News Wrap: Deadly conflict, airstrikes erupt in Sudan’s capital city

. I’M JOHN YANG. CONTROL OF THE NORTH AFRICAN NATION OF SUDAN APPEARS TO BE UP FOR GRABS. THE SUDANESE MILITARY AND A POWERFUL PARAMILITARY FORCE LED BY RIVAL GENERALS ENGAGED IN FIERCE FIGHTING INCLUDING IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF KHARTOUM. A DOCTORS GROUP SAYS AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND NEARLY 200 INJURED. PEOPLE SHELTERING FROM THE FIGHTING SAY THEY SAW GUNFIRE IN THE STREETS AND HEARD FIGHTER JETS OVERHEAD. HOUSES WERE LEFT IN RUINS FROM SHELLING. THE PARAMILITARY FORCE CLAIMS IT HAS SEIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN THE AIRPORT. ANTONY BLINKEN CALLED FOR AN END TO THE

VIOLENCE. >> IT’S A FRAGILE SITUATION. THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CIVILIAN LED TRANSITION. >> IN DECEMBER, SUDANESE POLITICAL PARTIES AGREED TO MOVE TOWARD DEMOCRACY AFTER AN OCTOBER 2021 MILITARY COUP. IN JAPAN, AN EXPLOSION JUST FEET FROM THE PRIME MINISTER DISRUPTED A CAMPAIGN EVENT. POLICE TACKLED A MAN WHO OFFICIALS SAID HAD THROWN A SUSPICIOUS OBJECT. THE PRIME MINISTER WAS WHISKED AWAY UNHARMED. IT WAS REMINISCENT OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE NINE MONTHS AGO AT A SIMILAR EVENT. PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SIGNED INTO LAW THE CONTROVERSIAL PENSION MEASURE THAT GRADUALLY INCREASES THE AGE OF

RETIREMENT FROM 62 TO 64 STARTING IN SEPTEMBER. THE CHANGES FOLLOWED MONTHS OF SOMETIMES VIOLENT PROTESTS THAT INJURED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE REFORMS ARE NECESSARY TO

KEEP THE PENSION SYSTEM AFLOAT AMID AN AGING POPULATION. LABOR UNIONS ARE CALLING FOR A MASS PROTEST ON MAY 1, INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY. FAMILIES OF BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING VICTIMS LAID WREATHS AT THE SPOT NEAR THE FINISH LINE WHERE THE EXPLOSION KILLED THREE PEOPLE AND INJURED HUNDREDS OF OTHERS 10 YEARS AGO TODAY. STILL TO COME ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND, A LOOK AT THE TROUBLING SPIKE IN SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND A

NATIVE TRIBE LOCATES TO ESCAPE — RELOCATES TO ESCAPE RISING SEA LEVEL. >> THIS IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND.