welcome to bbc news — i'm mark lobel. our top stories. as the taliban puts on a show of its new military muscle — speculation a government may soon be announced. but the economy is close to collapse — the value of the afghan currency plummets — while the price of goods soars. the us supreme court ignores appeals against a new law in texas banning almost all abortions. president biden says it violates the constitution. twitter says it's launching a new feature that it hopes will help crack down on trolling and abuse. and — the rain in spain — flooding causes chaos — as roads are closed — and thousands are left without power.

a new afghan government, composed of senior taliban figures, could be announced as early as friday. a senior leader told the bbc the government would be inclusive. but against this backdrop — the economy of afghanistan is close to collapse — with little immediate prospect of the new islamist rulers gaining access to the country's foreign currency reserves held in the west. prices of essential goods are soaring, the value of the currency is falling, and many public services are barely able to function. here's our afghanistan correspondent secunder kermani. 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, in the lower things, because in every department of the government ministries, you can say almost half of the workers are women. so they can come back to their work and they can continue. but 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. 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. translation: no one has any money right now, - all their savings are stuck in the banks. people arejust bringing small amounts of cash here to exchange, to pay for everyday living. translation: i needed money for groceries, . but the exchange rate isn't good, so i'm going home. the currency rate just keeps on fluctuating. i pray that god brings stability to the government and these problems can be solved. the afghan economy has been heavily dependent on international aid. whether or not that continues, at least when it comes to the west, is likely to be dependent on what kind of government the taliban create,

what kind of laws it enforces. governing afghanistan is going to prove a bigger challenge 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. their 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. drjonathan schroden is the director of cna corporation's countering threats and challenges program, which supports the us government in countering state and non—state threats. hejoins me now from washington dc. thank you forjoining us. do you think the taliban has changed its spots? i don't think there _ changed its spots? i don't think there is _ changed its spots? i don't think there is evidence . changed its spots? i don't think there is evidence of| changed its spots? i don't - think there is evidence of that just yet. i mean, they are a

changed organisation in some ways. they have different personnel in some places and some positions now than they did when they were in power backin did when they were in power back in the 90s and they are certainly a more savvy organisation when it comes to the use of media and international diplomacy and i think that we have seen this in recent days where they are saying a lot of the things that the international community might want to hear but if you look outside of carb or what little reporting there is coming in from space is beyond the capital of the story is much the same as what you would expect of involved. extrajudicial killings, reprisal actions, very harsh justice. closing of girls schools. you know, drawing back on women's rights. these are the type of things people are used to seeing from the taliban is what we are seeing reports from beyond the capital right now. ., ., ., ., now. imagined international diplomacy — now. imagined international diplomacy and _ now. imagined international diplomacy and they - now. imagined international diplomacy and they were - diplomacy and they were

recognised in 1996—2001 the last time they build by pakistan, the uae, saudi and a handful of states. do you expect that number to grow now? i think we have already seen a handful of states lean into that regard. . no one has declared recognition of the taliban government yet in part because they have not announced what the new government is going to look like and who will be in charge so countries are waiting for that kind of announcement but, for example, china has already issued several statements that strongly at the possibility of recognition not far behind them, iran, pakistan, qatar, there are a number of states that are, i think, waiting for the taliban to announce their government and if it shows a modicum of inclusivity there are likely to get recognition from many more countries than they got the last time they were in power.— they got the last time they were in power. have a shared interest _ were in power. have a shared

interest a — were in power. have a shared interest. a top _ were in power. have a shared interest. a top us _ were in power. have a shared interest. a top us journalist l interest. a top usjournalist said they could fight islamic state together.— state together. one of the other things _ state together. one of the other things that - state together. one of the other things that took - state together. one of the | other things that took place over the last few weeks it was the cooperation that took place between the united states, other countries in the taliban during the evacuation of general mckenzie, the commander of us central command, spoke in very measured terms about the cooperation saying that the us and taliban interests aligned during that period during that period of alignment the taliban did play a significant helpful role for the united states. from what you have what do you think the make—up of the government is likely to be when you look at the different groups based in afghanistan. that is the big question we are all waiting to see what of the taliban have claimed they will form an inclusive government

and with that comes expectations of, at a minimum, minorities having roles of power within the government and significant senior roles. significantly within security. the extent to which, for example, women are included in the government, i am much more sceptical that the taliban will reach for that level of inclusivity and at a minimum the international community is looking to see if they include the various minority groups in afghanistan in whatever government they form. we might not have to wait too long to find out. thank you so much for joining us. find out. thank you so much for joining ve— find out. thank you so much for joining ne— joining us. thank you for havin: joining us. thank you for having me- _ thank you for having me. a law banning most abortions in texas has come into effect, after the us supreme court declined to act on an emergency request to block it. pregnancy teminations are now illegal after six weeks —

even in cases of rape or incest. i'm joined now by our washington correspondent nomia iqbal. the supreme court did not block it but it could, in the future. so is this being seen as a test of the federal abortion ban? yes, i think it is. and you are right. so, they declined to block it. they could do so later but what the supreme court is planning to do when it opens up for its tail next month is to broadly reconsider the right to have an abortion so they will be looking at a case from mississippi and this case from mississippi and this case goes a bit further. this wants to ban abortion after the 15 week pregnancy and that is a direct challenge to roe v. wade itself. that ruling is expected to come in 2022. it may be that

is the court does not uphold this mississippi ruling or it may throw out mississippi and thenit may throw out mississippi and then it throws out texas and everything goes back to normal but if they are, a lot of civil rights groups and women's rights groups and women's rights groups and doctors that believe in pro—choice, is that the supreme court has a conservative majority of 6—3. in those conservative judges have indicated that they are pro—life and so if they do go ahead with the mississippi ruling, as i said we are expecting that round about january 22, and uphold this texas ruling, the fear is that thatis texas ruling, the fear is that that is this the beginning of the end to the right to have an abortion in america.— abortion in america. when it comes to — abortion in america. when it comes to this _ abortion in america. when it comes to this law _ abortion in america. when it comes to this law there - abortion in america. when it comes to this law there are l comes to this law there are fears that the least wealthy will suffer the most because they cannot travel out of the state for this emergency procedure. how the backers of the bills responding to those

kind of claims?— kind of claims? that is right and we're — kind of claims? that is right and we're already _ kind of claims? that is right and we're already hearing i kind of claims? that is right i and we're already hearing that lots of clinics nearby. states like colorado, 0klahoma, kansas, they are already getting an influx of texas—based patients who wants to have the right to have an abortion and, you know, she said, patients will travel hundreds of miles to try and get an abortion. and and people crossed state lines to make that happen. the other concern here is the broad language of the law in texas which basically says that anyone involved in an abortion, helps to make it happen, could be sued. and the person who says, if they are successful, could get £10,000. we are talking about doctors who perform abortions of the taxi driver to drive women to the clinical even friends who help to cover the cost. those are the sorts of concerns that people have about this. abortion is one of those very divisive issues in

this country. and republicans particularly, this is a real sort of red meat issue for them already. we have got the midterms coming up next year and there is already an indication that many republicans, particularly running for governor in various parts of america, will be this as an issue.— as an issue. thank you very much. thank you very much. an intense rain storm in spain has led to severe flooding. thousands of homes are without electricity, and roads and rail links have been forced to close. coastal towns in the northeastern region of catalonia bore the brunt of the storm, as well as parts of central spain — near madrid. courtney bembridge has this report. streets were turned to torrents with a powerful stream of water swallowing up cars furniture and trees. this video was captured by emergency services in catalonia where

coastal towns were hit particularly hard. dozens of people had to be rescued and it is feared that some people are still trapped. thousands of homes remain without power. further inland, just outside madrid, people were in the middle of a meal at this restaurant when the storm hit. translation: we had some i customers who had just finished eating. we tried to get out across the patio, but it was terrible. you could not get out anywhere. the water came up to your knees. out on the street, dozens cars were picked up by the force of the water. translation: when it stopped for a while, i i went down to see my car was ok and i saw that my brother's i was gonna man was being carried away by the flood. this storm gained strength from recent high temperatures and humidity. it is the latest in a series of major floods across europe this summer and scientists warn weather events will continue to become more extreme unless the world dramatically cuts

greenhouse gas emissions. stay with us on bbc news — still to come. mysteries of the underworld — more secrets are revealed from beneath the ancient mexican city of teotihuacan. she received the nobel peace prize for her work with the poor and the dying in india slums. the head of the catholic church had said mother teresa was a wonderful example of how to help people in need. we have to identify the bodies, then round the coffins and take them back home. parents are waiting and wives are waiting.

hostages appeared, some carried, some running, trying to escape the nightmare behind them. britain lost a princess today, | described by all to whom she reached out as irreplaceable. an early—morning car crash in a paris underpass ended | a life with more than its share of pain and courage, - warmth and compassion. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines. as the taliban puts on a show of its new military muscle — speculation a government may soon be announced. the us supreme court ignores appeals against a new law in texas banning almost all abortions. president biden says it violates the constitution. a usjudge says he'll approve 0xycontin maker purdue pharma's bankruptcy reorganisation plan. the move clears a path to resolve thousands of opioid lawsuits but protects the company's wealthy sacklerfamily owners

from future opioid litigation. ryan hampton is an addiction recovery advocate — in recovery himself from a decade—long opioid addiction. he was also the co—chair of the committee of creditors overseeing the purdue pharma bankruptcy, appointed by the department ofjustice — until he resigned earlier today. thank you forjoining us here on bbc world news. does this ruling draw a line under the affairfor you? ruling draw a line under the affair for you?— ruling draw a line under the affair for you? you know, this rulin: affair for you? you know, this ruling today — affair for you? you know, this ruling today has _ affair for you? you know, this ruling today has been - affair for you? you know, this ruling today has been a - ruling today has been a tremendous amount of grief. i believe that this ruling has left many victims behind who were harmed. the family are essentially walking away scot free. contributing 11.3 billion

dollars into the bankruptcy but essentially getting broad releases that will allow then never to face any litigation in the future. for opioid claims, ever again. the future. for opioid claims, ever again-— the future. for opioid claims, ever aain. ,. , ever again. the 'udge described it as a better _ ever again. the judge described it as a better result _ ever again. the judge described it as a better result but - ever again. the judge described it as a better result but gave . it as a better result but gave practical reasons why he was happy that it had come to the stage. the family say that they acted ethically and lawfully butjust acted ethically and lawfully but just describe why there acted ethically and lawfully butjust describe why there is the sense of injustice against them. the sense of in'ustice against them. ,, . ~ them. sure. the sackler firm usually the — them. sure. the sackler firm usually the root _ them. sure. the sackler firm usually the root of _ them. sure. the sackler firm usually the root of the - usually the root of the overdose crisis that we are experiencing in the united states right now and the judges absolutely right. i mean, this is a better decision. sadly, without this close participating in this bankruptcy there would be $0 for victims who have been harmed. there is a $750 million fund that will compensate victims of the cyclists crimes

and without these releases, the way the plan was built and it is a great injustice, there is no money for those who are directly harmed. the sackler family was involved in the marketing, the development of the marketing, the miss marketing, then this branding and the lobbying efforts that led to 0xycontin weapon is in its way into the medicine cabinet and for many of those left behind this is just a very sad day and a great injustice because this is the end of the road for the circulars. there is not much more that we are able to do but we will continue to bear the brunt of the overdose friends and people i love who are serving time in jailfor love who are serving time in jail for crimes love who are serving time in jailfor crimes away love who are serving time in jail for crimes away less than what the sackler family has committed but here in the united states this is what we call billionaire justice and people are able to write a very large cheque to get out of trouble. . , , trouble. the family deny

responsibility _ trouble. the family deny responsibility and - trouble. the family deny responsibility and the i responsibility and the settlement of fauna have billion pounds will be used to help with america's opioid crisis. how far do you think it will go in helping the current problem?— will go in helping the current roblem? ,, , ., �* ~' problem? survey i don't think it is... problem? survey i don't think it is- -- it _ problem? survey i don't think it is... n is— problem? survey i don't think it is... it is not _ problem? survey i don't think it is... it is not enough - problem? survey i don't think it is... it is not enough to - it is... it is not enough to help the current problem. estimates here in the united states say that we need somewhere between 20— $30 billion per year to really effectively even make a dent in the overdose crisis which last year hit historic highs again have a 93,000 americans died of overdoses. and the the settlement is structured it is paid out over nine years and split between 50 different states are really, when you do the maths, it is not much money and actually, at the end of this, the circulars, assuming a healthy interest rate here in the states, will walk away not just recovering the amount of money that putting into this bankruptcy but actually being

richer than they were when they walked into it. so it is a great injustice and many others are just, great injustice and many others arejust, you know, taking the time today to grieve because we have worked tirelessly and hard to have this family accountable and they will be walking into the sunset while we are dealing and sustaining the losses in our own... continue to sustain these losses in our own communities.— these losses in our own communities. ., ., , communities. the heart of this is the battered _ communities. the heart of this is the battered opioids - communities. the heart of thisj is the battered opioids became addictive and it was known by the company. that was what went through the court. and yet on the other side of it, you are one of those people who had to deal with the effects and for people who have not got family members who have been affected or don't know what it's like, can you do is describe what it felt like at the time and how difficult it was pull out of it? it difficult it was pull out of it? , , difficult it was pull out of it? , y , . difficult it was pull out of it? , y _ ., it? it is very difficult. for well over— it? it is very difficult. for well over a _ it? it is very difficult. for well over a decade - it? it is very difficult. for well over a decade i - it? it is very difficult. for| well over a decade i dealt it? it is very difficult. for - well over a decade i dealt with the devastation downward spiral that comes with a opioid

addiction is. specifically 0xycontin and subsequently harrowing after that. i went working in politics. i had an up—and—coming career to being homeless on the streets and was not able to access health care. multiple overdoses, complete isolation from those i loved. almost lost my life and by a stroke of luck i was able to access help to the public health system in 2014 but all of that devastation, all that destruction is hard to put a dollarfigure destruction is hard to put a dollar figure two. destruction is hard to put a dollarfigure two. and destruction is hard to put a dollar figure two. and today, thejudge of the dollar figure two. and today, the judge of the bankruptcy court in new york did put a dollar value to it. and it wasn't enough and it stops short of really what victims deserve. i thought behind closed doors for over two years to say that victims deserve more and we were ignored and sidelined throughout the entire process. it sidelined throughout the entire rocess. , ., ., sidelined throughout the entire rocess, , , ., sidelined throughout the entire rocess. , ., ., process. it is good you are no loner process. it is good you are no longer behind _ process. it is good you are no longer behind closed - process. it is good you are no longer behind closed doors i process. it is good you are no i longer behind closed doors and able to inspire people who went through what you went through

before. thank you for telling us your story forjoining us on bbc world news.— us your story forjoining us on bbc world news. thank you for havin: bbc world news. thank you for having me- _ thank you for having me. twitter is launching a new feature that it hopes will help crack down on abuse and trolling, both of which have become huge issues for the platform. safety mode will flag accounts using hateful remarks and block them for seven days. the feature will work automatically once enabled, taking the burden off users to deal with unwelcome tweets. the new feature will initially be trialled on a small group of users. alongside dealing with abuse on the platform,twitter says it has also become more determined to stamp out misinformation. let's talk about all of this with social media expert, andrew hutchinson. he is head of content at the industry publicaton, social media today, and joins us from canberra in australia. why is twitter testing this new

feature now? twitter is a big problem with abuse. the big thing they're trying to tackle as counterculture which is when someone tweets something that is offensive, whether deliberately or not. someone says that is wrong. someone else pales onto that and it gets bigger and bigger until you've got may be hundreds of thousands of people responding to this one person they become the subject of hate for however long that might be which can take a pretty significant mental toll on people. this option gives capacity to shut that off and avoid that from happening. undersort that off and avoid that from happening. under sort of unwittingly becoming the sort of focus of focus of hate for that day. of focus of focus of hate for that day-— that day. how does that actually _ that day. how does that actually work? - that day. how does that actually work? at - that day. how does that actually work? at the i that day. how does that - actually work? at the moment, if you send a harmful message it almost ask you to think again, just question gives you time before it actually broadcast but how it is actually work and how users be able to use it?— able to use it? there are several _ able to use it? there are several prompts - able to use it? there are several prompts that - able to use it? there are - several prompts that twitter is put in place to try and fit in better protections to keep people away from abuse and give them an option to be able to avoid that. so this will work

by automatically detecting a sudden influx in lots of mentions of your handle and lots of replies to a tweeter when it gets lots of those coming through are not people you regularly interact with it can automatically them off so if you turn a safety mode it will switch them off for seven days. you can go back in and review the people it is automatically blocked but it keeps you safe from those responses and mansions for the period of seven days so far. you monitor these things and you think it is a good move? will this be welcomed by users? i think it is important for twitter to be able to give people options to be able to protect themselves. there are circumstances when you can inadvertently say the wrong thing and suddenly you become subject of that criticism and it is not so much the person that they are attacking, it is the topic. and you are inadvertently the person in the middle and you are getting all this abuse but the people attack you don't know you and are trying to make a statement about that topic in the public nature of twitter makes a

significant impact and can really affect your psychologically and your reputation so i can see why twitter would want to give people more options to avoid that. it is important they give people the capacity to avoid that mental stress. it can give people an option to avoid criticism like if you were deliberately provoking people. but it can also give brands the option to shutdown. they also had to answer to that. there will still be some level of reckoning, i guess, will still be some level of reckoning, iguess, if will still be some level of reckoning, i guess, if you're not responding to those questions and you are blocking people but it does give individual users an option to be able to lessen some of that stress and remove themselves from the situation.— from the situation. very briefly. _ from the situation. very briefly. do _ from the situation. very briefly, do you - from the situation. very briefly, do you think... | from the situation. very - briefly, do you think... what would you vote the other social media companies doing? twitter is another unique _ media companies doing? twitter is another unique position - is another unique position because of the public nature of the platform for each platform is putting in different protections and different things to protect younger users. there are new regulations come into place that are going to put more onus on the platform is be done better protections to keep

young kids in particular save so all platforms are taking those extra steps. ilustiiiii so all platforms are taking those extra steps. will invite ou to those extra steps. will invite you to talk — those extra steps. will invite you to talk about _ those extra steps. will invite you to talk about it. - those extra steps. will invite you to talk about it. we - those extra steps. will invitej you to talk about it. we have those extra steps. will invite l you to talk about it. we have a lot of time. thank you for joining us. hello there. on wednesday, it was a lovely day across scotland and northern ireland. wide spread sunshine and pretty warm with 25 celsius recorded in sterlingshire. further south for england and wales it was rather cloudy. the next few days it is similar set up. the best of the sunshine across the north, more cloud in the south. it's this area of high pressure that we've had for nearly two weeks now. pretty much in the same position bringing back east or northeast airflow. so a lot of cloud generally to start the day thursday. eventually we start to see the cloud breaking up across scotland and northern ireland and into northern england was up increasing sunshine here, it will turn quite warm to the afternoon. but again, for much of england and wales, a lot of cloud around. some sunny breaks here and there, more of a breeze

again across the south and through the channel. lighter winds further north, could see temperatures reach the low to be 20s in the sunny spots across scotland. otherwise for most for you have the cloud around 17—19, 20 degrees. 0ur area of high pressure still around with us on friday. moving a little bit towards the east but still bringing an easterly wind. they will be a lot of cloud still wrapped up in this system. and again friday pretty similar, most of the cloud i think across central, southern eastern areas, the cloud i think across central, southern eastern areas, the best of the sunshine towards the west where it will feel a little bit warmer. as we head on into the weekend we start to see our area of high pressure drift in towards the near continent with low pressure approaching from the west, that's going to allow a run of southerly winds to develop across the country. and we start to tap into some warmth across france. i think a gradual process but during the weekend temperatures will be climbing up gradually. we should start to see increasing amount of sunshine as we draw up some dryer air from the south. saturday pretty similar to how thursday and friday

shape up but quite a bit of cloud around. i think later in the day there are signs of increasing sunshine across southern england, south wales. that will push the temperatures up to 23 degrees or so. but for most again, the mid to high teens or up to around 20. i think on sunday there's a greater chance of seeing more wide spread sunshine. certainly a brighter day for much of england and wales then we've had over the past week. as winds coming in from the south from france pushing up into around the mid 20s across the south or high teens further north. and then it's warmer still into the start of next week. could be looking at values closer to the mid to upper 20s celsius, particularly across central and southern areas.

this is bbc news — the headlines...

a new government in afghanistan — composed of senior taliban figures — could be announced as early as friday. a senior leader told the bbc the government would be inclusive — but unlikely to have women in topjobs. against this backdrop, the economy is close to collapse. a law severely restricting access to abortion has come into effect in texas. it's been condemned by president biden as a violation of women's constitutional rights. it bans almost all terminations from the moment a foetal heartbeat can be detected — usually around six weeks into a pregnancy. an intense rain storm in spain has led to severe flooding. thousands of homes are without electricity, and roads and rail links have been forced to close. coastal towns in the northeastern region of catalonia bore the brunt of the storm — as well as parts of central spain. up to half a million people across the uk

with severely weakened immune systems are being advised