live from london: this is bbc news. i'm rich preston. foreign diplomats escape sudan's violence — these are europeans flown by the french military to djibouti, while in another operation, uk embassy staff have been evacuated via cyprus. it was dangerous and precarious, but nevertheless, we managed to use both aircraft to go in and collect our diplomats and residents and fly out to safety. this was the alarm that sounded on almost every uk smartphone earlier — part of the new emergency alert system being tested by the uk government. the british labour opposition mp diane abbott, has been suspended pending an investigation into a letter

she wrote about racism for the british newspaper, the observer. hello in a very warm welcome. we begin in northeast africa. a growing number of foreign diplomats and their families have been airlifted to safety from the sudanese capital, khartoum, as fighting between rivalfactions of the army enters a second week. the uk, france and the us are among those to remove embassy staff under the cover of darkness. the british evacuees are on their way back to the uk, via cyprus. the situation for other nationals in sudan remains unclear. in the last couple of hours, we've seen a french military plane arriving at one of france's airbases in dijibouti said to be carrying european diplomats and citizens. with the latest here's our africa correspondent, andrew harding.

amid the bombs and the gunfire in khartoum today, a series of dramatic rescue missions. among those successfully airlifted out of sudan after a week of terror, british embassy staff and their families. over 1200 people contributed to this operation. it was dangerous and precarious but never the less we managed to use both c—130s and aaoo aircraft to go in, collect our diplomats and their residents, and fly out to safety. earlier, american military helicopters had flown into sudan's capital, landing inside the us embassy to rescue nearly 100 people. diplomats from france were also brought out, although their convoy reportedly came underfire. like them, british embassy staff had to run a deadly gauntlet through khartoum's streets. footage here of another convoy heading by road to a port

on the red sea coast. there's a clear pecking order for these rescues, with foreign diplomats at the front of the queue, while others are left behind. as i talk to people, there seems to be a growing sense of panic. sudanese and expats alike are desperate to get out and there's a concern that as the city starts to empty, the fighting will get more bloody, if indeed that's possible, which of course is the nightmare scenario for those of us left behind. why is it that the british government is prioritising diplomats over ordinary british citizens who may be trapped in sudan? well, the diplomats that _ were working in the british embassy in khartoum have been unable to discharge their functions . because of the violence in that city |and in order to continue to protecti because of the violence in that city, _

and in order to continue to protect british nationals, _ we will of course be _ enhancing our teams in the region. amid all this, no hint of a ceasefire — quite the opposite. there are growing fears that sudan's deadly power struggle is set to intensify. andrew harding, bbc news, johannesburg. well, some more information for british nationals still in sudan — the uk's foreign offices has tweeted... the situation in khartoum is of obvious concern to sudan's neighbours, our correspondent kalkidan yibeltal is in the ethiopian capital addis ababa. i asked him if african nationals are also being evacuated, as well as those from western nations. that has not been happening, as many would have wanted. the only source we are hearing is in countries in the west or evacuating. urban circumstances which southern african... were evacuated... working

along that convoy. possibly could launch operations, but so far, the one we saw is the western countries and countries in the gulf and asia. there either nationals are trying to launch an operation to that effect. it seems that largely, african nationals living in sudan are left behind. when fighting broke out —— fighting broke out, various leaders were quick to criticise the break—out of violence as well as the african union, and originally, there were attempts to travel to sudan. that didn't happen as planned. do you know if there any plans to resume

those trips. 7 50 know if there any plans to resume those trips- ?_ know if there any plans to resume those trips- ?— know if there any plans to resume those trips- ?— those trips. ? so far, we're not seeinu those trips. ? so far, we're not seeing any _ those trips. ? so far, we're not seeing any signs _ those trips. ? so far, we're not seeing any signs of— those trips. ? so far, we're not seeing any signs of concrete i those trips. ? so far, we're not. seeing any signs of concrete plans for regional leaders. as you said, the violence is spread out very quickly and is calculated very rapidly. planes to travel there, did not materialise, and currently, what we are seeing is for a national wanting to leave sudan. rather than wanting to leave sudan. rather than wanting to leave sudan. rather than wanting to travel to there and try to solve the situation. so, it doesn't look likely at least in the immediate future that the neighbouring areas send their senior politicians or government leaders to travel there and get out the

generals to find a solution. but that doesn't mean there aren't diplomatic pressures. we've been hearing calls from the west, from the un, from the african union and even from countries like ethiopia, calling for them to call dell �*s other issues. well, some more information for british nationals still in sudan — the uk's foreign offices has tweeted. we can speak now to tobias ellwood, the conservative mp, who's chair of the defence select committee and former minister for the middle east and africa. hejoins us live.

what can you tell us about what was involved? the what can you tell us about what was involved? ., , involved? the merit -- military rehearsed _ involved? the merit -- military rehearsed to — involved? the merit -- military rehearsed to this, _ involved? the merit -- military rehearsed to this, but - involved? the merit -- military rehearsed to this, but when - involved? the merit -- military rehearsed to this, but when it | rehearsed to this, but when it happens in reality, they're very dangerous indeed. it's something they do prepare for, theyjust off they do prepare for, theyjust off the protocols. but this was involving tier1 military assets. 0ver involving tier1 military assets. over 1,000 600 involving tier1 military assets. 0ver1,000 600 people. really well done to the government, to the prime ministerfor putting done to the government, to the prime minister for putting this together. -- 1600. minister for putting this together. —— 1600. there will be many brits who have loved ones who are still based in sudan, and i do hope the prime minister and the foreign secretary will now focus on phase two, ensuring we can get all british passport holders who want to leave to be able to extract out the

country. it's worth pointing out we aren't the only nation. it also suggests that because france, germany, spain and the us have all had their elite forces doing exactly what we've been doing. there are a lot of assets that could be utilised to create a safe passage out of the country. probably best determined by the seas for it —— cease—fire. does the seas for it -- cease-fire. does the seas for it -- cease-fire. does the british — the seas for it -- cease-fire. does the british government _ the seas for it -- cease-fire. does the british government know- the seas for it —— cease—fire. does the british government know how many passport holders are in sudan was? this isn't something anyone knows on their own nationalities, but would encourage all of those who are based there to register with the foreign and commonwealth office in order that they can ascertain who is there. the advice is to stay put for there. the advice is to stay put for the moment. i understand there's over 1,000 registered, but probably

easily a couple more thousand that are out there as well. be others who will be legitimately... will want to stay there. the majority, absolutely we want to get out because this is a deteriorating situation. 0nly means the best thing for everyone to do is depart. i do hope that the government is able to provide clarity on that. i suspect the foreign secretary will give a statement for the house tomorrow. i have constituents who have loved ones still stuck in sudan you are waiting for information. it’s ones still stuck in sudan you are waiting for information. it's over a week since — waiting for information. it's over a week since fighting _ waiting for information. it's over a week since fighting broke - waiting for information. it's over a week since fighting broke out, - waiting for information. it's over a l week since fighting broke out, there has been some criticism that the government's being somewhat slow to react. i government's being somewhat slow to react. ., �* , ., government's being somewhat slow to react. , ., ._ react. i don't accept that actually, i was an african _ react. i don't accept that actually, i was an african minister - react. i don't accept that actually, i was an african minister myself l react. i don't accept that actually, | i was an african minister myself in the foreign office. it does take a while to get all the pieces in

place, as i was stressing. 1600 military personnel, and this was conducted in conjunction with allies as well. clearly, newswires such as yourself are trying to gain information, but many patients are working in synergy getting... but we now need to move onto the next phase. why do we have two armed factions here, the sudanese armed forces and the rapid support force? they are both getting their weapons systems from russia. that's a massive headache which is notjust happening in sudan. the reason why that's happening is because putin needs the gold and other resources to fuel his war in ukraine. there is a wider bigger picture of security concerns in africa which tides us

into the focus of what's happening into the focus of what's happening in ukraine. i’m into the focus of what's happening in ukraine. �* ., , ., into the focus of what's happening in ukraine. �* ., i. , ., ., in ukraine. i'm glad you brought of the bi aer in ukraine. i'm glad you brought of the bigger picture _ in ukraine. i'm glad you brought of the bigger picture because - in ukraine. i'm glad you brought of the bigger picture because what's. the bigger picture because what's happening in sudan now goes back to 2019 in the housing of omar al bashir. how prepared is burden to help secure a peaceful future? == help secure a peaceful future? -- britain. help secure a peaceful future? » britain. you're right to point out it was present and past year, and only since independent, it's had a rough ride —— president brashear. it was president brashear that developed a very strong relationship with president putin. exploiting sudan to fund the war in ukraine is important that we work with the community to gain a cease—fire. i do stress that is a trend as to where

africa is going. it is repeated in at least a dozen countries across africa. i that in with what china is doing with its one road programme, tying countries into long—term debt. i'm afraid we've ignored the direction of africa for too long. that is a reminder where africa could go where the —— if the west doesn't take a greater interest. tobias ellwood, thank you very much for being with us. so, as british diplomats and officials are helped out of sudan, what about the other british civilians who are left behind? 0ur diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley explains the challenge. british national stuck in sudan are becoming increasingly frustrated.

some have told us that other countries are providing more support and information. the advice to them is to stay indoors,... the foreign office says it has teams working around the clock in london as they did here during afghanistan emasculation which took out 15,000 people, but was chaotic —— afghanistan invasion. —— evacuation. there are no uk troops on the ground and no secure air base to to use. today's irish �*s aspiration had to be carried out rapidly. that's out of action, so two transport planes filled into an airfield with armoured vehicles. 1200 personnel were needed to extractjust a few dozen people. we don't know exactly how many british nationals are in sudan. the foreign out —— foreign

office haven't told us how many have 0ffice haven't told us how many have registered. the foreign secretary says the ability to help is severely limited unless these two men can be persuaded to end the fighting. that's not going to be easy in in the country are telling us they feel abandoned. you can keep track of the situation on bbc news website. a new uk—wide alert system has been tested on millions of mobile phones, designed to warn people of a life—threatening emergency. at three o'clock this afternoon, the test alarm was sounded, but critics say it's yet another example of the state interfering in the private lives of citizens, as our correspondent dan johnson reports. alert beeps oh, my god! some got it early... it's a minute to. oh, yeah, it's early. some got it late. some didn't get it at all. didn't work. 0h, don't know what happened. nothing —

your phone didn't go off? no. dog barks at somerset�*s big bark show, the dogs mostly kept calm and carried on. i didn't know what was going on. everyone's phones was going off. i was like, oh, yeah, it's that thing today. thought it was going to be a lot louder and a lot noisier, but it was loud enough that we could hear it. do you think it's useful? i reckon in certain situations it would be very useful. i think they've got to be careful what they use it for. if i didn't know it was coming, it would be quite worrying. . i think if you're someone that struggles with anxiety- or that kind of thing, - that could be quite a problem. the person next to me went off first, and then i was like, oh, why hasn't mine gone off yet? and then mine went off in like a chain, and then we were just kind of waiting for yours to go off and it never did. no, i'm still waiting for mine at the moment. it wasjust random, hearing people randomly sort of all pinging off and i'm just sat there like, no, i'm still waiting.

the emergency alert| system is now live... the system is supposed to alert every smartphone on 4g and 5g, even if they're on silent. the mobile network three said a number of its customers didn't get the alert, and it's trying to work out why. so, this ten second test only partially shattered the sunday afternoon peace here in derbyshire. as long as it's used for the right reasons, i think it's a great idea. at least we know it would work. there had been concerns about this alert exposing hidden, secret phones, the sort of thing relied on by, say, domestic abuse victims, and this was a planned test at a certain time. who knows when it'll go off again? but the question now for a review already announced by the government is why so many phones didn't react to what could have been an emergency message in a life—threatening situation. danjohnson, bbc news, somerset. in the uk, the labour party has suspended the mp diane abbott after she suggested jewish people and travellers suffer from �*prejudice' rather than �*racism'. ms abbott apologised for her letter to the observer newspaper, stating it was an initial draught

sent by mistake, and acknowledged thatjewish people have suffered what she called the "monstrous effects" of racism. here's our correspondent, leila nathoo. her comments have been pretty universally criticised both from within labour and outside. she made them in response to an article about racism towards different communities. so she says, for example, that travellers irish and jewish people were never made to sit on the back of buses in america, she says. nor were they manacled to slave ships. now, a labour spokesperson described the remarks as deeply offensive and wrong. the party moved very quickly to suspend her while an investigation is carried out. she has now apologised. she says she withdraws her remarks completely, disassociating herself from them. she now says it's completely undeniable that travellers irish and jewish people have suffered racism this was only an initial draught of her letter. now, diane abbott, remember,

she has a long history of speaking out about racial equality. she was the first black woman mp elected more than 30 years ago. but she's also a close political ally ofjeremy corbyn, the former labour leader, who no longer sits as a labour mp because of his association with those claims of anti—semitism that dogged his leadership. so, for diane abbott now to suggest thatjewish people somehow face different or lesser racism than others certainly does herself no favours. keir starmer has tried. one of his central missions has been to try and disassociate labour from anti—semitism. he has tried to be decisive here so the issue doesn't rear its head again. it will be interesting to see if she is allowed to return to the parliamentary labour party down the line now that she's apologised, unlikejeremy corbyn. police in kenya say they've now exhumed 47 bodies thought to be members of a cult who believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves to death. digging is continuing at a site in the coastal town malindi in the south east of the country. 19 bodies were initially discovered

on friday following a tip—off about the shallow graves. earlier this month, police said they'd rescued 15 members of the good news international church who'd been told to starve themselves to death. four later died and the group's leader has been arrested. 0fsted — britain's office for standards in education — has defended the use of one—word descriptions of school performance following the suicide of a primary head whose school had been downgraded to "inadequate". chief inspector amanda speilman acknowledged there was a "culture of fear" within schools about 0fsted inspections, but she said there was no reason to doubt the findings of a report on caversham primary school before the death of ruth perry. here's our education editor, branwenjeffreys. ruth perry took her life while waiting for an 0fsted report. her school, caversham primary, wasjudged inadequate. inspectors had concerns over systems

to keep children safe. today, the chief inspector stood by thatjudgment. i think the findings were secure and i think the inspection team worked with the professionalism and sensitivity that i would expect from our inspectors. have you any concerns at all about what happened during that inspection, when her school went from outstanding to inadequate? from what i've seen, i don't have any reason to doubt the inspection. i met ruth's sister, julia waters, last week. today, she said she was profoundly disappointed by this response. she added... "waiting for the inspection report and the shock of the inadequate judgment contributed to my sister's decline and despair, because informal feedback in 2019 from 0fsted had been glowing." schools are inspected on many factors. at the end, there is one overalljudgment. many are now questioning

the fairness of that approach. the chief inspector said that's a decision for ministers. everyjudgment in the system has a use at the moment. they are used notjust for parents, but also for government, both in allocating support and in deciding where interventions are necessary. so it would have to be a bigger, wider reform of the education system. keeping children safe, record—keeping, training is important, but ministers suggest the emphasis could be revisited and 0fsted has promised to revisit schools more quickly. teachers in england have been on strike over pay. another strike is due next thursday. there's little doubt they're disillusioned. on top of that, unions say the chief inspector has misjudged the mood. i thought it was very notable that amanda spielman accepted that 0fsted created a culture of fear in schools. i thought that was the first time

that that has been accepted. how that then squares with herjudgment that it's a positive and affirming experience, i am very puzzled about that. i'm very puzzled about that. a primary school like thousands of others. thousands of others, but the inspection here has provoked a national debate. an inquest will look at the events around ruth perry's death later this year. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. now, to an inspiring story about one special london marathon runner. roman kashpur, a ukrainian soldier, has done it — on a prosthetic leg! he's an army veteran who he lost his leg during the ongoing war in ukraine. and now he's raising money for charity, helping amputees. translation: i am overwhelmed. i'm so grateful for the support of family and my brothers, the ukrainian serviceman. i was running today and i realise,

this really wasn't hard for me to do. all the struggles today are nothing in comparison to the battlefield. when i was saving my comrades�* lives and burying foreign friends. i had to run 42 km. i am happy with my time. it was just under six hours. happy with my time. it was just undersix hours. i happy with my time. it was just under six hours. i am trying to help those who have been injured to get back to normal life. and to raise money for their rehabilitation. this flag signed by my commander will be put to auction to raise even more funds for ukrainian soldiers. before we go... foreign diplomats and theirfamilies have been before we go... foreign diplomats and their families have been lifted from sudan is fighting between the rival factions enters a second week. earlier, i spoke to tim cross, a military logistics expert and former major general who served in the british army from 1971 to 2007, including in

the iraq and kosovo wars. is complex, it's not easy. people would've — is complex, it's not easy. people would've watch the operation when the israelis got the hostages out, having _ the israelis got the hostages out, having been hijacked. you have to have _ having been hijacked. you have to have a _ having been hijacked. you have to have a secure base to operate from, not just _ have a secure base to operate from, notjust in_ have a secure base to operate from, notjust in the uk, but also in a neighbouring country, so somebody whos— neighbouring country, so somebody who's prepared to allow you to set ”p who's prepared to allow you to set up some _ who's prepared to allow you to set up some sort of skill base. inevitably, you're talking about some _ inevitably, you're talking about some sort of air operation using 0130 _ some sort of air operation using 0130 and — some sort of air operation using 0130 and a _ some sort of air operation using c—130 and a 300 m's to get the diplomat — c—130 and a 300 m's to get the diplomat out. you need a strong air component, — diplomat out. you need a strong air component, you need to get in normally— component, you need to get in normally at night, you need to be able to— normally at night, you need to be able to get— normally at night, you need to be able to get in somewhere and using hercules _ able to get in somewhere and using hercules menu can land in an airfield — hercules menu can land in an airfield or— hercules menu can land in an airfield or a desert in on —— or on stand _ airfield or a desert in on —— or on stand then— airfield or a desert in on —— or on stand. then you need the combat power— stand. then you need the combat power to— stand. then you need the combat power to secure that location whilst you get _ power to secure that location whilst you get out and find the people and

bring _ you get out and find the people and bring them to the airfield. that's it from us. much more on the — airfield. that's it from us. much more on the bbc _ airfield. that's it from us. much more on the bbc news - airfield. that's it from us. much| more on the bbc news website. bye—bye. hello. quite a marked change to come in our weather for the start of the new week. through the weekend, most of us have seen some cloud and rain at times. it�*s actually looking drier, more settled to start the new week, but it will be turning markedly colder. this area of low pressure that brought the weekend�*s unsettled weather heads off towards the continent for monday. as it pulls out of the way, we engage a northerly airstream and arctic air floods all the way south across the uk through monday and it will stick around for tuesday and wednesday as well. winds gusting as—ss mph around the coasts of northern and eastern and eastern scotland into the small hours of monday, the cold air pushing in, turning showers here increasingly to snow. further south, some rain for wales and the south—west of england overnight.

a frost for scotland and elsewhere, we should see temperatures holding up in the mid range of single figures. and there we are again — monday daytime with that arctic air gradually running its way south. you can see some milder airjust about clings on to the south. that�*s tied in with this area of rain moving across from wales and the south—west into the south—east for the afternoon. that northerly wind though really adding to the cold feel that northerly wind, though, really adding to the cold feel as the arctic air pushes in. we�*ll still see temperatures in double figures to the south of the uk, but we�*re looking at a high ofjust 6 degrees in aberdeen. but we have to factor in that strong wind, particularly monday afternoon, and for aberdeen, it is going to feel closer to freezing. perhaps the wind becoming just a little lighter though as we look towards tuesday and wednesday, and that comes into play for monday night. as the wind becomes lighter, clear skies and arctic air, a widespread frost developing. gardeners beware —

any tender plants out at the moment obviously will be particularly vulnerable. the winds fall lighter because we start to see this ridge of high pressure building for tuesday and wednesday, so still a northerly breeze, but as not as strong as it will be to start the week. still a few wintry showers possible for northern and eastern scotland, but for tuesday, actually quite a lot of fine weather. a lot of fine weather, sunshine turning hazy as the day plays out. temperatures just about in double figures across central and southern areas of the uk, but with the wind a little lighter, it shouldn�*t feel quite as cold as it does on monday. wednesday, a very similar story — later in the week becoming more unsettled, but milder again. later in the week, becoming more unsettled, but milder again.

this is bbc news. the headlines... a growing number of foreign diplomats flee sudan�*s violence. a french plane carrying around 100 people of multiple nationalities has landed in djibouti. meanwhile, the british government says its evacuees will first stop in cyprus before heading back to the uk. the us military has sent three chinook helicopters to evacuate its embassy staff from khartoum while germany has confirmed its first army aircraft arrived in khartoum. in the uk, labour opposition mp diane abbott, has been suspended pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism for the british newspaper, the observer. the dutch siffan hassan and the kenyan kelvin kiptum have

won the race for female and male categories in the london marathon.