welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... let's go live to oppressor from the united states where we can hear from the us secretary of state. let's listen in... hear from the us secretary of state. let's listen in. . .- state. let's listen in... who worked around-the-clock i state. let's listen in... mir? worked around—the—clock and around the world to co—ordinate the operation. they volunteered for duty in kabul. they threw doing iflew to for duty in kabul. they threw doing i flew to transit countries to help process thousands of afghans for deployed points of entry in american bases to welcome afghans to the new homes. they staffed a 20 for seven task

force here in washington overseen by deputy secretary. and they built a list of americans, possibly seeking to leave afghanistan then worked to contact every single one of them repeatedly. making 50,000 calls sending 33,000 e—mails since august 1a. they solved problem after problem to keep the mission moving forward. they did this because for thousands in the state department and usaid employees who served in afghanistan over the past 30 years this evacuation operation was very personal. many work hand—in—hand for years with afghan partners with that many who became a trusted friends. we also lost cherished members of ourforeign we also lost cherished members of our foreign service community of ourforeign service community in afghanistan, we will neverforget them. community in afghanistan, we will never forget them. helping americans, ourforeign partners americans, our foreign partners who americans, ourforeign partners who have been by our side for 20 years and afghans at risk at this critical moment was more thanjust a high—stakes

than just a high—stakes assignment for our team. thanjust a high—stakes assignment for our team. it was assignment for our team. it was a sacred duty. and the world saw how our diplomats rose to the challenge with determination and heart. us service members did heroic work. securing the airport, protecting civilians of many nationalities including tens of thousands of afghans and airlifting them out. they are also providing vital support right now, caring for afghans on the military bases in the middle east and here in the united states. we've seen pictures of us service members in the kabul airport cradling babies, comforting families. that's the kind of compassion and courage are men and women in uniform exemplify. they carried out this mission under the constant threat of terrorist violence. and four days ago marines, one navy medic and one navy soldier was killed by a suicide bomber at the gate as well as scores of

afghans. nearly all of them were in their early 20s. just babies or toddlers on september 11, 2001. these deaths are a devastating loss for our country. we at the state department feel them deeply. we have a special bond with the marines. the first person that you see when you visit in american embassy is a marine. they guard our diplomatic missions, they keep us safe around the world. we couldn't do ourjobs without them. we will never forget their sacrifice nor will we forget what they achieved. the most exceptional among us for the lifetime of service here on earth. so it was for our exceptional brothers and sisters who died last week. finally, i want to thank our allies and partners. this

operation was a global endeavour in every way. many countries stepped up with robust contributions to the airlift including working by our side at the airport. some are now serving as transit countries, allowing evacuees to be registered in on their way to the final destination. 0thers to the final destination. others have agreed to resettle afghan permanently. we hope more will do so in the days and weeks ahead. we are truly grateful for their support. now us military flights have ended. and our troops have departed afghanistan. a new chapter of america's engagement with afghanistan has become. it's one in which we will lead with our diplomacy. with militant to enact the military mission is over a new diplomat mission has begun. so here is our plan for the days and weeks ahead. first, we built a new team to help lead this new mission. as of today we suspended our

diplomatic presence in kabul and transferred our operations to do her colour which will soon be notified to congress was up given the uncertain security environment and political environment in afghanistan it was the prudent step to take. and let me take this opportunity to thank our outstanding affair and kabul who came out of retirement and junior 2020 to lead our embassy in afghanistan and has done exceptional, courageous work during a highly challenging time. but the time being, we will use this post in doha to manage the deployment of sssaaa including council affairs, and ministering humanitarian assistance and working with allies, partners and regional and international stakeholders to co—ordinate engagement and messaging to the taliban. 0ur messaging to the taliban. our team there will be led by ian mccarthy who served as deputy chief in afghanistan for this past year. no one is better prepared to do the job. second,

we will continue our relentless efforts to help americans, foreign nationals and afghans leave afghanistan if they choose. let me talk briefly about the americans who remain in afghanistan. we made extra efforts to get americans every opportunity to depart the country. in many cases talking and sometimes walking them into the airport. of those who self identified americans in afghanistan who are considering leaving the country we've thus far received confirmation of about 6000 have been evacuated or otherwise departed. this number will likely continue to grow as our outreach and arrivals continue. we believe there are still a small number of americans, under 200, there are still a small number of americans, under200, might be closer to 100 who remain in afghanistan and want to leave. we are trying to determine exactly how many. we are going through manifests in calling and texting through our list and texting through our list and will have more details as

soon as possible. part of the challenge with fixing a precise number is that there are long—time residents in afghanistan who have american passports and who are trying to determine whether or not they wanted to leave. americans with deep roots and extended families in afghanistan who resided there for many years. for many it's a simple choice, our commitment to them and to all americans in afghanistan and everywhere in the world continues. the protection and well—being abroad remains vital mission. if an american in afghanistan tells us that they want out within a week or month they change their mind we will them leave. unconditionally. we've worked intensely to relocate afghans who worked alongside us and are at particular risk of reprisal.

we've gotten many out. but many are still there. we will keep working to help them. our commitment to them has no deadline. third, we will hold the taliban to its pledge, to let people freely depart afghanistan. the taliban is committed to let anyone with proper documents leave the country in a safe and orderly manner. they said this privately and publicly many times. on friday a senior taliban official said again on television and radio and i quote "any applicant may leave the country, including those who work for americans if they want and for whatever reason there may be. more than half there may be. more than half the worlds countries have joined us in assisting litvack insisting that the taliban let people travel outside freely. as of today more than 100 countries and said that they expect the element to it on authorisations by our

countries. injust a authorisations by our countries. in just a few short hours ago united nations council resolution that enshrines that responsibility. laying the groundwork to hold the taliban accountable. so the international course on this is strong and it will stay strong. we will hold the taliban to the commitment on freedom of movement forforeign nationals, movement for foreign nationals, visa holders movement forforeign nationals, visa holders at risk afghans. fourth, we will work to secure their safe passage. this morning i met with the foreign ministers of all the g—7 countries, united kingdom, france, germany, canada, italy, japan as well as qatar, turkey and the secretary—general of nato. we discussed how we work together to facilitate travel out of afghanistan, including by opening kabul airport as soon as possible. and we very much appreciate the efforts of turkey in particular to make this happen. this will enable a small number of daily flights

which is key for anyone who wants to depart from afghanistan moving forward. we are also working to identify ways to support americans, legal permanent residents and afghans who have worked with us and who may choose to depart 0verland roots. we know this won't be easy or rapid. this will be in entirely different phase from the evacuation that just concluded. it will take time to work through a new set of challenges but we will say added. john bass, a former ambassador to afghanistan who returned to kabul a few weeks ago to help lead our evacuation efforts at the airport will spearhead our ongoing, state department to help americans and permanent residents, special immigrant visa application and afghans at high risk if any of those people wish to depart afghanistan. we are deeply gratefulfor wish to depart afghanistan. we are deeply grateful for all thatjohn did in kabul and for his continued commitment to this mission. as well as the

extraordinary counsellor officers who were serving by his side. fifth, we will stay focused on counterterrorism. the taliban has made a commitment to prevent terrorists groups for using afghanistan as a base for external operation that threaten the united states are our allies. threaten the united states are ourallies. including ikeda threaten the united states are our allies. including ikeda and the taliban sworn enemy ice is 9“- the taliban sworn enemy ice is gay. here will hold them accountable to that commitment. but while we have expectations of the taliban that doesn't mean we will rely on the taliban. we will remain vigilant and monitoring threats ourselves and maintain robust counterterrorism to neutralise the threats as necessary. as we demonstrated in the past few days by striking isis facilitators and imminent threats in afghanistan. and as we do and places around the world where we do not have military forces on the ground. let me speak directly to our engagement with the taliban across these and other issues.

we engage with the taliban during the past few weeks to enable our evacuation operations. going forward any engagement with the taliban led government and kabul will be driven by one thing only, our vital national interests. if we can work with a new afghan government in a way that helps secure those interests, including the safe return, a us citizen held hostage in the region since early last year and in a way that brings greater stability to the country and region and protects the gains of the past two decades we will do it. but we will not do it on the basis of trust or faith. will not do it on the basis of trust orfaith. every will not do it on the basis of trust or faith. every step we take will be based not on what the taliban led government says but what it does to live up to its commitments. the taliban seeks international legitimacy and support. our message is any legitimacy and support will have to be viewed. the taliban can do that by meeting

commitments and obligations on freedom of travel, respecting the basic rights of the afghan people including women and minorities. upholding its commitments on counterterrorism, not carrying out reprisals against those who choose to stay in afghanistan, informing an inclusive government that can meet the needs and reflect the aspirations of the afghan people. six, we will continue our humanitarian assistance to the people of afghanistan. the conflict has taken a terrible toll on the afghan people. millions are displaced. millions are displaced. millions are displaced. millions are facing hunger, even starvation. the covid—i9 pandemic has also hit afghanistan hard. united states will continue to support humanitarian aid to the afghan people. consistent with our sanctions on the taliban the aid will not flow through the government but rather through independent organisations such as un agencies and ngos. and we expect that those efforts will

not be impeded by the taliban or anyone else. and seven, we will continue our broad international diplomacy across all these issues and many others. we believe we can accomplish far more and exert far greater leverage when we work coordinated as partners. 0ver work coordinated as partners. over the last weeks we've had a series of intensive diplomatic engagements with allies and partners to plan and co—ordinate the way ahead in afghanistan. i met with the foreign ministers of nato and the g-7, foreign ministers of nato and the g—7, i've spoken one—on—one with dozens of white counterparts. last week president biden met with the leaders of the g—7 countries and deputy secretary of state has been convening a group of 28 allies and partners from all regions of the world every other day. going forward, we will co—ordinate closely with countries in the region and around the world as well as a leading international organisations, ngos and the private sector. 0ur allies and

partners share our objectives and are committed to working with us. i'll have more to say on the matters in the coming days. the main point i want to get through today is america swore in afghanistan continues was that we have a plan for what's next, we are putting it into action. this moment also demands reflection. the war in afghanistan was a 20 year endeavour. we must learn its lessons and allow those lessons to shape how we think about fundamental questions of national security and foreign policy. will lead to future diplomats, policymakers, military leaders, service members we owe that to the american people. but as we do we will remain relentlessly focused on today and on the future. we will make sure we are finding every opportunity to make good on our commitment to make good on our commitment to the afghan people including by walking thousands into our communities as the american had done many times with generosity

and grace throughout our history. in this way we will honour all those brave men and women from the united states and many other countries who risk or sacrifice their lives as part of this long mission right up until today. thank you for listening.— for listening. entity blinken, the us secretary _ for listening. entity blinken, the us secretary of - for listening. entity blinken, the us secretary of state . the us secretary of state making his pitch to the international community about what the us has done, justifying in many ways that withdrawal of the united states from afghanistan after 20 years. just to talk you through some of those main points. he said that now a new chapter has begun. the diplomatic mission has begun in afghanistan. the us is building a new team to help lead this new mission. they are moving their mission from kabul to doe hard. and they do not he said the us will

continue its efforts to help americans, afghans to leave afghanistan if they choose to do so. currently he believes that there is a small number of americans still in afghanistan who haven't left. between 200 and 100 who want to leave. he also interestingly talked about the relationship he expects the united states to have with the taliban going forward. he said that we will hold the taliban to its pledge to let people leave afghanistan. and he said that we will hold the taliban to their commitment to the visa holders and at risk afghans. so a real pitch there from entity blinken. reminding that it is not game over it yet. —— anthony blinking. from the united states at the very end of that statement will continue in a different way now and that relates is one detail event needs to take very in order to get proper engagement from the united states for some we can

bejoined by united states for some we can be joined by ashley thompson who is in sydney and has been watching this very closely for us. he's an expert in foreign relations between the united states as well as the rest of the region. i know that this is something that partners and in this part of the world and asia that they have been watching very closely. an historic day today. how much do you think afghanistan it was happening, the way the united states is manage this withdrawal, how much do you think that has damage or has it rather us credibility with partners in the region?— credibility with partners in the reuion? , ., ., , the region? there is no doubt that the nature _ the region? there is no doubt that the nature of _ the region? there is no doubt that the nature of this - that the nature of this withdrawal was not wear anyone in any part of the world want to see. certainly the humanitarian tragedy. the speed at which a 20 year state building mission utterly failed in the last weeks and months. in a very public way is not what any us partner wants to

see for the united states and its global image. but i think it's really important to also push back against some of the hyperventilation that's been out there in the community, about what this means for countries that are us allies or partners in the indo pacific. we've seen a lot of talk about how the taiwanese might be interpreting this, japan, south korea even australia or countries in southeast asia as a sign of american unwillingness to make good on their security commitments to these countries as well. it simply does not add up. the united states mission, the rests mission in afghanistan it was one that was ultimately about a periphery old strategic stakes from a us or nato perspective. and indeed —— nato. why this mission is come to a close so quickly and frankly with bipartisan support

in the united states after a very long time is because us taxpayers, us decision—makers have themselves tired with a mission that was ultimately no longer what it was supposed to be about. and indeed we understand that one of the main reasons that they tired of that mission was that they viewed it as becoming detracting from the efforts to focus on competition with china here in the region. just briefly, what is your sense now that the allies or partners of the united states are watching this against the backdrop of the rising china? is this an opportunity for china and the region? it’s is this an opportunity for china and the region? it's not in operant — china and the region? it's not in operant unity _ china and the region? it's not in operant unity for _ china and the region? it's not in operant unity for china - china and the region? it's not in operant unity for china and| in operant unity for china and the region it's an opportunity for the united states in the broader indo pacific to indeed bring to bear its resources and attention. of course in the short term that can be difficult. as secretary blinken just outlined there will be a

lot of senior attention in the united states on afghanistan for some time. and indeed in engaging with the taliban government they are in order to make it last on a piling to western interests and western values. but the real opportunity if you want to get it or is for the united states to finally be able to rebalance to finally be able to rebalance to asia. ., ~ ,, to finally be able to rebalance to asia. ., ~' ,, , to finally be able to rebalance to asia. ., ~ ,, , . to asia. thank you very much. ashley townsend _ to asia. thank you very much. ashley townsend foreign - to asia. thank you very much. | ashley townsend foreign policy expert on the latest out of washington today. meanwhile to the other top story this hour. hurricane ida landed a category for amplitude louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 140 km. today the search and rescue were fanning out across the state to assess the scale of the damage. and it is widespread. it's not as bad as katrina which devastated new orleans 16 katrina which devastated new 0rlea ns 16 years katrina which devastated new orleans 16 years ago. it would appear the levees, pumps have done theirjob. but still there

are1 million people in and around the city without any power. and they will be for some time. we can go live now to dave cullen, he is news director of w ltv and louisiana. hejoins me now live from new orleans. thank you so much forjoining us and what i imagine pretty difficult conditions out there. you are currently on the ground in the affected area. talk us through what you're seeing in terms of devastation, what people are telling you that they need. the aood telling you that they need. the good news _ telling you that they need. the good news is — telling you that they need. tie: good news is that the telling you that they need. ti2 good news is that the search and rescue crews today were successfully able to find about for hundred people who rode out the storm and wanted to be rescued but could it be because they waited too long. —— for hundred back. the twins got to strong, the rain and couldn't be rescued during the hurricanes landfall. today at least for hundred people were brought to safety. the bad news is the governor of louisiana says there is every reason to believe based on devastation in

the areas where they will be able to get into today that they believed were inhabited prior to the storm arrive all that the death toll is going to go that the death toll is going to 9° up that the death toll is going to go up significantly once they are able to search those areas. there are some 900 search and rescue personnel already on the ground with thousands of national guard troops coming to support them in the effort is only going to intensify to try and find everybody hopefully, find everybody alive. that sounds like _ find everybody alive. that sounds like a _ find everybody alive. that sounds like a very - find everybody alive. that sounds like a very challenging relief operation right now. what is your sense of the kind of efforts that are taking place on the ground and what other help our authorities able to send in given the difficulties in these relief operations?— difficulties in these relief operations? well, they are usina operations? well, they are using aircraft, _ operations? well, they are using aircraft, boats, - operations? well, they are using aircraft, boats, high| using aircraft, boats, high water vehicles, using aircraft, boats, high watervehicles, dogs, using aircraft, boats, high water vehicles, dogs, and human personnel and they are trying

to get the job done. and personnel and they are trying to get thejob done. and it appears that they will systematically go through making that happen. the bigger picture they have is what you mention, the million people without electricity. a million customers without electricity. that's household electricity. the actual amount of people much higher. it's daunting because we can't get any straight answers from the utilities about how long it's going to take for them to reconnect the power. we are hearing months or it weeks. people are trying to decide who did not evacuate yet if they should go ahead now and find somewhere else to live until they can have those comforts of life. there is no running water and much of the area. there is no flushing toilets. and now people are trying to decide if they need to evacuate after the storm. and people who have left to thought that maybe they would come back or maybe not reconsidering that. it's going to be a daunting task because many of the people who didn't

leave didn't do so because they couldn't afford to, they don't have the means to leave, they can't miss work, they don't know how they will find meals if they're away. there are many questions but brain trust is coming together to try and quickly. coming together to try and cuickl . g , coming together to try and cuickl ., , , , , coming together to try and cuickl. ,, , ,, quickly. just briefly, this is all happening _ quickly. just briefly, this is all happening against - quickly. just briefly, this is all happening against the i all happening against the backdrop of a pandemic. how much worse will people be off in terms of how they are going to rebuild and recoverfrom this? to rebuild and recover from this? ., ., , , this? there are so many ways the pandemic _ this? there are so many ways the pandemic is _ this? there are so many ways the pandemic is making - this? there are so many ways the pandemic is making this l the pandemic is making this more difficult. just sheltering people hoping you don't create a super spreader inside of a shelter, keeping people far enough away and using masks. some of the hospitals who are overflowing with covid patients have had to be evacuated. some of the hospitals lost electricity and laws generators or their roofs blew off of them is very difficult.— is very difficult. dave cullen, thank you — is very difficult. dave cullen, thank you so _ is very difficult. dave cullen, thank you so much _ is very difficult. dave cullen, thank you so much for- is very difficult. dave cullen, | thank you so much forjoining us from louisiana under those difficult conditions in new orleans. that's all that we 0rleans. that's all that we have time for on news day.

thank you so much forjoining us on the channel. tuesday with bbc news for that story, the us withdrawal from afghanistan. hello there. many parts of the uk will have another cool and cloudy day on tuesday. monday the sunshine was restricted more to sheltered with sunshine in the southwest before the cloud increase. temperatures reached 20 degrees in plymouth. highest temperature, castle dirt in northern ireland. only 15 degrees in aberdine and scarborough. and this was the cool and great picture that we had in east yorkshire. we've got east blum high—pressure is sitting to the northwest of the uk. the winds around the coming in from the north sea, pushing in the cloud. we start tuesday with a blanket of cloud against most of england and wales

temperatures 11—13 . cloud a bit thinner in scotland and northern ireland so the coolie here first thing. we should see a bit more sunshine breaking through the cloud. across central parts of western scotland and northern ireland as well and i'm hopeful that across east anglia and and southeast the cloud will thin and break to get some sunshine at a time. further north likely to keep a lot of clout. still maybe some drizzle. the winds coming in off the north sea, not can be very warm down the east coast of scotland nor indeed the east coast of england, temperatures 15 — 17 degrees at best and the sunshine may be 20 celsius once again. many places ending the day cloudy on tuesday. should be a decent enter today for northern island, western parts of scotland. the high—pressure is still sitting to the northwest of the uk on wednesday. it's not going anywhere just yet. we got stronger winds on the east coast of england through channel affecting the southeast of england. i think they will be more cloud on wednesday here. back to cloudy skies, maybe a drizzle pretty cloudy across most of england

and wales was that we may get some sunshine in cumbria or likely in northern ireland and perhaps more of scotland where temperatures will reach 20 or 21 celsius in this central central lowlands. when is probably a bit lighter on this day most of england and wales with it may be getting some sunshine in cumbria, west wales. again the sunnier, blue skies more likely in scotland and northern ireland, temperatures under the cloud around eight or 19 degrees was up as we head into the weekend it's high—pressure starts to move away for the signs of more unsettled weather with rain on the horizon.

this is bbc news. we will 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 with me, stephen sackur. today, i'm in the rural east of england in the studio of one of the country's leading painters and sculptors, maggi hambling. her work has defied convention. she has won international acclaim and stirred plenty of controversy, too. so how has her creativity evolved over six decades? maggi hambling, welcome to hardtalk. hello. let me ask you about this location.