our security correspondent frank gardner reports. k: bagram airbase, afghanistan, the most strategically vital base in the country. last night the u.s. military pulled out after nearly 20 years there. it follows a decision by president biden for u.s. forces to leave afghanistan by september 11. pres. biden: we are on track exactly as to where we expected to be. i wanted to make sure there was enough "running room" that we wouldn't be able to do it all till september. there will still be some forces left, but it is a rational drawdown with our allies for . frank: the base has been handed over to afghan forces. but all over the country they are coming under pressure from advancing taliban fighters. there are doubts whether they can hold out. >> the situation in afghanistan will get worse. it is already chaotic. uc districts fall-- you see district falling. the government does not have all the weapons and equipment. frank: western air support has been crucial, transporting troops to the battlefield and carrying out airstrikes. without it

frank gardner, bbc news.tish prime minister, borisjohnson, has confirmed that he intends to lift all coronavirus restrictions in england in two weeks�* time, with a final decision next week. that would mean workers returning to the office and an end to social distancing. but it comes as cases across the country continue to rise. there's been an average of over 25,000 daily cases over the past week. but the uk government says this is manageable because the vaccine rollout has meant hospitalisations and deaths are comparatively low. this graph shows the growth of cases in the second and the current third wave of the virus, which includes the new delta variant, with both growing rapidly. but this graph shows that current hospitalisations are lagging far behind the second wave, although they are still rising. and a similar pattern can been seen in the statistics for deaths. as you can see they are far fewer than in the last wave. mrjohnson has warned that covid infections across the uk were predicted to rise to 5

the bbc�*s security correspondent frank gardner reports. gunfire.ll fighting the taliban. afghan security forces are in action this week without the us military support they've relied on for the past 20 years. the strategic air base just north of kabul is an afghan government hands now. the americans pulled out last week, leaving behind a deeply unstable country. the former president blames the west. the entire mission with regard to the stated objective of the united states and its nato allies in defeating terrorism and defeating terrorism has failed. the military compartment that was intended to fight extremism and terrorism, that, rather than getting the job correctly and where it was needed, began to hurt and harass and bomb and imprison afghans. that's where it failed. that's where our failure today is. others blame endemic corruption, inefficiency and massive waste. the conflict has costed an estimated $1 trillion and over 100,000 lives, and it could be about to get worse. taliban insurgents are on the offensive. they reportedly control a quar

frank gardner, bbc news. un security council has been warned that a famine in the ethiopian region of tigray is now affecting more than 400,000 people. as aid deliveries to the region resume, un officials suggest that the conflict between tigrayan forces and ethiopian federal troops — supported by soldiers from eritrea — could deteriorate rapidly. now to miami, where rescuers who continue to search through the rubble of a collapsed apartment block may soon have to contend with a hurricane. authorities are eager to make as much progress as possible before the expected arrival of hurricane elsa this weekend. sophie long sent us this update from miami. well, the search and rescue operation is now in day nine, after it had to be paused for some 15 hours on thursday. that was largely due to fears that the remaining part of the building still left standing could fall. that remains a major area of concern when it comes to the safety of the rescue workers, who are continuing now their painstaking task of sifting thro

frank gardner.s is quite a serious escalation and certainly, it doesn't look like piracy. an investigation was begun fairly soon afterwards. it took place late in the afternoon yesterday about 150 nautical miles — that's about 250, roughly, kilometres — north—east of the omani port. and what israeli television is saying, quoting an israeli official, was that it was attacked by an explosive drone. now, usually in piracy attacks, it's very unusual for anybody to be killed. piracy attacks are quite rare now because most of the ships either have escorts or they have armed guards on board, so they are nothing like the level that they were at ten years ago. so the suspicion is that this is some kind of state—backed terrorism, and certainly the israeli media is pointing the finger at iran and in the past, iran has denied any part in such attacks. there is no immediate word from iran. the ship itself was carrying no cargo. it was on the way from the port in dar es salaam in tanzania going to the port of the

the bbc�*s security correspondent frank gardner reports. gunfire.g the taliban. afghan security forces are in action this week without the us military support they've relied on for the past 20 years. the strategic air base just north of kabul is an afghan government hands now. the americans pulled out last week, leaving behind a deeply unstable country. the former president blames the west. the entire mission with regard to the stated objective that the united states and its nato allies in defeating terrorism and defeating terrorism has failed. the military compartment that was intended to fight extremism and terrorism, that, rather than getting the job correctly and where it was needed, began to hurt and harass and bomb and imprison afghans. that's where it failed. that's where our failure today is. 0thers blame endemic corruption, inefficiency and massive waste. the conflict has costed an estimated $1 trillion and over 100,000 lives, and it could be about to get worse. taliban insurgents are on the offensive. they reportedly control a quarter of a

frank gardner, bbc news.ed the country's top court to investigate president jair bolsonaro for failing to respond to allegations of corruption, in a contract for the purchase of covid vaccines. the president is under increasing attack for his handling of the pandemic. more than 500,000 people have died from covid—i9 in the country, which is home to the world's second deadliest outbreak. 0ur international correspondent 0rla guerin reports from sao paulo. with brazil's death toll soaring, presidentjair bolsonaro is losing support and facing growing pressure on the streets, at a senate enquiry, and now potentially in the courts. he's been accused of turning a blind eye to irregularities and massive overcharging in a contract to acquire a covid vaccine from india. a whistle—blower in brazil's health ministry and his lawmaker brother claim to have personally warned the president. he has denied any knowledge and any wrongdoing. mr bolsonaro has been famously dismissive of covid—i9 from the start, opposing masks and

frank gardner, bbc news. minister borisjohnson has confirmed that he intends to lift all coronavirus restrictions in england in two weeks time, with a final decision taken next week. that would mean workers going back to the office and an end to social distancing. but it comes as cases across the country continue to rise. there's been an average of more than 25,000 daily cases this week. the uk government says this is manageable because hospitalisations are under control and deaths are comparitively low. with the delta variant, it is growing rapidly but this graph shows another story, that current hospitalisations are lagging far behind the second wave. they are still on the up but at a much slower pace and a similar pattern can be seen in the statistics for actual deaths, you can see far fewer than in the previous wave. mrjohnson has warned that covid and actions across the uk across the uk were predicted to rise to 50,000 a day by later in the month. 0ur political correspondent vicki young has this report.

frank gardner, bbc news.erman chancellor, angela merkel, has held talks with borisjohnson on what's likely to be her last official trip to the uk before standing down in the autumn. mrs merkel also went for afternoon tea with the queen at windsor castle. more from our world affairs correspondent caroline hawley. angela, how are you? despite their disagreements over brexit, today was about celebrating and strengthening the german—british relationship in a new era. high on the agenda for borisjohnson, germany's insistence that british travellers quarantine for m days, even if they are fully vaccinated. but after a working lunch of english asparagus tart and oxfordshire beef, angela merkel hinted at good news to come for british holiday—makers. translation: we are seeing a rise i of the delta variant in germany, l a significant rise, and, of course, we are regularly reviewing these travel restrictions and i expect that, in the foreseeable future, double vaccinated people will be able to travel without having to

frank gardner, bbc news. let's go now to kabul and the bbc�*s yogita limaye.ita, the white house today they expect american troops will have completed their withdrawal by the end of august. that is ahead of president biden�*s deadline of september 11, president biden�*s deadline of september", but president biden�*s deadline of september 11, but do afghans believe that their security forces can hold off the taliban? the that their security forces can hold off the taliban?— off the taliban? the afghan government _ off the taliban? the afghan government certainly - off the taliban? the afghan government certainly says i off the taliban? the afghan i government certainly says that off the taliban? the afghan - government certainly says that it has the strength to hold on in this country. but we know is that they're fighting taliban forces in 20 of this country's 3a provinces, hundreds are dying in this violence every week, thousands are being displaced. last week, the un said 50 of this country's 370 district had fallen to the taliban, warning that the time to pr

frank gardner, bbc news.he afghan capital, kabul. —— the british prime minister borisjohnson has confirmed that he intends to lift all coronavirus restrictions in england in two weeks time, with a final decision next week. that would mean workers returning to the office and an end to social distancing. but it comes as cases across the country continue to rise. the uk government says this is manageable because hospitalisations are under control. with the delta variant, it is growing rapidly but this graph shows current hospitalisations are lagging way behind the second wave. they are still on the up but at a much slower pace and a similar pattern can be seen in the statistics for deaths, far fewer than in the previous wave. mrjohnson has warned that covid and actions across the uk were predicted to rise to 50,000 a day later in the month. vicki young has this report. all around us signs of life interrupted by a pandemic. instructions about where we can go, who we can see even in our own home and how far apart

of waterloo in the past decade, and in 2008 somebody who found them handed them to the bbc�*s frank gardnerou do when you get such papers handed in?— handed in? that's right. we have a strong _ handed in? that's right. we have a strong editorial - handed in? that's right. we | have a strong editorial policy and legal framework to deal with these kinds of situations. you are right to point out it is not the first time we have reported this kind of story. clearly we take reasonable steps to ensure, firstly, but the documents are genuine. secondly, to ensure that nothing we would report would actually put service personnel at risk. this was a mixed bundle of documents, some of the documents were essentially confidential but not classified. but two of the documents were highly classified, relating to the deployment of hms defender, and a further classified document about the security arrangements in afghanistan after the us withdrawal from afghanistan, and the disclosure of that document could have had a very, very serious implications for the security of british defence and diplomatic personne

a security correspondent frank gardner now reports. >> the most strategically vital base in the country night, the u.s. military pulled out after nearly 20 years following the decision by president biden for u.s. forces to leave afghanistan. >> we are on track exactly where we expected to be. we wanted to make sure there was an enough room -- there was enough room we would be able to do it until september. >> the base is now being handed over to afghan forces. across the country, they are coming under pressure from advancing taliban fighters. they are doubts on if they can hold out. >> the situation in afghanistan will get worse. it is already chaotic. there is lots of insecurity. the government does not have all the weapons" meant. >> western -- weapons and equipment. >> western support has been crucial. without it more districts are expected to fall to the taliban. in the capital, some are happy to see western forces depart. >> this is good news. the americans have reached an agreement with the taliban in doha and these must be of limited for the good of afghanistan. >> to taliban was

our security correspondent frank gardner.a look at some of the other stories making the news. the first person to be convicted under hong kong's national security law has been sentenced to nine years injail. tong ying—kit was found guilty of inciting secession and of terrorist activities. the law came into force after a series of mass pro—democracy protests in 2019, some of which turned violent. the world food programme says food convoys held in ethiopia's afar region are finally on their way to the northern region of tigray. access into the region was cut off last week after the only available route for aid delivery was made inaccessible following an attack on a world food programme convoy. humanitarian agencies have been warning that many in tigray are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. the philippines has agreed to restore a military deal with the united states, just a year after saying it would end. the visiting forces agreement allows us troops to train and take part injoint exercises in the philippines and was agreed

our security correspondent frank gardner reports.m airbase, afghanistan, the more strategically vital base in the country. last night, the us military pulled out of the nearly 20 years there. it follows a decision by president biden for us forces to leave afghanistan by december 11. we are leave afghanistan by december 11. - are on track exactly as to where we expected to be but ijust wanted to make sure there was enough, quote, running room that we wouldn't be able to do it all in september. there will still be some forces left. it is a rational drawdown with our allies. ,., , left. it is a rational drawdown with our allies. , , ., , our allies. the base is now been handed over _ our allies. the base is now been handed over to _ our allies. the base is now been handed over to afghan - our allies. the base is now been i handed over to afghan government forces, but all over the country, they are coming under pressure from advancing taliban fighters. without military support, there are doubts as to whether they can hold out. translatio

frank gardner, bbc news.rban and johannesburg. here's our south africa correspondent nomsa maseko. dramatic scenes in durban show the extremity of desperation of those people caught in the middle of this mayhem. people were screaming, "throw her, throw her!" she threw her child to safety after her home was allegedly set on fire by looters. i was scared, i was really scared, but there were people down in the street. i wasn't. .. like, the way i was panicking, i was trusting anyone to take my baby away from me, because the place was burning, and there was smoke outside. this is day six of looting and rioting in kwazulu—natal and gauteng provinces in south africa. violent protests began hours after south africa's former president, jacob zuma, was jailed for failing to comply with a court order to give evidence at a corruption inquiry. the pro—zuma protesters took to the streets demanding the former president's immediate release from prison. but what started as a political statement has now been taken over by wha

our security i correspondence, frank gardner.ratulate the england football team for making history. and for the way they have brought us all together with their skill and spirit over the past few weeks. last night's result may not have been the one many of us were hoping for, but they played like heroes and the nation is proud of each and every one of them. mr speaker, i also want to take this opportunity to condemn the shameful racism experienced by several members of the england team after the match. racism has no place in football, it has no place in our society, and i know the whole house will agree that we must always show zero tolerance to this appalling behaviour. mr speaker, with permission, i would like to turn to our path out of this pandemic. all the way through our fight against the way through our fight against the virus, we have looked forward to the virus, we have looked forward to the day when we can roll back the legal restrictions and get closer to normal life. now, thanks to the shared sacrifices of the british

out of waterloo in the past decade, and in 2008 someone who found them handed them to the bbc�*s frank gardnerd a very, very serious implications for the security of british defence and diplomatic personnel, and it's important to note that in the bbc�*s reporting, we reveal very very little of the afghanistan document beyond summarising the areas that it covered, for exactly that reason. we did include a screenshot of the front page of that document, printed on pink paper, because this was an important editorial indication to readers that these pink copies of classified papers should not be removed from the ministry of defence, physically, under any circumstances whatsoever. so that was an important part of the storytelling, but it didn't give away any sensitive or classified information. jamie angus, thanks very much. now, we don't like to repeat ourselves on newswatch, but following last week's discussion about whether the euros football tournament was taking over news bulletins, it would be remiss of us not to mention there were numerous complaints along similar lines this week. while tuesd