i had good work in herat city. i was so famous in herat city, but because of my life, i should leave all of this. jane: and what are you going to do? right now, what are you going to do? >> i don't know. jane: a british commander went to talk to the taliban fighters, trying to ease the tension. but his troops were still forced to turn back those not on the list for evacuation. including the family of the pilot killed in action. nothing could ease the painful indignity of being pushed back behind the razor wire. back towards the taliban. judy: in an exclusive interview today with abc news' george stephanopoulos, the president again defended his decision to withdraw. and he said that u.s. troops will stay as long it takes to get thousands of american civilians out. >> so americans should understand that troops might have to be there beyond august 31? >> no, americans should understand that we're going to try to get it done before august 31. >> but if we don't, the troops will stay? >> if we don't, we'll determine at

i had good work in herat city. i was so famous in herat city, but because of my life. i should leave all of this... >> reporter: and what are you going to do? right now, what are you going to do? >> i don't know. >> reporter: a british commander went to talk to the taliban fighters, trying to ease the tension. but his troops were still forced to turn back those not on the list for evacuation. including the family of the pilot killed in action. nothing could ease the painful indignity of being pushed back behind the razor wire, back towards the taliban. >> woodruff: in an interview today with abc news' george stephanopoulos, the president again defended his decision to withdraw, and said that troops of americans and others out of the country by the end of this month, or as long as that takes. >> so americans should understand that troops might have to be there beyond august 31st? >> no, americans should understand that we're going to try to get it done before august 31st. >> but if we don't, the troops will stay? >> if we don't, we'll determine at the time who's left. >

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that manage to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and then managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani. held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority or also following other stories. this our, the international olympic committee has spoken with an athlete who is trying to stay in japan of falling out with that teams, officials. and this is bad, a russian sprinter. christina schumann of sky, who's seen at tokyo airport on sunday and was asking japanese police officers to help her. she told a journalist that she was taken there against her will often making a public complaint about her coaches. mister, i'm asking the international olympic committee for help, there's pressure against me and they're trying to get me out of the count

several of those cities, including afghanistan's third biggest city, herat, fell to the insurgent fighters in the last few hours. and we're now getting reports that the taliban say they've captured the second largest city, kandahar. the speed of their advance means britain and the united states are sending more than three and a half thousand troops to help their civilians leave. here's the latest from yogita limaye in kabul. we woke up talking about the fall of ghazni which is about 100 miles south of kabul, and we are ending the day with multiple provincial capitals falling to the taliban. many of them significant cities for the afghan government. herat, fiercely contested between the two sides but the afghan government was not able to hold onto it. staring at defeat in kandahar, the second largest city in this country, lashkar gah the capital of the helmand province falling as well. and there are real worries among citizens here about what is next. what is the future of their capital, kabul? i see messages and social media from afghans talking about the last moments of freedom. but i thi

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective. that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for resident via the president ghani, held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority. the u. s. and the u. k. are accusing iran of attacking in israeli oil tanker. the secretary of state and foreign minister made the announcement without providing evidence. they say a drone was used off the coast of a mine on thursday and killing 2 people. the speaker of denise is frozen parliament, rochelle again now she has been transferred to a military hospital. the hero is the head of parliament's largest party and ida. he spent awake in hospital last month after contracting clover 192 people have been killed by gunman at his beloved funeral, south of lebanon's capital by rout

but still some fighting on going around the city and an attack on the airport road between herat city and the port overnight to tell about attack briefly that that is a road that sometime a few days ago we talked about actually held that and elsewhere in the province shouldn't done base, which was that important base for the americans, a nato that been attacks there over night. so a busy night worrying and i think for the i've gotten they still are facing attacks in multiple places across the country. not clearly. and we are expected to expect to be hearing from the president sharp gone in later. today's going to be addressing parliament at some point once he like you to be thing. well, i think that's the big question. all we're going to hear. i struck connie basically ignoring what's going on and same business as usual, which has been the sort of tone from the government that try not to worry people, but certainly the public hearing this news. and a lot of what happens from now in africa, assault is not just based on the military facts on the ground. it's pay based on perception beca

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that manage to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and manage to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani. held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority. the taliban has taken more territory and recent wakes than at any point during the last 20 years. in may. it controlled about 20 percent of afghanistan. but as us and other troops have been withdrawing it, stacy opportunity to ramp up it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the country has fallen under taliban rule. the afghan government is now facing a critical test as the fight, as advance and surround the capital campbell. the city of herat is under pressure after most of its western province found kenneth catman is an expert on afghanistan and the goal for the u. s. library of cong

several of those cities, including afghanistan's third biggest city, herat, fell to the insurgent fighters in the last few hours. and we're now getting reports that the taliban say they've captured the second largest city, kandahar. the speed of their advance means britain and the united states are sending more than 3 and a half thousand troops to help their civilians leave. here's the latest from yogita limaye in kabul. we woke up talking about the fall of ghazni which is about 100 miles south of kabul, and we are ending the day with multiple provincial capitals falling to the taliban. many of them significant cities for the afghan government. herat, fiercely contested between the two sides but the afghan government was not able to hold onto it. staring at defeat in kandahar, the second largest city in this country, lashkar gah the capital of the helmand province falling as well. and there are real worries among citizens here about what is next. what is the future of their capital, kabul? i see messages and social media from afghans talking about the last moments of freedom. but i think w

in the west, they were pushed back from the gates of herat city as a clearance operation was launched. hundreds of commandos were deployed to help the struggling government forces keep the taliban at bay. this is one of them. translation: by using residential houses and by wearing normal- clothes, they cross the front line to enter areas and when faced with resistance, they leave. the taliban are not a great power, they are just fighting in a scattered way, they make people worry and lower their spirits. in kandahar, a former taliban stronghold, thousands of families have fled their homes to escape fighting. conditions for them are dire. one afghan campaigner for women's rights has accused the taliban of carrying out widespread crimes against civilians. the way the attacks of the taliban, it can have the same pattern. and the other day when they attacked which was like 20 minutes away from the city, they would go home to home and they would ambush, they would break down anything inside the house, they would take away the man and force the woman to cook for them and this woman was tell

and thirdly and cad in herat city in the waste. that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements. and they managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani. held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are in traces and pace and that securing settings the priority. the taliban has taken more territory in race in wakes than at any point during the last 20 years in may controlled about 20 percent of afghanistan. but as us and other troops have been withdrawing, it seized the opportunity to ramp up it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the country has fallen under taliban rule. yes. can government is now facing a critical test as fight as advance and surround the capital. cobble the city of horizon is under pressure after most of its western proven fell. my food has. sonny is a pulitz

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that managed to retake control from the taliban. they sent in reinforcements and managed to push the telephone out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani, held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings . the priority link to your to salvage is a medical coordinator emergency surgical center for war victims in the center of lashed regard. speaking with algebra, ali said he hopes the neutrality of his facility will keep him out of the conflict of situation and security by disorder. it was seen last 3 days, especially yesterday in the afternoon. when you're seeing open flashes, the size of the be close to the see the center be received. so empty patients on the civilians, 9 patients were arises arrival and all the non blog and we cannot predict the next even hours different variety of injuries. we

and in the west, the taliban is said to have been pushed back in the city of herat. thousands are evacuated from the outskirts of the greek capital, athens, as wildfires draw near. that's one of those situations where you say are in the capital of a major western metropolis, saying this can't be happening here, and yet it is. and barcelona football club says lionel messi, perhaps the greatest footballer on the planet, will leave the club after failing to reach agremeent on a new contract. we start with the escalating fighting in afghanistan. for months now, the taliban have been gaining ground in rural and underpopulated areas. now there's fierce conflict in several provincial capitals, the afghan army fighting back in crowded neighbourhoods, and all this putting more civilians in more danger. this map shows you some of the key areas of the fighting — kandahar, herat and lashkar gah. lashkar gah is the capital of helmand province, which was the former headquarters of the british forces. there's fierce fighting there, with the taliban now in control of large parts o

they're taking place between herat city and herat airport. the african government that say they made progress, they pushed the tell about back, but it's clear there's still a tell about presence in harass or during all this time it's been quite in cobble. it's been peaceful in cobble people. i've spoken to have said thank goodness that it has been so quiet in the capital city something the capital hasn't seen for some time. but certainly we've had an explosion in the last 40 minutes notes or 30 minutes even. and there's no doubt i think from, from those that actually saw it, and i include myself in that, that it was a bomb going off. james, thanks very much. indeed. that seems based talking to some people. obviously more information is going to come out in the coming hours. but for now, james, thanks very much. so testers have gathered on capitol hill in washington dc to voice their concerns after a nationwide model toy him on rental evictions expired this past weekend. that means you people across the us that at risk of being forced out of t

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective. that managed to retake control from the taliban, lexington reinforcements and managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport. allowing flights to resume for resident via the president ghani, held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority. well, the taliban has taken more territory in recent weeks than it did at any time since it fell from power 20 years ago. in may and controlled about 20 percent of ghana stone. but as us and other troops being withdrawing it sees the opportunity to ramp up it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the country has fallen under taliban rule. we have got a government is now facing a critical test as the fighters advance and so run the capital capital because you said it is a medical coordinator at the emergency surgical center for war victims in the center of lush cause god, he says he h

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective. that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements. and they managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani, held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority. the telephone's taken more tenancy in recent weeks than it did at any time since it fell from power 20 years ago. and may have controlled about 20 percent of of kansas time. but as us and other troops have been withdrawing, it seized the opportunity to rampart it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the country has fallen under taliban rule. they have gone governments now facing a critical test as the fight as advance and surrounding the capital a couple to you to say, which is a medical coordination at the emergency surgical center for war victims and the center of lush car g

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements. and they managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via the president gone. he held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are in traces and pace and that securing settings the priority while the telephone is taken more territory in recent weeks than it did at any time since it fell from power 20 years ago in may controlled about 20 percent of ghana, stan, but as us and other troops have been withdrawing, it sees the opportunity to rampart it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the countries fallen under taliban rule. afghan governments now facing a critical test as the fighters advance and surrounds the capital capital. to savage is a medical coordinator at the emergency surgical center for war victims in the center of law con god, he says, he hopes the

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and then managed to push the telephone out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani, held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority. the taliban has taken more territory in race and wakes than at any point during the last 20 years. in may, it controlled about 20 percent of afghanistan bout as us and other troops have been withdrawing. it sees the opportunity to ramp up it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the country has fallen under taliban rule. the afghan government is now facing a critical test as the fight is advance around the capital cobble, the city of harass is under pressure after most of its western province found. let's bring in kenneth cat smith. he's an expert on afghanistan and the gulf at

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and then managed to push the telephone up further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via the president gone. he held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban are interested in pace and that securing settings the priority. well, the telephone has taken more territory in recent weeks than i did at any time since it fell from power 20 years ago. in may, it controlled about 20 percent of of ghana stone, but as us and other troops have been withdrawn, it sees the opportunity to ramp up it's offensive. within 2 months, half of the country has fallen under taliban rule. the african governments now facing a critical test as the fighters advance and surround the capital. a couple for toyota savage is a medical coordinator at the emergency surgical center for war victims in the center of lush called

and thirdly, and can in herat city in the waste, that is looking a little bit better from the government perspective that managed to retake control from the taliban. they seem to reinforcements and they managed to push the taliban out further and re secure the airport, allowing flights to resume for residents via president ghani, held a cabinet meeting where he talked about the security situation evolving. he said he doesn't believe that the taliban in traces and pace and that securing settings the priority. 6 months after seizing power in a cru me and mars meliss region does naming itself a caretaker government. the leader on lee will become the prime minister. earlier he promised to list the state of emergency by late 2023 and hold multi party elections. tony chang reports from bangkok. as it aerobics instructor dances almost vehicles block off parliament. man mas capital may be due on february the 1st, but at the general's thought. it would be a bloodless qu, they couldn't have been more wrong. months of bitter resistance and a violent military crack down with nearly a 1000 killed. 6

and then government troops have been deployed to the west and city of herat to stop taliban fighters that advancing further towards the city. well, one person was killed and 3 others injured. when the afghan air force bombed a private hospital and lash gar, the owner of the hospitals, as african forces, mistakenly believe taliban fighters were inside. while a military spokesman has warned the deteriorating situation in the country. but to do what i advocate in 3 provinces, the security situation is critical, especially in alaska, the enemy had some movement security in defense, the forces of planning to intercept the enemy's movements 1st, then build defensive line and later launch offensive operations. joining me now is my sued her say me a pulitzer prize winning journalist, and i want to stony joins us via skype from combo. first of all, can i ask about these reports that the taliban has been targeting civilians and families who have been trying to escape the violence in the western city of herat? what have you been hearing about this? yes, shallow mariam john, while i'm sitting in

but still some fighting on going around the city and in the tech on the airport road between herat city and the airport overnight to tell about attack briefly there. that is a road that sometime a few days ago, we talked about actually held that and elsewhere in herat province shouldn't done air base, which was an important base for the americans, a nato. they've been attacks their overnight instructional olympic committee has belushi and elim pin. christina, to when the sky is safe in the hands of japanese or pharmacies, she says her limping team tried to force her to leave japan obviously puppets. he criticized her coaches. spoke to the virus athletes. christina simon simon. new sky. directly last night. she was with the apple store, it is the airport and was time accompanied by a staff member of tokyo 2020. she assured us and has assured us that she feels safe and secure. she spent the night at an airport hotel in the safe and secure environment of the i see in tokyo. 2020 will continue the conversations with her. and the japanese will thought is to determine the next step in the upc

the taliban capture afghanistan's third biggest city herat, with reports they've taken kandahar too. police in south west england say five people have died following shooting incident in the city of plymouth. covid cases are surging in the united states as the delta variant spreads in what health professionals there are calling an epidemic of the unvaccinated. but the sharp increase in hospitalisations and deaths is nearly all concentrated in southern states where vaccine take—up has been virtually half the national average. 0ur north america editor, jon sopel is in louisiana to find out why. the life tabernacle church in louisiana. congregation — thousands. influence in the state — considerable. a message — don't get vaccinated. what percentage would you think have been vaccinated? 0h, probably less than 1% at any given time. and you don't think you have a social responsibility to encourage them to go and get vaccinated? we do not. 0urjob is to preach the gospel ofjesus christ and preach faith. but won't vaccinations keep them alive? they will not, that has not been proven.

the taliban capture afghanistan's third biggest city herat, with reports they've taken kandahar too. police in south west england say six people have died following shooting incident in the city of plymouth. covid cases are surging in the united states as the delta variant spreads in what health professionals there are calling an epidemic of the unvaccinated. but the sharp increase in hospitalisations and deaths is nearly all concentrated in southern states where vaccine take—up has been virtually half the national average. 0ur north america editor, jon sopel is in louisiana to find out why. the life tabernacle church in louisiana. congregation — thousands. influence in the state — considerable. a message — don't get vaccinated. what percentage would you think have been vaccinated? 0h, probably less than 1% at any given time. and you don't think you have a social responsibility to encourage them to go and get vaccinated? we do not. 0urjob is to preach the gospel ofjesus christ and preach faith. but won't vaccinations keep them alive? they will not, that has not been proven. a

the taliban capture afghanistan's third biggest city herat, with reports they've taken kandahar too. police in south west england say five people have died following shooting incident in the city of plymouth. covid cases are surging in the united states as the delta variant spreads in what health professionals there are calling an epidemic of the unvaccinated. but the sharp increase in hospitalisations and deaths is nearly all concentrated in southern states where vaccine take—up has been virtually half the national average. 0ur north america editor, jon sopel is in louisiana to find out why. the life tabernacle church in louisiana. congregation — thousands. 0h, probably less than 1% at any given time. and you don't think you have a social responsibility to encourage them to go and get vaccinated? we do not. 0urjob is to preach the gospel ofjesus christ and preach faith. but won't vaccinations keep them alive? they will not, that has not been proven. and those we spoke to before the service began were of like mind. have you been vaccinated? no, sir, i have not. and will you get v

they've entered parts of herat, lashkar gah, and kandahar, afghanistan's second biggest city. i've been speaking to our correspondent in kabul, secunder kermani. well, we saw heavy fighting overnight, particularly in lashkar gah, capital of helmand province. both afghan and american air strikes being used against the taliban positions inside the city. you'll remember that yesterday the taliban had advanced at one point to around, we're told, 300 metres from the governor's compound right in the centre of lashkar gah before being pushed back. special forces were flown in. the government says that dozens of taliban fighters have been killed, but fighting has been continuing this morning, and, as you say, clashes have also been taking place in recent days elsewhere in the country too, notably around the cities of herat in the west and kandahar in the south. kandahar airport, three rockets were launched, hitting the runway last night — that's led to the closure of the airport today. when it comes to herat, well, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city

herat — the country's third largest city — has fallen today. kandahar — the second biggest — is on the brink of defeat. lashkar gah — the capital of helmand province, once the centre of the uk's presence there — has been overrun too. and ghazni, a strategically important cityjust 95 miles from the capital kabul, is also now in the hands of the islamist fighters. the speed of the taliban's advance means britain and the united states are sending more than 3,500 troops to help their civilians leave. they'll arrive by the weekend for what the ministry of defence is calling a short—term mission. ourfirst report tonight is from our defence correspondent jonathan beale. the taliban advance appears unstoppable, ruthless as ever to those who stand in their way. regional capitals are falling like dominoes. today, it was ghazni, just 85 miles from the capital kabul. in the face of this rapidly deteriorating security situation, today, britain announced it was temporarily sending 600 troops to kabul to facilitate the withdrawal of embassy staff an

in the past two hours we've heard that they have captured afghanistan's third biggest city, herat, and appear poised to gain control of the second largest kandahar. if that's confirmed, this day will mark the most significant advance so far as one after another, the country's provincial capitals fall to the militants. with thousands of civilians fleeing the violence, a sense of humanitarian disaster is deepening. the bbc�*s yogita limaye is in kabul. things are changing at an incredible speed here. we started the day talking about the fall of a city hundred miles south which is strategically important and now, just within a span of 12 hours, we are looking at cities which are even more significant. herat in the west is close to the border and is an important economic and trade centre that this country and officials telling us it has fallen to the taliban. over the past few days, there was intense fighting between government forces and the taliban —— but it appears now that the government has not been able to hold control in that city and things are not looking good for it in kand

afghanistan's major cities like herat. unfazed by their kid success which has government is reeling. success which has government is reelina. , success which has government is reelin. , , reeling. the saddest part is that i reeling. the saddest part is that l didn't _ reeling. the saddest part is that i didn't expect - reeling. the saddest part is that i didn't expect this, . reeling. the saddest part is. that i didn't expect this, that now i might, i might face consequences that i'd never even dreamt of, and i guess that's the price that we pay for trying to make this world a little better. fit for trying to make this world a little better.— little better. at the border with pakistan, _ little better. at the border with pakistan, afghans - little better. at the border| with pakistan, afghans are leaving, with or without fighting, the taliban's takeover looks set to trigger yet another wave of refugees. tonight at kabul airport, military and civilian planes offer the only way out. at the gates, chaotic scenes. who will

sir, all lives tonight on the 2nd and 3rd biggest cities of afghanistan, herat. if it is proven to be true that the telephone do have full control of that city now also in canada and i should add all flights of food in and out of kandahar some follow up. i guess the, the amount of fighting in and around that city to see whether or not the government can hold off the telephone in that city tonight. and then also in the province of helmand and muska ga, the provincial capital, big, heavy fighting, the telephone banking more claims about games and that city also. so the government, looking at 3 prong situation as they hit into the evening, shall a bell a lie for us in kabul. let's get reaction from the united states. now defense officials reported to be increasingly concerned by the total bonds advances. she have a chance, his life was in washington, so she have the bite administration has been sticking to this line that this will role will happen as she had you. but they've got to be worried about what they're seeing enough canister. not just the, the taliban advan

when it comes to herat, well, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat, but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes are continuing there, but those reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic there. i think the most concerning place remains lashkar gah at the moment. new zealand's prime minister, jacinda ardern, has formally apologised for police raids which disproportionately targeted pacific communities in the 1970s. hundreds of people attended a special ceremony at the town hall in the city of auckland to hear this significant statement. the so—called dawn raids were carried out to find, convict and deport people from the pacific islands, suspected of overstaying their visas, but never those from the uk or the us or south africa. let's hearfrom ms adern. today, i stand on behalf of the new zealand government to issue a formal and unreserved apology to pacific communities for the discriminatory implementation of the immigration laws of the 1970s that led to the events of the dawn

when it comes to herat, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat, but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes continue there. but those reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic there. i think the most concerning place remains lashkar gah at the moment. and i presume, as the fighting continues, people continue to flee? tens of thousands of ordinary afghans have had to flee their homes in recent weeks, caught in the middle of this awfulfighting. we heard new statistics out from the afghanistan independent human rights commission about civilian casualties — more than 1600 people killed injust the first six months of this year alone. and there are real concerns that the fighting is only going to get worse because the international military mission here formally comes to an end by september and many fear with the taliban looking emboldened and peace talks between the insurgents and the afghan government not making any real progress, the taliban are going to continue trying to p

they've entered parts of herat, lashkar gah, and kandahar, afghanistan's second biggest city. i've been speaking to our correspondent in kabul, secunder kermani. well, we sought to light heavy fighting over night particularly in adrenaline alley, capital of helmand province. you will remember that yesterday the taliban had advanced to a one point we were told 300 metres from the governor's compound right in the centre of lashkar gah. —— particularly in lashkar gah, capital of helmand province. fighting has been continuing this morning and, as you say, clashes have also been taking place in recent days. elsewhere in the country too, notably around the cities of herat in the west and kandahar in the south. at kandahar airport three rockets were launched hitting the runway and leading to its closure today. when it comes to herat extra reinforcements have arrived in the city and taliban forces are not inside herat but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes were continuing there but those reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic there. i

with fierce fighting in the cities of herat in the west. as well as laska and kandahar in the south. on friday the city is orange fell to the taliban without a fight. under their charlotte bellis has been following developments from cobble and fitness update. a government affiliated source has told us that sure the gun has fallen, although it is quite nuanced and fluid. the taliban say that they took control of the city on saturday afternoon. they took control of the police office, the intelligence offices, the governors compound. they even broke into the prison and released a number of prisoners. now the government says that they don't have full control of the city, that security forces remain at the port and that they are planning a counter offensive. they have started, it strikes and that they are sending in special forces and reinforcements for this counter offensive to try to take the city. if sure, the gone back, not if it is confirmed to be fallen, it would be the 2nd provincial capital to fool and f going to start in just 2 days . a

when it comes to herat, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes continue there. but there reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic. i think the most concerning place remains lashkar gah at the moment. and i presume as the fighting continues, people continue to flee. tens of thousands of ordinary afghans have had to flee their homes in recent weeks, caught in the middle of this awful fighting. we heard new statistics out from the afghanistan independent human rights commission about civilian casualties, more than 1006 and two people killed injust the casualties, more than 1006 and two people killed in just the first six months of this year alone. the international military mission here family comes to an end by september and many fear with the taliban looking emboldened and peace talks not making any real progress, the taliban are going to continue to push in on afghan cities is that they have already captured around half of all te

and i was interviewing this taliban guy in the herat city penitentiary and i asked sir, do you know why you are here? and he said, straight and firm, yes, because i was trying to kill me -- i was trying to kill you. and i said, okay, and where do you think this is going to go? he's like, well, you can either let me out and i'll keep trying to kill me. or you can keep me in here and one of these days, i'm going to be out because you guys are going to be gone. and based on all my interactions with everyone else i had, i saw that, you know, this is when it is -- it's gonna happen. it's inevitable. i was there in 2014. 13 years, we had been in afghanistan and my unit were doing absolutely everything for the afghan forces. we are doing their logistics, getting them ammo, food, all sorts of supplies. and so, like the idea that seven years later, something would somehow change was absolutely wrong. it's inbeen inevitable for a long time and most people who are there would say the exact same thing. >> how -- how surprised were you that the afghan army basically collapsed almost instantaneously

when it comes to herat, well, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat, but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes are continuing there, but those reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic there. i think the most concerning place remains lashkar gah at the moment. from today, developers will have more freedom to convert empty shops into housing without the need for planning permission. permitted development rights are being expanded for a range of vacant commercial buildings on high streets in england. the government says the move should help ease the housing crisis and breathe new life into town centres trying to recover from the pandemic. our business correspondent, emma simpson, reports. empty shops blighting our town centres. croydon south of london has its share of them. now it's going to be easier to turn units like these into housing on england's high streets. it's notjust shops — all sorts of vacant commercial buildings, from restaurants and gyms to banks. for the govern

of herat to stop the taliban advancing further on the city. but to do what i advocate in 3 provinces, the security situation is critical, especially in alaska. the enemy had some movement security in defense, the forces of planning to intercept the enemy's movements 1st, then build defensive line and later launch offensive operations. a one person was killed and 3 others injured. when the african air force bombed a private hospital in lashed, gone, the owner of the hospital says that african forces mistakenly believe taliban fighters or inside now and other stories are following the speaker of tunisia is dissolved parliament. rasheeda knew she has been transferred to a military hospital, the 8 year old who is over head of the parliament's largest party and after spent a week in hospital last month after contracting cove. at 19 the international olympic committee has spoken with an athlete who is trying to stay in japan after falling out with team officials and russian sprinter. christina tim on sky was seen at the airport in tokyo on sunday, a

when it comes to herat, well, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat, but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes are continuing there, but those reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic there. i think the most concerning place remains lashkar gah at the moment. companies still running with reduced staff because of the pandemic, will have to pay 20% of workers' wages from today — as the government's furlough scheme continues to wind down. it'll stop completely at the end of september. our business correspondent, katy austin, reports. it's been credited with preventing unemployment rising sharply. now, we're in the final two months of thejob retention scheme. the economy has been reopening, but nearly two million people were still furloughed at the end ofjune. receptionist ruby, who is 65... hi, ruby. hiya. ..has been on full or part—time furlough since march last year. she's grateful for it, but the future is unclear. i think there's every possibility that come one october w

in the western city herat, the situation is equally fluid. special forces arrived to boast of the military and allied fighters after the taliban cut off the cities airport last week. even then for a brief period, the taliban got within 3 kilometers of the city center. does not know the enemy is close to the city and we are very serious and defending the city. we hope we will push them back. it's a possibility and we need to step on the telephone pressure on provincial capital just growing every day. the moved to evacuate. last got some personal questions about the solve, maybe the best, the best shot, 0 an oil tanker is thought to have been hijacked off the coast of the united arab emirates with several other ships. signaling that they too are in trouble. fitness maritime agency says a potential high junk is unfolding off with the pierce involved. mitchum and tanker called the asphalt princess for other ships in the area reported that they were not under and the voices, news agencies reporting events. revolutionary guards is denied of alien forces over its allies are involved. last week 2

this is the road to herat airport to 30 minute drive south of the city taliban fighters and government forces have been battling across the road. that is bridge. the more commercial flight stopped till wednesday is the front line moved towards the city. so how many kilometers from the city was that fixed or fixed? united nations regional compound is also on that road. on friday the un blamed the tele bonsa hitting its perimeter with grenades and gunfire. although the telephone said it was caught in the crossfire, the un secretary general called the attack deplorable. thought a month ago, the majority of her, our province was government control or contested. now the taliban is in control of much of the province. her aunt said he in its surrounding districts of the only thing that stopped the fight was controlling a 300 kilometers stretch of road east. from the iranian border. former governor and merger had in later ismael hon has rallied his supporters to protect the city and both the ask and military response. hundreds of his fighters are on the front lines yesterday the president call

government forces claim to have pushed back a further taliban offensive on the north—west city of herat. washington has called on tehran to resume nuclear talks, after iran's newly—inaugurated president, ebrahim raisi, declared his support for diplomatic efforts to end the deadlock. efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear accord, ground to a halt following months of discussions in vienna. wildfires are threatening large parts of greece, as strengthening winds fuel more than 150 blazes. so far dozens of towns and villages have been evacuated. the greek prime minister, has said many people are facing what he called a menacing stage. now on bbc news, living with arina, nina is experiencing

herat, it's a city that's held for a long time. the final handover and the final take over story is that either people run out of ammunition or it's in a close distance when the taliban arrive. the city of dohar, we're told twelve and a half months and then we're told a retreat, then they took the people, the armored cars with themselves and left no ammunition to taliban. so i think there are brave stories and bravery stories of afghan security forces, but nothing is helping. and since even yesterday's announcement by the state department, if you look at the single ticket in afghan commercial airline tickets, there is no ticket left. everybody is trying to leave because they assume it's a window of 48 hours or a few days that they have to secure themselves and, at the same time, it was just not two days ago that "wasngton posted" something that the city will collapse in 30 days. so what it all brings to, it's strongly impacting the morale. and, also, it is a war that is a battlefield in the front line that we are militarily fightin

in the west, they were pushed back from the gates of herat city as a clearance operation was launched. hundreds of commandos were deployed to help the struggling government forces keep the taliban at bay. this is one of them. translation: by using residential. houses and by wearing normal clothes they cross the frontline to enter areas and when faced with resistance, they leave. the taliban are not a great power, they are just fighting in a scattered way, they make people worry and lower their spirits." the fate of these key cities depends on how long government forces stay in their posts to fight. a military spokesman tweeted: "in order to honor president ashraf ghani insists the situation will be brought under control within six months. but fears of a humanitarian crisis are growing. in kandahar, a former taliban stronghold, thousands of families have fled their homes to escape fighting. conditions for them — are dire. we have left our homes, we left because of war. we have nothing, we have no because of war. we have nothing, we have no food because of war. we have nothing, we hav

herat is probably the third biggest city in afghanistan and it's the capital of herat province, which borders iran. it is a very important, wealthy province. a lot of trade goes through the border with iran. the taliban are inside the city and have been for quite some time. there is fighting on the edges. i spent time with military forces who were fighting alongside what is being called �*uprising forces�* — that is citizens who are being armed and, in the case of herat, being led by a warlord called ismail khan. these militias are very important to the fight across the country because the afghan security forces have been badly let down by their leadership and by the government. they are struggling for logistical resupply and other support and so as the taliban's assault and advance across the country has really frightened afghan people, citizens have been taking up arms, joining these militias and fighting on the front line. that is what i saw. i also saw a city that is incredibly tense. there are a lot of people who are leaving. extra flights were put on yesterday when i came

government forces claim to have pushed back a further taliban offensive on the north—west city of herat. washington has called on tehran to resume nuclear talks after iran's newly—inaugurated president, ebrahim raisi, declared his support for diplomatic efforts to end the deadlock. efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear accord, ground to a halt following months of discussions in vienna. wildfires are threatening large parts of greece, as strengthening winds fuel more than 150 blazes. so far dozens of towns and villages have been evacuated. the greek prime minister, has said many people are facing what he called a �*menacing' stage. now on bbc news, it's hardtalk.

and the telephone's most significant price, so far herat countries 3rd largest city. now there's fighting in afghanistan, the 2nd city kandaher. 11 provincial capitals have fallen in the past week. and the advance seems to be heading inevitably towards campbell. also the u. k. a. u. s. a dispatching troops to couple to help pull out embassy, staff, and civilians. we begin our coverage with charlotte bellis. we can confirmed here that herat has fallen this evening. residence there. we took about half a dozen people who all said the same thing that they would tell yvonne in all the streets in the center of town that they had come into town this afternoon. pushed through, they had been trying to get into the city for about a month, but they made a breakthrough cross through the front line this afternoon and they broke into the prison. they got into the police compound. they got into the governors compound, they released all the prisoners residents telling us that that they had prison is one man to my relatives when the prison, another in my house. and they could hear gun

when it comes to herat, well, the government say extra reinforcements have now arrived in the city. taliban forces are not inside herat, but they were fighting on the outskirts and clashes are continuing there, but those reinforcements are making government forces sound a bit more optimistic there. i think the most concerning place remains lashkar gah at the moment. large cruise ships have been banned from the centre of venice, after years of environmental protests. vessels of more than 25,000 tonnes will no longer be allowed to dock in the lagoon. campaigners and residents say the ships pollute the air and water — and cause erosion. mark lowen reports. it's been venice's david versus goliath. for years, protests by locals in their small boats against the mammoth cruise liners clogging its waterways. critics say they pollute, damage venice's ecosystem and erode foundations with their large waves. finally, victory. from today, any ship over 25,000 tonnes is now banned

the the situation in the city of herat has changed these days and people are scared. there are no women in herat. this is not a good situation and women who usually work in government offices are not going to work. artillery. although nearly all of its military forces have left, the us has continued its air offensive in support of afghan government troops. strikes targeting lashkar gah continued late on monday. the biden administration condemned the actions of the taliban. we've seen the reports of atrocities being committed by the taliban in various places where they are on the offensive. and these reports are deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable. helmand was the centrepiece of the us and british military campaign, but if lashkar gah were to fall, it would be the first provincial capital won by the taliban in five years and would be a bitter blow to the afghan government. ramzan karmali, bbc news. well, earlier i spoke to michael kugelman, who's deputy director of the asia program and senior associate for south asia at the wilson center, i asked whether he felt