this is bbc news. hello, i'm victoria derbyshire. here are the latest headlines for yous in the uk and around the world... british defence officials say seven more people have died outside kabul airport — as thousands try to leave afghanistan. british armed forces ministerjames heappey says some calm is now being restored in the area. for all that we have seen on the news over the last few days and they have been the most awful images, the reality is that things are flowing now quite well. former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal — former british pm tony blair accuses president biden of following an �*imbecilic�* policy — and donald trump attacks mr biden. biden�*s botched exit in afghanistan is the most astonishing display of gross incompetence by a nation's leader perhaps at any time that anyone�*s ever seen.

as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is preparing for thousands of new refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. and cambodia's last remaining population of critically—endangered vultures are on the brink of extinction. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the uk ministry of defence says seven people have died in the chaotic crowds outside kabul airport where thousands are trying

to flee the afghanistan, a week after the taliban took over. people have been trying to get through checkpoints in sweltering heat to reach evacuation flights. the british defence secretary, ben wallace, said the uk had flown out more than a thousand people in the last 2a hours. he also said he was exploring ways to maintain a presence in afghanistan after the military had left. here's our correspondent, simonjones. desperate to leave. their goal — to get inside kabul airport and get out of the country. but the chaos and confusion continue. taliban fighters keep guard outside, even some people who do have valid travel documents are unsuccessful. 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 leading the uk's rescue mission has

relocated to the airport from the embassy. in a statement, sir laurie bristow said... and these are some of the 3821 people the uk has so far helped get out of the country. the mod tweeted this photo, along with thanks for all those working on the evacuation. but americans hoping to leave have been advised not to travel to kabul airport unless instructed to do so because of potential security threats from islamic state militants. the us is still hoping to complete the evacuation by the end of the month. we're fighting against both time and space. that's really what we're. .. that's what we're — that's the race that we're in right now and we're trying to do this as quickly and as safely as possible.

the us president, joe biden, has promised to mobilise every resource necessary, but his predecessor, donald trump, who signed a deal with the taliban that committed american troops to leaving, questioned why many soldiers left afghanistan before civilians were flown out. biden�*s botched exit in afghanistan is the most astonishing display of gross incompetence by a nation's leader perhaps at any time that anybody�*s ever seen. name another situation like this. vietnam looks like a masterclass in strategy compared tojoe biden�*s...catastrophe. the departing flights from kabul can be seen above this market in the city. while daily life continues here, the concerns over the future of afghanistan grow. the taliban say they're making progress in forming the government. the rest of the world can only watch on to see what comes next. simon jones, bbc news.

now, the situation outside the airport seems to be more stable and organised — that's according to the uk's ministerfor the armed forces james heappey. he gave this update in the last hour. today the marshalling that the taliban are doing is making a big difference and so if people have had the instruction from the ministry of defence over the foreign office to come forward and to get on a flight, we encourage them to do so because we are getting people through now at a good rate. already this morning, 731 people have been successfully admitted and processed through the handling centre and are now ready to fly. so it is... for all that we have seen on the news over the last few days and they have been the most awful images, the reality is things are flowing now quite well and we need people who are being told to come forward,

to have the confidence to do so. the former british prime minister, tony blair, has said president biden�*s policy — which led to the withdrawal of troops from afghanistan — was "imbecilic". he says the decision to leave represents a tragic, dangerous and unnecessary abandonment of the country. mr blair, who as labour pm, sent british troops into afghanistan two decades ago, has urged the government to help all afghans who supported the uk, calling it a "moral obligation". our political correspondent, chris mason, reports. he's the former prime minister most often remembered for the controversies that swirled around the conflict in iraq, but before the war there came this moment in 2001 when he committed his troops to afghanistan shortly after the september 11 attacks. military action against targets inside afghanistan has begun. i can confirm that uk forces are engaged in this action. the world understands that whilst of course there are dangers in acting,

the dangers of inaction are far, far greater. 20 years on, his critique of president biden�*s decision to pull out is unflinching. he writes... a phrase the president has used. mr blairadds... he sets out his argument in a 2,700 word article, published on his website, in which he paints the taliban as part of a bigger picture — what he calls radical islam — a desire to turn the religion into a political ideology that's exclusionary and extreme. taking this on, he says, is a strategic challenge comparable to the decades—long threat the west faced from communism,

and when looked at like this, the decision to pull out of afghanistan is a mistake. if the west wants to shape the 21st century, it will take commitment, he concludes, through thick and thin. the issue, though, in western countries, in democracies, is long—term open—ended military commitments do require public support. chris mason, bbc news. our political correspondent ione wells discussed the likely reaction to mr blair's criticism. i think this has also made a massive splash today. this comesjust days after president biden had said that he had no question that his allies across the world were questioning the us�*s credibility on their afghan policy. now we have seen a very different picture emerge today were all the front pages here in the uk are running this criticism from the former prime minister tony blair. and that sort of two main lines of criticism he has put out there is he is criticising what he is calling a sort of imbecilic obligation to ending forever wars.

he has also said thatjihadist groups around the world would be cheering this and that the west needs to have a strategic approach to its handling of radical islam. he has also said that here in the uk, we have a moral obligation to evacuate everybody and we should not be leaving until everyone we have the obligation to is evacuated. now, downing street have not sort of officially responded to any comments that we have heard from the former prime minister. but interesting to note that the number ten sources have been stressing this morning and last night that the prime minister is not going to criticise president biden. that that coordination with the us is still very important and that there is still a very close working relationship between the two countries. meanwhile, the defence secretary ben wallace has been writing in one of the sunday newspapers today. that is right. he has come out on that point about evacuating people we do have an obligation to, he stressed that 1000 people have been evacuated yesterday. and that that is their number one priority at the moment. now, he has also said that they are starting to look at more avenues to evacuate people through third countries, through refugee camps

because of this approaching deadline of the 31st of august, which is currently when the us is meant to start removing its troops from afghanistan. meaning evacuations from the airport will be pretty impossible without the us forces who are currently manning that airport there. he said that they are exploring these other routes as well. however, he did repeat a point that he got quite emotional about earlier this week, talking about that in his view no nation is going to be able to get everybody out in time. so it is going to be interesting to see how that plays out over the next couple of days as president biden, earlier this week, had also said that he would be staying until every american is out. so, whether or not there will be more pressure on the us to extend that 31st of august deadline is still up for question, but that is certainly something the uk would support if it did happen. an afghan woman has given birth on board a us evacuation aircraft in germany. the us air mobility command said on twitter that the mother was travelling with her family from kabul to the ramstein air base in germany when she went into labour.

after she began experiencing complications, the aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilise and save the mother's life. once the plane landed, us military medics came aboard and delivered the child. both mother and baby are well and have been taken to a nearby medical facility. europe is preparing for thousands of refugees because of the turmoil in afghanistan. turkey has warned the eu that it will not shoulder the responsibility on its own and eu leaders have appealed to member states to show solidarity and organise safe routes for the refugees. sara monetta reports. hiding in the heels of eastern turkey, these afghan refugees have managed to cross into the country from iran. if intercepted, they would be pushed back to the border. but for these young men, there is no way back. translation: it will

but for these young men, there is no way back. translation:— way back. translation: it will get worse in afghanistan. _ way back. translation: it will get worse in afghanistan. it _ way back. translation: it will get worse in afghanistan. it is - way back. translation: it will get worse in afghanistan. it is over. - way back. translation: it will geti worse in afghanistan. it is over. we are young, we need to go to school. my are young, we need to go to school. my life is finished and i'm only 19. the question now haunting european politicians is could they be the start of a bigger refugee wave? as the taliban took over afghanistan, turkey's sped up that construction of a border wall. president erdogan has spent the past few days on the phone with european leaders to warn them. translation:— phone with european leaders to warn them. translation: turkey does not have a duty or — them. translation: turkey does not have a duty or obligation _ them. translation: turkey does not have a duty or obligation to _ them. translation: turkey does not have a duty or obligation to be - have a duty or obligation to be your�*s migrant storage you're in —— unit. once we seal our borders and send the refugees back home it will be up to them to decide where they go. be up to them to decide where they i o, , . , be up to them to decide where they io, , . , ., be up to them to decide where they go. greece is not taking any chances either. to avoid _ go. greece is not taking any chances either. to avoid a _ go. greece is not taking any chances either. to avoid a repeat _ go. greece is not taking any chances either. to avoid a repeat of- either. to avoid a repeat of the 2020 refugee crisis they have built a new fence and surveillance

structure on the border. visiting a refugee centre set up in spain, eu leaders have appealed to their members states sense of solidarity. we need to help. it is our moral responsibility. we must offer legal and safe route organised by us the international communities to those who need protection. this international communities to those who need protection.— who need protection. this small rou of who need protection. this small grow) of afghans _ who need protection. this small group of afghans has _ who need protection. this small group of afghans has just - who need protection. this small| group of afghans hasjust landed who need protection. this small. group of afghans hasjust landed in italy. forthem, group of afghans hasjust landed in italy. for them, the nightmare is over. it is time to smile again. but thousands remain stuck in the country and while safe routes are being organised, people might take matters into their own hands. here in the uk, bushey synagogue in north london has been appealing for help for local afghan refugees. were going to talk to a rabbi. good morning. are those that donations behind you so far? it is

morning. are those that donations behind you so far?— behind you so far? it is actually a ireat behind you so far? it is actually a great morning — behind you so far? it is actually a great morning and _ behind you so far? it is actually a great morning and the _ behind you so far? it is actually a great morning and the most - great morning and the most ridiculous amazing morning we could have possibly predicted. we put out a call yesterday for anyone who could help out with the afghani refugees that have been brought to this local area, we expected to have a few supplies brought it. we did not know that this was going to go viral and thank goodness the sun is still shining because we have loads and loads and loads, beyond anything we could possibly have predicted all wonderfully new items brought for women, for children, for men, for all the families that have come to the area. this call has reached the hearts of our local community. what hearts of our local community. what kind of things _ hearts of our local community. what kind of things and _ hearts of our local community. what kind of things and people brought? toiletries, toys for children, little suites for people to have. lots of basic necessities like warm clothing. many of these people have come from areas where they are not used to a british climate and we need to quickly get them the type of clothing they need to stay warm and

be comfortable. minn; clothing they need to stay warm and be comfortable.— be comfortable. why do you think i-eole be comfortable. why do you think peeple have _ be comfortable. why do you think people have been _ be comfortable. why do you think people have been so _ be comfortable. why do you think people have been so generous? l be comfortable. why do you think people have been so generous? i| people have been so generous? i believe everyone in the uk has been moved, the international scene has been moved by what has happened in afghanistan. i think all of us feel a responsibility to come forward. all i can speak for as thejewish community specifically. we recognise that our grandparents once came into this country as refugees and all we are trying to do is pay it forward. when i went to visit some of the afghanis who have come in, one day they will find that their children will be giving forward to refugees in the next generations as well. it is our way to showing gratitude to the uk by showing —— helping those in need now. tell the uk by showing -- helping those in need nova— in need now. tell us about some of the conversations _ in need now. tell us about some of the conversations you've _ in need now. tell us about some of the conversations you've had. - in need now. tell us about some of the conversations you've had. one| in need now. tell us about some of. the conversations you've had. one of the conversations you've had. one of the thin i s the conversations you've had. one of the things we've _ the conversations you've had. one of the things we've been _ the conversations you've had. one of the things we've been moved - the conversations you've had. one of the things we've been moved by - the conversations you've had. one of the things we've been moved by is i the things we've been moved by is how composed they are. they seem to

have really accepted their circumstances and are really eager to share what is happening back home, to connect with other afghanis in the local area who are able to communicate with them and simply to start having bonds. they do not know where they're going, but they know they are in the uk and i think they are quite grateful. ln they are in the uk and i think they are quite grateful.— are quite grateful. in terms of distributing _ are quite grateful. in terms of distributing some _ are quite grateful. in terms of distributing some of - are quite grateful. in terms of distributing some of this - are quite grateful. in terms of- distributing some of this donations by the jewish distributing some of this donations by thejewish communities, how are you going to organise that? that by the jewish communities, how are you going to organise that?- you going to organise that? that is irobabl you going to organise that? that is probably the _ you going to organise that? that is probably the best _ you going to organise that? that is probably the best question - you going to organise that? that is probably the best question you - you going to organise that? that is. probably the best question you have asked so far. we have a number of channels that we are using, some already well—established charities and we're going to call upon the red cross. we would certainly ask anyone who has any connections to genuine organisations that can help move some of these fantastic items to people who need them, please come forward. everyone has been so generous to give we want to make sure they get to a good home in a timely fashion. l sure they get to a good home in a timely fashion.— timely fashion. i really appreciate our time timely fashion. i really appreciate your time this _ timely fashion. i really appreciate your time this morning. - timely fashion. i really appreciate your time this morning. an - your time this morning. an incredible effort. thank you.

it has just it hasjust gone it has just gone a quarter past 11. here are the headlines... british defence officials say seven more people have died outside kabul aiport — as thousands desperate to leave afghanistan crowd round the area. former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal, with former british prime minister tony blair accusing president biden of following an �*imbecilic�* policy. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. at least eight people, including children, have died after hurricane grace hit mexico for the second time in two days. the deaths and the worst damage occurred in the state of veracruz, where the storm uprooted trees when it made landfall early on saturday. the major category three storm swept onto the country's gulf coast and moved inland, causing rivers to overflow, mudslides, and small towns to flood.

of the eight people killed, six were members of the same family, state government officials said. a state of emergency has been declared in parts of new york state as the outer bands of hurricane henri bear down on the area. the governor, andrew cuomo, said he had spoken to president biden who will release funds as the hurricane approaches. it's expected to be one of the most powerful storms in years. bbc weather�*s chris fawkes told us more about the storm. hurricane henri will make landfall across the north—east of the united states on sunday. over recent hours, the storm has picked up energy as it has worked across warm waters of the atlantic gulf stream. it is being driven around an open area of low pressure, sending it in a north—westward direction. landfall is expected around long island but there will be impacts elsewhere, rhode island, massachusetts newjersey and into connecticut with damaging wind, and as well as that, torrential rain will cause flooding problems.

after that the winds calm down and the rain will eventually accelerate towards the eastern parts of canada over the next few days. so hurricane henri no doubt bringing back uncomfortable memories from hurricane sandy that hit much the same area in 2012. damaging gusts of wind, 250 millimetres of rain causing flooding in itself but as well as that, coastal communities will be watching out for a storm surge. that could be around 3—5 foot high, bringing inundation to coastal communities. the approaching storm has already caused disruption in new york — as tanya dendrinos reports. # don't call it a comeback!#. a star—studded homecoming concert. # her name was lola, she was a showgirl #.i a grand celebration of new york city's emergence from the worst of the covid—19 pandemic. but mother nature had other plans. announcement: please pay close attention - to the following safety message.

due to approaching severe weather, all persons should move quickly - and calmly to the nearest exit. around 6 million people living in coastal parts of long island, connecticut and massachusetts have been issued with hurricane warnings. a state of emergency has been declared in parts of new york with winds of 120 kilometres per hour forecast along with as much as six inches of rain. while hurricanes are rare for this stretch of the us coastline, new york governor andrew cuomo pleaded with residents to take the storm seriously. i can't tell you how many people i have — in the middle of a storm — helped out of a house, carrying everything on their back through floodwaters, with their children, putting them into boats, in dangerous situations, and people saying to me,

"i should have left yesterday. please, please, don't make that mistake. it comes after hurricane grace tore through eastern mexico on saturday, leaving widespread destruction. a number of people have died, including a mother and six of her children. translation: as they were taking l them out, they took out my wife i and my other children. they pulled out a four—year—old, then an eight—year—old, a two—year—old girl and a newborn who was only 15 days old. the hurricane weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland but the potential for heavy rain and flooding continues. tanya dendrinos, bbc news.

let's get some of the day's other news... israel has carried out air strikes in gaza in response to what it calls riots instigated by hamas — the palestinian militant group which rules gaza. the israeli army said its aircraft hit four weapons and storage manufacturing sites. palestinian media spoke of explosions near a power station and close to a refugee camp in central gaza. as funerals are held in haiti for the victims of last week's devastating earthquake, tensions are rising over a lack of aid reaching remote areas, hardest hit by the disaster. humanitatian organisations say the poorest country in the americas is in urgent need of medical, food and sanitation aid, while many haitians who lost their homes said they're unsure how to even start rebuilding. the american civil rights leader, jesse jackson, and his wife, jacqueline, are in hospital in chicago, after they both tested positive for coronavirus. a statement said that

reverend jackson, who's 79, and mrs jackson, who's 77, had been vaccinated. cambodia's last remaining population of critically endangered vultures are on the brink of extinction. nick wood reports from northern cambodia where efforts are under way to help maintain a healthy breeding population. you know, these birds have got extraordinary vision. author, conservationist and ornithologistjonathan eames obe is recognised around the world for his ambitious fight to save some of asia's most at—risk bird species from extinction. for the past decade, his work has focused on the monitoring and protection of cambodia's endangered bird populations. forjonathan, along with his team of wildlife rangers, the proverbialjewel in the crown of their conservation efforts is siem pang wildlife sanctuary. situated in northern cambodia, the sanctuary mightjust be the last, best hope of survival for three critically endangered species of a particular bird, the asian vulture.

what we have here at siem pang wildlife sanctuary is the largest remaining vulture population in cambodia. the two threats that the population here faces now are disturbance at the nesting site. often vultures are nesting in the tallest trees, the straightest trunks, and these are sought after by villagers cutting timber to make houses. the other thing is the possibility of poisoning. people will poison carcasses, they will poison water holes to get birds and mammals and fish that they can sell in the market, so this is always a threat, a risk that vultures will feed on a dead cow or a dead dog that's been laced with a carbamate pesticide. the vulture numbers have fallen so low that extinction remains a very real possibility. ensuring their survival has led to some unique interventions. the vulture population today in cambodia is only sustained

by feeding on dead domestic ungulates, domestic cattle and domestic buffalo, so supplementary feeding not only provides a source of regular food for vultures, but it also enables us to monitor vulture populations. so the rangers have carefully set the table. there's over 250 kilograms of fresh beef on the menu. the only question now is just who's coming for dinner? and it doesn't take long before the weekly vulture restaurant is under way. another innovation involves erecting artificial nests that are then hoisted 30 metres into selected treetops. the aim is to attract these vultures to nest close to the vulture restaurant where there's the safe place and the safe food for them. creating sustainable, protected areas for endangered species is the aim of environmentalists the world over.

in cambodia, a dedicated group of conservationists mightjust have achieved that goal for the country's last vultures that can now call the sanctuary home. now it's time for a look at the weather with owain. hello, hello everyone, i hope you're doing all right. now, for most of us, yesterday was rather miserable. we sell outbreaks of rain, it was cloudy, we saw those thunderstorms as well but today, i think for the majority, we will see a bit of an improvement. it's not a clear—cut story in that everyone will see sunny spells and gorgeous weather, we do have some scattered showers around, some of which may be heavy, but tanks to what we see here very little on the satellite image, this isactually an area of high pressure. the cloud here, this is a weather front moving away from us and if i flip it over to the pressure chart you can see the high, its building. we will see these weather fronts move away from us. they brought some heavy rain this

morning but they continue to leave the south—east and eastern parts. now, what you notice on the graphics is west is best, really. we'll see bright sunny spells developing here across parts of northern ireland and wales southwest england, up through the midlands. you'll notice his line of showers through scotland, down through the north of england, parts of the midlands and towards the south—east. now, to the east of this we hang onto a lot of the low cloud and mist and murk in places. generally quite monochrome overhead whereas futher west, brighter. breezier to the south and top temperatures today probably getting to 22 or 23 celsius. in the sunshine, feeling pleasant enough, we'll take it. as we move towards tonight we see further heavy showers for a time. thundery and slow—moving in nature as well, and i think most of these will tend to lose a lot of their energy and fizzle out. the return of some low cloud, mist and fog in places. it should be dry and as with last night it'll be quite a mild and muggy night with lows of 1a

or 15 celsius. the big picture for the next few days shows this — a big area of high pressure groups across the uk. if you like dry, settled weather, good news because we should plenty of that. we will also tend to see quite a bit of that cloud cover and mist and murk and quite a keen eastern a north—easterly breeze and so along eastern coastal parts we are cranking down on temperatures as a result. further inland and further west, temperatures getting to the low to mid—20s so feeling warm and pleasant enough. high pressure sticks around as we cast an eye onto tuesday and wednesday so we hang onto the dry and settled conditions for the next couple of days. looking good with some sunshine. stay safe, see you soon.

hello this is bbc news. the headlines: british defence officials say seven more people have died outside kabul airport as thousands try to flee afghanistan. british armed forces minister james heappey says some calm is now

being restored in the area. for all that we have seen on the news over the last few days, and they have been the most awful images, the reality is that things are flowing now quite well. former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal, with former british prime minister tony blair accusing president biden of following an imbecilic policy. as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is bracing for a potential new wave of refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. now it's time for dateline london.