For the reform of A Levels after a Record Number of pupils were awarded the top grades. A british Embassy Worker In Berlin is arrested suspected of spying for russia. WildfIres rage across greece, we hearfrom british fIrefighters supporting their counterparts. A Heros Welcome for Lionel Messi as fans celebrate his arrival at Paris St Germain after his departure from barcelona. And coming up under threat seahorses off the coast of dorset. Good Evening And Welcome to Bbc News. After decades of Conflict Afghanistan is, once again, falling apart. And it is the taliban the hardline Islamist Group that once harboured Osama Bin Laden which is gaining ground having already taken nine provincial capitals. A us led Military Coalition to oust the taliban first began in 2001 following the 9 11 attacks but now most of the foreign troops have pulled out. A54 british forces personnel or mod civilians lost their lives. Nearly 2,300 us troops have been killed. And over 120 Thousand afghan military, police and civilians have died in the conflict. The Afghan Government has dismissed its army chief, as the taliban press ahead with their advance. 0ur Correspondent Secunder kermani has been given rare access to newly captured taliban territory and has sent us this report which was filmed by cameraman fred scott. New territory. New weapons. All captured in this unprecedented taliban advance. Caught in the middle, afghan families right across the country. How can you justify all this fighting, when its causing the deaths of thousands of afghans, thousands of ordinary muslims . You are the ones who started the fighting here, though. Shortly after the interview ends, The Sound of helicopters. The taliban are still vulnerable to Government Air strikes. This is balkh, a town with ancient roots thought to be the birthplace of one of islams best known mystic poets, rumi. Now it is under taliban control. We came through here a little earlier this year, back then it was still under government control. Now its one of around 200 district centres taken by the taliban. The market is still busy. Women have apparently been allowed to come here without male companions, if they need to. But elsewhere, taliban commanders have reportedly banned them. This man is a local taliban leader. Despite what i have been told, he insists they havent made the burqa compulsory. But you have also said that women have to wear the burqa . Thats right, isnt it . What happens if someone doesnt want to wear it . I heard that members of the taliban heard and im listening to music and made him walk until he fainted as punishment. The next day, a young woman was killed close by allegedly for wearing immodest clothing. The taliban denied involvement. They seem to want to play down their more hardline views internationally, but at times, are in tune with some conservative afghans. Many here praise improved security. Accompanied by taliban fighters at all times, its hard to know what residents really think. Having already captured many rural areas and some border crossings, the taliban are now pushing in on afghan cities. Half an hours drive away in mazar i sharif, the government are still in control. There is a greater sense of personal freedom here that its hard to imagine the taliban accepting. He defends the stoning of adulterers and cutting the hands of peace. Maw; and cutting the hands of peace. Many eole here and cutting the hands of peace. Many peeple here in and cutting the hands of peace. Litany people here in afghanistan and Around The World would be horrified. The taliban are capturing New Territory on an almost daily basis. They are still facing fierce resistance but a vow to install what the term and a sonic government. If that does not come to the peace process, it will come through more violence. As the taliban continue to capture territory the questions being asked what did we achieve and what now for ordinary afghans . Our correspondent Yogita Limaye Reports from the afghan capital, kabul. Desperation on a scale not seen in decades. Thousands have arrived in kabul in the past few days. People who had homes and jobs, who led dignified lives. Forced to leave everything behind. Angry that they have been left on their own no government, no humanitarian agencies. This womans sons are in the army. She says only the poor go to the battlefield, while politicians watch. We have seen this camp grow by the hour. People have been coming in from different parts of the country, as more and more provincial capitals, more and more cities are being taken over by the taliban. Many of those we have met here have run once, twice, multiple times, and now they have come here to Afghanistans Capital, kabul. From here, they say, theres nowhere else to go. To get here, theyve survived dangerous journeys, past taliban checkpoints and active front lines. This woman says they moved from one place to another for three days before they got To Kabul. She has four children the youngest is two. Many have seen their Loved Ones being killed. Theyve had to leave their dead behind to save their own lives. This mans parents died in the violence. Many here have fled from kunduz in north afghanistan, which fell to the taliban on sunday. Today in kabul, we bumped into these men, who wed met four weeks ago in kunduz. Then, the city was a refuge for Tens Of Thousands of people who had fled fighting in villages. Now, weve learned that in recent days, Mortar Shells landed in these camps. We dont know what happened to the people wed met there. Most of the north of the country has been taken over by the taliban now. Those who have escaped To Kabul are staring at uncertainty. Fears that the capital, too, could fall within weeks. Yogita limaye, Bbc News, kabul. Im nowjoined by nick reynolds, who is a Research Analyst for Land Warfare at the royal united services institute. Thank you forjoining us. Situation looks desperately peek at the moment. Do you think that a Civil War is inevitable . Is that almost what we are seeing now . I war is inevitable . Is that almost what we are seeing now . I would say es, what what we are seeing now . I would say yes. What we what we are seeing now . I would say yes. What we are what we are seeing now . I would say yes, what we are seeing what we are seeing now . I would say yes, what we are seeing now what we are seeing now . I would say yes, what we are seeing now a what we are seeing now . I would say yes, what we are seeing now a civil l yes, what we are seeing now a Civil War. They are faking to take the other half of the country. It is in full swing. Other half of the country. It is in full swing other half of the country. It is in full swin. ,. ,. , full swing. For people who have ust come to the full swing. For people who have ust come to the story i full swing. For people who have ust come to the story and i full swing. For people who have ust come to the story and who i full swing. For people who have ust come to the story and who are h come to the story and who are looking at the seams of real civilian human suffering, was this bound to happen once the Us Led Coalition said they were putting out . I coalition said they were putting out . ~. ,. ,. , out . I think the colourations pullouts out . I think the colourations pullouts was out . I think the colourations pullouts was the out . I think the colourations pullouts was the way out . I think the colourations pullouts was the way It Out . I think the colourations pullouts was the way it was out . I think the colourations pullouts was the way it was done, Pull Outs was the way it was done, the speed at which the administration made its announcement and then released to troops as quickly as it did. That has been an excessive eating factor. Afghanistan about 3 Million displaced persons. Another quarter of A Million have been displaced me alone. I think in the last week these figures are probably already out of date. The more thousands displaced and i think the lack of stability and the fact that things have changed ethically have definitely been incredibly problematic. Have definitely been incredibly roblematic. , problematic. That taliban has made these games problematic. That taliban has made these games partly problematic. That taliban has made these games partly because problematic. That taliban has made these games partly because the these games partly because the Afghan Government and its military is so weak. , � , Afghan Government and its military is so weak. , � ,. , is so weak. Yes, its long been known that is so weak. Yes, its long been known that despite is so weak. Yes, its long been known that despite the is so weak. Yes, its long been known that despite the 28th i is so weak. Yes, its long beeni known that despite the 28th at is so weak. Yes, its long been known that despite the 28th at the colourations appointing Afghan Government that they are trying to build those institutions. It has been an uphill struggle. Afghanistan has struggled with corruption and weak institutions. I think what has been surprising is the degree to which the afghan Central Government has been shown to be weak. So that taliban has been very strong in the East And South of the country but the fact that the north and less than the country have so quickly has been surprising. I think what we had seeing in terms of the reason for this is also that some of the groups given that the Afghan Government into the province very much by consent. It does not control the country and essentially would understand for developed countries such as the uk. Its a local Power Interest who have two choose what it is a Afghan Government or not. I think many of them have been living and others have been sitting on a fence. What we have seen from the afghan Government Perspective is both the former general and warlords from the north and the famous commander from The 80s and 90s both of them have spoken with the president and both of them seem to have been agreeing to support the Afghan Government. Im not sure what went on Behind Closed Doors about whats been plummeted and it seems some of the groups that we think of as Northern Alliance since they are now showing more willingness to support the government, whether that trend of taliban advance in the north will continue, there is no . 0ver that. North will continue, there is no . 0verthat. But north will continue, there is no . 0ver that. But we have to see over the next few days and weeks what kind of tangible support images from that. Is kind of tangible support images from that. ,. , ,. Kind of tangible support images from that. ,. , that. Is the prospect of negotiations that. Is the prospect of negotiations with that. Is the prospect of negotiations with the l that. Is the prospect of negotiations with the taliban, that. Is the prospect of negotiations with the taliban, has that disappeared . It was going on, is there any prospect of talks . I think given the high stakes, negotiations with almost at some stage happen. Im not far how down the line that will be. I dont think anyone has any idea of that. I think theissue anyone has any idea of that. I think the issue with negotiations is both the issue with negotiations is both the afghan Government Perspective and the taliban Perspective Neither Side will have a great deal of confidence in the ability to deal with the other side or into success of those negotiations. The last few rounds of negotiations were generated in conducive and did not breed a lot of confidence and the distance between the demands of the two sides may make positive outcomes unlikely. What we could see is that the taliban are able to negotiate their way into the government with a Hybrid System whereby they are brought into power in collaboration with the existing Government And Thatis with the existing government and that is possible to get into battlefield games it could be something they can successfully demand and the lever is a strong chance any such negotiations would collapse at which point it would be about the field of outcomes that would decide the ongoing political dIrection. , ~ ,. , would decide the ongoing political dIrection. , ~ ,. ,. , would decide the ongoing political dIrection. , ~ ,. ,. ,. , dIrection. Thank you for that analysis and well find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrows front pages at 10 30 and 11 30 this evening in the papers our guestsjoining me tonight are the conservative commentator tim Montgomerie And Sienna rodgers, editor of labour list. The headlines on Bbc News as taliban fighters rapidly advance in afghanistan and a humanitarian crisis unfolds the bbc has rare access to areas under the Groups Control calls for the reform of A Levels after a Record Number of pupils were awarded the top grades. A british Embassy Worker In Berlin is arrested suspected of spying for Russia Sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, heres marc edwards. It is the way for super Cup Tonight. Contested by the reigning champions of the cup competition. Chelsea take on the Europa League Winners Villareal in the uefa super Cup Tonight in belfast. It is the first shot this season for the suicides. Down a quarter of an hour on the clock so far. Still 00. 00. A lot of the pre Match Buildup has centered on the reported return of Romelu Lukaku to chelsea. The belgium striker� s expected to re sign for The Club he left seven years ago. He was spotted flying to the uk earlier today. It is to transfer that sent Shock Waves Around The World. Lionel messi leaving Barcelona And Signing for psg. The leaving Barcelona And Signing for ps6. The winner has been talking to the world for the first time as a paris st. Germain player. Their life was in barcelona, now paris. Its a move no one including that i know nothing for many saw coming this time a week ago. Behind the smiles, how has it been for the man at the centre of one of the biggest Football Transfers in history . It was hard to sleep. It was hard to rest. I was anxious about the uncertainty. And that change for the family was complicated until he could get things going and make progress on the agreement with paris. From there it was about thinking ahead. A new chapter and an experience that would be nice for my family for so now i am looking forward for it to start. It family for so now i am looking forward for it to start. Forward for it to start. It helps that he is forward for it to start. It helps that he is doing forward for it to start. It helps that he is doing an forward for it to start. It helps that he is doing an already that he is doing an already formidable squad and among them his former Barcelona Team Mate And World cup winner. The manager is a fellow argentinian and theyll know that with the addition of nine on The Club has fewer excuses if they dont win the champions league. I of funds so badly crave. As people wondering how you can to have such an amazing Squad And Stick wave in ffp. Can you tell us . We Squad And Stick wave in ffp. Can you tell us . ~. ,. ,. ,. , tell us . We follow the financial regulation tell us . We follow the financial regulation from tell us . We follow the financial regulation from day tell us . We follow the financial regulation from Day One tell us . We follow the financial regulation from Day One that i tell us . We follow the financial| regulation from Day One that we started. If you see that the sign that mean we have the capacity to sign them. That mean we have the capacity to sin them. , that mean we have the capacity to sianthem. , ~ , sign them. Lionel messi has the Worlds Attention sign them. Lionel messi has the Worlds Attention on sign them. Lionel messi has the Worlds Attention on him sign them. Lionel messi has the Worlds Attention on him today. | sign them. Lionel messi has the Worlds Attention on him today. What the fans want to know is when he will make his first appearance for his new club and when he does, the focus will be on that he can translate the success and the trophies he achieved with barcelona to his new home here at the park. Already, the fans are treating him like a club legend. Many rushing to the shop to have his name on their backs. , , , backs. For me it is the best player in the league backs. For me it is the best player in the league. I backs. For me it is the best player in the league. I will backs. For me it is the best player in the league. I will say, backs. For me it is the best player in the league. I will say, its in the league. I will say, its worth every game. So for me its the biggest player in the room. Its a biggest player in the room. Its a crazy morning biggest player in the room. Its a crazy morning. Its biggest player in the room. Its a crazy morning. Its incredible. If a childhood crazy morning. Its incredible. If a childhood dream. Hes the best player childhood dream. Hes the best player in childhood dream. Hes the best player in the whole world. What a difference a player in the whole world. What a difference a few player in the whole world. What a difference a few Days Player in the whole world. What a difference a few days and player in the whole world. What a difference a few days and a difference a few days and a lucrative new contract makes. Enjoying a cake with his children on this his new non , Lionel Messi already looks to be making himself at home. James anderson is also down for the second test which starts tomorrow. A scan has revealed broad sustained a tear to his right calf in a warm up Session Yesterday while anderson missed Practice Today with a quad muscle problem. Saqib mahmood here has been called up as cover. Moeen alis also been brought back into the Squad Batting first the powered tournament 1663. Batting first the powered tournament 166 3. Top scoring with 78. Reaching 1274 will 166 3. Top scoring with 78. Reaching 127 4 will stop can be caught, so they would be in the lords final. In they would be in the lords final. In the names match, they set a target of 144. Liles was the last to go as he went sending the ball straight to james. They have 47 runs 73 balls. Thats all the sport for now. Well have more for you on the Bbc News channel later on. A british man has been arrested in germany, on suspicion of spying for russia. The man named only as David S worked at the british embassy In Berlin and is accused of passing documents to russian intelligence in exchange for cash. 0ur Security Correspondent Gordon Corera has this report. A Berlin Spy Case involving british secrets and russian spies. German prosecutors allege that a man who worked here at the british embassy In Berlin passed on official documents in exchange for money. Hes alleged to have been working for the russian intelligence service. Their embassy is located not far away In Berlin. The man, who worked as a security guard, was arrested yesterday in potsdam, south west of berlin, and his Apartment And Office were searched today. Translation we take extremely seriously the indications that the detainees secret Service Activity was done on behalf of a russian intelligence service, because spying on a close ally on german soil is absolutely unacceptable, and we stand in full solidarity with our british friends. So, what do we know about the suspect . Hes been named simply as David S, his second name withheld under german privacy laws. Hes a 57 year old briton. He was employed locally by the embassy as a contractor, so not as a diplomat. And its alleged he was working with the russians since at least november of last year. The arrest came after what i understand was an intelligence led Operation Run jointly by german and british authorities, including the Security Service M15 here and metropolitan police. Once they felt they had enough evidence, a germanjudge issued an arrest warrant. Cold War Berlin was the Espionage Capital of the world. The Glienicke Bridge In The City was known as the bridge of spies because of the exchanges that took place here. Spying has changed since then secrets are often stolen remotely over cyberspace but that does not mean that old fashioned Human Spying has gone away. In this latest case, the british contractor has now appeared in a closed court hearing, with more details expected to emerge of the allegations against him in the coming days. Gordon corera, Bbc News. The latest Government Coronavirus figures show there were 29,612 new infections recorded, in the latest 24 hour period, which means on average there were a little over 28,000 new cases per day in the last week. Nearly 6,000 people are in hospital with coronavirus. 104 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours which means an average of 87 deaths a day, in the last week. 89 of adults in the uk, have now had their firstjab. And just short of 40 Million people have had both jabs 76 Per Cent of adults. A senior Government Adviser has told the bbc that a Mass Roll out of a third Booster Dose of the Covid Vaccine may not be needed. Professor adam finn, who sits on Thejoint Committee on vaccination and immunisation, said it is still unclear whether all over 50s should be offered a third jab this autumn. The dIrector of the oxford vaccine group, sir andrew pollard, told Mps Yesterday that spare doses should be sent abroad instead of being used as booster shots. Lets discuss this further with dr gail carson, Deputy Chair of the global 0utbreak Alert and Response Network at the university of oxford. Good evening. Where do you stand on this issue of a Booster Campaign . Basically, if you think about the situation, ten of the countries in the world out of 194 have around 75 of the covid 19 vaccines. Yet, about half of the Worlds Population are in middle income countries and theyve only received around 70 or have been able to distribute about 70 of covid 19 vaccines. So, my point and the point of many of my colleagues as well is that this is a global crisis and we have to weigh up global crisis and we have to weigh up the evidence that is available in the global context. We have to be trying to focus on saving lives. Globally because number one, that is obviously the right thing to do. But also to reduce the risk of variance of concern developing in areas of the world where there is an intense transmission. The who estimates that 200 Health Care workers have been pretty gearing this pandemic globally which my background is a Connection And Ifind globally which my background is a connection and i find that staggering. Connection and i find that staggering connection and i find that stanerina. ,. , staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, so ou staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, so you come staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, so you come with staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, so you come with this staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, so you come with this more staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, so you come with this more from | staggering. Sorry to interrupt you, | so you come with this more from an ethical perspective . The authorities are still to pronounce unlettered areas scientific evidence of the need for a Booster Vaccine and i wonder what you think of the science versus the ethics . I wonder what you think of the science versus the ethics . Versus the ethics . I think they both have to be weighed versus the ethics . I think they both have to be weighed up. Versus the ethics . I think they both have to be weighed up. So versus the ethics . I think they both have to be weighed up. So i versus the ethics . I think they both have to be weighed up. So i think. Versus the ethics . I think they both l have to be weighed up. So i think as we stand here today, i am not convinced that there is enough data to change our focus on that global goal that the who has set. And they are aiming to support every country to vaccinate 10 of their population by the 9th of september. I heard you excite the positive figures for the uk and we are one of those privileged countries and i think in the coming weeks the rich countries really need to be thinking, can be few some more now. Many of them have made donations to the programme that supports lower to middle income countries but we cant be doing more, particularly when we are still waiting on the data to come to convince us that actually, we do have to become the head with a programme, a Booster Programme. And that they never go ahead with the Booster Programme and particularly for those who are immunocompromised and perhaps they will never be able to mount a good immune response but all of this has to be weighed up within a global context. All of this has to be weighed up within a global context. Thank you ve much within a global context. Thank you very much for within a global context. Thank you very much for talking within a global context. Thank you very much for talking to within a global context. Thank you very much for talking to us. Four men have been convicted of the murder of a 24 year old Nhs Worker David gomoh, in what prosecutors described as a Frenzied Attack. The court heard Mr Gomoh was randomly attacked by a gang as he walked to the shops in april last year. Lebo diseko reports from the old bailey. A random murder of a young man with ambitions to make something of his life. Police say Nhs Worker David gomoh was killed by four men connected with a gang from north newham simply because he lived in what they saw as enemy territory. 19 year olds mohammad Jalloh And David ture, 23 year old Vagnei Colubali and a 17 year old who cant be named for legal reasons were convicted after a six week trial. David gomoh was a smart, hard working and dedicated young man. He had graduated from university and worked at the nhs. David had no gang links and was loved by many. He was murdered at random during a Frenzied Attack during the first pandemic lockdown. He was on the phone to his girlfriend when he was approached by his killers, who were unknown to him. The case has highlighted the tragedy that comes from Postcode Wars and gang rivalries. David was stabbed at least nine times, then managed to stagger to his home but later died in hospital. The court was shown cctv of the men attempting to attack another man less than an hour before. The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to cause gbh with intent for that offence. Among the evidence that convicted the killers were drawings by ture of the attack found at his home. Davids Mum Marian said her Sons Murder was the hardest thing she and herfamily have been through, something no parent should have to go through. But, she said, she was grateful to god that today they have seen justice. Sentencing for Davids Murder will take place in september. Lebo diseko, Bbc News. An undercover Police Officer has described how he feared for his life when a convicted terrorist charged towards him wielding a knife before he fatally shot him. Sudesh amman stabbed two people, who survived, last february, ten days after he was released from prison. If any may have registered the highest temperature ever recorded in europe. The reading near syracuse registered 48. 8 celsius. But it still needs to be verified. If any� s current Heat Wave has been caused by an Anti Cyclone moving up from africa. Cities across the country are expected to face extreme heat for a number of days. The previous European Record is 48 degrees registered in greece in 1977. Now its time for a look at the weather with louise lear. Hello there. Not that much in the way of settled Summer Sunshine for many as we go through thursday, as another area of low pressure really starts to dominate the story. And to the south of that low, well see plenty of isobars, the winds picking up, gusts in excess of 40 mph, showery outbreaks of rain to come as well. Weak Weather Front will be sitting across the south to begin with. It drifts its way steadily northwards, allowing for some sunshine into South East england. Clouding over, though, from the west as we go through the day as that front brings some showers into Ireland'>Northern Ireland, Western Scotland as well. Here, temperatures subdued, 16 19 degrees, but in the sunnier spots in the South East, we might see highs of 24 degrees. That low pressure is still sitting there, slowly drifting its way steadily eastwards. Thats going to continue to enhance some blustery showers into the far north and west. Further south is where were likely to see the best of the sunshine as we head towards the weekend. This is Bbc News. The headlines as taliban fighters rapidly advance in afghanistan and a humanitarian crisis unfolds, the bbc has rare access to areas under the Groups Control. Civilians are paying the price. More than A Thousand have been killed in recent months and many are fleeing their homes as the militants gain ground. In other news, calls for the reform of A Levels after a Record Number of pupils were awarded the top grades. A british Embassy Worker In Berlin is arrested, suspected of spying for russia. WildfIres rage across greece. We hearfrom british fIrefighters supporting their counterparts. And a Heros Welcome for Lionel Messi as fans celebrate his arrival at Paris St Germain after his departure from barcelona. Teaching unions are warning against any major overhaul of the a Level Exam System after a second year of Teacher Assessed Results showed another rise in the number of Students getting the top grades. But with the a level results exposing differences between different parts of england between private and state schools, there is a debate about how to ensure next years exams to ensure next years exams are fairfor all. Heres our education editor, Bra Nwen jeffreys. At leeds, Students were getting their first look around campus, tours for those starting this autumn. Leeds Isnt Offering places in clearing, and with lots of Students with good grades, theyre asking some in Business And Law to wait a year. Were going to make them an offer to defer to next year, with an incentive of a Cash Payment of about £10,000 and our fee for their halls of residence in the first year being paid by the university if they choose to make the choice to defer. Were not putting pressure on anybody to make that choice. Its an entIrely free choice. Leeds is also offering to take extra medical Students after other universities were over full. Universities are working to make sure that Students-land'>Students Land in the right place this year. But the a level results have thrown up a wider debate about what will happen when we go back to exams, how grades can be managed to make sure that Students from every kind of background have a decent chance. Labour says children in the north missed on average an extra week in class last year. In the north east, more families needed help from free school meals. A level results rose least in this part of england. There are worries about the long term impact of the pandemic. The lack of access to it, space to work, the impact of covid in terms of their attendance rates throughout the year, which has been horrendous. I think going forward, we very much need a proper education recovery plan. Isabella was looking round leeds with herfamily. Shes starting here this autumn. Her younger sister, francesca, will face gcse exams next summer. It matters to me that like everyone gets the grades that they really achieve, and i feel like with teacher assessed grades, people have got the true grades they deserve. How do you feel about doing exams next year . I think, like, the content should be reduced. Like, i think the government should consider reducing the content cos we have missed a lot of year 9 and year 10. There will always be that. Not cloud, but that label, wont there . That actually those were the children of the pandemic years or whatever. But they shouldnt be viewed any differently. Most Students do get their first choice, and theres still a chance to find places across the uk in clearing. Branwenjeffreys, Bbc News, leeds. Im nowjoined by dame alison peacock, who is the Chief Executive of the chartered college of teaching. Good evening to you. I dont know if you could hear that report, but there was a mother there who said whatever is happening to the grades at the moment, these should be seen as the children of the pandemic years. Really meaning these are exceptional times. Years. Really meaning these are exceptionaltimes. Do years. Really meaning these are exceptional times. Do you think the issues thrown out by this years grades and grading have a wider implication . Is there a deeper problem with grading . Goad implication . Is there a deeper problem with grading . Good evening. I think the Results Problem with grading . Good evening. I think the results this problem with grading . Good evening. I think the results this Year Problem with grading . Good evening. I think the results this year have i think the results this year have been brilliant for young people, and they deserve to be congratulated. Teachers also deserve to be congratulated. We cant take the results that weve had this year and compare them with previous years because the way in which the children were assessed is completely different. If we look back to 2019, before the pandemic, actually, the rates were declining. The rates were the lowest theyve been since 2007. So, although the media is very keen to leap on the grade inflation bandwagon, the reality is that prior to the pandemic, the government was really trying very hard to reduce this, to make sure that when we were drinking our Students at the end of the school year, Students were suited for roots and university ranking our Students. Im suited for roots and university ranking our Students. Suited for roots and university ranking our Students. Im ust going to um in ranking our Students. Im ust going to jump in there. H ranking our Students. Im just going to jump in there, since you ranking our Students. Im just going to jump in there, since you called. Tojump in there, since you called it a bandwagon. Werejust looking at the facts and looking at what proportion of young people have these grades. flit Proportion of young people have these Grades Proportion of young people have these grades. Of course. This is to do with the these grades. Of course. This is to do with the fact these grades. Of course. This is to do with the fact theres these grades. Of course. This is to do with the fact theres been these grades. Of course. This is to do with the fact theres been a these grades. Of course. This is to do with the fact theres been a low solution. Teachers have been asked, they worked very hard, to mark their Students against a set of grade fixtures. Theyve looked at a range of evidence, all of the evidence has been second marked. Its been signed off by the centre for assessment. Teachers have done the best they can. When there are national links, the Exam Board is able to triangulate scripts and look and see across the peaks. The statistical expectations of where we are. Its no surprise that the results this year are as they are, but its not to do with. Year are as they are, but its not to do with. Its not all to do with teachers saying that we must have a great year, this is to do with really rigorous hard work and trying to be as fair as possible for the children who have gone through the children who have gone through the pandemic. But the children who have gone through the pandemic the children who have gone through the andemic. �. , the pandemic. But what has happened is that certain the pandemic. But what has happened is that certain disparities the pandemic. But what has happened is that certain disparities have is that certain disparities have become even more glaring, and people have pointed to the difference in entertainment between children at private schools and the state sector, and also geographical differences. Those must be cause for worry. Differences. Those must be cause for wor. ,. ,. , worry. This is to do with the differential worry. This is to do with the differential experience worry. This is to do with the differential experience that | worry. This is to do with the i differential experience that our young people have had. Since the pandemic began, theres always been an Equity Gap in this country, but during the pandemic, some of our youngsters had access to digital resources. They were able to learn online uninterrupted. 0thers resources. They were able to learn online uninterrupted. Others had a much more difficult time. Thats in the results. There were geographical differences. Of course the independent sector, there is a real stark difference here, and i suspect this is to do with the resources young people have in those schools. 0nline Teaching Wouldve been seamless. The resources they have at home would have been better. It really speaks to the unequal society we have. , � ,. , really speaks to the unequal society wehave. ,. , we have. Youre essentially saying that the exam we have. Youre essentially saying that the Exam System we have. Youre essentially saying that the Exam System generally i we have. Youre essentially saying that the Exam System generally is| that the Exam System generally is fit for purpose . This is very much a sign of extraordinary times . Absolutely, yes. Sign of extraordinary times . Absolutely, yes. Sign of extraordinary times . Absolutel , es. ,. , absolutely, yes. 0k, very good to talk to you absolutely, yes. 0k, very good to talk to you. Dame absolutely, yes. 0k, very good to talk to you. Dame allison absolutely, yes. 0k, very good to | talk to you. Dame allison peacock. Northern algeria is also battling wildfIres which have killed at least 65 people, many of them soldiers who were sent in to tackle the blazes. The worst Hit Area has been the forested mountains of the kabylia region. An intense heatwave and high winds have led to their rapid spread, but officials believe arsonists may be responsible for some of the fIres. For nine straight days, thousands of greek fIrefighters have struggled to contain the raging flames that have destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of land. The fIres have been fanned by the countrys most severe heatwave in decades. 0ur europe correspondent, bethany bell, reports. Chainsaw whirs cutting away anything that can burn. These british fIrefighters have come to greece to help stop the catastrophic wildfIres. As you can see behind us, just trying to open this Road And Help with the fallen tree, just to get access to the community and the houses up here. Olive groves have gone up in flames. What matters now is to stop new blazes from spreading, so the team is making fIre breaks between the burnt areas and the trees which survived. The fIre swept through here last night and some of the trees are still smouldering. The team is trying to draw a line in the sand between the green and the black, to prevent any more flare ups. Its hard work and its punishingly hot. We lend the team our drone to give them an idea of the lay of the land. The extent of the destruction is huge. 27 years in the fIre service, ive never seen a scale like this. Ive seen flooding on this scale in europe but not. Not wild land fIres. So, its immense, the land is burned right across. Another fIre sparks in the undergrowth. The teams greek Liaison Officer rushes to put It Out. A Irefighting-helicopter'>FIrefighting Helicopter carrying water flies past the house where yorgos and stella live. Their family has lost 700 olive trees. Translation others | have lost more than us. My main worry is about the environment. The trees that have been burned are more than 50 years old. The situation is volatile. When we drove down this road this morning, there was no smoke. Now theres fIre. With the wind rising, there are fears this will be a long and difficult night. Bethany bell, Bbc News, in the peloponnese. We can speak now to tomer inbar, an aerial Irefighting-pilot'>FIrefighting Pilot who has joined the efforts in greece. Hejoins us from he joins us from kalamata. Hejoins us from kalamata. Hello, good evening. Thanks so much for speaking to us. You actually live in the uk, but youve gone to help the Irefighting-effort'>FIrefighting Effort in greece. Yes. Very different Irefighting-effort'>FIrefighting Effort in greece. Yes. Very different from Irefighting-effort'>FIrefighting Effort in greece. Yes. Very different from what Irefighting-effort'>FIrefighting Effort in greece. Jazz very different from what youre having to face now. Tell us what its like and what you seen. Well, ive been fighting its like and what you seen. Well, ive been Ires'>Fighting FIres its like and what you seen. Well, ive been Ires'>Fighting FIres for its like and what you seen. Well, ive been Ires'>Fighting FIres for ten ive been Ires'>Fighting FIres for ten years now, and this has been like a very different scale of events. Its absolutely devastating. Weve been fighting for the last week and a half, and it feels like a war against a new enemy, and it feels like were not prepared. It feels like were not prepared. It feels like people look up at us, the aeroplanes coming, i next electing us to and expecting us to. We just dont have the right skill capabilities. And its very frustrating. You look down and see this Black Mountain and forests, and as a nature lover, its actually bringing tears to my eyes. In the last few days, during this war, weve flown 7 8 hours a day. It makes you think, whats going on. Are we taking this enemy seriously . Im sorry to but in, but you have been Ires'>Fighting FIres. Youve been doing this work for about ten years. Have you ever seen anything like this before . Ive seen a big fIre ten years this before . Ive seen a big fIre ten years ago this before . Ive seen a big fIre ten years ago and this before . Ive seen a big fIre ten years ago and five this before . Ive seen a big fIre ten years ago and five years. This before . Ive seen a big Ire-l'>FIre L ten years ago and five years ago, and those were. But up until the big event happens what in a decade. Things are shifting in the wrong dIrection, and im not sure we are keeping up with the change. There is a very basic rule for fIrefighting. Its probably the only rule. The only way to succeed is to be there when it starts with enough force to kill it when it starts. 0nce when it starts with enough force to kill it when it starts. Once it becomes the scale, theres not much you can do. Sending all the support when the fIre is massive is a great sign of the Unity And Aid to each other, but if thats not the way to win we have to be able to develop our system that would allow us to be there in the first hour. I keep seeing planes on the ground. Army planes, fighter planes, civilian planes, and here i am with another aircraft. And im thinking, what are all these planes preparing for . Some kind of invasion . Are we still preparing for the old wars . Is someone trying to invade our country . Maybe were just now starting to think how to defend. Sorry to interrupt, but you think much more priority should be given to this problem, which i guess you must think is likely to recur in that case . That case . Not ust recur, its auoin to that case . Notjust recur, its going to exoand. That case . Notjust recur, its going to expand, and that case . Notjust recur, its going to expand, and as that case . Notjust recur, its going to expand, and as a that case . Notjust recur, its going to expand, and as a scientist say, its going to worsen. Hundreds of tonnes of carbon. When you see the surprise on the faces of the people who never expected it, who say its never happened, they didnt expect their Childhood Nature to disappear. You start thinking, are we safe . Are we secure . And thats happening in five years. Now were preparing for that. Do we train with international force . Preparing for that. Do we train with internationalforce . No preparing for that. Do we train with international force . No country has enough power to fight this fIre by itself. Are we preparing properly . Thats a scary thought when you look at it because its absolutely devastating from above, and we need to. We cannot say we werent surprised because weve been told about it. We see it happening in Europe And Greece and italy and france and Southern Sweden and countries that never expected it. In siberia. We have to start shifting our thoughts that this might be a fight of the planet. They may be sending aircraft carriers. Sending aircraft carriers. Thank ou. We sending aircraft carriers. Thank you we wish sending aircraft carriers. Thank you. We wish you sending aircraft carriers. Thank you. We wish you luck sending aircraft carriers. Thank you. We wish you luck in sending aircraft carriers. Thank you. We wish you luck in the i sending aircraft carriers. Thank you. We wish you luck in the battle that you have a head. Thank you for taking some Time Out of it to talk to us, thats tomer inbar, who is currently Ires'>Fighting FIres in greece. Tv and radio services for more than A Million people will remain off air indefinitely after a transmitter fIre. The blaze at the Bilsdale Mast on tuesday disrupted freeview, Dab And Fm radio signals across north yorkshIre, teesside and parts of county durham. 0perator Arqiva said it would bring in temporary equipment, but could not say when services would be restored. People in the area have been talking about how the loss of transmission has affected them. We watched through sky satellite, so it doesnt affect us at all. My daughter lives about five miles down the road, and she cant get any terrestrial television. The radios a problem, theres no fm. We can get quite a few digital channels, but receptions not very good. I think the main thing i miss is the fm on the Car Radio as youre driving around. I thought it was my house, just my house, so you try fiddling about with the telly i for about half an hour. In different parts of whitby, you get different signal. Some of its what you get in the west, some of its teesside. I put it on this morning, i didnt realise, you know, and i was shocked. I sat down and watched in the evening, full stop. What were you doing . Getting my knitting Knitting Needles out. What a great solution seahorses off the coast of dorset that are at risk from the anchors of boats could be protected by new eco moorings. The creatures are under threat because anchors drag along the Sea Bed, damaging their fragile habitat. Now experts in Studland Bay have come up with a new way for boats to moor, Ire'>Asjohn MaguIre reports. These underwater meadows of seagrass provide a vital habitat, teeming with wildlife, and its where you can find the spiny seahorse. Normally up to around 16 centimetres long for an adult, they come here in the spring to feed on plankton or small shrimp and to mate. Famously, its the male that gets pregnant. Its a protected species, and Studland Bay is a marine conservation zone. But boats in this popular area off the Dorset Coast can create serious problems. Weve counted up to 450 boats here in one day. Its the noise, the anchors, the general movement of everything seems to affect the seahorses. Theyre very prone to stress, and so if you can sort of reduce that stress, then theyre quite happy, relaxed seahorses. If they have a lot of stress, then they move back out to sea. The Wildlife Presenter Steve backshall has dived here and says Boat Anchors and Mooring Chains can damage the Sea Bed. They completely destroy all the substrate around it, which means that all the seagrass dies, and it gets rid of that binding substrate, which then washes away as sand. And so you just end up with these big, barren circles around all the moorings. And within that, nothing can live, and particularly not seahorses. So, heres a solution. The Seahorse Trust is installing this environmentally friendly design. Instead of a chain, the moorings attached to a Fixed Point in the Sea Bed via a Rubber Line that stretches with the tide and minimises damage. Divers put this Screw Anchor into the Sea Bed. It goes in around seven feet deep into the Sea Bed, then connected to these rubber pieces here thick, dense rubber. This is what replaces the chains on a traditional mooring that are said to do so much of the damage. This is held vertically by these floats here. Theres then another rubberised cable that goes up to the buoy, which obviously floats on the surface. A boat can come up and clip onto there. The University Of Southampton is monitoring the efficacy of the eco moorings. John maguIre, Bbc News, dorset. Lamb reared on the Salt Marshes of the Gower Peninsula in South Wales has become the first food in the uk to be granted protected status after brexit. Other products already protected under european law, such as cornish pasties, are also included in the scheme. 0ur wales correspondent, Hywel Griffith, has more. Unfortunately, the elements are against us, because otherwise i would be showing this glorious coastline on the gower, and out there somewhere, the sheep that get to graze coast its unique flavour. Will pritchard, the farmer here. We have a wonderful area on the marsh. Lambs are out there for most of the year. They eat these herbs, it goes into them and the flavour it gives what practical difference does this status give you . After all, it only applies within great britain and not beyond in europe. It could be massive for us, in fairness. Weve got to expect an increase in demand. Its wonderful publicity for an incredible product. In terms of export, at the moment you are a small scale supplier, youre not looking to export to the eu. Who actually buys your produce . We have people coming here. But most of what we do at the minute is people online all over the uk, going on the website, clicking away, and we post it to them overnight then, so thats most of our business. Is there such a thing as imitation Salt Marsh Lamb . Is that a genuine threat . It could be a problem, but i think the product is so good it speaks for itself. Thank you very much. Unfortunately, the elements are against us. But this is a Premium Product that you find in some restaurants here. And people from as far afield as scotland, im told, click online and buy gower Salt Marsh Lamb. 0ther produce looking for this new Gi Labelling within great britain include dundee cake, Sussex Wine and wiltshIre cured lamb. The Uk Government keen Post Brexit to put its own stamp on produce. Others will argue it is yet more Paperwork Forfarmers who want to protect their unique and authentic produce. The bbc� s Hywel Griffith in rather misty weather. Louise is the bbc� s Hywel Griffith in rather misty weati weather. 5 is hello there. Youll have had temperatures about where they should be for the time of year. And thats mostly been affecting parts of eastern england, through the mediterranean. And actually, as we head towards the weekend, some of that extreme heat is going to shift its attention further west across to spain, for us, however, weve got an area of low pressure into the northwest. You keep some sunshine, youll see temperatures pretty much but that low will continue to bring some blustery winds and squally showers to Ireland'>Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. Of the weather with 24 celsius, 75 Fahrenheit By thursday afternoon. Moving out of thursday into friday, weve still got that low with us, and its going to slowly drift its way steadily eastwards. Recently, its going to be more of a north south divide, further south of that, it will be a largely dry story, and despite a little more in the way of cloud, outdoor plans for the start of the weekend. But in the sunniest weather and the driest weather once again, 22, 72 degrees. It looks likely that the low will slowly drift off into scandinavia, gradually allowing this High Pressure to build, but slowly but surely that means the second half of the weekend, we may see quieter weather as the low gradually drift away from scotland. Western awayfrom scotland. Western scotland brightening with slowly brightening up along with Ireland. MoRe 1 i; for slowly brightening up along with Ire wales, Re 1 i; for slowly brightening up along with Ire wales, and j i; for slowly brightening up along with Ire wales, and because for slowly brightening up along with Ire \ Temperatures Ausefifa ~ , ~ ~ slowly brightening up along with Ire \ Temperatures Peaking ~ , ~ ~ at 23 degrees. Moving out of sunday into monday, battleground between the low setting in scandinavia high desperately trying to push in from the dIrection so so that means swinging clockwise. Sojhat means. Air source, it might despite that High Pressure, it might be that . Is; bit fresher 7 the. W,. Air the. M,. Airseurce because the northwesterly Air Source is always cooler. Temperature is 15 or16 is always cooler. Temperature is 15 or 16 degrees in the shower chris, and a maximum of 20 celsius, below the average for the time of year. Looking further pressure likely us, La Sly us, laely a us, La Sly a u because of l a pressure a u because of taasai , l a pressure stays u because of taasai , l a pressure stays with cause of taasaa7 , l a pressure stays with us Ise Of Taasaa7 , 7the 7 a the rain forecast. No significant rain to come. However, from time could be little time ford be little a time ford be time le a the very the low 20s, at the very best, into the low 20s, so again below so again staying just slightly below where they should this is Bbc News with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and Around The World. More than a Slap Pass at thousand civilians have been killed as Taliban Forces advanced across the country. Taliban forces advanced across the count. N. , Taliban Forces advanced across the count. ,. , Taliban Forces advanced across the count. ,. , country. Many of those who have medicare have country. Many of those who have Medicare Have Run country. Many of those who have Medicare Have Run once, country. Many of those who have Medicare Have Run once, twice, L Medicare have run once, twice, multiple times and now they have come here to Afghanistans Capital kabul. From here they say there is their greek counterparts to tackle devastating wildfIres