welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: trapped among blasts and street battles — the fight to drive the taliban from afghan cities sparks fears of a humanitarian crisis. translation: we feel very bad. we can hear— translation: we feel very bad. we can hear the _ translation: we feel very bad. we can hear the gunfire - translation: we feel very bad. we can hear the gunfire and - we can hear the gunfire and just now a bullet hit the truck. we have nothing left and we have nowhere to go. one of the world's great footballers, lionel messi, is leaving barcelona, after more than 20 years. wildfires threaten large parts of greece, as strengthening winds fuel more than 150 blazes. dozens of towns and villages have been evacuated. i am sarah mulkerinns

live in tokyo on day 14 of the games, where athletes are having to battle the extreme heat injapan, forcing the women's gold medal football match to be moved. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it is newsday. welcome to bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. it's seven in the morning here in singapore, and 4:30amin the morning across afghanistan, where the government is mobilising its forces to try to repel taliban fighters as they move in on several big cities. this map shows you some of the key areas of the fighting — in kandahar, herat and lashkar gah. this is the situation earlier on thursday in herat,

with taliban fighters reportedly moving at will, in much of the city. here are the thoughts of some of the residents. translation: the situation is tough. | our houses have all been destroyed. people have all fled. there are eight or nine taliban on the roof of our house. if the security force hit there, everything will be destroyed. then where should we go? translation: we feel very bad. our house is in the in the basin area. right now, the taliban came into the area from another place. we can hear the gunfire, and just now a bullet hit the truck of a tank. we completely evacuated this area. we have nothing left, and we do not know where to go. there is also fierce fighting in laskhar gah, in helmand province, traditionally a stronghold of the taliban. these are members of the afghan army there, who've been warning residents to stay away or leave. locals have reported dead bodies in the streets and scarce supplies of food and water. earlier on bbc news

we spoke to bilal sarwary, an afghan journalist based in kabul. here he is on the latest on the battle for lashkar gah. well, we know that the afghan special forces have tried their operations in lashkar gah, but we have to remember the fighting is in the centre of the city. it's a city of i million people. the taliban have managed to take control of the local bazaar as well as shops. speaking to me, a member of parliament from helmand told me that people needed food and water, that there was no power and that the taliban were using civilian homes by digging walls going from home to home. he said the government was doing the same. so, it's an incredibly painful and difficult situation for women and children. we know about shelling, we know about air strikes, intense ones in the city. so, this will be not an easy operation for the afghan special forces. kabul has dispatched its most senior special forces general along

with the elite forces. the thoughts of afghan journalist bilal sarwary. the afghan government says that more than two dozen taliban fighters were killed around lashkar gah on thursday. and the us has been carrying out airstrikes in support of afghan special forces. while in some places, afghan warlords have mobilised their own militias to defend their local territory. it's clear the situation is highly volatile and we'll keep you up to date with all the developments. and you can find more on this story on our website, including a look at where the taliban has been advancing — just log on to bbc.com/news or take a look on the bbc app. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines: iran's new president, ebrahim raisi, has been sworn into office, following his election victory injune. mr raisi is an ultra—conservative,

and is close to iran's supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei. in the latest sign that the conflict in the tigray region of ethiopia is spreading, rebels have seized a un world heritage site in the neighbouring state of amhara. there are no reports of fighting in the town of lalibela, but some residents have fled. around two thousand people joined an anti—lockdown protest in melbourne on thursday evening, as the city was moved into its sixth covid lockdown. there have been a handful of new cases there, and it means that around two thirds of australia's 25 million population are now subject to restrictions to try to stop the virus spreading. still to come a bit later in the programme: we'll have all the latest from tokyo as the olympics enters its last few days. but first, the footballer lionel messi is to leave barcelona after the club announced it was unable to offer him a new contract which satisfied both sides. barcelona has been stuggling financially,

and has to reduce its budget in line with spanish league rules. it means messi, seen by many as the world's best player, canjoin another club for free if they can satisfy his wage demands. here's what some football fans have to say. translation: it's a soap opera from last summer. to this summer, and it has finished in a harsh way for the fans and the barca club members. it should've finished in a year without a pandemic, with people filling in the stadium and the whole of spain applauding his presence. i think he is adored in every city of spain. translation: it's going to be complicated because laliga i is no longer going to be the same. messi was everything for barca, and now it'sjust going to be strange. translation: it's a big loss, and football will generate - less money and we have less important players. i we will notice that. iamjoined by i am joined by our south

american football corresponded. just listening to the voices from some of the fans of lionel messi, a real sadness. from some of the fans of lionel messi, a realsadness. he from some of the fans of lionel messi, a real sadness. he has been such an icon. hot messi, a real sadness. he has been such an icon.— messi, a real sadness. he has been such an icon. not so fast. let's put _ been such an icon. not so fast. let's put our — been such an icon. not so fast. let's put our foot _ been such an icon. not so fast. let's put our foot on _ been such an icon. not so fast. let's put our foot on the - been such an icon. not so fast. let's put our foot on the brake | let's put our foot on the brake here. there may not be finality here. there may not be finality here. i could be wrong and i have been wrong before but my interpretation is, this is barcelona negotiating. they are not negotiating with lionel messi stop they have agreed to have agreed terms with lionel messi. the problem is the rules governing la liga, the spanish competition, trying to prevent clubs from overspending. what it seems to be barcelona are doing is issuing a warning to spanish football. remember, there is an offer on the table from a private equity fund to

what a 10% stake in la liga. the body barcelona are issuing is this, we have agreed terms with the player, the player wants to stay, do you really think it is in the interest of spanish football to let go the biggest name, the biggest staff in world football because of bureaucratic reasons? do you think they will wake up without a barcelona without lionel massey? i would see this as part of a negotiation process where barcelona are saying to spanish all, cut us some slack, let us bend the rules in this time of pandemic, let us bend the rules a little bit in order to continue having the services of a player who apparently still wants to play for us. i still wants to play for us. i know that lionel messi is very

popular here, in singapore, but will this negotiation tactic work or backfire? i will this negotiation tactic work or backfire?- will this negotiation tactic work or backfire? i am far too far away from _ work or backfire? i am far too far away from it _ work or backfire? i am far too far away from it and - work or backfire? i am far too far away from it and i - work or backfire? i am far too far away from it and i think i far away from it and i think some of these financial affairs are well above my pay grade but, think two or three years ago, real madrid, and barcelona. la liga has already lost one, can la liga afford to lose lionel messi as well? from my point of view, i think barcelona can make a pretty convincing case that it is in the interest of barcelona and spanish football as a whole to retain the services of the man who could be the greatest player, some would argue the greatest player in the world ever, surely it is not time to

show him the door.- ever, surely it is not time to show him the door. tim vickery, alwa s show him the door. tim vickery, always such _ show him the door. tim vickery, always such a — show him the door. tim vickery, always such a pleasure - show him the door. tim vickery, always such a pleasure to - show him the door. tim vickery, always such a pleasure to talk i always such a pleasure to talk to you. the greek prime minister has said many people face what he called a menacing night, as firefighters try to contain wildfires across the country. he warned that the worst was yet to come with strong westerly winds expected to fan flames on friday. in one of the worst blazes firefighters have spent two days battling to save the historic birthplace of the olympic games. i'm joined now by our reporter mark lobel many people have been evacuated. greece is used to these fires and dealing with them on the ground and into the air but the scale of this is possibly unprecedented. bear in

mind, 10,000 hectares were destroyed in the whole of last year. if we start with others, residents of healing temperatures of around a0 degrees centigrade, 170 fahrenheit. the prime minister is saying it will reach anything staged tonight. people watching what is going to happen if they. westerly winds have breathed new life into fight they thought were dying out. if you go to the east, to an island 100 kilometres east of athens, the second—biggest island after creed, a very mountainous region, making it difficult to put fires, low visibility, a monastery was surrounded by fire that yesterday, and to the west of athens, to the companies, and ancient olympia, huge concern. the state polyphony is. this is

where the olympic torch is lit every two years and tourists flock there. the message from the prime minister is if you are asked to evacuate in many areas are put on red alert, do it. you will be compensated as businesses and households were the cyclone two years ago. your houses and props will be compensated. take the advice and move on if you have to. mark lobel on the greek wildfires. now let's get an update from the olympics in tokyo and its day 1a. which means there's only a few days of competition left before the big closing ceremony. china will look hold on to finish on top of the medal tally — they lead the way with 3a golds, ahead of the us with 29. and the hosts japan are in third. let's get an update on all the action —

we can now cross live to tokyo with sarah mulkerrins who is there for us. and what should we be looking forward to today on day 1a? already under way, the third round for women's gold. they are battling that heat as well. also the 50 kilometres walk is also battling the heat and they are coming to the closing stages. so much action elsewhere this friday at the olympics. we look at the track, athletics dominating the second week and the likes of alison felix, the great american athlete. she will go later in that final and bidding to become the most successful and decorated track and field athlete later if she was to win athlete later if she was to win a medal. she has competed at every game since 200a.

netherland continues to continue to chase history. hassan looking for victory in the 1500m. the women football, sweden and canada, that has been rescheduled moved to the evening to try to counteract the extreme heat. later on, argentina will take on the netherlands in the final of women? hockey. the netherlands losing out last time. a fifth final appearance at the world and european champions stop no doubt they will be favourite. this is really the last time you and i will be talking on newsday for this set of olympics. it newsday for this set of olympics-— newsday for this set of cl m ics. ., , , , . newsday for this set of olmics. , , . ., olympics. it has been such a 'o to olympics. it has been such a joy to learn _ olympics. it has been such a joy to learn so _ olympics. it has been such a joy to learn so much - olympics. it has been such a joy to learn so much about i olympics. it has been such a i joy to learn so much about spot from you. i know some of your

favourite highlights but i want to ask you, what has it been lying to cover this during the pandemic? it lying to cover this during the pandemic?— pandemic? it has been so different. _ pandemic? it has been so different. i— pandemic? it has been so different. i did _ pandemic? it has been so different. i did the i pandemic? it has been so different. i did the last i different. i did the last olympic games in arrear and we were able to go everywhere in the city and talk to the locals and interact with the athletes. it is a bubble we are operating in and trying to do it as safely as possible. you are aware of the serious pandemic we are in and not wanted to contribute to that in any way but what has been lovely is seeing all the performances coming through from the athletes and the fact they are enjoying it and also using their voices in so many different ways, as we have not seen from athletes before or in recent years, advocating for themselves in different ways, particularly on their mental health and well—being. when you look back on these games, that will be one of the big talking points from it, that athletes were able to come out and speak

for themselves and perhaps started conversations we were due to have. if i started conversations we were due to have-— due to have. ifi am still doinu due to have. ifi am still doing this _ due to have. ifi am still doing this job _ due to have. ifi am still doing this job in - due to have. ifi am still doing this job in 2024 i l due to have. ifi am still. doing this job in 2024 i am doing thisjob in 202a i am going to make sure you're doing thatjob as well. such a pleasure to speak to you about the olympics. you are watching newsday on the bbc. we look at how japan uses their multi— population changing society in relation to the olympics. the question was whether we wanted to save our people — and japanese as well — and win the war or whether we wanted to take a chance on being able to win the war by killing all our young men. the invasion began at two o'clock this morning. mr bush, like most other people, was clearly- caught by surprise. we call for the immediate

and unconditional withdrawal of all iraqi forces. 100 years old and still full of vigour, vitality and enjoyment of life — no other king or queen in british history has lived so long, and the queen mother is said to be quietly very pleased indeed that she has achieved this landmark anniversary. this is a pivotal moment for the church as an international movement. the question now is whether the american vote will lead to a split in the anglican community. you'd stay on the bbc. the headlines. fierce fighting in the southern afghan city of lashkar gah. lionel massey is

leaving isake katonibau after more than 20 years. president biden has announced that people in hong kong will be able to apply for a visa in america. he called it an assault on hong kong bass market economy and undermined its remaining freedoms, wanting his administration would not stand idly by as china broke its promises. white house press secretaryjen psaki explain the motivation. in secretary jen psaki explain the motivation-— motivation. in reaction to the step taken — motivation. in reaction to the step taken by _ motivation. in reaction to the step taken by the _ motivation. in reaction to the step taken by the crackdown | motivation. in reaction to the l step taken by the crackdown on human rights and frankly make it a place where hong kong's autonomy hong kong's autonomy in the freedoms of people in hong kong are undermined. let’s hong kong are undermined. let's no hong kong are undermined. let's to back hong kong are undermined. let's go back to _ hong kong are undermined. let's go back to the — hong kong are undermined. let's go back to the olympics - hong kong are undermined. let's go back to the olympics and talk to marko oi in tokyo. one

evening watching the story closely today. hugely important moment injapanese history. tell us more about that. fist tell us more about that. at 8:15am tell us more about that. git 8:15am local time, 76 years ago, the world's first—ever atomic bomb was dropped on hiroshima, killing at least ia0,000 hiroshima, killing at least 1a0,000 people by the end of i9a5 but 1a0,000 people by the end of 19a5 but of course many others suffered from lifelong injuries as well as side—effects. thomas welker visited hiroshima before the game started whether merit hiroshima city pours the competition for a minute of silence. the ioc turned down that request, prompting an on line petition which has been gathering tens of thousands of signatures but that moment came and went without that moment of silence, so as you can imagine, a lot of angry reaction public because of what the olympics are supposed to symbolise. the ioc says it will make a mission

of hiroshima and nagasaki during the closing ceremony on sunday before many that is not enough. sunday before many that is not enou:h. , , . , enough. the entire olympics in away have _ enough. the entire olympics in away have been _ enough. the entire olympics in away have been shrouded i enough. the entire olympics in away have been shrouded in i away have been shrouded in controversy in japan. away have been shrouded in controversy injapan. now is you point out, this historical moment, not being acknowledged perhaps in the way many japanese people are likely to be. what is the general sentiment as you look back on your coverage of the olympics are people injapan towards the games. ah. are people in japan towards the games. �* ., ., , games. a lot of people were excited to — games. a lot of people were excited to japanese - games. a lot of people were excited to japanese taxi i games. a lot of people were excited to japanese taxi -- l excited to japanese taxi —— athletes winning a lot of medals, a lot more than many had expected but in terms of the popularity of the ioc, because the games went ahead, despite as you said, the strong public opposition. we are seeing the surgeon covid cases, the popularity of the ioc has been quite low in this latest

incident surrounding hiroshima definitely doesn't make them more popular but i think also a lot of people were just disappointed the japanese government didn't actually stand up against the ioc at demanded a few things. the japanese government has spent an enormous amount of money in preparation for this games are now relieved that it went ahead and has gone quite well in terms of sporting activities but at the same time a lot of people are still very angry at the japanese government to how it's been handling the situation with the pandemic, including the fact the government is now asking people, covid—19 patients with mild symptoms to stay at home and when we say mild, people could still be having breathing difficulties and so on, so a lot of concerns their condition deteriorates, whether they can get a hospital bed.

this two weeks ago, japan open the tokyo limb with a ceremony that featured two mixed—race japanese athletes in very high—profile roads roles. rui hachimura and naomi osaka. there has been intense debate if this has been a watershed moment in the wayjapan visits growing multi—ethnic population. it was the crowning moment of the opening ceremony and a big surprise — two of japan's most famous mixed—race athletes given the honour of leading the team and lighting the cauldron. but in the two weeks since, naomi osaka in particular has been targeted with online abuse, with some questioning whether she is really japanese. it's something ariana miyamoto knows as well. back in 2016, she also caused shock here, becoming the first mixed—race women to be crowned miss universe japan. watching the olympic opening ceremony, ariana says she was pretty sceptical.

translation: i don't know why they were chosen. i it seems like it was to get good publicity. japan has a lot of mixed—race celebrities and sports stars. biracial people are often held up as being more beautiful, even more intelligent. but ariana says within that, there is still a hierarchy. translation: half-white people are greatly celebrated _ injapan, but when it comes to half—black people, it's different. when i was working as a model, i was told that a lot of japanese wouldn't want the clothes that i wear since my skin colour is very different. so they wouldn't allow me to model their outfits. i kind of look at japan as a... ryan mcneil is a writer who has lived in japan for 17 years. he says naomi osaka lighting the olympic cauldron will not change the fact that

most japanese still think this is a mono—ethnic society. so, first thing japan would need to do is disperse with that rumour, with that fallacy that they're a homogenous country. it's a misconception, and the fact that they haven't been correcting it is feeding this negativity, the response to naomi osaka and rui hachimura and all these people, because most japanese people don't understand this basic fact, that their country is not homogenous. biracial people are not the only ones who face exclusion and discrimination injapan. in the southern okinawan islands, there are nearly 1.5 million ryukan people who are not even recognised as an official minority despite having their own culture and language. in the far north, there are the ainu people, and then injapan�*s big cities, like here, there is the group that perhaps faces the greatest hostility, and those are ethnic koreans.

they never mentioned ethnic korean in the opening ceremony, so where we are... where are we, i mean? kiho's korean grandparents were brought here over 80 years ago. he has never known another home. but that fact means little to japan's many right—wing nationalists. mostly, they say, ok, you are utilising japan, so you guys are taking all the resources from japanese people, so you should go home. it doesn't matter, like, which passport you are, for them, the origin is very important. those who yearn for a more inclusive japan look at the opening ceremony and wonder whether it really was a sign this country is changing or a pretence, an attempt to make japan look more open than it really is. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in tokyo. that is all we have time that

it we have time for. hello. lots of talk about heavy showers in this forecast, but it is important to point out it won't be raining all the time. there will be some drier, sunnier moments, too, but, yes, some areas on friday will be dealing with heavy, even intense thundery downpours, particularly across northern parts of the uk. whereas further south, there'll still be some heavy showers to contend with, but they'll tend to move through more quickly. more in the way of sunshine, more of the day dry compared with to the north, because to the southern flank of this area of low pressure which has come in, the winds are strongest, so the showers move through more quickly. but if you're close to the centre of this area of low pressure — that's really across scotland, northern ireland, northern

england, north wales, too — the showers just hang around for longer, the rain totals mount and these intense downpours could well cause some flooding and some disruption in some spots. parts of eastern scotland will be dealing with more persistent rain here. again, rain totals mounting with a risk of flooding. still some sunny spells in between the heavy showers, for longer, the rain totals mount and these intense downpours could well cause some flooding and some disruption in some spots. parts of eastern scotland will be dealing with more persistent rain here. again, rain totals mounting with a risk of flooding. for longer, the rain totals mount and these intense downpours could well cause some flooding and some disruption in some spots. parts of eastern scotland will be dealing with more persistent rain here. again, rain totals mounting with a risk of flooding. still some sunny spells in between the heavy showers, but with the stronger winds across south wales and southern england — these are average speeds, maybe gusting a0—a5 mph —

the showers will tend to move through more quickly. looks like, though, there is a greater chance of picking up some heavy and thundery showers across southern areas compared with friday. and as for temperatures, well, some spots just creeping into the low 20s, though many won't. and then on sunday, well, the area of low pressure's still here. but it may well be towards south wales and southern england that we're back to a picture of fewer showers and more in the way of sunny spells. this area of low pressure looks to finally get out of the way by tuesday to allow us a couple of fine days before another area of low pressure comes in later next week.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the menus at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. i've been an opera fan for decades and i want to share my passion with you so i'm on a mission to tell you about some of the names in opera who are making it fit for the future. superstar cecilia bartoli is the italian mezzo soprano who originally wanted to be a flamenco dancer. and peruvian born tenor juan diego florez is an icon but he wanted to become a pop star. big names today — but are they prepared for the opera world of tomorrow? we had to start more with using technology and using streaming,

for instance. it's a beautiful art and if more and more young