welcome to bbc news — i'm ben boulos — our top stories. america's most decorated gymnast, simone biles, breaks down as she talks about the abuse she and her colleagues suffered at the hands of their team doctor. to be clear, i blame larry nassar, and i also blame... ..an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse. the us, britain and australia announce a defence and security deal to boost their influence in the indo—pacific. the first space mission crewed entirely by amateur astronauts has blasted off from cape canaveral. it's hoped the flight wil open up access for paying customers. she left the uk to be an islamic state bride — now shamima begum tells the bbc

she wants to help the fight against terrorism. and — the photo—sharing app instagram may have a harmful effect on teenagers — according to research by its owners facebook. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the us olympic gymnast simone biles has accused the fbi of �*turning a blind eye�* to the sexual abuse that she and other athletes suffered, at the hands of their team doctor. she was among a number of people testifying before a senate committee, examining the agency's investigation into larry, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting girls.

nomia iqbal reports from washington. the world witnessed her mental struggles at the tokyo olympics. today, simone biles spoke about exactly what had impacted her. i don't want another young gymnast, olympic athlete, or any individual to experience the horror that i and hundreds of others have endured. the most successful gymnast of all time, she recalled the abuse she suffered at the hands of herformer coach. to be clear, i blame larry nassar, and i also blame... ..an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse. simone biles and three of herformer team—mates appeared in front of the senatejudiciary committee to testify about the abuse they suffered at the hands of nassar.

he's serving a life sentence in jail for sexually abusing hundreds of girls. an investigation into how the fbi handled the case has already catalogued failures and lies told by agents — none of whom have been prosecuted. mckayla maroney was one of the first to report abuse in july of 2015. i answered all of their questions honestly and clearly, and i disclosed all of my molestations i had endured by nassar to them in extreme detail. she said she felt, even when she had finally spoken out, her concerns were being dismissed. i began crying at the memory over the phone, and there was just dead silence. i was so shocked at the agent's silence and disregard for my trauma after that minute of silence, he asked, "is that all?"

it would be more than a year before the fbi investigated the allegations, allowing nassar to continue his contact with children. today, the fbi director, who took the top agency job after the case was reported, said sorry. and i'm especially sorry that there were people i at the fbi who had their own chance to stop this monsterl back in 2015 and failed. and that is inexcusable, - it never should've happened, and we're doing everything. in our power to make sure it never happens again. a report by the department of justice found two fbi officials lied during interviews to cover up their errors. the fbi says one of those officials was fired last week. this hearing is the first public questioning of the case, but also one of the last opportunities for the athletes to get justice. they have called on the committee to ensure those who mishandled the case will be held accountable. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. the us, britain and australia have set out a new defence and security partnership. indo—pacific, sparking immediate condemnation by

china. china's embassy in washington accused the three governments of having a cold war mentality. the deal will enable australia to build nuclear—powered submarines for the first time. it will also cover artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and cyber. the leaders of the three countries said the deal would promote stability in the indo— pacific. here's how president biden and uk prime minister borisjohnson characterised the new pact. we all recognise the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the indo—pacific over the long—term. we need to be able to address both the current strategic environment in the region and how it may evolve. because the future of each of our nations, and indeed the world, depends on a free and open indo—pacific enduring and flourishing in the decades ahead. we will have a new opportunity to reinforce britain's place at the leading edge of science, strengthening our national expertise, and perhaps most significantly, the uk, australia, and the us will be joined even more closely together.

dr malcolm davis is a senior analyst in defence strategy and capability at the australian strategic policy institute in canberra, australia. did to have you with us. if the purpose of this practice to keep china's power and influence in the region in check, from what you have seen do you think it can achieve that? i do you think it can achieve that? 4' do you think it can achieve that? ~ , ., , , that? i think it is a huge step forward. the _ that? i think it is a huge step forward. the decision - that? i think it is a huge step forward. the decision for - forward. the decision for australia to acquire submarines as a major step in something we have not been prepared to do in the past and now we are going to acquire these boats, at least eight of them, which will be a huge boost to the australian naval capability but politically and strategically this really strengthens the commitment by the three countries to work together to not contain china but counterbalance them. just for

clari , counterbalance them. just for clarity. these _ counterbalance them. just for clarity, these are _ counterbalance them. just for clarity, these are submarines| clarity, these are submarines that are nuclear powered. they are not carrying nuclear weapons. are not carrying nuclear weapons-_ are not carrying nuclear weaons. ., , ., weapons. no. there is no consideration _ weapons. no. there is no consideration or - weapons. no. there is no consideration or rest - weapons. no. there is no consideration or rest area weapons. no. there is no i consideration or rest area to carry nuclear weapons. the word we need to much more dark and dangerous place for us to ever consider that option. in dangerous place for us to ever consider that option.— consider that option. in terms ofthe consider that option. in terms of the deal — consider that option. in terms of the deal with _ consider that option. in terms of the deal with france, - consider that option. in terms of the deal with france, this l of the deal with france, this is going to leave some slightly soured relationships, isn't it? as jerry had soured relationships, isn't it? asjerry had agreed a deal to buy french designs for submarines commanded? yes and that deal is _ submarines commanded? yes and that deal is off. _ submarines commanded? yes and that deal is off. i _ submarines commanded? yes and that deal is off. i think _ submarines commanded? yes and that deal is off. i think the - that deal is off. i think the official announcement will be made in the next few days. it was very clear that the deal for the 12 attack class submarines was not going to deliver a capability that was affordable or deliver that capability soon enough even with the rapid deterioration but australia's environment so

we had to make this move and the opportunity to go down of nuclear submarines is one we could not ignore. the nuclear submarines is one we could not ignore.— could not ignore. the other country that _ could not ignore. the other country that will _ could not ignore. the other country that will not - could not ignore. the other country that will not take . could not ignore. the other| country that will not take so kindly to this is china. and australia already has a trade row ongoing with china that is harming exports there. what do you think the fallout will be and how might china react to this move by the three countries?— this move by the three countries? ., ., �* ~ countries? china won't like it but frankly. _ countries? china won't like it but frankly, australia - countries? china won't like it but frankly, australia makes| but frankly, australia makes its defence policy based on the needs of australia, not on what pleases china. so the chinese will no doubt make statements decrying the cold war mentality but frankly, they are the ones that are causing a lot of tension in the region and we have to respond to that. we cannotjust ignore that. have to respond to that. we cannot just ignore that. cannot 'ust ignore that. thank ou cannotjust ignore that. thank ou ve cannotjust ignore that. thank

you very much- _ thank you very much. now some history's been made in the past hour. the first space mission crewed entirely by civilians is has taken off from cape canaveral in florida. four amateur astronauts blasted into orbit on board a spacex rocket. the trip has been paid for by one of the crew , billionaire businessman jared isaacman. he'sjoined by a healthcare worker, a scientist and a data analyst. they've undergone five months training — although the craft itself will be operated from the ground. for about three days, the inspiration4 crew will orbit earth at an altitude higher than the international space station before they splash down into the atlantic ocean. let's bring in space journalist emilee speck, host of the space curious podcast. she's at the kennedy space center in cape canaveral where that historic spaceflight took off.

what was your take on it, then? it was a spectacular launch. this launch was unlike any other that i've covered or experienced. you know, it kind of had a party feel to it, that makes sense. they hosted a viewing party near the press site and said its some others. when the rocket went up there were cheers and then we all just stood there like it was an amazing moment. it was a beautiful launch. i5 amazing moment. it was a beautiful launch.— beautiful launch. is a genuinely _ beautiful launch. is a genuinely only - beautiful launch. is a genuinely only four l beautiful launch. is a - genuinely only four civilians in that spacecraft? and it

genuinely only four civilians in that spacecraft start it genuinely only four civilians in that spacecraft start of think? is this the start of space tourism which we talk about so often that seem so elusive and expensive? it is still so expensive _ elusive and expensive? it is still so expensive and - elusive and expensive? it 3 still so expensive and this is a really big kicking off point. they have got to other all civilian missions planned for next year so this was the first. this was the first all civilian mission and it was very different. it was a fundraiser. the other crew launching next year who are all civilian to have all paid for their seats. this wasn't like their seats. this wasn't like the raffle we saw today. it is

different. if this works they can use this as a jumping off point and continue to do this from now on. if point and continue to do this from now on.— from now on. if there were another — from now on. if there were another entirely _ from now on. if there were another entirely civilian - from now on. if there were i another entirely civilian crude measure would you go on it? i have always said yes and i have been asked before but today when i was watching them, especially their faces i was just thinking, what are they thinking, you know? ijust don't know if i could do it. i don't know if i could do it. i don't ever have the stomach for it so we'll see. maybe. you and me both. you and me both. extraordinary leaders from around the world — we examine time magazine's list of the top 100 most influential

people of 2021. 30 hours after the earthquake that devastated mexico city, rescue teams still have no idea just how many people have died. well, there's people alive, and there's people not alive. we're just helping and giving them whatever we've got. a state funeral has been held for princess grace of monacol at the church where she married prince rainier 26 years ago. - it looked as though they had come to fight a war, but their mission is to bring peace to east timor — and nowhere on earth needs it more badly. the government's case is being forcefully presented by the justice minister. he's campaigned vigorously for abolition, having once witnessed one of his clients being executed. elizabeth seton spent much of her time at this grotto — and every year, hundreds of pilgrimages are made here. now that she's become a saint, it's expected that this area will be inundated with tourists.

the mayor and local businessmen regard the anticipated boom as yet another blessing of saint elizabeth. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. four us gymnasts, including simone biles, have testified before a senate committee hearing — giving evidence over the fbi's failures in its sex abuse investigation of their former team doctor, larry nassar. the leaders of the us, britain and australia have agreed a military pact to boost their influence in the indo—pacific — where china has expanded its military presence. it is exactly a month since the taliban swept to power in afghanistan, and declared the country an islamic emirate. as the international community grapples with the scale of the change, how are things changing in afghanistan under taliban rule? our correspondent secunder kermani and camera journalist malik mudassir sent report

from one of afghanistan's largest cities, mazari sharif. crossing into the islamic emirate, a cargo train from uzbekistan. this is now passport control. the taliban even have their own stamps. an hour's drive away, the city of mazar—i—sharif. on the surface, life appears to be continuing as normal, though many are suffering, with a shortage of cash in banks. this was the blue mosque, the city's cultural heart, shortly before the taliban takeover last month. now the group have allocated separate visiting times for men and women. some are still coming, but there seem significantly fewer than before. my host here is a leading local taliban figure. your critics would say you are killing off the cultural life in this country.

and why do you need to change the culture? what's wrong about the culture that was already here? everyone was muslim... we literallyjust came out of the blue mosque and saw a crowd gathered in the city centre. we made our way to the middle of it and there are four dead bodies laid out here. one of them has a note on top of it saying, "these men were kidnappers — anyone who wants to do the same, this is going to be their punishment."

all around me, there is a huge crowd of people trying to push their way forward to have a look at the site. a group of young children were rescued by the taliban from the kidnappers. many praise the group for tackling violent crime that had plagued major cities. but many others here don't feel safe. private universities like this one have reopened. female and male students are separated by a curtain, as per new taliban rules. but with money tight in the future unclear, only a handful are turning up.

how does it feel, studying but not knowing whether you will be able to work or not in the future? the last time the taliban were in power, they imposed even more restrictions. but however they may have evolved since then, afghan cities have changed much more. the taliban control the country, but still need to win hearts and minds. secunder kermani, bbc news, mazar—i—sharif. shamima begum, who left the uk as a teenager tojoin the islamic state group in syria, has begged to be allowed to return to the uk, insisting she could help in the fight against terror. the 22 year—old, who has been living in a syrian refugee camp for the past two years since her british citizenship was revoked, claimed she had been groomed to flee to syria as an impressionable child. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford reports. this was shamima begum in february 2019, as she emerged from the collapse of the islamic state group's brutal rule in syria. she told bbc news that weekend that she could

see justification for the manchester arena bombing, as retaliation for the deaths of children in is territory. this is shamima begum in her latest bbc interview, her hair uncovered and asking for forgiveness for joining islamic state. isis ruined people's lives. isis ruined my life, my family's life, and i will have to live with that. i mean, when you think back to being part of a group that did commit genocide, that did murder, that did carry out attacks around the world, how does that feel? it makes me sick to my stomach, really. it makes me... it makes me hate myself. shamima begum had left home in east london, aged 15, with two school friends. they travelled through turkey to syria and married islamic state fighters. at the time, is were beheading hostages and throwing gay men

from high buildings. she was stripped of her uk citizenship because of intelligence about what she'd done during her time with is. the decision to take away shamima begum's british citizenship was made by sajid javid when he was in charge here at the home office. today, he said of the intelligence that he saw at the time, "if you knew what i knew, you would've made exactly the same decision." shamima! shamima begum is still in a camp in kurdish—held territory. her three young children by an is fighter all died of malnutrition and disease as islamic state's so—called caliphate collapsed. now she is offering to help prevent other girls being groomed by extremists, despite herself being regarded as a threat to national security. i could advise people

who are in counterterrorism the tactics that groups like isis use to persuade people to come here and ways to speak to people who may be potentially radicalised and ways to speak to them to persuade them not to go and to not be radical. presenting the image of a modern british woman, she wants to win her citizenship back, but the current home secretary is still vigorously opposing that in the courts. daniel sandford, bbc news, at the home office. the photo sharing app — instagram could be having a harmful effect on many teenagers — particularly girls. this is according to internal research carried out by facebook — the company that owns it. an investigation by the wall streetjournal found that facebook had conducted in—depth studies showing the dangers of the photo—sharing app — while playing down the issue in public. angus crawford reports. a girl with so much to live for, bright and talented. molly russell took her own life in 2017. she was just 1a. after her death, on her instagram account, herfamily found a stream of dark, depressing content and, in part, blame it for her death. now, the wall streetjournal has published internal facebook research labelled "a teen mental health deep dive".

itfound... it admitted... and... i don't know, i was sick to the pit of my stomach. it was dreadful... molly's father ian is appalled. if they know more about it and they're not doing something about it, then they're culpable in a really dreadful way, because this potentially could cost lives. no—one at facebook hq in london was available to talk about instagram, which it also owns, but it did release a blog. the company said it stood by the research, even though it claimed that the wall streetjournal had focused on a "limited set of findings". it also claimed that "wider research on the effects of social media on people's well—being" was "mixed". and finally, it claimed that it was doing extensive work to make instagram "a safe

and supportive place". instagram sells itself as a place for fun, friendship, but the company's known for years, for some young people, it's a much, much darker place. angus crawford, bbc news. time magazine says its top 100 list this year comprises extraordinary leaders from around the world who have leaped into the fray in a year of crisis. prince harry and meghan grace one of the seven magazine covers, alongside singer billie eilish and olympic gymnast simone biles. mark lobel reports. a reported a—list glam squad worked behind the scenes on this photo shoot with two of time magazine's icons of the year. you mayjust recognise. headline grabbing images

described as both effortless and airbrushed by fans and critics alike. but who else has been influential this challenging year? actress kate winslet is one of time's artists of the year warning young women of the dangers of low self esteem.— low self esteem. don't scrutinise _ low self esteem. don't scrutinise yourself - low self esteem. don't scrutinise yourself as l low self esteem. don't - scrutinise yourself as much as you most definitely do. stopping in the mirror as much. and be yourself. the stopping in the mirror as much. and be yourself.— and be yourself. the singer has been through — and be yourself. the singer has been through yet _ and be yourself. the singer has been through yet another- been through yet another transformation. she credits the internet was launching her career but... i internet was launching her career but. . .— career but... i hate that i crew career but... i hate that i grew up _ career but... i hate that i grew up with _ career but... i hate that i grew up with the - career but... i hate that i | grew up with the internet. career but... i hate that i i grew up with the internet. i despise _ grew up with the internet. i despise it and especially from 16 to — despise it and especially from 16 to almost 20. very different people — 16 to almost 20. very different people. you look at videos of yourself _ people. you look at videos of yourself and you were like 14 and you _ yourself and you were like 14 and you see the way you act and talking _ and you see the way you act and talking you _ and you see the way you act and talking you literally think, how — talking you literally think, how did _ talking you literally think, how did i do that, what was going — how did i do that, what was going on— how did i do that, what was going on that made me think that— going on that made me think that was— going on that made me think that was the right thing to say? _ that was the right thing to say? and it has been a transformative year for the us gymnast _ transformative year for the us gymnast. the magazine says she is a titan —

gymnast. the magazine says she is a titan. no doubting that. one — is a titan. no doubting that. one contributor describing her as a _ one contributor describing her as a wise _ one contributor describing her as a wise beyond her 24 years. four— as a wise beyond her 24 years. four years— as a wise beyond her 24 years. four years from my professional career— four years from my professional career i — four years from my professional career i have _ four years from my professional career i have only— four years from my professional career i have only ever- four years from my professional career i have only ever been- career i have only ever been congratulated _ career i have only ever been congratulated for— career i have only ever been congratulated for winning. l career i have only ever been. congratulated for winning. and now it's — congratulated for winning. and now it's like _ congratulated for winning. and now it's like for _ congratulated for winning. and now it's like for being - congratulated for winning. and now it's like for being a - congratulated for winning. and now it's like for being a human being — now it's like for being a human being vulnerable. _ now it's like for being a human being vulnerable. it _ now it's like for being a human being vulnerable. it is - now it's like for being a human being vulnerable. it is not - being vulnerable. it is not what _ being vulnerable. it is not what i'm _ being vulnerable. it is not what i'm used _ being vulnerable. it is not what i'm used to. - being vulnerable. it is not what i'm used to. but- being vulnerable. it is not what i'm used to. but it . being vulnerable. it is not l what i'm used to. but it has been — what i'm used to. but it has been nice _ what i'm used to. but it has been nice-— been nice. these influences a - ear been nice. these influences appear united _ been nice. these influences appear united in _ been nice. these influences appear united in using - been nice. these influences appear united in using their| appear united in using their platforms and personaljourneys to help us all approach the end of this strange year with our resilience intact. a reminder of one of the main stories this hour.... the first space mission crewed entirely by civilians has taken off from cape canaveral in florida. four amateur astronauts were launched into orbit on a spacex rocket. the trip has been paid for by one of the crew , jared isaacman, a billionaire businessman. they'll orbit the earth

for three days. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ ben m boulos. hello. autumn is now gently, slowly but surely, creeping in across the northern hemisphere. our days are getting shorter, but there is still some warmth in the september sunshine. and certainly, it was a good—looking day across a large swathe of the uk on wednesday, although scotland and northern ireland did get lumbered with more in the way of cloud and some outbreaks of rain. we should see more sunshine here, though, in the next few days. another sign, though, that autumn is upon us is the presence of some early morning mist and fog. the reason it'll be drier for scotland on thursday is high pressure starting to extend up here. it's also the reason, though, that i think we will see some early mist and fog under the ridge where we've had light winds overnight. the sun, however, should burn that back pretty quickly, and then a lot of fine weather and sunshine to come

through on thursday. we lose any early showers in the northeast of scotland, temperatures 21—22 celsius. through the afternoon, though, more cloud starting to show its hand into northern ireland — that's the forerunner of this weather front that will push into the west of the uk for friday daytime. we move through thursday evening into the small hours of friday, and we get the rain into northern ireland. it's quite patchy across western scotland, it stays dry across england and wales. a mild enough night, temperatures in double figures — up to 15 celsius in belfast, where we get quite a strong southerly wind as this weather front pushes in. it will move its way into the west of the uk, but then it kind of grinds to a halt, actually, for friday. so, because it does that, that means the rain willjust keep on coming for the likes of northern ireland, possibly for the southwest of scotland. later on in the day, some downpours for the southwest of england and for wales. but it's northern ireland stuck under the cloud and with the rain on friday.

quite breezy here, as well, quite gusty winds at times. big contrast between east and west — just mid—teens, the temperatures in the west under the rain. we could still see maybe 22—23 celsius in the sunshine further east. our front will gradually make its way eastwards across the uk through the weekend. for scotland and northern ireland, i think it'll bring some patchy cloud. but for england and wales, it does bring the threat of perhaps some quite punchy showers, longer, more persistent outbreaks of rain at times. certainly saturday looks like it could be quite wet across england and wales. the showers should thin out somewhat for sunday.

this is bbc news. the headlines — four us gymnasts, including simone biles, have testified before a senate committee hearing. they gave evidence about the fbi's failures in its sex abuse investigation of theirformer team doctor larry nassar. the director of the bureau has apologised for not examining the allegations promptly. the united states, britain and australia have announced a new defence and security partnership for the indo—pacific. the agrement was immediately condemned by beijing. the leaders of the three countries said the agreement would promote stability in the region, where china has expanded its military presence. the first space mission crewed entirely by civilians has taken off from cape canaveral in florida. four amateur astronauts were launched into orbit on a spacex rocket. it's hoped the flight will open up access for paying customers. now on bbc news, the media show.