live from london. this is bbc news. in the past hour, the first british evacuation flight has left sudan. two more are expected to leave overnight according it comes as sudan's warring factions agree a 72 hour ceasefire that appears to be holding. joe biden confirms he will stand for a second term as us president setting up a potential rematch with donald trump. singing. and described as the king of calypso the legendary singer and campaigner harry belafonte dies aged 96.

welcome to bbc news. we start in sudan. the first british evacuation flight from sudan has departed and two more are expected overnight, prime minister rishi sunak�*s spokesperson has said. the spokesperson added that the government was examining alternative evacuation routes including looking at using the port of sudan. a shaky ceasefire is holding in the sudanese capital, khartoum, allowing civilians out on to the streets for the first time in days. some gunfire can still be heard, but both the sudanese army and the paramilitary rapid support forces appear to observing the three day truce brokered by the united states. unverified videos posted online show people walking through streets where almost every building has been damaged. many british nationals live in the east of khartoum the route to the airfield in the

north involves crossing the nile, with at least some of the bridges reported to be under the control of rival militia.

the engagement of the bird is in the fc is a hotspot for troubles. unfortunately, they are quite opposite, so they're still stuck there. while processes i have been put in place, it's not take into account that are eligibility of nationals that can't leave their current location to get to the evacuation point. the advice from the british government is evacuation point. the advice from the british government— the british government is that --eole the british government is that peeple have _ the british government is that peeple have to _ the british government is that people have to make - the british government is that people have to make their- the british government is that| people have to make their own the british government is that - people have to make their own way to the airfield. are you saying that is impossible for your grandparents to make that trip? it is

impossible for your grandparents to make that trip?— make that trip? it is extremely impossible- — make that trip? it is extremely impossible. i _ make that trip? it is extremely impossible. i have _ make that trip? it is extremely impossible. i have one - make that trip? it is extremely impossible. i have one uncle . make that trip? it is extremely l impossible. i have one uncle and make that trip? it is extremely - impossible. i have one uncle and one cousin in sudan who tried to make it to my grandparents�* house this morning and were shot at by unknown, whether it was melissa or rebel forces. we know that it is impossible for anyone to get to the street without being targeted. the only solution is for the british government to be effective with the process because i know nationals who cannot leave to get to the evacuation point.- cannot leave to get to the evacuation point. and if the government _ evacuation point. and if the government don't _ evacuation point. and if the government don't reassess| evacuation point. and if the - government don't reassess and this government don�*t reassess and this is the plan, because all of the dangers they are talking about, what happens if there is simply no change? they remained trapped, presumably. bud change? they remained trapped, presumably-—

change? they remained trapped, presumably. and they essentially starve and are _ presumably. and they essentially starve and are left _ presumably. and they essentially starve and are left with _ presumably. and they essentially starve and are left with no - presumably. and they essentially starve and are left with no otherl starve and are left with no other option than to see this end anytime soon, which clearly shouldn�*t be an option, whether they are at home or abroad. it is the british government�*s responsibility to make sure there nationals are safe. i do think the only option is to reassess. think the only option is to reassem— think the only option is to reassess. ., ., , , , reassess. so, all of this must be incredibly alarming _ reassess. so, all of this must be incredibly alarming for _ reassess. so, all of this must be incredibly alarming for you. - reassess. so, all of this must be i incredibly alarming for you. added to the fact there is no regular communication with your grandparents. not a single one of me or my family members have heard either of their voices for ten days now. it either of their voices for ten days now. , ., , either of their voices for ten days now. , ,., ,, ., now. it is a big progress that obviously — now. it is a big progress that obviously the _ now. it is a big progress that obviously the british - now. it is a big progress that obviously the british are - now. it is a big progress that - obviously the british are evacuating some of their nationals, i have some friends that were in khartoum that

are now obviously getting helped but what about the elderly, what about the other nationals that physically cannot leave their location. just the other nationals that physically cannot leave their location.- cannot leave their location. just a finalthought _ cannot leave their location. just a final thought because _ cannot leave their location. just a final thought because we - cannot leave their location. just a final thought because we have . cannot leave their location. just a final thought because we have had military figures on this programme who have overseen operations like this and they have made the point that actually we are looking at around potentially 4000 britons who are in sudan, that it is impractical and just logistically too difficult, too risky to actually try to find and extract those people. that is why this decision that is for people to make their own way to the airport has become the strategy. you to make their own way to the airport has become the strategy.— has become the strategy. you don't acce -t that has become the strategy. you don't accept that clearly. _ has become the strategy. you don't accept that clearly. understandably| accept that clearly. understandably but i have two points to make first of all the supposed cease—fire that the british help put into place. if they do believe that the cease—fire is panning out the way that they wanted to why is it unsafe for one

vehicle with security from the british embassy to go and pick up one elderly couple that are british nationals is my first point. my second point being as unsafe as it is what are the other options? are they just is what are the other options? are theyjust going to be left behind to fend for themselves until this is over? if it will be over anytime soon, no one knows. so have no other option than to plead with them, to please reassess the current process. we will leave it there, thank you so much for talking with us, yasmin. and making that plea for reassessment of the strategy as b have learned that the first of those flights has departed from khartoum with more flights to follow a leader in the day. so we will continue to monitor that situation and we will get more voices both on the ground in the families here like yasmin

there. but many residents of khartoum are already fleeing north towards egypt to try to make their escapes. i was soon day is an egyptian settlement close to the border and that is where our correspondent sent us this update. the store you just heard there is the experience that many people have had. ,, , ., ., ., , ., had. she is among thousands that have made _ had. she is among thousands that have made that _ had. she is among thousands that have made that extremely - had. she is among thousands that - have made that extremely treacherous and dangerous journey around have made that extremely treacherous and dangerousjourney around 600 miles north from khartoum here to the border of egypt. the main crossing is around 20 miles south of here. this is as far as we can get. as close as we can get for the time being. but we are hearing about extremely dangerous journeys in that moment starts in khartoum as he heard that. i spoke to one refugee here who said as soon as they left their homes they saw in his words, death in front of them with bodies everywhere. then it is sticking days for many people to reach this point. most of them are sudanese nationals,

most are being allowed across but the egyptian authorities, these are free to ask us for the elderly, women and children. some men are actually turned back to be processed further in the main cityjust south of the border in sudan. so it is an extremely difficult and unpredictable situation and we also know that there are some british national still trying to make their way to cross at this point. that was tom bateman _ way to cross at this point. that was tom bateman we _ way to cross at this point. that was tom bateman we will _ way to cross at this point. that was tom bateman we will continue - tom bateman we will continue to monitor the situation they�*re in sudan and across and around the borders and bring you any update as it comes into us. but let us turn to another important story that we have learned of the course of the last few hours. a court in london has heard claims that the prince of wales has settled a claim against a media organisation for hacking his phone forwards described as a very large sum. the details were made public during a hearing brought by his brother prince harry

news group newspapers an organisation controlled by rupert murdoch for phone hacking. i spoke to our corresspondent sean coughlan for the latest. yes it is another bombshell from prince harry and he is in court again in his battle with the tabloid press. it isa it is a claim about hacking. this isn�*t a trial as such, it is a hearing about whether it will go to trial. the newspaper group is trying to strike it out before it reaches trial. as part of court papers, we have discovered the claim that the prince of wales, prince william, has reached a settlement for a large sum with news group newspapers. that came as a surprise to most people. we don�*t know the terms of the deal. we know it was in 2020 and it has not been confirmed that the prince of wales�* team have said they won�*t comment on an ongoing legal case. but it is a striking claim. you were saying there that it revolves around

whether the whole case should be struck down. in terms of arguments around that, take me through it. that�*s right, the news group newspaper claim is the case should have been brought long ago and it is out of time. prips harry�*s team said they acted when they had the information. part of that is the claim there was a confidential secret agreement between palace officials and the newspaper group, in which royals weren�*t going to be asked to give evidence. that suggestion was that any royal cases would only come at the end of the settlement of other hacking claims. so prince harry claims it is not out of time and this secret agreement he claims means it is still current. what happens next is up to the judge. but it is another another dramatic moment in his battle with the press.

we will get the latest onjoe biden�*s second tilt for the white house on the programme in a moment or two. around the world and across the uk you are watching bbc news. well, it�*s just gone 3 a.m. and i�*ve managed to get an hour and a half in, which isn�*t bad for me, but i�*m looking as rough as a bag of sponges. daniel has struggled to get to sleep for nearly a decade. but the problem isn�*tjust about how long it takes him to drift off when he hits the pillow. you know, getting to sleep isn�*t the issue. but i could be awake again within an hour, and that could be for any reason. it could be a knock at the door. it could be a dog barking, it could be someone walking past. and that�*s me again for the day then. it�*s not a case of going back to sleep because that�*s just not possible.

in a 24 hour period, what how much sleep roughly are you getting? probably 2 hours. 2 hours? sometimes i�*m lucky to get three. and i think sleep deprivation is a massive issue. i think it has health implications. i think has working life implications, relationships especially, you know, and it needs addressing. you�*re live with bbc news. as promised let�*s turn our attentions to washington. president biden has announced he�*s running for a second term in office next year. confirming the news in a video message focusing on protecting personal freedoms, he drew a clear line between his party and members of the republican party who he called "extremists". mr biden also said that kamala harris, his current deputy, will be running for another term as vice president. it all comes four years to the day since he first announced he was running for the white house at the last election. let�*s speak to a former ambassador

to washington, uk ambassador. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. for your headline thoughts?— bbc news. for your headline thou~hts? , , , , . ., thoughts? this is been expected for sometime. — thoughts? this is been expected for sometime. he _ thoughts? this is been expected for some time, he has _ thoughts? this is been expected for some time, he has been _ thoughts? this is been expected for some time, he has been signalling l some time, he has been signalling for some time that he intends to run again and he is now announced it. and it is striking to me that he has already announced kamala harris who has had a mixed record as his running mate, she brings in the african—american vote. so in a way it is where we expected it to be for a while. of course he has to win the nomination, but incumbent presidents almost always win the nomination for almost always win the nomination for a second term so i doubt, may be a couple of fridge candidates against them. of course it is possible that we could face a rerun of 2020. far from certain, donald trump�*s legal problems are mounting and there is a

lot more to come. currently, he is in terms of the bowls, the front runner of the republican side, which suggest there is an awful long way to go. suggest there is an awful long way to no. ., ., ., , suggest there is an awful long way to no. . ., . , ., to go. internationally, how important _ to go. internationally, how important have _ to go. internationally, how important have the - to go. internationally, how important have the last - to go. internationally, howl important have the last four to go. internationally, how- important have the last four years beenin important have the last four years been in terms of restoring amongst allies a notion that the us is trusted, reliable, a partner, given what went before.— trusted, reliable, a partner, given what went before. there has been a massive research _ what went before. there has been a massive research and _ what went before. there has been a massive research and normality - what went before. there has been a massive research and normality has| massive research and normality has returned and biden, i think has had a good record in terms of supporting nato and nato is so for having quite a good war in ukraine. and he has stabilised europe — us relations and he is taking quite an aggressive line topic and so he is someone europeans are much more comfortable than trump. certainly for europeans

he has been a much, much more comfortable president. the he has been a much, much more comfortable president.— he has been a much, much more comfortable president. the us like so many countries, _ comfortable president. the us like so many countries, international. comfortable president. the us like i so many countries, international and foreign policy is one thing, but quite often it is the domestic agenda that dominates things like the cost of living and that is undoubtably going to be the big player here. flit undoubtably going to be the big player here-— undoubtably going to be the big -la erhere. , ., , player here. of course. the economy is alwa s player here. of course. the economy is always the — player here. of course. the economy is always the biggest _ player here. of course. the economy is always the biggest issue. - player here. of course. the economy is always the biggest issue. biden i is always the biggest issue. biden has had a consequentialfirst is always the biggest issue. biden has had a consequential first term in terms of getting legislation through. three big spending bills amounting to something like $4 trillion pumped into the american economy. 0ne trillion pumped into the american economy. one would expect that to make some impact around the country, people with the evidence of that money being spent, but equally he has had as a consequent of the ukraine war high energy prices, at the pump, and highfood ukraine war high energy prices, at the pump, and high food prices and

that will and has been hurting him. his personal approval ratings have basically been around 40—45% to much for his presidency, but he has got all of the best midterm election outcomes of any recent democratic president. betterthan outcomes of any recent democratic president. better than 0bama first term, betterthan president. better than 0bama first term, better than clinton. president. better than 0bama first term, betterthan clinton. so president. better than 0bama first term, better than clinton. so he must be doing something right. you soke must be doing something right. you spoke about the potential for biden — trump rematch and you make the correct point that we are still away from that being the case, but if were the case and if donald trump were the case and if donald trump were to win in your view, given what you have seen first—hand, what you think the consequences would be? i think the consequences would be? i think very are already people around europe notably paris, who are saying that america cannot be seen as the reliable partner that can be guaranteed in the future while trump

is still a big figure on the political stage. so if trump were to win, and that is a big ask for him, he lost in 2020 and since then he has had of january investigation on the capital and all of these court cases mounting so it is hard to see why people who did not vote in 2020 would do so in 2024, but if you did when it would be a shock wave around europe to clearly around the world and trump was the man who said he thought nato was a scam under which they got americans to pay for the defence so it would be a real shock wave for nato especially for the ukraine war is still running in 2024. �* ., ., ., , 2024. blot to leave it there but thank you _ 2024. blot to leave it there but thank you so — 2024. blot to leave it there but thank you so much _ 2024. blot to leave it there but thank you so much for- 2024. blot to leave it there but thank you so much for your - 2024. blot to leave it there but l thank you so much for your time. let�*s speak to allan lichtman, professor of history at american university who�*s accurately predicted the winner

thank you so much for being here with us. your assessment of what the democrats are doing here? biden had to announce — democrats are doing here? biden had to announce up _ democrats are doing here? biden had to announce up around _ democrats are doing here? biden had to announce up around this _ democrats are doing here? biden had to announce up around this time. - to announce up around this time. this is around the same time barack 0bama announced his reelection. and ljy 0bama announced his reelection. and by making this announcement he pretty much clears the democratic field of any series challenge, he also achieves the ability to fund raise for his reelection. and there is a lot of talk that democrats really do not want biden to run again, he may be too old. but the truth is that democrats really only chance to win is through a bite in kennedy see. i have a prediction system, the 13 keys to the white house. that has been right since 1984. in the way it works, these are true false questions that probe the strength and performance of the white house party and if the white

house party, now democrats, lose six or more keys they are predicted losers but look what happens with a bite run. they secure the incompetency keys and the party fight key because he is clearing the field. that means they would need to drop six more keys to be predicted losers. but if he does not run they losers. but if he does not run they lose the incompetency key, they lose the party battle key because there is no heir apparent, they loose tea —— two keys off of the top and they only have to lose for more keys to be predicted losers. forget the bowls right now, polls are eight years and a half out of the election have absolutely no predictive value will stop —— one and a half year. bush was trailing, the democrat was

ahead and he went on to win. 50 ahead and he went on to win. so interesting on what you were saying on what the polls are predicting at the moment and over the course of last 18 months because you made the point and we made it, and you have predicted it correctly each election since 1984 senghor markers are completely different. mentioned 13 different markers. as there a current assessment, as we stand now talking to each other, how many of those markers are injoe biden�*s favour are you able to say? it�*s favour are you able to say? it's hard to say. — favour are you able to say? it�*s hard to say, obviously the sitting president key, the party battle key, i think he has achieved a major policy change from the trump administration. that is another key in his favour. he has avoided any significant scandal, compare him to donald trump, it is night and day. the nation has not been wracked with social unrest. so there are a lot of keysin social unrest. so there are a lot of keys in his favour. donald trump is

not a ronald reagan who has broadly charismatic, we talked about the reagan democrats which were real —— real. donald trump�*s appeal is very narrow to a relatively small base but there are still keys that are up for grabs, the long—term and short—term economy. we do not know where the economy is going in the next 18 months. there are major foreign policy challenges in ukraine in the far east and sedan. so there are still quite a number of keys that are get to be decided. but things would have to be pretty badly over the next 18 months for biden to lose. but that could happen, we saw that with trump in 2020. everything went wrong for donald trump. he had the pandemic, his response was completely botched. that led to a recession which cost him the election year economy key and the long—term economy key. it�*s election year economy key and the long-term economy key.— election year economy key and the long-term economy key. it's like to talk to you. — long-term economy key. it's like to talk to you, thank _ long-term economy key. it's like to talk to you, thank you _ long-term economy key. it's like to talk to you, thank you so _ long-term economy key. it's like to talk to you, thank you so much - long-term economy key. it's like to talk to you, thank you so much for. talk to you, thank you so much for being here on the programme and just

explaining how you make these pretty accurate predictions. think you so much for your time. accurate predictions. think you so much foryourtime. plenty accurate predictions. think you so much for your time. plenty more on that story through the course of the next little while but i want to break away from that to bring you another important story,. the singer and civil rights campaigner harry belafonte has died at the age of 96. here�*s harry belafonte was called the king of calypso. he was born in new york — but his sound was caribbean. from the calypso of trinidad to the folk songs of his childhood home, jamaica.

he was — for so many — a musical reminder of a place they had left behind. he had returned to america as a teenager and set his heart on becoming an actor. but it was his voice — singing in the clubs of new york that caught attention. sold over a million copies of a single album. carmenjones — with its all black cast — gave him a lead role in a film — he won awards for his stage and tv work. but this was also an era of political struggle. inspired by his hero paul robeson, he was at the heart of the battle for civil rights — shoulder to shoulder with martin luther king.

doctor king had requested that i organised as many artists as available to come down and perform tonight and to participate tomorrow in the march. i tonight and to participate tomorrow in the march-— in the march. i was blacklisted and called a communist _ in the march. i was blacklisted and called a communist and _ in the march. i was blacklisted and called a communist and for- in the march. i was blacklisted and called a communist and for a - called a communist and for a long time i cannot work. over the years he continued to campaign. he worked for unicef. he organised usa for africa. he spoke out against apartheid. we are here today in the name of black power. no wonder spike lee chose harry belafonte to be the elder statesman of the political struggle in his film, blachklansman. harry belafonte was he said — first and foremost an activist — who became an artist. but what a singer, he was.

david sillito looking back at the life of harry belafonte, who has died, age 96. hello there. it�*s been a very cold and frosty start for many of us, but dry with plenty of sunshine around away from the north of scotland, which has seen wintry showers. as we move through the second half of today it will remain quite chilly and it looks like the blue skies will be replaced by quite a lot of cloud. this cloud infilling across many areas. there will still be some sunny spells around, but it could be quite chilly and grey for some. we�*ll continue to see showers peppering northern and eastern scotland, eastern parts of england. these will be wintry, certainly over the high ground across scotland. temperature—wise, after that cold start, i think generally 7—11 or 12 degrees in the warmest spots in the south. as we move through tonight, it looks like many places will stay dry. a few wintry showers continuing across northern scotland, the northern isles. we�*ll see thicker cloud rolling into central and southern

and western areas bringing some spots of light rain, so here less cold than it was the previous night, but still another cold night to come in northern england and certainly across scotland under the clear skies. temperatures below minus—five celsius in a few spots. so another cold, frosty start across northern scotland for wednesday. sunny spells, a few wintry showers continuing, but elsewhere it�*s less cold. there will be more cloud around, limited sunshine, a few spots of rain here and there, as well. again, temperatures range around seven to perhaps 12 degrees across more southern areas. but then we start to see some changes taking place as we move out of wednesday into thursday. this low pressure system with its weather fronts working its way in across the country brings thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain. more crucially, it�*s going to change the feel of the weather as milder air starts to push northwards across many areas, but still you can see northern scotland in the blue colours there. with weather fronts pushing into the cold air, we could see a spell of rain, sleet and snow, certainly over the mountains through thursday across scotland. further south, more weather fronts pushing in, bringing showery bursts of rain, some of which will be quite heavy

in places later in the day. but those temperatures rising generally in the south, where we�*re up to 13 to 15 degrees. still another cold day, though, for northern scotland. as we move into friday that heavy rain clears into the near continent. then it�*s a day of rather cloudy weather, benign weather, i think, with one or two spots of rain or showers around. very mild airfor england, wales and also northern ireland. we�*re up to the mid—teens there, perhaps 16 degrees. still cold for northern scotland. it turns milder still into the weekend, but it�*s quite a mixed picture. quite a lot of cloud around. some heavy showers perhaps on saturday. given some sunshine, it will feel very mild indeed.

this is bbc news. 0ur made headlines. in the past hour, the first british evacuation flight has left sudan. the uk prime minister said there will be many more flights of evacuating british nationals from sudan into tomorrow. it comes out sudan�*s warring factions continue a 72 hour cease—fire. joe biden confirms he will stand for a second term as us president, setting up a potential rematch with donald trump. # 0h, island in the sun... the legendary _ # 0h, island in the sun... the legendary singer— # 0h, island in the sun... the legendary singerand # 0h, island in the sun... the

legendary singer and campaigner harry belafonte died at the