live from london, this is bbc news. two teenagers have been charged with murder in a shooting at a 16th birthday party that left four dead in the us state of alabama. with the violence that went on and the magnitude of what happened, we are absolutely still in the early stages of this investigation. fall—out after fox news settles a defamation lawsuit with the voting machine company dominion for more than three quarters of a billion dollars. another attempt to get a ceasefire in sudan, as authorities say five days of fighting has killed at least 270 civilians.

and collin beatty is to step down as the snp's treasurer after an investigation into the party's finances. hello, welcome to bbc news. some breaking news from the us in the past hour — two teenage boys have been charged with four counts of murder after a deadly shooting at a birthday party in dadeville, alabama on saturday. this was the aftermath. we know that over 30 people were wounded — some critically, after shots were fired at the mahogany masterpiece dance studio. this shooting takes the us to a grim milestone of more than 160 mass shootings — in which four or more people are shot — so far this year.

let's hear from sergeantjeremy burkett with the alabama law enforcement agency, speaking a short time ago. on tuesday, 18 april at approximately 8pm, alabama law enforcement agencies, the state bureau of investigation officially arrested and charged tyreke mccullough, 17 of tuskegee, and travis mccullough, 16, also of tuskegee, with four counts of reckless murder each — that's for account of reckless murder —— four counts of reckless murder each. and before we go any further, i absolutely want to thank this community and the information that was provided, and i also want to reiterate how important it will be for you to continue to do that.

please understand with the scene of a violent act, with the violence that went on in the magnitude of what happened, we are absolutely still in the early stage of this investigation, ok? this is absolutely the beginning, this is not the end. there is a tremendous amount of work that is yet to be done, we are going to continue to do exactly what we've been doing, we will be very careful with everything that we say, with everything that we do because we absolutely will stay focused on the families and the victims. but we will need the public�*s help when we do that. district attorney mike segrest struggled to maintain his composure as he spoke about the victims and their families. the message that i want to send is — i know_ the message that i want to send is — i know some — the message that i want to send is — i know some of these victims personally, some of these kids are

kids of— personally, some of these kids are kids of friends of mine, people i went_ kids of friends of mine, people i went to — kids of friends of mine, people i went to school with and played ball with, _ went to school with and played ball with. and _ went to school with and played ball with, and against in the community back in_ with, and against in the community back in high— with, and against in the community back in high school. these are my kids of— back in high school. these are my kids of these are our kids. don't mess_ kids of these are our kids. don't mess with her kids —— our kids, do not mess— mess with her kids —— our kids, do not mess with _ mess with her kids —— our kids, do not mess with our kids. thank you. lets talk_ not mess with our kids. thank you. lets talk to — not mess with our kids. thank you. lets talk to the managing editor of the dadeville record. you were there at that news conference, the shock is still evident, this is such a small community, isn't it? it is a small community, isn't it? it is a small community, _ small community, isn't it? it is a small community, dadeville - small community, isn't it? it is a i small community, dadeville county has 3000 people, the county as may 60,000 people in the entire county. so everyone knew someone or had some connection to someone that was in that building on saturday night. tell us a little more about what we know about those two teenagers,

because it has taken quite a while, hasn't it, for the actual details, the facts to emerge in all this? yes, and at this time i don't honestly know too much about those two suspects other than what they said at the press conference, two juveniles from tuskegee. to tuskegee is about two hours away from here driving wise, but this is all rural alabama, all these places are connected, so an hour and a half drive is not that far. but i think it's been over three days now since the shooting happened, and there's just so much chaos going on inside that building, sources are telling me up to 75 people could have been in the building, and it's a small 1—room dance studio. so with that many bodies and people packed into

such a small space, i think it was a lot of chaos that they'll sort through for quite a while. find lot of chaos that they'll sort through for quite a while. and some ofthe through for quite a while. and some of the detail— through for quite a while. and some of the detail i've _ through for quite a while. and some of the detail i've read _ through for quite a while. and some of the detail i've read about - through for quite a while. and some of the detail i've read about it - through for quite a while. and some of the detail i've read about it is - of the detail i've read about it is absolutely horrific, as you would expect, given what you've just described. do we even prompted this in the place?— in the place? there no motive that we know of — in the place? there no motive that we know of at _ in the place? there no motive that we know of at the _ in the place? there no motive that we know of at the time. _ in the place? there no motive that we know of at the time. it's - we know of at the time. it's interesting because we know at this party, there were people from many different towns, our surrounding areas, up to an hour and a half away, all different communities, there were probably 6—7 different towns that we knew about that had students there at the party that night. so i think that that's another thing, theyjust don't know how even all these kids were connected. how even all these kids were connected-— how even all these kids were connected. , . ., ., connected. just a final thought, what are you — connected. just a final thought, what are you hearing _ connected. just a final thought, what are you hearing about - connected. just a final thought, what are you hearing about the | what are you hearing about the likely timeline in terms of when any sort of trial will actually happen?

so according to mike seeger, the district attorney, he said that we just started a different grand jury term here and tallapoosa county, which started in march, which means they've already done their grand jury they've already done their grand jury term for this point but they are still under grand jury duty for six months in a state of alabama. so he says his hope is they'll be able to get enough evidence and solid stuff so they can go ahead and call those folks back before the end of our grand jury term at the end of it would be september. this our grand jury term at the end of it would be september.— our grand jury term at the end of it would be september. this has only happened in _ would be september. this has only happened in the — would be september. this has only happened in the last _ would be september. this has only happened in the last hour- would be september. this has only happened in the last hour or - would be september. this has only happened in the last hour or so, i would be september. this has onlyj happened in the last hour or so, so if we thank you for bringing us that update from the dadeville record, thank you for being on the programme. thank you for being on the programme-— thank you for being on the rouramme. ~ , ., ~ thank you for being on the rouramme. ~ , ., staying in the us — the fox news network has reached a last—minute settlement in a defamation case brought against it by a voting machine company.

the case is linked to claims that the 2020 us presidential election was rigged against donald trump. fox news agreed to pay dominion voting systems $787.5 million. with the settlement, fox avoids a high—profile trial which could've seen some of its top leaders forced to testify in court. dominion originally sued fox news for $1.6 billion — so the settlement is lesss than half of what they were asking for. this all came about because dominion claimed that their reputation was damaged after fox knowingly spread lies about its voting machines after the 2020 election. they were repeating claims by then—president donald trump, who falsely said that dominion voting machines rigged the election to favourjoe biden. dominion said fox hosts amplified the "baseless allegations" — but at the time, fox claimed it was newsworthy. this is how fox news reported the settlement, fox has agreed to pay

$787 million to settle dominion�*s defamation lawsuit. that's coming officially from the wall streetjournal. a settlement that avoids a trial on allegations that fox hosts and guests amplified claims around the voting technology behind the 2020 election. it is a done deal, it is a settlement. and it, for at least fox, appears to be over. there might be other litigation to come, but from the wall streetjournal, this particular issue has been settled at the very day they were going to trial. and this is how dominion responded to the settlement. the truth matters. lies have consequences. over two years ago, a torrent of lies swept dominion and election officials across america into an alternative universe

of conspiracy theories, causing grievous harm to dominion and the country. live now to the media journalist and former cnn anchor, brian stelter. great to see you on the programme. it is a massive settlement, but given that rupert murdoch was referred to in the paperwork is describing his allegations as "really crazy," you had hosts describing the same claims as insane, there was no way out for fox news, was there? insane, there was no way out for fox news. was there?— news, was there? there was no way out, there news, was there? there was no way out. there was _ news, was there? there was no way out, there was going _ news, was there? there was no way out, there was going to _ news, was there? there was no way out, there was going to have - news, was there? there was no way out, there was going to have to - news, was there? there was no way out, there was going to have to be l news, was there? there was no way out, there was going to have to be aj out, there was going to have to be a six—week trial. murdoch would have to travel wilmington, delaware to testify. rupert murdoch is rarely ever seen in public, this would've been humiliating for him on many levels. so by paying out this incredible sum of money, he's buying six weeks of his life back, he's buying six weeks of fox's life back

because now there will not be days upon days of embarrassing news coverage and revelations. additionally, a lot of the material that's already been fined in court but was redacted will now stay secret forever. so yes, we did see many embarrassing e—mails and text messages revealed from inside box, but that were also hundreds of pages which will now stay redacted forever. essentially, fox has been able to keep some of its secrets by paying the settlement and trying to move forward. just paying the settlement and trying to move forward-— paying the settlement and trying to move forward. just to remind people watchin: move forward. just to remind people watching around _ move forward. just to remind people watching around the _ move forward. just to remind people watching around the world, - move forward. just to remind people watching around the world, perhaps| watching around the world, perhaps people not familiar with it — part of this lawsuit, dominion said there were false claims to win over viewers angry that fox had called arizona for biden on election night, and all these claims that flowed out of it were innocence to placate the angen of it were innocence to placate the men . �* . of it were innocence to placate the anuer. ,, anger. that's right, the conspiracy theories and _ anger. that's right, the conspiracy theories and smears _ anger. that's right, the conspiracy theories and smears of— anger. that's right, the conspiracy theories and smears of dominion l anger. that's right, the conspiracy - theories and smears of dominion were to placate the anger of trump losing

the election. this is all about facts versus fictions, when the audience didn't want to hear the facts aboutjoe biden being the next president, fox offered up fictions instead. by the way, not all the stars on fox, but some of the most pro—trump stars offered up fictions, and that's why they were going to have to testify, why they were going to be held accountable in court. instead the only accountability now is money, the hundreds of millions of dollars fox will pay out. to be clear this is that embarrassing and expensive thing for fox, but it's not a fatal blow, the network will stay on the air and continue to be the beating heart of the republican party in the united states. frankly there's a lot of liberals in the us disappointed, disillusioned today saying that fox should have had to pay more, they should have had to apologise. but for dominion, owned by a group of private equity funds, this was what they wanted — they wanted the money to show they were wrong to buy fox. find wanted the money to show they were wrong to buy foot-— wanted the money to show they were wrong to buy fox. and we heard what the said

wrong to buy fox. and we heard what they said outside _ wrong to buy fox. and we heard what they said outside on _ wrong to buy fox. and we heard what they said outside on that _ wrong to buy fox. and we heard what they said outside on that thought -- l they said outside on that thought —— wronged by fox. in they said outside on that thought -- wronged by foot-— wronged by fox. in terms of fox the network, there's _ wronged by fox. in terms of fox the network, there's another— wronged by fox. in terms of fox the | network, there's another defamation case with another firm for $2.7 billion — is it now inevitable they'll have to settle that one too? not inevitable, the working assumption is they will settle for a similar price as dominion. dominion received almost half as much as they wanted, but you can see democrat expect the other to get the same amount, more than $1 billion in that case. there are also shareholder lawsuits pending, so murdoch could end up having to pay out $2 billion to clean up trump's mess from 2020. now rupert murdoch had to close a new peer—to—peer in the uk —— a newspaper in the uk for phone hacking, he's now paying out three quarters of $1 billion for this. are there questions being raised in the us about proprietorship, questions

about ownership, all that? normally, for a very publicly _ about ownership, all that? normally, for a very publicly traded _ about ownership, all that? normally, for a very publicly traded company, i for a very publicly traded company, the answer would be yes. but the only people i'm hearing raise those questions are far on the periphery. it does not appear to be a lot of investor concern in that question, but let's see what happens in the days and weeks ahead as fox has to pay out more money.— pay out more money. brian, thank ou. pay out more money. brian, thank you- more — pay out more money. brian, thank you- more on _ pay out more money. brian, thank you. more on that _ pay out more money. brian, thank you. more on that over— pay out more money. brian, thank you. more on that over the - pay out more money. brian, thank you. more on that over the course| pay out more money. brian, thank l you. more on that over the course of the next few hours. let's get some of the day's other news. soaring prices forfood items like bread, cereal and chocolate meant the cost of living rose more than expected last month. inflation, which measures the rate of price rises, fell to 10.1% in the uk in the year to march, down from 10.4% in february. it was widely expected to fall below 10%, but food prices continued to soar, rising at their fastest rate in 45 years. the mother of the murdered teenager stephen lawrence has told bbc news that the metropolitan police has

failed to change in the 30 years since her son was killed. weeks after a landmark report found evidence of continuing systemic racism, baroness lawrence said officers can be "as brutal as they want" without being held to account. she told the bbc the findings of the casey review did not surprise her. fragments said to be from the cross on whichjesus was crucified will be included in a newly—made cross of wales, used at the head of the coronation procession in westminster abbey. the relics were given to king charles by pope francis, as a coronation gift. the announcement is a reminder that, alongside the pomp and pageantry, the coronation on the 6th of may will be a religious ceremony. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

in training today, guide dogsjosie and sunny. but at the moment there's and sunny. but at the moment there's a waiting list of up to two years for people who need guide dogs like them. we for people who need guide dogs like them. ~ ., ., , ., ., them. we had to stop training and roducin: them. we had to stop training and producing dogs, stop _ them. we had to stop training and producing dogs, stop breeding - them. we had to stop training and l producing dogs, stop breeding dogs encoded, and catching up with that has been a major issue.— has been a ma'or issue. today saw the opening — has been a major issue. today saw the opening of— has been a major issue. today saw the opening of a — has been a major issue. today saw the opening of a new _ has been a major issue. today saw the opening of a new headquarters for the guide dogs newcastle community team — doing the honours at the opening ceremony today, dave thomas, someone who knows more than most of the value of a guide dog. backin most of the value of a guide dog. back in 1982, he was scoring goals like this for middlesborough. that’s like this for middlesborough. that's thomas, that's _ like this for middlesborough. that's thomas, that's a _ like this for middlesborough. that's thomas, that's a good _ like this for middlesborough. that's thomas, that's a good effort, - like this for middlesborough. that's thomas, that's a good effort, its i thomas, that's a good effort, its clinicai— thomas, that's a good effort, its clinical expect but thomas, that's a good effort, its clinical expect— clinical expect but now he's lost most of his _ clinical expect but now he's lost most of his to _ clinical expect but now he's lost most of his to glaucoma, - clinical expect but now he's lost i most of his to glaucoma, condition which destroys the peripheral vision. i which destroys the peripheral vision. ~' .,, which destroys the peripheral vision. ~' ., vision. i think the most important thin is vision. i think the most important thing is the _ vision. i think the most important thing is the independence - vision. i think the most important thing is the independence has - vision. i think the most important l thing is the independence has given me, getting on a bus, train, aeroplane. me, getting on a bus, train, aeroplane-— me, getting on a bus, train, aerolane. , aeroplane. the new facility will hel train aeroplane. the new facility will help train guide _ aeroplane. the new facility will help train guide dogs - aeroplane. the new facility will help train guide dogs for - aeroplane. the new facility will help train guide dogs for users | help train guide dogs for users right across the northeast. you're live with bbc news.

let's turn to sudan now — where the paramilitary rapid support forces have agreed to a 24—hour ceasefire, which has just started. —— the sudanese army has also agreed it to a 2k hour cease—fire. that is apparently supposed to have kicked in at 6pm local time, we've gone past that so we will see if it actually holds. and we had that similar commitment to a truce at the same time yesterday, tuesday, but that agreement collapsed almost immediately. 270 civilians are confirmed to have been killed over the last five days. have a look at these pictures from the first day. that was an explosion quite close to khartoum airport, and we've seen days of that and the plumes of smoke

that have followed across the skyline. and these in the hours leading up to today's latest pause, that's because of the power struggle between these two men on your screen. general abdel fattah al—burhan, president of sudan's military government on the left, and his deputy, mohamed hamdan dagalo, who leads the country's biggest paramilitary group — the rsf — on the right. the un has now described sudan's humanitarian situation as "catastrophic" with mass displacement of people. the red cross has echoed that concern. katharine houreld is the east africa bureau chief at the washington post. shejoins us from nairobi. thank you so much for being here with us on the programme. we are trying to get an assessment as to whether this cease—fire is actually happening. of course yesterday we saw it fall apart as both sides

still seem to be addicted to the thought that they can simply wipe each other out.— thought that they can simply wipe each other out. yes, we really hope this cease-fire _ each other out. yes, we really hope this cease-fire will _ each other out. yes, we really hope this cease-fire will hold _ each other out. yes, we really hope this cease-fire will hold because i this cease—fire will hold because there's millions of people trapped on the front lines who literally can't leave their houses to get food and water in 1a degrees heat because there's bullets and artillery, and mortars crashing down onto the streets. i think everyone agrees that the count of 270 dead is a vast underestimation, it'sjust that the count of 270 dead is a vast underestimation, it's just that people haven't been able to go out and collect bodies. in people haven't been able to go out and collect bodies.— and collect bodies. in terms of any sort of international _ and collect bodies. in terms of any sort of international effort - and collect bodies. in terms of any sort of international effort to - sort of international effort to try and broker these two sites coming together anyway, are there any glimmers of hope? i together anyway, are there any glimmers of hope?— glimmers of hope? i think the international _ glimmers of hope? i think the international effort _ glimmers of hope? i think the international effort for- glimmers of hope? i think the international effort for now i glimmers of hope? i think the international effort for now is | international effort for now is really focused on just trying to deliver a cease—fire. and they haven't been able to do that yet. bringing the two men together will

be much more difficult and time—consuming. as he sat on the first to have a conflict, he wanted to drag him to court or see him die likea dog. to drag him to court or see him die like a dog. that's not language for people who are probably going to come together very soon. so really, everyone has been concentrating on just trying to get people out. bind just trying to get people out. and in terms of _ just trying to get people out. and in terms of international influence, you've got the big players like china and saudi arabia, uae, russia — the trouble is there are a whole variety of different influences and agendas that they are pushing, and that complicates things even further, doesn't it? i that complicates things even further, doesn't it?— further, doesn't it? i think everybody _ further, doesn't it? i think everybody has _ further, doesn't it? i think everybody has got - further, doesn't it? i think everybody has got an - further, doesn't it? ithink- everybody has got an agenda, and certainly everybody is making calls, but this is really a very sudanese conflict between two sudanese power players, and the danger is if it drags on, our neighbours in other powers will probably get involved.

but right now it's been very hard for people to even deliver a cease—fire so civilians can fully. did you expect it would explode in the way it has? 50 did you expect it would explode in the way it has?— the way it has? so people were warnin: the way it has? so people were warning for— the way it has? so people were warning for weeks _ the way it has? so people were warning for weeks before - the way it has? so people were warning for weeks before this l warning for weeks before this happened that there is a concentration of forces around the capital, that it was very dangerous, somebody described in the country like a tinderbox — but what do you do in such a situation? do you flee your home for weeks when nothing is happening? i know one woman who just went to pick up her eight—year—old from school, and she's been having the shelter in the basement of that school for the past five days because she can't get home, because the firing is so intense. and you've had a lot of situations like that where people just went out to buy milk, there was a grandmother who left their baby at home and they've been trapped where they are because they can't move. just been trapped where they are because they can't move-— they can't move. just a final brief thou . ht, they can't move. just a final brief thought. if _ they can't move. just a final brief thought. if you — they can't move. just a final brief thought, if you had _ they can't move. just a final brief thought, if you had to _ they can't move. just a final brief thought, if you had to have - they can't move. just a final brief thought, if you had to have yourl thought, if you had to have your best guest that i could guess on how this pans out in the coming days and

weeks, what would it be?— this pans out in the coming days and weeks, what would it be? everyone is really concentrating _ weeks, what would it be? everyone is really concentrating their _ weeks, what would it be? everyone is really concentrating their hopes - weeks, what would it be? everyone is really concentrating their hopes on i really concentrating their hopes on being able to deliver a cease—fire that will let people empty out from the city, so i think we will see a mass movement into the countryside. but so many aid agencies have been attacked and looted, stuff up and killed that it will be very complicated to help those people. we will leave it there but thanks so much forjoining us on the programme. the treasurer of the snp has stepped down from his post. in a statement he said the decision hadn't been easy but he would continue to cooperate with police inquiries. let's go to alexander mackenzie

who's been following this one for us. tell us more.— us. tell us more. this is become . uite us. tell us more. this is become uuite a us. tell us more. this is become quite a fast _ us. tell us more. this is become quite a fast moving _ us. tell us more. this is become quite a fast moving story, - us. tell us more. this is become quite a fast moving story, we i us. tell us more. this is become | quite a fast moving story, we just got word of this a short time ago, you might remember yesterday we saw mr beatty returning to his home, he had been arrested yesterday morning, he was questioned by police during the course of the day about 12 hours, he returned to his home around 8pm yesterday evening, he was released with no charge pending further investigation. there have been calls for him to step down and resign, but humza yousaf, the first minister, said he wouldn't ask people to step aside, he said that people to step aside, he said that people were innocent until proven otherwise. we'vejust people were innocent until proven otherwise. we've just heard a short time ago that colin beattie has resigned as snp treasurer, he's held that post pretty much for the last 20 years within the snp. he has also

taken a step back from his role on the public audit committee until the police investigation has concluded. we do have a statement from him, saying he had resigned as treasurer, this is taking place with immediate effect. he said on a personal level that the decision hadn't been an easy one, he'd have usually been doing it for a long time, but he said, "it's the right decision to avoid further distraction to the ongoing important work, this is an ongoing important work, this is an ongoing investigation, and also to the important work being led by humza yousaf to improve the snp�*s governance and transparency." humza yousaf announced at the weekend that there would be a review into the snp's there would be a review into the snp�*s governance and transparency, humza yousaf has just been in the job of first minister a few weeks, and 0c quite a lot going on for him,

so colin beattie has said he wants to step aside to avoid any further distraction. he said, "i will continue to cooperate fully with police scotland's inquiries, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on a live case." thanks for taking us through the latest details, the latest on that breaking line that colin beattie was arrested without charge, stepping back from being the treasurer of the governing snp, standing down from that post. so if there is more on that post. so if there is more on that story, we will obviously return to it. we'll take a short break, and when we are back, we will hear the latest on those announcements of a whole series of new strikes in various sectors of the uk, that the unite line that security officers at

heathrow are the latest to strike for eight days in may. so the latest on those various plans for strikes coming up on the programme here in a moment. don't go away. once again, scotland has been very nicely across western scotland, we will see the highest of which is once again. we still have high pressure dominating our weather, centred to the northeast of the uk, and this weather front is taking some showers away from the southwest of england, but we are still left with this easterly wind which is quite strong and gusty, and it will make it feel chilly particularly if you haven't got the sunshine. and cooler obviously around some eastern coastal areas of the uk with the wind off the north sea, higher temperatures around some western posts, but more cloud still to end the afternoon across wales, the southwest and northern ireland.

otherwise clear skies and the winds will drop a bit, as well. so it'll be quite chilly overnight, most of the temperatures in towns and cities could be below freezing in grampian by the morning. heading into tomorrow then, and he cloud will soon move away and there'll be a lot of sunshine around tomorrow. the winds picking up once again, dragging in some cloud from the near continent into east anglia, the southeast of england in the afternoon, and that'll bring with it some patchy rain, and here it will feel particularly chilly. the winds similar to what we've seen today, with the strongest winds across england and wales, making it feel chilly, but at least a lot of places will see sunshine, and in western scotland we could see temperatures as high as 18 celsius. pollen levels are still high, very high in wales tomorrow. the pollen season starts next month. heading towards the end of the week, we still have high pressure sitting more to the north of the uk, still keeping in that

northeasterly wind, but weather fronts on this unit mean thicker cloud and patchy rain... that could trigger some sharp showers, we will have a stronger wind across northern england and southern scotland. scotland and northern ireland should stay drunk on the best of the sunshine inhibitors, reasonably warm and that sunshine but much more cloud —— stay reasonably dry. as we head into the weekend, the chance of some rain on saturday. it looks drier on sunday but showers in northern scotland on sunday will be turning wintry in the hills, it will get colder with the northerly wind by the end of the weekend.

live from london. this is bbc news. two teenagers have been charged with murder in a shooting colin beatty is to step down after he was arrested in connection with the police investigation into the party's finances. the high court hears arguments over government plans for an asylum centre at an raf airfield in essex. the boss of the cbi says his reputation has been totally destroyed, cbi president calls his recount of events as selective. inflation in the uk drops slightly, but it's still the highest of the g—7 nations. and rebecca vardy trademarks the �*wagatha christie' phrase used to describe her court.