live from london. this is bbc news heavy fighting in the khartoum — as the sudanese army tries to recapture areas held by the rival rsf militia. warnings of low staffing and reduced services as nurses in england prepare to take strike action. with a just a week to go until the coronation, british subjects will be encouraged to swear allegiance to king charles. hello. sudan's army has deployed tanks and heavy artillery for a large scale offensive in the capital, khartoum.

there are reports of heavy fighting in the city. the army says it's attacking from all directions, despite a ceasefire being in place. it's part of an effort to recapture areas held by the rival, rapid support forces. the army has urged people to remain indoors and to stay away from windows. south sudan says it's still trying to convene peace talks between representatives of the two sides. tens of thousands of civilians have abandoned their homes and are fleeing sudan. the uk's last evacuation flight has left sudan. the foreign office says nearly 1,900 people have been flown out since tuesday. meanwhile, the united states has completed its first evacuation of citizens from the country. countries like saudi arabia are getting people out tojeddah via port sudan on the red sea. let's hear from evacuees

in port sudan. i was working in sudan for the last 13 years and due to the situation here, due to this war, i left everything, my home, my car, my everything. all of my savings from 13 years, really. how do you feel? i am happy,, but because all of my things are here, it's not feeling well. . , ., ., things are here, it's not feeling well. ., , ., ., ., well. finally, we are on board and it feels really _ well. finally, we are on board and it feels really good _ well. finally, we are on board and it feels really good to _ well. finally, we are on board and it feels really good to be - well. finally, we are on board and it feels really good to be in - well. finally, we are on board and it feels really good to be in really | it feels really good to be in really good _ it feels really good to be in really good company, very nice people, here _ good company, very nice people, here at— good company, very nice people, here. at the moment we got on board, they served _ here. at the moment we got on board, they served us sweets and water and they served us sweets and water and they have _ they served us sweets and water and they have been looking after us, all of this_ they have been looking after us, all of this time — they have been looking after us, all of this time and it was a little difficult — of this time and it was a little difficult getting on board, but i think— difficult getting on board, but i think the —

difficult getting on board, but i think the people here are very professional, they managed to get everyone _ professional, they managed to get everyone on board without any kind of mishap — our correspondent lyse doucet took the boat the other way starting injeddah and has sent this report from port sudan. every face, every person in this waiting tug boat tells a story of sudan. look at the exhaustion. they've made a dangerousjourney to get here to port sudan. they've told us they've waited hours here waiting for a boat to be evacuated. and now it's 4 am in the morning and they're within touching distance of of a safety route to leave this violence. but from here, they'll go to a saudi warship and then it's a ten hour journey across the red sea. so many now uncertain about what lies ahead. but when i asked one labourer from nepal whether he would come back to sudan, he said, "sudan is finished." for the sudanese who've

been unable to leave, life is getting increasingly hard. we've been speaking to hamid khalafallah — one of the millions of people trapped in their homes by continuous fighting. he's in khartoum and explained what they do when there is bombing. when there as loud bombing and when it gets closer, we take shelter in the house, we try to all come to a central room, far from windows, the house, we try to all come to a central room, farfrom windows, far from walls and so on and just lay on the floor until it passes. when it is a bit further away, we try to use the quiet hours that we get, a couple of hours a day, to just quickly go out and get what we need. which is also very risky, but we have to do it, anyway, it's water we don't have so we need silly. there is no safe passages for sudanese to leave khartoum awful humanitarian

assistance to access khartoum. unfortunately, all of the international governments have been focused on getting a ceasefire that could work for evacuating foreign nationals and to be safe passages for them to leave the country and i'm glad that worked, but it is unfortunate that they did not try to do the same for sudanese citizens, to get a passages the people trapped in the crossfire, to leave, awful humanitarian assistance to reach them in their houses. meanwhile, they are living in very difficult situation. live now to sir william patey who is a former uk ambassador to sudan. hejoins us now from london. thank you and welcome to the programme. iwonder thank you and welcome to the programme. i wonder if we could start off with the fact that britain has concluded that they say they have concluded their operation

overnight. what is your assessment of that? ~ ., , overnight. what is your assessment ofthat? ~ . ., of that? well, it was clear the number of _ of that? well, it was clear the number of people _ of that? well, it was clear the number of people presenting | number of people presenting themselves to be evacuated at the airfield was diminishing and clearly they couldn't hold the airfield indefinitely, the army, it was unclear as to how long the ceasefire would hold. they gave 2a hours to those who could make it. i think there were something like 4000 british subjects, citizens, registered, nearly 2000 have been evacuated. 0thers registered, nearly 2000 have been evacuated. others will have made their way, evacuated. others will have made theirway, i evacuated. others will have made their way, i have seen reports from making their way to port sudan and making their way to port sudan and making their way to port sudan and making their way to egyptian borders. regrettably, they will be some there who are unable to make it, orwould some there who are unable to make it, or would choose not to, because they have sudanese relatives, who are in danger and who are not eligible for evacuation stop there was criticism, i'm sure you are aware of it, that britain started

their evacuation aware of it, that britain started their evacuatio— aware of it, that britain started their evacuation operations a little bit on the back— their evacuation operations a little bit on the back foot? _ their evacuation operations a little bit on the back foot? the - their evacuation operations a little i bit on the back foot? the americans have onlyjust _ bit on the back foot? the americans have onlyjust started _ bit on the back foot? the americans have onlyjust started as, _ bit on the back foot? the americans have onlyjust started as, as - bit on the back foot? the americans have onlyjust started as, as i - bit on the back foot? the americans have onlyjust started as, as i was i have onlyjust started as, as i was at is ending. so, britain was ahead of the biggest power with the most resources in the region. the french managed to evacuate half their numbers that britain had done. so i think the british evacuation has to be measured, because there were a large number of people and they had to be sure that they could land planes safely, in an airfield near enough for people to get it. so you would need even with a ceasefire, you are hearing reports from british nationals who made it to the airport, that it was a pretty hairy journey. so, without the ceasefire, it would have been worse. there were a number of moving elements that had to be in place before you could effect evacuation. it is to place a week after the fighting started, so i think that is not a bad result. fin i think that is not a bad result. on the i think that is not a bad result. 0n the subject of ceasefires, apart from facilitating, because the

fighting never truly ended, did it, facilitating the movement of people out of khartoum and sudan, what have they actually achieved? weill. out of khartoum and sudan, what have they actually achieved?— they actually achieved? well, i su ose they actually achieved? well, i sunpose they _ they actually achieved? well, i suppose they have _ they actually achieved? well, i suppose they have achieved i they actually achieved? well, i i suppose they have achieved that they actually achieved? well, i - suppose they have achieved that you can actually talk to the warring parties and get them to stop fighting, even if for a short period of time. the diplomatic focus now will be bringing an end to the conflict and usually that will start with a ceasefire as a precursor to negotiations. and i know the intergovernmental authority on development, the group of east african nations, are trying to arrange for three of their presidents to sudan and to negotiate a ceasefire, supported by the international community. dip a magic effort by the us, uk, saudi arabia and uae, who form a quad over sudan issues, they are also trying to bring about a ceasefire. so that is the first step. the second step is

to get some sort of return it to a little process that will lead to a transition to civilian government. but it's easier to say that than do it when you have two warring parties, intent on fighting out to see who can win. 50 parties, intent on fighting out to see who can win.— parties, intent on fighting out to see who can win. so the agreement that was meant _ see who can win. so the agreement that was meant to _ see who can win. so the agreement that was meant to have _ see who can win. so the agreement that was meant to have been - see who can win. so the agreement| that was meant to have been signed and put in place for this transition, eventual transition to democratic civilian rule, on april the 1st, has been and gone, obviously. the agreement was backed internationally. do you think that is where the issue was, in terms of agreement between the saf and the r s f? i agreement between the saf and the r s f? ~ , ., ~ agreement between the saf and the r s f? ~ , ., ~ ., agreement between the saf and the r sf? ~ , ., , , s f? i think it broke down because, in essence. — s f? i think it broke down because, in essence, none _ s f? i think it broke down because, in essence, none of _ s f? i think it broke down because, in essence, none of the _ s f? i think it broke down because, in essence, none of the military - in essence, none of the military bodies were actually committed to handing over power to the civilians. that seems clear now. they said they were, they sign the agreement and they have renamed on the agreement. so they have already mounted a coup against the transition to civilian

rule. that was in 2021. the latest fighting is because they have fallen out over the issue of the integration of the rsf into the armed forces. the official armed forces wanted to do that within two years, the rsf wanted to take ten years. years, the rsf wanted to take ten ears. , ., ., , ., years. sorry, i apologise for interrunting. _ years. sorry, i apologise for interrupting, on _ years. sorry, i apologise for interrupting, on that - years. sorry, i apologise for interrupting, on that point, | years. sorry, i apologise for- interrupting, on that point, what is key with at that timeline? as you said, the integration to span ten years, the armed forces wanted two years. what is the problem, can it ever be agreed upon as an act —— likely rsf wanted ten years. you have been involved in the dramatic talks to gps, where is this pulling? is the fact that they are just like world peace ever be possible? that is the fact that they are just like world peace ever be possible? at the

rsf was formed _ world peace ever be possible? at the rsf was formed into _ world peace ever be possible? at the rsf was formed into an _ world peace ever be possible? at the rsf was formed into an fishable - rsf was formed into an fishable militia, by the president, who thought they might protect him from a coup within the army, in the end they turned. it goes to show you the turmoil and the nature of the things in sudan. i think the problem is, until there is enough pressure on one side or the other, to come to an agreement is that there will be no agreement. the rsf, if they are integrated into the army, the power base will be loose down he is not ready to give it up, that is when the fighting are still going on. the only way you can bring this to a halt is if both parties realise they cannot win it through military means and they have to economise, or they so reduce the state to break the state in two, in a way that is no longer in their interest. that is the sad truth of it. i don't think there are enough international leavers to force them into an agreement, that is the sad reality.

thank you very much for your time. an estimated one 100,000 have attended an open air mass in central budapest on pope francis�* third and final day in hungary. pope francis urged hungarians not to close the door on migrants and those who he said were, foreign or unlike us. among those at the service was the hungarian prime minister, viktor 0rban, who's repeatedly criticised migration, and was responsible for constructing a wall to stop people crossing the borderfrom neighbouring serbia and croatia. 39% of the population in hungary are catholic and pope francis had last visited the central european country briefly in 2021. nurses in half of england's hospitals, mental health and community services will go on strike later today , with nhs chiefs warning care is at risk.

the strike will begin at eight o'clock on sunday and last until midnight on monday. the strike will be the first by the rcn to affect intensive care units. the royal college of nursing union has called on the government to return to pay talks. the health secretary, steve barclay, has expressed disappointment over the escalation. 0ur health correspondent dominic hughes reports. once again, members of the royal college of nursing in england will be taking to the picket lines, having voted earlier this month to reject a government pay offer. what do we want? fair pay! when do we want it? now! senior nurse rhian wheater has stood with her colleagues in leeds during previous strikes, but she says the decision to walk out again is a reflection of how low staff morale has sunk. 25 years i've worked in the nhs and i've never seen or felt anything like this, never. it's heartbreaking. absolutely heartbreaking. soul destroying.

it's horrible. and none of us want this for patients. we can't keep delivering second class care. we're a first class health system, you know, we've been first in the world and we still should be. in a statement, steve barclay said it was disappointing some unions were escalating strike action this week, including the royal college of nursing, despite only a third of its members rejecting the government's offer on pay which other unions accepted. he added that these strikes would put more pressure on the nhs, and would be incredibly disruptive for patients. we have actually agreed a number of national exemptions, including intensive care units, emergency departments, neo—natal units, paediatric intensive care and others, so let's not scare the public this morning by saying nursing is being reckless on this one day of strike. they most certainly are not.

later this week, the main health care unions will decide on what the next steps are in this long running series of industrial disputes. some union members have accepted the pay offer, others have rejected it. it's not yet clear what that will mean for future strikes. dominic hughes, bbc news. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's jane . hello from the bbc sport centre. manchester united fans have been protesting ahead of their game against aston villa. they're opposed to the continued glazer ownership of the club. a large section of supporters marched to the stadium carrying banners. it comes as sirjim ratcliffe and ineos are said to have moved ahead in the battle to buy the club, with a valuation higher than the £5 billion bid from the qatari group led by sheikh jassim on friday. but many fans are demanding a �*full sale only�* and plan to boycott the match for 18 minutes.

0n the pitch — united are one of five premier league matches today. after 15 minutes, they are 0—0 against aston villa. meanwhile, manchester city will move top of the table if they beat fulham.— earling haaland scored from the penalty spot to give them an early lead and himself 50 goals for the season. liverpool and spurs, kick off at anfield at 4:30pm. liverpool managerjurgen klopp isn't anticipating a repeat of spurs last away game last sunday, where the london side were 5—0 down after 21 minutes, leading to the dismissal of their interim manager and appointment of ryan mason — we'll hearfrom him in a moment — first here'sjurgen klopp. i never could in my life thing like that. it is because, to find for yourself at the right attitude into a game, you have to think the opponent is extremely strong, and they are strong. and a very famous german coach said once, if you

always expect an easy game, you will never have one. if you always expect a super difficult game, from time to time, you might have an easy one. we focus on ourselves and we feel confident— we focus on ourselves and we feel confident that whenever we have the ball against any opposition we can hurt them, — ball against any opposition we can hurt them, because we have quality players. _ hurt them, because we have quality players, but at the same time we have _ players, but at the same time we have to _ players, but at the same time we have to respect who we are coming up against _ have to respect who we are coming up against and _ have to respect who we are coming up against and be a team, be humble together— against and be a team, be humble together and work hard for each other— together and work hard for each other and — together and work hard for each other and hopefully get a positive result _ other and hopefully get a positive result. . . other and hopefully get a positive result. ., ., ,_, ., result. fulham have scored in that match. celtic and rangers are approaching half—time in their scottish cup semifinal. it's 0—0 at hampden park. the winner will face inverness caledonian thistle in the final injune after they beat falkirk on saturday. just approaching half—time between them. napoli will win their first italian league title since 1990

if they beat selernitana today. the city of naples is preparing for celebrations in anticipation of the leaders cliching the serie a crown. memories of the great and good of the past are flooding back to those in the city. luciano spall—etti's side are playing at home. the game kicked off 15 minutes ago, and it's currently 0—0. the final of the world snooker championships is under way at the crucible in sheffield — after an eventful tournament so far that's seen protests, favourites knocked out and incredible comebacks. speaking of whom, belgium's luca brecel is up against england's four—time champion marc selby. these are live pictures from the crucible where they are playing. sorry, this is a replay, but they are playing at the moment. brecel has taken the first three frames. incredible that the belgian is here playing in a final when he hadn't won a single crucible match before this year's tournament. in contrast this is selby�*s sixth world final — and he's won four of them. you can follow updates on the bbc

sport website and app. what a weekend it's been in azerbaijan for sergio perez. after winning formula 0ne's first sprint race of the season on saturday, he's now added the grand prix. the mexican started from third on the grid in baku behind his red bull team mate max verstappen. they both passed the ferrari of charles leclerc — who had been on pole. if but when verstappen stopped for fresh tyres, the safety car came out and perez was able to get ahead — staying to the chequered flag. he's cut verstappen's championship lead to six points. lewis hamilton was the first british driver home in sixth place. and that's all the sport for now. the death toll in an overnight ukrainian strike on the russian border village of suzemka, has risen to four. two more civilians have been found and removed from the rubble according to the local authorities. ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside russia — and on russian—controlled

territory in ukraine. both sides deny targeting civilians. let's get some of the day's other news now. officials in india say 11 people have died after a gas leak in the northern state of punjab, in an industrial area of ludhiana. four people are still in hospital. the source of the leak, as well as the kind of gas are not known yet. president biden has called for the release of detained journalists, in his address to the annual white house correspondents' dinner in washington. mr biden said his government was working every day to free the wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich who was arrested in russia in march. the president called a free press a pillar of a free society, the israeli parliament is due to reopen for its summer session later, but there's little sign

the break has calmed the uproar over government plans to change how the judicial system works. this protest took place in tel aviv on saturday, attended by an estimated 150,000 people. the marks 17 consecutive weeks of protest against the plans. polls have opened in paraguay where more than 4 million people are voting in a general election. the governing colorado party has lost only one election since 1947 but polls suggest the government is trailing a coalition of 23 parties from across the political spectrum. the archbishop of canterbury — who's the head of the church of england — will ask millions of british subjects around the world to swear allegiance to king charles, during his coronation next saturday. the public pledge — dubbed "a chorus of millions" — is one of several striking changes to the ancient ceremony. female clergy will play a prominent role for the first time, and the king himself

will pray out loud. the pledge of allegiance, or homage of the people to give its official title, marks a break with tradition. previously only lords at the coronation service had to recite a form of words. this is the text of the pledge of allegiance. it reads... other countries like the united states require a patriotic verse to be recited by governing officials — and in most schools — on a daily basis. and although the coronation is a rare event and the homage entirely optional, it is something new here in britain. live now to dr bob morris, honorary research fellow in the constitution unit at university college london. thank you forjoining us on bbc

news. what do you make of this pledge of allegiance? it’s news. what do you make of this pledge of allegiance?— pledge of allegiance? it's not an oath of feudal _ pledge of allegiance? it's not an oath of feudal fealty, _ pledge of allegiance? it's not an oath of feudal fealty, it - pledge of allegiance? it's not an oath of feudal fealty, it is - pledge of allegiance? it's not an oath of feudal fealty, it is the i oath of feudal fealty, it is the ordinary privacy act text, which people, for example soldiers who go through a process when theyjoin the army, as indeed i did. but it will be strange to a lot of people. it's doesn't seem to offer the secular alternative, because it is cast in christian religious terms. and it may be that some people outside the westminster abbey will wrestle with its unfamiliarity. truth? westminster abbey will wrestle with its unfamiliarity.— its unfamiliarity. why do you think this change _ its unfamiliarity. why do you think this change has _ its unfamiliarity. why do you think this change has been _ its unfamiliarity. why do you think this change has been included, . its unfamiliarity. why do you think. this change has been included, then? because people do say, don't they, read the room, what is the feeling amongst british subject or the

british public, was this necessary? well, it's not... i can understand why the king was devoted himself to a life of service to the population. he might task some kind of acclamation or consent from the population at large. it replaces what was an entirely feudal oath, which was sworn early as you said by the aristocracy. and it is one of the aristocracy. and it is one of the major changes which has been offered. there was an attempt in 1953 to ask the speaker to swear an oath on behalf of the common people, but the idea was introduced far too late for it to be accepted at the coronation on that occasion. and the king has found another way of responding to that change. what responding to that change. what about the commonwealth? because what we are dealing with here is a very different generation of people within the commonwealth? that is

certainly true- _ within the commonwealth? that is certainly true. and _ within the commonwealth? that is certainly true. and the _ within the commonwealth? that is certainly true. and the king - within the commonwealth? that is certainly true. and the king is - certainly true. and the king is still, of course, head of state, formally, in 14 independent commonwealth countries and the oath might be taking a little bit more seriously there than in the commonwealth which is a much wider organisation of 56 countries, at the moment, some of them whenever british, or under british rule. but there is also likely to be a difference in the age of people in a way in which they respond to this. younger people might find it stranger than older people and be less inclined to join stranger than older people and be less inclined tojoin in the swearing. less inclined to 'oin in the swearing._ less inclined to 'oin in the swearinu. . ~ , . ., swearing. thank you very much for our swearing. thank you very much for your reflections _ swearing. thank you very much for your reflections on _ swearing. thank you very much for your reflections on that _ swearing. thank you very much for your reflections on that will- stay with us here on bbc news. you can get up—to—date on a lot of stories around the world, head to

the bbc news website. plenty more coming up shortly. for the second month in a row, england is heading very wet month. in some places have nearly seen double the april average rainfall, is over. but in contrast to the wet weather in england, in the final to scotland, just like last month, it's turning out to be a much drier months and there has been more sunshine here, damages have been a bit higher than average as well. today, it's another cloudy day and we have got bursts of rain working from west to east across the uk, some heavy downpours are set to move into scotland and northern ireland, with a risk of some thunderstorms, with a risk of some thunderstorms, with some hail and heavy showers through the afternoon. at the same time, they will not be that many showers in east anglia and south—east england and weather should brighten up across wales on

the south—west later today. nice temperatures around 8919 degrees, one feel too bad at all in those brighter moments. 0vernight with low pressure game in charge —— make 18-19 . pressure game in charge —— make 18—19 . further showers moving pressure game in charge —— make 18—19. further showers moving in slowly eastwards across the country. it says quite cloudy, so not that cold, temperatures overnight between six and 10 celsius. then, for monday, low pressure starts to pull away into norway. trailing cold front bringing cooler conditions in across scotland through the day. quite a lot of cloud for monday, still some showers, the heavier showers building across central and eastern areas in england with risk of some thunderstorms through the afternoon, temperatures about 14—18 for most but it will start in gold in scotland where three afternoon attempt in aberdeen will come down to around seven celsius. it will feel quite chilly for these northern areas and then through monday night, with clear skies in place, we will see some patches of frost are developing in rural areas. tuesday looks like being a better day,

weather—wise, in terms of a more in times of dry weather and sunshine thanks to this ridge of high pressure that is building on. could be a few showers across the northern isles, they will be light and fleeting showers and the cloud will tend to picking up across western counties in ireland later in the day. it is in day, however it will be a little on the cool side across northern and eastern areas, where ten bidders will be around 10—12. the wednesday, tempjust ten bidders will be around 10—12. the wednesday, temp just come up a little bit, but there will be more cloud around and that land will be thick enough to bring some patches of rain in the west, to produce around 1450 degrees, coolest air in the east. —— 14—15.

this is bbc news, the headlines. sudan's army launches a major attack on khartoum — as it attempts to retake areas held by the rival rsf militia. tanks and heavy artillery have been deployed to the capital. residents are warned to stay indoors. the capital is home to some seven million people. nurses in half of england's hospitals are set to strike later this evening. nhs chiefs warn that care is at risk. but unions call on the government to return to the negotiating table. the walk—out by rcn members won't end until late on monday. tens of thousands of people attend an open air mass in central budapest on pope francis�* final day in hungary. the pontiff calls on hungarians to be "open" towards migrants coming from outside europe.

the british public will be invited to swear