this is bbc news the headlines at six: latest reports describe chaos and panic outside kabul airport — as the us advises its citizens not to travel there until they are asked, because of security threats outside the gates. senior taliban figures — including the group's co—founder, mullah baradar — are in kabulfor talks about establishing a new government. greece has erected a 25 mile fence on its border with turkey amid warnings of many afghan civillians fleeing their country. there have been clashes between australian police and anti—lockdown demonstrators in sydney and melbourne.

animal welfare campaigners have welcomed new government proposals to stop puppy smuggling. the us embassy in afghanistan, is advising americans not to travel to kabul airport, unless they've been instructed to do so, because of "potential security threats" at the gates. thousands of people are still massed outside the perimeter, desperate to board flights out of the country. it comes as the taliban's co—founder and head of its political wing, mullah abdul ghani baraa—dar, arrived in kabul, for talks on forming a new afghan government. here's frankie mccamley..

chaos of consuming clouds near kabul airport. at the front, reports bodies are carried away from the crush, with us fighting for their lives. clear signs of tension is mounting. this man threatening people with a whip. the us is now advising its citizens not to travel to the airport unless specifically told to, but even those can't get through. translation: we have got a legal |visa, many people who are coming | here don't have the right documents, but we have got the visa and they won't let's through. this morning, a plane carrying 200 evacuees, mainly security guards from the british embassy arrived in brize norton. in hiding amid the security guard tells me he and other colleagues have been left behind. we feel abandoned, we can't stay in our home, it is dangerous. sometimes i can't look at my kids. i was the one that putters at such high risk. if i knew this company

would do this to us, i would never have joined. outside, banks are closed for the seventh day in a i’ow. there is no cash in the machines. and hospitals are not running at full capacity because women are not turning up. the taliban's co—founder is now in the afghan capital, kabul. mullah abdul ghani baradar is expected tojoin talks on establishing a new government. so far, britain has evacuated just under 2,500 people, but time is running out as fears grow for those not here, in hiding, worried for their lives. today, one of the taliban's most prominent leaders, abdul ghani baradar, returned to afghanistan after years in exile. what do we know about him? (tx gfx)well, he was one of the four men who founded the taliban back in 1994, and became a lynchpin of the insurgency, after the taliban were toppled by the us—led invasion

then, in 2010, he was captured in a joint us—pakistani raid. but he was released in 2018. it was hoped he would encourage the taliban to engage in peace talks with them. fast forward 2 years — and he signs a deal; not with the afghan government, but with the trump administration. it culminates in the withdrawal of us troops. we know what happens next. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner says there have been reports of taliban violence against afghan citizens

there are a number of chilling and disturbing reports which the un secretary general mentioned about people being coerced. door—to—door hunting down a people from the former regime and the question is, are thosejust one former regime and the question is, are those just one offs by a few hot—headed militant acting on their own or part of a secret order issued from above and the bigger question, i think, is referring to what you are referring to there, the arrival in kabul, is the new telephone really reformed? it depends which view you want to take. but in�*s chief of defence staff has tended to be on the optimistic side that they have learnt their lessons and they have learnt their lessons and they have seen how unpopular they had been with many people and try to be more inclusive. cynics would say, actually, this isjust window dressing, lip gloss. they're saying that the international community wants to hear but once the

international attention and focus moves away they will revert to type, oppressing women and imposing really strict, hard—line rule. we simply don't know the answer yet. we can guess but we don't know. in a briefing the pentagon press secretaryjohn kirby said there were a number of security concerns in and around the airport the situation in the city is fluid and dynamic and you have seen the images over the last 2a, 48 hours yourself of the situation outside the perimeter of the airport and it changes. it changes almost by the hour and it changes in locations around the airport. it is very, very fluid and dynamic. i don't want to speak for the state department, obviously, but like our military commanders, they are going to make decisions in real time about what is in the best interest of innocent civilians that have need to get to the airport and want to get inside the security gates. this will change every day. there will be modifications

to our assessment in what we think is in the best interests. we have said from the very beginning of this that we are going to try to do this in a safe and orderly way and that means making sure that nobody gets hurt. what you are seeing is a prudent notification to make sure that whatever movement there is to the jobs from outside the airport is done as safely as possible and that people have the information that need to make the best decisions for themselves going forward. the us army's major general william taylor gave an update on how it is helping its nationals and afghans leave the country. the airport remains secure.

us military personnel currently oversee flight operations in both us military, contracted aircraft, as well as foreign aircraft continue to operate within kabul airport. additionally, the us military has maintained the gate security at major gates and supported our state department colleagues in the processing of individuals to prepare for evacuation flights out of afghanistan. critical to getting americans and afghans at risk out of the dive situation requires additional space at intermediate spaces and safe havens at other locations. this impacts our throughput, as i discussed yesterday. two days ago, if you recall, the us military lifted nearly 6000 evacuees in a single day. in the last 2a hours. six planes and 32 charters departed kabul and through this combined

effort, the total passenger count was 3800. also in the past 2a hours, a number of c 17 is a moving, providing critical relief that will increase our input to those intermediate staging venues and finally, in the past 2a hours, three flights landed at an international airport. there are no afghans in just one week, since beginning this operation, have left afghanistan and will be transitioned to fort bliss today for further processing in this process. processing in this let's speak to our correspondent in washington, barbara plett usher. stay with us.

with so many people now hoping to escape afghanistan, turkey has warned of a new wave of migration, and called on european countries to take responsibility. greece has also built a new 25—mile fence and surveillance system along its border with turkey. the greek government says it won't wait passively, for the possible impact of a refugee crisis, following the taliban takeover. earlier i spoke to the freelance journalist daphne tolis who is in athens. the a0 kilometre steel fence has been completed. the defence minister and the citizens protection minister were both yesterday, friday, there. they visited the wall, the border there. they said that greek borders will remain secure and impenetrable and that border forces are on alert for any possible wave of afghan refugees trying to cross

into europe through greece. is this widely supported by the greek people? it is widely supported, i would say, especially after last year, the events of february 2020, when thousands of refugees and migrants attempted to cross in large numbers from turkey's land border, the same border that divides greece and turkey, after turkish president erdogan said that the borders were open. so people tried to come through greece to move further to the european union, and following those events, that is what actually sped up the completion of this border, which was already announced that it would happen, but this made it faster to happen, to reinforce the existing border and to make an even more reinforced steel fence across this zone, which is actually one of the deadliest land borders for asylum seekers, migrants, refugees

crossing into europe. so what is the turkish reaction to this? obviously this will leave them shouldering the burden. in fact, beyond turkey, how are greek and europe's neighbours viewing this? for example on the islands of lesbos, cos, the five greek islands that have bore the brunt of the refugee crisis for the last six years, they are mostly concerned about any possible wave of refugees. people who live by the borders are mostly concerned that this might trigger another big wave of migration to europe. but turkey as well has been hosting large numbers of syrian refugees,

about 4 million, and 117,000 afghan refugees, according to the united nations refugee agency. greece, according to our migration and asylum minister, has 40,000 afghan refugees, half of which are already identified, recognised as refugees, and 20% of these are waiting still for their asylum claims to be processed. it has been said that it is impossible to evacuate all allied afghans by august 31. this is in the context that nato has also said that we will need to, we will need an extension of that august 31

deadline. well, let's get more on this from washington. a couple of things here but one of the main point is obviously that pentagon press briefing took place today, off the back of that reported chaos at kabul. g the back of that reported chaos at kabul �* w w the back of that reported chaos at kabul. �* ., ., , ., , kabul. a lot of the questions were about this warning _ kabul. a lot of the questions were about this warning not _ kabul. a lot of the questions were about this warning not come - kabul. a lot of the questions were about this warning not come to i kabul. a lot of the questions were | about this warning not come to the airport unless specifically instructed to because of security threats which is a bit of a tougher message from the embassy than the ones they have sent out so far. the officials were asked about that quite a lot and they did not give specific details about what this threat was. there are unnamed us officials being quoted in american media just recently saying that one of the biggest current threats is the possibility of attack by the afghanistan branch of the islamic

state group which is opposed to the taliban. we know, we got a notice from the white house about the national security meeting that president biden has just national security meeting that president biden hasjust had to. that this issue was raised at that meeting. by the pentagon briefing, we were told that there was no reported change and what they call the enemy situation around the airport. so it seems as though there is a great deal of heightened vigilance but said that there is also a crush of people around the airport which can change by time and location based on the situation so thatis location based on the situation so that is also a factor and they spoke at length, the pentagon officials, about what they called the fluid situation at the gates. the general who was briefing did say that the military personnel at the gates were capable of processing anyone who came to the gate that had the right documentation. we came to the gate that had the right documentation.— came to the gate that had the right documentation. ~ ., ., ., documentation. we also learned about what happens — documentation. we also learned about what happens to _ documentation. we also learned about what happens to afghan _ documentation. we also learned about what happens to afghan people - documentation. we also learned about what happens to afghan people once l what happens to afghan people once they leave afghan soil. and the

processing that takes place. yes. excuse me- _ processing that takes place. yes. excuse me. the _ processing that takes place. yes. excuse me. the americans - processing that takes place. jazz excuse me. the americans are making agreements with other countries for the afghan people to be processed in a third country so this includes most recently qatar, united arab emirates. the general said this was sort of a logistical thing to try to get the afghans to a place or the evacuees, to a place that was fairly close to afghanistan and then they could take further flights from those points onto their final destination. and i think that is so that they can free up more planes to keep getting people out of afghanistan other there have been hiccups. in qatar, for example, i believe it was yesterday, they got to capacity and so they had to shut down evacuation flights for a while because they had no place to bring

these people and since then more countries have agreed to take those in transit including there is an agreement with germany, for example, for the us military base there to be used as a transit point.— for the us military base there to be used as a transit point. there was a resonse used as a transit point. there was a response to — used as a transit point. there was a response to a _ used as a transit point. there was a response to a question _ used as a transit point. there was a response to a question where, - used as a transit point. there was a response to a question where, i - response to a question where, i believe it was the general who said this is a non—combat evacuation operation. why was he saying that aim to clarifying that?— aim to clarifying that? well, there are reports _ aim to clarifying that? well, there are reports of— aim to clarifying that? well, there are reports of resistance - aim to clarifying that? well, there are reports of resistance against l are reports of resistance against the taliban, i think, and that this particular question there was resistance in the north of the country and the question was, as the us military going to be providing air support to those who are fighting the taliban? because the arrangement up until the end of the mission, which president biden has said is going to be the end of august, that the us should be able to provide air support to the afghan national army if there is a request. now, the general said there had not been a request but also the focus, they said, was very much been on

combat evacuation mission and they have been saying this throughout the week that very much their mission is focused on this evacuation effort despite reports of resistance even earlier this week. we despite reports of resistance even earlier this week.— despite reports of resistance even earlier this week. we know that in terms of communication _ earlier this week. we know that in terms of communication with - earlier this week. we know that in terms of communication with the l terms of communication with the taliban they said it is restricted to securing the gates at the airport and ensuring that there is access. i wonder if you could just paint as a general picture. how on earth is this being regarded at home in the united states? you know, does president biden to have support? yes at a global criticism of how this has been handled. what about at home? he has been handled. what about at home? . . . has been handled. what about at home? ., ., . . , home? he has a of criticism here in washington — home? he has a of criticism here in washington about _ home? he has a of criticism here in washington about how _ home? he has a of criticism here in washington about how this - home? he has a of criticism here in washington about how this has - home? he has a of criticism here in| washington about how this has been handled from lawmakers, internally, and the state department, from diplomats. they should what is called a descent memo injuly saying you've got to speed up the evacuation here. you have had criticism from veterans and people

who are foreign policy experts and so on and they will think this has been handled badly for various reasons. one of the criticisms, as you mention, is that the us has been reduced, so to speak, to getting permission from the taliban to get people through and evacuate them because the taliban do have a security ring or checkpoints around the airport and there is constant communication with them, we are told, by military commanders inside the airport, to get through those checkpoints. the people who have been approved. and again and again, we are told that they have security control of the airport. that is the military. and they are not going to move beyond the perimeter whether taliban are so that is an image that does not go down here well enough, certainly not in foreign policy and political circles. more broadly speaking in terms of the american public, i think there is distress about the scenes of chaos. it is not

entirely clear how the specific issues are playing out other there has been a drop of support in the pull—out since the taliban together kabul but there are still people to go ahead. kabul but there are still people to no ahead. . , . kabul but there are still people to . ahead. ., , ., , go ahead. finally and quickly, the eu has said _ go ahead. finally and quickly, the eu has said that _ go ahead. finally and quickly, the eu has said that it _ go ahead. finally and quickly, the eu has said that it is _ go ahead. finally and quickly, the eu has said that it is impossible l go ahead. finally and quickly, the| eu has said that it is impossible to evacuate all allied afghans by that deadline of august 31. nato has said we need that deadline extending. i was president biden reacted to those questions? he was president biden reacted to those ruestions? . . was president biden reacted to those ruestions? ., , ., ., questions? he has not ruled out extendin: questions? he has not ruled out extending the — questions? he has not ruled out extending the deadline. - questions? he has not ruled out extending the deadline. his - questions? he has not ruled out - extending the deadline. his standard is to make sure that all americans get out and he is basically saying we will do what it takes and stand that happens. he has made a firm commitment to get out afghan allies as well although it is not quite as categorical so he has not ruled out extending the deadline but he has not committed to doing so. thank you very much- —

he is chairman of afghanistan's i counsel for national reconciliation and said that the former president of the country is also in attendance with these talks. he said the security of the people and inclusive political processes were being discussed in the meeting. that is the latest the metropolitan police are hunting for a 49 year—old man — wanted in connection to a double murder in the lisson grove

area of central london. the bodies were found in separate properties within a short walk of each other. this is the man the police want to speak to in connection with two violent deaths. they say you should not be approached and anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 999. it was on thursday night that officers were called to a property here close to regent's park. aas—year—old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, then, a few hours later, just after 2am on friday morning, the body of a 59—year—old man was found in the nearby crescent. both victims were stabbed. fist nearby crescent. both victims were stabbed. �* . nearby crescent. both victims were stabbed. �* , ., , , ., ., stabbed. at this early stage we are retainin: stabbed. at this early stage we are retaining an _ stabbed. at this early stage we are retaining an open _ stabbed. at this early stage we are retaining an open mind _ stabbed. at this early stage we are retaining an open mind a _ stabbed. at this early stage we are l retaining an open mind a concerning motive but we are treating these crimes is linked. i know this will cause concern amongst the community. last week there was an unrelated

shooting incident near to the area. four people were treated in hospital. with a double investigation now under way here the police have shown it to reassure the local community that are to say. across the area and a dedicated team has been tasked with finding mr peacock. ., , peacock. lee lived locally in the area and we _ peacock. lee lived locally in the area and we have _ peacock. lee lived locally in the area and we have a _ peacock. lee lived locally in the area and we have a number - peacock. lee lived locally in the area and we have a number of l peacock. lee lived locally in the - area and we have a number of lines of enquiry but this time his whereabouts are unknown. at this stage i would say that both of the victims were known to the. we are not treating these as random attacks. ' . , ., attacks. officer say it is vital an one attacks. officer say it is vital anyone with _ attacks. officer say it is vital anyone with information - attacks. officer say it is vital i anyone with information comes forward and their thoughts are with the victims families. forward and their thoughts are with the victims families. the british government has rejected a call to issue 10,000 temporary visas to eu workers — to tackle an estimated shortage of 75—thousand lorry drivers. logistics uk — the trade body which represents freight businesses — says many restaurants and supermarkets are facing serious supply problems. but ministers say employers should

invest in the domestic workforce — by offering higher wages — rather than rely on foreign labour. earlier, i spoke to alex veitch from logistics uk — i asked him how serious the situation is. it's serious and it's getting worse. we are making this call for 10,000 temporary visas for qualified, safe, eu nationals to come back to the uk and tide us over for the peak christmas period, the build—up to which starts now, to give us time to catch up from the missed driving tests and to reskill, retrain uk nationals to take up the manyjobs that are available in our sector. we see that wages are rising.

we are working hand in glove with the government on reskilling, on apprenticeships, on trying to get people into our sector where there are jobs available for people impacted by covid. the problem is that it has been very difficult to actually get a driving test over the past year. it's nobody�*s fault, it's due to covid restrictions at the dvsa and so we have a huge backlog of people waiting to take their tests to become a truck driver and so we think it's a reasonable ask to create 10,000 temporary visas, and we are saying that because there are many other sectors where the government has done exactly that. the latest government coronavirus figures, showthere were 32,058 new infections recorded, in the latest 24—hour period, which means, on average, there were 31,698 new cases per day, in the last week. the most

recent figures show there almost six and a half thousand people in hospital with the virus, on thursday. 104 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, with an average of 100 deaths a day in the past week. 0n vaccinations, 87.5% of adults in the uk, have now had their firstjab, and 76.3% have had two. around 300,000 carbon dioxide monitors, could be made available to schools in england next month, to help improve ventilation and reduce the risk of covid. the department for education says the monitors will help identify where more air—flow is needed. australian police have clashed with thousands of people protesting against lockdowns

in melbourne and sydney. it comes as a record number of covid cases were recorded in new south wales. here's the state health minister speaking earlier. we are in a very serious situation here in new south wales with this particular variant of the virus. and if you can get either one of the two vaccines that have been made available, just go and get it. just go and get it. if you fit within the categories, go and get the vaccine. the bbc�*s phil mercer has the latest from syndey. thousands of demonstrators were confronting the police. authorities say that some people had turned out to demonstrate peacefully, but the vast majority were looking for trouble. and they certainly found it. riot police had to support mounted units and there were times during the afternoon when it seemed that the police may well lose control of the city centre. in the end, more than 200 people were arrested. there were other smaller less dramatic rallies, protesting against australia's strict regime of lockdowns here in sydney and brisbane, adelaide and darwin. but all the headlines will be around the unrest in australia's southern city of melbourne. loads and loads of people confronting the police, venting their anger at these very strict lockdowns that now affect

millions of australians. the government has announced plans to tighten rules on the importation of dogs into the uk, in response to a rise in puppy smuggling. they include raising the minimum age for imported dogs from 15 weeks to 6 months, and banning heavily pregnant animals. le—boo diseko has the story. hundreds of puppies brought into the country illegally are intercepted each year. the numberfound not to have met the uk's pet import rules more than doubling between 2019 and 2020 alone. many have health problems and had not been checked by certified vets. an increase too in the number with docked tales and cropped ears, more than 600%

in the last five years. when it comes to ear cropping, we unfortunately have seen an increasing demand for dogs with cropped ears, a completely unnecessary and abhorrent mutilation which causes nothing but pain and has no medical benefits. it is done purely for look. we have seen an increase in their use in the media, social media influencers and celebrities which has led to an increase in public demand. the government is proposing new rules for puppy welfare standards, including raising

the minimum age at which they can be imported from 15 weeks from six months, a ban on importing heavily pregnant dogs and a ban on importing dogs with cropped ears or docked tails. animal welfare campaigners have welcomed a consultation, saying it could bring it significant progress against the fight against such practices. there is still some rain to come out of this low pressure as it finishes its journey eastwards, away from the uk into the continent through the day on sunday. showers from northern and eastern reaches into the small hours but for many it is a dry story. some lingering cloud perhaps across the hills and coast. a little murky but clearer skies already making quite good ingress towards the west of the uk and will set us up the west of the uk and will set us up well for more sunshine. does the

chance of that sunshine could help