Thank you forjoining us here in bbc news. The taliban has captured three more Provincial Capitals, this time in northern afghanistan as they intensify their offensive to seize power is following the withdrawal of western troops. The three cities appear to have largely fallen to islamist militants within hours of one another, the biggest is quintus, a city of more than a quarter of A Million people. Provincial capitals are also largely in militant hands although the government in kabul insists its forces are fighting back to retake lost ground. Heres a our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams. Fire and confusion in the centre of kunduz. Caliban pictures appear to show another city falling under their control. This is the biggest prize so far. A large city, economically important, it seems to have fallen easily. Afraid of the fighting, as much as of the taliban, civilians fleeing, many of them heading south to kabul. A Government Spokesman says the taliban will soon be asked about similar claims have been made elsewhere, apparently without result. To the west, taliban fighters inspect newly captured government buildings. One of three Provincial Capitals have been reported injust one three Provincial Capitals have been reported in just one day. The taliban have captured five provincial centres. No longer content to control the countryside, confident enough to move on major cities. If the taliban could make it to windows, maybe they could make it to kabul and that is a big fear, the only good option would be if there was a political settlement but that does not seem any more possible today than it was two or three years ago. Today than it was two or three Years Age Today than it was two or three earsauo. H,. ,. , years ago. Tens of thousands of Afu Hans years ago. Tens of thousands of afghans are years ago. Tens of thousands of afghans are being years ago. Tens of thousands of afghans are being displaced, i afghans are being displaced, this is notjust a political and military disaster, decades of conflict in afghanistan have created whole generations of refugees. The west � s military withdrawal is almost complete, afghans are fear they are being abandoned, the government can request american Air Strikes but for how long . And what effect . Pauladams, bbc news. Lets bring in our guest, a Senior Expert On Afghanistan for the us institute of peace, and an Associate Professor of Global Policy at columbia university. Doctor, thank you for your time. University. Doctor, thank you foryourtime. Its university. Doctor, thank you for your time. Its hard to get away from the sense there is going to be a taliban sweep across the board here. It certainly is, i very much understand that confusion being drawn at this time. There is a kind of momentum to the taliban � s campaign, especially in parts of the country that do not constitute its traditional stronghold. That gives a feeling of inevitability in this moment. Feeling of inevitability in this moment. Feeling of inevitability in thismoment. ,. , this moment. What can be done to avoid that . This moment. What can be done to avoid that . What this moment. What can be done to avoid that . What could this moment. What can be done to avoid that . What could have | to avoid that . What could have been done to stop it, this sort of sweep in the first place, do you think . I of sweep in the first place, do you think . You think . I think this was reall a you think . I think this was really a crisis you think . I think this was really a crisis that you think . I think this was really a crisis that was you think . I think this was really a crisis that was not| you think . I think this was i really a crisis that was not at all inevitable and you know, really, what we see is that since the withdrawal announcement, on the part of the biden administration and the biden administration and the tremendous speed with which that withdrawal has been pursued, the taliban has felt emboldened to take new territory and in part, we know that could have been stemmed had they felt there would have been consequences for that kind of bold action and the forcible imposition of their rule. I think part of what we are seeing now is the use of Air Power on the part of the americans, that will be, i think, centralto americans, that will be, i think, central to stemming this tide. There will be resistance in the cities that have been taken, these are the heartlands of the resistance to the taliban so i dont think the taliban so i dont think the taliban has an easy task going forward but i think the community that is caught in the middle are in for a very difficult period to come. The Air Parrot difficult period to come. The Air Parrot seems difficult period to come. The Air Parrot seems to difficult period to come. The Air Parrot seems to have limited impact, lets be honest, at The Moment, the city is still falling, the resistance, i suppose we have to wait and see how that pans out but is the truth that the americans and their allies and indeed the afghan government to an extent, has simply been hoodwinked by a taliban who said yes, we want a peaceful resolution and never really dead . I resolution and never really dead . ~. ,. , resolution and never really dead . ~. ,. ,. , dead . I think that is what many Afu Hans dead . I think that is what many afghans would dead . I think that is what many afghans would tell dead . I think that is what many afghans would tell you, dead . I think that is what many afghans would tell you, the afghans would tell you, the parameters within which the us negotiated with the taliban really marginalised the afghan government and the afghan people from the beginning. And made the conflict about the withdrawal of us troops. And once that Troop Withdrawal began, theres been very little incentive for the taliban to negotiate in any good faith and thats, we are seeing the consequences of that now. Can ou see consequences of that now. Can you see any consequences of that now. Can you see any sign consequences of that now. Can you see any sign of consequences of that now. Can you see any sign of a you see any sign of a ceasefire, any kind of Deal Or Settlement . I ceasefire, any kind of Deal Or Settlement . Settlement . I dont think a ceasefire. Settlement . I dont think a ceasefire, despite settlement . I dont think a ceasefire, despite being i ceasefire, despite being desperately needed in this moment is on the horizon any time soon. The only chance for an end to the fighting and eight negotiated settlement that will hold is if the international community comes together both at the level of the United Nations and the Security Council but also in the region and makes clear to the region and makes clear to the taliban that a forcible reimposition of the emirate will not stand, that there will be consequences for the leadership, for the rank and file, and that is going to be what is required, i think, in order to move the taliban on this. In order to move the taliban on this. , this. In the meantime, i understand this. In the meantime, i understand you this. In the meantime, i understand you are this. In the meantime, i. Understand you are going this. In the meantime, i understand you are going out to afghanistan, you are not now, thatis afghanistan, you are not now, that is basically a very clear message for any westerners at The Moment, isnt it . Star; The Moment, isnt it . Stay awa . The moment, isnt it . Stay away . I The Moment, isnt it . Stay away . I mean, The Moment, isnt it . Stay away . I mean, for The Moment, isnt it . Stay away . I mean, for me The Moment, isnt it . St away . I mean, for me personally i have been travelling to afghanistan since 2004, it is a place very dear to me professionally and personally. So for me it is a very difficult decision not to go but i think its not of any use to anyone as the taliban really begin to feel like they are At The Gates of kabul. find begin to feel like they are At The Gates of kabul. And with that, the gates of kabul. And with that. Brings the gates of kabul. And with that, brings another the gates of kabul. And with that, brings another chapter| that, brings another chapter but for now, thank you so much. Geographically, lets go to tokyo, after two weeks of competition in everything from Bmx Biking to athletics, swimming, the Olympic Games have come to an end. The us finished top of the Medal Table ahead of china and japan. The Host Nation having their best ever performance at an Olympic Games. The Closing Ceremony was an upbeat celebration of all aspects of Japanese Culture and culminated in the athletes thanking the people of japan are hosting the games in the midst of this pandemic. No fans inside the Olympic Stadium to enjoy it although plenty turned out outside to get a glimpse of events. What is the legacy for the whole city . Here is our Tokyo Correspondent Rupert wingfield hayes. If you tried to get to the Olympic Stadium tonight, this is what you were met with. Hundreds of Police Blocking alleyways ordering people to move along. Even the closing fireworks lasted just 15 seconds. But if the authorities were trying to prevent the large gatherings that took place during the opening ceremony, then they failed. Out of the park, this sport loving family have spent much of the last two weeks glued to the television but even for them watching games on television has not been unmitigated joy. Translation iwanted to go and watch. It is totally different to watch on television than actually being there. Translation it is almost | like the olympics was taking place in the mother country. You can only watch it on television. We felt the distance very much. The last couple of weeks have been a tale of two cities. There is The One behind the fence where there has been this amazing sport and tremendous Success Forjapan and the Tokyo Outside where most of the time you would not even have noticed that the olympics has been happening and the same contrast is true for the pandemic. Inside the fence, Daily Testing meant things were kept under control but outside, the pandemic is now out of control. Critics say the olympics has sucked away resources leaving the city without enough Covid Testing kits or vaccinations. It has left a scar on the japanese society, meaning people are divided i and above all, the games left the economy attacked, if you look at numbers | in tokyo, It Isjust increasing. There is No Doubt that the record breaking haul of Medals Forjapan has bought realjoy to the Host Nation, as the roadshow leaves town, the olympic Host City has been left facing a medical crisis. Rupert wingfield hayes, bbc news, tokyo. Be that as it may, as the Olympic Torch is handed over to france, astronauts on the international Space Station have got in on the act. They conveniently, the crew includes members from both countries come on the left, japan, passing over an olympic flag to his colleague on the right, the ceremony rounded off with the astronauts giving their own take, inhabitants taking place in activities including synchronised building, no Hand Ball i wonder, synchronised building, no Hand Ball iwonder, in synchronised building, no Hand Ball i wonder, in the future, you never know, do you . Matt carrolljoins me, chief executive officer of the Australian Olympic Committee. We will get two new sports in a moment, 2032, slightly distant horizon but i had better give you your minute in The Sunshine, i guess you are basking in glory for The Moment . It basking in glory for The Moment . Basking in glory for The Moment . ,. , moment . It has been a great Names Moment . It has been a great games for moment . It has been a great games for The Moment . It has been a great games for the australian moment . It has been a great l games for the australian team. We equalled the Height Market achieved in athens with 17 gold medals, 46 medals across 20 disciplines, 15 sports, but it served to be a great time for australians who were in lockdown and some of our cities, the inspiration of the games, notjust the medals but the people who came sixth, seventh, eighth, the sportsmanship that We Saw. All of those things that we hold dear to the olympic sentiment In Sport. I dear to the olympic sentiment in sort. , dear to the olympic sentiment in sort. ,. ,. , dear to the olympic sentiment in sort. ,. , In Sport. I was going to ask ou In Sport. I was going to ask you what In Sport. I was going to ask you what you In Sport. I was going to ask you what you felt In Sport. I was going to ask you what you felt you In Sport. I was going to ask. You what you felt you learned from the games, given that they had been different you called it mate ship, the athletes depending on Each Other more than ever before, they didnt have any other support that they would have normally expected. They would have normally exoected they would have normally exected. , v expected. Thats right, the athletes from expected. Thats right, the athletes from whichever i expected. Thats right, the athletes from whichever country arriving in Tokyo Airport into the Olympic Village, to the training venues, competition venues, and then within 48 hours, home, the Olympic Village became the only space they could congregate during they could congregate during the games and we found within the games and we found within the australian team, a great ethos, and it was reflected in the teams across the world. Representing other parts of the world. You saw it in the marathon yesterday. The first, second and third embraced Each Other after the race, We Saw it in a lot of other events during the games. Reuniting humanity which was great. [30 the games. Reuniting humanity which was great. Which was great. Do you pick throu. H which was great. Do you pick through that which was great. Do you pick through that and which was great. Do you pick through that and start which was great. Do you pick i through that and start thinking about how that might impact 2032, the brisbane games. I appreciate that its not entirely yourjob but its your patch, its going to be your manner and you have a long wait, 11 years to prepare. A lot of thinking as to how you might be different, more creative. It might be different, more creative might be different, more creative. , � ,. ,. Creative. It is, its a once in a generation creative. It is, its a once in a generation opportunity, l a generation opportunity, australia, queensland, brisbane have been heavily gifted, the ten year runway, into the games, theres the Winter And Summer games in that period, international events, 30 scheduled into australia already but is also an opportunity to leave the legacy early, the eight year olds of the day, watching the tokyo games will be the olympians in 2032 so with that opportunity the Australian Olympic Committee is looking at to use the power of sport to make a difference in australia. Those Eightyearolds Difference in australia. Those eightyearolds will difference in australia. Those eightyearolds will be difference in australia. Thosel eightyearolds will be retired eight year olds will be retired skateboarders when it comes to brisbane but do you have any thoughts about new sports you might bring in . Cricket is being viewed it a possibility, nipple is huge in australia and other parts of the world. Do you have clear ideas . This other parts of the world. Do you have clear ideas . As you said, you have clear ideas . As you said. Its you have clear ideas . As you said. Its a you have clear ideas . As you said, its a little you have clear ideas . As you said, its a little while you have clear ideas . As you said, its a little while awake | said, its a little while awake yet, the International Olympic Committee have a cap at the 10,000 athletes, i dont have a decision about which sports are in the games, decisions will be made until after the 2028 games in Los Angeles i think some of the existing new ones, such as skateboarding, Bmx Freestyle would suit as well. find skateboarding, Bmx Freestyle would suit as well. Would suit as well. And were they great . Would suit as well. And were they great . Thank would suit as well. And were they great . Thank you would suit as well. And were they great . Thank you so. Would suit as well. And were they great . Thank you so much. Stay with us on bbc news. Still to come. Leaving home. Lionel messi bid an emotional farewell to The Club he has played for for his entire professional career. The big crowds became bigger as the time of the funeral approached. As the lines of fans became longer, the police prepared for a huge job of crowd control. Idi amin, ugandas brutal former dictator has died at the age of 80. Hes been buried in Saudi Arabia where he lived in exile since being overthrown in 1979. 2 Billion people around the world have seen the last Total Eclipse Of The Sun to take place in this millennium. It began itsjourney off the coast of canada ending three hours later when the Sun Set over the bay of bengal. Your origin bbc news. The headlines. The taliban sees three more Provincial Capitals in afghanistan as they reject calls for a ceasefire. While fires continue to burn on greek islands, dozens of villagers evacuated, there is on standby to take more people to safety. Hundreds more people have been forced to leave their homes in parts of greece as the wildfires carry on burning. This summer scorching temperatures across much of Southern Europe have left would land tinder dry and very susceptible to fire. Greece itself is experiencing its worst heatwave in 30 years. The Regent North of athens, the second largest island of avia is amongst the worst hit areas, ferries helping the evacuation or whoever it needs it. Bethany bell sent us this report from the island of avia. Exodus from evia. There are long queues at the port. People are waiting to get on ferries to the mainland. Holiday makers and some locals are leaving, after villages and parts of the north of the island were evacuated. Chris, who works on avia as a singer, says the wildfires are spreading and the authorities arent doing enough. The most people see that we dont have any help until yesterday and they could save everybody and it wasnt true. The people dont know where to go. The big problem is that we feel that they let us burn. This is what theyre fleeing from. Wildfires have been blazing out of control for almost a week now. Siren wails. Houses and forests have been destroyed. This village is being evacuated. As thick Orange Smoke fills the air, people wait nervously for the ferry to depart. Its like the scene of an apocalyptic movie definitely because theres no sky, The Sun is red. Its quite scary. Its time to leave. The fires are getting closer and closer to this village. Just a few miles from here there are bright Blue Skies but here, the air is full of Smoke And Ash and its making it harder for people to breathe. No one knows if this village will be spared. Its now up to the Gods Of The Winds and the weather. Bethany bell, bbc news, avia. Its a story dominating headlines around the world. A huge wildfire in california, the second largest in the history of the state, by people missing after the fire swept through towns, forcing the evacuation of thousands. This covers an area bigger than the city of Los Angeles. In peru, more than 500 firefighters are dealing with places in the south of the country. The wildfires have destroyed more than ten square kilometres of land since they began on thursday. No report so far of fatalities or injuries. The North Korean Leader Kimjong Un Has reportedly ordered the military to carry out Relief Work in areas recently hit by heavy rain. State tv showed footage of submerged houses and damaged bridges and railroads, more than 1000 homes had been destroyed, 5000 people forced to leave. One of the biggest names In Sport Lionel Messi has made a very tearful farewell to very Tea Rful farewell to barcelona, the very tearful farewell to barcelona, the Spanish Club he joined at the Tender Age of 13. He has been there for more than 20 years, helping them win 34 trophies in that time, ten spanish and four uefa Champions League champions. Barcelona said it was letting him go because they couldnt afford to pay his wages. The 34 year old did not say that he planned to do next but acknowledged a move to p56 do next but acknowledged a move to psg was a possibility. What youre hearing in the background is a Standing Ovation for him as he expressed his deep affection for The Club where he had spent so much of his life. Translation many beautiful things happened to me here. Bad too. But all this helped me to grow, improve, and may be the person i am today. We have had very good moments, bad ones too. But the affection of the people has been constant, i always felt it. The recognition, the love. Ifelt it it. The recognition, the love. I felt it towards them too and The Club. And well do all my life, i hope. Lionel messi. Joining me from Rio Dejaneiro is tim vickery, the South American Football correspondent. He will remember the Affection And Love because there is enough of it for him in barcelona. But is it as simple as money . In barcelona. But is it as simple as money . Yes, it is, he has been simple as money . Yes, it is, he has been there simple as money . Yes, it is, he has been there for simple as money . Yes, it is, he has been there for 21 simple as money . Yes, it is, he has been there for 21 years, has been there for 21 years, they are showing him the door instead of the key to the door. We are entering, david, the bizarre world, because he is by some distance the most valuable asset that not only barcelona have but also the Spanish League. He gives you a Guaranteed Return in terms of people waking up in the middle of the night in the far east, that asian audience that people involved in football are cultivating so much, the return there is guaranteed and they can have him now for half the price that they have been paying for him. But they have to say goodbye to him in order to say goodbye to him in order to keep on playing on those assets that have not given them assets that have not given them a return. It really is almost suicidal, you would have thought, not only barcelona but from the Spanish League and the Spanish League was built around the Real Madrid barcelona rivalry, Cristiano Ronaldo on The One hand, Lionel Messi on The One hand, Lionel Messi on the other, now both of them have gone. The other, now both of them have gone the other, now both of them have gone. The other, now both of them have one. �. ,. ,. , have gone. But have they got to the oint have gone. But have they got to the point they have gone. But have they got to the point they get have gone. But have they got to the point they get nothing have gone. But have they got to the point they get nothing for. The point they get nothing for him anyway . Is he a Free Agent . Are they going to get 100 million, 150 Million euros if they sell him on . Absolutely nothin , they sell him on . Absolutely nothing. He they sell him on . Absolutely nothing, he is they sell him on . Absolutely nothing, he is a they sell him on . Absolutely nothing, he is a free they sell him on . Absolutely nothing, he is a Free Agent, | nothing, he is a Free Agent, the only thing they have to do is pay his wages, the only Thing A Club who acquires him has to do is play his wages. Remind me what that amounts to, even at 50 . B, remind me what that amounts to, even at 5096 even at 50 . A lot more money than we will even at 50 . A lot more money than we will ever even at 50 . A lot more money than we will ever see even at 50 . A lot more money than we will ever see in even at 50 . A lot more money than we will ever see in our than we will ever see in our lives, dazzling sums but really the story is here the incompetence of barcelona over the years and football is a strange business anyway. Barcelona are especially strange because they are not run on a business model, its a social Membership Club where the president is an elected position and that means there is always politics happening inside The Club, no long term planning. Some of the signings that have been made had been Vanity Signings on behalf of a particular director for electoral purposes. And as i say, in order to retain the likes of other players, one of whom they bought for a fortune from liverpool, in order to keep playing them they have to let Lionel Messi go, The One asset that gives them a Guaranteed Return. [30 asset that gives them a Guaranteed Return. Asset that gives them a uuaranteed return. ,. , ~ Guaranteed Return. Do you think psg, lionel Guaranteed Return. Do you think psg, Lionel Messi Guaranteed Return. Do you think psg, Lionel Messi has psg, Lionel Messi has acknowledged that is in the frame at least, it is the most likely destination for him . I would have thought so. We have that word mate ship, i have learned during the course of the programme with neymar, he is a great friend and former Team Mate at barcelona, they have mauricio pochettino, his compatriot, he is the coach of the team and one of the reasons i think he was brought in was in the event that Lionel Messi became a Free Agent, at argentine connection could just tip the balance so No Doubt, psg are in Pole Position but for the time being, we can all dream . Who knows, he could end P Dream . Who knows, he could end up at our club . Irate dream . Who knows, he could end up at our club . Up at our club . We will wait to see. I cannot up at our club . We will wait to see. I cannot see up at our club . We will wait to see. I cannot see Him Up at our club . We will wait to see. I cannot see him at see. I cannot see him at Grimsby Town any time soon we have some new plenty of wildfires in the billiton but look at the city of venice in italy, the other end of the weather spectrum, people walking under water in St Marks square, high Water Part of the Nation Life but the Tide Peak usually affects venice in the autumn and winter, only five times in the past has high water arrived during the summer itself. We will leave you with those unusual images. Hello. Some of you have been able to stay dry, some of you have had a Months Worth of rainfall. Some good news ahead, fewer showers around, it should turn warmer, temperatures close to where they should be. To get there we need to get rid of this area of low pressure that has been with us for days. With us today, we have outbreaks of rain, some thunderstorms around from that, warm Weather System in the southeast with the heaviest of the rain. Some clear skies, temperatures dropping back into single figures, but most with temperatures around the low teens to start the day. Showers on Monday Morning across parts of Southern Scotland and northern ireland, brightening through the day, heaviest of the showers across the northern half of scotland, some of those torrential especially towards the east later. That could cause flash flooding. Brightest of the weather in north midlands, north wales, staying dry through the day, but further south after a wet start, sunshine and blustery showers and the temperatures more widely into the low 20s. Showers continuing into the evening across scotland, for many they will fade over night and the sign of something improving, area of low pressure toward scandinavia, becoming less of a feature, High Pressure pushing in, stopping some of those showers. Some on tuesday in the northern half of scotland, thundery in places. South of that, isolated showers, more of you staying dry with longer spells of sunshine, temperatures climbing a little Bit Day by day. For the middle part of the week this broad area of low pressure towards the west will bring welcome rain in this Weather Front towards the highlands and islands, much needed rain but its approaching and we start to drag in southerly winds which tap into warmer air across the near continent, pushing temperatures back to where they should be for the time of year, sunny spells, the best in the morning across central and eastern areas, hazy sunshine, clouding over in the west, outbreaks of rain in northern ireland, the heaviest and most persistent across western scotland. For more, temperatures above 20 degrees, where we should be for the time of year, one or two spots getting 25 or higher. Staying warm in the South And East into the weekend, further rain at times in western scotland. See you soon. This is bbc news, the headlines three afghan cities fall to the taliban in just one day, including strategically important kunduz. The taliban have one of the us to get any further intervention. Wildfires continue to on a greek island evia, with very is on standby to take people to safety. Thick smoke has obscured the Sun And Greece has deployed the army. Argentine football star Lionel Messi gave an emotional Press Conference following confirmation he will be leaving barcelona after 21 years at The Club. But alone is facing serious financial problems and says it has to comply with the Spanish League rules on spending. Barcelona