By Eliud Kipchoge of kenya, the defending Champion And World record holder. There are other gold medals up for grabs in Track Cycling and boxing. And thousands take to the streets of amsterdam as the cIty marks the 25th Anniversary of Its first gay pride festival. Hello, and welcome to the programme. Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from Towns North of athens, as wildfires spread across the country. More than 150 wildfires are burning Out Of Control some now close to the northern suburbs of the greek capItal Itself. Two people are known to have died, and at least 20 others have been injured. Greece, like many other parts of europe, has been grappling wIth extreme weather condItions this summer. Widespread flooding, and colder than average temperatures in Central Europe and now baking hot weather in the south. Our europe correspondent, bethany bell, reports from athens. Greece is in the grip of an emergency. Wildfires have been blazing Out Of Control for days. The extreme heat means these forests near athens are like a tinderbox. Helicopters keep returning here to try to put out this fire but It isnt working yet. This is the main North South Motorway near athens but It has been closed for two days because of all the fires around here, and the strong, scorching winds are not helping. As the fire spreads down the hillside, people are frightened for their houses. People shout. In athens, there are screams for help as the flames grow closer. People are desperately trying to put out the fires in any way they can. Thousands of people have been evacuated. This woman in athens told me she is worried for her family. A big national tragedy. Do you live here . I dont live here. My sister lives here. Its horrible, for the whole of greece. This was the scene on the island of evia last night. Ferries carried hundreds of people to safety after they fled to the beaches. Safe on board, One Man filmed the inferno on his phone. The fire burned through a vast area of pine forest, only the sea could stop It. Tonight, evia is still burning and the flames are spreading towards one of the islands largest towns. The afghan government says American B52 bombers have killed more than 200 taliban fighters in a series of Air Strikes in the Ity-of-sheberghan'>CIty Of Sheberghan where the insurgents claim to have taken control. Shebhergan is the stronghold of former afghan Vice President abdul rashid dostum, whose supporters fight against the taliban. It comes after the milItants said theyd captured zaranj in nimroz, close to the border wIth iran, in a major escalation of their offensive. Theyve made sweeping gains since foreign forces started wIthdrawing from the country. The us and the uk have asked their cItizens in afghanistan to leave the country immediately because of the worsening securIty sItuation. Richard galpin reports. In this fast moving offensive, the taliban are claiming a second province is in their hands. Here video filmed by the fighters appears to show them releasing inmates from the local prison. The afghan authorIties admIt some parts of the cIty have been taken. In response, the afghan Defence Ministry says It has called in American B52 long range bombers to try to halt the taliban offensive in sheberghan. Airstrikes, It claims, have already hIt the insurgents, killing of them. There is a risk, though, of civilian casualties. Already many civilians have been killed or injured including children. The hospItals filling up. The taliban have been specifically targeting Government Officials such as the head of the governments information centre. He was shot dead on friday. His funeral has now taken place in the capItal, kabul. A killing designed to intimidate those working for the government in kabul. As the sItuation deteriorates, many afghans who have been outside the country in pakistan are now trying to get back in. But one of the key Border Crossings has been closed by the taliban leaving many stranded. Translation we came here to attend a funeral three days ago, now the border is closed, we are sItting here wIth no food and no money, we cannot go to a hotel to sleep for the night. I appeal to the taliban leaders to find some solution for us. And now while afghans are trying to get back home, the brItish and american governments are calling on their cItizens to leave the country. Laurel miller is the director of the international crisis groups asia programme. I asked her whether in light of unfolding events, the timeframe for the us� s scheduled Ithdrawal'>Troop WIthdrawal from afghanistan was still on track. Troops on the ground will be completely wIthdrawn by The End Of August, and to this Point President Biden and his administration have said that after The End Of August there will not even be any further Air Support for the afghan government forces which is what has been stepped up in recent weeks as the wIthdrawal has been proceeding. I think there is a real possibilIty that that decision to wIthdraw Air Support will be reconsidered because of the deteriorating securIty sItuation, or at least there will be a debate about whether to continue to provide that kind of backing. The former general David Petraeus told the bbc that he considers afghanistan to be on the brink of a fully fledged Civil War. Do you agree wIth that statement . Afghanistan has been in a Civil War. It is already the deadliest conflict in the world. It is quIte possible that the conflict will intensify and widen if the afghan government fractures into a variety of different factions like we saw in the 1990 Civil War. So, yes, It could get worse but there is a Civil War already. What can the afghan government and potentially Its international partners do to continue to repel taliban advances . The best Case Scenario ahead is that the afghan government is able to force a stalemate by defending the cIties, in particular, and preventing taliban takeovers of relatively urban areas. There cannot be a complete Taliban Victory unless they contain the cIties and towns. They have made some progress on that in recent days but there are some challenges ahead for the taliban in that respect and the afghan government is going to really need to have a focused strategy going ahead. Lets get some of the days other news. The french authorIties say nearly a quarter of A Million people have taken part in the fourth consecutive weekend of demonstrations against a new Health Pass intended to limIt the spread of coronavirus. From monday the past will be needed to visIt cafes restaurants and some shopping centres. There were isolated clashes, wIth demonstrators throwing projectiles and Police Spraying tear gas. A ship carrying more than 250 migrants has docked in sicily, a week after those on board, were rescued off the tunisian coast. Passengers on the Vessel Run by the german aid agency, � Sea Watch international� clapped and cheered as they arrived at the Italian-port'>Italian Port of trapani. Italy has urged other European Union countries to accept some of the new arrivals. Senators in the unIted states are meeting for the second weekend in a row in an attempt to pass a trillion dollar infrastructure bill. The bipartisan legislation has cleared another procedural hurdle, as It edges towards a final vote. The Ity-leader'>MajorIty Leader in the chamber, chuck schumer, said the senate would remain in session until the process was completed. Riot police in thailand have fired tear Gas And Rubber bullets at anti government protesters who tried to gather in bangkok. The demonstrators are calling for polItical reforms and changes to the monarchy. Theyre also angry at the thai governments handling of coronavirus. Our correspondent, jonathan head, sent this report. Senators in the unIted states are meeting for the second weekend in a row in an attempt to pass a trillion dollar these protests are not yet on the scale of last years mass rallies. But they are no less determined. Pushing once again for the government to resign and for the lavish funds spent on the Itary-and-monarchy'>MilItary And Monarchy to be diverted instead to fighting the covid pandemic. The police walled off the prime ministers home and much of bangkoks royal quarter. They push the protesters back wIth volleys of tear gas. A now familiar confrontation we are seeing each weekend despIte the Governments Declaration that such gatherings are strictly forbidden. The grievances that fired up Thailands Youth last year have not gone away. If anything, the governments botched Vaccine Rollout combined wIth the rapid spread of the Delta Variant overwhelming hospItals and morgues in a country that largely contained the virus last year, has sparked even wider public anger. The prime minister, who seized power seven years ago in a coup, is seen by many as out of touch and authorItarian. His is one of several governments in this region whose already shaky legItimacy is being tested by covid. Yet, wIth infection still rising and much of thailand in lockdown, only a few people are prepared to take the risk ofjoining these demonstrations. For now, they remain small and unless they pick up momentum, lIttle threat to the thai government. Jonathan head, bangkok. This is bbc news. The headlines hundreds of people have been evacuated by ferry in greece as firefighters continue to battle an unprecedented outbreak of wildfires. The us and brItain have warned their remaining cItizens in afghanistan to leave as the taliban continue their advance, seizing a second provincial capItal. Now lets get an update from the olympics. The final day of the games is well underway in tokyo. Heres a look at the Medals Table right now. China is leading wIth 38 gold medals but the us isnt that far behind wIth 36. Host nationjapan is in third place. Well our sports presenter, Sarah Mulkerrins is in tokyo. You are looking considerably drier than when we last spoke to you tell us about the kenyan dominance in the mens marathon. Dominance in the mens marathon. ,. , marathon. This was a wonderful wa to marathon. This was a wonderfuL Way to potentially marathon. This was a wonderfuL Way to potentially round marathon. This was a wonderfuL Way to potentially round of marathon. This was a wonderfuL Way to potentially round of the L Way to potentially round of the olympic campaign because we had a great race this morning. It took place in sapporo in the north ofjapan, It took place in sapporo in the north of japan, It was moved there in order to try and give there in order to try and give the Athletes Cooler temperatures. It did not quIte work out that way, It is still hot up there are many athletes were struggling. We had several who had to pull out during the race but when you think about Marathon Running Ferment at the moment there is one name that always enters into the Mind And Thatis always enters into the mind and that is kipchoge. He was able to win gold today, comfortable style. He pulled clear of the feel in the final few kilometres and raised his way to a comfortable old Metal And Thatis to a comfortable old metal and that is now back to back gold medals for Eliud Kipchoge. He is the second man to ever accomplish that feat. An ethiopian was the first man to do that and incidentally he did that at the tokyo games back here in 1964. A nice bIt of symmetry there. Eliud kipchoge is the World Record Holder and people may remember him from that race he did in vienna wIth the Support Staff and the cars and the special shoes, everything to try and get a sub two hour marathon. He achieved It but It does not go down the record looks because of all the help that he showed he was phenomenal and perhaps one of the greatest Marathon Runners we have ever seen wIth that victory today. And a word on the Silver Medallist from The Netherlands. And his Training Teammate who represents belgium won the bronze medal. We teammate who represents belgium won the bronze medal. Won the bronze medal. We heard the Tv Ratings won the bronze medal. We heard the Tv Ratings for won the bronze medal. We heard the Tv Ratings for this the Tv Ratings for this olympics have been really high but no spectators there in person. Does that seem to have had an effect on athletes� performance, and a motivation at the games . It� s performance, and a motivation at the games . At the games . Its been really interesting at the games . Its been really interesting hearing at the games . Its been really interesting hearing from at the games . Its been really interesting hearing from the l interesting hearing from the athletes about how they have taken to these Olympic Games, so many of them were expecting the olympics to take place one year ago, the training has been massively disrupted over the last year and a half, trying to train in lockdown, It may have suIted some of them to compete last year and some this year, and most are overwhelmingly happy that they are able to come to the olympics, able to take part in the Olympic Games, and compete and perform. I think all athletes like and prefer performing in front of all stadiums, we know that because of the coronavirus restrictions the organisers said they would not allow fans in, so i think they have done what they can in the circumstances because they have wanted to compete at the olympics, so there has been one of the overwhelming reactions we have had from athletes. Welljoining me now is our Reporter Mariko oi, who� s near the olympic stadium. She is braving the rain. More generally, away from the athletes, what did the japanese public feel now . We have had so much talk in the buildup to these games about whether they were in support of It or not. We had the games happening. Where do you get the sense of what the feeling is now . The debate was what the feeling is now . The debate was very what the feeling is now . The debate was very emotional before debate was very emotional before the game started, there was a before the game started, there was a very strong anti olympic sentiment. Was a very strong anti olympic sentiment, and i remember some japanese sentiment, and i remember some japanese athletes even were asked japanese athletes even were asked to wIthdraw or boycott the games, and what i have noticed the games, and what i have noticed in the games, and what i have noticed in their postmatch interviews was very emotional, that they interviews was very emotional, that they were very grateful the games went ahead but they also thanked and almost apologised to the japanese public, apologised to the japanese public, knowing how much trouble public, knowing how much trouble this has caused to a lot of trouble this has caused to a lot of people. But as you say, as the lot of people. But as you say, as the game started, and we saw that gold as the game started, and we saw that Gold Rush Ofjapanese athletes and we started to see athletes and we started to see a Shift Athletes and we started to see a Shift In athletes and we started to see a Shift In the opinions, we have a Shift In the opinions, we have met a Shift In the opinions, we have met people on the street saying have met people on the street saying i have met people on the street saying i was against the games going saying i was against the games going ahead but Its nice to see going ahead but Its nice to see them doing really well, but now were see them doing really well, but now were seeing the Surgeon Covid19 now were seeing the Surgeon Covid 19 cases so there are a lot of covid 19 cases so there are a lot of concerns about that. If you lot of concerns about that. If you ask lot of concerns about that. If you ask the ioc, the japanese government, the organising commIttee, they would say there is nothing commIttee, they would say there is nothing to the olympics that is nothing to the olympics that is causing is nothing to the olympics that is causing the Surgeon Covid 19 cases. Is causing the Surgeon Covid 19 cases. I is causing the Surgeon Covid 19 cases, i think a lot of people who cases, i think a lot of people who would disagree. Not that foreign who would disagree. Not that foreign athletes are spreading the virus foreign athletes are spreading the virus but the fact that games the virus but the fact that games are taking place has been sending games are taking place has been sending the wrong message. Tokyo sending the wrong message. Tokyo will be hosting the paralympics in a few weeks, and there paralympics in a few weeks, and there are paralympics in a few weeks, and there are a paralympics in a few weeks, and there are a lot of concerns about there are a lot of concerns about the covid numbers. | about the covid numbers. Wonder, about the covid numbers. I wonder, looking forward, if you can get a sense of what the legacy for these games will be, for the Ity-of-tokyo'>CIty Of Tokyo and for japan, because everything that they were supposed to be, about a regeneration of sorts, putting this face forward, globally, that was all taken away. Globally, that was all taken awa. ~ globally, that was all taken awa. ~. , away. Indeed, i think one thing that will be away. Indeed, i think one thing that will be interesting away. Indeed, i think one thing that will be interesting to that will be interesting to watch that will be interesting to watch is the financial impact of Its watch is the financial impact of Its. This was by far the most of Its. This was by far the most expensive Summer Games for tokyo most expensive Summer Games for tokyo to most expensive Summer Games for tokyo to host, the official numbers is about 15 Billion they numbers is about 15 Billion they spend, but a lot of exnerts they spend, but a lot of experts say they spent about 25 Million and of course they will not 25 Million and of course they will not see any financial benefIts because they didnt have benefIts because they didnt have any foreign visItors, or spectators, so what will happen to all spectators, so what will happen to all the spectators, so what will happen to all the money that was spent, to all the money that was spent, obviously that was basicallyjapan printing more basically japan printing more money, basicallyjapan printing more money, so what will be tHe Impact money, so what will be tHe Impact on the economy . That will He Impact on the economy . That will be something that is very interesting to see. In terms of the legacy, It really depends on whether or not they can control on whether or not they can control this pandemic. We continue control this pandemic. We continue to see this Record Numbers continue to see this Record Numbers of covid 19 cases, not Ust Numbers of covid 19 cases, not just here numbers of covid 19 cases, not just here in numbers of covid 19 cases, not just here in tokyo by the surrounding Pre Factors and other surrounding Pre Factors and other big surrounding Pre Factors and other big cIties like Osaka And Kyoto other big cIties like Osaka And Kyoto. Yesterday we saw the first kyoto. Yesterday we saw the first person to have died at home first person to have died at home wIth covid 19, that has been home wIth covid 19, that has been a home wIth covid 19, that has been a big concern among the japanese been a big concern among the japanese public that hospItals are now japanese public that hospItals are now getting overwhelmed, the government is asking people wIth mild the government is asking people wIth mild symptoms, but when we say mild. WIth mild symptoms, but when we say mild, they could still be having say mild, they could still be having breathing difficulties, to stay having breathing difficulties, to stay at home, and have been a lot to stay at home, and have been a lot of to stay at home, and have been a lot of concerns that this could a lot of concerns that this could lead to people dying at wIthout could lead to people dying at wIthout being able to get admItted to the hospItal, so that admItted to the hospItal, so that would be something that would that would be something that would really determine the legacy would really determine the legacy of these games, whether or not legacy of these games, whether or not people remember It as something that caused a Surgeon Covid19. Something that caused a Surgeon Covid 19, or something else. We covid19, or something else. We reall covid 19, or something else. Really appreciate your time. There has been so many talking pork two points in the buildup to these Olympic Games and since they have been ongoing for the last three weeks or so, such a legacy, and unprecedented games wIth so much to talk about. The last remaining action will be taking place today, we have some gold medals to be awarded in the boxing, action in the velodrome on the track and some Volleyball And Handball finals as well, all ahead of the Closing Ceremony which will take place here later this evening at eight o� clock local time. Evening at eight oclock local time. , ~ , evening at eight oclock local time. ,. ,. , time. Thank you to our reporters staying wIth the olympics and earlier i spoke to hannah roberts, who won Silverfor Team Usa in the women� s Bmx Freestyle Event in tokyo. It was a bIt crazy. The whole fact that the olympics happened, and being there was a surreal experience, and obviously you have to get used to It pretty fast because you were in, and wasjust amazing to be able to go and be wIth my friends and just feel normal again after the year and a half of the World Kind of shutting down. How did you celebrate when you were out in tokyo winning your silver . Were you able to celebrate . Yeah, i� m 19, so eIther way, i celebrated, there� s nothing i can do, but ijust hung out wIth my friends, and i ate a lot of sweets afterwards, and i wasjust excIted, i talked to all my family and i was super excIted to come home so i could show them and show them videos that i wasn� t able to post while i was there. Obviously your friends and family won� t have been able to join you out in tokyo. But what was the reception like when you got back to North Carolina . Most of my family lives in michigan, i� m hoping to drive there soon, but Coming Home to my life was the best thing. I wasn� t gone for that long. Coming home and being super happy wIth how i rode, super stoked to take the silver, so just Coming Home was an amazing moment, and It was relief, because now i don� t have anything to stress about, and i get to kind of sIt at home and enjoyjust My Downtime now. You started Bmx Riding when you were nine years old. These olympics have huge audiences around the world, what would your advice to be two young Boys And Girls who watched you, who were inspired by you and want to get into Bmx Riding . DefinItely try It. You can build such a Support System in the sport Itself, and even if It is not for you, there are people, you meet lifelong friends throughout the sport. Dennis Dee Tee thomas, a co founder of the soul funk band, kool the gang, has died aged 70. Thomas enjoyed a Music Career that spanned almost 60 years as the alto sax player, Flutist And Percussionist in kool the gang. The band were known for mega hIts including, � celebration� , � ladies night� , and � get down on It. � amsterdam has marked the 25th Anniversary of Its first pride parade. Around 10,000 people carried rainbow flags and banners through the cIty, capping off a month of events. Celestina olulode reports a demonstration of equalIty, wIth a clear message. A walk through the historic Ity-centre'>CIty Centre is how thousands marked the 25th Anniversary of amsterdam� s pride festival. While the Party Atmosphere gripped the streets, some marched wIth these flags in hand, representing countries where homosexualIty is still against the law. In 2001, The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise same sex marriage, but according to a report by human rights watch, there were over 1500 Lgbt Incidence in the country in 2017. A 66 increase compared to a decade ago. This man helped organised amsterdam� s first pride parade. He says there has been a lack of tolerance towards lgt be people from some immigrants coming from countries where homosexualIty is illegal. The cIty became homosexualIty is illegal. The cIty became more homosexualIty is illegal. Tia cIty became more colourful and diverse, which is great, but the cIty became also in parts, more conservative, and aggressive towards differences, and we are now in a sItuation that there is quIte a bIt of violence instigated against us by youngsters wIth a migration background, and on the other hand, we have polIticians on the left wing and liberal polIticians who don� t know how to tackle the problem, because they are also afraid to discriminate, so i hope that we invest in each other, in solidarIty, and that in the coming five years, we make a safe space of amsterdam again, paradise. It� s safe space of amsterdam again, aradise. � , safe space of amsterdam again, aradise. � , , paradise. Its the second consecutive paradise. Its the second consecutive year paradise. Its the second consecutive year the paradise. Its the second i consecutive year the cItys consecutive year the cIty� s Canal Parade was cancelled due to coronavirus, but despIte covid, young and old, the message on the street is still the same, equal rights for all. That� s It from us from the time being. You can reach me on twItter i� m rich preston. Hello there. Low pressure brought a very unsettled day on saturday. We saw lots of showers around, some torrential downpours in places, but there was some good spells of sunshine, too. And sunday is a Repeat Performance some of the showers will be heavy and thundery once again and slow moving across the north of the uk. That� s because in the centre of the low, the winds will be lighter but you� ll notice across Its southern flank for Southern England through wales, quIte a squeeze in the isobars there. So, It� s going to be breezy. So, we� ll start off wIth maybe some sunshine across eastern areas but the showers will get going. They� ll rattle through fairly quickly across southern areas because of the breeze but they� ll hang around across the northern half of the country slow moving torrential downpours, an area of more persistent rainjust pushing to the far North East of Scotland And Orkney there. So the wind is lighter you� ll notice these are the mean wind speeds. Further south though, It will be blustering gusts higher than this particularly around coasts and over hills. So in the sunshine, we could see temperatures reach around 21 celsius. Otherwise, like the last few days, most places will be the mid to high teens, and It� ll feel particularly cool when the showers come along. Now through sunday night, the showers continue across northern areas, turn drier for a while for england and wales but we� ll see this Feature Run across the south bringing some wet weather for South Wales and Southern England through the night. Again, It� ll remain fairly breezy in the south, lighter winds in the north. Overnight temperatures 11 14 celsius. So into monday, then, we� re starting the new week off wIth this area of low pressure but It� s going to continue to weaken. Fewer isobars on the chart, so the winds will turn a bIt lighter. We� ll start off quIte wet across the south east. That Feature Clearing away. And you� ll see quIte a bIt of sunshine around and i think general thinking is for monday, there will be fewer showers around but still dotted around, there will be some torrential downpours in places. Top temperatures, again, 20 21 celsius. Closer to 17 19 for most. That area of low pressure eventually moves away as we head on into tuesday and a ridge of High Pressure builds in across the country from tuesday onwards. This area of low pressure will continue to affect more Western Parts of the country but i think High Pressure will try and dominate for much of the south and the east through the course of the week. So, temperatures will respond. We� ll see southerly winds, more sunshine. It will turn much warmer. There will always be the chance of some showers further north and west closer to that area of low pressure. This is bbc news, the headlines thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from Towns North of athens, as wildfires spread across the country. More than 150 wildfires are burning Out Of Control some now close to the greek capItal. Two people are known to have died, and at least 20 others have been injured. The afghan government says American B52 bombers have killed more than 200 taliban fighters in a series of Air Strikes in the northern Ity-of-sheberghan'>CIty Of Sheberghan. The us and the uk have asked their cItizens in afghanistan to leave the country immediately because of the worsening securIty sItuation. On the final day of the tokyo olympics, the men� s marathon has been won by Eliud Kipchoge of kenya, the defending Champion And World record holder. More than One Hundred athletes from forty nations took part in the marathon in sapporo in northern japan. Now on bbc news, Dateline London wIth shaun ley