it's hello and welcome to bbc news. the head of pakistan's spy agency has visited afghanistan amid continued uncertainty about how the taliban proposes to rule the country. general faiz hameed is thought to be advising the military which is continuing its efforts to oust the resistance in the panjshir valley. the taliban have insisted all factions will be included in the new government, though it's not yet clear how that will work. our south asia correspondent danjohnson reports. the taliban says kabul

is being cleaned and decorated ahead of a new government and cabinet being announced. many afghans see their freedoms being erased under a new taliban regime. for three weeks, bank queues have grown while afghans have wondered what taliban rule will bring. they are still waiting and still hoping. translation: our demand from the islamic emirate i is to activate the schools and for students and to provide and universities for students and to provide jobs for the people. we want them to prevent armed robberies and to reduce killings. translation: security is good all over the country. _ people are happy, but the lack of work and the non—announcement of the government is worrying people. everyone's confused and people don't know what the future of the homeland will be because everyone's confused. the head of pakistani intelligence is in kabul, possibly playing a part in shaping the new power structure. his presence will be enough to convince some of pakistan's influence over the taliban. he says he's working for peace and stability.

north of kabul, they are still fighting. the taliban has pushed deeper into the panjshir valley, a traditional bedrock of opposition. there have been many injuries on both sides, but the resistance has denied taliban claims of victory and says there will be no surrender. in kabul, these women are refusing to surrender their rights. protesting is a brave move in uncertain times. reports taliban used tasers against them may be a hint of what they face in the new old afghanistan. dan johnson, bbc news. and the isi, so in the isi, certainly pakistan has been fielding requests to help with the evacuation of foreign nationals and those eligible to leave the country but have not yet been able to do so. they'll

form part of the discussions with the taliban. the pakistan also has a long history with the taliban and has been accused of secretly financing their insurgency. they also acknowledge having some leverage and there's a lot of speculation that this visit is about discussions about the creation of a new government here in afghanistan. it is been nearly three weeks since the taliban of taken over in kabul. it's been nearly three weeks since the taliban took over kabul. they're still yet to establish one. some suggest that's because of internal rivalries within the group. whatever the cause, is prolonging this period of deep uncertainty about the future that many afghans are facing. turning to the situation in panjshir. it's the one place yet to be fully captured by the taliban. we've got conflicting reports coming out from there, but the taliban seem to be saying they made some advances. fighters call themselves the resistance are yet to be defeated. they've issued a statement warning of a potential humanitarian crisis developing

in the region. let s get some of the day s other news lebanon says syria has agreed to help it import electricity, to help ease power shortages now crippling many areas of life. the project was discussed in damascus in the first high—level talks between the two governments for years. it would involve using egyptian gas to generate electricity injordan, which would then be sent to lebanon via syria. thousands of people have again demonstrated in france against the government's covid policies. they denounced the new "health pass" system they see as unfairly restricting the rights of the unvaccinated. the pass means anyone wishing to enter a restaurant, theatre, cinema, long—distance train, or large shopping centre must show proof of vaccination or a negative test. women's tennis world number one ash barty is out of the us open. the australian lost to america's shelby rogers in a third round match that

went on for more than two hours. here in the uk, the opposition labour party says it believes there's a strong case to vaccinate healthy children against covid, to prevent any further disruption to their education. ministers have asked the uk's four chief medical officers to consider the broader implications, after government vaccine advisers recommended against vaccinations of all 12—to 15—year olds. our health correspondent, jim reed, reports. in the united states, they've been vaccinating children for months now. france and germany, too, have been pressing ahead. in this country, though, there is still uncertainty. government advisers have said

the medical benefit alone does not justify jabbing all those between 12 and 15 years old. it's left parents waiting for ministers to make a final decision. if it's going to free up our world and our country more, to give us freedom and protect our children and things in schools, then absolutely, i've got no objection whatsoever. we don't know that much about it, so ijust think at the moment, anybody above that age, 16 onwards, that's their choice, they can make that choice, but a child of that age can't make a choice. around 3 million 12 to 15—year—olds live in the uk and around "4,000 of those are already eligible for the jab because they live with an adult with a weakened immune system. another 350,000 also qualify because they have an underlying health condition. the criteria for that has just been widened to include problems like heart disease, epilepsy, and asthma that is poorly controlled. jean's son scott lives with asthma and she doesn't know yet if he will qualify for the jab under the new rules. to me, i think we should

have the choice because, as i say, it's the only area of society right now where we come together and there are hundreds of unvaccinated. so, it would be amazing for us, and it isn'tjust the health aspect, but the mental health, as well, because scott is anxious about being in school and being in large numbers. but government advisers were only told to look quite narrowly at the possible health benefits and rare side effects in children. ministers have now asked this man, the chief medical officer for england, chris whitty, and his counterparts in the other nations of the uk, to report back on the wider implications on children's lives, including education. we're not the medical scientists. we don't want to enter into that territory but we do think the question of disruption in schools and the measures that we can take to avoid that disruption, they should be front

and centre for the government at the moment. a source told the bbc that the government believes there is a strong case for extending the vaccine roll—out to that younger age group. ultimately, it will be ministers in the four nations who will have to decide, as more secondary school pupils return after their summer break. jim reed, bbc news. the perilous state of the planet s wildlife is being laid bare at the world's largest biodiversity summit. the international union for conservation of nature has released its revised �*red list�* of endangered species — with some good news for tuna. but the fate of many other animals still hangs in the balance. courtney bembridge reports. weighing in around 150 kilograms, the komodo dragon is the world's largest living lizard. they're notorious hunters with deadly venom and no predators. so, it is hard to imagine they are under threat. but the reptile has been added to the endangered species list. there are only found

on a of indonesian islands and the habitat is shrinking rapidly. because of global warming and climate change with rising sea levels, it will lose 30% of its habitat in the next 30 to a0 years. another animal that may not conjure up an image of vulnerability. conservationists saying between five sharks are at risk of extinction and they're a similar threat. ocean species tend be neglected because under the water, people don't really pay attention to what is happening to them. what makes some good news, they say that to the populations are starting to recover after years of overfishing. it shows what can be done - when reaching the management teams working together- because they are a massively important species in all. regions of the co—ordinate and it is finally paying off. it was released at a global conservation summit in france, bringing together thousands of scientists, conservation experts and campaigners,

including actor harrison ford. the conference was officially opened by the french president. translation: the battle for the climate against. disruption isjoined with the bow to restore biodiversity. and those a warning about the economic impact of an action. there is no economic stability and financial stability translation: there is no economic stability i and financial stability without respect for nature and without natures contribution, our economies are dependent on nature. because our economy is dependent on the resilience the biodiversity brings. experts of the system hundred 30,000 species and found more than a quarter or at risk of extinction. conservationists say that there should be a clarion call for nature to be placed

at the heart of all decision—making at the united nations climate change conference in glasgow later this year. let's go back to our main story, the situation in afghanistan. we can now speak to thomas warrick, a former department of homeland security counterterrorism official and now at the atlantic council. let's start with this visit of pakistan's intelligence chief to afghanistan. i understand you had very high level conversations with pakistan intelligence officials in the past. what do you think they'll be trying to achieve today? he has be trying to achieve today? he: has several things on his agenda, that pakistan obviously made the significance of the required investment in the taliban of the past two decades and i think he is going to try to develop influence with the taliban but the relationship is one that pakistan people cannot

tell the taliban what to do. and pakistan once a government in afghanistan that is stable and brings in enough elements so that what goes on in afghanistan does not threaten the security of pakistan. that has to be his main agenda. pakistan is always denied supporting the taliban, what influence do you think they have and do they want to be seen to have a lot of influence?— seen to have a lot of influence? , ., , ., ., influence? this or they want to show the world _ influence? this or they want to show the world that _ influence? this or they want to show the world that they - influence? this or they want to show the world that they have | show the world that they have influence of the new government influence of the new government in kabul, but in fact, the way that the taliban have worked over the years, there are different factions within it. some are closer to the pakistanis than others. and what we're seeing is the jockeying for power and kabul which is taking longer to sort out and that may be causing concern in islamabad. that is why we are seeing this visit now rather than at a different time. , . .

time. decimate different arties time. decimate different parties trying _ time. decimate different parties trying to - time. decimate different parties trying to get - time. decimate different - parties trying to get involved in this and there are even some talk about potential civil war when it comes to the differing factors within the taliban fighting each other. where do you see this going in terms of mobility to form a government? it is pretty clear that the various factions have been rivals for power of the past two decades and the swift capture of kabul actually does not show that there is a widespread broad—based support for taliban governance. i think most people are going to try to hold back and see what kind of government the taliban are prepared to offer and it would benefit the taliban to be modern their demands. history and nature, the religious beliefs are strongly held and i think we will see trouble jockeying for power in the next several years. the real question is going to be what

will afghanistan's neighbours will afg hanistan�*s neighbours do because will afghanistan's neighbours do because the potential for the different of their countries in the region, including russia, china, pakistan and india to weigh in with favourites and i think it's going to be almost irresistible. almost certain to stay out of it is the united states and i think you will see the biden administration trying to steer clear of all of these afghan political disputes. d0 afghan political disputes. do ou afghan political disputes. do you recall a time where the taliban was cooperated with international powers and being recognised?— recognised? there was a time like that at — recognised? there was a time like that at least _ recognised? there was a time like that at least for _ recognised? there was a time like that at least for a - recognised? there was a time like that at least for a brief. like that at least for a brief number of years and one thing thatis number of years and one thing that is interesting is the number of americans and britain's friends that have been whispering very quietly that there is at least the possibility of a more moderate face to the taliban. 0f possibility of a more moderate face to the taliban. of the scepticism in london and washington runs very deep. people know that if not the

individuals, at least the families that they represent and i think there's going to be and i think there's going to be a lot of scepticism as to whether or not were going to see a more moderate face of the taliban government. there is hope and it's possible, but the scepticism isjust hope and it's possible, but the scepticism is just very deep at this moment. fix, scepticism is 'ust very deep at this moment.— scepticism is 'ust very deep at this moment. �* ., ., ., this moment. a former homeland security counterterrorism - security counterterrorism official. the iranian president, ebrahim raisi, has said that the events in afghanistan prove that america has a disruptive influence around the world. speaking in an interview with iranian state television, he said the us has interfered with the basic human rights of afghans. translation: the afghanistan issue showed that america's . presence does not provide security in any part of the world at all. but it is disruptive for security around the world. afghanistan clearly showed that

within these two decades, the american presence has caused a lot of the rights of the afghan people to be ignored. what has happened is against human and this can be seen by all. the solution for afghanistan is that a government must be established by the vote and will of the people. the islamic republic of iran has always pursued peace and harmony in afghanistan and the ending of bloodshed and fratricide in afghanistan and for the will of the afghan people to reign. with me is hadi nili of the bbc�*s persian service. what is the relationship now? more than two decades ago when they had power in kabul, it was quite eventful situation and times for the government. there were reports of iranian diplomats being killed by taliban forces and for now, we are hearing from iranian official media, the state

media, they're changing the narrative on that thing that people, that people pretending to be taliban at the time for killing the diplomats. now we can see the feeling in tehran is that the government is trying to change their attitude and language towards the taliban right now compared to what we could hear more than 20 years ago when they took power in afghanistan.— in afghanistan. talked about wantin: in afghanistan. talked about wanting to — in afghanistan. talked about wanting to respect _ in afghanistan. talked about wanting to respect the - in afghanistan. talked about wanting to respect the will i in afghanistan. talked about| wanting to respect the will of the people in afghanistan, aren't they. tell me a bit more about that. it aren't they. tell me a bit more about that-— about that. it can be open to interpretation _ about that. it can be open to interpretation if _ about that. it can be open to interpretation if you - about that. it can be open to interpretation if you ask - interpretation if you ask leaders we talk about the will of the people just having the new president has been elected by the minority of boats and the election has been the most restricted election according to the candidates being able and allowed to run. then he

speaks about the will of the people it's not necessarily implying this to make specific types of elections also the vote in persian is the same for the one, as long as the government in afghanistan is semi representing the will of people in afghanistan according to them, they are going to be good neighbours towards whoever has the power in kabul. understand this is first time on state television, i do think people will of react to this change in message? it people will of react to this change in message? it would be uuite change in message? it would be quite surprising _ change in message? it would be quite surprising if _ change in message? it would be quite surprising if the _ change in message? it would be quite surprising if the iranian - quite surprising if the iranian government would want to change the position on the taliban in such a manner because it's towards the domestic audience, as you can see. his first

interview as the new president, he easter and the judiciary for years and is had interviews but as the president, he sounds like that he's trying to focus on domestic issues as he played the clip, he is basically insisting that anything wrong with afghanistan right now is because of americans and americans should be blamed for that. is americans should be blamed for that. , ., ., ., that. is not a popular thing for him to _ that. is not a popular thing for him to be _ that. is not a popular thing for him to be saying? - that. is not a popular thing i for him to be saying? popular to his base — for him to be saying? popular to his base of— for him to be saying? popular to his base of support, - for him to be saying? popular to his base of support, yes. l to his base of support, yes. widely, it could be challenging to say, especially that the media is when much more restricted just very recently, the iranian government as to what the media did not use words like bloodshed and criminals for taliban. words like bloodshed and criminals fortaliban. so, words like bloodshed and criminals for taliban. so, that tells a lot.

at the venice film festival the afghan filmmaker, sahraa karimi, spoke of her concern for afghan filmmakers and artists under a taliban government. she appealed for what she called �*intellectual support�* in the face of a probable ban on artistic work. now, the taliban is trying to show the soft face of themselves. but no. they are as cruel as before, but they�*re smarter about it now, because they are using modern communication technology and they will use the cinema or altered version of our products for propaganda. in the 21st century, there is a group of people coming to your country from nowhere and telling

to you that music is forbidden, cinema is forbidden, artwork is forbidden, female art isjust something that should go to the corner and be forgotten. we do not want this. 0ur generation does not want this. so, we ask for help. for support. to be our voices. many people around the world are heading back to the office — including the american first lady. starting next week, jill biden will go back to teaching in person at the northern virginia community college, commuting by presidential motorcade. dr biden is the first first lady to combine that role with a job outside the white house. jada yuan covers national politics and the office of the first lady for the washington post — she told me a bit more about the security arrangements forjill biden�*s return to work. so, what we know is what she had a second lady, so, what we know is what she had when she was second lady, last semester, her first semester as first lady, she taught remotely and for eight years, she also had the same job at the community college and she had a secret

service detail. the first lady, jill biden had some rules for the secret service, she would not let them into the classroom. she asked them to dress up like students and they would carry their equipment in their backpacks. the big difference is going to be the size of the detail and the stricter measures, probably that the company what about her students? will the students have to be vetted? we do not know that. she has never revealed that and the secret service a very tight—lipped about security measures because talking about it to not compromise the security. my guess is yes, the students will have to probably be vetted

as reporters are whenever we travel with the first lady or the president or anyone else. we are put through some sort of check, i do not know what that check is. and the question is, will her classroom be cased before she goes in there? we do not know yet. there may be more things that reveal themselves after that. as i said, she is the first first lady to combine that role and herjob and she is keeping your career going. what are the demands on the first lady of that rule? on the first lady of that role? can it be worked around? will they work or schedule around her teaching? yeah, well they did it already. when she was remote teaching, she was working for eight hours a day on tuesdays and thursdays and so, when she travelled, she would either not travel on tuesday or thursday or, i was on a trip to navajo nation with her in new mexico and arizona and we waited around in the entire secret service was around her until 2pm where she finished

on the east coast. and so, they will figure it out. she greets her papers on air force one underneath she grades her papers on air force one underneath the presidential suite and i do not see that changing at all. there�*s a lot of controversy about wearing masks and there have been some altercations between parents and teachers who disagree about it. she has very much been seen to be wearing her mask a lot and she is known for that. to expect her classroom to be following suit? ~ , ., ., , suit? well, they have to. it is a regulation _ suit? well, they have to. it is a regulation in _ suit? well, they have to. it is a regulation in virginia - suit? well, they have to. it is a regulation in virginia and i suit? well, they have to. it is| a regulation in virginia and so it is a state run school and so it is a state run school and so it is a state run school and so it is mandatory. i think that it is mandatory. i think that it probably will not be not that much of a problem, it is a fairly liberal area and her students, it is a community couege students, it is a community college which is a little bit

different than a regular couegein different than a regular college in her students may be 28, 42, they are veterans, immigrants, refugees who are just trying to learn english composition from their teacher, doctor biden. i think that my guess is that she�*s not going to run into problems, but it could be an issue. there are going to be angry parents. imagine you�*re in a motorway tunnel — and you�*re stuck in traffic. what wouldn�*t you give to be able to just take off and fly away? well — one italian pilot has come pretty close to doing exactly that — with an extraordinary feat of aerial derring do. tim allman has the story. dario costa doesn�*t do things by a half. for some reason, he wants to fly a plane through a tunnel. through two tunnels, in fact. so, he and his team of taking more than a year to plan precisely down

to every little detail. it is difficult the mindset and don�*t worry about this and trust yourself and focus on the centreline and just fly. just after dawn in a road tunnel near istanbul, dario takes off. in an altitude of around a metre, surrounded by solid concrete, his record attempt begins. reaching a top speed of 2a5 kph, he exits the first tunnel before racing into the second. travelling more than 1000 metres but barely leaving the ground. you can imagine the delight when dario reaches the end of his journey. yes! very emotional, very emotional.

you don�*t know what to expect, but i have never flown like that in my life and no one�*s done it before, in my head if everything would�*ve been like we expected. an amazing achievement and tunnel vision, but imagine what it may have been like if at the stop to a toll. they say you should never work with children or animals — well perhaps someone should have explained that to recep tayyip erdogan. turkey�*s president was taking part in a ribbon—cutting ceremony for the opening of a road tunnel in the northeast of the country — when he was somewhat upstaged by a young boy who jumped the gun — and decided to cut the ribbon a little bit early. after the president administered a light tap on the head in punishment — the ceremony was restaged and the tunnel was officially opened. and finally, a little light in the darkness —

berlin has been holding its annual festival of lights. it�*s one of the most popular light festivals in the world, attracting over two million visitors every year. artists from all corners of the globe create projections and installations across the city. this year the theme was building a more sustainable future. all powered, we trust, by renewable energy. let�*s have a look at the weather with nick miller. hello. sunnier, warmer weather on the way with september likely to top august in the temperature stakes. in the month of august, the high temperature was 27.2 degrees celsius. this week, we�*re expecting 29, maybe even 30. it is unusual for september to outdo august when it comes to the top temperature. and the warmth gets under way in england and wales for sunday, helped by a more generous helping of sunshine than of late, but wetter for some perhaps in scotland and northern ireland. very slowly, high pressure moving away, atlantic weather fronts coming in.

that will bring a bit of rain, slowly spreading east during the day. it may be welcome where it�*s been so dry. we are mainly dry to begin the day, some patchy mist and fog clearing. for england and wales, there will still be some areas of cloud, but sunny spells, too. an isolated shower in central southern england can�*t be ruled out. some areas of sea fog around the coast of southwest england. with light winds, it�*ll feel warm in the sunny spells. the wind strengthening in western scotland and outbreaks of rain moving in, not reaching southern and eastern scotland until very late in the day. the rain moving into northern ireland, too, the east staying mainly dry until later on. temperatures for england and wales in the low to mid 20s in those sunny spells. so, a wet evening and scotland and northern ireland. monday, some of this rain will push on towards parts of northern england. it will be a mild start to monday. and this wet weather system will slowly fizzle out as we go on through monday. we�*re left with some patchy rain towards the west of northern ireland and western parts of scotland. still a fair amount of cloud here, whereas for england and wales, there�*ll still be sunny spells, though it

could still be quite misty around some of the coasts of southwest england. and the temperatures in the sunshine in england and wales a little bit higher, reaching into the upper 20s in the warmer spots. and the warmth becomes more widespread for tuesday and wednesday. clearer, warmer weather heading in from the southeast around that ridge of high pressure. there�*ll some mist and fog early on tuesday. that will clear away. still got some cloud in the far north of scotland, a few spots of rain to clear away, but by tuesday afternoon, there is a huge amount of sunshine out there and the temperatures are responding. scotland and northern ireland with lows of mid—20s, england and wales, mid to high 20s, and near30 in the hotspots. that continues into wednesday. later in the week, as the temperatures wane, a chance for rain goes up. some thunderstorms, too.