UN: Most Afghan civilians killed by pro-government forces

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan says more than 1300 civilians were killed in the first half of the year. They say most of them were killed by pro-government forces rather than the Taliban. The number is down by almost a third on the same period last year, but the UN says the impact on civilians of the continuing war remains "shocking and unacceptable."

Also in the programme: we talk about why the Chinese telecoms giant, Huawei, has reported a sharp rise in revenue despite being placed on a trade blacklist by the United States. And we speak to Ashkan Layegh, who has become the first Iranian since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 to gain a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London.

(Photo: An Afghan security officer inspects the scene of the damaged area a day after a suicide attack and gunfight in Kabul on 29 July. Credit: EPA/HEDAYATULLAH AMID)