hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. the taliban have addressed the media for the first time since seizing power in afganistan — promising amnesty and peace. translation: i reassure all residents — translation: i reassure all residents of _ translation: i reassure all residents of kabul _ translation: i reassure all residents of kabul that - translation: i reassure all residents of kabul that we i translation: i reassure all - residents of kabul that we protect them, they are saved, and now all our fighters across kabul city will be taking care of the security. taliban militants say they don't want war — and will protect women's rights to access education — but there's scepticism and fear of a return to brutal rule. translation: before our identity had

not been cleared _ translation: before our identity had not been cleared to _ translation: before our identity had not been cleared to the _ translation: before our identity had not been cleared to the taliban, - not been cleared to the taliban, because right now, they know our name, ourface, ouraddress, our phone numbers, everything. we'll also look at the taliban's power structure — and who'll make up their future government — as their political leader abdul ghani baradar returns to kabulfrom qatar. and in other news this hour —— a tropical storm is hampering rescue efforts in haiti. heavy —— heavy rain is lashing the country two days after a powerful earthquake struck — killing over 1,400 people. we'll speak to a charity providing health care in the rubble. the taliban leaders has held their first official news conference in kabul — two days after taking control of afghanistan. and out their vision for the future of the country. he had flown from the organisation's political offices in the golf and he said that the organisation wants peaceful relations with other

countries and sought to reassure the international community. first of all, this is what we heard on the issue of the safety of foreigners. translation: we are reassuring everybody i all international organisation, embassies, the un, all aid agencies, that no one wil be harmed. they will be secure. our forces are trying hard to secure their security and look after them. the issue of the treatment of women was also raised several times at this press conference, bear in mind, when they were last in power between 1996 and 2001, it prevented women and girls from going to work or school. here's their spokesman again. translation: our god, _ our quran says that women are a very important part of our society.

they can work, they can get education, they are needed in our society, and they will be actively involved. if the international immunity is worried about these issues, we will tell them there will be no, nothing against women in our ruling. our people accept our women are muslims, they accept islamic rules. if they continue to live according to sharia, we will be happy, they will be happy. of course, we await details what living with sharia law means. the group also tried to make reassurances that of a commitment to a free and independent media. but that came with a caveat. sharia law must be respected. here's the spokesperson one more time. translation: i also want to reassure all media groups if they work - according to our islamic rules, to sharia, they will be

free, they can work, they can broadcast freely, but i have three requests for the media. first, they need to know that islam in afghanistan is very important. if there is anything against islamic law or sharia on their broadcast, they will not be allowed. but according to islam, they have the whole of freedom to broadcast freely. lyse doucet is our chief international correspondent. shejoins me from dubai. the press conference featured many questions, but also raised money as well. i wonder what your thoughts for as he watched it. it’s wonder what your thoughts for as he watched it. �* , , ., wonder what your thoughts for as he watched it. �* , ,., ~ ., watched it. it's the same kind of statements _ watched it. it's the same kind of statements that _ watched it. it's the same kind of statements that the _ watched it. it's the same kind of statements that the taliban - statements that the taliban have been making for many months, if not years. a steady procession of diplomats from many countries of afghans going to the gulf states of qatar, sitting down with the taliban from asking, what do you mean when

you say all the rights that than islam? what do you mean by a pure islamic system because back also a person they have been saying, they just don't know the details, so when the words are vague, people have to look to what is happening on the ground, and in recent months, as the taliban and took control and some of the rural areas, the image is, the reality which was emerging in the reports was not that different from an italian band where in power in the 1990s, and in general commit was that girls were not going to school, and when they did commit was only two classics. there were dozens of media organisations, particularly those which were heading women journalists, women presenters were shut down. there were many places where music was banned, where men were told that they had to grow their beards. you could say this is afghanistan, and the rural areas can

even under a western backed government in kabul was still very conservative, very traditional, but i think what we are going to see is a patchwork of different kind of islamic rules, but they should be no doubt that the islamic world, the sharia will take priority, take precedence over everything else. figs precedence over everything else. as we look forward to what is taliban government may be like, of course, many people are still looking back to ask, well, how did this happen so quickly? you studied this conflict throughout its 20 years. how do you explain to us, help us understand how little resistance the afghan military operate in the end. people are still reeling. _ military operate in the end. people are still reeling. is _ military operate in the end. people are still reeling. is there _ military operate in the end. people are still reeling. is there any - are still reeling. is there any historical precedent that in ten days and islamist movement took over an entire country, and in most cases, doing it without a fight, simply walking in. the child and of course say there was a vacuum, you know, the government went away, the people didn't support them, so we had to move in, this wasn't a

military solution committees or victories of the taliban. it's a very complex situation, because, of course, the world is focusing on afghanistan right now, but the taliban have been very strategic. for many years, they have been building up their presence in the district, cultivating contacts with local notables, with tribal leaders, so when the taliban and came knocking on the door and the local people have the option between fighting or saving their lives, they made a deal with the taliban because many of them were fed up with the government, fed up with corruption, many of the soldiers, we had story after story that especially in the remote outposts, soldiers, but soldiers haven't been paid for months. they were running out of food, running out of water. so when the taliban offered them a bus ticket home and something to eat and some water to drink, i mean, who

else wouldn't have said, fine, why should ifight else wouldn't have said, fine, why should i fight for a else wouldn't have said, fine, why should ifight for a government should i fight for a government which should ifight for a government which isn't taking care of me? at the big question is, we always he said, ok, that's the rural areas, what about those 40,000 special forces that have been the best trained, the most highly motivated, they didn't fight either to protect, they didn't fight either to protect, they didn't fight either to protect, they did fight and how mind for a while, they put up a fight there, but kabul went without a fight, he fled the country, i think there is already angry comments on social media, and listening to president joe biden, the of nato saying, yes, you know, the images i sat, but don't blame us, how do you expect us to protect afghanistan if the leaders don't want to fight? of the army doesn't want to fight? it's not so simple. that's the way the withdrawal took place, the way the afghan government wasn't consulted, but also split the afghan government didn't listen to the very strong

criticism, the demands of senior british and american generals to say your military plan is not working. sorted, and they didn't. stat; your military plan is not working. sorted, and they didn't. stay with me if he wet. _ sorted, and they didn't. stay with me if he wet, because _ sorted, and they didn't. stay with me if he wet, because at - sorted, and they didn't. stay with me if he wet, because at the - sorted, and they didn't. stay with l me if he wet, because at the same time is that taliban press conference, there was an —— another development, the deposed vice president released a statement claiming to be the country's new caretaker president. i claiming to be the country's new caretaker president.— claiming to be the country's new caretaker president. i am currently the legitimate _ caretaker president. i am currently the legitimate caretaker, - caretaker president. i am currently| the legitimate caretaker, president of afghanistan, because i am inside the country, i am reaching out to all leaders of afghanistan to consolidate this position on this statement that i have just made. i want to make it very clear that there are many factors why this situation happens. i am not ready to be part of the humiliation and shame that the foreign militaries have endured. i am standing up for my country, and the war is not over. what are we to make of that, please?

well, constitutionally, when the afghan— well, constitutionally, when the afghan president because of a nationai— afghan president because of a national emergency asked to step down _ national emergency asked to step down from it is the vice president, in this_ case him who does take charge. but it's also— case him who does take charge. but it's also quite an extraordinary thing — it's also quite an extraordinary thing to— it's also quite an extraordinary thing to say, some would say ridiculous, _ thing to say, some would say ridiculous, some would say get on them _ ridiculous, some would say get on them for— ridiculous, some would say get on them for being defiant to the end. they have — them for being defiant to the end. they have retreated to their last ripped _ they have retreated to their last ripped out in the valley north of kabul. — ripped out in the valley north of kabul, and he is there with the son of a legendary commander who was assassinated by al-qaeda nearly 20 years _ assassinated by al-qaeda nearly 20 years ago _ assassinated by al-qaeda nearly 20 years agojust assassinated by al-qaeda nearly 20 years ago just days before at the september 11 attacks. there is no way they— september 11 attacks. there is no way they can yield to the taliban because — way they can yield to the taliban because his father was the one who fights— because his father was the one who fights so— because his father was the one who fights so bravely against the taliban— fights so bravely against the taliban and, because every bone in his body— taliban and, because every bone in his body is— taliban and, because every bone in his body is viciously and they handed — his body is viciously and they handed me against the taliban. it's hard to— handed me against the taliban. it's hard to believe they could rally the

prices _ hard to believe they could rally the prices now — hard to believe they could rally the prices now in the afghan army is on the run. _ prices now in the afghan army is on the run, when people are fearing what _ the run, when people are fearing what the — the run, when people are fearing what the future is.— the run, when people are fearing what the future is. thank you very much, that _ what the future is. thank you very much, that chief _ what the future is. thank you very much, that chief international - much, that chief international correspondent live with us from dubai. the power structure of any future taliban government is far from clear, but we do know who that taliban's most prominent leaders are. let's see them. he is known as the leader of the faithful, the ultimate authority over the taliban's political, religious and military affairs, but he has three deputies, the press is one of the taliban's co—founders. he was freed from prison in pakistan at the request of the us in order to take part in peace talks. he is probably the taliban's bus public face. he's a social to a good to address afghans. then we have the son of the taliban's founder, he rose to prominence after his father's death in 2013 auntie

oversees the group's military operations. the deputy leader of the taliban and crucially the leader of the offshoot and power fall had county network. it's known for his deadly bomb attacks on afghan and nato forces. let's speak to our specialist injihad is him who has been following the stray closely. do we have any expectation of how that taliban leadership as a militant organisation may translate into government leadership?- organisation may translate into government leadership? well, of course, government leadership? well, of course. now— government leadership? well, of course, now that _ government leadership? well, of course, now that taliban - government leadership? well, of course, now that taliban has - course, now that taliban has consolidated its grip over afghanistan. at this stage, its priority really is to get the recognition of the international community, and as a result, it's showing a lot of flexibility and its leaders and through its online messaging. a lot of pragmatism flexibility, and assurances to locals, to the international

community, to regional players, that it implies that it has changed, it's now a group that you can deal with, that you can recognise as a government. it remains to be seen how genuine these changes are. this how genuine these changes are. as most people watching well now, the reason america went into thousand mamas a response to 9/11 and the fact that al-qaeda had planned those attacks while based in afghanistan. as you look atjihad is within afghanistan today, help us understand the relationships between the taliban, likely to be in power, and al-qaeda the islamic state. jihadists are very divided lights, even within the same jihadist camps, there is a lot of division, so let's say we have two camps, you have the al-qaeda camp which is historically linked to the taliban through a pledge of allegiance from al-qaeda to the taliban, which even if symbolic, makes al-qaeda subordinate to the taliban. now, publicly and efficiently, the taliban has had to break all ties with national groups

and prevent them from using afghanistan's place for a form of attack. this premises a year all the time a al-qaeda still has not commented on that because i think in my opinion can al-qaeda does not want to say or do anything that mightjeopardise any gains made by the taliban the wayjihadists see it, this is a victory, an historic victory, and they hope to flourish under taliban rule i'll stop now, on the other hand at the so—called islamic states, isis, isis is a staunch rival of taliban and continues to plan attacks against the taliban. so isis has acted in a small branch, isis will do its best to spoil it for the taliban from a to spoil it for the taliban from a to make the taliban look bad, that it's not able to exert control over afghanistan, and therefore isis is likely to continue its attacks in the country. likely to continue its attacks in the country-— likely to continue its attacks in the count . , , ., ., the country. help me understand one thin. wh the country. help me understand one thing- why would _ the country. help me understand one thing. why would i _ the country. help me understand one thing. why would i say _

the country. help me understand one thing. why would i say see _ the country. help me understand one thing. why would i say see that - thing. why would i say see that taliban as an organisation where the of attacking. are there not some shared goals between the two? it’s shared goals between the two? it�*s complicated when it comes to jihadist groups. actually commit the same reason by that taliban now has made gains through these pragmatism, through this flexibility, for the messaging to china, russia, the international community. this is exactly why it has been discredited in the eyes of hard—line jihadists like isis. sunday the eyes of isis, the taliban is a nationalist group, and isis actually cause the taliban and isis actually cause the taliban and apostate militia, a nationalist good looking out for its interests. and challenges that taliban to actually implement sharia. this also comes out of spite, it is incensed and jealous that that taliban has managed to make these gains will stop isis is a group that doesn't collaborate with others. you are with it or against it. you are

either and fight under the banner of isis, or it goes along. so it's unlikely that isis will collaborate with the taliban. tote unlikely that isis will collaborate with the taliban.— with the taliban. we always appreciate _ with the taliban. we always appreciate your _ with the taliban. we always appreciate your help. - with the taliban. we always appreciate your help. thank with the taliban. we always - appreciate your help. thank you very much indeed, trying to help us understand how this takeover by the taliban fits into broader calculations about a possible increase in islamist terrorism, as she was explaining to me that something that will take days, weeks and months to evolve and for us to understand. now, after the scenes we saw in kabul in the last 48 hours, let's check in on the situation today. there has been a relative calm. western forces have ta ken there has been a relative calm. western forces have taken kabul. you can see indian personnel here being evacuated earlier on tuesday, and we understand a french pain is also able to fly out. on the evacuation efforts, here is the uk's commander ofjoint operations. led by a significant investment in

us shapes, and outcome of the airfield — us shapes, and outcome of the airfield is— us shapes, and outcome of the airfield is restarted, it's much calmer. — airfield is restarted, it's much calmer, the flame programme has been operating _ calmer, the flame programme has been operating at _ calmer, the flame programme has been operating at full pace today, and i am very— operating at full pace today, and i am very confident that we now have a sort of— am very confident that we now have a sort of stable airfield in which we can get— sort of stable airfield in which we can get on— sort of stable airfield in which we can get on with the business, alongside _ can get on with the business, alongside all of our allies and partners _ alongside all of our allies and partners that we need to do. despite all of these efforts, _ partners that we need to do. despite all of these efforts, the _ partners that we need to do. despite all of these efforts, the situation - all of these efforts, the situation for those trying to leave afghanistan remains france. 0n for those trying to leave afghanistan remains france. on that, here is the us national security adviser. they have been instances _ us national security adviser. true have been instances where us national security adviser. t131: have been instances where we us national security adviser. ti31 have been instances where we have received reports of people being turned away or pushed back or even beaten. we are taking that up in a channel but that taliban to try to beat that all of those issues, and we are concerned about whether that will continue to unfold in the coming days. as things stand right now, what we are finding is that we are getting people through the gate, we are getting them lined up, and we are getting them on planes, but this is an hour by hour issue commanded something we're clear about and very

focused on holding the taliban accountable to follow through on its commitment. in accountable to follow through on its commitment-— commitment. in spite of what we heard from _ commitment. in spite of what we heard from the _ commitment. in spite of what we heard from the taliban _ commitment. in spite of what we heard from the taliban today, - commitment. in spite of what we i heard from the taliban today, there remains a great deal of scepticism about how peaceful its intentions are. a tearfrom a number of people in afghanistan starting with this kabul resident speaking anonymously to the bbc. it's worse than what i thou . ht, to the bbc. it's worse than what i thought, because _ to the bbc. it's worse than what i thought, because they _ to the bbc. it's worse than what i thought, because they are - to the bbc. it's worse than what i i thought, because they are searching address as, it's not on the my life, but also my family life right now it's in danger. at first our identity had been cleared to the taliban, but right now they know our name, ourfaith, ouraddress, our phone numbers, everything. name, our faith, our address, our phone numbers, everything. that's one woman — phone numbers, everything. that's one woman inside _ phone numbers, everything. that's one woman inside kabul. _ phone numbers, everything. that's one woman inside kabul. let's - phone numbers, everything. that'sj one woman inside kabul. let's look at the expense of some people outside of the capital, in the western city, these are students who continue to attend a girls school in the city. this is one of them.

translation: we the city. this is one of them. translation:— the city. this is one of them. translation: ~ :, :, , ,, ., translation: we are happy that the schools are open, _ translation: we are happy that the schools are open, and _ translation: we are happy that the schools are open, and went _ translation: we are happy that the schools are open, and went up - translation: we are happy that the schools are open, and went up and i schools are open, and went up and just go with the islamicjob and want to study, we went to progress like other countries, and we hope that that taliban will maintain security. we don't want work, we want peace in our country. charities have also had reassurances from the taliban that they will be able to continue with their programmes. 0urarea, but 0ur area, but they told us they are waiting for guidance from their leadership religious and political, and in other places, they are actually saying that they want to see girls education and school up and running. we have raised the question because our staff is more composed of female and afghan colleagues, international, especially for that female colleagues in afghanistan. here, we have had mixed measure answers from them, but let's say that we are

cautiously optimistic and moving forward. we cautiously optimistic and moving forward. ~ ~' :, cautiously optimistic and moving forward. ~ ~ :, , , forward. we know the uk is sending more troops — forward. we know the uk is sending more troops to _ forward. we know the uk is sending more troops to kabul— forward. we know the uk is sending more troops to kabul for— forward. we know the uk is sending more troops to kabul for the - more troops to kabul for the evacuation of some afghan support that british nationals. uk hasn't confirmed how many afghans will be allowed to come, but it suggests that it may use any resettlement scheme to facilitate best. here is alex per se. ——here's 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. i couldn't talk because they had guns and sticks.

you can't talk with them, they will just beat you. how do you feel now with your family are still in afghanistan? i don't have contact with my mum and sister. you don't know where they are? i don't know. when i see the news everyday, bomb blast, the taliban, fighting, i am very scared about what is happening, if they are alive or not. with more refugees now expected, the government has promised a plan to help. we will be looking at a bespoke option. we are a big hearted nation and we have always, as i know from my own history, as priti patel knows from hers, has always been a country that has provided a safe haven for 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 take thousands and there is pressure here to come up with a fair, controlled system.

is there a plan, a strategy, for safe and legal routes for refugees to come out of afghanistan? how quickly can that be put in place? we need to show leadership and what i am asking boris johnson to recognise we need to have a generosity of spirit, and we need to make it clear that those who are vulnerable will have a welcome here. we should open our doors, i we need a reset of our foreign policy when it comes i to migration, and i hope we will 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 wants to convene a meeting of world leaders. the foreign secretary has talked 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 to the government for some answers. alex forsyth, bbc news. both the uk and the eu are aware there may be a sharp increase in refugee numbers — just as there was in 2015 and 2016.this is footage from the time — over a million people arrived in europe — many across the meditteranean. and the crisis created extreme practical and political challenges. this time, president macron is looking for the eu to be prepared. translation: we must anticipate | and protect ourselves against major a flows of migrants, journeys that would endanger those who take them and feed trafficking of all kinds. we heard a similarfrom the man who's favourite to replace angela merkel as german chancellor later this year. translation: 2015 must not repeat itself. - we need an orderly protection for those who are heading towards europe. elsewhere, other countries have

agreed to take in afghan refugees. this includes a range of people from civil rights activists who are fearing retribution for their actions or political opinions in recent years. and there are those who have worked with western nongovernmental organisations and that aid agencies, and then there is the translators, drivers and many other people who have worked with us and nato forces, and many questions remain about their safety. though, for what it's worth, today, that taliban at its press conference that they shouldn't fear retribution. this is the view of simon dickens who is a retired british army colonel. he's the co—founder of the sulha alliance — which campaigns for the safe resettlement of afghan interpreters. my personal view is that if the individual and their family have what you might call reasonably plausible set of paperwork or details then we should move them out of danger first and worry about the process and paperwork later. now, there is a balance in there, and i recognised that there

is a balance around issues like security and criminalisty, and i get all of that, but, actually, where we are is that there is an immediate crisis. there is an immediate danger. move people to a place of safety, get them out and deal with the detailed paperwork later. it's notjust those who worked for the coalition forces who are at risk — theirfamilies are too. let's hear from a former interpreter who is now settled in paris — and is desperate to get his family out. real trouble just because of my work with the uk government. do not punish my family. do not leave them behind, because that's going to cause a loss of life. if anything happened to my family, you know, how can i live that life after? you know? it's really hard, it's really hard. i'm struggling, i'm still struggling, you know? i'm kind of losing hope.

we will continue our coverage of the situation in afghanistan in a couple of minutes here on 0utside source. hello there. when the sun does come out, it makes a big difference to the feel of the day, as it should do, really, at this time of the year — after all, it is august. and we had a fair bit of sunshine across scotland today, and that lifted temperatures in perth, across to dundee, up to around 23 celsius. but here in kent, it was various shades of grey, really. gravesend temperatures in the afternoon were around 16 celsius. now, we've got a blanket of cloud around overnight across much of the country. it will lower onto the hills, so some mist and murk and some pockets of drizzle here and there again as that cloud thickens up. temperatures, 12—14 celsius, much as they were last night. a bit of rain for the northern isles heading towards the far north of mainland scotland. the rest of scotland should see the cloud thinning and breaking and some sunshine coming through. elsewhere, after that dull start, we should see the cloud lifting and thinning.

many places dry in the afternoon and brighter as well, and with more brightness, and perhaps even some sunshine here and there, those temperatures will more widely hit 20—21 celsius. no doubt one or two places, especially around some western hills, could stay a little bit damp through the day and chilly, too. as we head to thursday, we look to the atlantic to see more thickening cloud coming in. that first weather front there will bring some patchy and mostly light rain, i think, into northern ireland across wales, some western parts of england. can't rule out one or two spots of rain further east as well, but many places should be dry, a fair bit of cloud once again, so those temperatures still struggling to around 17—21 celsius in the afternoon. by the end of the week, we're looking at lowering pressure heading towards western parts of the uk. that will spin this weather front into northern ireland, mainly affecting northern ireland to bring some rain here into southern ireland as well. ahead of that, we can't rule out one or two spots of rain, but on the whole, a lot of dry

weather on friday, probably a lot of cloud, but i'm hopeful it will brighten up more and a few more breaks will come in across parts of england and wales, lifting temperatures up to 23 celsius. so, a little bit warmer in some areas by that time we get to friday. into the first half of the weekend, ahead of that rain, it could get very warm, actually, across parts of the midlands and particularly in the southeast of england, 26 celsius is possible. 0nly briefly, mind you, because this weather front will take rain and an area of low pressure across england and wales on sunday, and that rain actually could be heavy in places.

hello, i'm ros atkins. this is 0utside source. the taliban has addressed the media for the first time since it seized power in afghanistan and it has been promising amnesty and peace. translation: i promising amnesty and peace. translation:— translation: i reassure all residents — translation: i reassure all residents of _ translation: i reassure all residents of kabul _ translation: i reassure all residents of kabul that i translation: i reassure all residents of kabul that we i translation: i reassure all i residents of kabul that we protect them. they are safe and now all our fighters are across kabul city and we will be taking care of the security. it we will be taking care of the securi . :, ,:, we will be taking care of the securi . :, , we will be taking care of the security-— we will be taking care of the securi . :, :,, :, security. it also says it does not want war and — security. it also says it does not want war and that _ security. it also says it does not want war and that women i security. it also says it does not want war and that women will i security. it also says it does not i want war and that women will enjoy rights, but with a sniffing caveat, within islamic law. there's scepticism and fear of a return to brutal rules to build before, our identity was not being declared to

the taliban, but right now they know our name, ourface, ouraddress, our phone numbers, everything. there's also specular should about what a future taliban government may look like as their political leader returns afghanistan from qatar speculation about. we will also turn to haiti in the next 30 minutes. rescue efforts hampered after the devastating earthquake. heavy rain is lashing the country as the death toll reaches 1400. we will be speaking to a charity providing health care. on monday night, president biden addressed americans to defend his decision to withdrawal troops from afghanistan. decision to withdraw troops from afghanistan. and he made no apology for what has subsequently happened. here's some of the address. our mission in afghanistan has taken many missteps, made many missteps over the past two decades. i'm now the fourth american

president to preside over a war in afghanistan — two democrats and two republicans. i will not pass this responsibility onto a fifth president. i am president of the united states of america and the buck stops with me. i'm deeply saddened by the facts we now face, but i do not regret my decision to end america's war fighting in afghanistan. last month, joe biden assured reporters it was "highly unlikely" the taliban would overrun the entire country. in last night's speech, he conceded that events had unfolded more quickly than anticipated. but he then posed this question to america. i am left again to ask of those who argue that we should stay — how many more generations of america's daughters and sons would you have me send to fight

afghanistan's civil war? now, the outrage isn'tjust about whether the us should pull out — it's about the manner of that departure. remember, his speech came hours after these chaotic scenes at kabul airport, with us helicopters being used to clear people from the runway. and as one plane took off, some afghans clung to its side. we know two fell to their deaths. butjoe biden was clear where he places the blame for the chaos and uncertainty. here's what i believe to my core. it is wrong to order american troops to step up when afghanistan's own armed forces would not. if the political leaders of afghanistan were unable to come together for the good of their people, unable to negotiate the future of their country when the chips were down, they would never have done so while us troops remained in afghanistan, bearing the brunt of the fighting for them. not everyone thought

the president got this right. politico called joe biden "tone deaf" and went on... an expert at the middle east institute, charles lister, tweeted... charles goes on... ..while shadi hamid at the brookings institute responded... barbara plett usher is in washington. barbara, i pulled out some of the

criticism, but i imagine in washington there are plenty of people who are glad the president is taking the troops home. i people who are glad the president is taking the troops home.— taking the troops home. i think there are people _ taking the troops home. i think there are people here - taking the troops home. i think there are people here in i taking the troops home. i think i there are people here in washington you are glad the president has pulled the troops out of afghanistan, but there is a lot of concern about the manner in which it was done, looking like a humiliating exit for a superpower basically having spent 20 years there, now having spent 20 years there, now having the taliban take over the entire country again, the city, armed with rocket propelled grenades and ak—47s, and the americans scrambling for the exit — that's what it looks like. they are not happy with that image at all. a lot of the criticism is about the way this war has ended. we have just had a national security adviser at the white house press briefing again defending mr biden's exit here. he said that we were clear eyed that the taliban could eventually take over afghanistan of this happen faster than we expected, but we did

have contingency plans, that's what you're seeing now, the contingency plans being getting extra trips into humpback wheat americans and the people who works with them, and the message coming out of the administration and the pentagon and so wanted is the airport is secure now and things are running smoothly, that they have an agreement with the taliban for safe passage to get thousands of people out per day, so that's the turning the page they hope to the much smoother exit process that will we have seen so far. : z, :, process that will we have seen so far. : �* :, :, :, process that will we have seen so far. : 1, :, :, ., far. and barbara, i wanted to ask ou far. and barbara, i wanted to ask you about — far. and barbara, i wanted to ask you about one — far. and barbara, i wanted to ask you about one statement - far. and barbara, i wanted to ask you about one statement from i far. and barbara, i wanted to ask| you about one statement from the white house which has been raising some eyebrows. it is told us president biden has not spoken to other world leaders since the kabul crisis, which may give the impression it is notjust america first but america alone on this matter. , :, :, :, , : , matter. yes, the national security adviser was _ matter. yes, the national security adviser was asked _ matter. yes, the national security adviser was asked about - matter. yes, the national security adviser was asked about that i matter. yes, the national security adviser was asked about that as i adviser was asked about that as well, he said that mr biden had been deeply engaged with his national security teams on a sort of very close watch about what was happening on the ground, but he said that mr

biden's team, the security of defence and the secretary of state, had been touch with international years and their counterparts, talk about always going on. but it raises about always going on. but it raises a valid point about how allies are viewing this exit from afghanistan. we saw some criticism from britain, from germany, nato allies, saying this was supposed to be a new administration that would have an exchange with us, be transparent with us, yet we feel that this is what we were just sorta presented with, and we had to go along with it, despite our concerns, and you have also other allies wondering if the americans will head for the exit if things do not look good with how things are working out in their countries. and again, the national security adviserjake sullivan, he pushed back very strongly on that. he said, what is happening in afghanistan is a civil war, we spent 20 years, we sacrificed a huge amount of these other places,

taiwan, south korea — that is a huge dumb act —— and external threat. he also said with a grist or nato countries, there had been a lot of communication and a commitment to help nato soldiers and the citizens of nato countries to exit. he was asked about that quite a lot in the briefing, i would asked about that quite a lot in the briefing, iwould have asked about that quite a lot in the briefing, i would have to say. it is something many of the international journalists are thinking about, which means their leaders are thinking about it.— which means their leaders are thinking about it. barbara, think ou ve thinking about it. barbara, think you very much _ thinking about it. barbara, think you very much indeed. - thinking about it. barbara, think you very much indeed. that i thinking about it. barbara, think you very much indeed. that is i you very much indeed. that is barbara plett usher live with us in washington, dc. —— thank you very much. well, the us spent $2 trillion on the afghanistan war, and over 2,000 of its troops lost died. 0ur correspondent aleem maqbool has been to pennsylvania. getting the reaction of families of those who died in afghanistan. patriotic country music plays it's a procession in rural western pennsylvania to honour an american soldier killed in a very different

world, one of more than 2,500 us military lives lost in afghanistan in the past 20 years. 25—year—old staff sergeant dylan elchin was killed by a roadside bomb nearly three years ago, but the sense of loss is still overwhelming for his family. though the town is paying tribute now to its lost son, with the renaming of a post office. it is very wonderful to see dylan honoured. he sacrificed everything for our country and i believe that we should all be honouring our military more and realise what they do for, not only the united states of america, but for the entire world. but as was referred to even during the tribute ceremony for dylan, this was all taking place with a backdrop of a huge amount of criticism of the us, and of the fall of kabul to the taliban. is it difficult to understand what it was all for, given that the very people that

dylan was fighting against are now left in charge of afghanistan? dylan, at that given moment, when he had to follow his orders, to go accomplish his mission back in november 2018, he did everything that was asked of him, and then some. regardless of what has happened during this past week and in the past month, i know that dylan did everything right. as i have personally suffered the loss of my own brother who also died... and for the chaplain here, who himself served in afghanistan like his brother, joseph, who was killed, how hard has it been to watch the events of recent days? it has been difficult. you always want to know that what you are doing has purpose and meaning, but purpose and meaning doesn't always come in victory, i believe. sometimes it comes in the sacrifice, in the experience of it. are we better off, is the country

better off, are they better off? it's hard to say. there are profound questions being grappled with, and a stark contrast to the clear conviction of this nation when the war began two decades ago. aleem maqbool, bbc news, in hookstown, pennsylvania. let's turn to haiti now. saturday's earthquake killed at least 1,419 people, and now rescue efforts are being ampering by heavy rains and flooding. unicef estimates around 1.2 million people are affected by the earthquake. and that more than half a million children have limited access to shelter, water and food. these tents are housing those who have lost their home one port city which was particularly badly affected. let's hear more on the relief and rescue operation.

this is peter finlay with the red cross. we are trying to set up an operation to supply health, medical attention, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, all of this amongst the covid epidemic, which makes incoming aid workers extra time to get in. remember, in november2010, you got off the plane and you were in the middle of the disaster. now you have to go through a series of health barriers to just get into the country. and when you are in the country, you make a line to get on an aircraft to get to the area. now, there is a security situation in some parts of the main road to le cai, and that's another consideration, so it's just a very complicated humanitarian crisis that has been exasperated by the storm. at least 25 rural health centres have been destroyed. doctors have been working in makeshift tents.

conor shapiro is from health equity international — an organisation that provides health care in haiti. and he isjoining us live now. thank you for talking to us. tell us about the situation you are facing today and he hope you're having to offer. yes, a very difficult situation for some our hospital likely, which of the largest referral hospital in the south of haiti, is still fully operational and our team is seeing patients pour in. we have three working 0rs and we been able to bring in haitian surgeons who have been able to start operating on patients that need care. we are also just very concerned because, in addition to those impacted by earthquake directly with injuries, we also are seeing that a lot of these hospitals are not able to take on the normal patient loads they would, so we are also seeing the need to provide c—section tear at

the hospital, other basic care, because their lack of basic health care service in other places —— here at the hospital. care service in other places -- here at the hospital.— at the hospital. how much international— at the hospital. how much international aid _ at the hospital. how much international aid is - at the hospital. how much international aid is coming at the hospital. how much i international aid is coming to assist the work that you and the government is doing? hat assist the work that you and the government is doing? not enough. we need more support. _ government is doing? not enough. we need more support. this _ government is doing? not enough. we need more support. this is _ government is doing? not enough. we need more support. this is a _ need more support. this is a very, very difficult situation and we understand that haiti has been through a lot of disasters over the last ten plus years, but the haitian people who are suffering through this horrible tragedy need as much apart as possible, and early, frankly, ouraerobic team apart as possible, and early, frankly, our aerobic team here, apart as possible, and early, frankly, ouraerobic team here, my haitian colleagues that are doing all the care, they need... —— aerobic team. to all the care, they need... -- aerobic team.— all the care, they need... -- aerobic team. :, :, :, , :, aerobic team. to what degree are you rel in: not aerobic team. to what degree are you relying notjust _ aerobic team. to what degree are you relying notjust you. _ aerobic team. to what degree are you relying notjust you, other _ relying notjust you, other health care providers as well, on tents on the moment? how many hospitals have been damaged in the worst affected areas? we been damaged in the worst affected areas? ~ :, :, , :, ,

areas? we are not relying on tents, we are able — areas? we are not relying on tents, we are able to _ areas? we are not relying on tents, we are able to move _ areas? we are not relying on tents, we are able to move things - areas? we are not relying on tents, we are able to move things around | we are able to move things around here at the hospital and our accommodating without tents. 0bviously accommodating without tents. obviously we will need tents moving forward, which is precarious giving we just went through a tropical depression and likely to go through hurricane season going forward. this is a tenuous situation we need to look at a stop what you mentioned the weather. i must the i must ask how the conditions are. currently overcast. we cannot imagine what it was like for the people who are living outside in their yards. the amount of trauma people are being forced to go through, it is just not ok. being forced to go through, it is just not 0k-_ being forced to go through, it is 'ust not ok. :, :, ,, :, ,, :, just not ok. conor s, thank you for talkin: to just not ok. conor s, thank you for talking to us- _ just not ok. conor s, thank you for talking to us. best _ just not ok. conor s, thank you for talking to us. best of _ just not ok. conor s, thank you for talking to us. best of luck- just not ok. conor s, thank you for talking to us. best of luck to i just not ok. conor s, thank you for talking to us. best of luck to you i talking to us. best of luck to you and your colleagues. that is conor shapiro with health equity international. in

a few minutes, we are going to turn to a incredible science story. we are told these images are going to help us understand the power of black holes. and we will get into why in a minute. now, do these —— to new zealand. a nationwide lockdown is in force in new zealand, after the detection of the first community case of covid in six months. the country has seen just 23 covid deaths but has only vaccinated about a fifth of its population. here's more from our correspondent, shaimaa khalil. they've done so well. it's the first case in six months, so they have something to protect, this success. they've always had an elimination policy of closed borders and of snap lockdowns to contain outbreaks, and that one is no different. interestingly, the prime minister, jacinda ardern, used sydney, where i am, as an example of what happens when you don't get on top of the outbreak and the cases spread. the number of cases here remains

stubbornly high, and she said, "we don't want what happened to sydney to happen in new zealand." there are a couple of things that worry health officials. one is that they're not really sure whether it's the delta variant, even though they're saying they're treating it as one, and the other is that they still can't find a link, they haven't been able to find a link, between the case and overseas travel or hotel quarantine, and this means that there could be members of the community that are close contacts and also there could be many exposure sites. so they're going in, they're going hard and they're going fast. the prime minister used herfamous phrase of "the team of 5 million should unite again to try and contain this outbreak," but of course as well, the fact that vaccination numbers have been low — about 20% of people have been vaccinated.

they've been trying to ramp these numbers up. it will be suspended for a couple of days, to make sure that this is happening safely under the restrictions. but mainly, really, they want to contain the outbreak, they want to make sure that they trace all the close contacts, to make sure that the delta variant doesn't spread quickly. iam ros i am ros atkins with 0utside source. we are here in the bbc news room. 0ur lead story: the taliban have held their first press conference since taking control of afghanistan. it is promising peace and says it will cut ties with terrorist groups, and that women will enjoy rights within islamic law. an extraordinary report to play you now. astronomers have captured some of the most detailed images ever seen of galaxies in deep space.

they reveal 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. let's go back to our top story — afghanistan and the news conference by the taliban. let's hear a question by one of the bbc�*s reporters in kabul. what is the difference between the taliban of yesterday and today?

translation: if you are asking a question about ideology, i there is no difference. we were all muslims then, we are all muslims. we still believe in the same ideology, but comparing to the former taliban, there is expertise now, there is a difference between our experience, there's a difference in our expertise. providing the translation there was my colleague zarghuna kargar, who is afghan herself, now living and working in the uk. she spoke to tim willcox earlier, giving her reaction to what was said. i've spoken to him before on many occasions on the phone because we never saw him before. he never appeared in front of media, in picture. so, for me, it was interesting to see him first, and also

quite a different image, because there were sometimes on social media, some pictures were shared of so—called zabihullah mujahid, so definitely those pictures that i had seen was not him. the voice was the same, and it's interesting, yes, it's a different taliban inviting international community, giving message to women, giving message to girls. you are allowed to have education. so it is, yeah, as an afghan as a woman, it was quite revealing a lot. i saw a lot in that press conference.— i saw a lot in that press conference. :, : conference. how concerned were you, thou~h, conference. how concerned were you, though. about _ conference. how concerned were you, though, about everything _ conference. how concerned were you, though, about everything being i though, about everything being predicated on sharia law? and there was no real analysis of what that interpretation of sharia would mean? exactly. interestingly, he left that to the future government he was talking about forming, that his leaders are forming, so as an afghan woman, i think they are not giving any answers into what kind of rules

they are expecting for women. it was interesting, when one female afghan journalist asked him a question, how do you want afghan women to appear if you are allowing them to be on media, he did not answer that question. he left it to, according to the islamic rules and sharia law. interposition of that can be quite bleak for interposition of that can be quite bleakfor women and interposition of that can be quite bleak for women and also and when we see the new government, the new formation of government, it can be quite mild as well, because we have islamic countries around the world. women are presenting, women are appearing in tv, women are appearing in music, so we don't know. we had after member that in the —— have to remember in the 1980s, when the taliban were in power, there were no women on tv, no women in publicjobs apart from gynaecologists, if that ecologist was working, there were no women in schools, so it isjust so hard to predict what we are going to

see —— a few gynaecologists were working. see -- a few gynaecologists were workinu. :, , :, , working. the other she was the amnesty for — working. the other she was the amnesty for those _ working. the other she was the amnesty for those people i working. the other she was the amnesty for those people who l working. the other she was the i amnesty for those people who perhaps worked as translators for us forces and western forces as well. and a distinction that struck me was that when they were in a type of war fighting for their country... the rules were different. now they are in control, the rules have changed. and again, is that the coherent sort of intellectual way of trying to understand how things have changed was yellow i think —— have changed ? -- have changed? ithink -- have changed? i think so. they realise afghan _ -- have changed? i think so. they realise afghan society _ -- have changed? i think so. they realise afghan society has - -- have changed? i think so. they i realise afghan society has changed. the taliban maybe has change in ideology, they are unchanged, but they are more experienced now. they are on twitter, they are on wi—fi all the time, so they are tech savvy now. it is different, is a different stage for them. and it will be interesting to see what is coming next. but for me, as an afghan

woman, also it was interesting that his message was translated by a woman, so today, i was listening to him and his lady when he was saying in —— translating what he was saying as a woman. i am sure he was listening to that. zarghuna and tim willcox ending this edition of outside source. thanks for watching. hello there. when the sun does come out, it makes a big difference to the feel of the day, as it should do, really, at this time of the year — after all, it is august. and we had a fair bit of sunshine across scotland today, and that lifted temperatures in perth, across to dundee, up to around 23 celsius. but here in kent, it was various shades of grey, really. gravesend temperatures in the afternoon were around 16 celsius. now, we've got a blanket of cloud around overnight across much of the country. it will lower onto the hills,

so some mist and murk and some pockets of drizzle here and there again as that cloud thickens up. temperatures, 12—14 celsius, much as they were last night. a bit of rain for the northern isles heading towards the far north of mainland scotland. the rest of scotland should see the cloud thinning and breaking and some sunshine coming through. elsewhere, after that dull start, we should see the cloud lifting and thinning. many places dry in the afternoon and brighter as well, and with more brightness, and perhaps even some sunshine here and there, those temperatures will more widely hit 20—21 celsius. no doubt one or two places, especially around some western hills, could stay a little bit damp through the day and chilly, too. as we head to thursday, we look to the atlantic to see more thickening cloud coming in. that first weather front there will bring some patchy and mostly light rain, i think, into northern ireland across wales, some western parts of england. can't rule out one or two spots of rain further east as well, but many places should be dry, a fair bit of cloud once again,

so those temperatures still struggling to around 17—21 celsius in the afternoon. by the end of the week, we're looking at lowering pressure heading towards western parts of the uk. that will spin this weather front into northern ireland, mainly affecting northern ireland to bring some rain here into southern ireland as well. ahead of that, we can't rule out one or two spots of rain, but on the whole, a lot of dry weather on friday, probably a lot of cloud, but i'm hopeful it will brighten up more and a few more breaks will come in across parts of england and wales, lifting temperatures up to 23 celsius. so, a little bit warmer in some areas by that time we get to friday. into the first half of the weekend, ahead of that rain, it could get very warm, actually, across parts of the midlands and particularly in the southeast of england, 26 celsius is possible. 0nly briefly, mind you, because this weather front will take the rain and an area of low pressure across england and wales on sunday, and that rain actually could be heavy in places.

this is bbc news i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines at 8 o'clock: the taliban gives its first news conference — two days after taking control of afghanistan — saying women would have rights within sharia law and insisting there would be no reprisals against people who'd worked for western nations. i reassure all internationals, the un, all embassies, our neighbours that we will not be allowing the soil of afghanistan be used against anybody. there's been a cautious international response — the united nations said it would need to see the promises reflected in terms of action on the ground. the evacuation has continued — tonight, the white house said it was negotiating an evacuation "timetable" with the taliban after they promised to provide "safe passage" to civilians to the airport.