Thousands sign a petition to save An Alpaca who faces being put down after testing positive twice for bovine tb. Hello and welcome if you are watching us in the uk or around the world. It is 8pm in london, but where youre watching your very welcome to bbc news. The taliban have captured their first provincial capital in afghanistan since 2016. An official said zaranj in nimruz province, close to the border with iran, fell because of a lack of government reinforcements. The taliban have made widespread advances in recent months as nato forces complete their withdrawal. But had previously failed to seize previously, the taliban had failed to seize. In the capital, the President Tv Spokesperson said that shooting him dead in his car. Un Security Council has been meeting a Special Session to discuss the deteriorating situation the country. An envoy to afghanistan because of the taliban to cease its attacks among major cities immediately, as she warned the conflict torn country is heading for catastrophe. There had been an expectation, when the us taliban deal was signed in february 2020, you will remember that we would see a reduction of violence. We did not. There had been an expectation when the talks between the afghan republic and the taliban began in september of last year. That we would see a reduction of violence. We have not. There had been an expectation, that when international troops left, we would see a reduction of violence. We did not. Instead, despite significant concessions for peace, we have seen a 50 increase, thats 50 , in civilian casualties with the certainty of many more, as the cities are attacked. Just to say that the Uk Government is now advising british citizens to leave afghanistan immediately because of the two rating situation. We Check In now with our North American correspondent, gary odonnell. Gary 0donoghue. If the troops are going or gone, now, how much political pressure is on washington for the illustration to find other ways to try to the government, given the deterioration . I the government, given the deterioration . The government, given the deterioration . ~ , deterioration . Ithink, politically, here, deterioration . Ithink, politically, here. Theres deterioration . Ithink, politically, here, theres not deterioration . Ithink, politically, here, theres not a deterioration . Ithink, politically, here, theres not a Lot Deterioration . Ithink, politically, here, theres not a lot of deterioration . Ithink, politically, here, theres not a lot of focus, L Deterioration . I think, politically, l here, theres not a lot of focus, on afghanistan. I think we would be wrong to suggest that there was. The covid 19 pandemic, Congress Vote tied up with the Infrastructure Legislation rows over voting rights, and other issues, and there is not really a lot of focus among lawmakers, but i think the ministration itself is under some pressure itself, but despite playing at its roots, it is continuing to have a commitment to the people of afghanistan on the government and they keep reiterating that. Of course, the us government is a key sponsor of the inter afghan sponsor of the inter afg han dialogue, sponsor of the inter afghan dialogue, the talks between the Taliban And Ashraf gans of, they say they are not prepared, the us as they are not paid to her in the towel on those talks and are trying towel on those talks and are trying to create some impetus, but the problem is that the military realities on the ground make it less likely that the taliban really need to negotiate, if you like, at this point in time. To negotiate, if you like, at this point in time. Gary in washington, dc, ve point in time. Gary in washington, dc. Very much the longer Term Trend for Coronavirus Infection rates has been down across the uk, except In Northern Ireland where Case Numbers are rising, according to the office for national statistics. 0n on friday. Whilst england has launched a new campaign, encouraging young adults to get theirjabs, northern ireland has now become the first of the home nations, to start vaccinating 16 and 17 year olds. Heres our health editor, hugh pym. A uk first, the start of vaccinations for all 16 and 17 year olds. In northern ireland, teenagers and the Age Group came forward, just two days after experts gave the Go Ahead for the extension of the programme. I just want everything back to normal, youll back to normal, youll have to get it, so might as welljust get it now. At this Theatre School in lincoln, those we spoke to said they were thinking hard about it. Invitations to 16 and 17 year olds to getjabbed in england, scotland and wales are going out from today. We talk about vaccines quite a lot, mainly because some people are not sure to get it or not. Ive seen things online, but at the end of the day, i think they know whats right and i am happy to get it. Say if i wanted to Go On Holiday with my mates, i will have the vaccine. Im not going to miss outjust because i havent had the vaccine. Dont miss out is the message in a new drive in england to boost take up of the vaccine among 18 to 30 year olds. The reminders that to get into nightclubs from late september, proof of Being Double Jabbed Will required. The venues themselves will be promoting those messages. This central London Nightclub heaven is even hosting a pop up Vaccination Site on sunday. It will be open right through from 12 noon till through from 12 noon till 9 in the evening. The aims still to reduce the spread of the virus. The office for national Statistics Survey of community infections, which covers people with and without symptoms, showed the first fall in Uk Cases last week since early may. In england, one in 75 people have the virus, in scotland, one in 120, in wales, one in 230. All of which were down, but In Northern Ireland, but it was one in 55, an increase, but experts an increase, but experts said the Delta Variant Spread later than elsewhere. Rates are still relatively high in many parts of the country, but i would have to see that the evidence very much is of a decline everywhere. I am expecting a continued decline, not an incredibly steep one, but i think we will see a continued decline. But he added that things might change in september after the holiday season. Public health experts say the levels of the Delta Variant can remain high, even in people who are vaccinated, while they still offer strong protection against serious illness. A reminder that there is still much to learn about covid 19 and its spread. In italy, anyone who wants to visit a range of venues, including restaurants, Sports Facilities and cultural sites, now have to produce a � green card, showing a record of Covid Vaccination, a negative Test Or Proof of recovery from coronavirus. While Opinion Polls suggest a majority of people in the country are in favour, the rules have prompted protests too. 0ur Italy Correspondent Mark Lowen reports from verona. A night at the opera tickets, Temperature Check and, from today, the mandatory Green Pass a Covid Vaccination certificate, negative Test Or Proof of recovery as italy tightens its rules, from theatres to restaurants, gyms to cafes. Well, this is how it will work in practice. I come up to the venue in question. Buona sera. Present my Green Pass which, in my case, is a vaccination certificate. Its verified. This device doesnt save the data. I present my Id Card and im allowed to enter. Its a big change, and a big challenge, for those involved. Nobody told us how to face covid, you know . So at the beginning, we were afraid, we were nervous, we were anxious. Then, month by month, we solve new problem, giving new solution. And after 18 months, we built a little of self confidence. So lets say that now, the situation is, it is not a problem. This is another problem, regarding covid. Veronas arena has already adapted to covid fewer performers, masks and half ca pacity. But with the Green Pass, the drama has now moved offstage too. Parliament had to be suspended after protests from far right mps. And while polls show 70 of italians in favour, vocal demonstrations have broken out across the country. Much of the opposition is from restaurateurs, their patience already worn by lockdowns. Translation we shouldnt have to police this. Its not ourjob. And we shouldnt deal with sensitive data. The government will make us argue with customers who want to sit inside without a pass. Well have to comply, but weve already had cancellations. Its got nasty for medics supporting the Green Pass. Samantha grossi received a Death Threat through whatsapp, evoking the nazi trials at nuremberg. Other messages were on facebook, and they came from her colleagues. Translation i really felt in danger. What upset me most was that the threats were from health workers. They, like us, were heroes of the pandemic, and now some are no vax. I felt broken and thought about giving up everything, but then i realised i must go on and show theyre the ones at fault. At the arena too, the show will go on, though with new checks for the opera lovers. Italy is beginning another act in its covid story, but the Unity Felt Last year is fading. Applause. Mark lowen, bbc news, verona. A severe heatwave has caused huge wildfires in greece, with strong winds fanning the flames. Thousands of people have been moved from their homes in the northern suburbs of athens. There are extreme fire warnings covering many areas, and the Prime Minister says his country is in the midst of an unprecedented environmental crisis. Our correspondent, Bethany Bell is in athens for us now. Its a very, very difficult situation. Where i am here, theres a fire burning behind that mountain behind me, and the fear is that the wind is blowing in the wrong direction and this suburb where we are now could face the flames quite soon. And since weve been here, weve seen Emergency Vehicles out warning people to leave their homes. People have packed up their cars to drive away from this area because the authorities have told them its too dangerous to remain. Some people, though. We spoke to one Greek Orthodox priest. He said, where do we go . Where are we supposed to go . Has the government organised this properly . And at the moment, weve seen Aircraft Overhead dropping water from the sky to try and quench the flames. But firefighters thought that they had controlled this particular blaze here a couple of days ago, but then it flared up again. And the air at the moment is quite full of acrid smoke and ash. There have been fires throughout Mainland Greece and on the island of evia, and on that island, several hundred people were evacuated. They had to get to the beach after the fire rushed through the forests there, and then they were taken to safety by boats, both Tourist Boats and the coastguard. Lets catch up with the latest from the olympic games, is the final weekend approaches. One of the main headline 2014 is the cyclist Laura Kenny, of course, becoming briton most successful woman olympian ever. She and her Team Mate Katie archibald in the velodrome, a new event for the olympics, dominating the 120 lap race, winning ten of the 12 sprints. It is her fifth olympic gold, and she is the first british win to win gold at three successive games, london 2012, Rio 2016 and now tokyo. Our correspondence spent the day at The Club where Laura Kenny was then laura trott, and began her acting career. Cycling career. This is where she first got on a bike, this is where it all started for her, but little did we know back then that she would go on to win gold at three successive olympics. We are joined by francis, the Head Coach here. You were going wild this morning, tell us what did you make of the madison . I was just completely blown away. Best race i have ever seen and they actually dominated it and just blew the rest of the world apart, it was fantastic. What is it about laura that makes her such a great cyclist, such a great competitor . Grit, determination and never giving in, never giving up and she always wants to win. Has she always been like that . Oh, yes. Right from a very young age, she was was competitive and she has been an inspiration to all our young riders. When did you spot something special, when did you think that this girl could go really far . Right from an early age, probably about nine, ten, when she was down here, i introduced her to the track when she was about seven or eight years old. From that point on, she loved the track from Day One and she has just gone on and on. Never did i dream, in my wildest dreams, that she would go all the way that she has done to win gold medals, but she has been an inspiration to The Club. Now, watching this morning with various young riders, what does it mean to everyone to see her succeed like this . Its phenomenal. We are still producing young riders on the same pathway that laura started on all those years ago. It stills exists today. A look at the young riders that are coming through from a pathway and have got three junior riders from the same pathway now there are doing the European Championships next week. So its brilliant. More to come, we note lauras Medal Haul is not yet over. She will go again on sunday in the omnium. There was also gold for Team Gb in the Womens Pentathlon where Kate French stormed to victory, finishing 15 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. Britain have won medals in every womens modern pentathlon since it was introduced to the olympics in 2000. Kates husband, leo forster, told my colleague, martine croxall, how he only managed to snatch a quick word with her after shed won olympic gold. Ten seconds. A friend of ours, one of the athletes was over there, and he briefly rang me from the stadium. She walked past me holding a medal, huge smile on herface, and, yeah, so thats all we needed really. How confident was she before the games . Well, shed had a really good run of form. Shed had three medals, two golds and a silver, going into the competition. And i know she was the favourite for gold, but its modern pentathlon so anything can happen. So, shed had a really good run of form and she just did it on the day, which was brilliant. Just unbelievable. On the track, Laura Muir finally picked up a deserved major medal in the womens 1500 metres final. She claimed silver behind kenyas Faith Kipyegon, shattering her own british record in the process. Team gb� s 4x100 Mens Relay Team came agonisingly close to securing britains first Athletics Gold of the games, being Pipped On The Line by italy. Nethaneel Mitchell Blake was in front for most of the last leg, but was beaten to the tape by One Hundredth of a second. This must be agonising for him and any of his fans and family to hear, but One Hundredth of one second. And there was also a medal for britains 4x100 womens team, who took the bronze behind the hot favourites jamaica and the usa. Lets talk about one aspect we dont perhaps focus on too much, when we report all the victories and the disappointments for the athletes, the people who stand behind the athletes. All those cold winter mornings, those late Night Training sessions, those lost weekends. We talk to the chief objective of uk coaching. Does that Sound Executive to you similar to you, mark . In the Build Up to the four years of the Build Up to the four years of the headlines for the performance . It certainly does. Good evening. As a parent myself and both my children who are growing up and i went through different schools and my wife and myself would have stood on multiple sidelines, encouraging them to be the best that they could be, thatis to be the best that they could be, that is exactly what the coaches what the coach is, the somebody there the athlete. It is more than technical and tactical sense, and it understands the athletes what their aspirations are, what their worst fears. What their triumphs are to what they are going to look like. It is helping them to realise their dream. That is a lot of what we have seen of the olympics this year. find seen of the olympics this year. And i Su Ose seen of the olympics this year. And i sunpose the seen of the olympics this year. And i suppose the differences are not the case because of the pandemic, coaches have had to find imaginative ways to keep the training up and i guess Zoo Meetings dont get the heart of its zouma meetings. Some of the more unusual things. Ive not actually being in there in tokyo, standing alongside two to keep the Pep Talks going, and to console the failure. Keep the Pep Talks going, and to console the failure. There has been some really console the failure. There has been some really innovative console the failure. There has been some really innovative thinking,. Some really innovative thinking, which actually has its price of the performances. I think my favourite one was a man made pool and a Bungee Cord of somebody coming and a Bungee Cord of somebody coming and going nowhere in the back of their garden. The lengths that the athletes and of course the coaches and support the wider team, the psychologists and the nutritionists, the illustrations, it is really a Team Gb effort and it has been lovely. Many of the athletes to be really quite vocal this time around. I suppose we had an audience, you see the coaches more at this olympic games, because sure it is a different environment with no spectators, but what does seem to have come also from The Sun around is the coaches and lots of the athletes have talked fondly about the coaches. Just athletes have talked fondly about the coaches athletes have talked fondly about the coaches. ,. ,. ,. ,. , the coaches. Just today we had Laura Kenny saying. The coaches. Just today we had Laura Kenny saying, praising the coaches. Just today we had Laura Kenny saying, praising to the coaches. Just today we had Laura Kenny saying, praising to the the coaches. Just today we had Laura Kenny saying, praising to the skies, L Kenny saying, praising to the skies, monica greenwoods. And she only joined, monica, a few years ago. What is lovely about monica is that she started with british cyclings go right. So she would have been really inspiring youngsters and people that have not written before to come have a go, so she has really built of what we would call great coaching skills, because if you are inspiring somebody to take part to begin with, youre not really focused on the technical and tactical, and she has gone right the way through the Coaching Pathway and at the top of her game. It was laura who says that the new event for them, they have approached it completely differently, and what i imagine they won by, so i do not know what monica did, whatever it was, it works. That is one of the limitations of british cycling that has had for so long, that innovation, so monicas a new phase, shes come through The System, shes evolving The System and the thinking and making a difference. Mark gannon, ceo of uk coaching. Thank you forjoining us from dorset. Maybe those who arent coaching any more, but those who see the pension, celebrating them, all young talent, and all those winds and prizes. With some of todays other stories from the olympics, Heres Lucy hockings. A warm welcome to tokyo. Lets bring you right up to date on what has been happening in day 14 of these olympics. Kenyas Faith Kipyegon has retained the olympic womens 1500 metre title to put an end to dutch athlete sifan hassan� s bid for an unprecedented track treble. Kipyegon broke the 33 year old Olympic Record Set by romanian Paula Ivan at the seoul games as she clocked three minutes 53. 11 seconds. Joshua cheptegei has made up for his silver in the 10,000 metres to win the 5000 metre olympic title, succeeding two time champion mo farah. The 24 year old ugandan World Record Holder in the distance timed 12 minutes 58. 15 seconds. And in the womens 400 final, shaunae Miller Uibo of the bahamas took gold. Thats back to back olympic titles for the 27 year old after her victory in rio five years ago. To cycling, and Laura Kenny has become Team Gb� s most decorated female olympian as she and Team Mate Katie archibald won a Cycling Gold in the Womens Madison final. And in the womens hockey, the netherlands have beaten argentina 3 1 in the final to take the gold medal. Youll remember they had to settle for silver in rio when Team Gb won a gold in a thrilling penalty shoot out. Lets update you on another story. Two Sports Coaches from belarus have been stripped of their accreditation and asked to leave the olympic village. This comes, of course, after they allegedly attempted to force one of their athletes to return home early. The belarusian sprinter krystina timanovskaya, who is now safe in poland, said she was taken to the airport against her will. Thomas bach, president of the ioc, called her treatment deplorable. The ioc is not in a position to change the political system in a country. And this is also not our mission, and it is not our aim. And this is true for this case and many other issues. What our responsibility and our remit is is to protect the athletes as much and as far as we can and then to sanction those or to keep those out of the games who are infringing there on our values. The ioc� s Thomas Bach there, ending that Round Up from tokyo by lucy hockings. He is the president of the ioc, he was there at a committee, and Lucy Hawking is rounded up before. Lets see how that leaves the Medals Table with just one day to go china are top with 36 golds, ahead of the usa, the hosts japan, and in fourth place with 18 golds Team Gb. Downing street says there are no plans to cancel a decision to put down An Alpaca on a farm in gloucestershire thats twice tested positive for the infectious disease bovine tb. Tens of thousands of people have signed a Petition Calling for a reprieve for the animal, called geronimo. With more, heres andrew plant. Geronimo, in quarantine at this Gloucestershire Farm for the past four years, since he was imported from new zealand. Now, though, hes set to be destroyed after owner helen lost her fight against his positive tests for tb. Just frustrating. Anxiety, trauma, constant letters backwards and forwards, constant legal options of what do we do. Its taken over my life. All of this was avoidable. Weve had four years ofjust trying to sit down and rationally discuss the science. The science is just not there. Today, Downing Street said they understood how distressing it was to lose an animal, but said that everything needed to be done to tackle tb. If we get a positive, theyre under a compulsory slaughter order. Paul westaway has to test his 150 cows every six months. Last year, two were infected among the 40,000 culled because of tb that year. What do you make of geronimo the Alpacas Plight . I feel unbelievably sorry for the lady. I feel really sorry for geronimo. But the law is the law, and geronimo, An Alpaca, cant be more important than a cow. Its an animal, and every one of the owners of those 40,000 cows that had to have the same fate last year loved them just as much, probably, as the lady loves geronimo, so i feel really, really sorry for her, but the laws the law. That law, defra says, is vital, and the decisive action that the uk needs to fight the disease. Meanwhile, helen believes the tests On Geronimo were flawed, and is still hoping theres some way her eight year old alpaca can be saved. Andrew plant, bbc news. Youre watching bbc news. To sydney, australia, now, and some amazing images of swimmers in the sea off bondi beach. What they dont often know is that theyre sometimes swimming quite close to sharks. Each day before sunrise, Jason Iggleden films aerial shots of the stunning sea life. He says his footage often helps to reduce Peoples Fear of the creatures and acts as a warning system. Take a look at this. This guy might be in for a fright. Watch out, norman is about. Hes not going to see. Hes Gonna Go and say good day to this crew, are you . He just likes to say good day to everybody. Look at this. I fly around in the bondi area. Im out there from 20 minutes before sunrise every morning without fail. Norman, dont scare people. They dont see him. They never do. When i first started, this first shark i saw, i was like, quick, weve got to get them out of the water. As time went on, my perception changed from the sharks, especially with the great nurse. We see a lot of them in bondi, and around swimmers and surfers, not really showing any interest. So now, its about creating awareness that we can coexist with sharks. Ive had a Bronze Whale about 50 metres away from surfers, and i have a megaphone as well so i let them know, and they are just like, yep, all right, all good. And they stay in, you know . But as soon as i mention great white shark, i call the lifeguards if its a dangerous event like that, definitely. Local characters, so alex the seal. Hey, alex. Norman, the grey nurse shark. Good day, norman. Raymond the stingray. Oh, theres loads. Its actually alleviated a bit of their fear. I get so many messages saying they are not scared to go in the water any more because they know itjust norman. Its time to look at sharks in a different light, but in saying that, we still have to respect that its their ocean. Wonderful pictures how to talk is coming up injust a few moments, but before that, lets Take A Look for the weekend with louise. Hello, it has been a sunny kind of day to day, some of us have seen some sunshine, but the Shower Cloud is never too far away, Waiting In The Wings if you stepped outside without an umbrella, just to catch you out. No pressure is the dominant feature through the day to and will remain so as we go into the weekend with the heaviest of the rain in scotland, northern ireland and north west england. The middle of tomorrow, there was a significant cluster of century downpours which pass through belfast and it brought some localised flooding. Those showers are set to continue through this evening, and overnight, circulating around that low, and lets just Take A Look at what is happening across wales and south west england, an organised line of showers, tonight, with some sharper ones potentially pressing the Kent Coast as well. It will be a mild start to the weekend with double digits, but unfortunately, the century downpours are set to continue, and it will be an unsettled weekend in particular, an unsettled weekend, particularly on saturday. Plenty of showers from the west first thing in the morning tomorrow, they will be driven in by the brisk winds, gusts in excess of 30, 40 miles the brisk winds, gusts in excess of 30,40 miles an hour, and that will rattle those showers further east as we go through the afternoon. One or two places may well stay dry, but if you catch a shower, some of them are quite heavy and they could be quite torrential at times. Temperatures are going to be a bit subdued and afraid with some showers around, highs of 15 to 20 degrees. As you move out of saturday into sunday, the low pressure looks likely to drift its way a bit further east and potentially things may quieten down just a bit. Plenty of showers for the second half of the weekend, but hopefully not as many, not as widespread as we have seen for the last couple of days. Likely to sit across the north and the west, central and Southern England and potentially to the North And West of the Great Glen could stay relatively dry stop more sunshine perhaps, and 21 degrees. There is the potential for a ridge of high pressure to build as well from the south, we head into next week, for a time, pressures will still to try to push in from