today at 1:00 — len goodman, the head judge on strictly come dancing for more than a decade, has died at the age of 78. knockout. well done. from len, a ten! he became a household favourite when he joined strictly in 2004 after a 40 year ballroom dancing career. we all felt like we knew him and he was wonderful_ all felt like we knew him and he was wonderful to his fans, really wonderful. i would wonderful to his fans, really wonderful. iwould be wonderful to his fans, really wonderful. i would be there and they would _ wonderful. i would be there and they would go _ wonderful. i would be there and they would go learn, learn, seven! could you sign— would go learn, learn, seven! could you sign this? could you do a photo? and he _ you sign this? could you do a photo? and he was_ you sign this? could you do a photo? and he was wonderful with them. we will look and he was wonderful with them. - will look back at his life. and our other main story this lunchtime. britons trapped by violence in sudan

tell the bbc they feel abandoned — the government says it's doing all it can to help those still there. more than £200 million of money earmarked to help children catch up after covid lockdowns hasn't been spent — the finding of a bbc investigation. and the aim was to receive 105 cards for his 105th birthday — but this world war two veteran who now has more than 4,000 and counting. and coming up on bbc news, the latest from the world snooker championship. robert milkins and jack lisowski aim to follow in the footsteps ofjohn higgins and secure their place in the next rounds. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc�*s news at one. the former strictly come dancing head judge —

len goodman, has died at the age of 78. he had been diagnosed with bone cancer and passed away on saturday at a hospice in tunbridge wells in kent, surrounded by his family. the dancer and choreographer became a judge on the first show in 2004 and continued as head judge until his final appearance in 2016. today his fellow judges, the show�*s presenters, and many of the contestants have paid tribute to him as our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba reports. let's lizo mzimba reports. hearfrom our head judge, le goodman. let's hearfrom our head judge, len goodman. iii let's hear from our head 'udge, len goodman. , ., ., �* ., , goodman. if you don't get four tens for that i'm — goodman. if you don't get four tens for that i'm going _ goodman. if you don't get four tens for that i'm going to _ goodman. if you don't get four tens for that i'm going to go _ goodman. if you don't get four tens for that i'm going to go home - goodman. if you don't get four tens for that i'm going to go home and i for that i'm going to go home and pick all— for that i'm going to go home and pick all my— for that i'm going to go home and pick all my walnuts! he for that i'm going to go home and pick all my walnuts!— pick all my walnuts! he was strictly's — pick all my walnuts! he was strictly's fountain _ pick all my walnuts! he was strictly's fountain of - pick all my walnuts! he was strictly's fountain of wit - pick all my walnuts! he wasj strictly's fountain of wit and wisdom. , �* , , ., wisdom. yum yum, pig's bum. you dance like i— wisdom. yum yum, pig's bum. you dance like i go. _ wisdom. yum yum, pig's bum. you dance like i go, just _ wisdom. yum yum, pig's bum. you dance like i go, just chuck - wisdom. yum yum, pig's bum. you dance like i go, just chuck it - wisdom. yum yum, pig's bum. you dance like i go, just chuck it all- dance like i go, just chuck it all in and — dance like i go, just chuck it all in and hope for the best! honest if he didn't like _ in and hope for the best! honest if he didn't like it. — in and hope for the best! honest if he didn't like it. it _ in and hope for the best! honest if he didn't like it. it was _ in and hope for the best! honest if he didn't like it. it was like - in and hope for the best! honest if he didn't like it. it was like you - he didn't like it. it was like you are chewing — he didn't like it. it was like you are chewing a _ he didn't like it. it was like you are chewing a toffee! - he didn't like it. it was like you are chewing a toffee! seven! . he didn't like it. it was like you - are chewing a toffee! seven! seven! full of— are chewing a toffee! seven! seven! full of praise if he did. it

are chewing a toffee! seven! seven! full of praise if he did.— full of praise if he did. it was knockout. — full of praise if he did. it was knockout, well _ full of praise if he did. it was knockout, well done. - full of praise if he did. it was knockout, well done. from i full of praise if he did. it was i knockout, well done. from len, full of praise if he did. it was - knockout, well done. from len, the ten! in _ knockout, well done. from len, the ten! , ., ., ten! in his youth len goodman was a chamion ten! in his youth len goodman was a champion dancer _ ten! in his youth len goodman was a champion dancer himself, _ ten! in his youth len goodman was a champion dancer himself, quitting i champion dancer himself, quitting hisjob as a champion dancer himself, quitting his job as a welder to turn professional. he quietly ran a dance school in kent until he was 60. then to his surprise, the bbc called. let's hear from our head to his surprise, the bbc called. let's hearfrom our head judge len goodman. 0ne let's hearfrom our head judge len goodman. one of the most respected ballroom judges in the country. in ballroom judges in the country. in the cha—cha—cha i look for three things. — the cha—cha—cha i look for three things, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. wire, _ things, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. wire, wire. — things, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. wire, wire, wire? he things, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. wire, wire, wire?— things, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm. wire, wire, wire? he did 14 seasons. it was a wire, wire, wire? he did 14 seasons. it was a hot — wire, wire, wire? he did 14 seasons. it was a hot splotch _ wire, wire, wire? he did 14 seasons. it was a hot splotch of _ wire, wire, wire? he did 14 seasons. it was a hot splotch of moves, - wire, wire, wire? he did 14 seasons. it was a hot splotch of moves, to - it was a hot splotch of moves, to lilillale. — it was a hot splotch of moves, to titillate, where are the twists and turns? _ titillate, where are the twists and turns? where are they recognisable paco doble? find turns? where are they recognisable paco doble?— paco doble? and head 'udge of america's dancing _ paco doble? and head judge of america's dancing with - paco doble? and head judge of america's dancing with the - paco doble? and head judge of i

america's dancing with the stars. paco doble? and head judge of - america's dancing with the stars. he was so humble, he loved to dance, his face _ was so humble, he loved to dance, his face would light up, because lots of— his face would light up, because lots of people take part in strictly macro _ lots of people take part in strictly macro and — lots of people take part in strictly macro and say, i will give it a couple — macro and say, i will give it a couple of _ macro and say, i will give it a couple of weeks but i don't think it is going _ couple of weeks but i don't think it is going to — couple of weeks but i don't think it is going to be my thing and then they fall— is going to be my thing and then they fall in love with it and he adored — they fall in love with it and he adored it _ they fall in love with it and he adored it. he was an extraordinary man. _ adored it. he was an extraordinary man. a _ adored it. he was an extraordinary man, a brilliant man. is adored it. he was an extraordinary man, a brilliant man.— man, a brilliant man. is late in life fame _ man, a brilliant man. is late in life fame also _ man, a brilliant man. is late in life fame also gave _ man, a brilliant man. is late in life fame also gave him - man, a brilliant man. is late in life fame also gave him the . life fame also gave him the opportunity to present everything from travel programmes.- opportunity to present everything from travel programmes. dave, you are caettin from travel programmes. dave, you are getting a _ from travel programmes. dave, you are getting a tan — from travel programmes. dave, you are getting a tan from _ from travel programmes. dave, you are getting a tan from len. - from travel programmes. dave, you are getting a tan from len. two - from travel programmes. dave, you i are getting a tan from len. two game shows. if are getting a tan from len. two game shows if you've _ are getting a tan from len. two game shows. if you've got _ are getting a tan from len. two game shows. if you've got the _ are getting a tan from len. two game shows. if you've got the time... - shows. if you've got the time... len's got _ shows. if you've got the time... len's got the — shows. if you've got the time... len's got the rhyme. _ shows. if you've got the time... len's got the rhyme. he - shows. if you've got the time... len's got the rhyme. he left - shows. if you've got the time... i len's got the rhyme. he left dazed in resect len's got the rhyme. he left dazed in resnect and _ len's got the rhyme. he left dazed in respect and affection. _ len's got the rhyme. he left dazed in respect and affection. your- len's got the rhyme. he left dazed in respect and affection. your bestj in respect and affection. your best dance. len goodman, the east end boy... it's like looking in a mirror!

..who became the star of saturday night. len goodman who has died at the age of 78. the government has told british nationals, trapped by the fighting in sudan, to stay indoors and wait for more information — as pressure grows on ministers to do more to help. it's estimated there could be up to 3,000—4,000 britons trapped in sudan where conditions are deteriorating every day. at the weekend a huge military operation managed to pull out british embassy staff and theirfamilies — along with other countries. now uk citizens still in sudan say they feel abandoned. caroline hawley reports. this is why anyone who can wants to get themselves out to safety. civilians, sudanese and foreign nationals, trapped in khartoum with the violence raging around them. yesterday british and american diplomats were extracted in a complex and dangerous rescue operation. but what of the british

nationals left behind to fend for themselves? the advice from the foreign office is to stay put, but this is what staying put means for this is what staying put means for this man. ., ., ., this is what staying put means for this man. ,, ., ., , , this man. still going on, this is for the this man. still going on, this is forthe last— this man. still going on, this is for the last 20 _ this man. still going on, this is for the last 20 minutes. - this man. still going on, this is for the last 20 minutes. he - this man. still going on, this is i for the last 20 minutes. he works for the last 20 minutes. he works for the last 20 minutes. he works for the royal— for the last 20 minutes. he works for the royal mail— for the last 20 minutes. he works for the royal mail in _ for the last 20 minutes. he works for the royal mail in edinburgh i for the royal mail in edinburgh and was visiting family when the conflict broke out. gunfire day and night. i conflict broke out. gunfire day and niuht. ~ . night. i think the fighting is around my _ night. i think the fighting is around my street _ night. i think the fighting is around my street now. - night. i think the fighting is l around my street now. very, night. i think the fighting is - around my street now. very, very, very close. very, very close. gunfire despite the dangers, some british nationals are now trying to make their own way out, including one man, william, who told us he was on a bus to egypt, organised by his sudanese employer. ladle a bus to egypt, organised by his sudanese employer.— a bus to egypt, organised by his sudanese employer. we have had absolutely nothing _ sudanese employer. we have had absolutely nothing but _ sudanese employer. we have had absolutely nothing but nonsense l sudanese employer. we have had - absolutely nothing but nonsense from the government. not even nonsense, we have had nothing. the last communication was that the government itself is going to do nothing, the foreign office, and so

we had to take this option because it was becoming intolerable. the forei . n it was becoming intolerable. the foreign office — it was becoming intolerable. the foreign office says its focus is on trying to put an end to the fighting between these two men, general burhan and general hemeti who are locked in an increasingly deadly power struggle. and the government has defended its decision to take out all diplomats, with no plans in evidence at the moment to evacuate british nationals. the evidence at the moment to evacuate british nationals.— british nationals. the british government _ british nationals. the british government has _ british nationals. the british government has a _ british nationals. the british government has a duty - british nationals. the british government has a duty of i british nationals. the british i government has a duty of care, of course, to all of our citizens, but specifically we have it to our own employees and diplomatic staff and their dependents and the reason we lifted them out was because the british residents and bersih were caught between the two lines. countries around the world have been frantically evacuated both diplomats and some of their nationals. this was a spanish flight leaving khartoum last night, and this is a dutch flight and this was a french evacuation to djibouti. the european union says that more than 1000 of its citizens, including eu staff,

have now been brought out. its ambassador is still in sudan, though not in khartoum itself. ads, ambassador is still in sudan, though not in khartoum itself.— not in khartoum itself. a long and tense weekend _ not in khartoum itself. a long and tense weekend trying _ not in khartoum itself. a long and tense weekend trying to _ not in khartoum itself. a long and tense weekend trying to take i not in khartoum itself. a long and tense weekend trying to take our| tense weekend trying to take our people out of sudan. it has been a complex operation and it has been a successful operation. it’s complex operation and it has been a successful operation.— successful operation. it's become a familiar story- _ successful operation. it's become a familiar story. british _ successful operation. it's become a familiar story. british nationals i successful operation. it's become a familiar story. british nationals in l familiar story. british nationals in a crisis abroad, complaining that people from other countries are receiving more help than them. explosion they had been warned by the government that if they do try to leave it is at their own risk. caroline hawley, bbc news. let's see how other countries are dealing with the crisis. our europe correspondent, nick beake, is in brussels for us now. we just saw wejust saw some we just saw some french, some spanish being evacuated there. what is the situation with other countries?— is the situation with other countries? ~ ,, ., ., ., ., countries? we know that more than 1000 eu nationals— countries? we know that more than 1000 eu nationals have _ countries? we know that more than 1000 eu nationals have been i countries? we know that more than i 1000 eu nationals have been brought to safety. among them diplomats, but

also people who presumably were visiting family in the sudan, or whether on business. let me give you a quick snapshot of how different countries are reacting. in italy the prime minister giorgia meloni has said all italians who wanted to leave have been able to leave, and on the flights as they left were other people from different countries, among them british people, and the prime minister said that italy leaves no one behind. as for france, nearly 400 people have been pulled out of sudan from 20 different countries and once again british people, or at least one brit among the people there, and germany says that 300 people have been brought out on its flights as part of its operation. at this stage we don't know how many british people were able to leave because they had a partner who was french, italian or german, say, whether they turned up and through their own powers of persuasion were able to hitch a ride. we will find out more surely in the days to come. and also finally worth making the point that

the countries we are talking about all had a lower number of people compared with britain because as we have been hearing it is thought around 4000 brits are currently in sudan, so that would be a much bigger operation if they are trying to replicate what the europeans have been doing. to replicate what the europeans have been doin:. . ~ to replicate what the europeans have been doin:. ., ,, i. to replicate what the europeans have been doin:. . ~' ,, x' to replicate what the europeans have been doin:. . ~' ,, w �* ., ,, been doing. thank you. nick beake. james been doing. thank you. nick beake. james landale _ been doing. thank you. nick beake. james landale is _ been doing. thank you. nick beake. james landale is with _ been doing. thank you. nick beake. james landale is with me _ been doing. thank you. nick beake. james landale is with me now. i been doing. thank you. nick beake. james landale is with me now. as i james landale is with me now. as nick james landale is with me now. 223 nick said james landale is with me now. is nick said the numbers, the scale is so different. particularly for the americans, it is estimated 16,000 americans, it is estimated 16,000 american nationals are there and also not being evacuated at the moment because the numbers are so large. the problem is this, the country is incredibly dangerous at the moment. if the british government were to say to british nationals go to these locations, the assembly points, so we can try and evacuate from there. how do you ensure the security of those people on the route? how do you stop them being attacked? how do you stop hostages being taken on route there? the british foreign office minister

andrew mitchell this morning pointed out that over the weekend two turkish assembly points over the weekend were attacked with explosions. so that's the first point. once you are actually at these muster points, how are you going to evacuate people from there? where are you going to take them? there is an airstrip north of khartoum where some aircraft landing, but at the moment it taking out tens, hundreds, it is not able to take out thousands. if you want to take out thousands. if you want to go overland you are talking hundreds of miles through unprotected desert, may be get to the red sea to a port in sudan and where other ships going to come from and where will they be taken? can they come overland to egypt? the problem for the british government is this, on the one hand, as the foreign affairs committee chairperson this morning said the uk has a responsibility to these british people to say, look, whether there is going to be an evacuation or not, is so if there is not they can make their own plans but at the moment of the british government cannot give those details because they are simply not ready with a

plan. they are simply not ready with a .lan. . ., , they are simply not ready with a ian. . ., , ., ., they are simply not ready with a a bbc investigation has found that more than 200 million pounds a bbc investigation has found that more than £200 million of funding, intended to help schoolchildren in england catch up after the covid lockdowns, has not been spent, and has been returned to the government. the national tutoring programme provides money to subsidise extra sessions outside school hours. alix hattenstone reports. envious. these kids love their lessons with ms barlow at kings road primary school in manchester. it's part of the national tutoring programme. one—to—one sessions and learning in small groups is helping these children catch up on what they missed during the pandemic. you get to play, like, little learning games, like maths learning games, english learning games. so it's really fun. before the session, i was feeling really nervous. i would be like, "what if i don't do it right?" or something like that. but now i feel i've got confidence again. for these children,

it's been a success. but the bbc has learned that over £200 million ringfenced for the national tutoring programme has gone back to the treasury. that's around a third of the £594 million allocated to it. as of january, it's estimated that two thirds of schools in england have taken part in the scheme this academic year. and there's concern that this flagship recovery scheme hasn't reached as many pupils as it should. the national tutoring programme may have reached some of its targets, but it's fundamentally missed the point in terms of getting young people the academic help that they need. take somewhere like london — in any given year, about 40% of 11—to—16—year—olds in london receive some kind of private tutoring. by contrast, in the north east, it's not something where there are many tutors already. now, the consequence of that is, of course, that there's less access to private tutoring, whether it's delivered through a school or elsewhere. and given that we know tutoring is a really powerful way of improving young people's educational outcomes, it does mean that we

see this disparity. and we are seeing that disparity, unfortunately, getting worse. back at kings road primary, the headteacher is juggling a tight budget. when the scheme was first introduced in 2020, the government heavily subsidised tutoring, with the rest coming out of school budgets. this year, schools will have to cover 75% of the cost. that means it would cost my school £35,000. will you continue with the national tutoring programme? i'm a huge advocate of the national tutoring programme. i think it's a really great incentive and it's had a big impact on the children in my school but, when it comes to september, it potentially crosses the tipping point where i can't quite afford it. so for that reason — specifically that reason — it's unlikely that i would be carrying on with the national tutoring programme. scotla nd scotland wales and northern ireland had their own catch—up supports. the government says millions of children have benefited from the national tutoring programme.

and, with exam season approaching, it hopes every eligible school will take advantage of the scheme. zamzama, owais and riha are focusing on their sats and they're feeling confident. i think it's changed my learning because i used to get low scores, but now i'm getting, like, really high scores. but many schools say accessing the support they need to help pupils to catch up has been a tough test. alix hattenstone, bbc news. more than half of low income households are missing out according to a new report by communications regulator ofcom. social tariffs are low—cost broadband deals offered to customers on benefits and cost between £10 and £20 a month. ofcom says millions of families could save around £200 a year by switching. the labour leader sir keir starmer has strongly defended his decision to suspend diane abbott as a labour mp pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism

to the observer newspaper. in it she suggested thatjewish, irish and traveller people had not faced the same kind of racism as black people. she later apologised for the her remarks. this is what sir keir starmer said this morning. what she wrote yesterday i utterly condemn, and i said we would tear out anti—semitism by its roots. i meant it, that's why we acted so swiftly yesterday. i think it's a mark of how far the labour party has changed that we acted so swiftly and we take it so seriously. but i condemn what she said. well, our political correspondent, ione wells, is at westminster for us now. what next? i think, what next? ithink, given what next? i think, given labour's recent past. _ what next? i think, given labour's recent past. any — what next? i think, given labour's recent past, any comments - what next? i think, given labour's recent past, any comments like i what next? i think, given labour's. recent past, any comments like this that appear to downplay the experiences ofjewish people are incredibly toxic for the party. remember that underjeremy corbyn's

leadership, concerns that anti—semitism is on the rise led to the equality and human rights commission finding out the party acted unlawfully. i think as we heard, sir keir starmer is keen to point to her suspension as an indication that the party has changed. when he was pressed three times earlier on whether her comments were anti—semitic, he eventually did say that he thought they were. he wasn't really drawn on whether or not he thought she should be allowed to stand again as a labour candidate in the next general election. remember, jeremy corbyn, who has also been suspended from the labour party, has been told he is not going to be able to stand as a labour candidate in the next general election. some groups like the left—wing group momentum, who backed jeremy corbyn, think that diane abbott should have the whip restored because she apologised swiftly after this letter was published. at the moment, though, that decision is pending the result of an investigation, which sir keir starmer says he wants to wait for. the time is 1:17. our top story this lunchtime... tributes to len goodman,

famous for his role as head judge on strictly come dancing, has died at the age of 78 coming up.... # happy birthday to you... we meet the former pilot celebrating his 105th birthday with a bonanza of birthday cards. coming up on bbc news, manchester united boss erik ten hag says he wants to ruin the dreams of a possible treble for rivals manchester city after sealing their place against them in the fa cup final with a penalty shoot—out win over brighton at wembley. a new opinion poll commissioned by bbc panorama suggests that less a third of 18—24 year olds want the monarchy to continue. the online poll carried out by yougov also found nearly half of those questioned from an ethnic minority background think the royals have a problem with race and diversity. panorama's jane corbin reports. as preparations gear up for the coronation,

crowds have turned out for a royal engagement in york. it's exciting, the atmosphere's lovely. i think they make a lovely couple, and i think they're very dignified. there's a small but noisy protest here, too. across the country, there are millions of people who want the monarchy abolished. they spend so much of our money on their lives, and their homes and their travel. we're basically wanting to raise awareness of the growing movement against the monarchy, and to object to the succession. panorama wanted to test attitudes to the monarchy, and commissioned an online poll from yougov. the poll of nearly 4,600 uk adults suggests 58% want the monarchy to continue, and 26% want an elected head of state instead. when yougov asked the same question injuly 2013 — a year after the queen's diamond jubilee — 75% of people polled said the monarchy should continue, and only 17% wanted an elected head of state.

for young people, decline in support appears starker. in the new poll, less than a third of 18—to—24—year—olds said the monarchy should continue — compared to 64% back in 2013. do you care about the monarchy, is it something you support? no. i wouldn't say i don't care, but i'd say it's not necessarily something that i'm invested in. i'd say i wasn't invested in it. the only person i know who does support the monarchy— is my gran, and she loves it. charles has a problem with gen 2. the future of the monarchy for charles and for william, and the popular support — which they need — is really in the balance when it comes to the younger people. but those who know the king say he can connect. he has an amazing ability to reach teenagers, which a lot of people don't have.

and i've literally been with him in prisons, in youth—offending institutes, injob centres, and he can make that connection. it is quite extraordinary. the poll also asked whether the royal family has a problem with race and diversity. it suggests nearly half of those from an ethnic—minority background think the royal family do — compared with a third of the population as a whole. tonight, for the first time, they tell their story. two years ago, in an interview with oprah winfrey, the duchess of sussex described remarks she claims were made by a royal about her unborn child. concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born. what?! the royal family denied any racism. no, we're very much not a racist family. i there's not a racist drop of blood in the king. ijust don't think it's a problem. it's made into a problem by those

who wish to make it a problem. buckingham palace says his majesty and the royal household treat all matters of race and diversity with great seriousness. times have changed since the last coronation 70 years ago. so will the king adapt the monarchy? if the monarchy is going to be the thing that makes britain great, it's going to have to redefine what it is for the 21st century, because it's... it's living off the position it had over the past few centuries. the monarchy has been part of the fabric of british life for hundreds of years. as it's done throughout the ages, the crown will have to adapt to survive. jane corbin, bbc news. you can find out more on panorama tonight at 8pm on bbc one and iplayer and the full details of the poll are on the bbc news website.

the re—trial of a tiktok influencer and her mother accused of murdering two men who died in a crash in leicestershire last year has begun. 23—year—old mahek bukhari and her mother are accused, along with six other defendants. all eight of them have pleaded not guilty. our midlands correspondent navteonhal is outside leicester crown court. mahek bukhari is a tiktok influence with millions of likes for her videos, some of which feature her mother, ansreen bukhari. the prosecution has been laying out to the court how an extramarital affair between mahek —— ansreen bukhari and another man led to what they called cold—blooded murder. 46—year—old ansreen bukhari had been having an affair with saqib hussein for about three years before she broke it off

in january last year. it's something her daughter was aware of. at the prosecution said he threatened to expose the affair by sending sexually explicit images of her to her husband and son, and attempting to blackmail her to persuade her to contact him. they allege that the damage that the revelation of the affair could have caused to mahek bukhari's standing as an influence was one of the motives for what followed. ajury was one of the motives for what followed. a jury was also played a harrowing 999 call of the hussein's last moments before he died in a car crash on the a46 in leicestershire. the vehicle was driven by his friend, hashim ijazuddin, and both men died on impact. mahek bukhari, ansreen bukhari and the six other defendants all deny murder. the retrial continues and is expected to last three months. health officials are warning that teenagers could be at risk of rare diseases after a drop—off in vaccinations during the covid pandemic.

the latest figures show 69% of 13 and 14—year—olds received a jab protecting against tetanus, diphtheria and polio — down 7% on the previous year. another vaccine, against meningitis, also saw a similar fall in uptake. parents are being urged to make sure young people are up to date with their vaccines before they leave school. the italian restaurant chain prezzo has said it will shut 46 restaurants which have been hit hard by soaring costs and changes to customer habits. the group said the closures, which will affect 810 workers, come after utility costs rocketed by more—than double. plans by the government to deport asylum seekers to rwanda will face legal scrutiny today at the court of appeal in london. proceedings have been brought by migrant charities and individuals from countries including iran, iraq and syria. our correspondent dominic casciani is at the high court.

that's right, sophie. at the heart of the case is what the united nations is telling the court of appeal behind me here, near fleet street in london. what we are hearing is, in effect, the accusation is that the government and the lower courts have so far completely ignore the united nations expertise on conditions in rwanda. the expert analysis that the country pub grub and will not treat people fairly, and in recent occasions has sent people back to countries where they are potentially at risk of harm, despite arriving seeking protection. one of the lawyers said that it protection. one of the lawyers said thatitis protection. one of the lawyers said that it is a one—party state, it imprisons, tortures and murders. the home secretary suella braverman, and her predecessor, and the prime minister rishi sunak, they say if you look at the deal in the round, the uk has put serious protections in place, and these are good enough to allow the scheme to go ahead to

send asylum seekers to the country. four days of hearings here, but three words hung over this, stop the boats. that is the prime minister's message. just this weekend, 500 more people arrived, and that shows the scale of the task still facing the government. scale of the task still facing the government-— now, when friends of a world war ii veteran were trying to think of a way to mark his 105th birthday, they decided to put out an appeal for 105 cards. and they got a few more than they expected. 4,000 cards — and counting — from all over the world have been delivered to ernest horsfall for his birthday. frances read joined him as he took a trip down memory lane to celebrate. that one's from somebody in the isle of lewis. "in your country's hour of need, you stood up." ernest may have had a birthday 105 times, but never like this. thousands of cards. the tally keeps rising. one from the king, one from the prime minister, but the rest from people around the world wanting to send their best wishes and wondering

what the secret is. the secret of living? there isn't one that i know of. you just live. my birthday didn't mean anything to me then or even now. you're making more fuss of it than i ever did. born in bradford in 1918 during world war i, he then served in london during the blitz before joining the allied campaign in north africa. archive: the axis forces - in the desert are in full retreat. there's no shadow of doubt about it, the enemy are on the run. and then it was on to italy to maintain tanks. later in life, he became a pilot. so where better to celebrate his birthday than blackpool airfield? met with a guard of honour by serving royal electrical and mechanical engineers. ernest served as one of them at raf lyneham all those years ago. it's fantastic because there's not many founder members left now. so, obviously, ernest is one of the oldest veterans

and he's our oldest founder member. # happy birthday to you! # and then a trip to the hangar to see one of the many, many planes ernest reconditioned. he flew until the age of 93, when companies would no longer insure him, and worked as a light aircraft inspector until the age of 103. i needed some engineering expertise for my aeroplane and somebody said, "you need to speak to ernie." he's a wealth of knowledge and, even now, if i've got a problem i don't quite understand, i'll ask ernest. here's one that you might recognise. it was terry who had the idea to make ernest's birthday one to remember. i started it with the aim of getting 105 cards. ernest doesn't have a whole host of friends. at his age, many of his friends — and he says, quite matter of factly — they're dead. so i thought if we get 105 cards, i'd be delighted. well, we had 500 in the first weekend and now we're over 4,000.

ok, ernest, this next one's from california in the usa. i would like to say thank you to everybody who's taken the notice — the time to write a letter. they are deeply appreciated. frances read, bbc news, blackpool. now, take a look at these stunning images of the northern lights captured by photographers in the uk. this image was taken on the caledonian canal near corpach in the highlands. these lights — known as the aurora borealis — were taken at morfa nefyn in north wales. and this was the spectacular scene in nearby anglesey. incredible images there. time for a look at the weather. here's stav da naos. a good chance of seeing them tonight, because the skies will be clear. it's going to be a cold night. we are in a cold spell now. a fairly short lived cold spell, but

it will be noticeable. in fact, showers falling across much of the north and