thousands of people continue to mass at kabul�*s airport, in the hope of being flown out of the afghanistan. nato says so far, more than 18,000 have been airlifted out this week. it comes amid reports of executions and torture by the taliban. president biden says the us has made clear to the taliban that any attack on the afghan evacuation mission would be met "quickly and with force". mr biden said he was in constant contact with the taliban. there's been anger in haiti over the slow delivery of aid to areas affected by saturday's earthquake. damage to roads is hampering access. more than 2000 people died in the quake. it also injured more than 12,000 people and the casualty toll isexpected to rise as rescue efforts continue.

four out of ten ambulance trusts in england, have confirmed they're receiving help from the military, to deal with rising demand this summer. the coronavirus pandemic has stretched resources, already under pressure due to record call—outs. here's our health editor, hugh pym. yeah, thank you, likewise, loud and clear, over. darren is a paramedic manager. about to go out on the road in south 0xfordshire. usually, he only gets involved in major incidents, but call volumes are so high that he's helping out with day to day cases. we've come through an exceptionally busy time with the pandemic. a lot of the staff have obviously felt the pressure of that through the months, but they are continuing to go above and beyond. reports of a female in the river thames in abingdon... he gets to the scene to find a woman has been pulled from the river by passers—by and is being treated by ambulance

service colleagues. patient is conscious and breathing. a call—out takes him to check on an injury in the town centre, another example of the demands on the service at this time of the year. with more people out and about, july and august can be very busy for ambulance services, but staff say it's even busier now than it was in the summer before the pandemic, with a range of health challenges across local communities adding to covid pressures. the message to the public — if it's not an emergency, use 111 online if possible. currently, within south central ambulance service, we're at extreme pressure. we're a really busy service at the moment, and we're making sure we're doing our best to serve our patients and our community. we've got staff that are off sick, we've got staff that are unable to attend work due to track and trace, and other reasons. this service is using ten military personnel to help support staff.

two other services in england are also getting military support. nhs england said these were tried and tested measures in periods of exceptionally high demand, but unions say it all raises questions. topping up using short—term fixes like military aid, like private ambulances, are an indication that we need to have a rethink about how many people we actually need working in the service. northern ireland's ambulance service says there is no use of military staff, but there is support from crews from the republic. the mod is also not involved in scotland and wales, but, around the uk, significant pressures are reported because of a range of patient needs. now on bbc news, the travel show. this is the mighty mississippi. the economic backbone of early america, running north to south for more than 2000 miles, carrying the people and cargo that helps to turn this country

from the fledgling upstart into a powerhouse. for much of the 19th century, steamboats like this ruled the river. but in 1879, construction began on a transcontinental train line. that would link the new found prosperity with the isolated far west. prosperity with the isolated farwest. enacting prosperity with the isolated far west. enacting the gulf of mexico with the pacific ocean. —— connecting. 0n mexico with the pacific ocean. —— connecting. on this mexico with the pacific ocean. —— connecting. 0n thisjourney i will be following the railroad that pushed the american dream along the mexican border all the way to california. mexican border all the way to california-— california. every trip is unique- _ california. every trip is unique. it _ california. every trip is unique. it is— california. every trip is unique. it is a - california. every trip is unique. it is a moving | california. every trip is - unique. it is a moving city. and i will be meeting some of the people who helped find this unique a diverse and fascinating part of the country. new orleans, my first port of call.

right now in the middle of one of its annual parties, the french quarter festival. the area gets its name from when the french founded the city in 1718, as a strategic port on the mississippi and gulf of mexico. the spanish also ran the city, before it was bought by the us in 1803. and you can see all these influences in new 0rleans' world—famous 0rlea ns' world —famous architecture, food 0rleans' world—famous architecture, food and music. that is new 0rleans exactly how i imagined it. a brass band going down the street and a whole crowd following them, getting into the vibe. fantastic. now the city might

be best known forjazz, but you can also find a type of music here that i have never encountered before. chappy carrier is a grammy award winner and a third—generation of a legendary xyloco player. if you hear it you get mixed up with blues, rock �*n�* roll and cajun music all mixing one. this is the expression of louisiana's back creole community. it is a bit of african, a bit of french and some caribbean all mixed up in one. and apart from the accordion, chubby says the essential part of the music is the wash board.—

the wash board. this is my grandmother's _ the wash board. this is my grandmother's washing - the wash board. this is my - grandmother's washing machine. the buttons on your shirt were making the sound, and the daddy who was playing says hey, that sounds good, it might fit with the accordion. ring it over here. she said you must be out of your mind, this is how i do my laundry. of your mind, this is howl do my laundry-— of your mind, this is howl do my laundry.- yes, - of your mind, this is howl do my laundry.- yes, yes. | of your mind, this is howl do i my laundry.- yes, yes. it my laundry. can i? yes, yes. it is all percussion _ my laundry. can i? yes, yes. it is all percussion in _ my laundry. can i? yes, yes. it is all percussion in zydeco. - is all percussion in zydeco. you have the rhythm going like this and everything, that's it. when you hit the board you lose it. the streets are packed, and there is a jubilant atmosphere here. but it has been hard—won. it has taken more than a decade

tourist numbers to recover from the devastation of hurricane katrina in 2005. music has helped the city at its mojo back, and festivals like this are busier than ever. i back, and festivals like this are busier than ever.- are busier than ever. i feel lucky to — are busier than ever. i feel lucky to have _ are busier than ever. i feel lucky to have a _ are busier than ever. i feel lucky to have a ringside . are busier than ever. i feel. lucky to have a ringside view. i want you to shake your booty like your mum i gave it to you. we are going to send this back to london and they will know how we do it in new orleans, all right? and then after my friendly disastrous —— frankly disastrous —— frankly disastrous ten minute lesson, this happens.

plays zydeco music. bbc travel here, london, england, youghal. —— y'all. find england, youghal. -- y'all. and the party _ england, youghal. -- y'all. and the party goes _ england, youghal. -- y'all. and the party goes on _ england, youghal. —— y'all. and the party goes on long into the night, but i have an early start and a very long trip ahead of me. so that was new orleans, in all its flamboyant glory. it is eight o'clock in the morning and today i am heading west. and the service i am taking is the sunset limited train line. the root dates back to 1894. it stretches some 2000 miles coast to coast from new orleans to los angeles, passing through

five different us states. an odyssey, really. so this is a route steeped in history, but i am hoping that it will also tell me something about contemporary america, too. write up the stairs.- contemporary america, too. write up the stairs. thank you. back in the _ write up the stairs. thank you. back in the day, _ write up the stairs. thank you. back in the day, several- back in the day, several railroad franchises joined up to create this pan—american rail network. in along the route, significant landmarks, historical and natural, reveal themselves to passengers. this is a view of the mississippi river on this bridge. we are right in the middle of two lanes of traffic, which is a weird feeling. it gets rocky,

doesn't it sometimes? the trick with moving _ doesn't it sometimes? the trick with moving down _ doesn't it sometimes? the trick with moving down the _ doesn't it sometimes? the trick with moving down the train - doesn't it sometimes? the trick with moving down the train is i with moving down the train is to keep your feet about shoulder width apart and keep one hand free so you can touch things as you are going through, whether it is the back of the seats, or the grab irons which you can use.— which you can use. have you ever fallen _ which you can use. have you ever fallen on _ which you can use. have you ever fallen on a _ which you can use. have you ever fallen on a customer? i which you can use. have you - ever fallen on a customer? yes. lau~h. ever fallen on a customer? yes. laugh- -- _ ever fallen on a customer? yes. laugh. -- laughs _ ever fallen on a customer? yes. laugh. -- laughs. _ ever fallen on a customer? yes. laugh. -- laughs. good - ever fallen on a customer? yes laugh. —— laughs. good morning leaders and gentlemen, our next station stop will be iberia. train supervisor brutes deputy speaker bruce is a veteran of the sunset limited line. the railroad is _ the sunset limited line. the railroad is what _ the sunset limited line. tue: railroad is what granted the sunset limited line. tt9: railroad is what granted the united states. it enabled transportation from east to west and that was the big drawing —— big thing, transportation of both goods and people. transportation of both goods and peeple-_ and people. the train might have been _ and people. the train might have been instrumental- and people. the train might have been instrumental in l and people. the train might l have been instrumental in the creation of modern day america, but today rail use is way below that of air and road travel which are often cheaper and quicker. so why would anyone

take the train? the quicker. so why would anyone take the train?— take the train? the theory is ou take the train? the theory is you basically _ take the train? the theory is you basically don't _ take the train? the theory is you basically don't have - take the train? the theory is i you basically don't have planes flying into it, you don't have greyhound buses going to —— there are places. these isolated places in texas and new mexico, this is the lifeblood to get transportation through. every trip is unique. there is a moving city. you have people giving birth, you have people giving birth, you have people... have people giving birth, you have people. . ._ have people giving birth, you have people. . .- oh i have people giving birth, you - have people. . .- oh yeah. have people... really? oh yeah. on the train. _ have people... really? oh yeah. on the train. sometimes - have people... really? oh yeah. on the train. sometimes we - have people... really? oh yeah. on the train. sometimes we are | 0n the train. sometimes we are an hour away from civilisation and babies don't wait. laugh. -- laughs. ennui role as we cross into texas and are joined by a ennui role as we cross into texas and arejoined by a group of train buffs on a day trip. —— on we role. so you are here

because of these two? -- on we role. so you are here because of these two?- because of these two? yes, sometimes _ because of these two? yes, sometimes the _ because of these two? yes, sometimes the train, - because of these two? yes, sometimes the train, he - because of these two? yes, | sometimes the train, he was about two years old and since then he has been all about trains. , :, : , trains. join the club! i actually _ trains. join the club! i actually have - trains. join the club! i actually have a - trains. join the club! i j actually have a couple trains. join the club! i i actually have a couple of trains. join the club! i - actually have a couple of in scale — actually have a couple of in scale amtrak cars and since i -ot scale amtrak cars and since i got them _ scale amtrak cars and since i got them i thought they looked so good — got them i thought they looked so good that i was waiting for a long — so good that i was waiting for a long time to write on amtrak and i_ a long time to write on amtrak and i was — a long time to write on amtrak and i was thinking it was like time — and i was thinking it was like time to— and i was thinking it was like time to hit the tracks.- time to hit the tracks. some eo - le time to hit the tracks. some people don't _ time to hit the tracks. some people don't get _ time to hit the tracks. some people don't get into - time to hit the tracks. some people don't get into the - people don't get into the smaller areas, the smaller towns, so going through the back areas, you have an opportunity to expand the mind, because once the mind expands it can never return to its original dimensions. my my next stop is the city of san antonio. but not before the sunset limited limbs up to its name. —— lives up to its name.

san antonio is a modern, prosperous city. in fact now it is america's seventh largest. it is very cosmopolitan, and in many ways not typically texan. but it has one historical attraction which get to the very heart of what it means to be american, and what especially —— more especially, texan. this is the alamo, a legendary site in us history, wary in 1836 a small group of troops fighting for texan independence were laid siege by a much larger mexican army. the texan forces held out for 13 days before they were

overwhelmed and killed. dr, how are you? but historian bruce says it would be simplistic to see it as bad mexicans versus good americans.— see it as bad mexicans versus good americans. this is a story about people- _ good americans. this is a story about people. this _ good americans. this is a story about people. this is _ good americans. this is a story about people. this is a - good americans. this is a story about people. this is a story i about people. this is a story about people. this is a story about two nations, this is a story about the idea of what should government be like? it is really the convergence of mexican history and us history. the battle became a symbol of historic resistance and the struggle for independence which the texans one later that year. —— w011.

—— won. today the alamo is one of the state's top tourist attractions and re—enactors help visitors make sense of its complex past. help visitors make sense of its complex past-— help visitors make sense of its complex past. fire! applause. so i have been _ complex past. f 9'i applause. so i have been talked into having the full alamo experience, here. ryan, tell me, there is a point of this, isn't there? this living history. isn't there? this living history-— isn't there? this living history. isn't there? this living histo . , , history. absolutely. so people can see how— history. absolutely. so people can see how we _ history. absolutely. so people can see how we would - history. absolutely. so people can see how we would cook. can see how we would cook coffee, cook meat over the fire, the kinds of food that we had here. corn and beef was the food they had during the battle. we try to let people in on that side of history, give them a taste of the same emotional experience. what do ou think emotional experience. what do you think was _ emotional experience. what do you think was the _ emotional experience. what do you think was the mood - emotional experience. what do you think was the mood of- emotional experience. what do you think was the mood of the | you think was the mood of the people in this situation, waiting, innocence, for the mexicans to come?- waiting, innocence, for the mexicans to come? this was home for them. this _ mexicans to come? this was home for them. this was _ mexicans to come? this was home for them. this was the _ mexicans to come? this was home for them. this was the chance - for them. this was the chance for them. this was the chance for a new life. so they were

willing to fight for something greater than themselves, which is kind of, in my view, the feeling you get any battlefield site. ——in a sense. this epic fight forfreedom from site. ——in a sense. this epic fight for freedom from mexico might be part of the folklore of san antonio, but hispanic influence is also a huge part of the city's current identity. we are only two and a half hours' drive from the border and contemporary mexicana is celebrated here, like loteria. when you win, what do we say? loteria! ~ :, :, �* , loteria! what don't we say? binuo! loteria! what don't we say? bingo! wicherina _ loteria! what don't we say? bingo! wicherina team, - loteria! what don't we say? bingo! wicherina team, put| loteria! what don't we say? . bingo! wicherina team, put the t-shirts on. — bingo! wicherina team, put the t-shirts on, and _

bingo! wicherina team, put the t-shirts on, and realise - bingo! wicherina team, put the t-shirts on, and realise this - t—shirts on, and realise this is about family. community. and winning. ell is about family. community. and winnina. :, , :, is about family. community. and winning._ you've - is about family. community. and winning._ you've got. winning. el diablo. you've got the devil- _ winning. el diablo. you've got the devil. next _ winning. el diablo. you've got the devil. next card, - winning. el diablo. you've got the devil. next card, el- the devil. next card, el venado. _ the devil. next card, el venado, the _ the devil. next card, el venado, the dear. - the devil. next card, el venado, the dear. el. the devil. next card, el- venado, the dear. el venado! the dear! _ venado, the dear. el venado! the dear! excellent. - venado, the dear. el venado! the dear! excellent. el- venado, the dear. el venado! i the dear! excellent. el melon, the catalogue. _ the dear! excellent. el melon, the catalogue. let's _ the dear! excellent. el melon, the catalogue. let's check- the dear! excellent. el melon, the catalogue. let's check it. l the catalogue. let's check it. somebody — the catalogue. let's check it. somebody has _ the catalogue. let's check it. somebody has one _ the catalogue. let's check it. somebody has one already! l the catalogue. let's check it. i somebody has one already! -- somebody has one already! —— cantaloupe. somebody has one already! -- cantaloupe-— cantaloupe. you have one, congratulations. _ cantaloupe. you have one, congratulations. we - cantaloupe. you have one, congratulations. we all. cantaloupe. you have one, i congratulations. we all know loteria. it is important to us because my grandmother did no english stop i did no spanish going up. i wasn't taught to manage that much, i was taught tex—mex. play with my grandmother, we got quality time together. but there we had a connection during the game.

hola, hello everyone. i'm from london. are you ready for this? i will bring your luck. how is my team doing? very good! el barril, the barrel! anyone close to winning? we have loteria. seguro?— loteria. seguro? very first time playin9- _ loteria. seguro? very first time playing. let's - loteria. seguro? very first time playing. let's let- loteria. seguro? very firstj time playing. let's let him win. ~ :, v ., time playing. let's let him win. ~ :, v 4', win. what's it like being mexican-american, - win. what's it like being | mexican-american, what win. what's it like being . mexican-american, what is win. what's it like being - mexican-american, what is that mexican—american, what is that like? t mexican-american, what is that like? :, �* : :, like? iwouldn't change it. i love being _ like? iwouldn't change it. i love being tex-mex. - like? iwouldn't change it. i love being tex-mex. a - like? iwouldn't change it. i love being tex-mex. a lot. like? iwouldn't change it. i. love being tex-mex. a lot of love being tex—mex. a lot of people are just lucky legal. just because we're darker. it is hot in texas. 0ur just because we're darker. it is hot in texas. our ancestors are from there we were born here in the united states. so don't try to send us back somewhere we are not even from.

the next day and if you more stops down the drain line, deep into southern texas, and you find yourself even closer to the mexican border. the last frontier, call it. alpine station is thejumping off point to one of america's most remote national parks. we drive through a visitor that feel straight out of a western. they call it big ben after a twist in the legendary river here that today separates the usa from mexico, the rio grande. this is the rio grande. welcome to the border! _

this is the rio grande. welcome to the border! yes. _ this is the rio grande. welcome to the border! yes. this - this is the rio grande. welcome to the border! yes. this year . to the border! yes. this year marks the — to the border! yes. this year marks the centenary - to the border! yes. this year marks the centenary of - to the border! yes. this year marks the centenary of the l marks the centenary of the foundation of the national park service in the usa. and what a spectacular asset they are. just to get our geography sorted, erin, where is mexico, where is the usa? 50 sorted, erin, where is mexico, where is the usa?— where is the usa? so we have mexico over— where is the usa? so we have mexico over here. _ where is the usa? so we have mexico over here. there. - where is the usa? so we have. mexico over here. there. texas over here- _ mexico over here. there. texas over here- the _ mexico over here. there. texas over here. the border- mexico over here. there. texas over here. the border is - mexico over here. there. texas over here. the border is the . over here. the border is the deepest current in the river. this would be the spot where some politicians in the us want to build a border wall. not sure how they'd manage that here. and it's notjust this spectacular border with mexico that makes the park unique. the

chihuahuan _ that makes the park unique. "tt9 chihuahuan desert that makes the park unique. tt9 chihuahuan desert extends north into mexico but this takes the biggest chunk of the chihuahuan desert. you get up in the high mountains and you get different species of animals like black bears and mountain lions and trees, so there is big diversity in the flora and fauna. 710, here.- diversity in the flora and fauna. 710, here. there is more diversity in _ fauna. 710, here. there is more diversity in incredible _ fauna. 710, here. there is more diversity in incredible living - diversity in incredible living species. big ben has more dinosaurfossils than species. big ben has more dinosaur fossils than any other national park. 0ver dinosaur fossils than any other national park. over 90 different species have been discovered here, dating back 80 million years. this

discovered here, dating back 80 million years-— million years. this is called a co er million years. this is called a copper light. _ million years. this is called a copper light, which _ million years. this is called a copper light, which is - copper light, which is fossilised dinosaur faecal material.— fossilised dinosaur faecal material. ,, material. this is dinosaur poo? that would _ material. this is dinosaur poo? that would be _ material. this is dinosaur poo? that would be right. _ material. this is dinosaur poo? that would be right. that - material. this is dinosaur poo? that would be right. that is . that would be right. that is fossilised. _ that would be right. that is fossilised. that's _ that would be right. that is fossilised. that's days - that would be right. that is fossilised. that's days like l fossilised. that's days like that for millions of years. —— coprolite. that is the first time i have held dinosaur poo. a new exhibit dedicated to the dinosaurs is opening at the park in september. it will include these giant bronze casts of fossils.— include these giant bronze casts of fossils. this one is a cricket alien. _ casts of fossils. this one is a cricket alien. we _ casts of fossils. this one is a cricket alien. we call - casts of fossils. this one is a cricket alien. we call this . casts of fossils. this one is a | cricket alien. we call this the super crock from big ben. t super crock from big ben. i think crocodiles today and they are pretty scary. this is massive. period. —— croc. tt would have had a 40 foot long length for the entire animal.

sometimes we find scarring and other fossil bones from their teeth. so he literally ate dinosaurs.— teeth. so he literally ate dinosaurs. :, , dinosaurs. he ate dinosaurs! the landscape _ dinosaurs. he ate dinosaurs! the landscape here - dinosaurs. he ate dinosaurs! the landscape here may- dinosaurs. he ate dinosaurs! | the landscape here may have remained unchanged for millennia but the fact that it contains 118 miles of border zone is more relevant today than ever before.— zone is more relevant today than ever before. 100 years ago the people _ than ever before. 100 years ago the people in — than ever before. 100 years ago the people in this _ than ever before. 100 years ago the people in this region, - than ever before. 100 years ago the people in this region, the i the people in this region, the border wasn't a significant part of daily life. the river was. so we had families that would live on the united states side with cousins in mexico. they would be crossing, there would be floodplain farming. there would be a multinational community here. because the bounty was not considered to be a significant part of daily life. now we've made it is significant part of our politics. —— made it a significant part. politics. -- made it a siunificant art. :, ., significant part. jeanette and i head significant part. jeanette and i head off — significant part. jeanette and i head off to _ significant part. jeanette and i head off to get _ significant part. jeanette and i head off to get a _ significant part. jeanette and i head off to get a high - i head off to get a high

vantage point of the rio grande river and a mexican town across the river. we have a community of boquillas, mexico, here. beyond that, those hills, that is protected land in mexico. people can legally move between the two countries at an official crossing point in the river. there are also schemes where both sides work together to protect the environment. sometimes they help us out with protecting our resources from wildfire sometimes we partnered together to remove evasive species to help make the entire rio grande a better place. so the first half of my track across the southern stretch of the usa ends, literally, a stone �*s from mexico. it's wonderfully tranquil here so it seems kind of odd that this place has found itself at the front line of politics. i'm

going to relish my last moments of serenity because next week i will be continuing myjourney west, where things start getting strange.- west, where things start getting strange. west, where things start caettin stranue. :, :, ., getting strange. you and i have 'ust getting strange. you and i have just started _ getting strange. you and i have just started something - getting strange. you and i have just started something that. getting strange. you and i have just started something that we | just started something that we can't stop. there is no big button down here. —— "oops". where are listing and there is no—one to turn it off. does that mean we are on here forever? th that mean we are on here forever?— that mean we are on here forever? :, , ., _, forever? in theory, that could ha en. forever? in theory, that could happen- "we _ forever? in theory, that could happen. --we are _ forever? in theory, that could happen. --we are on - forever? in theory, that could happen. --we are on this - forever? in theory, that could i happen. --we are on this thing. hello again.

most of us can expect to see some rain over the weekend, and some of that rain could be quite heavy. saturday looks to be the wettest day, spells of heavy rain, sunday should be a bit brighter, with some sunshine but still one or two showers. this is the recent satellite picture and you can see the top of cloud working on from the west, this is a weather front, it is going to continue to bring outbreaks of rain, and instead of clearing through quickly, this front will stick with us all day on saturday because there is this wave, this wriggle running along it, holding the front back and stop it from clearing away quickly, so western areas starting the day on a really soggy note, a little bit drier further east, but mainly cloudy and through the day our wet weather will stagger its way eastwards with some heavy and possibly thundery bursts mixed in, and even as things brighten up, wales, perhaps northern scotland we will still see some scattered showers and thunderstorms popping up, quite breezy for wales in the south—west, lighter winds elsewhere, and temperatures a little disappointing, really for the time of year, 17—21 degrees.

as we head through saturday night our rain will continue to stagger eastwards but you can see it tending to fizzle away, turning lighter and patchier and many places will start sunday morning on a dry note but with a lot of cloud, the mist and murk on what will be a quite mild on muggy night, 13, i4, 15 degrees, so we start sunday with low pressure quite close to the eastern side of the uk but high—pressure beginning to build in from the south—west, so that means something a little bit drier on sunday. there will be quite a lot of cloud around but that cloud should break from time to time to give spells of sunshine and we will see some showers breaking out, especially across scotland and parts of england and is likely to stay quite grey and damp across the northern isles. temperatures still struggling after around 21, maybe 22 degrees in the sunniest spots, but, into next week this area of high pressure establishes itself more strongly, so a few are looking for drier and brighter weather,

the start of next week looks quite promising. we will see some good spells of sunshine, certainly it looks mostly dry, but there is no heatwave on the way, temperatures in the low to mid 20s. in the sunshine though, that will feel quite pleasant.

good morning. welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and jon kay. 0ur headlines today: soldier yelling: get back, get back! chaos and panic in kabul as thousands crowd the airport, desperate to leave afghanistan. facing a firestorm of criticism, president biden says it's one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history and makes a pledge to us citizens. let me be clear — any american who wants to come home, we will get you home. welfare rules for dogs imported to the uk are to be tightened amid a rise in puppy smuggling.

and in sport.