In the 400 metre hurdles. Hello and welcome to the programme. Thousands of people in lebanon have attended a Memorial Service in the ruins of the Port Of Beirut to mark the first anniversary of a huge explosion that devastated much of city. The blast was one of the biggest non nuclear explosions in history. It killed more than 200 people. Outside the lebanese parliament, the Security Forces fired Tear Gas at stone throwing protesters. Along with the grief, theres real anger that a year on nobody has been held to account for the explosion. Rights campaigners allege that the most senior officials in lebanon were aware of the danger posed by the huge quantity of Ammonium Nitrate Fertiliser stored in the port that caused the explosion. The blast plunged lebanon into a deeper crisis, but the country had already been facing serious problems for years due to the dire economy and political instability. Carine torbey reports. One year after the explosion, all the debris is swept to a corner and kept here. And by route is still assessing the impact. The Port Area over there in unknown amount of Ammonium Nitrate excluded stands in ruins. One year after the explosion all the debris is swept to a corner and its here. Names of the victims that some here call the crime scene. Their families still dont have answers for what happened that day and why. Thejudge investigating the explosion wants to summon high ranking politicians and Security Officers for interrogation, but so far, he hasnt been able to do so. Most of them have legal immunity. This protest is part of the movement by relatives of the victims of the blast to press the authorities to allow the judge to interrogate politicians and security officials. They say they will fight to The End for those responsible to be held to account. Any Loss Or Daughter in the blast. If they are innocent they can go to the court and say these are mine. Since they are hiding themselves and they are hiding like they are covering on each other it is all of them, they have a kind of Responsibility. Them, they have a kind of Responsibility. Them, they have a kind of resonsibili. ,. , Responsibility. For some of the victims the Responsibility. For some of the victims the pain Responsibility. For some of the victims the pain of Responsibility. For some of the victims the pain of the day Responsibility. For some of the victims the pain of the day lingers. He almost tosses leg in the explosion. He has been undergoing one surgery after another since then. Translation sometimes my kids asked me to play with them, and i cant. This is very hard, but i tried not to let them feel my pain. I stand on one leg and dont play with them. I try not to let them hate lebanon for what happened to me. The Report Explosion has been another painful us mother of the decay in the system. The country was already facing its deepest financial and economic crisis. More than half the population is living in poverty amid crippling shortages of medicine, fuel and electricity. The destruction of huge parts of the port and the neighbouring areas compounded the national plunge into misery. Im joined now by Kareem Chuh Hiab who is a journalist in beirut. Thank you for speaking to us. I know youre out and about in the city as those demonstrations and commemorations were being held. Haw commemorations were being held. How would Ou Commemorations were being held. Firm0 would you characterise the mood . It was basically a combination of grief and anger. Early run during the day it was very sombre, people holding portraits of the people who died in the blast, the relatives colleagues. But later on it got quite tense around parliament. Forces fired tear Gas And Rubber bullets. Many of the protesters threw rocks at them. But there were thousands of people all over Downtown Beirut and the areas destroyed by the beirut glass. It was probably one of the largest Protest Weve seen in a year. The resident Protest Weve seen in a year. The president said Protest Weve seen in a year. The president said in his broadcast a little earlier today that no one is above the law and pledged yet again that people would be held to account once the inquiries are completed. What would you say is the general blue lit Mag View of that, if its possible to talk of a general view among lebanese . Possible to talk of a general view among lebanese . Frankly, there is been little to among lebanese . Frankly, there is been little to no trust among lebanese . Frankly, there is been little to no Trust Whatsoever L been little to no trust whatsoever in the lebanese authorities. The current investigating judge has quite a bit of popular support. Especially the families, they believe theyre trying to work in their best interest. Theres a lot of Cynicism And Scepticism of all political officials in lebanon who people say are deliberately evading the whole process forjustice. Their top political and security individuals that the judge would like to investigate under criminal negligence. So far mostly low Level Port and chosen workers have been detained so far. But not a single Minister Or Security agent. Even though there is ample evidence that shows that they knew about this dangerous shipment over the past six years. And so they have a quite a bit to say on the matter but they dont want to state their case was up dont want to state their case was up there have an international pledges to support Lebanon France and which lebanon was once associated with as being public to leave that potentially active in this was up and given the state is the 90 collapse of general prices and the availability, how is this money ever going to provide the transition that lebanon owns needs particularly when it still read Welding Beirut . Particularly when it still read weldin beirut . � ,. ,. Welding beirut . Thats a fantastic cuestion. Welding beirut . Thats a fantastic question the Welding Beirut . Thats a fantastic question. The economy Welding Beirut . Thats a fantastic question. The economy has Welding Beirut . Thats a fantastic question. The economy has been| question. The economy has been absolutely in a dire, dire state. Many Families Cant even afford to go back home because they cant afford to fix the houses and many Families Cant afford to pay rent. Of course Food Security is a huge issue. Today i believe it was somewhere around 370 Million that were pledged by the national community at todays conference. But the question really is whether humanitarian aid will be enough. When it comes to Lebanon Look at the history of so much corruption and so much mismanagement of that yet at the same time viable health care, no viable public education and public services in the first place. A lot of people, go back to protestant they were calling for a new system thatis they were calling for a new system that is a productive and functioning and transparent and serves its people. And transparent and serves its eole. , and transparent and serves its eole. , and transparent and serves its eole. ,. , people. Kareem chehayeb forgive me for brin. In people. Kareem chehayeb forgive me for bringing this people. Kareem chehayeb forgive me for bringing this to people. Kareem chehayeb forgive me for bringing this to an people. Kareem chehayeb forgive me for bringing this to an end. People. Kareem chehayeb forgive me for bringing this to an end. Thank for bringing this to an end. Thank you very much for speaking to us on what should be a sombre day but also a day in which i hope that some people in lebanon will be able to find some hope for the Thank You so much. Afghan government forces say, theyve fought off an attack by the taliban, on the Police Headquarters Complex in Helmand Province, in the south of the country. Earlier, reports suggested the militants had reached the outskirts of the compound in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. Fierce fighting has continued with dozens of families forced to flee their homes. Its very hard to get footage from the city but these pictures were sent to us by a local resident showing the extent of the damage. The Afghan Army is urging civilians to leave Lashkar Gah ahead of a major offensive against the taliban. Meanwhile, the taliban have now claimed Responsibility for a Car Bomb and Gun Attack in a high Security District in kabul. Militants targeted the home of the acting defence minister, who wasnt there at the time of the attack which killed at least 8 people. Lets also take a look at some pictures from Kabul Last Night during that taliban attack on the acting Defence Ministers home. People came out on to the streets to chant their support for government forces and to denounce the militants. Kai aidh, the former Un Envoy to afghanistan, joins us now. They you very much for speaking to us. This is a very difficult time for many afghans. We had the decision by the us president Joe Biden to withdraw american troops. Was that effectively a signal that the west had abandoned afghanistan . I think it was done believing that the afghan dispense process would be able to hold the country together and to defend it. Obviously that was not the case. Wheezing also that it happened much more quickly than we had ever thought it would. They tell a man taking over such a large part of the country. Now you see what is happening in Lashkar Gah and also the attack against the Defence Ministers house. I think many of us bought at the time that this is a wrong decision. And its very difficult because the question was five more years, ten more years does it make a difference, really . We have to withdraw but i think this was a mistake by the biden administration. Its was a mistake by the biden administration. Was a mistake by the biden administration. � ,. ,. , ~. , administration. Its a mistake that is hard to see administration. Its a mistake that is hard to see any administration. Its a mistake that is hard to see any us administration. Its a mistake that is hard to see any us president i administration. Its a mistake that| is hard to see any us President Mr Biden or his successor reversing mall. In those circumstances what can be done by what whaen intends to describe is the international community. Im not sure what that quite needs in this context but by other countries, other institutions like the united states to try and prevent this deteriorating into a simple return to Civil War . I prevent this deteriorating into a simple return to Civil War . Simple return to civilwar . I think weve seen simple return to civilwar . I think weve seen it simple return to civilwar . I think weve seen it now simple return to civilwar . I think weve seen it now after simple return to civilwar . I think weve seen it now after the simple return to civilwar . I think weve seen it now after the deal. Simple return to Civil War . I think. Weve seen it now after the deal was made between President Trump and the taliban that negotiations have been really very fragmented. A day or two maybe a week and then really theres not been any discussion of the substance of negotiation on the substance. There has been irreconcilable, this been russians but beijing, talk about meeting in turkey, istanbuland but beijing, talk about meeting in turkey, istanbul and its all too fragmented. It has to come together. I think for all the problems with the un, the un is the only institution that can really gather at the national community and bring it together in one focused effort. Thats why i suggested to a japanese colleague that the un must now really stop being hesitant and be a little bit older. And to appoint a special representative responsible for Peace Negotiation but up the has to be a clear and firm multilateral council. Not only that but there has to be a constant follow up from the countries and the members of the Security Council so that the parties in conflict can see this is really an international Community Issue engaging. We havent seen that so far and its the only thing that remains, really. Far and its the only thing that remains, really. Far and its the only thing that remains, reall. , remains, really. Former Un Envoy in afghanistan. Remains, really. Former Un Envoy in afghanistan, thank remains, really. Former Un Envoy in afghanistan, Thank You remains, really. Former Un Envoy in afghanistan, Thank You so remains, really. Former Un Envoy in afghanistan, Thank You so much remains, really. Former Un Envoy in afghanistan, Thank You so much for| joining us. A sprinter from belarus who defied her countrys attempt to send her home from the olympics has arrived in warsaw, where the authorities have given her a humanitarian visa. She made no statement on a stopover in vienna on her way back from japan. Earlier she told the bbc it was not safe in belarus and she didnt anticipate returning, for many years. Her Husband Willjoin Herfrom ukraine, where president Volodymyr Zelensky has stepped up security for belarusian exiles, after the suspicious death of a dissident. Im joined now by marccin przydacz, polands deputy Foreign Minister. Thank you very much for being with us on the Bbc News let me ask you first what you can tell us about the situation regarding her arrival in warsaw or . Situation regarding her arrival in warsaw or . ~. ,. Warsaw or . Well, Thank You very much for Havin Warsaw or . Well, Thank You very much for having me warsaw or . Well, Thank You very much for having me. She warsaw or . Well, Thank You very much for having me. She has warsaw or . Well, Thank You very much for having me. She hasjust warsaw or . Well, Thank You very much for having me. She hasjust landed for having me. She hasjust landed and warsaw. She is safe and secure and warsaw. She is safe and secure and in good condition she is very tired of course after retreat to japan through warsaw but also that kind of experience which was a tough experience for her but she is happy to be in warsaw in waking for her Husband Tojoin her there is also great gratitude that she and her husband are grateful and shes obviously worried about family that remain in ukraine. What obviously worried about family that remain in ukraine. Remain in ukraine. What motivated paul and did remain in ukraine. What motivated paul and did not remain in ukraine. What motivated paul and did not pull remain in ukraine. What motivated paul and did not pull into remain in ukraine. What motivated paul and did not pull into make remain in ukraine. What motivated| paul and did not pull into make this offer . We paul and did not pull into make this offer . ~. , paul and did not pull into make this offer . ~. ,. , offer . We are the country of Solidarity Offer . We are the country of Solidarity And Offer . We are the country of solidarity and the offer . We are the country of solidarity and the first offer . We are the country of| solidarity and the first thing. Offer . We are the country of solidarity and the first thing. The second thing is the Human Rights important for all democratic states and we are just the neighbouring country for belarus was that weve been supporting belarusian civic society and media in ordinary belarusian and people who just had to flee the country for political reasons. So that was quite a natural step for us to offer our support and we are also quite happy that she decided to come to poland, to the neighbouring country and probably she willjoin us and thousands of belarusian citizens who have been living in poland since the outbreak of the crisis last year. But basically for the last 30 years thereve been many belarusians who had to come to poland to leave because of the political circumstances. I because of the political circumstances. Because of the political circumstances. ,. , because of the political circumstances. ,. , circumstances. I was can ask about that because circumstances. I was can ask about that because youve circumstances. I was can ask about that because youve obviously circumstances. I was can ask about | that because youve obviously heard the reports of the mysterious death in ukraine of one of the leading opposition figures who had sought refuge in that country from belarus after the disputed election one year ago. Clearly circumstances are disputed at the moment but has that cause you to look at the security of those exiles who are living in your country and enjoying your hospitality . Country and enoying your Hospitarim country and enoying your hospitality . Country and enoying your hositali . , �. Hospitality . Yes. Bear was shocking news from ukraine, hospitality . Yes. Bear was shocking news from ukraine, im hospitality . Yes. Bear was shocking news from ukraine, im still hospitality . Yes. Bear was shocking news from ukraine, im still waiting| news from ukraine, im still waiting for the results of the investigation and an official statement of authorities in kyiv. Obviously every single political activist who is in europe out of belarus is somehow in danger and we are fully aware of that. Thats why weve been protecting our guests on our polish soil. We been doing our best to protect them, to keep them safe. Unfortunately the intelligence services, the Secret Service of belarus and also of russia, they are reacting, weve seen their activities both on british soil and recently in check and bulgaria. We are somehow the democratic western countries in danger. We need to do our best to protect our citizens and the guests on our side. Yes. Deputy foreian the guests on our side. Yes. Deputy Foreign Minister the guests on our side. Yes. Deputy Foreign Minister in the guests on our side. Yes. Deputy Foreign Minister in poland the guests on our side. Yes. Deputy Foreign Minister in poland thank the guests on our side. Yes. Deputy| Foreign Minister in poland Thank You forjoining us this evening on bbc one news. And staying with belarus, the last major Opposition Leader still in the country, maria kolesnikova, has appeared at her trial Behind Closed Doors in minsk. Russian tv showed her dancing in the dock and making the sign of a love heart. Shes charged with plotting to overthrow the government of President Alexander Lukashenko by organising protests. Lets get more now from the bbc� s Sarah Rainsford who is outside the courtroom in minsk. We were outside the court this morning just as the trial began. We werent allowed inside. The only people allowed into the process where the lawyers themselves. Outside there was a small group of supporters and Family Members of both Maria And Maxine who are on trial as of today for very, very serious charges. They are accused of plotting to overthrow the state. There accused of extremism and other national security chart. Thats why officials here are saying that the trial is closed but with the family and friends have told us is that i believe is simply a complete lack of evidence. Believe is simply a complete lack of evidence. The head of the World Health Organization has called on a moratorium on Covid I9 � vaccine boosters� until at least The End of september. Dr tedros said the move, was to enable that at least 10 of the population of every country was vaccinated. He said the focus needs to be on those people, who are most vulnerable and most at risk of severe disease and death, to get their first and second doses. Stay with us on news, still to come well be heading to tokyo with all the latest from the olympics, on a day which saw even more World Records being broken. The Prime Minister says hes hopeful that the pandemic is nearing its end. Borisjohnson was asked for his thoughts during a two Day Vsiit to scotland. Heres what he had to say. I hope so and i think a lot of reason for thinking that that that could well be the case because if you have the current wave, the third wave, its obviously less severe than the previous two. Plus, we have this amazing fortification of the vaccine wall. And in scotland everybody� s done a fantasticjob, the Vaccination Rate is up 90 . Even a point higher than the rest of the uk. And that is unquestionably helping us to deal with delta. Now what weve got to be careful of is a further wave and of course new variants come again. There more on Borisjohnsons Interview on bbc website. This is bbc World News, the latest headlines. Now to the olympics and day 12 has wrapped in tokyo. There have been some very memorable moments and lots of new records being set. If there was ever any debate surrounding who is the greatest artistic swimmer of all time, Svetlana Roma Shina shut it down by winning her sixth olympic Gold Medal in the discipline at the tokyo games. She now stands alone as the most decorated athlete in her sport, and she has a chance to add a seventh medal in the Team Competition saturday. Romashina partnered with svetlana Koles Nichenko to perform the top scoring routines of all three elements of the competition, and the pair capped off their dominant run with a near perfect 98. 800 in the final. Their Gold Medal routine featured extremely difficult and intricate choreography that was meant to mimic the movements of spiders. In the athletics canadas Andre De Grasse has won the mens 200 metres final ending the reign of usain bolt, who retired in 2017. Its de grasses fifth olympic medal but his first gold. Meanwhile, the usas Sydney Mclaughlin has taken gold and smashed her own World Record in the womens 400 metre Hurdles Shaving almost half a second off the old mark. There were five personal bests in the race, giving you an indication of what a high Calibre Contest it was. One of the hot topics in the athletics at tokyo is shoes. A new generation of running spikes with rigid plates and cushioning foam are some say a significant factor in the consistent breaking of records were seeing in tokyo. Supporters call it a revolutionary advance after years of stagnation. Critics think its a form of mechanical doping. Geoff burns is a Biomechanics Researcher at the university of michigan, an expert in running Shoe Technology and a runner himself, hes been speaking to our Correspondent Lucy hockings, who is in tokyo. Its a really highly responsive foam and a stiff plate going through it. All shoes, and a stiff plate going through it. Allshoes, running and a stiff plate going through it. All shoes, Running Shoes have phones but this next generation of foam is what we call more compliant and more resilient. That means it squishes down more and squishes back more. And its much less dense so its much lighter. It wins on all metrics. In the past Track Spikes were as in as possible and now with this new generation of foam they realised that those advantageous property, you can put a little bit more foam under the runner and it lowers the overall energetic cost of running allowing you to run faster for the same physiological cost or effort. We for the same physiological cost or effort. ~. , for the same physiological cost or effort. ~. , , effort. We have seen records being broken every effort. We have seen records being broken every day effort. We have seen records being broken every day in effort. We have seen records being broken every day in tokyo. Effort. We have seen records being broken every day in tokyo. Do effort. We have seen records being broken every day in tokyo. Do you| broken every day in tokyo. Do you think thats partly down to the shoes . , think thats partly down to the shoes . ,. , shoes . Yeah, definitely the shoes are a contributing shoes . Yeah, definitely the shoes are a contributing factor. Shoes . Yeah, definitely the shoes are a contributing factor. But shoes . Yeah, definitely the shoes are a contributing factor. But in i are a contributing factor. But in these friends, Everything Ijust described is relatively easily understood for distance and middle distance events. And weve seen some outfit two outstanding performances and those already. But these friends are a little bit trickier to quantify, we dont have as much data on that. Even some of the sprinters like the 500 metre hurdles was not wearing this next generation of spikes. His work much closer to the older spikes that we know. There are other factors going older spikes that we know. There are otherfactors going on. The heat in tokyo might be slightly advantageous for some of the sprinters. But the track, thats one of the things a lot of the athletes are talking about, it has more rebound to it. So the same thing that had the shoes beneficial artists under the feet of the applet. Ifigure its the applet. I figure its starting to understand how we can use the mechanical interface of the ground, how we interact with the ground to speed up time a little bit more. Jeff, so interesting to talk to. But definitely against issues, ive had to say. Hes made that point very clear. There is no shortage of other record breaking action either the skateboarders are really doing well everywhere. On the front of many newspapers and publications Around The World. Japans 12 year old and her 13 year old Competitor Sky Brown from great britain becoming the youngest ever medalists in their respective countries. And before we go, her fingers may be tiny but her talent is colossal. Brigitte shieh is only 4 years old but shes mastered the piano more quickly than most of us do in a lifetime. What started as a bit of fun during lockdown has now become her calling. Six months after her first lesson, brigitte has become the youngest winner of an elite competition, and Shell Play at Carnegie Hall in new York City next year. She might not even be five by then. Thats a lovely way to end the programme. Dont forget our top story is on Bbc News. Com. The bbc. Uk depending on where youre logging in from Around The World. Beirut and powerful blast at rock the city and left with no government. Its Bbc News. Hello there. Much of the Country Today had a fine one with plenty of sunshine. It felt quite warm, too, but there were some heavy, thundery showers across parts of the midlands and northern england. These will tend to fade away. Many places turning drier tonight, but we start to see some rain pushing into Western Areas, courtesy of this new area of low pressure which is going to be with us for quite a few days. You can see ahead of it very light winds. It turns drier as we start the early hours of friday for many central, southern and eastern areas, but The Cloud continues to build up across Western Scotland and certainly across Northern Ireland as this low Pressure System moves in. By The End of the night, well start to see some rain, which could become more persistent and heavy at times and the breeze Picking Up, too. Temperatures lifting across the south 12 15 degrees, one or two cooler spots further north and east. So, for The End of the week, its looking a lot more unsettled with low pressure pretty much Slap Bang on top of us. Thats going to bring showers or longer spells of rain, and its going to turn windier, too. It moves very slowly, affecting Western Areas through thursday morning, and then eventually starts to reach eastern areas through the second half of the day. So, it does mean its going to start dry perhaps in some early sunshine for central and eastern england, eastern, northeastern scotland, where it could stay dry all day. But the rain will eventually push in towards the central and eastern areas into the afternoon. Some of it will be heavy, perhaps thundery and places. Thatll be followed by heavy and blustery showers and some sunny spells across southern and Western Areas into the afternoon. So, high Teens Celsius across many areas, but we could just see 20 or 21, given that dry, bright, sunny start. Into friday, low pressure very much dominating the weather scene. Its going to be a pretty unsettled day with that. Showers or longer spells of rain, some of which could be very heavy and could give rise to some localised flooding through central and northern areas. I think for the Midlands Southwards into wales, here its going to be a mixture of sunny spells and some showers, which could be heavy and thundery. In the sunshine, despite the wind, we could see 20 or 21 degrees. Otherwise, for most, i think the high Teens Celsius. Into the start of the weekend, weve got low pressure still on top of us, this Feature Running across southern areas which could bring an area of more persistent rain at times, then followed by sunshine and showers again into sunday. It really is looking unsettled this weekend as well with temperatures below par for the time of year. However, there will be some sunshine in between the rain. This is Bbc News, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and Around The World. Lebanon Remembers Thousands gather a year after the deadly blast that shattered beirut. Fierce fighting continues in afghanistan between the Taliban And Government forces. Wildfires continue to rage in turkey seven days on from the first blaze. And the Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine co creator, Professor Dame Sarah gilbert, redefines what it means to be a barbie girl. Hello, and welcome to the programme. One year ago today, a Warehouse Storing Chemicals in beirut exploded. The blast was one of the largest non nuclear explosions in history. Today, thousands of people in beirut attended a Memorial Service in the ruins of the port to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, but also to show they want accountability for the blast that killed over 200 people. Tensions rose as Security Forces fired Tear Gas at stone throwing protesters. For many in lebanon, life has only gotten worse since the explosion. The country is experiencing one of the worst economic crisis� in history and critics say no top officials have been held to account. There hasn� t been a government since the minister resigned a year ago. As Anger Mounts among many lebanese, today the country� s top cleric also demanded justice for those caught up in the explosion and its aftermath. The bbc� s Carine Torbay is in beirut, she gave us more details on the growing anger among many lebanese people. Well, the scars are really very fresh, still there. This is a day of remembrance, but it is also a day for people to call forjustice and fair accountability. We have seen large crowds coming from different parts of the country, from all walks of life, converging into that Port Area. They marched four hours, they marched through the streets which were destroyed by that horrible last one year ago, and now they are all gathering to pray, to remember, but also to call forjustice. The collapse of this system started way before this. Lots of people taking to the streets calling that a change to be made and that was in october 2019. After that, we saw a lot of anger in the streets and it has faded. It has faded because the conditions kept are deteriorating, people saw their lifestyle of falling every day furthermore. People have so many Reasons Today to feel so angry. I� m joined now by Mariana Fodoulian who is the president of the Beirut Port Explosion victims� Families Association in beirut. I hope i pronounced your name correctly, i apologise if i didn� t can i ask you first of all what this day means for you . You lost your sister in that explosion. Sister in that explosion. Today is already one sister in that explosion. Today is already one Year Sister in that explosion. Today is already one year into sister in that explosion. Today is already one year into the sister in that explosion. Today is already one year into the Big Sister in that explosion. Today is i already one year into the big blast, the third biggest blast in the world. So for us, it� s the same feeling, you know, we are processing that it� s been one year already. The pain is still there and it� s growing, you know . So, it� s been very hard for us every day and every day. Very hard for us every day and every da. ,. Very hard for us every day and every da. ,. , very hard for us every day and every da. ,. ,. , day. Nothing can take away what you and the other day. Nothing can take away what you and the other families day. Nothing can take away what you and the other families have had day. Nothing can take away what you and the other families have had to i and the other families have had to endure in losing your loved ones, and many others suffered life changing injuries, never mind the loss of properties, friendships and communities that were forced to be dispersed by what followed the explosion, the Clearance Work that has gone on. But i wonder what the effect is of not knowing who knew what when . Would that really make a difference to being able to process the loss of people like your sister . Yeah, we don� t know what happened from the first day to today. We� ve had two judges, from the first day to today. We� ve had twojudges, the from the first day to today. We� ve had two judges, the first one, then today we� ve had a newjudge. So the interesting thing is the Judge Today we� ve had a newjudge. So the interesting thing is thejudge is working really hard, and we really trust him. The problem is not with thejudge, it� s with trust him. The problem is not with the judge, it� s with the government not giving giving immunity to ministers and the others responsible, so they can go to the court and prove that they didn� t do anything they were doing their Responsibility. So this is the biggest problem here coming out of our home state, and since the judge named the persons, they won� t go away from the investigation. And they are trying to take the investigation to parliament as if they can investigate themselves, their eightjudges there, so eight judges responsible. They are taking everything apart for political and religious reasons. They think like this, the think the investigation of thejudge. I only say this, the think the investigation of the judge. I only say that that thing they� re trying to do is making me trust the judge more and more, because if they were not afraid, they would� ve gone to the court to prove that they are really innocent. Thank you very much for talking to us, it� s a difficult day i should imagine everyday is difficult in different ways since you lost your sister a year ago, and so many of Yourfellow Sister A year ago, and so many of your fellow lebanese who have suffered in the same way. Thank you very much for sharing the tough times you are experiencing in the moment, you have our good wishes and great respect for the work you� re doing. Thank you. Great respect for the work youre doing. Thank you. The taliban have claimed Responsibility for multiple attacks in afghanistan� s capital of kabul. Gunmen detonated a Car Bomb and fired shots near the defence minister� s house, leaving at least eight dead. It is the first major bombing by militants in the city for nearly a year. The taliban also laid siege to several provincial capitals, including Lashkar Gah. The Afghan Army is urging civilians to evacuate immediately. Mark malloch brown, president of open society foundations, joins us now. Thank you very much for being with us on Bbc News. These are very worrying times for those who know and love afghanistan what do you make of the deterioration in the Security Situation there, and what are the implications of that in terms of protecting and preserving the developments that there have beenin the developments that there have been in afghanistan over the last 20 years . Been in afghanistan over the last 20 ears . ~. ,. ,. , been in afghanistan over the last 20 ears . ,. ,. ,. , years . Well, count me as one of those who years . Well, count me as one of those who loves years . Well, count me as one of those who loves afghanistan. I years . Well, count me as one of| those who loves afghanistan. Ive those who loves afghanistan. I� ve known it for a very long time, indeed, shared first Donors Conference after the taliban were Expeuedin Conference after the taliban were expelled in 2002. So i� ve lived this throughout. And ijust think there� s a great sense of Dismay And Disappointment that the american, british and nato troops that are there but above all, the afghan civilians that hoped that a secular, modern, democratic afghanistan was strongly established for their future and is now in such jeopardy. Its future and is now in such jeopardy. It� s not promising, the taliban Military Offensive has really surged much further and faster than people anticipated. Lashkar gah, a name we all know from british News Broadcast over many years, the capital of Helmand Province where troops were stationed now large parts of it are being contested by taliban forces pushing the government forces back. This is a horrible situation and, while i think it is the case that the afghanistan of today is not the afghanistan of 20 30 years ago, there was a much wider middle class established, the cities are much bigger and stronger within the political economy of the country, and women have really come into their own. But how much these kinds of economic and social bulwarks will stop a Traditional Taliban Islamist Takeover and a reversion to the type of maoist policies that they adopted last time around is hard to tell. This is a bad time. So last time around is hard to tell. This is a bad time. Last time around is hard to tell. This is a bad time. So you dont put much store this is a bad time. So you dont put much store behind this is a bad time. So you dont put much store behind the this is a bad time. So you dont put much store behind the gloss the i much store behind the gloss the taliban is trying to put on this during the peace talks, the Peace Process . I� ve sung earlier and they said look, lots of things were said, lots of different initiatives but they� ve talked about a different approach to governing from the one they adopted if they do indeed end p they adopted if they do indeed end up there . They adopted if they do indeed end u there . , they adopted if they do indeed end u there . , they adopted if they do indeed end u there . , they adopted if they do indeed end uthere . ,. , up there . One can only hope for the best and prepare for up there . One can only hope for the best and prepare for the up there . One can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst. In i best and prepare for the worst. In the negotiations in the gulf that are currently going on, you know, they have been extremely lackadaisical on their side, playing for time, waiting for the military gains on the battlefield to strengthen the hand at the negotiating table. A classic situation with the russians, chinese, indians, everyone is parallel negotiations. But generally hoping to be able to stop the conflict but also getting an insurance also for the future and establishing their own relationships with the taliban. So it would be great to pull everything together, and it is the case that a lot now falls back on the shoulders of the un, because with the us and nato gone, the un will come to the sense that. Itll gone, the un will come to the sense that. It� ll be challenging to get an all encompassing negotiation. fine an allencompassing negotiation. One last brief an all encompassing negotiation. One last brief thought they said, give us six months as president , and we will get this sorted. Has he got six months, do you think . Months, do you think . The fact is the fighting months, do you think . The fact is the fighting is months, do you think . The fact is the fighting is seasonal months, do you think . The fact is the fighting is seasonal and i the fighting is seasonal and afghanistan and usually comes to hall in october. So i think his strategy is to hold on until october, show the taliban they cannot prevail militarily, then hope they come back to the negotiating table. It� s a strategy, i think the odds are tough, but the president whom i� ve known for many years before either of us were backed afghanistan. Irate before either of us were backed afghanistan. Before either of us were backed afghanistan. We have to leave it there, afghanistan. We have to leave it there. Thanks afghanistan. We have to leave it there, thanks so afghanistan. We have to leave it there, thanks so much afghanistan. We have to leave it there, thanks so much for afghanistan. We have to leave it. There, thanks so much for speaking to us from new york, former under as Wildfires Rage in turkey for a seventh day, the government is facing growing opposition over its handling of the situation. Forest fires are closing in on Power Stations in southwest turkey, with Firefighting Planes from Spain And Croatia joining the effort to contain the blaze. Fires have also broken out in other parts of the mediterranean, including lebanon, greece, and italy. The bbc� s Sancha Berg reports. Fires blazing on the hillsides and in the forests near the coastal resorts of bodrum and marmaris. And in the forests near the coastal wildfires have been burning for seven days in turkey and these flames are approaching a power station. Strong winds, low humidity and scorching temperatures. The Weather Conditions that helped the fire spread. They are likely to continue into next week. So far, over 130 fires have been extinguished, but many new ones have broken out. These Spanish Planes are part of the latest effort to get the flames under control. Criticism of the government� s handling of the situation is growing. It insists it is doing everything it can. Translation i answer the allegation that we do not accept help coming from abroad. Once again, i would like to reiterate that notjust today, notjust during such a disaster, but it is out of the question to reject offers coming to us because of Pride And Arrogance as our forests are burning. Turkey is not the only country in the region fighting wildfires. In this suburb of northern athens, more than 500 firefighters have been deployed. Houses have burnt down, many have been forced to evacuate, as greece experiences its worst heatwave in 30 years. Translation in the area where the fire broke out, | temperatures reached 45 celsius with less than 10 air humidity. These extreme conditions are due to the intense heatwave that has been affecting our country for the last week. And in israel, firefighters also used planes and helicopters to fight the wildfire in the forests west ofjerusalem. Many fear these extreme scenes will become more commonplace as Climate Changes. Sancha berg, Bbc News. Stay with us on Bbc News. Still to come Professor Dame Sarah gilbert, the woman behind the Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine, is being imortalised as a Barbie Doll. We� ll have the story next. Three young hikers have been describing how they were left stranded after one of them received a positive Covid Test in the welsh mountains. Paul mcerlean, charlie coward, and Andreas Maltan put out on appeal on Social Media saying they had nowhere to isolate. In The End, a colleague of mr mcerlean� s father came to their rescue, letting them stay in an empty property. Paul mcerlean says he was touched by the very many offers of help. We were running out of water, we weren� t getting water or food, our Accommodation Hopes had evaporated where we were staying, there was no accommodation anywhere for us to stay in. So it was a complete disaster, we were in the middle of the country in wales with nowhere to isolate and no way of transporting ourselves to somewhere to isolate. It was already late enough, i think it was around 7 30pm that i got the test results, and by the time we were trying to sort this out, you know, it was getting later and there was no chance we would be able to walk to somewhere else in wales that we might be able to isolate in. I sent out the tweetjust looking for advice help, you know, to see if anyone could recommend something we hadn� T Thought of. And there actually was a guy who was brilliant i didn� t quite realise how many people were actually getting in touch with me, i had a Work Contact that my father knew in warrington, and he offered to come down in a minivan and left us up to a vacant property that was going to be sold at some point in the future, we could isolate there. Lift lift us up. And of course, wejumped at the opportunity, like, yeah, of course. Because we didn� t know what else to do at that point, we just took the first option that somebody offered, to at least be in contact with somebody who had covid who was themselves at risk, they would have to isolate, you know, and come and get us and lift us up to a property. But it was great and it just showed that kindness is out there. New research suggests most children who become ill with covid recover within a week, and long Term Symptoms are rare. Scientists from king� s college london, say they� re reassured, that the number of young people who experience prolonged illness is low. Here� s our health correspondent, anna collinson. A joker and a daredevil. That� s how arlo� s mum describes him. But a few weeks ago, he became poorly after Testing Positive for coronavirus. There was definitely a point where, you know, i did wonder how this might continue in terms of symptoms, with it� s kind of get increasingly worse . It� s definitely an element of the unknown, which is slightly unsettling as a parent. Is that high enough . No, i want higher. But within a week, arlo� s cough and runny nose was gone and he was back to his normal self. New research suggests that recovery time is typical for most children with few experiencing long Term Symptoms. The study looked at more than 1,700 children who were reported to have developed symptoms and had tested positive for covid 19. It found fewer than one in 20 experienced symptoms for four weeks or more and just one in 50 had symptoms for more than eight weeks. The most common issues were headaches and tiredness. Can children have prolonged illness after covid 19 . Yes, they can but it is not common and most of these children get better with time. Children can have prolonged symptoms from other illnesses as well and an important Take Home Message is we need to be looking after all children who have protracted illness duration. Scientists hope their findings will reassure families whilst also validating those who have experienced prolonged illness like valentina� s to children. Two children. She runs a Long CovidSupport Group and thinks their continuous cough for three months could be a long Term Symptom following the infection. We haven� t been seen at that time by specialists to identify that this is covid related, so we can� t really define whether they had Long Covid, but based On My Own expertise and families that i have contact with, it is very much likely that they had it. Specialist centres have been set up to help those living with the long term effects of the virus. Anyone concerned about a child is advised to contact their gp. Anna collinson, Bbc News. All 16 17 year olds in the uk will be offered a Covid Vaccine in the coming weeks. England, wales, scotland, and Northern Ireland have all moved quickly to approve the recommendation by vaccine experts. They will not need parental consent to take part. It leaves the prospect of the over 12s in the uk being included at a later stage. The price of timber has risen sharply here in the uk and elsewhere with the Construction Industry struggling to get supplies. The huge boost in demand as more building projects are getting under way after the lockdown is the main cause of the shortage. At the same time Climate Change is increasing the pressure on supplies with wildfires damaging vast areas of woodland in parts of the world. Our environment and rural Affairs CorrespondentClaire Marshall reports. In rural herefordshire, the architects of the future are at work. They are piecing together a timber frame house. They are students, learning to build in a sustainable way with a low carbon footprint. But there is a problem. This build, along with countless others across the country, has been badly hit by the worldwide shortage of wood supplies. In every sector of the timber supply market, prices have gone up, Supply Chains have been less reliable, Delivery Drivers have been hard to get, so just everything has been difficult. On top of problems caused by the pandemics, forests Around The World are ablaze. Oh, my god, look at that canada, one of the world� s biggest timber supplies, has cut the amount it will sell, blaming it largely on Climate Change. Fire, weather, drought and now things like bugs and beetles, meaning that a lot of the timber cannot be used, that the trees can get damaged and destroyed, that the timber will not be the right quality needed for construction and those forests have to be chopped down. That is what is happening on this estate in herefordshire. A stand of ashes being felled. The trees were infected with ash dieback. Currently we import about 80 of our wood. This woodland is being managed sustainably, but with prices Around The World for timber getting so high, the demand for illegally logged timber is sure to increase. All this is feeding into calls for the uk to improve its own home grown industry. Forestry needs to change. Many foresters believe it is about planting the right tree in the right place. We need to be looking at the lower Grade Land where forests have traditionally existed and deliver a blend of forests that can grow economically on that land. A Big Global Shift is happening away from concrete, which is carbon intensive and bad for the environment. Demand for timber is rising quickly. Wood is beautiful. It is a very beautiful material. We have enough of it, but we just need to be able to take care of it at the same time. I think we are using and using and using because it seems like there is a lot, but we need to also take care of the actual portion that we are using, because then we will not need to take so much. The uk has the lowest Tree Cover in europe. The government has set some ambitious Tree Planting targets. The question now is whether they will be met. Claire marshall, Bbc News, herefordshire. The Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine co creator, Professor Dame Sarah gilbert, has been honoured with a Barbie Doll from the toy company mattel. Vaccinologist Dame Sarah began designing a Coronavirus Vaccine in early 2020. The Oxford Astrazeneca Vaccine is now the most widely used Around The World, with doses sent to more than 170 countries. Ramzan karmali has the details. A Barbie Doll with a difference. This one is modelled on the scientist, Professor Dame Sarah gilbert. She� s the Co Designer of the Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine. And though she finds the concept of a Barbie Doll created in her likeness strange, she hopes it will inspire girls to think about a career in science. I hope that my Barbie Doll, as well as others of women who work in science and medicine, willjust keep reminding them there are many careers open to them, so when they are playing they� re also thinking about what they might like to do in the future. In total, mattel has created six new models based on women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Mattel said the aim of creating these dolls was to help Shine A Light on the efforts of all Front Line workers during the pandemic. Dame sarah joins the likes of Beyonce And Marilyn monroe with this new honour. Where will she keep the doll . Probably in my office at work, along with other trophies from 2020 and 2021. Mattel also agreed with Dame Sarah to make a financial donation to a non Profit Organisation dedicated to inspire young girls considering a career in science. Ramzan karmali, Bbc News. Hard to think of a more deserving example in the last year. A reminder of our top story on bbc World News thousands of people in lebanon have attended a Memorial Service in the ruins of the peyroux port, following the first anniversary of one of the biggest explosions and world history. Beirut port. You� re watching Bbc News, Thank You very much for your company. Hello there. There� s been a lot of calm and settled weather across the country to start this week. Some areas dry altogether and quite warm where we had the sunshine but there have been a few heavy and thundery downpours. Now, The End of the week looks completely different. We� ve got low pressure dominating, it� s going to be very unsettled. Some showers or longer spells of rain at times, some of which will be heavy, it� s can be windy here as well. But there still will be a little bit of sunshine in between. It� s not going to be raining all the time everywhere. But this is the new area of low pressure i� m talking of slowly pushing into Western Areas as we start thursday. Rather wet and windy here but a dry start to the day for eastern scotland, eastern england. All the while though through the day, The Cloud and the wind will be Picking Up here as well, and The Rain Eventually Pushing Northwards and eastward. Some of this could be quite heavy and thundery. It will be followed by a rash of blustery showers and sunny spells. Some of these showers really will be quite heavy. Because of the wind as well, it� ll feel fairly cool. Temperatures high Teen Celsius but we could see 20 21 further east given that bright and settled start to the day. Low pressure then Slap Bang right on top of us for friday. A decidedly unsettled day for all. It� s going be pretty blustery particularly across the southern half of the country. And there� ll be showers or longer spells of rain, especially through central and northern areas, may even see some localised flooding, some of the rain could really be quite heavy and places. Better chance of seeing some sunny spells further south. That could push temperatures up to 21 22 celsius. But for most, we are looking at the high Teens Celsius. As we head into the weekend we got low pressure again anchored to the north of the uk. This Feature Running across southern parts of england could bring an area of more persistent and at times heavy rain as it pushes its way eastwards through the day. Quite a mixed bag of weather, sunny spells, showers, longer spells of rain again, some of it heavy with some rumbles of thunder in places. As you� d expect with this area of low pressure, all rain around and the wind is not could feel particularly warm for august, around 17 19 celsius. On into sunday, our area of low pressure with us slowly starting to feel which means it will be weakening but it� s going to be a slow process. The general message for part two of the weekend will be another one of sunshine and showers or longer spells of rain across the north. But there could be some good sunny spells around and some areas may stay dry altogether. We could see highs of 20 celsius again for most the high Teen Celsius. As we move out of sunday into monday to start the new week, our area of low pressure continues to weaken but it still with us enough to bring another fairly unsettled day of sunshine and showers. But i think the showers will be fewer, most across northern and Western Areas, some eastern areas could stay dry altogether with some good smells of sunshine. That also goes for that they southern parts of england to bring as we move out of monday it looks like we see this area of high Pressure Building over the near continent. That could settle things down, bring some warmer weather to the southeast quadrants of the country. But this new area of low pressure across the atlantic will slowly push its way eastwards into the country as we reach The End of the week. So i think the general thinking is the further North And West that you are, the more unsettled it will be with showers or longer spells of rain again feeling quite cool and breezy. The further southeast you are, closer to that area of higher pressure over the near continent into next week then i think the drier and more settled it will be. It could turn fairly warm for a time. Tonight at ten. A series of major changes in the Covid Travel rules, announced by the government. The biggest change affects france a major destination for british tourists which now comes into line with other