live from washington. this is bbc news. us embassy staff evacuated from the capital khartoum. wrexham fc celebrates a return to the english football league, for the first time in fifteen years. and, the australian comedian barry humphries, creator of the character dame edna everage, dies age 89. hello, i'm carl nasman. wrexham football club are celebrating their return to the english football league after 15 years.

hollywood actors ryan reynolds and rob mcelhenney bought the small welsh club in november 2020, their plan, they said, was for wrexham to win games. and well, take a look. and now they've won the national league title, here's the team are celebrating after beating boreham wood 3—1. this was straight after that win, you can see wexham fans running onto the pitch, as well as ryan reynolds and rob mcilhenny. the bbc caught up with some elated wrexham fans just after the match. what a win! boom! how proud are you? very proud, absolutely amazing. i lost my husband just before christmas. i have a picture of him. this is for him. i love you, jeff. the whole town has wanted this for 15 years and - for ryan and rob to come - in and buy the club and give us what we wanted, i

cannot thank them enough. it makes you want to cry. i might cry now. this is for the future generation, they want to be here and experience it. its mega. i don't even like football but we're just here, it's amazing, isn't it? it it's amazing, isn't it? it means— it's amazing, isn't it? it means the absolute world. my dad has been a wrexham fan his entire life. he was coming to games when there was about 500 fans left side. now 10,000 tonight. it is absolutely fantastic. i am so happy. our correspondent tomos dafydd was at the game. an extraordinary atmosphere at the racecourse ground. the nerves in this city all day gave way to relieve and ecstasy at the full—time whistle. there was a pitch invasion, unsurprisingly wrexham's hollywood owners ryan reynolds and rob mcelhenney were on the pitch too to celebrate with the players and the manager and a little early on my caught up

with wrexham's owners. i little early on my caught up with wrexham's owners. i don't think i have _ with wrexham's owners. i don't think i have words _ with wrexham's owners. i don't think i have words yet. - with wrexham's owners. i don't think i have words yet. how- think i have words yet. how secial think i have words yet. how special is — think i have words yet. how special is that? _ think i have words yet. how special is that? that - think i have words yet. how special is that? that was i think i have words yet. how. special is that? that was one ofthe special is that? that was one of the most _ special is that? that was one of the most incredible - special is that? that was one i of the most incredible moments of the most incredible moments of my— of the most incredible moments of my life. — of the most incredible moments of my life, but this is not about— of my life, but this is not about me, this is about them so please, — about me, this is about them so please, talk to them, they are the ones — please, talk to them, they are the ones that did at. this game will live long — the ones that did at. this game will live long in _ the ones that did at. this game will live long in the _ the ones that did at. this game will live long in the memory - the ones that did at. this game will live long in the memory of| will live long in the memory of the thousands of wrexham fans, 10,000 packed into the racecourse tonight and for many of them, the promotion is their reward for sticking with the club through rather bleak times, before the hollywood take over this club nearly went bust and the supporters themselves had to dig into their own pockets to bail the club out. many claimed this was the hollywood ending that many had claimed, as for the owners, they are adamant that this is just the beginning of a new chapter in the club's remarkable story.

some news in from sudan, the us military has completed the evacuation of us embassy staff from the capital khartoum. sudan's paramilitary group, the rsf, says it's coordinated with the united states to evacuate its diplomats and their families. it comes on one of the most intense days of fighting since violence broke out a week ago. despite regular targeting of the main airport, operations to evacuate some foreign nationals from saudi arabia, egypt and india took place earlier in the day. here's a reminder of why this is happening. sudan's army general abdel fattah al—burhan is fighting the leader of a paramilitary group, the rsf, led by general mohamed hamdan dagalo. they had been sharing power since they led a coup in 2021, now though, they disagree on how sudan should be governed. we will be bringing you more on this story as it develops through the show. to kenya now, where there's an investigation into a christian cult which allegedly told its followers

to starve themselves to death, in the hope of getting to heaven quickly. police found 21 bodies by searching dozens of suspected graves. the group is called the good news international church, its leader, paul mackenzie, who's been detained, denies wrongdoing. the investigation is happening in kenya's coastal town of malindi. our africa editor grant ferrett has more. paul mckenzie was first detained last month when two children were found to have starved to death. he then appeared in court a week ago afterfour bodies were appeared in court a week ago after four bodies were found. he said at the time that he had done nothing wrong in the church had actually been shut down several years ago. but since then about a dozen people have been taken to hospital, some of them severely emaciated and what police are doing now is checking land owned apparently by mr mackenzie, the leader of the church where they so far uncovered 21 bodies that have been exhumed it's not clear in what circumstances they have died and that is what police will continue to investigate. the police

actually called off their search today because of bad weather, there was heavy rain but they do say they expect to continue and they expect to find more bodies. mr mckenzie himself although he has not been asked to enter a plea has said that he's done nothing wrong and his church was closed down some time ago. to chile now, where the country's main trade federation has criticised the creation of a state—owned lithium company. lithium is essential for producing batteries, and demand is expected to rise as electric vehicles rise in popularity. this week, the country's president, gabriel boric announced what he called a national lithium strategy, he says that controlling the world's largest reserves of lithium would boost chile's economy and protect the environment. translation: chile has one of the biggest _ translation: chile has one of the biggest reserves _ translation: chile has one of the biggest reserves of - translation: chile has one of the biggest reserves of lithium | the biggest reserves of lithium in the world. it's the best chance we have to transition towards a sustainable, developed economy. can't afford the luxury of missing this opportunity stopping the potential we have is enormous.

to ukraine now we're fighting continues, these pictures are from bakhmut. russia says they've taken more territory but we cannot verify those claims. in while the us says it will start training troops to use the tanks. my colleague spoke tojohn kirby about the us position on ukraine. i want to start with an announcement we saw from the defence department saying that the abrams tanks that the us has promised to deliver to ukraine, that they will get to the battlefield by this. it that is earlier than expected. do you think that these tanks getting their earlier by the fall will still be enough to counter russia's offensives? we are also providing _ russia's offensives? we are also providing hundreds- russia's offensives? we are also providing hundreds of. also providing hundreds of other armoured vehicles and what we call combined arms training for ukrainian italians outside the country to get them ready for the fighting that we expect and that they expect

they will be doing in the weeks and months ahead. it is not just the abrams tanks, they will get there towards the end of the year but they are also already taking possession, the ukrainians are, of leopard tanks that are produced by germany and other nations providing their leopard tanks and as well as i said, many different types of armoured vehicles notjust different types of armoured vehicles not just from different types of armoured vehicles notjust from the united states but from around the world. so it is a concerted effort to get into ukrainian hands the full scope of capabilities we think they are going to need in the weeks and months ahead. armoured tanks is just one of them. air defence is another, artillery is another and ammunition is a key need for ukrainian authors. lloyd often was speaking in germany earlier today where he was meeting with international defence chiefs as you know when he did discuss the leaked pentagon documents that exposed some important information about ukraine. has some important information about ukraine.— about ukraine. as a discuss this issue — about ukraine. as a discuss this issue with _ about ukraine. as a discuss this issue with our- about ukraine. as a discuss this issue with our allies . about ukraine. as a discuss| this issue with our allies and partners, i have been struck by your solidarity and your

commitment to reject efforts to divide us. and we will not let anything fracture our unity. hearing from the defence secretary, it doesn't sound like this issue has divided allies but from what you have seen, is this going to be an issue of trust amongst allies, especially with ukraine. indie issue of trust amongst allies, especially with ukraine. we are auoin to especially with ukraine. we are going to do _ especially with ukraine. we are going to do everything - especially with ukraine. we are going to do everything we - especially with ukraine. we are going to do everything we can l going to do everything we can to make sure that it doesn't become an issue of trust with our allies and partners and as secretary austin noted, it hasn't. we have been working very, very hard to keep relevant allies and partners informed as learn about the disclosures to let them know what we are seeing, provide a perspective, listen to their concerns and make sure that we know we're going to keep them informed all along the way and we have seen no breach of any of confidence that we have in our many relationships whether they are bilateral or multilateral, we certainly haven't been any definition of support and result by so many allies and partners when it comes to supporting ukraine. one of the items that was

disclosed in those leaks is that ammunition provided ukraine could be depleted in the coming weeks. what are allies doing to address that problem? i allies doing to address that problem?— allies doing to address that roblem? ., , ., ., problem? i would first of all, i am problem? i would first of all, i am not _ problem? i would first of all, i am not in — problem? i would first of all, i am not in a _ problem? i would first of all, i am not in a position - problem? i would first of all, i am not in a position wherel problem? i would first of all, j i am not in a position where i can confirm the validity of these documents and i certainly won't speak to intelligence matters here on television, these documents that have been disclosed are still classified and so we are not at liberty to talk about them. that said, i think it is important to remember that there has been quite a bit of time since the date of some of these documents and where we are today and events have moved beyond some of these documents and what they said and certainly not only events have moved on but our ability to try to address these concerns has also continued at pace. you just saw this week we announced yet another package, $325 million of support for ukraine, air defence, artillery ammunition and other logistical capabilities that we think the ukrainians are going to need

here in the spring.— here in the spring. ukraine sa s it here in the spring. ukraine says it is — here in the spring. ukraine says it is ready, _ here in the spring. ukraine says it is ready, is - here in the spring. ukraine says it is ready, is it - here in the spring. ukraine says it is ready, is it the i says it is ready, is it the right time for ukraine to join nato? right time for ukraine to 'oin nato? ,, ., , nato? the united states suoports _ nato? the united states suoports the _ nato? the united states supports the open - nato? the united states supports the open door. nato? the united states - supports the open door policy for nato, we believe in that wholeheartedly that there should be an open door for membership in nato but we believe that is a discussion that the nation and the alliance has to have, that conversation needs to occur, i wont speak to that, we are a supporter of nato and a key ally and nato is now bigger and more relevant and more viable than it's ever been before with the accession of finland and very soon hope to be the accession of sweden. two militaries that will clearly make the alliance even more capable than it already has. would the administration support it, then? i’m would the administration support it, then?- would the administration support it, then? i'm not going to net support it, then? i'm not going to get into _ support it, then? i'm not going to get into hypotheticals - support it, then? i'm not going to get into hypotheticals at - to get into hypotheticals at this point. we believe in the open door policy, we believe that the conversation that needs to happen between the nation and questioned the

alliance, we certainly would not get in the way of those kinds of conversations. i not get in the way of those kinds of conversations. i also want to ask _ kinds of conversations. i also want to ask you _ kinds of conversations. i also want to ask you about - kinds of conversations. i also | want to ask you about sudan, the us is putting additional forces in place for potential evacuation of government personnel. when with the white house determined that it is the right point to evacuate that personnel?— right point to evacuate that ersonnel? , ., personnel? our focus right now is twofold- _ personnel? our focus right now is twofold. one _ personnel? our focus right now is twofold. one is _ personnel? our focus right now is twofold. one is making - personnel? our focus right now is twofold. one is making sure| is twofold. one is making sure we've got and can maintain full accountability of our government personnel in khartoum, and we have them all consolidated and together and all accounted for. number two is working closely with people on the ground, particularly having conversations with both sides, the rapid security forces commander and the sudanese armed forces commander to try to get meaningful sustainable ceasefires and in that place. thus far we have not been able to do that and the violence continues, it is still a very dangerous place. the military is prepositioning some additional capabilities nearby in the region, not in

sudan, should there be a need to move in and evacuate our government personnel but that is where the focus is right now. �* , y ., is where the focus is right now. m is where the focus is right now. a ., . now. as you said the violence has continued _ now. as you said the violence has continued so _ now. as you said the violence has continued so does - now. as you said the violence has continued so does the - has continued so does the government need to do more to ensure there is a lasting ceasefire on the ground? indie ceasefire on the ground? we are doinu all ceasefire on the ground? we are doing all we _ ceasefire on the ground? we are doing all we can _ ceasefire on the ground? we are doing all we can including - doing all we can including conversations that the secretary of state has already had with leaders on both sides to get them to put their arms down, quit fighting, let's get the tension is reduced, let's make sure that we have avenues for humanitarian aid and assistance to get into khartoum, food, water, medicine that are now beginning to grow short the people that live there. that's got to be the focus right now so that we can get to a transition of civilian authority in khartoum which is at least what the sudanese armed forces commander says he wants, we want to see that happen too so we are working very closely with the leaders again on both sides.- very closely with the leaders again on both sides. very good to have you — again on both sides. very good to have you on _ again on both sides. very good to have you on bbc— again on both sides. very good to have you on bbc news. - again on both sides. very good i to have you on bbc news. thank ou.

to the us state of montana now, where a transgender lawmaker has been silenced by republican leaders in the state's house of representatives over comments she made on the floor about gender—affirming medical care for transgender youth. representative zooey zephyr is the first openly transgender person elected to montana's legislature. montana's house speaker says she won't be allowed to speak about any bill on the house floor until she apologises, after she said this about that bill. lastly, i would say that there were conversations at the end of the bill, the letter that says life altering medical procedures should wait until they are adults. what i will say is that if you are by this bill, if you are forcing a transit child to go through puberty when they are trans, thatis puberty when they are trans, that is tantamount to torture and this body should be ashamed. if you vote yes on the speu ashamed. if you vote yes on the spell and get on these amendments, a hope the next time there is an indication

when you bow your heads and prayer, you see the blood on your hands. that bill has now been by montana lawmakers, and montana's governor said he intends to sign it into law. representative zephyrjoined me earlier to discuss what took place on the house floor. thank you so much forjoining us. i want to start with what we just heard that from your comments on the floor. why did you believe so strongly that this kind of care is the crucial?— this kind of care is the crucial? ~ ~ ., ., ., ., crucial? we know from the data, the most recent _ crucial? we know from the data, the most recent data _ crucial? we know from the data, the most recent data shows - the most recent data shows transit gender affirming her she was 73% reduction in suicidality, but also as a trans person myself i know the joy trans person myself i know the joy that has come to my life from transition. i wouldn't be able to do the work in my community and in the legislature had not transitioned and been able to live my life is who i am.- live my life is who i am. your comments — live my life is who i am. your comments are _ live my life is who i am. your comments are saying - live my life is who i am. your . comments are saying lawmakers would have blood on their hands

have been described by republicans, your colleagues as hateful rhetoric, inappropriate and disrespectful. we surprised b their and disrespectful. we surprised by their reaction? _ and disrespectful. we surprised by their reaction? when - and disrespectful. we surprised by their reaction? when i - and disrespectful. we surprised by their reaction? when i stand j by their reaction? when i stand up by their reaction? when i stand up to defend my community, i chose my words with precision, i spoke with clarity about the real harm these bills do. i have seen, have received calls from families whose trans teenagers attempted suicide while watching hearings on these types of legislation in my state. i am not surprised that the majority leader stood up that the majority leader stood up and opposed like we have done when people on the other side have said that my existence by its very nature is somehow sexualising children. we objected that we move on with debate but this is an unprecedented and undemocratic movement by the speaker. lawmakers are essentially preventing you from speaking of any bills that come up on the house floorfor the any bills that come up on the house floor for the rest of the legislative session. there will not refusing in the chamber. how do you plan on handling? i

was sent to the legislature by my constituents to speak on an array of concerns that we have about legislation. i am going to punch in on every bill that i was sent here to talk about if i have something to say, and it will be up to the speaker and the rest of the members of the visitor, majority republican—controlled, to decide if they will let me speak. decide if they will let me seak. , , , ., speak. this bill is targeting the lgbt— speak. this bill is targeting the lgbt committee - speak. this bill is targeting the lgbt committee in - speak. this bill is targeting - the lgbt committee in montana, it's not the only one, speaking operably here, according to the american civil liberties union the aclu, therapy more than 400 bills that target that community, already this year. what you make of that? it's a really worrying trend and we saw it initially, not people are bringing in questions of trans people's participation in sports, but i was always a foot in the offer people the more extreme policies. we see in montana policies burning our art forms, books about us,

allowing us to be bullied in schools. in missouri the healthcare but is notjust about children but only adult caravan and in florida they allowing the state and others to kidnap children away from transparent or trans children away from cis gender parents. you're the first openly transgender woman elected the tra nsgender woman elected the montana transgender woman elected the montana legislature. you want to say and minimal personal side to discussions about transgender people, but tra nsgender people, but transgender people, but transgender issues. now we're what's going on, half words exchanged, he won't be able to speak on the house floor. do you think you'll be able to bring that mission now that you won't necessarily be able to speak potentially and how will you change the minds of republicans given the situation?— republicans given the situation? . ' :: :: situation? there are 100 legislators _ situation? there are 100 legislators in _ situation? there are 100 legislators in the - situation? there are 100 legislators in the house | situation? there are 100 i legislators in the house of situation? there are 100 - legislators in the house of the lives in montana and i am moving 99 different needles on theissue moving 99 different needles on the issue of transit rights every time i show up in that building. sometimes that shows up building. sometimes that shows up on a vote, sometimes it's

conversations by the scenes that i can tell you even the speaker is not allowed me to speaker is not allowed me to speak people in that building on both sides of the aisle alone very frustrated with the undemocratic decision. what's the biggest — undemocratic decision. what's the biggest misunderstanding | the biggest misunderstanding you think that potentially your republican colleagues have about the lgbtqi community and issues that are being dealt with in that bill? i issues that are being dealt with in that bill?— issues that are being dealt with in that bill? i think they don't quite _ with in that bill? i think they don't quite understand - with in that bill? i think they don't quite understand what| with in that bill? i think they | don't quite understand what it means to be trans and why this care which again is approved by every major medical association in our country, they don't understand what it brings to a person. they think there is no harm in waiting but they don't see the harm that comes to children and people in their communities, trans people all over our state. 50 communities, trans people all over our state.— over our state. so we defer, montana _ over our state. so we defer, montana state _ over our state. so we defer, montana state lawmaker, i over our state. so we defer, - montana state lawmaker, thank you so much forjoining us. thank you for having me. a look now at some other stories making headlines. israelis have been protesting for the 16th week

in a row against plans to change the judicial system. the demonstrations have continued despite prime minister benjamin netanyahu putting the plan on hold to try to reach a compromise. and bbc persian has received confidential documents showing the iranian government formed a committee to punish celebrities who took part in recent anti—government protests. around 140 actors, athletes and other public figures were targeted with economic sanctions, travel bans, or imprisonment. british border officials have seized more than a tonne of cocaine, found floating in the english channel. it's the latest haul in a year of record busts. law enforcement agencies say europe is facing a huge cocaine crisis, with smugglers even using submarines to get shipments from south america. our europe correspondent, nick beake has that story. international criminal gangs are sinking to new depths to get their cocaine into europe. so—called narco slavs helping

to flood the consonant with the drug. this is the first submarine known to have brought cocaine all from south america stop the three men on board were arrested after reaching the spanish coast. and this is where they lived for nearly a month. it is so cramped and claustrophobic in here. the food they had energy bars, can of sardines, the toilet was a bargain the corner and that was it. they had nothing else. apart from three tons of cocaine in the front worth more than £100 million. last month spanish police said they detected a second cocaine submarine, again and alysia, any cargo disappeared. translation:- any cargo disappeared. translation: , ., , ., translation: they are very hard to detect. translation: they are very hard to detect- in _ translation: they are very hard to detect. in fact, _ translation: they are very hard to detect. in fact, in _ translation: they are very hard to detect. in fact, in more - to detect. in fact, in more than 20 years of traffickers using submarines to reach africa and europe, these two are the first we have seized.

law enforcement agencies across europe are fighting a surge in cocaine production. holiday said they have just dismantled the biggest known coke factory the concert has ever seen. but it's in belgium where the biggest amounts of cocaine are being seized. here at the port of antwerp more than 110 tons were intercepted in 2022. huge quantities are getting through though. and this top judge fears it is out of control. translation: it fears it is out of control. translation:— fears it is out of control. translation: it makes an absolute fortune _ translation: it makes an absolute fortune for - translation: it makes an absolute fortune for those l translation: it makes an | absolute fortune for those we call narco traffickers. with money laundering and corruption, now limitless in terms of the sums that can be offered to doctors, police officers and other people. how do you want us to have any control of criminal organisations? it is over. just this week _ organisations? it is over. just this week italian _ organisations? it is over. just this week italian police found 400 million euros of cocaine bobbing off the sicilian coast.

and the united nations is warning that international games are now looking to expand into africa and asia. europe ausmat cocaine crisis is getting wider and deeper. nick beake, bbc news. the australian comedian barry humphries has died at the age of 89. barry humphries was best known for his character, dame edna everage, and was a leading figure on the british comedy scene, with his many satirical characters. our arts correspondent, david silitto, looks back at his life. dame edna everage! hello, possums! dame edna always said she was born with a priceless gift — the ability to laugh at the misfortunes of others. i am weightless and you could do with losing a little. success has gone to your jowls, russell harty! oh, you're being very, very cruel! for more than 50 years, she took pleasure in saying the unsayable. i've had a little work done, but... have you?

..not quite as much as some of us here! laughter and applause no... no, but the thing is, you are still recognisable, that's what i like. laughter she was so familiar, it was easy to forget that behind the glasses and frocks was a man called barry humphries. he was, offstage, a cultured, art—loving collector of rare books. that's me standing outside... oh, one of the big clocks they've got out there! edna was a character from his student days in australia. when he moved to britain, he began to develop the character on shows such as late night line—up, with joan ba kewell. he came on to television on late night line—up, and we didn't know what to make of him. we thought he was a very dear man, a very brilliant man, quite clearly.

we knew that if we gave him a chance, he would make it. it was the beginning of a long friendship. edna became ever more brash and outrageous, but the man behind the wig was urbane, cultured and loyal. it's joan ba kewell. hello, darling! what the dickens are you doing here? the world in which i don't have the friendship of barry humphries is really painful. he was so resilient and energetic and loving. and direct, there was a huge personality. once you're exposed to it and enveloped by it, it was wonderful. so, that is a great absence in my life now. our top story: the us military has completed the evacuation of us embassy staff from the sudanese capital khartoum. the palmetto group rsm says it's co—ordinating with the us on the evacuations. we'll have more on the developments as we get them here on the bbc news.

i am carl nasman in washington. thank you for watching. stay with us and had to our website for the latest developments. hello there. i think it's fair to say the weekend started on a very mixed note. now, there were some areas of rain across the uk, but other places that stayed entirely dry and sunny. look at this band of rain in southern scotland. underneath that drumalbin in lanark only got to eight degrees. while, it's not that far away — in stirlingshire, basking in the sunshine, tyndrum, had a high of 17 celsius, so a massively different feel to the weather on saturday over a relatively short distance. sunday's chart still has low pressure firmly in charge. there will be more rain around. that low moves eastwards. and then early next week, we'll get northerly winds. and look where those winds come from — pretty much the north pole. so needless to say, the weather will be getting quite a bit

cooler over the next few days. now, over the next few hours, we've still got a bit of rain in northern ireland that's turning lighter and patchier in nature. northern scotland turning wetter with some stronger north—easterly winds developing. and we've got some heavier rainjust skirting along the south of england. so there are some areas of rain, other areas stay dry, but a lot of cloud around. temperatures, 4—10 degrees as we start off sunday. now we've got that fairly persistent rain that's going to be with us most of the day for northern scotland. it will feel chilly here on account of those gusty northerly winds. heavy rain across southern england extending into east anglia and then into the afternoon we see showers break out. and i think the showers, particularly across england and wales, will turn heavy with some hail and thunder. temperatures across the board below average for the time of year, and it's set to get colder. those northerly winds really start to arrive through monday and on into tuesday as well. now we're looking at some rain across england and wales. further north, it's a day of sunshine and showers. there'll be some hail mixed in with some of these showers, a little bit of sleet across the far north

of scotland and over the highest scottish mountains, yes, you could even see a little bit of snow, but you have to go pretty high up for that above 400 or 500 metres' elevation. temperatures dropping, highs of 7—11 degrees, feeling chilly, particularly for northern scotland. then monday night we see a widespread frost develop and it's something that gardeners will certainly want to take note of. this is not a good news situation, really, for those tender plants. you might need to bring them back inside. tuesday, still cold, still a few wintry showers across northern scotland. showers with us for much of the week head, with temperatures for the most part staying well below average. bye for now.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. in august 2021, the taliban shocked the world as they swept to power in afghanistan. it wasn't long before they began to crack down on the rights of women. last year, i met with activist tamana paryani, who'd been involved in a protest in kabul. after daring to raise her voice, the taliban came in the middle of the night to arrest her.