this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. 20 years after being sent in the last british troops have left afghanistan the evacuation in the wake of the taliban taking charge is over. the effort has been frankly truly humbling to see hours worked. the exhaustion painted on peoples faces. we tried our best. but hundreds of afghans eligible for relocation and uk nationals have been left behind and the government has been criticised for having not done more sooner. president biden warns another attack on kabul airport is "highly likely" within the next 2a hours as us forces prepare to leave. forecasters warn a storm approaching louisiana could be more powerful than hurricane katrina which devastated new orleans 16 years ago.

dilemma for doctors a severe shortage of test tubes in the uk means patients needing urgent blood tests could face delays. at the paralympics great britain's hannah cockroft wins her third successive 100m gold. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the uk prime minister, borisjohnson, has paid tribute to the military and other personnel involved in the evacuation operation in afghanistan. mrjohnson described their efforts as "heroic" and said the uk departure from afghanistan was "the culmination of a mission unlike anything we've seen in our lifetimes". an raf plane carrying the final

contingent of british troops and diplomats left kabul airport last night, bringing to an end the uk's 20 year military presence in the country. more than 15,000 people have been airlifted out of afghanistan by the uk in the past fornight. but hundreds of afghans eligible for relocation and uk nationals have been left behind. us presidentjoe biden has warned that another attack at kabul airport could come in the next 2a hours. the first of our reports comes from jon donnison. packing up and heading out. the last british soldiers and diplomats have now left afghanistan, bringing an end to a military operation that lasted just shy of two decades. in recent days, more than 15,000 people have been evacuated by the raf. british nationals and afghans who had worked with the uk, along with their families. but hundreds who wanted to get out have been left behind.

i don't think there's a certain person in kabul or from her majesty's government who could have given more the last two or two and half weeks. the effort has been truly humbling. to see the exhaustion on peoples faces we have tried our best. we have absolutely tried our best. sadly, it has not closed the gap but that should not take away from the pride in what we've achieved. it was 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11 that the first british troops arrived in afghanistan, part of a us—led mission. one of the first objectives, to oust the taliban from power. 20 years on, it's the islamist group who are still calling the shots. but in an open letter to troops this weekend, the prime minister said the uk's

involvement in afghanistan had kept al-qaeda from our doorfor two decades. "we are all safer as a result," he said. "you should feel immense pride." heavy gunfire. but as we leave, the shadow of terror still looms. tension remains high at kabul airport, where thursday's bomb attack by a local branch of the so—called islamic state group killed at least 170 people, and america is warning of a high chance of another attack within the next 2a hours, despite a us drone strike in the east of the country, which the pentagon said targeted is militants. but as the last british troops left, the government here says that focus is on supporting around 1,000 afghans it failed to get out on time. without boots on the ground, what format support will take is not clear.

those last flights from kabul have been landing in the uk. our correspondent has been there watching who is on board. there were around 250 passengers _ watching who is on board. there were around 250 passengers on _ watching who is on board. there were around 250 passengers on board - watching who is on board. there were around 250 passengers on board and | around 250 passengers on board and many of those were soldiers who had been working at kabul airport in recent days but the most symbolic passenger of all was britton�*s departing ambassador to afghanistan. he was the first passenger of the plane we watched land here at 8:30am. he was greeted by the under secretary of the foreign office. they shook hands, they shook hands, there were no speeches, there was no official ceremony and they walked quietly into the terminal building. that stark image was proof that britain's mission in kabul is over. but everybody at the base knows that it is incomplete because a number of local afghan allies, one counted

around 1000, left behind and officers here say that their safety now is really in the hands of the taliban itself and the taliban promises that people will be able to get out beyond the 31st of august. a little earlier, i spoke to the uk's shadow foreign secretary, labour's lisa nandy — she told me that the government appeared to have been completely unprepared for the speed of events as they unfolded in afghanistan but that her real concern is now for the potentially thousands of people left behind. there are many people that i have been incompetent, contact with over the last few days —— that i have beenin the last few days —— that i have been in contact with over the last few days that are stranded. as well as hundreds of people who have been trying to make their way to the border and get across, particularly the border with pakistan. when i spoke to the pakistani government in the last couple of days, there was an element of pessimism about how much pakistan is going to be able to

do. they have got 3 million afghan refugees already in the country and i think many of those regional partners are looking at the uk, but priti patel said that they going to cap the number of refugees that we are going to accept, around 5000 in the year. they are thinking how can we do it when your commitment is so little? that is why the prime minister has to urgently get a grip on this. he said he would move heaven and earth to get people out but many people in his department are taking steps that are actively working against those efforts and it is appalling, frankly, that he hasn't got more of a handle on this given how much those people did for us and for our troops and our government over the last 20 years. 0ur political correspondent jessica parker said the government is likely to face pressure on how they plan to get the hundreds of people left behind in afghanistan out. i think one of the key questions

that ministers will now be pressed on over the coming days is what relationships have been established, what agreements, if any, have been established with countries bordering afghanistan in order to try and establish some sort of safe routes out of afghanistan for those who still wish and fear for their safety and desperately want to leave. what the government has been saying is that it the government has been saying is thatitis the government has been saying is that it is going to work with international partners, it will pull with the taliban to try and get them to cooperate and downing street this morning has released a video of borisjohnson. we have asked if we can put our own questions to the prime minister but in this statement, borisjohnson talks about the fact that the uk government and others will be engaging with the taliban. ., ., , , ., others will be engaging with the taliban. ., ., , ., ., taliban. not on the basis of what the sa taliban. not on the basis of what they say but _ taliban. not on the basis of what they say but what _ taliban. not on the basis of what they say but what they _ taliban. not on the basis of what they say but what they do. - taliban. not on the basis of what they say but what they do. and l taliban. not on the basis of what they say but what they do. and if they say but what they do. and if the new — they say but what they do. and if the new regime in kabul once diplomatic recognition or to unlock the billions that are currently frozen. — the billions that are currently frozen, they will have to ensure

safe _ frozen, they will have to ensure safe passage for those that wish to leave _ safe passage for those that wish to leave the _ safe passage for those that wish to leave the country, to respect the rights _ leave the country, to respect the rights of — leave the country, to respect the rights of women and girls, to prevent— rights of women and girls, to prevent afghanistan from again becoming an incubator for global terror_ becoming an incubator for global terror because that would be disastrous for afghanistan. now, of course, it disastrous for afghanistan. now, of course. it is — disastrous for afghanistan. now, of course, it is worth _ disastrous for afghanistan. now, of course, it is worth remembering . disastrous for afghanistan. now, ofi course, it is worth remembering we have seen this morning the ambassador in kabul is no longer in kabul. we don't have an embassy any more, they are going to set up in qatar. we don't have a military presence in afghanistan any more, so undoubtedly influences hugely diminished. ithink undoubtedly influences hugely diminished. i think the government will try to say that there are things that they can do but to what extent they can, we will have to see over the next months. let's speak to robert fox, defence editor of the london evening standard. there are three key elements, looking back at what has achieved, looking back at what has achieved, looking at how it is unfolding right now and then looking at the future.

what in your mind right now? it is the failure — what in your mind right now? it is the failure of _ what in your mind right now? it is the failure of a _ what in your mind right now? it 3 the failure of a strategy and policy first by tony blair on the back of donald ron fell. the achievements of the new generation are going to have to be... when taliban were last there, there was no mobile phone network. now it is pervasive if it continues and it has brought with it a new awareness, new connectivity and above all, a new literacy. that is the upside but this week, i think what we will get is a coming to terms with a failed strategy, where do we go from here? the implications are ominous for britain but there is this immediate prospect of getting those that you need to be got out and how you do it, are the arrangements really in place? and

what you do about people who are staying on there? find what you do about people who are staying on there?— what you do about people who are staying on there? and when you talk about that new _ staying on there? and when you talk about that new awareness, - about that new awareness, connectivity and literacy among the afghan people, how much do you think has changed their in terms of people actually being prepared to accept the taliban way of life going forward" leatherback well, i'm not at all clear. we forward" leatherback well, i'm not at all clear-— at all clear. we have got a very, very peculiar— at all clear. we have got a very, very peculiar mixture. _ at all clear. we have got a very, very peculiar mixture. we - at all clear. we have got a very, very peculiar mixture. we have | at all clear. we have got a very, i very peculiar mixture. we have got old taliban, the founders in the early 1990, old taliban, the founders in the early1990, in old taliban, the founders in the early 1990, in all terms. there is also new taliban and there are the new taliban, people like is k that come along with them who really don't have much interest in afghanistan. afghanistan is a brilliant host for them but most of them aren't even afghans. what are

they going to bring? this is why what we are facing is very difficult and i don't think we should be so naive as to say that we should get everybody else that wants to get out because that'll destroy the infrastructure, particularly in terms of services and medical services of anything like modern state. , services of anything like modern state, , ., services of anything like modern state. , ., ., state. so, still a battle for the future of afghanistan - state. so, still a battle for the future of afghanistan going i state. so, still a battle for the - future of afghanistan going forward because you mentioned, obviously, the insurgency groups, is k amongst them, there are others and also in them, there are others and also in the north of the country, a group of people who will not accept and say that they will stand up and fight against the taliban as a government, so potentially a new civil war as well? ~ , ., ., ., ., . well? well, you have got an ethnic and cultural _ well? well, you have got an ethnic and cultural sake, _ well? well, you have got an ethnic and cultural sake, as _ well? well, you have got an ethnic and cultural sake, as you - well? well, you have got an ethnic and cultural sake, as you have - and cultural sake, as you have pointed out. ijust don't think it

will happen. it is almost like that awfuljoke, you can take british forces and british interests outside of afghanistan but afghanistan will not leave those. that is terribly true because whether we like it or not, i think this is a huge mistake of the biden regime. military as well as civil, to think that you can close it down, enter the forever war and to turn your back on it. you can't. part of the connectivity of the world as you pointed out in your question is that this thing is much closer to us, this crisis, than most people realise. d0 closer to us, this crisis, than most peeple realise-_ closer to us, this crisis, than most people realise. do you think that we will see british _ people realise. do you think that we will see british troops _ people realise. do you think that we will see british troops going - people realise. do you think that we will see british troops going back i will see british troops going back in? it will see british troops going back in? ., �* ., , , ., , in? it won't happen in that terms. i have been — in? it won't happen in that terms. i have been asked _ in? it won't happen in that terms. i have been asked that _ in? it won't happen in that terms. i have been asked that hundreds i in? it won't happen in that terms. i have been asked that hundreds of. have been asked that hundreds of times over the past ten days. if there are islamicjihad groups

emanating from that region, which looks from their propaganda already to be extremely likely, we will have to be extremely likely, we will have to take interest in it and there will be activity with specialist organisations but don't give me the terrible old cliche about boots on the ground. no, no, no. that was probably a mistake in the first place but the intelligence agencies, they are absolutely aware of a very real threat and the threat will come out and it won't stop. it will go into europe and very likely into america, but certainly american interest as well. well within a generation and by that i mean just a year or two. generation and by that i mean 'ust a year or two.— generation and by that i mean 'ust a ear or two. ., ,, y., , . ., year or two. thank you very much for “oininr year or two. thank you very much for joining us- — the headlines on bbc news... british troops have left afghanistan — two decades after being sent there in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. borisjohnson has said future engagement with the taliban

in afghanistan will depend on what they do, not on what they say. british doctors warn that a severe shortage of test tubes could delay even urgent blood tests. tens of thousands of people are fleeing for safety from the us state of louisiana as a powerful hurricane gets closer. hurricane ida is expected on make landfall this evening with winds expected to top 130 miles—per—hour. in new orleans, residents prepare for the worst, even as they hope for the best. it is 16 years to the day since hurricane katrina devastated this city. on this unforgettable anniversary, the region is bracing for the landfall of what could be the strongest storm to hit louisiana in more than a century. locked everything down, moved everything that could blow away, filled up all of the vehicles, put everything in the freezer, have everything ready to go in case we are without power a few days, because it looks like

it is coming right at us. it isjust one of those things you've got to live with when you live down here. it is going to come no matter what so we do the best we can. ida's growing power took officials by surprise. many rushed to leave the area. but time ran out to organise a mandatory mass evacuation of the city's 390,000 residents. just two days ago, the storm was a tropical depression. your window of time is closing. it is rapidly closing. and just like we said yesterday, i by the time you go to bed tonight, you need to be where you intend i to ride the storm out, and you need to be as prepared as you can be. because weather will start | to deteriorate very quickly. it is expected to bring winds as high as 130mph, a storm surge as high as 15 feet in some areas and extreme flash flooding.

conditions that could threaten life, communities and key infrastructure. memories of the pain of hurricane katrina still haunt this city. the failure of federal levies left 80% of new orleans underwater. the storm killed more than 1,800 people and left millions homeless here and along the gulf coast. 0fficials stress that the city's hurricane protections have vastly improved since then. if ida hits at full strength, it will be a significant test of that system. a shortage of blood tubes means gps are having to make difficult choices about who gets blood tests, the british medical association has warned. the bma said shortages across hospitals and gp surgeries were "severe" and if the nhs did not reduce usage in the coming days even the most clinically important blood tests may be at risk. the department of health said it is working to restore normal supply and there continues to be stock in place.

with me now is professor adam fox, the president of the british society for allergy and clinical immunology. welcome, thank you very much for joining us. our test for allergies, the sort of test are going to have to be put on hold for a bit under the decision—making on whether something is urgent or not? with something is urgent or not? with first heard about _ something is urgent or not? tn first heard about this issue a something is urgent or not? ii�*u first heard about this issue a week orso first heard about this issue a week or so ago now and we are asked to stop to consider how this is going to impact on our practice. of course, it is very frustrating as many of our patients have just put up many of our patients have just put up with 18 months of delays and it is enormously frustrating for patients, for example, who have recently suffered some illnesses to find that investigations that are vital to understand what caused that can be done as quickly as they need to be done. can be done as quickly as they need to be done-— can be done as quickly as they need to be done. ., ., , , ., to be done. how many patients would ou to be done. how many patients would you estimate — to be done. how many patients would you estimate might _ to be done. how many patients would you estimate might be _ to be done. how many patients would you estimate might be affected i to be done. how many patients would you estimate might be affected by i you estimate might be affected by this in your area?—

this in your area? well, it's enormously _ this in your area? well, it's enormously difficult - this in your area? well, it's. enormously difficult because this in your area? well, it's i enormously difficult because this this in your area? well, it's - enormously difficult because this is very much up there on a trust by trust basis and our services are liaising with our laboratory partners to understand the degree of shortages and how we need to prioritise our patients. of course, for many of our allergy patients it will be routine reviews to understand if a patient has outgrown analogy and for that, a short delay is not ideal but it is clinically less risky, but of course it again, it's on the background of long delays that may have already happened but for those patients awaiting a diagnosis, you're going to have to prioritise those even if it means that we go through these cases individually to make sure that they don't get delayed where it's going to have a real impact. i5 going to have a real impact. is incredible that something so simple and such a fundamental part of the system is now, there's now a shortage of it and the impact that will have? i shortage of it and the impact that will have? ~ �* , shortage of it and the impact that will have? ~ �*, ,., will have? i think it's something that covid-19 _ will have? i think it's something

that covid-19 has _ will have? i think it's something that covid-19 has really - will have? i think it's something i that covid-19 has really uncovered that covid—19 has really uncovered for many events that didn't think too much about what went on behind the scenes. when we wanted to order a blood test, we would order a blood test. now, you understand that there is a huge supply of agents, some of it isn't as resilient as it ought to be. the fact that we are so dependent on a single supplier has taught us important lessons about how we need to change going forward. thank you. at the paralympics in tokyo, it's been an exciting sunday so far, with a gold for one of britain's top athelete's hannah cockroft, and a heartwarming arrival in tokyo for two afghan athletes. 0ur correspondent in tokyo rachel latham has the details. hannah cockroft picked up her sixth paralympic gold medal for great britain this morning in the track in the 100 metres and it was a world record too. most people who are coming here to defend a title might feel slightly nervous but not hannah. she didn't feel the pressure, she just knew what she needed to do and she got a gold medal.

she's also going in the 800 metres next week where she is hoping to defend her title there as well. she picked up three golds in london, two in rio, she already has one in tokyo but she is hoping to go home with two, making seven paralympic gold medals for hannah cockroft if she completes her mission here in tokyo. even though great britain have been racking up the medals all day, china still sits firmly on top of the paralympic table with 88 medals in total, 35 of them are gold. and what about those afghan athletes, it must have been particularly special for them to have arrived in tokyo. absolutely. we were missing them at the opening ceremony. the afghan flag was actually carried out by volunteers because the athletes were unable to get out of afghanistan. however, they arrived here in tokyo yesterday with the help of human rights for all, the international paralympic committee and world taekwondo. that is hossain rasouli

and zakia khudadadi. they will both be going in the taekwondo and the athletics on the 2nd and 3rd of september. now, the chef de mission of the afghan team said that through the power of movement we can deliver the positive message that peaceful coexistence is best for humanity. so it is notjust a celebration today for the paralympics but also for the world. let's return to our main story now and the kabul airlift with prime minister borisjohnson saying this morning that more than 15,000 people have been flown out by britain. in total, the us says over 112,000 people have been evacuated from afghanistan. but many others who are facing threat are left behind. among them a journalist who worked for an online media outlet set up by the german military in the northern city of mazar e sharif. he is now in kabul. for security reasons we are calling him �*rashid'. he told me about his fears.

i don't feel safe right now. but unfortunately, it's a surprise to all of us. so, it is really difficult. sometimes, it is thinking about going to pakistan border but from the knees from there, it is also full and yesterday some people were dying, so everywhere, when you think a very solutions, there are a lot of problems either way. [30

think a very solutions, there are a lot of problems either way. do you know what your — lot of problems either way. do you know what your next _ lot of problems either way. do you know what your next steps - lot of problems either way. do you know what your next steps will i lot of problems either way. do you | know what your next steps will be? lot of problems either way. do you l know what your next steps will be? i just hope that i will find some way out of the country. i'm waiting to see if in this week if i will get some good news and if i will find some good news and if i will find some way to go out. mine like you had actually had a letter from germany, asking you to go to the airport and you went with your wife and children, and obviously, did not make it out. share and children, and obviously, did not make it out-— make it out. are you having any communication _ make it out. are you having any communication with _ make it out. are you having any communication with anybody i make it out. are you having any i communication with anybody outside about helping you to get out now? unfortunately, we did not receive a letter from germany. unfortunately, we did not receive a letterfrom germany. it wasjust unfortunately, we did not receive a letter from germany. it was just a phone call. they said, you have to go to the airport and the germans

will pick you up, but unfortunately, we spent all night outside the door, but we did not see anyone can from the german soldiers to help us. what the german soldiers to help us. what are our the german soldiers to help us. what are your concerns _ the german soldiers to help us. what are your concerns about _ the german soldiers to help us. what are your concerns about the taliban? i know from the nature of the taliban but they do not change. now, they need the international community and maybe they will act like they are good people but they are not. �* , ., like they are good people but they are not. �* ,. , like they are good people but they are not. �* y., , ., like they are good people but they are not. �* ,. , ., ,. are not. and you believe that your work for a — are not. and you believe that your work for a german _ are not. and you believe that your work for a german media - are not. and you believe that your i work for a german media organisation does make it your target? —— does make you a target? does make it your target? -- does make you a target?— does make it your target? -- does make you a target? shore. my work was published- _

make you a target? shore. my work was published. a _ make you a target? shore. my work was published. a lot _ make you a target? shore. my work was published. a lot of— make you a target? shore. my work was published. a lot of activities i was published. a lot of activities during myjob and the reports on the news that i was making about the taliban, that could make me a target. you are watching bbc news. the ban on fans standing in english premier league and championship football grounds looks set to be lifted. joining me now is dan silver, from the chelsea supporters' trust. is this something that makes you happy? is this something that makes you ha . . ? , , is this something that makes you ha. . ? , , ., , ,y is this something that makes you ha-r? , , happy? yes, very happy. it has been 25 ears happy? yes, very happy. it has been 25 years since _ happy? yes, very happy. it has been 25 years since supporters _ happy? yes, very happy. it has been 25 years since supporters stood. i happy? yes, very happy. it has been 25 years since supporters stood. the trust have been campaigning tirelessly to get it done and it's a

great step in the right direction. the reason the ban came in is because of safety concerns after the hillsborough disaster, how important is it that it is done differently? i think we have learnt a lot from the tragedy of hillsborough. i think it has got to be right, it's got to be safe. you can have the opportunity to either stand and sit and you can sit safely. that's important. we had a look at the real sitting —— rail seating and it was really good and are excited to be able to stand. 50. are excited to be able to stand. so, 'ust to are excited to be able to stand. so, just to describe it, there are seats and backs to make sure that the numbers are controlled but there are rails in front of the seat so people can stand up safely. what difference does it make to the atmosphere to match when people can stand? i think when supporters _ match when people can stand? i think when supporters go — match when people can stand? i think when supporters go to _ match when people can stand? i think when supporters go to away _ match when people can stand? i t “i “ya; when supporters go to away game they tend to stand. it's a different

atmosphere. the is our theatre and we have always historically stood up. people are happier standing up. it's what we grew up on with football and now you can do it safely. it football and now you can do it safel . ., , ., ~ football and now you can do it safel . . , ., ,, ., football and now you can do it safel . .,~ ., ., safely. it has taken a long time, hasn't it? _ safely. it has taken a long time, hasn't it? yes, _ safely. it has taken a long time, hasn't it? yes, it _ safely. it has taken a long time, hasn't it? yes, it has _ safely. it has taken a long time, hasn't it? yes, it has been i safely. it has taken a long time, hasn't it? yes, it has been 25 i safely. it has taken a long time, i hasn't it? yes, it has been 25 years and understandably _ hasn't it? yes, it has been 25 years and understandably so _ hasn't it? yes, it has been 25 years and understandably so because i hasn't it? yes, it has been 25 years. and understandably so because none of us want to go through hillsborough. it is very exciting. they are going to pick a few clips to see if this works and if all goes well, i think all clubs have the opportunity to do this.- well, i think all clubs have the opportunity to do this. thank you very much _ opportunity to do this. thank you very much for— opportunity to do this. thank you very much forjoining _ opportunity to do this. thank you very much forjoining us. - now it's time for a look at the weather with 0wain wyn evans. hello, hello, i hope you're doing all right. it will be quite cloudy for some of us today across the uk but as with yesterday we will see sunny spells developing. high pressure is in charge today and over the next couple of days. this thing isn't going anywhere in a hurry. it will introduce a bit more of a breeze, though, over the coming days.

some low cloud, mist and fog will linger for a time across parts of northern ireland, northern scotland into the north of england. turning cloudy across the south—east corner of england as well. breezier here — under the thickest of cloud we may get the odd spot of drizzle and a few showers just wanting to drift into the south—east. top temperatures, under the sunny spells i think you'll see 22, maybe 23 celsius but where it is cloudier and cooler, across scotland for example, we get to about 15 or 16 celsius. it's a pretty similar story over the next couple of days. 0vernight we hang onto the cloud, temperatures down to 13 or 1a celsius. 0ften cloudy over the coming days with some bright and sunny spells. that's the forecast.

hello this is bbc news. the headlines: 20 years after being sent in the last british troops have left afghanistan, the evacuation in the wake of the taliban taking charge is over. the effort has been frankly truly humbling to see the hours worked, the exhaustion painted on people's faces, so we tried our best. president biden warns another attack on kabul airport is "highly likely" within the next 24—hours — as us forces prepare to leave.