welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. the taliban have made their most dramatic gains yet against afghan government forces, and claim to have taken the country's second largest city, kandahar. as the security situation deteriorates thousands of us and british troops are being sent back to help evacuate american and uk nationals. the surging covid cases in parts of the united states — how religion, politics and science have clashed resulting in an epidemic of the unvaccinated. and — the father of britney spears agrees to step down as long—time conservator of her estate, seen a major victory for the singer.

it's 7am in singapore, and 3.30 in the morning in afghanistan, where the taliban are sweeping through the country at an extraordinary pace. they've captured a third of the nation's provincial capitals. 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 think what happens here in the coming days will depend heavily on how the afghan government reacts to what's happened in this one day. so far, we have heard nothing from the top brass of the government, nothing from the president, nothing from the vice president or any of the big ministers. how they respond tomorrow to this situation will determine, you know, what happens next in the capital, kabul.

as we mentioned, kandahar may have fallen to the taliban and the afghan freelance journalist bilal sarwary gave us more. in the last few minutes we have gotten confirmation that the city of kandahar has fallen into the hands of the taliban. all of the officials have gone now to the 205. it's the regional army base tasked with protecting kandahar and the neighbouring provinces. we also have confirmation from tribal elders in the neighbouring province where tribal elders sent by the taliban are negotiating with the governor representing the afghan government, so this has been about fighting, yes, on the battlefield but this has been more about the taliban strategy of offering people insurance, you know.

as we reported at the begining of the programme britain and the united states are sending more than three and a half thousand troops to help their civilians leave. they'll arrive in the coming days for what the uk ministry of defence is calling a short—term mission. 0ur defence correspondent jonathan beale has more. shouting. 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 and british citizens still in the country. america announced its preparing to do the same, deploying 3000 marines and soldiers. this is a temporary mission with a narrow focus. as with all deployments of our troops into harm's way, our commanders have the inherent right of self—defence and any attack on them, and will be met with a forceful and an

appropriate response. us initiated so—called peace talks with the taliban were still taking place in doha today, but they now look more like a sideshow with little relevance to what's happening on the ground. in the past month the insurgents have moved at speed, seizing more territory. in the last day alone, three major cities have fallen including herat, ghazni and lashkar gah in helmand, once patrolled by british troops. nearby kandahar is believed to be on the brink. we are now departing, as i say, and leaving the country to what we are going to see is a massive humanitarian disaster, a civil war. we are going to see huge migration problems and on top of that we are going to see terrorism raise its ugly head again no doubt in this country and other countries

because it's now become a safe haven for them to regroup, rearm, and retrain. most british troops had already left kabul as part of the us led withdrawal. this temporary surge is purely to facilitate the departure of those who remain securely, but once again it raises more questions as to what was achieved by the sacrifice of a57 british lives over the past 20 years. jonathan beale, bbc news. earlier i spoke to laurel miller — programme director for asia at the think tank, crisis group. i asked her if she thought kabul would fall next. i'm joined now by laurel miller. kabul next? she is the program director for asia at the think tank, crisis group. what's unclear as yet is whether the taliban or even need to attack kabul or whether the government will simply collapse before they have to make that kind of move. i think what we are seeing so far is that the taliban have had a very well laid strategy for surrounding the cities that they have now

been able to move on, and for essentially encircling kabul. so it looks extremely fragile at the moment. it's unsure whether the government will collapse and the taliban has to fight for kabul or whether they surrender. given that context what do you think the prospect there are for a peace deal? there are no prospects for a peace deal anytime soon. the tele— are fighting for power, they are not fighting for power—sharing through a peace deal. and if they were not particularly interested in negotiating with any speed six months ago they are less interested now that they are achieving military victory after victory. what they might do is they might engage in a kind of endgame negotiation with a handful of power brokers and warlords

not with the elected government of afghanistan. to put a political bow on a military victory and claim that they have achieved a political settlement that gives them legitimacy, that they did not just take the country entirely by force. 0ur correspondence have been speaking to different factions of the taliban. two very different distinct ideologies we have heard from there. you continue to see that divide? is the taliban ideologically different or consistent to who they were 20 years ago? i think that's unclear. as a leadership level they have claimed that they have learned some lessons from mistakes made during their rule in the 1990s what exactly they regard as mistakes is not certain

but i think if it less as a divide then as there is that more politically minded leadership element that sees that it has to have a kind of somewhat palatable narrative to purvey in the international community and then you have the fighters on the ground who no doubt have no interest in that message. so that's less of a divide than it is that there are some distinctions between the kinds of individuals and their viewpoints within the movement, but it has to be said the taliban has remained quite cohesive overall over time and that has been their comparative advantage, recently the afghan government. they have been the more cohesive side.

we can now speak to our correspondent barbara plett usher who joins us from los angeles. barbara — the us sending military troops to evacuate embassy staff — but a humanitarian disaster unfolding at a rapid pace — any sense of accountability or responsibility from the biden administration on this? well, not publicly. just this week president biden said we spent more than $1 trillion there over 20 years, we trained and equipped a big army. now it is up to afghan leaders to come together and to defend themselves against the taliban. and that's been his position all along. we understand his serving top generals advised against this move although they have not publicly criticised it. a former senior general bid or criticise it saying it would've been better to keep at

least a small contingent of soldiers there and manage the conflict. and i think now is the administration is watching there is alarm at how fast the taliban is advancing but also frustration with how quickly the afghan army is collapsing especially as there are more of them. 300,000 to the taliban public 75,000. they are better equipped and have air support and so on and is quite criticism at the afghan president that he did not carry out some strategy to retake or defend the cities. there is an unhappiness here watching but there's no indication that president biden is reassessing that decision to pull the us troops out. that decision to pull the us tr00ps out-— that decision to pull the us troos out. �* troops out. and given the fact that there _ troops out. and given the fact that there is _ troops out. and given the fact that there is no _ troops out. and given the fact that there is no assessment i that there is no assessment from biting on that what is yoursense from biting on that what is your sense of the days and weeks ahead as we do see the us pulling its embassy staff out, how long do you think that might take and how smoothly it

will that operation go? i might take and how smoothly it will that operation go?- will that operation go? i don't think we can _ will that operation go? i don't think we can really _ will that operation go? i don't think we can really say. - will that operation go? i don't think we can really say. it's i think we can really say. it's quite a fluid situation but what we can say is that the americans are planning for the worst—case scenario so they sentin worst—case scenario so they sent in 3000 troops to help the evacuations at the airport and now they are saying that the empathy is still open they are not closing the empathy so it's not closing the empathy so it's not entirely clear how many people are leaving. its civilian staff but if the embassy is staying open that must surely be remaining. they are being sent there to do that emergency task. they are not being sent to fight the taliban, that's what the pentagon said. however around 4000 troops are also being sent to kuwait in case this evacuation does descend into a fight so they are prepared for the worst and what they they want want to take action now and in case things get much worse but as it looks the taliban have the cities in the south are getting the cities in the south in the north and putting so much more pressure

on kabul that this action needs to be taken. police in south west england say that several people have been killed in a shooting incident in the city of plymouth. they have told residents to stay inside and follow police advice. ambulances, air ambulances, doctors and paramedics have been sent to the keyum district. a local member of parliament said he was aware of a "serious and tragic incident unfolding" but said it was not terror related. 0ur correspondent — jon kay — reports from plymouth. we understand it was just after six o'clock the police were called here. eyewitnesses in the area have told us they heard some shouting but they heard a door banging and then they heard three orfour gunshots. around the area here in this part of plymouth. 0nly around a mile or so from the centre of the city. there were then reports of more gunshots on the streets around that property, and now tonight we were told

that was a serious and critical incident and that tomorrow we will get details of a number of fatalities. we understand there were also a number of other people who have been injured in this and incident have been taken to hospital. four air ambulances came and landed nearby to take casualties away. one of them from as far away as southampton. now we understand that the home secretary, priti patel, has been in touch this evening with the chief cost of devon and cornwall police. she says she is deeply shocked by what has happened here and will be trying to find out more tomorrow. and in this community people is just cannot believe that on a quiet summers' evening in a county like devon that something like this would happen. they are not entirely sure what has gone on, they are being told not to speculate on social media, not to post anything on social media, particularly some images which are said to be extremely distressing. if you want to get in touch with me i'm on twitter — @bbckarishma

you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: the american hospitals in crisis, with large proportions of the population unwilling to get vaccinated. the big crowds became bigger as the time of the funeral approached. as the lines of fans became longer, the police prepared for a huge job of crowd control. idi amin, uganda's brutal former dictator has died at the age of 80. he's been buried in saudi arabia where he lived in exile since being overthrown in 1979.

2 billion people around the world have seen the last total eclipse of the sun to take place in this millennium. it began itsjourney off the coast of canada ending three hours later when the sun set over the bay of bangor. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our top story this hour: the taliban capture afghanistan's third biggest city herat, with reports they've taken kandahar too. the father of britney spears has agreed to step down as long—time conservator of her estate, in a move described as a major victory for the singer, by her lawyer. injune, the singer, described the conservatorship — which has controlled her life and finances since 2008 — as "abusive" — and told a judge she wanted it to end.

mr spears lawyers said it was not in his daughter's interests for the legal battle to continue and he would now work with the court to assure an orderly transition to a new conservator. andrew rossow, entertainment lawyer and reporterjoins me now. great to have you. how significant a victory is this, what does it mean for britney? thank you so much for having me. this is landmark right now for everything that the free britney movement represents, that the hashtag me to movement represents and is the big win for britney spears. find represents and is the big win for britney spears.— for britney spears. and what does it mean _ for britney spears. and what does it mean for— for britney spears. and what does it mean for her- for britney spears. and what does it mean for her dad? i for britney spears. and what| does it mean for her dad? he is effectively saying he is going to walk away from this, but do you foresee any potential legal battles or any sort of conflict

ahead? {iii battles or any sort of conflict ahead? ., ., , ahead? of the good still somewhat _ ahead? of the good still somewhat early - ahead? of the good still somewhat early to - ahead? of the good still somewhat early to early j ahead? of the good still. somewhat early to early up ahead? of the good still- somewhat early to early up to protect but i think with today's first step of him saying listen i want to do with the best for my daughter regardless of what the general public thinks, about what to do its best and i will comply with the cord i think we can expect moving forward is that everyone sitting down figuring out where we can adjust some of these restrictions that britney has faced for nearly 13 years new faced for nearly 13 years now that she is — faced for nearly 13 years now that she is in _ faced for nearly 13 years now that she is in effect - faced for nearly 13 years now that she is in effect her - faced for nearly 13 years now that she is in effect her own woman again what does that mean for her music career and be creative in the way that she would like to be?— creative in the way that she would like to be? hopefully we can see the — would like to be? hopefully we can see the return _ would like to be? hopefully we can see the return of— would like to be? hopefully we can see the return of her- would like to be? hopefully we| can see the return of her music career and her as a person to this atmosphere and environment will stop entertainment did not make her come entertainment helped grow her career she has been silenced for too long. now

maybe we can see the return of her career. but it is still a battle and we are in the right direction. �* , battle and we are in the right direction-— direction. there's so much -ublic direction. there's so much public pressure _ direction. there's so much public pressure that - direction. there's so much public pressure that we . direction. there's so much l public pressure that we have seen, this huge social media campaign that has been in support of her. how do you think she might interact with fans, posters victory, and sort of credit them for some of the victory that she has seen? i victory that she has seen? i think there's a real connection here and there is a new opportunity for britney to look at her and say who was here for me when i was at my lowest. what did they do when i was at my lowest, they help you back and brought me back and for that i owed them a promise to do whatever i can for myself and for my fans. i think it's very positive.— and for my fans. i think it's very positive. thank you for “oininu very positive. thank you for joining us- _ it's been a week of extreme weather conditions and weather related disasters around the world.

algeria has observed a day of mourning after wildfires took the lives of 69 people since monday. high winds and 50 degree celsius heat fuelled the rapid spread of the blazes. algerian authorites say they suspect arson in sparking the fires, but the fires were aggravated by the hot temperatures. north of the mediterranean, the italian island of sicily may have registered the highest temperature ever recorded in europe — 48.8 degrees celsius. the average maximum temperatures for this time of year are normally around 35 degrees there. over 500 blazes were reported over wednesday night. the head of a siberian region has declared friday a non working day and urged residents to stay home due to the threat of forest fire smoke to public health. according to the russian forestry commission, this seasons wildfires have burned away 9.2 million hectares of forest, an area the size of portugal.

and — emergency teams in northern india have now rescued thousands of people stranded by floods in the state of uttar pradesh. india's most populous state is suffering some of its worst flooding in decades, following days of torrential downpours. monsoon rains in india have led to hundreds of deaths since june. 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. 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 vaccinated? no, sir, iwon't. why? because i don't trust it, and i don't know what's in them. are you going to get vaccinated? no, i'm not. why? i don't think there's a need for a vaccination. like, ifeel... i feel like i'm 0k without it. though our time was cut short when we were ordered off the premises. don't ask any questions of our congregation, it's not your business. someone else who bought into this viewpoint was 22—year—old josh bradstreet—contreras. he was a fit, healthy college kid and last friday, after contracting covid

a week earlier, died. he was unvaccinated. his mother tarsha is now on a mission to persuade other young people that, actually, they're not invincible. if i could sell all my worldly possessions, and it's not much that i have, to bring josh back — i would. everything, even the shirt on my back. so in other words, get the vaccine? take the vaccine... take the vaccine. in louisiana, just 37% of adults have had the jab. across the state line, that drops to 35% — the lowest in the country. we've just crossed the border from louisiana into mississippi — another state where cases are surging, another state where it's impossible to get an intensive care bed. but the republican governor is refusing to follow government advice that people should wear a mask. once again, issues of politics

have become hopelessly intertwined with matters of public health. and the politics is this — the areas with the lowest vaccine rates are in districts where support for donald trump was highest. and in a rewriting of one of america's most famous gun supporting slogans, these people are defending the right not to bare their arms. but that has resulted in the king's daughters hospital in rural mississippi being inundated like never before with covid cases. the senior physician is wrung out. it's pretty dire. we're running out of beds, we're running out of staff. we're running out of the oxygen means that we give these patients. we're interrupted by him having to deal with an emergency in intensive care. we have a patient that is maxed out on life support in the intensive care unit. despite our best efforts and measures, they're just not getting better.

a couple of hours after we'd stopped filming, we were told that the 68—year—old man had died. he hadn't been vaccinated. jon sopel, bbc news, in the deep south. and before we go tonight, a life's work goes under the auctioneer�*s hammer. a precious piano collection of a royal restorer— who has worked on instruments belonging to the queen and beethoven— will soon be on the market. 26 pianos will be auctioned next month, some valued at over 80,000 dollars each. at the age of 70, david winston says its about time he sold them off, and settled for an easier life. you have been watching newsday. the taliban have made their most dramatic gains yet against afghan government forces — capturing a series of strategically important cities.

government foces have lost contol of herat, afghanistan's third largest city, and militants are poised to gain control of kandahar — the second largest. hello. there is no real heat in the uk forecast for the next few days. but across southern europe, it's a different story — it's been an exceptionally hot week, with that heat now migrating westwards. the orange colours on this chart show places where temperatures will be well above the average. in parts of southern spain, we could be looking at temperatures as high as 47 celsius because high—pressure is trapping the heat in place. but for us, low pressure is close by — that means some brisk winds, some rain at times but not all the time, and temperatures will struggle especially across northwestern parts of the uk. and here through friday, we will see some quite hefty showers working through — some heavy, some thundery, especially widespread across the far northwest of scotland. further south and east, many parts of england and wales will be dry with just the odd shower here.

and while there will be big areas of cloud floating past, there will also be some good spells of sunshine. but it's breezy for all of us, especially windy up towards the northwest, and top temperatures in glasgow ofjust 17 celsius. could get a 22—23 across parts of eastern and southeastern england. now as we head through friday night, we will see some further showers especially across the northern half of scotland. further south, it turns predominantly dry, some clear spells at least for a time, and temperatures between 11—15 celsius as we start saturday morning. so as we head into the start of the weekend, we've got one area of low pressure tending to push away north eastwards, but here comes another low drifting in from the west. a bit of uncertainty still at this range about the detail of saturday's forecast, but it's likely we will see cloud and rain spreading in most likely across central parts of the uk. to the north, it's a mix of sunshine with just a few showers at this stage, and across the south of england, may be south wales it's likely to stay pretty much

dry with some sunshine. those temperatures, for the most part, between 19 and 22 celsius. now, the messy picture continues on into sunday. this area of low pressure continues to drift in from the west. you will see this frontal system dropping down from the north, so could well be a few different areas of rain on sunday. 0ne pushing into northern scotland, some rain across northern england and wales. perhaps some further south as well. but in between the areas of the wet weather there will be some spells of sunshine. but by this stage turning really cool in northern scotland, maybe just 14 degrees.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues — straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. the humanitarian crisis in northern ethiopia is worsening as conflict continues on multiple fronts. tigrayan rebel forces have won a string of victories over the ethiopian military. ethiopia's prime minister now says all of the state's military resources will be deployed to halt the rebels. my guest is getachew reda, spokesman for the tigray people's liberation front. with the death toll rising and man—made famine taking hold, what is the endgame for tigray�*s rebels?