And battle of the teens well bring you the Build Up to the womens final of the Us Open. Hello and welcome to our special coverage here on bbc news, as we mark the 20th Anniversary of the Terror Attacks on New York and washington that killed nearly 3,000 people attacks that have forever been known by the date on which they happened, 9 11. Commemorations will be taking place in manhattan and across the United States to remember all those killed and injured. 0ur North AmericaEditor Jon Sopel has been hearing the stories of three people impacted by the horror of september 11. And a warning, his report does include footage of the attack on the twin towers. The one thing that time hasnt dulled is just how profoundly shocking the sights and sounds were that Tuesday Morning two decades ago. This Terrorist Attack changed the world. Nearly 3,000 people died and thousands more had their lives upended. This is the story of three of those people who found themselves at the eye of the storm. My dad was an amazing human being. Max was a ten year old schoolboy when he was called to the principal� s office. His father, joseph, worked at the world trade center. I went down the hallway, and my mum was standing there with tears in her eyes. She told me what had happened, and we had a moment in the hallway. I think i wasjust very confused at first. Youre an innocent ten year old thinking, the world is great, and then you find out someone killed your father. Hundreds of miles south in florida, Andy Card was also at an elementary school. The Chief Of Staff to President Bush knew he had to interrupt him. Thats when i walked up to the president and i leaned down and i whispered to him, a second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack. Ann Van Hyne was in her car when she heard the news, and she knew as people were trying to escape the twin towers, her firefighter husband, bruce, would be heading in. My kids went to bed. Emily and megan were 17 and 14 at the time. | i stayed dressed, i laid down with them, but i didnt go i to sleep because i figured someone was coming to the house and i would be in my pyjamas. Its weird, the things you worry about. And at about midnight, somebody came to the house to say that bruce was unaccounted for. This memorial, with great restraint, doesjustice to the terrible events of that day. But nothing can capture the sense of chaos, anger, disbelief of what was unfolding. Then, there was steely resolve, and americans were united and most of the rest of the world stood with america. The taliban in power in afghanistan, whod harboured the alqaeda terrorists, would be driven from power and the us would try to replace the warlords with democracy. But 20 years on, america has abandoned afghanistan. I think were still the greatest democracy in the history of the world, but we are not shining the way we used to shine, and, yes, we are tarnished. I do think it has been a defeat for the Pride Of America and the respect that we have had around the world. 20 years ago, america was never more united. Two decades on and the Terrorist Threat largely quelled, and america has never been more divided. The way we came together was. It was awe inspiring. And in 20 years, the pendulum has swung, in my opinion, the other way. Every day, i miss my dad. Every single day. Whether its 9 11, whether its january 13th, whether its july 7th. I miss my dad and that will never change. And so to 2021, and the most powerful country in the world seems to be suffering a crisis of confidence. In the manner of its departure from afghanistan, the kabul debacle, a crisis of competence. Just off the tip of manhattan, Lady Liberty symbolises America Opening its arms to the world. But 20 years on, the us feels a much more introspective place. Jon sopel, bbc news, New York. The 9 11 attacks led to the invasion of afghanistan. Two decades later, the taliban are back in power and presenting a new face to the world. Theyve promised to forgive those who fought against them and to respect womens rights to work and education. But many afghans are still fearful of what the New Order will bring, as Secunder Kermani reports from kabul. Back in the classroom. This was amongst the first schools in kabul to reopen for girls after the fall of the taliban in 2001. They, along with female teachers, had been banned by the group. Two decades on, The School has expanded. Pupils have gone on to become doctors, engineers. Aisha misbah has worked here for the past a0 years. This time round, the taliban are allowing girls to get an education, but all Secondary School Classes are currently paused, awaiting new rules from the group. Pupils here face other challenges, too. Pleas to the previous government about new buildings went unanswered. Educating generations of young afghan girls and boys has been one of the main achievements of the past 20 years. But you also have to ask why a government that received billions of dollars of international Aid Couldnt even build enough classrooms for pupils in a school in the very centre of kabul . Many would blame corruption. This is a generation determined to make its voice heard. Covering recent protests, what had been one of the freest medias in the region. Now its under threat. These two journalists were badly beaten by the taliban after reporting on a demonstration. American influence here is fading. This is bush bazaar, named after the us president. The Military Gear on sale used to come from international troop bases. Now its largely chinese made imitation, to the disappointment of taliban fighters, now the main customers. 20 years of war have left a legacy that is increasingly unclear. Secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. As the us launched the Global War On Terror in the wake of the 9 11 attacks, pakistan looms large in that story. The pakistani Intelligence Services were accused of helping to create the taliban and it was pakistan where 0sama Bin Laden, the alqaeda leader, was killed by Us Special Forces in 2011. Our world Affairs EditorJohn Simpson is in peshawar. He explains the impact of Americas War on terror. Its hard to say that it isnt a complete failure, laura. After all, the purpose of it was to combat the effects of what 0sama Bin Laden did in launching the 9 11 attacks on america. And those attacks were intended to prove to the world that america was vulnerable and that it wasnt as strong as everybody had assumed. And that is, in fact, what happened. The way in which the first response of President George W bush. He didnt invade afghanistan, and many people in the world seemed to think what he did was to assist with airpower the Afghan Northern Alliance troops to come in and Capture Kabul from the taliban and drive them out. That was welcomed right around the world, but then his officials decided, as we know, that they had to demonstrate that america was just as strong as ever. They picked on Saddam Hussein of iraq. Iraq was invaded in 2003. That was deeply unpopular worldwide, and soon it became clear that the american forces werent really as strong or as effective as everybody had thought. And now, of course, the withdrawal from afghanistan has really driven all those points home. John simpson john John Simpson there. Well, the head of m15 says the threat of terrorism in the uk remains a real and enduring thing. Ken mccallum revealed that 31 late Stage Attack plots had been foiled here in the last four years. And he warned that more sophisticated groups could reform once again. 0ur Security CorrespondentGordon Corera reports. For 20 years, Surveillance And Security have become ever more entwined in our lives a sign of a threat that has not gone away, as the head of m15 told the bbc today. We do face a consistent global struggle to defeat extremism and to guard against terrorism. This is a real problem and in the last four years, for example, working with the police, my organisation has disrupted 31 late Stage Attack plots in great britain. A new counterterrorism Operations Centre was launched this summer by m15 and the police but the threats have also been changing. Since 9 11, we have had a continued evolving, huge challenge with islamist extremist terrorism. We have the rise of extreme right Wing Terrorism and we have definitely a resurgence of sharp and complex state threats. The only major national Security Threat which has been comparatively better across those 20 years is northern ireland. The Uks Terror Threat level has fluctuated, spiking up around 2006 when alqaeda plots were coming out of pakistan. And then again around a decade later, linked to isis in iraq and syria. But the hope was that it might now decline. M15 has been trying to focus on wider issues, like espionage and foreign interference, but the landscape has just changed once again drawing it back to worry more about jihadist terrorism. The concern is that the taliban takeover in afghanistan may both inspire extremists here and perhaps create a Safe Haven there for groups to plan more sophisticated attacks. There is no doubt that recent events in afghanistan will have heartened and emboldened some of those extremists. So, even if the taliban is absolutely in good faith about wanting to prevent terrorism being exported from afghanistan, that will be a difficult task to accomplish. Afghanistan is not an easy country to govern and within which to ensure perfect security. M15 may have expanded and we all may live with more Surveillance And Security, but asked if we were safer now than 20 years ago, the head of m15 said there was no simple answer. Gordon corera, bbc news. Lets get some more of the days other news now. Russia has summoned the us ambassador and complained to him that america is interfering in its parliamentary elections. The Foreign Ministry In Moscow says it has irrefutable evidence of american Tech Giants Violating Russian Laws in the Run Up To next weekends vote. Last week, russia warned Apple And Google that they were breaking the law by failing to remove from their stores a smart Voting App championed by the jailed opposition leader, alexei navalny. The Uk Home secretary, priti patel, has confirmed that Dame Cressida Dick will continue to lead the metropolitan Police Service until 202a. A number of her high profile critics had sent an open letter to the Prime Minister Calling for her contract not to be extended. The head of the World Health Organization in europe says coronavirus may be around for years, adding that the appearance of new variants made it increasingly difficult to reach herd immunity. Hans kluge told reporters that with new, more transmissable variants, the aim of vaccination should be to prevent more serious disease and deaths. The Delta Variant has become the dominant strain in much of europe and is considered to be twice as contagious as the original virus. Lawyers acting for Virginia Guiffre the woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew say he has been served with legal papers ahead of preliminary proceedings scheduled to take place in New York on monday. Our royal correspondent Sarah Campbell has more. These are the official legal papers relating to the civil case that was brought by virginia giuffre, and she alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew when she was 17 years old. He denies all the claims made against him and he said that he has no recollection of meeting her. But this civil case was launched last month at a court in New York, and as part of that initial process, papers must be served on the defendant, so Prince Andrew. Now, a document published today by the court indicates that miss giuffre� s lawyers believe this has now been done. It describes how their representative left the papers with a Police Officer at Prince Andrews home, royal lodge in windsor, and that was on the 27th of august. Now, what isnt clear this evening is whether the princes legal team agree that those papers were served correctly. We have contacted them, but theyre not commenting this evening. It will be now for a judge to decide whether the case will proceed and how it will proceed. And there is a Telephone Conference scheduled for Monday Afternoon in New York between her lawyers and the judge, so that will give us some clarity of how this case is going to proceed. And in the meantime, Prince Andrew, we know, is in balmoral in scotland. Our correspondents Eric Campbell there. Correspondent Sarah Campbell there. Stay with us on bbc news. Still to come last Minute Cancellation why was englands Test Match against india called off just two hours before it was due to start . Freedom itself was attacked this morning. And freedom will be defended. The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible. Bishop tutu now becomes a spiritual leader of 100,000 anglicans here, of the blacks in Soweto Township as well as the whites in their rich suburbs. We say to you today, in a loud and clear voice, enough blood and tears. Enough the difficult decision we reached together was one that required great and exceptional courage. Its an exodus of up to 60,000 people, caused by the uneven pace of political change in eastern europe. Iam free this is bbc news. The latest headlines two decades on, the us remembers the 9 11Terror Attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The head of m15 tells the bbc that the return of the Taliban In Afghanistan is likely to have emboldened Lone Wolf terrorists in the uk. Now, this weekend, the mens and womens finals are taking place at the Us Open in New York. And there couldnt be a greater contrast between the two. In the mens final, the number two Seed Daniil Medvedev will take on either novak djokovic or olympic Champion Alexander Zverev depending on the outcome of their semifinal, which is currently under way. While in the womens final, its the Battle Of Two TeenagersLeyla Fernadez and britains emma raducanu. Both are making their first appearance in a Grand Slam final. Laura scott has been looking at the rise of the new star of british tennis. Emma raducanus A Levels might have been in maths and economics, but the 18 year old seems unable to stop rewriting history. British sports new star was living her teenage dream Last Night, drawing praise from the greats of the game. Emma, again, really impressive. The poise that shes shown, that maturity, i think i was about 26 when i got to that level, so she is way ahead of me. Yeah, again, hat off. This is where it all began, raducanus first signs of Sporting Talent coming at sports day. Teachers at her Primary School in bromley say the precocious youngster always used to win the sprints, and she was back there this summer to hand out the medals to the next generation who are desperate to follow in her footsteps. Whos going to try extra hard in pe now that you have seen emma . Yeah . Its little Wonder Tennis Club has suddenly become so popular. Itjust makes me feel inspired because at the age of 18, what do you think she will be older and everyone wants to follow her tracks. And also shes been winning a lot of money. I dont play tennis, but i think shes inspired me to try it out. She didnt give up and shes nearly there. Its inevitable, isnt it . Seeing such a successful person, having the opportunity to chat to them or even being presented with their medal by her has been absolutely brilliant. And where she is Today Isnt just inspiring for them, its for us as well. Win or lose in the final, raducanu can be sure of one thing, her life will never be the same again. Marketing experts are already describing her as a commercial phenomenon, predicting shell become the uks highest paid sportswomen this year thanks to lucrative endorsements and deals on the horizon. Her Career Earnings will break the million Pound Mark too. The skys the limit, really. Raducanus already earned 1. 2 million for reaching the final, and shes in exactly the right sport. Tennis is very, very well paid for the female athlete. With each of her nine victories in New York the celebratory smile has become bigger and more disbelieving. This teenage qualifier from bromley is nowjust one more precious win away from the most unexpected Grand Slam glory. Laura scott, bbc news, bromley. Thats going to be a fantastic watch, isnt it . Lebanon has a new government after 13 months of political deadlock thats seen the currency lose 90 of its value and the majority of the Population Slip into poverty. President Michel Aoun has accepted the administration proposed by prime minister najib mikati. The Billionaire Businessman was asked to form a government after the one proposed by a predecessor, said hariri, was rejected. Bbc� s middle East Correspondent Anna foster says there are enormous challenges this new government has to tackle. It has been a long time coming, and what is particularly interesting to note about today is that it is not in itself the answer to lebanons problems, it is perhaps step one to trying to find a solution. As you rightly say, it has been more than a year now since lebanon had a functioning government, the last one resigned just after the Port Blast here in beirut that killed more than 200 people. And ever since then, they have been trying to work out the Make Up of a new cabinet. Now, when you look at a government here in lebanon, they are based very much along sectarian lines. It has been that way for a very long time. It is in theory a good way to represent all of the different religious groups here in lebanon, but in practice what it has done is created a deadlock and made it very difficult for those differing groups to agree on a cabinet formation. Now, even this morning, there were suggestions on the front pages of the lebanese newspapers that today would be the day, but that has happened more than once before. But just after lunchtime, this decree was signed and we are just seeing now the first names in that government. But whatever happens next, they have got a huge job on their hands to try and pull lebanon out of the crisis it is in with the shortage of fuel, medicines, the currency has lost so much of its value in the last few years. They have a huge, huge job ahead of them. Our middle East Correspondent Anna foster there. Englands fifth and final Test Match against india at Old Trafford was called off on friday, just two hours before it had been due to start. A number of Indias Backroom Staff have tested positive for covid 19, leaving the tourists unable to field a team because of concerns about further cases spreading through their squad. But questions have been raised about whether the decision was linked to the resumption of the lucrative indian premier league. Heres our sports correspondentjoe wilson. Old Traffords Cancellation was announced too late for many whod arrived to fill these seats. A refund is only partial compensation. Working all night, so ive not slept a wink all night to get here today. To be cancelled at the last minute, ifind shocking. Come from london. Yeah, we stayed here Last Night and we booked a hotel Last Night when we came. For tonight. And now we have had to try and cancel that. So itsjust been a complete nightmare. Take a day off work and then theres no game. Whos to blame for the fact that this Test Match wont happen . I dont think, its not a blame thing. We are still living in a very difficult environment for elite sports performance. So to go from one anxiety inducing environment to another, which was the high performance playing field, is very difficult, and i think at times that goes past the point where players are comfortable to go out and take the field and that is what we have seen in this case. Even negative pcr Tests Yesterday apparently didnt convince indias players they were safe. Well, the super lucrative ipl, indian premier league, will resume later this month. Do india want their star players involved in that . Of course they do. Ill be honest, i think all this is about money. I completely get players, of what they have gone through in the last year and a half, its been difficult, biobubbles, the mental Health Side is very important, we have to lock after that. I believe this week was about money, making sure that those players get to the ipl, because they want to earn those big cheques, which again i get. But i dont get it when its at the expense of a Test Match. Staging the matches is a major undertaking, these performers were booked and played at the test that never was. Joe wilson, bbc news, Old Trafford. A reminder of our top story two decades after the Terror Attacks on the United States on 11 september, 2001, people across the United States and the world are preparing to mark the deadliest foreign attack ever on us soil which killed nearly 3,000 people. It prompted President George W bush to declare a Global War On Terror. He zeroed in on Alqaeda And OsamaBin Laden and the Taliban In Afghanistan. It was after a 20 Year Conflict in this country that the us announced its withdrawal this year of the last american troops. Thats it from me. You can reach me on twitter im Samanthatvnews Goodbye for now. Hello there. We had some intense showers to and friday. A lot of rain also from those showers in northern ireland. This is how it looked. We should see fewer showers at least through saturday. In fact for much of the weekend. There is a Question Mark over sunday. Things turned low but fresher is this area of low pressure responsible for the shower starts to move away to the northeast. We are left with wet weather across Northern Scotland because this trailing weather front, scotland because this trailing weatherfront, but behind scotland because this trailing weather front, but behind that weather front, but behind that weather front, but behind that weatherfront, we weather front, but behind that weather front, we shift the Wind Direction into the north from the northwest, so it freshens up, because of the moment was to have that humidity. That will start to avoid during saturday. But we also have that wet weather in the north. It has already been pretty wet in shetland, and by Morning Widespread Rain across the north, scotland some quite Heavy Rain as well. Elsewhere the showers easing away, but a muqqy the showers easing away, but a Muggy Night again. Lots of grey, misty, murky weather. Potential Hill Fog as well. But that cloud should break up and, for england and wales, fewer showers, pressure weather, but more sunshine than we had in the day on friday. Stilley scattering for showers northern ireland. But for the north of scotland, itjust continues to be a pretty wet affair, real soaking rain, need to keep an eye on that. Still quite warm in the sunshine. Thats because we have got a Ridge Of High Pressure here. By the time our Weather System starts to drift southwards, it does peter out, becomes drier under a Ridge Of High Pressure, but this is the Question Mark, what comes in from the west. Sunday, a bit of cloud, bit a breeze for the Great North Runners here. Drier for scotland and northern ireland, but it is hard howfar how far thingies this rain comes that is the question. Fresher, temperatures down on those of saturday. And then how far east it will push into monday . As i say, thats the big Question Mark at the moment. Elsewhere, High Pressure is bringing a lot of dry and settled weather, but as ever if you have plans for the next couple of days, stay tuned to the forecast. This is bbc news. The Headlines America is preparing to mark 20 years since the Terror Attacks of 9 11. Memorial events will take place across the country on saturday, paying tribute to the nearly 3000 people who lost their lives. The attacks that day marked the beginning of the so called war on terror. The head of britains domestic Intelligence Service says the threat of terrorism in the uk remains a real and enduring thing. Ken mccallum revealed that 31 late Stage Attack plots had been foiled here in the last four years. And he warned that more sophisticated groups could reform once again. Lawyers for the american woman suing the Duke Of York over Sexual Assault Allegations say theyve successfully served him with legal papers a condition for the lawsuit to proceed. Ajudge must now decide if the papers were indeed served. Prince andrew has always strongly denied the allegations. Scotlands First Minister says the nhs is under more