshots and bombings and attacks and people being killed and it'sjust bombings and attacks and people being killed and it's just shaking her, it has taken her to the core and we don't know how to make it

easier or betterfor her, we and we don't know how to make it easier or better for her, we are trying but it is not easy. hope easier or better for her, we are trying but it is not easy. how do ou talk trying but it is not easy. how do you talk to _ trying but it is not easy. how do you talk to her _ trying but it is not easy. how do you talk to her and _ trying but it is not easy. how do you talk to her and to _ trying but it is not easy. how do you talk to her and to each - trying but it is not easy. how do| you talk to her and to each other about the future, how do you imagine the sending? i about the future, how do you imagine the sending?— the sending? i keep telling her that it cannot get _ the sending? i keep telling her that it cannot get any — the sending? i keep telling her that it cannot get any worse _ the sending? i keep telling her that it cannot get any worse than - the sending? i keep telling her that it cannot get any worse than this i it cannot get any worse than this and it has to get better, because we have hit the lowest point that we can and that everything that starts, there is always an end and hopefully there is always an end and hopefully the end is soon and ijust try to comfort her in that way, that she will look back at this and realise that this is just a period will look back at this and realise that this isjust a period in our history, that you can always say that she was witness to it and that things can only get better from now, i cannot see how much was it can get thanit i cannot see how much was it can get than it already is a. we i cannot see how much was it can get than it already is a.— than it already is a. we are thinking — than it already is a. we are thinking of _ than it already is a. we are thinking of you _ than it already is a. we are thinking of you all, - than it already is a. we are thinking of you all, you i than it already is a. we are thinking of you all, you sol than it already is a. we are i thinking of you all, you so much than it already is a. we are - thinking of you all, you so much for joining us with those insights from cutting. thank you. we will return to sedan and the

desperate situation, particularly in khartoum throughout the day. let's update you on what is happening in russia in the last hour or so. the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich is appearing in court in moscow for his appeal hearing against his detention. he is only 31—year—olds, arrested last week. he is the first american journalist to face espionage charges in russia since the soviet era. his employer, him, his family, they strongly did deny any wrongdoing. 0n strongly did deny any wrongdoing. on monday more than a0 countries led by the us, called for his release, condemning 0scar puzzling efforts to restrict the media. let's let's speak now to vitaliy shevchenko, the bbc monitoring russia editor. we can see him there, it's really moving to see him inside that glass and metal box, but he does appear to be ok. what did we learn from what happened in court, what happened?

the trial is going on, the hearing, i should say, is going on as we speak. to be honest, it would be highly surprising if his appeal succeeds, because thisjust highly surprising if his appeal succeeds, because this just isn't how russia's legal system works. the conviction rate there is more than 99%. evan gershkovich was arrested in the city of your guttenberg, east of moscow, was judged with trying to obtain russian state secrets on behalf the american government and he was arrested for two months. this is what this hearing is about, against his arrested two months. he has lived damning in russia for six

years and now he is facing 20 years, after 20 years injail, if years and now he is facing 20 years, after 20 years in jail, if convicted and this is obviously a very dark time for journalists and this is obviously a very dark time forjournalists in russia, yesterday of course, and other prominentjournalists, activists were sentenced for 25 years in jail. 0n were sentenced for 25 years in jail. on monday, more than a0 countries led by the us called for a release in this joint statement, but his family, friends, his employer, what other options now, do they have any? well, their options are very few, because one trend in thought amongst russia watchers is that he was arrested because the kremlin once people which could potentially be exchanged in a prison exchange with the west. 0ne

exchanged in a prison exchange with the west. one option is waiting for that to happen, but there is another example of an american citizen, former marine, who was sentenced to 16 years in russianjail in 2020, so he is still there. and a lot of people are saying that one big reason for this to be going on is because the kremlin once to intimidate free media still operating in russia. thank you so much. let's update you on the latest pictures from ukraine. we have to tell you, we don't know when these pictures were filmed, when this visit happened. the kremlin has said that president putin has visited occupied parts of ukraine's luhansk and kherson regions, in a rare trip to lands taken during russia's invasion of its neighbour. russian state media say he attended a military command meeting. it's not known when

the trip was made. 0ur ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse is following the story from kyiv. i think it's significant in the sense that the kremlin is looking to double down, is looking to legitimise the sizeable land grab it has made to date. now, there are a few unknowns. as you say, we don't know when vladimir putin made this visit. he can be heard certainly on his visit to the occupied part of the kherson region, he can be heard talking about the upcoming easter with troops. he says, "don't let me distract you. "i'm here in a business capacity." so we could say possibly that it was before last weekend, but it's about moscow trying to portray russia's leader as not being afraid to make his way closer to the front line and where his troops are fighting such an attritional battle. now, what's interesting about his visit to the kherson region is that this is an area where russian forces have been

really bolstering their defences. they've been digging new trenches, they've been amassing a huge number of troops ahead of a widely expected ukrainian counter—offensive, which has not happened yet and the sounds coming out of kyiv is that ukraine isn't ready to make such a large scale attack at this point in time. vladimir putin is also depicted as visiting troops in the eastern luhansk region of ukraine, which is mostly occupied. i think what the kremlin is trying to say is we're not going anywhere and regardless of any kind of western—backed ukrainian offensive which may follow and that everything is going to plan, and we've seen that time and time again in russia's invasion of ukraine — when russia is frustrated, where it is defeated in some areas, it's been launching numerous offensives over the past weeks and months, it never acknowledges defeat in that way. it tries to re—nose

and refocus its campaign. we are going to take you live to some very moving pictures that we are getting in from poland from the annual march of the living. these are live pictures from the annual march of the living to honour victims of the holocaust, at the site of the former auschwitz—birkenau nazi death camp. the anniversary is part of holocaust memorial day wherejewish people across the world mark the 6 millionjews that were systematically killed in the holocaust. the polish president andrzej duda will be hosting his counterparts from israel and germany to mark the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the warsaw ghetto uprising. for now, wejust for now, we just have these pictures come into us from the annual march of the living. from poland.

sirens have been ringing out across israel as people mark annual holocaust commemorations with a two minute silence. it is incredible poignant when it happens, a two minute silence. the sirens sounding across israel and the streets go silent. as you can see, for the start of the state ceremony to mark holocaust martyrs' and heroes remembrance day. around ia7,000 holocaust surivors are still alive in israel. these pictures are always quite something when you see the entire country come to a standstill.

we leave those pictures in israel to take you back to russia, because we are getting some live pictures from the court in moscow, we were just talking about the case. the man you can see there, the czech shed, that is evan gershkovich, his appeal is being heard. standing in the that glass and steel box, described inside the courtroom, he is ok, he looks 0k, physically, at the moment, we understand that he hasn't actually said anything yet. russia's security service arresting him last month on espionage charges. the concern for him employer, a charge that carries a possible 20 years prison sentence, the united

states has been at the forefront of leading a big campaign to try to get him released, they have deemed him to be wrongfully detained. but we are just watching live pictures coming to us from the moscow court room as well and actually the breaking news from that courtroom, they have rejected his appeal, so they have rejected his appeal, so the news there that his appeal has been rejected, we will get more lines for youth from the moscow courtroom as soon as we have them. but the reuters news agencyjust reporting right now that evan gershkovich's appeal against pre—trial detention has been rejected by the court. those with a live pictures we were just from moscow. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. alongside the brutality, there were also huge acts of bravery during the first world war. when a road was cut off and the wounded couldn't be evacuated,

private richard george masters made journey after journey despite fierce enemy fire to save the lives of 200 men. he was awarded the victoria cross and is buried here at st cuthbert�*s church in the village of churchtown in southport, but until recently, this headstone marked his grave. we asked the question, can we redesign the headstone? with the help of a community website, they've spent 30 months on refurbishment. private masters survived the war and returned to civilian life. he died in 1963 and is buried alongside his wife. we've had lots of chats, lots of cups of coffee. we looked at the design — how do we want the gravestone to look? because it's something that we probably wouldn't thought about. we didn't really realize the importance of the vc. you're live with bbc news. india's supreme court has started hearing final arguments

on a number of petitions from same sex couples aiming to legalise gay marriage. there are at least eighteen gay couples who say not being able to marry deprives them of rights like opening joint bank accounts or co—owning a house. india's government, which is against same—sex marriage, has urged the court to reject the petitions. but it will be a group of five judges which has the final say. live now to delhi and our correspondent geeta pandey. we have been watching pictures all day from the court, keeping across what is happening. any developments from the court?— from the court? well, yes, we have seen a day — from the court? well, yes, we have seen a day of _ from the court? well, yes, we have seen a day of very— from the court? well, yes, we have seen a day of very lively _ from the court? well, yes, we have seen a day of very lively debate i seen a day of very lively debate within the court. both sides have been presenting their views and also thejudges interjecting been presenting their views and also the judges interjecting and intervening a lot. we have got some sense of which way the hearings are going to go. thejudges have also

said that the argument will go on until the end of play on thursday. which means they will go 1aa days, three days more and then after that the judges will take a call on the judgment —— like they will go on for four days. both sides have good arguments forward, they have been presenting their views, for the petitioners, they said the marriage is a union of two people, not necessarily a man and woman and that it's important for everybody to be able to. whereas the government has reiterated its views, saying that our concept of family is essentially a union of a man and a woman, a heterosexual couple and children. they have also said that these views, these petitions are very... they reflect only the views of the elite of people and that is why it

is not given much importance. they also said thejudges is not given much importance. they also said the judges do not have the right to look at this case, they say that this is something that the parliament should be allowed to debate and take a call on. thank you so much, debate and take a call on. thank you so much. we — debate and take a call on. thank you so much, we will— debate and take a call on. thank you so much, we will come _ debate and take a call on. thank you so much, we will come back- debate and take a call on. thank you so much, we will come back to i debate and take a call on. thank you so much, we will come back to delhij so much, we will come back to delhi when we have some developments in that story and i will be going to speaking to a couple who have a vested interest in this coming up on bbc news, so stay with us for that. let's take you to scotland where police arrested the treasurer over the snp. he has been questioned in connection with an ongoing investigation into the party was my finances. two weeks ago, peter murrell, the party's former chief executive, who is married to the former leader nicola sturgeon, was arrested and later released without charge pending further inquiries. the energy regulator has announced a new code of practice that prevents suppliers in england, scotland and wales from forcibly installing prepayment meters in the homes of customers over the age of 85. 0fgem temporarily stopped the installation of any prepayment meters without householders' permission in february,

after debt agencies working for british gas were revealed to be breaking into some properties to fit them. we are going to go live to a statement that is being given from the us ambassador to moscow. i was able to meet — the us ambassador to moscow. i was able to meet evan _ the us ambassador to moscow. i —" able to meet evan yesterday at the court of the prison, it was the first time we were granted access since his wrongful detention more than a two weeks ago. i can report that he is in good health and remains a strong, despite his circumstances. we will continue to provide an all appropriate support to evan and his family and we expect russian authorities to provide continued consular access to evan.

the charges against evan are baseless and we call on the russian federation to immediately release him. we also call for the immediate release of paul whalen, paul has been held more than four mages in russia. both men deserved to go home to theirfamilies now. thank russia. both men deserved to go home to their families now. thank you. that was a very brief statement from the us ambassador to moscow, but crucially she was inside the court in moscow where us journalists evan gershkovich has just appeared and had his appeal turned down and rejected, but she was able to tell us that evan is well, he is very strong, there are pictures of him that you can see right now, standing in the glass enclosure. the judges against him she said are baseless and she once again reiterated calls

to release him. the us ambassador to moscow saying the charges are baseless and called for russia to release him. stay with us on bbc news. hello again. yesterday we reached temperatures of 21.2 celsius in kinlochewe in the north of scotland. today the north of scotland, or the north—west, certainly favoured for some higher temperatures. over the next few days the temperatures will slip. it's going to be mostly dry. there'll be some showers across parts of england and wales at times, but this keen easterly breeze coming in across a cold north sea really accentuating the cold feel along the north sea coastline. we've also got various fronts coming in across england and wales introducing thicker cloud at times and also some showers. this afternoon we've got cloud coming in from a weather front across southern counties. the odd light shower is possible, but move north of that there's a lot

of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine. it's not particularly windy, these white circles represent the average wind speeds, but we will have a brisk wind along the north sea coastline and that will accentuate the cool feel. temperatures here between ten and 13 degrees. push further west we're looking at higher temperatures. we could potentially see 19 in the north—west highlands today. now, as we head on through the evening and overnight, more cloud romps in from the north sea. we'll see some showers skirting across southern counties of england. further north, under clear skies, it will be cold and locally we will see a touch of frost, but that's, of course, where we'll see some blue skies to start the day tomorrow, under the clear skies. tomorrow a high pressure drifts a little bit further west. we still have this squeeze on the isobars, still brisk winds along the north sea coastline. this weather front continuing to pull away from the south—west taking its showers with it. a few of those showers may get into south wales, but they'll also move away and the low cloud tending to break up with the cloud generally pushing in the direction of the west, so brightening up in eastern areas.

the north hanging onto the sunshine for most of the day. temperatures sliding a little bit. we're looking at ten to about 15 degrees as our maximum temperatures in the afternoon. as we move through wednesday into thursday, high pressure still very much with us, more or less anchored across our shores, but you can see we've got various weather fronts coming in on thursday and also friday. so what's going to happen, first of all, on thursday is a frosty start, a fine start, but then we'll see some cloud and some showers coming our way. showers more widespread during the course of friday.

this is bbc news. the headlines: sudan's paramilitary force, the rsf, has reaffirmed its approval for a 2a—hour armistice to ensure the safe passage of civilians. two men are arrested in new york for allegedly operating a chinese �*secret police' station. let's remind you of the breaking news we have had from moscow. a moscow court has rejected an appeal by this man, the young american journalist eric gursky boetsch

against his pre—trial