♪ ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... woman: architect. bee keeper. mentor. a raymond james financial advisor tailors advice to help you live your life. life well planned. george: actually, you don't need vision to do most things in life. it's exciting to be part of a team driving the technology forward. i think that's the most rewarding thing. people who know, know bdo.

narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. announcer: and now, "bbc news". marianna: hello. you are watching "the context" on bbc news. >> all of that is only possible because of the hard work that only behind me but at this crisis center. >> it is not possible to get a running commentary on this. they are taking the opportunity of the cease-fire. >> we are moving to assist off

the port of sudan. ♪ maryam: hello and a warm welcome to the program. the first of the british claims have landed in cyprus at the beginning of what is a mammoth operation as there are thought to be up to 4000 britons in sudan. also around 2 for joe biden. s. president has finally announced he will run for reelection in 2024. we will have the latest reaction and what that means for his biggest rival, donald trump. we will bring you the very latest shocking revelation on iran's crackdown on protesters. if the bbc has found documents that show iran a secret committee to punish celebrities who backed protesters. first, let's take you to sudan. the latest

evacuations have been possible today because of a cease-fire in the capital that seems to be holding out. gunfire can be heard still, but people have been able to make their way out onto the streets for the first time in days. our correspondent, andrew harding, has the latest. andrew: taking offer sudan, the first flights left this evening on a dangerous rescue mission. british forces have gathered early with their airbase in cyprus to prepare the planes for a task that could last hours or even days. flying british citizens out of khartoum, one of the -- while the precarious cease-fire holds. that cease-fire came in force in sudan's capital overnight. look how dark it is. after 10 days of war, there is no power, and precious little food or water left. by don, many already on the

move, hoping to use the pause in fighting to catch buses heading out of the city. the fighting here has not stopped together. [gunfire] this sound was recorded by a dual british and sudanese national. she is still in hiding with 23 resident -- relatives. across this vastountry, many foreigners and locals will make their own risky journeys to safety. some dried into the red sea coast. a british navy is already heading to the court here. others heading into the opposit direction, here to neighboring chad, one of many poor, conflict ridden nations bordering sudan. >> this is where we are evacuated. andrew: meanwhile, emma, from scotland, has already joined the crowds heading north toward egypt. before he left, he told the bbc he felt he had no choice but to make his own way. >> i'm waiting, because i don't

know, even if they got out of touch, i don't know how i'm going to go about it, and where they are going to need, so i am just going to do it myself. andrew: britain has faced some chrism for the way it has handled these evacuations, too little information, t slow, but this afternoon, the prime minister gave an update. pm sunak: we now have over 100 people on the ground. more flights this evening, and we will have many more into tomorrow, and that is down to the hard work of many people, security contacted thousands of people in sudan, spoken to hundreds, that is what people are doing behind me. they are making their way to the airfield, and we will evacuate them as quickly as we can. andrew: but look what is left of

khartoum. a hospital here across the rer nile bombed, we understand, earlier today. elsewhere, endless destruction. the work of two rival armies, but still threatened, cease-fire or not, to tear this former british colony apart. maryam: i am going now from montreal by professor of madonna, chair of the african studies problem -- program at mcgill university. he has written a book called revolutionaries to don -- "revolutionary sudan." professor, thank you for joining me on bbc news. let me ask you about your family. i know you have been speaking to them. if you can update on what they have been saying to you. prof. medani: thank you for asking. they are just outside of egypt, an 18 hour bus ride with no air conditioning, checkpoints along the way, ting to make their way to the north where it is

much safer. during that trip, none of us can communicate because of the lack of internet. if it does emerge, the internet is very patchy, so that is an important concern. so like tens of thousands of sudanese, they left their homes, my family, immediate family, and many relatives, because they did not have a choice. most, of course, wanted to stake in the bait is not just an issue of physical security, as shown a little earlier, it is also, frankly, the lack of food supplies, the lack of medicine. most people are leaving because they can. many people have decided to stay committed they are to elderly. the majority, as you probably can imagine, do not have the finances. prices have been increased to gouge desperate people to flee the situation in the capital city. so we are still very hope will and optimistic they will make across ther, even

along the border, there is a great wait because of the thousands that need to be processed with many needing to have visas. the same is to be said for those flee into the red sea area and to chad, to that port. it is a dangerous situation not only for my family but the entire country. maryam: i'm very hopeful that your family will be ok, and i wish them all the very best, professor. let me move the conversation on a little bit to the fragile cease-fire that has allowed some people, at least, to leave their homes, as we have seen, and also some people who want to leave the country to at least get to some point of safety. where do you think this is gng to end up, because there has been some gunfire heard. the cease-fire seems to be holding, at least for now. prof. medani: i think that the

cease-fire is holding with the expectation that the u.k. and other governments are going to evacuate their nationals, and these two generals, who are essentially fighting to the death, in what they perceived to be a zero-sum game -- i mean, each one of them wants to have an outside military victory. . i do not think that will happen. clearly there is a stalemate, and that will continue to be the case. they plan to evacuate others who will be watching what they are doing to the country, and of course, that is distressing with respect to the manitarian situation. the fact, however, that some of the cease-fire in some neighborhoods in khartoum is holding is really a testament to the fact that these two generals are actually vulnerable to leverage and pressure, because it is essentially the united states and saudi arabia that really put pressure on both generals to implement the three-hour cease-fire. on the one hand, it is distressing, because we know it is not going to last, and in many parts of khartoum, it has not really lasted, but on

another kind of perspective, there is something that i think the international community needs to learn from, and that is that these generals are not immune from pressure from external actors, particularly the united states, the arab countries, and also the united kingdom, which, as you know, is very much part and parcel of the coalition that sought to oversee the transition of sudan to a civilian government. here we have a window towards a potential cease-fire, secretary blinken, he is trying to amass a coalition or committee rather of countries to implement a permanent cease-fire and hope to deliberate upon a political solution, without which there can be no stability for sudan, and i would argue the entrance of neighboring countries and as far afield as the u.k. and the u.s., particularly along the red

sea region, will be at risk. maryam: ok, professor medani, we appreciate your time. we are joined from london by a consultant here in the u.k., and the founder of the human rights group. let me ask you, first of all, to talk to me about a relative you have in sudan? what have they been saying to you about a situation they are? >> the situation, it is probably the best to get to egypt somehow, safely in a village outside khartoum. but we have been in constant contact, to try to find ways to get them through egypt. they have some attempt, but that is, i think, currently failing.

so we are really worried about them. my sister is shaking, we could not get antibiotics to her. my brother is hypertensive. he needs his medication. this situation is really a bad situation, where they are running out of food, medication, and water, and there is no electricity around, so it is very dangerous to venture outside their home. the humanitarian nature they are facing in sudan, the sudanese, they will feel now depressed, as they are failed by their international community. they are just moving toward really stubble -- stubborn,

unjust war. this billions's are taking the brunt of the war. -- the civilians are taking the brunt of the war. the other thing i want to say, human rights violations, they should not be allowed to perform. they should be coming to their responsibility, to prosecute, for our people. the international community has many means to apply massive sanctions on them. i think that is something, sudanese society is emphatic about. things are really dangerous, and i really fear about the future

of the country and the amount of destruction. maryam: talk to me a little bit more about what you are saying about your family and the situation, because i am hearing so many stories about basic needs not being able to be met for people in sudan, things like food, water, medicine. where are they coming now as they are running out? >> they are running out of water and medicine, and it is very high for anyone. but the new fear, there is an ap p that they buy food with. this app is very erratic. sometimes it freezes.

for us in the u.k., the reston world, we use to send money in, now we cannot do that. -- of the western world, we used to send money in. now we cannot do that. they need food, medication, and there are women who are about to deliver, little kids, a huge disaster. maryam: absolutely. it has been really good to have you on the program. i think it is important to tell the story of what is happening to sudanese people who are still stuck in the country and in grave danger and lacking basics, as you just described there. thank you once again. >> thank maryam: you. around the world and across the u.k., this is bbc news. >> i am a pollster.

i was really overweight, approaching 50, and i thought, if i don't do anything about it, things will start dropping off. it just happened. [laughs] i started with my coach, neil, just after lockdown. >> she just has come a long way in that space and time, probay faster than you with expect -- you would expect. >> i did my first competition, power lifting in december appeared i got a british record, and then my overall total as well. if you h told me five years ago i would be doing this, i would have just laughed and said "no way." you are never too old to start anything. ♪ maryam: you are watching bbc news.

well, after months of speculation, the worst kept secret in washington is now out -- president biden has finally announced he is running for 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 certain members of the republican party, as he called "maga extremists." mr. biden said his deputy, kamala harris, wilbe running for another term as vice president. here is some of his announcement video. pres. biden: personal freedoms is fund mental to who we are as americans. there's nothing more important, nothing more sacred. . that has been the work of my first term, to fight for democracy. it should not be a red or blue issue to protect our rights, make sure everybody in this country is treated equally and everybody is given a fair shot at making it. but you know, around the country, maggot extremists --

maga extremists are trying to cut social security that you have paid for your entire life, banning books and telling people who they can love, all while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote. maryam: well, there you go. as he would expect, his opponent in 2020, donald trump, was quick to jump on the attack, releasing a four-minute video, criticizing mr. biden's candidacy. mr. trump: you can take the five worst presidents in american history and put them together, and they would not have done the damage that joe biden has done to our nation in just a few short years, not even close. thanks to joe biden's socialist spending calamity, american families are being decimated by the worst inflation in half a century.

banks are failing, our currency is crashing. maryam:maryam: there you go. how are the polls looking now? let's talk to joe rubin, who was deputy secretary of state in the obama administration, and another guest. thank you to both of you. no surprises here, but what do we expect to be different this time around? joel: it is great to be with you paired what we are expecting to be different this time is that joe biden is going to have a record of accomplishment, four years of a presidency, a significant improvement in a departure from his predecessor, who, mind you, so more than one million covid deaths on his watch, it damaged the reputation abroad, and president biden has done the exact opposite.

. he is standing up for a variety of freedoms and democracy, and he will contrast quite well with his deponent -- opponent as he wins reelection. maryam: many are focusing on his age. is he too old? joel: yeah, without a doubt, there is ageism arguments that will always be made. quite frankly, we've had a tradition in the united states, a lot of leaders in the late 70's and 80's, including the current republican leader in the senate. donald trump will be getting close to 80, nancy pelosi, she is in her 80's as well. i think you have to look at the individual, their performance, what they have done, and what they are going to get done, and that is what americans care about. with that, we will see joe biden being the candidate for them. maryam: that is joel's prediction. larry, what is your crystal ball tell you? larry: i think it will be a very tough and competitive election, even if donald trump is the republican nominated i say this because, and this is kind of

puzzling, president biden cozy ratings are still relatively low compared to the improving conditions in the country, both economic and on social measures, and the fact that republicans have an additional burden, a big burden due to a republican majority on the supreme court and overturning abortion rights after nrly a half-century of having them as law. he is relatively low, and he is low with groups he ought to be stronger with, particularly young people. now, there's a long way to go, plenty of time to improve that, but there's something i always keep in the back of my mind -- a democrat has to win by a minimum three points of the popular vote in order to carry the electoral college, so it is not just a matter of winning, and i think biden will defeat trump by at least that margin. it is the fact that our system

promotes republican candidates for the presidency. maryam: i can see you nodding there, joel. "outside source -- joel: larry is spot on. we have a jandy moehring -- we have a gerrymandering system called the electoral college, and the swing states in the middle of the country, wisconsin, pennsylvania, arizona, georgia as well, these are the states that will determine who wins the presidency. in that, i feel like there's a lot more at stake here for the people on the ground, and we have seen just in the recent election a liberal candidate winning wisconsin by 11 points for the supreme war. so there's a lot more than just president biden on the ticket. it is about american freedoms. you'll see the president's message to that and try to mobilize voters on that. largely, as larry rightly pointed out, on the abortion issue, that is a big motivator, and that goes beyond any

individual candidate as well. maryam: larry, you talked about "even if" former president trump is the republican nominee. there are, of course, others. he could become the republican presidential candidate. how do you think president biden would fare against someone like ron desantis versus president trump -- former president trump? larry: ron desantis is, of course, much larger, sthe age issue -- although sometimes that has fallen flat. i think back in the 1984 election campaign of ronald reagan, where democrats put a lot of in pointing out that ronald reagan was 73 and was alreadyhe oldest president in american history, and it definitely hurt him, in minnesota and the district of columbia. he won 49 states and carry 59% of the vote. maryam: do you think going for ages the wrong thing to do, then? do you think republicans should not push that point? larry: well, they can push it.

i don't think it is enough to win. they will have to do a lot more than that. that is where the democrats could have an advantage here, because all of the republicans who have seen at the moment, to have a chance of being a nominee, first and foremost trump but also ron desantis and several of the others who are running are very trumpy, they are very trumpist. the problem is their image is so poor now with young people come up with many of the age of 50, 55, and older voters, too, are worried about what might happen with social security, that if biden wraps them all up into the mirror of trumpism, any of them would have a problem winning. that is not easy to do. he will have to be focused throughout the campaign, he will have to have luck come and you will have to beat the electoral college problem, but it can be done. maryam: it sounds like he has to beat a lot things, larry. larry: yes, course. maryam: do you think there will

be a serious primary child for president biden? -- challenge for president by the iden? joel: no. kennedy -- like which kennedy? [laughter] i got a kennedy in there. look, it is joe biden's party, 80%, 85 percent excitement already come and when they really focus on the fact that he is running again, it is going to go in the high 90's percent. these other candidates are not serious contenders, and i think president biden is going to have a strong broad base of support across the parties, a very effective job engaging progressives as well as moderate centrist democrats, and, frankly, a lot of these swing state voters, suburban voters, and people who are always up for grabs, they will look at the republican agenda, like larry said, and say "oh, my god, they

want to take away all of our rights, like women's rights. they want to make sure everybody has a gun, without control." it is such an extreme agenda. maryam: we don't have long left, but i want to ask you both, kamala harris a good choice as vice president again? well, the only choice, i suppose. larry: it is a done deal. as joel was saying, it is very significant if a president is not challenged by serious candidate for reelection. the president to have lost a second term, with trump's exception, have been presidents who had a serious, well-known opponent within their own party ranks. the fact that president biden, despite relatively poor poll ratings, is not seriously opposed by any major democrat helps him enormously and enables the party to reunite more quickly.

look, people are not enthusiastic about biden right now -- or many people on the periphery of the party, and certainly independence or not -- as soon as you can focus people on that, the better off biden will be. maryam: larry sabatino and joel rubin, it has been wonderful to have you on the program for thank you for joining us on "the narrator: funding r this presentation of this program is provided by... narrator: financial services firm, raymond james. man: bdo. accountants and advisors. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. and by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪

narrator: you're watching pbs.

♪ ♪ narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... woman: architect. bee keeper. mentor. a raymond james financial advisor tailors advice to help you live your life. life well planned. george: actually, you don't need vision to do most things in life. it's exciting to be part of a team driving the technology forward. i think that's the most rewarding thing. people who know, know bdo.