w york. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." good evening. a lot of news to get to today. america's nearly two decade long involvement in afghanistan is coming to an abrupt and chaotic end. today taliban fighters took control of the capital kabul. president ashraf ghani suddenly fled the country, then this. taliban fighters were seen rolling up the afghan flag inside the presidential palace. and tonight president biden is deploying another thousand troops to kabul. they're part of a 6000 strong contingent to help evacuate americans. and take a look at this. u.s. helicopters have been flying between the u.s. embassy

and the airport. that's where diplomats and civilians have moved. it is now the only way out for americans and our allies. we have team coverage of today's events in afghanistan with reaction from washington and london. but we begin tonight with cbs's roxana saberi in kabul. roxana. >> reporter: good evening, jericka. in a single day, the taliban not only made it to the gates of the capital, they also made their way in without resistance. the president who just yesterday vowed to keep fighting, fled the country, and the afghan government essentially collapsed. videos posted online appear to show crowds of kabul residents warmly embracing the taliban as they arrived. in a statement this evening, the group said its forces have moved into certain districts abandoned by government security forces to prevent looting. also tonight, al jazeera has

telegraphed inside the palace. ghani said he left to prevent further bloodshed. the taliban pledged other afghans who fled to kabul from the country side to escape the taliban say now they have nowhere else to go. tonight people here tell us they're shocked at how quickly everything changed and how fast their president fled, calling him a coward. jericka? >> roxana saberi for us, thank you. today the white house released this photo showing president biden at camp david meeting with members of his national security team by video conference. cbs's christina ruffini joins us from the white house with more on today's very fast changing events. christina. >> reporter: good evening, jericka. earlier today the american flag

and the american ambassador were removed from u.s. embassy kabul and taken to karzai international airport which has essentially become america's last stand in afghanistan. >> in terms of what we set out to do in afghanistan, we've done it. >> reporter: secretary of state anthony blinken today defended u.s. policy in afghanistan. and its repercussions. >> like it or not, there was an agreement that the forces would come out on may 1st. had we not begun that process, we would have been back at war with the taliban. >> reporter: american diplomats are now at the heavily fortified airport setting up a temporary embassy with limited staff trying to evacuate as many as 10,000 civilians. even the dogs are getting out. >> this is president biden's saigon moment. >> they totally blew this one. they completely underestimated the strength of the taliban. >> reporter: house democrat jason crow, who served in afghanistan, called it heartbreaking. >> i'm calling on the administration to put as much combat power on the ground, hold that airport as long as we

possibly can to allow as many of our friends to get out. >> reporter: now, about 500 embassy staff were flownut today. they were airlifted. more are expected tomorrow. the u.s. has now taken over the tower at the airport hoping it can pick up the pace. that doesn't account for the tens of thousands of afghans still awaiting their s.i.v. visas. those are the special immigration advice as for translators and people who helped america over the 20-year war. and time is running out. sources tell cbs news all state department staff is expected to be ordered out of the country in the next 14 days. jericka? >> christina ruffini for us at the white house. thank you. cbs news senior foreign correspondent charlie d'agata has spent more time reporting from afghanistan than any other war zone. he joins us now from london. charlie, you were with afghan forces on the front lines last month. how did this collapse happen so quickly? >> reporter: well, first of all, the front line was just outside of kabul. it was a drive away. and that front line was overrun within a matter of days.

at the time it was thought that the taliban was going to overrun rural areas and surround the city centers, these provincial capitals and wait until u.s. forces left by august 31st before making their move. that didn't happen. kunduz to the north fell. kandahar fell. other cities around kabul fell, so kabul was isolated and eventually surrounded. >> the u.s. has been training the afghan military for now 20 years. why do you think that the afghan military didn't put up more of a fight? >> reporter: well, when i spoke to then the commander of u.s. and nato forces general scott miller, he said his biggest fear was that these provincial capitals fell one after another. that meant that the momentum with would be with the taliban and the morale would be taken away from afghan forces. and it happened so quickly that the afghan forces were not able to send in reinforcements and to mount any serious defense or counter offensive. >> and, charlie, what do you think the future holds under the taliban control, especially when

you think about women and girls? >> reporter: well, the taliban has said, in fact, the taliban told me that they do not have any restrictions for allowing young girls to go to school, allowing women to hold positions in government or hold important jobs. but the facts on the ground suggest otherwise. in taliban-controlled areas, young girls have stopped going to school and women by sheer intimidation do not hold important jobs. >> all right, charlie d'agata, thank you. to haiti now where the death toll from a powerful earthquake climbed sharply today, at least 720 people are dead. the u.s. coast guard is sending personnel and aircraft to help with rescue operations and deliver humanitarian aid. and on the ground, the search efforts for survivors are intensifying. cbs's vladimir duthiers arrived today in the capital port-au-prince and filed this report for us. >> reporter: rescue workers are frantically searching for survivors trapped in the rubble

of collapsed buildings throughout the areas hit hardest by saturday's earthquake. the epicenter of the powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake was about 78 miles west of the capital of port-au-prince. two cities in the country south were especially devastated. thousands have been injured. we have 2800 injured coming to hospitals. jerry chandler, haiti's civil protection director says, and they are expecting many more. haiti's prime minister ariel henry who issued a state of emergency says they desperately need medical assistance for the injured. international rescuers from virginia's fairfax county and res fire and rescue department aid and assist with rescue operations. with hospitals and clinics heavily damaged, the u.s. coast guard has been evacuating the injured including this wounded child arriving in port-au-prince for treatment. the earthquake could not have come at a worse time. haiti is in the midst of a political crisis following the

assassination of its president and is being threatened bid a tropical storm which could bring heavy rains and mudslides to the already crippled nation. vladimir

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>> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." i'm jericka duncan in new york. thanks for staying with us. the fall of afghanistan is now all but complete. the taliban has entered kabul and raised its flag over the presidential palace. panic has gripped the capital. the afghan president has fled the country, along with thousands of citizens and foreigners, fearing the return of a harsh islamic rule. the taliban is promising a peaceful transition, and has been negotiating with what remains of the afghan government. the american flag was lowered over the u.s. embassy which has been evacuated by helicopter. it could signal the final

chapter of our nation's longest war. roxana saberi is there. >> reporter: the news comes after the fall of afghanistan's largest city. in jalalabad, just east of the capital, positioning the taliban to take control of the entire country. the group has seized city after city in just over one week. as the u.s. prepares to end its war of two decades. under pressure to resign, afghanistan's president ashraf ghani called on afghan security forces this weekend to keep fighting. but many of those u.s.-trained troops are surrendering to the insurgents, often without a fight, leaving behind the spoils of war and terrible scenes of brutality as seen in this video. it appears to show a taliban member counting 14 bodies of men and a boy executed for fighting back. with each victory, the taliban

come one step closer to kabul, the capital. daily life here seems to be carrying on more or less as usual. but residents fear this way of life could soon end. what was your most personal -- >> i'm very like what if they come and do not let us study, to go to school? >> reporter: the future is even more uncertain for the tens of thousands of afghans who came to kabul as a last resort. many found refuge outside this mosque. these people fled here with only what they could carry. they left behind their homes, their belongings, even loved ones killed in the fighting. a taliban rocket injured his 6-year-old daughter. you have a picture of your daughter? yes, could i see a picture, please? but his father and two nephews didn't survive. he and others here blame the taliban and their own government.

do you see the americans -- he says, we also blame the americans because they came here to bring peace, but peace nthey left to suffer. th biden administrnts is is n afghanistan's war. that the government must fend for itself. but for the people here, the options are few, and the future is for bidding. >> that again was roxana saberi in kabul. the "cbs overnight news" is back in two minutes.

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costello, jennifer hudson, paul simon, carlos santana, and many others. he sat down with a man who put it all together. ♪ >> the entire orchestra, the new york philharmonic will begin the concert. >> reporter: from florida state in an exclusive suburb, clive davis at 89 is hard at work. >> l.l. cooljay, i think it will be very exciting. is that what they're doing? >> that's right, they're doing it, correct. >> reporter: when mayor bill de blasio's office decided to put on a concert to celebrate the return after pandemic lockdown, clive davis got the call.

>> you have to live up to what the mayor has been heralding as one of the great all-time concerts. ♪ >> reporter: during his 50 years in the music industry, davis has helped launch the careers of paul simon, janice joplin, bruce springsteen and whitney houston. >> to me new york city is gotham. that's your cue to spring into action. >> we've been through a terrible period during the pandemic. it protected each of us individually and protected our city. i take it seriously. i will not relax till the end. >> reporter: when they asked you to put together this concert to celebrate the reopening of new york, did you say yes immediately? >> i said yes on the spot. i'm born here, bred here.

>> reporter: davis was raised in brooklyn, the son of a salesman. after his parents died of sudden illnesses a year apart, he graduated from new york university thanks to a full scholarship. >> i'm indebted to the education and the life and the experiences that i've had in new york. ♪ >> reporter: and who was your first phone call after you agreed to do this? >> the manager of bruce springsteen. >> reporter: in 1972, davis' signed springsteen to his first record deal. but davis wanted his entire company to understand just how special he thought springsteen was. >> she was blinded by the lights. cut loose like a goose. what a great phrase that is. this special signing, this unique talent, you've got to understand his lyric. so i made a video.

i columbia records, and i recited the lyrics to every song in the album. mama always told me if i could look into the sight of the sun. oh, but, mama, that's where the fun is. bruce springsteen. >> reporter: and to this day, springsteen says he's grateful as he told davis during a recent zoom call. >> you having the balls to get in front of that camera and recite the words to "blinded by the light." it was fantastic and i thank you for your dedication. >> reporter: these days, springsteen is busy doing his one-man show on broadway. but he signed onto the concert anyway. ♪ he and patty smith, another clive davis protege, will

perform her hit "because the night" a song they wrote together. ♪ another name on the lineup? paul simon, who knows what it's e of central park. ♪ when i left my home and my family, i was no more than a boy ♪ >> reporter: he reunited with art garfunkel for a concert four months ago. >> that was a large, a large group. once you get out there, it takes a little while, and then you fall into the rhythm of it and you're okay. ♪ ♪ so it was a big emotional event. a really nice night for audience and me. >> i definitely reached out to

paul. >> reporter: what was the response? >> there was no convincing. when you have a perfect connection with someone and your lives go differently, that connection doesn't ever cease. >> reporter: and then all of a sudden last year, the pandemic happens. what was that like for you, for someone who is used to having these kind of personal connections with so many people? >> the answer is the personal connections continue as life continues. they're extended family. >> reporter: now at a time of renewed concern about covid, davis says that part of concert planning is the mayor's job. >> they were showing us the environment will be totally safe and that proof of vaccination will have to be shown. simon and garfunkel had 500,000 in that space. we are not having 500,000. the maximum is 60,000.

>> reporter: clive davis wanted to make sure the concert had a wide range of headliners. yes, springsteen and simon, but also the killers, the rising hip-hop star polo g, and the colombian pop sensation poluma. whether it's the monterey pop festival or working in latin music, working with black artists, how are you so comfortable in all those different places? >> you had to be comfortable. they don't play a record because you discovered joplin or springsteen. you've got to prove it every time. >> reporter: every time. >> i've always had to work hard. i believe in working hard. this is going to be a real unique setback. >> reporter: clive davis shares that work ethic with many of the artists who will be performing at saturday's concert. >> i've had a band since i was 14 1/2. and it was the only thing i was really deeply interested in.

>> the joy is in the work, and i must say i do get a sense of pleasure out of the fact that millions of people really liked what i did and got something from it. you know, i do really like that coming together outside to listen to music? >> we're using music to not only change the mood, but we're using music to symbolize rebirth, revival, recovery, and that is why it's so special. >> okay. so there are some rules if you want to attend the homecoming concert. you'll have to be vaccinated. and at this point it will be very expensive. 80% of the tickets were given away online for free. they are all gone, but there are some v.i.p. tickets available selling for about, get this, $5,000 each. if that's too rich for you, the concert will be broadcast

worldwide and will be available online as well. gates open at 3:00. the concert starts at 5:00. and the overnight news will be right back

too often, the golden years are considered the lonely years. and not just for people, but chip reid, many have found a way to change all that. >> reporter: at a recent pet adoption fair in northern virginia, the kittens got all the love, while the senior cats were largely ignored. sadly, cats who lose their human companions are often euthanized or spend the rest of their lives alone. riley is 12. >> we haven't had any applications on him at all. >> reporter: none? >> and he's the best cat. he loves to give kisses. >> reporter: riley, you need a forever home. kathy awad is the founder of fancy cats which has found many cats programs, senior cats for senior laps.

>> a kitten isn't going to do that. >> reporter: that's a growing trend. 36 shelters in 35 states have a pets for seniors program for cats and senior dogs who also face difficulty getting adopted. bonnie paul has five senior cats, including 12-year-old gracie. the day we were there, she decided she was simply not going to perform for that camera. but normally, paul says, they're all very affectionate. what is the best thing about senior cats? >> i think the love they give you. >> reporter: and there are plenty of senior cats like riley just waiting for their chance to fall in love. chip reid, cbs news, centerville, virginia. and that is the overnight news for this monday. for some of you the news continues, for others check back with us later on "cbs this morning" and follow us online any time at cbsnews.com. reporting from new york city, i'm jericka duncan.

good morning. this is cbs news flash. i'm elise preston in new york. u.s. personnel stationed in afghanistan have been safely evacuated from the embassy. the state department confirms u.s. troops are guarding the airport in kabul as the americans wait to leave afghanistan. the taliban seized control of the nation in just days. federal health officials could decide in the next couple of weeks if booster shots will rollout this fall. if approves, health care workers, nursing home patients and seniors would be first in line. booster shots for immuno compromised patients were approved last week. naomi osaka will donate her u.s. open earnings to haiti earthquake relief efforts. nearly 1300 people were killed

when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck saturday. for more news, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. m elise pre on, cbs news, new york. it's monday, august 16th, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news." afghanistan's sudden fall. the taliban take control of the war-torn country. the chaotic airport scene overnight as residents try to flee kabul. search for survivors. crews dig through rubble after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in haiti. why rescue efforts could be hampered over the next few days. historic increase. food stamp benefits are going up for 42 million americans. the largest hike in the the largest hike in the program's history. captioning funded by cbs good morning. i'm tom hanson in for anne-marie green.