up this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. president biden announces sweeping new covid—19 measures that require workers at large companies to be vaccinated or face weekly testing. the scientist behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need. we need more doses of all of the vaccines that are currently licensed and we need more vaccines to be licensed so that we are not talking about choices between vaccinating in one country or another country. a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york — the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final

honestly, i cannot believe it. a shock, crazy, all of the above. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.i% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. a tense phone call after seven months of silence between president biden and chinese leader xijingping — as both men aim to reset relations and as the head of uk intelligence services warns that two decades after 9/11, the uk was still embroiled in a "global struggle to defeat extremism, we'll hear from some of the people who were directly affected. hello and welcome if you're

watching in the uk or around the world. president biden has set out a series of measures aimed at getting more americans vaccinated against coronavirus, as he tackles a rising number of infections. jabs will be mandatory for all federal government employees, and there will be new rules affecting big companies, healthcare, and the transport network. nomia iqbal reports from washington. no more soft approach — this time, the president was blunt. good evening, my fellow americans. what more do you need to see? we've made vaccinations free, safe and convenient. the vaccine has fda approval. over 200 million americans have gotten at least one shot. we've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin... ..and your refusal has cost all of us. mr biden�*s frustration comes down to the numbers.

18 months on since the virus hit, and the us is averaging 1,500 covid—related deaths a day. he laid into some politicians — mainly republican governors — for playing politics by showing unrelenting resistance to mask—wearing. but how to convince a country where many ordinary citizens don't want the vaccine, and where often it's a matter for individual states to decide what to do? well, mr biden has signed an executive order, forcing companies to get their workers jabbed — orface being fired. if you want to work with the federal government, do business with us, get vaccinated! if you want to do business with the federal government, vaccinate your workforce. but the administration has been accused of causing confusion on booster shots and u—turns on mask mandates. critics say it's allowed the delta variant to take foothold. this has taken a toll on the us economy, affecting president biden�*s approval ratings. and it isn't the afghanistan withdrawal, but how he handles the pandemic...

whispering: get vaccinated. ..that ultimately matters to the american public. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. in the uk, the scientist behind the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine, dame professor sarah gilbert, has said that the decision between boosting people in the uk or giving first doses to other countries is a "far too simplistic way of looking at it". she said that the problem is that the world needs a greater vaccine supply with more doses of the vaccines currently licensed and for more vaccines to get licensed. but she said that the "good news" is that supply is increasing every month. professor gilbert told me what lay behind her comments. i was being asked questions about whether we should be boosting people in this country or giving first doses to people in other countries and i think that's far too simplistic a way to look at it. the problem we really have is that the world needs greater vaccine supply,

we need more doses of all of the vaccines that are currently licensed and we need more vaccines to be licensed so we are not talking about choices between vaccinating in one country or another country. the good news is that supply is increasing, every month more doses are becoming available and we now need to focus on getting those doses to the countries that really need them but there will be a lot more doses available to do that. when we talk about the countries, what are we talking about and where? mainly africa, whereas in many countries on that continent, only 2% of people have been vaccinated, the target has always been to vaccinate at least the most vulnerable 20%, then move on from there and we are not even close to that yet. when we talk about those who are most vulnerable, it has been agreed, thejcvi have said those with immunity, low immunity, who should be vaccinated first, and also the over 50s, do you agree with that?

in this country, those groups have been vaccinated, or they will have been offered a vaccination already. what we are talking about is whether another dose should be given and that is a very complex decision and we have to take into account which vaccines are available, the expiry dates, where they are and where it is feasible to move them to so it is not an easy decision to make and it is something thejcvi will take that decision and we should wait for them to comment. you also said immunity is lasting well in the majority of people, what evidence is there of that? when we started vaccine trials in april last year, that is when we were giving the first doses of the vaccine, we carried on vaccinating volunteers through may, june and july so we now have a large body of people who got the vaccine early and we have been able to invite them to come back for further blood tests six months after their vaccinations and now a year after their vaccinations, so we are starting to accumulate data on how that immune response

is being maintained. as we would expect with any other vaccine, we are seeing strong maintenance of response. what evidence is there of how effective covid boosters are, which is more effective, the first wave of vaccination or the booster programme? obviously because we have not seen widespread use of boosters, we cannot report on the effectiveness. do we have data from israel? there is limited data — have they actually reported on the change in susceptibility or are they just looking at immune responses? we do not have enough data yet to report those decisions but what we do know is that the first dose of the vaccine has the most impact, whoever you give that vaccine to. we get a strong response, good protection after a single dose and then it is improved by the second dose. we would expect to see it being maintained or possibly slightly improved by a third dose, we wait to see but getting

the first dose into people is really important. what do you make of our vaccination levels in the uk, just over 48.3 having had their first dose, and 43.7 have had both doses, in terms of herd immunity, looking to push any spare doses further afield, are we at a good place? i think the figures for vaccination are higher than the ones you have given me. we have very high vaccination rates particularly in the people who are offered vaccination first, the ones most susceptible to covid infections, that's really good news. the target is to get high vaccination rates across the adult population and we are moving towards that. what do you make of looking at vaccinating the young because that has been put off for now. should we be doing that? again, complex decision and not something i will comment on.

i want to ask you about the portfolio of vaccines that we currently have, there are a number that have been been approved, pfizer, oxford astrazeneca of course, moderna, jansen, which vaccinations are best suited for those countries in need that you are talking about? anybody should take a covid vaccination when they are offered it if it is licensed in that country, some of the vaccines are easier to transport and store than others. the oxford astrazeneca vaccine and the jansen vaccine do not require frozen storage and it makes them easier to move around because they require the same conditions as many other vaccines that are used in the world, we do not have to make any special provisions. those are great vaccines to be able to deploy in countries that do not have the facilities for ultra low temperature storage. we have reacted very well globally to this pandemic, especially countries in the west. do you think should something

like this happen again, it could be repeated, have we learned a lesson? i think we have learned that we need to be better prepared for pandemics because there will always be another pandemic. going through the process of responding to this pandemic has identified some clear gaps in our knowledge. and some gaps in our infrastructure. and what we need to do is really work to fill in those gaps and make sure we are not left in the same situation. we have learned a lot, we need to capitalise on it so we are better prepared for next time. the british teenager emma raducanu has made history as she reaches the final of the us open tennis in new york. the 18—year—old from south—east london beat the 17th seed maria sakkari in the semi—finals at flushing meadows, becoming the first british woman to reach the final of a major singles tournament since virginia wade in 1977. a few of tennis�*s stars

past and present have reacted to the victory on twitter. judy murray tweeted her delight for the �*teen queen�* — describing her semi—final victory as an incredible achievement. former british number one, laura robson said the teenager's performance was unbelievable — calling her an absolute star. and, the former three—time us open champion, kim clijsters, tweeted her congratulations saying emma raducanu's performance was incredible. emma raducanu spoke to the press shortly after her win and described how she felt about playing another teenager — 19—year—old canadian leylah fernandez — in saturday's final. i honestly, ijust cannot believe it. a shock. like, crazy. all of the above. but, yeah, it means a lot to be here in this situation. i wanted obviously to be playing grand slams

but i did not know how soon that would be. and to be in a grand slam final at this stage in my career, i have no words. but yeah, i just want to thank everyone who has supported me in thisjourney. honestly, i think i played some of my best tennis today, especially here in new york. yeah, i knew that i was going to have to be super aggressive and i've managed to execute so yeah, i am really happy with today's performance. we first encountered each other because i was born in toronto and she was canadian so we kind of made a little relationship back then but yeah, then i played her injunior wimbledon. but obviously since then, we have both come very far in our games and as people. so yeah, i am sure it is going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other but we are both playing good tennis so it will be a good match.

her opponent leylah fernandez also spoke to the media after her impressive win over belarusian second seed aryna sa balenka. i think i've been doing something incredible, i don't know. i think one word that really stuck to me is magical. because not only is my run really good but also the way i am playing right now, i am just having fun and trying to produce something for the crowd to enjoy and i'm glad that whatever i'm doing on court, the fans are loving it and i'm loving it too. so we will say it is magical. yes, it is true, impossible is nothing. my dad would tell me all the time that there is no limit to my potential, to what i can do. so every day we've just got to keep working hard, keep going for it and then, you know, nothing is impossible.

there is no limit to what i can do and i'm just glad that right now everything is going well. virginia wade, who was britain's last female grand slam winner at wimbledon in 1977, said emma raducanu was �*the real thing'. she will have a day to recover tomorrow and then, i think it's such an opportunity to put everything into it. you know, these opportunities do not necessarily come knocking at your door all of the time so, you know, you just fight until the bitter end and you know, there is no point in me even saying that to her because that is what she does, she does everything so well, she moves so well. she serves well and she is smart out there. i think she knows what she is doing. when the interviewers ever ask her, what do you think about all

the distraction and what about the previous match, she says, frankly, i am just thinking about myself, that is the way to do it, to keep yourself in a cocoon and just get on with it. anotherformer british number one, annabel croft, gave her reaction to emma raducanu's victory. it is absolutely astounding and i think we are all trying to get our heads around it, we knew about her as a young junior, we knew that she is extremely talented but i think normally it takes a little bit of adjustment to go on to the main tour and you know, you expect some losses, you expect your confidence to be not because you are up against the professional but she has just taken her level above the ta ken her level above the professionals taken her level above the professionals she is playing, they are finding it hard to keep up with her! ijust cannot believe it, i think we are all sort of trying to take it all in, to be honest!

claire curran is a former professional tennis player who represented both great britain and ireland during her career. thank you very much forjoining us here on bbc news. so many people including annabel croft that we just saw, shocked at what they are witnessing. what is your reaction? i am pinching myself, ithink i've still got goose bumps on myself, i cannot believe what emma is producing every single night. in new york. it's a follow on from wimbledon, isn't it? we saw her for the first time at wimbledon, we should not have been surprised, i guess, from that that she would go on in new york and blow the world away, really, by the tennis she is bringing to the court, the personality, she is the full package and i think for british tennis and for all of tennis worldwide, everybody is so aware of this

absolute start now, notjust a star in the tennis world. i think this will go much further than that. she walked out into the arthur ashe stadium, she played at night, there was the atmosphere, the roar of the crowd, huge pressure. you have played at that level, what is it like walking out onto a court? i played in new york but i never played in new york but i never played on the arthur ashe stadium, that environment, the us open, is incredible to play but to walk onto the arthur ashe stadium, 22,000 people, night—time matches, no biggerspectacle people, night—time matches, no bigger spectacle in my opinion on sport but emma does not seem phased by any of it. i keep thinking of the words that martina navratilova used after the match and she said she surely must have been here in another life stop to do what she is doing and have no prior experience, to be able to go on and serve out matches like she is doing, to be

able to compose herself, it is astonishing, that is not the word to describe it, we do not have words, we have never seen anything like this before. we have never seen anything like this before-— we have never seen anything like this before. . ~ . , , this before. virginia wade says she is smart out _ this before. virginia wade says she is smart out there, _ this before. virginia wade says she is smart out there, what _ this before. virginia wade says she is smart out there, what does - this before. virginia wade says she is smart out there, what does that| is smart out there, what does that mean in terms of tennis and sport? i think the thing that stands out to me with emma raducanu is when you walk her opponents —— what opponents walking off the court, they are shaking their heads in disbelief because they feel they have not put out their best performance on court and it is not a fluke that has happened, that is because of the preparation that she does, she has this incredible brain but every time she walks on the court she knows she she walks on the court she knows she she has done her homework, exceptionally good job with that homework and she knows she can win the match because she has done her homework and because of the skills that she has. but you know, it has been years and years of preparing from her and herfamily, the team

around her, working exceptionally hard to get to the stage. i am thrilled for all of those people around her. thrilled for all of those people around her-— thrilled for all of those people around her. �*, .., ., , .,, around her. let's come to the people around her. let's come to the people around her. — around her. let's come to the people around her, that _ around her. let's come to the people around her, that team. _ around her. let's come to the people around her, that team. i— around her. let's come to the people around her, that team. i heard - around her, that team. i heard someone say there is going to have to be some really quick rethinking of how they handle her because although they work with her, she has surprised them. how important is it that that team do not hold you back but allow you to grow but at the same time protect you? i but allow you to grow but at the same time protect you?- but allow you to grow but at the same time protect you? i think that is the bi same time protect you? i think that is the his point- _ same time protect you? i think that is the big point. judy _ same time protect you? i think that is the big point. judy murray - same time protect you? i think that is the big point. judy murray has . is the big point. judy murray has already alluded to that this week in her interviews she has had that experience with andy, obviously. but what i have always noticed with emma is that she is always the one who seems to be driving what she is doing. and she has a very good awareness of what is coming ahead and you know, i think that probably most likely comes from parental guidance and influence there. so yes, it is important that the people around her are exceptionally smart

at this stage but at the same time, the way that emma has carried herself up until this point, you really do feel that a lot of this is driven from her, what will happen going forward. 50 driven from her, what will happen going forward-— driven from her, what will happen ..oin forward. ., , .,, ., going forward. so far she has earned $900,000 in — going forward. so far she has earned $900,000 in year, _ going forward. so far she has earned $900,000 in year, three _ going forward. so far she has earned $900,000 in year, three times - going forward. so far she has earned j $900,000 in year, three times what she has earned it her entire career! how is her life going to change? i don't think anybody could really predict how her life is going to change because none of us know, i don't think we have seen a star like this, we saw andy murray in britain when he was a burst onto the scene at queen's club but emma raducanu is burst onto the stage in the biggest tennis events in the world, wimbledon and the us open. for me, she is a global store. and i could not tell you how she's going to handle that because i have not really seen been around anybody that that stardom has happened to in the

manner that it has and will do now going forward for emma.— manner that it has and will do now going forward for emma. thank you so much forjoining _ going forward for emma. thank you so much forjoining us _ going forward for emma. thank you so much forjoining us and _ going forward for emma. thank you so much forjoining us and sharing - going forward for emma. thank you so much forjoining us and sharing your. much forjoining us and sharing your thoughts on emma raducanu. thank you. the director of m15, ken mccallum, has warned that the threat of terrorism in the uk remains a "constant featu re". he was speaking to the bbc in a rare interview this morning. the head of m15 talked about hearing of the attacks 20 years ago. he said he was an agent runner in northern ireland dealing with issues there when the aeroplanes hit and a colleague said some of bin laden, you got a sense that people in m15 knew that their world was changing forever, this was going to be the dominant theme of their work,

really, for the decades after. and it certainly has been. he gave us on the today programme, a sense of what the today programme, a sense of what the threat looks like and we can hear a clip of that now. we the threat looks like and we can hear a clip of that now.- the threat looks like and we can hear a clip of that now. we do face a consistent _ hear a clip of that now. we do face a consistent global _ hear a clip of that now. we do face a consistent global struggle - a consistent global struggle to defeat — a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against — defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism, this is a real problem — against terrorism, this is a real problem and in the last four years, for example, working with the police, — for example, working with the police, my organisation has disrupted 31 late stage attack plots in great _ disrupted 31 late stage attack plots in great britain. islamist attack plots? — in great britain. islamist attack plots? that number includes a growing — plots? that number includes a growing number of attack plots from extreme _ growing number of attack plots from extreme right—wing terrorists. and even _ extreme right—wing terrorists. and even during — extreme right—wing terrorists. and even during the pandemic period that we have _ even during the pandemic period that we have all— even during the pandemic period that we have all been enduring for most of the _ we have all been enduring for most of the last— we have all been enduring for most of the last two years we have had to disrupt— of the last two years we have had to disrupt six— of the last two years we have had to disrupt six late stage attack plots so the _ disrupt six late stage attack plots so the terrorist threats to the uk is i so the terrorist threats to the uk is i am _ so the terrorist threats to the uk is i am sorry a real and enduring thing _ is i am sorry a real and enduring thin _ r ., , ., is i am sorry a real and enduring thing. afghanistan has changed the

wa we thing. afghanistan has changed the way we view _ thing. afghanistan has changed the way we view this _ thing. afghanistan has changed the way we view this significant - way we view this significant anniversary. what did he have to say about the impact of that withdrawal on the threat?— on the threat? that's right, i think it really has _ on the threat? that's right, i think it really has changed _ on the threat? that's right, i think it really has changed the - on the threat? that's right, i think it really has changed the way - on the threat? that's right, i think. it really has changed the way people think about it. he divided it into two areas, one, the sense that it will potentially inspire people, jihadists, to think actually we could be successful, in this case, they can make the claim that they drove the americans and nato out of afghanistan and so there is this concern that it will, if you like, support them, people who may not be able to travel out there will use it as a base but the other concern is that it could return to what it was before 9/11, a base in which terrorist groups can operate, plan more ambitious attacks than the kind of slightly low level inspired attacks we have seen in recent years. whether that turns out to be the case are not will depend on the taliban and how it reacts and this is what he had to say about that.

that remains to be seen, government ministers _ that remains to be seen, government ministers have been clear we will judge _ ministers have been clear we will judge the — ministers have been clear we will judge the taliban bow its actions, not its _ judge the taliban bow its actions, not its words, even if the taliban is absolutely in good faith about wanting — is absolutely in good faith about wanting to prevent terrorism being exported _ wanting to prevent terrorism being exported from afghanistan, that will be a difficult task to accomplish. afghanistan is not an easy country in which _ afghanistan is not an easy country in which to— afghanistan is not an easy country in which to ensure perfect security so even _ in which to ensure perfect security so even if — in which to ensure perfect security so even if the taliban is in good faith— so even if the taliban is in good faith there _ so even if the taliban is in good faith there will still be at risk there — faith there will still be at risk there and of course the taliban may not he _ there and of course the taliban may not be wholly in good faith and so the government has said, we will treat— the government has said, we will treat the — the government has said, we will treat the taliban in the light of its actions but in my role, responsible for uk national security and counterterrorism, we have to plan _ and counterterrorism, we have to plan on _ and counterterrorism, we have to plan on the — and counterterrorism, we have to plan on the basis that more risk progressively may flow our way and so we _ progressively may flow our way and so we working with our partners in mi6 so we working with our partners in mia and _ so we working with our partners in m16 and gchq and the police and international allies, m16 and gchq and the police and internationalallies, need m16 and gchq and the police and international allies, need to do everything in our power to get ahead of those _ everything in our power to get ahead of those kinds of risks re—emerging. yes, _ of those kinds of risks re—emerging. yes. a _ of those kinds of risks re—emerging. yes. a sense — of those kinds of risks re—emerging. yes, a sense of concern about what afghanistan might mean, how the taliban might deal with some of these groups, whether they will be able to stop them and i think i

sense from him in the interview that 20 years on, the threat that emerged from nine level and became really clear is still there but we also live in a world which is dangerous for other reasons as well, the growth of extreme right—wing activity, but also hostile states, he talked about espionage and interference. a sense of the kind of breadth of work that m15 is faced with at the moment. 600 uk hospital patients are to be the first in europe to be offered a new type of drug, designed to treat one of the most common forms of lung cancer. the tablet, called sotorasib, is the first of a new generation of medicines targeting a hard to reach mutation which was first discovered 40—years ago. clinical trials for people with limited treatment options, showed it prevented tumour growth for an average of seven months. president biden has spoken by phone to the chinese premier xijinping — the first direct communication between the two leaders in more than six months. the white house says they had a broad, strategic conversation,

and discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure competition does not veer into conflict. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell is beijing with more. this call was instigated by the us president and it seems to be that joe biden was frustrated that there has been no movement between these two governments, that recent meetings have brought no traction at all, it seems. and so, as a means of sort of pushing forward, he has spoken directly to his chinese counterpart. now, interestingly, both sides felt the need to say that it is really important to say we do not start shooting at each other. i

do not want to sound too alarmist about this but make of this what you will. here is the readout from the us side. the two leaders discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict. and from the chinese side... confrontation would bring disaster to both countries and the world. now, you know, it's not nothing that they have both mentioned this. and itjust shows the level of tension between beijing and washington. but there is a silver lining, i suppose, and washington. but there is a silver lining, isuppose, in and washington. but there is a silver lining, i suppose, in this meeting. perhaps it is this. at one point, during the call, president xi quoted some poetry, we are told and i will read that out as well. he said, after endless mountains and rivers, that leave doubt, whether

there is a path out, suddenly one encounters the shade of a willow, bright flowers and a lovely village. that may all sound quite high polluting, whatever, to people but what it seems to me, to mean is that there is kind of hope when you think there is kind of hope when you think there is kind of hope when you think there is none. the light of day follows the darkest hours. so it is possible that he is saying that they can find a way forward. but there is a lot of work to do. i mean, on fronts like the environment, climate change, trade war, the world needs the superpowers to be cooperating with one another and yet, there really has been no movement on both of those major fronts in recent times. the us president seems frustrated, you know, he thinks really that the storling has been on

�*s part and is why he decided to have this discussion with president xi. president xi said the problems that faced both these countries are the us �*s fault so they are kinda blaming one of the but the important thing is can they move forward? will this discussion represents something of a new beginning? that it will filter through to various government departments on both sides and there can be more dialogue? or will we just see more of the same tensions bubbling along between the world �*s greatest superpowers? that bubbling along between the world 's greatest superpowers?— greatest superpowers? that was ste - hen greatest superpowers? that was stephen mcdonnell. _ 13 british citizens were on board the first international commercial flight out of kabul, since us forces left the country. dozens of international passengers traveled on the qatar airways charter flight, which has landed in doha. a second flight is due later today. our south asia correspondent yogita limaye is following the story from mumbai.

qatari officials have said there is another such flight schedule today. we are not sure who is going to be on it. this is significant for all foreign nationals who have been stuck in afghanistan and afghans who have permits to fly out to foreign countries. at the moment, these flights are special chartered flights. we know that qatari technicians have been working along with the taliban to open kabul airport. qatari officials are saying the airport is up and running and the taliban have said regular commercial flights will also begin soon but i think before that happens, there will need to be clarity about who will handle the security of the kabul airport. when us secretary of state antony blinken visited qatar a few days ago and had meetings with the foreign minister there we heard from qatari officials say they are talking to the taliban about that specific issue. but it's only once that is sorted that commercial airlines perhaps

will start operations into and from kabul. and the americans of course also saying that they will hold the taliban to their promise of allowing any afghan nationals who have the right permits to leave the country. the headlines on bbc news... president biden announces sweeping new covid—19 measures that require workers at large companies to be vaccinated, or face weekly testing. the scientist behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary, and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need. we need more doses of all of the vaccines that are currently licensed and we need more vaccines to be licensed so that we are not talking about choices between vaccinating in one country or another country. a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york. the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. honestly, i cannot believe it.

a shock, crazy, all of the above. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. a tense phone call after seven months of silence between president biden and chinese leader xijinping — as both men aim to reset relations. and as the head of uk intelligence services warns that two decades after 9/11, the uk was still embroiled in a global struggle to defeat extremism, we'll hear from some of the people who were directly affected. here in the uk, the culture secretary oliver dowden told the bbc that vaccine passports would "almost certainly" become necessary to gain entry to nightclubs in england this autumn

and this would mean demonstrating proof of vaccination, and not simply proof of a recent negative test. the scottish government has legislated to do this from october 1st. he was speaking to our political correspondent iain watson. well, firstly, you will be required to prove vaccination, because by the end of this month, every adult will have had an opportunity to have two jabs. secondly, we will almost certainly be doing it for nightclubs. we will make a determination as to whether we need to move more broadly than that or whether we can hold the position and wait to see if it's necessary at a later point. and the final decision will be made on that shortly. uk culture secretary oliver dowden. denmark has lifted the last of its coronavirus restrictions following the government's decision last month to stop classifying covid—19 as a "socially critical" disease.

the danish health ministry says the epidemic was now under control and that strong vaccine take—up among residents was the main reason behind the move. almost three—quarters of danes are double—jabbed. the health minister has stressed that covid—19cis still a dangerous disease. our reporter adrienne murray sent this update from copenhagen. from today, the very final restrictions on daily life will be lifted. if you remember a few months ago denmark introduced a corona pass, a type of health passport or vaccine passport required to enter various venues. that has been phased out but the final places where it was needed has come to an end. that was needed has come to an end. that was for nightclubs, large events such as football matches or big concerts. they are the last restrictions, and effectively by

stopping classifying covid—19 as a critical threat that downgrade has removed the legal basis for bringing in those special rules that were brought back in over one year ago to combat the pandemic. now the only things that really remain our entry requirements into the country. those are a special, separate set of rules but now there are recommendations to keep hygiene, keep a safe distance and use common sense. the us government is suing the state of texas over its near total ban on abortion — seeking for the law to be declared invalid. the state law makes it illegal to terminate a pregnancy six weeks after conception — and crucially allows private individuals to sue medics or others who assist in the procedure. courtney bembridge reports. presidentjoe biden had promised action, and it came just over a week after the texas law known as senate bill 8 came into effect. sb8 bans nearly all abortions

in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. before many women even know they are pregnant, and months before a pregnancy is viable. it does so even in cases of rape, sexual abuse or incest. the act is clearly unconstitutional under long—standing supreme court precedent. that sentiment was echoed by vice president kamala harris. the right of women to make decisions about their own bodies is not negotiable. the texas attorney general has accused president biden of meddling in the state's sovereign rights, and says he will use every available resource to fight for life. chanting: abortion is healthier, abortion is essential! _ the texas law has sparked widespread protests across the country. extraordinarily, it's being enforced by private citizens, encouraged to sue anyone who provides or facilitates access to an abortion.

the statute deputises all private citizens without any showing of personal connection or injury to serve as bounty hunters, authorised to recover at least $10,000 per claim from individuals who facilitate a woman's exercise of her constitutional rights. the texas senator who introduced the law explained the rationale to bbc newsnight earlier this week. we have these prosecutors sworn to uphold the law, who told us, we are not going to enforce the law. we had no choice but to find a way to enforce the law. it came into effect after the supreme courtjustices decided not to block it, and many fear that could spell trouble for the roe versus wade decision which has been upheld as precedent for almost half a century. in a landmark ruling - the supreme court today legalised abortions. officials in several other us states

have said they are considering laws similar to the texas ban prompting a warning from the attorney general... thank you, all. ..that the justice department will bring the same kind of lawsuit against them. courtney bembridge, bbc news. amazon has pledged to cover the full college fees of over 750,000 of its us frontline workers. it expects the plan to cost around $1.2 billion over the next four years. a generous offer maybe — but it's all part of the battle to attract and retain staff in an increasingly tight us labour market — as michelle fleury reports from new york. it's the newest perk for american workers. with employers complaining they can't find staff, amazon is the latest large american company to offer to pay the full college tuition for its 750,000 us workers. it is not altruistic to stop such

education benefits might help firms retain and attract staff. if people stay longer in the job that saves companies money and time hiring and training new staff. big box retailers target and walmart unveiled their tuition programmes in recent weeks. starbucks, ups and fedex also have programmes to help employees pay for college and waste management has gone further, offering the same education benefits to the spouses and children of its staff. this is a big deal. collectively americans owe more than $1.7 trillion in student debt. 1.7 trillion. for now, the private sector and not government is trying to address the problem, making couege to address the problem, making college more affordable for working americans. however, given the restrictions on what type of degree a student can get, let alone the challenge of balancing work shifts and studies, it remains to be seen whether this can become a way out of low paid jobs for many of these

workers. more now on the news that the british teenager emma raducanu has made history as she reaches the final of the us open tennis in new york. the 18—year—old from south—east london beat the 17th seed maria sakkari in the semi—finals at flushing meadows, becoming the first british woman to reach the final of a major singles tournament since virginia wade in 1977. our correspondent matt graveling is at the national tennis centre in london. this is the national tennis centre here in south—west london and it's fair to say that emma mania is very infectious. lots of young people here playing tennis told me earlier they had never heard of emma raducanu before the us open but now they all know her name and more importantly they are all being inspired to pick up a racket, come down here and possibly become the next emma, or maybe even andy. scott boydis next emma, or maybe even andy. scott boyd is the ceo of the lawn tennis association. first and foremost,

what did you think of that early hours match?— what did you think of that early hours match? . ., ., ., . , hours match? wow, what an incredible performance- — hours match? wow, what an incredible performance. she _ hours match? wow, what an incredible performance. she has _ hours match? wow, what an incredible performance. she has been _ hours match? wow, what an incredible performance. she has been playing - hours match? wow, what an incredible performance. she has been playing so| performance. she has been playing so well in _ performance. she has been playing so well in the _ performance. she has been playing so well in the last few weeks and everyone _ well in the last few weeks and everyone here at the lta is so proud and excited — everyone here at the lta is so proud and excited to see what she has achieved — and excited to see what she has achieved so far and who knows what she can _ achieved so far and who knows what she can go _ achieved so far and who knows what she can go on to do. she has been incredible — she can go on to do. she has been incredible-— incredible. emma is still only 18 but has been — incredible. emma is still only 18 but has been here _ incredible. emma is still only 18 but has been here a _ incredible. emma is still only 18 but has been here a couple - incredible. emma is still only 18 but has been here a couple of. incredible. emma is still only 18 - but has been here a couple of years playing. what does this place do for young players who can then go to play? young players who can then go to -la ? �* young players who can then go to .la 7 . ., ., ., young players who can then go to .la 7 �* ., ., ., , play? the lta national tennis centre is all about providing _ play? the lta national tennis centre is all about providing a _ play? the lta national tennis centre is all about providing a world-class i is all about providing a world—class and transformative base for our players — and transformative base for our players all the way through each age and stage _ players all the way through each age and stage through the pathway right up and stage through the pathway right up to elite players like andy murray. _ up to elite players like andy murray, johanna konta, emma raducanu. — murray, johanna konta, emma raducanu, they all trained here and we try— raducanu, they all trained here and we try to _ raducanu, they all trained here and we try to provide them with all the support— we try to provide them with all the support they need to go out and win major— support they need to go out and win major events on the tour.— major events on the tour. fantastic, 'ust like major events on the tour. fantastic, just like we — major events on the tour. fantastic, just like we hope — major events on the tour. fantastic, just like we hope emma _ major events on the tour. fantastic, just like we hope emma will - major events on the tour. fantastic, just like we hope emma will do. - major events on the tour. fantastic, | just like we hope emma will do. one of the men responsible for turning people into professionals is one of the coaches down here, metro

mustapha, i have to stop you mid—rally. are you surprised at how well emma is doing out there in the states? . . well emma is doing out there in the states? . , ., , , ., ., states? yeah, she has blown it out ofthe states? yeah, she has blown it out of the park- _ states? yeah, she has blown it out of the park. it's _ states? yeah, she has blown it out of the park. it's amazing. - states? yeah, she has blown it out of the park. it's amazing. to - states? yeah, she has blown it out of the park. it's amazing. to come| of the park. it's amazing. to come from _ of the park. it's amazing. to come from where — of the park. it's amazing. to come from where she is and get to where she has— from where she is and get to where she has got— from where she is and get to where she has got to in such a short space of time. _ she has got to in such a short space oftime. it's— she has got to in such a short space of time, it's phenomenal. does she has got to in such a short space of time, it's phenomenal.— of time, it's phenomenal. does it matter if you _ of time, it's phenomenal. does it matter if you are _ of time, it's phenomenal. does it matter if you are not _ of time, it's phenomenal. does it matter if you are not as - of time, it's phenomenal. does it matter if you are not as young . of time, it's phenomenal. does it matter if you are not as young as| matter if you are not as young as these young people and you want to get into tennis, perhaps you are inspired by emma, what is your advice? , �* ., advice? doesn't matter when you start, as advice? doesn't matter when you start. as long _ advice? doesn't matter when you start, as long as _ advice? doesn't matter when you start, as long as you _ advice? doesn't matter when you start, as long as you start. - advice? doesn't matter when you start, as long as you start. it - advice? doesn't matter when you start, as long as you start. it is l advice? doesn't matter when you start, as long as you start. it is a| start, as long as you start. it is a fantastic— start, as long as you start. it is a fantastic game, keeps us young and fit and _ fantastic game, keeps us young and fit and it's_ fantastic game, keeps us young and fit and it's wonderful to see some of the _ fit and it's wonderful to see some of the best— fit and it's wonderful to see some of the best players in the world doing _ of the best players in the world doing it — of the best players in the world doing it. emma is a strong player for us _ doing it. emma is a strong player for us all— doing it. emma is a strong player for us all to— doing it. emma is a strong player for us all to look up to. fantastic, thank you — for us all to look up to. fantastic, thank you very — for us all to look up to. fantastic, thank you very much. _ for us all to look up to. fantastic, thank you very much. i _ for us all to look up to. fantastic, thank you very much. iwill- for us all to look up to. fantastic, | thank you very much. i will bravely sneak onto the court and chat to you. what you love about tennis so much? i you. what you love about tennis so much? ., ., , , ., , much? i love how it brings many --eole much? i love how it brings many people together _ much? i love how it brings many people together and _ much? i love how it brings many people together and they - much? i love how it brings many people together and they can . much? i love how it brings many people together and they can allj people together and they can all play together. the people together and they can all play together-—

play together. the final word to ou, ou play together. the final word to you. you told — play together. the final word to you, you told me _ play together. the final word to you, you told me you _ play together. the final word to you, you told me you hadn't - play together. the final word to i you, you told me you hadn't heard play together. the final word to - you, you told me you hadn't heard of emma before the us open but now you know her, how does she inspire you? she was a really good player. i thought — she was a really good player. i thought she started like that because she was a really good player and i thought it was only specific people — and i thought it was only specific people. when i heard she had to keep trying _ people. when i heard she had to keep trying until— people. when i heard she had to keep trying until she actually went into the finalists, it's really inspiring that someone from, if you go so low, you can _ that someone from, if you go so low, you can go _ that someone from, if you go so low, you can go so — that someone from, if you go so low, you can go so high. that someone from, if you go so low, you can go so high-— you can go so high. lovely, if you to so you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low. _ you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low. you — you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low, you can _ you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low, you can go _ you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low, you can go so - you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low, you can go so high. i you can go so high. lovely, if you go so low, you can go so high. al go so low, you can go so high. a great want to take away. the inspiration is at fever pitch and if she wins tomorrow, who knows what will happen here?— the headlines on bbc news... president biden announces sweeping new covid—19 measures that require workers at large companies to be vaccinated or face weekly testing. the scientist behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary, and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need.

a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york. the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. events to mark 20 years since 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks in new york, washington and pennsylvania are being held across the united states tomorrow. our north america correspondent, nada tawfik, takes a look at how the lives of first responders and victims' families were shaped by that day. the rebirth and transformation of lower manhattan has become an emblem of the city's resilience. and though much has changed here, for new yorkers who lived through 9/11, the scars never faded. my mom pointed up and she said, "i need you to look at this because it's history."

hannah moch remembers the chaos of being pulled from schooljust blocks from where the twin towers were about to collapse. that experience, atjust eight years old, inspired her dedication to public service. it kind of like restarted my life. like, we've always talked about a before and after 9/11. i think after that day i realised how important, a, community is, and, b, service is. kids now learn about 9/11 as a moment of history. they see the shocking videos, but do not have the lived experience. still, all around them are haunting reminders that the tragedy is not over. when the twin towers collapsed, lower manhattan was blanketed in a toxic cloud. and for months first responders and those who worked, studied and lived here, breathed in that air — air contaminated by glass shards, asbestos and building materials. well, that lead to long—term health problems. and so, 20 years on, the death toll from this tragedy continues to rise. rob serra's first day as a firefighter was on 9/11. 20 years later, he is still

attending the funerals of fellow first responders — three just last week. it took 18 years to get permanent legislation... he's angry that it took the us government so long to guarantee funding for the ill, and only after a long public campaign with the help of comedianjon stewart. they needed to get wall street open. they needed to make the country feel safe. i get it. but there's a price for that, and we're paying it. the united states government certainly let us down. and it shouldn't have taken people likejon stewart, erm... ..to shame them, because that's really the only way that this legislation got passed — was shame. as rob battles with his health, his sister—in—law kimberly is nursing a different type of pain. her father vincent never came home from work in the twin towers, where he was a vice president at cantor fitzgerald. to have him notjust die at work, but to disappear — in the whole physical sense he isjust gone — and i think

that just really took away any hope of closure for us. as new yorkers collectively grieve on this anniversary, the command to never forget takes on new meaning. for those born after september 11th, how will they be shaped by the stories and lessons of that day? nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. the pandemic has shaken up the way we work — but has it also changed the way we dress for work? that's certainly the view of fashion bossjohnnie boden — who says �*the office dressing trend has gone'. boden's founder has been talking to our correspondent emma simpson. we've got 30 years of boden on one rail. and for you, the velvet... well, this holds a special place in my heart because it was our first £1 million product. a milestone for this

quintessentially british business. johnnie boden is also relieved to have survived the pandemic. it's been difficult but we kept our head above water, which is the main thing. it was a very sharp drop off in sales, but thankfully we reacted quite quickly and things have returned, thankfully, back to 2019. and in recent months it sounds like you've had a boden bounce. are dresses back? what's happening now? i think people, once the vaccine was announced, people at last started to feel more optimistic. the big change has been working from home means that they don't need to dress up for the office, so i think office dressing trend has gone. employers are much more relaxed about what people can wear. people need to feel happy when they wear clothes and we sell happiness. and who is your customer and how do you feel about the yummy mummy label? well, we have 2 million active customers, that's people who have bought from us in the last 12 months around the world. we are a pretty international business now. we are actually bigger in america than we are in the uk.

our principal markets are america, the uk and germany. i think one of the things that i have noticed in the last 30 years is that people now, they think in an international way in the way they wear clothes. so an american customer is quite similar to a british customer, quite similar to a german customer. whereas 30 years ago they had much more different wardrobes. so our customers love being a bit different, but without standing out too much. how has boden been impacted by brexit? well, it's been very difficult, and it's caused a lot of complexity in our dealing with the european union. for instance? oh, vat, the massive increase in form filling, the delays at the ports. we are worried about our german business because it's costing us a lot of money to service it, and it's a shame. so why haven't you sold

boden or part of it? that's what quite a few of the people might have done. i really enjoy what i do. i like the freedom. i don't want to be answerable to the city. i think you're either in or out, that's my basic philosophy. how is christmas going to be, do you think? how confident are you? i really think people are going to go for it, actually. i think, i don't know about you, but i feel i've missed parties, we haven't had a proper knees up at christmas for two years and i think it will be really exciting, actually. i'm confident. for more than sixty years mankind has been journeying into space. sometimes described as the final frontier — it's mostly been a voyage of scientific discovery. but in recent months — some have made that trip for other reasons. we've had space tourists — and very soon there will be space movie—makers. tim allman explains.

ever since the dawn of the silver screen, we have looked up towards the heavens. films and television programmes set in space. but for fairly obvious reasons, never actually made there. until now, that is. here at the gagarin research and test cosmonaut training centre in star city, a very special crew appear before the media. with the emphasis being very much on the stars. next month, they will set off to the international space station, where they'll make a film set and made in space — sounds like a pretty daunting task but apparently not. translation: the guys are ready 10096, 15096. | i'm not worried about them at all.

russia's space agency says it wants to open up space travel to a wider range of people. a sentiment shared by billionaire entrepreneurs like sir richard branson and jeff bezos. they have both recentlyjourneyed to the edge of the atmosphere, trying to create a whole new industry, space tourism. it could get crowded up there, tom cruise is also planning to film a new movie on the international space station. currently on the iss, cosmonauts oleg novitskiy and pyotr dubrov were performing a routine space walk. no doubt both of them were ready for their close—up. tim allman, bbc news. in canada, political party leaders have just squared off in the second of three televised debates over who should form the next government. prime ministerjustin trudeau, who faces potential defeat in the september 20 election, used the debate to take

aim at his main rival, conservative erin o'toole. the debate also featured special guests for questions and analysis on issues important to indigenous people. canadian politicaljournalist justin ling was there in quebec. he says it wasn't a strong performance from the prime minister. it was a rough night for the prime minister. justin trudeau came in tonight, i think fired up, excited, looking to put some distance between to him and his main rival, the leader of the conservative party, especially when it comes to the covid—19 response. justin trudeau has been vocally in favour of a vaccine mandate, basically whatjoe biden announced today, a requirement that many people in federally regulated sectors, travellers, anyone working for the government of canada, must be vaccinated. erin o'toole does not carry the same policy, does not believe in vaccine mandates. he really wanted to drive that wedge tonight, but it didn't work. he got on the stage and frankly was hammered on all sides

for failing to meet canada's co2 emissions targets, for failing to reconcile the canadian state with indigenous peoples. forfailing to deliver on lowering drug prices, forfailing to deliver on funding health care. it was a really rough night for the liberal leader, especially for someone who was as popular asjustin trudeau was just a couple of years ago. singer/songwriter arlo parks — who's just 21—years—old — has won the mercury prize. arlo parks got her first break in the music business after sending a demo to the bbc. our entertainment correspondent colin patterson was at hammersmith apollo in london, where the awards took place.

and i am here with the winner, arlo parks. the judges described you for having a singular voice. they said that was one of the factors. and the themes of this album, collapsed in sunbeams, it dealt with anxiety, it dealt with loneliness, mental health, many of the issues people went through during lockdown. in what way do you think that actually helped this album connect with people? i guess it's the honesty at the core of it, it's the fact that i'm trying to talk about real experiences and what it's like to be a human being. and that's a bittersweet thing, so i'm just glad people have enjoyed it. we're outside the hammersmith apollo. you used to cycle by here every day on the way to school. how special is this place to you? i mean, incredibly special. i grew up really close to here and i used to have my school christmas carol services in the church literally right opposite, so it feels like a homecoming in some way. your parents still live ten minutes up the road in that house, you still have your childhood bedroom. and a couple of the songs on the album were actually written in that room. what's it like? i mean, again, it feels... it feels really fulfilling, it feels like i'm doing something purposeful,

and i'm glad that i'vejust been welcomed with open arms by being myself and making music i love. what do you want to do next? what can this album open up doors towards? i guessjust continuing making more music, more collaborations, just being able to finally tour and travel the world and meet different people and just keep making music i'm proud of. and back to your parents for a cup of tea right now? probably, yeah. give us a look at the trophy? now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. that heatwave we started the week with has given way to something cooler. scattered showers today and some thunderstorms mixed in with heavy downpours. almost nowhere immune to catching some passing showers. a real peppering of showers across the uk. perhaps something a little bit drierfor across the uk. perhaps something a little bit drier for the far south—west of england, south—west england and wales in particular.

fewer showers here, not completely dry but still quite cloudy. more sunshine breaking through further east but scattered showers and thunderstorms, slow—moving with light wind. temperatures are still 23, 24 in the warmest spots but most at 19. the fifth test at old trafford, if you heavy downpours in productive play for a time but looking drive for saturday and sunday. —— interrupting play. mostly dry overnight, away from the north of scotland, that is, where we have lingering rain lasting through tonight and through the day tomorrow as well. towards the south of that, mostly dry and mild and humid to start saturday. through the day as low—pressure drifts to the east that will allow more of a north—westerly breeze blowing across the uk. still a lingering weather front bringing outbreaks of heavy rain for the north of scotland and there could be localised flooding issues. elsewhere, a predominantly dry story

on saturday. not as warm as recent days but pleasant spells of sunshine, lifting temperatures to 23 in the south—east, the mid—teens further north with things starting to cool down. the cooler air will slip further south across the country as we move into sunday. temperatures are not as high as they have been recently but quite a lot of dry weather and light wind foremost on sunday. an area of rain lingering in the south—west, perhaps pushing into wales and south—west england later in the day. to the east of that, mostly dry. heading on into monday, quite a lot of dry weather to start the day but things turning more unsubtle from the west with the arrival of some rain for northern ireland, wales and south—west england later in the day. sunny spells further east and highs up sunny spells further east and highs up to 22.

this is bbc news. the headlines at 11: a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york. the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. honestly, i just can't honestly, ijust can't believe it. shock. crazy. all of the above. the head of m15 says the uk is at risk of further terror attacks since the rise of the taliban — 20 years after the 9/11 attacks. we do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. this is a real problem.

latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. the scientist behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary — and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need. after yesterday's announcement in scotland, the uk government says vaccine passports are almost certain to be introduced to gain access to nightclubs in england. you will be required to prove vaccination because by the end of this month every adult will have had an opportunity to have two jabs. president biden announces sweeping new covid—19 measures that require workers at large companies to be vaccinated or face weekly testing. england's fifth test against india at old trafford has been cancelled after a number of india's backroom staff tested positive for covid—19.

the british teenager emma raducanu has made history as she reaches the final of the us open tennis in new york. the 18—year—old from southeast london beat the 17th seed maria sakkari in the semi—finals at flushing meadows, becoming the first british woman to reach the final of a major singles tournament since virginia wade in 1977. patrick gearey reports. from great britain, emma raducanu! emma raducanu's flight home from new york left two weeks ago. since then she has taken off. like most 18—year—olds at grand slams, she never expected to make it through qualifying, let alone play shots like this in the first game of a semifinal. such was her start, opponent

maria sakkari complained her skirt was too tight and went off to change it, only to be squeezed further by a nerveless, relentless raducanu. she won the first set 6—1. watching at four in the morning in the uk, this felt like an extraordinary dream. sakkari is the 17th seed, raducanu is ranked 150. numbers at complete odds with the evidence. raducanu broke again. the closer you get, the more tense it is supposed to be, unless you're emma raducanu. she has made the astonishing look routine. the first qualifier to make a grand slam final in the modern era, the first british woman to reach one in 44 years. she breaks history into small pieces. she breaks history into small ieces. �* . . ~ she breaks history into small ieces. �* , .,~ ., pieces. i've been taking care of each day and — pieces. i've been taking care of each day and before _ pieces. i've been taking care of each day and before you - pieces. i've been taking care of each day and before you knowl pieces. i've been taking care of. each day and before you know it, three weeks later, i'm in the final and i can't believe it. thanks, everyone! in the city that famously never sleeps, the teenager who never wants to wake up.

patrick gearey, bbc news. many of you stayed up to watch emma raducanu's historic victory, and a few of tennis's stars past and present have reacted on twitter. former british number one, laura robson said the teenager's performance was unbelievable, calling her an absolute star. and the former three—time us open champion, kim clijsters, tweeted her congratulations saying emma raducanu's performance was incredible. virginia wade, who was the last british woman to make the final of the us open in 1968 said emma raducanu was "the real thing". she will have a day to recover tomorrow and then i think it's such an opportunity to put everything into it. you know, these opportunities don't necessarily come knocking

at your door all the time so, you know, you just fight until the bitter end and, you know, there's no point in me even saying that to her because that's what she does, she does everything so well, she moves so well. she serves well and she's smart out there. so i think she knows what she's doing. when the interview's over, ask her, what do you think about all the distraction and what about the previous match? she says, frankly, i am just thinking about myself. that is the way to do it, to keep yourself in a cocoon and just get on with it. only three british women have reached the final of the us open in the open era. i'm pleased to say we can speak to christine janes, who was the first player to achieve that feat in 1959. hello, christine, thank you for speaking to us today. what do you make of what you are seeing, watching emma raducanu? i

make of what you are seeing, watching emma raducanu? i think it's wonderful, watching emma raducanu? i think it's wonderful. she _ watching emma raducanu? i think it's wonderful, she is _ watching emma raducanu? i think it's wonderful, she is refreshing, - watching emma raducanu? i think it's wonderful, she is refreshing, she - wonderful, she is refreshing, she has no affectations, shejust wonderful, she is refreshing, she has no affectations, she just goes on the course and plays and it's a blast, she says that yourself. i first saw her at wimbledon in a few weeks ago and you just want to watch her because she just gives you that ioy her because she just gives you that joy of wanting to play the game yourself even and i think she's got a chance of winning tomorrow. make it so interesting _ a chance of winning tomorrow. make it so interesting to _ a chance of winning tomorrow. make it so interesting to hear _ a chance of winning tomorrow. make it so interesting to hear that you first saw her at wimbledon a few weeks ago because i think that is part of the shock at her immense success, that she does seem, for many people, to have come from nowhere. . . many people, to have come from nowhere. , , . ., , ., nowhere. yes, she certainly had the andemic nowhere. yes, she certainly had the pandemic year— nowhere. yes, she certainly had the pandemic year off _ nowhere. yes, she certainly had the pandemic year off and _ nowhere. yes, she certainly had the pandemic year off and she's - nowhere. yes, she certainly had the pandemic year off and she's done i nowhere. yes, she certainly had the l pandemic year off and she's done her a—levels and it appears she has come from nowhere but she's been on this road or thisjourney from nowhere but she's been on this road or this journey as they call it for some years and all the hard work she's put in has finally come to fruition and she's got the temperament and personality to go with it. ithink temperament and personality to go with it. i think centre stage is

certainly made for her or she is made for the centre stage. perhaps i hrased it made for the centre stage. perhaps i phrased it wrongly, _ made for the centre stage. perhaps i phrased it wrongly, it's _ made for the centre stage. perhaps i phrased it wrongly, it's not - made for the centre stage. perhaps i phrased it wrongly, it's not that - phrased it wrongly, it's not that she has come from nowhere, she has played on thejunior she has come from nowhere, she has played on the junior circuit, she has come from nowhere, she has played on thejunior circuit, she's clearly been in training for a long time, but still she has taken the tennis world and the wider world by huge surprise because usually people take a little time to adjust to the aduu take a little time to adjust to the adult professional circuit. exactly, and i think that's _ adult professional circuit. exactly, and i think that's where _ adult professional circuit. exactly, and i think that's where i - adult professional circuit. exactly, and i think that's where i can - adult professional circuit. exactly, and i think that's where i can sort| and i think that's where i can sort of relate to emma a little because my heyday was when i was young and i was in the final of the us in —— and somehow all those things you imagine as a spectator might happen. i would no pressure if i tripped over it and emma is the same, you're just not aware, you have the naivety of youth and you are hit with three abandon

—— free abandon. unfortunately i lost my final but i'm sure emma can do better. ., ., ., ., , do better. you are one of the very few people _ do better. you are one of the very few people in _ do better. you are one of the very few people in the _ do better. you are one of the very few people in the world _ do better. you are one of the very few people in the world who - do better. you are one of the very| few people in the world who knows exactly what it is like for emma because you are the same age when you are in the final.— you are in the final. exactly and i loved it. you are in the final. exactly and i loved it- i _ you are in the final. exactly and i loved it. ijust _ you are in the final. exactly and i loved it. i just felt _ you are in the final. exactly and i loved it. i just felt lucky - you are in the final. exactly and i loved it. i just felt lucky to - you are in the final. exactly and i loved it. i just felt lucky to be . loved it. ijust felt lucky to be doing what i was doing, what i wanted to be doing, it was slightly different in that i didn't have a team around me, i was on my own in new york at 18. i had a long distance phone call from mother in the morning of the final to say good luck and don't worry about anything and that was it really. i went off and that was it really. i went off and got my transport to the stadium and got my transport to the stadium and played but a simpler era but equally meaningful and i've enjoyed following emma's progress and i like to feel 18 again myself! and following emma's progress and i like to feel 18 again myself!— to feel 18 again myself! and is it her attitude _ to feel 18 again myself! and is it her attitude as _ to feel 18 again myself! and is it her attitude as well _ to feel 18 again myself! and is it her attitude as well as _ to feel 18 again myself! and is it her attitude as well as her - to feel 18 again myself! and is it| her attitude as well as her tennis that strikes you?—

her attitude as well as her tennis that strikes you? absolutely, her mental application _ that strikes you? absolutely, her mental application and _ that strikes you? absolutely, her mental application and her - mental application and her temperament, she doesn't waver, she doesn't show if she one point or lost or played a shocker, not that she plays many shockers. she isjust the same and that's the most important thing in a tennis match, your temperament. important thing in a tennis match, yourtemperament. if important thing in a tennis match, your temperament. if that falls apart, you are not going to play your best tennis and she's certainly got the temperament on her side. seems to be enjoying herself so much and energised by the crowd. absolutely but you do enjoy yourself when you are winning. that's what i like so much. when you lose it's not quite as much fun but she's come through qualifying and through to the finals so even thinking the worst, if she lost, it still got a huge memory tank of good things that happened that will keep going. you said earlier you thought she would win. i said earlier you thought she would win. . ., said earlier you thought she would win. , ., , .. , said earlier you thought she would win. , ,

win. i still do because you can get on a roll of— win. i still do because you can get on a roll of winning. _ win. i still do because you can get on a roll of winning. lola - win. i still do because you can get i on a roll of winning. lola fernandez has also had a fantastic us open the same as emma and she's 19 and they have known each other through the junior ranks so they are not new opponents to each other but i somehow feel that mr has shown she's —— emma has shown she is on a roll of winning. leila has had more tough matches and is lucky to have come through a few and whether that will show in the end, the extra energy it has taken for her to get to the final will be one step too much and that's where emma will gain. that's what i'm hoping for anyway. it would be nice if they could both win but we know in sport that doesn't happen. we know in sport that doesn't ha en. ~ . �* we know in sport that doesn't hauen. ~ . �* ., ., we know in sport that doesn't hauen. . �* ., ., ., ., happen. we haven't got long to wait. so nice to talk _ happen. we haven't got long to wait. so nice to talk to _ happen. we haven't got long to wait. so nice to talk to you. _ happen. we haven't got long to wait. so nice to talk to you. i _ happen. we haven't got long to wait. so nice to talk to you. i can - so nice to talk to you. i can remember. _ so nice to talk to you. i can remember, maybe - so nice to talk to you. i can j remember, maybe because so nice to talk to you. i can - remember, maybe because i'm a so nice to talk to you. i can remember, maybe because i'm a tennis player and tennis fan myself, but i can't remember any one generating so

much success in a long, long time as emma raducanu has.— emma raducanu has. thank you so much, christine _ emma raducanu has. thank you so much, christine janes. _ and you can follow emma raducanu's final against leylah fernandez tomorrow night on bbc radio 5 live and the bbc sounds app from 9pm. 20 years after thousands of people were killed in the september 11th terror attacks in the united states, the director of the british security service m15, ken mccallum, has warned that the threat of terrorism in the uk remains a "consta nt feature". he was speaking to the bbc in a rare interview this corera explains. the head of m15 talked about heaving of the attacks 20 years ago. he said he was actually an agent runner in northern ireland dealing with issues there when the planes hit and a

colleague actually said osama bin laden. you got a sense that the people and m15 knew that their world was changing forever and this was going to be the dominant theme of their work for the decades after. it certainly has been. on the today programme, he gave us a sense of what the threat looks like and we can hear one clip of that now. we do face a consistent _ can hear one clip of that now. we do face a consistent global _ can hear one clip of that now. we do face a consistent global struggle - can hear one clip of that now. we do face a consistent global struggle to l face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. this is a real problem and in the last four years for example, working with the police, my organisation has disrupted 31 late stage attack plots in great britain.— in great britain. islamist or of different kinds? _ in great britain. islamist or of different kinds? it _ in great britain. islamist or of different kinds? it includes i in great britain. islamist or of- different kinds? it includes mainly islamist extremist _ different kinds? it includes mainly islamist extremist attack - different kinds? it includes mainly islamist extremist attack plots i different kinds? it includes mainly| islamist extremist attack plots but also a growing number of attack plots from extreme right—wing terrorists. even during the pandemic period we have been enduring for most of the last two years we have

had to disrupt six late stage attack plots and the terrorist threat to the uk, i'm sorry to say, is a real and enduring thing. gordon also explained what the m15 chief had to say about the impact of the western withdrawal from afghanistan on the uk's terror threat. i think it really has changed the way people think about it. you can divided into two areas, one was the sense that it will potentially inspire people, jihadists, to think we could be successful. in this case, they can make the claim that they drove the americans and nato out of afghanistan and so there is this concern that it will support them, even people who may not be able to travel out there or use it as a base, but then the other concern is that it could return to what it was before 9/11, which was a base in which terrorist groups can plan more ambitious attacks on the slightly low level inspired attacks

we've seen in recent years. whether that turns out to be the case or not will depend on the taliban and how it reacts and this is what he had to say about that.— say about that. this remains to be seen. government _ say about that. this remains to be seen. government ministers i say about that. this remains to be seen. government ministers have| say about that. this remains to be i seen. government ministers have said we will— seen. government ministers have said we willjudge the taliban by its actions. — we willjudge the taliban by its actions, not by its words. even if the taliban— actions, not by its words. even if the taliban is absolutely in good faith about wanting to prevent terrorism being exported from afghanistan, that will be a difficult task to accomplish. afghanistan is not an easy country to govern — afghanistan is not an easy country to govern and within which to ensure perfect _ to govern and within which to ensure perfect security so even if the taliban — perfect security so even if the taliban is— perfect security so even if the taliban is in good faith, there will still be _ taliban is in good faith, there will still be a — taliban is in good faith, there will still be a risk they are in the taliban may not be holy in good faith _ taliban may not be holy in good faith -- — taliban may not be holy in good faith —— wholly. we will treat the taliban _ faith —— wholly. we will treat the taliban by— faith —— wholly. we will treat the taliban by its actions but in my role _ taliban by its actions but in my role in — taliban by its actions but in my role in counterterrorism, we have to plan on _ role in counterterrorism, we have to plan on the — role in counterterrorism, we have to plan on the basis that more risk may flow away— plan on the basis that more risk may flow away and so we come up with our partners _ flow away and so we come up with our partners at _ flow away and so we come up with our partners at mi6 flow away and so we come up with our partners at m16 and gchq and the police _ partners at m16 and gchq and the police and international allies, need _ police and international allies, need to— police and international allies, need to do everything in our power to get— need to do everything in our power to get ahead of those kinds of risks

we imagine. saw to get ahead of those kinds of risks we imagine-— to get ahead of those kinds of risks we imauine. ., , , ., .., . we imagine. saw a sense of concern about how the _ we imagine. saw a sense of concern about how the taliban _ we imagine. saw a sense of concern about how the taliban might - we imagine. saw a sense of concern about how the taliban might deal i about how the taliban might deal with these groups and also a sense in the interview that 20 years on, the threat that emerged in 911 or became clear in 911 is certainly still there but we also live in a world which is dangerous for other reasons as well, the growth of extreme right—wing activity but also hostile states. he talked about espionage and interference so a sense of the kind of breadth of work that mis sense of the kind of breadth of work that m15 is faced with at the moment. the headlines on bbc news: a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york — the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open, the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. the head of m15 says the uk is at risk of further terror attacks since the rise of the taliban — 20 years after the 9/11 attacks. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly,

as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. it was the economy's sixth consecutive month of growth, but the increase was much lower than in the previous month. our economics correspondent andy verityjoins us now. what are the reasons behind this, do people think?— people think? some of the reasons ma be people think? some of the reasons may be one-off _ people think? some of the reasons may be one-off reasons. _ people think? some of the reasons may be one-off reasons. you i people think? some of the reasons may be one-off reasons. you gotta people think? some of the reasons i may be one-off reasons. you gotta be may be one—off reasons. you gotta be careful about attributing too much importance to one month's figures but on the other hand it is the slowest growth since the economy was shrinking back in the renewed lockdown of christmas and new year. 0.1% growth and that only happened because oilfield production restarted in the north sea. if you look at the services sector it was

completely flat and services is four fifths of the economy. one of the reasons is probably rain, it's an economic truth that if you have heavy rainfall like we did injuly, people stay away from the shops and is not as much activity at restaurants and pubs. that's one possible reason. another is there was the rise of the delta variant in july and that was what we called the pingdemic which would have reduced economic activity but there is also possibly a confidence factor involved here. the elements that kept the economy going well up until that point, things like the stamp duty holiday were removed so for example in the housing market, you so activity in the legal and real estate markets dropping by 10% between june and july after the stamp duty holiday ended. the real concern for the bank of england is that we are supposed to be roaring away this year, 7% growth over the whole of 2021. unless we get a

resurgence of activity in the autumn, we are unlikely to get that, then the government is counting on that to fix the public finances and get the 2 million people who aren't working back to work. abs]!!! get the 2 million people who aren't working back to work.— working back to work. all eyes will be on what — working back to work. all eyes will be on what these _ working back to work. all eyes will be on what these figures - working back to work. all eyes will be on what these figures show i working back to work. all eyes will be on what these figures show for| be on what these figures show for august. be on what these figures show for au . ust. . �* . be on what these figures show for au:ust. . �* , ., be on what these figures show for au:ust. . �* , . ., , ., august. that's right and there was a reason to hope _ august. that's right and there was a reason to hope there _ august. that's right and there was a reason to hope there would - august. that's right and there was a reason to hope there would be i august. that's right and there was a reason to hope there would be a i reason to hope there would be a pick—up in august with people spending more, going on holiday, spending more, going on holiday, spending of those savings they've been accumulating over the lockdown. but really we need a stronger pick than this in the autumn and we needed to be in the crucial services sector. if the consumer remains as they were injuly, nervous and not really prepared to spend like it was predicted, then that means you won't have the economic activity you hope —— you would hope for, the tax receipts coming in and the process of reducing the deficit and getting people back to work will go much lower than the government hopes and

although we have a low unemployment rate, there are still 2 million people who would like to be working but are either unfurlough or have lost theirjobs —— on furlough. and that will be a bigger issue as autumn goes on. not everyone in the uk needs a coronavirus boosterjab. that's according to the scientist behind the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. professor dame sarah gilbert is calling for doses to be sent to countries in need. professor gilbert says some vulnerable groups will need boosters. but immunity is "lasting well" in the majority of cases. up to 500,000 people with severely weakened immune systems should be offered a third dose of the jab. that's been the line from the uk vaccine advisory body — thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation — until now. thejcvi has also suggested more than 30 million people should receive a third dose, including all adults over 50, in its interim advice issued injuly. the vaccine advisory committee is due to give its final advice on boosters soon.

health secretary, sajid javid, has said he's awaiting that "final advice" from the jcvi, but was "confident" a booster programme would start later this month. professor gilbert told my colleague, lukwesa burak, what lay behind her comments. i was being asked questions about whether we should be boosting people in this country or giving first doses to people in other countries and i think that's far too simplistic a way to look at it. the problem we really have is that the world needs greater vaccine supply, we need more doses of all of the vaccines that are currently licensed and we need more vaccines to be licensed so we are not talking about choices between vaccinating in one country or another country. the good news is that supply is increasing, every month more doses are becoming available and we now need to focus on getting those doses to the countries that really need them but there will be a lot more doses available to do that. when we talk about the countries, what are we talking about and where?

mainly africa, whereas in many countries on that continent, only 2% of people have been vaccinated, the target has always been to vaccinate at least the most vulnerable 20%, then move on from there and we are not even close to that yet. when we talk about those who are most vulnerable, it has been agreed, thejcvi have said those with immunity, low immunity, who should be vaccinated first, and also the over 50s, do you agree with that? in this country, those groups have been vaccinated, or they will have been offered a vaccination already. what we are talking about is whether another dose should be given and that is a very complex decision and we have to take into account which vaccines are available, the expiry dates, where they are and where it is feasible to move them to so it is not an easy decision to make and it is something thejcvi will take that decision and we should wait for them to comment.

you also said immunity is lasting well in the majority of people, what evidence is there of that? when we started vaccine trials in april last year, that is when we were giving the first doses of the vaccine, we carried on vaccinating volunteers through may, june and july so we now have a large body of people who got the vaccine early and we have been able to invite them to come back for further blood tests six months after their vaccinations and now a year after their vaccinations, so we are starting to accumulate data on how that immune response is being maintained. as we would expect with any other vaccine, we are seeing strong maintenance of response. what evidence is there of how effective covid boosters are, which is more effective, the first wave of vaccination or the booster programme? obviously because we have not seen widespread use of boosters, we cannot report on the effectiveness. do we have data from israel? there is limited data — have they actually reported on the change in susceptibility or are they just looking

at immune responses? we do not have enough data yet to report those decisions but what we do know is that the first dose of the vaccine has the most impact, whoever you give that vaccine to. we get a strong response, good protection after a single dose and then it is improved by the second dose. we would expect to see it being maintained or possibly slightly improved by a third dose, we wait to see but getting the first dose into people is really important. president biden has set out a series of measures aimed at getting more americans vaccinated against coronavirus, as he tackles a rising number of infections. jabs will be mandatory for all federal government employees and there will be new rules affecting big companies, health care, and the transport network. nomia iqbal reports from washington. no more soft approach — this time, the president was blunt. good evening, my fellow americans.

what more do you need to see? we've made vaccinations free, safe and convenient. the vaccine has fda approval. over 200 million americans have gotten at least one shot. we've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin... ..and your refusal has cost all of us. mr biden's frustration comes down to the numbers. 18 months on since the virus hit, and the us is averaging 1,500 covid—related deaths a day. he laid into some politicians — mainly republican governors — for playing politics by showing unrelenting resistance to mask—wearing. but how to convince a country where many ordinary citizens don't want the vaccine, and where often it's a matter for individual states to decide what to do? well, mr biden has signed an executive order, forcing companies to get their workers

jabbed orface being fired. if you want to work with the federal government and do business with us, get vaccinated! if you want to do business with the federal government, vaccinate your workforce. but the administration has been accused of causing confusion on booster shots and u—turns on mask mandates. critics say it's allowed the delta variant to take foothold. this has taken a toll on the us economy, affecting president biden's approval ratings. and it isn't the afghanistan withdrawal, but how he handles the pandemic... get vaccinated. ..that ultimately matters to the american public. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. the culture secretary oliver dowden this morning has been talking about vaccine passports and how they will be necessary to gain entry to nightclubs in england this autumn. the scottish government has legislated to do this from october 1st. mr dowden also said a decision would be made shortly on whether proof of vaccination would be required to gain entry to other venues — for example, large sporting venues

and unseated live outdoor events such as concerts and festivals. our political correspondent iain watson is at westminster. you may remember back injuly the prime minister said he was serving notice that because only around a third of young people had taken up the offer of being vaccinated at that point, he said by the end of september he could make full vaccination a condition of entry into nightclubs so i guess in a sense, oliver dowden �*s comments shouldn't be surprising but what is surprising is the level of opposition from his own side so this week in the house of commons, the vaccines minister got a kicking from the many tory mps who wanted the idea of vaccine passports dropped and some believed they were making some progress on this front. it would appear today that oliver dowden is once again reiterating that by the end of this month the government will indeed move towards

mandating full vaccination for entry to nightclubs. i think what is interesting is that for some conservative mps but also for the labour opposition, what might have got them on board for this policy would be to say, you can have proof of vaccination or you can have proof of vaccination or you can have proof of our recent negative test. today, oliver dowden was completely unambiguous and clear about what is going to be required.— going to be required. firstly you will be required _ going to be required. firstly you will be required to _ going to be required. firstly you will be required to prove - will be required to prove vaccination because by the end of this month, every adult will have had an— this month, every adult will have had an opportunity to have had two jabs~ _ had an opportunity to have had two jabs. secondly, we will almost certainly— jabs. secondly, we will almost certainly be doing it for nightclubs. we will make a determination as to whether we need to move _ determination as to whether we need to move more broadly than that or whether— to move more broadly than that or whether we — to move more broadly than that or whether we can hold the position and wait to— whether we can hold the position and wait to see _ whether we can hold the position and wait to see if it's necessary until a later— wait to see if it's necessary until a later point in the final decision will be _ a later point in the final decision will be made shortly. really interesting that oliver dowden was saying, let's see if we can hold this position, that

mandating proof of vaccination would apply only to nightclubs. he is the culture secretary of course, he says he prefers to take a voluntary approach when it comes to other venues such as concerts and sporting venues such as concerts and sporting venues and so on and that would mean, in effect, in england, any legislation would be more narrowly drawn than in scotland from october one. in scotland, outdoor events of more than 10,000 events, you will need to show proof of vaccination so you could have a more liberal system in england but what was also very clear is that this is a live discussion still going on in government. the decision hasn't yet been taken but i think it's pretty clear that the culture secretary once to make sure there are a few venues affected for a time as possible. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith—lucas. a real mix of weather out there. we had some nastiness this morning

which is now clearing away. it's going to be a day of sunny spells but plenty of scattered, heavy showers developing and some of them producing thunderstorms. hit and miss showers across much of the uk really. a little bit drier for the southwest of england into wales this afternoon but it stays cloudy here. further east, more sunshine between those torrential downpours. temperatures are still up to 23 or 24 celsius but not as hot as recently. heavy showers and thunderstorms gradually fade away this evening and overnight but most of us will keep more persistent rain across north of scotland which will linger for a across north of scotland which will lingerfor a good part of across north of scotland which will linger for a good part of saturday. still quite a humid, mild start saturday. some sunny spells developing, but look out for the heavy rain that will develop all day across the far north of scotland. not as warm as recently as, temperatures on saturday around 14 to 23 celsius.

hello, this is bbc news with rita chakrabati. the headlines: a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york. the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. honestly, i cannot believe it. a shock, crazy, all of the above. the head of m15 says the uk is at risk of further terror attacks since the rise of the taliban — 20 years after the 9/11 attacks. we do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. this is a real problem. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. the scientist behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says

giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary — and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need. after yesterday's announcement in scotland, the uk government says vaccine passports are almost certain to be introduced to gain access to nightclubs in england. sport and for a full round—up from the bbc sports centre, here's olly. good morning. the final test between england and india was called off this morning just two hours before the start of play at old tarfford. india had been hit with another positive covid case in their backroom staff on the eve of the game, and concerns within the india camp about a possible outbreak of the virus, meant that the match was cancelled. india lead the series 2—1, but discussions continue as to whether they should forfeit this game. here's our sports correspondentjoe wilson.

we have a test match ground at old trafford but no longer have a test match and no longer a test match series. concerns began yesterday when india cancelled a training session following a positive test amongst one of their coaching staff. so if we think back to last test match in the oval, there was a positive test within the indian coaching staff, leading to a number of backroom staff isolating. ona on a thursday evening their staff took fresh pcr test which led us to believe that match would begin. out in the field that is very risk of players but they feel there is to much a risk to their players and therefore they can't feel the team. and yet this morning, what, two hours before

the captains were due to toss the coin came the news that this test had been cancelled. i remind you that all of the indian players had tested negative, but india say they fear a risk of the coronavirus spreading within the camp. the ecb chief executive tom harrison has told the bbc that the decision was made purely because the india players didn't feel comfortable menatlly to play the game, a statement from indian cricket chiefs, the bcci, says the decison to call off the match was a joint decision and they have offered to reschedule the final test, but it's still left tenss of thousands of fans bitterly disappointed. we've come from liverpool. we've made special journeys and we've come from liverpool. we've made specialjourneys and special efforts, working all night, i've nots slept awake all night to get here today and to be cancelled at the last minute i find shocking. disappointing but with covid its

inevitable. you wouldn't expect people — inevitable. you wouldn't expect people to — inevitable. you wouldn't expect people to play with covid. we've come _ people to play with covid. we've come 33 — people to play with covid. we've come 33 miles from liverpool but what _ come 33 miles from liverpool but what can — come 33 miles from liverpool but what can you do? as come 33 miles from liverpool but what can you do?— come 33 miles from liverpool but what can you do? as supporters we know things — what can you do? as supporters we know things can — what can you do? as supporters we know things can change _ what can you do? as supporters we know things can change the - what can you do? as supporters we know things can change the last i know things can change the last minute and that's the way the world has been in the last two years and sometimes you have to grin and bear it. yorkshire country cricket club have accepted that there was �*no question' that their former player azeem rafiq was the victim of racial harrassment and bullying during his time at the club and have apologised to him and his family. they have have published the findings today of a year—long investigation after raffiq made in excess of 40 allegations against the club of racist incidents and bullying across his two spells with the county. seven were upheld. the report found that the the club failed to follow up on the allegations and that on a number of occasions prior to 2018 the club could have done more to make muslims feel more welcome within their stadiums. rafiq has responded with his own statement, disputing the reports further

finding that the club was not institutionally racist and he has called the process atrocious. crazy, cool and mind—blowing. . . how else would you expect a teenager to react after reaching their first garnd slam final? emma raducanu's dream run at the us open has taken her all the way to saturday night's final where she'll face another teenager in leylah fernandez. virginia wade was the last british women to reach a final in 1977 and raducanu is the first qualifier, men's or women's to make to a grand slam final. she beat the greek maria sakkari in straight sets, and this morning tweeted pictures of her on court, celebrating, with the words, "pure happiness under the lights in new york..." ijust can't believe it. a shock. crazy. all of the above. it means a lot to be here in this situation. i wanted, obviously,

to be playing in grand slams but i didn't know how soon that would be. and to be in a grand slam final at this stage in my career, yeah, i have no words, but i just want to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey. canadian leylah fernandez stands bewteen raducanu and the trophy. fernandez, who turned 19 on monday, beat second seed aryna sabalenka in three sets. she's already beaten defending champion naomi osaka, former champ angelique kerber and fifth seed elina svitolina. the bbc tv will show highlights radio 5 live will have live commentary tomorrow night there'll be a british winner in the men's doubles,

joe salisbury and jamie murray, will go head—to—head in the final. salisbury and american partner rajeev ram, beat us pair sam querrey and steve johnson. and then, murray and brazilian bruno soares, beat australian john peers and slovak filip pola—sek, in three sets to join them. murray and soares, won both the australian open and us open together in 2016, second seed alfie hewett and fellow briton gordon reid have reached the semifinals of the men's wheelchair singles event. french open champion hewett defeated frenchman nicolas peifer in straight sets and will face argentine, gustavo fernandez. tokyo 2020 paralympic bronze medallist reid beat dutchman tom egberink in straight sets and meets top seed shingo kunieda next. and jordanne whiley is through in the women's draw. she overcame, japan's momoko

ohtani in three sets. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. events to mark 20 years since 9/11 are being held across the united states tomorrow. our north america correspondent, nada tawfik, takes a look at how the lives of first responders and victims' families were shaped by that day. the rebirth and transformation of lower manhattan has become an emblem of the city's resilience. and though much has changed here, for new yorkers who lived through 9/11, the scars never faded. my mom pointed up and she said, "i need you to look at this because it's history." hannah moch remembers the chaos of being pulled from schooljust blocks from where the twin towers were about to collapse. that experience, atjust eight years old, inspired her dedication to public service. it kind of like restarted my life. like, we've always talked about a before and after 9/11. i think after that day i realised how important, a, community is, and, b, service is.

kids now learn about 9/11 as a moment of history. they see the shocking videos, but do not have the lived experience. still, all around them are haunting reminders that the tragedy is not over. when the twin towers collapsed, lower manhattan was blanketed in a toxic cloud. and for months first responders and those who worked, studied and lived here, breathed in that air — air contaminated by glass shards, asbestos and building materials. well, that lead to long—term health problems. and so, 20 years on, the death toll from this tragedy continues to rise. rob serra's first day as a firefighter was on 9/11. 20 years later, he is still attending the funerals of fellow first responders — three just last week. it took 18 years to get permanent legislation... he's angry that it took the us government so long to guarantee funding for the ill, and only after a long public campaign with the help of comedianjon stewart.

they needed to get wall street open. they needed to make the country feel safe. i get it. but there's a price for that, and we're paying it. the united states government certainly let us down. and it shouldn't have taken people likejon stewart, erm... ..to shame them, because that's really the only way that this legislation got passed — was shame. as rob battles with his health, his sister—in—law kimberly is nursing a different type of pain. her father vincent never came home from work in the twin towers, where he was a vice president at cantor fitzgerald. to have him notjust die at work, but to disappear — in the whole physical sense he's just gone — and i think that just really took away any hope of closure for us. as new yorkers collectively grieve on this anniversary, the command to never forget takes on new meaning. for those born after september 11th, how will they be shaped

by the stories and lessons of that day? nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. joe dittmar was on the 105th floor of the world trade center's south towerfor a business meeting when the terrorist attacks started. as he rushed to escape he was a number of floors below where the second plane hit the south tower. hejoins us now. thank you so much for speaking to us. we he joins us now. thank you so much for speaking to us.— for speaking to us. we are all focused on — for speaking to us. we are all focused on this _ for speaking to us. we are all focused on this forthcoming l focused on this forthcoming anniversary tomorrow but i rather imagine the memories and emotions that you have stay with you all the time? . �* . that you have stay with you all the time? ., �*, . that you have stay with you all the time? . �*, . , ., ., time? that's correct. first of all thank you _ time? that's correct. first of all thank you for— time? that's correct. first of all thank you for allowing - time? that's correct. first of all thank you for allowing me i time? that's correct. first of all thank you for allowing me to i time? that's correct. first of all thank you for allowing me to be i thank you for allowing me to be here. it's something that you have to deal with, manage every day. it's 20 years and every day we see, feel,

hear the same sounds, the same images, and manage those images in such a way that we can continue to move on. it's not something you get by, is not something that goes away, is not something you put on the back of your mind, it's with you like your shadow, of your mind, it's with you like yourshadow, it's of your mind, it's with you like your shadow, it's with you all the time. and as i suggested you just need to learn to manage it, that's what those of us who have survived continue to try to do. tell what those of us who have survived continue to try to do.— continue to try to do. tell us about what ou continue to try to do. tell us about what you remember _ continue to try to do. tell us about what you remember about - continue to try to do. tell us about i what you remember about september the 11th, because you were at a meeting in the —— business meeting at the south tower and that is not your normal place of work. that at the south tower and that is not your normal place of work.- your normal place of work. that is correct. i lived _ your normal place of work. that is correct. i lived and _ your normal place of work. that is correct. i lived and worked - your normal place of work. that is correct. i lived and worked in i your normal place of work. that is correct. i lived and worked in thel correct. i lived and worked in the chicago area at the time, in the western suburb and happen to be called to a business meeting there because i'm in the insurance industry and the world trade center was like a mecca for the insurance

industry. virtually every insurance organisation in the country, may be the world, had offices there are so in august of 2001! the world, had offices there are so in august of 2001 i was asked to attend a meeting at the following month on that day. we were on the 105th floor of the south tower. there were 54 of us joined for the meeting. we were in an eternal conference room meaning it was inside the 104 floor so for wars, no windows and one door. —— no walls —— fort walls. at 46 minutes past eight the lights flickered. we didn't hear anything, see anything, feel anything, see anything, feel anything, just this flicker of lights. a gentleman from the company we were visiting to in and told us

there had been an explosion in the north tower and we needed to evacuate and 50 for intelligent human beings old at the same thing to this pure man, waved back at him and suggested, it's new yacht, things are always going on in new york, we'll be fine, let us have our meeting. —— new york. he expressed the need to get out, he was responsible for clearing out the hundred and fifth, hundred and fourth, i'll hundred and third floors and he wanted to leave. i know he got all 54 of us out of that room that morning because i was the last guy out of that room. riff room that morning because i was the last guy out of that room.— last guy out of that room. of the 54 of ou, last guy out of that room. of the 54 of you. how — last guy out of that room. of the 54 of you. how many _ last guy out of that room. of the 54 of you, how many made _ last guy out of that room. of the 54 of you, how many made it? - last guy out of that room. of the 54 of you, how many made it? there l last guy out of that room. of the 54 l of you, how many made it? there are seven of us — of you, how many made it? there are seven of us that _ of you, how many made it? there are seven of us that survived, _ of you, how many made it? there are seven of us that survived, myself i seven of us that survived, myself included. 47 unfortunately did not get beyond the 83rd floor on the way down and if they didn't they were not able to get by when the building

collapsed and it was unfortunate but we were very fortunate, i was very fortunate to be one of those certain to be able to survive. i fortunate to be one of those certain to be able to survive.— to be able to survive. i understand ou took to be able to survive. i understand you took the _ to be able to survive. i understand you took the stairs _ to be able to survive. i understand you took the stairs rather - to be able to survive. i understand you took the stairs rather than i to be able to survive. i understand you took the stairs rather than the i you took the stairs rather than the elevator. . �* . you took the stairs rather than the elevator. . �* , .. , elevator. that's exactly right. opportunity _ elevator. that's exactly right. opportunity immediately i elevator. that's exactly right. opportunity immediately was | elevator. that's exactly right. i opportunity immediately was to elevator. that's exactly right. - opportunity immediately was to walk down the steps. the gentleman that is clueless from the room told us that was the way to get out. you and everybody else in the world knew much more what was going on inside and out so those buildings than any of us that were right there. we really didn't understand, really didn't have a clue. he told us to walk the steps. we had opportunities to go to the elevators including on the 17th floor but my insurance sense, something i learned throughout all my business career, was in the case of elevator, stay in the fire stairwell. and when i had a

major opportunity at floor 78 to go to an elevator and make the rest of the journey that way my common sense said that wasn't the right thing to do and turned round and went back in the fire stairwell and that is arguably the best decision i have made and what still my life. i was somewhere between 74 and 72 when the second plane ploughed through our building went through our building between floors 77 and 83 so we were just a few short stories below the strike zone. just a few short stories below the strike zone-— just a few short stories below the strike zone. ,., ., , , . ., strike zone. goodness me. what did ou think strike zone. goodness me. what did you think when _ strike zone. goodness me. what did you think when you _ strike zone. goodness me. what did you think when you how _ strike zone. goodness me. what did you think when you how this - strike zone. goodness me. what did you think when you how this was i strike zone. goodness me. what did i you think when you how this was not in fact an aviation accident which it might well have been, that may be what people thought it was at the beginning, but heard it was a terrorist attack?— beginning, but heard it was a terrorist attack? honestly, i call it a classic— terrorist attack? honestly, i call it a classic american _ terrorist attack? honestly, i call it a classic american moment. l terrorist attack? honestly, i call. it a classic american moment. our jawsjust dropped to it a classic american moment. our jaws just dropped to the ground. we could not believe. this does not happen here. it was unreal,

unfathomable that this would happen on american soil, and we were just completely shocked to hear this. find completely shocked to hear this. and i know that you have spoken and written very movingly about your emotions that day as you were coming down the building, making your escape, and she met firefighters and first responders making their way up. it first responders making their way u . _ ., , first responders making their way up. it was probably the most emotional. _ up. it was probably the most emotional, heart-wrenching| up. it was probably the most i emotional, heart-wrenching part of emotional, heart—wrenching part of the day. we are all heading down and we were all going in the same direction and everything seemed to be moving along quite well and then all of a sudden at 35 we encounter police, firefighters and paramedics from new york city port authority and just the looks on their eyes, no words, just the looks on the rise, told the entire story. the new. they

knew that they were going up those stairs to try to fight a fire that the new they were going up those steps to try to save lives that they couldn't save and they knew they were going up and they were never coming back. the new. —— ——they knew. i don't understand how people can be so brave to do what they promise to do, to protect, to serve, to save. we all them greatly from what they did that day and to lay down their lives to save me and all the others that were able to get out the others that were able to get out the building. we the others that were able to get out the building-— the building. we can hear the emotion and _ the building. we can hear the emotion and your _ the building. we can hear the emotion and your voice i the building. we can hear the emotion and your voice and l the building. we can hear the l emotion and your voice and see the building. we can hear the i emotion and your voice and see it the building. we can hear the - emotion and your voice and see it on yourface as you emotion and your voice and see it on your face as you remember those events. it is the 20th anniversary tomorrow as you are very well aware.

how important is it for us to commemorate that anniversary and how important is it to remember? i thought it wasjust important is it to remember? i thought it was just an american think this is a world thing. it is wonderful to commemorate this 20th anniversary and to remember 9/11 in anniversary and to remember 9/11 in a special way and make sure the stories of the heroes stay alive but this is something that people like me talk about and try to make sure people remember every day. it's my mission, it's my goal. while i continue to work in the insurance industry my true spirit, my true passion is to be sure that every day, whether the 20th anniversary of the day after the 20th anniversary or whatever that people always remember and neverforget this remember and never forget this circumstance remember and neverforget this circumstance so we hopefully can not allow history to repeat itself again and i believe that somebody who has

been part of historic events, it's my obligation to continue to tell that story, to give a voice to 3000 people who lost their voices that day so that they can continue and once more be heard and let their spirit so centrally —— that they once more rise and remind all of us and remind them that while the may have lost their lives they didn't lose their life for me. gilli. have lost their lives they didn't lose their life for me.— have lost their lives they didn't lose their life for me. gill, we are very grateful _ lose their life for me. gill, we are very grateful for— lose their life for me. gill, we are very grateful for you _ lose their life for me. gill, we are very grateful for you to _ lose their life for me. gill, we are very grateful for you to speaking l lose their life for me. gill, we are l very grateful for you to speaking to us, thank you so much.— very grateful for you to speaking to us, thank you so much. thank you, i appreciate — us, thank you so much. thank you, i appreciate it- _ rail commuting passenger levels are at a third of pre—pandemic levels — whilst the number of carjourneys is back to where it was in march 2020, according to the rail delivery group. the organisation says flexible working and a reduction in spending by commuters is having a big impact on city centre businesses.

welcome to birmingham's snow hill station, a pretty quiet station even at rush hour this morning. and take a look at this, quiet stations but busy roads. that tells you the story of this pandemic. travel one of the worst hit industries, and that applies to commuter trains too. passenger numbers just a third of what they were before the pandemic and that has a huge knock—on effect for our towns and city centres. collectively, commuters spend £30 billion a year, money not being spent in the economy while stations remain quiet and people work from home. so despite the best efforts of the train companies to introduce flexible fares and encourage us back on board, passengers are still reluctant. but what's being done about it?

earlier i spoke to the rail delivery group. the research shows that commuters into towns and cities spend about £30 billion a year and that shows just how vital it is that we get people back on board our trains, because when you travel by train, it's more than the journey, it helps to keep the local roads free of congestion, it helps to keep the air we all breathe cleaner, and thousands ofjobs and local businesses are relying on rail passengers to help them recover from the pandemic. that's the view of the authorities, but what about the businesses that cater to commuters? they rely on thousands of people piling off these trains and into the offices around here that normally are full. they get thousands of workers in there who just are not here. and for the businesses that rely on them, that is a problem. i spoke to two owners of a coffee shop just around the corner. they said there are very few people backed and that has meant they have had to lay off their staff. normally, we'd expect 4000, 5000 people in each

of these three blocks. we've gone down to about 12% of what we were pre—covid. and for the 12 weeks we've been open sincejune, having been shut down for 16 months completely, it's tough surviving. the last week has been a huge pick—up, which i put down to schools going back, parents therefore, commuters, office workers, coming back, and hopefully this week is a sign of how it's going to be for the next, hopefully, between now and christmas. joanne, talk to me about those months that you were closed, because you had to lay off staff. we did, yes. we decided we were going to lay them off before christmas last year, with the intention, hopefully, of then getting a job to work over christmas. it was a very difficult decision because we knew them. they are a small staff, and we knew these people very well. it's been difficult coming back because we've had to rearrange the way we run the cafe so we actually don't need any extra staff, which is not good for the employment prospects. so that's mike and joanne's story. and for thousands of other businesses up and down the country that really do rely on commuters coming into town and city centres,

they now have to work out what to do next. do they relocate, maybe move their business to the suburbs, where more commuters, it seems, are working from home? and whether it is just a sandwich at lunchtime, a drink after work, or even dinner with friends, getting people back into our town and city centres is big business, costing £30 billion a year. at the moment, it doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon. singer/songwriter arlo parks — who's just 21—years—old — has won the mercury prize this is the track �*eugene' — from her debut album �*collapsed in sunbeams.�* arlo parks got herfirst break in the music business after sending a demo to the bbc.

our entertainment correspondent colin patterson was at hammersmith apollo in london, where the awards took place. and i am here with the winner, arlo parks. the judges described you for having a singular voice. they said that was one of the factors. and the themes of this album, collapsed in sunbeams, it dealt with anxiety, it dealt with loneliness, mental health, many of the issues people went through during lockdown. in what way do you think that actually helped this album connect with people? i guess it's the honesty at the core of it, it's the fact that i'm trying to talk about real experiences and what it's like to be a human being. and that's a bittersweet thing, so i'm just glad people have enjoyed it. we're outside the hammersmith apollo. you used to cycle by here every day on the way to school. how special is this place to you? i mean, incredibly special. i grew up really close to here and i used to have my school christmas carol services in the church literally right opposite, so it feels like a homecoming in some way. your parents still live ten minutes up the road in that house, you still have your childhood bedroom. and a couple of the songs on the album were actually written in that room. what's it like? i mean, again, it feels...

it feels really fulfilling, it feels like i'm doing something purposeful, and i'm glad that i'vejust been welcomed with open arms by being myself and making music i love. what do you want to do next? what can this album open up doors towards? i guessjust continuing making more music, more collaborations, just being able to finally tour and travel the world and meet different people and just keep making music i'm proud of. and back to your parents for a cup of tea right now? probably, yeah. give us a look at the trophy? now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah. a real mix of weather out there. we had some mistiness this morning which is now clearing away. it's going to be a day of sunny spells but plenty of scattered, heavy

showers developing and some of them producing thunderstorms. hit and miss showers across much of the uk really. a little bit drier for the southwest of england into wales this afternoon but it stays cloudy here. further east, more sunshine between those torrential downpours. temperatures are still up to 23 or 24 celsius but not as hot as recently. heavy showers and thunderstorms gradually fade away through this evening and overnight but most of us will keep more persistent rain across north of scotland which will linger for a good part of saturday. still quite a humid, mild start saturday. some sunny spells developing, but look out for the heavy rain that will develop all day across the far north of scotland. not as warm as recently— temperatures on saturday around 14 to 23 celsius.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york — the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open, the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. honestly, i just can't honestly, ijust can't believe it. i'm shocked. crazy. all of the above. the head of m15 says the uk is at risk of further terror attacks since the rise of the taliban — 20 years after the 9/11 attacks. we do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. this is a real problem. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. the scientist behind

the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary — and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need. president biden announces sweeping new covid—19 measures that require workers at large companies to be vaccinated — or face weekly testing. cricketer azeem rafiq was the "victim of racial harassment and bullying," according to the findings released from a report by his former club yorkshire. the british teenager emma raducanu has made history as she reaches the final of the us open tennis in new york. the 18—year—old from southeast london beat the 17th seed maria sakkari in the semi—finals at flushing meadows.

she has continued to make history throughout the tournament, and the first british woman to reach the final of a major singles tournament since virginia wade in 1977. she's one of only four british women to reach a major final in the open era — and will now become the british number one on monday. many of you stayed up to watch emma raducanu's historic victory, and a few of tennis's stars past and present have reacted on twitter, judy murray tweeted her delight for the "teen queen", describing her semifinal victory as an incredible achievement. former british number one, laura robson said the teenager's performance was unbelievable — calling her an "absolute star". the former three—time us open champion, kim clijsters, tweeted her congratulations, saying emma raducanu's performance was amazing. and following her victory,

emma tweeted, "pure happiness under the lights in new york." and shortly after her win, emma raducanu spoke to the media. honestly, ijust can't believe it. a shock. crazy. all of the above. but, yeah, it means a lot to be here in this situation. i wanted, obviously, to be playing in grand slams but i didn't know how soon that would be and to be in a grand slam final at this stage of my career, i have no words, but ijust want to thank everyone who has supported me in thisjourney. honestly, i think i played some of my best tennis today, especially here in new york. i knew that i was going to have to be super aggressive and i managed to execute so i'm just really happy with today's performance. earlier we heard from christine james, who was the first british female player to reach

the final of the us open in 1959. i think it's wonderful, she's refreshing, she has no affectations, she just goes on the court and plays and it's a blast, she says that herself. i first saw her at wimbledon a few weeks ago and you just want to watch her because she just gives you thatjoy of wanting to play the game yourself even and i think that she's got a chance of winning tomorrow myself. and virginia wade, who was the last british woman to make the final of the us open in 1968, said emma raducanu was "the real thing". she will have a day to recover tomorrow and then i think it's such an opportunity to put everything into it. you know, these opportunities don't necessarily come knocking at your door all the time so, you know, you just fight until the bitter end and, you know,

there's no point in me even saying that to her because that's what she does, she does everything so well, she moves so well, she serves well and she's smart out there. so i think she knows what she's doing. when the interview's over, ask her, "what do you think about all the distraction and what about the previous match?" she says, "frankly, i'mjust thinking about myself." and that's the way to do it — to keep yourself cocooned and just get on with it. i'm joined now by the british tennis player and former british number one laura robson. player and former british emma player and former british raducanu seems to have world emma raducanu seems to have the world at her feet at the moment. how would you assess what she's managed to do? its would you assess what she's managed to do? , ., , , ., , to do? its honestly remarkable. i think we all— to do? its honestly remarkable. i think we all saw _ to do? its honestly remarkable. i think we all saw how _ to do? its honestly remarkable. i think we all saw how good - to do? its honestly remarkable. i think we all saw how good she i to do? its honestly remarkable. i l think we all saw how good she can play at wimbledon but to back it up so quickly at the us open, to come through qualifying and not lose a set to make the final is just insane and she's just at the time of her life out there. she's enjoyed every

match, her confidence is growing throughout the tournament and she's got every chance at winning the whole tournament and it's just mental when you think about it that someone whose only played at a few professional tournaments is in the situation but she just had the three weeks of her life now and i'm so excited for her because it looks like she's enjoyed every second of it. like she's en'oyed every second of it. . ., ., , ._ like she's en'oyed every second of it. another former player, annabel croft, was it. another former player, annabel croft. was saying _ it. another former player, annabel croft, was saying earlier _ it. another former player, annabel croft, was saying earlier that i croft, was saying earlier that although she has of course worked her way up the ranks and played on thejunior her way up the ranks and played on the junior circuit, her way up the ranks and played on thejunior circuit, she has still taken the tennis world and wider world by storm because no one expected this level of performance from her. ~ , ~' from her. absolutely. i think those of us who follow _ from her. absolutely. i think those of us who follow tennis _ from her. absolutely. i think those of us who follow tennis knew i from her. absolutely. i think those of us who follow tennis knew that l of us who follow tennis knew that she had this level over the last 18 months, i've seen her practice a lot and her level was already phenomenal in practice but to back it up in a

grand slam tournament, only her second ever grand slam and to deliver performances day after day like she has been isjust something else and i don't think anyone could have expected it. emma herself could have expected it. emma herself could have expected it. emma herself could have expected it, she said she is taking it match by match and enjoying the moment because these opportunities don't come that often but with the way she's playing, it will be coming fast and often i think! . ., will be coming fast and often i think! . . , ., think! what is the level of challenges _ think! what is the level of challenges she _ think! what is the level of challenges she faces i think! what is the level of- challenges she faces tomorrow? think! what is the level of— challenges she faces tomorrow? she's playing a canadian, another teenager, someone only a couple of months older than her. how difficult a match might that be?— months older than her. how difficult a match might that be? yeah, the 18 ear low a match might that be? yeah, the 18 year low versus _ a match might that be? yeah, the 18 year low versus the _ a match might that be? yeah, the 18 year low versus the 19-year-old. i year low versus the 19—year—old. leylah only turned 19 on monday so very similar in age, they've played together injuniors a very similar in age, they've played together in juniors a bunch and they know each other�*s games really, really well but it's a different kind of pressure now where both of them were not expected to make a final, they have been the underdogs

and managed to get there but now it's a different story, playing each other and thinking about the great opportunity but for fernandez she's had phenomenal wins against many players, so many top ten wins and it's all been in three sets so she has been under pressure so much in this tournament and has come through and made a final so i think a really tough match tomorrow for both players but what an opportunity. were so focused on emma raducanu but you think we are overall seeing a changing of the guard in women's tennis? i changing of the guard in women's tennis? ., ._ ,., ~ tennis? i would say so. i think the women's game — tennis? i would say so. i think the women's game has _ tennis? i would say so. i think the women's game has been - tennis? i would say so. i think the women's game has been wide i tennis? i would say so. i think the. women's game has been wide open tennis? i would say so. i think the i women's game has been wide open for a couple of years already with the amount of different grand slam champions that we've seen but it's another thing to have two teenagers making a final, having beaten everyone in the draw. it's not as if the top players didn't play, they were there, theyjust got beaten by a better player on the day so i think it's a real opportunity for the younger players out there and

every other 18, 19—year—old will have been watching the last few weeks, thinking, that could be me. what do you think will happen tomorrow and how many sets? honestly, i have no idea. i thought about it all morning since watching both semifinals, i can't pick it. i think it's going to be a great match. i depends which player is more nervous and who handles the situation but hopefully they both play their best tennis.— play their best tennis. hugely diplomatic! — play their best tennis. hugely diplomatic! thank _ play their best tennis. hugely diplomatic! thank you - play their best tennis. hugely diplomatic! thank you so i play their best tennis. hugely i diplomatic! thank you so much, play their best tennis. hugely - diplomatic! thank you so much, laura robson, former british number one. joining me now is nigel currie, a sponsorship and marketing consultant. emma raducanu, a huge new star, all of a sudden burst onto the scene. what do you make of her in marketing terms? . , what do you make of her in marketing terms? , , ,

terms? this guy is the limit. enormous — terms? this guy is the limit. enormous potential- terms? this guy is the limit. enormous potential for i terms? this guy is the limit. enormous potential for her. terms? this guy is the limit. l enormous potential for her -- terms? this guy is the limit. i enormous potential for her -- the enormous potential for her —— the sky is the limit. we haven't had a top women's player for over 40 years so it's unique, unique opportunity. the marketing will love it and she is in the right sport. tennis is very, very well paved for the female athlete so she's set to make an awful lot of money.— athlete so she's set to make an awful lot of money. when you say exactly the _ awful lot of money. when you say exactly the right _ awful lot of money. when you say exactly the right sport, _ awful lot of money. when you say exactly the right sport, because i awful lot of money. when you say i exactly the right sport, because is lucrative or because focuses on the individual? it’s lucrative or because focuses on the individual? �* . . lucrative or because focuses on the individual? �* , . ., , ,., individual? it's an individual sport and in women's _ individual? it's an individual sport and in women's terms, _ individual? it's an individual sport and in women's terms, they i individual? it's an individual sport and in women's terms, they are l individual? it's an individual sport i and in women's terms, they are not involved so much in boxing or formula 1 so tennis, golf and athletics are really the individual sports for female athletes. to put it in some context, if you look at the top nine richest female stars in the top nine richest female stars in the world, they are all tennis players so one to nine in terms of the richest female athletes are all tennis players should seize on the

right sport —— so she is on the right sport —— so she is on the right sport. and if she wins other grand slams she could be right up there as one of the top female earning athletes in the world. she's already guaranteed _ earning athletes in the world. she's already guaranteed a _ earning athletes in the world. she's already guaranteed a hefty - earning athletes in the world. she's already guaranteed a hefty winnings if she makes it —— just for making it to the final. if she makes it -- 'ust for making it to the final.— it to the final. that's right, the work that _ it to the final. that's right, the work that billie _ it to the final. that's right, the work that billie jean _ it to the final. that's right, the work that billie jean king i it to the final. that's right, the work that billie jean king and i work that billiejean king and others did in the �*70s to get equal pay is paying dividends because whoever wins the men's final will get $2.6 million and whoever wins the women's final will get $2.6 million, and emma raducanu has already earned 1.2 million for reaching the final which is four times more than she has ever earned in her whole career.— in her whole career. does her age make a difference _ in her whole career. does her age make a difference to _ in her whole career. does her age make a difference to the - in her whole career. does her age make a difference to the sort i in her whole career. does her age make a difference to the sort of l make a difference to the sort of sponsors that she will attract? fix, sponsors that she will attract? little bit. tennis traditionally has had a lot of players who have done

great things at very young ages but the great thing about it is her personality, she looks great, she talks well, she comes across well, she's got so much going for her. i think those are the attributes that marketeers will look for and they desperately need leading female sports stars in this country. there aren't too many at the moment so she has got a fantastic opportunity in terms of that.— terms of that. were in order to maintain her _ terms of that. were in order to maintain her profile _ terms of that. were in order to maintain her profile and - terms of that. were in order to maintain her profile and to - maintain her profile and to capitalise on this, she just needs to go on doing one of the same? well, that's about it. she needs to win. even if she doesn't win this weekend, she's done so much, it's such an achievement and she's had so much media attention already that she's a star so down the line, if she's a star so down the line, if she wins and goes on to be a multiple grand slam winner and stays

at the top for a few years, she will attract an awful lot of interest from marketeers. white make any predictions as to what might be next for her off the court? she such a natural in front of the camera as well. for a young girl has not had much experience of it, it's fantastic so she doesn't look like she needs much training but she will have to get used to a lot of other things, the pressure, the media attention, dealing with sponsors' needs and advertising needs so she will need a bit of coaching on that front but if she takes it in her stride like she's taking everything else, i think she will be fine.- she's taking everything else, i think she will be fine. thank you so much, think she will be fine. thank you so much. nigel _ think she will be fine. thank you so much, nigel currie. _ and you can follow emma raducanu's final against leylah fernandez tomorrow night on bbc radio 5 live and the bbc sounds app — coverage starts at 8pm.

you're watching bbc news. breaking news about covid infection rates from the office for national statistics. they show that nearly i million people had the virus and that rates are up sharply in wales and scotland. estimates from the office for national statistics survey suggests just over 950,000 people in the uk tested positive during the week of the 3rd of september, up from 890,000 people last week and just a breakdown from nation to nation, in england that means one in 70 are estimated to be positive, that shows no change in the previous week. in wales, it's gone up, one in 65 versus one and

110 last week. northern ireland, up a little bit, one in 60 from one in 65 and in scotland, it is one in a5, compared to one in 75 last week. those are the latest covid figures from the office for national statistics. 20 years after thousands of people were killed in the september 11th terror attacks in the united states, the director of the british security service mi5, ken mccallum, has warned that the threat of terrorism in the uk remains a "consta nt feature". he was speaking to the bbc in a rare interview this morning, as our security correspondent, gordon corera, explains. ken mccallum, the head of mi5, talked about hearing of the attacks 20 years ago. he said he was actually an agent runner in northern ireland dealing

with issues there when the planes hit and a colleague actually said osama bin laden. you got a sense there that the people in mi5 knew that their world was changing forever and this was going to be the dominant theme of their work for the decades after. and it certainly has been. on the today programme, he gave us a sense of what the threat looks like and we can hear one clip of that now. we do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. this is a real problem and in the last four years for example, working with the police, my organisation has disrupted 31 late—stage attack plots in great britain. islamist attack plots l or of different kinds? that 31 includes mainly islamist extremist attack plots but also a growing number of attack plots from extreme right—wing terrorists. even during the pandemic period that we have all been enduring for most

of the last two years, we have had to disrupt six late—stage attack plots so the terrorist threat to the uk, i'm sorry to say, is a real and enduring thing. gordon also explained what the mi5 chief had to say about the impact of the western withdrawal from afghanistan on the uk's terror threat. i think it really has changed the way people think about it. he divided it into two areas. one was the sense that it will potentially inspire people, jihadists, to think "we could be successful." in this case, they can make the claim that they drove the americans and nato out of afghanistan and so there is this concern that it will support them, even people who may not be able to travel out there or use it as a base, but then the other concern is that it could return to what it was before 9/11, which is a base in which terrorist groups can operate,

plan more ambitious attacks than the slightly low—level inspired attacks we've seen in recent years. whether that turns out to be the case or not will depend on the taliban and how it reacts and this is what he had to say about that. this remains to be seen. government ministers have said we willjudge the taliban by its actions, not by its words. even if the taliban is absolutely in good faith about wanting to prevent terrorism being exported from afghanistan, that will be a difficult task to accomplish. afghanistan is not an easy country to govern and within which to ensure perfect security, so even if the taliban is in good faith, there will still be a risk there and the taliban may not be wholly in good faith. we will treat the taliban by its actions, but in my role in counterterrorism, we have to plan on the basis that more risk may flow our way and so we come up with our partners at mi6 and gchq and the police and international allies,

need to do everything in our power to get ahead of those kinds of risks re—emerging. so a sense of concern about how the taliban might deal with these groups and also a sense in the interview that 20 years on, the threat that emerged in 9/11 or became clear in 9/11 is certainly still there but we also live in a world which is dangerous for other reasons as well, the growth of extreme right—wing activity but also hostile states. he talked about espionage and interference so a sense there of the kind of breadth of work that mi5 is faced with at the moment. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's ollie. the final test between england and india was called off this morning just two hours before the start of play at old tarfford. india had been hit with another positive covid case in their backroom staff on the eve of the game, and concerns

within the india camp about a possible outbreak of the virus, meant that the match was cancelled. india leading the series 2—1, but discussions continue as to whether they should forfeit this game. here's our sports correspondentjoe wilson. we have a test match ground at old trafford but we no longer have a test match. and we no longer have a test match series. concerns about this match really began yesterday afternoon when india cancelled their training session following a fresh positive test amongst their backroom staff. think back to the last test match at the oval in a number of their coaching staff to self—isolate. but then on thursday evening, well, india's players took fresh pcr tests and they came back negative which led us to believe the match would take place. after all, the whole rationale for the assumption of sport in these times is that once play begins out of the field, there is very little or zero risk of transmission between players. but india feel that the risk of

covid spreading amongst their team is too great and therefore they cannot field the team. next step, where does the responsibility lie? is this a match that india have forfeited? should the series stand, therefore, at 2—2? there are so many implications to that decision. one thing to keep in mind is what's coming next in the cricket calendar — the resumption the ipl. and as the indian board and their players want to be part of that, absolutely. the ecb chief executive tom harrison has told the bbc that the decision was made purely because india's players didn't feel comfortable mentally to play the game. a statement from indian cricket chiefs, the bcci, says the decison to call off the match was a joint decision and they have offered

to reschedule the final test, but it's still left tens of thousands of fans bitterly disappointed. we've come from liverpool. we've made specialjourneys and special efforts, working all night, to get here today. to be cancelled at the last minute, i find it shocking. it's sad for the fans, i feel a bit hard _ it's sad for the fans, i feel a bit hard done _ it's sad for the fans, i feel a bit hard done bx _ disappointed, but it's inevitable. the covid risks, you wouldn't expect the teams to play if their backroom staff at covid. some have come further than us but it's one of those things. as supporters we always know that things can change at - the last minute, that's the way |the world has been for the last couple of years. yorkshire country cricket club have accepted that there was �*no question' that their former player azeem rafiq was the victim of racial harrassment and bullying during his time at the club and have apologised to him and his family.

they have published the findings today of a year—long investigation after raffiq made in excess of a0 allegations against the club of racist incidents and bullying across his two spells with county. seven were upheld. the report also found that the club failed to follow up on the allegations and that on a number of occasions prior to 2018, the club could have done more to make muslims feel more welcome within their stadiums. rafiq has responded with his own statement, disputing the report's further finding that the club was not institutionally racist and he has called the whole process "atrocious". crazy, cool and mind—blowing — how else would you expect a teenager to react after reaching their first grand slam final? emma raducanu's dream run at the us open has taken her all the way to saturday night's final where she'll face another teenager in leylah fernandez. 1999 was the last time that we had

an all—teenage grand slam final, that was serena williams against martina hingis in new york. emma beat the greek maria sakkari in straight sets, and this morning tweeted pictures of her on court, celebrating, with the words, "pure happiness under the lights in new york." bbc tv will show highlights of the women's final on sunday afternoon. keep an eye on listings for exact timings, but radio 5 live will have live commentary tomorrow night. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. it was the economy's sixth consecutive month of growth, but the increase was much lower than in the previous month.

a little earlier i spoke to our economics correspondent, andy verity, who explained the reasons behind july's sluggish economic growth. some of the reasons may be one—off reasons. you've got to be careful about attributing too much importance to one month's figures, but on the other hand it is the slowest growth since the economy was shrinking back in the renewed lockdown of christmas and new year. 0.1% growth and that only really happened because some oilfield production restarted in the north sea. if you look at the services sector it was completely flat and services is four fifths of the economy. one of the reasons is probably rain, it's an old economic truth that if you have heavy rainfall like we did injuly, people stay away from the shops and there's not as much activity at restaurants and pubs. that's one possible reason. another is there was the rise of the delta variant injuly

and there was what we called the pingdemic with people staying away from work, which would have reduced economic activity, but there is also possibly a confidence factor involved here. the elements that kept the economy going well up until that point, things like the stamp duty holiday were removed so, for example, in the housing market, you saw activity in the legal and real estate markets dropping by 10% between june and july after the stamp duty holiday ended. the real concern for the bank of england is that we're supposed to be roaring away this year, we're supposed to have 7% growth over the whole of 2021. unless we get a resurgence of activity in the autumn, we are unlikely to get that, and the government is counting on that to fix the public finances and get the two million workless people who aren't working but would rather be working back to work. all eyes will be on what these figures show for august. that's right and there was a reason

to hope there would be a pick—up in august with people spending more, going on holiday, spending of those savings they've been accumulating over the lockdown. but really we need a stronger pick—up than this in the autumn and we need it to be in the crucial services sector. if the consumer remains as they were injuly, nervous and not really prepared to spend like it was predicted, then that means you won't have the economic activity you would hope for, the tax receipts coming in and the process of reducing the deficit and getting people back to work will go much slower than the government hopes and although we have a low unemployment rate, there are still two million people who would like to be working but are either on furlough or have lost theirjobs and that will be a bigger issue as autumn goes on. do dig appeal leader has said his party could leave stormont if his concerns about post—brexit trading

agreements are not met and wants to protect northern ireland's place within the internal market. he also feared negotiations between the uk government and eu would be dragged out for years. president biden has set out a series of measures aimed at getting more americans vaccinated against coronavirus, as he tackles a rising number of infections. jabs will be mandatory for all federal government employees, and there will be new rules affecting big companies, healthcare, and the transport network. nomia iqbal reports from washington. no more soft approach — this time, the president was blunt. good evening, my fellow americans. what more do you need to see? we've made vaccinations free, safe and convenient. the vaccine has fda approval. over 200 million americans have gotten at least one shot. we've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin... ..and your refusal has cost all of us.

mr biden's frustration comes down to the numbers. 18 months on since the virus hit, and the us is averaging 1,500 covid—related deaths a day. he laid into some politicians — mainly republican governors — for playing politics by showing unrelenting resistance to mask—wearing. but how to convince a country where many ordinary citizens don't want the vaccine, and where often it's a matter for individual states to decide what to do. well, mr biden has signed an executive order, forcing companies to get their workers jabbed orface being fired. if you want to work with the federal government and do business with us, get vaccinated! if you want to do business with the federal government, vaccinate your workforce. but the administration has been accused of causing confusion on booster shots and u—turns on mask mandates. critics say it's allowed the delta variant to take foothold. this has taken a toll on the us economy, affecting president biden's approval ratings.

and it isn't the afghanistan withdrawal, but how he handles the pandemic... get vaccinated. ..that ultimately matters to the american public. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. we are watching some heavy downpours getting going again today, particularly across eastern parts of england. it's from east wales across central and eastern england along with a bit of brightness there will be scattered, heavy and possibly sundry downpours. the chance for disruption from these and local flooding will be from eastern england into the northeast and four eastern counties of northern ireland. in scotland, patchy rain and drizzle in the north and west, brighter skies in the east with the odd shower. in wales, a greater chance of heavy showers, high teens and low 20s. for many tonight it will turn drier with areas of mist and fog around. it turns much wetter

in northwest scotland, especially into the western isles. temperatures holding up overnight, a rather warm, muqqy holding up overnight, a rather warm, muggy night to come. tomorrow, overall it's a brighter, drier picture. one or two light showers around but most of us seeing a bit of sunshine although it's a very wet day in northern scotland but a cool one with temperatures of 13, 1a celsius. up to 2223 on the eastern side of england. this hello, this is bbc news with reeta chakrabarti. the headlines: a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york — the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final. i honestly, ijust cannot believe it. a shock. like, crazy. all of the above. but, yeah, it means a lot to be here in this situation. i wanted obviously to be playing grand slams but i did not know how

soon that would be. and to be in a grand slam final at this stage in my career, i have no words. the head of m15 says the uk is at risk of further terror attacks since the rise of the taliban —— 20 years after the 9/11 attacks. we do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. this is a real problem. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. the scientist behind the oxford astrazeneca vaccine says giving boosterjabs to everyone is unnecessary — and calls for doses to be sent to countries in need. president biden announces sweeping new covid—19 measures that require workers at large companies to be vaccinated or face weekly testing. not everyone in the uk needs a coronavirus boosterjab. that's according to

the scientist behind the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. professor dame sarah gilbert is calling for doses to be sent to countries in need. professor gilbert says some vulnerable groups will need boosters. but immunity is "lasting well" in the majority of cases. up to 500,000 people with severely weakened immune systems should be offered a third dose of the jab. that's been the line from the uk vaccine advisory body — thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation — until now. thejcvi has also suggested more than 30 million people should receive a third dose, including all adults over 50, in its interim advice issued injuly. the vaccine advisory committee is due to give its final advice on boosters soon. health secretary, sajid javid, has said he's awaiting that "final advice" from the jcvi, but was "confident" a booster programme would start later this month. professor gilbert told my colleague lukwesa burak what lay behind her comments. i was being asked questions about whether we should be boosting people in this country or giving

first doses to people in other countries and i think that's far too simplistic a way to look at it. the problem we really have is that the world needs greater vaccine supply, we need more doses of all of the vaccines that are currently licensed and we need more vaccines to be licensed so we are not talking about choices between vaccinating in one country or another country. the good news is that supply is increasing, every month more doses are becoming available and we now need to focus on getting those doses to the countries that really need them but there will be a lot more doses available to do that. when we talk about the countries, what are we talking about and where? mainly we are talking about africa, whereas in many countries on that continent, only 2% of people have been vaccinated, the target has always been to vaccinate at least the most vulnerable 20%, then move on from there and we are not even close to that yet. when we talk about those who are most vulnerable, it has been agreed, thejcvi have said those with immunity,

low immunity, who should be vaccinated first, and also the over 50s, do you agree with that? in this country, those groups have been vaccinated, or they will have been offered vaccination already. what we are talking about is whether another dose should be given and that is a very complex decision and we have to take into account which vaccines are available, to move them to so it is not an easy decision to make and it is something thejcvi will take that decision and we should wait for them to comment. you also said immunity is lasting well in the majority of people, what evidence is there of that? when we started vaccine trials in april last year, that's when we were giving the first doses of the vaccine, we carried on vaccinating volunteers through may, june and july so we now have a large body of people who got the vaccine early and we have been able

to invite them to come back for further blood tests six months after their vaccinations and now a year after their vaccinations, so we are starting to accumulate data on how that immune response is being maintained. as we would expect with any other vaccine, we are seeing strong maintenance of response. what evidence is there of how effective covid boosters are, which is more effective, the first wave of vaccination or the booster programme? obviously, because we have not seen widespread use of boosters anywhere yet, we cannot report on the effectiveness. do we have data from israel? there is limited data — have they actually reported on the change in susceptibility or are they just looking at immune responses? we do not have enough data yet to report those decisions but what we do know is that the first dose of the vaccine has the most impact, whoever you give that vaccine to. we get a strong response, good protection after a single dose and then it is improved by the second dose.

we would expect to see it being maintained or possibly slightly improved by a third dose, we wait to see but getting the first dose into people is really important. events to mark 20 years since 9/11 are being held across the united states tomorrow. our north america correspondent, nada tawfik, takes a look at how the lives of first responders and victims' families were shaped by that day. the rebirth and transformation of lower manhattan has become an emblem of the city's resilience. and though much has changed here, for new yorkers who lived through 9/11, the scars never faded. my mom pointed up and she said, "i need you to look at this because it's history." hannah moch remembers the chaos of being pulled from schooljust blocks from where the twin towers were about to collapse. that experience, atjust eight years old, inspired her dedication to public service.

it kind of like restarted my life. like, we've always talked about a before and after 9/11. i think after that day i realised how important, a, community is, and, b, service is. kids now learn about 9/11 as a moment of history. they see the shocking videos, but do not have the lived experience. still, all around them are haunting reminders that the tragedy is not over. when the twin towers collapsed, lower manhattan was blanketed in a toxic cloud. and for months first responders and those who worked, studied and lived here, breathed in that air — air contaminated by glass shards, asbestos and building materials. well, that lead to long—term health problems. and so, 20 years on, the death toll from this tragedy continues to rise. rob serra's first day as a firefighter was on 9/11. 20 years later, he is still attending the funerals of fellow first responders — three just last week. it took 18 years to get

permanent legislation... he's angry that it took the us government so long to guarantee funding for the ill, and only after a long public campaign with the help of comedianjon stewart. they needed to get wall street open. they needed to make the country feel safe. i get it. but there's a price for that, and we're paying it. the united states government certainly let us down. and it shouldn't have taken people likejon stewart, erm... ..to shame them, because that's really the only way that this legislation got passed — was shame. as rob battles with his health, his sister—in—law kimberly is nursing a different type of pain. her father vincent never came home from work in the twin towers, where he was a vice president at cantor fitzgerald. to have him notjust die at work, but to disappear — in the whole physical sense he's just gone — and i think that just really took away any hope of closure for us. as new yorkers collectively grieve

on this anniversary, the command to never forget takes on new meaning. for those born after september 11th, how will they be shaped by the stories and lessons of that day? nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. 13 british citizens were on the first flight out of kabul.

international commercial flight out of kabul, since us forces left the country. dozens of international passengers traveled on the qatar airways charter flight, which has landed in doha. a second flight is due later today. our south asia correspondent yogita limaye is following the story from mumbai. qatari officials have said there is another such flight schedule today. we are not sure who is going to be on it. this is significant for all foreign nationals who have been stuck in afghanistan and afghans who have permits to fly out to foreign countries. at the moment, these flights are special chartered flights. we know that qatari technicians have been working along with the taliban to open kabul airport. qatari officials are saying the airport is up and running and the taliban have said regular commercial flights will also begin soon but i think before that happens, there will need to be clarity about who will handle the security of the kabul airport. when us secretary of state antony blinken visited qatar a few days ago and had meetings with the foreign minister there we heard from qatari officials say they are talking to the taliban about that specific issue. but it's only once that is sorted that commercial airlines perhaps will start operations into and from kabul. and the americans of course also saying that they will hold the taliban to their promise of allowing any afghan nationals

who have the right permits to leave the country. scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon has told the bbc the pandemic has made the the pandemic has shot to the public finances to pieces. do you accept that challenge of coming up with what you think are the positives of independence will take longer? what independence will take longer? what i think is whether _ independence will take longer? what i think is whether or _ independence will take longer? wuat i think is whether or not scotland becomes independent the next few years, and it is true for the uk and countries across the world, because of covid will be difficult as we recover and get back to normal. 1milieu recover and get back to normal. when ou talk recover and get back to normal. when you talk about — recover and get back to normal. when you talk about setting _ recover and get back to normal. when you talk about setting up _ recover and get back to normal. when you talk about setting up a _ recover and get back to normal. when you talk about setting up a new country. do you accept it will be harder after the pandemic? i think eve hinu harder after the pandemic? i think everything is _ harder after the pandemic? i think everything is harder— harder after the pandemic? i think everything is harder after - harder after the pandemic? i think everything is harder after the - everything is harder after the pandemic. there are always challenges and big challenges and i think it is important we don't underplay them. everything has

become harder but the point making if we decide not to become independent stay in the uk means that we in scotland is that democratically elected government of parliament are not the ones in the driving seat with those decisions. there are big decisions to be taken as we emerge from the pandemic, what kind of society and economy want to be and for scotland it is who drives with the surgeons, who drives them, borisjohnson and his government are the government is re—elected in scotland? the government is re-elected in scotland? , ,, .,~ the government is re-elected in scotland? , ,, .«i ., scotland? lets speak to neck in glasuow. scotland? lets speak to neck in glasgow how _ scotland? lets speak to neck in glasgow. how significant - scotland? lets speak to neck in glasgow. how significant is - scotland? lets speak to neck in | glasgow. how significant is this? earlier this week nicola sturgeon said she was instructing civil servants to start working on the case for independence again. she is going to use an snp conference this weekend to talk more about pushing that case. but she has also admitted today that the team working on the new prospectus for independence is small. and as you head in the clip there she is also admitting there

are some pretty significant challenges. the budget deficit in scotland between spending and outgoings at the moment is about 36 billion, it doubled over the course of the pandemic and as you had in the clip she is admitting the case is being made harder by the pandemic. that doesn't mean that nicola sturgeon doesn't believe in independence any more that she still thinks can make that case but it does highlight some of the complexities that covid has thrown up complexities that covid has thrown up for the snp and for her making that case. we will hear more from her over the course of the weekend as she tries to push her party into talking a bit more about independence but it's also interesting that the context for this is pretty small steps towards holding another referendum so a small team of civil servants working on it doesn't exactly mean that the weight of the scottish government is

being thrown behind the new referendum campaign. in part that is because of covid but it is also significant that team is small and she told me earlier. there's also this question of what happens with the uk government. borisjohnson is absolutely adamant, every time you speak to people in downing street they say he will not to another referendum. despite that she is still talking about holding one in two years time. i pressed on that earlier and she insisted it was realistic to talk about a referendum in 2023. but it's pretty clear from what you heard of the interview there there are some pretty big political and policy challenges for the snp if they are going to make that case in the next couple of years, but there's also the practical challenge of trying to find a legal mechanism to hold another vote.

the headlines on bbc news... a stunning performance from emma raducanu in new york — the 18—year—old brit reaches the final of the us open — the first qualifier ever to reach a grand slam final the head of m15 says the uk is at risk of further terror attacks since the rise of the taliban —— 20 years after the 9/11 attacks. latest figures show the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% injuly, as the last covid restrictions were lifted in england. rail commuting passenger levels are at a third of pre—pandemic levels — whilst the number of carjourneys is back to where it was in march 2020, according to the rail delivery group. the organisation says flexible working and a reduction in spending by commuters is having a big impact on city centre businesses. our business correspondent ben thompson is at birmingham snow hill station.

welcome to birmingham's snow hill station, a pretty quiet station even at rush hour this morning. and take a look at this, quiet stations but busy roads. that tells you the story of this pandemic. travel one of the worst hit industries, and that applies to commuter trains too. passenger numbers just a third of what they were before the pandemic and that has a huge knock—on effect for our towns and city centres. collectively, commuters spend £30 billion a year, money not being spent in the economy while stations remain quiet and people work from home. so despite the best efforts of the train companies to introduce flexible fares and encourage us back on board, passengers are still reluctant. but what's being done about it? earlier i spoke to the rail delivery group. the research shows that commuters into towns and cities spend about £30 billion a year and that shows just how vital it is that we get people back on board our trains, because when you travel by train, it's more than the journey,

it helps to keep the local roads free of congestion, it helps to keep the air we all breathe cleaner, and thousands ofjobs and local businesses are relying on rail passengers to help them recover from the pandemic. that's the view of the authorities, but what about the businesses that cater to commuters? they rely on thousands of people piling off these trains and into the offices around here that normally are full. they get thousands of workers in there who just are not here. and for the businesses that rely on them, that is a problem. i spoke to two owners of a coffee shop just around the corner. they said there are very few people backed and that has meant they have had to lay off their staff. normally, we'd expect a000, 5000 people in each of these three blocks. we've gone down to about 12% of what we were pre—covid. and for the 12 weeks we've been open sincejune, having been shut down for 16 months completely, it's tough surviving. the last week has been a huge pick—up, which i put down

to schools going back, parents therefore, commuters, office workers, coming back, and hopefully this week is a sign of how it's going to be for the next, hopefully, between now and christmas. joanne, talk to me about those months that you were closed, because you had to lay off staff. we did, yes. we decided we were going to lay them off before christmas last year, with the intention, hopefully, of then getting a job to work over christmas. it was a very difficult decision because we knew them. they are a small staff, and we knew these people very well. it's been difficult coming back because we've had to rearrange the way we run the cafe so we actually don't need any extra staff, which is not good for the employment prospects. so that's mike and joanne's story. and for thousands of other businesses up and down the country that really do rely on commuters coming into town and city centres,

they now have to work out what to do next. do they relocate, maybe move their business to the suburbs, where more commuters, it seems, are working from home? and whether it is just a sandwich at lunchtime, a drink after work, or even dinner with friends, getting people back into our town and city centres is big business, costing £30 billion a year. at the moment, it doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon. singer/songwriter arlo parks — who's just 21—years—old — has won the mercury prize. this is the track �*eugene' — from her debut album �*collapsed in sunbeams.�* arlo parks got herfirst break in the music business after sending a demo to the bbc. our entertainment correspondent colin patterson was at hammersmith apollo in london,

where the awards took place. and i am here with the winner, arlo parks. the judges described you for having a singular voice. they said that was one of the factors. and the themes of this album, collapsed in sunbeams, it dealt with anxiety, it dealt with loneliness, mental health, many of the issues people went through during lockdown. in what way do you think that actually helped this album connect with people? i guess it's the honesty at the core of it, it's the fact that i'm trying to talk about real experiences and what it's like to be a human being. and that's a bittersweet thing, so i'm just glad people have enjoyed it. we're outside the hammersmith apollo. you used to cycle by here every day on the way to school. how special is this place to you? i mean, incredibly special. i grew up really close to here and i used to have my school christmas carol services in the church literally right opposite, so it feels like a homecoming in some way. your parents still live ten minutes up the road in that house, you still have your childhood bedroom. and a couple of the songs

on the album were actually written in that room. what's it like? i mean, again, it feels... it feels really fulfilling, it feels like i'm doing something purposeful, and i'm glad that i'vejust been welcomed with open arms by being myself and making music i love. what do you want to do next? what can this album open up doors towards? i guessjust continuing making more music, more collaborations, just being able to finally tour and travel the world and meet different people and just keep making music i'm proud of. and back to your parents for a cup of tea right now? probably, yeah. give us a look at the trophy. it also was an evening of glitz and glamour at the o2 in london last night for the national television awards. actor david tennant was among the winners for his drama performance in �*des', line of duty also won two awards — and ant and dec were named as best presenters for the 20th time in a row.

tim muffett was on the red carpet. a celebration of television, after a year and a half in which it's played a crucial role in our lives. i think we all came together as families again — which we hadn't done for a long time — sat down on the sofa and watched telly together. it was really nice. me and my kids — i wasjust recommending old shows they'd never never heard of, they were recommending new things, like anime, that we'd never watched. so there was probably just a greater degree of coming together, i think, via tv. the national television awards typically happen injanuary — they've been delayed for eight months because of the pandemic — so this is one of the first big awards events since lockdown restrictions were eased. it feels like the first office party back for us, you know? it's like everyone in television all back in one room. during lockdown, many of us made new television discoveries. do you remember tiger king? taskmaster — all of it! bridgerton. do you know what i loved? was when the bbc repeated the full series of fawlty towers on a monday night, and it was like a little

treat on a monday. these awards are voted for by viewers. huge numbers of them tuned in for the final of line of duty, and it had four nominations. it'sjust nice after ten years of doing this, that there's still an audience, and, as i say, wejust keep going and going again next year. so we'll see — maybe we've got one more in us, who knows? and there was a new category — best authored documentary. nominations included rob burrow: my year with mnd — which explored the former rugby player's battle with motor neurone disease. it was produced by bbc sport and bbc breakfast. after the year that we've had, the films that have been made are incredible — really amazing. so i think any film that wins tonight is a worthy winner. all of them are fabulous. line of duty! as many predicted, it was indeed a good night for line of duty — named best returning drama, and landing a special recognition award.

this means so much. like, erm... we started as a wee show on wednesday night on bbc 2 and now we're the biggest drama on tv and it's all because of the fans and we owe everything to you. streaming services such as netflix have boomed during lockdown. after life. ricky gervais' after life was named best comedy, and although covid saw i'm a celebrity... move to wales instead of the australian outback, it landed the bruce forsyth entertainment award. it's, erm... it's grim. i love you so much. the best authored documentary award went to an emotional kate garraway, for finding derek — which showed the ravaging effects of covid on her husband. it's like there's a disease which has targeted the letter h. who's going to get it next? people from hartlepool?

set during the height of the aids epidemic, russell t davies' it's a sin — which starred olly alexander — was named best new drama. please call me des. and one of david tennant�*s darkest acting performances — as mass murderer dennis nilsen — landed him the best drama performance prize. strictly come dancing was deemed best talent show... ..and, after 19 consecutive wins, could ant and dec make it 20 in a row as best presenters? ant and dec! yes. tv might be undergoing enormous change, but some audience favourites remain the same. tim muffett, bbc news. in a moment it will be time for the bbc news at one with jane hill. first let's take a look at the weather with nick miller. low pressure moving away for the weekend so few are around. some of the brightest areas around today across the eastern areas of england most at risk from the heaviest downpours and even thunderstorms. the picture for the weekend, fewer showers and overall a brighter —looking picture. telling a bit cooler and fresher particularly

across the northern half of the uk. as this area of low pressure moves away the showers grow with it but the trailing weather front makes for a wet day in northern scotland tomorrow on the floor of air around that system moves to a north, north westerly. that introduces the cooler and fresher conditions, especially into scotland, northern ireland and northern england under breezy picture across the uk. today the heavy showers and sunny spells, a few of those across the east of england but this is where we see the heaviest and strongest downpours breaking out with the risk of 20 millimetres to 30 millimetres than in our local flooding and millimetres to 30 millimetres than in our localflooding and disruption possible. a few showers amidst wales and central and eastern england and across northern ireland chance of disruptive downpours. temperatures in the late teens and early 20s. in scotland the odd shower east and patchy drizzle west and overnight while many places turn drier in scotland initially towards the western isles it will get much

wetter and rain moving in here. another quite mild, misty and foggy night to come. rather great start to saturday for of us. gradually brightening up although there will be a lot of cloud around. in northern scotland it will be a wet day with quite high rainfall at times and that could be disruptive rainfall here. many other places looking dry with one or two light showers around. overall for the after nine —— afternoon it looks brighter than it has been with just a few showers for a few. on sunday, from the south—west another weather system starts to push rain our way. while many places look largely dry with patchy and light rain moving into scotland and parts of north england, it could be turning heavier rain in the day pushing into parts of south—west england and wales. elsewhere variable and often a good deal of cloud. a few sunny spells and cooler across the north.

18—year—old emma raducanu continues her meteoric rise — she's into the final of the us open. in a stunning performance, she's the first qualifier to ever reach a grand slam final — she beat the 17th seed in straight sets. honestly, ijust can't believe it. a shock. crazy. all of the above! we profile the teenager from bromley, whojust last month was collecting her a—level results. also this lunchtime... the head of m15 tells the bbc that the return of the taliban in afghanistan is likely to have emboldened lone wolf terrorists in the uk. we do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism

and to guard against terrorism.