this is bbc news, i'm shaun ley, the headlines at seven p:m.... note jabs for 1215 —year—olds for now. the for 1215 -year-olds for now. the risks and _ for 1215 -year-olds for now. the risks and benefits _ for 1215 —year—olds for now. tue: risks and benefits are for 1215 —year—olds for now. tte: risks and benefits are finally balanced, but there are other wider conditions such as educational benefits that need to be taken into consideration.— benefits that need to be taken into consideration. calls for more money for the nhs — consideration. calls for more money for the nhs to _ consideration. calls for more money for the nhs to deal— consideration. calls for more money for the nhs to deal with _ consideration. calls for more money for the nhs to deal with the - for the nhs to deal with the backlog of operations and increasing demand for social care. of operations and increasing demand forsocial care. fearand for social care. fear and desperation: soldiers forsocial care. fearand desperation: soldiers tell us about the chaos they witnessed during the final evacuation from kabul. you can't see a _ final evacuation from kabul. you can't see a young _ final evacuation from kabul. tm. can't see a young child, a baby, a woman crushed to death in front of

you, and then you having to deal with the aftermath of that. you can't see any of that without being emotional. find can't see any of that without being emotional. �* . ., , ., emotional. and coming up in half an hour, emotional. and coming up in half an hour. foreign _ emotional. and coming up in half an hour, foreign correspondents - emotional. and coming up in half an hour, foreign correspondents based| hour, foreign correspondents based in londonjoined me to give an outsiders view on events in the uk and the wider world. that state line on bbc news. —— dateline. hello, and welcome if you just joined us. the uk's vaccine advisory bodyis joined us. the uk's vaccine advisory body is saying it cannot recommend vaccinating 12—15 —year—olds against rotavirus. they are at low risk comparatively to the virus, and the jobs would only have marginal benefit. the jcvi jobs would only have marginal

benefit. thejcvi said the government should consider wider issues, including the potential disruption to schools if children are vaccinated and get ill. the health secretary sajid javid has asked chief medical officers in all four nations to see if medical vaccinations would tip the balance. fergus walsh reports. from france, to the united states, and israel, many wealthier nations are already immunising all their 12 to 15—year—olds, not the uk. the scientists who advise government on immunisation, thejcvi, today said a further 200,000 young teens with heart, lung and liver conditions thought to be vulnerable to covid would be asked to have the vaccine, but it would not recommend the jab for healthy 12—15—year—olds. whilst the benefits marginally outweigh the risks, the risk of heart inflamation

is still uncertain and we want to see what wider societal and educational benefits there are to children before recommending universal vaccination. the key concern for the jcvi is the potential long—term harm from a rare side—effect from the pfizer vaccine. myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis information of the heart lining. —— inflammation of the heart lining. data from the united states shows that for every 1 million boys fully immunised with the pfizer vaccine, there were around 60 cases of heart information. —— heart inflammation. among girls, it was much lower, with around eight cases per million. symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. but these were generally mild symptoms and short—lived. as for covid, healthy children are at minimal risk of severe illness with just two in a million admitted to intensive care after infection.

so what happens now? thejcvi only looks at health issues, but the uk's four chief medical officers can examine why the issues, such as disruption to schools, from repeated covid outbreaks, and whether this might tip the balance in favour of immunising all 12—15—year—olds. —— wider issues. if we are going to vaccinate our children, it has got to really be in their interests and not in society's interests to vaccinate them, and i think it is a difficult decision. so what do families make of it? people between the age of 12—15 . should be able to get a vaccination to prevent the spread of the virus. i would not recommend for the moment, it's too early. i think if we want to get the pandemic under control, we have to as vaccinate many of the population as possible. many other countries rolled out vaccines to all secondary school children in the summer,

with the autumn term now under a final decision of the uk is promised shortly. and a little earlier, fergus explained the significance of the announcement. this could show the care and attention that the jcvi, this independent group of scientists, have taken every step of the way when it comes to recommending who gets which vaccines. and that may boost public confidence. but there's a danger that it'll also be seen as dithering and passing the buck. and people may ask, "why wasn't this decision made earlier when schools were still on summer holidays, and why wasn't the final decision coordinated with the wider assessment of the health benefits to education and society so we can have one announcement?" and there is some political frustration about the delays — for example, the uk now has a lower percentage of its population immunised than denmark,

spain, belgium and canada. so the assessment now goes to chris whitty and the other chief medical officers. but for now, parents and children will have to wait. let's talk now to a clinical epidemiologist from queen barry university, london, and a member of thejcvi. doctor, good to speak to you again. what you make of this decision by thejc you again. what you make of this decision by the jc vi effectively to say, this is our sense of it, but actually we think it's over to you chief medical officers to make the final decision ——jcvi? my chief medical officers to make the final decision —— jcvi? my apologies for that. tt’s final decision -- jcvi? my apologies for that. �* , final decision -- jcvi? my apologies forthat. h . , ., final decision -- jcvi? my apologies for that. h . , ., , for that. it's fine. the decision is shocking- _ for that. it's fine. the decision is shocking. let's _ for that. it's fine. the decision is shocking. let's be _ for that. it's fine. the decision is shocking. let's be clear, - for that. it's fine. the decision is shocking. let's be clear, the -

shocking. let's be clear, the benefit to risk evaluation was evaluated for months. i'm rather shocked by the analysis the jcvi evaluated for months. i'm rather shocked by the analysis thejcvi has done, they vastly underestimated... when they've used population denominators, the actual risk is the same data they're using. putting that aside, the idea that we should be looking at direct benefit to children is important, but it's very clear that if you use the correct statistics, the benefits in terms of hospitalisations, deaths, long covid directly to children far outweigh the risks. we don't need to justify vaccinating children, in fact it's reckless not to give and we have 8000 children getting infected every day, even before schools had opened. now we are putting children into schools without mitigations and without vaccination. and we know what's happened in scotland just two weeks ago when schools went in,

there's been mass disruption and increase in infection rates in this age group. increase in infection rates in this age grown-— age group. picking up your point about what _ age group. picking up your point about what the _ age group. picking up your point about what the jcvi _ age group. picking up your point about what the jcvi has - age group. picking up your point i about what the jcvi has considered about what the jcvi has considered or not, we spoke to a member of the committee on bbc news earlier this afternoon and he said we do look at the inverted benefits? yes. afternoon and he said we do look at the inverted benefits?— the inverted benefits? yes, but the roblem is the inverted benefits? yes, but the problem is that _ the inverted benefits? yes, but the problem is that the _ the inverted benefits? yes, but the problem is that the direct - the inverted benefits? yes, but the problem is that the direct benefit i problem is that the direct benefit analysis they've done is completely wrong. it's so basically flawed that it doesn't pass basic scrutiny. they've said that the admissions rate for children is to in a million, which doesn't make any sense for how the children —— for healthy children. because with their current rates, you would need children with pre—existing conditions to form a 500% of the population to explain the number of ic you admissions we've had, and that doesn't make any sense at all. so you think the stats they've based this on are wrong. what do you then

think the chief medical officers, chris whitty, and his other colleagues in the nations of the uk should be taking into consideration? what would you want them to add to their thinking in addition to what their thinking in addition to what thejcvi has said? the? their thinking in addition to what the jcvi has said?— the jcvi has said? they should completely _ the jcvi has said? they should completely disregard - the jcvi has said? they should completely disregard what - the jcvi has said? they should completely disregard what the | the jcvi has said? they should - completely disregard what the jcvi completely disregard what the jcvi has said because it's based on flawed science. they need to look at the actual evidence which there has been many publications on in the us and from other people showing the huge benefits directly to children. they should also consider the risks posed by long cobit. —— long covid. we've seen people have symptoms lasting for 3—4 months, and they have cognitive effects like memory loss and lack of concentration. this is not a trivial disease in children, a disease that causes disability and 11 chilled —— 11,000 children is not trivial. disability and 11 chilled -- 11,000 children is not trivial.— children is not trivial. doctor, thank you- —

children is not trivial. doctor, thank you. you _ children is not trivial. doctor, thank you. you my _ children is not trivial. doctor, thank you. you my thanks - children is not trivial. doctor, thank you. you my thanks for children is not trivial. doctor, - thank you. you my thanks for having me. and we will find out how this report and many others are covered in the first additions of saturday's newspapers at 10:30pm and 11:30pm this evening. joining me will be geraldine scott and james luer. a former conservative health secretary has said the government must "bite the bullet" and bring in tax rises to fund the nhs and social care. jeremy hunt said the pressures on the sector are only going to increase, following the pandemic. the government is due to announce some measures next week to address the challenges faced by the nhs in england — as the number of people waiting for procedures is at a record high. 0ur health editor hugh pym reports. i'm not half the man i was. compared to what i could do, i am nowhere near the guy. wayne from derbyshire has had a painful and sometimes traumatic wait of more than two years for treatment for gallstones.

after six months of assessment, he was put on the list for an operation early last year but while waiting for surgery, he became seriously ill and spent months in hospital. he had to learn to walk again and build up his strength. welcome home! and he was discharged from hospital in february. i should have been dealt with far sooner and this wouldn't have happened. being bitter is not going to solve this. solving it would be putting it to an end so going forward, these queues, these waiting lists are reduced. wayne still doesn't know when his operation will take place. he feels the delay and his condition getting worstjust meant more nhs resources were needed for his care. so what are the solutions? major north london hospitals, including this one, are working together to send patients to specialist centres. here it is orthopaedic surgery. they are doing more operations

than before the pandemic and are bringing in some who have had long waits. we know that waiting with advanced arthritis is causing significant- problems with mobility, i obviously persistent pain. and for many, their mental health has also suffered so to be able - to get back to operate now is very rewarding for us and of course it's good to see that our patients are gettingl the treatment they require. how are you? i'm fine. william has given margaret a hip replacement. a few hours later, he is checking how she is. it has been quite tough. but i'm glad i've had it done now. the time has gone so quick. i'm glad i've had it done now so i can be comfortable and not in no pain no more. this is a brand—new hospital facility and they are working with partners across the local community to try to reduce waiting lists. the question is, will the nhs in some other areas he able to do the same? there has been extra nhs funding for this initiative. that has been welcomed by hospital leaders although they say cutting the backlog will be a huge task.

it's going to be massive - workload, need a great deal of investment to do it, i and that is at every level. we have got to train more surgeons, train more anaesthetists, _ train more theatre staff. but above all, we need to be efficient so when we have i got these facilities, - we really have to use them. we have to use them i every day of the week. 0nlyjust come out of hospital a month before... one of the hospitals which treated wayne said there was progress tackling the backlog but it was understood that long waits were distressing for patients. wayne has now been contacted about further checks, but there is still no date for his op. hugh pym, bbc news. you came into the studio because the government is also looking at how to reform and pay for social care —— hue. and he's been looking at what might be planned. taste hue. and he's been looking at what might be planned.— might be planned. we don't have any detail et, might be planned. we don't have any detail yet. but _ might be planned. we don't have any detail yet, but we _ might be planned. we don't have any detail yet, but we are _ might be planned. we don't have any detail yet, but we are told _ might be planned. we don't have any detail yet, but we are told we - might be planned. we don't have any detail yet, but we are told we are - detail yet, but we are told we are going to get something early next week and it'll attempt to address theissue week and it'll attempt to address the issue of means testing of social care in england. at the moment, if you have savings of more than

£14,250, you have to meet some of your social care costs. anything more than £22,250, you have to meet all your costs. and if you have to go into a residential home, the value of your house is included in that. so it does end up with people having to sell their homes which has caused a lot of anger and distress over the years. then there's the issue of a cap — in other words, can you limit the amount that people have to pay from their own savings? backin have to pay from their own savings? back in 2015 the conservative manifesto had a pledge to cap care costs at £72,000, but it was never implement it. now there's the cost local authorities are providing to social care, extra funding for that, and the speculation is that could be funded by increased national insurance contributions. we will have to wait until early next week. in scotland, there is free personal care, a certain amount of that in

northern ireland and wales, some care costs are already capped. well, we can now speak to the former conservative health secretary, stephen dorrell and chair of the health select committe. he joins us live from worcester. thank you very much, good to speak to you again. do you sharejeremy hunt's belief that in the end, some kind of rise in taxation will be needed to fund this?- needed to fund this? yes, i absolutely _ needed to fund this? yes, i absolutely agree _ needed to fund this? yes, i absolutely agree with - needed to fund this? yes, i l absolutely agree with jeremy needed to fund this? yes, i - absolutely agree with jeremy about that. i think it's welcome, actually, on the narrow issue of social care, that the government is quite clearly speculating in public now about which tax it'll raise — not whether it'll raise tax, but which tax it'll raise in order to address the social care crisis. but i thinkjeremy hunt is also quite right to say that you can't address social care on its own or the health service on its own. it is one health care system, and the truth is as we look forward to the rest of this

decade, both health and social care will need more money. his proposal is the national _ will need more money. his proposal is the national insurance _ will need more money. his proposal is the national insurance system, i is the national insurance system, and we've had extra rises on national insurance, you are in the house of commons then so you will remember when tony blair was prime minister, he slipped past gordon brown that they were going to put up national insurance to bring the health spending up to the european average, orthat health spending up to the european average, or that was the aspiration. is the national insurance the right way to go this? the is the national insurance the right way to go this?— is the national insurance the right way to go this? the most important thing actually _ way to go this? the most important thing actually is _ way to go this? the most important thing actually is to _ way to go this? the most important thing actually is to make _ way to go this? the most important thing actually is to make sure - way to go this? the most important thing actually is to make sure we i thing actually is to make sure we have more resources into health and social care, and i welcome the fact that the government is speculating about that. i would personally do it through national insurance, i think that tilts the burden onto younger working people —— i would not. and also because of the way the national insurance system works, it caps the obligation at a mid level of income. so income tax is a share away ——

fairer way of meeting this burden, so i would prefer income tax but national insurance is better than carrying on as we are. t national insurance is better than carrying on as we are.— carrying on as we are. i noticed that when _ carrying on as we are. i noticed that when we — carrying on as we are. i noticed that when we spoke _ carrying on as we are. i noticed that when we spoke earlier - carrying on as we are. i noticed i that when we spoke earlier today to the intergenerational foundation, they made the not unreasonable point that if you continue to work, you stop paying national insurance — meaning older workers get a 12% pay boost almost overnight once they hit what is the official retirement age. indeed, . .,, ., what is the official retirement age. indeed, . ., ., ., , what is the official retirement age. indeed, . . . . , , indeed, and those are already people who, if they — indeed, and those are already people who. if they are _ indeed, and those are already people who, if they are on _ indeed, and those are already people who, if they are on relatively - indeed, and those are already people who, if they are on relatively high - who, if they are on relatively high incomes, benefit from the fact that the national insurance contributions don't apply to the higher level of income. so the point about national insurance is that it focuses the burden onto younger people and less well—paid people, which is why i think the income tax would be a better way of paying for this health

and social care obligation, which rests on us all as members of society. rests on us all as members of socie . ,, ~ rests on us all as members of socie . i. ~ ., society. do you think that the olitical society. do you think that the political crossfire _ society. do you think that the political crossfire that - society. do you think that the political crossfire that was - political crossfire that was experienced by previous ideas like the commission which involved the use of some people's assets potentially getting some money out of their estate after they died, that's nowjust become apolitical nonstarter? t’m that's nowjust become apolitical nonstarter?— that's nowjust become apolitical nonstarter? �* ., ., ., ., nonstarter? i'm not one of those who think that social _ nonstarter? i'm not one of those who think that social care _ nonstarter? i'm not one of those who think that social care should - nonstarter? i'm not one of those who think that social care should be - nonstarter? i'm not one of those who think that social care should be met | think that social care should be met fully through the cost of taxation. i do think it's reasonable in a mixed economy for better off people to share and make a contribution to their social care costs. the point andrew makes, and i think this is absolutely right and goes back to his original report in 2011, around ten years ago, is the obligation to meet all social care costs can run to hundreds of thousands of pounds in a very tiny minority of cases.

and it's the one form of risk that you can't ensure against. and that's why andrew suggested this should be insured by the taxpayer because that's fair. _, ., insured by the taxpayer because that's fair. ,., ., ., insured by the taxpayer because that's fair. ., , , ., ~ insured by the taxpayer because that's fair-— that's fair. good to speak to you a . ain, that's fair. good to speak to you again. thanks — that's fair. good to speak to you again, thanks very _ that's fair. good to speak to you again, thanks very much - that's fair. good to speak to you again, thanks very much for- that's fair. good to speak to you | again, thanks very much for your thoughts on this question. as he was saying, we are expecting some kind of announcement from the government imminently, hugh pym suggested it could be early next week, so stay with us on bbc news and we will bring you that as soon as we get the details. staying with the pandemic — latest figures show a further 121 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test here in the uk. there have also been 42,076 new cases reported over the past 24—hour period. the senior british commander on the ground in kabul has been speaking for the first time about the evacuation operation.

the last of the 1,000 british troops returned to uk at the weekend, after helping to rescue more than 15,000 people. brigadierjames martin says his troops did their duty in the midst of the most harrowing scenes. he's been talking to our defence correspondentjonathan beale. this is what british troops faced soon after they landed in the cauldron of kabul airport. the desperation of thousands of people trying to flee a country now under taliban control. soldiers trained for combat trying to instill some order in the chaos. a massive humanitarian mission that has taken its toll. when you are dealing with a very large crowd that is fearful, in fear of its life, crushing, pressing against you, when women and children are being crushed and, yes, dying, in some cases, in your arms, your agency to deal with the situation and change it is very different than when you are on combat operations. there was emotions all the way through the operations. you can't see a young child, a baby,

a woman crushed to death in front of you and then you having to deal with the aftermath of that, you can't see any of that without being emotional. there have been tears? yeah, of course there have been tears. and they did all this while their own lives were under threat. it culminated in a suicide attack just over a week ago. 13 of their us comrades were killed in the blast, along with more than 150 afghans who were hoping to get on a flight to freedom. it was carnage, it was carnage. when that level of explosion and combination of shrapnel is detonated, there is only one result, and that is carnage. but the way in which i witnessed our soldiers react to that incident was, you know, one of the finest things i've seen. they ran towards the explosion. they provided immediate medical succour and support to the afghan civilians that had been wounded.

brigadier martin himself has done several tours fighting the taliban, who are now back in control, so the question, was it worth it. what price 20 years of freedom for those people? what price no terrorist attacks emanating from afghanistan? so, you know, i put the ball back in your court. is that worth it? in the end, they helped rescue more than 15,000 people. and while questions still remain about the speed of the government's response, who can question the courage, commitment and compassion shown by britain's armed forces? jonathan beale, bbc news. a teenager who wanted to murder a formerfriend with a 3d—printed gun, has been found guilty of plotting acts of terrorism. 18—year—old neo—nazi matthew cronjager allegedly set up an online library to share right—wing propaganda and explosives—making manuals with like—minded people he had met on the web. he was found guilty

at the old bailey. tributes have been paid to an 86—year—old man who died in a canal in cornwall while saving the life of his disabled daughter. lawrence casey went into bude canal in north cornwall to rescuejessica when she lost control of her mobility scooter on wednesday. she's now recovering at home. the family of mr casey said he was "devoted" to his daughter's care and his final act of love as a father was to sacrifice his life to save hers. at 7.30pm, it's dateline london, but first a full round up, from the bbc sports centre, here'sjon. good evening. england have a slender lead of 56 over india in the fourth test on day two. england started play three wickets down overnight then lost

craig 0verton and dawid malan this morning to leave them in big trouble. umesh yadav with both wickets. 0llie pope helped dig them out, and he went on to pass 50 before guiding england into a first innings lead. he looked all set for a century but was bowled by shardul thakur on 81. but chris woakes added some important late innings runs. he made a half century before england were bowled out for 290. india finish the day on 43 without loss. british number one dan evans is hoping to reach the fourth round of the us open for the first time in his career. he's up against australia's alexei popyrin. but he's lost the first set. evans did take an early break, but it then unravelled with popyrin winning 6—4. they're now into the second set and popyrin has broken once again. he's currently serving now for what could be a set lead. —— two set lead. the new women's super league season begins in the next 25 minutes — with record audience figures expected for the new campaign. the opening game will see manchester united host reading in leigh. united who've finished fourth in the table for two years in a row,

and have a new manager in marc skinner. i have said this many times and interviews. there is nobody that will put more pressure on themselves than me. so that fans' weight of expectations because they love their club, it' never a negative to want to win. it is never a negative to want to win things. so, you know, want to match the fans expectations with our performances. the only thing we would like to do is we would like to beat some wonderful teams, it beauty from a watching from afar as there are some wonderful teams. you know, that is such a challenge, but why are we here if it is not to challenge ourselves? fifa is investigating racial abuse by hungary fans towards england players during last night's world cup qualifier in budapest. england condemned the abuse as "completely unacceptable" and borisjohnson has urged fifa to take "strong action" against supporters who made monkey noises and threw objects onto the pitch during the game, which england won four—0. —— 4—0. natalie pirks reports.

england knew the atmosphere would be hostile in the puskas arena. fell on deaf ears. while that is disappointing _ fell on deaf ears. while that is disappointing. so _ fell on deaf ears. while that is l disappointing. so disappointing. what is the night went on, it got worse. england players were pelted with past plastic cups and some faced monkey calls from the altar is. t faced monkey calls from the altar is. ., �* ~' faced monkey calls from the altar is. ., �* ~ ., faced monkey calls from the altar is. i don't think our players can do an hint is. i don't think our players can do anything more _ is. i don't think our players can do anything more than _ is. i don't think our players can do anything more than they - is. i don't think our players can do anything more than they have - is. i don't think our players can do | anything more than they have done over the _ anything more than they have done over the last 2—3 years in trying to -et over the last 2—3 years in trying to get the _ over the last 2—3 years in trying to get the right messages out, take the film get the right messages out, take the right stands. and it's for other people — right stands. and it's for other people to _ right stands. and it's for other people to protect them, it's for me to protect — people to protect them, it's for me to protect them in the main. but for the authorities to protect them, as well _ the authorities to protect them, as well. a , the authorities to protect them, as well. , , ., , well. many feel racist fans shouldn't _ well. many feel racist fans shouldn't of _ well. many feel racist fans shouldn't of been - well. many feel racist fans shouldn't of been there i well. many feel racist fans | shouldn't of been there the well. many feel racist fans - shouldn't of been there the first place. hungary were handed a three match ban by uefa. uefa's governing

body, for racism and homophobia last summer. but because last night was my game was a world cup qualifier under fifa, the band had not kicked in. , . , under fifa, the band had not kicked in. , ., ._ under fifa, the band had not kicked in. this was a match that really should have — in. this was a match that really should have been _ in. this was a match that really should have been placed - in. this was a match that really | should have been placed behind closed doors. hungary have been sanctioned for three matches, suspended once by ua for following the events at the euros 5—6 weeks ago —— uefa. and to see them play a full house match against a big racially diverse team like england was disappointing. this racially diverse team like england was disappointing.— racially diverse team like england was disappointing. this morning in buda est, was disappointing. this morning in budapest, there _ was disappointing. this morning in budapest, there was _ was disappointing. this morning in budapest, there was sadness - was disappointing. this morning in budapest, there was sadness at i was disappointing. this morning in i budapest, there was sadness at what happened. the budapest, there was sadness at what hauened. , , ., budapest, there was sadness at what hauened. , ,., , budapest, there was sadness at what hauened. , , , happened. the racism is a very big roblem happened. the racism is a very big problem here _ happened. the racism is a very big problem here in _ happened. the racism is a very big problem here in hungary. - happened. the racism is a very big problem here in hungary. maybe l happened. the racism is a very big i problem here in hungary. maybe they need to travel — problem here in hungary. maybe they need to travel more _ problem here in hungary. maybe they need to travel more around _ problem here in hungary. maybe they need to travel more around the - problem here in hungary. maybe they need to travel more around the world | need to travel more around the world and see _ need to travel more around the world and see how— need to travel more around the world and see how other— need to travel more around the world and see how other people _ need to travel more around the world and see how other people behave. i need to travel more around the world and see how other people behave. til and see how other people behave. report containing video evidence of the racism is now with fifa, but hungry�*s foreign minister dismissed to the atmosphere last night is simply hostile, and similar to what italy faced at wembley in the

european final. england does have its own problem with racist abuse in football, but for hungary, more sanctions are surely heading its way. natalie perks, bbc news. great britain have passed the 100—medal mark at this year's tokyo paralympics. three golds on day ten. world t44 highjump champion jonathan broom—edwards, a silver medallist in rio, went one better this time by clearing 2.10 metres with his second attempt for gold. 0wen miller, making his paralympic debut, put in a strong final lap to win the t201500 metres in three minutes 54.57 seconds, ahead of russian alexander rabotnitskii. and canoeist emma wiggs was victorious in the vl2 200m event — the first time that this particular canoe has been raced at the paralympics. she won gold when para—canoe made its debut in rio. that's all the sport for now. next up, it's the weather with nick miller.

hello. gradual changes under way with our weather this weekend as it turns warmer and a bit brighter in england and wales by sunday, same time by then, scotland and northern ireland with a chance of rain. until sunday, it's pretty much as you were, and that means plenty of cloud, as there will be as we get into tonight, some drizzly rain possible from the thickest cloud. low cloud sitting on the hills giving foggy conditions and some patches of fog possible where we have clear spells too towards wales and southwest england. temperatures for the most part holding up into double figures. and then into tomorrow, well, the best of any sunny spells will be in wales, southern england, especially southwest england. a few in northern and northern scotland. plenty of cloud again elsewhere, the chance of some drizzly rain. the flow of air coming in from the north sea towards the coast of eastern scotland and northeast england. here, we'll keep temperatures into around about the mid—teens, whereas elsewhere, its upper teens close to 20 and temperatures a little bit higher where you do get to see some sunshine. that's it for now. bye— bye.

hello and welcome to the programme which brings together some of the uk's leading commentators, bbc specialists, and the journalists who write, blog and broadcast from the dateline: london. this week — back to school — back to covid? afghanistan after america and the dateline panel mark withe news that's worrying them. the "they" this week are steve richards, author of the prime ministers we never had — and after 30 years in the highways and byeways of westminster, he should know. eunice goes is a portgusese journalist and academic.

with me in the studio is bbc health editor, hugh pym.