hello, and welcome to the context on bbc news. on the programme, we will get the latest from sudan, where gunfire has been heard in the capital after a 24—hour ceasefire was supposed to come into force. residents of khartoum told the bbc the fighting hasn't stopped. we will also be talking about the court case that has just got under way in the united states. it is court case that hasjust got under way in the united states. it is fox versus dominion. _ way in the united states. it is fox versus dominion. all _ way in the united states. it is fox versus dominion. all eyes - way in the united states. it is fox versus dominion. all eyes on - way in the united states. it is fox versus dominion. all eyes on the | versus dominion. all eyes on the court case. it is going to be a huge spectacle, in part because, by midweek, you could see rupert murdoch,

the chair of fox news, potentially on the witness stand being questioned by dominion�*s lawyers. this case is very much about the tension between, on the one hand, broad protections for freedom of the press and, on the other hand, consequences for the telling of a known lie. hello and welcome to the context. on the programme, we will get the latest from sudan, where gunfire has been heard in the capital after a 24—hour ceasefire was supposed to come into force. residents of khartoum told the bbc the fighting hasn't stopped. the two rival generals whose troops have been battling for control agreed to a humanitarian pause to allow civilians to escape. there's signs of recovery in the afghan economy, but the un says those signs are weak and at risk of being undone by the taliban's recent restrictions on women working at ngos, which could lead to a significant drop in aid. the parade rehearsals under the cover of night—time as the king's coronation is now just weeks away.

but first, our top story on the programme — the dominion versus fox trial. it's been variously described as explosive, a bombshell trial, and today it is getting under way in the us. a company that makes voting machines — dominion — is suing the conservative fox news network for defamation. rupert murdoch, alongside many of the station's star presenters, is likely to be in the dock giving evidence. weaving through all of it, donald trump and his bogus claims that the presidential election was stolen. let's remind ourselves of what it's about and what's at stake. dominion voting systems is suing the tv network for $1.6 billion, claiming its reputation was hurt after fox knowingly spread lies about its voting machines after the 2020 us election. then—president donald trump attacked the voting machine company after the ballot, falsely claiming that it rigged the election to favour winnerjoe biden.

dominion says fox hosts amplified the "baseless allegations" in dozens of broadcasts, despite knowing them to be false. fox argues that allegations against dominion�*s machines were newsworthy and should be protected by the first amendment, which enshrines the right to free speech. fox hosts tucker carlson and sean hannity are expected to testify — as could the network's chairman rupert murdoch, who has previously acknowledged some of the network's stars endorsed false claims the 2020 election was stolen. but he denied all of fox backed donald trump's baseless claims of widespread fraud after his election defeat. to win, dominion needs to prove that people at fox acted with "actual malice" and that it's reporting of false claims was not simply an unintentional error. and for fox to win, it needs to prove it did not defame dominion in an intentional way. nomia iqbal has more background to the case. one of america's most watched cable news networks has been accused

of broadcasting the lies told by donald trump's supporters during its coverage of the 2020 presidential election. and now it could cost them $1.6 billion. dominion voting systems is suing fox news for defamation. it alleges the conservative news channel knowingly spread false information and accused them of trying to rig the election against donald trump. fox news has insisted it was reporting newsworthy opinions and not presenting facts and that this was all protected by first amendment free speech rights. some of the evidence presented by dominion show private communications between big names at fox news that appear to directly contradict what was said on air. there's a lot at stake for fox news when it comes to money and reputation. it's really hard to win a defamation lawsuit in america because of free speech protections. and so if fox loses, this case could end up at the supreme court, and that may have a huge impact on other media organisations. we're nowjoined byjohn culhane, professor of law at widener

university delaware law school. thank you so much forjoining us. and giving us your insight. this was a court case that yesterday was not sure whether it was going to head, it was delayed for 2h hours, but it is going ahead. what do you make of it? i is going ahead. what do you make of it? 4' is going ahead. what do you make of it? ~ , is going ahead. what do you make of it? 4' , ., , is going ahead. what do you make of it? ~ , ., , , , , it? i think it is a bit surprising to some people _ it? i think it is a bit surprising to some people that - it? i think it is a bit surprising to some people that it - it? i think it is a bit surprising to some people that it is - it? i think it is a bit surprisingl to some people that it is going forward, because there is a lot of incentive for fox to settle the case. they are under a microscope here, and certainly there is very strong evidence that they knew... what they said was false, that has already been established by the judge, and there is certainly very strong evidence that they knew or were reckless in not knowing that the statements were false, and so this 5-6 the statements were false, and so this 5—6 week trial i think will be a parade of witnesses, documentary evidence, testimonial evidence that

i am relatively confident will establish what demand is trying to establish, which is that fox personnel new or with reckless disregard should have known that what they were saying was inaccurate —— what dominion is trying to establish. {iii -- what dominion is trying to establish-— -- what dominion is trying to establish. . ., , ., , establish. of course that will be for a 'u establish. of course that will be for a jury to _ establish. of course that will be for a jury to decide, _ establish. of course that will be for a jury to decide, as - establish. of course that will be for a jury to decide, as you - for a jury to decide, as you say, 5-6 for a jury to decide, as you say, 5—6 week trial. in one of the witnesses will be in the headlines and we expect per the early on rupert murdoch, the owner of fox news, to take the stand. lots of people are going to be listening on for what he has to say.— people are going to be listening on for what he has to say. yeah, that's riuht. for what he has to say. yeah, that's right- he's — for what he has to say. yeah, that's right. he's already _ for what he has to say. yeah, that's right. he's already said _ for what he has to say. yeah, that's right. he's already said a _ for what he has to say. yeah, that's right. he's already said a few - right. he's already said a few things in depositions that are remarkable, quite frankly. one thing that he said was that what they were broadcasting was not about red states or blue states, as we call them here in the us, republicans or democrats, but about green, which is about money, and they did not want to risk losing viewers to more

conservative sites like newsmax here in the us, so they gave space and credibility to people that were peddling these false claims, and the jury peddling these false claims, and the jury is going to hear a lot of testimony to that effect over the next several weeks. find testimony to that effect over the next several weeks.— testimony to that effect over the next several weeks. and of course tucker carlson, _ next several weeks. and of course tucker carlson, sean _ next several weeks. and of course tucker carlson, sean hannity, - next several weeks. and of course l tucker carlson, sean hannity, huge names in broadcasting, and really the reputation of fox news on the line here. . �* , ., ~ line here. that's right, and i think one consequence _ line here. that's right, and i think one consequence of _ line here. that's right, and i think one consequence of this - line here. that's right, and i think one consequence of this decision | line here. that's right, and i think. one consequence of this decision is that we can look at the effect, possible effect, on fox news in a couple different ways. so one thing we might say is, how are they going to handle this financially if they are forced to cough up $1.6 billion? maybe punitive damages as well. they can afford that. apparently they've got some $4 billion in reserve and they have insurance. i think the bigger question is, what will happen to be network if they are found to

have acted with actual malice, to have acted with actual malice, to have peddled these falsehoods? and i think the whole sort of big lie about the election being stolen is going to collapse and it could have collateral effects on both trump and on fox going forward, if they lose credibility to this extent, i think it will be difficult even for more conservative viewers to read it what they say going forward. so it is a hugely important case. we they say going forward. so it is a hugely important case.— they say going forward. so it is a hugely important case. we have got some pictures _ hugely important case. we have got some pictures up — hugely important case. we have got some pictures up of _ hugely important case. we have got some pictures up of the _ hugely important case. we have got some pictures up of the court - hugely important case. we have got some pictures up of the court from | some pictures up of the court from wilmington, delaware emerged when he for thejudge and the wilmington, delaware emerged when he for the judge and the jurors to come backin for the judge and the jurors to come back in there. we will be showing you pictures of those soon, butjust to say, libel laws, and poorly —— editorially difficult to succeed under libel laws. the jury will have five or six weeks of evidence to go through, so definitely not a done deal. through, so definitely not a done deal w through, so definitely not a done deal. ., . . through, so definitely not a done deal. ., ., ., .,

deal. not at all, and as you say, in the us, defamation _ deal. not at all, and as you say, in the us, defamation cases - deal. not at all, and as you say, in the us, defamation cases brought| deal. not at all, and as you say, in i the us, defamation cases brought by public figures, i should say, but like dominion, are very difficult to win, and the supreme court explained white it should be so difficult for public officials and public figures to be able to recover for deformation —— why it should be. because the idea is we want there to be a robust discussion and we want networks and broadcasters and all media to be able to make mistakes, and so the actual malice requires more than negligence the stub you have to show that they knew what they were saying was wrong or at least reckless, they should have known it, and it is very difficult to win these cases in the us, but as i have said in other contexts, i think this case is a strong, and if this is not a good defamation case, really, it is difficult to see what

would be. ., ,,., really, it is difficult to see what would be. ., , ,., ., would be. ok, professor culhane, thank ou would be. ok, professor culhane, thank you for— would be. ok, professor culhane, thank you for your _ would be. ok, professor culhane, thank you for your expertise. - would be. ok, professor culhane, thank you for your expertise. we l thank you for your expertise. we will be talking about that court case they are on. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making headlines today. energy firms have signed up to a new code of practice, which will stop them forcibly installing prepayment metres in the homes of anyone over 85. campaigners are concerned that the rules are voluntary, but ofgem says the reputation of energy firms will be on the line if they don't comply. there's been a slight rise in the number of people looking for work in the uk, according to latest figures. pay continues to rise sharply — especially in the private sector — but not fast enough to keep up with price rises. we'll be able to buy free—range eggs again in the next few days, as bird flu restrictions are lifted across most of the uk. today is the first time in six months that captive birds and poultry can go outside, though experts say the h5n1virus is still circulating and is an ongoing risk to wild birds.

a 95—year—old trombone player has been honoured with a guinness world record for his lifelong love of music. tom street, from heage in derbyshire, has been named as the longest—serving man to play in a brass band. you're live with bbc news. police in scotland investigating the finances of the scottish national party have made a second arrest, this time of the snp's treasurer colin beattie. officers are examining how more than £600,000 of donations, which were raised for independence campaigning, were used. it comes two weeks after the party's former chief executive peter murrell — who is nicola sturgeon�*s husband — was also arrested. he was subsequently released without charge pending further investigation. officers spent two days searching ms sturgeon and mr murrell�*s home as well as the party's headquarters in edinburgh. our scotland editor james cook has the story. colin beattie is not a familiar face. but the man who was once an international banker was at the heart of the snp for two

decades, holding the purse strings as the party soared in popularity and gained power. at around sam, the msp for midlothian north and musselburgh was arrested here at his home in dalkeith and taken into custody to be questioned as a suspect by detectives investigating the funding and finances of the snp. another headache for the first minister. i an�*t comment on a live police investigation, but clearly i can't comment on a live police investigation, but clearly it is a very serious matter indeed. have you suspended him from the party? him from the party or the group? i have said already that people are innocent until proven guilty. there is change that is needed within the way the party is operated, i have made that absolutely clear. police had already been to the home of the party's former chief executive, peter murrell, the husband of nicola sturgeon. he was arrested and later released. on the same day, officers removed boxes from the snp headquarters in edinburgh and seized a motorhome from outside a property in fife.

so what led up to their inquiry? from 2017 until 2020, the snp raised nearly £667,000 to campaign for independence. questions arose when it emerged the party had just under £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019. and injune 2021, mr murrell loaned the party around £107,000 of his own money. this house in dalkeith is the last building which humza yousaf wanted to be the focus of attention today. he has inherited a party in crisis, but he has also taken over a government facing immense challenges. and this afternoon, he set out how he intended to meet them. this government's work will be defined by three distinct and interdependent missions. those missions centre on the principles of equality, opportunity and community. they require us to tackle poverty, to build a fairer, green and indeed a growing economy and to improve our public services.

they will be central to our efforts over the next three years to improve the lives of the people of scotland. the first questions were about something else. the first minister makes this statement today as the scandal continues to engulf his party. the snp is in total meltdown. it is past time that humza yousaf tackled this scandal head on and proved to the scottish public that he is his own man, instead of defending and deflecting from his predecessor's tarnished legacy. what humza yousaf can't escapel from is that he is not now running a functioning government. this is an snp that is mired i in scandal, mired in division, talking to themselves _ about themselves, and the crisis that now engulfs the snp - is notjust an indication of how they govern their party, but also how they govern our country. i whatever the outcome of colin beattie's arrest in legal terms, this investigation is already having serious political implications.

and that was james cook reporting. so let's take a quick look at some of the background to this probe into snp finances. from 2017 to 2020, the snp raised nearly £670,000 to campaign specifically for independence. at the end of 2019, questions arose when it emerged the party had less than £100,000 in the bank. injune 2021, the former chief executive of the party — peter murrell — loaned it more than £100,000 of his own money. let's remember that he's married to the former first minister nicola sturgeon. the following month, police scotland launched a formal investigation into the snp's finances — after receiving complaints about how donations to the party were used. last month, mr murrell resigned from the snp — after taking responsibility for misleading the public about its plummeting membership figures. and now the party treasurer — colin beattie — has been arrested by police.

and we have just heard that he has returned to his home. this is colin beattie, just returned to his home. he made no comment tojournalists beattie, just returned to his home. he made no comment to journalists as he arrived home, and that's just after 8pm, sojust he arrived home, and that's just after 8pm, so just a few minutes ago. with me now is brian taylor, a former bbc scotland political editor and now commentator and scotland herald columnist. thank you so much forjoining me. you've been following the snp for years and years and years. ijust wonder how this is being received in scotland. it is wonder how this is being received in scotland. , . . , , scotland. it is an incredibly difficult situation _ scotland. it is an incredibly difficult situation for - scotland. it is an incredibly difficult situation for the i scotland. it is an incredibly i difficult situation for the snp, scotland. it is an incredibly - difficult situation for the snp, it is a particularly difficult situation for humza yousaf. if you think about it, he was not the leader at the time he investigated, he was not the chief executive, he was not the treasurer, yet yesterday all the potential political hit and political flack. all the potential political hit and politicalflack. he is left all the potential political hit and political flack. he is left in the middle, unable to intervene with the police investigations, unable to

have any influence, nor would he try, with the discussions that may go on within the crown office, and yet facing endless attacks from his opponents and having to answer the political questions. he made a statement in parliament, the scottish parliament this afternoon, setting out his new priorities. it was meant to be a reset for the scottish government after the election to replace nicola sturgeon as first minister. all his opponents want to ask was, was the core director in liberal democrats at the entire endeavour by humza yousaf had been torpedoed —— one liberal democrats said. he been torpedoed -- one liberal democrats said.— been torpedoed -- one liberal democrats said. ., ., ~ ., , democrats said. he did not make any comments directly _ democrats said. he did not make any comments directly addressing - democrats said. he did not make any comments directly addressing this i comments directly addressing this after that speech, but as you say he was heading out his priorities for the next three years, taking over from nicola sturgeon, who was such a powerful figure from nicola sturgeon, who was such a powerfulfigure in from nicola sturgeon, who was such a powerful figure in scottish politics, and as you say i'm having

the most difficult start to his time as first minister. find the most difficult start to his time as first minister.— as first minister. and it is difficult to _ as first minister. and it is difficult to see _ as first minister. and it is difficult to see how i as first minister. and it is difficult to see how he i as first minister. and it is l difficult to see how he gets as first minister. and it is i difficult to see how he gets out as first minister. and it is - difficult to see how he gets out of it, because there is nothing he can do. generally in politics you try and fix something or sort it or persuade someone or cajole somebody else or seek a compromise. you cannot seek a compromise with the police and the crown office, it is just not going to happen. he is going to have to hope and wait and at the same time take all of the flack from the opposition parties thatis flack from the opposition parties that is going, entirely understandable. entirely understand elite, the opposite and parties are saying, ok, this is about nicola sturgeon, she was the leader, it is about her husband peter murrell, he was the chief executive, it is about colin beattie, but the opposition parties also saying it is about humza yousaf even though he was not directly involved and responsible for the events that are being investigated, nor is there anything that he can do about those events. what he can do is three things. he

disowns nicola sturgeon, frankly, he distanced himself from her. in effect, she had to do the same with her predecessor alex salmond for different reasons stub secondly, he may launch an investigation into the weighty party asked going forward, more transparency, his l mackey says, more external advice, more transparency, his l mackey says, more externaladvice, more looked information available, and thirdly he re—engage the voters, he needs a win, he needs something to go his way, and so i was really struck by the tone of the statement. it sounded as if kate forms was the pro—business contender. the tone from humza yousaf today was all about working with business, growing the economy as well as equality. he is saying on the one hand we have to redistribute resources and help the poon redistribute resources and help the poor, but to get those resources in the first place, he said, we need prosperity and growth. it really was quite a startling and striking tone. but is that being heard? is that

being heated among the claimant and noise currently assaulting the snp? frank ly, no stop what i should say, brian, that police skull and have said the treasurer colin beattie has been released without charge... yeah, as was the case with peter murrell, the chief executive, similar timetable, arrested early morning and release around this time. . , ., ., ., ., time. that investigation going on. i “ust time. that investigation going on. i just wonder. _ time. that investigation going on. i just wonder, from _ time. that investigation going on. i just wonder, from your _ time. that investigation going on. i | just wonder, from your perspective, you have been deeply involved in scottish politics for many years, where does the sleeve scotland and independence? does it change anything? —— where does this leave? it is difficult to say, because the thing that makes the snp different is that they are not just a political party, a coalition of those seeking power, they are a cause, a movement. so if you appeal for independence, it tends to pull the parties together when other things would divide them. i thought

it was quite noticeable humza yousaf made reference to independence in a statement today, but it was mostly in response to questions and challenges, it was not put up there upfront in the statement. the statement was more about using existing devolved powers, working within the existing devolved a settlement, trying to help the people of scotland. has he abandoned independence? he has not. does it reduce the salience of the demand for nearly independence referendum? frankly, yes, it does. it makes the prospect, already fairly remote, even more still some point perhaps being viewed slightly differently in westminster than it is in scotland, then? things are always —— things are always viewed different in the westminster prison. things are always seen as different. that is the nature of that economy there is. it is also the nature of there is. it is also the nature of the current disjuncture that is afflicting humza yousaf. he wants to

lead a party, he wants to have a dual strategy of governing well and sensibly within devolution and inviting the voters to presume how much other things would be if they move towards independence. he can do the first at the moment, he can get an audience. the second is going to be much more difficult, because it is going to be much, much more difficult for the snp to mount a credible came for independence when they are facing such incredible internal difficulties themselves. will they give up? not a chance. but other parties presently making comments, talking about the comments that were being heard making comments in the scottish prominent today, the opposition party see this as a way in to perhaps reduce the dominance the snp has had over 70 years. dominance the snp has had over 70 ears. ,, ., ., years. indeed. the snp had a membership _ years. indeed. the snp had a membership problem - years. indeed. the snp had a l membership problem emerging years. indeed. the snp had a - membership problem emerging from 2070 2000 -- for membership problem emerging from 2070 2000 —— for so many years.

72,000? other parties would prefer that never ship. the snp have been dominant, they have never had a majority of the popular vote. the last party to achieve a majority in the scottish parliament, it was the conservatives, then younes the unionists, different times and different motivations for voting. —— and then known as yes, they are very much in the lead, they are hoping to maintain that lead. if there is a by election, hoping to maintain that lead for the next year, if they are by elections, but they face a challenge right now. humza yousaf simply answer hope that that challenge is transitory and moves on to other matters. —— has to hope. brian taylor, always interesting to hear your thoughts. thank you. the kremlin has published video footage of what it says was a visit

by president putin to russian—occupied parts of southern and eastern ukraine. this is the video — he's shown meeting military commanders in the kherson and luhansk regions. the russian leader has rarely visited captured ukrainian territory since he launched the invasion last year. there has been a lot of speculation about when and where this video was filmed. let's get more from olga robinson at bbc monitoring. there have been a lot of questions about this video, and we zeroed in on one of them, whether the video itself was even filmed in the occupied kherson region for stub we have got an answer for you and me talk you through some of our findings. we know that the video itself was filmed somewhere around the port city in kherson region, because at some point in the footage, we see just about a road sign leading to the city. now, the footage itself offers way more in terms of clues of the exact location where it was filmed, and here you

can see a white building with a very distinctive look, air—conditioner, and in the back and you can see a tall structure which looks like a communications tower or possibly a watch tower. we spent a lot of time trying to find these exact clues and match the location. and after sometime, we managed to locate it to a summer campjust sometime, we managed to locate it to a summer camp just outside of the city, and you can see the location does match because we can see that same white building and we can see that same tall structure which is actually turned out to be a water tower in the background. if you zero out and you look at the map but you can again see the same identifiable objects of the water tower, that same building with the air conditioner and some vegetation around it, but also in another shot of the video you can just about make out the shape of this very distinctive building that belongs to that summer camp in the background.

so we are certain that this is the area where the video with vladimir putin was filmed and that leaves no doubt that he indeed does it did. —— heindeed doubt that he indeed does it did. —— he indeed visited. hello. so far this month, the weather's been drier, sunny and warmer than average in scotland. and certainly for tuesday, there was loads more sunshine. look at this stunning weather watcher picture from the argyll and bute area. for the second day on the run, highland scotland had the day's highest temperature, up to 21 degrees. why is it so warm here at the moment? well, it's down to the scottish mountains. you see, it's quite windy for most parts of the uk, but those mountains high enough to block the winds. and so with lighter winds here, more of the sun's energy is used to boost temperatures, whereas in those places where it's quite windy, some of that sun's heat get mixed through a larger depth of the atmosphere. so it never gets quite so warm. overnight tonight, we do have cloudy skies for england and wales, developing with an odd shower in the southwest, the clearer skies in scotland, that's where we'll see the lowest temperatures

heading into wednesday. now, on the face of it, high pressure stays in charge for at least the next couple of days. still, with the winds coming in from an easterly direction, however, there will be more in the way of cloud for england and wales on wednesday and hard showers for the south—west. the best of the sunshine in the morning in scotland and northern ireland, but increasingly we should see sunshine developing elsewhere as we go through the afternoon. it will continue to feel quite chilly with the onshore winds across the east coast of scotland and northern ireland, the highest temperature in the west and again in the highlands, temperatures should reach the high teens, if not the low 20s. now we have some slightly cooler air working in on thursday, again, it's going to be a largely dry day, but in the sunshine, i suppose it will still feel ok if you're out of the wind. it is across the north sea coasts where you'll continue to feel a certain chill due to those brisk and gusty onshore winds. beyond that, we start to see a change in the weather patterns through friday and the weekend as pressure starts to fall. this area of low pressure will then develop, bringing outbreaks

of rain increasingly, that rain travels northwards into the weekend. so on friday, still sunny skies for scotland and for northern ireland. little overall change in the weather pattern here. but for england, wales, a much cloudier day with outbreaks of rain developing and with less sunshine. still those brisk winds and the rain, it looks like it's going to be quite a chilly day, just nine degrees in birmingham at ten for cardiff, but similar kind of weather and temperatures for northern ireland and scotland. on into the weekend, rain does move northwards into scotland and northern ireland and then into next week, quite cold for april. average temperatures, 15 in london, willjust be 10 early next week.

hello, i'm sarah campbell. you're watching the context on bbc news. still to come — in the us, police have charged an 84—year—old man for shooting this 16—year—old boy, ralph yarl, a teenager who mistakenly rang the wrong doorbell. we'll talk about the debate over so—called "stand your ground" laws. before all that, it's time for sport and a full round—up from paul. thanks very much, sarah. good evening. a place in the last four of the uefa champions league is on the line tonight, with two quarterfinal—second leg

matches under way. in london, chelsea are taking on real madrid, trying to overturn