this is bbc news at 2pm. i'm shaun ley. the headlines... the taliban declares victory after the final american soldier leaves afghanistan. the militants take control of the country once secured by nato forces, but insist they want good relations with the rest of the world. translation: we managed today to regain our independence - and make us forces leave. after ida, more than a million people are left without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been destroyed by government vets over fears of bovine tuberculosis — his owner calls the action barbaric. research on professional

rugby players shows that after just one season, they suffer a loss of blood flow to the brain and cognitive function. and it's the same old story — dame sarah wins yet another gold at the tokyo paralympics. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. it may be the same old story but one we are delighted to celebrate. more on the paralympics later this hour. the taliban have taken control of kabul airport, after the united states pulled the last of its troops out of afghanistan. the final evacuation flight left at a minute to midnight last night. it brings to an end to the longest war in american history, in which more than 2,000 us servicemen and women lost their lives. the taliban are back in power, as they were 20 years ago. they've declared victory and have

been celebrating on the streets. 0ur correspondent rajini vaidyanathan reports. heading into a new and uncertain era. taliban militia now in control of kabul airport — and afghanistan. just weeks ago, this tarmac was packed with afghans desperate to flee. today, taliban fighters lined the runway, their spokesman congratulating them on what he described as a moment of joy and celebration. translation: the islamic emirate | of afghanistan wants to have good | relations with the whole world on behalf of the nation. we want to have strong diplomatic relations with all — including the united states. last night, the last us soldier to leave — major general chris donahue — boarded a cargo plane out of afghanistan. the end of america's longest war.

but many who wanted to leave too have been left behind. crowds at the airport prevented several families eligible for resettlement in the uk to board their planes. this week, i've been talking to one man who couldn't get his flight. he says he's now being hunted by the taliban. we've changed his voice. i'm currently in hell right now. the last two weeks i've moved to 15 safe houses with my family because the taliban are trying to find me. if i can't get out in the next few days, i'm fearful i'll die. today he once again begged the uk government to honour their promise to get him out. i think right now, for me as foreign secretary, i'm focused on the immediate priorities. continuing safe passage for those... the minority — the small minority, but nonetheless a significant number — who haven't yet been able to get out. we're working with the third countries in the region. we've held the taliban through this un security council resolution to their undertaking to allow safe passage. today in kandahar — where american troops were once stationed —

supporters of the taliban celebrated. the militants have promised to govern in an inclusive way, but many we've talked to say promises from the spokesman don't reflect reality. we've heard reports of attacks on those who've worked for the former government, and examples of where women and girls have been denied their rights. there is a lot of fear, there is a lot of anxiety among people in afghanistan, that their safety is. . . not sure. so that is why they are fleeing from this country, thinking that remaining in this country will be a big challenge for them. afghans are living in a new, uncertain era. today in kabul, men queued up outside banks. poverty, a drought, and the threat of islamic state — all challenges for the taliban as they move from an insurgency to government. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news. 0ur correspondent secunder kermani is in kabul and has been watching the taliban declare victory

and independence as the country's citizens wonder what sort of government they will be. we saw the celebratory gunfire last night last into the early hours of the morning. then we saw the taliban visiting the airport today, declaring victory following the departure of international forces, and many still here were and are still shocked at the speed at which the afghan government collapsed after, despite having received billions and billions of dollars worth of support from american forces over the past two decades. but, in many ways, the taliban's biggest challenge starts now. as my colleague rajini was saying, transforming from an insurgent group into a government. they had styled themselves as a shadow government for a while, in control of various rural districts, but now they're in charge of the whole country, and that includes a young, urban population in places like kabul. here, for the moment, so far, many people are saying that they've adopted a more concilatory approach,

saying, for example, that they. . . insisting that they do respect women's right to get educated and to work, things that they did not allow the previous time they were in power in the 1990s. but many here are deeply sceptical still, and they worry that as international troops have been withdrawn, as the focus, perhaps, shifts somewhat from afghanistan, that the taliban could become increasingly repressive. downing street has said the government is "beefing up the number of staff in neighbouring countries" to afghanistan to help those who are able to leave the country and eligible to come to the uk. let's get more on this from our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. what more do we know about this surge of diplomatic staff? trier? surge of diplomatic staff? very little at the _ surge of diplomatic staff? very little at the minute. _ surge of diplomatic staff? very little at the minute. this - surge of diplomatic staff? - little at the minute. this has been stated by downing street today, so there will be additional personnel, but this had been said last week. already the defence secretary ben wallace had said he was offering

additional staff to go to embassies in the region. that had come after the government was pressed for details, at that point when it was talking about creating processing facilities, centres in neighbouring countries but i think that was a sort of initial response to the crisis and there hadn't been many more details, and it is still not clear whether this is more thanjust some personnel being sent to embassies in neighbouring countries. difficulty there too is how anybody would reach those centres. at the minute we know uzbekistan has said its border, it doesn't want to allow people to cross its border. pakistan, there have been issues there with the border too. tajikistan said it would take in refugees. the foreign secretary today saying he had conversations with other countries but all of that is very early and would require

people in afghanistan who are at risk to take dangerous journeys crossing taliban checkpoints to reach neighbouring countries where they might then not be able to cross they might then not be able to cross the borders for an uncertain situation about whether they would then be able to move on, so it is very early days, and the government saying it is still looking for guarantees from the taliban that people would be safe to leave. figs people would be safe to leave. as ou people would be safe to leave. as you said, it is notjust if they are safe to leave, it is if they are welcome where they want to go. and presumably even for countries like uzbekistan, who worry about islamist terrorism, they want to be confident about the people coming in, if they are who they claim to be. i about the people coming in, if they are who they claim to be.— are who they claim to be. i think they have _ are who they claim to be. i think they have many _ are who they claim to be. i think they have many worries. - are who they claim to be. i think they have many worries. one . are who they claim to be. i think. they have many worries. one would certainly possibly be that, but also you have already seen decades of conflict in afghanistan, then millions of refugees who have relocated to countries around who have then in some cases there have been families for generations. so countries i'm sure we'll be asking themselves how long will this

commitment before, what sort of help will they get to look after these people, will they be destabilising, what would it mean for the countries' relationships with afghanistan in the future? because presumably the people leaving are no friends of the taliban. many issues and what sort of guarantees do they have that other countries would take refugees and relocate them? so difficult questions all round and i think that is why this is going to take quite some time to resolve. at the minute all we know is some countries have said they would take some, others saying they will help to relocate people on but only those identified by western countries as being in need and ones who would be taken by countries like germany. aha, taken by countries like germany. a couple of weekends ago, we were talking about the controversy of dominic raab being on holiday and out of the country, then some controversy over that because the transport secretary said we shouldn't be taking foreign holidays. in terms though, the prime

minister we are told has now gone off on the holiday he was supposed to have back then and ended up cutting short. to have back then and ended up cutting short-— to have back then and ended up cutting short. yes, i'm not clear this is a holiday. _ cutting short. yes, i'm not clear this is a holiday. downing - cutting short. yes, i'm not clearj this is a holiday. downing street have described it as the prime minister is away in the west country for a couple of days. they are saying he's working from there but really we have no more details than that. as you say, it is a pretty sensitive subject given what happened at the beginning of this latest stage of the crisis when kabul and those afghan cities were falling and the foreign secretary was himself on holiday at a beach resort in greece. so people will be probing, asking where is the prime minister and what is he doing? damian grammaticas, thank you. damien elegantly mentioning the situation in afghanistan. let's return to that. 0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet is on the streets of kabul and she sent us this report. so, this is one of the main streets

at the centre of kabul, the first day for afghanistan where there's no foreign troops in this country. they've ended their 20—year—long engagement. and the scene is no different than it's been for many days. look at the queue of these people, look at how they're pushing in. this is a queue for the bank. only the main branches of the main banks are open, and afghans have been told they can only take out the equivalent of $200 a week. and many tell us here they've been standing in this queue for days, so look at this street. on one side, it's the banks. 0n the other, offices where they can get money from abroad. but let's look at the other side of the street. this is where there's the turkish embassy, the iranian embassy... the queues are also forming on that side for those who want to leave. for the vast majority of afghans, in a country of nearly a0 million people, life feels no different from the day before or the week before.

it's still a struggle to survive or still a race to try to escape as fast as they can. one of 0sama bin laden's closest aides, amin al—haq, is reported to have returned to afghanistan after two decades. he was head of security for the al-qaeda leader. his reappearance will underscore fears in the west that afghanistan could become a haven for violent extremists again. let's get more now with our security correspondent frank gardner. frank, thanks for speaking to us this afternoon. tells more about this afternoon. tells more about this character. he this afternoon. tells more about this character.— this afternoon. tells more about this character. he has been around for a very long _ this character. he has been around for a very long time, _ this character. he has been around for a very long time, he's - this character. he has been around for a very long time, he's a - this character. he has been around for a very long time, he's a stout, | for a very long time, he's a stout, stocky, long bearded militant who has been largely out of sight for the last few years. 20 years ago he was with 0sama bin laden and his tora bora mountains hideout. soon

after 9/11 he fled with 0sama bin laden to pakistan where 0sama bin laden to pakistan where 0sama bin laden was later killed ten years later. he was classified by the us is a designated global terrorist. the fact he has returned, according to this video that was filmed yesterday, doing a hard province in eastern afghanistan is worrying for two reasons. it shows al-qaeda now a judge is safe enough for somebody as senior and as him to return to afghanistan. that shows they are not that spooked by whatever this over the horizon thread is that the west promises to contain militants from. the other is that he has been clearly according to the video, so welcomed by some of the locals with this rapturous welcome from afghan locals in nangarhar which shows there probably are ethnic and marital ties between al-qaeda and

the taliban, just as the un said in its report injune. we have got to break this down into two issues actually. 0ne break this down into two issues actually. one is, are the taliban serious when they say they are splitting from al-qaeda? they haven't actually said exactly that. they have said they won't allow al-qaeda or anybody else to use afghanistan as a base to attack other countries. that's not the same as saying they will close them down. but as far as the west is concerned, it kind of is. the other is even if the taliban wanted to close down al-qaeda operatives in afghanistan, does it have the capacity to do it? does it know where they are and will they take that action? the west is not going to wait for this. if it discovers al-qaeda activity, it will end in drones. is discovers al-qaeda activity, it will end in drones.— end in drones. is there any confidence _ end in drones. is there any confidence in _ end in drones. is there any confidence in western - end in drones. is there any - confidence in western intelligence that the philosophy of the taliban is different from groups like the group which calls itself islamic state which we now know has an

offshoot? it's almost like the old leninist revolution.— offshoot? it's almost like the old leninist revolution. let's break it down again- _ leninist revolution. let's break it down again. the _ leninist revolution. let's break it down again. the taliban - leninist revolution. let's break it down again. the taliban are - leninist revolution. let's break it down again. the taliban are only| down again. the taliban are only interested in afghanistan. they want to rule the country in order to their interpretation of sharia law. for the country to be a success, which it wasn't last time they ruled, they need global recognition. they will get it probably from china, pakistan and russia, but beyond that, the wider world, particularly the g7, they know they will have to fulfil certain conditions which we had hints of at yesterday's security council meeting and with others. they will certainly i think want to be a lot more compliant with international wishes than they were 20 years ago. now, they may well be able to to some

extent control what al-qaeda does in afghanistan. they have no control over isk, the afghan affiliate of the islamic state. they are enemies who fought each other in the past, and the bizarre thing is i think we will see increasing, limited but increasing intelligence cooperation between the taliban and the cia, mi6 between the taliban and the cia, m16 and other western intelligence agencies who have a joint interest in limiting what isis does. because isis wants to attack the rest of the world, whereas taliban simply want to rule within the afghan borders. he mentioned that amin al—haq had beenin he mentioned that amin al—haq had been in and pakistan at some point. some people watching might wonder why western intelligence is so worried about afghanistan, a country whose government has quite a lot of

problems of its own, and apparently not so worried about pakistan which seems to have a slightly ambiguous relationship with some of these groups and is supposed to be an ally of countries like the uk and the united states.— of countries like the uk and the united states. this boils down to somethin: united states. this boils down to something called _ united states. this boils down to something called the _ united states. this boils down to something called the isi, - united states. this boils down to something called the 151, the - something called the isi, the interservice intelligence, which is incredibly powerful, almost a force within the country itself. it is unlike in western countries where intelligence agencies have to answer to political leaders who are democratically elected. the isi is immensely powerful, some would say they run the country's foreign policy. the isi has been supportive of a number of military groups in the region because they view their number one problem or number one adversary as india and they have been determined to stop afghanistan becoming a sort of province or ally of india, they have supported the taliban to some extent. they deny it publicly but there is no question the taliban would not have been able to do what they have been able to do

in afghanistan without being able to resupply, restock and rearm inside pakistani territory, with or without the permission of the government. they have certainly been able to do it. at the same time, pakistan has had its own casualties from a branch, an offshoot of the taliban called the ttp which has committed atrocities inside pakistan. the country has lost thousands of its soldiers and police officers to terrorism carried out by this group, so pakistan would say we are all in the same boat together fighting terrorism. pakistan now has a vested interest in stabilising afghanistan, and they won't want to see terrorism leaking out of there, they will want to see a clampdown on any expansionist militancy coming out of them. ., ~ expansionist militancy coming out of them. . ~ , . , them. frank gardner, security correspondent, _

them. frank gardner, security correspondent, thank - them. frank gardner, security correspondent, thank very - them. frank gardner, security i correspondent, thank very much. let's speak now to shashankjoshi who's the defence editor at the economist. let's talk if we can about what this means for the uk in terms of its foreign and defence policy. why is the american decision to withdraw such a potential headache for us in this country?— such a potential headache for us in this country? well, of course the uk has not had — this country? well, of course the uk has not had combat _ this country? well, of course the uk has not had combat troops - this country? well, of course the uk has not had combat troops in - has not had combat troops in afghanistan for a number of years, not for six or seven years, since it withdrew from helmand province in afghanistan south. but it did have a large number of troops, sometimes over a thousand times last year, if you lower than that this year, as part of what was called resolute support, which was a training and advisory mission to support the afghan forces. the uk believes it wasn't fully consulted on the us decision to withdraw and particularly on the speed with which presidentjoe biden withdrew, announcing it in april and injuly,

announcing it in april and injuly, announcing an accelerated timetable. so it is a headache from that perspective, and it's also perhaps a headache in another broader sense, that the uk more than many other nato allies is perhaps concerned about the threat of terrorism from that part of asia, particularly pakistan where of course the uk has a substantial dyas boro and i think that also explains why the uk is more sensitive to some of these developments and problems than france or germany or other european allies. it france or germany or other european allies. ., , , france or germany or other european allies. . , , ., ., , , ., allies. it has been arguably our most important _ allies. it has been arguably our most important bilateral- allies. it has been arguably our i most important bilateral defence relationship for decades, at least since the second world war. is this just a blip in that? i mean given that long history, the optimist would presumably say this is just a blip, one particular circumstance, a bit like suez?—

bit like suez? there are a lot of --eole bit like suez? there are a lot of peeple losing — bit like suez? there are a lot of people losing their _ bit like suez? there are a lot of people losing their heads - bit like suez? there are a lot of people losing their heads right | bit like suez? there are a lot of - people losing their heads right now, suggesting this is a moment of existential crisis for the us, uk relationship. anyone who remembers past crises, not even suez, you don't even have to have been alive in 1996 to know there have been many subsequent crises, for example the us invasion of grenada in the 1980s which made margaret thatcher very grass, the us and nato action in bosnia and against kosovo in 1999 where the americans felt very grass they were being pulled into the balkans against their will. in 2011 over livia where the brits were angry over the cancellation of us air strikes, angry over the cancellation of us airstrikes, and on angry over the cancellation of us air strikes, and on and on and on. the us uk relationship is very substantial. we have a british aircraft carrier sailing around asia as we speak full of american jets. i think what is causing this sense of

unease is a proper recognition that the us is changing its emphasis, it is moving away from long counterinsurgency campaigns in what it sees as relatively unimportant countries like afghanistan, and focusing more and more on asia, and that inevitably has consequences for europeans and the uk. and all of thatis europeans and the uk. and all of that is occurring at exactly the same time that europeans, non—british europeans, are thinking harder about how they have what they call strategic autonomy or independent defence and security capability themselves. for the uk of course, just coming out of brexit and facing this new outlook in the united states, i think it leaves us in a slightly difficult position. fin in a slightly difficult position. on that last point finally, europe, how does that look in washington, our relationship with europe? does it matter in defence terms from the washington perspective? i matter in defence terms from the washington perspective?- matter in defence terms from the washington perspective? i think it does. in hardcore _ washington perspective? i think it does. in hardcore defence - washington perspective? i think it. does. in hardcore defence matters, for the us it is nato, not the

european union that is the most important alliance, but more and more there is recognition in the eu matters in these things. for example america recentlyjoined an eu scheme to facilitate the movement of military goods across borders in europe, which is something that a —— occurs at the european union level, not a nato level. there is recognition there and in places like africa, the balkans, eastern europe, that the eu cannot be ignored as a security and defence player. the problem for the uk is given the toxic atmosphere around brexit, around northern ireland protocol, any attempt to cooperate with brussels on defence is politically very sensitive and i suspect that is going to be more and more of a diplomatic challenge in the years to come.

shashankjoshi, thank you. more than a million people in the us state of louisiana are still without power after hurricane ida hit on sunday. it brought winds of up to 150 mph, amongst the strongest ever to hit the us mainland. at least two people have died and rescue workers are using boats and planes to search for people trapped by floodwaters. richard galpin reports. the winds having subsided in louisiana, it is now a more tranquil picture after the storm. but a huge task lies ahead in dealing with the aftermath. in particular, these floods. rescue teams have been searching for people in need of help. some who had stayed put as the hurricane made landfall say they were lucky to survive. last night was rough. we saw slow water coming in under the door, and then it progressivelyjust got, i was mopping, and then it progressively got worse. it was ankles, knees, almost chest level, so we put the dogs on the counters and then we climbed into the attic.

the gravity of the situation has led president biden to pledge more assistance. more than 5,000 members of the national guard have been activated from louisiana, mississippi, alabama and texas to support search and rescue and recovery efforts. and fema has pre—positioned, literally, millions of meals and litres of water. critical to saving new orleans from flooding were these defence walls, which proved effective in preventing serious flood damage. but the hurricane—force winds did take their toll on the city and broader region. i think the damage is catastrophic. it's the worst i've seen in the 20 years i've been here, and we've seen several hurricanes. gustav, isaac. where we had a lot of water, a lot of rain and flooding. but this is flooding and significant property damage. it's far worse than we expected. 0ne critical issue now is getting the electricity supply up

and running again after the cables were brought down in the high winds. the main power company is warning it could take weeks before this happens, leaving more than a million homes without power. —— 2 million homes without power. there's a warning this afternoon that gps are facing difficult decisions about which patients get blood tests because of a shortage of test tubes. the nhs in england and wales is temporarily stopping all non—urgent testing. 0ur health editor hugh pym told us how serious the problem was. the royal college of gps has put out a statement saying it is extremely worrying for patients and hugely frustrating for gps. the message is if it is in urgent blood test that is needed, that will go ahead, for example for cancer patients and those with long—term health conditions. but gps as saying there

is a lack of clarity about what the difference between urgent and routine actually is. the manufacturer, the us company becton dickinson, has also put out a statement this morning saying they are diverging supplies in essence from other parts of the world to the uk of the tubes that are required to help the nhs, as they put it, and also boosting production in the uk. they say this should be resolved through september. the situation should stabilise, they say, but that remains a question. how long is this going to go on for? some gps are saying if it is just a couple of weeks it's not a disaster, and that's the message from the government, that they think this is unfortunate but it can be dealt with in a matter of a few weeks, but it remains very unclear. as one gp put it to me, it's quite difficult, with all the other pressures in general practice with patients being alarmed

about getting appointments, this has added to the situation. hugh about getting appointments, this has added to the situation.— added to the situation. hugh pym there. geronimo — the alpaca — has been put down following a court—order warrant to destroy the animal. government vets and a police escort arrived to remove the animal from the farm in gloucestershire this morning after it twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. let's talk to our environment and rural affairs correspondent claire marshall who's at the farm. tells more about what happened. i mean we knew this was didn't we? yes, we did. there is a sombre mood here. at about 11 o'clock defra officials came into this field where geronimo was kept, and they herded him into a police horse box which had the number plates blacked out, and then he had an escort way out of here. fora and then he had an escort way out of here. for a while the owner didn't know what had happened to him. she said she was given no warning, and then about an hour later, defra said it had carried out the warrant which

essentially means the animal was put down earlier today. the prime minister has made a reaction, his spokesperson has said it is highly distressing for someone to have to lose an animal to tb. 0ur sympathies are with mrs macdonald and anyone else affected by this terrible disease. we have yet to have a reaction from mrs macdonald to this. she has called what's happened barbaric and a disgrace. i would like to introduce you now to liz stacey, a nurse by profession, and you have been taking days off to come here. you have been part of the camp, you have stayed overnight. what is your feeling today? the prime minister had just said he's sorry, what is your reaction to that? it sorry, what is your reaction to that? , , , , , sorry, what is your reaction to that? ,,, _ that? it is 'ust simply really. here was the that? it isjust simply really. here was the ideal— that? it isjust simply really. here was the ideal opportunity - that? it isjust simply really. here was the ideal opportunity to - that? it isjust simply really. here was the ideal opportunity to use l was the ideal opportunity to use geronimo — was the ideal opportunity to use geronimo perhaps as a test case and pronerly_ geronimo perhaps as a test case and properly investigate the flawed regime —

properly investigate the flawed regime for tb, both for farmers and livestock— regime for tb, both for farmers and livestock alike, and that opportunity has been totally squandered by the assassination of a healthy— squandered by the assassination of a healthy animal, in our view. that squandered by the assassination of a healthy animal, in our view.- healthy animal, in our view. that is what a lot of— healthy animal, in our view. that is what a lot of people _ healthy animal, in our view. that is what a lot of people in _ healthy animal, in our view. that is what a lot of people in the - healthy animal, in our view. that is what a lot of people in the farming | what a lot of people in the farming community are saying, why worry about one alpaca? look at what we have to deal with, tens of thousands of cattle put down with positive tests each year. we of cattle put down with positive tests each year. of cattle put down with positive tests each ear. ~ , ., ., tests each year. we understand that, and that is why _ tests each year. we understand that, and that is why the _ tests each year. we understand that, and that is why the debate _ tests each year. we understand that, and that is why the debate has - tests each year. we understand that, and that is why the debate has to - and that is why the debate has to happen — and that is why the debate has to happen. there have been too many animals_ happen. there have been too many animals slaughtered unnecessarily found _ animals slaughtered unnecessarily found in— animals slaughtered unnecessarily found in postmortem not to have tb. the regime _ found in postmortem not to have tb. the regime is obviously flawed. this is a particular case because of the nature _ is a particular case because of the nature of— is a particular case because of the nature of the species and the way it was tested, — nature of the species and the way it was tested, and it is obvious that four years — was tested, and it is obvious that four years later, geronimo was alive and kicking — four years later, geronimo was alive and kicking up until the time these people _ and kicking up until the time these people arrived, and it was totally barharic— people arrived, and it was totally barbaric the way it was undertaken. very heavy—handed, going against a handful— very heavy—handed, going against a handful of— very heavy—handed, going against a handful of quite middle—aged protesters whojust handful of quite middle—aged protesters who just wanted to see justice _ protesters who just wanted to see justice i— protesters who just wanted to see justice. i think this has taken down

our standing in the world for animal welfare _ our standing in the world for animal welfare. ., . our standing in the world for animal welfare. .. , ., welfare. the fact is though the s stem welfare. the fact is though the system in _ welfare. the fact is though the system in the _ welfare. the fact is though the system in the country - welfare. the fact is though the system in the country is - welfare. the fact is though the system in the country is if - system in the country is if different animals have tested positive particularly twice for tb, thatis positive particularly twice for tb, that is the policy, that is what has to be carried out. why make an exception here?— to be carried out. why make an exception here? because this is not a cow. exception here? because this is not a cow- the — exception here? because this is not a cow. the test _ exception here? because this is not a cow. the test was _ exception here? because this is not a cow. the test was botched, - exception here? because this is not a cow. the test was botched, and i exception here? because this is not a cow. the test was botched, and itj a cow. the test was botched, and it is admitted — a cow. the test was botched, and it is admitted by defra itself that it was botched. but they have to save face because there can be no climb—down. here was a chance, we gave _ climb—down. here was a chance, we gave them _ climb—down. here was a chance, we gave them ample opportunity to come round _ gave them ample opportunity to come round the _ gave them ample opportunity to come round the table and debate this further — round the table and debate this further. all our calls and imploring the government ministers to listen have been— the government ministers to listen have been ignored and this has happened today, and a lot of people are outraged about it. i am just disgusted. _ are outraged about it. i am just disgusted, i am disgusted.

what remains to be seen is how this will play out in the next few days and weeks. we havejust in will play out in the next few days and weeks. we have just in the last few minutes had the action from the owner and see what she has to say. these are barbaric actions of unscientific and abusive people in government and taxpayers are paying for this. taxpayers are paying for tb policy to be absolutely ignored. that was helen mcdonnell. let me just bring you a bit of news we had in. this comes on the twitter account of michelle 0'neill who is the deputy first minister in the northern ireland executive. she says i have contacted coving —— i had contracted covid—19. i'm lucky to have been had to this is the vaccine. i will remain in

self—isolation until next week and declan will take forward parliamentary business in the meantime. there has been a lot of concern in northern ireland among politicians and medics about loss of people coming forward to the vaccine and i am sure that ms 0'neill will hoping that her remark stressing the fact she has had the vaccine will have some impact on that which is self—isolating having contracted covid—19. now it's time for a look at the weather with ben. hello. the weather we have right now is pretty much the weather we're going to have for the rest of the week. that means extensive cloud cover, the cloud thick enough at times to produce the odd spot of drizzle, but, equally, thinning and breaking in places to give some spells of sunshine. the best of the sunshine through the rest of today likely to be across some central parts of scotland, northern ireland, too. thicker cloud elsewhere, potentially giving the odd spot of drizzle at times. top temperatures of 20 or 21 degrees. through this evening and tonight, we keep a lot of cloud. some mist and murk in places,

especially across the hills of northern england, but if we do see clear spells, most likely across central scotland, it will turn a little bit chilly. if you stay under cloud, your temperatures will remain in double digits. tomorrow, more of the same — a lot of cloud, some breaks, some spells of sunshine. equally, the odd spot of drizzle, and those temperatures, again, between 15 and 20, maybe 21 degrees in the sunniest spots. and, into thursday and friday, more mostly dry weather but with a lot of cloud and limited sunny spells. sport now...and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. good afternoon. dame sarah storey has won her 16th paralympic gold medal, making her britain's joint most successful paralympian of all time. she hit the milestone after winning the c5 time trial in tokyo overnight. patrick gearey has the details. the time trial is dame sarah storey�*s favoured event and why

wouldn't it be. just evidence the clock. perfect for a warm and who is constantly defying time. storey is 43 but continues to be judged constantly defying time. storey is 43 but continues to bejudged not by years were by seconds or minutes. she led at every checkpoint. this says her motivation is to outdo herself. no one else gets close. she makes history seem predictable. she crosses the line. her 16th gold takes her level with mike kenny in terms of golds, but she is already britain's most successful paralympian. a chance for others to follow her. ben won gold in the c3 time trial. and the story goes on, win the road race and she will have won more golds than any british paralympian. it feels as inevitable

as the ticking of the clock. in the pool britain's reece dunn has won his third gold medal of the games, complete with a new world record. dun's haul from the games now stands at three golds and a silver after he left the other trailing in the final of the 200m individual medley. brazil's gabriel bandeira took silver, with bronze going to the ukrainian vasyl krainyk. cristiano ronaldo says he is "back to where he belongs" at manchester united. he left the club over a decade ago, tojoin real madrid. the portuguese striker will be heading back to united, from juventus in a deal worth nearly £13 million — with potential additional payments. he has signed a two—year contract with the option to extend for a further year, and says he's doing it for sir alex fergurson. andy murray wasn't happy with his opponent stefenos tsitisipas, as he was knocked out of the first round of the us open last night. it had been a great match with murray playing some of his best tennis in recent years.

moving into a two sets to one lead over the world number three. tsistipas fought back to 2—2, but then disappeared for an eight—minute bathroom break — something murray was not happy about at all! he eventually returned and went on to win the final set to close out the victory. i rate him a lot. i think he's a brilliant player and i think he's great for the game, but i have zero time for that stuff at all and i lost respect for him. if everyone else feels like that's totally cool and there's no issue with it, then maybe i'm the one being unreasonable, but i think it's nonsense and he knows it as well. yeah, murray not mincing his words there at all. england captainjoe root says england need to build on their peformance from the third test with india at headingley. england won the test to draw the series level heading into the fourth test at the oval on thursday, but they will be without their wicket keeperjos buttler, who will miss the game to be at the birth of his second child.

i think we've got to use it as a bit of a tin plate moving forward. everything that we speak about the team, and we want to play test cricket, we pretty much delivered on. big first innings score with the bat, good partnerships, 100 partnerships in there and we were clinical. we find the length of the wicket and we bowled and built pressure for long periods of time, controlled the weight and controlled the game and felt very much in command of things from the end of the first hour of the test match. let's see if they can build on that performance on the weekend. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories and the latest on transfer deadline day on the bbc sport website and app. thank you very much, gavin. back now to afghanistan, and people escaping the crisis there are arriving in the uk with virtually nothing. so what help is available once refugees reach here? the charity refugee action has been helping provide assistance at airports as the refugees arrive.

louise calvey is from refuge action and organised their airport response for people arriving in the uk — as well as co—ordinating volunteers. tell us about the kinds of situations that your teams have encountered with those arriving in this country. encountered with those arriving in this country-— this country. certainly. good afternoon. _ this country. certainly. good afternoon, sean. _ this country. certainly. good afternoon, sean. we've - this country. certainly. good| afternoon, sean. we've been this country. certainly. good i afternoon, sean. we've been at this country. certainly. good - afternoon, sean. we've been at the airport for about the last week. responding to pretty much the immediate needs of the people arriving. so, in the first instance, that's largely been helping them orientate themselves, they are incredibly confused, they have had horrifically long and traumatic journeys and helping them understand where they are, what's happening, what's likely to happen, helping them, crucially, reconnect with

friends and family and get on wi—fi and data as quickly as possible, that's been a real concern for people, particularly the flight that landed immediately after the explosion in kabul airport. that's flight loads of people really needed to connect because they left people in the airport, they'd left loved ones in the airport, and then just checking on their welfare, checking to see many of the needed medical assistance, making sure people have plenty of food and water and were warm and just listening to them. for many that were stepping off those flights, that was the first time that they felt any sense of safety in some weeks, so for many people it was an opportunity for them to start that process of digesting some of their experiences and just listening to them speak about what they have witnessed and, crucially, and heartbreakingly, the people that they had left behind. everyone we

met had had to make awful decisions about whether to go, whether to stay, and who they were leaving. that presumably will affect, as well, long term, what people themselves choose to do, whether they choose to remain here or eventually return home if they have confidence in what has been left behind. as you say, most of them have left without anything apart from the clothes on the back and maybe one suitcase, so presumably you have to help meet some of the kind of immediate practical needs. what about support that is available in the community. because the afghan community in this country is very well established, going back actually decades and decades, never mind those who came 20 years ago after the taliban first occupied. what sort of role they played? that what sort of role they played? git the moment the response has been quite an urgent, and emergency response. those flights are becoming very quickly and in vast quantities. —— those flights have come in very

quickly. so the communication around exactly who is involved, it's been very difficult to understand exactly what is going on and who has been involved in those but of course this is just the urgent response and many of those refugees that we welcomed over the last week will now come obviously, they were all going into quarantine accommodation there is provision for clothes and essential items within that quarantine positioned so within the airport it was just about people had show, what they needed to get the quarantine so there were some children without shoes so making sure they had got shoes so making sure they had got shoes and essential toiletries. after they come out of total, quarantine providers like refugee action and other voluntary sector groups including the afghan community will then be supporting those refugees to resettle in the uk permanently. the government resettlement scheme offers about a year's worth of support after they come out of quarantine, so that's a real opportunity for the afghan

community to be absolutely sitting at the heart of the refugee resettlement.— at the heart of the refugee resettlement. �* , , resettlement. i'm sure they will want to take — resettlement. i'm sure they will want to take that _ resettlement. i'm sure they will want to take that opportunity. l resettlement. i'm sure they will i want to take that opportunity. just one final thought. are you, kind of, still on standby in terms of what the foreign secretary was talking about today, the possibility of people crossing the land border to neighbouring countries and then being evacuated out at some point from those countries to the uk coursework from those countries to the uk courseworl— from those countries to the uk coursewor ., , y , , ., coursework honestly, i spent most of last week at — coursework honestly, i spent most of last week at the _ coursework honestly, i spent most of last week at the airport. _ coursework honestly, i spent most of last week at the airport. i've - coursework honestly, i spent most of last week at the airport. i've done - last week at the airport. i've done this work for a long time and i've never seen so much trauma and distress. i would have happened lee spent another —— i would have happily spent another year at the airport if it meant getting more people to safety. the stories that we heard were horrifying and we would dearly love to see more flights and for the uk to help more people get out of that situation. what we understand, though, is that those land borders are closed and very, very difficult to cross. we hope that that will ease in the

coming months and we would urge the government to help more people out of that region as soon as they got across those land borders we need to be doing more and we need to be looking at more safe routes for all people in entrenched refugee situations because it's notjust people from afghanistan. pakistan is already a significant refugee hosting country. there needs to be more that we can do throughout that region to offer more safety to more people. region to offer more safety to more --eole. ., , ., ., people. louise of refugee action, we're very _ people. louise of refugee action, we're very grateful _ people. louise of refugee action, we're very grateful to _ people. louise of refugee action, we're very grateful to you - people. louise of refugee action, we're very grateful to you for- we're very grateful to you for spending the time to talk to us. very much. the bbc�*s moscow correspondent has left russia today, expelled by the authorities after being labelled a threat to national security. sarah rainsford, who first reported from moscow for the bbc over 20 years ago, just as vladimir putin came to power, has been told she can never return to the country. moscow claims the move is in response to the expulsion of a russian journalist from the uk

two years ago, but the move comes amid a severe crackdown on independentjournalists and opposition activists within russia. here's sarah's report on her last days in russia. this was the moment i discovered i was being expelled from russia. according to a specific law, i've been designated as "threat to national security" and as such i'm not allowed into the country. pulled aside at passport control, i was told the fsb security service had banned me for life. i recorded the conversation. i was returning from belarus, where i'd confronted alexander lukashenko on the mass repression and torture of peaceful protesters. his loyal supporters rounded on me... ..in a coordinated attack. vladimir putin's presenting this

as just another working visit. .. i've reported from russia for two decades — the whole span of vladimir putin's presidency. there've been highs — like the world cup — but i've also charted the slow erosion of freedoms here. the crackdown on dissent. a year ago, the government put me on short—term visas. sarah rainsford... then i became the news, as state television announced i had to leave. after tense negotiations, i had been allowed to enter russia... they let me in — for now. ..but only to pack. i was then told my visa wouldn't be renewed — supposedly what happened to a russian reporter in london, but that was two years ago. when i was called in here, to the foreign ministry, they kept insisting that my expulsion was nothing personal — they talked about it as a reciprocal move — but they refused to even

engage with the fact that i've been labelled "a national security threat". they said that was just a "technical moment". but, at a time when russia is increasingly seeing enemies all around, it really feels like i've now been added to the list. it's happening as the pressure on russian journalists who don't toe the kremlin line is intensifying. dozhd tv has just been added to a growing blacklist of media labelled "foreign agents" — for getting funds from abroad. this terror of "foreign agents" means that we — dozhd — we are enemies of the state. the pretending of being democracy is over. it is very bad, and it could become much worse — any time. so i'm leaving a country i first came to as the soviet union fell apart. when free speech — orfreedoms — were new and precious. it feels like today's russia is moving in reverse. sarah rainsford, bbc news, moscow.

sarah rainsford on herfinal day in moscow. she hasjust arrived back in this country. let's get more on afghanistan now and downing street has said the government is "beefing up the number of staff" in countries neighbouring afghanistan, to help people who are able to leave and eligible to come to the uk. borisjohnson's spokesman added that ministers will "do whatever is necessary" to help people left behind in afghanistan — after the taliban takeover and the final withdrawal of american forces last night. let's speak now to adam thomson, director of the european leadership network and former british high commissioner to pakistan and then nato. mister thompson, thank you very much been with us on bbc news. let me ask you about that question of the possibility of people getting refuge in a neighbouring country like pakistan. what are the practical difficulties, do you think, that would arise and what role might british diplomatic staff be able to

play to ease those? the overwhelming ractical play to ease those? the overwhelming practical difficulty _ play to ease those? the overwhelming practical difficulty is _ play to ease those? the overwhelming practical difficulty is just _ play to ease those? the overwhelming practical difficulty is just getting - practical difficulty is just getting out of afghanistan, and that really will depend to a considerable extent on taliban cooperation. if we are talking about the afghanistan— pakistan border, that is deep, deep taliban territory! heavily controlled by them and i don't imagine that people will be easily crossing that border without taliban acquiescence. however, i believe the pakistanis would be willing to be helpful. individuals with an authorisation to travel to britain ought to be able to make their way through pakistan and on to the united kingdom. the uk— pakistan relationship is really quite good, and our consumer operation in islamabad and karachi is large ——

con shola operation. so, we ought to be able to provide support to individuals meeting pakistan travelling onwards to the uk. —— consular operation. travelling onwards to the uk. -- consular operation.— consular operation. presumably pakistan has _ consular operation. presumably pakistan has been _ consular operation. presumably pakistan has been dealing - consular operation. presumably pakistan has been dealing withl consular operation. presumably i pakistan has been dealing with the loss of refugees on and off afghanistan over long period of time? b. afghanistan over long period of time? �* , afghanistan over long period of time? . , .«r , ., ., time? a huge number. pakistan has no treat wish time? a huge number. pakistan has no great wish to — time? a huge number. pakistan has no great wish to host _ time? a huge number. pakistan has no great wish to host a _ time? a huge number. pakistan has no great wish to host a flood _ time? a huge number. pakistan has no great wish to host a flood of _ time? a huge number. pakistan has no great wish to host a flood of afghan - great wish to host a flood of afghan refugees but i think they will be expecting to see large numbers of afghans returning to afghanistan from pakistan. they have effectively hosted the taliban in exile and all those people and their families will be going back. so, pakistan has plenty of experience of managing that border and of dealing with the afghans, the afghan authorities, the afghans, the afghan authorities, the afghan embassy in pakistan, for

example. afghan embassy in pakistan, for examle. ., afghan embassy in pakistan, for examle, ., ,, . ., , example. the foreign secretary dominic raab _ example. the foreign secretary dominic raab was _ example. the foreign secretary dominic raab was interviewed l example. the foreign secretary. dominic raab was interviewed on radio this afternoon and said this morning, rather, that he had spoken to countries including uzbekistan, pakistan, the neighbouring countries, making sure we have got the practical operations to be able to identify those who are eligible so that they can get across the border. i suppose one might worry some people in that situation is if they turn up at a remote border crossing in one of those, with one of those countries and say it is all right, the british say they'll have me, will they be believed? welcome exactl . i me, will they be believed? welcome exactly- i mean. _ me, will they be believed? welcome exactly. i mean, it— me, will they be believed? welcome exactly. i mean, it is— me, will they be believed? welcome exactly. i mean, it is not _ exactly. i mean, it is not inconceivable that you could have seen is on the border crossings rather like we have seen horribly at kabul airport. rather like we have seen horribly at kabulairport. so rather like we have seen horribly at kabul airport. so it is going to be crucial that the uk, like other countries in this position, shares

over the date of it can with the pakistan or other authorities as to who is eligible and, as far as possible, provides the relevant individuals with some form of identification that does confirm that they have onward travel rights. 0therwise, that they have onward travel rights. otherwise, they are going to find it very difficult. you otherwise, they are going to find it very difficult-— very difficult. you have been based in the region- _ very difficult. you have been based in the region. do _ very difficult. you have been based in the region. do you _ very difficult. you have been based in the region. do you have - very difficult. you have been based in the region. do you have any - in the region. do you have any optimism that the taliban's desire for international recognition will make them cooperative neighbours? i... i'm on the optimistic end of the spectrum because i have seen the taliban sitting on happily in exile —— unhappily, simply because they got it wrong in their first five years in power, so i think there are people inside the taliban leadership he would like it to be different

this time. whether they are the majority and whether they can control the rank and file is a very open question and it's absolutely right to test the taliban on their deeds and not on their words. bdam deeds and not on their words. adam thom son deeds and not on their words. adam thompson at — deeds and not on their words. adam thompson at the _ deeds and not on their words. adam thompson at the european - deeds and not on their words. adam thompson at the european leadership network, former british high commissioner in pakistan and then at nato. thank you so much for speaking to this afternoon. a new study shows that after just one season of rugby, professional players suffered a decline in both blood flow to the brain and cognitive function. reserarchers at the university of south wales followed a team — testing players preseason, mid—season and post season. the sport's governing body, world rugby, has welcomed the findings and has doubled its investment into concussion research. tomos morgan reports. commentator: shane| williams in broken play. there's the a big step off the left. and there's the crushing south africa tackle. - that was one of the biggest hits i've ever taken, really, i think. shane williams became wales's top try scorer, a lion, and one of the best ever

to have played on the wing. but he also took his fair share of big tackles and head impacts, most notably the one sustained against south africa's bakkies botha in 2004. it just totally wiped me out. i knocked the ball on and south africa scored on the other side of the field, apparently. the funny thing was, i do not...i don't remember that. it wasn't until after the game, where i felt a bit groggy, and ifelt a bit sick, that i realised that something was wrong. a new study seen exclusively by the bbc by the university of south wales and published in tomorrow's edition of experimental physiology is believed to be one of the first that's followed a professional rugby team that plays in the united rugby championship over the course of one season, testing players in pre—, mid— and post—season. the players recorded just six concussions between them. however, all of them saw a decline in blood flow to the brain and a decline in cognitive function. the evidence is showing that there's a cumulative impact

on the brain. so, we're moving away from concussion per se, and focusing more on contact. the research team say more evidence on the topic is needed, and are in the process of completing further studies comparing past and present players with a control group. some former players, like shane, believe as well as educating, limiting substitutions only when players are injured rather than as fresh legs against tired opponents, could prevent further injuries. however, the game's governing body says research is ongoing looking into this specific issue. in response to the new study�*s findings, world rugby said... commentator: steyn puts him down. with the introduction of more severe penalties for dangerous tackles,

shane believes the game has become safer, but anything that can be added to mitigate any potential risk of head injuries is welcome. people are still asking, would i have changed anything? would i have changed the way i played? would i have not played? i wouldn't have, because i was playing a game that i absolutely loved. tomos morgan, bbc news, south wales. the environmental campaigner, greta thunberg, says she will only attend the un climate change conference in glasgow later this year, if the event is "safe and democratic". for her, that means ensuring participants from poorer countries are fully vaccinated and able to travel to take part. 0ur environment correspondent kevin keane reports. she sailed across the atlantic twice to get the last un climate conference in 2019, but this time she's not so sure. greta thunberg wants to go to the glasgow talks, but says her participation is conditional. hi, greta. in an interview for bbc scotland, i asked what was stopping herfrom coming. well, of course, i'm not 100% sure

yet but if it's considered safe and democratic then i will, of course, go there. i take it you mean by that that it's accessible to the world's poorer nations. yeah. how important and why is that to you? because that's the essence of this meeting. it should be all about climate justice and, of course, we can't achieve climate justice if everyone is not contributing on the same terms. cheering. it won't be the first time greta has visited the uk. she addressed a large crowd in bristol last year before the pandemic. but it will be her first time in scotland. she famously clashed online with donald trump and doesn't seem too impressed with his successor. the biden administration doesn't seem to take climate, the climate crisis, the least bit serious, since they are actually expanding fossil fuel infrastructure. so it shows that they are not ready to take action.

and she says the same applies to the uk government, which is considering whether to approve a new oil field off shetland. i think that maybe summarises the whole situation that we are in. the fact that these kinds of countries who are actually hosting the cop is planning to actually expand fossil fuel infrastructure, to open up new oil fields and so on. chanting: what do we want? climate justice! when do we want it? now! with such a large following, greta's absence from cop26 will be felt, but she says if all participants are vaccinated and allowed to travel, so will she. kevin keane, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with ben.

hello. the weather we have right now is pretty much the weather we're going to have for the rest of the week. that means extensive cloud cover, the cloud thick enough at times to produce the odd spot of drizzle, but, equally, thinning and breaking in places to give some spells of sunshine. the best of the sunshine through the rest of today likely to be across some central parts of scotland, northern ireland, too. thicker cloud elsewhere, potentially giving the odd spot of drizzle at times. top temperatures of 20 or 21 degrees. through this evening and tonight, we keep a lot of cloud. some mist and murk in places, especially across the hills of northern england, but if we do see clear spells, most likely across central scotland, it will turn a little bit chilly. if you stay under cloud, your temperatures will remain in double digits. tomorrow, more of the same — a lot of cloud, some breaks, some spells of sunshine. equally, the odd spot of drizzle, and those temperatures, again, between 15 and 20, maybe 21 degrees in the sunniest spots. and, into thursday and friday, more mostly dry weather but with a lot of cloud and limited sunny spells.

please let this is bbc news. the headlines: the taliban declares victory after the final american soldier leaves afghanistan. the militants take control of the country once secured by nato forces but insist they want good relations with the rest of the world. translation: we managed today to regain our independence - and make us forces leave. after hurricane ida, more than 1 million people are left without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been put down by government vets over fears of bovine tuberculosis — his owner calls the action barbaric. research on professional rugby players shows that after just one season, they suffer a loss of blood flow to the brain and cognitive function.

and it's the same old story — dame sarah wins yet another gold at the tokyo paralympics. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the taliban have taken control of kabul airport, after the united states pulled the last of its troops out of afghanistan. the final evacuation flight left at a minute to midnight last night. it brings to an end the longest war in american history, in which more than 2,000 us servicemen and women lost their lives. the taliban are back in power, as they were 20 years ago. they've declared victory and have been celebrating on the streets.

our correspondent rajini vaidyanathan reports. heading into a new and uncertain era. taliban militia now in control of kabul airport — and afghanistan. just weeks ago, this tarmac was packed with afghans desperate to flee. today, taliban fighters lined the runway, their spokesman congratulating them on what he described as a moment of joy and celebration. translation: the islamic emirate | of afghanistan wants to have good | relations with the whole world on behalf of the nation. we want to have strong diplomatic relations with all — including the united states. last night, the last us soldier to leave — major general chris donahue — boarded a cargo plane out of afghanistan. the end of america's longest war. but many who wanted to leave too have been left behind. crowds at the airport prevented several families eligible

for resettlement in the uk to board their planes. this week, i've been talking to one man who couldn't get his flight. he says he's now being hunted by the taliban. we've changed his voice. i'm currently in hell right now. the last two weeks i've moved to 15 safe houses with my family because the taliban are trying to find me. if i can't get out in the next few days, i'm fearful i'll die. today he once again begged the uk government to honour their promise to get him out. i think right now, for me as foreign secretary, i'm focused on the immediate priorities. continuing safe passage for those... the minority — the small minority, but nonetheless a significant number — who haven't yet been able to get out. we're working with the third countries in the region. we've held the taliban through this un security council resolution to their undertaking to allow safe passage. today in kandahar — where american troops were once stationed — supporters of the taliban celebrated.

the militants have promised to govern in an inclusive way, but many we've talked to say promises from the spokesman don't reflect reality. we've heard reports of attacks on those who've worked for the former government, and examples of where women and girls have been denied their rights. there is a lot of fear, there is a lot of anxiety among people in afghanistan, that their safety is. . . not sure. so that is why they are fleeing from this country, thinking that remaining in this country will be a big challenge for them. afghans are living in a new, uncertain era. today in kabul, men queued up outside banks. poverty, a drought, and the threat of islamic state — all challenges for the taliban as they move from an insurgency to government. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news.

0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet is on the streets of kabul and she sent us this report. so, this is one of the main streets at the centre of kabul, the first day for afghanistan where there's no foreign troops in this country. they've ended their 20—year—long engagement. and the scene is no different than it's been for many days. look at the queue of these people, look at how they're pushing in. this is a queue for the bank. only the main branches of the main banks are open, and afghans have been told they can only take out the equivalent of $200 a week. and many tell us here they've been standing in this queue for days, so look at this street. on one side, it's the banks. 0n the other, offices where they can get money from abroad. but let's look at the other side of the street. this is where there's the turkish embassy, the iranian embassy... the queues are also forming on that

side for those who want to leave. for the vast majority of afghans, in a country of nearly 40 million people, life feels no different from the day before or the week before. it's still a struggle to survive or still a race to try to escape as fast as they can. that was our chief international correspondent. let's talk to our washington correspondent gary 0'donoghue at the white house. we now have the end of the american operation, the end of the longest war. joe biden has met his objective, the promise he made. has the political environment, the atmosphere, the reception of that decision improved at all in recent days? decision improved at all in recent da s? ., decision improved at all in recent das? ., ,, decision improved at all in recent das? ., ., ., days? not especially. the nature of the withdrawal _ days? not especially. the nature of the withdrawal has _ days? not especially. the nature of the withdrawal has come _ days? not especially. the nature of the withdrawal has come in - days? not especially. the nature of the withdrawal has come in for- days? not especially. the nature of the withdrawal has come in for a i days? not especially. the nature of| the withdrawal has come in for a lot

of criticism notjust from republicans but democrats as well. if you look at the polling, the numbers of people who approve of the wayjoe biden has handled it are down in the low 30s. although the bigger picture, and this is something the white house will always want to focus on, is more than 60% of americans did want that war to end and did want america's engagement and american troops to leave, so that is what they are focusing on at the moment. of course there are still some tricky issues in the road, not least those couple of hundred americans were still there, and these tens of thousands of afghans who were promised help by joe biden before america left, and they didn't get that help, so those are some of the things they will have to navigate in the coming days, albeit from further away in qatar. is it a crude political calculations, would you say, that in the end this will be forgotten by

the end this will be forgotten by the time americans next comes to vote in the midterms? that the time americans next comes to vote in the midterms?— vote in the midterms? that is an interesting _ vote in the midterms? that is an interesting thing _ vote in the midterms? that is an interesting thing and _ vote in the midterms? that is an interesting thing and that - vote in the midterms? that is an interesting thing and that is - vote in the midterms? that is an i interesting thing and that is where they will be a battle for public opinion, because republicans have signalled they do want to make this an issue in the 2022 mid—term elections and possibly beyond that. in a sense if you are a republican, you can say a republican kicked the taliban out of power and a democrat put them back in. that is a powerful symbolic message. having said that, you have this generalised picture about ending the war and joe biden can say, well i was the man that ended it. there is a battle in the centre for the narrative in the next 12 months or so in the run—up to those elections, but certainly this won't go away as a political issue. republicans will be trying to ensure that. ., republicans will be trying to ensure that. . . ., , ., that. there are clearly more immediate _ that. there are clearly more immediate concerns - that. there are clearly more immediate concerns for - that. there are clearly more - immediate concerns for americans, not least effects of hurricane ida,

but can i ask about the perception forming on this side of the atlantic, notjust in the uk but in some european capitals as well, that whether it is a democrat or a republican in the white house doesn't matter very much, that there has been a resurgence of that political strand of thinking in america which is broadly isolationist when it comes to foreign policy. isolationist when it comes to foreign policy-— isolationist when it comes to foreign policy. yes, i mean it is something _ foreign policy. yes, i mean it is something you _ foreign policy. yes, i mean it is something you often _ foreign policy. yes, i mean it is something you often get - foreign policy. yes, i mean it is - something you often get particularly at the beginning of american presidencies floral, where they want to focus, they say they will focus on the domestic agenda, they revert in some ways to type in that sense, and that has been the theme from the beginning of the republic to be quite honest, avoiding foreign entanglements and all that. butjoe biden promised he was back, didn't he? went to europe, went to nato, promised america was back in the same sort of cooperative sense that it used to be during the cold war

and pre—donald trump, and i think a lot of people, particularly in the european capitals you mentioned, really welcomed that, they were delighted and relieved, were very hopeful about that. this episode i think has dented that sense in that there is certainly a feeling, and we have reported on this, that european countries, uk, germany, france, feel that america did this in the unilateralfashion and that america did this in the unilateral fashion and they had no choice but to go along with it and they would have done it differently and would prefer to have been able to do it differently but simply couldn't because of the us might end the nature of us power that wasn't the nature of us power that wasn't the option gary, it looks a lovely morning in washington. enjar; the option gary, it looks a lovely morning in washington. en'oy the walk back. gary * morning in washington. enjoy the walk back. gary o'donoghue - morning in washington. enjoy the l walk back. gary o'donoghue talking walk back. gary 0'donoghue talking to us about what's happening in the united states. and stay with us on the channel because we will be talking to an expert in the us about

hurricane ida and the consequences of that. downing street has said the government is "beefing up the number of staff in neighbouring countries" to afghanistan to help those who are able to leave the country and eligible to come to the uk. let's get more on this from our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. what more do we know about what this beefing up means? because it is something dominic raab was alluding to in interviews today. hat something dominic raab was alluding to in interviews today.— to in interviews today. not very much. to in interviews today. not very much- this _ to in interviews today. not very much. this is _ to in interviews today. not very much. this is the _ to in interviews today. not very much. this is the prime - to in interviews today. not very i much. this is the prime minister's official spokesperson talking about what will happen now, the efforts to still try to get afghans out who are at risk, and this is something that was talked about a week ago. the uk talking about processing people through neighbouring countries. a week ago they were talking about sending additional personnel. some discussion about could it be in refugee camps or would people have to go to uk embassies in neighbouring countries? and it seems

thatis neighbouring countries? and it seems that is most likely, but very few details at this stage, and very many big questions because it is difficult for people to leave. if they are at risk, are they going to take a dangerous journey through taliban checkpoints across borders, some of which are closed. countries like uzbekistan are saying already they don't want to admit more people. then the question of what those people be guaranteed a place? would they have to leave home, become refugees and seek help not knowing if they would be allowed to move on? would those countries be taking in large numbers of refugees? 0ne taking in large numbers of refugees? one has, tajikistan said it would take in 100,000, so many difficulties with this but it's the beginnings of a process. the governments also grappling with the people they have already brought out, and how they will be housed.

the communities secretary robert jenrick said it is already proving challenging here. t’m jenrick said it is already proving challenging here.— jenrick said it is already proving challenging here. i'm really pleased that almost a _ challenging here. i'm really pleased that almost a third _ challenging here. i'm really pleased that almost a third of _ challenging here. i'm really pleased that almost a third of the _ challenging here. i'm really pleased that almost a third of the councils i that almost a third of the councils in england, scotland and wales have already— in england, scotland and wales have already agreed to take interpreters and those — already agreed to take interpreters and those afghans who stood shoulder to shoulder with us during 20 years of conflict, — to shoulder with us during 20 years of conflict, and i'm confident many more _ of conflict, and i'm confident many more so _ of conflict, and i'm confident many more so will— of conflict, and i'm confident many more so will do so in the days and weeks _ more so will do so in the days and weeks to— more so will do so in the days and weeks to come. there is a challenge because _ weeks to come. there is a challenge because these are larger families and councils and housing associations will need to find family— associations will need to find family sized homes. we are working closely— family sized homes. we are working closely with them, ensuring it is a fully funded package for them, and we have _ fully funded package for them, and we have announced an additional £5 million _ we have announced an additional £5 million scheme to help them find those _ million scheme to help them find those larger properties as quickly as possible. those larger properties as quickly as possible-— those larger properties as quickly as possible. robert jenrick talking about relocation. _ as possible. robert jenrick talking about relocation. and _ as possible. robert jenrick talking about relocation. and we - as possible. robert jenrick talking about relocation. and we are - as possible. robert jenrick talking about relocation. and we are told| about relocation. and we are told the prime minister is not in london at the moment? tie. the prime minister is not in london at the moment?— at the moment? no, so his official spokesman _ at the moment? no, so his official spokesman said _ at the moment? no, so his official spokesman said the _ at the moment? no, so his official spokesman said the prime - at the moment? no, so his official| spokesman said the prime minister has left london, he has gone away to

the west country for a few days. this is pretty sensitive of course, being a pretty critical point with what has been happening in afghanistan, but what we know is the prime minister apparently left on sunday and will be away until thursday. it's not being described as a holiday. we are told that he is working while he's away, but he's spending time with his family, but of course this is pretty tricky ground because back at the beginning when this crisis was really blowing up, the city in afghanistan falling, at that point the foreign secretary was away on holiday in greece. the prime minister also went off on the saturday, but very quickly turned around and came back again. so all of this i think is why downing street are anxious to say this is not a holiday, but people will be scrutinising it, saying where is the prime minister and what is the

nature of this trip? tt is prime minister and what is the nature of this trip?— nature of this trip? it is never 'ust a nature of this trip? it is never just a holiday _ nature of this trip? it is never just a holiday in _ nature of this trip? it is never just a holiday in the _ nature of this trip? it is never just a holiday in the west - nature of this trip? it is never - just a holiday in the west country, it is always a life changing experience. damian grammaticas, thanks so much. let's talk about what the taliban may or may not do and what their attitude is likely to be to pleased to leave the country. —— to pleas to leave the country. let's speak now to doctor antonio giustozzi, who is an expert on terrorism and security in afghanistan, having written several books on the subject. he's also a senior research fellow at the royal united services institute. let me ask you first of all about this question, this worry in countries like the uk aboutjust how receptive the taliban is likely to be to outside pleas both to let people go and how they said they will act as not becoming a place

where people can conduct attacks on other countries from the, if you like, the safety of afghanistan. for sure, the like, the safety of afghanistan. fr?" sure, the new regime hasn't got a lot of leveraged. it needs the central bank money to be released, so they have to make some concessions, so i think in terms of letting people out of the country, the dilemma they face now is if they let everybody go then the economy will collapse because they won't have any educated people to run machinery, they won't have a health service and so on and so forth. they wouldn't mind to see journalists leaving, they can do without that, but they need doctors, nurses, engineers and people who can

run in administration. so for them, the dilemma is to let some people 90, the dilemma is to let some people go, the people who will already have papers. that is a compromise they can strike, they will let those with papers leave but the others will stay in. the problem is how do you do that? because if you start opening the borders there is no way you can guarantee people will come back, so they have to find a way to prevent a massive exodus of one way or another. they are probably thinking about how to do it, but there is no easy way of doing it. the economy of afghanistan is very dependent on trade, so even if you want to, you can't really shot the border for good. want to, you can't really shot the borderfor good. people need to travel, and it is very difficult to keep the borders closed for any length of time so that is another

dilemma they are facing. what they can do about trying to get something from the west, like continuing some aid money to come through and the central bank money released is also to be constructive about the global jihadists who are still based in afghanistan. 0f jihadists who are still based in afghanistan. of course many of these are with the islamic state, in fact it is not difficult for the taliban to say we are ready to fight them, because they are already fighting, they have been fighting for years, so it's not a big sacrifice for them. with regard to al-qaeda, they have been close to the taliban. with other groups that is more difficult. i think they are trying to sell the idea they could allow these people to stay in afghanistan but on borrowed time basically, so keep them there but not allowing them to leave the country or carry out attacks on neighbours or external countries. now, whether that is

enough, whether that would satisfy the americans remains to be seen. the taliban have already communicated these intentions to the americans in the past and the americans in the past and the americans were not entirely convinced that it was a good idea, so i think there is still quite a bit of back and forth. t so i think there is still quite a bit of back and forth. i suppose in a sense it — bit of back and forth. i suppose in a sense it is _ bit of back and forth. i suppose in a sense it is possible _ bit of back and forth. i suppose in a sense it is possible they - bit of back and forth. i suppose in a sense it is possible they could, | a sense it is possible they could, to put it crudely, even weaponised immigrants by threatening to open the borders. because for all the west says it wants to welcome people who want to escape the taliban, certainly people who have worked with international forces like interpreters, presumably what it doesn't want is a mass emigration with those people coming particularly to europe, and particularly to europe, and particularly countries like iran and turkey don't particularly want that either. , ., , ., , either. yes, of course what they could do if— either. yes, of course what they could do if the _ either. yes, of course what they could do if the talks _ either. yes, of course what they could do if the talks they - either. yes, of course what they could do if the talks they are - could do if the talks they are trying to engage in don't succeed,

they could basically let anybody who they could basically let anybody who they don't really want, illiterate or unemployed young guys, to leave the country to iran or turkey, then flood europe. that should relieve them of a lot of unemployed young men, which wouldn't have any prospect of employment in the near future. and this in time would force europe to think of ways of reaching a compromise with the afghan government, with the taliban government. a bit like they did with the afghan in turkey. so when you are faced with a mass wave of immigrants, you need to think more creatively, so to speak.

doctor antonio giustozzi, thank you for being with us. the headlines on bbc news... the last us soldier has left afghanistan. the taliban declare victory in afghanistan after the final american withdrawal at midnight last night. after hurricane ida, more than1 million people without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been put down because of bovine tuberculosis despite a campaign to save him. more than1 million people in the us state of louisiana are still without power after hurricane ida hit on sunday. it brought winds of up to 150 mph, amongst the strongest ever to hit the us mainland. at least two people have died and rescue workers are using boats and planes to search for people trapped by floodwaters. richard galpin reports. the winds having subsided in louisiana, it is now a more tranquil picture after the storm. but a huge task lies ahead

in dealing with the aftermath. in particular, these floods. rescue teams have been searching for people in need of help. some who had stayed put as the hurricane made landfall say they were lucky to survive. last night was rough. we saw slow water coming in under the door, and then it progressivelyjust got, i was mopping, and then it progressively got worse. it was ankles, knees, almost chest level, so we put the dogs on the counters and then we climbed into the attic. the gravity of the situation has led president biden to pledge more assistance. more than 5,000 members of the national guard have been activated from louisiana, mississippi, alabama and texas to support search and rescue and recovery efforts. and fema has pre—positioned, literally, millions of meals and litres of water. critical to saving new orleans from flooding were these defence walls, which proved effective

in preventing serious flood damage. but the hurricane—force winds did take their toll on the city and broader region. i think the damage is catastrophic. it's the worst i've seen in the 20 years i've been here, and we've seen several hurricanes. gustav, isaac. where we had a lot of water, a lot of rain and flooding. but this is flooding and significant property damage. it's far worse than we expected. 0ne critical issue now is getting the electricity supply up and running again after the cables were brought down in the high winds. the main power company is warning it could take weeks before this happens, leaving more than1 million homes without power. —— around two million homes without power. let's see how louisiana ends are coping with that. joining me from new orleans,

is nate mook, cheif executive of the organisation world central kitchen. his team is helping with the relief effort. nate, thank you for breaking off to speak to us today. a lot of people don't know yet about what is happening in the rest of louisiana. what has been the situation as you have encountered it in new orleans? new orleans have encountered it in new orleans? new 0rlea ns thankfully were have encountered it in new orleans? new orleans thankfully were spared the worst of the hurricane winds, but it did get quite heated and there was significant damage here as well. thankfully the levy held, the storm surge so there was not significant flooding in the city. the significant challenge now is the power. there was catastrophic failure of the transmission lines coming into the city. there is still about 200,000 people here in new orleans. lots of folks have 0rleans. lots of folks have evacuated for sure and left before the storm but a lot of folks are still here and they don't have any

power, they can't cook, water is a challenge in some places as well. so as the days go on, 24, 48 hours and beyond, we are seeing a really serious situation. so even though you don't have as much as the wind damage in some of the more rural areas, it is pretty serious here right now. tn areas, it is pretty serious here right now-— areas, it is pretty serious here riahtnow. , , right now. in practicalterms, as ou said right now. in practicalterms, as you said people _ right now. in practicalterms, as you said people don't _ right now. in practicalterms, as you said people don't have - right now. in practicalterms, as. you said people don't have power, they don't have a reliable clean water supply, so they are coming to you for food and water. you have been able to keep cooking? yes. you for food and water. you have been able to keep cooking? yes, so we are pretty _ been able to keep cooking? yes, so we are pretty self-contained - been able to keep cooking? yes, so. we are pretty self-contained because we are pretty self—contained because we are pretty self—contained because we working a lot of difficult situations. we have generators, we have our big food drug which is more like a relief truck which can provide thousands of meals and hour. we have cold storage to source, we have big drugs, so after the last couple of days our team is getting everything set. we will provide 10,000 meals today and are continuing to scale up. so

communities have places to go, churches and so on to pick up those hot meals. but a lot of folks are coming to us right nowjust showing up coming to us right nowjust showing up at the kitchen. we had to set up a distribution here in fact to get meals out to folks. tote a distribution here in fact to get meals out to folks.— a distribution here in fact to get meals out to folks. we were hearing from one of— meals out to folks. we were hearing from one of our— meals out to folks. we were hearing from one of our correspondent - from one of our correspondent yesterday he was describing people wandering the streets trying to find initially food and water but hopefully shelter thereafter. how well—established is the relief operation? sadly people have the memories of hurricane katrina but also the negative memories and i guess it has been somehow trying to overcome that, and saying actually it isn't the end of the world, we can do stuff to get control of the situation quite quickly after the worst of the weather has passed. yes, it's tricky because a lot of folks are very worried about what comes next, and they remember being left behind during katrina. the government here, the local

leadership emergency management are still working very fast to try to get services out, trying to open cooling shelters, and it's about 100 fahrenheit here so it is a real problem. but again, losing power like this really slows everything down, makes it very challenging. even cell phone service went down yesterday for much of the day, even the first responder network that is not supposed to go down went down, so police and fire couldn't communicate with each other, so everything takes longer than it should. but we are hoping over the next couple of days world central kitchen and other organisations as we get further ramped up will be able to further support families. the reality is folks don't have anywhere to go. they have no power so they need services very quick. nate mook, thank you, do stay safe.

geronimo — the alpaca — has been put down following a court—order to destroy the animal. government vets and a police escort arrived to remove the animal from the farm in gloucestershire this morning after it twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. let's talk to our environment and rural affairs correspondent claire marshall who's at the farm. how did it all unfold? defra officials and _ how did it all unfold? defra officials and police - how did it all unfold? defra officials and police came i how did it all unfold? defral officials and police came this morning at around 11 o'clock. i think we have some pictures we can show you of that happening. there has been a group of supporters of geronimo here for the last few weeks camping overnight, who have been trying to help stop this moment taking place. there was a bit of a confrontation with police, i think you might be seeing that now, but in the end of the alpaca was taken into a horsebox with a blacked out numberplate and then taken away through a police roadblock, and an

hour or so later defra said the warrant had been carried out, which everybody then took to mean that the animal was put down. so that was the events which took place this morning. 0bviously tens of thousands of people have been keeping an eye and supporting the case of this animal, and helen mcdonald is the owner. you have been fighting for four years to stop this day taking place. how do you feel? betrayed. i asked a valid _ place. how do you feel? betrayed. i asked a valid question _ place. how do you feel? betrayed. i asked a valid question four - place. how do you feel? betrayed. i asked a valid question four years i asked a valid question four years a-o asked a valid question four years ago over— asked a valid question four years ago over the efficacy of the test they used — ago over the efficacy of the test they used and i have never had an answer _ they used and i have never had an answer the — they used and i have never had an answer. the fact is he didn't fail a test, _ answer. the fact is he didn't fail a test. they— answer. the fact is he didn't fail a test, they had no data to suggest he was infected, despite christine middlemiss saying so... she was infected, despite christine middlemiss saying so. . .- was infected, despite christine middlemiss saying so... she is the chief vet, middlemiss saying so... she is the chief vet. she _ middlemiss saying so... she is the chief vet, she is _ middlemiss saying so... she is the chief vet, she is who _ middlemiss saying so... she is the chief vet, she is who said... i middlemiss saying so... she is the chief vet, she is who said... she . chief vet, she is who said... she issued a statement _ chief vet, she is who said... she issued a statement saying he is infected — issued a statement saying he is infected. she can't say that, she

has no _ infected. she can't say that, she has no evidence. though scientists know _ has no evidence. though scientists know what — has no evidence. though scientists know what they did four years ago and they— know what they did four years ago and they have set me up for the last three _ and they have set me up for the last three weeks. we have been negotiating behind the scenes to get a meeting _ negotiating behind the scenes to get a meeting with george eustice and we have been_ a meeting with george eustice and we have been ignored. we were told they were on— have been ignored. we were told they were on holiday and something would happen— were on holiday and something would happen this week. clearly we were duped _ happen this week. clearly we were duped we — happen this week. clearly we were duped. we have been bullied and threatened for four years over a very— threatened for four years over a very simple question, which is where is your— very simple question, which is where is your evidence to say this test is accurate? — is your evidence to say this test is accurate? that is all we wanted, and for four— accurate? that is all we wanted, and for four years — accurate? that is all we wanted, and for four years we have been abused lry for four years we have been abused by the _ for four years we have been abused by the government. 30 for four years we have been abused by the government.— for four years we have been abused by the government. so you think this noes more by the government. so you think this goes more widely _ by the government. so you think this goes more widely than _ by the government. so you think this goes more widely than the _ by the government. so you think this goes more widely than the case i by the government. so you think this goes more widely than the case of. goes more widely than the case of geronimo? tt goes more widely than the case of geronimo?— goes more widely than the case of geronimo? . .y , .,, ., �*, geronimo? it always has done. it's about fair treatment. _ geronimo? it always has done. it's about fair treatment. tb _ geronimo? it always has done. it's about fair treatment. tb policy i geronimo? it always has done. it's about fair treatment. tb policy is l about fair treatment. tb policy is not working, so they can't make up test and _ not working, so they can't make up test and then say some of this disease — test and then say some of this disease, especially when geronimo came _ disease, especially when geronimo came from — disease, especially when geronimo came from new zealand and a very healthy— came from new zealand and a very healthy herd. all of the evidence is clear. _ healthy herd. all of the evidence is clear. he _ healthy herd. all of the evidence is clear, he hasn't been exposed to tb. they manipulated this test so they

can say— they manipulated this test so they can say there was a suspicion of disease — can say there was a suspicion of disease, and here we are, and now they are _ disease, and here we are, and now they are using bully tactics when they are using bully tactics when they could have been using lessons to learn _ they could have been using lessons to learn. we offered them a research opportunity, — to learn. we offered them a research opportunity, that is now widely published today, and they have just fohhed _ published today, and they have just fohhed us _ published today, and they have just fobbed us off and put in the heavy handed _ fobbed us off and put in the heavy handed with police and drones and god knows— handed with police and drones and god knows what today to remove a perfectly— god knows what today to remove a perfectly healthy animal. the government _ perfectly healthy animal. the government said _ perfectly healthy animal. the government said it _ perfectly healthy animal. tue: government said it has perfectly healthy animal. tte: government said it has followed perfectly healthy animal. t“te: government said it has followed due process and this is the procedure at the moment and how tb is being dealt with. you have had some sympathy is relayed to you by the prime minister, how do you feel about that response? keep your sympathy. we've been telling you long enough. nobody has helped us. they have all been deeply set they have lied. the evidence is very clear. i don't need burris�*s sympathy, anything to do hisjob. i need him to hold george eustice to

account, everyone else was allowed this to happen today. every single cattle farmer in this country who has been through this deserves better. we need respect and need to better. we need respect and need to be working with government are not being abused by them. this bully tactics has got to stop. t being abused by them. this bully tactics has got to stop.— being abused by them. this bully tactics has got to stop. i mean, you have support _ tactics has got to stop. i mean, you have support of _ tactics has got to stop. i mean, you have support of farmers. _ tactics has got to stop. i mean, you have support of farmers. there i tactics has got to stop. i mean, you have support of farmers. there are | have support of farmers. there are some who say this was just one alpaca, we are having to face this with tens of thousands of cattle being killed every year, a huge bill for the taxpayer. how do you feel that this has caught the attention of the world, geronimo's case? greg. of the world, geronimo's case? grey, cattle farmers — of the world, geronimo's case? grey, cattle farmers need _ of the world, geronimo's case? grey, cattle farmers need to _ of the world, geronimo's case? grey, cattle farmers need to stand - of the world, geronimo's case? grey, cattle farmers need to stand up. i cattle farmers need to stand up. they don't want to lose... we have in this horrific cycle because tests are notjoined up. they're not looking at bio—security, joining dots and policy work and having involvement on the ground in a farm by farm case. this isjust abuse,

on the ground in a farm by farm case. this is just abuse, just thuggery, and quite frankly there are people in this government who taxpayers are paying for these people to act above the law and play god with people's lives. all i asked for was a valid test four years ago. and look at it. look at this mess now. ., ., ., _ now. you are obviously here supporting- _ now. you are obviously here supporting. how— now. you are obviously here supporting. how do - now. you are obviously here supporting. how do you i now. you are obviously here supporting. how do you feelj now. you are obviously here i supporting. how do you feel about, the accusations, i am sure, the government will respond to, but how do you feel about may the wider implications of geronimo's case? well, i have been studying bovine tb on badger— well, i have been studying bovine tb on badger cull is in cattle calls for nine — on badger cull is in cattle calls for nine years. the policy is failing. _ for nine years. the policy is failing, tb is spreading in the government had not doing the right thin- government had not doing the right thing to— government had not doing the right thing to get on top of the disease. geronimo — thing to get on top of the disease. geronimo isjust the latest thing to get on top of the disease. geronimo is just the latest victim in an— geronimo is just the latest victim in an endless bloodbath which has been _ in an endless bloodbath which has been sanctioned by the government because _ been sanctioned by the government because they can't be bothered to do the science — because they can't be bothered to do the science, they can't be bothered to use _ the science, they can't be bothered to use, there are some great new test bits— to use, there are some great new test bits of— to use, there are some great new test bits of around which have been

created _ test bits of around which have been created in _ test bits of around which have been created in britain, fantastic science _ created in britain, fantastic science, and they will not use them. this is— science, and they will not use them. this is a _ science, and they will not use them. this is a form — science, and they will not use them. this is a form of belligerence. they 'ust this is a form of belligerence. they just will— this is a form of belligerence. they just will not — this is a form of belligerence. they just will not turn round and say we can do— just will not turn round and say we can do this — just will not turn round and say we can do this better, it is the 21st century — can do this better, it is the 21st century it— can do this better, it is the 21st centu . , , . century. it is difficult, the science with _ century. it is difficult, the science with regards i century. it is difficult, the science with regards to i century. it is difficult, the l science with regards to the century. it is difficult, the i science with regards to the wider issues. there are obviously very opposing views from the national farmers' union and otherfarmers opposing views from the national farmers' union and other farmers who say that the colour is difficult, the science with regards to the wider issues. there are obviously very opposing views from the national farmers' union and other farmers who say that the colours part of wider strategy of badgers more generally is working. and the government is introducing movements towards vaccinating features. the bad . er towards vaccinating features. the badger cull _ towards vaccinating features. the badger cull is _ towards vaccinating features. the badger cull is not working. the government's own figures show that only100%_ government's own figures show that only 100% of the 150,000 badges that have been_ only 100% of the 150,000 badges that have been killed have tested positive _ have been killed have tested positive for the disease and the disease — positive for the disease and the disease is — positive for the disease and the disease is increasing even the claim is and _ disease is increasing even the claim is and if— disease is increasing even the claim is and if you — disease is increasing even the claim is and if you examine all the colour areas _ is and if you examine all the colour areas the _ is and if you examine all the colour areas the incidence of bovine tb is higher— areas the incidence of bovine tb is higher tharr— areas the incidence of bovine tb is higher than when they started. the policy— higher than when they started. the policy is _ higher than when they started. the policy is actually failing and the farmers— policy is actually failing and the farmers need to get on—board with this _ farmers need to get on—board with this the _ farmers need to get on—board with this. the farmers have been conned for long _ this. the farmers have been conned

for long time. they need to, honestly, _ for long time. they need to, honestly, get up and start questioning why they are losing animals— questioning why they are losing animals to this appalling test regime — animals to this appalling test regime that isn't working while tb is spreading, while restrictions are spreading — is spreading, while restrictions are spreading. some farmers 60 day testing — spreading. some farmers 60 day testing. you know, that is every three _ testing. you know, that is every three months having to gather the whole _ three months having to gather the whole herd up and test them again and yet _ whole herd up and test them again and yet tb— whole herd up and test them again and yet tb is is still spreading. the policy— and yet tb is is still spreading. the policy is failing. this test on geronimo — the policy is failing. this test on geronimo isjust a classic point where — geronimo isjust a classic point where the _ geronimo isjust a classic point where the interpretation and the result— where the interpretation and the result of— where the interpretation and the result of the test was the wrong interpretation. he had antibodies for the _ interpretation. he had antibodies for the disease, not the disease. heteh, _ for the disease, not the disease. heteh, tast — for the disease, not the disease. helen, last one. do feel lessons might be learned? hie. helen, last one. do feel lessons might be learned?— helen, last one. do feel lessons might be learned? no, they should have been learnt _ might be learned? no, they should have been learnt four _ might be learned? no, they should have been learnt four years - might be learned? no, they should have been learnt four years ago - might be learned? no, they should i have been learnt four years ago when we made this. we have been asking forfair we made this. we have been asking for fair treatment we made this. we have been asking forfair treatment for we made this. we have been asking for fair treatment for four years. we made this. we have been asking forfairtreatment forfouryears. i believe there was the government and all these ministers are sat around doing nothing and blatantly exploring the people who have valid concerns, they don't listen to the test developers, farmers, vets on the ground, theyjust completely ignorant and when you've got them

spouting propaganda left, right and centre as a justification for their bullying tactics, no, they are not going to learn, are they? unless we get a complete change, i mean, get an independent tv policy expert department dealing with this and engaging all farmers, we are a complete change, i mean, getan independent tv policy expert department dealing with this and engaging all farmers, when others get anywhere. engaging all farmers, when others get anywhere-— engaging all farmers, when others get anywhere. thank you very much indeed. obviously _ get anywhere. thank you very much indeed. obviously the _ get anywhere. thank you very much indeed. obviously the government | indeed. obviously the government believes it is the right one and it is adapting it in connection with the science and i'm sure we will him on that later. from south gloucestershire, back to you. claire national there with that debate on the decision to kill geronimo. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin ra mjaun. good afternoon. three more gold medals for great britain on day seven at the paralympics in tokyo — with more success in

cycling and swimming. dame sarah storey has won the 16th gold of her career in the c5 time trial. that achievement also saw her equal the record held by swimmer mike kenny as britain's most successful paralympian of all—time. our reporter rachael latham has more. yes, she definitely got the day started well for great britain, picking up that gold medal this morning and she said it was a smooth race. she really enjoyed it and she actually cycle faster than she expected to go when she was on the podium. she even looked a little emotional, which is very unusual for the athlete that's been going since 1992 and winning the whole way, but now she was not going to shift her focus to thursday, where she'll be hoping to pick up another gold medal in the road race, and if she wins a gold then she will become the most decorated paralympic athlete of all time with gold medals. what a title for sarah storey, there. also at the cycling it was ben watson. he got a surprise gold in the road cycling this morning. it was his paralympic debut and didn't rio 2016 he was actually watching at home. back

then, he was a chartered accountant. he didn't get involved until 2017 and here he is today winning a gold medalfor and here he is today winning a gold medal for great and here he is today winning a gold medalfor great britain. and here he is today winning a gold medal for great britain. and, and here he is today winning a gold medalfor great britain. and, in the soil bill, rhys dunn went in the 200 metres individual medley s11; class and he won his third gold medal of these games. it was also making a paralympic debut here in tokyo so all these new athletes coming in really wacky at the medals for great britain and at the end of the day to day every three gold medals for great britain, three silver medals in six runs. great britain, three silver medals in six runs— great britain, three silver medals in six runs-— great britain, three silver medals in six runs. rachel life and they're from tokyo _ in six runs. rachel life and they're from tokyo for— in six runs. rachel life and they're from tokyo for us. _ cristiano ronaldo says he is "back to where he belongs" at manchester united. he left the club over a decade ago, tojoin real madrid. the portuguese striker will be heading back to united, from juventus in a deal worth nearly £13 million — with potential additional payments. he has signed a two—year contract with the option to extend for a further year, and says he is doing it for sir alex ferguson. andy murray says he "lost respect" for stefanos tsitsipas during a feisty us open match which murray lost in five sets. the brit accused his opponent

of "cheating" by taking long bathroom breaks, one of which was eight minutes long, before the final set. i rate him a lot. i think he's a brilliant player and i think he's great for the game, but i have zero time for that stuff at all and i lost respect for him. if everyone else feels like that's totally cool and there's no issue with it, then maybe i'm the one being unreasonable, but i think it's nonsense and he knows it as well. not happy at all is he, murray, there? england captainjoe root says england need to build on their peformance from the third test with india at headingley. england won the test to draw the series level heading into the fourth test at the oval on thursday.... but they will be without their wicketkeeperjos buttler who will miss the game to be at the birth of his second child... i think we've got to use it as a bit of a template, really, moving forward. everything that we speak about as a team, how we want to play

test cricket, we pretty much delivered on. you know, big first innings score with the bat, good partnerships, 1oo partnerships in there, and we were clinical. we find the length of the wicket when we bowled and built pressure for long periods of time, controlled the rate and turn, controlled the game and felt very much in command of things from the end of the first hour of the test match. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories and the latest on transfer deadline day on the bbc sport website and app. gallon, thanks so much. when the taliban took over afghanistan, it was expected that we would no longer see female presenters on screen. but earlier this month, the afghan journalist beheshta arghand made headlines by interviewing a senior taliban leader. two weeks ago, she spoke to my colleage christian fraser, from kabul, for an exclusive interview of what it was like to do the interview, and how she feared for her life. let's remind ourselves of what she said.

iamso i am so afraid from all of them. like, ijust afraid i am so afraid from all of them. like, i just afraid from i am so afraid from all of them. like, ijust afraid from them. they target may or may something else. well, beheshta arghand has now fled afghanistan. in her first international tv interview since leaving the country, she spoke to christian fraser once again about her fears for afghanistan, and how the nobel laureate and women's rights activist malala yousafzai helped her to escape. how did you get out? did you have to go to the airport and queue like everybody else? in go to the airport and queue like everybody else?— everybody else? in fact, all of our... everybody else? in fact, all of our- -- and — everybody else? in fact, all of our... and anchor— everybody else? in fact, all of our... and anchor left - everybody else? in fact, all of our... and anchor left the - everybody else? in fact, all of- our... and anchor left the country and came abroad... mi our. .. and anchor left the country and came abroad. . .— our... and anchor left the country and came abroad... all of the tolo news reporters — and came abroad... all of the tolo news reporters have _ and came abroad... all of the tolo news reporters have left? - and came abroad... all of the tolo news reporters have left? i - and came abroad... all of the tolo news reporters have left? i can i and came abroad... all of the tolo| news reporters have left? i can say not all of news reporters have left? i can say rrot all of but _ news reporters have left? i can say not all of but i _ news reporters have left? i can say not all of but i think— news reporters have left? i can say not all of but i think more - news reporters have left? i can say not all of but i think more than, - not all of but i think more than, more of reporters left afghanistan and they came to abroad but ijust

left it there but i... did and they came to abroad but i 'ust left it there but i. . .i left it there but i... did you have to no left it there but i... did you have to go through — left it there but i... did you have to go through the _ left it there but i... did you have to go through the airport? - left it there but i... did you have to go through the airport? no. i | to go through the airport? no. i talked with _ to go through the airport? no. i talked with malala _ to go through the airport? no. i talked with malala and - to go through the airport? no. i talked with malala and i - to go through the airport? no. i talked with malala and i am - to go through the airport? no. i talked with malala and i am so l talked with malala and i am so thankful for talked with malala and i am so thankfulfor her and she talked with malala and i am so thankful for her and she talked with the... government...— the... government... malala yousafzai — the... government... malala yousafzai as _ the... government... malala yousafzai as he _ the... government... malala yousafzai as he was - the... government... malala yousafzai as he was shot - the... government... malala yousafzai as he was shot by| the... government... malala i yousafzai as he was shot by the taliban, you spoke to her? malala yousafzai is— taliban, you spoke to her? malala yousafzai is a _ taliban, you spoke to her? malala yousafzai is a end... _ taliban, you spoke to her? malala yousafzai is a end... government| yousafzai is a end... government spoke to me and held me and i am thankful to both of them because they know about the situation and they know about the situation and they know about the situation and they know if i stay in afghanistan i am the first lady to interview the taliban and a decision is not like i can stay here, so i am so thankful. what your thoughts now having left yourjob, your what y°uf thoughts now having left youfjob, your likelihood, what your thoughts now having left yourjob, your likelihood, your yourjob, your likelihood, you home, your country? i yourjob, your likelihood, your home, your country?- yourjob, your likelihood, your

home, your country? i am so unhappy because of this _ home, your country? i am so unhappy because of this generation _ home, your country? i am so unhappy because of this generation really - because of this generation really struggled for a new afghanistan. i so miss myjob, my country, and if there is a chance and i know taliban can't change and the promise that they do, if they gave our rights and they do, if they gave our rights and they do, if they gave our rights and they do what they promise with america, with...— they do what they promise with america, with... then you would go back? i would _ america, with... then you would go back? i would go _ america, with... then you would go back? i would go back _ america, with... then you would go back? i would go back but - america, with. .. then you would go back? i would go back but now- back? i would go back but now nothina back? i would go back but now nothing is _ back? i would go back but now nothing is there. _ back? i would go back but now nothing is there. well, - back? i would go back but now nothing is there. well, we - back? i would go back but now| nothing is there. well, we think back? i would go back but now- nothing is there. well, we think you are a credit — nothing is there. well, we think you are a credit to _ nothing is there. well, we think you are a credit to your _ nothing is there. well, we think you are a credit to your country - nothing is there. well, we think you are a credit to your country and - nothing is there. well, we think you are a credit to your country and we | are a credit to your country and we are a credit to your country and we are very sad to hear what's happened to this week. look after yourself your family. to this week. look after yourself yourfamily. we are glad to this week. look after yourself your family. we are glad you to this week. look after yourself yourfamily. we are glad you are safe and thank you for coming on the programme. welcome. thank you from you. and you can watch the full interview with beheshta arghand here on bbc news with christian fraser at 9pm . there's a warning this afternoon

that gps are facing difficult decisions about which patients get blood tests because of a shortage of test tubes. the nhs in england and wales is temporarily stopping all non—urgent testing. our health editor hugh pym told us how serious the problem was the royal college of gps has actually put out a statement saying it is extremely worrying for patients and hugely frustrating for gps. now, the message is if it is an urgent blood test that is needed, that will go ahead, for example for cancer patients and those with long—term health conditions. but gps are saying there is a bit of blurring and lack of clarity about what the difference between urgent and routine actually is. now, the manufacturer, the us company becton dickinson, has also put out a statement this morning saying

that they are diverting supplies, in essence, from other parts of the world to the uk of the tubes that are required to help the nhs, as they put it, and also boosting production in the uk. they say this should be resolved through september. the situation should stabilise, they say, but that remains a question. some gps are saying if it's just a couple of weeks it's not a disaster, and that's the message from the government, that they think this is unfortunate but it can be dealt with in a matter of a few weeks, but it remains very unclear. as one gp put it to me, it's quite difficult, with all the other pressures in general practice and patients being alarmed and a little bit uneasy about what's happening and getting appointments, this has added to the situation. hugh pym there. northern ireland's deputy first minister michelle o'neill has tested positive for covid—19. the vice president of sinn fein tweeted that she would remain in self—isolation and hopes to return to her public duties next week. executive office minister declan

kearney will take forward 'departmental business�* in the meantime. the headlines on bbc news... the last us soldier has left afghanistan. the taliban declare victory in afghanistan after the final american withdrawal at midnight last night. after hurricane ida, more than a million people without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been put down because of bovine tuberculosis despite a campaign to save him. the bbc�*s moscow correspondent has left russia today, expelled by the authorities after being labelled a threat to national security. sarah rainsford, who first reported from moscow for the bbc over 20 years ago, just as vladimir putin came to power, but she's been told she can never return. moscow claims the move is in response to the expulsion of a russian journalist from the uk

two years ago, but the move comes amid a severe crackdown on independentjournalists and opposition activists within russia. here's sarah's report on her last days in russia.(tx here's sarah's final report on her last days in russia. this was the moment i discovered i was being expelled from russia. according to a specific law, i've been designated a "threat to national security" and, as such, i'm not allowed into the country. pulled aside at passport control, i was told the fsb security service had banned me for life. i recorded the conversation. i was returning from belarus, where i'd confronted alexander lukashenko on the mass repression and torture of peaceful protesters. his loyal supporters rounded on me... ..in a coordinated attack.

vladimir putin's presenting this as just another working visit. .. i've reported from russia for two decades — the whole span of vladimir putin's presidency. there've been highs — like the world cup — but i've also charted the slow erosion of freedoms here. the crackdown on dissent. a year ago, the government put me on short—term visas. sarah rainsford... then i became the news, as state television announced i had to leave. after tense negotiations, i had been allowed to enter russia... they let me in — for now. ..but only to pack. i was then told my visa wouldn't be renewed — supposedly what happened to a russian reporter in london, but that was two years ago. when i was called in here, to the foreign ministry, they kept insisting that my expulsion was nothing personal — they talked about it as a reciprocal move — but they refused to even engage with the fact that i've been labelled "a national security threat". they said that was just a "technical moment".

but, at a time when russia is increasingly seeing enemies all around, it really feels like i've now been added to the list. it's happening as the pressure on russian journalists who don't toe the kremlin line is intensifying. dozhd tv has just been added to a growing blacklist of media labelled "foreign agents" — for getting funds from abroad. this terror of "foreign agents" means that we — dozhd — we are enemies of the state. the pretending of being democracy is over. it is very bad, and it could become much worse — any time. so i'm leaving a country i first came to as the soviet union fell apart. when free speech — orfreedoms — were new and precious. it feels like today's russia is moving in reverse. sarah rainsford, bbc news, moscow. sarah rainsford on her final day in moscow.

lockdown brought a surge in demand for takeaway food, but it looks like the habit has stuck. figures suggest nearly a quarter of us are spending more money on takeaways now than we did before the pandemic. our consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith reports. let's speak now to helen tse, owner of sweet mandarin restaurant in manchester. helen, what is your experience been at this? hi. helen, what is your experience been at this? ,, ., ., ., ., at this? hi, sean. thanks to having me on. at this? hi, sean. thanks to having me on- we — at this? hi, sean. thanks to having me on. we have _ at this? hi, sean. thanks to having me on. we have been _ at this? hi, sean. thanks to having me on. we have been very - at this? hi, sean. thanks to having me on. we have been very busy . at this? hi, sean. thanks to having | me on. we have been very busy this sitting but also with click—and—collect an and also on delivery apps like deliveroo and ubereats so it is quite interesting, really. ubereats so it is quite interesting, reall . ., ubereats so it is quite interesting, reall. ., , ,. ubereats so it is quite interesting, reall, ., , , . really. had you been expecting this? or had ou really. had you been expecting this? or had you been _ really. had you been expecting this? or had you been expecting _ really. had you been expecting this? or had you been expecting things - or had you been expecting things very quickly to settle back into a more conventional pattern? i was ex - ectin . more conventional pattern? i was expecting on _ more conventional pattern? i was expecting on the _ more conventional pattern? i was expecting on the 17th _ more conventional pattern? i was expecting on the 17th of- more conventional pattern? i was expecting on the 17th of may - more conventional pattern? i —" expecting on the 17th of may for things to go back to the normal pattern where people would be dining in, take a ways would be back to the minimal amount in, take a ways would be back to the minimalamount again but in, take a ways would be back to the minimal amount again but actually that trend hasn't really happened

with us. i mean, we do have a loss of gluten—free customers who are coeliac and cannot ingest wheat so our gluten—free menu has been really popular with them in particularfor take is. i think a lot of them are still slightly nervous to come out, in manchester in particular whether it has been very busy, so they are self—isolating at home would have got very familiar with ordering a takeaway at the weekend. has it affected how _ takeaway at the weekend. has it affected how your _ takeaway at the weekend. has it affected how your kitchen - takeaway at the weekend. has it affected how your kitchen operates? well, we have had to get a few more pieces of equipment into deal with the demand because obviously i sitting customers take priority and i wouldn't want them to be waiting whilst the drivers... before the takeaway, that would be catastrophic so, yes, we have got a few more fryers than to make sure that we can meet the demand because it is a great opportunity and we want to continue that opportunity post lockdown. �* ., ., ., , continue that opportunity post lockdown. ., ., ., , ., lockdown. adding advantages to it from our lockdown. adding advantages to it from your point — lockdown. adding advantages to it from your point of— lockdown. adding advantages to it from your point of view? - lockdown. adding advantages to it from your point of view? i - lockdown. adding advantages to it from your point of view? i think i lockdown. adding advantages to it | from your point of view? i think so. i think we can _ from your point of view? i think so. i think we can look _ from your point of view? i think so. i think we can look after _ from your point of view? i think so. i think we can look after our - i think we can look after our coeliac customers better. we can,

you know, get to know our customers as well in terms of our catchment area. we have got more regulars ordering takeaway is, which has been quite unusual, because usually it is just a one—off, and we have been looking after a lot of the manchester city centre flats. so, we are in the northern quarter and recently there's been a loss of new flats being built on new people you know, and serving the manchester city centre area. it is quite interesting.— city centre area. it is quite interestinr. , , ., ., ., interesting. up there you get a lot of serviced — interesting. up there you get a lot of serviced apartments _ interesting. up there you get a lot of serviced apartments and - interesting. up there you get a lot of serviced apartments and stuff, | of serviced apartments and stuff, quite a changeover of people working in the city who maybe don't want to cook and of enjoying the greater options available to them. if this trend sticks long term, is it your impression from talking to other restaurant is in your area that this is something that's being experienced more widely? i is something that's being experienced more widely? i think so. a loss of my — experienced more widely? i think so. a loss of my neighbours _ experienced more widely? i think so. a loss of my neighbours do _ experienced more widely? i think so. a loss of my neighbours do use - experienced more widely? i think so. a loss of my neighbours do use the l a loss of my neighbours do use the delivery apps as well and we are seeing a lot of riders in the area and also we are getting a lot of feedback from the customer so they

actually put on the menu the monthly book. they are saying what they want us to deliver to you guys? they are saying we want a vegan munsey bock, gluten—free one, and that what we did so it is a good way to dialogue. —— munchy box. i did so it is a good way to dialogue. -- munchy box-— did so it is a good way to dialogue. -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy — -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy box. _ -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy box. what _ -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy box. what is _ -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy box. what is a - -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy box. what is a net - -- munchy box. i love the sound of the munchy box. what is a net one | -- munchy box. i love the sound of. the munchy box. what is a net one of of making the audience hungry? you have not of making the audience hungry? m. have got salt—and—pepper chips, salt—and—pepper chicken balls and salt—and—pepper chicken balls and salt and pepper chicken winds. 50 it salt and pepper chicken winds. so it is a bit of an — salt and pepper chicken winds. so it is a bit of an indulgent? yes, - salt and pepper chicken winds. so it is a bit of an indulgent? yes, with l is a bit of an indulgent? yes, with a few beers _ is a bit of an indulgent? yes, with a few beers. restaurant _ is a bit of an indulgent? yes, with a few beers. restaurant owner. is a bit of an indulgent? yes, with a few beers. restaurant owner of| a few beers. restaurant owner of sweet mandolin, thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. —— mandarin. a new study shows that after just one season of rugby,

professional players suffered a decline in both blood flow to the brain and cognitive function. reserarchers at the university of south wales followed a team — testing players preseason, mid—season and post season. the sport's governing body, world rugby, has welcomed the findings and has doubled its investment into concussion research. tomos morgan reports commentator: shane| williams in broken play. there's the a big step off the left. and there's the crushing south africa tackle. - that was one of the biggest hits i've ever taken, really, i think. shane williams became wales's top try scorer, a lion, and one of the best ever to have played on the wing. but he also took his fair share of big tackles and head impacts, most notably the one sustained against south africa's bakkies botha in 200a. it just totally wiped me out. i knocked the ball on and south africa scored on the other side of the field, apparently. the funny thing was, i do not...i don't remember that. it wasn't until after the game, where i felt a bit groggy, and ifelt a bit sick, that i realised that something was wrong. a new study seen exclusively by the bbc by the university of south wales and published in tomorrow's edition of experimental physiology is believed to be one of the first that's followed a professional rugby team that plays in the united rugby championship over the course of one season, testing players in pre—,

mid— and post—season. the players recorded just six concussions between them. however, all of them saw a decline in blood flow to the brain and a decline in cognitive function. the evidence is showing that there's a cumulative impact on the brain. so, we're moving away from concussion per se, and focusing more on contact. the research team say more evidence on the topic is needed, and are in the process of completing further studies comparing past and present players with a control group. some former players, like shane, believe as well as educating, limiting substitutions only when players are injured rather than as fresh legs against tired opponents, could prevent further injuries. however, the game's governing body says research is ongoing looking into this specific issue. in response to the new study�*s findings, world rugby said...

commentator: steyn puts him down. with the introduction of more severe penalties for dangerous tackles, shane believes the game has become safer, but anything that can be added to mitigate any potential risk of head injuries is welcome. people are still asking, would i have changed anything? would i have changed the way i played? would i have not played? i wouldn't have, because i was playing a game that i absolutely loved. tomos morgan, bbc news, south wales. hello there. no rapid changes on the way in our weather. the sort of weather we've got now is the sort of weather we'll have for the rest of the week, and that means a lot of cloud with occasional spots of drizzle, but, equally, that cloud breaking at times to give some spells of sunshine. now, what's going on is we have high pressure up to the north—west of us.

the winds around high pressure flow in a clockwise direction, and that is dragging a lot of cloud in our direction, but there are some breaks in that cloud. you can see from the earlier satellite picture where we've had some breaks across parts of northern ireland, central parts of scotland, for example. these areas seeing some spells of sunshine through the rest of the day. elsewhere, the cloud breaking here and there to give some glimmers of brightness, equally thick enough at times to give the odd spot of drizzle. a fairly keen north—easterly breeze, so it does feel quite cool where you're stuck under cloud. in the best of the sunshine, temperatures up to 20 or 21 degrees. as we head through this evening and tonight, we keep extensive cloud. that cloud could below enough to give some mist and murk over some of the hills in northern england, but, at the same time, there will be some clear gaps, say, across parts of central scotland, that could allow the temperatures to drop away. most places, certainly where it stays cloudy, will remain in double digits. and then, into tomorrow, more of the same. more very cloudy weather, for the most part, but not completely

cloudy conditions. we will see, i think, more in the way of sunshine across parts of scotland. maybe the cloud breaking for northern ireland, and also for southern counties of england and the channel islands. equally, in places that cloud will be thick enough to give the odd spot of drizzle. still fairly breezy, especially for eastern and southern parts. quite cool for north sea coasts, best of the sunshine lifting temperatures to 21 degrees. as we move out of wednesday and into thursday, high pressure remains with us — if anything, moving a little bit further eastwards. that could allow for a few more breaks in the cloud across parts of scotland, northern ireland and more generally across western parts of the uk. but for many places, there will be a lot of cloud through thursday into friday, still potentially the odd spot of drizzle. a few sunny glimpses, temperatures at best to around 21 degrees. but things do start to change as we head into the weekend. high pressure look set to slip away north—eastwards, allowing frontal systems to push in from the atlantic. things are looking like they're

going to turn more unsettled with rain working in from the west as we head through the weekend. but no big changes before that.

this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines: the taliban declares victory after the final american soldier leaves afghanistan. the militants take control of the country once secured by nato forces but insist they want good relations with the rest of the world. translation: we managed today to regain our independence - and make us forces leave. after hurricane ida, more than 1 million people are left without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been put down by government vets over fears of bovine tuberculosis — his owner calls the action barbaric. research on professional rugby players shows that after just one season, they suffer a loss of blood flow

to the brain and cognitive function. and it's the same old story, and a cracking one — dame sarah wins yet another gold at the tokyo paralympics. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the taliban have taken control of kabul airport, after the united states pulled the last of its troops out of afghanistan. the final evacuation flight left at a minute to midnight last night. it brings to an end the longest war in american history, in which more than 2,000 us

servicemen and women lost their lives. the taliban are back in power, as they were 20 years ago. my colleague secunder kermani is in kabul. this is the first day in a new era in afghanistan, one without the presence of international troops for the first time in around 20 years. the taliban see their departure is a great victory, but the predominant feeling i'm picking up from people here is one of continuing uncertainty about what the future holds and about what life under the taliban is going to look like. at the moment, many people here telling me the public attitude of the taliban has been more conciliatory than they expected, but there are worries about that will last. this report from my colleague.

heading into a new and uncertain era. taliban militia now in control of kabul airport — and afghanistan. just weeks ago, this tarmac was packed with afghans desperate to flee. today, taliban fighters lined the runway, their spokesman congratulating them on what he described as a moment of joy and celebration. translation: the islamic emirate | of afghanistan wants to have good | relations with the whole world on behalf of the nation. we want to have strong diplomatic relations with all — including the united states. last night, the last us soldier to leave — major general chris donahue — boarded a cargo plane out of afghanistan. the end of america's longest war. but many who wanted to leave too have been left behind. crowds at the airport prevented several families eligible for resettlement in the uk to board their planes. this week, i've been talking to one man who couldn't get his flight. he says he's now being

hunted by the taliban. we've changed his voice. i'm currently in hell right now. the last two weeks i've moved to 15 safe houses with my family because the taliban are trying to find me. if i can't get out in the next few days, i'm fearful i'll die. today he once again begged the uk government to honour their promise to get him out. i think right now, for me as foreign secretary, i'm focused on the immediate priorities. continuing safe passage for those... the minority — the small minority, but nonetheless a significant number — who haven't yet been able to get out. we're working with the third countries in the region. we've held the taliban through this un security council resolution to their undertaking to allow safe passage. today in kandahar — where american troops were once stationed — supporters of the taliban celebrated. the militants have promised to govern in an inclusive way, but many we've talked to say promises from the spokesman don't reflect reality.

we've heard reports of attacks on those who've worked for the former government, and examples of where women and girls have been denied their rights. there is a lot of fear, there is a lot of anxiety among people in afghanistan, that their safety is. . . not sure. so that is why they are fleeing from this country, thinking that remaining in this country will be a big challenge for them. afghans are living in a new, uncertain era. today in kabul, men queued up outside banks. poverty, a drought, and the threat of islamic state — all challenges for the taliban as they move from an insurgency to government. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news. every day life in afghanistan of course has been continuing away from the chaotic scenes at the airport. you walk around the streets here, shops and restaurants are open, but there are still far fewer out and

about, businesses complaining they are getting far fewer customers than usual. and many people struggling financially now as well, unable to get enough money out of the bank. of course, many afghans still about leaving despite the fact evacuation flights are over. i was at a bus stand in kabul yesterday, employees telling me people heading to the borders i'm hoping to be smuggled across has doubled or even quadrupled in weeks. my colleague international correspondent lyse doucet has been out and about around kabul and sent these reports. driving now from the civilian side of the _ driving now from the civilian side of the airport in this vehicle we found, — of the airport in this vehicle we found, going down to the military side of— found, going down to the military side of the — found, going down to the military side of the airfield. just before midnight — side of the airfield. just before midnight it was handed over from american — midnight it was handed over from american control to an elite taliban

unit, _ american control to an elite taliban unit, which— american control to an elite taliban unit, which was wearing the american uniforms _ unit, which was wearing the american uniforms and — unit, which was wearing the american uniforms and carrying american weapons~ — uniforms and carrying american weapons. look at the airfield here. so much _ weapons. look at the airfield here. so much ruin, so much destroyed vehicles, — so much ruin, so much destroyed vehicles, razorwire. luggage left by people— vehicles, razorwire. luggage left by people here who are desperately trying _ by people here who are desperately trying to— by people here who are desperately trying to leave. so, this is one of the main streets at the centre of kabul, the first day for afghanistan where there's no foreign troops in this country. they've ended their 20—year—long engagement. and the scene is no different than it's been for many days. look at the queue of these people, look at how they're pushing in. this is a queue for the bank. only the main branches of the main banks are open, and afghans have been told they can only take out the equivalent of $200 a week. and many tell us here they've been standing in this queue for days, so look at this street. on one side, it's the banks. on the other, offices where they can

get money from abroad. but let's look at the other side of the street. this is where there's the turkish embassy, the iranian embassy... the queues are also forming on that side for those who want to leave. for the vast majority of afghans, in a country of nearly a0 million people, life feels no different from the day before or the week before. it's still a struggle to survive or still a race to try to escape as fast as they can. we can speak now to our bbc colleague gary o'donoghue in washington. i believe president biden is due to speak in a short while. what is he expected to say? i think again you will hear him reiterate the gratitudes of the armed forces and services personnel

that served in afghanistan over the last two decades, those who lost their lives. you would expect that from the president. but i think he will try to throw things forward from here. bear in mind that even during these last few weeks that you have experienced in kabul, the terrible scenes, even during that period of time, more than six out of ten of the american public have supported this withdrawal and the ending of the war from the american point of view. and that is what they have been focused on here at the white house. that is what they see as the longer term aim of policy and the longer term way in which they are in tune with american people. they have taken a hit in terms of the way they have handled this, and we can expect the president to address some of that as well, but he has been focused on sometime on bringing this to an end, particularly ahead of the 9/11 20th anniversary next month. he has some problems though because he has still

got, as you know, just under 200 americans in the country, tens of thousands of afghans who promises were made to, promises were made about helping them leave the country. and really america has left without fulfilling some of those promises and says it will try and do what it can from qatar over the horizon in that sense, and that has created a lot of uncertainty and anger among some people that believe america has reneged on some of its promises. america has reneged on some of its romises. . ~ america has reneged on some of its romises. ., ,, ., , promises. talking of those people, the american _ promises. talking of those people, the american citizens _ promises. talking of those people, the american citizens are - promises. talking of those people, the american citizens are still - promises. talking of those people, the american citizens are still left | the american citizens are still left here or the afghans who worked with american forces and weren't evacuated out, does it look as if there is a plan in order to be able to get them to a safe place or get them out of afghanistan? the initial thin ithink them out of afghanistan? the initial thing i think is— them out of afghanistan? the initial thing i think is to _ them out of afghanistan? the initial thing i think is to try _ them out of afghanistan? the initial thing i think is to try and _ them out of afghanistan? the initial thing i think is to try and keep - them out of afghanistan? the initial thing i think is to try and keep up i thing i think is to try and keep up the pressure on the whole idea of safe passage. the agreement they say the taliban has come to do with

america to ensure people can go to the border crossings with pakistan or iran and leave that way. and the americans say they will keep up the pressure through places like the un and through their own intermediaries to do that. but there is no sense in which there is anything else on the table beyond that. of course they believe here in the white house that the taliban is an institution now is more susceptible to international pressure than it would have been in the past. it does want to see money on frozen, does want to see a flowing into the country, does 1's recognition. all of those are a whole bunch of assumptions that they have come to those conclusions here on the basis of talking to them over the last 15 or 16 months. but there is no proof that is really what's going to happen, no indication. that is a wait and see moment for this

administration, so there is only a limited amount i think they can promise to those people, particularly to those afghans who have been left behind.— particularly to those afghans who have been left behind. thank you. it has been a — have been left behind. thank you. it has been a tumultuous _ have been left behind. thank you. it has been a tumultuous period, i has been a tumultuous period, particularly for afghan women given the taliban's history, the manner they ruled in the 1990s and i'm pleased to say i'm joined live by the president of the afghan women's network. if i could start by asking you, the taliban clearly see today is a great victory, what are your emotions today? mr; is a great victory, what are your emotions today?— is a great victory, what are your emotions today? my emotions today was kind of actually _ emotions today? my emotions today was kind of actually last _ emotions today? my emotions today was kind of actually last night i emotions today? my emotions today was kind of actually last night when l was kind of actually last night when at one minute to 12 when all of the us forces left afghanistan. it was to tell you the truth of relief

really. to tell you the truth of relief reall . . , to tell you the truth of relief reall . ., , .., really. that is counterintuitive, wh do really. that is counterintuitive, why do you _ really. that is counterintuitive, why do you say _ really. that is counterintuitive, why do you say that? - really. that is counterintuitive, why do you say that? because | really. that is counterintuitive, i why do you say that? because of the very simple — why do you say that? because of the very simple fact _ why do you say that? because of the very simple fact there _ why do you say that? because of the very simple fact there was _ why do you say that? because of the very simple fact there was a - why do you say that? because of the very simple fact there was a lot i why do you say that? because of the very simple fact there was a lot of i very simple fact there was a lot of confusion, a lot of miscommunication, a lot of terrible things that actually happened, in the past especially two weeks in afghanistan and before that in the past two months or whatever and the years before. so it was good that that era is finished, so we are going to enter another era in afghanistan.— going to enter another era in afrhanistan. �* . ., afghanistan. and so much of the discussion _ afghanistan. and so much of the discussion about _ afghanistan. and so much of the discussion about particularly i discussion about particularly women's rights has been about the fragile progress made over the last two decades. i know you have been deeply involved in that. when you see what the taliban have been doing since taking power over the last ten days and in the preceding months, does it give you cause for concern or cause for cautious optimism? actually both and non—. because at

this point really to be either or is not going to serve the purpose. we have two actually sit back a little bit and watch and see what they are going to be doing because afghanistan still is a country that has no government. the banks are not open. the system of the country has completely collapsed, so first we have to get that in order to avoid any kind of anarchy that it might happen here. so that is... it should be... i mean it is my main concern and it should be the main concern of the taliban, to put some kind of order in here. then we can take it and see what else is first, second and see what else is first, second and third, and take care of it as we go on. and third, and take care of it as we to on. ., �* ., . go on. one of the thing i've noticed is there seem _ go on. one of the thing i've noticed is there seem to _ go on. one of the thing i've noticed is there seem to be _ go on. one of the thing i've noticed is there seem to be big _ is there seem to be big discrepancies. i've been in the north of the country where they seem to be in favour of women's education but i get reports from colleagues in the south where they stop girls

apparently going to school beyond the age of 12. do you get a sense from the taliban about which direction we are headed in? one that is more progressive or equally more reactionary?— reactionary? that is why i'm saying it is important _ reactionary? that is why i'm saying it is important to _ reactionary? that is why i'm saying it is important to wait _ reactionary? that is why i'm saying it is important to wait and - reactionary? that is why i'm saying it is important to wait and see i it is important to wait and see where they are, because the taliban are an extremely fragmented group now. some of them want one thing, some want something else, and as far as the leadership is concerned, i don't think there is complete control. i don't think they really know who is doing what and where and how. so because of that, other things have to be put in place in orderfor all things have to be put in place in order for all of things have to be put in place in orderfor all of the things have to be put in place in order for all of the taliban to talk from the same ideology and we should put that into practice because afghanistan is not going to accept it, norwill afghanistan is not going to accept it, nor will it be good for afghanistan to have this kind of wishy—washy things being implemented, one place and not in

another place, some places girls can go to school and another day cannot. because they have to realise the women of afghanistan, they are half of the make up of the country. they are half of the population of this country. there are 18 million people and you cannot take 18 million people for granted because they have to go and get educated. right now we have a lot of women that are educated, they are very skilled, let know a whole lot, and they can be a fantastic power next to afghan men and actually working not for the taliban but for afghanistan. that is the whole idea. bird taliban but for afghanistan. that is the whole idea.— taliban but for afghanistan. that is the whole idea. and when you speak to these women, _ the whole idea. and when you speak to these women, are _ the whole idea. and when you speak to these women, are they _ the whole idea. and when you speak to these women, are they afraid i to these women, are they afraid right now? what is the sentiment you are picking up? the right now? what is the sentiment you are picking up?— are picking up? the sentiment i'm ickina u- are picking up? the sentiment i'm picking up is _ are picking up? the sentiment i'm picking up is rrot — are picking up? the sentiment i'm picking up is not knowing - are picking up? the sentiment i'm picking up is not knowing what i are picking up? the sentiment i'm picking up is not knowing what is i picking up is not knowing what is happening. because things are so, you know, not very clear in any way.

and lack of clarity in the country has affected us in a very bad way. so we would like this to end and we really would like for this to be explained so we will know exactly where we are. bhd explained so we will know exactly where we are.— where we are. and one final very brief answer. _ where we are. and one final very brief answer. do _ where we are. and one final very brief answer. do you _ where we are. and one final very brief answer. do you feel- where we are. and one final very brief answer. do you feel safe i where we are. and one final very l brief answer. do you feel safe here as a woman's right activist? i brief answer. do you feel safe here as a woman's right activist?- as a woman's right activist? i don't really know — as a woman's right activist? i don't really know what _ as a woman's right activist? i don't really know what is _ as a woman's right activist? i don't really know what is the _ as a woman's right activist? i don't really know what is the meaning i as a woman's right activist? i don't really know what is the meaning of that word. feeling safe is not something that i have done in afghanistan for the past 20 years, so i cannot tell you. right now i am neither safe nor unsafe, so we will see what happens.— neither safe nor unsafe, so we will see what happens. thank you so much. as ou see what happens. thank you so much. as you heard — see what happens. thank you so much. as you heard it — see what happens. thank you so much. as you heard it there, _ see what happens. thank you so much. as you heard it there, the _ as you heard it there, the predominant feeling among so many people here is still one of uncertainty. we are hoping we will get some more announcements and clarity from the taliban in the coming days, some sources telling me we are likely to see announcements of cabinet ministers, some sources

telling me the taliban have not yet ruled out re—declaring, re—establishing their islamic emirate they had in the 1990s, but we will have to wait and see. back to you in london. a fascinating discussion there unlock the taliban takeover means for the country. let's stay with the implications for other countries including the uk not least, with a large number of refugees who have arrived and charity and community organisations to cope with the demand for their services. one of the people who has been helping in west london is sima malhotra and she's with us now. what have you been encountering? there are still huge _ have you been encountering? there are still huge concerns _ have you been encountering? there are still huge concerns for - have you been encountering? there are still huge concerns for those i are still huge concerns for those who have been left behind and what will happen, what clear plan that

government is bringing forward to help those people get back. we have seen stories which are true of the thousands of e—mails that have gone unanswered, and today i'm still getting e—mails of people who have been left behind and fearing for their lives and in hiding. of those coming here, we are starting to see a sense of relief but also a deep sense of what next, as people get over the immediate crisis, and i think there's going to need to be some proper planning now for supporting in terms of mental health support, those who have been through such trauma, maybe they have left families behind as well because sometimes we have cases where maybe one or two members of the family have got out but others were left behind. but now there is going to be the challenge of supporting people to have a home to live in, and there

are schemes now for example that the mayor of london has expanded, with a huge need for affordable housing for residents already but what more can be done additionally to support those coming from afghanistan, and how do we make sure that can be shared across the country. there is also going to need to be consideration for children and going to school. this is why we need a much more coordinated support, particularly with the home office to extend resources into communities so that central government, local government and community organisations will all be working together. organisations will all be working to . ether. ., organisations will all be working torether. ., ., ., together. you and some of your labour colleagues _ together. you and some of your labour colleagues have - together. you and some of your labour colleagues have put i together. you and some of your i labour colleagues have put forward names of up to 7000 people you believe may be eligible, applicants for the scheme that held those like translators and so on, who therefore are regarded as being in effect automatically eligible for

evacuation to this country. the foreign secretary was saying on the today programme this morning he didn't recognise that number. he thought quite a few of those would turn out not to be eligible. what gives you confidence that in a sense you and your colleagues are right and he is wrong? i you and your colleagues are right and he is wrong?— you and your colleagues are right and he is wrong? i think firstly the foreian and he is wrong? i think firstly the foreign secretary _ and he is wrong? i think firstly the foreign secretary has _ and he is wrong? i think firstly the foreign secretary has two... i i and he is wrong? i think firstly the | foreign secretary has two... i think for the first time it feels in this crisis where he hasn't taken his fair share of the responsibility. he hasn't been here at those key moments when we have needed the government to be at its best, and we have not had that. our country has been let down in this and so have the people in afghanistan. when we are sending through cases, notjust the arab scheme but the special places scheme, the resettlement scheme for those who are most at risk, who could be eligible to resettle here, many of those have also sent documentation and explained their situation, and

people who have also been working with the uk armed forces or nato, civil society, those who have been supported and uk aid programmes in afghanistan to support wholesale health education, civil society, so many areas of the nation—building that we were also part of. so i do think it is important for dominic raab to take more seriously what mps are saying. he's going to be in front of the foreign affairs select committee, he's got to talk about why we weren't prepared, why we didn't start work earlier. the government had 18 months to prepare for the situation. why there isn't a clear plan for what happens next, because people who are in afghanistan, british nationals who may also have family where there is immediate spouse or children may not

be british nationals or where there are visas that have not yet been processed but the applications have been going through. this has not been going through. this has not been the best time of the government. it has not been coordinated, it's not beenjoined up. it shouldn't have been that in the last few days it was necessary to send e—mails directly to the defence secretary in order to get people who were eligible to leave the ability to get out. i people who were eligible to leave the ability to get out.— the ability to get out. i want to talk about _ the ability to get out. i want to talk about people _ the ability to get out. i want to talk about people who - the ability to get out. i want to talk about people who have i the ability to get out. i want to i talk about people who have been trying to lead by land talk about people who have been trying to lead by [and borders. germany have had their foreign minister visiting neighbouring countries to talk about this. the foreign secretary said this morning he had spoken to countries like uzbekistan and pakistan to make sure we have the practical arrangements to be able to identify those that are eligible so they can get across the border. uzbekistan though has said it doesn't want people to come across the border, and i was talking

to a former high commissioner for pakistan a little over an hour ago who said he could see it would prove quite difficult for an average refugee to turn up with his or her papers and expect a border guard in perhaps a remote post in a small town to have any idea whether they were eligible or not. what are the practical questions from your point of view that a rise in trying to help people get over some of those [and borders? help people get over some of those land borders?— land borders? you're absolutely riaht land borders? you're absolutely right about _ land borders? you're absolutely right about the _ land borders? you're absolutely right about the practical - land borders? you're absolutely. right about the practical measures that need to be put in place, and again i'm very disappointed in our foreign secretary for seeming to be behind the curve all the time. these are issues that lisa nandy has also raised this weekend directly with the foreign secretary. we need to see practical measures, we need to understand if there is going to be some sort of visa arrangement, what does that need to be? how can we listen to and work with countries

about what is practical? bearing in mind the huge demand already put on those countries' resources with the humanitarian crisis. but also around public health measures. how are we going to process those applications and give what people have had is letters, sometimes passwords to be able to get through. there are ways in which we can put in place practical measures but that needs to put in considerable effort more than what is being put in right now. we need to help, these are people who have stood bios and the government must take its responsibility. it has got to have a clear plan and practical measures for what comes next. ,, ., ., ., . , ., ., next. seema malhotra in west london, thank ou next. seema malhotra in west london, thank you for— next. seema malhotra in west london, thank you for being _ next. seema malhotra in west london, thank you for being with _ next. seema malhotra in west london, thank you for being with us _ next. seema malhotra in west london, thank you for being with us on - next. seema malhotra in west london, thank you for being with us on bbc- thank you for being with us on bbc news. . ~ thank you for being with us on bbc news. ., ,, , ., a man has been found guilty of murdering his estranged wife, who he set fire to after dousing her in petrol at her home in north west london. damion simmons killed denise keane—simmons

in april of last year. our correpsondent sanchia berg is at the old bailey for us. this sounds a really horrible case. yes, and when the verdict came in members of denise keane—simmons' the family gasped and sobbed, and one said justice has been done, so it was clearly a difficult experience for all of them to sit through. in the early hours of the 16th of april last year, denise was at home in north—west london when her estranged husband broke in carrying with him a can of petrol. he made his way up to her petrol, doused her in petrol and set her on fire. she suffered very severe burns, inhaled a lot of smoke and sadly died a few hours later. her estranged husband said that he

had taken the petrol there, he didn't deny it, but he said he should be found guilty of manslaughter because he had never intended to murder his wife. he said he wanted to kill himself in front of her. but the jury found otherwise. of her. but the “my found otherwise.— of her. but the “my found otherwise. . ~' , ., , . now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich. good afternoon. it is the end of meteorological summer we are told, what sort of summer from a weather man's point of view has it been? that is an interesting question because while some parts of the south—east may think it has been cloudy and cool, for many parts of the uk it has been an above average summer as far the uk it has been an above average summeras faras the uk it has been an above average summer as far as temperatures go, particularly in the north—west of scotland. on the last day of august it is very cloudy, and through the rest of this week it will remain cloudy with occasional drizzle but also some sunny breaks. this is the

satellite picture and there is extensive cloud, producing the odd spot of drizzle. we will continue to see spots of drizzle from this thick cloud as it rolls its way in overnight. some missed and murdered overnight. some missed and murdered over high ground in northern england, some clear breaks across scotland, getting chilly, but for most it is a mild start to wednesday. grey and gloomy with spots of drizzle, just as we had this morning. some sunny spells will develop, the best across scotland where temperatures could get up to 21 degrees. no dramatic changes through thursday and friday. we keep a lot of cloud. the odd spot of drizzle, some more rain generally likely to arrive for the weekend.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines...

the last us soldier has left afghanistan. the taliban declare victory in afghanistan after the final american withdrawal at midnight last night. after hurricane ida, more than a million people without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been put down because of bovine tuberculosis despite a campaign to save him. a new study suggests playing just one season of professional rugby is enough to start having adverse effects on the brain. in her eighth paralympics, sarah storey wins a record—equalling 16th gold medal in tokyo. sport now, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin.

16 goals! can't believe it! yes, she is absolutely phenomenal. good afternoon. three more gold medals for great britain on day seven at the paralympics in tokyo — with more success in cycling and swimming. dame sarah storey has won the 16th gold of her career in the c5 time trial. that achievement also saw her equal the record held by swimmer mike kenny as britain's most successful paralympian of all—time. our reporter rachael latham has more. yeah, she definitely got the day started well for great britain, picking up that gold medal this morning, and she said it was a smooth race. she really enjoyed it and she actually cycled faster than she expected to go. when she was on the podium, she even looked a little emotional, which is very unusual for the athlete that's been going since 1992 and winning the whole way, but now she's going to shift her focus to thursday, where she'll be hoping to pick up another gold medal in the road race. and, if she wins a gold, then she will become the most—decorated paralympic athlete of all time with gold medals. what a title for sarah storey, there. also at the cycling

it was ben watson. he got a surprise gold in the road cycling this morning. it was his paralympic debut and in rio 2016 he was actually watching at home. back then, he was a chartered accountant. he didn't get involved until 2017, and here he is today winning a gold medalfor great britain. and, in the swimming pool, rhys dunn went in the 200m individual medley s—14 class and he won his third gold medal of these games. he was also making a paralympic debut here in tokyo, so all these new athletes coming in really racking up the medals for great britain. and, at the end of the day today, there is three gold medals for great britain, three silver medals and six bronze. rachel latham from tokyo. just over six hours left of this summer's transfer window and clubs are getting in their last—minute deals — manchester united have confirmed the signing

of cristiano ronaldo, a decade after he left the club tojoin real madrid. the portuguese striker will be heading back to united, from juventus in a deal worth nearly £13 millions with potential additional payments. he has signed a two—year contract with the option to extend for a further year, and says he is doing it for sir alex ferguson. so ronaldo on the way in at old trafford... danieljames is leaving. the winger has joined leeds united on a five—year deal. the wales international joined manchester united in the summer of 2019, and was the club's player of the month in his first month with the team. andy murray wasn't happy with his opponent stefenos tsitisipas as he was knocked out of the first round of the us open last night. it had been a great match, with murray playing some of his best tennis in recent years, moving into a two sets to one lead over the world number three. look what it means to him there. tsistipas fought back to 2—2, but then disappeared for an eight—minute bathroom break — something murray was not happy about at all! he eventually returned and went on to win the final set to close out the victory. i rate him a lot. i think he's a brilliant player

and i think he's great for the game, but i have zero time for that stuff at all and i lost respect for him. if everyone else feels like that's totally cool and there's no issue with it, then maybe i'm the one being unreasonable, but i think it's nonsense and he knows it as well. yeah, movie not happy at all can even say that the show. ——murray not happy at all, you can say that for sure. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories and the lastest on transfer deadline day on the bbc sport website and app. and there'll be a comprehensive round—up in sportsday at 6.30. tra nsfer transfer deadline day already! year is fast disappearing. more than a million people in the us state of louisiana are still without power after hurricane ida hit on sunday. it brought winds of up to 150 mph,

amongst the strongest ever to hit the us mainland. at least two people have died and rescue workers are using boats and planes to search for people trapped by floodwaters. richard galpin reports. the winds having subsided in louisiana, it is now a more tranquil picture after the storm. but a huge task lies ahead in dealing with the aftermath. in particular, these floods. rescue teams have been searching for people in need of help. some who had stayed put as the hurricane made landfall say they were lucky to survive. last night was rough. we saw slow water coming in under the door, and then it progressivelyjust got, i was mopping, and then it progressively got worse. it was ankles, knees, almost chest level, so we just put the dogs on the counters and then we climbed into the attic. the gravity of the situation has led president biden to pledge more assistance. more than 5,000 members of the national guard have been activated from louisiana,

mississippi, alabama and texas to support search and rescue and recovery efforts. and fema has pre—positioned, literally, millions of meals and litres of water. critical to saving new orleans from flooding were these defence walls, which proved effective in preventing serious flood damage. but the hurricane—force winds did take their toll on the city and broader region. i think the damage is catastrophic. it's the worst i've seen in the 20 years i've been here, and we've seen several hurricanes. gustav, isaac. where we had a lot of water, a lot of rain and flooding. but this is flooding and as well as significant property damage. it's far worse than we expected. one critical issue now is getting the electricity supply up and running again after the cables were brought down in the high winds.

the main power company is warning it could take weeks before this happens, leaving around 2 million homes without power. richard galpin, bbc news. geronimo the alpaca has been put down following a court order to destroy the animal. government vets and a police escort arrived to remove the animal from the farm in gloucestershire this morning after it twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. helen macdonald, his owner, called the decision 'barbaric�*. our reporter claire marshall — who has been in gloucestershire for us — told us how the day unfolded. defra officials and police came this morning at around 11 o'clock. i think we have some pictures we can show you of that happening. there has been a group of supporters

of geronimo here for the last few weeks camping overnight, who have been trying to help stop this moment taking place. there was a bit of a confrontation with police — i think you might be seeing that now — but in the end the alpaca was taken into a horsebox with a blacked—out numberplate and then taken away through a police roadblock, and an hour or so later defra said that the warrant had been carried out, which everybody then took to mean that the animal was put down. so, that was the events which took place this morning. obviously, tens of thousands of people have been keeping an eye and supporting the case of this animal, and helen macdonald is the owner. you've been fighting for four years to stop this day taking place. how do you feel? betrayed. i asked a valid question four years ago over the efficacy of the test they used and i have never had an answer. the fact is that he didn't fail a validated test, they had no data

to suggest that he actually was infected, despite christine middlemiss saying so... if he is still infected today... she is the chief vet, she is who said... she issued a statement saying he is infected. well, she can't say that, she has no evidence. they know what they did four years ago. those scientists know and the government know. a nd they have set me up for the last three weeks. we have been negotiating behind the scenes to get a meeting with george eustice and we have been ignored. we were told they were on holiday and something would happen this week. clearly we were duped. we have been bullied and threatened and lied to for four years over a very simple question, which is where is your evidence to say this test is accurate? that's all we wanted, and for four years we have been abused by the government. so, you think this goes more widely than the case of geronimo? it always has done. it's about fair treatment. bt policy is not working,

so they can't make up tests and then say that some of this disease, especially when geronimo came from new zealand and a very healthy herd. all of the evidence is very clear, he has not been exposed to tb. they manipulated the second test so they can say there was a suspicion of disease, and here we are, and now they're using bully tactics when they could have been using lessons to learn. we offered them a research opportunity, that is now opportunity, that's now widely published today, and they've just fobbed us off and put in the heavy—handed... we've had police and drones and god knows what today to remove a perfectly healthy animal. the government said it's, kind of, followed due process and this is the procedure at the moment and how tb is being dealt with. you've had some sympathy relayed to you by the prime minister. how do you feel about that response?

stuff your sympathy. no one has taken _ stuff your sympathy. no one has taken any — stuff your sympathy. no one has taken any notice. they have all been complicit _ taken any notice. they have all been complicit in — taken any notice. they have all been complicit in this. they have lied. the evidence is very clear. i don't need _ the evidence is very clear. i don't need boris's _ the evidence is very clear. i don't need boris's simply. i need him to middlemiss, every single person who has been _ middlemiss, every single person who has been wilderness. every single castle _ has been wilderness. every single castle farm in the country deserves better, _ castle farm in the country deserves better, deserves respect, working with government and not being abused by them _ with government and not being abused by them. this bully tactic is got you say— by them. this bully tactic is got you say you have supportive farmers. there are some who say this is just one alpaca, we are having to face tens of thousands of cattle being killed every year, a huge bill for the taxpayer. how do you feel that this has caught the attention of the world, geronimo's case? yes. this has caught the attention of the world, geronimo's case? yes, cattle farmers need _ world, geronimo's case? yes, cattle farmers need to _ world, geronimo's case? yes, cattle farmers need to stand _ world, geronimo's case? yes, cattle farmers need to stand up. _ world, geronimo's case? yes, cattle farmers need to stand up. they i world, geronimo's case? yes, cattle| farmers need to stand up. they don't want to— farmers need to stand up. they don't want to lose — farmers need to stand up. they don't want to lose how the gas either. if disease _ want to lose how the gas either. if disease exists, fine, remove it, but not with— disease exists, fine, remove it, but not with me — disease exists, fine, remove it, but not with me listing, losing cows left right — not with me listing, losing cows left right and centre way in this terrific— left right and centre way in this terrific cycle because the test and

centre _ terrific cycle because the test and centre way in this terrific cycle because — centre way in this terrific cycle because the tests are good enough, the up _ because the tests are good enough, the up. bio—security, notjoining the up. bio—security, notjoining the dots— the up. bio—security, notjoining the dots are making policy work and had that— the dots are making policy work and had that involvement on the ground on a farm _ had that involvement on the ground on a farm by farm case. this isjust abuse _ on a farm by farm case. this isjust abuse this — on a farm by farm case. this isjust abuse this is _ on a farm by farm case. this isjust abuse. this is thuggery. and, quite frankly. _ abuse. this is thuggery. and, quite frankly, there are people in this government that we are paying their taxes _ government that we are paying their taxes i'm _ government that we are paying their taxes. i'm sorry, ourtaxpayers government that we are paying their taxes. i'm sorry, our taxpayers are paying — taxes. i'm sorry, our taxpayers are paying for— taxes. i'm sorry, our taxpayers are paying for these people to act above the law _ paying for these people to act above the law and play god with people's lives _ the law and play god with people's lives all— the law and play god with people's lives all i — the law and play god with people's lives. all i asked for was a valid test _ lives. all i asked for was a valid test four— lives. all i asked for was a valid test four years ago. and look at it. look— test four years ago. and look at it. look at— test four years ago. and look at it. look at this — test four years ago. and look at it. look at this mess now.— test four years ago. and look at it. look at this mess now. peter martin, ou are look at this mess now. peter martin, you are obviously _ look at this mess now. peter martin, you are obviously here _ look at this mess now. peter martin, you are obviously here supporting. i you are obviously here supporting. how do you feel about...

this isa this is a form of belligerence. they— this is a form of belligerence. theyiust — this is a form of belligerence. theyjust will not turn round and say we _ theyjust will not turn round and say we can — theyjust will not turn round and say we can do this better, this is the 21st — say we can do this better, this is the 21st century.— the 21st century. there are obviously _ the 21st century. there are obviously very _ the 21st century. there are obviously very opposing i the 21st century. there are i obviously very opposing views on the 21st century. there are _ obviously very opposing views on the national farmers' union of other farmers that say that the colour is part of a wider strategy of badgers more generally is working. and the government is introducing movements towards vaccination those creatures. the badger cull is not working. the government's own figures show that only 4% _ government's own figures show that only 4% of— government's own figures show that only 4% of the 150,000 badges that have been— only 4% of the 150,000 badges that have been killed have actually tested — have been killed have actually tested positive for the disease and the disease is increasing even in the disease is increasing even in the coal— the disease is increasing even in the coal areas. the disease is increasing even in the coalareas. in

the disease is increasing even in the coal areas. in fact, the disease is increasing even in the coalareas. in fact, if the disease is increasing even in the coal areas. in fact, if you examine _ the coal areas. in fact, if you examine all the colour areas, the incidence — examine all the colour areas, the incidence of bovine tb is higher than _ incidence of bovine tb is higher than when _ incidence of bovine tb is higher than when they started. the policy is actually — than when they started. the policy is actually failing and the farmers need _ is actually failing and the farmers need to— is actually failing and the farmers need to get on—board with this. the farmers— need to get on—board with this. the farmers have been conned for a time. they need _ farmers have been conned for a time. they need to. — farmers have been conned for a time. they need to, honestly, get up and start questioning why they are losing — start questioning why they are losing animals to this appalling test regime that isn't working while tb is spreading, while restrictions are spreading. some farmers 160 day testing _ are spreading. some farmers 160 day testing you — are spreading. some farmers 160 day testing. you know, every three months — testing. you know, every three months having to gather their whole herd up— months having to gather their whole herd up and again and yet tb is still spreading. the policy is failing _ still spreading. the policy is failing. this test and geronimo is 'ust failing. this test and geronimo is just a _ failing. this test and geronimo is just a classic case in point where the interpretation of the result of the interpretation of the result of the test — the interpretation of the result of the test was the wrong interpretation. he had antibodies for the _ interpretation. he had antibodies for the disease is not the disease. ellen, _ for the disease is not the disease. ellen, last — for the disease is not the disease. ellen, last one view? de feel lessons might be learned? pig like they should have been learned years ago when we basis. we have been

asking forfair ago when we basis. we have been asking for fair treatment for four years. asking for fair treatment for four ears. ,., , , asking for fair treatment for four ears. , ., , , ., years. government ministers have been set for _ years. government ministers have been set for four _ years. government ministers have been set for four years _ years. government ministers have been set for four years doing i been set for four years doing nothing and completely ignoring people who have valid concerns, the test developers, farmers, vets on the ground, they are just completely ignorant and where you got them, you know, spouting propaganda left right and centre as a justification for the bullying tactics know, they are not going to learn, add a? unless we get a complete change and we get an independent tb policy expert department dealing with this and engaging all farmers we are not going to get anywhere. ok. engaging all farmers we are not going to get anywhere. ok, helen and peter, going to get anywhere. ok, helen and peter. thank — going to get anywhere. ok, helen and peter. thank you _ going to get anywhere. ok, helen and peter, thank you very _ going to get anywhere. ok, helen and peter, thank you very much _ going to get anywhere. ok, helen and peter, thank you very much indeed. i peter, thank you very much indeed. obviously, the government maintains that the policy is the right one anger that it was not adapting it in connection with the science but i am —— they maintain the policy is the right one and that it is adapting it in connection with the science that is the latest. the headlines on bbc news... the last us soldier has left afghanistan.

the taliban declare victory in afghanistan after the final american withdrawal at midnight last night. after hurricane ida, more than a million people without power in the us state of louisiana. geronimo the alpaca has been put down because of bovine tuberculosis despite a campaign to save him. now, to the end of any other for one of the bbc�*s correspondence. ——now, to the end of an era for one of the bbc�*s correspondents. the bbc�*s moscow correspondent has left russia today, expelled by the authorities after being labelled a threat to national security. sarah rainsford, who first reported from moscow for the bbc over 20 years ago, just as vladimir putin came to power, has been told she can never return to the country. moscow claims the move is in response to the expulsion of a russian journalist from the uk two years ago, but the move comes amid a severe crackdown on independentjournalists and opposition activists within russia. here's sarah's report on her last days in russia.

this was the moment i discovered i was being expelled from russia. according to a specific law, i've been designated a "threat to national security" and, as such, i'm not allowed into the country. pulled aside at passport control, i was told the fsb security service had banned me for life. i recorded the conversation. i was returning from belarus, where i'd confronted alexander lukashenko on the mass repression and torture of peaceful protesters. his loyal supporters rounded on me... ..in a coordinated attack. vladimir putin's presenting this as just another working visit. .. i've reported from russia for two decades — the whole span of vladimir putin's presidency. there've been highs — like the world cup —

but i've also charted the slow erosion of freedoms here. the crackdown on dissent. a year ago, the government put me on short—term visas. sarah rainsford... then i became the news, as state television announced i had to leave. after tense negotiations, i had been allowed to enter russia... they let me in — for now. ..but only to pack. i was then told my visa wouldn't be renewed — supposedly what happened to a russian reporter in london, but that was two years ago. when i was called in here, to the foreign ministry, they kept insisting that my expulsion was nothing personal — they talked about it as a reciprocal move — but they refused to even engage with the fact that i've been labelled "a national security threat". they said that was just a "technical moment". but, at a time when russia is increasingly seeing enemies all all around, it really feels like

i've now been added to the list. it's happening as the pressure on russian journalists who don't toe the kremlin line is intensifying. dozhd tv has just been added to a growing blacklist of media labelled "foreign agents" — for getting funds from abroad. this terror of "foreign agents" means that we — dozhd — we are enemies of the state. the pretending of being democracy is over. it is very bad, and it could become much worse — any time. so i'm leaving a country i first came to as the soviet union fell apart. when free speech — orfreedoms — were new and precious. it feels like today's russia is moving in reverse. sarah rainsford, bbc news, moscow. good look to sarah on her return to the uk. a pension scheme for people

who were badly injured during the conflict in northern ireland has opened for applications today. the start of the troubles permanent disablement payment scheme is more than a year behind schedule, due to political rows. our ireland correspondent chris page reports. jennifer and margaret have a friendship forged through trauma. jennifer was caught up in an ira bombing at a restaurant in belfast in 1972. wejust had our bill and... the next thing i remember was waking up in the royal victoria hospital. the doctor on the ward came around, heard the screaming, and explained my injuries to me. he said, "you haven'tjust lost your right leg, you've lost your left leg as well." ten years later, margaret was blinded in another explosion in bambridge. i had over 100 stitches in my face and my hands were very badly cut. it's estimated that 40,000 people were injured in the troubles. i still have slivers

of glass coming out. it's estimated that 40,000 people were injured in the troubles. the pension scheme will be open to victims who have suffered a severe physical or psychological injury through no fault of their own. those who qualify will receive payments of between 2000 and £10,000 a year. the total cost could potentially be £1.2 billion over the next 20 or 30 years. the devolved government is paying for the scheme, though it wants extra funding for westminster. disagreements over the issue have delayed the pension whichjennifer and margaret have campaigned for. i will not even say that we're getting it until i have it in my hand. it until! have it in my hand. most victims group _ it until! have it in my hand. most victims group at _ it until! have it in my hand. most victims group at all, _ it until! have it in my hand. most victims group at all, it _ it until! have it in my hand. most victims group at all, it also i victims group at all, it also campaigning against westminster�*s plan to end prosecutions for crimes during the troubles. it is plan to end prosecutions for crimes during the troubles.— during the troubles. it is an absolute — during the troubles. it is an absolute disgrace _ during the troubles. it is an

absolute disgrace and - during the troubles. it is an l absolute disgrace and makes during the troubles. it is an i absolute disgrace and makes a mockery— absolute disgrace and makes a mockery of— absolute disgrace and makes a mockery of and _ absolute disgrace and makes a mockery of and dances - absolute disgrace and makes a mockery of and dances on - absolute disgrace and makes a mockery of and dances on the i absolute disgrace and makes a - mockery of and dances on the graves of our— mockery of and dances on the graves of our loved — mockery of and dances on the graves of our loved ones _ mockery of and dances on the graves of our loved ones who _ mockery of and dances on the graves of our loved ones who were - mockery of and dances on the graves| of our loved ones who were murders. the westminster_ of our loved ones who were murders. the westminster current _ of our loved ones who were murders. the westminster current has - of our loved ones who were murders. the westminster current has said - of our loved ones who were murders. the westminster current has said itsi the westminster current has said its proposals with the best way to help reconciliation. in northern ireland, history still hurts in the past remains very present. this page, bbc news, belfast. northern ireland's deputy first minister michelle o'neill has tested positive for covid—i9. the vice president of sinn fein tweeted that she would remain in self—isolation and hopes to return to her public duties next week. executive office minister declan kearney will take forward "departmental business" in the meantime. four men had a lucky escape when the boat they were in was swamped by a large wave and sank off the solent. the group made a mayday call after being thrown from their boat into the water near southsea yesterday afternoon. two men were pulled from the sea by a fishing vessel, while the others were rescued by gosport and fareham inshore rescue service. the men, all in their 30s were treated for hypothermia at the scene.

a group of 17 people had to be rescued after being swept out to sea in a rip current off the dorset coast. the rnli said the sudden rip current appeared off bournemouth pier beach shortly before 1pm on bank holiday monday. lifeguards carried out the rescue after the group were seen being dragged out to sea. they brought everyone to safety using rescue boards and a rescue watercraft. doing, as they always do, great work around our coastline, hail, storm of sunshine. ——, hale, storm or sunshine. a new study shows that after just one season of rugby, professional players suffered a decline in both blood flow to the brain and cognitive function. reserarchers at the university of south wales followed a team — testing players preseason, mid—season and post season. the sport's governing body, world rugby, has welcomed the findings and has doubled its investment into concussion research. tomos morgan reports commentator: shane| williams in broken play.

there's the a big step off the left. and there's the crushing south africa tackle. - that was one of the biggest hits i've ever taken, really, i think. shane williams became wales's top try scorer, a lion, and one of the best ever to have played on the wing. but he also took his fair share of big tackles and head impacts, most notably the one sustained against south africa's bakkies botha in 200a. it just totally wiped me out. i knocked the ball on and south africa scored on the other side of the field, apparently. the funny thing was, i do not...i don't remember that. it wasn't until after the game, where i felt a bit groggy, and ifelt a bit sick, that i realised that something was wrong. a new study seen exclusively by the bbc by the university of south wales and published in tomorrow's edition of experimental physiology is believed to be one of the first that's followed a professional rugby team that plays in the united rugby championship over the course of one season, testing players in pre—, mid— and post—season. the players recorded just six concussions between them. however, all of them saw a decline

in blood flow to the brain and a decline in cognitive function. the evidence is showing that there's a cumulative impact on the brain. so, we're moving away from concussion per se, and focusing more on contact. the research team say more evidence on the topic is needed, and are in the process of completing further studies comparing past and present players with a control group. some former players, like shane, believe as well as educating, limiting substitutions only when players are injured rather than as fresh legs against tired opponents, could prevent further injuries. however, the game's governing body says research is ongoing looking into this specific issue. in response to the new study�*s findings, world rugby said... commentator: steyn puts him down.

with the introduction of more severe penalties for dangerous tackles, shane believes the game has become safer, but anything that can be added to mitigate any potential risk of head injuries is welcome. people are still asking, would i have changed anything? would i have changed the way i played? would i have not played? i wouldn't have, because i was playing a game that i absolutely loved. tomos morgan, bbc news, south wales. then brown will be here with the news five in just a couple of minutes but before that let's hear from ben rich with the weather. the most of us, the last day of august is turned into a pity quite affair but it has been quite cloudy out there for many of us. we've been stuck underneath grey skies and that was how it looked for a weather watcher close to within a little early on in some of that cloud has been producing the odd spot of drizzle and so it remains for the rest of the week

into the start of september, often cloudy with occasional drizzle but equally some spells of sunshine just as we have seen for this weather watcher in fife. there have been some sunny breaks, you can see the holes in the cloud in our earlier satellite picture but sunshine has been quite hard to come by and where we had the thick cloud has likely been producing a few spots of drizzle here and there. it was michael's quite breezy out there. that breeze particularly noticeable for eastern and southern coats and the temperatures as you step out around 17 or 18 degrees so that takes us to the start of the evening. let's see what happens overnight. you see more cloud rolling its way in and that cloud will be low in thicken enough over some of the high ground of northern england, across the pennines, north york moors, to give up for a bit of mist and melt, still potentially some spots of drizzle, some don't make the most quite a mild night but you can see a slice of quite chilly weather to start tomorrow but sunny weather to start tomorrow but sunny weather across some of the central portions of scotland. elsewhere, a

loss of cloud producing that odd spot of drizzle as it has an earlier survey. cloud making places to give a few sunny spells. the best of those tomorrow will be... channel islands and southern are women not doing too badly. you get to 21 degrees sorrow but i think if you're going to get a 20 when you will need a decent amount of sunshine. as we head out of wednesday and thursday high pressure is still with us, keeping things mainly dry but also what is trapping all of this cloud in place on thursday and indeed friday very similar —looking days. lots of cloud around, the odd spot of potentially, struggling a little bit. potentially lifting those temperatures again to 21 degrees. the area of high pressure look set to slip away towards scandinavia loving this frontal system to work its way in from the west and what that means through the weekend is that means through the weekend is that there is the increasing chance

of seeing some rain. the weather is set to turn a little more changeable but not many changes to come between now and then. that was my goal for me for now. —— that is all from me for now.

this is bbc news, i'm ben brown. the headlines at 5: the taliban declares victory after the last american soldier leaves afghanistan. the militants take control of the country once secured by nato forces, but insist they want good relations with the rest of the world. translation: we managed today to regain our independence - and make us forces leave. the tough choices facing gps over who gets a blood test and who doesn't — amid a shortage of test tubes. geronimo the alpaca has been put down by government vets over fears of bovine tuberculosis — his owner calls the action "barbaric". and it's the same old story — dame sarah wins yet another gold at the tokyo paralympics.