today at six... we've seen the fighters, now the taliban's leaders arrive in afghanistan and say they're ready to take control. in the capital kabul the big question — is this a new taliban or will they govern with the brutality of the last time they were in charge? translation: i reassurel all internationals, the un, all embassies, our neighbours, that we will not be allowing the soil of afghanistan to be used against anybody. but thousands of afghans are taking no chances whatever the taliban say, they're waiting to be evacuated. clearly there is a dynamic political situation running across the city. we make no assumptions about that other than we really can't afford to pause.

so how many afghans will britain take? how many should we take? also tonight... rebuilding after the pandemic — the latest official figures show record job vacancies as the uk economy rebounds. the plague is still a killer in parts of the world, now a new vaccine developed here could consign it to history once and for all. a glimpse of deep space as we've never seen it before — astronomers learn more abouth the birth and destruction of the stars. and coming up on the bbc news channel... england captainjoe root admits his side need to get better following their final day defeat to india at lord's as they look for a way back in the series.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. twenty years after they were driven out of afghanistan, the taliban's leaders are back in the country they once ruled with such brutality. in their first public statements on afghan soil the taliban say their territory will no longer be used to export terror. remember, that was the reason the international coalition invaded the country after the 9/11 attacks on america. there were assurances too that those who worked for international forces would come to no harm and that women would be allowed to study and work within islamic principles. here's our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet. the republic has fallen, its leaders fled. taliban rule is returning. day by day its fighters are more visible

on the streets of kabul. patrolling with us military vehicles left behind or lost by government forces. taking on tasks to show they are in charge now, and showing the new face of afghanistan to the world. today the first press conference by a man who has long been a mystery, taliban spokesman zabiola mujahit, showing his face in public for the first time, making their message clear. translation: there is death in war, we didn't kill for revenge, itjust happened because it was a war that we were fighting. we have given amnesty to everybody, we want them to give us forgiveness. find amnesty to everybody, we want them to give us forgiveness.— to give us forgiveness. and a message _ to give us forgiveness. and a message for— to give us forgiveness. and a message for anxious - to give us forgiveness. and a message for anxious afghan | to give us forgiveness. and a - message for anxious afghan women as well. , ., ., ., , well. there will be nothing against women in our _ well. there will be nothing against women in our ruling, _ well. there will be nothing against women in our ruling, our - well. there will be nothing against women in our ruling, our people . women in our ruling, our people accept our women are muslims, they accept our women are muslims, they accept islamic rule. if they continue to live according to sharia, we will be happy, they will

be happy. dar; sharia, we will be happy, they will be ha-- . _ sharia, we will be happy, they will be ha“ . ,y sharia, we will be happy, they will beha... ,y �* .,, sharia, we will be happy, they will behau. ,y �* ., ., be happy. day by day afghans come to terms with the — be happy. day by day afghans come to terms with the taliban _ be happy. day by day afghans come to terms with the taliban again, - terms with the taliban again, waiting not for words, but what will change in their lives. let’s waiting not for words, but what will change in their lives.— change in their lives. let's see what afghanistan _ change in their lives. let's see what afghanistan brings, - change in their lives. let's see what afghanistan brings, i- change in their lives. let's see | what afghanistan brings, i want change in their lives. let's see - what afghanistan brings, i want to stay here, i want to fight for my students, i want to fight for our vision of afghanistan. i know things are never going to be the same any more. it'sjust i have are never going to be the same any more. it's just i have to are never going to be the same any more. it'sjust i have to be here. and so far, some surprises. female presenters are still fronting popular news programmes. a taliban was taking her questions. but many fear it is a shiny, new show for now. women are already taking to the streets. we exist, they shout, work, education, political participation is our right. women make up half of

afghan society, don't upset us, they tell the taliban, be our voice. with fighting finish, time for fun as well, taliban style. not the usual image of austere islamist, but it may be but a brief pause before new rules come into force. look atjust one snapshot of how many people, afghans and foreigners, are fleeing as fast as possible. the evacuation from kabul airport proceeds ever more urgently, including britain's operations. more urgently, including britain's operations-— more urgently, including britain's oerations. ., , ., , more urgently, including britain's oerations. ., , ., operations. there was bound to be a moment of— operations. there was bound to be a moment of turmoil _ operations. there was bound to be a moment of turmoil in _ operations. there was bound to be a moment of turmoil in that _ operations. there was bound to be a moment of turmoil in that system. | operations. there was bound to be a moment of turmoil in that system. i | moment of turmoil in that system. i think actually what is really impressive is that in a very short period we have moved forward now into something that looks stable and that we can continue to move on. the taliban are — that we can continue to move on. the taliban are promising stability as well, and a government that is different this time round. their words have changed. we wait to see what they really mean. lee is

reporting. despite the assurances we heard from the taliban today many thousands of afghans are desperate to leave the country. today, foreign secretary dominic raab said the government here would bring forward plans for a resettlement scheme for refugees "in due course". here's our political correspondent alex forsyth. this is the push to get people out. hundreds of troops are helping evacuate british nationals and afghans who helped foreign forces. not everyone is eligible for a place on these planes and those left behind may try to make their own way out. that is what massoud, which is not his real name, date. three years ago, just 16, he fled afghanistan when the taliban threatened his family. he said the illegal route was his only option, travelling on foot, in lorries and with people smugglers. foot, in lorries and with people smugglers-— foot, in lorries and with people smu~lers. �* ., , smugglers. i couldn't talk because the had smugglers. i couldn't talk because they had guns _ smugglers. i couldn't talk because they had guns and _ smugglers. i couldn't talk because they had guns and sticks. -

smugglers. i couldn't talk because they had guns and sticks. you - smugglers. i couldn't talk because | they had guns and sticks. you can't talk with them, they willjust be you. talk with them, they will “ust be ou. ., talk with them, they will “ust be 0“. ., ., talk with them, they will “ust be ou. ., ., , ., ., talk with them, they will “ust be ou. ., ., ,, ., i. you. how do you feel now if your family are _ you. how do you feel now if your family are still _ you. how do you feel now if your family are still in _ you. how do you feel now if your family are still in afghanistan? l family are still in afghanistan? i don't have contact with my mum and sister. ., ., �* ~ ., , sister. you don't know where they are. sister. you don't know where they are- when — sister. you don't know where they are- when i _ sister. you don't know where they are. when i see _ sister. you don't know where they are. when i see the _ sister. you don't know where they are. when i see the news - are. when i see the news everyday, bomb blast, — are. when i see the news everyday, bomb blast, the _ are. when i see the news everyday, bomb blast, the taliban, _ are. when i see the news everyday, bomb blast, the taliban, fighting, l are. when i see the news everyday, bomb blast, the taliban, fighting, i | bomb blast, the taliban, fighting, i am very scared about what is happening, if they are alive or not. with more refugees expected, the government has promised a plan to help. we government has promised a plan to hel _ . ., ., government has promised a plan to hel, . ., ., , government has promised a plan to hel. . ., ., , ., government has promised a plan to help. we are a big hearted nation and we have _ help. we are a big hearted nation and we have always, _ help. we are a big hearted nation and we have always, as _ help. we are a big hearted nation and we have always, as i - help. we are a big hearted nation and we have always, as i know i help. we are a big hearted nation i and we have always, as i know from my own _ and we have always, as i know from my own history, as priti patel knows from hers. _ my own history, as priti patel knows from hers, has always been a country that has— from hers, has always been a country that has provided a safe haven for those _ that has provided a safe haven for those fleeing persecution.- those fleeing persecution. this is fresh in many _ those fleeing persecution. this is fresh in many minds, _ those fleeing persecution. this is fresh in many minds, the - those fleeing persecution. this is fresh in many minds, the influx l those fleeing persecution. this is | fresh in many minds, the influx of refugees from syria that became a political point of tension. some 20,000 were settled in the uk, a similar scheme is expected for afghanistan. there is no detail yet. other countries have pledged to other countries have pledged to take thousands and there is pressure here to come up with a fair, control system. i5

to come up with a fair, control s stem. , ., , ., to come up with a fair, control s stem. , . , ., ., to come up with a fair, control sstem. , . ., , system. is there a plan, a strategy, for safe and — system. is there a plan, a strategy, for safe and legal _ system. is there a plan, a strategy, for safe and legal routes _ system. is there a plan, a strategy, for safe and legal routes for - for safe and legal routes for refugees to come out of afghanistan? how quickly can that be put in place? how quickly can that be put in lace? ~ ., , ., how quickly can that be put in lace? .,, ., ., , , place? we need to show leadership and i am place? we need to show leadership and i am asking _ place? we need to show leadership and i am asking boris johnson - and i am asking borisjohnson to recognise — and i am asking borisjohnson to recognise we need to have a generosity of spirit and we need to make _ generosity of spirit and we need to make it _ generosity of spirit and we need to make it clear that those who are vulnerable — make it clear that those who are vulnerable will have a welcome here. we should _ vulnerable will have a welcome here. we should open our doors, we need a reset— we should open our doors, we need a reset of— we should open our doors, we need a reset of our— we should open our doors, we need a reset of our foreign _ we should open our doors, we need a reset of our foreign policy— we should open our doors, we need a reset of our foreign policy when - we should open our doors, we need a reset of our foreign policy when it - reset of our foreign policy when it comes— reset of our foreign policy when it comes to — reset of our foreign policy when it comes to migration _ reset of our foreign policy when it comes to migration and _ reset of our foreign policy when it comes to migration and i- reset of our foreign policy when itj comes to migration and i hope we hear— comes to migration and i hope we hear that— comes to migration and i hope we hear that tomorrow. _ comes to migration and i hope we hear that tomorrow.— hear that tomorrow. tomorrow parliament _ hear that tomorrow. tomorrow parliament has _ hear that tomorrow. tomorrow parliament has been _ hear that tomorrow. tomorrow parliament has been called - hear that tomorrow. tomorrow l parliament has been called back hear that tomorrow. tomorrow - parliament has been called back from its summer break. the prime minister is expected to set out more detail of his plan. the government says its immediate focus is to evacuate british nationals and eligible afghans, then setting up a system for refugees. borisjohnson was to convene a meeting of world leaders. the foreign secretary is talking about extra humanitarian aid. but ministers acknowledge they were caught out by the pace of events in afghanistan and now there is a sense of having to scramble to respond. with so much at stake for so many

there are few simple solutions at this point, though plenty are looking looking to the government for some answers. around the world, the dizzying speed with which the taliban have retaken afghanistan is being blamed on presidentjoe biden's decision to withdaw us troops so quickly. last night the president defended his policy, arguing that he didn't want any more americans to die in a war that afghan forces themselves were not willing to fight. 0ur north america editorjon sopel is at the white house. effectively, he is shifting the blame, blaming the afghans. how will that go down?— that go down? yes, the speech last niuht that go down? yes, the speech last ni . ht said, that go down? yes, the speech last night said, echoing _ that go down? yes, the speech last night said, echoing harry _ that go down? yes, the speech last night said, echoing harry truman, l that go down? yes, the speech last| night said, echoing harry truman, a former american president, saying the buck stops here, except it should have been the buck should stop here if i had done anything wrong, but i haven't. he blamed the afghan military, afghan politicians and for donald trump for all that

has gone wrong in the past. what has been striking is the extent to which the american leadership are trying to put themselves on the front foot saying, look at all we are doing. we have got hourly flights coming out of afghanistan, 4000 troops patrolling the afghan air base, we will get 9000 people out of afghanistan in the course of the coming days. that is what america is trying to do. butjoe biden went to the american people promising empathy, promising competence. 0n empathy, promising competence. 0n empathy you would have to say it is a pretty hard—hearted message that he delivered yesterday to the afghans who had helped america over these past 20 years. as for confidence, even the most die—hard supporter ofjoe biden would struggle to say that this has been anything other than chaotic. he likes to say america is back, but back how exactly? that is a big question after these past chaotic few days.

question after these past chaotic few da 5. ., ,, question after these past chaotic few da 5. ., ~' , question after these past chaotic fewda s. ., ,, , . the scenes of chaos in kabul have posed many difficult questions for british veterans of the afghan war and theirfamilies. they sacrificed so much but what did those twenty years achieve? 454 british military personnel and defence staff died over the course of the war in afghanistan. some veterans�* charities say they are providing additional mental health support to help ex—service personnel process the events of the last week. our home editor mark easton reports from royal wootten bassett. this is the town that bowed its had to honour the fallen of afghanistan. hundreds of those killed in the conflict were driven through royal whotten bassett from raf lynam, the last repatriation exactly ten years ago tomorrow, a moment to be marked by a church service, an anniversary made more poignant by the events of kabul. the local vicar is in touch with veterans and their families

trying to reconcile the human sacrifice with the chaotic scenes on their televisions. the service is the same, whichever the war or the conflict, and i would never say to anyone in that situation that their service and duty was wasted. some people are saying it wasn't worth it. the christian faith says to me there is no greater service than to lay down your life for your friends. many didn't thinkjack cummings would survive the war in afghanistan. after losing both his legs, the bomb disposal specialist astonished doctors by not only recovering, but competing at the invictus games. it looks like jack cummings is going to get on the medal podium, and he does! 55.22, jack cummings takes the bronze! but it was a subdued jack i met at his home. the foreign secretarys has said his actions were not for nothing, but he is struggling right now.

i've been knocked for six. you know, it's totally hit me, just everything that's happening in afghanistan, this isjust...was it for nothing? was it for nothing? unfortunately, in my own personal opinion, i think it was. i veer between moments of huge anger and tears, to be quite honest, tears in particular. that despair is also felt by major general charlie herbert who commanded forces in afghanistan. trillions of dollars have been invested into this campaign, thousands and thousands of lives. and to throw that away, i mean, this is an abject humiliation of the west. in royal whotten bassett, i met the help for heroes psychologist currently inundated with calls from veterans of the afghan campaign. there's going to be a lot of wondering around, you know, what was the purpose? for us, at help for heroes, the important thing for us is to continue to support our veterans and their families, to demonstrate that, actually, there is a continuing need.

veterans of afghanistan know withdrawal was always part of the endgame, but to walk away with the mission in tatters, to abandon those who were promised security and peace, that's why some people are hanging their heads in royal whootten bassett today. let's return to our chief international correspondent in dubai. going back to your report just now, lots of assurances from the taliban, but the big question is what are they worth? hat the taliban, but the big question is what are they worth?— what are they worth? not a lot. they can't be worth _ what are they worth? not a lot. they can't be worth very _ what are they worth? not a lot. they can't be worth very much _ what are they worth? not a lot. they can't be worth very much when - what are they worth? not a lot. they can't be worth very much when the i can't be worth very much when the reality of taliban rule in the 90s is still very much seared in memory, and also that the report that we have been getting, persistent reports, when taliban overrun districts across rural areas of afghanistan, that once they were in charge, the reality on the ground wasn't that different from the 19905. wasn't that different from the 1990s. the general pattern was girls were not going to school and when

they did it was up to age six. dozens of media centres, especially those where there were women journalists, were completely shut down. men were told to grow long beard, music was banned. what has happened in kabul in recent days is quite different. female presenters on air, women reporters in the streets, this calm, reassuring press conference, but it is still early days. afghans will be wary, they know these are their new rulers. like you in capitals around the world, london, new york, washington, diplomats are going to be listening to what the taliban are saying. how do you think they should react? thea;r do you think they should react? they will have to — do you think they should react? they will have to roll— do you think they should react? they will have to roll back _ do you think they should react? they will have to roll back a _ do you think they should react? tia: will have to roll back a bit. because for many months now they have been warning the taliban that a military victory would not be acceptable, that they warned them they would be a pariah state if they

come to power it militarily and establish a pure islamic system. yet one of the strongest messages from this press conference was a strong, islamic system, islamic values. they have never made that clear under questioning when there has been a whole parade of diplomats going to the gulf state of qatar to try to find out what do you really mean? afghans have been asking those questions as well. now it is a reality, the taliban are back in power and every near neighbour and countries as far away as britain are going to have to find a way to deal with the taliban. there is a lot of tough talk now, but the taliban believe they have won a war against the well�*s mightiest armies. they are going to rule the second time pretty much under their terms. there are more signs today of the way in which the uk economy is rebounding after the worst

of the pandemic. the number ofjob vacancies stood at a record one million in the three months tojuly, according to the official figures. much of the growth in jobs is in sectors previously hit hard during the lockdown, such as entertainment and hospitality. as our economics editor faisal islam reports, wages in those sectors are rising. in kent, the fruits of economic recovery from the pandemic. a huge backlog of building work, demand through the roof, but spencer can't find the workers to fix them. definitely a major shortage of personnel. it's across the board — labourers, bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers. how many applicants are you getting? to these works? yeah. none. none? none. you are putting job adverts up and nobody is applying? no. not at all, no one. today's job numbers show joblessness at 4.7% — down again in the three months tojune, well below its pandemic peak last autumn. vacancies have never been higher

at 953,000 in the quarter, or over1 million in the single month ofjuly. by the end ofjune, the latest figures show there were 1.9 million jobs still on furlough. her record in the number ofjob vacancies reflects what's going on notjust in construction but across the economy, especially those sectors that are newly reopened, such as restaurants, and pubs and hotels. it also reflects good news in thejobs market, lower unemployment than expected. the number ofjobs nearly back up to where they were before the pandemic. but the issue around labour shortages is now a very real challenge for the recovery. 0n the streets here, the high street is returning to life, but not quite as normal — these vacancy notices, signs of our times as employers struggle to keep up with demand returning, but without the same number of workers, after a combination of the pandemic and new post—brexit restrictions on european workers. i think it's a perfect storm of lots of things, you know, we have had a pandemic,

people have not been moving jobs, so people have been sticking where they are. so you have a lack of candidate movement, a lot of eu records that went home during the pandemic, and actually, it's really difficult to get back if you want to. and the skill shortages here, going back to a lack of apprenticeships from a long time ago that haven't been coming through, and it's almost like the pandemic has accelerated a problem that was already underlying. for now, not all the vacancies match where the jobless are nor their skills, but for those workers with in demand skills such as here in construction, wages are starting to rise. faisal islam, bbc news. our top story this evening... the taliban patrols the streets of kabul as its political leaders attempt to reassure the international community. coming up... britain's regulators say moderna's covid vaccine is safe for 12—17 year olds — could it soon be approved for use? coming up in sportsday

on the bbc news channel... a cracking opener for the snooker world champion mark selby to look forward to. thejesterfrom leicester, as he's known, returns to his hometown for the british open to face a familiar foe. it was a disease that ravaged europe and asia centuries ago but the plague is still an infectious and often fatal illness. now, scientists in oxford have begun trials of a new vaccine against plague. 40 volunteers will receive the vaccine which is designed by the same labs that created the 0xford—astrazeneca covid jab. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh reports. protection from an ancient killer — a vaccine against plague. larissa is one of the first volunteers to receive it as part of a trial in oxford which will assess the vaccine's safety and whether it induces a good immune response.

i am lucky enough to live in a time where vaccines are being developed, and so when i saw that there was a study in the developing of a vaccine against a disease that's been around for thousands of years and has killed millions of people. and so that's the reason i did. plague is caused by bacteria found in fleas and rodents and can be spread by humans whose lungs have been infected. that deadliest pandemic in history, the black death in the 14th century killed around 15 million people, half of europe's population. plague is thankfully now rare and treatable with antibiotics, but an outbreak in madagascar in 2017 killed around 200 people, and there are cases each year in rural parts of africa and the united states. current vaccines are only partially effective, so if the oxford jab works, it could help protect vulnerable communities.

there's no danger that the vaccines stored in this freezer can cause plague. it contains just a tiny amount of its genetic material, which has been inserted into a disabled common cold virus — the same virus that's been used to create the 0xford astrazeneca covid vaccine. we have already done clinical trials using similar technology against a bacterium, meningitis b, and in virus zika, but we are also looking to develop vaccines against new and emerging diseases such as lassa fever or the marburg virus. if the plague study goes well, then scientists aim to conduct further vaccine trials in africa in the hope of curbing one of the biggest killers in history. fergus walsh, bbc news, 0xford. for coronavirus, the latest government figures show there were 26,852 new infections

recorded, in the latest 24—hour period — which means, on average, there were 29,564 new cases per day in the past week. 6,303 people are currently in hospital with the virus. 170 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours and there was an average of 93 deaths a day in the past week. 89.6% of adults in the uk, have now had their firstjab and over 77% have had both jabs. meanwhile, britain's medical regulator, the mhra, has said that it is safe to give the moderna vaccine to 12 to 17—year—olds. until now only pfizer has been given that clearance. it now goes to the expert vaccine committee to decide on the next step. our health editor hugh pym joins me. before we look at the vaccine, i would like to go back to those

figures, what do you make of them? that figure of 170 daily reported deaths is the highest since the middle of march. we should remember, it is a very sad figure for families involved. it does reflect cases which were first reported in mid to latejuly, four weeks or so ago. back then the number of daily reported cases was above 40,000. it has come down between 20 and 30000 and seems to have settled there. so the big surge, new wave of infections some were predicting, just hasn't happened. the cases still remain higher than this time last year and a reminder that the virus is still out there and daily reported cases on a tuesday can be higher because of delays of reporting over the weekend. ok, let's no reporting over the weekend. ok, let's go back _ reporting over the weekend. ok, let's go back now to the moderna vaccine and its clearance for use on young teenagers. does that mean it

is more likely they are going to be offered to schoolchildren? not necessarily- — offered to schoolchildren? not necessarily. the _ offered to schoolchildren? iirrt necessarily. the medical regulator, the mhra says it is safe to give the moderna jab along with the pfizer vaccine 212 to 15—year—olds. but the decision to do it is down to ministers in the different nations of the uk. they will take advice from the expert committee, thejcvi. they will look at a range of different issues. at the moment, 12 to 15—year—olds who have a serious health condition or living with someone who is immuno suppressed are eligible to get a vaccine. it's possible that group might be widened, but the decision to roll it out to all 12—year—olds and older, that may take a few moments. he came, thank very much. —— months. a tropical storm is severely hampering efforts to help

the survivors of saturday's powerful earthquake in haiti. the un estimates that more than half a million children now have limited access to shelter, safe water and food. 0ur correspondent james clayton is in one of the worst affected areas. new zealand's prime minister has announced a nationwide lockdown after its first covid case for six months was reported. the country has only vaccinated around a fifth of its adult population. alcohol deaths in scotland have hit their highest level for more than a decade. figures from the national records of scotland show an increase of 17% in 2020. scotland's public health minister said lockdown had led to heavy drinkers consuming even more alcohol. bob dylan is being sued by a woman who says the singer sexually abused her in 1965 in a new york hotel when she was 12. her case alleges the star provided her with alcohol and drugs, sexually abused her multiple times, and used threats of physical violence. dylan's spokesman said the claim is untrue and will be

vigorously defended. astronomers have captured some of the most detailed images ever seen of galaxies in deep space. they reveal their inner workings in unprecedented detail and show the role of black holes in creating as well as destroying stars and planets. here's our science correspondent, pallab ghosh. 0ur sun is just one among the 100 billion stars in the milky way, which in turn is one of countless other galaxies in our universe. astronomers have now found a way to see inside them in much greater detail. in this image, the galaxy is in the middle, shooting out either side are jets of material across the expanse of space as a result of a gigantic black hole inside it. these jets are shooting outjust like a fountain of water, far, far beyond the reaches of the galaxy itself. i walked around with a huge smile on my face for the rest of the day

because i felt so proud that i was able to make this image and be able to see something nobody had ever seen before. it is just one of several new pictures obtained with the help of these aerials planted in a small field in hampshire. these pick up radio waves from the galaxies. they may not look like much, but astronomers have connected 52 sitesjust like this one, spread all across europe. astronomers can now see things they have never been able to see before. this is a picture of a galaxy seen through a normal telescope, and here is a standard radio image of it. although it is a lot brighter, a lot of the detail has been lost. now compare it with one of the new, high definition images, which is much sharper, showing features inside in unprecedented detail. the brightest area at the bottom shows the location of a gigantic black hole inside this galaxy. it is bright because of the energy released as it sucks in material around it.

this image shows two galaxies colliding, the bright spots of clusters are exploding stars, creating what astronomers call a galactic wind, blowing dust and gas away from it. and this is a galaxy created early on in the life of the universe and it too has a black hole, causing jets of material to spurt out. even seasoned astronomers say wow at these pictures. it has become very clear that in order to understand galaxy evolution we need to understand the black hole right at the very centre because it appears to have a fairly fundamental influence on how a galaxy evolves. these new images will help astronomers learn more about how the processes that created stars, galaxies and our own earth actually work. pallab ghosh, bbc news, chilbolton observatory in hampshire. time for a look at the weather here's darren bett.

it has been a day of contrasting fortunes. a little bit more summer like in scotland with some sunshine. temperatures 23 degrees. in kent, various shades of grey and i know of one person he was lighting a fire this afternoon, it was so cold. it is the latter stages of august and we have this cloud covering overnight and it will lower unto the hills, a bit of drizzle here and there and temperatures underneath that blanket, 12 to 14 degrees. rain coming into the northern isles and parts of mainland scotland. the rest of scotland should have sunny spells developing again. the cloud is tending to lift elsewhere and it will brighten up in many places with a hint of sunshine as well. as a result we have temperatures up to a reasonable 20 or 21 celsius. i will skip through the next couple of