this is bbc news with the latest headlines... the ministry of defence confirms the final uk flight for civilians has left kabul. further flights will bring home uk diplomatic staff and military personnel. the us military says one of its drones has taken out an islamic state group planner, following thursday's attack which killed as many as 170 people at kabul airport. a recipe for covid chaos — government plans for schools are criticised by education unions who fear a rise in coronavirus infections. britain's lorry driver shortage — the business secretary has rejected a temporary loosening of immigration rules and told companies to employ uk—based staff. two world records for the british cycling couple, husband and wife lora and neil fachie, who are amongst seven gb paralympians to win gold today.

a stunning performance by england's bowlers, as they skittled out india before lunch to take victory in the third test at headingley. and click explores the technology trends that are shaping the future of transport. that's in half an hour, here on bbc news. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. in the last hour, the ministry of defence has announced that the final dedicated flight purely for the evacuation effort from afghanistan has left kabul. further flights leaving from the airport would be able to carry evacuees but would also be transporting uk diplomatic staff and military personnel as the operation winds down. it comes as british ambassador

to afghanistan sir laurie bristow said it was "time to close this phase" of the evacuation effort. earlier, the head of the armed forces general sir nick carter said it was "heartbreaking" that they had not been able to rescue everybody who is eligible. our diplomatic affairs correspondent caroline hawley reports. at raf brize norton this morning british military personnel arriving back on uk soil. around a thousand were flown out to afghanistan to help in an unprecedented rescue mission — which is now in its final hours. we've done an extraordinaryjob to evacuate as many as we have, but i'm afraid it's absolutely heartbreaking that we can't bring everybody out. and i think that point has been made very strongly, certainly by the defence secretary and others over the last ten days or so. personally, i've probably had over 100 messages from different afghans who i know in my long association with the country, and many of those friends of mine won't make it out. and for me, not a day passes without me having a bit of a tear

in my eye about all of that. in less than a fortnight, more than 14,000 people have been evacuated by the raf — british nationals and afghans who had worked with the uk, along with their families. but among serving and former soldiers, there is bitter regret that hundreds have not been able to reach the airport. afghans whose lives are now at grave risk. i served most of my four years in afghanistan, down in helmand province, kandahar province, and most people down there — i mean, forget about getting to kabul. there are ten checkpoints between them and the motorway, let alone down the motorway all the way to kabul. so you can forget about trying to get to the airport because every one of those checkpoints is a danger point where taliban or affiliated groups, drug dealers orjust simply bandits could murder and, sadly, have been murdering various people. the taliban now boast they are at the gates of kabul airport — with american hardware the us has left behind. but neither they nor international forces could stop the devastating

attack on thursday that killed 170 people including 13 american soldiers. 0vernight the us retaliated against the so—called islamic state killing they believe an is planner, in a drone strike. but the threat of further attacks is very real. a bitter, bloody and chaotic end to a 20—year mission. and for so many afghans now, pure dread of what is to come. caroline hawley, bbc news. 0ur correspondent simon jones is here. very symbolic that to the last civilian evacuation flight has left. we knew that 0peration pitting was coming to an end, the operation to

get out afghans. the mod made it clear that today would be the final flight carrying just civilians leaving kabul airport for the uk. today we got confirmation that the final flight four civilians had left. there will be final flights during the course of the weekend and the focus will be to get out military personnel, around 1000 british troops have been in afghanistan in recent days, some have already returned. there may be space for civilians but it is going to be largely military and diplomatic personnel. someone who has been a presence at the airport has been a presence at the airport has been a presence at the airport has been the uk ambassador to afghanistan, sir laurie bristow, and he posted on social media from he made about his final thoughts.

the team here have been working to the very last moment to evacuate british nationals, afghans and others at risk. since the 13th of august, we've brought nearly 15,000 people to safety and about 1,000 military, diplomatic and civilian personnel have worked on operation pitting in kabul, and many, many more elsewhere. thursday's terrorist attack was a reminder of the difficult and dangerous conditions in which operation pitting has been done and, sadly, iattended here yesterday the ceremony to pay our respects to the 13 us soldiers who died. it's time to close this phase of the operation now but we haven't forgotten the people who still need to leave. we will continue to do everything we can to help them. nor have we forgotten the brave, decent people of afghanistan. they deserve to live in peace and security. the british ambassador to afghanistan. as he said there are more people eligible who have not been able to get out. the government

are keen to talk— been able to get out. the government are keen to talk about _ been able to get out. the government are keen to talk about the _ been able to get out. the government are keen to talk about the fact - been able to get out. the government are keen to talk about the fact they i are keen to talk about the fact they have got out around 111,500 british citizens, afghan interpreters, over the past couple of weeks but it is thought hundreds more people who would be eligible to come to the uk are still in afghanistan. what will happen to them is unclear. the government is saying that what is ending today and this weekend is really only the end of phase one of this operation and it is going to look at a second phase to bring eligible people to the uk but it is unclear how it will work. it is likely to require cooperation of the taliban, people may be asked to go to land borders, but how processing would work is not clear. plus the uk has committed to taking around 5000 refugees direct from the region in the first year, up to around 20,000 over the next four orfive the first year, up to around 20,000 over the next four or five years. we are told from the home office we are going to get more details this week

of how that scheme is going to work but certainly it has been a very complex couple of weeks and those complexities are likely to continue as the uk looks to get more people out of afghanistan, even once direct flights have ended. joining me now is conservative mp bob seely, who sits on the foreign affairs committee and also served with the army in afghanistan. what is your view of the fact that people who are eligible have been left behind?— left behind? incredibly regretful. ben left behind? incredibly regretful. lz’en wallace _ left behind? incredibly regretful. ben wallace and _ left behind? incredibly regretful. ben wallace and his _ left behind? incredibly regretful. ben wallace and his team - left behind? incredibly regretful. ben wallace and his team within | left behind? incredibly regretful. . ben wallace and his team within the mod are some of the few people to emerge with any credit internationally from this. it is credit to the diplomatic teams in the raf that they have managed to get 14,500 the raf that they have managed to get 111,500 people out and we thank them for their work. the fact there are hundreds, potentially thousands

left is very sad because life will be difficult for them to get out, going through checkpoints is difficult in any circumstances but going through checkpoints with the taliban when you have women and children with you i think will be incredibly uncomfortable. i hope we continue to try to get people out who deserved to be got out, through uk means. ~ . ., , ., , , uk means. what means would they be, do ou uk means. what means would they be, do you imagine? _ uk means. what means would they be, do you imagine? the _ uk means. what means would they be, do you imagine? the first _ uk means. what means would they be, do you imagine? the first issue - uk means. what means would they be, do you imagine? the first issue is - do you imagine? the first issue is makin: do you imagine? the first issue is making contact — do you imagine? the first issue is making contact with _ do you imagine? the first issue is making contact with them - do you imagine? the first issue is making contact with them and - making contact with them and secondly we will have to find a means of getting them out, and that will rely on the goodwill of the taliban, and that is a pretty bizarre place to be. in taliban, and that is a pretty bizarre place to be. in terms of the last civilian — bizarre place to be. in terms of the last civilian flight _ bizarre place to be. in terms of the last civilian flight leaving _ bizarre place to be. in terms of the last civilian flight leaving kabul, i last civilian flight leaving kabul, the remaining ones are for diplomatic and military personnel primarily, three more days until the final withdrawal date. why not carry on bringing people out? i am cluessin on bringing people out? i am guessing here, _ on bringing people out? i am guessing here, simply-

on bringing people out? i —n guessing hare, simply because on bringing people out? i —n guessing here, simply because you guessing here, simply because you really want to be running flights with civilians or even military flights when you have got hours before the taliban bring that airport evacuation process to an end. you want a certain buffer period where you know you can get out more safely, and the nearer you are to the 31st of august deadline, the more dangerous the situation becomes, both with terrorists and militants around the airport who may not be associated with the taliban but also potentially whether the taliban themselves, and also potentially for civilians around the airport who are going to be increasingly desperate by that point as well. i can understand the logic from a diplomatic and military point of view of trying to bring the civilian elements to a close with a reason usable —— with a reasonable time so you can get other people out safely with a reasonable amount of time before you hit the hard boundary of the 31st.-

time before you hit the hard boundary of the 31st. there will be eo - le boundary of the 31st. there will be peeple stuck _ boundary of the 31st. there will be peeple stuck in — boundary of the 31st. there will be people stuck in afghanistan - boundary of the 31st. there will be people stuck in afghanistan who . boundary of the 31st. there will be i people stuck in afghanistan who have made themselves known to be eligible to come out. how concerned is the foreign office and ministry of defence of a potential hostage situation? i defence of a potential hostage situation? ., �* ~ ., defence of a potential hostage situation? ~ ., , , ., situation? i don't know because i am not a minister— situation? i don't know because i am not a minister in _ situation? i don't know because i am not a minister in either— situation? i don't know because i am not a minister in either of— situation? i don't know because i am not a minister in either of those i not a minister in either of those but common sense tells you it is going to be a difficult situation. there are potentially british people who could be taken hostage, although i suspect the greater danger for those people with dual nationality that the taliban will have some holdover. 0verall that the taliban will have some holdover. overall it is great we have got 111,500 people out, whichever way you look at it. but it is unlikely to have a happy ending. this is bad news on top of pretty bad news. we did not have to pull out of afghanistan. it is great that president biden ordered an air strike that killed a planner for islamic state but that will not

bring back the 170 people killed. i think the world will become a much more dangerous place and it will be a pretty miserable time in afghanistan as well.- a pretty miserable time in afghanistan as well. how does britain and _ afghanistan as well. how does britain and more _ afghanistan as well. how does britain and more widely - afghanistan as well. how does britain and more widely the i britain and more widely the international community support people left in afghanistan with the taliban in control of most of the country? i taliban in control of most of the count ? ~ , , country? i think it is extremely difficult because _ country? i think it is extremely difficult because when - country? i think it is extremely difficult because when you i country? i think it is extremely difficult because when you had | difficult because when you had people on the ground and functioning embassies and afghan security forces, 70,000 afghans died fighting the taliban, to say that they didn't fight is simply not true. when we were giving them air support and when contractors where they are servicing helicopters, when the drones were up, they were making a fairfight. clearly if drones were up, they were making a fair fight. clearly if the taliban are now running the country, which they are, anything we want to do on principle becomes much more difficult. having human intelligence on the ground becomes much more dangerous. being reliant on drones, well, human beings make decisions

based on flawed information because a drone is 30,000 feet in the air. we are losing our ability to fight terrorism coming out of afghanistan. it may not make a difference in our society overnight, people coming out of prison may have a score to settle in afghanistan for now. but then they will turn their eyes further afield, europe, in the united states, but also our allies and friends in india as well. it is not a good situation either way. john sifton is the asia advocacy director at human rights watch. who are the people of greatest concern to you currently? there are many afghans _ concern to you currently? there are many afghans at — concern to you currently? there are many afghans at risk _ concern to you currently? there are many afghans at risk of _ concern to you currently? there are j many afghans at risk of persecution and harmed by the taliban but the most immediate risk are those who the taliban has no intention of

allowing refuge, people who they associate with the foreign government and those people are still trying to flee. the airport evacuation is essentially over but people will seek to stay in hiding and look for a resumption of civilian flights perhaps but more likely take over land routes to third countries. it is vital that european states and the uk is the leader of the g7 right now, come together and have an emergency summit if necessary with a broad global resettlement plan for the people most at risk. thousands of people most at risk. thousands of people are presenting themselves at embassies for different countries and there has to be a process for dividing up these most at risk categories and then drawing up plans for those who face more general persecution because of who they are

ethnically or their lifestyle. those people, many will flee. an emergency summit, and if the uk as leader of the g7 could take the lead, or another country, it doesn't matter, the un could take the lead, but this needs to happen now. based on past experience and the recent extraordinary summit of the recent extraordinary summit of the g7 where there were divisions between members, how optimistic can you believe that there will be a rush to take refugees? i can't be optimistic there will be a rush to take refugees but the g7 summit last week was a step forward in that there was agreement on a lot of issues including that we can't simply walk away. the us and the

rest of the g7 have to figure out the criteria under which they will now deal with the new taliban government and simply walking away and letting sanctions cripple this country will harm afghans themselves and harm afghan refugees. we have to immediately focus on the next steps to take, refugee resettlement, humanitarian assistance, and the looming food and financial insecurity, the liquidity crisis which could exacerbate. what leve ra . e which could exacerbate. what leverage is — which could exacerbate. what leverage is there _ which could exacerbate. what leverage is there to _ which could exacerbate. what leverage is there to make i which could exacerbate. what| leverage is there to make sure which could exacerbate. what leverage is there to make sure that the taliban treat their people correctly? there is a lot of criticism of the international community, particularly the us withdrawing, but the taliban are now in charge, they want to form a government, how do you hold them to account? it government, how do you hold them to account? , ,.,, , , .,

account? it will be impossible to sim -l account? it will be impossible to simply use _ account? it will be impossible to simply use leverage _ account? it will be impossible to simply use leverage that - account? it will be impossible to simply use leverage that exists i account? it will be impossible to l simply use leverage that exists to get them to be completely rights respecting government overnight, asking them to do more than other governments in the region is not tenable. but it is wrong to say they have all the cards and the international community has nothing because right now the taliban is under un sanction and has no access to the international banking system, currency reserves, special lending rates from the imf. they don't have a lot of things that could be offered to them in packages in exchange for better behaviour and cooperation with the un. you start with cooperation with the un, setting up a new un presence in the country are using the old one in a new way. these are the types of things that need to be put on the table. for20 things that need to be put on the table. for 20 years international governments have looked at the issues in afghanistan through a

military technical lanes but it is time to understand the situation requires diplomacy and give—and—take of negotiation even if the other negotiating partner has a loathsome human rights record. human rights watch reported on the atrocious record of the taliban on human rights generally and women in particular but we would never say we can't negotiate and let the entire country sink into humanitarian disaster. that would not be in their best interests of the afghan people which really should be the guiding light here, not the taliban, but what is best for the afghan people, women and girls especially. the headlines on bbc news... the ministry of defence confirms the final uk flight for civilians has left kabul. further flights will bring home uk diplomatic staff and military personnel.

the us military says one of its drones has taken out an islamic state group planner, following thursday's attack which killed as many as 170 people at kabul airport. a recipe for covid chaos — government plans for schools are criticised by education unions who fear a rise in coronavirus infections. sport, and a full round up from the bbc sport centre. an avalanche of gold medals. yes, in tokyo, but also an avalanche of goals at the etihad. manchester city have put on another five—star showing at the etihad this afternoon. they thrashed arsenal in another totally dominant premier league performance. 5—0 it finished, and they got off the mark quickly. captain ilkay gundogan with the header to get city on their way. more poor defending allowed them to go two up inside the first quarter of an hour.

gabrieljesus made it three before half time, after arsenal were reduced to ten men, when granit xhaka was sent off. ferran torres got his second of the match, and city's fifth in the latter stages. city go top, ten goal in the their last two games. but it's three losses in a row for arsenal, who are now bottom of the table. i was really concerned because mentally it is a tough one to take. you're going to play 60 minutes against the best team in the league with ten players and you can't go down and you will start to see body language, attitude with each other. then i would worry a lot. i didn't see that. i must say thank you to the 3000 fans who came here today because they were terrific. it's not a help for the team or players, it's a help for the team or players, it's a help for the team or players, it's a help for the club. i have all the players to play except — i have all the players to play except two. from the beginning of

the season— except two. from the beginning of the season it is more difficult. but i the season it is more difficult. but i know_ the season it is more difficult. but i know his — the season it is more difficult. but i know his talent and awareness as our leading — i know his talent and awareness as our leading role in many things so i'm pretty— our leading role in many things so i'm pretty sure that everything will be back— i'm pretty sure that everything will be back and he will do the job because — be back and he will do the job because he is an excellent manager. i because he is an excellent manager. i know_ because he is an excellent manager. i know him _ because he is an excellent manager. i know him and work with him. five games kicked off at three o'clock today... goals for brentford and villa. 1-1. and vardy putting leicester one up v norwich. it was a stunning morning for englands bowlers as they skittled out india before lunch to take victory in the third test at headingley. the tourists had begun the day 139 runs behind but were soon in trouble as 0llie robinson took early wickets including that of virat kolhi. robisnon the pick of england's bowlers as he went on to dismiss rishab pant and then ishant sharma — his fifth wicket of the innings.

craig 0verton wrapped things up as england won by an innings and 76 runs to level the series 1—1. extremely proud. it shows the character in the dressing room, four players to be able to take a loss like that, come back and put in such a clinical performance, it shows what the group is about. it can be a difficult place, test cricket, when it isn't going your way, and you have to be able to stand up and look at in the face and be ready to put yourself back out there under pressure and deliver and they have done exceptionally well this week. what a day it's been for paralympics gb in tokyo — they've won seven golds today. there was a dramatic double in the velodrome for a married couple, with world records smashed along the way. andy swiss has more — and a warning, there are some flashing images coming up. meet british sport's

new golden couple. neil and lora fachie, husband and wife, and gold medallists within 20 minutes of each other. first neil and tandem pilot matt rotherham took the time trial in a new world record. but if that was special, just moments later it was a family double, as lora and her pilot corrine hall produced a display of pursuit perfection. what a story, what a ride! a case of same surname, same outcome. for the couple, who are both visually impaired, a remarkable feat. and afterwards, neil told me just what it meant. it was just superb. there were a few tears flowing on both accounts. she told me she was crying, and i had to admit that i was too. but, yeah, i mean, we sort of planned for this, but you never really expect it to all come together like that. and the gold rush continued. jaco van gass, jody cundy and kadeena cox in the mixed team sprint. with just one lap to go they were trailing china, but cundy turned it round in breathtaking fashion. can he claw it back?

oh, yes, he can! oh, it's unbelievable! britain ending the track cycling events on the highest of highs. meanwhile in the athletics, a new star was born. 21—year—old thomas young producing the performance of his life to win the 100 metres. and there was also gold in the women's100. sophie hahn retaining her title from rio, and once again showing her brilliance on the biggest stage. in the pool there was another gold for maisie summers—newton in the breaststroke — just 19, but already a double paralympic champion. but the celebration of the day undoubtedly belonged to will bayley. the former strictly competitor showing some less than fancy footwork, but he's into the table tennis final — imagine what he'll do if he actually wins it. that's all the sport for now.

we are admiring your haircut. sprinters thomas young and sophie hahn took gold in the t38100 metres. it was the first time that thomas young — who's 21 years old — had broken 11 seconds. earlier i spoke to his parents, bridie and rob. coming up to tokyo he had done 11.03 and obviously his previous personal best was in dubai at 11 seconds but he has always wanted to aim to beat the 11 seconds and it was so great because today he did it. and what a place to do it. what were you thinking when you watched him run? you don't have long to actually see him in action, do you? no, it felt a bit surreal.

it was just so amazing and i was so emotional, i didn't know what to do. from the interview i have read, he said he wasn't even thinking about the medal, he was only thinking about how fast he had run. it is doubly impressive for him. yes, he has been watching the time. he has done a couple of previous bests but coming up to these games he has been doing 11.17, 11.22, so i was pleased to see he had done under 11. hoping in the last couple of weeks he would be able to do it and he has come through. i love the fatherly understatement, "i was quite pleased," that's wonderful.

tell us about his running history. when did you first spot he was quick? he always liked running around and playing football as a child and then many years ago he was chatting to a teacher at school who said what aboutjoining a club? so he joined charnwood athletics in loughborough down the road in 2013, and he went on and on from there. and he loved it so much hejust kept going and going, literally, and didn't stop. from starting out there, he found something he loved and something that he turned out to be really good at. single—use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups could be banned in england,

under new plans to tackle pollution. the government will launch a public consultation this autumn, following an eu ban injuly and plans for similar moves in scotland, wales and northern ireland already announced. some campaigners say measures need to go further and faster though. joining me now is wayne whoriskey from go for green uk, which supplies recyclable, reusable or compostable catering supplies. thanks forjoining us. this will be good for your business. yes. good for your business. yes, although _ good for your business. yes, although complicated - good for your business. yes, although complicated and i l good for your business. ye: although complicated and i think thatis although complicated and i think that is really my key take from all of this is i welcome the announcement, i think it is a good thing, i think you would be hard pushed to find people who don't want these products banned, but i think these products banned, but i think the devil is in the detail. i think there are particular plastics which are worse than others. there are also some hidden plastics in the market. popular products that you

mention, compost doubles —— compostables, and if they are disposed of correctly they can be quite green but if not, not green at all. , , . quite green but if not, not green at all. , ' . . ., , all. tell is the difference. what is the best stuff _ all. tell is the difference. what is the best stuff we _ all. tell is the difference. what is the best stuff we could _ all. tell is the difference. what is the best stuff we could be - all. tell is the difference. what is| the best stuff we could be buying, and i am guessing it comes with a higher price tag?— higher price tag? unfortunately there is not _ higher price tag? unfortunately there is not a _ higher price tag? unfortunately there is not a one _ higher price tag? unfortunately there is not a one size - higher price tag? unfortunately there is not a one size fits i higher price tag? unfortunately there is not a one size fits all . there is not a one size fits all solution. we sell lots of different products but we very much want to deal with our customers and understand their intended use, the likely end of use situation, what bins will be available to them, and guide accordingly. unfortunately it is not one size fits all. i’m is not one size fits all. i'm wondering. _ is not one size fits all. i'm wondering, do _ is not one size fits all. i'm wondering, do we - is not one size fits all. i'm wondering, do we need to get away from disposable anything, ideally? evenif

from disposable anything, ideally? even if something is made of bamboo and it will eventually rot down, you still have to dispose of it and you're still creating tonnes of waste. ., ., ~ you're still creating tonnes of waste. ., ., . ., , waste. you do. we live in a country where there — waste. you do. we live in a country where there is _ waste. you do. we live in a country where there is a _ waste. you do. we live in a country where there is a lot _ waste. you do. we live in a country where there is a lot of _ waste. you do. we live in a country where there is a lot of on _ waste. you do. we live in a country where there is a lot of on the i waste. you do. we live in a country where there is a lot of on the go i where there is a lot of on the go food and drink consumed, single use has its place in that world. reusables gained great popularity in the last couple of years pre—covid but now at a time with the virus circulating, i think single use is preferable for some people and i can understand that. but it is important that we are choosing the right products and thinking of the infrastructure available to people so they can dispose of them responsibly. so they can dispose of them responsibly-— so they can dispose of them resonsibl. ., , ., responsibly. you said some plastics are worse than _ responsibly. you said some plastics are worse than others _ responsibly. you said some plastics are worse than others so _ responsibly. you said some plastics are worse than others so to - responsibly. you said some plastics are worse than others so to what i are worse than others so to what extent have we unfairly demonised plastic as a whole's expanded polystyrene is what most of this

announcement covers