welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. the powerful blast at a kabul mosque during evening prayers — amid reports of multiple casualties, we'll hear from the bbc�*s lyse doucet in the afghan capital. a dire warning from the nato chief about the danger posed by the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in ukraine, now under russian control. donald trump's former vice president mike pence says he might be persuaded to testify before the committee investigating last year's capitol riot. if there was an invitation to participate, i would consider it. and rolling out the rocket that could pave the way for astronauts to return to the moon.

it's six in the morning in singapore, and 2.30am in kabul where a huge explosion has ripped through a mosque in the centre of the afghan capital. the blast is thought to have ocurred during evening prayers, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more. reports suggest the imam of the mosque is among those who died. the wounded are said to include a seven year old child. it's not yet clear who was behind the attack which comes a week after the death of a prominent taliban cleric in a suicide bombing. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet is in kabul and gave us this update a short time ago:

but can you tell us about this explosion at the mosque? there was a owerful explosion at the mosque? there was a powerful bomb — explosion at the mosque? there was a powerful bomb that _ explosion at the mosque? there was a powerful bomb that ripped _ explosion at the mosque? there was a powerful bomb that ripped through - explosion at the mosque? there was a powerful bomb that ripped through a l powerful bomb that ripped through a very crowded mosque after night fell in the evening prayer at the mosque, it was crowded and this mosque was notjust it was crowded and this mosque was not just crowded it was crowded and this mosque was notjust crowded with adults, there also many children attending evening prayers. a religious student that we spoke to said that there just outside the mosque and when the explosion happened, they saw many dead and injured bodies sprawled inside the mosque. and what we know from the main hospital here run by an ngo, the hospital that treats the victims of violence and it said that they have received dozens of casualties, including several children. i would casualties, including several children. iwould not casualties, including several children. i would not be specific on that because expect those figures to get higher as the hours go by. two

days since the taliban celebrated, we saw and heard the celebrations here in the capital celebrating what they call their independence day, crying about their us military being defeated. and the powerful nato armies saying they had finally brought peace and security to islam, but with every day for afghans, while they do know occasionally savour these moments of calm, moments where they can drive on roads which previously were impossible because of taliban attacks, because the us military campaign, they are now asking the legitimately so, whether what happened in 2021 was simply the end of another chapter of war and ushered in yet another. we do not know for sure whether it was islamic state, but it follows the pattern of their killing. this signature used to be devastating attacks against

the community, but in the past months, they appear to have targeted three prominent religious figures in one month alone. in other top stories today — the head of nato has called for un inspectors to be given urgent access to a ukrainian nuclear power plant being held by russian forces. yens stoltenberg said the seizure of the zaporizhzhia facility, europe's largest nuclear plant, posed a serious threat to ukraine and neighbouring countries. moscow and kyiv have blamed each other for recent shelling at the site in southern ukraine which russia seized early on in the war. 0ur ukraine correspondent james waterhouse reports from the nearby city of zaporizhzhia. ukraine's vast, rich landscape, full of produce, industry, but still under threat. we are being taken to

see preparations for a worst—case scenario. if you want to get anywhere quickly these days, this is how you do it. we are travelling very low to stay out of range of russian missiles and aircraft. you get a real sense ofjust how vast this country is. in zaporizhzhia, they are training for a crisis which some fear could be more serious than the chernobyl nuclear disaster, the worst ever. the region's power plant further south has been under russian control since early march and officials say the situation is approaching critical. it's changed dramatically, and of course we are concerned. that's why we are here, that's why we created this group, that's why we are involved in everyday communication with this. translation: it's impossible - to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plant while the russian occupying forces are there. this is the key concern that we all need to clearly understand.

there are growing concerns that russia has been using it as a military base. the city of enerhodar where the plant is has seen recent heavy shelling, both ukraine and russia blame each other. elena has just escaped from there with her children and just wanted to get out. translation: there has been many| more explosions and it became much more dangerous to stay there. i didn't want to leave home, but when it became unbearable i had no other choice. the nato alliance is the latest voice to call for international inspectors to be let into the plant. with ukraine unable to force the russians out, it's instead preparing for the worst, if it happens. james waterhouse, bbc news, in zaporizhzhia. let's turn to the us now where —liz cheney — one of donald trump's fiercest critics in his own republican party — has said she is thinking about running for president.

her comments come within hours of a resounding defeat at the hands of one of donald trump's supporters. cheney, whose father dick cheney is a former us vice president, has represented the state of wyoming since 2017. but she's effectively been de—selected after losing a primary election. within a few hours of that result, cheney appeared on nbc�*s today show and was asked whether she was thinking of running for president. she didn't give a direct answer at first, but after being pressed on it, here's what she said. that the decision i'm going to make in the coming months. i'm not going to make any announcements this morning but it is something that i'm thinking about and i'll make a decision in the coming months. 0ur north america correspondentjohn sudworth is in wyoming and was asked what he thinks liz cheney's chances are, if she does decide to go for president. well, that's a very tricky question

to answer. i think on the face of it, it is difficult to see how she can plot a path to the presidency given that this defeat as you say, shows that she has effectively lost the support of the republican rank and file. wyoming is this deeply red rural heartland of republicanism, what better symbol of this rugged state than the spectacular mountains behind me. a republicanism is shifting. this was a battle for the soul of the party and she has lost it. her hope and she made a very clear in her concession speech, is that this is the beginning of something else and just doubled down on this project to take on donald trump's full frontal assault on his future prospects to be president and said she would do everything in her power to make sure he never gets

anywhere near the oval office again. some people are suggesting that if she doesn't run, it will likely be as an independent full of those reasons and for what we have seen here, the real aim, which is what we will never say is attempt to win the white house for herself but on a break on donald trump's prospects to split the vote she can just take 30% of the republican electorate, these establishment republicans were concerned, even if they cannot say publicly about the controversy another go, she can split the vote, maybe, just maybe she can stop him. while donald trump and his supporters will be pleased with the victory in wyoming there have been further developments in the investigations surrounding the attempts to overturn the 2020 election that could mean the celebrations are quite muted in mar—a—lago. donald trump's former lawyer,

rudy giuliani, appeared on wednesday before a special grand jury in georgia. state prosecutors have told him he's a target of the probe, meaning he could be subject to charges. lawyers for the former new york city mayor say he'll refuse to answer any questions that violate attorney—client privilege. and then there's his former vice president, mike pence. speaking today he said he would consider testifying to the january 6 committee, if requested. if there was an invitation to participate, i would consider it. but... you've heard me mention the constitution a few times this morning. under the constitution, we have three coequal branches that govern. and if any invitation were to be directed to me, i would have to reflect on the unique role that i was serving in as vice president. it would be unprecedented in history for a vice president to be summoned to testify on capitol hill, but as i said i don't want to prejudge.

so if ever any formal invitation was rendered to us, we'd give it due consideration, but my first obligation is to continue to hold my oath. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. let's turn to ethiopia now, where thousands of ethnic tigrayans detained in camps since december are being transported back to their homes. the un is facilitating their return back to the border between the afar and tigray regions. the government in addis ababa said they had been taken to the camps for their own safety as the civil war spread. but the state—run ethiopian human rights commission said they had been targeted because of their ethnicity. kalkidan yibeltal has more from addis ababa. they are living in these small towns and alongside the borders between, they were residing in places around

they were residing in places around the town and they were taken into custody back in december when the fighting was intensifying and as you said, there being taken to the far capitalfor their said, there being taken to the far capital for their own safety but thatis capital for their own safety but that is being contradicted, saying that is being contradicted, saying that the detainees and the governments on watchdogs commission said they were targeted and illegally and arbitrarily detained in different camps in squalid conditions where there isn't sanitation and supplies. some think that the detainees have been complaining about. they seem to be returning to their previous lives, their lives before december and many of them, at least the ones we managed to talk to seem to be farmers, they were engaged in farming activities and so, it seems they're going to return to that. the

problem is that they say that their properties, houses and farms could be either damaged during the fighting or they can be limited and they don't have homes to return to. we are approaching the midway of the second half of the rainy season which means that they could not form their farms which means that they could not form theirfarms in which means that they could not form their farms in the which means that they could not form theirfarms in the past which means that they could not form their farms in the past weeks and so, they're concerned about what awaits them or at least their relieved that they are out of these unsanitary camps and back in her hometown. relieved that they are out of these unsanitary camps and back in their hometown. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. we'll tell you about nasa's latest rocket that could pave the way for astronauts

to return to the moon. washington, the world's most political city, is today assessing the political health of the world's most powerful man. indeed i did have a relationship with miss lewinsky that was not appropriate. in fact, it was wrong. in south africa, 97 people have been killed today in one of the worst days of violence between rival black groups. over the last ten days, 500 have died. chanting: czechoslovakia must be free! _ czechoslovakia must be free! russia is observing a national day of mourning for the 187 mariners who died aboard the kursk. we are with them now, within our hearts. the pope has celebrated mass before a congregation of more _ than two—and—a—half million people in his hometown of krakow. - "stay with us, stay with us," chanted this ocean of humanity. "well, well," joked the pope, "so you want me to the desert rome?"

this is newsday on the bbc. our headlines. a powerful blast rocks a mosque in kabul during evening prayers — amid reports of multiple casualties. a dire warning from the nato chief about the danger posed by the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in ukraine, now under russian control. let's turn to cuba now, which has said it will allow foreign investment in cuban wholesalers and retailers, for the first time since fidel castro's 1959 revolution. it's a major shift for the nation's communist government, and it's a response to cuba's severe economic crisis — with rising prices, and public discontent. i'm joined now by our central america and cuba correspondent will grant, who's in washington.

will, it's been more than six decades since foreign investment was allowed in cuba, why now? hardline revolutionaries have opposed this for years — ideologically it's quite the decision — just talk us through the historical significance of this? every time we see one of these movements, the idea of opening up wholesale and resell the private investment from abroad, no less, the to be pretty sure that there's been some kind of major conversation behind wrangling of hardliners and those keener on seeing more reform or a quicker pace of reform on the island and in this case, it's become so dire in the last two years where tourism is meant the rock—bottom and the lack of foreign exchange earnings as result of that, that is

basically meant that there simply is not enough with which to import the goods that they need to subsidise food and make sure they have enough even to keep the lights on in the current context even to keep the lights on in the current contex— current context success is by no means guaranteed _ current context success is by no means guaranteed may - current context success is by no means guaranteed may think i current context success is by no | means guaranteed may think it's current context success is by no - means guaranteed may think it's fair to say that cuba is uniquely difficult to do business and, isn't it? �* , , difficult to do business and, isn't it? a _, , difficult to do business and, isn't it? a , ., ., it? it's very complicated. you have these decades _ it? it's very complicated. you have these decades in _ it? it's very complicated. you have these decades in which _ it? it's very complicated. you have these decades in which the - it? it's very complicated. you have these decades in which the state i these decades in which the state controls everything, the bureaucracy is very high. everything is to be run through, even the military or some form of important export and the commercial wing and the communist party is extremely powerful and mixer extremely business environment, not impossible and we've seen increases in the

tourism sector, but nevertheless this idea that somehow companies will be stalking cuban shelves more easily with direct investment rather than imports of sending goods for import is an interesting one and a lot of interesting questions at exactly how it's going to work and speaking from washington, if there were a big supermarket chains the united states that wanted to get in on this kind of act, they will be blocked notjust from the cuban side from the us economic embargo. figs blocked notjust from the cuban side from the us economic embargo. as you oint out, from the us economic embargo. as you point out. there's _ from the us economic embargo. as you point out, there's been _ from the us economic embargo. as you point out, there's been a _ from the us economic embargo. as you point out, there's been a fair— point out, there's been a fair amount of scepticism from cubans themselves and i was reading online state media, they don't believe it's going to work, why is that? it comes of the hardest _ going to work, why is that? it comes of the hardest possible _

going to work, why is that? it comes of the hardest possible time - going to work, why is that? it comes of the hardest possible time for- going to work, why is that? it comes of the hardest possible time for the l of the hardest possible time for the island, when this to spin this explosion a very important fuel depot in the island is facing long blackouts. these are efforts ultimately to try to bolster local industry and the government is to be believed, that this will stave off the protests and if they managed to strike on the formula and a selection sure people of the food and imports, there will be very welcomed but there is a long way to go before we see this actually in practice. go before we see this actually in ractice. �* , ., ., i. practice. always great to get you here. more economic and business news for you — this time from the uk — where the latest figures from the uk show inflation back in double figures, for the first time in forty years. the ost of living rose 10.1% im the year tojuly, pushed higher by soaring food costs and higher prices for energy, petrol and diesel. here's our business editor simonjack

once inflation takes hold, it can be hard to snuff out. rocketing oil and gas prices have now found their way into the price of food of all kinds, as leicester restaurant owner shaaf islam showed me. oil, big one, vegetable oil, especially rapeseed, that's gone up from £21 to £112.99, but everything in here has gone up. shaaf said his business was facing pressures every bit as challenging as the pandemic if not more so. i thought covid was bad, but this compared to covid, this is far, far worse because at least with covid we had some sort of little support from the government which kept us ticking over. but my biggest worry is that people will stop coming out, and without any help, without any control over the energy costs by the government, there doesn't seem to be any. i am really scared of the future. the last time inflation was this high, in 1982, the uk was emerging from an inflation—induced recession.

today's10% number also underestimates the impact on poorer households who spend more of their income on essentials like energy and food which have soared in price. on the streets of leicester, there were plans to spend less 01’ earn more. we can't afford to eat out for lunch like we normally would, so we've just been to poundland and bought a drink and a pack of crisps. how was that? well, it's not as nice as sitting down and having a nice lunch, is it, and a cup of tea in marks & spencers? the only change that - i can try my best to make is to make more money. that's it, to be honest, _ because i'm not going to stop having fun, so ijust need to find _ different ways to make more money. i'm looking for work as well because i've got a daughter to look after, too, and we are really struggling at the moment because of the prices going up. at a school visit this morning in london, the chancellor said £37 billion of support had already been announced, but there was no detail on what more might be coming. my message to your viewers,

whether they are small businesses or families who are really struggling, who are really worried, as you say, is that we will be ready for more support as the new prime minister comes in. with huge rises in bills coming this autumn and winter, the labour leader said people needed reassurance now. we've got a zombie government. i've set out what labour would do. we would intervene to freeze energy prices this autumn - and have a windfallj tax to fund all that. that would have the effect - of bringing inflation down by 4%. the reason inflation is so feared by economists and governments is because it's a killer. it destroys people's living standards, it strangles businesses by putting up their costs at the same time as emptying their customers' pockets, and this is the deadliest outbreak we've seen in decades. it almost always ends in recession, and this rampage is not over yet. economists say inflation is headed higher still and so are interest rates. we now see inflation peaking at 14% injanuary, so for the bank of england,

this is a big number. it may tip the balance for them about whether they raise by a quarter point or a half point, another big one like they did in august. whoever is the new prime minister, they will be under enormous pressure to reveal how they intend to prevent people going cold, hungry or both this winter. simonjack, bbc news, leicester. and before we go, i want to tell you now about the us space agency, nasa, which is preparing to launch a new rocket to the moon. it's just been rolled out to a launch pad, ahead of it's first flight, currently scheduled for august 29th. if the mission is successful, it could pave the way for astronauts, heading back to the moon. our science editor, rebecca morelle, has the details. inch by inch, slowly and carefully, nasa's new rocket embarks on the first stage of what's going to be a long journey. it's heading towards the launch pad at cape canaveral in florida and getting into position, ready for its maiden flight to the moon, the start

of the artemis mission. the rocket is carrying a capsule which will go into lunar orbit, circling the moon before it returns to earth. it's a test flight so there won't be any people inside, but if this works, the next step is to get astronauts on board. jessica meir has already been into space. now she's part of the artemis team and could be selected for a future trip, because nasa's ultimate aim is to see the first woman and first person of colour walk on the lunar surface. i think it's still difficult for me to believe that it might be reality, thinking that i could possibly be one of these people to be walking on the moon, to be in orbit around the moon, to be looking back at the earth from that incredible distance. charlie duke is one of only 12 astronauts who have experienced this for themselves during the apollo missions.

you were looking out the window a lot, look at that rock over there. it is 50 years since he set foot on the moon and he didn't think it this test flight will pave the way for a landing scheduled in 2025. he's upbeat about its chances of success. i'm excited about artemus and as we build up the capability, they have picked the south pole, near the south pole, for the landing, because that is probably, if there is any ice on the moon it will be down in that region. so, that's going to be difficult because it's really rough down there, but we'll pull it off. nasa's rocket is aiming for lunar lift off in less than two weeks, but this is just the beginning. rebecca morelle, bbc news.

that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. over the past couple of days we have seen some torrential downpours across england and wales, localised flooding in places. the heavy thundery showers have now eased away and it looks like over the next few days, we will see a little rain at times, mainly in the north and west, with increasing sunshine in the south and east. low pressure in off the atlantic will bring a breeze on thursday, and this weather front will bring cloud and rain slowly spreading from west to east across the country. initially, we start off with quite a bit of cloud, heavy showers in the south—east, but increasing sunshine for central, southern and eastern areas in the afternoon. the weather front will bring patchy rain across scotland, northern ireland and western parts of england and wales. behind it, heavy showers for scotland and northern

ireland in the afternoon. further south and east, it would be more dry with temperatures reaching 25, in the high teens further north and west, quite breezy as well. the weather front continues to cross england and wales on thursday night, clearer skies with the odd shower, temperatures a bit cool in the north and west, but quite warm and mild in the south and the east. the weather front eventually cleared away from the south—east on friday, low pressure to the north of the uk, brisk westerly winds and sunshine and blustery showers. we will lose the cloud and rain in the south—east on friday morning. plenty of sunshine in central, southern and eastern england. a mixture of sunny spells and scattered blustery showers elsewhere. temperatures ranging from the high teens up to 20 degrees in the north, 20—25 further south and east. around the seasonal norm. on saturday, low pressure to the north of the uk, northern and western areas will see

the most showers, some could be quite heavy, with sunshine in between. a greater chance of staying dry in southern and eastern england. again 25 the high, mid—to—high teens further north. on sunday, the area of low pressure clears, and we look to the west for another one pushing on across the uk, arriving later in the day. much of the country will have a dry sunday before it turns more wet and windy. initially across western areas, gradually moving into eastern areas on sunday night and into monday.

this is bbc news, the headlines: health workers in afghanistan say a large explosion inside a mosque in the capital kabul has killed at least three people. the attack took place during evening prayers. officials in ukraine are warning that the situation at the russian—occupied zaporizhzhia nuclear power station "is approaching critical". emergency workers have been staging drills in the event of radioactive contamination. a republican critic of donald trump has vowed to do all she can to keep the former president out of the white house, after losing her seat in wyoming. liz cheney said she was thinking about running for president.

and nasa has moved its giant moon rocket