welcome to bbc news — i'm lewis vaughanjones. our top stories... president biden says us troops could stay in afghanistan beyond the end of the month — if more time is needed to get every american out of the country. the taliban strengthens its grip on power as many afghans desperately try to flee before it's too late. who will help us? the people of haiti hit by saturday's powerful earthquake — say there's still no assistance. and thosands are moved to safety as firefighters continue to battle wildfires from the french riveria to greece.

welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. president biden says us troops might stay in afghanistan beyond his deadline at the end of the month — if more time is needed to get every american out of the country. it comes three days after the taliban takeover, which prompted thousands of people to try to leave. we'll have a full report from there in a moment, but first here's president biden explaining the chaos we've seen in kabul in the last few days. he's been speaking to us network abc news. when you had the government of afghanistan, the leader of that government getting on a plane and taking off and going to another country. when you saw the significant collapse of the afghan troops we had trained,

up to 300,000 of them, just leaving their equipment and taking off, that was, you know, that's what happened. that's simply what happened. i'm joined now by our north america correspondent david willis. the president coming in for a great deal of criticism, but absolutely defending his stance? ~ , ., stance? absolutely, and the president — stance? absolutely, and the president making _ stance? absolutely, and the president making the - stance? absolutely, and the president making the point. stance? absolutely, and the i president making the point he is committed to keeping us forces in afghanistan until every american is evacuated. evenif every american is evacuated. even if that means maintaining a military presence in afghanistan beyond august the sist afghanistan beyond august the 31st deadline that he himself set for a full american withdrawal. he said if there is american citizens left, we are going to stay until we get them all out. given the current pace of the withdrawal it does seem as though the us is not going

to make the deadline, which is less than two weeks away. it might still do, but at the current pace it's probably not going to do so. that and the declaration by mr biden today in the same interview, that the chaos we saw was unavoidable. that will fuel criticism over the way the us has handled this withdrawal. the way the us has handled this withdrawal-— withdrawal. what about the wider public? _ withdrawal. what about the wider public? i _ withdrawal. what about the wider public? i gather- withdrawal. what about the | wider public? i gather there withdrawal. what about the i wider public? i gather there is support for the idea and the principle of withdrawing from afghanistan, but the political fallout from president biden is still there? fallout from president biden is still there ?_ still there? very much so. there was _ still there? very much so. there was consistent - still there? very much so. - there was consistent approval in the polls coming up to the last few weeks for the withdrawal of american forces from afghanistan. but a poll conducted on monday by the reuters news agency showed that mr biden�*s approval rating is now at its lowest since he took

office seven months ago and less than half of those questioned for that poll approved of the way the withdrawal has been carried out. joe biden has received criticism, not only from republicans, but members from his own party, who believed this operation was botched, to put it mildly. this operation was botched, to put it mildly-— put it mildly. those questions are not going _ put it mildly. those questions are not going to _ put it mildly. those questions are not going to go _ put it mildly. those questions are not going to go away, - put it mildly. those questions are not going to go away, are | are not going to go away, are they? thank you, david. meanwhile the taliban are strengthening their grip on power in afghanistan. they've violently put down a demonstration in the eastern city of jalalabad. heavily—armed taliban militants are patrolling the capital, kabul, and there are fewer women on the streets. 0ur correspondent, secunder kermani, has returned to the afghan capital for the first time since the taliban takeover on sunday and has sent this report. outside the airport, chaos continues. thousands are still desperate to leave the country. here, a girl — terrified.

"the taliban are coming for me", she cries. this family has been camped outside here for five days. "the situation here is very bad", she says. "no one wants to live here. "everyone wants to live in peace and to be able to study. "we want to go anywhere that is safe." despite assurances from the taliban that anyone linked to the government will be given an amnesty, many here are deeply fearful for their future, and that's why we're still seeing these chaotic scenes the airport. no one's clear yet what comes next, but political discussions have begun. this was the arrival of a deputy leader of the taliban in kandahar — their spiritual home. whilst this is a member of the notorious haqqani family, deeply entrenched in the taliban's leadership, meeting with former president hamid karzai and other senior afghan politicians.

in a speech tonight from the gulf, the former president, ashraf ghani, said he supported the efforts and hoped to return to the country. that seems unlikely. in the centre of kabul, early signs everyday life is beginning to resume. heavily armed taliban patrols are all around but shops and streets are busier than they've been since the takeover. "it's not the same as before", says this man. "people are scared but it's better than the past few days, at least." there are far fewer women out and about than before and they're dressed more conservatively, though not in the all—encompassing burqa. many major businesses have sent female employees home, unsure whether the taliban will allow them to work. but there have been signs of defiance. this is a protest in support of the afghan flag, replaced in some areas by the taliban's.

a number of demonstrators were reportedly shot dead in jalalabad. whilst this was another rally in eastern afghanistan. look at the huge taliban convoy that's speeding towards it. the taliban have been making conciliatory noises in public, but many fear they won't tolerate any challenges to their authority. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. the international monetary fund has said afghanistan cannot access the fund's resources because of uncertainty over the recognition of the government in kabul by the international community. afghanistan was due to receive around m60 to receive around m60 million next week as part of a global imf response to the economic crisis. i'll be speaking to a former adviser

to the commanding general of us special operations forces in afghanistan later in this bulletin, so do stay with me for that. in other news let's turn to haiti now. the head of the pan american health organization has called on the international community to provide urgent medical personnel and equipment to the country, which suffered a devastating earthquake last saturday. the earthquake is now known to have killed nearly 2,000 people. 0ur correspondent james clayton reports from the village of marceline, near the epicenter of the quake. as you head out from the city of les cayes to rural marceline, the road is marked by landslides... ..and deep cracks. the village is remote and the scale of the damage, catastrophic. rosemary took me to her house. her 15—year—old son was charging his phone when the quake hit. the wall collapsed on him.

translation: these are his books. - he had recently got them so he could start a new year of school. and now, he's gone. i wrap his shirt around my waist. it keeps me strong. when you come to these rural areas, the level of destruction just ups a notch. almost every single house here is completely destroyed. five people were killed in this house alone. and to understand why, you have to look at the cement and rock that these houses are built from. it's really hard to lift this, it's really heavy and of course, when those kinds of walls fall down, they can cause catastrophic injuries. with no sign of aid or help, many people are living on top of the rubble of what was their homes. "do we have to scream for the government to hear us," this woman says, "or is life over?"

the people of haiti feel like they've been forgotten, and in many ways, they have. james clayton, bbc news, marceline. steve verdieu lives in les cayes. his home is badly damaged and he's been living outside for fear of aftershocks. there is a slight delay on the line, so thank you for talking to us. are you still living outside?— to us. are you still living outside? yes, we are still livin: outside? yes, we are still living outside. _ outside? yes, we are still living outside. because i outside? yes, we are still- living outside. because staying inside is dangerous right now. because we are afraid, we are outside all day and also during the night. outside all day and also during the niuht. . , ., ., the night. that is tough for obvious reasons. _ the night. that is tough for obvious reasons. i'm - the night. that is tough for obvious reasons. i'm goingj the night. that is tough for i

obvious reasons. i'm going to bring in some pictures because i know you have found these and we are going to show them to all viewers now. this is the devastation around you, what happened near your home. it is heartbreaking to look at the damage. clearly, you are ok physically, what kind of help you getting, any assistance, oil or are you not getting any at all? ., ., ., at all? right now we are not caettin at all? right now we are not getting any _ at all? right now we are not getting any assistance. - at all? right now we are not getting any assistance. we i at all? right now we are not - getting any assistance. we have no food, we have no water to drink. we are trying to survive but we are not getting any assistance.— but we are not getting any assistance. ., ., �* ., ., , assistance. you haven't got any water, assistance. you haven't got any water. what _ assistance. you haven't got any water, what is _ assistance. you haven't got any water, what is the _ assistance. you haven't got any water, what is the problem - assistance. you haven't got any | water, what is the problem with water? , ., , water, what is the problem with water? , . , , ., water, what is the problem with water? , . , , , water? usually we use to buy the water _ water? usually we use to buy the water we _ water? usually we use to buy the water we drank. - water? usually we use to buy the water we drank. so - water? usually we use to buy the water we drank. so after| the water we drank. so after the water we drank. so after the earthquake, all the places where we used to buy water are

closed. also other things like washing, for other uses, we used water from the wells. but right now after the earthquake, all the water in the wells is dirty, so it is hard to find water to use right now. so no water, water to use right now. so no water. no _ water to use right now. so no water, no food, _ water to use right now. so no water, no food, no _ water to use right now. so no i water, no food, no assistance? what about people around you? there must be people, family and friends, is everyone still like you, living out on the streets in the weather conditions?— streets in the weather conditions? , , , conditions? yes, everybody is t in: conditions? yes, everybody is trying physically. _ conditions? yes, everybody is trying physically, but - conditions? yes, everybody is| trying physically, but mentally everybody is struggling right now. because we have had no assistance. we are supporting each other.

assistance. we are supporting each other-— assistance. we are supporting each other. steve, we 'ust lost the line, each other. steve, we 'ust lost the line. it each other. steve, we 'ust lost the line, iwillfi each other. steve, we 'ust lost the line, i will try h each other. steve, we 'ust lost the line, i will try one _ each other. steve, we just lost the line, i will try one more i the line, i will try one more question but we might have to lose it there. ijust question but we might have to lose it there. i just wanted question but we might have to lose it there. ijust wanted to ask, what is your message to the outside world?— ask, what is your message to the outside world? right now the outside world? right now the earth is — the outside world? right now the earth is shaking. - the outside world? right now the earth is shaking. it - the outside world? right now the earth is shaking. it is - the earth is shaking. it is shaking right now. it the earth is shaking. it is shaking right now.- shaking right now. it is shaking _ shaking right now. it is shaking right _ shaking right now. it is shaking right now? - shaking right now. it is shaking right now? do| shaking right now. it is shaking right now? do you need to move outside, are you safe where you are? can you carry on talking or should we leave it there? ., ~' talking or should we leave it there? ., ~ ., there? right now, ithinki am safe, i there? right now, ithinki am safe. twill— there? right now, ithinki am safe, i will go _ there? right now, ithinki am safe, i will go outside - there? right now, ithinki am safe, i will go outside after. safe, i will go outside after this interview. i think we can continue. i this interview. i think we can continue-— continue. i will ask you one last, quick _ continue. i will ask you one last, quick question - continue. i will ask you one last, quick question and - continue. i will ask you one i last, quick question and then i will let you go outside, what is your question to the international community and

people watching around the world? i people watching around the world? ., ~' people watching around the world? ., ~ ., ., world? i would like to say that we really _ world? i would like to say that we really need _ world? i would like to say that we really need help. - world? i would like to say that we really need help. we - world? i would like to say that we really need help. we have| we really need help. we have nothing to eat, we need food, we need water. anybody who can help us, just do it. because we need it. help us, 'ust do it. because we need it. ,, ., ~ help us, 'ust do it. because we need it. ,, ., ,, , ., help us, 'ust do it. because we need it. ,, . ~' , ., ., need it. steve, thank you for talkin: need it. steve, thank you for talking to — need it. steve, thank you for talking to us, _ need it. steve, thank you for talking to us, we _ need it. steve, thank you for talking to us, we wish - need it. steve, thank you for talking to us, we wish you i talking to us, we wish you well, please go outside and stay safe. thank you. thank ou. stay with us on bbc news, still to come. new york's central park becomes an impromptu battlefield as teams of knights battle it out in full medieval armour. 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. two billion people around the world have seen the last total eclipse of the sun 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 bengal. this is bbc news, the latest headlines:

president biden has defended his decision to withdraw us troops from afghanistan, insisting there wasn't a way for them to leave "without chaos ensuing." there have been chaotic scenes outside kabul airport as governments rush to bring home their citizens as well as afghan colleagues. let's stay with that story now. dr sethjones is director of the international security programme at the center for strategic and international studies, a research organisation. in 2009 he was adviser to the commanding general of us special operations forces, in afghanistan. he's in washington. thank you for coming on the programme. it thank you for coming on the programme-— thank you for coming on the programme. it is great to be on, programme. it is great to be on. thank — programme. it is great to be on. thank you _ programme. it is great to be on, thank you for _ programme. it is great to be on, thank you for having - programme. it is great to be | on, thank you for having me. programme. it is great to be - on, thank you for having me. we have heard _ on, thank you for having me. we have heard words from president biden, essentially laying responsibility for security in afghanistan with the afghanistan with the afghanistan authorities, is he right to do that? i afghanistan authorities, is he right to do that?— right to do that? i don't think he is, i think—

right to do that? i don't think he is, i think it _ right to do that? i don't think he is, i think it is _ right to do that? i don't think he is, i think it is a _ right to do that? i don't think he is, i think it is a little - he is, i think it is a little disingenuous. i think in conversations i have had with recently with senior afghan officials, what they have indicated is that morale collapsed in part because the us was going to withdraw all of its forces, it was not going to provide any support, including close air support in case of engagements and that the taliban had the backing of the chinese. we saw that with the chinese. we saw that with the chinese foreign minister meeting with one of the taliban leaders just a few weeks ago. pakistan, which is the main backer, the iranians and the russians. this was a fait accompli and the morale issue, which was triggered by the us withdrawal, was a critical factor. . , , factor. that is interesting. and that _ factor. that is interesting. and that morale _ factor. that is interesting. and that morale issue, i and that morale issue, therefore was it a failure in us intelligence to work out that that would happen? i us intelligence to work out that that would happen? i don't think it was _ that that would happen? i don't think it was a _ that that would happen? i don't think it was a failure _ that that would happen? i don't

think it was a failure of - that that would happen? i don't think it was a failure of us - think it was a failure of us intelligence, because us intelligence, because us intelligence agencies had been becoming more dire in their assessments of a collapse of the afghan national security forces as we got into the spring and the early summer of 2021. if anything, spring and the early summer of 2021. ifanything, it spring and the early summer of 2021. if anything, it is a failure of policy, so the decision to leave, knowing the afghan national security forces might collapse, that is what us intelligence and the services believe. ~ . . , believe. what could have been handled differently? _ believe. what could have been handled differently? they - believe. what could have been| handled differently? they were robabl handled differently? they were probably two — handled differently? they were probably two choices, - handled differently? they were probably two choices, one, - handled differently? they were probably two choices, one, to l probably two choices, one, to relieve a small footprint in the country, including keep a limited presence at bases. the other was to start earlier in the spring evacuating american citizens bit by bit and other

translators and those who have worked with us and western forces. that wasn't done either. in the us congress that had been a lot of pressure from republicans and democrats to start doing it months ago and the pentagon did not do it. given we are where we are now, if you were in any role in the administration, what would be your priority? in administration, what would be your priority?— your priority? in addition to caettin your priority? in addition to getting americans - your priority? in addition to getting americans and - your priority? in addition to | getting americans and those that worked with us or other forces out. i would prepare for what is likely to be a coming humanitarian crisis with displaced people and refugees. the second is to put together a counterterrorism mission, because one of the most striking developments over the past few days has been the release of thousands of foreign fighters, including al-qaeda fighters, including al-qaeda fighters from turkey, kandahar

and other places. the terrorism issueis and other places. the terrorism issue is not over.— issue is not over. that is a re issue is not over. that is a pretty dire _ issue is not over. that is a pretty dire assessment, i issue is not over. that is a i pretty dire assessment, but issue is not over. that is a - pretty dire assessment, but we appreciate your insight and coming on and sharing it with us. thank you.— events unfolding in afghanistan are still capturing the world's headlines. so check out our website for all the latest news and development, plus analysis from our team on the ground. let's get some of the day's other news. the prosecution has made its opening statements at the trial of the american r&b singer r kelly in new york. the prosecutor said the musician had targeted, groomed and exploited young girls and boys, calling him a sexual predator. r kelly has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. a court battle in canada over the extradition of huawei's chief financial officer to the united states has ended after two and a half years. the canadian government

prosecutor said the court should have no difficulty in finding mung wanjoe had committed fraud, and so should be handed over to the americans. her defence team deny any fraud. a date for a ruling will be set in october. european union interior ministers have pledged to send experts and equipment to the eu's borders with belarus to cope with what they see as an orchestrated influx of migrants. they're accusing president alexander lukashenka of encouraging migrants to cross in retaliation for sanctions. that's been denied by belarus. hundreds of firefighters in france have spent a third day battling a fast—moving fire near the french riveria. it's the latest in a string of deadly fires in the mediterranean in recent weeks, amid intense heatwaves. officials have blamed man—made climate change. courtney bembridge reports. this is what firefighters

are up against — a fast—moving fire fuelled by an intense heatwave. thousands of residents and tourists have been moved to safety while others went back to inspect the damage after a terrifying escape. translation: the fire arrived about eight o'clock. _ it was so fast, it came from higher up. we tried to control the sparks, but it was too intense. so we took refuge in the vineyards. europe has been ravaged by wildfires this summer with record temperatures across the mediterranean. greece has been badly hit. this is the latest fire burning through one of the last pine forests near athens. residents here were caught by surprise atjust how quickly the flames reached their homes. translation: we watched as it all burned, from - the front and the back. and there was no one,

no one here, no one to warn the citizens here where there are houses. and we were running, we were running. greece has fought more than 500 wildfires this month alone as the country also battles its most severe heat in decades. scientists say it's yet another reminder of the impact of man—made climate change. courtney bembridge, bbc news. a wildfire near the californian city of sacramento has exploded and grown by a factor of eight injust 2a hours. the caldorfire suddenly expanded on tuesday morning and within a day was consuming more than 53,000 acres. two people have been seriously injured and thousands of residents have been evacuated from the eldorado national forest. it's one of many fires currently raging across the western united states. when you think of knights in shining armour — you no doubt think of medieval europe. pitch battles involving broad—swords, chain—mail and lances.

now, some of those conflicts are being re—enacted, but in a venue you might not expect — as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. it was another age, another place. a time of chivalry and violence. place. a time of chivalry and violence-— violence. lots and lots of violence- _ violence. lots and lots of violence. now _ violence. lots and lots of violence. now you - violence. lots and lots of violence. now you can i violence. lots and lots of| violence. now you can try violence. lots and lots of i violence. now you can try it out for yourself, here in new york's central park. these are gladiators nyc, a group that meet once a month, but on steel armour and then attack each other. it is a combination of medieval combat and mixed martial arts. although there is not much chivalry involved. victory isn't the main point, the fighting for me. we don't compete for title medals, i

don't have the time of the energy, all the money for the kit. i am just here for the violence. kit. i am 'ust here for the vioeneel— kit. i am 'ust here for the vioeneei— kit. i am 'ust here for the volnce— violence. this is pretty gruelling _ violence. this is pretty gruelling stuff. - violence. this is pretty gruelling stuff. it - violence. this is pretty gruelling stuff. it can i violence. this is pretty i gruelling stuff. it can wait violence. this is pretty - gruelling stuff. it can wait up to 45 kilos or more. it was the brainchild of a former gladiator of wall street. he says he is trying to make a positive difference. we 'ust hit the core i positive difference. we 'ust hit the core of it, i positive difference. we 'ust hit the core of it, whichh positive difference. we just hit the core of it, which is i positive difference. we just l hit the core of it, which is be healthy. when you eat more healthy, you change your lifestyle and now we are saving lives. it lifestyle and now we are saving lives. , ., lifestyle and now we are saving lives. , . , ., . lives. it is a free programme available _ lives. it is a free programme available to _ lives. it is a free programme available to anyone - lives. it is a free programme available to anyone who - lives. it is a free programme available to anyone who is i available to anyone who is interested. the chance to improve your fitness and, who knows, become a knight of the big apple. tim coleman, bbc news. the tissue used by lionel messi during his farewell adress to the spanish football club fc barcelona is being sold at auction. the tear—soaked kleenex was put on the market by an anonymous seller,

with the price set at £1 million. messi announced earlier this month he would be leaving barcelona, ending his 21—year spell at the club. you can reach me on twitter — i'm tlvaughanjones. hello. it feels a little like our weather has been sulking so far this week — kind of stuck in a rut of greyness and lingering cloud. it's not in a great hurry to get out of that position through today, either. we did see some sunshine on wednesday across central and eastern england, and i'm hopeful we will see some for at least a time today — this break in the clouds ahead of a weak weather front coming in from the west. so through the morning, some sunnier skies working their way eastwards, perhaps something a bit brighter behind that band of showery rain further west for the afternoon. but still, a lot of cloud for many of us, and temperatures a little down for the time of year. a few heavier showers roaming around through the evening, but overnight, guess what —

it's all pretty quiet and light winds, a lot of cloud, quite misty and murky around the coast and the hills. friday daytime, looking at that chart, you think, oh, things might start to get moving. well, not in any great hurry, i'm afraid. this weather front will push some rain into northern ireland through the day, throwing some showers towards wales, as well. potentially, though, with a strengthening southerly breeze, we could break the cloud up a little more across southern and eastern england. looking pretty gloomy and murky there across scotland and generally across the northern half of the uk. for the weekend, this low will make a bit more effort, and friday into saturday, this front pushes slowly further eastwards. the notable thing that it does, though, is drag up some warmer air from the south for central and eastern england. so after a week where temperatures have sat below average, we could see some significantly warmer weather, at least briefly this weekend — but there is a price to pay. saturday, we will see, i think, temperatures into the mid—20s across central and eastern

england with some sunshine. but coming into the west, heavier and more persistent rain, some strengthening winds as well, as that area of low pressure finally gets down to business. for sunday, even more widespread showers, i think, as the low pressure sits across the uk. and we start to lose that southerly airstream as the low shifts, temperatures edge down yet again. a bit drierfor monday, but still on the cool side.

this is bbc news, the headlines: president biden has said us troops might stay in afghanistan beyond his deadline at the end of the month, if more time is needed to get every american out of the country. it comes four days after the taliban takeover, which prompted thousands of people to try to leave. the head of the pan american health organisation has called on the international community to provide urgent medical personnel and equipment to haiti, following a devastating earthquake on saturday. the disaster is now known to have killed nearly 2,000 people and injured about 10,000. hundreds of firefighters have spent a third day battling a fast—moving wildfire near the french riveria. it's the latest in a string of deadly fires to affect the mediterranean in recent weeks during intense heatwaves. scientists have blamed the impact of man—made climate change. now on bbc news, ahead

of cop26, the un's flagship climate conference, global questions looks