welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: in the last few minutes president biden has confirmed that prominent al qaeda leader ayman al—zawahiri has been killed in a drone strike on kabul. al—zawahiri, one of the world's most wanted terrorists, took over al-qaeda in 2011 after the us killed its leader, osama bin laden. he made videos including in recent weeks calling for his followers to attack the united states and our allies. now justice has been delivered. this terrorist leader is no more. we'll be live in washington with all the latest.

also in the programme: one of america's top lawmakers, nancy pelosi is reportedly expected to visit taiwan on tuesday, putting further strains on relations with china. doctors successfully separate conjoined twins with shared fused brains in historic virtual reality surgery. champions! champions! and as england's lionesses celebrate winning the euros 2022, we'll talk to gurinder chadha, director of the classic celebration of women's football, bend it like beckham. now look — my god, we did it! cheering live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday.

hello and welcome to the programme. we start with breaking news: president biden has confirmed that the al-qaeda chief, ayman al—zawahiri has been killed in an american drone strike conducted in kabul. zawahiri was on the fbi's first ever most wanted terrorist list following the 9/11 attacks, which he had helped to coordinate alongside osama bin laden. this is what presidentt biden announced a short time ago. my my fellow americans, on saturday my direction, the united states successfully concluded an airstrike in kabul, afghanistan that killed the leader of al-qaeda, ayman al—zawahiri. zawahiri was bin laden �*s leader, he was with him all the time, his number

two man and deputy at the time of the terrorist attack on 9/11. he was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11. he was responsible for the attacks that murdered 2977 people on american soil. for decades, he was the mastermind behind attacks on americans including the bombing of the uss cole in 2000 which killed 17 american sailors and wounded dozens more. he played a key role in the bombing of us embassies in kenya and tanzania, killing 224 and wounding over 4500 others. he carved a trail of murder and violence against american citizens, american service members and american diplomats and american interests. and since the united states delivered justice to bin laden 11 years ago, zawahiri has been a leader of al-qaeda, he co—ordinated al-qaeda �*s branch and all around the world

provided operational guidance and called for an inspired attacks against us targets. he made videos including in recent weeks calling for followers to attack the united states and our allies. attack the united states and ourallies. now, justice attack the united states and our allies. now, justice has been delivered. this terrorist leader is no more. people around the world no longer need to live in fear of a vicious and determines killer. the notice states continues to demonstrate our resolve and capacity to defend the american people against those who seek to do us harm. we... we make it clear against night, that no matter how long it takes, no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the united states will find you and take you out. after relentlessly seeking zawahiri for years under presidents bush, 0bama and trump, we

located zawahiri earlier this year. he moved to downtown kabul to reunite with members of his immediate family. after carefully considering the clear evidence of his location, i organised a precision strike that would remove him from the battlefield once and for all. this mission was carefully planned, rigorously minimised the risk of harm to other civilians. in one week ago, after being advised the conditions were optimal, i gave the final approval to go get him and the mission was a success. none of his family members were hurt, there were no civilian casualties. that was president _ no civilian casualties. that was president joe - no civilian casualties. that was president joe biden i was presidentjoe biden speaking aboutjust speaking about just half—an—hour ago now, confirming that news that we have been reporting today that the us has killed the leader of alp kinder, ayman al—zawahiri, in a drone strike in afghanistan. let's get more from our correspondent in washington, nomia iqbal.

we were talking about this ahead of the announcement, the fact that us media had widely referenced this was going to happen. how significant is this for the biden administration now that we can confirm this news? it now that we can confirm this news? , , ., , ., news? it is seen as a huge win for him- _ news? it is seen as a huge win for him- just — news? it is seen as a huge win for him. just to _ news? it is seen as a huge win for him. just to give _ news? it is seen as a huge win for him. just to give you - news? it is seen as a huge win for him. just to give you a - for him. just to give you a sense of that, fox news which is a conservative media outlet here in america has described it as a win for him. they are calling it his bin laden moment. remember it was under president 0bama, who biden was the vice president for under 0bama when bin laden was killed in 2011. last year was a chaotic moment for biden when it came to afghanistan, we are coming up to a yearfrom it came to afghanistan, we are coming up to a year from when there was the withdrawal. this is showing that he, i guess, still has some strength in terms of foreign policy. there is another key thing to remove here, there was a concern that

after america left afghanistan that terror groups could operate freely once the taliban got back in control. i think what america is saying, what wide and is trying to show is that no matter where terrorist groups are, the us will still come after them and still strike from a distance even if it no longer has boots on the ground. it no longer has boots on the round. . ., , ground. indeed. he certainly reference — ground. indeed. he certainly reference that _ ground. indeed. he certainly reference that in _ ground. indeed. he certainly reference that in his - ground. indeed. he certainly reference that in his speech | ground. indeed. he certainly. reference that in his speech as well, didn't he? i want to get a sense from you as well of how important zawahiri was to al-qaeda and some of the work or rather the operations he had been involved in all stop well, americans see 0sama been involved in all stop well, americans see osama bin laden as the face of 9/11 and he certainly was.— as the face of 9/11 and he certainly was. as the face of 9/11 and he certainl was. �* . . ., , certainly was. but zawahiri was seen as the _ certainly was. but zawahiri was seen as the brains _ certainly was. but zawahiri was seen as the brains behind - certainly was. but zawahiri was seen as the brains behind it. i seen as the brains behind it. he was seen as a man who was in charge of the tactics, the organisational skill that went

behind 9/11 and other attacks, attempted attacks on america. he and bin laden were incredibly close and appeared incredibly close and appeared in began at videos together. the us had wanted zawahiri for a bouncy of $25 million. he was once the most wanted man in the world. what is interesting is that zawahiri became a rogue figure in recent years, he was not seen that frequently. he was thought to be in bad health. he went for long periods without being seen in public. and in terms of al-qaeda, his influence, it is considered that has waned in recent years especially when you have these new younger terrorist groups like the so—called is a next date coming up. it was thought that zawahiri was not as influential. there is no doubt, i think it is well expected that al-qaeda will get a new leader, although it is probably

likely but it won't be as influential as he was. make no mistake, this is a huge moment for america. that he is now killed. i want to just mention to you that this obviously happened in afghanistan, which the taliban now rule and the taliban have described what america has done as a clear violation of international principles. violation of international principles-_ violation of international --rinciles. . ., , principles. on that actually, i was looking _ principles. on that actually, i was looking at _ principles. on that actually, i was looking at the _ principles. on that actually, i was looking at the comment | principles. on that actually, i l was looking at the comment by the taliban both person as well put up i want to get your thoughts as well put it is a fractious relationship, that is an understatement to say that between the us and the taliban, any hope of trust building and repairing that now given what we have seen, what is your sense of that? it we have seen, what is your sense of that?— sense of that? it would be interesting _ sense of that? it would be interesting to _ sense of that? it would be interesting to see - sense of that? it would be interesting to see that. i sense of that? it would be interesting to see that. ij interesting to see that. of course, the taliban does not want america to have any kind of involvement in afghanistan any longer. as i mentioned before, i think the killing of zawahiri shows the importance of afghanistan still to

america. as i said there was a concern that these groups could still operate really and the taliban would not do anything about that. america is saying we will still come after you no matter where you are even if we don't have boots on the ground. but what was interesting was what the spokesman said, reminding america about the last 20 years and to quote them, saying that such actions are a repetition of the failed experiences of the past 20 years. the spokesman for the taliban goes on to say it is against the interests of the us, the euro sense of america, afghanistan and the region. in terms of that relationship, i think it is fair to say that it is still pretty fractions at the moment. we will see. what the moment. we will see. what the fallouts, what the reaction is to the killing of zawahiri in the coming days. absolutely. thank you _ in the coming days. absolutely. thank you so — in the coming days. absolutely. thank you so much _ in the coming days. absolutely. thank you so much for- in the coming days. absolutely. thank you so much forjoining l thank you so much forjoining us from washington. the story all this information isjust

becoming apparent to people around the world, and certainly we heard from our correspondent in kabul a little earlier who said people in afghanistan are just waking up to this. a sense of what the taliban will say, we will get further combination of that in the coming hours i am sure. for more on this we can now go to max abrams, a terrorism expert and professor of political science at northeastern university in boston. great to get you on the programme. i decide to get your thoughts on what we have heard tonight from president biden. i on what we have heard tonight from president biden.- from president biden. i don't think biden _ from president biden. i don't think biden said _ from president biden. i don't think biden said that - from president biden. i don't think biden said that much i think biden said that much substantively. what he tried to do is remind the world but especially americans of 9/11. and the fact that 9/11 kicked off the war on terrorism. and this guy, this al-qaeda leader, who most americans haven't

heard about, and might not have cared that much about, actually matters. because he was connected to the worst terrorist attack in american history. and i think that biden tried to put the killing in context, and perhaps reap some domestic benefits from it at a time when his approval ratings are frankly, quite low.- are frankly, quite low. yeah. i want to get — are frankly, quite low. yeah. i want to get your _ are frankly, quite low. yeah. i want to get your thoughts - are frankly, quite low. yeah. i want to get your thoughts on | want to get your thoughts on that, actually. given the fact that, actually. given the fact that the timing of this is pretty significant, president biden said of course of the counterterrorism operation and intelligence work had been going on for some time. is it that sort of legacy moment for the biden administration, that point where he could turn around and say to voters ahead of the midterms, as you point out, that i made a promise to you, as he said in the speech, and i am going to keep the promise?—

and i am going to keep the romise? ., ~ ., , , , promise? you know, presidents like to get _ promise? you know, presidents like to get credit _ promise? you know, presidents like to get credit for _ promise? you know, presidents like to get credit for taking - like to get credit for taking out big fish. with 0bama it was bin laden, with trump it was bad daddy. and i think biden was to get credit for taking up in laden's successor. in the reality i don't think the impact will be as great. bin laden was known to all americans. add bagdadhi may not have had the name recognition but was taken out at a time when the islamic state was not as is peak but fresh in the minds of americans. killing this al-qaeda leader now i don't think we'll have the same effect. because he was not as notorious and because americans just don't care as much right now about counterterrorism. when americans think about the main terrorism threat, they

actually think less about al-qaeda now, and more about far right groups. this attack may change that a little bit. and remind americans that the original war on terrorism, the one against al-qaeda still is not over. i one against al-qaeda still is not over-— not over. i find that fascinating - not over. i find that fascinating that - not over. i find that fascinating that you not over. i find that - fascinating that you point out that when americans think about terrorism they don't think about al-qaeda necessarily anymore because certainly, that was such a huge moment in history notjust for people in the united states but all over the united states but all over the world with ramifications for the terrorist groups here in southeast asia as well. just another point, housing if it is this for al-qaeda?_ another point, housing if it is this for al-qaeda? well, that is a very good _ this for al-qaeda? well, that is a very good question. - this for al-qaeda? well, that is a very good question. i've l is a very good question. i've done a lot of research on the effects of leadership decapitation, targeted killing, taking out the leaders are militant groups. what surprises a lot of people is that oftentimes, the of militant groups can be a restraining

agents, such that when you take it out, it is almost always our man, it can empower lower—level members who are less adverse to using terrorism. we have seen this happen numerous times in world history, whether leader of a militant group was taken out, groups like boko haram and even the taliban. what we have seen is in the immediate aftermath of an operationally successful leadership decapitation strike, it is more likely to see an uptick in terrorist attacks against civilian targets. that part of thatis civilian targets. that part of that is because the vengeance impulse is a strong upper part of it is also because the leadership often times, and be more moderate than his successor. when you asked me

what the effect will be, it really is hard to predict. but i wouldn't be surprised if this has the paradoxical effect of energising al-qaeda at least in the short term.— the short term. max abrams, terrorism _ the short term. max abrams, terrorism expert _ the short term. max abrams, terrorism expert and - the short term. max abrams, l terrorism expert and professor of political science at northeastern university in boston. thank you forjoining us on newsday. max was talking about this and alluded to the fact that it is still very hard to see what kind of verification there might be as a result of this strike. a little wide ago we heard from our correspondent in kabulfor us. he outlined heard from our correspondent in kabul for us. he outlined the regional reaction to this. earlier on tonight's, thabeban officials announced that the drone strike that had been carried out over the weekend in kabul, they initially said it was a rocket attack that landed in an empty house. they said

their investigation had determined it was carried out by a us drone strike. they made no mention of any victim, certainly no mention of ayman al—zawahiri or al-qaeda at all. we will have to wait and see other taliban sponsor this. this killing of ayman al—zawahiri really does get to the crux of the tense relationship, the very, very antagonistic relationship that there has always been between there has always been between the taliban and the united states. and that is because if you cast your mind back to 2001, the reason why the taliban were overthrown by the us was because al-qaeda had its haven here in afghanistan. they used afghanistan as a base from which to plot the 9/11 attacks. before american troops were withdrawn from afghanistan last year, the taliban and america signed a deal paving the way for that withdrawal and is part of the deal, the taliban

committed to not allowing foreign military groups to plot attacks abroad or in the us. it was never clear what they were going to do with al-qaeda because the taliban and al-qaeda have always been close allies. he never seemed likely that they were going to turn against their old former allies. it certainly did seem as if they did not want groups like al-qaeda to be plotting attacks from afghanistan against the west. it was very surprising, i think for many people in afghanistan to learn that ayman al—zawahiri was here in kabul and he has long been believed to be in the border regions between afghanistan and pakistan. the fact is here in kabul according to a number of credible reports, either in a house belonging to senior member of the taliban or next to a house belonging to a senior member of the taliban. that really suggests complicity by at least elements of the

taliban with ayman al—zawahiri. and presumably, other members of al-qaeda being here in kabul. it would appear to be completely possible for him to be here without their knowledge and acceptance. we have seen in the past few months, this year, ayman al—zawahiri releasing more and more propaganda videos on behalf of al-qaeda suggesting that he is communication, his ability to get his message out to the outside world had improved since the taliban took over last year. al-qaeda had celebrated the taliban take over the took place last august. now, ithink over the took place last august. now, i think we will have to wait and see how the taliban respond and how the us responds one senior administration official saying in a background briefing but it seems clear that members of the taliban, at least of them, were aware of ayman al—zawahiri's presence here but also saying dialogue with the taliban will

continue. i dialogue with the taliban will continue. ., �* ., ., continue. i don't want to get ou to continue. i don't want to get you to speculate _ continue. i don't want to get you to speculate but - continue. i don't want to get you to speculate but given i continue. i don't want to get. you to speculate but given what you to speculate but given what you havejust you to speculate but given what you have just described, you to speculate but given what you havejust described, it makes for an even more difficult relationship between the us and the taliban might doesn't it? i also want to point to the fact that we have heard from a taliban spokesperson describing the us operation as a clear violation of international principles, saying and i am quoting here, such actions are a repetition of the failed experience of the past 20 years and are against the interests of the us, afghanistan and the region. we would expect the taliban to say something like this. just in terms of the possible trust that could have been built between the two sides, is there any hope of that coming back? was it non—existent in the first place? was it non-existent in the first place?— was it non-existent in the first lace? ~ first place? well might look, that statement _ first place? well might look, that statement from - first place? well might look, that statement from the - first place? well might look, i that statement from the taliban spokesperson came out a few hours ago before news had emerged that the leader of al-qaeda ayman al—zawahiri was

killed in this drone strike. it was at that stage that the taliban spokesperson simply component that what was previously described as a rocket attack on sunday morning was indeed actually carried out by a us drone strike. so we have not yet had taliban reaction to news specifically of ayman al—zawahiri being killed. we will be getting that in the next few hours. as people begin to wake up here. you are right, what this is going to do to the trust, the already terrible relationship, really, between america and the taliban, we will have to see. that will be one that many people in afghanistan are waiting to see how it pans out. our correspondent biggies was a 0ur correspondent biggies was a little while ago. there is lots more reporting on story on our website including that breaking news we have been telling you about, the fact that president biden has confirmed that the al-qaeda chief ayman

al—zawahiri has been killed in an american drone strike as you are hearing theirfrom our correspondence. in kabul and washington, lots of analysis on the site including a profile of who zawahiri was and how important he was to the al-qaeda network. you could bite all that information on our website. bite all that information on ourwebsite. 0rsimply bite all that information on our website. or simply download the bbc news at if you have not done so already. let's move away from that breaking news story and take you to a story that has been dominating headlines in asia this week. the speaker of the us house of representatives nancy pelosi is expected to visit taiwan as part of her tour of asia. that's according to several american and taiwanese media reports, although there is no official confirmation on this yet. china has warned of serious consequences if the trip to the self—ruled island goes ahead. last week, president xijinping told president biden not to �*play with fire'.

earlier, i spoke to mark cozad, senior defence researcher at the rand corporation. i asked why, if what is being reported is true, would nancy pelosi want to do this visit at such a sensitive time. well, this wallows on from several recent congressional delegations that have gone to taiwan in the last year. i think the general understanding is there is a recognition that china is increasingly aggressive in its behaviour. there are concerns amongst many us policymakers, as well as congressional leaders, that taiwan is going to be capable of defending itself. i think a significant show of support for the democratic elected government of taiwan in a way that does not fundamentally changed us policy but recognises the fact that us policymakers and our congressional leaders would

rather have any type of resolution come about in the situation through peaceful means. speaker below the's trip follows on broader security discussions in east asia and follows onto several other trips that have come about at this time. this is not unprecedented, this is not something that is coming out of the loo or signals a change in the united states policy towards china and taiwan. mark s-ueakin towards china and taiwan. mark speaking to _ towards china and taiwan. mark speaking to us _ towards china and taiwan. mark speaking to us a _ towards china and taiwan. mark speaking to us a little _ towards china and taiwan. mark speaking to us a little early - speaking to us a little early about the tour of nancy pelosi in asia. i want to tell you now about what's been called "space—age stuff" by one of the surgeons involved in an incredible operation that saw brazilian twins, who were joined at the head, be successfully separated. virtual reality projections of the twins helped refine techniques to separate the three—year—olds, as mark lobel explains — and his report contains some images of the surgery itself. bernardo and arthur are twin brothers born

with a fused brain in brazil. described as otherwise healthy nearly—four—year—olds, they could not sit or walk, robbing them of a normal childhood. as of around seven weeks ago, they now look like this — a remarkable moment, only the sixth such separation of its kind. but this time, surgeries in rio dejaneiro came with direction from great 0rman street hospital, in london. what we were able to do this time around, which is a world—first, is to do it in virtual reality across the two continents — with us setting up on our platforms here, we wore the vr goggles, and then invited the team in brazil to join the vr theatre — and all of the surgery was done in virtual reality, all the steps were taken before we lifted the scalpel. to handle the complex task of dealing with the brain, blood vessels, the skin, the bone and covering of the brain, each step was mapped out using simulations over a six—month period. the advantage of practising on virtual reality projections of the twins meant that the team

were able to refine things when they repeatedly hit dead ends. nonetheless, as the surgeons involved concluded, it was still high—risk surgery. translation: | talked| to their mother and told her, i believe we can separate her children. i learned the phrase, "when you have 1% of possibility, you have 99% of faith." 0nce their parents were made aware of the risks, it was up to them to give the surgeons to green light. translation: i'd become so| desperate because i could not bear my sons' condition. the twins had seven surgeries — the final operational alone taking over 27 hours, involving nearly 100 medical staff. it's hoped this will be a template for helping conjoined twins around the world. what we've been able to do with gemini untwined is to pool the global experience — so that when the next set of kids, whether that be in israel or turkey, or rio, in this instance, we're able to share our experience

and knowledge with the local team, and then undertake the surgery and support them. the boys are said to be recovering well in hospital, and will undergo rehabilitation for the next six months after surviving their life—changing, pioneering, and, at times, out—of—this—world experience. mark lobel, bbc news. let's turn to something more light—hearted now — that is, the tidalwave of celebrations across the uk after england's win in the women's euros, which culminated in the last few hours in trafalgar square. someone who is watching the victory very closely. and someone ho was watching sunday's euros final

and england's victory over germany very closely, indeed, was gurinder chadha, director of the 2002 film bend it like beckham. historic moment for england, for women's football. all those years i struggled with all the people rejecting better like back and say no—one wants to watch a film about women at football. this never going to work, this is not commercial. and now look, we did it! she's 'ust a bit and now look, we did it! she's just a bit excited, _ and now look, we did it! she's just a bit excited, isn't - and now look, we did it! she's just a bit excited, isn't she. i i spoke to gurinder chadha a short time ago and asked herjust how significant is this win from her point of view. well, it's an amazing culmination, really for me in wanting to make a film 20 years ago that put the women's game on the map. and made the world take it seriously. and wanting to show great, powerful images of women playing soccer. and in a really cool way. so many of

the team, the lion acids and the team, the lion acids and the women around the world got into poor ball from watching the film. to see them when, what a great game. it was nailbiting. the first goal was amazing. when germany equalised, the tension! that last goal, it really was emotional.— last goal, it really was emotional. �* ., ., ., emotional. before we go, a reminder— emotional. before we go, a reminder of— emotional. before we go, a reminder of our _ emotional. before we go, a reminder of our breaking i emotional. before we go, a - reminder of our breaking news. presidentjoe biden has confirmed the al-qaeda chief ayman al—zawahiri has been killed in an american drone strike. that's it for now, do stay with bbc news.

hello everyone. a warm welcome to talking business weekly with me aaron heslehurst. let's take a look at what is on the show. europe's energy crisis has green governments turning to fossil fuels. so, whatever renewable happened to renewables? why are solar, wind and hydrogen power not the answer governments turn to when they stop buying gas and oil from russia? i am going to be discussing all of that with these two, there they are. mike lynch from the energy policy research foundation. and professor dorte fouquet from the european renewable energies federation. also on the show, how did private health care do during the pandemic and how are they doing now? i have got the global boss of bupa talking covid, staff, brexit and the future.

wherever you arejoining me from around the world,