this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. it's ten o'clock. in a few minutes, we'll be joined by viewers on bbc one for the main evening news, presented by clive myrie. but before that, the prime minister has spoken this evening to the united nations secretary general, antonio guterres. borisjohnson stressing the un's importance in providing humanitarian aid to afghanistan and pledged the uk's support. for labour, the shadow foreign secretary says the uk should work with nato allies to set up a safe corridor for afghan refugees to get out. lisa nandy has published a letter she's written to the foreign secretary dominic raab.

in it she urges the government to step up the evacuation efforts from afghanistan — and says there are safety concerns for people trying to leave the country. earlier my colleague ben boulos spoke to her. my office is in touch with hundreds of people at the moment, many of them filtered through labour mps but also coming directly to me through my inbox, through whatsapp, through friends in afghanistan. raising many of the issues that your report hasjust put out there. you know, the fact that people are being beaten, shot at, turned back at checkpoints. the fact that people are being asked to carry documentation that links them to the united kingdom in order to prove their eligibility but that is the documentation that makes them a target for the taliban who are checking those documents en route. there are no safe corridors to the airport, there are makeshift camps that have sprung up where people are being beaten, and even reports of rapes. and so i've been asking the government today to step up those efforts, to work with nato allies, to see if we can open up a safe corridor.

the united states has done that and it may be possible for us to get our people safe passage through. we need some security and support at the airport and at the baron hotel where applications are being processed. we need more flexibility about the documentation that people are being asked to provide and we need to step up the capacity that we've got, so i've made a series of suggestions in the letter tonight and ijust very, very much hope that somebody is listening. is it not very much sort of at the behest of the americans, who are in operational command at the airport, as to the speed that evacuations can happen, the speed at which people are allowed through the gates to be processed? is it not beyond the british government's control and more in the hands of the americans at this stage? i mean, certainly the americans are absolutely critical to this, not least because we are clearly not going to be able to evacuate all of those british nationals and afghans who supported us by the 31st of august, which is the date that the agreement

that the americans have with the taliban that they can use the airport expires. so we need the americans to help us to extend that deadline with the taliban, we also need help from them to get people through the checkpoints and get them to the airport and to the processing centre as well. i mean, we wouldn't want to start from here. we should have been at a far better place than this but we have limited capacity and we need to work with our allies. one of the suggestions that i've made in a letter tonight is that we've had repeated reports from aid agencies of planes leaving kabul half full or virtually empty, and that i think is because we have very limited time on the runway because the runway is so crowded. could we be working with other countries who are trying to evacuate their citizens and afghans who supported them as well to make sure that we are just getting people onto the planes as quickly as possible and set up processing centres outside? we've got just a few days left until that agreement expires at the airport, and we've just got to

step up these efforts. i mean, earlier this evening, just within the last couple of hours, the eu's foreign policy chief, josep borrell, has warned that he says it's mathematically impossible to evacuate all the allied afghans and british citizens, us citizens, foreign nationals by the 31st of august. what do you take from that? that the effort should be to extend the agreement with the taliban leaders who currently control the situation there, or to find other ways of getting them out? what's your take on it? there's a few different things that we should do now. we should try to extend that agreement beyond the 31st of august. that will mean that we will need some kind of military presence in the country in order to make sure that that is upheld. that's one of the reasons why the united states is so important, because if all their troops leave at that hard deadline on the 31st of august, that's going to be very, very difficult. i've been talking to a number

of the embassies in the region because those land borders are also important. many of those countries are struggling with the numbers of people that are already in their countries. they need other countries like the united kingdom and the european union to step up and reach some kind of agreement that we will do our part, that when there's refugee camps are overwhelming those countries that we are not just simply going to turn away. that would help to make sure that people can get across the borders right now. and i think also, i spoke to afghan aid workers yesterday and one of the problems is that they have safe houses operating for many afghan women across the country who have been targeted by the taliban and are fleeing, but they are funded by the uk government. there is conditions on the funding, which mean that they cannot actually help to extend those. so they are looking to the uk government to drop those conditions or loosen those conditions on what they can actually do in order that they can get help

and safety to people right now. the foreign, commonwealth and development office responded to lisa nandy�*s letter, saying... turkey has warned of a new wave of migration resulting from attempts by afghans to flee the taliban, by travelling over land. ankkara, which receives money from the eu to stop migrants from entering europe, called on european countries to take responsibility. its neighbour greece has 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 impactb of the taliban takeover. —— for the possible impact. the freelance journalist daphne tolis in athens, has been telling the bbc about the wall. 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. 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.

in afghanistan, americans are told not to go to the capital's airport unless instructed to do so, because of possible security threats. us troops fire smoke tear gas to try to push back thousands desperate to escape the taliban.

translation: we have a legal visa. many peeple — translation: we have a legal visa. many peeple who _ translation: we have a legal visa. many people who are _ translation: we have a legal visa. many people who are coming - translation: we have a legal visa. many people who are coming here i many people who are coming here don't have the right documents but we have the visa and they won't let us through. all this as one of the co—founders of the taliban arrives in kabul for talks on forming a new government. also tonight: anti—lockdown protests in australia turn ugly. more than 200 are arrested. cheering and an exciting finish to the first ever final of cricket's the hundred. good evening. 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. it comes as the taliban's co—founder and head of its political wing, mullah abdul ghani baradar,

arrived in the capital for talks on forming a new afghan government. thousands of people are still massed at the perimeter of the airport, anxious to board flights out of the country, and the crush of people in sweltering heat left some needing medical help from us troops. since the taliban took control of the country last weekend, they've set up checkpoints on the main road from kabul to the airport, making it difficult forforeigners, and those afghans who worked with us and nato forces, to leave. ourfirst report tonight is from our security correspondent, frank gardner, and a warning, you might find some of the images distressing. crowds, chaos, confusion. the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volatile as thousands of afghans clamour to leave the country. gunfire. taliban fighters are guarding the outside of the perimeter, but even some people with valid travel documents are not getting through. translation: we've got a legal visa.

many people who are coming here don't have the right documents, but we've got the visa and they won't let us through. britain's ambassador, sir laurie bristow, has been helping to process applications. he says the evacuation is the biggest challenge he's ever faced. but a pentagon briefing said the taliban had so far not prevented the evacuation. we've had no hostile interactions, no attack and no threat by the taliban. we remain vigilant. we have also not experienced any additional security incidents. elsewhere in kabul, normal life is slowly returning, but banks have been shut and cash machines empty. there have also been reports of hospitals struggling without enough women turning up for work. taliban fighters, so long part of a violent insurgency, are in control, seen everywhere on the streets. the group's co—founder and political chief, mullah abdul ghani baradar,

has arrived in kabul. he is expected to form part of the new taliban—dominated government. he spent the last few years leading the taliban delegation at peace talks with the us in qatar. the taliban don't yet control the entire country. the panjshir valley, north of kabul, is once more a centre of resistance to their rule. anti—taliban forces claim to have retaken three districts in the north. back at the airport, time is running out for the evacuation. once it ends and the world's attention shifts elsewhere, many fear that life under the taliban is going to get a lot harder. frank gardner, bbc news. the foreign office says the uk has airlifted nearly 4,000 people out of afghanistan, since kabul fell last weekend. but others fearing for their lives, having worked with british forces, believe they should be airlifted out too.

our correspondent, frankie mccamley, has been speaking to one man, whom we've chosen not to identify for his safety. this morning, 200 evacuees arrived at brize norton, following thousands of others, with many more waiting to leave. but some feel like they've been left behind. now in hiding, this man worked for a security firm with the british embassy. translation: we cannot stay in our home. - i hear the taliban has a list of all others who worked with the international companies and they will start to pull them from their houses and hang them. how are your family feeling? translation: i am very sorry for my family, - and sometimes when i look to my kids, it is very bad. i cannot look at them. i was the one who put them at high risk. if i knew this company would do this to us, i would never have joined. i would never have helped them. what do you think will happen to you if you leave the house and you come out of hiding? translation: i was threatened by the taliban before, _

so i left my home before. now i am scared if they see me they will do bad things to me. i am on the list. like many others, he wants protection for his family, a familiar concern from those who feel trapped in a country where confusion and fear currently dictates. frankie mccamley, bbc news. our correspondent secunder kermani is in kabul tonight. we have seen all the desperate images and pictures from the airport in kabul. our us and british forces confident they can control the situation? i confident they can control the situation?— confident they can control the situation? ., , ., ., situation? i would say the situation is re situation? i would say the situation is pretty much _ situation? i would say the situation is pretty much out _ situation? i would say the situation is pretty much out of— situation? i would say the situation is pretty much out of control - is pretty much out of control already. i was speaking earlier to one young afghan whose father worked for the american embassy for 20 years, they had been told to go to the airport, given permission to

board a flight but could not get past the crowd and that they have given up because they decided the situation at the airport is more dangerous than the prospect of life under the taliban. we are also getting reports from the us media of concerns among defence officials there of the possibility of an attack at the airport by is and a panic many of those camped at the airport are feeling is fuelled by the fact the international military presence will come to an end by the end of this month and many fear that once that comes to an end, it will be very difficult to fly out. elsewhere in kabul things are much calmer, government offices are still closed and it is unusually quiet but adding to the tension a huge fire has broken out in kabul and it doesn't seem like the emergency services are still functional. thank ou, services are still functional. thank you. secunder— services are still functional. thank you, secunder kermani _ services are still functional. thank you, secunder kermani in - services are still functional. thank you, secunder kermani in kabul. i

the prime minister who sent british troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, tony blair, says the uk has a "moral obligation" to stay until "all those who need to be are evacuated". our political correspondent, chris mason, is here. what more did he say? a former prime minister often — what more did he say? a former prime minister often associated _ what more did he say? a former prime minister often associated with - minister often associated with controversy around the iraq conflict making his first public intervention in afghanistan since the fall of kabul, he says it's tragic and unnecessary and dangerous what is happening and he says there is a moral obligation for the uk to stay as long as necessary to get everyone out to has a right to come to the uk because they work with british forces that he is making a bigger argument, he says in this article that has gone up on his website that this is a fight against radical islam, a political ideology that perverts the religion and the taliban are symptomatic of that and he says the west has to show

commitment and if that is a long—term commitment so be it. he compares it to the long—term challenge that the west faced in taking on communism. of course the challenge for western democracies is you have to have public will to maintain a military presence and thatis maintain a military presence and that is the challenge western leaders face.— chris mason. the latest government coronavirus figures show there 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 were almost 6,500 people in hospital with the virus on thursday. 104 deaths were recorded in the past 2a hours, with an average of 100 deaths a day in the past week. on vaccinations, 87.5% of adults in the uk have now had their firstjab, and 76.3% have had two. police in australia have clashed with thousands of people in two

of the country's biggest cities, who've been protesting against covid restrictions. more than 200 people have been arrested in melbourne and sydney, and at least seven officers were injured. sydney has just extended lockdown measures for another month, as phil mercer reports. they came in their thousands to protest against melbourne's lockdown. the police said some did so peacefully but the majority were looking for trouble. there were smaller rallies in brisbane and sydney. earlier the authorities in new south wales had announced australia's worst day of the pandemic so far, with 825 new covid—19 infections. with only 30% of australians fully inoculated, the state's health minister appealed to residents to get vaccinated. there is no time now to be selfish. it's time to think of the broader

community and your families. if you're actually spreading the virus, you could be responsible for people's death. the new south wales premier warned that the delta variant was so contagious that australia's long held strategy of trying to eliminate the virus was over. phil mercer, bbc news. police have released an image of a man wanted in connection with a suspected double murder in central london. a 45—year—old woman and a 59—year—old man were found dead with stab wounds, at separate addresses in westminster. detectives have told the public not to approach lee peacock, who's a9, whom officers want to question. the trial of the r&b singer r kelly, who's accused of sexually abusing several women, has heard claims by his former tour manager that he bribed a government worker to obtain a fake id to marry the singer aaliyah, who was underage. she was 15 at the time.

kelly is also accused of bribery, and denies all the charges. the government has announced plans to tighten rules on the importation of dogs to the uk, in response to a rise in puppy smuggling. the proposals include raising the minimum age for imported dogs from 15 weeks to six months, and banning heavily pregnant animals. lebu diseko has more. 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 suffer health problems and have not been checked by certified vets. an increase too in the number with docked tails and cropped ears, more than 600% in the last five years. the government is proposing new rules for puppy welfare standards, including raising the minimum age at which they can be imported from 15 weeks to six months, a ban on importing

heavily pregnant dogs and an end to importing dogs with cropped ears or docked tails. when it comes to ear cropping unfortunately we have seen an increase in demand for dogs with cropped ears, a completely unnecessary and abhorrent mutilation which causes nothing but pain and has no medical benefit, it is done purely for the way these dogs look. we have seen an increase in their use in the media, by social media influencers and celebrities, which has led to an increase in demand by the public. animal welfare campaigners have welcomed the consultation, saying it could bring significant progress in the fight against such practices. it is hoped these new proposals — part of an eight—week great britain—wide consultation — will lead to new rules, ending what has been called a grim trade, and preventing cruelty. lebu diseko, bbc news. now, with all the sport, here's karthi gnanasegaram at the bbc sport centre.

clive, thank you. the first two champions of cricket's the hundred tournament are oval invincibles in the women's event and southern brave in the men's. it has been an historic day at lord's with a crowd of over 17,000 watching — a world record for a women's domestic match. our correspondent joe wilson reports. there might be 99 opinions about the hundred, but one overriding reason for the tournament — find a new audience for cricket. oval invincibles batting first against the women of the southern brave and if you are feeling the rain, focus on the flame. the final must go on. 121 scored. chase that, southern brave. seemed reasonable. but the rain was replaced by torrential wickets. falling to marizanne kapp. the invincibles looked it. kapp finished it. southern brave 73 all out and here are your first winners of the hundred. oval invincibles with the trophy.

over 17,000 in the crowd for that game. well, could southern brave's men do any better than their women? that was the next question at lord's as we moved on to the next final. paul stirling's approach to batting. that is basically it. birmingham phoenix bowling imran tahir here. he is 42 and his celebration, just like his career, goes on and on and on. now, where has that gone? six. the brave men hit 1a of them to make 168. now phoenix had liam livingstone and there was no way of stopping him. he kept swinging, connecting until tim david looked up and threw and hit and livingstone was run out. oh, no. oh, yes. brave's victory by 32 runs. so it ends this year. there is more to cricket than the hundred, but many this summer grasped it. joe wilson, bbc news, lords.

it's time to pop out of the room if you don't want to know today's football results as match of the day and sportscene in scotland follow soon on bbc one. manchester city's £100 million man, jack grealish, scored on his home debut as the premier league champions beat newly promoted norwich city 5—0. also today, aston villa beat newcastle 2—0. brighton won again. that's two wins from two games, their best start to a premier league season. it was 0—0 between crystal palace and brentford. leeds united and everton drew 2—2 and liverpool beat burnley 2—0 at anfield. jurgen klopp's side also with two wins out of two. celtic are top of the scottish premiership for the first time in a year after thrashing st mirren 6—0. st mirren were down to ten men afterjust 19 minutes and celtic took full advatange, with david turnbull scoring his first career hat—trick. and motherwell beat livingston 2—1. golf, and 21—year—old scottish amateur louise duncan is just two shots off the leaders

after day three of the women's open, the fifth and final major of the season. duncan birdied the last hole for a round of 68. the co—leaders are sweden's anna nordquist and denmark's nanna koerstz madsen on 9 under par. and you can watch double olympic medallist alex yee competing in the world triathlon championship series on the bbc sport website right now. earlier, flora duffy became the first triathlete in history to win olympic gold and the world triathlon championships series title in the same year. clive. thank you for that. that's it. but from me and the rest of the team, have a very good night. hello there.

saturday was always going to be the slightly dodgy day of the weekend in terms of weather, a lot of cloud and most of us saw some rain too. since then, the rain band has been progressing north and east and will continue to do so over the next few hours. that said, i think it will stay pretty wet across parts of eastern scotland, down the eastern side of england down the next few hours, with heavy rain across northern england, east anglia and more rain across parts of the south—east. turning drier across western areas, temperatures 13 to 15 as you start the day. there will be mist in fog patches to look out for in eastern scotland and eastern england. some thick cloud across parts of east anglia and south—east england on sunday morning with patches of rain expected. sky brighten into the afternoon, some

showers, some quite heavy for central and eastern scotland and england, dry with sunshine. england, wales, northern ireland and western scotland. high pressure will be with us next week, bringing airfrom scandinavia, no heatwave forecast but a pleasant spell of weather, largely dry with sunshine to look forward to. that settling down really gets under way on monday with most about having a dry day with semi spells. in the sunshine, it is august, it will feel warm, temperatures climbing into the low 20s, peaking at around 22 in glasgow, birmingham and cardiff. tuesdayis glasgow, birmingham and cardiff. tuesday is another largely fine day, you could see ms stand fog if you are an early riser but otherwise fine with spells of sunshine, wind surround part of east anglia and kent keeping close to temperatures at around 19 oh 20 —— winds around

parts of. 2a perhaps in glasgow, that would feel pleasantly warm. for the forecast for the rest of the week, staying dry, temperatures staying into the low 20s but may be a tendency for it to turn more clarity across the north and east of scotland and eastern england towards the end of the week —— to turn more cloudy.

hello.