Great britain claims a historic first paralympic medal in wheelchair rugby, after storming to gold with a superb win over three time champions the united states. Good afternoon. The Prime Minister has marked the end of britains 20 year Military Campaign in afghanistan, by saying that the deaths of A57 Members of the Armed Forces there were not in vain. Boris johnson described their efforts as heroic and said the Uk Departure from afghanistan was the culmination of a mission unlike anything weve seen in our lifetimes. The last flights have begun arriving at Raf Brize Norton with Military Personnel and diplomatic staff as the largest evacuation of its kind since the second World War draws to a close. More than 15,000 people have been airlifted out of afghanistan by the uk in the past fornight. But hundreds of afghans eligible for relocation and Uk Nationals have been Left Behind. Us president Joe Biden is en route to Dover Air Force base to receive the bodies us Service Members killed in afghanistan. The united states national security adviser, jake sullivan, has said � relevant terrorist groups� in afghanistan do not possess Advance Ability to plot attacks abroad. The first of our reports comes from our political correspondent, Jessica Parker. Landing back in the uk, one of the last british planes to leave kabul. These troops widely praised. Helped evacuate more than 15,000 people. That as the taliban took over. Boris johnson says the government will engage alongside allies with the regime the uk helped topple topple 20 years ago, in a statement released by Downing Street this morning. If the new regime in kabul wants diplomatic recognition or to unlock the billions that are currently frozen, they will have to ensure safe passage for those who wish to leave the country, to respect the rights of women and girls, to prevent afg ha Nista N from again becoming an incubator for global terror. Thousands got out, british nationals and afghans who worked with the uk. But hundreds have been Left Behind, some say many more. I dont think there is a single person deployed forward, whether the thousand or so in kabul or the many hundreds of others drawn across from her Majestys Government in the Middle East or back here who could have given more in the last two and two and half weeks. The effort has been frankly truly humbling to see the hours worked, the exhaustion painted on peoples faces. We tried our best. We have absolutely tried our best. Government sources insist they are ramping up efforts to try and establish safe routes out via border countries such as pakistan. The journey ahead looks complicated. When i spoke to officials from the pakistani government in the last couple of days, there was an element of pessimism about how much pakistan is going to be able to do. They have 3 Million afghan refugees already in the country. It was 2001 in the aftermath of 9 11 that british troops arrived as part of a us led mission. A57 Uk Personnel lost their lives. Not in vain says borisjohnson. 20 years on, a Hasty Withdrawl and claims that has damaged britains standing in the world. Because we got this so wrong, if when we go to another country to intervene, the people who work with us, the local civilians work with us, what confidence will they have that we will stand by them . 0ur words might seem quite empty now. That is a tragedy and we are going to have to work really hard in the world to restore our reputation so people will trust us and work with us in the future. Disembarking at Brize Norton in 0xfordshire, the british ambassador to afghanistan. There is no embassy there are any more. He will soon head up operations out of qatar. This is history but not as many would have wanted it. And Jessica Parker is here with me now. A delicate balance to be struck by the Prime Minister in the words he has chosen, obviously paying tribute to the Armed Forces past and present in afghanistan. Underlying all that, it difficult reality that people have been Left Behind. It difficult reality that people have been Left Behind. Yes, i mean i think it is reflecting have been Left Behind. Yes, i mean i think it is reflecting on have been Left Behind. Yes, i mean i think it is reflecting on what have been Left Behind. Yes, i mean i think it is reflecting on what has think it is reflecting on what has been widespread praise at the remarkable achievement by the british troops to bring out over 15,000 people. The biggest airlift in recent history. Then this long campaign over two decades in afghanistan as well. As he admitted, in a statement, this is not how the british, the west, would have wanted to leave afghanistan. There is the hard reality that we know people such as afghans who worked with the british authorities are still there. We dont really know how many. We heard many estimates from senior army figures of the high hundreds. The Labour Party seeing that from the contacts they are getting, they think the figure is much greater than that. Certainly over the coming weeks there will be a focus on whether those people can get out and how. �. ,. ,. , g. ~ how. And on that note, jake sullivan. How. And on that note, jake sullivan, the how. And on that note, jake sullivan, the national how. And on that note, jake | sullivan, the national adviser how. And on that note, jake. Sullivan, the national adviser in the us has been speaking to television seeing the taliban have been communicating publicly and privately that they will allow for safe passage for americans and others to leave afghanistan after the us Military Withdrawal ends next week. What do we know about contacts between the uk and the taliban to ensure a similar pathway for other people who want to leave, Uk Nationals and afghans who worked with the uk, to leave afghanistan . The government is saying openly that it is going to engage with the taliban, alongside other international partners and countries. What borisjohnson has been seen to date they also will hold to account the terms of women and girls education, the Safer Routes out of afghanistan and talk about the potential of unlocking billions of pounds of funding in order to do that, recognition of the regime as well. The government saying it has levers. Sources i have been speaking to insist on as well that they are ramping up conversations with Border Nations such as pakistan and other nations are seen as crucial, such as turkey, that they think many people me head to in order to try and get to europe. So those journeys over land borders. The ancestors conversations are going on. Clearly, there are huge difficulties for anybody trying to leave afghanistan at the moment. The taliban central it may be saying one thing but i know speaking to people, there are concerns that does not mean how it will pan out in different parts of the country. I think that will be an ongoing Challenge And Something that dominic raab, the foreign secretary, will be grilled on when he appears before mps on wednesday. Grilled on when he appears before mps on wednesday. Jessica, thank you ve much. Mps on wednesday. Jessica, thank you very much i mps on wednesday. Jessica, thank you very much i want mps on wednesday. Jessica, thank you very much. I want to mps on wednesday. Jessica, thank you very much. I want to bring mps on wednesday. Jessica, thank you very much. I want to bring you very much. I want to bring you up to date in so far we have information coming in from us about these reports we are getting of an explosion in kabul. We had initially close to or around the area of Kabul Airport, following that Suicide Bombing Attack on thursday. And President Biden saying yesterday that another attack, his intelligence suggested, was imminent within the next 2a hours or so. We subsequently heard that perhaps this was a controlled explosion and i were chief international correspondent has been tweeting. I think we can assure you the tweet she has just sent. Think we can assure you the tweet she hasjust sent. It think we can assure you the tweet she has just sent. It is a retweet of what appears to have been a house near Kabul Airport hit by a rocket. Retreating a Freelance Journalist in afghanistan. Tweeting. We are still trying to piece together the information the information of what has happened. Clearly everyone in the city on high alert with the intelligence more attacks are imminent. We will hear more on that from our correspondent who is monitoring the situation in the next few minutes. Flights bringing british troops and officials out of afhanistan have been arriving back at Raf Brize Norton today. 0ur Correspondentjames Reynolds is there. Just bring us up to date on what activity there has been at Brize Norton, please. fist Activity there has been at Brize Norton, please. Activity there has been at Brize Norton, please. At 8 19am here we saw a plane norton, please. At 8 19am here we saw a plane land. Norton, please. At 8 19am here we saw a plane land, and norton, please. At 8 19am here we saw a plane land, and raf norton, please. At 8 19am here we saw a plane land, and raf plane, l saw a plane land, and raf plane, carrying 250 people on board. Most of those people were returning soldiers who had evacuated from kabul, gone to dubai and then flew in street here to ref Brize Norton. The most important passenger on the departing ambassador. We watched him walk down the steps alone from that flight. He was the first passenger. He shook hands with the permanent under secretary of the foreign office. There was no ceremony, no 0ffice. There was no ceremony, no speeches, the quietly went with colleagues into the terminal building. That is how the Ambassador Tenure essentially ended. We have heard the report he will continue to work from countries nearby. Clearly, though, it is a mission that is incomplete, given the fact the embassy and the Uk Personnel here have not been able to evacuate everyone. And the sense i got speaking to senior officials he was one of sadness. It was a degree of pride in the fact they had evacuated 15,000 people, but there was a degree of real sadness that it is incomplete, the fact that many hundreds of people who now rely on the taliban for their own safety and over the next few days we understand more people will be coming back from an Air Base in dubai and there will be sent here to Raf Brize Norton and they will go into quarantine and also decompression. They will go into quarantine and also decompression. Thank you very much. As the uk finally leave afghanistan after two decades the united states is winding up its operation of evacuating afghan civilians before the August 31st deadline imposed by the taliban. Its feared thousands of afghans who want to leave the country will be Left Behind. 0ur chief international Correspondent Lyse Doucet gave us this update from kabul. Thousands did get out and that is a good thing, especially those who really do feel they are at risk. And they were. But thousands more are still Left Behind and feel terrified. We just go out into the streets and we are mobbed by people. I have a british passport, i have a french one, i have an american one, showing certificates of appreciation. People have very little understanding about how these complicated processes of E Mails and embassies work. I say, well, they british flights are over, the american flights are all but done. Can you get to a third country . It breaks your heart. 0ne young woman came up to me and all she had was a certificate of appreciation for learning english. And she said, i have been getting educated are not going to allow me to leave. All she has is an afghan passport. Even though the taliban say they promised that people with the right documents can get out, but they will be asking for documents that so many afghans dont have and wont have and they will be Left Behind. Pets get up to date with these reports of another explosion in kabul. Live now to our Correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan whos following developments from delhi. What more can you tell us . The Ministry Source has confirmed to the bbc that there was an Explosion Close to Kabul Airport. There are lots of pictures about 20 or so minutes ago which showed huge plumes of smoke, the aftermath of a big explosion in the vicinity of the airport. The Health Minister has confirmed mackie health Ministry Source has confirmed that there was an explosion. The airport and that same source says they believe the explosions were a rocket that hit a house close to the airport. The Reuters News Agency also saying that two witnesses saying the explosion seems to be a rocket attack. That is the people are on at the moment. It is unclear right now who is claiming responsibility for this attack and, indeed, whether there have been any casualties. find indeed, whether there have been any casualties. �. , casualties. And clearly the atmosphere casualties. And clearly the atmosphere there casualties. And clearly the atmosphere there is, casualties. And clearly the atmosphere there is, the. Casualties. And clearly the atmosphere there is, the situation is pretty volatile, isnt it . As international troops move out, we are down to the last Men And Women Standing either us troops who will leave on tuesday. They have the job of trying to keep the perimeter that they are guiding safe. So beyond that, it is difficult for them to have any effect on the ground by way of trying to prevent something like this happening. Of trying to prevent something like this happening this happening. Absolutely. Us officials were this happening. Absolutely. Us officials were saying this happening. Absolutely. Us officials were saying just this happening. Absolutely. Us officials were saying just a this happening. Absolutely. Us officials were saying just a few| officials were saying just a few days ago that as that August 31 deadline approaches, this was going to be an extremely dangerous phase of the evacuation process. Now, yesterday that us embassy in afghanistan issued a warning telling citizens leave the airport, if they were at certain gates, and also not to go to the airport. This morning, we got an even stronger warning from the us embassy in afghanistan, saying there was a specific, credible threat and telling anyone who was at the airport or in the vicinity to leave, any of their citizens to leave immediately. Of course, that came shortly after the us president Joe Biden said that another attack was extremely likely. 0f Another Attack was extremely likely. Of course, this all comes after that devastating attack at the base at the Airport On Thursday that claimed at least hundred and 70 lives and local affiliate of the islamic state, claimed responsibility for that attack. The us made a drawn strike in afghanistan and the usa to people that they believe were responsible for planning that attack were killed in that strike but no civilian lives were lost. It is unfortunate that this Intelligence And Threat to people were basically waiting for unfortunately became a reality. As i said earlier, we simply dont know any more than that. We dont know about casualties. But as i say, speaking to a health Ministry Source, they believe it was a rocket that hit the house close to Kabul Airport. Thank ou ve house close to Kabul Airport. Thank you very much the us says over 112,000 people are evacuated from afghanistan. But many others who are facing threat are Left Behind. One such is a journalist who worked for an online Media Outlet set up by the german military in the northern city of mazar e sharif. He is now in kabul. For security reasons we are calling him � rashid earlier he spoke to my colleague Joanna Gosling about his fears. Iam not i am not feeling safe right now. If we go outside the country before this happened. Unfortunately, it came to a surprise of all of us. So it is really difficult. I do have a lot of. If i am thinking about i heard some news that also it is close and i heard people died there. Everywhere there is commotion, there is a lot of problem also. [30 everywhere there is commotion, there is a lot of problem also. Is a lot of problem also. Do you know what is a lot of problem also. Do you know what your is a lot of problem also. Do you know what your next is a lot of problem also. Do you know what your next steps is a lot of problem also. Do you know what your next steps will| is a lot of problem also. Do you know what your next steps will be . I just hope i find some way to get outside the country. I am waiting each week that i have some good news that i find some way to get outside the country. That i find some way to get outside the country that i find some way to get outside the country. You had actually had a letter from the country. You had actually had a letter from germany the country. You had actually had a letter from germany asking the country. You had actually had a letter from germany asking you the country. You had actually had a letter from germany asking you to | the country. You had actually had a I Letter from germany asking you to go to the airport and you went with your wife and children and obviously did not make it out. Are you. Are you having any communication with anybody else outside helping you to get out now . Get out now . Unfortunately, we did not receive get out now . Unfortunately, we did not receive the get out now . Unfortunately, we did not receive the letter. Get out now . Unfortunately, we did not receive the letter. It get out now . Unfortunately, we did not receive the letter. It was get out now . Unfortunately, we did not receive the letter. It wasjust i not receive the letter. It was just a phone call. Me and a lot of my colleagues received a call from germany. They said you have to go to the airport and a german soldier will take you up. Unfortunately, we spent all night outside the doors. We did not see anybody come from the german soldiers to help. What we did not see anybody come from the german soldiers to help. German soldiers to help. What are our german soldiers to help. What are your concerns german soldiers to help. What are your concerns about german soldiers to help. What are your concerns about the german soldiers to help. What are your concerns about the taliban . L german soldiers to help. What arej your concerns about the taliban . I know from the nature of the taliban that they dont change. But now the need the international community and The Act like they are good people but they are not. find The Act like they are good people but they are not. The act like they are good people but they are not. And you believe that our but they are not. And you believe that your work but they are not. And you believe that your work for but they are not. And you believe that your work for a but they are not. And you believe that your work for a german but they are not. And you believe l that your work for a german Media Organisation does make you a target . Sure, because my name is in the magazines that have been published and i have had a lot of activities during myjob against the taliban and the interviews i was making against the taliban. I could be a target. With me now isjon white, fomer royal Marines 0fficer who served in afghanistan. It was while on patrol with A0 Commando that he stepped on an ied resulting in the loss of three of his limbs. Jon is now a motivational speaker. Thank you so much forjoining us today. We appreciate your time. I want to begin by getting your thoughts over the last few days, the last couple of weeks, watching that huge operation that has been carried out in Kabul Airport by The Men And Women of the uk Armed Forces. They have done an incredible job under extraordinary circumstances, havent they . Extraordinary circumstances, havent the . , ~ , extraordinary circumstances, havent the . , ~ ,. , extraordinary circumstances, havent the . ,. ,. , they . Yes, i think they would have been a huge they . Yes, i think they would have been a huge sense they . Yes, i think they would have been a huge sense of they . Yes, i think they would have been a huge sense of vulnerability| been a huge sense of vulnerability for them out there. What a huge amount of protection, relatively small forces, clearly a big target. Whilst trying to do a difficult administrativejob as whilst trying to do a difficult administrative job as well terms of processing people to get out of there. So, yes, an incredibly difficult task and im sure there is a huge sense of relief for the majority of them, having landed back in the uk this morning. And i majority of them, having landed back in the uk this morning. In the uk this morning. And i am sure many in the uk this morning. And i am sure many of in the uk this morning. And i am sure many of them, in the uk this morning. And i am sure many of them, and in the uk this morning. And i am sure many of them, and I In The Uk this morning. And i am sure many of them, and i was I In The Uk this morning. And i am sure many of them, and i was looking at photographs that were appearing on this morning . Front pages of trips on military planes preparing to leave, and just looking at all those faces and expressions wondering what was going through their minds. We have heard from the Vice Admiral who was in charge of the Uk Evacuation for the uk seeing it was not a success until all the allies have left. I am sure that is going to be uppermost in many of the troops minds and thoughts about people who they were not able to get out. , ,. ,. Out. Yes, it is such a Difficult Situation out. Yes, it is such a Difficult Situation and out. Yes, it is such a Difficult Situation and certainly out. Yes, it is such a Difficult Situation and certainly in out. Yes, it is such a Difficult Situation and certainly in the | out. Yes, it is such a Difficult Situation and certainly in the last couple of weeks i have spoken to two different friends who were both trying to sponsor and help get afghans out of there. One of them were successful in getting a farmer eight from when she worked in the year and out of there, with the family and 20 afghan women. Watching her, i happen to be away with her, watching her going through the process, the stress of constantly getting updates, not knowing what was going on, that huge sense of relief. Unfortunately i was talking to other Friend Yesterday who was trying to sponsor a couple of Afghan Army officers to try and get them out and it looks like he hasnt been successful in doing that. Very, very difficult. Very difficult for him to come round to the idea that he couldnt, if you like, save them. At least one of those officers had had Death Threats given to him already. So, yes, how do you call this a success . Well, how do you measure the success . It is a very difficult thing. I think we need to be slightly realistic in that and everyone has done the best they can and they will have done a lot of good, there are a lot of people out there. But, you know, we cant save everyone. That is a very difficult thing to get your head around. And thing to get your head around. And liven the thing to get your head around. And given the experience that you have had in afghanistan and how you have had in afghanistan and how you have had to turn your life around. You clearly are someone who has had to gather together all of your strength, mental and gather together all of your strength, mentaland physical, gather together all of your strength, mental and physical, to move forward. Sewell really know what those soldiers are going through. Ijust wonderwhat what those soldiers are going through. I just wonder what your thoughts are on the broader mission as you watch those images of the last Uk Troops leaving afghanistan and what your thoughts are as well on the fact that the Uk Government will possibly come as we have heard from the us government, have to work with the taliban to try and secure safe passage for those people who still want to leave the country. Yes, so on the wider mission, i and others rules in it, it comes back to what i just others rules in it, it comes back to what ijust said about others rules in it, it comes back to what i just said about the evacuation, we are all out there doing the best we can with what we have got at the time. And the knowledge we have got. With hindsight, you know, it is clear the current situation was almost inevitable. The whole time there were foreign troops in afghanistan, orany were foreign troops in afghanistan, or any other country, it is the perfect Recruiting Tool for any sort of insurgency. It was, you know, the kind of Recruiting Tool you could not pay money for. So, inevitably when we left there was going to be this uprising. I dont think we realise that at the time. We thought maybe we could persuade enough people that we were a force for good. But unfortunately thatjust was not the case. I think cultures were so vastly different. We were maybe trying to achieve something that wasnt achievable. We were trying to put our own interpretations of Peace And Governance on their culture and may be that just governance on their culture and may be thatjust isnt correct. You know, and how do you deal with that then . It is about acceptance, really. I am where i am. I would not be here without my past. It is not perfect. 0f be here without my past. It is not perfect. Of course life is not perfect, it is not for anyone. But actually it is pretty good and it could be a hell of a lot worse. If anything had changed, it would be different. Maybe better, maybe worse, i do not know. That is kind of how i deal with things on a personal nature and i would encourage people to as well. Thank ou so encourage people to as well. Thank you so much encourage people to as well. Thank you so much for encourage people to as well. Thank you so much for your encourage people to as well. Thank you so much for your thoughts encourage people to as well. Thank you so much for your thoughts today. I really appreciate you talking to us. Former royal marine, thank you. Lets just us. Former royal marine, thank you. Letsjust bring us. Former royal marine, thank you. Lets just bring you up to date with the latest pictures we have from afghanistan. That plume of smoke you can see, that appears to be the explosion that we were reporting as of a short while ago. Various reports coming into us, possibly a controlled explosion, we had. It does now seem to have been a rocket that hit a house in kabul. Now other news now. Some other news now Tens Of Thousands of people are fleeing the Us State Of Louisiana as Hurricane Ida closes in from the gulf of mexico. Its expected to hit this evening, bringing whats been described as Life Threatening Storm Surges and 140mph winds. A shortage of Blood Tubes means gps are having to make difficult choices about who gets Blood Tests, the British Medical Association has warned. The bma said shortages across hospitals and gp surgeries were severe and if the nhs did not reduce usage in the coming days even the most clinically important Blood Tests may be at risk. The Department Of Health said it is working to restore normal supply and there continues to be stock in place. The bbc has been told that the government is set to announce plans to gradually lift the official ban on standing in Premier League and Championship Football grounds. A formal announcement is expected from the government as early as next month. Its thought a handful of clubs in englands top two divisions will trial Safe Standing areas before the current season ends in may. Joining me now is malcolm clarke, chair of the Football Supporters association. Afternoon to you. Thank you for joining us. How popular will this be with fans, do you think . I joining us. How popular will this be with fans, do you think . With fans, do you think . I think it will be very with fans, do you think . I think it will be very popular. With fans, do you think . I think it will be very popular. I with fans, do you think . I think it will be very popular. I think with fans, do you think . I think it will be very popular. I think the i will be very popular. I think the large majority of fans will welcome this because it will give an opportunity to clubs to separate out those who want to stand in safety, and those who want to sit without people standing in front of them. People have been standing in seated areas almost ever since this legislation was introduced, so the original prediction that fans would get used to sitting and would not want to stand hasnt proved to be correct and this is a welcome solution to that problem. So i think the large majority of fans will be very pleased about this announcement. Very pleased about this announcement. �. , announcement. And the ban on standin announcement. And the ban on standing was announcement. And the ban on standing was introduced announcement. And the ban on i standing was introduced following the hillsborough disaster. What is in place now and how many grounds have something in place to ensure that if fans want to stand they can do so in a safe way . That if fans want to stand they can do so in a safe way . Well, in fact a number of do so in a safe way . Well, in fact a number of grounds do so in a safe way . Well, in fact a number of grounds have do so in a safe way . Well, in fact a i number of grounds have preempted number of grounds have pre empted this by redeveloping with what we call real seats, which are basically seats which have a real along the full length of the rules the people behind wouldnt topple over onto you. And they have been future proofing those in anticipation for this. So there is already a number of grounds that have installed those. And various other grounds have adopted a more pragmatic approach and they have tried to separate out the stands, if i can put it that way. But this was sort of formalise that and move to a situation where the fans who want to stand can do so safely and the fans who want to set want to have their view blocked. Who want to set want to have their view blocked view blocked. Ok, this is all about Makin View blocked. Ok, this is all about making sure view blocked. Ok, this is all about making sure whether view blocked. Ok, this is all about making sure whether Someone View blocked. Ok, this is all about i making sure whether someone wants to stand or sit, that they have enough space around them to do so comfortably. So the grounds that havent yet put these reels in place, what sort of percentage of grounds are we talking about here . Do you think they will be moving quickly to try to introduce these railings . Quickly to try to introduce these railin. S . ~ quickly to try to introduce these railinrs . ~. ,. , railings . Well, as i understand it the government railings . Well, as i understand it the government have railings . Well, as i understand it the government have said I Railings . Well, as i understand it the government have said that I Railings . Well, as i understand it the government have said that a | the government have said that a number of clubs will be designated as early adopters. That itself is quite encouraging phrase for us. It is not described as a pilot scheme, that implies the pilot might fail. They are called early adopters. But we would then anticipate, providing this work well which we are reasonably sure it well, then the government will also legislate to allow our clubs in the top two divisions to do it. It is