hello. a serving metropolitan police officer used cobit rules to stop and kill sarah everard from the streets of south london in march before he raped and murdered her. wayne cousins pretended to arrest her 33 —year—old, handcuffing her as she was walking home from a friend's house. today, sarah everard's family told the great head of the sentencing this week they were brokenhearted and haunted by the horror of what had happened to their daughter. ourspecial horror of what had happened to their daughter. our special correspondent was in court. "she was my precious little girl," said sarah everard's mother. "i can never talk to her, never hold her again. i am tormented at the thought of what she endured." that was at the hands of wayne couzens, in handcuffs when he was arrested at home, telling lie after lie. he'd already kidnapped, raped, murdered and burnt sarah. he's asked if he knows her. do you know sarah? i don't, no. 0k. do you know where sarah is? no. all right. i'm sat in handcuffs and... so you must have something to say that i know her. as sarah walked from her friend's house, couzens was hunting for a victim — this the moment of that deception. his car on the pavement, hazard lights on, he stops sarah. his arm outstretched, showing her his warrant card, using his handcuffs, he arrests her. he'd previously been on covid patrol, so knew what to say. witnesses see sarah with her arms behind her back, but they think it's an undercover police operation. it was kidnap. he used all the equipment and knowledge of being a police officer to do it. couzens sat in the dock, never lifting his head. sarah's family and friends listened to the devastating detail that is their daily reality. in the hours after kidnapping her, there was a mixture of the banal and the evil. after dumping sarah's body in woods in kent, he stops at costa coffee to get a hot chocolate. police think he's raped and murdered sarah by this time. he then throws sarah's phone into a stream, later recovered by a police diver. the next day, he goes to buy a green can and fills it up with petrol. he returns to the woods and burns sarah's body in a fridge. later, it's dumped in water. that same day, he calls the family vet as if nothing has happened. yeah, i was wondering if i could book my dog in for the vet, so i can have a discussion about her issues, please. he goes back again to the woods for a family trip with his wife and children, just days after he'd left sarah's remains there. sarah's family remained so dignified as they told the court about sarah and about what they had lost. her father and sister asked couzens, who had his head bowed, to face them. couzens started shaking. mr everard told him, "sarah was handcuffed and unable to defend herself. this preys on my mind all the time. i can never forgive you for taking sarah away from us. all my family want is sarah back. you have broken our hearts." her mother, susan, said... her sister told couzens. .. couzens has still never explained what exactly happened that night. a police officer betraying his uniform, a family left with no answers and without sarah, and a woman who had her life — her future — taken. lucy manning reporting. even before it was revealed this killer was a police officer, the case in britain raised profound questions about how the authorities handle incidents of violence against women. in fact, back and make him the centerfor women's justice released research that in the last two years, 129,000,000 reported a police officerfor 129,000,000 reported a police officer for domestic 129,000,000 reported a police officerfor domestic or 129,000,000 reported a police officer for domestic or sexual violence and found systemic problems in police investigations into those cases with inadequate investigations, inadequate charging and misconduct decisions. donna jones as the police and crime commissionerfor jones as the police and crime commissioner for hampshire and the isle of wight. thank you very much for being with us. what is so shocking about this case is that people witnessed they kidnapped, how he got his handcuffs out, how he used his war and cried and didn't know that anything was amiss. do you fear what this would mean for other women who might react differently in future when they come across a police officer?— future when they come across a olice officer? ., ~ , ., ., ., police officer? thank you for having me on this evening. _ police officer? thank you for having me on this evening. before - police officer? thank you for having me on this evening. before i - police officer? thank you for having me on this evening. before i get. me on this evening. before i get started on that answer, if you don't mind, ijust want started on that answer, if you don't mind, i just want to say mind, ijust want to say how incredibly brave i think mister and missus everard have been and sarah's sister. their statements today i think have gone to the heart of most people across great britain in this case has gone to the heart of many of us, particularly to government and the heart of policing as well. in answer to question in the pass, obviously it's a concern. this is a huge dance to the trust and confidence in policing when you do have a metropolitan police officer who uses his war and cried. these are thankfully extremely rare circumstances, and i do want to reassure the public that the police officers that i've met are outstanding, they are professional, theyjoined policing because they want to protect the community, particularly vulnerable people, so this is a very rare and isolated incident, but, yes, ithink the point you're making your question is naturally yes, it will have an effect if you are a young girl walking that location and you are pulled over by a police car, of course, it will run through your mind. is course, it will run through your mind. , ., ., mind. is it isolated? the former chief of police _ mind. is it isolated? the former chief of police constable - mind. is it isolated? the former chief of police constable for - chief of police constable for nottinghamshire police has spoken about how she was sexually assaulted when she was in the forest by a younger officer and two senior colleagues when she was a younger colleague. there is this culture of sexism in the police force that is not being called up. she spoke with us today and said this. naturally, what is apparent, _ us today and said this. naturally, what is apparent, command - us today and said this. naturally, what is apparent, command i - us today and said this. naturally, i what is apparent, command i cannot speak— what is apparent, command i cannot speak for— what is apparent, command i cannot speak for this sarah everard example, but i know with other incidents — example, but i know with other incidents where they have been predatory six offenders in policing from a _ predatory six offenders in policing from a colleagues have known something is not right, but it is never_ something is not right, but it is never reported. and i think it is a bit like _ never reported. and i think it is a bit like safeguarding in schools, where _ bit like safeguarding in schools, where teachers are actively encouraged to report low—level concerns — encouraged to report low—level concerns because it may be there is nothing _ concerns because it may be there is nothing to— concerns because it may be there is nothing to it, but it may be something far more serious, and it can be _ something far more serious, and it can be addressed at an earlier stage rather— can be addressed at an earlier stage rather than — can be addressed at an earlier stage rather than as we are looking at now the sentencing of a predator, you know, _ the sentencing of a predator, you know. who — the sentencing of a predator, you know, who was a police officer. that is a crucial — know, who was a police officer. that is a crucial point _ know, who was a police officer. twat is a crucial point that she makes because we do know from reporting that three days before this murder, he was seen by other officers indecently exposing himself. the point is that police officers are never off—duty. if safeguarding were better within the forest, that would have come to light, wouldn't it? {jut have come to light, wouldn't it? out es, first have come to light, wouldn't it? omit yes, first about, the iop cecum of the independent police complaints looking into those allegations of exposing himself, two or three incidents i go back to 2015 and i think we do need to wait and see what the outcome of that independent investigation is to find out what lessons need to be learned, if any, so that all police forces can learn from it and move forward. going back to those comments, i think from my understanding, they are probably dating back 20 years ago, and actually committing the country has come a long way in those 20 years. it's not only a culture in policing where there have been issues about approaches of sexual inappropriate sexual activities towards women in the workplace, this stands from going out to bars, pubs, nightclubs, women having their bottoms pinched years ago, it was very much commonplace, and sadly, some of the things are still going on. i think it is right that the prime minister and the home secretary have been so focused on the violence against women and girls agenda, and certainly myself as a national lead for victims across the country, representing commissioners and millions of millions of people that live in this country, more does need to be done. now, in terms of the culture of inside policing itself, yes, when things like this happen, we need to make sure, as chief constables and people like myself as commissioners, that any police officer that is working in this country that feels uncomfortable or has any concerns about a college should be able to report that without fear of any kind of retribution whatsoever. they are in a very responsible and trusted job. they have access to a huge amount of people's personal information from a particularly vulnerable people, and if you are working alongside somebody and you have a concern, but every industry, particularly in policing, you should be able to report that. it policing, you should be able to report that-— policing, you should be able to reort that. ,., .,' . ,., report that. it is an offence if you don't respond — report that. it is an offence if you don't respond to _ report that. it is an offence if you don't respond to a _ report that. it is an offence if you don't respond to a police - don't respond to a police officer's instructions, so in the meat — immediate term, their concerns about betting and safeguarding, but in the immediate term, if a young woman is walking home and is stopped by a single police officer, what should she deal? i think what i would do, and i thought something didn't seem right from i would say to the place up right from i would say to the place up there, can i see her warrant cried, can you just tell me again why you want to pull me over, why you are stopping and searching me, or why you are wanting to arrest me. he had rehearsed all of this, he had all of these things and then arrested her at. i all of these things and then arrested her at.— all of these things and then arrested her at. ., , _ . arrested her at. i would be synced to the place _ arrested her at. i would be synced to the place op — arrested her at. i would be synced to the place up sick— arrested her at. i would be synced to the place up sick and _ arrested her at. i would be synced to the place up sick and i - arrested her at. i would be synced to the place up sick and i don't - to the place up sick and i don't think you have grounds to arrest me can i think this is unlawful, i'm going to call 999 now and speak to the control room and check that you are a real life police officer who is on duty. look, it's easy for me to say that now, isn't it, because we have all learned about a horrific incident that happened to sarah, and she is actually, she was a law—abiding citizen, she was walking home, and actually, she got stopped by a police officer with a valid metropolitan police warrant cried and she obliged, even though i'm sure she probably thought she did nothing wrong, she obliged because she thought that was the right thing to do, because she was law—abiding. i don't think any of us can understand what her family are going through because today, what it must have done for them has brought all of this back to life again when they heard some of the incidents that occurred around her actual illegal arrest on the road side there in south london on the third of march last year. it has shocked the country. there is much work to be done, and i do think it's important that policing with the recruitment and the police uplift programme that we have more women that are recruited and more people recruited that represent society as a whole. i really think that will also help to rebuild trust and confidence in policing as well.— rebuild trust and confidence in policing as well. some good advice and next can _ policing as well. some good advice and next can he _ policing as well. some good advice and next can he ask _ policing as well. some good advice and next can he ask them - policing as well. some good advice and next can he ask them our - policing as well. some good advice . and next can he ask them our deepest sympathies, deep synthes by the family. it is a terrible case. thank you very much indeed for your time. forjoe biden, the stakes don't come much higher. over the next 36 hours, his entire academic platform could unravel, or what the right amount of diplomacy and wheeler dealing, he could be on the verge of a major victory. on the health of the house speaker, nancy pelosi, is desperately trying to keep her fractious trips together to send the first two major pieces of legislation to the present�*s death. generally speaking, they also support the $1,000,000,000,000 infrastructure package which proposes major new investment in bridges, ports, road and internet connections. at the bail has become a political bargaining chip for those in the progressive wing of the party who threatened to scatter the vote tonight and must have a guarantee that the senate would pass a second bell, much bigotry $.5 trillion social safety net. the trouble is over in the senate where democrats need every vote, there are two democratic senators, joe mansion of west virginia and kristen of arizona who are holdouts and they think they $.5 trillion is too big. so at the other end of pennsylvania avenue, the president is playing the role of political emissary. he cancelled the trip to chicago today to meet further with the arizona representative, who is apparently at the white house three times yesterday and once again today. here is what the white house press secretary had to say moments ago. we secretary had to say moments ago. - knew that it would be a compromise command that is exactly what it is. as you know, the president has given a great amount of time over the last two days engaging with each of the senators about the path forward. lets speak to emily wilkins, the congressional correspondent. they do have the lettuce. the white house said tonight that they sense that she wanted the on the social security meant, butjoe mansion is can i last a minute saying it is going to take a while.- can i last a minute saying it is going to take a while. yes, senator joe now saying _ going to take a while. yes, senator joe now saying that _ going to take a while. yes, senator joe now saying that he _ going to take a while. yes, senator joe now saying that he doesn't - going to take a while. yes, senatorl joe now saying that he doesn't see a way to get an agreement on reconciliation both before tomorrow. that is key to tamara's infrastructure both because progressive democrats have said that they will block that infrastructure bail unless that reconciliation bill that has social spending and tax plans put forward by president biden is good to go. a lot of questions on capitol hill right now whether the infrastructure vote will even happen tomorrow, how democrats will go forward with an acting president's agenda. they are honestly a lot of question wrecks here and things are moving very, very rapidly as tamara's scheduled vote quickly approach as. tamara's scheduled vote quickly approach a— approach as. could indeed so. chicken can — approach as. could indeed so. chicken can only _ approach as. could indeed so. chicken can only afford - approach as. could indeed so. chicken can only afford to - approach as. could indeed so. chicken can only afford to a i approach as. could indeed so. - chicken can only afford to a nancy pelosi commit to lose three votes in the house, so the big question is what do the republicans do. this is a bipartisan infrastructure bail. the president got a deal with the republicans. did they vote to hand him a victory or do they side with the progressives to vote against him? so the progressives to vote against him? , , , ,, ., him? so i republicans in the senate did no him? so i republicans in the senate did go ahead — him? so i republicans in the senate did go ahead and _ him? so i republicans in the senate did go ahead and vote _ him? so i republicans in the senate did go ahead and vote for— him? so i republicans in the senate did go ahead and vote for this - did go ahead and vote for this measure, not all of them, but many of them, including senate minority leader, mitch mcconnell, in the house,is leader, mitch mcconnell, in the house, is a little less bipartisan. republican leadership has encouraged their members to vote against the bail, still, we know there about ten to 11 republicans who do plan to vote for the measure and i could go from ten to as many as potentially 16 or 17, maybe even more. but what we're hearing from progressive democrats is that they have at least 60 individuals who have said that they will not vote for infrastructure that social spending reconciliation package goes. so it appears at this point that democrats don't tap the boat to pass that infrastructure bail, even if republicans voted with them. that thin i republicans voted with them. that thing i don't _ republicans voted with them. that thing i don't understand aboutjoe mansion, because he's a senator from west virginia, and anybody knows anything about west virginia notes it's one of the poorest states in america. they have three times the other number of states, three times as many faulty bridges and roads, so they need an infrastructure plan as well. how does he get elected by going back to people in the state and saying to me you know what, i bargained for last. i and saying to me you know what, i bargained for last.— bargained for last. i think what gets missed — bargained for last. i think what gets missed sometimes - bargained for last. i think what gets missed sometimes in - bargained for last. i think what gets missed sometimes in the | bargained for last. i think what - gets missed sometimes in the current debate that's going on is that senators like joe, debate that's going on is that senators likejoe, it's not that they don't want that social spending plan. they do. but they are also concerned about that $3.5 trillion price tag. they are worried about inflation, they are worried about more national debt, they are worried about raising taxes. so right now, what democrats are trying to do is figure out what that top line number is. how much can they spend and has that senators be comfortable with that. now, president biden told him a number of days ago you need to come up with a number, get back to us on what you have, but we have yet to hear what that number would be. as we heard, they both met with individuals from the white house. you see nancy pelosi and the majority leader chuck schumer had over to the white house, democratic leaders are currently meeting with president biden, and i think there isjust a lot president biden, and i think there is just a lot of questions right now about what if any agreement they are going to be coming too. but these moderates like senatorjoe, they do want an infrastructure bail, they just want the reconciliation bill, the social spending bail, theyjust infrastructure piece to go first, and they went about on that to be tomorrow. , , ., tomorrow. emily, it will be a fascinating — tomorrow. emily, it will be a fascinating 24 _ tomorrow. emily, it will be a fascinating 24 hours. - tomorrow. emily, it will be a fascinating 24 hours. thankl tomorrow. emily, it will be a i fascinating 24 hours. thank you tomorrow. emily, it will be a - fascinating 24 hours. thank you very much indeed. in afghanistan, 220 femalejudge is now in hiding our fleeing retribution from the taliban. most of path passjudgment, we have disguised your place to protect her identity as well as translating her words. translation: with the taliban and take a break, judges like me live in fear. we live anxiety and depression. we are not safe. i am so scared. i live in fear and in hiding. i'm not safe at all. some of the presidency have been freed are a danger to us. i feel more scared of them. i know some of them have been going to the court to find out addresses for judges. find out addresses forjudges. some judges have been followed and threatened. we are living in a dark time. i had to leave my house and live somewhere else. i don't want anyone to find me. they are chasing us. ~ ., ., ., ., ~ anyone to find me. they are chasing us. we are going to talk more about that story later— us. we are going to talk more about that story later in _ us. we are going to talk more about that story later in the _ us. we are going to talk more about that story later in the programme, l that story later in the programme, we will hear from jeremy belling who is entitled for us. that's coming up in the next half—hour of the show. stay lettuce on bbc news. still to come... the latest chapter in britney spears's fight to get her own life back as a court considers granting a request for her father to give up his control. cirque here starmer has told the labour conference in brighton at the party will be back in business and there his leadership. and it 90 minute speech, he distanced himself from jeremy corbin. — kier starmer. and he said that he was sorry to those he let them in the last general election. to those he let them in the last general election.— those he let them in the last general election. to those who reluctantly _ general election. to those who reluctantly chose _ general election. to those who reluctantly chose the _ general election. to those who reluctantly chose the torres i general election. to those who i reluctantly chose the torres because they didn't believe that our promises were credible... to the vote areas, to the boat areas... to the boat areas who thought that we were unpatriotic or irresponsible of, or that we looked down and then, i say these simple but powerful words. we will never under my leadership go into an election with a manifesto that is not a serious plan for government.— the fight over britney spears 13 year conservatorship returns to court today in a high—stakes hearing, the court will soon decide whether to revoke an order which gives the father and layers of britney spears control over her affairs and finances. let's cross to the court in los angeles and speak to our correspondent. sophie, a much—anticipated decision pending. what is going to happen? what will be here in court today?— be here in court today? wow, this is a ve bi be here in court today? wow, this is a very big day for — be here in court today? wow, this is a very big day for britney _ be here in court today? wow, this is a very big day for britney spears i a very big day for britney spears and for herfans. he a very big day for britney spears and for her fans. he conceived and gathered here behind me. it has been just over three months since we had that emotional testimony from britney's spears herself when she ended years of speculation about what she felt personally about the lack of control she had over her own life. she told the court she found her father intimidating and that she found the conservatorship abusive. well, since then, major development in this case. she was granted the right to her own lawyer and since then, there has been a flurry of petitions ultimately with both sides think that they want the current conservatorship to and. now, just in the last two days, a couple of documentaries broadcast raising further questions over the stent which she was explained. so i think we are expecting the hearing itself to focus on jamie we are expecting the hearing itself to focus onjamie spears involvement and management of the pop star is $60,000,000 estate. in terms of railings, well, wejust don't $60,000,000 estate. in terms of railings, well, we just don't know how that's going to go. the judge could decide thatjamie spears should be replaced, that the conservatorship should continue, but with someone else leading that, she may decide that it should be terminated completely, or, of course, she could decide that both petitions from both sides should be denied and the situation from the arrangement would carry on pretty much unchanged. that of christ would not be satisfactory to the 93 britney supporters who have gathered outside the courthouse. now, i should say says about the pop star's immediate future, but it could have wider implications. many people i campaigning to reform the system in the united states it will be watching this results very carefully. watching this results very carefully-— watching this results very carefull . ~ ., ~' watching this results very carefull . ~ ., ,, carefully. while, i would think so, because the _ carefully. while, i would think so, because the one _ carefully. while, i would think so, because the one thing _ carefully. while, i would think so, because the one thing we - carefully. while, i would think so, because the one thing we know. carefully. while, i would think so, i because the one thing we know about britney spears is that over the last 13 years, she has been very successful. she has been bringing out new songs, she's made millions of dollars, and yet she has been under the yoke, really, this extraordinary court order. well, that has been _ extraordinary court order. well, that has been the _ extraordinary court order. well, that has been the amazing i extraordinary court order. -tt that has been the amazing thing. we had seen the pop star over the last few years perform at a very high level. she has had a residency in las vegas. we have been watching the starter firm command that was her main argument, how can i perform and work to this extent and then be deemed not capable of managing my own life and my own fortune? it's notjust own life and my own fortune? it's not just the own life and my own fortune? it's notjust the business elements, of course, there were conservative of her person, and she was arguing that she is controlled to a huge extent, we should get that emotional testimony just over three we should get that emotional testimonyjust over three months ago, she told the court that she wanted to get married, she wasn't allowed to do that, she wanted to have more children, and she wasn't able to do that. she said she was forced to use a contraceptive that she didn't want to, so the extent of the control of her life has been extreme, especially, christian, as you point out, she has still been working and been paying the salaries of all those people involved in this conservatorship. the last time we saw her appear by the out videolan, she had been able to hire her own lawyer. she was paying for a layer that was appointed by the court stop right there has been intense scrutiny of jamie spears, right there has been intense scrutiny ofjamie spears, her right there has been intense scrutiny of jamie spears, her father coming right in saying that in the last few weeks,— coming right in saying that in the last few weeks, nikki has relented and said he _ last few weeks, nikki has relented and said he is— last few weeks, nikki has relented and said he is prepared _ last few weeks, nikki has relented and said he is prepared to - last few weeks, nikki has relented and said he is prepared to give i last few weeks, nikki has relented and said he is prepared to give up| and said he is prepared to give up the conservatorship. that and said he is prepared to give up the conservatorship.— the conservatorship. that is right. in the the conservatorship. that is right. in the last--- _ the conservatorship. that is right. in the last... he _ the conservatorship. that is right. in the last... he came _ the conservatorship. that is right. in the last... he came out- the conservatorship. that is right. in the last... he came out and i the conservatorship. that is right. | in the last... he came out and said to be lawyer with an application to the great saying that he was willing to cease to be the conservator that he could be replaced. since then, he has also applied to the court to have the conservatorship and it completely. there is lots of speculation about his motivation for doing that. we have also heard from britney spears layer, he has arrived at court to have this conservatorship ended completely. so we wait to see whether the judge and wet britney spears said last time she spoke to the court what she didn't want to be evaluated. now, that was her main thing for her. she just wants to be free. so we wait to see what the judge will find. we expect to hear the car from layers from both sides in previous occasions we have not — had had a live audio feed, but that is not happening this time around. we expect the hearing to last for a couple hours at least, and then we might learn what the judge has decided. now, that might mean britney spears is en route to a termination of her conservatorship, this is a very camp located situation. it's unlikely that the judge will rule that attended angie ballack free today, but we should get some kind of result later this afternoon. ,., ,., get some kind of result later this afternoon. ., , afternoon. ok, so p, we both leap across it. come _ afternoon. ok, so p, we both leap across it. come back _ afternoon. ok, so p, we both leap across it. come back to _ afternoon. ok, so p, we both leap across it. come back to us - afternoon. ok, so p, we both leap across it. come back to us that i across it. come back to us that there are any developments. for the moment, thank you very much. before we go to the breaking of the latest pictures from love,, webex volcano is continuing to erupt today. in the last crs, the lava has reached the atlantic, what do you get when that heat reach is called ladder? a lot of steam and some pretty amazing pictures. big clouds of steam covering the shoreline. balkan knowledge could lead to dangerous explosions and the release of chlorine gas, so don't get too close to that. stay with us. hello, good evening. today brought a scattering of showers across the uk, but actually on balance, it was a decent day with a lot of dry weather and some spells of sunshine. a beautiful scene there for a weather watcher in cornwall. this, though, really wasjust a drier, brighter interlude, because through the rest of the week, we see the return of spells of heavy rain and potentially some very strong winds. you can see we were in a gap between weather systems today. clear spells, just a few showers, but here comes another stripe of cloud. this is our next weather front, and that will be working in from the west as we head through this evening and overnight. rain spreading quite quickly eastwards, but ahead of that rain band, where we keep clear skies across eastern parts, temperatures will at least for a time dip away. and some spots in north east scotland could get all the way down to freezing, but it will be milder out west with the clouds, the rain and a strengthening wind, a very windy start to the day, particularly across northern ireland and western scotland. we could see winds gusts for a time close to 60 mph. tomorrow will bring cloud and outbreaks of showery rain quite radically southwards and eastwards. it will stay quite windy through the day. some brighter glimpses, some sunny spells, most especially i think across northern scotland and maybe parts of south east england for a time. temperatures, if anything, a little up on where they were today, but still only between 14—17 degrees. further spells of rain to move eastwards as we move through thursday night and into friday morning because low pressure will be firmly in charge. this weather front will bring some early rain across eastern and south—eastern parts of england. that will clear away, and actually we will see the return of some sunshine on friday, certainly across england and wales. northern ireland and scotland will see showers or longer spells of rain into the far north west. it's another windy day, quite widely wind gusts in excess of 40 mph. could be stronger than that, though, across parts of scotland, feeling particularly chilly in the north, just 11—12, 16—17 down towards the south. and low pressure dominates the scene into the weekend. this will little weather system running in from the west could potentially spin up into quite a deep area of low pressure as it moves northwards. we'll have to keep a close eye on that because it could potentially bring some very strong winds indeed. certainly the risk of gales through the weekend, some heavy rain at times. so, if you have outdoor plans, do stay tuned to the forecast. some sunny spells between the downpours and temperatures generally between 12—17 degrees. this is bbc news. america's top military under intense scrutiny for a second day after the chaotic pull—out from afghanistan and which of my correspondence in kabulfor what they left behind. britney spears will find out whether or not she's finally free of the father who controls her life. we'll be live at the court and delay. the port glass victims staged a protest of the inquiry into the disaster and us scientists lose hope for 23 species including what was america's largest woodpecker, declaring them extinct. talking life to a special expert. present bidens top military advisers have been grilled for a second day of the us exit from afghanistan. this time on the services committee. he was accused of ignoring the advice of his generals to leave a small contingent of american troops behind to support the fragile afghan government. his defence secretary had an assessment of the situation at the time. in had an assessment of the situation at the time-— had an assessment of the situation at the time. in my view, there is no and was no — at the time. in my view, there is no and was no risk-free _ at the time. in my view, there is no and was no risk-free status - and was no risk—free status quo option. i think that the taliban had been cleared of restate their longer, they were going to recommence attacks on our forces. i think while it is conceivable that you could stay there, my view is that you would've had to deploy more forces in order to protect ourselves and accomplish any missions that we would've been assigned. it is also my view that the best way to end this war was through a negotiated settlement and sadly, that did not happen. settlement and sadly, that did not ha en. . ., ., settlement and sadly, that did not hauen. . . . ., happen. the chairman of the joint chiefs of happen. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff — happen. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said _ happen. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said he _ happen. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said he received i happen. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said he received an j chiefs of staff said he received an unclassified signed order from former president trump on november 11 instructing him to withdraw forces from afghanistan by january 15. that would've been five days before joe 15. that would've been five days beforejoe biden's inauguration. two days after he fired his defence secretary who had been concerned about such a move. the instruction had two lines- _ about such a move. the instruction had two lines. withdraw _ about such a move. the instruction had two lines. withdraw us - about such a move. the instruction had two lines. withdraw us forces| had two lines. withdraw us forces from _ had two lines. withdraw us forces from somalia by december. the second sentence _ from somalia by december. the second sentence was withdraw us military forces _ sentence was withdraw us military forces from afghanistan by the 15th ofjanuary. so, i spoke to the white house _ ofjanuary. so, i spoke to the white house and — ofjanuary. so, i spoke to the white house and had some conversations with some — house and had some conversations with some folks, not the president we discussed the benefit and the feasibility of that order. two days of testina feasibility of that order. two days of testing if _ feasibility of that order. two days of testing if they _ feasibility of that order. two days of testing if they have _ feasibility of that order. two days of testing if they have expressed | of testing if they have expressed frustration that both president set deadlines for the withdrawals sticking to a withdrawal by a specific date without having certain conditions met was a mistake. speaking to a correspondent in kabul and asking him if the failure to hold the taliban to the commitments they made in the end sealed the fate of the afghan government in kabul. very fair. president biden has never boasted about his abilities as a deal—maker but president trump wax lyrical about how he could make good deals, but this was a bad deal. it was making a deal with people who did not respect the terms of the deal and it is not a new york real estate deal. you cannot get your lawyers on it. as a different thing dealing with the taliban. they do not have the same mind—set, they do not have the same mind—set, they do not think of the same sort of way and quite frankly, they are pushing for victory and they saw it as a stepping stone to victory. i've been travelling around the south of afghanistan, the heartland of the taliban, the taliban governor said to me, where a lot of the fighting took place, a very fierce battle, the biggest single battle apart from the biggest single battle apart from the invasion itself or the entire war happened near their and he said look, we won, it took us 20 years. they destroyed the country and as he put it, their rented afghan army collapsed in days after they pull it out. so, they are still flushed with victory and they are a ruthless organisation and would do whatever is necessary to when the war, if that meant ignoring the deal, they would do it. that meant ignoring the deal, they would do it— would do it. talking about your tri - , would do it. talking about your trip. some _ would do it. talking about your trip, some which _ would do it. talking about your trip, some which of— would do it. talking about your trip, some which of what i would do it. talking about your trip, some which of what we i would do it. talking about yourl trip, some which of what we get is through the eyes of the middle classes in kabul and it's a very different story between moses in kabul and rural communities, there was a piece and people taking to this new taliban regime. blast this new taliban regime. vast amounts of — this new taliban regime. vast amounts of people _ this new taliban regime. vast amounts of people in - this new taliban regime. vast amounts of people in the i this new taliban regime. asst amounts of people in the south, past students, their ethnicity and increasingly the dominant one, because the bulk of cabinet posts of the taliban are also people from that part. and itjust has a very different feel in kabul is a big sprawling city and while it has a lot of poor people and a lot of beggars on the streets, you can see, looking out, it's quite mixed. there, everyone was traditional clothes. there are deep cultural customs and taboos which are intimately tied with their view of religion as well and that is the kind of thing that went into the taliban ideology and i had a long talk with the woman there, four of her sons had been killed, one of them was fighting for the taliban and the other two were present gained into the afghan army — press gained into the afghan army — press gained and another was killed in an air strike. gained and another was killed in an airstrike. four dead gained and another was killed in an air strike. four dead children and she was curious as to what the west into their country. everyone supported the taliban because they came here and they tried to destroy us and they tried to our religion. it's a very different tone to the kinds of things that certainly you're hearing a lot on the tv, people, some of whom are educated middle—class, those of the people who did benefit greatly from the order that was put in 20 years ago and the way that society changed, but society has not really changed down there in a deep and profound way. down there in a deep and profound wa . . ~' down there in a deep and profound wa , ., " ., , ., , way. talking about the 'udges, we are way. talking about the 'udges, we running — way. talking about the 'udges, we running on t way. talking about the 'udges, we are running on the i way. talking about the 'udges, we are running on the bbc]— way. talking about the judges, we are running on the bbc today, i way. talking about the judges, we are running on the bbc today, the j are running on the bbc today, the concerns of the female judges in afghanistan were still there and naturally in fear of their life. it is obvious that they would be one of the first targets of the taliban. evenif the first targets of the taliban. even if they were to get a visa from the united states of the uk are one of the coalition countries, would they be able to get out? that of the coalition countries, would they be able to get out?- of the coalition countries, would they be able to get out? that is a moot point- _ they be able to get out? that is a moot point. they _ they be able to get out? that is a moot point. they have _ they be able to get out? that is a moot point. they have been i they be able to get out? that is al moot point. they have been flying regularly a couple of times, flights over delhi with those who've got on the appropriate lists but all of those names are coordinated. coordinated with the taliban and it is not an easy process and for example, the flight that they want to get out is already a couple of days late because they haven't been able to go through that list and get the sign off that they wanted. so they're looking very closely at who they're looking very closely at who they allow out of the country. i have no idea if they have allowed those female judges out, but in the situation that they are in, they will be very cautious about getting a cab to the airport and showing the passports and bearing in mind, the atmosphere that the taliban inevitably agenda. i atmosphere that the taliban inevitably agenda.— atmosphere that the taliban inevitably agenda. atmosphere that the taliban inevitabl arenda. . ., , . ., inevitably agenda. i have a piece of his literature _ inevitably agenda. i have a piece of his literature that _ inevitably agenda. i have a piece of his literature that he _ inevitably agenda. i have a piece of his literature that he wrote and i inevitably agenda. i have a piece ofj his literature that he wrote and you don't hear a lot of the stories around kabul. relatives of the victims of the huge explosion have wrist support of the judge investigating the blast. people have said their accusations of bias and cover—up and this is the report from beirut. every day here she makes the same pilgrimage. ajourney to her sons grave. one of over 200 victims in the beirut port blast. she remembers his life and brutal death. he wasjust a remembers his life and brutal death. he was just a few hundred metres from the warehouse that exploded, delivering a birthday cake when they cannot contact him, they raced straight there. do you think that this investigation will ever uncover the truth? the investigating judge had a small window of opportunity and until parliament convenes again in three weeks' time, politicians do not have their usual immunity. so, he called powerful figures but they did not come. one filed a complaint which for now has stopped the case in its tracks. a fresh wave of anger from protesting families desperate to keep the momentum going. the scars are still all over the city, not just physical ones, but emotional ones as well. the grief and trauma caused by that day is never far from the surface and people in pain that need answers. lebanon is politicians now have a choice to make. if they do not support accountability for one of the biggest explosions in history, can the country even call itself a functioning state? very important stories in lebanon. let's take a look at the other news. one of america's largest airlines united will file nearly 600 employees after they refused to get the covid—19 vaccine — fire. they are one of the first to announce a mandate for employees. the unvaccinated steph could still save theirjobs if they got their first covid—19 shot in the next few days. youtube says it is strengthening its ban on covid—19 misinformation including blocking videos that make false claims about approved vaccines for the diseases. they have seen a considerable spill—over of covid—19 misinformation to other potentially life—saving vaccines. the boxing legend many packjo is retiring from the sport to concentrate on politics and he is focusing on winning the next presidential elections, already is serving senator and the only champion in boxing history to win in eight separate weight divisions. he was known for his ferocious punching power, but lost his last fight which took place in las vegas last month — pacquiao. whether singer britney spears will be freed from her extraordinary legal hold that sure father has had over her life in full control over the finances and her personal life. injune, she phoned into a court hearing to make an emotional appeal claiming that she had been medicated against her will and denied the right to have children. she under increasing scrutiny filed in the conservatorship. but another slew of allegations of come together and documentaries about her treatment at the hands of those were supposed to be looking after her. with me not to talk more about the court case in the conservatorship. a conservatorship lawyer in la. is there something particular about conservatorships there in california? nothing particular other than. it's 'ust nothing particular other than. it's just extraordinary to people over here that we have a star was able to work, able to raise money, able to communicate with people on social media, she has a successful life seemingly, and get the court believes that she should be under this extraordinary control of her father? i this extraordinary control of her father? , , , father? i is this even possible? the court places — father? i is this even possible? the court places conservatorship i father? i is this even possible? the court places conservatorship in i father? i is this even possible? thej court places conservatorship in 2011 when britney spears was going through a very public meltdown and battling many mental health issues. that conservatorship doesn't seem to have changed since that time. britney has gotten better, the conservatorships and the confines of not gotten better. what was it about her previous lawyer there was a problem because it seems to me, looking from the outside, she got a new lawyer a few months ago and everything is happened in a hurry. but her last lawyer had been there a long time it did not seem prepared to fight on her behalf, is that right? he didn't fight on her behalf and the attorney for her father and the conservator seemed to get along and agree for much of the conservatorship, that is why the judge didn't provide much oversight when the parties litigation agree on everything, thejudge when the parties litigation agree on everything, the judge seems to be hands—off, does not really going to the nitty—gritty of it. the new attorney doesn't agree and was hired for the purpose of this fight that we are witnessing today amazing amount of detail _ we are witnessing today amazing amount of detail in _ we are witnessing today amazing amount of detail in the _ amount of detail in the documentaries that are happening to coincide with the decision later today. not only about the power that they had over her life, but allegedly, the fact that they could use her money however they wished, for their own business ventures and of course, a lot of fingers have been pointed at the father for that. are there repercussions for someone who uses the conservatorship like that? r , ,., , who uses the conservatorship like that? ~ , who uses the conservatorship like that? absolutely. anyone who uses the money and _ that? absolutely. anyone who uses the money and correctly, _ that? absolutely. anyone who uses the money and correctly, there i that? absolutely. anyone who uses the money and correctly, there are| the money and correctly, there are repercussions for that person. however, over the course of the last 13 years, jamie has provided an accounting to the court showing where every single dollar of brittany�*s money has gone. that is why we know that approximately $500,000 went to jamie's law firm for media consultation, and that is how we know that jamie gets somewhere between one to 2% of brittany�*s vegas contracts and deals. all of that has been presented privately to the judge and the judges presented privately to the judge and thejudges signed off presented privately to the judge and the judges signed off all of these expenses. in the judges signed off all of these exenses. ., ~ ., , the judges signed off all of these exenses. .,~ ., , , ., , expenses. in the wake of this story, there is going _ expenses. in the wake of this story, there is going to _ expenses. in the wake of this story, there is going to be _ expenses. in the wake of this story, there is going to be some _ expenses. in the wake of this story, there is going to be some reform i expenses. in the wake of this story, there is going to be some reform of| there is going to be some reform of conservatorships? i there is going to be some reform of conservatorships?— conservatorships? i don't imagine how there wouldn't _ conservatorships? i don't imagine how there wouldn't be _ conservatorships? i don't imagine how there wouldn't be a - conservatorships? i don't imagine how there wouldn't be a reform. i how there wouldn't be a reform. rather, i call it a modernisation. there really needs to be a modernisation of conservatorships, especially ones that deal with conservators who have millions of dollars and those are red for issues and controversy in this types of cases really need to be scrutinised. thank you very much for being with us. to stay with us on bbc news. still to come. the woodpecker is one of 23 species declared extinct today in the united states. the business secretary has said soldiers driving tankers in the coming days as part of attempts to maintain supplies to the four courts across the uk. some of the countries largest supplies says it's not improving after days of panic buying and bp, shelland improving after days of panic buying and bp, shell and others are urging people to fill up only when they need to. is slowly improving in the business secretary said the army will be on the streets soon. it secretary said the army will be on the streets soon.— the streets soon. it takes a few da s to the streets soon. it takes a few days to get _ the streets soon. it takes a few days to get troops _ the streets soon. it takes a few days to get troops on _ the streets soon. it takes a few days to get troops on the i the streets soon. it takes a few. days to get troops on the ground the streets soon. it takes a few i days to get troops on the ground and we have decided to do that and i think in the next couple of days, people will see some soldiers driving the tanker.— people will see some soldiers driving the tanker. clearly, there are ma'or driving the tanker. clearly, there are major problems _ driving the tanker. clearly, there are major problems over- driving the tanker. clearly, there are major problems over the i are major problems over the availability of fuel, but what about prices? they have been rising steadily and now as an eight year high, the effect of this crisis comparatively small, the real reason they are rising is this is the global crude oil price and the bad news is is that this is yet to be reflected in pump prices, as they are expected to go even higher after this current crisis ends. if you add this current crisis ends. if you add this to this horror show, this just bankrupted lots of energy companies seem millions of people facing higher bills and we have the makings of a proper cost of living crunch this winter. two afternoon, through more routine companies went bust. quarter of a million customers facing higher bills from their new providers taking them on. the petrol crisis will inevitably end. the financial pressure on household incomes is arguablyjust starting. one of the top three searches on google in the united states today was extinction. 23 new species are no more, according to the us fish and wildlife service. the list includes the ivory billed woodpecker which was once the united states largest woodpecker species. also on the list for other birds, and it's rare for scientists to lose hope in a plant or animal, rare for scientists to lose hope in a plant oranimal, but rare for scientists to lose hope in a plant or animal, but the team said they closed the book on these animals after a long and exhaustive search. i'mjoined by animals after a long and exhaustive search. i'm joined by the endangered species programme director for the centre of biological diversity important organ. thank you very much for being with me. it worries me that we're just writing off the species. how exhausting has this search been?— species. how exhausting has this search been? , , , . , ., , search been? these species have been missin: for search been? these species have been missing for decades _ search been? these species have been missing for decades at _ search been? these species have been missing for decades at this _ search been? these species have been missing for decades at this point. i missing for decades at this point. for most of them, they were last seen before the endangered species act was even passed in 1973. so, it's been a long time but you're correct that it is difficult to prove a to prove that doesn't exist. and so, it does take a long time and takes a lot of searching but for these species, it is almost certainly correct and sadly so. the ivo certainly correct and sadly so. the ivory billed _ certainly correct and sadly so. the ivory billed woodpecker is perhaps the best—known species that is disappeared. there are plenty of trees. is there something particularly precarious about the this woodpecker depended on? the northern this woodpecker depended on? tue: northern spotted owl this woodpecker depended on? ti9: northern spotted owl still exists here in oregon was an old forest dependent species, so it depended on unlogged forests and as the regions forests were logged in the southeast over time, forests were logged in the southeast overtime, it forests were logged in the southeast over time, it is lost more and more habitat and the last place they were known was this area called the sears tract in the chicago milling paper company were taught not to be logged and they ignored them and they logged it and i was the last place that they were known and so that i was before even had an endangered species act. stand was before even had an endangered species act-— species act. and berries, water pollution. _ species act. and berries, water pollution, logging, _ species act. and berries, water pollution, logging, competition| species act. and berries, water i pollution, logging, competition from invasive species. there is one common denominator that is us. human beings, right? that common denominator that is us. human beings. right?— beings, right? that is absolutely riuht. beings, right? that is absolutely right. science _ beings, right? that is absolutely right. science shows _ beings, right? that is absolutely right. science shows that - beings, right? that is absolutely| right. science shows that species are going extinct at a rate of thousand times the background rate and the main cause of that is us and the main way that we do that is through habitat destruction. ltruiheh through habitat destruction. when ou list 23 through habitat destruction. when you list 23 species _ through habitat destruction. when you list 23 species like _ through habitat destruction. when you list 23 species like this - through habitat destruction. when you list 23 species like this that have disappeared, that you lose funding to go out and search for it, the seven knock on effect other endangered species? for the seven knock on effect other endangered species?— the seven knock on effect other endangered species? for the species, because there — endangered species? for the species, because there wasn't _ endangered species? for the species, because there wasn't any _ endangered species? for the species, because there wasn't any places i because there wasn't any places where they still occurred, there wasn't a lot of funding that was being directed towards them and there were a lot of services for woodpeckers about a decade ago because there was exciting and it turned out that the siting in question, there were never able to find them and so, some funding was there but that trade up but you raise a good point in that there needs to be more funding towards endangered species in the us and everywhere else too. in the us spends a paltry amount of money on endangered species and despite the fact that it is a very serious problem and it's on the level of climate change in terms of its seriousness and impact on future generations. seriousness and impact on future generations-— seriousness and impact on future generations. don't leave us on the donor, i generations. don't leave us on the donor. i don't _ generations. don't leave us on the donor. i don't l — generations. don't leave us on the donor, i don't i can _ generations. don't leave us on the donor, i don't i can bear— generations. don't leave us on the donor, i don't i can bear it - generations. don't leave us on the donor, i don't i can bear it if- generations. don't leave us on the donor, i don't i can bear it if you . donor, i don't i can bear it if you leave it on a downer. come on, tell us that there is some hope out there. could one of these species just pop up unexpectedly? it is just pop up unexpectedly? it is ossible. just pop up unexpectedly? it is possible- he — just pop up unexpectedly? it is possible. he read _ just pop up unexpectedly? it 3 possible. he read stories about species that were believed to be extinct being found and i certainly hope so. but i would love it if we found ivory billed woodpecker is again is just a found ivory billed woodpecker is again isjust a very found ivory billed woodpecker is again is just a very majestic bird but the hope i would say is that endangered species act is a very strong lot that saved 99% of the species that are under its protection and there's a growing awareness that extinction is a growing problem and so, i remain hopeful that we will do more to protect nature which is what needs to happen to save species and also address climate change.— address climate change. lovely to talk to you — address climate change. lovely to talk to you and — address climate change. lovely to talk to you and thank _ address climate change. lovely to talk to you and thank you - address climate change. lovely to talk to you and thank you very i address climate change. lovely to l talk to you and thank you very much for coming on the programme. let's hope they find the woodpecker. to stay with us and more to come on the bbc news programme world news america right around the corner. i love. some very windy weather on the way for the uk in the days ahead. and heavy rain to contend. low pressure will dominate across our shores and even into the weekend, there is no signs of the forecast changing. looking at the thursday, low pressure to the north of the uk, etc worked their way through. towards the west, some pleasant sunshine to start the day and they will pull away and hang away with a lot of cloudy and ran to the afternoon and from northern ireland in western scotland, the winds were feeding some pretty punchy showers through the late afternoon into the evening. and then overnight on thursday into friday, another wash of rain across the uk. this curl of the low sitting to the north of scotland with strong winds here and potentially very intense rain crossing england and wales on this with a friend. it looks like things should be dryer by early friday, however, this weatherfront will take a while to get away from east anglia in the southeast. nine to the afternoon with some sunshine here. still breezy or windy through parts of the week uk. scotland in northern ireland with spells of rain and as i said, these themes continue with this weather pressure with us. a large low pressure centre with smaller centres bring up within it. as we look at saturday, it looks like this centre could bring some wet weather to some areas and strong and gusty winds and perhaps a small case of bands of showers with dryer interludes. saturday potentially some sunshine to the east by the rain will go into all areas before the day is out and that southerly wind would be particularly gusty. despite the rain, temperatures will stay around average. overnight on saturday into sunday, some very heavy rain working its way out into the north sea is going to early hours of this, things become a little bit quieter towards the west in terms of the rain. the winds stay strong the low pressure centre to the north of the uk, the moment it looks like northern scotland without the wet day on sunday. elsewhere, dryer of the two days of the weekend. still some showers coming in on the westerly wind. and then from monday, blood pressure to the north of the uk perhaps not so much organised bands of rain, but we will be at the mercy of quite a few showers coming into the south and west. sheltered eastern areas of the moment will be for the best of the sunshine sunshine on monday. going further ahead, we have a headache and predicting exactly where things are going to move in the form of hurricane sam way out here in the atlantic. it's nowhere near us, but it does come into play with what happens in our atmosphere because it pulls warmth along the way up into the atmosphere and that warmth then can affect what happens in terms of the jet stream developing across the atlantic and eventually what happens to us. some uncertainty as to where these particles in the jet stream of form for early next week. based on this prognosis, we could be in for some very unsettled weather but moving to the south of the jet stream and pulling in some quite mild conditions to the of the uk because there's a high degree of uncertainty in this part of the forecast at the moment. tonight at 10: after four election defeats, labour is told it won't regain power without a serious plan for government. attending a party conference for the first time as leader sir keir starmer intended to set labour on a path to power at westminster. he set out new policies, he talked about his own background and he underlined his ambition as leader. in a few short years from now, i want to be here, with you, talking about the difference we are making, the problems we are fixing, as a labour government! we'll have the latest from brighton where the conference has been marked by divisions on the party's direction. also tonight... sarah everard, who was raped and murdered in march this year, had been falsely arrested