this is bbc news, i'm rich preston — our latest headlines. hundreds of wildfires burn out of control in greece. ferries carry people to safety as they flee the infernos. screams for help as residents in the northern suburbs of athens desperately try to beat back the flames. the fires are still raging out of control. the air is full of the smell of burning smoke and ashes are falling through the air rather like snowflakes. gunfire. three secs of gunfire + long—range us bombers carry out air strikes in afghanistan — in a bid to stop the taliban seizing more cities. riot police in thailand fire tear gas at anti—government protesters calling for political reform and changes to the monarchy.

most coronavirus restrictions in wales are lifted — with no more limits on meeting indoors orfor social distancing. i'm mariko oi in tokyo where the whole ofjapan is looking forward to the closing ceremony of one of the most controversial olympics ever. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from towns north of the greek capital, athens, as wildfires spread across the country. more than 150 wildfires are burning out of control, some now close to the northern suburbs of athens iteself. two people are known to have died, and at least 20 others have been injured. greece, like many parts of europe, has been grappling with extreme weather

conditions this summer. widespread flooding, and colder than average temperatures in central europe — and now baking hot weather in the south. our europe correspondent, bethany bell, reports from athens. greece is in the grip of an emergency. wildfires have been blazing out of control for days. the extreme heat means these forests near athens are like a tinderbox. helicopters keep returning here to try to put out this fire but it isn't working yet. this is the main north—south motorway near athens but it has been closed for two days because of all the fires around here, and the strong, scorching winds are not helping. as the fire spreads down the hillside, people are frightened for their houses. people shout. in athens, there are screams for help as

the flames grow closer. people are desperately trying to put out the fires in any way they can. thousands of people have been evacuated. this woman in athens told me she is worried for her family. a big national tragedy. do you live hear? i don't live here. my sister lives here. it's horrible, for the whole of greece. this was the scene on the island of avia last night. ferries carried hundreds of people to safety after they fled to the beaches. safe on board, one man filmed the inferno on his phone. the fire burned through a vast area of pine forest, only the sea could stop it. tonight, evia is still

burning and the flames are spreading towards one of the island's largest towns. the afghan government says american b52 bombers have killed more than 200 taliban fighters in a series of air strikes in the city of sheberghan — where the insurgents claim to have taken control. shebhergan is the stronghold of former afghan vice—president abdul rashid dostum, whose supporters fight against the taliban. it comes after the militants said they'd captured zaranj in nimroz, close to the border with iran, in a major escalation of their offensive. they've made sweeping gains since foreign forces started withdrawing from the country. the us and the uk have asked their citizens in afghanistan to leave the country immediately because of the worsening security situation. richard galpin reports. in this fast—moving offensive the taliban are claiming a second province is in their hands. here video film for

the fighters appears to show them releasing inmates from the local prison. the afghan authorities admit some parts of the city have been taken. in response, the afghan defence ministry says it has called an american be 52 long—range bombers to try to halt the taliban offensive. airstrikes, claims, have already hit the insurgents killing of them. there is a risk, though, of civilian casualties. already many civilians have been killed or injured including children. the hospitals filling up. i taliban have been specifically targeting government officials such as the head of the government's information centre. he was shot dead on friday. his funeral has now taken place in the capital. a killing designed to intimidate those working for the government in kabul. as the situation deteriorates, many afghans outside

of the country in pakistan are now trying to get back in. but one of the key border crossings has been closed by the taliban leaving many stranded. translation: we came - here to attend a funeral three days ago, now the border is closed, we are sitting here with no food and no money, we cannot go to a hotel to sleep for the night. i appeal to the taliban leaders to find some solution for us. and now while afghans are trying to get back home, the british and american governments are calling on their citizens to leave the country. so let's head to washington dc and talk to the director of the international crisis group's asia program, laurel miller. thank program, laurel miller. you very much for being with thank you very much for being with us. with five weeks away

from the us withdrawal deadline on the anniversary of september the 11th, we should be be going right up to the wire on us involvement, many would presumably have been scaling back. is there a likelihood we are going to go past this september 11 deadline? troops on the ground _ september 11 deadline? troops on the ground are _ september 11 deadline? troops on the ground are going - september 11 deadline? troops on the ground are going to - september 11 deadline? troops on the ground are going to be l on the ground are going to be completely withdrawn by the end of august. and to this point president biden and his ministration have said that after the end of august there's not even going to be further air support for the afghan government forces which is what has been swept up in recent weeks as the withdrawal has been proceeding. that is a real possibility that that decision to withdraw air support will be reconsidered because of the deteriorating security situation or at least there will be a debate about whether to continue to provide that kind of backing for... band

to continue to provide that kind of backing for... and i think we... _ kind of backing for... and i think we... the _ kind of backing for... and i think we... the former - kind of backing for... and i - think we... the former general david betray us as he considers afghanistan to be on the brink of a civil war, do you agree but that?— of a civil war, do you agree but that? �* ., , ., , but that? afghanistan has been in a civilwar, _ but that? afghanistan has been in a civil war, it's _ but that? afghanistan has been in a civil war, it's already - in a civil war, it's already the deadliest conflict in the world. it is quite possible that the conflict will intensify and will widen if the afghan government fractures into a variety of different factions like we saw in the 19905 factions like we saw in the 1990s civil war so it could get worse but there is a civil war already. worse but there is a civil war alread . ~ ., ~ ., already. what can the afghan government _ already. what can the afghan government and _ already. what can the afghan government and potentially l already. what can the afghan l government and potentially the international partners do to continue to repel taliban advances? i continue to repel taliban advances?— continue to repel taliban advances? ~' , , advances? i think the best case scenario is _ advances? i think the best case scenario is that _ advances? i think the best case scenario is that the _ advances? i think the best case scenario is that the afghan - scenario is that the afghan government is able to force a stalemate by defending the cities in particular and preventing taliban takeovers of

relatively urban areas. there cannot be a complete taliban victory unless they can take the cities and larger towns of afghanistan. they've made some progress on that in recent days but there some challenges ahead for the taliban in that respect and the afghan government is going to really need to have very focused strategy coming ahead. �* . very focused strategy coming ahead. �* , , ahead. and if there is this potential— ahead. and if there is this potential stalemate - ahead. and if there is this potential stalemate you i potential stalemate you mentioned is that the best hope of getting a taliban back around the negotiating table? i think there's a real possibility the taliban would engage in some kind of negotiation at the end of the day if they achieve so much progress on the battlefield that theyjudge progress on the battlefield that they judge they progress on the battlefield that theyjudge they can essentially dictate terms at the table and have some kind of fig leaf power—sharing agreement. if there is a stalemate short of tile a band dominance that the afghan government is able to establish then there's some possibility

of a real negotiation with real compromise but i think it would take a long time to get to that point and persuade the taliban that they have gone as far as they can go. they will continue to fight it out, they are fighting for power and at the moment they are sensing victory. moment they are sensing victo . �* . . moment they are sensing victo . �* , ., ., moment they are sensing victo . �*, ., ., , victory. there's a lot being made of — victory. there's a lot being made of the _ victory. there's a lot being made of the capture - victory. there's a lot being made of the capture and l victory. there's a lot being i made of the capture and the capture of the provincial capital but is that anything more than propaganda victories for the taliban? i more than propaganda victories for the taliban?— for the taliban? i mean they are easier— for the taliban? i mean they are easier targets _ for the taliban? i mean they are easier targets relatively | are easier targets relatively speaking than some others. there having a harder time taking a couple of other provincial capitals in other provinces, so i think you have to be careful to assume that they are on some kind of linear trajectory to the gates of kabul. as i said they have a lot of challenges ahead but it certainly is the case that these victories they have had so far most the morale of their forces and improve the position on the battlefield. . bier?

on the battlefield. . very grateful _ on the battlefield. . very grateful for _ on the battlefield. . very grateful for you - on the battlefield. . very grateful for you sharing i on the battlefield. . very . grateful for you sharing your insights with us. thank you. riot police in thailand have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti—government protesters who tried to gather in the capital, bangkok. the demonstrators are calling for political reforms and changes to the monarchy. they're also angry at the thai government's handling of coronavirus. 0ur corresponde there, jonathen head, sent this report. these protests are not yet on the scale of last year's mass rallies. but they are no less determined. pushing once again for the government to resign and for the lavish funds spent on the military monarchy to be diverted instead to fighting the covid pandemic. the police walled off the prime minister's home and much of bangkok's royal quarter. they push the protesters back

with volleys of tear gas. a now familiar confrontation we are seeing each weekend despite the government's declaration that such gatherings are strictly forbidden. the grievances that fired up thailand's youth last year have not gone away. if anything, the government's botched vaccine rollout combined with the rapid spread of the delta variant overwhelming hospitals and morgues in a country that largely contained the virus last year, has sparked even wider public anger. the prime minister, who seized power seven years ago in a coup, is seen by many as out of touch and authoritarian. his is one of several governments in this region whose already shaky legitimacy is being tested by covid. yet, with infection still rising and much of thailand in lockdown, only a few people are prepared

to take the risk ofjoining these demonstrations. for now, they remain small and unless they pick up momentum, little threat to the thai government. jonathan head, bangkok. let's get some of the day's other news. a ship carrying more than 250 migrants has docked in sicily, a week after those on board, were rescued off the tunisian coast. passengers on the vessel — run by the german aid agency, �*sea watch international�* — clapped and cheered as they arrived at the italian port of trapani. italy has urged other european union countries to accept some of the new arrivals. senators in the united states are meeting for the second weekend in a row in an attempt to pass a trillion—dollar infrastructure bill. the bipartisan legislation has cleared another procedural hurdle, as it edges towards a final vote. the majority leader in the chamber, chuck schumer, said the senate would remain in session until the process was completed.

the french authorities say nearly a quarter of a million people have taken part in the fourth consecutive weekend of demonstrations against a new health pass intended to limit the spread of coronavirus. protesters marched in paris, toulon, nice and other cities. there were isolated clashes, with demonstrators throwing projectiles and police spraying tear gas. wales has moved to covid alert level �*zero,’ meaning social distancing rules, and most other restrictions, have now come to an end. people can gather indoors, and nightclubs are open once again, but face masks are still required by law, in shops and on public transport. here's our wales correspondent, hywel griffith. it's not quite ripping up the rules but from today, life in wales is far less limited. social distancing is no

longer written into law. no need to count how many people meet indoors. facemasks are still mandatory in shops and most indoor spaces, something emma says she can live with. i think it's quite a good idea, really, because there's still quite a lot of vulnerable people. i don't like wearing them but it's just something we've all had to do, really, isn't it? for the manager here, it's about keeping customers confident. they can't afford to take risks. we need to move steadily, gently to complete normality. it isn't going to happen overnight but we do need to build our trade up because since we've reopened, we're only taking about 60% of what we took in 2019. while there's obvious relief at ending some of the restrictions people have had to live with for almost a year and a half, there's already some nervousness about the months ahead. the welsh government has warned that the rise of another coronavirus variant could yet mean having to reimpose some control measures. barring people from the bar again would be unpalatable for many in the beer trade. from today, table service

and masks are no longer legally required in welsh pubs, restaurants and cafes. they hope they've seen the last of lockdowns. basically, we've taken no money. we've managed to survive with the brewery, we've got an independent brewery. plus we've been doing home deliveries. but if we hadn't have had that, i don't know if we'd have survived and i think that pubs in general are struggling. everyone hopes today is a first taste of real lasting freedom. but for now, few are getting carried away. hywel griffith, bbc news, maesteg. this is bbc news — our main headlines: hundreds are evacuated by ferry in greece, as firefighters continue to battle an unprecedented outbreak of wildfires. let's stay with that now. a little earlier, bethany gave my colleague lukwesa burak an update from the island of evia. welcome we are in the hills of the island of evia, and as you can see the fire behind me is still

raging out of control. the sky is full of smoke, and as you can see there's ash floating through the air almost like snowflakes. the authorities are doing their best, they say, to try and, the flames but this is an extremely difficult thing. they are helped for the moment by the fact that the wind has died down, but as you can see the blazes behind me are threatening the houses in this area and they are getting closer to this island's second—largest municipality. bethany, it's interesting that you are on an island, they have same resources as the mainland greece to fight those fires? well, many of the inhabitants here have been complaining that they really have not been given the same kind of support that people have around the capital

in athens, for example. they say that they have been left to bear the brunt of this very much by themselves. the government has said that it is doing everything it can to prevent the loss of life, and greece's prime minister today said that this has been a nightmarish summer. and it is interesting that in some places, there's been many places where people have been told to evacuate and get out as soon as possible, but some people have not wanted to do that. they wanted to try and stay to protect their property as much as possible, but of course that's very risky for them and their families. tens of thousands of health workers in bangladesh tokyo is waking up to the final day of one of the most controversial olympics in modern history. as the games draw to a close, the host country is third on the medal table, behind china and the us. and in a closing ceremony later in the day, tokyo will be handing the olympic baton to paris for the 2024 summer games.

0ur correspondent mariko 0i is outside the olympic stadium in tokyo. mariko, the final day of action is under way and the weather looks like it's putting on a show of its own? indeed. i indeed. lam having indeed. i am having a great hair— indeed. i am having a great hairdoy— indeed. i am having a great hair day here indeed. i am having a great hairday here in indeed. i am having a great hair day here in tokyo. but yes there _ hair day here in tokyo. but yes there is— hair day here in tokyo. but yes there is a — hair day here in tokyo. but yes there is a lot of things happening on the final day of the tokyo olympics. one thing to mention is the men's marathon, that's taking place in the — marathon, that's taking place in the northern island of hokkaido. and tokyo is ironically cooler than hokkaido and had — ironically cooler than hokkaido and had to move it to an hour earlier— and had to move it to an hour earlier to _ and had to move it to an hour earlier to combat the heat. today. _ earlier to combat the heat. today, men's marathon i'm sure they— today, men's marathon i'm sure they are — today, men's marathon i'm sure they are very glad that they moved _ they are very glad that they moved it to hokkaido. tell us what we can _ moved it to hokkaido. tell us what we can expect _ moved it to hokkaido. tell us what we can expect from - moved it to hokkaido. tell us what we can expect from the | what we can expect from the closing ceremony later on today was blue we don't know much about it, i was just talking to my colleagues about what we can expect because if you can

remember in rio in 2016 the thenjapanese prime ministers dressed up as mario if you remember that, so is emmanuel macron here and going to dress up macron here and going to dress up or something? 0ne macron here and going to dress up or something? one thing i know for sure is on the 6th of august the ioc came under a lot of criticism for not holding them minute of silence to mark them minute of silence to mark the atomic bombing of hiroshima. they did at the time say that they will make a mention of hiroshima and nagasaki in the closing ceremonies so that is something that we can probably expect. you've been covering the events for the last couple of weeks for the last couple of weeks for us, what has stood out for you as some of the key moments? i been watching a lot of post—match interviews and they are always very emotional after athletes — are always very emotional after athletes managed to win a medal but at _ athletes managed to win a medal but at this— athletes managed to win a medal but at this games in particular i've noticed a lot ofjapanese athletes _ i've noticed a lot ofjapanese athletes almost apologising and thanking the staff because of course — thanking the staff because of course these games went ahead amid _ course these games went ahead amid the — course these games went ahead amid the global pandemic and

despite — amid the global pandemic and despite the strong public opposition, and before the games— opposition, and before the games and started some athletes came _ games and started some athletes came under a games and started some athletes came undera lot games and started some athletes came under a lot of pressure on social— came under a lot of pressure on social media from people asking them _ social media from people asking them to— social media from people asking them to boycott the games or withdraw from the games. so they— withdraw from the games. so they have been under enormous pressure — they have been under enormous pressure and not to mention not knowing — pressure and not to mention not knowing whether the games would even go _ knowing whether the games would even go ahead and yet continuing to train. some of the emotion we saw was very remarkable and we had some very young _ remarkable and we had some very young athletes and medalists some — young athletes and medalists some of— young athletes and medalists some of whom did not seem to realise — some of whom did not seem to realise the enormous achievement in their post—match interviews — achievement in their post—match interviews were much more happy and delighted so that's something i remember as well. you mentioned the public controversy at the start of the games, there was a split opinion amongstjapanese people opinion amongst japanese people whether the opinion amongstjapanese people whether the games should go ahead, have opinions changed as the games have gone on? i’zre the games have gone on? i've noticed it _ the games have gone on? i've noticed it has _ the games have gone on? i've noticed it has shifted slightly especially after the gold rush

ofjapanese athletes. they said they were against it but nice to see — they were against it but nice to see them many metals. but as we continue to see the surgeon cases— we continue to see the surgeon cases there's a lot of concerns that— cases there's a lot of concerns that of— cases there's a lot of concerns that of course tokyo is going to host — that of course tokyo is going to host a _ that of course tokyo is going to host a paralympics in a few weeks' — to host a paralympics in a few weeks' time but a lot of concerns about the record numbers _ concerns about the record numbers we continue to see and of course — numbers we continue to see and of course the ioc and japanese government and organising committee all say that the search _ committee all say that the search has nothing to do with the olympics but i think a lot of people here disagree that not that— of people here disagree that not that foreign athletes and officials _ not that foreign athletes and officials are spreading a virus but the — officials are spreading a virus but the fact that the games have — but the fact that the games have been taking place in this city is — have been taking place in this city is sending the wrong message and there's been no kind — message and there's been no kind of— message and there's been no kind of sense of urgency for people _ kind of sense of urgency for people to oblige to the state of emergency and stay—at—home. ithink— of emergency and stay—at—home. i think you — of emergency and stay—at—home. i think you best go fight to dry off it will catch up later. thank you very much. well speaking of reflecting on the games, we can go live now to jacksonville north carolina to speak to hannah roberts, who atjust19 years of age won silver in the women's bmx freestyle event in tokyo.

iam i am delighted to be able to talk to you, thank you very much for coming on the programme. tell us, what was yourfirst programme. tell us, what was your first olympics experience like? it your first olympics experience like? ., , ., , your first olympics experience like? .,, .._ like? it was a bit crazy. the whole fact _ like? it was a bit crazy. the whole fact of _ like? it was a bit crazy. the whole fact of the _ like? it was a bit crazy. the whole fact of the limbic - whole fact of the limbic happening and being there which wasjust a real happening and being there which was just a real experience and had to get used to it pretty fast because you were thrown in. it wasjust fast because you were thrown in. it was just amazing to be able to go and compete with my friends and feel normal again after the year and a half of the world kind of shutting down for a while. how did you celebrate out in tokyo winning your silver come up were you able to celebrate? yes. i'm19 so i celebrated either way i can't do anywhere, there's nothing i can do what i'm here or not do. ijust hung out with my friends and eat a lot of sweets afterwards and that i

talk to my family. i was just super excited to come home so that i could show the metal and the videos and stuff that i was not able to post while i was there. �* ., _ not able to post while i was there. �* ., , there. and obviously your friends and _ there. and obviously your friends and family - there. and obviously your friends and family when l there. and obviously your friends and family when i | there. and obviously your - friends and family when i have been able tojoin friends and family when i have been able to join you out in tokyo, what was the reception like when you got back to north carolina? m, ., , like when you got back to north carolina? ~ ., , ., , carolina? most of my family lives in michigan _ carolina? most of my family lives in michigan so - carolina? most of my family lives in michigan so i - carolina? most of my family lives in michigan so i have i carolina? most of my family i lives in michigan so i have not been able to see them yet, i'm hoping to drive up there soon. coming home to my wife was like the best thing. i wasn't gone for that long but coming home and being, iwas for that long but coming home and being, i was super happy with how i wrote, super stoked to take the silver and coming home was amazing and it was is relieved. and i get to sit at home and enjoyjust my downtime. home and en'oy 'ust my downtime.“ home and en'oy 'ust my downtime. ., . . downtime. you started writing bmx when _ downtime. you started writing bmx when you _ downtime. you started writing bmx when you were _ downtime. you started writing bmx when you were just - downtime. you started writing bmx when you were just nine | bmx when you were just nine years old, what would your advice be to young boys and

girls watched you and inspired to use to get into bmx pattillo definitely try it. you can build a family in the community in such a support system in the sport itself and even if it's not for you there's definitely people where you meet lifelong friends in the sport. definitely give it a try and go to your local skate park and don't give up, you fall and you win some and you lose some but you've just got to enjoy the little moments and go out there and make some friends. riding bikes is superfun. hannah roberts, silver winner in tokyo, thank you so much for joining us, delightful to talk to you. a boat shaped like a giant violin which has been built as an homage to people who died from covid has had a test run in venice. the 12 metre long vessel is called the violin of noah and was built by the artist livio de marchi during the pandemic. he said it symbolises the re—birth of venice. it will be formally launched next month when it will sail

around the venetian canals. hello there. low pressure brought a very unsettled day on saturday. we saw lots of showers around, some torrential downpours in places, but there was some good spells of sunshine, too. and sunday is a repeat performance — some of the showers will be heavy and thundery once again and slow moving across the north of the uk. that's because in the centre of the low, the winds will be lighter but you'll notice across its southern flank for southern england through wales, quite a squeeze in the isobars there. so, it's going to be breezy. so, we'll start off with maybe some sunshine across eastern areas but the showers will get going. they'll rattle through fairly quickly across southern areas because of the breeze but they'll hang around across the northern half of the country — slow—moving torrential downpours, an area of more persistent rain just pushing to the far north—east

of scotland and 0rkney there. so the wind is lighter — you'll notice these are the mean wind speeds. further south though, it will be blustering gusts higher than this particularly around coasts and over hills. so in the sunshine, we could see temperatures reach around 21 celsius. otherwise, like the last few days, most places will be the mid to high teens, and it'll feel particularly cool when the showers come along. now through sunday night, the showers continue across northern areas, turn drier for a while for england and wales but we'll see this feature run across the south bringing some wet weather for south wales and southern england through the night. again, it'll remain fairly breezy in the south, lighter winds in the north. overnight temperatures 11—14 celsius. so into monday, then, we're starting the new week off with this area of low pressure but it's going to continue to weaken. fewer isobars on the chart, so the winds will turn a bit lighter. we'll start off quite wet across the south east. that feature clearing away. and you'll see quite a bit of sunshine around and i think

general thinking is for monday, there will be fewer showers around but still dotted around, there will be some torrential downpours in places. top temperatures, again, 20—21 celsius. closer to 17—19 for most. that area of low pressure eventually moves away as we head on into tuesday and a ridge of high pressure builds in across the country from tuesday onwards. this area of low pressure will continue to affect more western parts of the country but i think high pressure will try and dominate for much of the south and the east through the course of the week. so, temperatures will respond. we'll see southerly winds, more sunshine. it will turn much warmer. there will always be the chance of some showers further north and west closer to that area of low pressure.

this is bbc news.

the headlines. thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from towns north of athens, as wildfires spread across the country. more than 150 wildfires are burning out of control — some now close to the greek capital. two people are known to have died, and at least 20 others have been injured. the afghan government says american b—52 bombers have killed more than 200 taliban fighters in a series of air strikes in the northern city of sheberghan. the us and the uk have asked their citizens in afghanistan to leave the country immediately because of the worsening security situation. 0n the final day of the tokyo olympics, the men's marathon is under way, featuring eliud kipchoge of kenya, the world record holder and defending champion. more than 100 athletes from a0 nations are taking part in the marathon in sapporo in northern japan. now on bbc news, zeinab badawi meets two sublime young opera

stars who are grappling with a new world of opera —