Hello and welcome to bbc news. Taliban leaders say theyve taken up positions inside Kabul Airport and are ready to take control as soon as the americans leave. The us insists it will keep evacuating afghans until the last moment, and that its forces are still in charge of the site. But its thought they may be out in a matter of hours. Reports now suggest as many as 170 people died in Thursdays Suicide Bomb and Gun Attack on dense crowds at the airport gates. Our correspondent in kabul, secunder kermani, has the latest. And a warning, his report contains distressing images. Distraught relatives search kabul� s morgues, looking for their loved ones. This baby you managed to save . But theres another baby . Amongst those killed, mohammed niazi, a Taxi Driver from london who had travelled to kabul to try and help his family get inside the airport. His eldest daughter and youngest child are still missing. His wife was also killed. His brother was at the airport alongside him. I saw some small children in the river. It was so bad. It was a dark day for us. Many of those we meet say their relatives were not killed in the blast but by firing in the confusion afterwards, they believe by foreign soldiers. Somehow, i saw an american soldier. And beside this there were turkish soldiers, so the fire comes from the bridges, the towers. From the soldiers . Yes, from the soldiers. Americas department of defence didnt reply to our request for comment. The Suicide Bombing claimed by the islamic State Group would have ripped through the densely packed crowd, causing panic. Is has repeatedly launched devastating attacks in the city. The blast has left two year old mohammed Reza Fighting for his life. This looks set to be one of the deadliest incidents ever in this horrific conflict. So many of the victims those who had worked with the international community. Noor muhammad had been employed alongside american forces. The guy has served Us Army for years. And the reason he lost his life. He wasnt killed by taliban, he wasnt killed by isis. Us army started shelling. How can you be sure . Because of the bullet. The bullet inside of his head, right here, near to his ear. He didnt have, he doesnt have any injury. These are noor mohammeds eight children. He had hoped to give them a better life. Instead, this afternoon, they said a final goodbye. Those killed in this awful attack were trying to escape years of violence in afghanistan. Instead, they became the latest victims in a country torn apart by bloodshed. Tens of thousands of people have been flown out of the country but now only foreign nationals are being allowed inside the airport. The British Government has acknowledged some of those who want to leave will be left behind, like this former interpreter. There is no place for us to stay and we are so worried about our future. I think its not fair. It is like a betrayal of their own heroes. These are the last days of a chaotic evacuation effort. For those who havent made it out, a deeply uncertain future. Secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. Lets get more on those reports that the taliban are preparing to take over Kabul Airport when us troops leave. Our chief international Correspondent Lyse Doucet is in kabul and sent this update. It seems in the same way the Taliban Fighters Stole A March Suddenly On Kabul last week, theyre doing the same tonight at the airport. For the past few hours, weve been watching on Social Media as senior officials among the taliban and their supporters are posting photographs with exclamations like the foreign occupation has ended. The Islamic Emirate is entering the airport. Pictures of luxury vehicles, their lights blaring, going into the airport ground. Of course, we checked with the pentagon. They say, we still control the gates, we still control the operation. The mod in london says the military flights are continuing, but it underlines again it is just a matter of time. But such is the desperation of those who got so close and now feel they may lose out, im even receiving messages tonight. A friend said, my sister got an E Mail Tonight saying she can go to the airport. How can you get her there . And people there showing passports, their afghan passports, saying, how can we get there . This door is closing and closing loudly, but other windows are going to open. But will they be open enough . Chief international correspondent lisa doucet. Lets talk more about how the last Evacuation Flight from Kabul Airport is going to take place. Joining me now is dr jonathan schroden. Hes the director of countering threats and Challenges Programme at the think tank cna, a non Profit Research and Analysis Organisation based in arlington, virginia. Thank you very much for being with us. In these closing moments, what will be military priorities be . Priorities be . Well, the priority priorities be . Well, the priority first priorities be . Well, the priority first and priorities be . Well, the I Priority first and foremost priorities be . Well, the priority first and foremost for the us military will be the safety of its own forces, us servicemembers, as well as any civilians that may be on the last few flights to depart the airport. That will undoubtably be the priority. It has been President Biden� s priority throughout the withdrawal. He made it clear that was the number one thing he was concerned about the safety of us servicemembers. So why would expect that remain the priority until all of those servicemembers are on aeroplanes departing the airport. Aeroplanes departing the airort. ,. , ~ aeroplanes departing the airort. ,. ,. , airport. Took us through how the practicalities airport. Took us through how the practicalities of airport. Took us through how the practicalities of how airport. Took us through how the practicalities of how that | the practicalities of how that works, getting the last few people on the plains and in the skies. , ,. , skies. There are a couple of different skies. There are a couple of different ways skies. There are a couple of different ways it skies. There are a couple of different ways it could different ways it could probably go down. The first would be if the us decides that it needs to unilaterally collapse the Security Perimeter and get out, most likely what you would see is, if you are inside the airport and able to see it, you would see a thinning of the forces that are there. So they would first load up there. So they would first load up all of the support forces, communications, munitions, those types of folks, and get them out. And then behind them they would start to thin out they would start to thin out the infantry, you know, the Rival Holders that are standing guard around the perimeter. They within out the perimeter and get as many of folks out as they could. Then you would see a very rapid collapse of the perimeter itself, while those last remaining individuals, you know, made a dash for the plane and then very quickly got out. Thats one way they could do it. A second way, they could do it, is to do a co ordinated handoff with the taliban. And, as odd as that sounds, the us has clearly been co ordinating security around the airport with the taliban, sharing intelligence with them. Just today A Two Star General on the united states Joint Stock made a comment about how the communications with the dell about have been improving by the day of the last two weeks. So it is at least plausible that the us could decide to undertake an orderly handoff to the taliban of security at the airport in an attempt to try and not have the types of chaotic scenes that we saw early on in this evacuation. When the us vacated some of its other military bases earlier on this year, it was just personnel and they left a loss of the Machinery And Equipment behind. We know whether will be the case in kabul as well, whether it is just getting the people out or they are taking kit with them . fist people out or they are taking kit with them . People out or they are taking kit with them . At this point i think it will kit with them . At this point i think it will be kit with them . At this point i think it will be most kit with them . At this point i think it will be most of kit with them . At this point i think it will be most of the i think it will be most of the people, if not entirely the people. Im not aware of them having brought a whole lot of gear along with them. Presumably they would have withdrawn most of that year already, so that the last few flights out, really, there is only people to be left. The things they would leave behind would likely be pallets of water, food. Those types of extraneous things that they would have brought in to support themselves that there is no real purpose in taking back out. Is no real purpose in taking back out back out. You mentioned a Security Back out. You mentioned a security earlier back out. You mentioned a security earlier on. Back out. You mentioned a security earlier on. A back out. You mentioned a security earlier on. A big. Security earlier on. A big concern, especially in light of those as attack, how risky are these last few moments . Extremely risky. There is no Military Operation more difficult than withdrawing under fire or withdrawing under threat. And this is an extremely, you know, risky situation with us military is going to have to do exactly that. And not only withdrawing under threat of isis, et cetera, but withdrawing under threat under that type of threat, with many, many civilians around as well, thats an incredibly messy and potentially chaotic situation thats going to have to be very, very delicately and extraordinarily well for its did not look like type of scenes that we saw at the outset of this evacuation. Qm. Outset of this evacuation. 0k, Dr Jonathan Outset of this evacuation. 0k, dr jonathan schroden, outset of this evacuation. 0k, drjonathan schroden, from the think tank cna, thank you for joining us. Think tank cna, thank you for joining na joining us. Thank you for havin joining us. Thank you for having me President Biden has accused china of blocking an investigation by the us into the cause of the coronavirus. A three Month Investigation by american Intelligence Agencies failed to agree on whether the virus stemmed from exposure to an infected animal or an incident in a laboratory in the chinese city of wuhan. Meanwhile, china has consistently rejected claims that the virus originated from an incident at a Government Facility and has even suggested that it might have escaped from a lab in the us. We can now speak to thomas bollyky, whos the director of the global Health Program and seniorfellow for global health, economics, and development at the council on foreign relations. Thanks for being with us. Welcome to the disagreement in a moment. What did the report agree on . Agree on . Well, the Report Aareed agree on . Well, the report agreed on agree on . Well, the report agreed on a agree on . Well, the report agreed on a few agree on . Well, the report agreed on a few things. Agree on . Well, the report| agreed on a few things. The first, and this outcome is not surprising, is, as you said, that without Chinas Cooperation and a rigourous independent investigation on chinese soil, it is impossible to reach a definitive outcome on whether this pandemic began as a spillover event, a Virus Thatjumped from animals to humans, Orthe Thatjumped from animals to humans, or the product of a lab accident. The types of products you need to determine that, lab records, the medical records of lab employees, testing of various species in wuhan to determine what the source might be, all that is in china. So they determined that it is impossible to do this without that cooperation and being on the ground. They did, however, also agree that there is no, that this was not a bioweapon, which some Conspiracy Theories thought it might be. In most us Intelligence Agencies also agree there is no sign that this was genetically engineered. This was genetically enuineered. ,. ,. , engineered. The researchers were split engineered. The researchers were split on engineered. The researchers were split on whether engineered. The researchers were split on whether the i engineered. The researchers i were split on whether the virus leaked from the lab. Some people still do believe that. What is the evidence that they cite in their argument . 50. Cite in their argument . So, reall , cite in their argument . So, really. The cite in their argument . So, really, the only cite in theirargument . Srr, really, the only evidence cite in theirargument . S57, really, the only evidence is emerged from a lab is that, the location of the earliest cases in this pandemic, wuhan. Wuhan does have a laboratory there that engages in research with coronaviruses. It is far from the caves that are normally the hosts of bad colonies and they havent been able to determine what species might have spread the virus initially. Thats it. Thats the entire case for lab accident, for it being a lab accident. Everything other than that really is just speculation. The evidence for it being a spillover is that, you know, every other coronavirus out rate that has happened has occurred from the virus jumping from animal to a person. Virusjumping from animal to a erson. , �. , person. President biden, as we mentioned. Person. President biden, as we mentioned, has person. President biden, as we mentioned, has accused person. President biden, as we mentioned, has accused china | person. President biden, as we | mentioned, has accused china of obstructing the investigation. He says the world deserves answers. What can researchers and Intelligence Agencies do next . ~. , � , next . Well, i think its important next . Well, i think its important to next . Well, i think its. Important to acknowledge next . Well, i think its important to acknowledge what the point of determining the origin of this pandemic is. And the only point really is a scientific, to make us safer from the next pandemic. Knowing the origin of this virus could help Build Momentum for tougher rules on Lab Safety or to shut down the Wildlife Trade or wet market, if it emerged from there. But achieving those outcomes depend on more cooperation, from between china and the us, and the united states and us allies, not less corp. A us Intelligence Review is not going to produce that. An investigation at the world health organisation, which has struggled to litigate or mediate disputes, rather, between member states, is probably not going to produce that either. You really do need a scientific investigation, such as one involving national academies, ideally including the national academy from china. We need an answer here, but that answer is really only going to come from sainters. 0k, going to come from sainters. Ok, thomas bollyky, we will leave it there. Thank you very much for being here. Appreciated. Thank you for having me. You are watching bbc news. Our main headlines senior taliban officials say they are ready to take control of Kabul Airport as soon as the americans leave. Sources have told the bbc that the us and british troops are Wrapping Up their operations at the airport. Us Intelligence Agencies say Covid I9 was not developed as a biological weapon but remain split on its origins. A Parole Board in the us state of california has recommended that the man who assassinated Robert F Kennedy during his president Ial Campaign in 1968 should be released from prison. Sirhan sirhan has served more than 50 Years Injail for the killing which was one of the defining events of the twentieth century in us politics. Lets cross live to washington and speak to the bbc� s nomia iqbal. Nomia, good to see you, remind us, who was Sirhan Sirhan . Sirhan sirhan is a Palestinian Christian refugee, he immigrated to the us when he was very young, and in terms of what happened that day, it is worth reminding that Robert F Kennedy was a political superstar in the making, his rise came less than five years after the assassination of his brother, president john f. Kennedy, and he was seen as the democratic partys guy. He could have been president himself, as you mentioned, that was during his president Ial Campaign, He Hadjust was during his president Ial Campaign, he had just won a very crucial primary in california, he was heading back to his hotel and was shot by Sirhan Sirhan. Sirhan sirhan denied the killing, he said that he couldnt remember it, but he did Go On later to say that as a Palestinian Christian, he was really angry at mr kennedys support for israel. He was convicted a year later in 1969 and given the Death Penalty but california scalped i scrapped all about and he was given life injail. He has applied for parole about 15 times, it has never gotten anywhere until now, but it is, you know, not the final stage. There is still a while ago before it is even approved and it might not even be approved. 50 and it might not even be approved and it might not even be approved. And it might not even be a roved. ,. , approved. So what are the next sta. Es, approved. So what are the next stages. Who approved. So what are the next stages, who needs approved. So what are the next stages, who needs to approved. So what are the next stages, who needs to approve l approved. So what are the next| stages, who needs to approve it and are we expecting that to be likely . And are we expecting that to be likel . , and are we expecting that to be likel . , likely . Ultimately it is californias likely . Ultimately it is californias Governor L likely . Ultimately it is i Californias Governor who likely . Ultimately it is Californias Governor who will now go through the case, he will see if it stands up, there is a few months ago, it might be that he agrees with it, which if that is the case then Mr Sirhan would be released but he might reject it, what is interesting as well is that mr kennedys family, Robert F Kennedys family, Robert F Kennedys family, Robert F Kennedys family do not want him to get parole and they submitted a letter to the Parole Board on their behalf by los angeles police, two of mr kennedys children, he had 11, do back of the parole, Douglas Kennedy who is actually a reporter here for a conservative network, and Robert F Kennedyjunior both say that Mr Sirhan should be released. It is interesting because Douglas Kennedy during the hearing, said to Mr Sirhan, i the hearing, said to Mr Sirhan, i do have some love for you. Also working in Mr Sirhans favour is some changes to california laws, saying you can apply to get parole for a crime committed at a young age, he is 77 now but was 2a at the time. But were still at the early stages, there still some time to go when it would ultimately be rejected. To go when it would ultimately be rejected to go when it would ultimately be rejected. Be reected. 0k, nomia, Thank Ou be rejected. 0k, nomia, Thank Ou ve be rejected. 0k, nomia, thank you very much be rejected. 0k, nomia, thank you very much. Be rejected. 0k, nomia, thank you very much. And be rejected. 0k, nomia, thank you very much. And it be rejected. 0k, nomia, thank you very much. And it could| you very much. And it could ultimately you very much. And it could ultimately be you very much. And it could ultimately be rejected. As the Western Military Presence Ends in afghanistan, the focus will turn to how to engage with the taliban regime. This report from the bbc� s diplomatic correspondent, caroline hawley. For two decades the west fought these men, now they are calling these men, now they are calling the shots. And western leaders must work out the best way to deal with them so they cause the least harm in power. I think there is absolutely no choice but to develop channels to communicate with them at senior level, over how they are now going to afghanistan. What now going to afghanistan. What levera. E now going to afghanistan. What leverage does now going to afghanistan. What leverage does the now going to afghanistan. What leverage does the west, now going to afghanistan. What leverage does the west, does the uk have now . I leverage does the west, does the uk have now . The uk have now . I think in reality our the uk have now . I think in reality our leverage the uk have now . I think in reality our leverage is the uk have now . I think in reality our leverage is very| reality our leverage is very limited. We can withhold recognition, but im not sure how much the taliban care about that. We can, as the Foreign Secretary has hinted, withhold aid, and afghan monetary reserves are mostly held and frozen in american banks, so we can withhold money. But the risk is that it mainly impacts on the afghan people, who are facing a bleak future anyway. The un says millions of people were already on the brink of famine before the taliban takeover. The ousted government of president Ashraf Ghani was almost entirely dependent on foreign funding. As much as 75 of State Spending came from the outside world. That helped pay for everything, from Security Forces and government officials, to schools that offered many girls in education for the first time, and hospitals and healthcare. Now the taliban are in charge, whos going to pay the bills . Could western aid with strings attached moderate the militants, orwill attached moderate the militants, or will they now look elsewhere for support . Earlier this week, the taliban proudly tweeted a photo of themselves meeting the chinese ambassador. Both China And Russia still have embassies in the capital. Russia still have embassies in the capital the capital. The difficulty with using the capital. The difficulty with using economic the capital. The difficulty with using economic leverage is that it only works if the target of your leverage has no other option. And in this case, the taliban does have the option of looking to the regional countries for support. And those countries, china, russia, iran, pakistan, are likely to be more flexible in their expectations of the taliban. ,. ,. ,. , taliban. Terror of the taliban, fears for the taliban. Terror of the taliban, fears for the future, taliban. Terror of the taliban, fears for the future, Have Fears for the future, have prompted a desperate rush to escape. The un warned today that half A Million afghans could flee the country this year alone, and europe fears a repeat of the Refugee Crisis in the mediterranean in 2015. The west can leave afghanistan, but cant walk away from its problems. And there are no easy options now for how to respond. A new Theatre Group called mawa says it wants to bring a love of shakespeare to a wider audience, as britains first all black, all female company. The Arts Council of england estimates only 10 of Theatre Audiences come from black, asian or other minority backgrounds, and mawa hopes to change that. Our community Affairs Correspondent Adina Campbell has the story. One of the worlds most iconic scenes romeo and juliet� s passionate declaration of love. If they do see thee, they will murder thee but now one Theatre Company wants to shake shakespeare up exploring the bards work through different perspectives. Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face. Shakespeare is very british, and thats such a massive part of, like, british identity, and as well as the industry, and its like where do we as black and mixed race Women Fit within that and kind of reclaiming a new narrative for what shakespeare could be. Dost thou love me . I know thou wilt say aye and i will take thy word. And there will be plenty more of these scenes from mawa Theatre Company, the uks first all black, all female group, committed to reinventing shakespeares most famous texts for modern day audiences, which they believe will make theatre more inclusive a place for everyone to relish new interpretations. Hear it not, duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell. And i think thats the way to modernise it, finding those themes and conflicts and the joy that happens in the black community, and where that fits in with shakespeare. With a winters tale, one of the videos we are doing in our first project, it explores Child Loss and black mortality rates. And all of mawas shows will be written, directed, produced and acted by black women. There does seem to have been a lot of progress particularly in the last two or three years with the number of on screen actors from more diverse backgrounds, people directing, people in the Production Team but how do you think that translates in theatre . Its not just about what people are seeing on stage. Its also behind the scenes. Black hair and make up teams. It really makes a difference to how everyone feels on set and how comfortable everyone feels. Theirfirst production, available online this month, is a series of Short Shakespeare Scenes and monologues, and as we come out of the pandemic, theyre looking forward to being back on stage in other upcoming work. Were notjust making theatre for black audiences. They are our main focus, but its something that can be enjoyed by the whole population. Adina campbell with that report. One of the worlds most successful footballers, christiano ronaldo, has agreed new terms to return to his old Club Manchester united, for a fee of around £13 million more than 17. 5 million. He first played for united back in 2003 when he was just 18 and now hes leaving juventus in italy. Jon donnison has the full story. 12 years after he wore a united shirt, guess whos back . Most of the faces at Old Trafford may have changed, but speaking just before the signing was announced, the new boss clearly excited. Cristiano has been a legend of this club. He is a legend of this club. He is the greatest player of all time if you ask me. I was fortunate enough to play with him. I coached him. The deal was confirmed in a short but sweet tweet, welcome home, cristiano. Viva ronaldo Cue Celebration outside the clubs ground. It is superb i cannot describe the feeling that we have. Our man is back, yes all the talk this week, though, had been that ronaldo was heading to the other side of manchester. And this afternoon, city fans were putting on a brave face. Thank goodness for that what a waste of money hed have been way past his best. Ronaldo was a fresh faced 18 year old when he first signed for united in 2003. Now twice that age, at least one half of manchester will be hoping one of the greatest players of all time still has more to give. Jon donnison, bbc news. You can reach me on twitter im richpreston. From me and the team, thanks for watching, goodbye. Hello. The weather on the last weekend of august last year didnt cover itself in glory a high ofjust 16 throughout the weekend in edinburgh, in birmingham and manchester. It is going to be warmer this weekend, at least to start with. Its going to be dry throughout the weekend with this area of High Pressure thats going to last into next week as well, although as the weekend goes on, there will be more cloud and breeze, so it will start to feel a Bit Cooler once again. And actually quite chilly as the weekend begins in rural spots, with temperatures into single figures. But in the sunshine, were all going to warm up really quite nicely as the day goes on. There will be some areas of cloud in northwest scotland, some patches of cloud in Eastern Scotland and in england, though a lot of this will start to break up to allow some sunshine to come through, increasingly so in the afternoon. On the breeze, its quite stiff in east Anglia And Southeast england. A stray Shower Cant be ruled out, and the breeze pushing into North Sea coasts will keep temperatures right along the Coast Close to 16, 17 degrees. But for many, its low 20s, and up to 23 in glasgow, so very pleasantly warm in some of that sunshine. And it will stay dry through saturday night, but notice how the cloud is increasing into scotland, North East England and into northern ireland. Here, temperatures will be hotting up compared with the night before. So, as we start sunday, there will be more cloud across scotland, northern ireland, North East England, pushing in across more of Eastern England during the day. The Lions Share of sundays sunny spells will be in wales, parts of the midlands and southern england. And this is where the temperatures will be highest. Whereas elsewhere, it will feel a Bit Cooler and the breeze is starting to pick up more widely as well, coming in from the north east. As this area of High Pressure just backs a little bit more towards the North West of us, allowing more of us to feel that East Or North easterly breeze going through monday and into the week ahead. It may be a Bank Holiday where you are, there will be a lot of cloud around on monday, so only limited sunny spells. So youll notice by then the temperatures have come down a few degrees. Just towards the South West of the uk, where well see most of the sunshine, breaking into the 20s. So, it will feel cooler next week. There will be a lot of cloud around, just occasional sunny spells coming through. And its still dry, with that High Pressure in control as we get into september. This is bbc news. The headlines senior taliban officials say they have taken up positions inside Kabul Airport and are ready to take control as soon as the americans leave. Sources have told the bbc that us and british troops are Wrapping Up their operations there. The pentagon says there are still credible threats against the airport. A us Intelligence Report has concluded that Covid 19 was not developed as a biological weapon by china. But officials were unable to provide a more definitive explanation for its origin, and blamed beijing for hindering the global investigation. Manchester united have reached an agreement to re Sign Cristiano Ronaldo from juventus. The portugal Star Striker left the club for Real Madrid in 2009. The 36 year old has won more than 30 major trophies. Plans to ban single Use Plastic plates, cutlery, and polystyrene cups in england have just been announced,