hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. the tell a banner saying it will form an inclusive government for afghanistan but then tells the bbc women will only getjunior roles. —— the taliban is saying. in this new government which has been announced, in the top posts — i mean to say, in the cabinet — there may not be a woman.

millions of afghans will now begin life under a taliban government. us government has also said they will not block a law restricting abortion in texas. president biden says the law is outrageous. right to life groups eight is the will of the people. also on the programmes, sign to say there has been a huge increase in weather—related disasters in the last 50 years with maid driven by climate change. let's begin in afghanistan. the taliban has said it will open a new government in the next few days. the head of the taliban has been talking to the bbc�*s pashto service.

in the civil service must have the peoples are women but in the new government in the top posts there will not be women. they say for the time being that, he said they are in a top position will be no women. and i questioned him that i guaranteeing you will not return to the �*90s when there was a ban on women working. he categorically said they will not return to that position but he was clear on the subject of a top position for the women. he said as never ministries and other offices are closed now, once things get settled then they will be discussing and they will allowing female staff of the different ministries to come to the offices and start their work.

the taliban were also telling the bbc women would be excluded from top roles and of course that the concern that progress over the last 20 years for women and girls right will be eroded. here is a former afghan judge who fled ten years ago after the taliban tried to kill her. i have experience with the taliban because i'm here. because i'm here, i know who they are and the strategy of the taliban just against the women. i don't know what's happened. what kind of religion, they want to just forces and why.— just forces and why. well, as the taliban works _ just forces and why. well, as the taliban works to _ form its government it's still facing some resistance. the last opposition stronghold is in the pantry valley, now in our�*s try from campbell. in an audio message on twitter a senior taliban official said talks had failed and fighters in this region should give up ——

panshir valley. in this region should give up —— panshirvalley. but in this region should give up —— panshir valley. but after bennison�*s previous foreign minister said an overnight attack on panshir valley was driven back resulting in the death of a number of taliban fighters, some think the bbc was unable to confirm. most people in this valley are from the to zeek ethnic group and are demanding an exclusive government in kabul. the taliban said it is committed to that in some form. —— tajik ethnic group. ethnic groups which are living in afghanistan, they are afghans, they have the right to be in the government, but the future government, the next government will be announced, all these afghans who has, they will be selected as per their merit and all those afghans who have the ability and capacity and capability of this to be, to work according to their professions also. they will be in the government. so, here we had the taliban same

people from all ethnic groups will have the right to be in the government. for context, there are 14 ethnic groups in afghanistan and here they are listed in the 2004 constitution which said afg hanistan�*s constitution which said afghanistan's government should afg hanistan�*s government should compromise afghanistan's government should compromise all of them. the largest is pashtun — making up 42% of the population. the last two presidents were pashtun, as are most taliban members. tajik is the next—biggest ethnic group — at 27%. the resistance fighters in the panjshir valley are mostly tajik. but its not clear yet how the taliban will treat people from all of these different ethnic groups. nilofa sakhi, a director at the mcco and company consultancy and the former executive director at the american university of afghanistan in kabul. she has live with us. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. i do address the promises of inclusivity from the taliban today not bbc interview. . ~ from the taliban today not bbc interview. ., ~ , ., from the taliban today not bbc interview. . ~' , ., ., from the taliban today not bbc interview. ., ~ , ., ., ., interview. thank you for having me toda . interview. thank you for having me today- based _ interview. thank you for having me today. based and _ interview. thank you for having me today. based and considering - interview. thank you for having me today. based and considering the l today. based and considering the previous... 0f today. based and considering the previous... of the taliban and the fact that there is not any kind of

strategy from the last 2.5 years of political strategy above the kind of governance system or government system that they envision for the country, considering all these facts, i think one should not trust about whatever particular statement they are making right now. and the taliban inclusivity is not clear what they mean by that. but i think thatis what they mean by that. but i think that is about the position. they might share physicians with several other ethnic groups within the government. not sure, sorry, they might give or allocate certain political positions to other ethnic groups but i see they are certainly not willing that any sharing of power with other ethnic groups and people on the other hand, other ethnic groups in afghanistan do once sharing of power. people want to see their presence on the government, people want to see the formation of whatever system is in place moving forward so for that the participation of people is important and that participation will be shown through their ethnic presentation in

most of the system would be in place and that means sharing of power. so that element i think is missing and whatever we hear from the taliban over the last couple of weeks we don't see that they are ready for any kind of sharing of power in this stage. any kind of sharing of power in this staue. ., , ., stage. even if it was willing to share power— stage. even if it was willing to share power i _ stage. even if it was willing to share power i don't _ stage. even if it was willing to | share power i don't understand stage. even if it was willing to - share power i don't understand the system it would use to deliver that. presumably we are not talking about elections would itjust be the case of the taliban saying he was a role in the government for some representatives from each of the ethnic groups. is that the best case scenario for each these groups? i don't think so. it is the best case scenario. the best case scenario for the taliban if they are really sending on the inclusion and representation of ethnic groups elections. they have security in hand right now and they think they have their presence and all major parts of the country so why not to really enable conditions of the

environment for the election to happen. 0verthe environment for the election to happen. over the next few months. ethnic group presentation and you can say that. i ethnic group presentation and you can say that-— ethnic group presentation and you cansa that. .. ., , ., , can say that. i appreciate many fans wish that would _ can say that. i appreciate many fans wish that would happen _ can say that. i appreciate many fans wish that would happen but - can say that. i appreciate many fans wish that would happen but being i wish that would happen but being realistic surely that would spend 20 years fighting to gain power and the telephone is excited to hold elections it would lose. that seems unfathomable.— unfathomable. that would be problematic— unfathomable. that would be problematic and _ unfathomable. that would be problematic and then - unfathomable. that would be problematic and then that. problematic and then that will actually create a question about inclusion and representation. the selection of an individual and placing them in a different position in the government, that is not inclusion. that is not a representation of a different ethnic group of people at large. therefore i think that the system will have flaws. they won't be able to satisfy the type of relation and that means not the end of conflict in the

country. not the end of conflict in the count . . , .., not the end of conflict in the count . . , , ., country. finally can you help me and eve one country. finally can you help me and everyone understand _ country. finally can you help me and everyone understand a _ country. finally can you help me and everyone understand a little - country. finally can you help me and everyone understand a little bit - everyone understand a little bit more about the taliban's relationship with a different ethnic groups. i have been talking about clashes between tajiks in the panshir valley and the taliban but other other ethnic groups with which the taliban has very good relations? well, again, based on their previous record of atrocities from 1996 to 2001 i ink it has been clear that they were not really in a compromising mood with other ethnic groups in the country. and their relationship hasn't been friendly and hasn't been accommodating with other ethnic groups in the country. and they believe in an authoritative system so that says a lot about their relationship with the ethnic groups. they haven't shown any kind of flexibility and compromise with other ethnic groups, without... the politics and political process. so,

with that, i think that they are... struggle... authoritative... with them being the only major grip on power. them being the only ma'or grip on ower. . ~' them being the only ma'or grip on ower. . ~ ,, y . them being the only ma'or grip on ower. . ~' ,, y . ., ,, power. thank you very much for your hel. it power. thank you very much for your help- it has — power. thank you very much for your help. it has been _ power. thank you very much for your help. it has been incredibly - power. thank you very much for your help. it has been incredibly useful. i help. it has been incredibly useful. and she isjoining us live. here in london the british foreign secretary has been testifying to parliament's foreign affairs committee about afghanistan. he blamed the intelligence he received for failing to predict the rapid fall of kabul. the most likely, the central proposition was that given the troop withdrawal by the end of august you would see a steady deterioration from that point and that it was unlikely kabul would fall this year. that was the central assessment and of course with all the usual caveats that you will be familiar with. that doesn't mean we didn't do

contingency planning in game out or test of the other propositions and, just be clear, but something that was widely shared, that view, amongst nato allies. for some analysis on that here's our uk political correspondent rob watson. the uk, and indeed all the uk allies were working off the sort of central assessment that us troops leaving the destabilise afghanistan but didn't think apple would for this year so he was saying basically we were working of this assessment that was wrong but given that our planning wasn't actually that bad and we did manage to get an awful lot of people out. has that convince the mps on the committee? it certainly doesn't look like it and i suspect that it won't convince many of the government's critics here in the uk overboard. as the taliban prepares to create a new government, the challenges facing afghans are huge. according to the un's regional coordinator — a third of the country's 38 million people are facing "emergency" levels of food insecurity and nearly half

of the country now needs urgent assistance to survive, which includes anything from food, to housing or medical supplies.heres the secretary general of the norwegian refugee counciljan egeland for more on the situation on the ground. these state services are not functioning at the moment. and there is not even a banking system functioning. there have been hunted down like hundreds of thousands of newly displaced people. some of them have been able to return because there is less fighting in those regions but all of them basically lost everything in this turmoil. we have already heard about the taliban's promises of women being able to take some positions in government they seniorjobs. it is also seen women will be able to continue doing certain jobs across society. the reality is, though, many afghan women are fearful to leave the house. some, though, have chosen to carry on working. this is a hospital in kabul where women have

continued going on since the taliban takeover. they say they have not been done might yet been impeded by a leap to make any taliban fighters but of course there are concerns that the taliban will see increase its restrictions on women. she stayed in kabul for two weeks after the taliban took over — but she has now fled to doha from where she's spoken to the bbc. u nfortu nately, unfortunately, the situation is in a way that there is no hope. we keep sending declarations and decrees that girls at a certain age can come to school and women can go to work but i have talked to a lot of women who go to work like civil servants and they went there in their offices were closed. people do not have jobs, millions of people lost their job, there is no income so it is not only the security which is a challenge but also of governance and a clear future of how the people will survive as another challenge.

to update you on what the taliban is doing, after 20 years of fighting against the government and against foreign forces it is now in charge and fight has been very keen to illustrate that fact. in kabul the fighters about on the streets who have never been to the city before a few weeks ago and are now on the street to their guns in their weaponry very clearly on show. this is kandahar, afghanistan's second biggest city. the taliban pervaded, as you can see, often including newly obtained indian vehicles —— military vehicles and weaponry courtesy of the afghan military and you can look at this american military helicopter abandoned by afghan military, piloted by taliban fighters and rates in the flag of the islamic emirate of afghanistan. many have great fear of what the islamic emirate under the taliban will look like. two young sisters living in kabul are so concerned about their safety that they haven't left the house since the taliban took over. they have been speaking

anonymously to the bbc about their desire to leave. my my worst part of my day is seeing the taliban in my country and seeing them in the uniforms of our police. we lost our everything in afghanistan, especially girls. i didn't see any light, too, in afghanistan. for now, our only goal is to leave the country. i don't want to live in a country that is covered by governance by force because i hate these people. i don't want to care about it. it is like for a hobby for me to see them and i don't want to hear about them. well, if you have been hearing, some are too scared to leave their homes, others, also scared, are trying to find a route out of the country and with kabul airport no longer an option for many that route via the

pakistan border. this is the scene at the chaman border crossing, thousands of people have been arriving in recent days and there have been warnings of a growing refugee crisis. but government officials in pakistan have played down the situation. according to the interior minister, "not a single person has been granted refugee status." he also claimed that everyone crossing the border has to go back after a day or two. we will keep an eye on the situation there over the coming days and weeks to see if he is right. meanwhile there are countless stories of families separated by the taliban's swift takeover of the country. but imagine this, a couple that had to leave their baby behind because she didn't have the right paperwork. seven—month old gool—rainer has been separated from her parents since may. herfather is a british national, but she's living with her grandparents in kabul as her passport has only just been issued.

our special correspondent lucy manning has been speaking to gulrena's father. and for the family's protection, we've concealed his identity. too young to know what has happened, too small to comprehend, she is stuck in kabul without her parents. gulrena, one of the youngest britons left behind. we are missing her a lot. you know how people feel when their child is outside the country, and, you know, the country where there is a war and you don't know what's going to happen next. her parents thousands of miles away. this is the closest her dad muhammad in london can get to her. he can only try to keep their bond alive. when kabulfell, gulrena still didn't have her uk passport, five months after her british father applied, his identity hidden for the family's safety. she is stuck in afghanistan because of the passport delay. if the passport took less time, she would have been here with us. and she is stuck there with my other part of the family and they are all in danger.

i called the consulate when everything happened and they said she's not british yet. you have to wait until her passport arrives, then she's british, then we can help you. i told her it's going to be too late! trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare, gulrena was born unexpectedly in kabul injanuary when her mother, an afghan, was unable to return to the uk as planned after visiting relatives, because she'd lost her uk id card. she eventually got a temporary visa to return to britain in may to get a replacement, but had to leave gulrena behind with grandparents. then, the taliban took over. i want government to help me find a way to take them out, my daughter and my family out of afghanistan, and the government can do anything — if they want to. and they can do it. why not? how do you want the government to help, when they don't have any soldiers on the ground? they can help, they can find a way. they can find a way.

these are...they�*re government. the government says it has evacuated more than 16,000 people from afghanistan but it knows more must be done to support those at risk. government advice has long been for britons not to travel to afghanistan. gulrena's mother says she is lost without her baby by her side, is losing hope, and begs the government to help. finally. at three o'clock this afternoon, gulrena's passport finally arrived, but with nearly half her short life separated from her parents, there's now no easy way to bring her home. lucy manning, bbc news. so we've talked about life for those still in afghanistan, the people trying to escape and the taliban fighters now in control. finally, what about life for those that have already managed to escape. here in the uk, the government has given more details about its resettlement scheme for afghan refugees. those who worked with

the british government and military will be able to settle in the uk permanently. our home editor mark easton reports. 15,000 afghans have been evacuated to the uk in the last few weeks and a further 5000 are expected in the next year. victoria atkins has been appointed the minister for afghan resettlement, overseen what the government calls 0peration warm welcome, which is quickly turning into a hot political issue. i have got 10,000 people in quarantine hotels at the moment who have to be housed as they come out. so the challenges are big, the scale of this task is big, i don't shy away from that, but it's going to take us a little bit of time just to set some of these policy details in place. afghans are being given permanent residency, with access to health care, housing, education and welfare. but having fled kabul last month, this interpreter says it's proving difficult to start a new life here.

i am doing nothing, sitting at home. i am looking for a job. i told them many times, the case workers, please get me a job as soon as you can. in greenwich, the town hall has become an aid centre with staff and volunteers operating a 24—hour shift problem. but the council's leaders say support from central government has been almost nonexistent. we've received a large number of almost 700 newly arrived afghans quarantining in one of our local hotels, and the pressure's been on. but not only that, they arrived, but there's been no support system in place to work with them. in fact, we have been stepping in the gap. local authorities across britain have access to a share of £5 million in government funding for supporting and housing afghans. but, at the moment, fewer than a third of councils have offered to find homes for new arrivals. the home office refuses to say who has come forward because they don't want to name and shame councils who may yet open their doors. but experience suggests authorities in east anglia and the fens take

very few refugees and asylum seekers, while councils in the north—east and north—west of england take proportionately many more. here in huddersfield, there were mixed views about whether local councils should answer the call to offer assistance. there's not enough affordable housing, but yet they'll bring them i just think we're absolutely already overrun, full. it's good for the economy, i and it's good for our culture as well that we open - and embrace those people who want to settle in the uk. the prime minister has said britain owes a huge debt of gratitude to those afghans who risked their lives to support our armed forces. but helping thousands to permanently settle in the uk is clearly a challenge for the long term. mark easton, bbc news.

come to update you on the aftermath of hurricane ida thousands of people have been affected and also of them have been affected and also of them have been affected and also of them have been told not to return home yet. millions of people have been affected across louisiana and officials have been told not to supply food, water and other essentials. the mayor of louisiana has imposed a night—time curfew to try and stop looting and fighters are saying more broadly the number of weather—related disasters like hurricane either has increased fivefold in the last 15 years. there is new research on this from the world meteorological association which says more than 2 million people have died over half a century in over 11,000 disasters. 0ur environment correspondent, justin rowlatt, has more. floodwaters engulf cars...

oh my god! yo, yo! ..roofs are ripped off buildings, as hurricane ida smashes into the us earlier this week. the category four hurricane is just one of a long list of weather—related disasters to hit the world this year. wow. there have been heatwaves and terrible forest fires in the us, south america, europe and siberia. no, no, no, no! and there have been terrible floods, too, including in germany and in china. meanwhile, a drought in madagascar is reckoned to be affecting 400,000 people. it is all part of a pattern of increasing extreme weather, says the un. climate change is boosting this natural variability that we have. that means more rain, it means higher temperatures, drought, more forest fires and also more most intense tropical storms. so take a look at this graph. now, the red line is showing us that the number of weather—related disasters has gone up fivefold over the last 50 years. the black line shows that the economic impact of those disasters has also increased —

look at it — up eight fold, but the good news is the grey line is showing us the number of people who've died in those disasters has fallen threefold. that falling death rate shows warning people when bad weather is on the way can save lives. so, although we're seeing an increase in the number of disastrous events, the mortality rate is actually decreasing over the last five decades, and that's really down to the fact we've improved early warning systems, so we can notify people when an extreme event is about to happen, so that they can take contingency plans to save lives. but we need to go on improving those systems, because unless the world makes dramatic reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, scientists warn we can expect even more extreme weather events. justin rowlatt, bbc news.

and ina and in a couple of minutes' time we're going to look at the impact of the government opening up england and covid—19 in the last six weeks. very little change to the weather. we are blocking high pressure. best of the sunshine will continue to be across northern and western areas. scotland and northern ireland did pretty well with the sunshine today. eastern area so the speed of cloud of the north sea, quite a brisk breeze as well which made it feel quite cool and some spots of drizzle in places. this evening and overnight that cloud will tend to migrate a bit further westwards than much of western scotland and northern ireland will stay clear and it will turn quite cool again like the last few nights. single figure values are if most, though. 10—13.

so, for thursday, then, by the cloudy start for many of us across western scotland and northern ireland. through the afternoon we will an increasing amount of sunshine then, across northern ireland and england too, most of the sunshine across the southern half of britain. price of the north sea, particularly east— south—east england. temperatures close to the coast, amid high teams, where we have the sunshine in the low similar story around friday as well. area of high pressure with us. starting to migrate a bit further eastwards of it will still have quite a lot of plowden knox into it although it is very able and sunny spells. when you have the cloud mid—to high teens the sunshine, 21 may be 22 degrees. that is how it is looking up until friday. yesterday we were thinking this area of low pressure moving up from the south—west would start to move across the country given the week and bring outbreaks of rain but it now looks like it is going to stay out towards the west of the uk

this area of high pressure is continuing to dominate. that is going to be in the uk this area of high pressure is continuing to dominate. that is going to bring us some warm airfrom dominate. that is going to bring us some warm air from south— south—easterly breeze. gradually this week and looks like it is going to be turning warmer. variable viewable as cloud again on saturday. some training across southern and western areas to the day so we start to import some dry air from western areas to the day so we start to import some dry airfrom the near continent. temperature wise, not much different to what we have had of the few days. 15 close to the east coast, 20, 20 1 of the few days. 15 close to the east coast, 20, 201 degrees of the few days. 15 close to the east coast, 20, 20 1 degrees across research and for that warm air but with increasing amounts of sunshine and then as we head on into the start of the next week looks like it will become very warm indeed.

hello, i'm ros atkins, this is 0utside source. the taliban is saying it will form an inclusive government for afghanistan. it's also told the bbc that women will only getjunior roles. in that women will only get junior roles. , ., ., ., , roles. in this new world, women may not be in the — roles. in this new world, women may not be in the cabinet. _ roles. in this new world, women may not be in the cabinet. the _ roles. in this new world, women may not be in the cabinet. the taliban - not be in the cabinet. the taliban sa s it not be in the cabinet. the taliban says it will _ not be in the cabinet. the taliban says it will announce _ not be in the cabinet. the taliban says it will announce its - not be in the cabinet. the taliban i says it will announce its government within 48 hours. today it was busy within 48 hours. today it was busy with this victory parade, including captured american hardware all on show in kandahar. we will look at the coronavirus as summer draws to a close in the uk, we will examine england's decision to lift all covid are surgeons injuly and what

happened next. and what happened next. in a majorforest happened next. and what happened next. in a major forest fire continues to burn around lake tahoe in california. 50,000 people have been evacuated, and high winds are not making efforts to control the fire and easier. —— any easier. the most restrictive abortion law in the us has come into effect in the state of texas. it's known as sb eight and it bars abortion after the detection of what anti—abortion campaigners call a foetal heart beat. there no exceptions for rape or incest. president biden responded with saying... he also says...

first of all, here's nicole killian with more on that aspect of the story. it with more on that aspect of the sto . ., ,., with more on that aspect of the sto . . , ., . , , with more on that aspect of the story. it also incentivises lawsuits auainst story. it also incentivises lawsuits against anyone — story. it also incentivises lawsuits against anyone who _ story. it also incentivises lawsuits against anyone who assists - story. it also incentivises lawsuits against anyone who assists or, i story. it also incentivises lawsuits against anyone who assists or, in | against anyone who assists or, in the words of the law, aids and abets someone in getting an abortion. so much so that those who are successful in these lawsuits could get $10,000 us or more if they are successful in their quest. idea? get $10,000 us or more if they are successful in their quest.— successful in their quest. now the law is nonspecific _ successful in their quest. now the law is nonspecific about _ successful in their quest. now the law is nonspecific about what - law is nonspecific about what constitutes aiding or abetting. legal experts are saying this could discourage people from, for instance, giving someone money to seek an abortion after six weeks or helping them drive to an appointment, orfind lodgings. it also places acute burden on clinics both to protect their staff. 0n both to protect their staff. on monday, abortion clinics in texas made an urgent... writing that the

law immediately and catastrophically reduces abortion access in texas. it goes on to say... as most aren't aware they are pregnant as early as six weeks. the us supreme court didn't respond. this tweet from hillary clinton reads... let's speak to julia manchester from the hill. julia, we've heard criticism of this new law. help us understand the case that's made for it by those who've been campaigning for this to happen. well, those who have been campaigning for this to happen look at this as the long fought victory. you have a lot of anti—abortion activists here in the united states who have been pushing for the last couple of decades, really, to chip

away at roe v wade, the law that allows abortion to be legal here in the united states. a lot of these activists argue this is to protect the life of an unborn child, a lot of them believe life begins at conception. so they are very much making this argument. now critics of this abortion ban would argue that this abortion ban would argue that this is another way for the government to keep tabs on a woman's body, to control a woman's body. so a very emotional day here in the united states both for a motion —— abortion rights activist as well as anti—abortion activists. i abortion rights activist as well as anti-abortion activists.— abortion rights activist as well as anti-abortion activists. i read some of president _ anti-abortion activists. i read some of president biden's _ anti-abortion activists. i read some of president biden's statement - anti-abortion activists. i read some i of president biden's statement where he criticises the law for incentivising private citizens to take action. can you explain how that aspect of the law could work in texas? in that aspect of the law could work in texas? ., , . ., ., ., texas? in texas, it could lead to rivate texas? in texas, it could lead to private citizens _ texas? in texas, it could lead to private citizens - _ texas? in texas, it could lead to private citizens - so _ texas? in texas, it could lead to private citizens - so every day i private citizens — so every day citizens, they don't have to be government or business officials, it

could be anyone — who could sue someone for getting an abortion or somehow be involved in aiding and abetting an abortion. so that's definitely a huge concern of these critics, and something that president biden is talking about. president biden is talking about. president biden is unhappy about it, but as i understand that he can't directly intervene. so for those who oppose this law, is this the end of the matter for now? oppose this law, is this the end of the matterfor now? it’s oppose this law, is this the end of the matter for now?— the matter for now? it's not, in fact there _ the matter for now? it's not, in fact there is — the matter for now? it's not, in fact there is another _ the matter for now? it's not, in fact there is another supreme | the matter for now? it's not, in - fact there is another supreme court case that will be heard later this yearin case that will be heard later this year in mississippi, and that would ban abortion after 15 weeks and pregnancies. so that's a case we are waiting to hear the decision, or whether there is a decision on that. we are also heading into an election yearin we are also heading into an election year in 2022, and we hear this a lot in the united states, that elections have consequences. and going back to the nomination of brett kavanaugh in 2018, you saw a lot of republicans who voted in favour of him and amy

connie barrett, another supreme courtjustice, republicans taking a lot of flack to support that because of the issue of a bear —— abortion. so you'll see this as a major issue. i've been on the phone all day with abortion rights groups who say they'll campaigning hard for democrats and pro—choice candidates going into the 2022—24 elections. ii going into the 2022—24 elections. if that's politics on a national scale, i want to be clear on the local politics— is it safe to say this is in line with what the majority of voters want? or what republicans in texas would want? i voters want? or what republicans in texas would want?— texas would want? i haven't seen ollin: texas would want? i haven't seen polling directly — texas would want? i haven't seen polling directly out _ texas would want? i haven't seen polling directly out of— texas would want? i haven't seen polling directly out of texas. - texas would want? i haven't seen polling directly out of texas. we l texas would want? i haven't seen i polling directly out of texas. we do know republicans in texas currently protect the governor's office, so they are in control there. but i've not seen direct pulling out of texas. that said, nationwide nbc news poll came out earlier today and

found that a slight majority of americans are in favour of allowing abortion to happen in all or most cases. so it is unclear whether that is reflected in texas, but that's the case across the country. julia, thanks for— the case across the country. julia, thanks for helping _ the case across the country. julia, thanks for helping us, _ the case across the country. julia, thanks for helping us, thank- the case across the country. julia, thanks for helping us, thank you very much. thanks for helping us, thank you very much-— it's been six weeks now since the government decided the summer would be a great time to remove most coronavirus restrictions in england. as autumn approaches, its perhaps also a good time to spend a few minutes looking at the decision to open up and looking at the impact that it's had. back injuly, boris johnson said the time had come to learn to live with the virus.

if we can't open up our country in the next few weeks, then we must ask ourselves, when will we be able to return to normal? mrjohnson wasn't the only one who thoughtjuly 19 was the right moment to move past locking down as a strategy. ata certain at a certain point, you move to the situation _ at a certain point, you move to the situation where instead of actually inverting _ situation where instead of actually inverting hospitalisations and deaths. — inverting hospitalisations and deaths, you move over tojust delaying — deaths, you move over tojust delaying them. however, there were others who though that, with the infection rate doubling every 10 days, more caution was needed. bradley group to said the decision to end _ 0ne scientist said the decision to end the mandatory use of facemasks "defied logic" and was "criminal, frankly." other medical experts were also highly critical of the government. more than 1,200 backed an open letter published in the lancet journal accusing westminster of "embarking on a dangerous and unethical experiment." one of the signatories of that letter was dr zubaida haque, a member of independent sage,

a group of scientists in the uk providing scientific advice on the pandemic. here was her response to mrjohnson's assertion that you heard earlier of, "if not now, when?" is such an absurd thing to say when only half the population are vaccinated. the "when" is when the whole of the population is vaccinated. stephen reicher, who is a professor of psychology and also backed the letter, had this to say about the government's strategy. seems to be based on the notion that somehow infections don't matter, but even if only one in 100 of the people who are infected are hospitalised, that's still a thousand — 1,000 — hospitalisations a day, which will put an incredible load on our already stretched nhs, and that's not to talk about the impact in terms of long covid. this is what the labour mp jonathan ashworth had to say about the health secretary's decision to allow restrictions to be eased fully.

instead of caution, he's pushing his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off. even sajid javid, who himself caught covid just before 19july — causing the prime minister to have to self—isolate, predicted that case numbers could soar. he set the startjuly that... then there were those who said — one expert said there was a unique opportunity here to become a "petri dish for the world." this is a slight gamble, this is a slight experiment at the moment. i think it's justifiable and i'm reasonably optimistic. so has the government's gamble paid off?

well, in the past six weeks, we have certainly seen enough to make critics of the government's plan nervous. scenes like this at the london bar heaven at the stroke of midnight on so—called "freedom day". various festivals, people flocking to beaches, crowded bars and restauarants. case numbers have certainly risen — but not to the levels that were feared. the highest they have reached since 19july is just over 54,000 cases per day — less than half of that 100,000 figure that was feared. meanwhile, the average death rate is 100 per day — which is far below the peaks of last winter but is a notable rise from may and june, when deaths were in single figures. there is concern about the effect that schools starting up again for the new year in england next week will have on these numbers. zubaida haque, who you heard

from earlier, has tweeted that... the epidemiologist professor deepti gurdasani puts it in even stronger terms... sajid javid now says the government's strategy is working, and he highlights figures from public health england that suggest the vaccine programme has saved at least 100 lives ——100,000 lives in england alone. he says...

scotland, where school has already started and where there has been a significant increase in the numer of cases, is being held up as a cautionary tale. here's the first minister speaking last week. in the past seven days, we've reported more new cases than at any previous time in a pandemic, although i would refer to my point about the higher numbers of testing. case numbers have doubled over the past seven days. it remains to be seen if england will follow the same pattern as scotland, with only those aged 16 and over and children at higher risk currently being offered the vaccine. however, the vaccine roll—out could soon be extended to include 12—15—year—olds. what is clear, however, is that the doomsday predictions the new york times perhaps best summed this up with the headline,

and there are certainly notes of optimism coming through that perhaps weren't there before. here's professor paul hunter. we are still likely to see an increase in cases over the autumn, but what i think we are seeing is that we are getting on top of this, we are at the point where we can start to look forward to thinking that this pandemic is behind us? element but we aren't at that point yet. stephen, thank you very much forjoining us on an 0utside source. have you altered your assessment of the government's strategy? i

your assessment of the government's strate: ? ~' ., your assessment of the government's strate: ? ~ ., ., strategy? i think one of the problems. _ strategy? i think one of the problems, and _ strategy? i think one of the problems, and it _ strategy? i think one of the problems, and it was - strategy? i think one of the - problems, and it was encapsulated in your report, is that we often refer to covid measures as covid restrictions. of course everyone wants to lift restrictions. but many of those measures aren't about restricting those, there very much about repacked dust protecting us. one of the things which many have argued is we should use the summer, which is always a better time in terms of covid because children are off of school, people are off work, we are more outdoors and indoors, to make our environment saved her so the places we go to... making sure workplaces are well ventilated and safer for schools. workplaces are well ventilated and saferfor schools. the problem is when we lifted measures, we forgot about the absolutely critical nature of those protections. in the problem we have now is actually infections are 26 times higher than they were this time last year — last year we've failed to put protections in

place. the vaccine changes things, it reduces the link between infections and hospitalisations by 3-4. but that infections and hospitalisations by 3—4. but that still means hospitalisations are far higher than they were last year. and i think the really important thing is to ask, how can we make the space as we go into much safer? how can we support people to keep themselves safe? how can we give people the information they need in order to keep themselves protected? and all those sensible measures, all those protections are not in place. and the danger is, if you don't put protections in place, then you're left with to restrict people, which is what nobody wants.— is what nobody wants. you're correct, is what nobody wants. you're correct. you _ is what nobody wants. you're correct, you could _ is what nobody wants. you're correct, you could have - is what nobody wants. you're - correct, you could have discussions about what measures could be put in place as we go into the autumn to restrict the way the virus spreads. that's related but slightly different from the one in which whether the apocalyptic warnings we are hearing from some quarters in july werejust off

are hearing from some quarters in july were just off the mark, and actually the government taking this action in the summer turns out to have been a difficult but sensible decision? i have been a difficult but sensible decision? ., �* ~' have been a difficult but sensible decision? ., �* ~ ., , decision? i don't think it was sensible. — decision? i don't think it was sensible, because _ decision? i don't think it was sensible, because as - decision? i don't think it was sensible, because as i - decision? i don't think it was sensible, because as i say, l sensible, because as i say, infections are now at 26 times the level they were last year at the best time of year, the time of year with the sunshine out, we should be repairing the roof to protect ourselves against covid. so as children go back to school, they've already been back for a couple weeks in scotland — as students go back to university and people go back to work, there's a real danger that infections... work, there's a real danger that infections. . .— infections... sorry to interrupt, but you're _ infections... sorry to interrupt, but you're making _ infections... sorry to interrupt, but you're making a _ infections... sorry to interrupt, | but you're making a comparison infections... sorry to interrupt, - but you're making a comparison with last year, but with respect, is that not to some degree unhelpful? because no one was vaccinated this time last year, many people are vaccinated now. so the a question it —— equation is different. this vaccinated now. so the a question it -- equation is different.— -- equation is different. as i've already pointed _

-- equation is different. as i've already pointed out, yes, - already pointed out, yes, absolutely vaccines make a difference, and absolutely they reduce the link between infections and hospitalisations. with infections at 26 times the level they were last year, even with a weakened linked hospitalisations, hospitalisations are far higher. the problem is we talk and binaries. either the vaccine works or it doesn't. well, the vaccine is extremely effective, it's a huge benefit in the fight against coronavirus — but if you put all your eggs in the vaccination basket and you don't have protections, as well, in many ways you lose the benefit of those vaccines. so it has to be built in braces. and one of the key things is to increase vaccination, and one of the things that undermines vaccination is to give people the impression that it's all over, they don't need to worry about infections because you don't have to worry about infections, why should you get vaccinated? so absolutely, yes, let's increase vaccinations and give people a realistic appraisal of the risks and how people can protect

themselves, and let's protect people more. that's the recipe to make sure we don't have to go back to restrictions. the problem is, in the new york times is right, we and the government can ignore the pandemic all they like — but the virus isn't listening, and if we ignore what happens, it'll come back to bite us. we always appreciate you coming on, thanks very much indeed. i should say the government says it's not ignoring the pandemic, it simply got a strategy in place to respond to it and it's being guided by scientific advisers. we will turn to that issue more as more evidence comes out. in a few minutes, we will hear how campaigners are staying a third of tree species around the world risked becoming extinct. teenagers in delhi and a number of other indian states returned to

school after 18 months at home because of covid—19. jim johnson reports. —— danjohnson. teachers are finding that some have forgotten how to read, write, or count. because online learning hasn't been possible for many who have struggled to study without digital devices, reliable internet connections, orthe digital devices, reliable internet connections, or the space to concentrate. so in hyderabad this morning, these secondary pupils seemed to please to be back. i was really pleased _ seemed to please to be back. i was really pleased because _ seemed to please to be back. i —" really pleased because everyone is wearing masks. really pleased because everyone is wearing masks-— wearing masks. their sanitising everything. _ wearing masks. their sanitising everything, everything - wearing masks. their sanitising everything, everything is - wearing masks. their sanitising - everything, everything is protected. i everything, everything is protected. i have _ everything, everything is protected. i have no— everything, everything is protected. i have no problem with that. some arents i have no problem with that. some parents have _ i have no problem with that. some parents have been _ i have no problem with that. some parents have been wary _ i have no problem with that. some parents have been wary of- i have no problem with that. ”he parents have been wary of sending children in without vaccinations. but not here.— children in without vaccinations. but not here. ~ �* , .,

but not here. we've been waiting... i think we but not here. we've been waiting... i think we are _ but not here. we've been waiting... i think we are very _ but not here. we've been waiting... i think we are very satisfied - but not here. we've been waiting... i think we are very satisfied at - but not here. we've been waiting... i think we are very satisfied at the l i think we are very satisfied at the moment— i think we are very satisfied at the moment so— i think we are very satisfied at the moment so i— i think we are very satisfied at the moment so i feel— i think we are very satisfied at the moment so i feel it's— i think we are very satisfied at the moment so i feel it's better for. i think we are very satisfied at the l moment so i feel it's better for the chitdren— moment so i feel it's better for the children coming _ moment so i feel it's better for the children coming to _ moment so i feel it's better for the children coming to school... - children coming to school... teachers _ children coming to school... teachers have _ children coming to school... teachers have been- children coming to school... . teachers have been prioritised children coming to school... - teachers have been prioritised for vaccinations.— teachers have been prioritised for vaccinations. today is the first day we are able _ vaccinations. today is the first day we are able to _ vaccinations. today is the first day we are able to see _ vaccinations. today is the first day we are able to see how _ vaccinations. today is the first day we are able to see how it - vaccinations. today is the first day we are able to see how it goes - vaccinations. today is the first day | we are able to see how it goes and how many students will be coming to the school. depending on that, we will be strengthening the classes. some schools reported low attendance, but more classrooms will start filling out next week in a phased return across the country. numbers will stay limited masks, sanitiser and social distancing part of the new school order. 0nline learning will remain a challenging reality for many. danjohnson, bbc news, deli.

0ur lead story comes from the afghan —— afghanistan, the taliban says women will not be a part of its government, but it plans to announce plans for its government and the coming days. an update on this major wildfire we've been following in california, an estimated 50,000 people have had to flee an area east of the state capital, sacramento, because of what's called the calder fire. that's a graphic from a previous story, apologies for that. this fire has been burning since mid august and destroyed 200,000 acres of forest. firefighters have only contained a fifth of it. reagan morris is in los angeles and joins us now. what more can you tell us, please? two weeks ago, people following this fire thought this was one of the most unlikely, if not impossible

scenarios that comes over that granite bridge into the lake tahoe area. it's a heavily populated area, it's area. it's a heavily populated area, its home to thousands, and they fall mostly evacuated. but it's also a place that is incredibly important to millions of people, from california we are heading into a long holiday weekend here and millions of people gathered there all the time. it's a year round destination with its late, and now you're seeing pitchers of these ski resorts burning, using their snowmaking machines to actually fight the fire and blast water onto the flames. it's incredibly hot, firefighters say it didn't advance is much last night as it did the previous night, so they are managing to save some homes along the lake. but it's already destroyed more than 700 structures, this fire, although most of them are in more remote areas, not along lake tahoe. so there's thousands of people desperate for information about their homes and whatnot

desperate for information about their homes and what not to have evacuated. and millions more of people like me and in california who have had the opportunity to go there and escape into the wilderness there, it's a beloved place in california for so many, and it's really shocking to see it burn so severely and quickly.— really shocking to see it burn so severely and quickly. thank you very much, severely and quickly. thank you very much. we'll— severely and quickly. thank you very much, we'll check— severely and quickly. thank you very much, we'll check in _ severely and quickly. thank you very much, we'll check in on _ severely and quickly. thank you very much, we'll check in on that - much, we'll check in on that tomorrow. conservationists are warning many of the world's tree species are facing extinction, in the wild. they say more and more forests are being cleared for agriculture, and that's on top of the growing damage caused by wildfires, as well as other impacts of climate change. the charity botanic gardens conservation international says at least 30% of the world's wild tree species are threatened with extinction. that's equates to 17,500 species. and they say some 142 species of trees recorded in the report have already vanished from the wild. in europe, oaks, maples and magnolias are among the species at risk. other parts of the world face different challenges.

let's get more from sanchia berg at the royal botanic gardens, at kew in london. i have been looking at some of these species identified as being at risk down here at kew gardens, including some extraordinary trees from madagascar from what is called the dry forest which have been particularly affected by logging and some are close to extinction. of course, they are here being conserved at kew gardens as part of a huge programme in this area, but the authors of the report are concerned about the number of trees in their own native environment because a whole ecosystem can depend on them. so the lemurs of madagascar for example depend on those trees just as many other plants and animals do and as you said it's not just the exotic trees but also much more familiar british trees and european trees that this report identifies as being at risk in their home areas. so they are hoping that the report will alert people to what is

actually happening in the fact that many species of trees are at risk particularly in the countries where they evolved. thanks for watching, bye—bye. hello, there. very little change to the weather for the next few days. we're keeping this blocking area of high pressure and that's going to continue to feed a lot of cloud to central and eastern areas. best of the sunshine, though, like the last few days will continue to be across more northern and western areas. so, scotland and northern ireland did pretty well with the sunshine today. eastern areas saw this feed of cloud off the north sea, quite a brisk breeze, as well, which made it feel quite cool with some spots of drizzle in places. this evening and overnight, that cloud across england and wales will tend to migrate a bit further westwards, although much of western scotland, northern ireland should stay clear and it will turn quite cool again

like the last few nights. single figure values, though, for most. where we hold on the cloud, though, 10—13 degrees. so, for thursday, then, rather cloudy start for many of us. bit of sunshine across western scotland, northern ireland. through the afternoon, i think we'll start seeing increasing amounts of sunshine again for scotland and northern ireland, perhaps into northern england too. most of the cloud will be across the southern half of britain. again, quite a breeze blowing in of the north sea, particularly east, south—east england. temperatures, then, close to the coast mid to high teens, but where we have the sunshine then around the low 20s. similar story on friday, as well. 0ur of high pressure with us. starting to migrate a bit further eastwards, but it'll still have quite a lot of cloud wrapped into it, so, again, it's one of variable cloud, some sunny spells. where you have cloud, temperatures mid to high teens. in the sunshine, it could make 21, maybe 22 degrees. so, that's how it's looking up until friday. now, yesterday we were thinking this area of low pressure moving up from the south—west would start to move across the country

during the weekend to bring outbreaks of rain, but it now looks like it it's going to stay out towards the west of the uk, this big area of high pressure continuing to dominate. that's going to bring us some warmer air from the near continent on a south, south—easterly breeze. so, gradually this weekend it looks like it's going to be turning warmer. now, we'll have variable amounts of cloud again on saturday. sunshine increasing across southern and western areas through the day, so we'll start to import some drier air from the near continent. but, temperature—wise, not much different to what we've had over the last few days — 15 close to the east coast to around 20, 21 degrees across the south. it's not until we get into sunday we start to draw that warmer air up with increasing amounts of sunshine, and as we head on into the start of next week it looks like it'll become very warm indeed.

this is bbc news. the headlines at eight... as the taliban parades its power, reality dawns of life under the new regime — no women in top jobs. in this new government that has been announced in the top, i mean to say in the cabinet, there may not be a woman. donations pouring in from the public for afghans isaidl i said i wouldn't go away in hindsight, which is the luxury of... i'm hindsight, which is the luxury of... im not— hindsight, which is the luxury of... im not going — hindsight, which is the luxury of... i'm not going to start.