live from london, this is bbc news. the evacution of thousands of foreign nationals from sudan continues, as the 72—hour ceasefire appears to be holding. us officials claim the taliban have killed the is leader behind the kabul airport bombing. we have a special report from ukraine, where kyiv is ramping up the home—grown production of drones to meet the huge demand from the front line. and the british singer ed sheeran appears in a new york court to deny that one his most popular songs copied marvin gaye's let's get it on.

hello. i'm victoria valentine. the un has said a 72—hour ceasefire between the sudanese army and a rival paramilitary group appears to be holding in some parts of the country. thousands of foreign nationals are still trying to get out of the country, with numerous governments organising evacuations of their citizens. this is the first uk evacuation flight landed in larnaca in cyprus with 39 people on board. another flight has landed in the last couple of hours. as thousands flee, residents in the capital khartoum have spoken of theirfears the world is abandoning them, with supplies of food, water and medicine running low. nearly all the shops in the city have closed. and residents say prices of even the most basic goods have doubled. live now to nairobi and our correspondent ferdinand omondi.

the british prime minister has warned of a critical 2a hours as evacuation flights leave sudan. a temporary and shaky truce appears to be holding. what do we know of movement of troops and fighting during this ceasefire? so what i am gathering from sudan as both sides are trying their best to hold the ceasefire, but we also understand from the sudanese people that there is been sporadic fighting in some of the areas. sporadic fighting in some of the arm-— sporadic fighting in some of the areas. ~ . , ., ,, ., the areas. what is happening at this time is _ the areas. what is happening at this time is people _ the areas. what is happening at this time is people are - the areas. what is happening at this time is people are taking i this time is people are taking advantage of the short window through which they can move their citizens out, as invention, we have countries like uk which are evacuating their nationals. we have countries like nigeria which i depending on other countries, and since it's impossible to get everybody to the airport, we also have some people who

have chosen to take it upon themselves to move to safety areas. thousands of people are moving south towards south sudan and others are going west towards chard. others are going north towards egypt and others making a 12 hourjourney to port sudan where they can travel by sea to our towards jeddah, saudi arabia. how easy is it as a journalist covering this story from kenya to know with certainty what is happening inside sudan? it is not very easy because for a lot of the time there is been disconnection because there is a lack of power and wi—fi, so it's difficult to get information out, but thankfully we have people there that we know, some are our friends who were considered to have been giving us information. we have bbcjournalists in the time that they are able to be safe can send us information there.

we largely depend on statements from organisations like the other nations and also humanitarian organisations which are there that keep on giving information from time to time. sudan by nature before the crisis is a country that did not really support press freedom as much so it is a lot of extra effort and constantly looking at social media to get updates, making phone calls, sending whatsapp misters to get accurate information. it’s sending whatsapp misters to get accurate information.— accurate information. it's a challenge _ accurate information. it's a challenge but _ accurate information. it's a challenge but we _ accurate information. it's a challenge but we are - accurate information. it's a i challenge but we are trying accurate information. it's a - challenge but we are trying our best. you mentioned the united nations who talked recently about the chances of a negotiation. is there any sign that these two sides are in a position to negotiate and willing to negotiate at this stage? that willing to negotiate at this state? �* , ,., willing to negotiate at this state? �* , willing to negotiate at this state? , stage? at this point we can say negotiation _ stage? at this point we can say negotiation is _ stage? at this point we can say negotiation is really _ stage? at this point we can say negotiation is really out - stage? at this point we can say negotiation is really out of - negotiation is really out of the table. i ceasefire itself was very difficult to get. there had been at least four attempts before now that appears to be holding, and even that if you look at the social media statements that both sides of the military are

spewing out against each other, they acknowledge other terrorists as recently as six hours ago, accusing the military of attacking prisons that they could release omar al—bashir ausmat whereabouts right now is not known, the former president of saddam, who they both asked that 2019, and they both asked that 2019, and the training that accusations and college other terrorists. it is because of international pressure that they have put up the ceasefire and let the foreign nationals out and the diplomats, and when all this is done, it'll be very important to what how the behaviour is when it's just sudanese people left there to be vulnerable at the hands of the two people who are intent on staying at the top but the risk of thousands of lives. ., ~ , of lives. ferdinand mundy, in nairobi, thank— of lives. ferdinand mundy, in nairobi, thank you _ of lives. ferdinand mundy, in nairobi, thank you for - of lives. ferdinand mundy, in nairobi, thank you for your i nairobi, thank you for your time.

around 250 people, most of whom are french nationals, have left djibouti after being rescued from sudan. the group were some of the first to be evacuated by french forces last week in the midst of fighting in the capital khartoum. the bbc�*s africa correspondent, catherine byaruhanga, sent this report from djibouti. speaking to some of the people who are able to board the flight tonight, there is a real feeling of relief at being able to go back home. it feeling of relief at being able to go back home.— feeling of relief at being able to go back home. it feels very relievin: to go back home. it feels very relieving and _ to go back home. it feels very relieving and there _ to go back home. it feels very relieving and there is - to go back home. it feels very relieving and there is not - relieving and there is not untied in my stomach. i'm glad for this opportunity that not everyone has and i recognised how privileged we are.- everyone has and i recognised how privileged we are. when the fi . htin: how privileged we are. when the fighting started _ how privileged we are. when the fighting started we _ how privileged we are. when the fighting started we were - how privileged we are. when the fighting started we were in - how privileged we are. when the fighting started we were in a - fighting started we were in a swimming pool in the hotel. and thate— swimming pool in the hotel. and that's the — swimming pool in the hotel. and that's the reason why we don't have _ that's the reason why we don't have anything with us because then_ have anything with us because then we — have anything with us because then we got stuck in the hotel and we — then we got stuck in the hotel and we couldn't get out. the hardest part _ and we couldn't get out. the hardest part was _ and we couldn't get out. the hardest part was to - and we couldn't get out. the hardest part was to keep the chiidren's_ hardest part was to keep the children's mood _ hardest part was to keep the children's mood in _ hardest part was to keep the children's mood in a - hardest part was to keep the children's mood in a good i hardest part was to keep the i children's mood in a good mood and as_ children's mood in a good mood and as long _ children's mood in a good mood and as long as_ children's mood in a good mood and as long as we _ children's mood in a good mood and as long as we did _ children's mood in a good mood and as long as we did not - children's mood in a good mood and as long as we did not showl and as long as we did not show them _ and as long as we did not show them fair, _ and as long as we did not show them fair, it— and as long as we did not show them fair, it would _ and as long as we did not show them fair, it would not- and as long as we did not show

them fair, it would not be - them fair, it would not be reflected _ them fair, it would not be reflected on— them fair, it would not be reflected on them. - them fair, it would not be reflected on them.- them fair, it would not be reflected on them. some of the families have _ reflected on them. some of the families have small— reflected on them. some of the families have small children - families have small children and they also had to sit through days of fighting in khartoum, but their thoughts are also with the people in sudan who still aren't able to find safety. sudan who still aren't able to find safety-— find safety. our heart is with --eole find safety. our heart is with peeple there _ find safety. our heart is with people there and _ find safety. our heart is with people there and i _ find safety. our heart is with people there and i hope - find safety. our heart is with j people there and i hope they find a solution that this will and soon and will return back to our country.— and soon and will return back to our country. the people on this flight _ to our country. the people on this flight had — to our country. the people on this flight had to _ to our country. the people on this flight had to go _ to our country. the people on this flight had to go through l this flight had to go through days of fighting in the capital of sudan. they were unable gather, get onto buses that took them to airfield and onto french military plans that brought them here to djibouti, which has become a hub of activity for european and american forces trying to get their citizens out of sudan. just over the horizon there is an american military base and

we understand that dozens of diplomats were brought here over the weekend from sudan. the british government has not ruled out using some of their allies bases as they carry out large—scale evaluations of the citizens in sudan. the islamic state mastermind, believed to have been responsible for the 2021 bombing that killed dozens at kabul�*s airport, has been killed by the taliban. 70 civilians and 13 american troops were killed when a bomber detonated his device among packed crowds as people tried to flee afghanistan in august 2021. the officials did not reveal the name of the man who was the leader of an islamic state cell. they said the leader died weeks ago, but it took time to confirm his death. sethjones is senior vice president of the centre for strategic and international studies and he's been telling us the details about the killing are still pretty vague.

we don't know exactly the specifics around how this individual within the islamic state khorasan was killed. i think the data that has come out of the un security council reports on afghanistan as well as the leaked documents, what they indicate is that there is significant terrorism going on within afghanistan, so i think what we can say is that while the taliban controls the government in kabul, that afghanistan has a very concerning terrorism problem. this case was the taliban effectively conducting an attack against islamic khorasan but don't think it tells us that the situation is under control. seth jones. us presidentjoe biden has formally announced he'll run for re—election in 2024, setting the stage for us presidentjoe biden has formally announced he'll run

for re—election in 2024, setting the stage for a potential rematch with donald trump. at 80 years old, mr biden is already the oldest president in us history, but in a video released on tuesday, he told voters he wanted to finish what he started. the question we are facing is whether, in the years ahead, we have more freedom or less freedom. more rights or fewer. i know what i want and i think you do to. this is not a time to be complacent. that's why i'm running for re—election. our north america correspondent anthony zurcher has been analysing that announcement. that's why i'm running for election. that's why i'm running for election-— that's why i'm running for election. joe biden set the tone for— election. joe biden set the tone for the _ election. joe biden set the tone for the 2024 - election. joe biden set the tone for the 2024 for - election. joe biden set the i tone for the 2024 for election campaign with a slickly produced video, starting with not pathfinder look back injoe biden's first term in i dire warning of conflict and division, featuring january the six writers, abortion protesters and conservatives. biden pits himself as a defender of personal freedom. that something of in the past

have claimed he threatens. around the country extremists are lining up to take our most federal freedoms. pre-election campaigns _ federal freedoms. pre-election campaigns usually _ federal freedoms. pre-election campaigns usually focuses - federal freedoms. pre-election campaigns usually focuses on l campaigns usually focuses on the person trying to stay in office about the biden team is trying to make it about opposition. i trying to make it about opposition.— trying to make it about o- osition. opposition. i said we battle for the soul _ opposition. i said we battle for the soul of _ opposition. i said we battle for the soul of america - opposition. i said we battle for the soul of america and opposition. i said we battle . for the soul of america and we still are. ., still are. the video presents the 18-year-old _ still are. the video presents the 18-year-old biden - still are. the video presents the 18-year-old biden as i the 18—year—old biden as energetic and make a nod to his folksy charm and concludes with a montage of ordinary americans, the kinda diverse coalition joe americans, the kinda diverse coalitionjoe biden will need to rally to when real action. —— when the real action. a poll conducted by cbs news, released shortly after mr biden's announcement, put the president's approval rating at 41% — that's roughly where it's been hovering for the last 18 months, but down by 20 points from when he started as president in 2021. nicole hemmer is a presidential historian. earlier, she was asked by the bbc whether joe biden's age might affect voter's opinions.

voters may say we wish we had another candidate but when it comes to the general election particularly if donald trump is a republican candidate, that's not how owners will approach the 2024 election. they will ask democrats will be asking who can best defeat donald trump and the country will be asking to what we had over the past few years or return to the chaos of the trump years? age matters but i don't think it'll be the primary thing that voters are thinking about into the booth. staying in the us — and president biden and the south korean president yoon suk—yeol are due to hold talks later today against a backdrop of growing tension in southeast asia. mr yoon, who's on a six—day tour of the us, has already had meetings with vice president kamala harris. live now to seoul and our correspondentjean mackenzie. how important is this relationship to the two leaders?

i hope you can hear me. i know you are in a very busy street. i was asking the question, how important is this relationship to the two leaders? i think we may have lost her. if we can, we will go back tojean and talk to her about that. that story, the meeting between biden and the south korean president, a pretty important one between the two nations. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

for dame sharon white as chair of thejohn lewis partnership. she's normally focused on profit, but at this blood donation centre in stratford, the focus was on giving blood and the pressing need for more black donors. i'm so happy. it's been a long time since i last gave blood 20 years ago and ijust feel really happy and very lucky. sickle cell anaemia is the fastest growing genetic condition in the uk and far more prevalent in black people. over the last five years the numbers of blood donations needed to treat it has increased by 66%. i'm here giving blood. this is your first time, is it? it is. lord simon woolley, the principal of hamilton college in cambridge and founder of operation black boat, was also donating. and the two hope that their example will lead to others doing the same. and black donors are particularly important because the ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment and the blood of these two well—known donors will be ready to use within hours. around the world and across the

uk, this is bbc news. let's talk about what's going on in singapore because singapore has executed a 46—year—old convicted drug trafficker. this found guilty _ convicted drug trafficker. this found guilty of— tangaraju suppiah was found guilty of trafficking a single a single kilogramme of cannabis five years ago. campaigners had been hoping that he would be given a reprieve at the last minute. live now to singapore and our reporter, katie silver. singapore has some of the world's toughest anti—drug laws — the death penalty for drug trafficking and lesser penalties for couriers. he was not found with drugs on his person. is the country at odds with drug sentencing across the region? this is really reigniting the debate about the mandatory sentencing that occurs for drug trafficking. with this case the man was executed earlier this morning at changi prison on the east of the island, found guilty in 2018 of trafficking or being part of an operation to traffic one kilo of cannabis

from malaysia into singapore, malaysia being the northern neighbour to singapore, despite last—minute appeals of clemency that went as high as the promised we saw the execution take place, some background around case and criticisms above, activists and family say the evidence was very weak it relied on mobile phone data and records and authorities found there were two mobile phones linked to him, that put him as being somebody co—ordinating this operation, he was never found her touched the cannabis or being caught at the scene of the crime. he denied it and said one of phones wasn't his and he lost the other, also questions about his access to legal support during the trial as well as an interpreter that he needed a tamil interpreter which the family said he wasn't provided adequate access to, therefore it wasn't a fair

trial. singapore said there was due process involved, it has been heavily criticised from activists, as well as the family members, the united states —— united nations says the death penalty should only be used in the most serious and drug cases don't count with this, they called on the government to halt this execution, we heard from human rights watch raising objections that was far from clear—cut city they never caught the man in question and he was questioned without a lawyer and denied access to a tamil interpreter when asked for one. a lot of criticism levelled based on this case. plenty more available on _ based on this case. plenty more available on that _ based on this case. plenty more available on that story - based on this case. plenty more available on that story on - based on this case. plenty more available on that story on our i available on that story on our website. we can cross back to seoul website. we can cross back to seoui, the story aboutjoe biden and the south korean president holding talks today. quite a lot of tension in

growing in southeast asia, how important is this relationship between the two sides, between the us and south korea? this relationship — the us and south korea? this relationship is _ the us and south korea? t�*i 3 relationship is extremely important and yoon suk yeol is getting the red carpet in washington, only the second person to get a state visit under his tenure and they are spending two days together holding formal talks today then yoon suk yeol will address congress tomorrow. is the first south korean president to be afforded this opportunity in a decade, why such a warm welcome? these countries are very linked, they have a military alliance that has been in place for 70 years, this year, that of —— that is part of what they are celebrating today, the alliance was formed after the korean war which they fought together, an alliance they both say is forged with blood, and this relationship is extremely important for the united states, they wanted to be as strong as possible

because the us strategy for countering china is to build up its alliances for asia, and at the moment the us is responsible for the south korean defence so you have tens of thousands of us troops stationed here, what the us gets in return is a military foothold in asia. you get some sense of how important these sides are to each other. gene, what has _ sides are to each other. gene, what has south _ sides are to each other. gene, what has south korea - sides are to each other. gene, what has south korea said - sides are to each other. gene, what has south korea said in l what has south korea said in terms of what it would like to see by way of defence commitments from the us? this is the big thing _ commitments from the us? t�*u 3 is the big thing that south korea has gone to the us asking for. at the moment south korea is becoming increasingly anxious about north korea which is making rapid progress with nuclear weapons, and that is causing some anxiousness here. they are causing people to question whether the united states would defend south korea north korea was to attack it using nuclear weapons that fear has led to some people wanting south korea to build its own nuclear weapons. yoon suk yeol

has said he wants to leave washington with tangible, concrete commitments from mr biden that proved the us is committed to south korea's defence, we are waiting to see what mr biden is willing to offer and whether that's going to be enough to satisfy people here in south korea. has to be enough to satisfy people here in south korea.— here in south korea. as the united states _ here in south korea. as the united states looking - here in south korea. as the united states looking to - here in south korea. as the i united states looking to exert its influence over south korea when it comes to supplying weapons to ukraine? certainly that is something _ weapons to ukraine? certainly that is something washington | that is something washington wants and return from seoui, it has been asking for a long time for south korea to supply the ukraine with weapons but they haven't been willing to do that because of its policy to not supply countries in conflict but also it is fearful of russian retaliation. the president has given some indication he is softening his position and he might be prepared for south korea to supply weapons to ukraine russia were to commit a

large—scale civilian attack. and official from the south korean government said this wasn't officially on the agenda for the meeting but i would be extremely surprised if the two sides don't talk about this and there isn't some kind of commitment made behind—the—scenes, we saw a couple of weeks ago and that leak of pentagon documents that south korean officials here was so worried aboutjoe biden calling yoon suk yeol to put pressure on this because they knew it would put yoon suk yeol in a different —— difficult situation, it would seem a mess if the us president didn't take the opportunity to raise this with yoon suk yeol directly. ukraine says it's ramping up the home—grown production of drones, as it struggles to cope with the demand for the technology on the front line. the country has so far purchased more than 3,000 drones as part of its drone army campaign collecting donations from around the world. hundreds have been posted directly by the public, as military leaders say even small hobby drones are giving them a rare competitive edge over russia. our cyber correspondent, joe tidy, went to ukraine and sent this report.

on the outskirts of kyiv the latest group of drone pilots are being trained for the frontline. the location has been kept a secret but this instructor is teaching recruits how to use the small drones to spot signs of enemy troops and guide artillery attacks. this man has —— she has nearly finished her training stop. this is her new prograde in action and back mood, the drone used to help the military this relatively cheap drone has

become a major tool of the war for both sides, so much its chinese manufacturer band sales to ukraine and russia last year but still thousands blood to the frontline. and a demand for drones are so great ukraine has upped its own manufacturing, recently relaxing import laws to speed up production lines. it has also launched design competitions like this one all paid forfrom a competitions like this one all paid for from a successful public campaign.- paid for from a successful public campaign. these are not like in the _ public campaign. these are not like in the movies, _ public campaign. these are not like in the movies, there - public campaign. these are not like in the movies, there are i like in the movies, there are no superheroes wearing capes, jedi knights. no superheroes wearing capes, jedi knights-— jedi knights. backed by celebrities _ jedi knights. backed by celebrities like - jedi knights. backed by celebrities like star - jedi knights. backed by. celebrities like star wars actor mark hamill it has raised $108 million in this last summer. three and half thousand donors have been acquired so far, 400 hobby drones had been sent direct in the mail, and it's notjust foreigners being asked to donate. and service stations in many shops fundraising is prominent.

maccoll as ministerfor fundraising is prominent. maccoll as minister for digital transformation and until recently deputy prime minister. in his office he shows me the secret design for a new type of kamikaze drone. he says the campaign is about frontline combat protecting the lives of soldiers defending ukraine. but the minister has posted online about new drones able to fly to moscow and back, and russia has accused ukraine of carrying out events of drone strikes on its territory. claims this one was shot down there moscow. you are asking people around the world to donate drones and money for drones for defence of ukraine, what about attacks on russia, offensive attacks over the border? asa as a leader of the country, would you condone drones going over the border?

ukraine's mod is refusing to say if its army of drones is being used to go on the offensive in russia, meanwhile donations continue to pour in and more drones take to the skies. joe tidy, bbc news, ukraine. the british singer ed sheeran has appeared in court in new york city in a trial that will decide whether his hit thinking out loud was a copy of marvin gaye's let's get it on. he's been taken to court by the family of ed townsend who co—wrote let's get it on with marvin gaye. i'm here forjustice protecting my father's intellectual properties and all i'm expecting is for his name to be honoured and his work and his legacy, and the fact that i want all artists, intellectual

property is protected. ed sheeran was called to testify in the case on tuesday. he denied his song was a copy of the 1973 hit by gaye. the trial is expected to last a week. stay with us for the business news. hello there. here in the uk, spring warmth is in short supply at the moment. another rather chilly day lies ahead, but it's a very different story in spain and portugal. in fact, a concerning early season heatwave building here — temperatures over the next couple of days could well climb to 38, maybe 39 degrees. that heat has been building to the south of the jet stream. we find ourselves to the north of the jet stream, and so we remain in this rather chilly air mass, at least for the time being. and a really cold start to the day, particularly in the north of scotland. not as cold further south, because here, there is more cloud in the mix. and for many of us, it is going to be a rather cloudy day, particularly

across the south of england, into southern wales and also northern ireland. extensive cloud producing some bits and pieces of rain at times. now, through north wales, the north midlands, northern england, southern scotland, it's a mix of patchy cloud, some sunny spells and the odd shower. the best of the sunshine will be found in northern scotland. but, again, the odd shower here. temperatures of 7—13 degrees, so a little disappointing for the time of year. now, through wednesday night, we'll tend to keep large amounts of cloud. we'll see some rain getting close to northern ireland, into the western side of scotland, some pushing towards the southwest of england as well. another rather chilly night, particularly in the north of the uk, not as cold further south. but as we head into thursday, well, this is a rather messy weather chart. there are a couple of different weather systems — one here, one here — likely to bring some outbreaks of rain. this first band of rain is likely to be pushing northwards across scotland. could be some snow over the highest ground for a time, and then outbreaks of rain pushing northwards across parts of england and wales. there may be a drier slot in between those two rain bands.

temperatures, if anything, starting to climb a little. a sign of things to come, because as we head towards the end of the week, we will start to pull in some slightly warmer air. now, we're not talking about a spanish or portuguese heatwave here, but we are talking about something a little bit less chilly. and, actually, on friday, while there will be some showers around and perhaps some more persistent rain in northern scotland, we should actually start to see a little bit more in the way of sunshine for many of us. and those temperatures climbing just a touch. and into the weekend, it is going to feeljust a little bit warmer. there will be some dry spells, a bit of sunshine around, but still some showers.

live from london, this is bbc news. is the worst over for big tech? microsoft and alphabet beat analysts�* expectations despite the downturn in the tech sector. we delve deep intojoe biden's economic scorecard, as the us president asks voters for more time to finish the job. and how do we rid our oceans of plastic waste? i speak to a man who claims to have the solution. time now for the top business stories. i'm victoria valentine. and we begin with the financial results of two us tech giants.

google's parent company, alphabet, and microsoft have