News Briefing

20 March, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Today we bring you a harrowing report from Sudan, where ongoing conflict has plunged the country into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history", according to the UN. BBC journalists are reporting from the front line and from refugee camps in neighbouring Chad. We're also looking at a momentous day for Wales, and at a royal tribute looking for a new home.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Conflict, hunger and disease grip Sudan

A Sudanese woman wearing a blue and orange scarf covering her hair holds her three-year-old child, who is suffering from malnutrition, to her bosom.

Ikram is one of thousands of people who sought refuge from the fighting in Khartoum. Credit: Dany Abi Khalil/BBC

A vicious power struggle between Sudan's army and its former ally, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, has killed at least 14,000 people, and possibly many more, since the conflict erupted in last April. Besides the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the country, there are also fears that a repeat of the 2003 genocide may be under way in the western region of Darfur. BBC journalists embedded with the Sudanese army report from Omdurman, one of three cities that form the capital Khartoum, that was retaken from the RSF in mid-February, but where mortars still fall daily. They also speak to refugees who have fled the fighting, hearing accounts of rape, violence, and daily struggles.

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Battle for supremacy: The two generals at the heart of the conflict worked and carried out a coup together, but now they're fighting for dominance.

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Sudan profile: What you need to know about the history and society of one of Africa's largest countries.

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Get the latest: Follow daily news from and about Africa on our live page.

WORLD HEADLINES

Defamation lawsuit: Former US President Donald Trump is suing ABC News and its presenter George Stephanopoulos over references to his case involving writer E Jean Carroll.

Cyberbullying: Twenty-eight people have been jailed for up to 18 months for harassing influencer Magali Berdah in France's largest case of its kind.

Article 23: Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in exile have criticised the new security law as yet another "devastating blow" for freedom.

Banksy's mural: The urban tree graffiti the street artist painted in North London appears to have been defaced with white paint.

Crispr against HIV: Scientists have used the gene-editing technology to successfully eliminate the virus from infected cells. It's a hopeful first step towards ridding the body of the virus, but much more work is needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness.

AT THE SCENE

Wales

A milestone for Wales and for Europe

Vaughan Gething is set to become the first black leader of a European country after winning the Welsh Labour leadership election. We've asked young Welsh people from different ethnic backgrounds how they feel about the milestone.

Emilia Belli and Nathan Bevan, BBC News

Second year mechanical engineering student Ali Arshad called Mr Gething's accomplishment "monumental". "Kids who are black and ethnic minority will now want to get into politics, whereas maybe the previous lack of diversity put them off," said the 19-year-old. Zahra, 17, a pupil at St David's Catholic Sixth From College in Penylan, said Mr Gething had motivated her to do more, adding: "If he can do it then surely I should be able to as well."

Read more reactions

Welsh Parliament: Members of the Senedd are due to nominate the new first minister on Wednesday afternoon.

Gething's agenda: Here are the areas of focus for Wales's next first minister.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

The spread of false theories about Kate

A close-up picture of the Princess of Wales

Social media users were comparing the Princess of Wales's facial features to recently released images. Credit: Getty Images

The absence of the Princess of Wales, Catherine, from public life, following abdominal surgery in January, has sparked both genuine questions and wild claims. While the UK's data watchdog is investigating whether staff at the hospital where she was treated tried to view her private information, Marianna Spring talks to some of the social media users spreading outlandish theories.

Find out more

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Snakes for a claim

Florida is paying bounty hunters to capture invasive pythons.

Here's why

And finally...

Royal memorabilia collectors, this one is for you. A pair of 12ft-tall statues of the late Queen and Prince Philip's heads created for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 is on sale in Windsor, England. The grandson of the statues' owner described them as a "bit of a thing to see". Couldn't agree more.

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– Sofia

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