this is bbc news. i'm samantha simmonds with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. president biden insists the kabul airlift will continue, despite two attacks killing more than 90 people near the airport and vows to track down the perpetrators. we will not forgive, we will not forget. we will hunt you down and make you pay. a happy landing on foreign soil. we report on a mammoth operation helping thousands of afghans evacuate to a us air base in germany. michel barnier, who served as the eu's chief brexit negotiator, enters the race to challenge emmanuel macron in next year's french presidential election.

and the most decorated paralympic swimmer in history tells us about his remarkable journey as an athlete before he retires next year. hello and welcome. president biden has vowed to hunt down the islamic state militants who carried out a twin bomb attack at kabul airport, which killed more than 90 people, including 13 us service personnel. it was the deadliest day for american troops in afghanistan in a decade, but mr biden said the us will not be deterred by terrorists and will carry on evacuating people from afghanistan. earlier, the british prime minister, borisjohnson condemned the attack as despicable and promised to continue the uk's evacuation efforts. we start our coverage with this report from graham satchell.

for hour after hour well into the night, the wounded were rushed to hospital. the chaos of the last week in kabul turned to carnage. some arrived by ambulance, some in the cars, some in wheelbarrows. afghans who had hoped to escape to a better life. just before sunset, there were two large explosions at kabul airport, the plume of smoke seen across the plume of smoke seen across the city. the attacks happened at the south side of the airport, one at abbey gate crowded with civilians, the other at the baron hotel used as a centre for processing evacuees. this was the airport earlier in the day. despite warnings of an imminent attack and advised to stay away, it

was packed. throngs of people desperate to escape. this is one eyewitness�* account. me desperate to escape. this is one eyewitness' account. me at my group — one eyewitness' account. me at my group waited _ one eyewitness' account. me at my group waited for— one eyewitness' account. me at my group waited for more - one eyewitness' account. me at my group waited for more than | my group waited for more than 25 hours. we did not enter the airport because of the security situation. wounded everywhere. i cannot explain what we saw today. my word is silent. �*i3 i cannot explain what we saw today. my word is silent. 13 us military personnel _ today. my word is silent. 13 us military personnel were - today. my word is silent. 13 us military personnel were killed | military personnel were killed in the attack, the deadliest day for america in afghanistan and a decade. president biden had this for isis khorasan, the terror group responsible. we will not terror group responsible. - will not forgive, we will not forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay. the forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay.— forget, we will hunt you down and make you pay. the flag on the white _ and make you pay. the flag on the white house _ and make you pay. the flag on the white house has _ and make you pay. the flag on the white house has been - the white house has been lowered as a mark of respect but the loss of so many american lives heaps pressure

on a president already being widely criticised for what is happening in kabul. president biden was defiant, saying evacuations were to continue. america will not be intimidated. i have the utmost confidence in our brave servicemembers continue to execute this mission with courage and honour to save lives and get our afghan allies out of afghanistan. fiend lives and get our afghan allies out of afghanistan. and flights have continued _ out of afghanistan. and flights have continued but _ out of afghanistan. and flights have continued but for - out of afghanistan. and flights have continued but for exactly | have continued but for exactly how long is unclear. american and british troops will soon start their final withdrawal. meanwhile overnight afghans have returned to the airport, the horror of what has happened in kabul has not deterred them. the bbc�*s nomia iqbal is in washington. welcome to use. a defiant and emotional president biden, what is your assessment of his speech? is your assessment of his speech?— is your assessment of his seech? , ., , speech? yes, he really was. it was a speech _ speech? yes, he really was. it was a speech full— speech? yes, he really was. it was a speech full of— speech? yes, he really was. it was a speech full of emotion l was a speech full of emotion and empathy and some compassion

and empathy and some compassion and these are traits that he is very well known for, he has been criticised for not showing them in recent weeks but he was defiant as well. he invoked scripture in his speech, he is a committed catholic, he talked about his own personal tragedy of losing his son bo biden who served in the iraq war and died later of brain cancer, but that clip we heard there in graham�*s report where he said that we will hunt down isis—k, this is the militant group, the terrorist group that has taken responsibility for the explosions, it is quite stark and not really sure how he will do that. we understand that he has instructed military officials to attack them but it suspiciously sounds like another military attack and afghanistan which sounds like what he is trying to avoid stopping big question is will this evacuation mission continue especially given these threats that are still there, he is pretty confident though that every person who wants to

get out of afghanistan will be able to do so in the next few days but time is running out. what do you make of the fact that he accepted responsibility for all that has happened of late and the taliban meanwhile have been emphasising that this terror attack happened within an area under us military control?— control? there is a lot of blame to _ control? there is a lot of blame to go _ control? there is a lot of blame to go around - control? there is a lot of blame to go around here control? there is a lot of- blame to go around here and it was interesting biden said that because one of the things that he promised when he was elected president was that he wouldn�*t pass the blame to anybody else, he says the buck stops with me. he did go on and that press conference to say that he inherited a deal from conference to say that he inherited a dealfrom president trump has predecessor, and just a few hours ago donald trump was on one of the american networks laying into president biden and defending that deal that he made with the taliban. many of the liberal media here, have to say as well as conservative media pointed out that mr biden turned over a lot of trump policies when he got into the white house so why did

he follow through with this deal that mr trump made? there is also criticism on why america is relying on the taliban for its security? mr biden said he had debts about that and that there was no evidence to suggest the taliban had been colluding with isis—k. he pointed to the fact that both groups are sworn enemies and i think that is why america is relying on the taliban because it is in the telephone�*s interest for isis—k to not take over, do not grow any larger because of course the taliban wants to try to prove that they can govern the country. prove that they can govern the count . �* , , , ., country. and 'ust briefly, what is the country. and just briefly, what is the assessment _ country. and just briefly, what is the assessment being - country. and just briefly, what is the assessment being made their, the fact that there had been advisory warnings of the likelihood of a terrorist attack in this area? when it comes to — attack in this area? when it comes to the _ attack in this area? when it comes to the us _ attack in this area? when it comes to the us media, . attack in this area? when it comes to the us media, it. attack in this area? when it| comes to the us media, it is quite, you know, president biden is getting a lot of flak for it. the republican party as you can imagine, the opposition party here are really piling

onto president biden, somehow calling for his impeachment, something he should resign, that he�*s got blood on his hands. i think ultimately what matters to biden will be the public�*s view and he concluded his speech by saying ladies and gentlemen after 20 years it is time to leave afghanistan. i think that message will resonate with the american public. resonate with the american ublic. . ~ resonate with the american ublic. ., ~' , ., resonate with the american ublic. ., ~ , ., ., public. thank you for the update- _ as international evacuation flights out of kabul become more difficult, there�*s been a surge in the number of afghans arriving at the us air force�*s ramstein base in germany. it�*s a temporary home to wait for their next flight, to a new life in the united states, but keeping pace with the scale of arrivals is a huge logistical challenge. jean mackenzie visited the base in the hours before the attacks in kabul. this smile says it all. these are the lucky ones. carboor�*s latest evacuees touched down near minutes ago. there is evidence of the chaos they left

behind. families have separated. more than a dozen children are here alone. some arrivals are treated for gunshot wounds, still fresh from their struggle to get out of the country. but the us commander running the space urges people not to lose sight of their gains.— of their gains. this is about humanity. _ of their gains. this is about humanity, and _ of their gains. this is about humanity, and there - of their gains. this is about humanity, and there are i of their gains. this is about. humanity, and there are young women that can read today, there are people that are alive today because of the us. whatever policy decision, that is why out of my league. but i�*m just focused on people that are coming today and the people that we�*ve helped over those last 20 years. that we've helped over those last 20 treata— last 20 years. this is a mission _ last 20 years. this is a mission like _ last 20 years. this is a mission like no - last 20 years. this is a mission like no other. last 20 years. this is a | mission like no other in the airbase�*s history. in a week it has been transformed into both a refugee camp and an international airport. the pressure is on. they are expecting 10,000 people to arrive here today alone, this is by far the biggest moment in this operation. they won�*t say when the last flight as expected, only that by tonight

they expect to be at capacity here on this airbase so it is clear that we are into the final push to get people out. there are nowjust a handful of days before all us troops are scheduled to withdraw from afghanistan. we scheduled to withdraw from afghanistan.— scheduled to withdraw from afihanistan. ~ ~ ., ., afghanistan. we know the task on the ground _ afghanistan. we know the task on the ground is _ afghanistan. we know the task on the ground is daunting. - afghanistan. we know the task. on the ground is daunting. what we are working on right now as we are working on right now as we are working on right now as we are focused on getting as many people out of afghanistan as possible and winning them to safe locations.— safe locations. what's the plan for the people _ safe locations. what's the plan for the people you _ safe locations. what's the plan for the people you can't - safe locations. what's the plan for the people you can't get. for the people you can�*t get out? for the people you can't get out? ., ., �* , for the people you can't get out? ., ., �*, ., �*, out? so... that, that's, that's a tou . h out? so... that, that's, that's a tough question, _ out? so... that, that's, that's a tough question, and - out? so... that, that's, that's a tough question, and we - out? so... that, that's, that's a tough question, and we are | a tough question, and we are going to keep on advocating to get people out of afghanistan through our channels. but get people out of afghanistan through our channels.- through our channels. but on this tarmac, _ through our channels. but on this tarmac, there _ through our channels. but on this tarmac, there is - through our channels. but on this tarmac, there is relief. l this tarmac, there is relief. this is the final leg of their escape. a flight to the us and a new home. a world away from the one they fled. let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. dozens of children abducted from an islamic school in northern nigeria three

months ago have been freed. 136 pupils were seized from a seminary in tegina by gunmen demanding a ransom. six children reportedly died in captivity and another fifteen escaped injune. hundreds of greek health workers have demonstrated in athens against mandatory covid—19 vaccines. the government says workers must be vaccinated or take unpaid leave. the union organising the protest says the vast majority of health workers are already vaccinated, but it opposes compulsory immunisation. a major study of covid vaccine side—effects suggests the risk of blood clots and another condition which can cause internal bleeding is much higher after an actual covid infection. the team led by oxford university looked at records from more than 29 million people who received a first shot of a covid vaccine between december and april. naomi grimley has more. is more of us get vaccinated,

britain�*s scientist are learning more about the possible side effects that come from getting jabbed but the news is reassuring. according to this study led by oxford university for every 10 million people vaccinated with astrazeneca, an extra 107 would be hospitalised or die from thrombocytopenia which can cause internal bleeding and haemorrhages. but that�*s nearly nine times lower than the risks of the same condition following natural infection and crucially, no higher than with other vaccines such as the flu jab. the astrazeneca vaccine also had a slightly higher risk of clot in veins but again, this was 200 times lower than the risk if you caught covid. in those receiving the pfizer jabbed there with an increased risk of stroke but this was still 12 times lower than the risks that came with infection. the researchers hope it will

provide context to some of the headlines over the last few months. ~ , , ., months. we were studying a ranre of months. we were studying a range of bleeding _ months. we were studying a range of bleeding and - months. we were studying a. range of bleeding and clotting outcomes, the vast majority of people, the overwhelming majority of people vaccinated don�*t experience these, so in relation to these outcomes, these vaccines appear to be very, very safe. a small number of people do get these outcomes, sadly. these risks seem to be comparable with other vaccines such as the flu vaccine, and the other thing you want to say really in this context is that if you develop covid-i9, the context is that if you develop covid—19, the risks of the same outcomes from our data are just so much higher. this outcomes from our data are 'ust so much higher.i so much higher. this pandemic is still continuing _ so much higher. this pandemic is still continuing to _ so much higher. this pandemic is still continuing to wreak- is still continuing to wreak havoc around the globe. 68,000 people died of covid—19 last week worldwide and the vast majority of those lives would have been saved if they had been vaccinated. the united nations secretary—general antonio guterres has

warned the un security council that the conflict in ethiopia has spread beyond the tigray region, and says the social fabric of the country is being torn apart. more than 200 people have been killed in fighting between the 0romo and amhara peoples in the west of the country. the human price of this war is mounting by the day. a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding before our eyes. more than 2 million people have been displaced from their homes and many more are an immediate need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance including food, water, shelter and healthcare. water, shelter and healthca re. at least water, shelter and healthcare. at least 400,000 people are living infamine at least 400,000 people are living in famine like conditions and also deeply concerned of report of horrific sex or gender—based violence. i condemned these atrocity acts in the strongest possible terms. michel barnier, the man who led

the eu�*s negotiations on brexit, has announced plans to challenge the french president emmanuel macron at next year�*s elections. mr barnier is one of several potential candidates for the centre—right republican party, which is expected to name its final pick in november. courtney bembridge has more. emmanuel macron spent a day in ireland, it was one of the last countries on his to—do list after he made an election promise to go to all eu member states within his presidential term. but all eyes are now on next year�*s election and michel barnier has just entered the race to become the conservative candidate. bonjour, monsieur barnier! his bid could open a new front in the election which, until now, has been widely seen as a race between president macron and the far—right politician marine le pen. michel barnier says he wants to change the country, adding that limiting immigration would be a key policy pledge. the 70—year—old has previously held several top posts in french politics including foreign minister, but he is most well—known for fielding this question... will we get a deal?

over and over. will we get a deal? patience and determination were his brexit mottos but his challenge now is to distance himself from the brussels bubble and reconnect with french voters, many of whom don�*t know who he is. courtney bembridge, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: scientists in egypt discover the fossilised remains of an ancient four—legged whale. he�*s the first african—american to win the presidential nomination for a major political party and he accepts, exactly 45 years to the day, when martin luther king declared, "i have a dream". as darkness falls tonight, an unfamiliar light will appear in the south—eastern sky. an orange glowing disc that�*s

brighter than anything, save the moon — our neighbouring planet, mars. there is no doubt that this election is an important milestone in the birth of east timor as the world's newest nation. it will take months i and billions of dollars to repair what katrinal achieved injust hours. three weeks is the longest the great clock has been off duty in 117 years, so it was with great satisfaction that clockmaker john vernon swung the pendulum to set the clock going again. big ben bongs. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: president biden insists the kabul airlift will continue, despite two attacks killing more than 90 people near the airport. the us president described the 13 americans who lost

their lives as heroes and promised the perpetrators would pay for their actions. it�*s notjust kabul airport, where thousands have been gathering to try to leave afghanistan. since the taliban took over of the country, thousands have also travelled to the border with pakistan, in the hope of getting out, but many are not being allowed through. 0ur correspondent, shumaila jaffery, reports from the border. this is the border point. thousands of desperate families, trying to escape into pakistan. these are people who knew they had no chance at kabul airport. they are desperate to reach safety. but there is chaos here, too. just a few are being let across. these families left almost everything behind. with small children in tow, exhausted from walking in the baking heat, the elderly and sick pushed on wheelbarrows.

as the taliban flag flutters at the border, people tell us they don�*t trust their country�*s new rulers and see no future in afghanistan any more. no—one can trust the taliban, because we have some experience 20 years ago. right now, we just want to come to a safe area. the people here have come from across afghanistan. since the taliban captured kabul, thousands of ordinary afghans are crossing through the border every day. this woman is from the minority hazara community, persecuted by the taliban. she has made the dangerous trip from kabul with her daughters. she tells me that her daughter—in—law was killed in a taliban bombing some years ago. translation: they are terrible people. | i am scared of them. they have murdered my daughter—in—law. they do not have any sympathy.

they are heartless. the people here are scared for their safety. there are many reasons for afghans to fear the taliban. they are walking into unknown futures. still, they do not want to stay behind. shumaila jaffery, bbc news, chaman, pakistan. and for more on the situation in afghanistan following the takeover of the country by the taliban tune in to our news special here on bbc news at midday gmt, presented by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet in kabul and philippa thomas here in london. it�*s the third day of action in the paralympics in tokyo, where for the first time athletics events are being staged in the japan national stadium. a total of 45 golds will be awarded on friday, with china seeking to maintain its domination of the medals table. as we went on air, china had nine gold medals,

followed by australia with seven and great britain with six. with 24 medals to his name, daniel dias is the most decorated paralympic swimmer in history. due to retire next year, bbc brazil spoke to daniel ahead of his final games, about his journey as an athlete his views on the contentious and ever changing categories of disability within competitive swimming and the future of the paralympic games. translation: we are different. this is important _ translation: we are different. this is important to _ this is important to understand. but we are this is important to understand. but we are also this is important to understand. but we are also the same in achieving, training and chasing dreams. this is very important, especially for people with disabilities to understand. we are equal while also being different.—

also being different. daniel dias is the _ also being different. daniel dias is the most _ also being different. daniel dias is the most decorated | dias is the most decorated paralympic swimmer in history. in the last three games he has won 23 medals for his home country brazil. all athletes across the paralympics are put into categories based on their disability but more than any other sport, disability but more than any othersport, it disability but more than any other sport, it is swimming that has been marred with controversy. translation: ., ., ., translation: in order for an athlete to _ translation: in order for an athlete to compete, - translation: in order for an athlete to compete, we - translation: in order for an athlete to compete, we need | translation: in order for an i athlete to compete, we need to be classified. we know that. if you ask me, explain today �*s rating system, i couldn�*t. swimmers are rated from 1—10, one being the most impaired. born with underdeveloped arms and legs, daniel dias is rated and legs, daniel dias is rated

a five. in and legs, daniel dias is rated a five. . , and legs, daniel dias is rated a five. ., , ., a five. in had seven world records — a five. in had seven world records today _ a five. in had seven world i records today unfortunately i do not have any. they were broken by athletes from the group above me. i am a five and they area group above me. i am a five and they are a six but today they are also a five. they are less disabled, let�*s say, is of course a beat my times, broke my records, even though i have continued to get faster. despite his ever improving times in the pool, daniel dias has announced tokyo will be his last games. this has announced tokyo will be his last games-— last games. as my last paralympic— last games. as my last paralympic games, - last games. as my last paralympic games, it l last games. as my last| paralympic games, it is last games. as my last - paralympic games, it is going to be very special. usually i am the guy sending the message to smile but this time i may cry a light, but it is tears of dedication for a life spent swimming. my time as a swimmer will end in tokyo. it is going to be very special.

scientists in egypt say they�*ve discovered the fossilised remains of an amphibious, four—legged whale. the bones were found in rock formations that are 43 million years old. it�*s thought they could help trace the transition of whales from land to sea. the bbc�*s tim allman has the details. they are some of the most impressive and majestic animals on earth. giants of the ocean, we know they are most definitely not fish and, up until now, we knew they didn�*t normally have legs. but then, in the western deserts of egypt, these bones were unearthed. translation: the discovery of all a new species - of amphibious whale that could both swim and walk on land. we named it after the god anubis.

he has a deadly bite and strong draw. ——jaw. this is what they may have looked like some 40 million years ago. it�*s estimated to be three metres long and would have weighed somewhere in the region of 600 kilos and it may be a sort of missing link is wales involved moving from the land to the oceans. translation: the question here is, can we find - skeletons of other whales? whales are considered one of the creatures that developed the most in their evolution because they evolved from living on land to living in a sea. the hunt is now on for more bones, more fossils. a chance to discover the secret of whales that could walk. quite an amazing discovery! that is it from me for the moment. i will be back with the

business stories, looking ahead to see what a speech by the us federal reserve head, jerome powell could hold and the impact on shares. you can reach me on twitter. i�*m @ samanthatvnews. hello. it�*s a mark of how strange a summer it�*s been when i can tell the truth and say it�*s been warmer than average for the uk. some of you will look at me like i�*ve gone crazy. the met office say that it�*s been about a degree warmer than average this summer so far, warmest compared with average in scotland and northern ireland. you know in london and south—east england, even though it has been a little warmer than average, it�*s been really quite wet and dull this summer. it is at least now dry, but it is still quite dull with all the cloud we�*ve had. high pressure is close to the uk, keeping things settled friday, the weekend and throughout much of next week. doesn�*t mean sunny, though, and overnight and into the morning, a lot of cloud will have pushed in from the east. and temperatures will be a little lower than this

in the countryside. across scotland, a lot of the cloud will clear during friday, but still keeping some towards the east coast. northern ireland, once any fog patches clear, some sunny spells here. for wales, especially in the west, far south—west of england, for cumbria, some occasional sunshine, perhaps developing more widely through some eastern parts of england on through the afternoon. this wind direction, though, will continue a feed of cloud and breeze into the coast of eastern scotland and north—east england, keeping temperatures down here at around 15, 16 degrees, whereas elsewhere, mainly 17 to 20. a little higher, though, with prolonged sunny spells across western parts. 0vernight and into saturday, areas of cloud, clear spells, down into single figures where you�*re clear. and by the end of the night and first thing on saturday, the chance of a few showers running in across south—east england, more especially into kent. so this is how the weekend is shaping up. it is looking, for the most part, dry, barthe chance of that shower towards the far south—east on saturday for a time, variable cloud and some sunny spells around. probably faring quite well for sunny spells during saturday. temperatures, high teens, just a few creeping into the low 20s.

a bit of a change for part two of the weekend on sunday. the high pressurejust drifting more towards the northwest, allowing a flow of a little more moist air to run down into scotland, with more widely cloudier skies on sunday, perhaps northern ireland, too, and running in across the eastern side of england, where, still, along that north sea coast, it�*ll be rather cool in the cloud. but really quite pleasant where you�*re still getting to see a bit of sunshine.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. central bankers meet for the annualjackson hole symposium, but not as we once knew it. for the second time it�*s held virtually, but economists are still on tenterhooks to hear what federal reserve chairman jerome powell will reveal about the american economy. shares of fitness company peloton slump after a disappointing outlook. with more than 50% of festivals in the uk cancelled, is there still life in the industry?