colleagues like to see a change in the irish courts, having a closed border again. pakistan's prime minister, imran khan, has been speaking to the bbc about afghanistan, laying out what the taliban need to do before he'll recognise their government. and in the canary islands, another village on la palma is evacuated as the volcano destroys a new area. there is ash falling on my clothes, i can taste it in the air, and the rumble of the volcano in the background. first, let's bring you some breaking news. in the last half an hour or so, the australian state of victoria has been struck by a magnitude 6 earthquake. the epicentre was in the regional town of mansfield, north east of melbourne, with geoscience australia measuring the depth at 10 kilometres. just to give you some context, this is quite rare in australia — according to authorities there, australia roughly sees only about 100 earthquakes a year above magnitude 3 — neighbouring indonesia for instance sees more than 11,000 a year. this quake was felt across the state of victoria as well as in canberra and as far as sydney. there are reports emerging of significant damage in some parts of victoria. of course, we'll bring you more on that as we get it. president biden has appealed for collective action to tackle the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change and the pandemic, in a speech to the un general assembly. mr biden called for countries to cooperate as never before, rejecting the isolationist approach of his predecessor, donald trump. the bbc�*s barbara plett usher has been following the day's events and starts our coverage. his excellency, joseph r bidenjunior, president of the united states... this was president biden�*s chance to show that america is back at the table. we stand, in my view, at an inflection point in history. he called for unity to face growing global threats at a time when many allies are sceptical about america's leadership, especially after his largely unilateral decision to withdraw from afghanistan. we've ended 20 years of conflict in afghanistan, and as we close this period of relentless war, we're opening a new era of relentless diplomacy. a constant theme was us tensions with china, framed as a defensive democracy versus autocracy, although he never called beijing out by name. we are not seeking a new cold war or a world divided in the rigid blocks. the united states is ready to work with any nation that steps up and pursues peaceful resolution to shared challenges, even if we have intense disagreement in other areas, because we'll all suffer the consequences of ourfailure. mr biden�*s debut was seen as a test of american credibility after the confrontational years of donald trump, and by that standard, he offered reassurance. as we look ahead, we will lead. we will lead on all the greatest challenges of our time, from covid to climate, peace and security, human dignity and human rights, but we will not go alone. this is an opportunity for a reset, but us action on covid and climate change will be crucial for convincing the world that america really is back. barbara plett usher, bbc news, new york. the british prime minister borisjohnson has arrived at the white house for his meeting with president biden. the two men briefly spoke in front of the media — they were asked about a number of things, but what grabbed our attention was when president biden was asked what he thought about the ongoing row between the uk and the european union over customs checks for goods going in and out of northern ireland, and the potential for it to lead to the reimposition of a hard border on the island of ireland. 0n the protocols, ifeel very strongly about those. we spent an enormous amount of time and effort in the united states. it was a major bipartisan effort made, and i would not at all like to see, nor, i might add, would many of my republican colleagues like to see a change in the irish courts with the end result having a closed border again. that is absolutely right. and on that point, joe, we are completely at one, and i think nobody wants to see anything that interrupts or unbalances the belfast good friday accord — that's the belfast good friday agreement. carbon emissions are of course going to be a big part of the debate at the forthcoming cop26 summit in october and november in glasgow. and you can read much more about that summit in a special section on our website. just log on to bbc.com/news. back to the earthquake in australia, magnitude 6 earthquake north—east of melbourne. we are hearing reports of damage as far away as sydney. i'm joined now from sydney by our correspondent phil mercer. what details are you getting about the damage caused by this? ~ ., about the damage caused by this? ~ . , ., this? we are getting reports of the aftermath _ this? we are getting reports of the aftermath of— this? we are getting reports of the aftermath of this _ the aftermath of this earthquake. it was a magnitude six, about 100 kilometres from the city of melbourne. seismologists say that the shakes and the earthquake were felt as far away as sydney. this is a considerable distance from melbourne. that gives you an indication as to the force or some of these shudders, that rocked parts of victoria and further afield. we are getting reports that people have reported quite significant damage in parts of the state of victoria. this all happened within the last hour, so the authorities are now waiting to assess the scale of the damage. people are saying on social media how their homes shook, how they were terrified. i think it's safe to say an earthquake of this scale in australia is extremely unusual. yeah, highly unusual, phil. some statistics from australian authorities that in the course of a year, typically you say 100 earthquakes in australia measuring over the magnitude of three. in neighbouring indonesia, which sits on the pacific ring of fire, it's around 11,000. just talk us through the fact this is quite rare in australia, and what preparations people have typically had to take in order to prepare for something like this. i to prepare for something like this. ., �* ~' to prepare for something like this. ., �* ~ , this. i don't think people would pay _ this. i don't think people would pay too _ this. i don't think people would pay too much - this. i don't think people - would pay too much attention to earthquakes in australia. the vast majority, as you say, in australia... there are not many compared to neighbouring countries, most would go unnoticed. indonesia and new zealand, known as the shaky isles, new zealand suffered 14,000 isles, new zealand suffered 111,000 earthquakes each year. about 100 are noticeable. here in australia, we simply don't have the same sort of problem. there was a significant earthquake in the city of newcastle quite a few decades ago, so it does happen here, but it is extremely rare. in terms of people being prepared for earthquakes, i don't think people usually give them a second thought, if you speak to people in new zealand and indonesia, it's a very different story. this is why this event in victoria is unusual. it will be spreading a lot of fear and concern, especially when you read those stories on social media, people in their homes, very violent shaking in some circumstances. we are getting reports that there has been significant damage in parts of the australian state of victoria, and also some apartment blocks in inner melbourne are being evacuated. though australia might not necessarily be prepared for earthquakes of this scale, but certainly they are having to react to what is quite a significant event here. thank you, phil, following that breaking story for us in australia. the earthquake in the last hour in australia. we will be sure to get more for you on that story, as and when we are able. pakistan's prime minister imran khan has said preventing women from accessing education in neighbouring afghanistan would be un—islamic. he called for the leadership to be inclusive and to respect human rights. in an interview with our wolrd affairs editor, john simpson, mr khan laid out the conditions that would need to be met for pakistan to formally recognise the new taliban government. in peshawar, on pakistan's north—west frontier, afghanistan feels very close. the streets are thronged with afghan refugees. in the 1990s, the taliban had their origins in the afghan refugee camps here, and pakistan has always been accused of setting up the taliban and helping them take power in afghanistan — something pakistan denies. but when the taliban were thrown out in 2001, pakistan's influence in afghanistan fizzled out for 20 years. in our interview, imran khan clearly didn't want to seem to be too close to the taliban, but he was careful not to be too critical of them either, over the question of the rights of afghan women, for instance. the women are very strong. i feel, give them time. they will assert their rights. how much time? years? a year, two years, three years. three years? but at the moment, john, it's just too early to say anything, because it has barely been a month. after 20 years of civil war, they have come back into power. the taliban — the word just means islamic students — originally owed their existence as a movement to religious schools in pakistan like this one, the zuberia in peshawar, where they were recruited and radicalised. the main teacher, sheikh rahimullah, even helped the taliban to distribute the weapons they captured from american soldiers. "the previous taliban government didn't understand the system," he says. "this time, they do understand politics "and international relations. "they're not as harsh now as they were before." the new taliban leaders in afghanistan are certainly trying to give the outside world the impression that they've changed. imran khan hopes they have. it's very encouraging. they have said they will have an inclusive government. they have said that women can work, can have education. they will give amnesty to everyone. the soil won't be used for terrorism by anyone. you know, these are encouraging statements. so, you are approving the way the taliban are operating? no, i'm approving of what they have said. no—one can tell where afghanistan goes from here, but what we hope and pray, that finally, after a0 years, the people of afghanistan will have peace and stability. but the taliban didn't bring peace and stability before and there's no evidence they can do it this time. in that case, it wouldn'tjust be afghanistan that suffered, it would be pakistan as well. john simpson, bbc news, islamabad. if you want to get in touch with me, i'm on twitter — @bbckarishma. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. lots of promises made at the unga by world leaders on climate change — but will it be enough for those on the climate change frontline? we get the view from a nation in danger of disappearing. benjohnson, the fastest man on earth, is flying home to canada in disgrace. all athletes should be clean going into the games. i'm just happy that justice is served. it is a simple fact that this morning, these people were in their homes. tonight, those homes have been burnt down by serbian soldiers and police. all the taliban positions along here have been. strengthened, presumably. in case the americans invade. it's no use having a secret service which cannot preserve its own secrets against the world, and so the british government has no option but to continue this action, even after any adverse judgment in australia. concorde had crossed the atlantic faster than any plane ever before, breaking the record by six minutes. this is newsday on the bbc. 0ur headlines. president biden makes his debut in front of world leaders at the un, promising a new era of " relentless diplomacy" to replace relentless war. a busy day for president biden — while hosting the british prime minister at the white house, he outlined the importance of ireland's peace accord. we've been hearing in the programme about what the world's two super powers, china and america, have committed to do to fight global warming. but will these pledges help the countries that are literally on the frontline of climate change? tuvalu is an island nation in the pacific ocean that has suffered due to increased temperatures and rising sea levels. samuelu laloniu is tuvalu's ambassador to the united nations. i spoke to him a little earlier and asked how urgent the situation in tuvalu is in regards to climate change. i have to say that tuvalu is the most vulnerable country to climate change. and i say that with conviction because for one, we are already living the impact of climate change as we speak. secondly, it's the very fact that our vulnerability to sea level rise will mean that we have, in the very near future, to ask very difficult questions on our sovereignty, our statehood, our rights. so, these are issues that we have... when you talk about those issues, they're now being addressed to some extent hopefully by that new climate finance pledge we've just heard from president biden. does that go far enough in helping developing countries like yours? it will help. the commitment to the us, by the us, will help in that direction, but we need a lot more assistance to small island states. the costs are much more than the 100 billion that has been committed to. what is the risk, what is at stake, rather, if these countries that have pledged to put money into this fund don't end up sticking to their promises? paint as a picture of what that means for countries like yours. what that means for countries like yam-— like yours. well, for a country like yours. well, for a country like ours. _ like yours. well, for a country like ours. we _ like yours. well, for a country like ours, we really— like yours. well, for a country like ours, we really very - like yours. well, for a country| like ours, we really very much depend on global solidarity in addressing this issue, because we need everybody, every hands on board. if the $100 billion is not met, that means we will not be able to carry out our adaptations, our needs. like i said before, we are already living the impact, the future impact of climate change as we speak. my country is one of the four atoll nations in the world, no more than a few metres above sea level. a recent report estimated that we would be submerged in 100 years. so if we cannot adapt to climate change, or countries are not able to commit to the financial commitments in the paris agreement, then we are talking about our statehood. mass climate displacement. more on the breaking news, the earthquake that has struck australia. i am joined earthquake that has struck australia. iam joined by earthquake that has struck australia. i am joined by a heart surgeon who is about an hour away from melbourne. he was operating at the time the earthquake hit. i was doing a routine coronary bypass operation when it hit. sort of in the crux of the operation. wejust sort of in the crux of the operation. we just felt the whole table, the operating table move. we thought maybe the anaesthetist or one of the nursing staff was actually manoeuvring the table, but even the staff that were not at the operating table, the other nursing staff and the scientists managing the heart—lung machine, they all felt the room moving as well. it was a really bizarre feeling, because it was quite sustained. it probably felt like a minute at least, maybe two minutes. looking around the room, all of the i v polls were moving. some of the plants were all shaking. clearly it wasn't the anaesthetist fiddling with the anaesthetist fiddling with the operating table.- the operating table. yes, indeed. _ the operating table. yes, indeed. it _ the operating table. yes, indeed, it sounds - the operating table. yes, indeed, it sounds like - the operating table. yes, indeed, it sounds like a l the operating table. yes, - indeed, it sounds like a really terrifying thing to go through. i am glad to hear that you and your team in the operating theatre are safe and that you've made it out of there. but in your career as a surgeon in australia, i can say you are still wearing the surgical close there, in your career, have you ever seen anything like this, witnessed an earthquake like this in australia?— earthquake like this in australia? ., ., �* australia? no, i mean, i've felt a small— australia? no, i mean, i've felt a small earthquake - australia? no, i mean, i've- felt a small earthquake before, but not whilst operating. and obviously in cardiac surgery we are doing a lot of microsurgery with fine movements, so when you have any movement at the table which is not anticipated, it's really exacerbated. so an earthquake, which i think i understand was fairly sizeable in magnitude, it was definitely extrapolated and we could feel the effects of that. fortunately we were at a stage of the operation where we could sort of come to a halt and just wait for that to pass, and subsequently carried on and finished the surgery. just briefl , finished the surgery. just briefly. in _ finished the surgery. just briefly, in terms - finished the surgery. just briefly, in terms of- finished the surgery. just briefly, in terms of what authorities are telling you, can you carry on with your work? what are officials saying to you about where you need to be now? irate to you about where you need to be now? ~ ., ., ., , be now? we have not actually heard anything _ be now? we have not actually heard anything at _ be now? we have not actually heard anything at this - be now? we have not actually heard anything at this stage. l heard anything at this stage. we are in between cases at the moment. as far as i'm aware, we are allowed to carry on with our routine work. i don't believe there's been any major structural damage or any concerns, certainly in the hospital or the part of the community around here. so we are planning to crack on and keep doing what we are doing. thank you so much forjoining us and stay safe. thank you so much for “oining us and stay safeh us and stay safe. thanks very much. more people have been forced to flee their homes after the eruption of a volcano on the spanish island of la palma. there are fears that lava flows could trigger toxic gases and explosions when they reach the sea. the volcano began erupting on sunday, shooting lava hundreds of metres into the air. danjohnson has the latest from la palma. more families and more communities are packing up and getting out. the village is being cleared in a last dash for people to grab whatever they can. the flames and the larva are really close, that is why there was such a risk to these properties and why people are making every effort to get out. being here forjust a couple of minutes, you get a sense of the risk, because there is ash falling on my clothes, i can taste it in the air, and the whole time there is the thunderous rumble of a volcano in the background. that is why people are loading up and going. but leaving is painful, and there is a sense of panic at times. this man is desperately helping his dad, who has lived here for over a0 years and can't believe it's ending like this. translation: i ending like this. translation: ., ., , translation: i am angry with the authorities. _ translation: i am angry with the authorities. we _ translation: i am angry with the authorities. we could - translation: i am angry with the authorities. we could have | the authorities. we could have done this without so much stress, without running. i don't know where i am going to live, and now what? this don't know where i am going to live, and now what?— live, and now what? this is what. more _ live, and now what? this is what. more homes - live, and now what? this is. what. more homes destroyed, more communities that will have to be abandoned. and here is the molten lava on the move, a slow motion minute, inching relentlessly downhill. this is a live geology lesson in nature's unstoppable forces. it's notjust property. it's not just property. everything it's notjust property. everything here has been shaken. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. another warm day in the offing for many with spells of sunshine once the early mist and patchy, dense fog clears away. however, further north we do have a different complexion to the weather for the day ahead. some cloudy skies with some rain, heavy to start and the risk of an autumnal gales just on cue for the autumn equinox. that's all being brought by this advancing area of clouds, it's a low pressure system. we do have a weaker weather front ahead of it. so, in contrast, it will be quite a mild start in the north whilst it could be a little bit chilly down to seven or eight in the south. it is here we will see the best of the sunshine once that mist and fog clears away, particularly for the far south. a little bit more cloud for england and wales and the odd spot of drizzle first thing, but that clears away. this is the main rain player through the day, the northwest highlands and the islands initially. it will tend to turn a little bit lighter as it pushes southward, some brightness ahead of it and some brighter weather with showers following behind. but a breezy day even in the south as well, and the winds do escalate towards the evening. so, temperature wise, a cooler day, we are into cooler air behind that weather front, but as recent days, 22 to possibly 23 in the spots in the south and east. through the evening overnight look at those showers packing in, the winds really strengthen, there is a risk of gales across the far north and west and a cooler feel. while further south, our weather front starts to introduce a bit more cloud, so it will be milder here as we start thursday morning. a little bit of mistiness and the odd patch of fog. we still got that high—pressure close by, but you can see that deep area of low pressure whisking away toward scandinavia. behind it is just introducing that cooler air for a time. but it is just a brief incursion of chilly airfor the far north. i think you will notice a temperature dip a little bit in southern areas as well, with some cloud coming and going but still plenty of dry and bright weather. 0ur weather front, however, just bringing the increased risk of drizzly, cloudy weather into northern and western areas. so, temperaturesjust a degree or so down on those that we are going to see through the day ahead. but then, the wind turns back to the southwest. in fact, by the weekend it's turning towards the south actually. so, dragging that warmer air back to all parts. and some fairly settled weather, but always the risk of some showery rain out towards the west. as ever, there's more on our website. bye— bye. this week we're looking at the world of extremism in gaming. also, meet your robot squash coach. let's play squash! and we all know that mosquitoes suck, but so do these anti—mozzy machines. hey, welcome to click. hope you're doing 0k.