this is bbc news. the headlines: sudan's paramilitary force, the rsf, has reaffirmed its approval for a 24—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 detention on

spying charges. he absolutely denies these charges and we have heard as well from the us ambassador to moscow, saying that he is in good health, is strong. she clearly pointed out again that the charges are baseless against him and called for russia to release him. it was a short statement you give outside the court. we have just short statement you give outside the court. we havejust heard, that his appeal by evan gershkovich against his pre—trial detention has been rejected. let's return to sudan where fighting between rival forces has killed almost 200 people and wounded 1,800. a few hours ago, the general of the rsf — the rapid support forces — in sudan has approved a 24—hour ceasefire.

general mohamed hamdan daglo tweeted that 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. this is the latest footage from khartoum showing plumes of thick black smoke as explosions and gunfire are heard in the streets. i spoke to a woman 20 minutes ago he said there is still gunfire on the streets. live now to khartoum and our reporter mohamed 0sman. very good that you could join us. what has today been like in khartoum, what has been happening? it is a full day of clashes. between

the sudan army and the rsf. heavy clashes near the army headquarters. we spoke to eyewitnesses before, two hours ago they said the fighting was very hard. there are problems for some patients in the hospitals in the conflict area. according to some reports, generalabdel the conflict area. according to some reports, general abdel fattah al—burhan had accepted the 24—hour ceasefire starting at around six o'clock local time tonight. if both

generals accept the ceasefire, it would help those civilians to go from the conflict area to a safe area. . , , �* area. that is the first time i've heard that. — area. that is the first time i've heard that, that _ area. that is the first time i've heard that, that the _ area. that is the first time i've heard that, that the army - area. that is the first time i've heard that, that the army has | heard that, that the army has accepted this call for a ceasefire. if it happens from six o'clock from 24 if it happens from six o'clock from 2a hours, do you expect a lot of people will to leave? 24 hours, do you expect a lot of people will to leave?— 24 hours, do you expect a lot of people will to leave? yes. many --eole people will to leave? yes. many peeple have _ people will to leave? yes. many people have been _ people will to leave? yes. many people have been waiting - people will to leave? yes. many people have been waiting for. people will to leave? yes. manyl people have been waiting for this chance. some people can't leave their homes because they are trapped. people can't go outside. it would be a good chance for the people. there is fighting on the

streets. this should be a good chance for the civilians to try to get back to normal. pare chance for the civilians to try to get back to normal.— chance for the civilians to try to get back to normal. are there any re orts get back to normal. are there any reports on — get back to normal. are there any reports on what _ get back to normal. are there any reports on what is _ get back to normal. are there any reports on what is happening - get back to normal. are there any reports on what is happening on l get back to normal. are there any l reports on what is happening on the diplomatic front to try to bring an end to this?— diplomatic front to try to bring an end to this? eyewitnesses told us that the rsf _ end to this? eyewitnesses told us that the rsf was _ end to this? eyewitnesses told us that the rsf was coming - end to this? eyewitnesses told us that the rsf was coming to - end to this? eyewitnesses told us that the rsf was coming to a - that the rsf was coming to a building in khartoum to talk to people from the diplomatic service in america. but so far they have not come to this area, according to witnesses. come to this area, according to witnesses-_

come to this area, according to witnesses. ,, ., ~ , ., ., witnesses. stay safe, thank you for “oininr us. witnesses. stay safe, thank you for joining us- you _ witnesses. stay safe, thank you for joining us. you can _ witnesses. stay safe, thank you for joining us. you can see _ witnesses. stay safe, thank you for joining us. you can see the - witnesses. stay safe, thank you for| joining us. you can see the daytime pictures here, the huge plume of smoke in the air caused by some kind of weaponry. it was a terrifying situation for many during the nights. last night, sudanese citizens saw this barrage of artillery fire light up the sky in khartoum. mosaab baba is a journalist and director of ayin network, a nonprofit independent media outlet which has been covering khartoum for the past 12 years. he described the situation on the ground. if you're in the khartoum locality you're going to be stuck indoors because the constant ammunition being fired in air strikes. this morning, we're getting reports of air strikes

even in khartoum north. so the closer you are to the center, the more people are kind of locked in, but the more you go to the outskirts things are a little bit more quiet, but still the issue of the logistics and getting supplies and power being out for days at a time, still from morning with no coverage. covering the conflict now, like when there were the protests and the marches and stuff, it was a lot easier to get information from the ground, but people are holed up right now, so we're depending on a lot of eyewitness accounts of where planes are going, where the air strikes are happening, where the shelling is happening, where the troops' movements are, so trying to just follow that minute by minute. so now it's almost like one of the historic moments in sudan. there's never been a battle like this in khartoum throughout its history, since the days of the british colonialism. since those days, khartoum hasn't seen this kind of fighting. so, interesting that the army seems to have agree to that ceasefire. perhaps from six o'clock we could

see possibly leaving. we will try to verify that for you. 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 18 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 salford. we can speak to our lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss. good to see you. this is an historic moment. remind us of how we got here and why this is so important to the lgbt cue community. it and why this is so important to the lgbt cue community.— lgbt cue community. it has come about after— lgbt cue community. it has come about after a _ lgbt cue community. it has come about after a number— lgbt cue community. it has come about after a number of— lgbt cue community. it has come about after a number of petitions | about after a number of petitions were put forward by gay couples in india calling for the law to change, for equal marriage to be legalised.

18 gay couples at least believe to have been put forward these petitions. they say equal marriage not being legalised there denies them things like adoption, having a joint bank accounts and so on. and the other side of that, the indian government, many religious leaders saying they didn't happen. the prime minister said this reflects urban, elitist user and not the indian family. this comes five years after india decriminalised homosexuality. for this to be happening five years later as a significant step. this ruling will affect millions of people. in 2012 and 2012 the lgbt q people. in 2012 and 2012 the lgbt 0 population in india was around 12 million people. it could be much higher than that. a key decision to be made this week. share

higher than that. a key decision to be made this week.— be made this week. are there international _ be made this week. are there international comparisons - be made this week. are there international comparisons to l be made this week. are there i international comparisons to be be made this week. are there - international comparisons to be made here? it international comparisons to be made here? ., , ., ., , international comparisons to be made here? . , ., . , ii international comparisons to be made here? ., :: , ., , here? it was over the last 20 years orso here? it was over the last 20 years or so with — here? it was over the last 20 years or so with that _ here? it was over the last 20 years or so with that same-sex - here? it was over the last 20 years or so with that same-sex marriage | or so with that same—sex marriage has been legalised around the world with the first in 2001, followed by belgium, wales and ten years ago in england and wales. there are no more than 30 countries where equal marriage legal. half of them are in western europe. while some countries have a partial recognition, like civil unions, but even then not all rates are equal. last year cuba voted for same—sex marriage in a referendum. andorra also legalised it. singapore tried to bar same —— decided to bar same—sex marriages. equal marriage is the topic of discussion injapan, the discussion in japan, the philippines, discussion injapan, the philippines, thailand. it is important to remember the wider

context here. homosexuality is criminalised in many areas of the world, in more than 60 countries. it is thought in more than ten countries the death penalty could still be enforced. it was only last month that uganda tightened rules around same—sex relationship and that can be punishable by death in some cases and life prison sentences and others. the implications of what could be heard in india this week and what those five judges decide could be huge and whether it becomes the 35th country around the world that legalises gay marriage. prosecutors have arrested two men in new york for allegedly operating a chinese �*secret police�* station in manhattan�*s chinatown neighbourhood. 61—year—old lujianwang, pictured on the right, and 59—year—old chenjinping, pictured on the left, are both new york city residents and face charges of conspiring to act as agents for china and the obstruction ofjustice. live now to washington dc with cbs news chief national affairs

and justice correspondent, jeff pegues. what do us prosecutors alleged the secret police station was used for? it is remarkable to hear that term, secret police station here in the us, in manhattan of all places, in chinatown. us prosecutors allege these two member you think secret police station as a cover to do the work of the prc, tracking down dissidents, organise and counter protests, or trying to disrupt culture protests, that kind of thing. prosecutors are trying to crack down on this type of activity here in the us. they talked about the legal implications of having a secret police station of a foreign adversary here in the us. there was

this activity allegedly bathe out these two individuals, one who lived in the bronx, the other who lived in manhattan, in contact with prc security officials, and then trying to track down people in the us with a view is counter to those of the prc. the case that prosecutors outlined seem to be pretty strong and you can expect more cases like this here in the us because right now us officials consider china to be the most serious national security threat. be the most serious national security threat. what�*s been the chinese response so far? the prc is denying these allegations. they say that this was not a secret police station, but you can understand how us officials are

sceptical of those denials. they believe they have a strong case not only related to these two individuals but also the security service that is connected to the prc operating online personas to intimidate people here in the us, to threaten people here in the us, to sow discord here in the us, to create divisions, so us officials believe they have a pretty strong case here. ., ., believe they have a pretty strong case here. ., ,, ,, believe they have a pretty strong case here-— case here. thank you. industry, prosecutors _ case here. thank you. industry, prosecutors have _ case here. thank you. industry, prosecutors have charged - case here. thank you. industry, prosecutors have charged an . prosecutors have charged an 85—year—old white man who was accused of shooting and injuring a black teenager who mistakenly ran the wrong door bell. an arrest warrant has been issued for andrew lester. this is ralph yaro, 16 years old, he�*s been sent by his mother to pick up his younger brother but he got the address wrong. he was

standing on the subject when he was shot through the door. protesters gathered outside andrew lester�*s for a second evening. i can tell you there was a racial component to the case. my message to the my message to the community is that, in clay county, we enforce the laws the we enforce the laws and we follow the laws and it does not matter where you come from or what you look like or how much money you have, everyone is held to the same standard. it started with a coffee and a chat. 15 months and 2,000 miles later, barbara and gaye set off for the final miles of their cathedral cycling tour with a final ride between coventry and birmingham cathedrals.

seeing all the beauty of the countryside. 0ur fantastic cathedrals are just wonderful places to visit and breathe in the atmosphere. it�*s just been the most enjoyable thing i could have done. a network of british cycling groups called breeze have seen the women make friends and explore on two wheels. today, cycling buddiesjoined in the celebratory ride and wejoined them en route as they extolled the virtues of two wheels. i�*ll guarantee you won�*t look back. once you�*ve done one ride you just get the bug and you love it. it may not have been the fastest ride, but as the friends made their way towards birmingham cathedral this afternoon there were smiles and celebrations. are you ever too old for this? no, definitely not. you�*re live with bbc news.

do you have is that there are signs of the recovering. but they are weak and under threat of being undone by the taliban�*s recent restrictions on women working at ngos, which could lead to a significant drop in aid. the taliban have told the bbc that the rules imposed on women are internal matters for the country and that their government is working to pull the country out of economic collapse. no time for a childhood. 11—year—old saeed ali akbar must work every day so that his family can eat. one of more than a million children out of school in afghanistan. he was in sixth grade until last year. "i really liked school. i miss it. this is very hard work, but i�*ve got used to it now," he says. next door, his older brother does the same work.

nine hours of hammering and welding earns them 150 afghanis a day, less than $2. their father lost his job when afghanistan�*s economy collapsed and has now gone to iran to find work. their mother begs on the streets. translator: | feel awful- that my young children are working. this is their time to study and be something. but life is hard for us. i am struggling to find work and they have to provide for the family. when the taliban took over, foreign money that was being given to this country�*s government was frozen, triggering an economic collapse. aid organizations have so far played a crucial role, saving people from going hungry. in recent months, though, the taliban has increased restrictions on women working for them, which threatens to put their operations and their funding at risk.

i met a senior official in the taliban�*s finance ministry... my name isjogita from the bbc. ..who says they�*re working to improve the economic situation. basically in the previous government, there were a lot of corruptions and misuses of the power of the government. we have transparency in all our departments, and there is a very good 37% of increase in our revenues. two thirds of your population currently does not know where their next meal is coming from. that is not a self—reliant economy. so how crucial is the operation of aid organisations at this moment? these are temporary things. thank you for the international community helping our people in all over afghanistan. but this is not the solution we need. we need not only aid, we need trade. we need the aid effectiveness. we need developmental aid. we need the international communities to come and work with us.

but it is the policies of your government, including the restrictions on women and girls, which are making it tougher for aid organisations to operate in this country. is your government willing to take responsibility for your share of what you should be doing to further expand the aid that is coming to your country. so, the girls�* education and girls stopping them from the work, so this is, i think, the internal policy of islamic emirates. but i think all the things, all the humanitarian aid and the donations and the grants, those should not be related to this issue. this issue only. the gap between afghanistan�*s rulers and the world is widening at an unexpectedly rapid pace. its people are at risk of being left to fight a crisis on their own. yogita limaye, bbc news, kabul.

apple�*s tim cook has opened the first apple store in india. until now, apple products have only been available in india or online or through a vast network of resellers. it is a big moment for apple fans. 0ur correspondence is there for us. tim cook was here in the morning to launch apple first back retail store here in india in mumbai. amidst much fanfare, music, enthusiastic customer base, loyal customers who were queueing up here since morning to have a look at tim cook and to get entry into the new store. there is much excitement about apple opening up its famed retail store here. it also signals quite a lot,

especially with tim cook coming to launch the stores here india. it signifies that aprile apple is saying india is a more important and strategic market, both expanding a store customer base here, as well as expanding the manufacturing base in an temp two diversify its operations away from china. they have seen their customer base especially in their customer base especially in the urban pockets grew in the last three and four years and that is visible with the sales of apple products here. simultaneously, and he is proving to be a big manufacturing base with their key suppliers and inventors setting up shop here. it will be in the next few years that apple will reap the benefits of what they are setting up now, but today certainly much fanfare here, opening the first day. two days later, the second door will open up in delhi.

in france have more protests following president macon pushing through controversial pension reforms. these protests were in marseille. president macon said he has promised to restart talks with the unions. there are threats of large protests on may day. the french cbc broadcaster is giving to enter after twitter labelled them as being state funded. we have had news in the last hour or so that sweden�*s public radio is also ceasing its activities following that decision by the canadian public broadcaster. hollywood writers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of giving union negotiators to power to call a

strike, moving a step closer to your production shutdown that will disrupt what viewers see on tv. they say they have suffered through the streaming tv boom and are seeking pay increases from netflix and other studios. in the uk, black women are almost four—times more likely to die within six weeks of giving birth than white women — that�*s one of the stark figures in a report being released today by the women and equalities committee. it was actually one of the hardest experiences i�*ve ever had to go through. sandra igwe is campaigning for better care for black mothers. she formed her own pressure group after suffering not one, but two, traumatic births. so with my first pregnancy, i was ignored. i was dismissed. i raised concerns several times and was told that i�*m overexaggerating, that i�*m not really feeling this pain. i was told that my pains didn�*t coincide with my labour contractions. i begged and pleaded for pain relief. that was denied as well. and ifelt like i was really

treated differently. in a report out today, the women and equalities committee says... "too many black women have experienced treatment that falls short of acceptable standards, and we�*re concerned that the government and nhs leadership have underestimated the extent to which racism plays a role." mp suggests there needs to be better training for health care staff and more personalised care, although they point out ongoing staffing shortages make that goal much harder. we know that this has been a problem for more than 20 years. experts who appeared before the committee argue action is long overdue. so this is an unacceptable disparity. we clearly need action, but action needs to be at a local level. we need to evaluate the results of the action we're doing. and to do that, we need real—time, lifetime data on complications in pregnancy for women from all different ethnic groups. the department of health said it had

invested £165 million in the maternity workforce in the last two years. nhs england acknowledges there is more to be done, and said it would review the report. naomi grimley, bbc news. american actress mischa barton is set to join the rebooted australian soap neighbours, which is returning to screens later this year. producers of the soap say the former 0c star will appear as reece, an american "who�*s not quite who she appears to be". neighbours originally came to an end in 2022 after being on air for 37 years but the streaming giant amazon is relaunching the soap. yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 21.2 in scotland. for most of us we had brisk winds, but the

winds were blocked by the mountain centre with light winds here the sun�*s energy was concentrated. elsewhere, the brisk winds meant that the sun was filtered through a greater depth of atmosphere. more of the same to come through the next few days. we have more sunshine to look forward to once again. the highest temperatures will be across north—west scotland. we are already seeing temperatures into the low 20s and we could beat yesterday�*s highest temperatures, so it could be the warmest day of the year so far in the highlands. temperatures will be suppressed with highs more likely to be ten or 11 due to the cool sea breeze. an outside chance of a light shower across south—east end of this afternoon. the other thing to notice as we have very high levels of pollen, particularly across western areas. forthose pollen, particularly across western areas. for those who suffer from tree pollen, it could be a light

shower across south—east end of this afternoon. the other thing to notice as we have very high levels of pollen, particularly across western areas. forthose pollen, particularly across western areas. for those who suffer from tree pollen, group b is an figures. tomorrow there will be more in the way of cloud for england and will is. you could say a lot like shower but most of us seeing a dry day with increasingly sunny skies through the afternoon. the highest temperatures across western areas. we are looking at highs of 11 or 12 degrees the current —— around eastern coasts. the air gets cooler on thursday, but mitigating that should be the fact that we see much more in the way of sunshine across the whole of the uk. it is probably the highlands that was it the highest temperatures, pushing well into the high teens here to the afternoon. enterprising at the weekend we see a change in the weather pattern. low pressure starts to develop and produce rain northwards through the uk. expect rain at times on friday and were

generally through the weekend. next week it gets quite chilly for april.

today at one: the snp�*s treasurer is arrested by police investigating the party�*s finances. colin beattie is being questioned by police scotland. it comes two weeks after the arrest of the party�*s former chief executive peter murrell, who�*s married to nicola sturgeon. we�*ll have the latest live from glasgow. also this lunchtime: the forced installation of prepayment meters — new rules mean they can�*t be installed in the home of people over 85, or with certain medical conditions. what we are trying to do with this broad kind of practice is make sure we get the right balance to make sure that all of us have a fair way of paying for our energy but the vulnerable are most protected. a us newspaperjournalist arrested in russia appears in court accused of spying — and loses his appeal against pre—trial detention.