Speeds of up to 150 miles per hour, forcing thousands of people to leave. Great britain claims an historic medal in Wheelchair Rugby with superb win over three time champions the United States. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around The World. The last planes carrying Uk Troops home from afghanistan are due to arrive at Raf Brize Norton In Oxfordshire in the coming hours. Their departure from kabul marked The End of 20 years of a british Military Presence in the country during which A57 Service personnel were killed. Borisjohnson has warned the taliban that any future diplomatic relationship would depend on whether it allowed afghans who want to leave out of the country and whether womens rights will be respected. Heres our political correspondent iain watson. One of the last british flights from kabul landing in the uk this morning. The Prime Minister said we would not have wished to leave in this way. 20 years of Military Involvement in afghanistan concluded with a frantic evacuation. The first Uk Ground forces arrived in afghanistan in 2001, in the wake of 9 11. Few would have predicted that the campaign would become so protracted. A57 british service personnel lost their lives. Borisjohnson said their Sacrifice Hadnt been in vain, but in a government issued video, he also pledged not to abandon those left behind. 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 afghanistan from again becoming an incubator for global terror. In a literally heroic effort, 15,000 people, the majority of them afghan citizens, have been airlifted from kabul. But hundreds more who are eligible for relocation to the uk are still in the country, and the taliban havent yet guaranteed Safe Passage. Some of borisjohnson� s own mps have expressed anger and shame. This former british Army Officer told me Refugee Camps and Processing Centres need to be set up urgently. Im not aware of any of these camps, of any of these processes, of any of the grander strategy that is actually required. And again it goes back to the bigger decision to withdraw, that all these things were not thought through. Its been catastrophic what has happened in afghanistan. All the more reason why the United Nations need to lean into this. And i really do See-britain'>See Britain as a permanent member of the un security council, to lead forward and lean into this with some sense of urgency. Labour said the process of evacuation should have started sooner, and cooperation now from neighbouring countries isnt guaranteed. There are many, many people that ive been in contact with only over the last few days who are currently in hiding, who have no safe route out of afghanistan, as well as hundreds of people who have been trying to make their way to the border and get across, particularly the border with pakistan. 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. The british ambassador to afghanistan is stepping down from kabul, but operations will continue from qatar. While british troops and diplomats have now arrived home safely, many of those who helped Uk Forces are still in harms way. We have just had a We Havejust had a joint we have just had a joint statement that has been released by the Foreign Office and it says that we are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees and afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside of afghanistan. The statement goes on to say we have received assurances from the taliban that any afghan citizen with Travel Authorisation from our countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of Departure And Travel outside of the country. So the uk theyre saying the taliban has agreed all foreign nationals and afghans with any Travel Authorisation to leave the country will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly Manner And Travel outside of the country. This is a joint statement that has been released by a list of countries, you can See there on the bottom of your screen. That includes the United States of america, the uk of course and most of the allied states, you have eastern European Countries on there, african countries, so a joint statement issued that the taliban will allow people who are allowed, who have authorisation to leave afghanistan and any foreign nationals wishing to leave that they will be allowed to do so. President biden has honoured the 13 us troops who were among those killed in Thursdays Suicide Attack at Kabul Airport. Mr biden was at Dover Air Force Base in delaware, where virtually all us Military Personnel killed in afghanistan arrive back on american soil. He also met the families of some of those who died. Lets cross now to our correspondent in washington. Nomia iqbal. Just take us through what took place at Dover Air force earlier. Yes. Just take us through what took place at Dover Air force earlier. At Dover Air force earlier. Yes, as ou at Dover Air force earlier. Yes, as you mention. At Dover Air force earlier. Yes, as you mention, president at Dover Air force earlier. Yes, as you mention, President Biden at Dover Air force earlier. Yes, as| you mention, President Biden met with the families of the 13 service who died in that suicide blast. The ceremony itself, it is called the dignified transfer, the Official Process By which us troops killed in action are honoured when they come home. He was that with the First Lady as well, honouring those servicemembers. We are getting more details about who they were, most of them were in their early 20s, all of them were in their early 20s, all of them were in their early 20s, all of them were very young when 9 11 happened, they were infants. So i think there is something deeply tragic about the fact that their deaths as america is trying to wrap up deaths as america is trying to wrap up this Evacuation Mission to get out afghanistan of figured. What we are Seeing. President biden did not want to overSee this sort of ceremony, in fact his reason for getting out of afghanistan is because he does not want any more american soldiers are dying their is out today will be american soldiers are dying their is out today will he obviously a Gut Punch for the families who are affected, but it is something that certainly he promised america would not happen. Certainly he promised america would not ha en. , ~ certainly he promised america would not ha en. ~ i. Certainly he promised america would not hauen. , ~ ,. Not happen. Thank you very much indeed. Although the last Uk Flight has flown from kabul, the United States is continuing its operation until tuesday. Earlier, american forces carried out an Air Strike in kabul. A spokesman said the target was a Car Bomb that had posed an imminent threat to the international airport. 0ur chief international Correspondent Lyse Doucet reports. A House On Fire in a fast burning crisis, said to be a Rocket Attack streets away from Kabul Airport. It may have been the target. The us says it unleashed a drone strike, too hitting a vehicle of Suicide Bombers heading to the airport. And next to the airfield, gunfire. This a likely salvo from taliban guards struggling to control the crowds. Today, military flights are still taking off but britains airlift has ended. Not long now before america packs up, too. In a fleeting twilight, afghans hold fast to documents, to hope. My life is in danger injalalabad. But the flights are almost over. What are you going to do now . What about us . We are work with them. We support them. Im a cia agent. I have documents. This man tells us he worked for us intelligence. Some people, like this man, received an E Mail saying going to the gate. Other people say they dont have access to E Mails. They hear the news that the military flights are all but over. But even in these last few hours, they still keep trying. 0n the basis of what they have heard. The new face of security in this city. Many taliban fighters wearing the same uniform and driving the same vehicles as the afghan government forces they ousted. A new order takes shape. And on a plane out, a new life starts. This 26 year old gave birth to a girl as she flew to britain. A baby named eve, who may now have a better future. Thousands of people are fleeing the Us State Of Louisiana as Hurricane Ida has made landfall in louisiana. New orleans is under threat, with warnings of whats been described as life threatening Storm Surges and winds of 150 miles per hour. 0ur Correspondent Nada tawfik sent this report. Its past time to prepare as the Skies Darken with Hurricane Idas approach. All New Orleans can do now is wait. The fear of whats to come has paralysed this otherwise carefree city. Earlier, masses rushed to the airport to evacuate before it shut down, as ida grew rapidly in strength. Many others took to the road. We have two kids in the car theyre both 12 months. We really wanted to evacuate for them. Like, best Case Scenario is, like, Power Outages and some minor flooding. Worst case, i dont even want to think of that. For those who stayed, like ella and charles with their newborn son, Storm Preparation has become a way of life. Every year, its on the back of your mind that a big storm could and probably will come. Each year, the number of storms increases, their intensity increases. The governor of the state has warned this could be an historic hurricane. Were absolutely doing everything that we can now to get people to take those last minute steps, but really we asked people to make sure that when they went to bed last night they were prepared to ride out the storm and that they would go to bed where they intended to ride out the storm. The regions new storm defences, which failed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 on this exact date, will be tested like never before. But even with protections in place, ida is expected to have a catastrophic impact. Youre watching bbc news, do not go away. Lets return it to the situation in louisiana. Dr Barry Keim is the louisiana state climatologist hes speaking to us from Baton Rouge. Thank you very much forjoining us here on bbc news. I wonder if you could just update us please on the latest with Hurricane Ida. Yes. Could just update us please on the latest with Hurricane Ida. Latest with Hurricane Ida. Yes, so the storm latest with Hurricane Ida. Yes, so the storm made latest with Hurricane Ida. Yes, so the Storm Made Landfall latest with Hurricane Ida. Yes, so the Storm Made Landfall a latest with Hurricane Ida. Yes, so the Storm Made Landfall a little i the Storm Made Landfall a little over an hour ago. The Storm Made Landfall a little overan hourago. I the Storm Made Landfall a little over an hour ago. I came on short with winds of 150 mph and basically made landfall in South Eastern Louisiana near a town called port fouchon, an area centred on the Oil And Gas industry. Fortunately that region is not highly populated, but there obviously a lot of Oil And Gas infrastructure in this area. But we are expecting a pretty sizeable Storm Surge to be piling up, especially to the right side of the track, which includes South Eastern Louisiana and New Orleans metropolitan area. Again, this is all unfolding, the Storm Itjust made landfall, we are still piecing it together and Seeing what is happening because i am in Baton Rouge, about 50 miles to North North West of where landfall took place. Things are starting to break down, the wind outside is getting pretty real. The trees are swaying in ways you do not often See and buy later this evening, i would say in about six or ten hours or so, somewhere in that window, things will really break down and the winds will really break down and the winds will be howling under the anticipation is that most of the regions will be without power for several weeks. Regions will be without power for severalweeks. I regions will be without power for several weeks. I still have power at this moment but im fully expecting to lose it sometime this evening and golly knows how long it will take the energy companies to restore it. They are thinking will take up to three weeks to get this place back together. Three weeks to get this place back touether. , , three weeks to get this place back touether. , ,. ,. , together. There has been concerns of a secondary together. There has been concerns of a secondary eye together. There has been concerns of a secondary eye forming, together. There has been concerns of a secondary eye forming, any together. There has been concerns of a secondary eye forming, any news. Together. There has been concerns of| a secondary eye forming, any news on that . , a secondary eye forming, any news on that . ,. ,. ,. ,. , that . Hurricanes normally go through what is called that . Hurricanes normally go through what is called i that . Hurricanes normally go through what is called i wore that . Hurricanes normally go through what is called i wore that what is called i wore that Replacement Cycles and one of those that did it start right before landfall. That is a blessing and a curse, it re energises the hurricane in some ways, but there were some thoughts they hurricane might go up to 155 must per hour, getting really close to category five status, however the Eye Wall Replacement springs the energy out to sum intent and did not allow the peak winds to get out to that category five. To some extent. We are still looking to an incredibly dangerous storm, just coming on a short, just starting to really feel the effects of it, especially on the coastline and as the day wears on, things will break down further inland. Down further inland. Katrina produced down further inland. Katrina produced 16 down further inland. Katrina produced 16 years down further inland. Katrina produced 16 years ago, down further inland. Katrina produced 16 years ago, considering it is the 16th anniversary to the day, katrina produced 59 tornadoes, what is the tornado at risk this time with Hurricane Ida and how does that all that work within hurricane . Normally with the right front quadrant, given the track and, on the right Hand Side of that if you are facing the direction it is moving on, that is an area with a lot of Wind Shear and there is quite a lot of Tornado Activity under that. I have not heard of any Tornado Touchdowns yet, that will be something that we will hear about probably later in more matter of fact. Most tornadoes embedded within harriet cains, while they can be very damaging and deadly under certain circumstances, theyre certain circumstances, they� re usually certain circumstances, theyre usually not the worst tornadoes we See. Embedded within hurricanes. We have a lot of other concerns, thatis we have a lot of other concerns, that is just one of a whole myriad of issues we are facing with this storm. We can be Seeing a surge of around 15 feet or even 16 feet is what they were thinking. We could have between ten and 20 inches of rainfall which could land in land and of course that rainfall, as it tries to roll off the surface, is slowed down because of the high surge value, so it does not let the Landscape Drain as thoroughly as it should and then we have the high winds. We saw last year the city of lake charles, they went ravaged that city. There is potentialfor that to happen here in louisiana as well. I am hoping and praying here in Baton Rouge we do not experience anything that a severe, but it is certainly in the realm of possibilities. Going back to storm in the realm of possibilities. Going back to Storm Surge, in the realm of possibilities. Going back to Storm Surge, 15 in the realm of possibilities. Going back to Storm Surge, 15 feet in the realm of possibilities. Going back to Storm Surge, 15 feet of back to Storm Surge, 15 feet of water and then you combine the waves into that, what sort of damage are we talking about and it will all those At Stormont protections work this time around . We those At Stormont protections work this time around . Those At Stormont protections work this time around . We sure hope so. Katrina certainly this time around . We sure hope so. Katrina certainly exposed this time around . We sure hope so. Katrina certainly exposed a this time around . We sure hope so. Katrina certainly exposed a lot this time around . We sure hope so. Katrina certainly exposed a lot of. Katrina certainly exposed a lot of the weaknesses in our Levy Infrastructure is not a lot of that has been prepared and the levys have been made more robust, certainly in areas where we get those problems. This storm is hitting. It will test those rebuilt levies, but the highest surges will be in a slightly different location, it will hit to some other Levee Systems, so only time will tell. I hope those that levies will hold out. This surge, it is not quite as bad as what we saw with katrina, at least not expected to be. Katrina produced a 28 point surge, to give you some comparison, along the coast of mississippi which is the highest surge ever recorded in the western hemisphere. That was an absolute incredible situation with that surge. 15 feet is still a massive surge and can do a lot of damage and the hope is it will not reach any of the Levee Systems we have in place but again it is all unfolding right now and we will have to wait and See. To wait and See. Hurricane ida intensified to wait and See. Hurricane ida intensified very to wait and See. Hurricane ida intensified very quickly, to wait and See. Hurricane Ida J intensified very quickly, didnt to wait and See. Hurricane ida intensified very quickly, didnt it . From a1 to two and overnight to a four, has it finished growing and developing . And thinking it was in the past before it started to make its way to you. The past before it started to make its way to you its way to you. Yes, it passed a cube and its way to you. Yes, it passed a cube and went its way to you. Yes, it passed a cube and went into its way to you. Yes, it passed a cube and went into the its way to you. Yes, it passed a cube and went into the gulf its way to you. Yes, it passed a cube and went into the Gulf Ofl Cube and went into the Gulf Of Mexico and basically was travelling up mexico and basically was travelling up a Loop Current which is a current that comes out of the carabiner and brings incredibly warm will certainly governments can. It went past cuba. It gave this hurricane this warm water at Super Highway to the state of louisiana and that is what enabled this storm to have this explosive cycle of genesis, this deepening of the hurricane and it was able to go basically from an 80 mph rather weak hurricane to a category four hurricane to a category four hurricane with 150 must per hour winds. Note that this is tied for the strongest hurricane to ever hit louisiana going back to 1851, so this ties with laura coming into our shores last year and it goes all the way back to 1856, stormer called the last Island Hurricane which also hit 150 mph winds. So we have a three Way Tie now on the strongest hurricane ever to hit the state, so there were predictions it might go to 155 and break the record, but that did not happen, and im not complaining {lit that did not happen, and im not complaining that did not happen, and im not comclainin ,. ,. Complaining of course not. We hope Ou Sta Complaining of course not. We hope you stay safe complaining of course not. We hope you stay safe. Thank complaining of course not. We hope you stay safe. Thank you complaining of course not. We hope you stay safe. Thank you very complaining of course not. We hope you stay safe. Thank you very much l you stay safe. Thank you very much for your time. You stay safe. Thank you very much foryourtime. Mr; you stay safe. Thank you very much for your time for your time. My pleasure, thanks for your time. My pleasure, thanks for havin for your time. My pleasure, thanks for having me more now on our top story the us is continuing its final flights out of afghanistan as the deadline for leaving the country grows ever closer. More than 110,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul Airport ahead of a 31 August Deadline agreed between the us and taliban. Peter galbraith is a former us ambassador and the former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations in afghanistan and hejoins me now. Thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. August the 31st, what is likely to be going on now in terms of the planning to get those final us qualified people to leave afghanistan . Us qualified people to leave aft hanistan . ,. , afghanistan . There is an extensive military Operation Afghanistan . There is an extensive Military Operation also afghanistan . There is an extensive Military Operation also involving i afghanistan . There is an extensive| Military Operation also involving us diplomats, which are trying to contact people, get them to the airports. That said, it is quite clear that not everybody is going to get out, not every us citizen is going to get out, not everybody who worked for the us government and not everybody who is at risk. And the reasons are varied, but it is difficult to get access to the airport, difficult to reach people. And there is not enough time. Aha, and there is not enough time. A whole list of governments are saying they have had assurances from the taliban that anyone who wants to leave will be able to leave. Do you trust the taliban . Trust the taliban . That is an encouraging trust the taliban . That is an encouraging Statement Trust the taliban . That is an encouraging statement and | trust the taliban . That is an | encouraging statement and i trust the taliban . That is an encouraging statement and i presume what it means is that once this phase, which is a us military run evacuation, ends, otherafghans who want to leave, and also foreigners, it will be able to get out on commercialflights or it will be able to get out on commercial flights or return flights. I do not trust the taliban, but i find it encouraging that they said so and i hope it is true. I suspect it will be easier for some than for others, those who are closely associated with the former government, women, including for example Women Students at western style educational institutions. These are people who will have a much harder time getting out. , will have a much harder time getting out. ,. ,. ,. , out. There was a statement from the security adviser, out. There was a statement from the security adviser, Jake out. There was a statement from the security adviser, Jake sullivan, out. There was a statement from the security adviser, Jake sullivan, who l security adviser, Jake sullivan, who confirmed that the us is likely to continue with Air Strikes, but pointing out that the president does not intend to start a new war in afghanistan. As it inevitable that it will lead to further conflict . I do not think so. The Air Strikes are targeted on ices k, the afghanistan offshoot of the United States, which is also an enemy of the taliban because it is challenging them for control. Air strikes are targeted on Isis K. I do not See this leading to a significant escalation, i think these are very specific, targeted strikes, which took place also, or at least on one occasion, in the 19905. ,. , ~. ,. ,. ,. , 19905. There is talk that a lot of dama. E 19905. There is talk that a lot of damage has 19905. There is talk that a lot of damage has been 19905. There is talk that a lot of damage has been done 19905. There is talk that a lot of damage has been done on 19905. There is talk that a lot of i damage has been done on western allies going forward. What is your assessment of the fallout of this evacuation . I assessment of the fallout of this evacuation . Assessment of the fallout of this evacuation . ~ ,. , evacuation . I think it will be short lived. Evacuation . I think it will be short lived Think Evacuation . I think it will be short lived. Think back evacuation . I think it will be short lived. Think back to evacuation . I think it will be short lived. Think back to the evacuation . I think it will be short lived. Think back to the Fall Evacuation . I think it will be short lived. Think back to the fall of lived. Think back to the Fall Of Saigon in 1975, everybody said this would do great damage to america and allied credibility. In fact, the fear that it would damage american credibility was a justification for continuing the war, and yet american leadership in The World did not diminished under 15 years later, the us was the only superpower. I think the situation is different now, but not because of afghanistan. But rather a bunch of things that have taken place. First, it was inevitable that russia would not always be down in the 90s and it has recurred. China would continue to grow, india will become more prominent and then the United States had a series of self inflicted wounds. The invasion of iraq, which was opposed by most of The World and turned out to be based on false premises and conducted poorly. The Trump Presidency which did not portrait the us in a good light or treat allies well. And frankly it is a little harder to be the champion of democracy when a majority of one of democracy when a majority of one of your two major parties of eight elected representatives do not accept the result of an indisputably fair election that they lost, so these are things that have done much more lasting damage to the United States than what is going on now in a couple. States than what is going on now in a coule. , states than what is going on now in acoule. , a couple. There have been reports that a lot of a couple. There have been reports that a lot of the a couple. There have been reports that a lot of the weaponry a couple. There have been reports that a lot of the weaponry has a couple. There have been reports. That a lot of the weaponry has been left on the ground in afghanistan. Going on now in kabul. That means there is now a far more well prepared and armed taliban, what will that mean . Wellprepared and armed taliban, what will that mean . Wellprepared and armed taliban, what will that mean . Well, yes, the United States what will that mean . Well, yes, the United States in what will that mean . Well, yes, the United States in recent what will that mean . Well, yes, the United States in recent years what will that mean . Well, yes, the United States in recent years has. United states in recent years has beenin United States in recent years has been in business of arming terrorists. The weaponry that we supplied to the iraqi army in 2014 was captured by the islamic state, fewer than A Thousand fighters are taking the weapons of 30,000 troops, including sophisticated artillery. And it is the same story in afghanistan. I do not think the consequences in afghanistan are going to be as serious as they were in iraq and the islamic state was able to use it in iraq against what was left of the Iraqi Armed Forces and also in syria, but the taliban do not have any domestic enemies at this point, so they will not use the weapons against their neighbours, pakistan, Use Pakistan what ted you can stand. There is a part of afghanistan that is not under the control of the taliban. Uzbekistan and badger can stand. These weapons can be powerful against remaining pockets of persistence. Against remaining pockets of persistence against remaining pockets of ersistence. ,. , persistence. From your position as a former ambassador, persistence. From your position as a former ambassador, diplomatic former ambassador, diplomatic relations, what formerambassador, diplomatic relations, what are your thoughts on the idea that the days of the us being The Worlds policemen are over and why then does Credibility Matter . , ~ , and why then does Credibility Matter . ~ ,. , and why then does Credibility Matter . ~ , matter . Frankly, i hope those days are over. Matter . Frankly, i hope those days are over it matter . Frankly, i hope those days are over. It has matter . Frankly, i hope those days are over. It has been matter . Frankly, i hope those days are over. It has been expensive, i matter . Frankly, i hope those days are over. It has been expensive, it| are over. It has been expensive, it has been a diversion from what we need to do at home and it has not worked very well. We spent 2 Trillion in afghanistan with our allies, it may be as many as 5000 casualties as with our nato allies. We spend billions training the afghan Police And Army and it did not even last to the completion of the american withdrawal. I made my first visit to afghanistan on February The 14th in 1989 and that was the date the soviets withdrew and the soviet installed government, that they thought of as a puppet government, lasted three years. The contrast to what even the soviet were able to do is extraordinary. It was notjust that were able to do is extraordinary. It was not just that we should were able to do is extraordinary. It was notjust that we should not be The Worlds policemen, wejust was notjust that we should not be The Worlds policemen, we just do not to do it very well. There are places we have intervened successfully, i would say bosnia, kosovo, and for that matter with the Syrian Kurds against the islamic state, but when we intervened on behalf of a local party to accomplish its objectives and in the first tier interventions there were no american casualties, fewer than ten in the syria intervention, but in afghanistan, the initial Military Action was in conjunction with a local partner, that is the northern alliance, and by the time that was accomplished at The End of 2001, sporting the local partner and accomplishing what it wanted which was to oust the taliban and retake kabul, the taliban was gone and alqaeda was gone. Then we transformed the mission to make afghanistan into the kind of country which we thought it would become a highly centralised, where all the decisions were made in kabul, even hiring a local schools superintendent, and in kabul, or concentrated in the hands of the president and in a country that was geographically and