this is bbc news. the headlines at four. after more than two weeks of thrilling sporting action — the tokyo olympic games end with a spectacular closing ceremony cyclist jason kenny successfully defends his keirin title to become the first briton to win seven olympic gold medals — an impressive medal haul overall for team gb. another provincial capital in afghanistan falls to the taliban as they continue to make ferocious assaults against three key northern cities. new changes to the uk's covid travel restrictions come into force. double—vaccinated people travelling from france to the uk will no longer have to isolate.

thousands flee their homes in greece as forest fires burn out of control. the country faces its most intense heatwave in more than 30 years. the argentine football star lionel messi is emotional as he confirms that he is leaving barcelona after 20 years at the club and thousands take to the streets of amsterdam as the city marks the 25th anniversary of its first gay pride parade. the tokyo olympics have ended, with a closing ceremony in the national stadium devoid of fans. moments after the flame is extinguished, a volley of fireworks lit up the night sky around the

stadium where athletes were already heading for the exits. the president of the international olympic committee, thomas bach, thanked the people of japan and described the 16 day event as unprecedented , because of the pandemic. the olympic flag was handed over to the mayor of paris where the games will be held in three years time. team gb have matched their medal total from london 2012 with 22 golds, and 65 medals in total. jason kenny won a gold medal in the men's keirin cycling event in the veladrome. that makes him britain's most successful male athlete with a total of seven olympic gold medals under his belt — and a total of nine olympic medals in all. in the boxing ring, there was gold for lauren price in the women's boxing middle weight final. she beat china's li qian in a 5—0 victory. let's head to the bbc sports centre and speak to chetan. it was the final day but still those medals kept coming!

absolutely. what a great day to finish for great britain. great britain won two more gold medals on the final day of competition in tokyo, bringing their tally to 22 — 65 medals in all — and that matches their achievement at london 2012. and what a finish forjason kenny — he's now the first british man to win seven olympic golds, overtaking sir chris hoy. it was an extraordinary ride from kenny in the keirin. he stunned the field, sprinting clear with three laps remaining to retain his title. he'd already taken silver in the team sprint but he lost his individual sprint title, and although he was delighted with today's gold, he felt he could've done better overall. i'v e i've been disappointed this week, really, i wasn't as competitive as i wanted to be but in the keirins you conveyis wanted to be but in the keirins you convey is hard and kind of trial look a little bit and we popped at the event. i couldn't believe that no one came past. i felt like the event. i couldn't believe that no one came past. ifelt like i the event. i couldn't believe that no one came past. i felt like i was standing still a that pascoe and i was hacking away. ijust kept telling myself it's a medal, it's a

medal, even if nothing else it's still a medal. and then when i cross the line i realised it was a bloody gold medal! just amazing. his wife laura kenny was the team gb flag bearer at the closing ceremony but there was disappointment for her on the track. she was brought down in a pile—up towards the end of the first discipline in the omnium — the points race — and couldn't fight her way back up the field, eventually finishing 6th. but she's great britain's most successful female athlete, after winning the madison with katie archibald on friday. and britain's last medal of the games came in the boxing ring, and it was gold for lauren price, who beat china's lee chee—un to take the middleweight crown. price's story is a remarkable one — from being a kickboxing world champion and international footballer, she is now an olympic champion. craig templeton reports.

lauren price. european, commonwealth and world champion _ lauren price. european, commonwealth and world champion now— lauren price. european, commonwealth and world champion now olympic- and world champion now olympic champion. likely has always done it all whether it was kickboxing, footballing or even driving a taxi but this was the one she wanted. that variety of sports contains a dangerous fighter, as china's competitor found out. dangerous fighter, as china's competitorfound out. there was no doubt who warned one. the second round was tighter, the chinese competitor kept at an arms length, the welsh woman waiting to strike. but seeing the wait would be over. lauren price is the olympic champion! _ lauren price is the olympic champion! fi— lauren price is the olympic champion!— lauren price is the olympic chamion! �* ., ., . ., ., champion! a moment of reflection, a moment to — champion! a moment of reflection, a moment to be _ champion! a moment of reflection, a moment to be thoughtful. _ champion! a moment of reflection, a moment to be thoughtful. thank - champion! a moment of reflection, a moment to be thoughtful. thank you | moment to be thoughtful. thank you to everyone — moment to be thoughtful. thank you to everyone who _ moment to be thoughtful. thank you to everyone who supported - moment to be thoughtful. thank you to everyone who supported me - moment to be thoughtful. thank you to everyone who supported me on i moment to be thoughtful. thank you i to everyone who supported me on this journey from start off at eight years of age and just over the moon and thanks to everyone back home for the moon and thanks to everyone back

home folder is about. it means the world and it's got me to eat. big shout out to my nan and all her comments and it is looking like we're going to go boxing right outside my house so happy days! price's medal is one of six of gb boxes equalling their best ever games. forthe boxes equalling their best ever games. for the team, boxes equalling their best ever games. forthe team, it boxes equalling their best ever games. for the team, it was the icing on the cake. the price, it was priceless. craig templeton, bbc news. kellie harrington said she had a sense of relief after winning gold for ireland in the lightweight division. she lost the opening round of the final, but she rallied to beat brazil's beatriz ferreira on a unaminous decision. it's only ireland's iith olympic gold medal — and harrington follows in the famous footsteps of katie taylor, who won at london 2012. meanwhile, as fireworks and lights beamed into the night sky from the national stadium as the games drew to a close. held in the middle of a pandemic and plagued by months

of administrative problems, there were logistical and medical obstacles like no other. the theme of the ceremony was worlds we share, and we only have to wait three years for the next — paris will host the games in 202a. that's all the sport for now. lucy hockings is in tokyo for us and a little earlier i asked what her impressions had been of the games over the past few weeks. actually, a real roller—coaster. arriving here in tokyo at the beginning of the game is none of us knew what to expect. so many restrictions on the media and on the athletes as well, cooped up in their rooms at times, having to do daily testing, difficulties in training for some of them as well. i mean,

there's constant concern about the pandemic and then we saw these rising covid numbers every day that we were reporting on. at one point in time the balloon to around 5000 cases a day and it felt at times that that might overshadow these games but, martin, the stories of inspiration came thick and fast. every day it felt like there was a story that would bring people to tears and then the sport really worked its magic and for the host nation, japan, they'd had this incredible record hole, 27 goals, far better than they were expecting in many respects. they've got a brother and sister who both won medals in thejudo, young dynamics skateboarders who were only 12 and 19 when they stood on that podium. they won the baseball the other night which is an absolute passion for manyjapanese are on the sporting field there was all the successor you started to feel the tide, sort of, turning here and the change as people started really enjoying the sporting action so like many japanese i enjoying the sporting action so like

manyjapanese i have also enjoying the sporting action so like many japanese i have also felt a bit conflicted that yes, this is been happening and it is a pandemic with a huge amount of concern about the health care system and whether it would hold up adult of these incredible moments that we've seen incredible moments that we've seen in the health care system and whether it would hold up adult of these incredible moments that we've seen this was a arena. —— in this that we seen in the sporting arena. the atmosphere inside either sporting stadiums is artificial, was nothing like any one had ever competed with before? absolutely, and some athletes relished it and used it as a way of focusing. other athletes, relished it and used it as a way of focusing. otherathletes, ithink, really miss having family and friends. particularly, infact, simon bile spoke about that when she talked about her mental health, how tough it was do not have a family there with her but done right, of course, all the athletes came up to support each other and if simone biles he was there every day sporting her team—mates even though she wasn't actually competing we saw that time and time again. they were trying to fill out the sand, they have their flags, they were cheering on their team—mates at all of these events but, yes, it was poignant, i

think is the word to use, and i don't know how much of the closing ceremony you soul but i felt that very much tonight, that there were these athletes parading round to an empty stadium and some of the smaller countries have already sent over athletes home because, remember, after you've completed you've got 48 hours before you have to return. they have to do have volunteers carrying their country's flags which felt a little bit sad as well and then they recreated inside the olympic stadium tonight scenes of tokyo, we saw a park scene, bmx is, a dj and what they were trying to do was give the athletes a sense of what this incredibly vibrant creative amazing city is all about because they haven't been able to see it. they've only been in the olympic village about their venues and they wanted to give them a little taste of it at the closing ceremony so moments like that, for me, actually felt a little bit poignant.

and former olympic champion boxer and bbc pundit nicola adams gave her assessment of the games to the bbc�*s nesta mcgregor. yeah, i think the games have been a huge success. i mean, the amount of medals that we've won has been unreal, considering everything that's gone on beforehand. nobody would've ever expected that this would ever happen, so it's awesome to see. and so many places where medals have been, as well. i think the pool, the ring, and obviously the cycling has been the majority of it. the olympics is always about sport that you, kind of, just find yourself watching it 2am. so is there anything, boxing aside, that you've just been gripped by? yeah. the skateboarding, the mountain biking as well, the bmxing. there's just been so many sports — and the climbing! there's just been so many different sports that you never normally get to see on a daily basis, and the one time that you get to see them is when the olympics on, so it's been awesome to see. i mean, how fast they climb up that well, it's like watching spider—man. it's crazy. but in the ring is where your expertise lies. it'll be unfair — we're

going to talk about everyone, but for you any standout performances, any surprises in the boxing ring? yeah. well, maybe not surprises. i knew...the people that i expected to get medals did get medals, but i was really happy for lauren price getting the gold, frazer clarke as well, getting a medal. he's missed out on going to the olympics so many times. couldn't go to the 2012 — anthonyjoshua when that time. rio 2016, there wasjoejoyce. and this time, this was his moment. this was his, like, last chance and i was so happy to see him get a medal. you just mentioned lauren price there, who, as i mentioned, i met before the games. what an incredible story. firstly, how much do you know about lauren? have you met her? world champion, now olympic champion, i think european and commonwealth, maybe, as well, former footballer... like, what a...not a closing chapter but what a next sentence in her career?

yeah, i mean, lauren has done exceptional. i do know lauren from on the team. however, i found out today that i inspired her to be a boxer and to win a gold medal, so it was awesome to be able to see her achieve her goal, and to think that i've inspired the next generation, i mean, it's just humbling and honouring to think that i've been looked up to in such a way and then she's gone on to win a gold medal. we now have the latest government coronavirus figures for last 24—hour period. 27,429 people have tested positive during the 24—hour period, 39 deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus in the last 20 days have also been the recorded.

thousands more people have had their first taste of the covid—19 vaccine, more have had their second dose, and that means the total number of people who have had a first dose is 47,036,796 and the total number of people who have had a second dose is 39,429,468. another afghan provincial capital , taluqan in takhar province in the north of the country, fell to the taliban this afternoon. it comes as the taliban in afghanistan say they have captured the northern cities of kunduz and sar—e—pul, as they continue to make sweeping territorial gains. a spokesman for the group said theirfighters had taken most government buildings in kunduz, but a defence ministry official said special forces were still inside the city battling the insurgents. if the miltants can hold kunduz, considered a gateway to central asia, it will be a big setback for the government. a local official in sar—e—pul said most government officials had moved to an army base outside the city.

ferries have been evacuating hundreds of residents and holiday—makers from the greek island of evia, as wildfires continue to threaten homes and villages there. long queues of cars have formed at one port. residents are taking what they can with them, including pets. some have expressed their anger over what they see as failures of the greek authorities. here at the port, people are queueing up to get on ferries to take them back to the mainland. people have been receiving emergency alerts on their phones here in parts of the north of the island warning them to leave. we spoke to one woman who said that she had packed up herfamily into their car, they'd managed to get away, but she was worried about whether she'd be able to see her holiday home again. one other woman told me she's staying here for the moment, but she's worried about the air here — it's full of smoke and there are bits of ash flying around, and she said her mother is 80 years old and she's worried about her being able to breathe. the ferries at the moment are only taking cars back to the mainland. they're not allowing new cars to come back

here to the north of the island. meanwhile, the firefighters are struggling to try and bring these blazes under control, but it's an uphill task, and now the wind is picking up again. bethany bell reporting. a team of british firefighters are on their way to athens to help. tony brown is one of them. our mission is to assist the greek authorities and the civil protection to supplement their firefighting effort. we have a number of experts within the team who are wildfire experts who are european and world trained and we've got a team of 21 firefighters there to assist. what we're going to do tomorrow and this evening is fit in to the tactics, and that's my job, to understand how

we're going to fit into their plan and whether that plan, from our point of view, is considered and safe for our firefighters, so we will be working and we'll be working the language and communication out. most of us, especially the management team who are with the team are trained in the civil protection for european disasters and we understand how, you know, we communicate. british firefighter tony brown. officials in california say three firefighters have been injured tackling a huge wildfire in the north of the state. five people are missing after the dixie fire, the largest active blaze in the us swept through two towns, destroying more than one— hundred and eighty— thousand hectares in four counties. california's fire services said only around a fifth of the blaze has been contained. the headlines on bbc news...

after more than two weeks of thrilling sporting action — the tokyo olympic games end with a spectacular closing ceremony team gb cyclist jason kenny successfully defends his keirin title to become the first briton to win seven olympic gold medals. another provincial capital in afghanistan falls to the taliban northern cities. people fully vaccinated against coronavirus can now visit france without quarantining on their return to the uk. it's one of several changes to the government's travel list that have come into effect this morning. seven countries including germany have been added to the green list — but mexico is on the red list, meaning a mandatory 10—day stay in a hotel for visitors coming back to britain. katy austin reports for some passengers heading to france on holiday this morning, the fact they won't have to self—isolate when they return to the uk is a relief. we will no longer have to quarantine because we're double—jabbed. so, what does that mean for you? is that good in terms of work or anything like that? yeah, i mean, so we can

come back to work — i'm self employed — and we get to go and see his family. brittany ferries has seen a surge in bookings, but still only hopes to carry half a million passengers this year, less than a quarter of pre—pandemic numbers. the season '21 will be - worse than the season '20 for brittany ferries, _ so i guess it's more than welcome this announcement, it's good news, but it comes in a year where, - at the end of the day, for us, everything is about '22 - and making '22 a real. normalyear, hopefully. also from today, india and a handful of other places have moved to the amber list. however, mexico is among those joining the red list. that means paying for hotel quarantine. to avoid it, lotus and her husband, celebrating their anniversary after a tough year, scrambled to fly back to england a week early. i would be lying to you if i told you that i wasn't incredibly

upset when it happened. i know that people say it can change quite quickly, but three days notice to travel from halfway across the world. struggling tourism and aviation businesses saw this season as crucial. one travel agent told me testing requirements were still putting many brits off booking foreign trips, and the latest change had only made a small difference. it's far too late to save the summer. for a lot of consumers, they've already made their plans, and whilst we've seen an increase — literally, from the next day we have seen an increase — it's marginal, and when you think most businesses are trading 80% down you need a huge amount of volume to make up anywhere near the shortfall that they're experiencing. those who do now want to book a getaway will still need to check what the rules are for holiday—makers arriving at their destination. katie austin, bbc news.

labour leader sir keir starmer, has warned the government that a second summer of exam chaos is "not an option" — ahead of a—level results day on tuesday. concerns have been raised about possible grade inflation — as pupils are again being assessed by teachers rather than formal exams and some experts are predicting increased competition for places at the most popular universities as a result. the department for education say they've put in place a "rigorous system", but sir keir says it's vital that young people don't miss out on opportunities. stu d e nts students and young people are entitled to students and young people are entitled to a students and young people are entitled to a government students and young people are entitled to a government that planned into the summer of this year and instead they are facing the prospect of chaos. we, the labour party, called on the government in autumn of last year to have a plan b in case exams couldn't be taken and a dividend they delayed are now thousands of students are anxious about what is actually going to happen this week and i want the prime minister to step up now and show some leadership.

teachers, secondary school pupils, prison officers and prisoners will all be offered the flu vaccine this winter in scotland. it's the biggest seasonal vaccine programme the country has ever done and means that three—quarters of the scottish population can get a jab for free. the programme will run from september until march 2022. the argentine footballer lionel messi has made a tearful farewell to barcelona, the spanish club hejoined at the age of 13. messi has been at barcelona for more than 20 years, helping them win 34 trophies — including ten spanish and four uefa champions league titles. barcelona said it was letting him go because it could not afford to pay his wages. the 34—year—old did not say what he planned to do next,

but acknowledged that a move to paris st—germain was a possibility. he also expressed his deep affection for the club where he'd spent so much of his life. translation: many beautiful things happened to me here, bad too, - but all this helped me to grow, improve and made me the person i am today. we've had very good moments, bad ones too, but the affection of the people has been constant — i always felt it, the recognition, the love. i felt it towards them, too, and the club, and will do all my life, i hope. amsterdam has marked the 25th anniversary of its first pride parade. around 10 thousand people carried rainbow flags celestina olulode reports. car horns toot. a demonstration of equality with a clear message. all chant. a walk through the historic city centre is how thousands marked the 25th anniversary

of amsterdam's pride festival. and while the party atmosphere gripped the streets... cheering and applause. ..some marched with these flags in hand, representing countries where homosexuality is still against the law. in 2001, the netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise same—sex marriage. but according to a report by human rights watch, there were over 1,500 anti—lgbt incidents in the country in 2017 — a 66% increase compared to just over a decade ago. ernst verhoeven helped organise amsterdam's first pride parade he says that there's been a lack of tolerance towards lgbt people from some immigrants coming from countries

where homosexuality is illegal. the city became more colourful and diverse, which is great, but the city became also, in parts of it, more conservative and aggressive toward differences. we are now in a situation that there is quite a bit of violence instigated against us by youngsters with migration background, and on the other hand, we have the politicians that, in the left—wing and liberal politicians don't know how to tackle the problem because they're also afraid to discriminate. so i hope that we invest in each other, in solidarity, and that in the coming five years, we make a safe space of amsterdam again. a gay paradise. it's the second consecutive year the city's canal parade was cancelled due to coronavirus,

but despite covid, young and old, the message on these streets is still the same — equal rights for all. celestina olulode, bbc news. a leading research organisation has warned that the number of patients on nhs waiting lists in england could easily exceed the government's estimate of 13 million by autumn next year. the institute for fiscal studies believes there's a hidden backlog of patients , on top of the 5.3 million people already known to be waiting for procedures and appointments. the department of health says it's giving the nhs a billion pounds to start clearing waiting lists. a drug to treat cystic fibrosis, that became available on the nhs in england last year, is transforming lives. medics at the royal papworth hospital in cambridge say kaftrio is having an impact that some have described as "mind—blowing". the bbc�*s science correspondent richard westcott went to meet laura — who had been told she might not live beyond 30, but who has now celebrated that birthday in good

health, and has even started a family. this is life with cystic fibrosis. a few months ago, she found herself exhausted after a simple walk. after taking this drug she has also got a new life. when this book first came out, we all heard how amazing the new drug was but did you expect it would have this impact on your life? no, because of how you feel living with cystic fibrosis and how scary it can be just two tablets in the morning and one at night how can i do everything that everybody is telling me it is doing? and it made me feel so much better, clearer, could breathe better. ijust couldn't believe the effects it was

having on the within already the first three days.— first three days. laura's lung function went _ first three days. laura's lung function went from - first three days. laura's lung function went from 5296 - first three days. laura's lung function went from 5296 to i first three days. laura's lung i function went from 5296 to 9296 first three days. laura's lung - function went from 5296 to 9296 in a function went from 52% to 92% in a matter of weeks and after years of struggling to start a family... it only took seven weeks to fall pregnant which is obviously incredible and has just been the best thing ever because we wanted to best thing ever because we wanted to be parents for so long and then we finally come actually, got our miracle baby. while we were filming, cf nurse chi came to say hello. you've looked after lava for years, haven't you? what difference have you seen in her? it is haven't you? what difference have you seen in her?— haven't you? what difference have you seen in her? it is 'ust amazing. i have — you seen in her? it is 'ust amazing. i have seen herh you seen in her? it is 'ust amazing. i have seen her when — you seen in her? it isjust amazing. i have seen her when she _ you seen in her? it isjust amazing. i have seen her when she was - you seen in her? it isjust amazing. i have seen her when she was 16 i you seen in her? it isjust amazing. l i have seen her when she was 16 and now she _ i have seen her when she was 16 and now she a _ i have seen her when she was 16 and now she a mum so it isjust like a 360 _ now she a mum so it isjust like a 360 so _ now she a mum so it isjust like a 360 so it— now she a mum so it isjust like a 360 so it is— now she a mum so it isjust like a 360 so it isjust amazing to see her have _ 360 so it isjust amazing to see her have her— 360 so it isjust amazing to see her have her dream come true with little louis_ have her dream come true with little louis and _ have her dream come true with little louis and nick ennis isjust amazing _ louis and nick ennis is 'ust amazingi louis and nick ennis is 'ust amazing. louis and nick ennis is 'ust amazinu. ~ . ~ ., amazing. what you think of little louis? 0h, _ amazing. what you think of little louis? oh, i _ amazing. what you think of little louis? oh, ijust— amazing. what you think of little louis? oh, ijust want _ amazing. what you think of little louis? oh, i just want to - amazing. what you think of little j louis? oh, ijust want to cuddle!

amazing. what you think of little l louis? oh, ijust want to cuddle! i louis? oh, i 'ust want to cuddle! i want to take— louis? oh, ijust want to cuddle! i want to take home? _ louis? oh, ijust want to cuddle! i want to take home? one - louis? oh, ijust want to cuddle! i want to take home? one of - louis? oh, ijust want to cuddle! i | want to take home? one of laura's consultants. _ want to take home? one of laura's consultants, uta, _ want to take home? one of laura's consultants, uta, says— want to take home? one of laura's consultants, uta, says the - want to take home? one of laura's consultants, uta, says the drug - want to take home? one of laura's consultants, uta, says the drug is. consultants, uta, says the drug is transforming lives. you have been a medicine on time, have you ever seen this before? this medicine on time, have you ever seen this before?— this before? this is really unique in medicine. _ this before? this is really unique in medicine. when _ this before? this is really unique in medicine. when we _ this before? this is really unique in medicine. when we first - this before? this is really unique i in medicine. when we first started looking after patients we were lucky if they survived into their 30s or 40s but now with this new treatment that has been transformed. we 40s but now with this new treatment that has been transformed.— that has been transformed. we were before told she _ that has been transformed. we were before told she would _ that has been transformed. we were before told she would be _ that has been transformed. we were before told she would be looking - that has been transformed. we were before told she would be looking to l before told she would be looking to see her— before told she would be looking to see her 30th — before told she would be looking to see her 30th birthday— before told she would be looking to see her 30th birthday and - before told she would be looking to see her 30th birthday and now- before told she would be looking to see her 30th birthday and now shel see her 30th birthday and now she has a _ see her 30th birthday and now she has a baby— see her 30th birthday and now she has a babyand_ see her 30th birthday and now she has a baby and the _ see her 30th birthday and now she has a baby and the whole - see her 30th birthday and now she has a baby and the whole thing - see her 30th birthday and now she has a baby and the whole thing is. has a baby and the whole thing is 'ust has a baby and the whole thing is just a _ has a baby and the whole thing is just a massive _ has a baby and the whole thing is just a massive outlook _ has a baby and the whole thing is just a massive outlook on - has a baby and the whole thing is just a massive outlook on life. i has a baby and the whole thing isi just a massive outlook on life. so, what are your _ just a massive outlook on life. what are your views on the just a massive outlook on life.“ what are your views on the world, life so far? baby hiccups. good answer. child prodigy.

once again, today, we've got big shower clouds on the horizon, downpours, thunder and lightning possible too, and on the later satellite picture you can see there is a lot of cloud across the uk and only here and there we have lengthy sunny spells. and, actually, lengthy sunny spells possible second half of the day across the south—west of the uk. the heavy showers will be mostly across the northern half of the country, and particularly slow—moving, for example, in scotland and northern england, so the downpour will last longer because it's not being pushed by the stronger winds, which are a little bit further south. so, the showers continue through the course of this evening and overnight, but there will be some clear spells around too — for example in the midlands, in wales, not a cold night. and then tomorrow, the showers will be more scattered, so that means there'll be more sunny spells developing, and, in fact, for some of us it may end up being a pretty decent day. if you want some drier, brighter weather it's looking better on tuesday.