Many of those judges fear retribution from men they convicted who have since been released from jail by the Taliban. We speak to a former judge in touch with many former colleagues on the run.

Also on the programme: the conviction of US musician R Kelly who is found guilty on nine counts including grooming and sex trafficking; and What lies behind the UK fuel shortage?

(Photo: Thousands of Afghans sought to leave through Kabul airport, which was guarded by US troops Credit: EPA)

This edition of Newshour comes to you, in part from just above the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, with key players and analysis from across Germany's political spectrum. SPD leader Olaf Scholz says he has a clear mandate to form a government, while his conservative rival Armin Laschet remains determined to fight on. Preliminary results gave his party a narrow election win over the conservatives who suffered their worst-ever performance. The Greens and pro-business FDP attracted the most support from the under-30s in an election dominated by climate change. The Greens made history with almost 15% of the vote.

Also on the programme: A rebuke from the Prime Minister of Albania as he outlines “a moral problem” with Europe’s response to the plight of many Afghan refugees. Albania is one of Europe’s poorest countries and has already received around 1,000 Afghans; and we take a look at the reasons behind the UK's fuel supply problems.

(Picture: Top candidate of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Olaf Scholz Credit: EPA/JOERG CARSTENSEN)

The future direction of Germany without Angela Merkel at the helm after sixteen years in power is being determined, as millions of voters go to the polls in a general election. We hear from our correspondent in Berlin.

Also in the programme: A Hong Kong pro-democracy group known for organising vigils commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has officially disbanded, and we hear from a foreign born Australian who managed to leave the country during lockdown and is now trying to return.

(Photo: German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a rally in Aachen 25/9/21. Credit: Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay)

In a sudden conclusion to a tense diplomatic and legal standoff between the United States, China and Canada, the Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou is flying back home after three years under house arrest in Canada. In return, China has released Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor -- two Canadians it had imprisoned on espionage charges.

Also on the programme, Newshour's Tim Franks joins us live from Germany on the eve of elections for a new parliament and new chancellor; and will Switzerland become one of the last countries in Europe to approve same sex marriage?

(Photo: Meng Wanzhou speaks to the press before leaving Canada; EPA/BOB FRID)

German voters are to elect a new government on Sunday as Chancellor Angela Merkel steps down after 16 years. Newshour's Tim Franks looks at how climate change is featuring in the campaign.

Also on the programme: a fifth migrant has died on the Poland-Belarus border - we'll hear from those trying to cross the freezing frontier and being pushed back; and new evidence has emerged that humans populated the Americas thousands of years earlier than we thought.

(Photo: Reichstag in Berlin - seat of German government; Credit:EPA/CLEMENS BILAN)

A climate summit of world leaders in 40 days will be the "turning point for humanity", PM Boris Johnson has said in a speech to the United Nations. So what would a successful summit in November look like?

Also today; We've been speaking to the newly-appointed head of Kabul University in Afghanistan, who has announced plans to appoint more pro-Islamic staff; and the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet - looted during the first Gulf War- is being handed back to Iraq by the US today.

(Photo: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City. Credit: Reuters)