this is bbc news. i'm christian fraser. our top stories... a victory parade in kandahar. the taliban show off the american hardware they have captured, including a black hawk helicopter that was trailing the taliban flag. in kabul, the group say they are almost ready to appoint a government, but there will be no senior positions for women. in this new government that has been announced in the top, the us supreme court in appeals against the new law in texas that banned 85% of abortions. joe biden says it's a blatant violation of the constitutional rights. the ukrainian president is finally at the white house for a meeting long overdue,

but is this the time to be asking for more health? hello and welcome. i'm christian fraser in london. the british foreign secretary told a committee of mps today that his government had ordered british embassy staff to destroy anything that would hand the taliban a propaganda coup. yet we now know, in the haste to evacuate, they left behind the contact details of afghans who'd worked for the embassy and the cvs of people who applied. fortunately, they were found by a british reporter, not the taliban gunmen scouring the building. as for the propaganda coup, well, they don't come much bigger than the celebration in kandahar today, at which the taliban paraded the humvees, a helicopter, and an arsenal of weapons they have captured. to the victor goes the spoils of war — and the keys to the presidential palace. the taliban are working to form their new government.

it will be announced in the coming days, but without any women in senior positions. in an interview with bbc pashto, the deputy head of the taliban political office in qatar said women could continue working for government, but a cabinet position was highly unlikely. we start our coverage tonight with this report from our correspondent secunder kermani in kabul. if they are not on the top, maybe in this new government which is been announced, i mean to say in the cabinet, there may not be a woman. so, we are getting a clear understanding of what afghanistan will look like. here are the latest is our correspondence occur under the taliban are in firm control of the country. this, a huge military parade in the southern city of kandahar, along with a captured helicopter. but the group still hasn't

established a new government, leaving many afghans in a state of limbo. now that the final foreign troops have left, an announcement is expected soon. the last time the group was in power in the 1990s, their regime saw public executions and women banned from working. now they say things are different, though they admit women won't be in senior positions. maybe they will be in the government, because many ministries, almost half of the workers are women. so, they can come back to their work and they can continue. but in this new government that has been announced in the top, i mean to say in the cabinet, there may not be a woman. the uncertainty about what the future will look like has seen the value of the afghani drop and concerns about the economy rise.

the world bank and imf are holding back from continuing support, whilst the us has frozen reserves and most local banks remain closed. no one has any money right now, other savings are stuck on the banks. people are just bringing small amounts of money had to exchange and pay for everyday living. i needed money for groceries, but the exchange rate isn't - good, so i'm going home. i pray god brings stability- to the government and these problems can be solved. the afghan economy has been heavily dependent on international aid. whether that continues, at least when it comes to the west, it is likely to be dependent on what kind of government the taliban creates and what kind of laws it enforces. governing afghanistan is going to be more of a problem for the taliban than taking control of it. they've been holding meetings with senior political figures like former president hamid karzai,

but many doubt whether they're willing to really share power. the elusive leader, mullah hibatullah, may well be declared leader of an islamic emirate. these, new pictures of some of the final us troops to be withdrawn from afghanistan. the focus now is on what they've left behind. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. if america was expecting humility from their commander in chief last night, they would be disappointed. despite all the criticism joe biden has faced, he hailed the evacuation of kabul an �*extraordinary success'. the blame for the mistakes, was apportioned to the afghan government that fled, or the americans who failed to heed the warnings to get out, or his predecessor who had dealt him such a bad hand. was he really blameless? it's question i put to the man who will feature prominently in the history of this war, general david patreus. in 2010, the general commanded a surge of us troops

in afghanistan, a move that was opposed by the then vice presidentjoe biden. well, it's a very impressive airlift without question, but no one should've doubted what us transportation command can do in the air or on the ground or at sea, frankly. and again, 120—some—odd—thousand individuals, although all of those by no means went out on us aircraft. so, again, a very important achievement. i don't think you could call this an unqualified success, given the tragic, horrible loss — the largest loss of american life — and nearly 200 afghans killed, of course, in that terrible suicide barbaric bombing by the islamic state at the gate to the airport — the largest loss that the us has sustained, i think, since a helicopter was shot down in the fall of 2011 in afghanistan. today, the taliban paraded through

kandahar with the spoils of war, millions of dollars of humvees. there were reports of a helicopterflying overhead. the soldiers i saw were holding their rifles like americans. i dare say some of them may even have been trained by americans. i wonder how that makes you feel as the former commander on the ground. well, the whole episode, frankly, has been heartbreaking. it has been tragic, it's been sad, and frankly, the outcome, i think, can't be described as other than disastrous. for all of the imperfections and shortcomings and maddening deficiencies of the afghan government, surely it was preferable to having the taliban ruled the country, noting that it was the taliban that allowed al-qaeda to have the safe haven in eastern afghanistan from which the 9/11 attacks were planned. and we may have hopes about this being a kinder, gentler taliban,

but we need to see how they do actually govern the country. we do have considerable influence over them. the financial influence that we have is enormous. the taliban are broke. the dog that caught the car after chasing it for 20 years is in the driver's seat and finds that it's a heck of a lot to govern than it is to foment violence against the governing party at a particular time. —— heck of a lot tougher. there is an opposition, and it's in the pangaea valley. the vice president, who, under the afghan constitution, i suppose, is the interim president at the moment. the chief of the army is in the pangaea valley. how should the west approach that opposition? unclear whether the objective here is to truly hold out militarily this is going to be much more difficult, and it's unclear whether the objective here is to truly hold out militarily or if it is to try to have some kind of negotiated resolution.

and i think we truly do have to wait and see here. it's not as if we have an opportunity or a means or something else of really providing significant assistance unless we want to go to war with the taliban again, which, clearly, administration has sought to end. and they do not have the kind of corner from the northern exit from the pangaea valley to an outside country that they had in the past, and that could be very problematic. they could literally be surrounded. in fact, the taliban quite skilfully launched simultaneous offensives all around the country and really set the conditions for this, including in the northeastern part of the country, just north of the exit from the pangaea valley. so, again, this is a heroic, valiant effort by a number of individuals who retreated to the pangaea who know the valley well.

i'v e i've met with the leaders over the years. whether they can truly hold out against a concentrated taliban offensive as much as the defender has advantages in that particular setting, i think that's remained to be seen. whether they in factjust use that to negotiate some kind of resolution. but we also need to see what happens with the other northern warlords who fled from the country. a leader who was in sharif, i think it will be interesting if he tries to galvanise his supporters. there are a number of others across the northern part of the country which is not the posh, the source of power of the taliban.— of the taliban. general, we have to leave it there, _ of the taliban. general, we have to leave it there, but _ of the taliban. general, we have to leave it there, but thank _ of the taliban. general, we have to leave it there, but thank you - of the taliban. general, we have to leave it there, but thank you for . leave it there, but thank you for your time. leave it there, but thank you for your time-— leave it there, but thank you for our time. ., ., , i.

today, texas law sb8 went into effect. it will prevent anyone in the state from conducting an abortion once a foetal heartbeat is detected, which is about six weeksinto the pregnancy, before a lot of women would even know they are pregnant. opponents of the law say it will effectively ban at least 85% of abortions sought in the state, including pregnancies from rape or incest. it is one of the most restrictive bills in the country, and it's become law because the supreme court did not respond to an emergency appeal to block it. in a moment, we'll speak to senator bryan hughes the author of this bill, but first, i'm joined by adriana pinon. ——julia —— julia kaye. she is policy counsel and senior staff attorney for the texas branch of the american civil liberties organisation. she's been following the case closely. the president set a short time ago that this blatantly violates the constitutional right established under roe v wade. there

are many people who think... three roe v wade. are many people who think... three roe v wade-— roe v wade. that's right. for half a centu , roe v wade. that's right. for half a century, the supreme _ roe v wade. that's right. for half a century, the supreme court - roe v wade. that's right. for half a century, the supreme court has - roe v wade. that's right. for half a l century, the supreme court has made clear the us constitution protects the fundamental constitutional right to end a pregnancy. but if you are pregnant in texas today, that is not the reality. right now, if you need an abortion after six weeks, you cannot get it. there are thousands of texans as we speak who are sitting around their kitchen table trying desperately to crunch the numbers and figure out how it could be possible for them to travel 250 miles or more out of state in order to access time sensitive medical care. ., ., ., , care. under the law, who would bring a case against — care. under the law, who would bring a case against someone _ care. under the law, who would bring a case against someone who - care. under the law, who would bring a case against someone who is - a case against someone who is seeking an abortion?— a case against someone who is seeking an abortion? what makes this law particularly _ seeking an abortion? what makes this law particularly unique _ seeking an abortion? what makes this law particularly unique and _ law particularly unique and insidious is that it is enforced through a bounty hunter seed. the

allow allows any person to sue you if you believe —— if they believe you have performed an abortion after six weeks, help someone obtain one after six weeks or even just intended to do either of those things. if they win that lawsuit against you, they get a $10,000 paycheque. the point is to incentivise a flood of harassing and costly lawsuits against abortion providers, isolate abortion patients, and because of this threat, virtually all abortions in texas have come to a stop. this was im ortant texas have come to a stop. this was important for _ texas have come to a stop. this was important for republicans _ texas have come to a stop. this was important for republicans who - texas have come to a stop. this wasj important for republicans who voted for donald trump because he campaigned to put republicanjudges in the supreme court. do you think the decision they've taken, it's interesting, because by doing nothing, they've done quite a lot. well, it is clear that there are

many politicians across the country who believe that this is their moment and because of the changes on the supreme court, there politicians who believe they now have five votes over roe v wade, that is why 2021 has seen more restrictions on abortion than any other year since roe v wade was decided in 1973. but i want to be clear that the supreme court still has an opportunity to rule on our application for emergency relief and make clear they have not turned their back on the half—century of legal precedent and restore fundamental rights to pregnant texans. all eyes are on the supreme court to undo this damage and make clear that the rule of law is still intact in this country. julia kaye, thank you very much. texas legislator senator bryan hughes is the author of the bill that's just passed in texas and joins me now.

thank you forjoining us on the programme. you are the comments from julia kaye. it's insidious and it initiates a bounty hunter scheme for people who are seeking an abortion, what say you? fit, people who are seeking an abortion, what say you?— what say you? a number of prosecutors. _ what say you? a number of prosecutors, a _ what say you? a number of prosecutors, a district - what say you? a number of - prosecutors, a district attorney, they said publicly at the end of 2019, many states are considering heartbeat laws but if you pass these laws, we will not enforce them. so, the sworn blessed prosecutor will not import the law. —— sworn prosecutor. the private lawsuits are used in american groups all the time. medicaid in texas. if you defraud the medicaid system, any texan can bring a claim against you. that's what this is about. we protect innocent human life and for years now, we've been coming alongside the mothers, providing

more funding and health for expectant mothers. we don'tjust forget —— forget about them after the child comes. we want to support the child comes. we want to support the mothers while the support human life. . ~ ., the mothers while the support human life. . ~ . ., ., ., life. . what about those women who are pregnant — life. . what about those women who are pregnant through _ life. . what about those women who are pregnant through rape _ life. . what about those women who | are pregnant through rape or incest? rape and incest unspeakable crimes. rape and incest unspeakable crimes. rape is a horrible crime. rapists need to be punished. we have strong laws in texas to punish rapists. fire laws in texas to punish rapists. are those women _ laws in texas to punish rapists. are those women entitled to an abortion? we talked to women in the situation. we talked to women in the situation. we wouldn't punish the unborn child because of the horrible act done to the mother. that unborn child is a separate human being. that unborn child is the most innocent, the most helpless a human can ever be, and she deserves our protection. under this law, she deserves our protection. under this law. any _ she deserves our protection. under this law, any private _ she deserves our protection. under this law, any private citizen - she deserves our protection. under this law, any private citizen can - this law, any private citizen can bring a civil suit against anyone who carries out an abortion, so the bus driver who drives the woman to the abortion claimant is liable?

that's not exactly right. 0nly that's not exactly right. only those who have the intention of doing an abortion on a baby with a heartbeat. this is about those who intentionally perform abortions on the little babies that have a beating heart. that's all this is about. ., . ., ., about. your critics would say the eo - le about. your critics would say the people who _ about. your critics would say the people who will _ about. your critics would say the people who will be _ about. your critics would say the people who will be punished - about. your critics would say the people who will be punished by l about. your critics would say the i people who will be punished by this will be low income families, because you will know the wealthier people fly out of the state will get it —— will get an abortion. people who can't leave will be the most honourable women. the most vulnerable — honourable women. the most vulnerable are _ honourable women. the most vulnerable are the _ honourable women. the most vulnerable are the babies - honourable women. the most - vulnerable are the babies growing inside the mothers, and they will be protected we're going to come alight selling these mothers and help them. they're not being left behind. [30 they're not being left behind. do ou they're not being left behind. do you think the supreme court will get rid of roe v wade? it

you think the supreme court will get rid of roe v wade?— rid of roe v wade? it has been chi -|n~ rid of roe v wade? it has been chipping away _ rid of roe v wade? it has been chipping away at _ rid of roe v wade? it has been chipping away at it _ rid of roe v wade? it has been chipping away at it for - rid of roe v wade? it has been chipping away at it for at - rid of roe v wade? it has been i chipping away at it for at least 30 years, and we'll see what they do. they will instruct her at the law as they see it. we believe that when that heart is beating, that the human life. that's the universal sign of life. human life. that's the universal sign of life-— human life. that's the universal sianoflife. ,, ., ., �* ., , sign of life. senator brian hughes, thank ou sign of life. senator brian hughes, thank you for— sign of life. senator brian hughes, thank you for being _ sign of life. senator brian hughes, thank you for being with _ sign of life. senator brian hughes, thank you for being with us. - the ukrainian prime minister is in washington to meet biden. that's coming up. scotland's first minister has announced plans for vaccine passports to be introduced for access to large events and nightclubs from the end of the month. nicola sturgeon told msps it would help make these settings safer as covid case numbers hit record levels. we propose, subject to parliamentary agreement, that vaccination certification should be introduced later this month, once all adults

have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, for the following events and venues. firstly, night clubs and adult entertainment venues. second, unseated indoor live events with more than 500 people in the audience. next, unseated outdoor live events with more than 4,000 people in the audience. and, lastly, any event of any nature which has more than 10,000 people in attendance. we don't currently consider it appropriate to introduce certification for the hospitality industry as a whole, and we hope that will not be necessary. however, we will keep that under review. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky is finally in washington for a long anticipated meeting with the us president. it's a visit the ukrainians had first tried to schedule three years ago, until donald trump attached his conditions

to the meeting. conditions that led to his later impeachment and would put the ukrainian president right at the heart of the election battle brewing in the united states. fast forward two years and the trip comes at a time where concerns about russia's ambitions in ukraine are mounting. and post—afghanistan there are of course questions about nato and indeed us appetite, for any further foreign engagements. with me now is white house correspondent for reuters, jeff mason, and the bbc�*s kyiv correspondent, jonah fischer. jonah, let me start with you. is there seeking reassurances from washington, it will not be lost in people on kyiv. this week of all weeks, american assurances are not altogether reliable.— altogether reliable. yeah, i think firstl , altogether reliable. yeah, i think firstly, ukrainians _ altogether reliable. yeah, i think firstly, ukrainians and _ altogether reliable. yeah, i think firstly, ukrainians and president| firstly, ukrainians and president zelensky are simply relieved that this meeting is happening. it's been a long time since the ukrainian president has been in the white house. ukrainejust having president has been in the white house. ukraine just having someone

sit next to the us president is a big deal and it means a lot to them in terms of seeing that image of us support for them. as you mentioned, afghanistan does loom rather large. ukraine sees the united states as its most important ally in its struggle against russian aggression. i think there has been some reflection in kyiv about what a more isolationist american foreign policy might mean for ukraine. i think there is the expectation that us troops, but there are some doubts and questions being asked that if russians did step up its aggression in the east, if it took over more ukrainian territory, whether that american support would be as robust and as firm as i think previously ukraine would've expected. there are

concerns, ukraine would've expected. there are concerns. jeff. _ ukraine would've expected. there are concerns, jeff, on _ ukraine would've expected. there are concerns, jeff, on this _ ukraine would've expected. there are concerns, jeff, on this side, _ concerns, jeff, on this side, particularly among the eastern bloc about whatjoe biden had to say last night. they're worried the kremlin will feel emboldened by all that. is this an opportunity for the president to reassure them? i think the answer is _ president to reassure them? i think the answer is yes, _ president to reassure them? i think the answer is yes, and _ president to reassure them? i think the answer is yes, and i _ president to reassure them? i think the answer is yes, and i think he i the answer is yes, and i think he sought— the answer is yes, and i think he sought to — the answer is yes, and i think he sought to do that today. i was in the office — sought to do that today. i was in the office for the beginning of the meeting _ the office for the beginning of the meeting went reporters were allowed, and president biden started his remarks — and president biden started his remarks by saying the us would continue — remarks by saying the us would continue to be basically, to have in ukraine's— continue to be basically, to have in ukraine's back, against russian aggression. president zelensky thanked — aggression. president zelensky thanked him for that and pressed him for a timeline and vision for when ukraine _ for a timeline and vision for when ukraine could enter nato. that of course, _ ukraine could enter nato. that of course, as — ukraine could enter nato. that of course, as you both said, that ties

into that _ course, as you both said, that ties into that concern about security, and president biden is not ready to say they— and president biden is not ready to say they want them to join right away _ say they want them to join right away. 0ther say they want them to join right away. other members of nato still see some — away. other members of nato still see some problems that ukraine needs to fix before becoming a member of that military alliance. mostly or at least _ that military alliance. mostly or at least largely, corruption. | that military alliance. mostly or at least largely, corruption.- least largely, corruption. iwas 'ust least largely, corruption. iwas just going _ least largely, corruption. iwas just going to — least largely, corruption. iwas just going to ask _ least largely, corruption. iwas just going to ask that, - least largely, corruption. iwasj just going to ask that, because least largely, corruption. i —" just going to ask that, because he's been critical of the afghan government for the corruption that there was top to bottom. he knows an awful lot about it. a lot of it was dragged out by rudy giuliani. what sort of assurances will he want from the ukrainian president? i sort of assurances will he want from the ukrainian president?— the ukrainian president? i think what's easy _ the ukrainian president? i think what's easy seeking _ the ukrainian president? i think what's easy seeking is - the ukrainian president? i think what's easy seeking is a - the ukrainian president? i think what's easy seeking is a further| what's easy seeking is a further commitment from the ukrainian. to do more _ commitment from the ukrainian. to do more on _ commitment from the ukrainian. to do more on corruptions. i think we'll see some — more on corruptions. i think we'll see some benchmarks. it would make

sense _ see some benchmarks. it would make sense that _ see some benchmarks. it would make sense that they would discuss some steps _ sense that they would discuss some steps the _ sense that they would discuss some steps the united states is looking for and _ steps the united states is looking for and allies are looking four. in the same — for and allies are looking four. in the same way president zelensky is asking _ the same way president zelensky is asking for— the same way president zelensky is asking for a time frame. both countries _ asking for a time frame. both countries want something from each other~ _ countries want something from each other~ they— countries want something from each other. they are allies. it is absolutely significant that zelensky is sitting _ absolutely significant that zelensky is sitting in the oval office today, but it— is sitting in the oval office today, but it doesn't mean he is closer to getting _ but it doesn't mean he is closer to getting exactly what he wants. but they will— getting exactly what he wants. but they will be able to have a discussion about how to get there. one thing — discussion about how to get there. one thing they do have in common, jonah, is there mutual opposition to the baltic... it deprives them of the baltic... it deprives them of the transit fees that they would get. but it seems to me thatjoe biden has thrown the towel in. that's certainly the sense that we get here in kyiv. i think most people accept that the struggle, to

this pipeline is pretty much open agreement. an agreement was made earlier this year, which effectively gave the green light for this pipe to be transported, to be completed. that may happen in the next few weeks. for ukraine, that's a big deal because it means they will potentially lose out on billions of dollars in transit fees, which they get at the moment of the transmit of russian gas across ukraine territory as it had been to europe. throughout the last few years, this pipeline has been built and ukraine has complained about it. it has wanted both germany and the united states to do more to stop this pipeline. it looks like it won't be stopped, despite ukraine's protests. irlat despite ukraine's protests. not entirely satisfactory for ukrainians. just from washington... jeff and jonah thank you. we will

return to the issues in the afghanistan and speak to the former head of the cia. 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. our top stories: the victory parade in kandahar. the taliban show off the american hardware they have captured, including a black hawk helicopter that was trailing the taliban flag. the british foreign secretary, dominic raab, has told a committee of mps that intelligence on how long it will take for the taliban to take control was clearly wrong. mr raab said his early days as far as the taliban. what next for those left behind in afghanistan, now that us forces and its allies have left? and an oil slick the size of new york city is drifting in the eastern mediterranean, after leaking from a syrian power plant.

the intelligence received by the uk and its allies suggested kabul would not fall this year and was "clearly" wrong. that was the conclusion given by the british foreign secretary, dominic raab, who was grilled today by a cross party group of mps. in a two—hour session before the foreign affairs committee, he admitted he did not know how many british nationals or eligible afghans remained in the country and largely refused to engage on a barrage of questions about his summer holiday — which he did not leave until after kabul had fallen. here's our westminster correspondent damian grammaticas. under pressure today, the foreign secretary. mps believe he has been at the helm during the biggest foreign policy disaster in decades. why did he fail to see the rapid fall of kabul? 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. the mps said a foreign office report from july had warned cities could fall. sorry, the source of that? it is your principled report. but mr raab still went on holiday. we had uk civilians in harm's way, and it is important for us to know what you were doing and where you are doing it from? when did you go on holiday? i don't want to browbeat you, ijust want to know where you went. he said with the luxury of hindsight, he wouldn't have gone. he asked why he didn't call ambassadors in the region or even visited since he became foreign secretary. why did we get it so badly wrong? i think there is a sense, a desire, a determination to make it work, to make things better and to believe that you can

complete the task. and more questions about the effort to save lives, why e—mails by desperate afghans went unanswered. we can answer every e—mail we get or we can focus on getting as many eligible people back home. and why he doesn't know how many are still at risk. can you tell me why you are confident of your numbers of those remaining in afghanistan now? we are not confident with any precision at all. finally, will the uk now deal with the taliban? under what circumstances will the uk be recognising the taliban _ and what recognition do you foresee? first of all, we don't recognise governments, generally. but it is important not to confirm any legitimacy of the taliban. at the same time, we need to send clear and direct signals. mr raab is now heading to the region, seeking exit for those wanting to leave afghanistan. dominic raab is now heading

to the region to seek assurances from third countries they will facilitate the ongoing evacuation. but of course since monday, that has become much more difficult. the routes out of the country are all but closed. a new york times investigation has found that in the weeks leading up to the american withdrawal, there was a secret compound outside kabul called eagle base that was used as a hub for covert evacuations, before it was destroyed by the cia. it had previously served as a training ground for afghan counterterrorism units. let's bring in douglas london, formerly of the cia. he is a counterterrorism expert. thank you very much for being with us. i want to connect to the base in a minute, because the reporting in the new york times is very interesting, but on this evidence that dominic raab has given today, he did not seem to recognise the foreign office's on risk report, which was drawn up and presented to them on the 22nd ofjuly, that predicted a very real danger of

cities collapsing. but then joe cities collapsing. but thenjoe biden, right until the first week of august, was telling us that the afghan army could probably resist the taliban. was there an optimism bias on both sides of the pond? i think there was this alignment, with those hopeful projections, of a change in the taliban's day and the ability of the military forces come up ability of the military forces come up on the metrics the technology they had and compares them to the taliban, but those views did not align with what the intelligence community was reporting to this white house with the previous one, which was in much more pessimistic outlook which was continually reinforced as bases were closed between may and july one this year, during which time the taliban made advances during that interim period. it is unfortunate in narrative

coming for the white house and other political entities that, we just did not expected, that does not line with reality. it not expected, that does not line with reality-— with reality. it did not align with reali in with reality. it did not align with reality in terms _ with reality. it did not align with reality in terms of— with reality. it did not align with reality in terms of the _ with reality. it did not align with reality in terms of the number. reality in terms of the number you're talking about, because again last night in his address to the nation, he talked about three under thousand afghan troops will some nobodies thought there were 300,000 afghan troops for some time —— 300,000. nobody has thought. that afghan troops for some time -- 300,000. nobody has thought. that is fair. some inspector— 300,000. nobody has thought. that is fair. some inspector general— 300,000. nobody has thought. that is fair. some inspector general reports i fair. some inspector general reports in the ned states talked about those armies, these were not accurately reflected in reporting, neither were they capable fighting figures. some were aspirational. i they capable fighting figures. some were aspirational.— were aspirational. i want to talk about the eagle _ were aspirational. i want to talk about the eagle base. - were aspirational. i want to talk about the eagle base. at - were aspirational. i want to talk about the eagle base. at the i were aspirational. i want to talk. about the eagle base. at the top of the programme, i was talking but the things the british embassy left behind, including details of staff who would work at the embassy, cvs of those who had applied there, so let me show the viewers with the cia did to their base at the eagle base.

you can see the entire building has been trashed. there is nothing that has been left by the taliban. that was not the case at the british embassy. i suppose as a former cia operative, you would say that would be standard procedure, we don't leave anything behind that would give the taliban a propaganda coup? that is true. and in terms of the president's... the press has affected actually the cia had a programme of capacity building for his liaison partners, and eagle base was repetitive of that, in terms of a special forces unit that was able to conduct covert terrorist missions with ca training.— with ca training. have you been on that basically _ with ca training. have you been on that basically shall— with ca training. have you been on that basically shall i _ with ca training. have you been on that basically shall i am _ with ca training. have you been on that basically shall i am not - that basically shall i am not really allowed to speak to it, except to say i'm a very familiar with the presence in afghanistan —— have you been on it? how it looks

in february and how it looked in august — this is an overhead from planet labs of the base. take a look at the right—hand side the compound there. just above the structure, you will see one of the buildings has gone, they have taken the entire building down. why would they do that? ., , building down. why would they do that? .,, .,. , ., ., that? those facilities would, one, be of assistance _ that? those facilities would, one, be of assistance to _ that? those facilities would, one, be of assistance to the _ that? those facilities would, one, be of assistance to the taliban - that? those facilities would, one, l be of assistance to the taliban were they to take over. there were no documents left, but there was no reason to leave some of the facilities prepared for training and guidance for units that would give the taliban and advantage, to use against their own people, should they return to the oppression that we saw them employee during 1996-2001. we saw them employee during 1996-2001-— we saw them employee during 1996-2001. ., , , 1996-2001. the reason why the space is so important. _ 1996-2001. the reason why the space is so important, aside _ 1996-2001. the reason why the space is so important, aside from _ 1996-2001. the reason why the space is so important, aside from the - 1996-2001. the reason why the space is so important, aside from the role i is so important, aside from the role it played in evacuating some of those who wanted to get out, is because, as you say, this is where

they trained afghan anti—terrorism units. it was the eyes and ears on the ground. he talks last night about an over the horizon counterterrorism effort. can you do that without something like the eagle base? the that without something like the eagle base?— that without something like the earle base? , , ., ., eagle base? the mission will have different options. _ eagle base? the mission will have different options. they _ eagle base? the mission will have different options. they will- eagle base? the mission will have different options. they will be - eagle base? the mission will have different options. they will be far| different options. they will be far reduced without a local presence on the ground, notjust of cia officials but other local partners, so even as we are collecting intelligence, which will by itself diminish in quality and timeliness as networks atrophy and we don't have as much direct control to test and evaluate reporting, so will our inability to action that through any other means except perhaps kinetic strikes from aerial platforms or other, orwould strikes from aerial platforms or other, or would otherwise look to run operations to capture a terrorist, try to secure them and whatever documents and materials that would aid us in understanding what their plans were, so it is

accommodation of decrease in intelligence and in limited number of options going forward.— of options going forward. douglas london, of options going forward. douglas london. great _ of options going forward. douglas london, great to _ of options going forward. douglas london, great to get _ of options going forward. douglas london, great to get your - of options going forward. douglasj london, great to get your insight. thank you for coming on. so what about those who remained stranded in afghanistan? among those who were left behind are a number of school children and their parents from el cajon in california. on august 18, joe biden said he would extend the deadline in order to get all american citizens out. but these people were left behind. there are efforts under way to get them out, but, as we discussed, not easy when the airport and the borders are closed. and the taliban are sending their mixed signals. we can speak to the superintendent of the school district involved in the efforts to get students home. welcome to the programme. some who these students are. what is their background was quite were they there? , , ., ~ there? the students we were talking about are students _ there? the students we were talking about are students of _ there? the students we were talking about are students of ours _ there? the students we were talking about are students of ours in - there? the students we were talking about are students of ours in our- about are students of ours in our district, ranging from preschool to high school. and we are home to

about 500 family from afghanistan, many of whom formally served the us military usmc and have special visa status, and typically our families will go home over the winter and summer basis either grandparents. covid has dampened to travel a bit, but i know several of our families were anxious to see their loved ones this summer. 50 were anxious to see their loved ones this summer-— this summer. so a mixture? their “oint this summer. so a mixture? their joint nationals, _ this summer. so a mixture? their joint nationals, some _ this summer. so a mixture? their joint nationals, some of _ this summer. so a mixture? their joint nationals, some of them - this summer. so a mixture? their joint nationals, some of them are| joint nationals, some of them are american citizens, point —— born in america was met the ones joe biden said he would not leave behind succulent exactly. does that make you angry? i behind succulent exactly. does that make you angry?— make you angry? i don't want to oint make you angry? i don't want to point blame. — make you angry? i don't want to point blame, but _ make you angry? i don't want to point blame, but the _ make you angry? i don't want to point blame, but the numbers . make you angry? i don't want to i point blame, but the numbers they talk about is mr presented. just in children alone, there are several thousand from the united states in the same circumstances that no one is looking for and no one is talking about. and the number of us citizens and as ivs that are there are between 20,000 and 30,000 based on

intelligence we have here and on the ground now. just intelligence we have here and on the ground now-— intelligence we have here and on the round now. , , ., . , ground now. just remind me, how many ofthe ground now. just remind me, how many of the children — ground now. just remind me, how many of the children are _ ground now. just remind me, how many of the children are there? _ ground now. just remind me, how many of the children are there? do _ ground now. just remind me, how many of the children are there? do you i of the children are there? do you have an accurate number there? indie have an accurate number there? we had have an accurate number there? - had eyes on 24 of our students. we are home to... there hundred 50,000 plus in the united states, six 2000 in california, and we know it is typicalforfamilies to in california, and we know it is typical for families to go home. in california, and we know it is typicalforfamilies to go home. we know... the number is going to continue to grow as school districts realise their students are not in your classrooms. the real story is those invisible americans and sivs currently there. 5m? those invisible americans and sivs currently there.— currently there. stay there for us if ou currently there. stay there for us if you will- _ i'm joined now by amanda matti, an iraq war veteran and author, who's now helping with efforts to get afghans and dual nationals out of the country. thank you for being with us, amanda. i know you have relocated in recent days, to la, i think, i know you have relocated in recent days, to la, ithink, to i know you have relocated in recent days, to la, i think, to really help with the situation on the ground.

you are working with an informal sort of set up to offer people advice on the ground for what you know about the location of these children and families? are they dispersed all across afghanistan? they are mostly concentrated in the kabul _ they are mostly concentrated in the kabul area, — they are mostly concentrated in the kabularea, but, yes, there are many across— kabularea, but, yes, there are many across afghanistan. kabul area, but, yes, there are many across afghanistan.— across afghanistan. what advice can ou rive across afghanistan. what advice can you give them? _ across afghanistan. what advice can you give them? right _ across afghanistan. what advice can you give them? right now, - across afghanistan. what advice can you give them? right now, we i across afghanistan. what advice can you give them? right now, we are l you give them? right now, we are in a holdin: you give them? right now, we are in a holding pattern. _ you give them? right now, we are in a holding pattern. since military- a holding pattern. since military operations have ceased and the airport— operations have ceased and the airport has shut down, there are no active _ airport has shut down, there are no active evacuation options right now, so we're _ active evacuation options right now, so we're just— active evacuation options right now, so we're just kind of telling people. _ so we're just kind of telling people, stay safe, shelter in place, move around if you need to to stay safe, _ move around if you need to to stay safe, and _ move around if you need to to stay safe, and we — move around if you need to to stay safe, and we are kind of waiting until, _ safe, and we are kind of waiting until, hopefully, hkia opens up again. — until, hopefully, hkia opens up again, which there is chatter across channels— again, which there is chatter across channels that will happen soon. especially with the qatari technical groups— especially with the qatari technical groups lending this morning. there is some traffic _ groups lending this morning. there is some traffic leaving _ groups lending this morning. there is some traffic leaving from - is some traffic leaving from mazar—e—sharif airport, but it is difficult to get there.

mazar-e-sharif airport, but it is difficult to get there.— difficult to get there. yes, and that is very — difficult to get there. yes, and that is very unofficial - difficult to get there. yes, and that is very unofficial traffic i difficult to get there. yes, and | that is very unofficial traffic for some — that is very unofficial traffic for some it — that is very unofficial traffic for some it is _ that is very unofficial traffic for some it is very limited, and where they are _ some it is very limited, and where they are going, very limited until what _ they are going, very limited until what is _ they are going, very limited until what is happening there, who exactly is running _ what is happening there, who exactly is running the airport, so we're deftly— is running the airport, so we're deftly not _ is running the airport, so we're deftly not advising anyone to go there. _ deftly not advising anyone to go there, and their multiple checkpoints between kabul and mazar—e—sharif to get there. david mazar-e-sharif to get there. david was 'ust mazar-e-sharif to get there. david was just saying _ mazar-e-sharif to get there. david wasjust saying he _ mazar-e-sharif to get there. david wasjust saying he is _ mazar—e—sharif to get there. d: c wasjust saying he is frustrated, was just saying he is frustrated, naturally frustrated, because the american people were given a promise by the president he would leave no one behind. how much help are you getting specifically? i know there is a whole group of veterans involved in this, but how much help you getting from the state department was blue right now i work at the evacuate our allies operations centre in at the evacuate our allies operations centre- at the evacuate our allies operations centre at the evacuate our allies o erations centre �* . ., ., operations centre in la. we are a coalition of— operations centre in la. we are a coalition of multiple _ operations centre in la. we are a coalition of multiple ngos, i coalition of multiple ngos, nonprofits, across the nation and the globe, — nonprofits, across the nation and the globe, who are coming together with our— the globe, who are coming together with our focused mission of, we need to get— with our focused mission of, we need to get out— with our focused mission of, we need to get out our citizens, our green

card _ to get out our citizens, our green card holders, as well as our allies who helped us and have applied for sivs or— who helped us and have applied for sivs or are — who helped us and have applied for sivs or are eligible, so we are basically— sivs or are eligible, so we are basicallyjust working as liaisons. we do _ basicallyjust working as liaisons. we do have 814 a2047 a 20 47 operation centre. we are 'ust a 20 47 operation centre. we are just trying _ a 20 47 operation centre. we are just trying to play as middleman, to lengthens— just trying to play as middleman, to lengthens resources, and assistance to keep _ lengthens resources, and assistance to keep them safe until we can get them _ to keep them safe until we can get them an— to keep them safe until we can get them an option to get out of the country — them an option to get out of the count . ., ~ them an option to get out of the count . ., ,, , ., them an option to get out of the count . . ~' , ., , them an option to get out of the count . ., ,, i. , . ., country. 0k, thank you very much for that, and country. ok, thank you very much for that, and thank— country. 0k, thank you very much for that, and thank you _ country. 0k, thank you very much for that, and thank you for _ country. 0k, thank you very much for that, and thank you for the _ country. 0k, thank you very much for that, and thank you for the work i that, and thank you for the work you're doing. david, does that reassure you somewhat? are you able to put people in touch with amanda's group? i to put people in touch with amanda's arou - ? ., to put people in touch with amanda's i rou . ? ., ., ., to put people in touch with amanda's a-rou? ., ., ., ,, group? i would love to speak with amanda as _ group? i would love to speak with amanda as soon _ group? i would love to speak with amanda as soon as _ group? i would love to speak with amanda as soon as we're - group? i would love to speak with i amanda as soon as we're done with this story. amanda as soon as we're done with this sto . ., , , ., , this story. hopefully we have put ou in this story. hopefully we have put you in contact. _ this story. hopefully we have put you in contact. thank _ this story. hopefully we have put you in contact. thank you - this story. hopefully we have put you in contact. thank you for i this story. hopefully we have put i you in contact. thank you for coming on. we are very grateful. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we will look at this oil slick working across the mediterranean, towards cyprus.

a more eco—friendly petrol has been introduced at filling stations across britain today. the fuel, called e—10, contains less carbon than other motor fuels, making it better for environment. but it's not suitable for some older vehicles. environmentalists have rejected claims by ministers that the move will help to tackle climate change. jon kay reports. what are you going for? unleaded. which one? just the normal one. but what is normal? confusion at the pumps this afternoon, as the new fuel went on sale. that is e10. what do you mean? e10? what's that? it's what you've got in your hand. oh, no, i don't know. i haven't got a clue. unleaded, that's as far as i know. i don't know, i don't really pay attention, ijust fill it up and leave. did you know you were filling up with e10? no, i don't know, what is e10? it is unleaded fuel, up to 10% ethanol, which means lower carbon emissions.

so they are trying to reduce the amount of the nasty stuff in the fuel, right? yeah, it is still not great, is it, having a car. we want to use the most ecological petrol that we can. drop by drop, e10 goes on sale across great britain this month with northern ireland to follow next year. the new fuel isn't great, though, for some older vehicles made before 2011. drivers need to go on to the government online website today and check to see if their car is e10—compatible or not. if it is not, they should be switching to e5 super unleaded. that is more expensive and unfortunately not available in as many stations either. if you put the new e10 in your car and it is not compatible, how big a problem is it? it's not the end of the world, it is not the same as putting diesel into a petrol tank or petrol into a diesel tank. there you go, yourfirst e10. thank you very much.

jon kay, bbc news, on the m4 in wiltshire. the number of weather—related disasters around the world has increased five—fold over the past 50 years, according to scientists from the united nations. in the first long—term analysis of its kind, they say climate change is causing more intense and more frequent extreme weather. but far fewer people are dying now due to storms, floods and droughts — and that's thanks to better early warning systems. 0ur chief environment correspondent justin rowlatt has more. 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 have 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 are 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 have improved early warning systems, so we can notify people when an extreme event is about to happen, so 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. so, that's depressing and this is

equally depressing. an oil slick covering approximately 900 square kilometres — that's the size of new york city — is drifting in the eastern mediterranean after leaking from the baniyas power station in syria. syrian officials played down the size of the spill last week, but it's feared up to 20,000 tonnes of oil may have leaked into the mediterranean. the slick had been drifting directly towards turkish northern cyprus, before strong winds blew it away from the coast and to the north. let me show you what the pristine northern tip juan pena ibanez is chief executive of 0rbital eos, which analyses the spread of oil slicks and forecasts their trajectory. hejoins me from valencia in spain. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. i think your picture is frozen, but hopefully we can still hear you. are you there? no, he is not. what a shame. maybe we will train get him back tomorrow night, because that oil slick is not going away, and it is causing a lot

of concern in those mediterranean countries, but we will move on and hopefully reestablish with him tomorrow. the bbc has been speaking with a football fan who says he used to be racist until his daughter helped change his behaviour a few years ago. he is ashamed of his former behaviour and now describes himself as antiracist. 0ur reporter has been speaking to neil and his daughter. i think it was probably seeing the look of disgust on millie's face when i made comments. i think i don't really want to be that sort of role model for her. being a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, basically a bigot, isn't what i want to show millie when she's growing up. this is neil. he says, as a younger man, he was racist, and the football culture he was involved in played a big part in that. he's with his daughter millie at the ground of a nearby club that's done work on tackling racism. i wasn't overtly racist, but i was casually racist, casually sexist, casual homophobic.

in conversation, i'd say the n—word, the p—word. i wasn't a very nice person. i'm not ashamed to admit it. i'm ashamed of what i was, because it's who i was, and it's not who i am any more. one of the things he used to say was things like, "you can't have a black boyfriend, don't bring a black boy home." or we'd walk past people who were selling the big issue and it would be, "well, we only buy them from english people, because they can just go home and be homeless there." it wasn't a necessarily, like, outward thing, he wouldn't go, "oh, my god, i hate these kind of people," but it was, kind of, in the little things. and why did you think it was ok to use language like that at that time? i think it was partly my upbringing, learnt behaviour. i was from a small town with, i think, one black family in the whole village, and then i moved when i was16, 17, to a town with a large minority population, and that was a shock to the system. i wasn't used to it and i didn't know how to deal with it,

so ijust followed what everybody else was doing. how much of an impact do you think football has had on you, neil, in your previous behaviour? probably me earlier life, you'd go along with a chants — the racist chants, the homophobic chants. looking back now, i'm thinking, it's not... that's not the person i am now. i think it normalises it. yeah, it did, it normalised it. it made it, "everybody else is doing it, so that's great." so i'mjoining in, same as everybody else. manesh pandy there. and before we go, how far have you walked in a straight line without crossing a paved road? all right, you've probably never even given it a thought. but there are two adventurers who have. calum maclean and jenny graham climbed mountains, scrambled down gullies and tackled steep rocky crags to complete a 49—mile challenge. an unspoilt route.

there were no paths through the cairngorms in scotland — they had to wade through thigh—high heather and pull themselves up steep slopes. but they completed it, the walk completed on monday evening in 83 hours and 56 minutes, and all of it in a straight line. how about that? hello there. high pressure is still dominating our weather. the area of high pressure currently with us is unusually strong, and quite stubborn as well. in fact, on tuesday night, we recorded, provisionally, the highest august air pressure on record across the north of scotland at 1038.5 millibars. so this very strong area of high pressure not going anywhere in a hurry. in fact, for the next few days, things are staying mostly dry and cloudy, occasional drizzle, particularly towards the east, some spells of sunshine, most particularly for northern and western parts of the uk. so into thursday. as you can see, a lot of cloud for most areas, still a bit of a breeze coming in off the north sea, especially for east anglia, through the english channel as well. lighter winds towards

the north and the west. we could see temperatures, liverpool, for instance, up to about 22 degrees, but a little cooler along that east coast, perhaps not quite as breezy in the east as it has been over recent days. into thursday night, a few clearer spells for parts of scotland, perhaps northern ireland as well, so temperatures just dipping down into single figures for one or two spots, but staying mild for most of us, 11 to 14 degrees first thing friday. now, into friday and this area of high pressure still with us towards the north of the uk, and as you can see, a lot of cloud is trapped underneath the descending air associated with that area of high pressure. no great changes, then, as we look ahead into friday. still a lot of cloud. best of any sunshine for parts of western scotland, perhaps northwest england, northern ireland and the southwest seeing some glimpses of brightness too. temperatures up to 21, possibly 22, degrees in the warmest spots, always a few degrees cooler close to that east coast. now, into the weekend. high pressure still with us, just trying to edge off towards the east as low pressure tries to move in from the atlantic, but it looks like it is the high

pressure that is going to be winning out. so a bit of a change from what we were thinking earlier on in this week. the weekend is looking mostly dry and things are going to be turning a little warmer too. so, saturday, a dry day once again, perhaps the odd spot of drizzle here and there underneath that cloud. some brightness around, again for parts of scotland in particular, not quite as breezy along that east coast as it's been recently, with highs generally about 15 to 21 degrees. now, into sunday — rain not far away, perhaps into the far southwest of england, northern ireland could see the odd spot of rain on sunday, but for much of the uk, we are now thinking sunday is going to be a dry day, with temperatures lifting to around 23 or 24 degrees, but less cloud than we've seen recently as well, and that's going to be the theme through the weekend and into the start of next week. this slightly warmer air looks like it's going to be moving in from a south—easterly direction, so by the time we get to monday, it looks like a largely dry day once again, less in the way of cloud, so more sunshine than we've seen. just the chance of the odd shower out west, but look at those

temperatures by monday — up to about 26, possibly 27 degrees in the south. further ahead into next week, and what we're likely to see is, initially, the jet stream to the north of the uk, perhaps more of a chance of one or two showers just trying to push in from the west, but what could be a bit of a spanner in the works is this system here — the other side of the atlantic — potential major hurricane larry. now, if that forms and moves its way north, we could see this area of high pressure, the azores high, building more strongly, so potentially a slower breakdown in that high pressure. next week starts off warm and dry, potentially slightly cooler later. an increasing chance of rain, particularly in the west later next week. bye— bye.

tonight at ten — a new afghan government could be in place by tomorrow — the taliban claims its approach will be inclusive. in kandahar today, a victory parade, featuring some of the military equipment left behind by us forces. in the capital kabul, the taliban is promising roles for women in the new government, but not at senior levels. we'll have the latest on events in kabul — as thousands more afghans wait to see if they'll be allowed to leave. here in the uk, some afghan migrants meet ministers, as more details of a resettlement scheme are announced. in scotland, vaccine passports will be needed later this month to visit

nightclubs and to attend larger live events.