As longtime conservator of her estate, seen a major victory for the singer. Welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the Globe Britain and the united states are sending troops back into afghanistan to help their nationals leave. The taliban continue their rapid advance across the country. It now appears that the militants have captured the countrys second biggest city, kandahar giving them control of about a third of afghanistans main cities, as well as much of the countryside. Lets get the latest from kabul and our correspondent, yogita limaye. We woke up talking about the fall of city hundred miles north of campbell and we are now talking about many falling to the taliban. Many of them significant cities for the afghan government. Herat, fiercely contested between the two sides but the afghan government was not able to hold onto it. Staring at defeat in kandahar, the second largest city in this country, Lashkar Gah the capital of the Helmand Province falling as well. And there are real worries among citizens here about what is next. What is the future of their capital, kabul . I see messages and Social Media from afghans talking about the last moments of freedom. But i think what happens here in the coming days will depend heavily on how the afghan government reacts to whats happened in this one day. So far, we have heard nothing from the top brass of the government, nothing from the president , nothing from the Vice President or any of the big ministers. How they respond tomorrow to this situation will determine, you know, what happens next in the capital, kabul. The first british and american troops are set to arrive in kabul this weekend. Ramzan karmali has this assessment of the task ahead. Another day of taliban advances or the militants move into the third largest city. And another city less than 100 kilometres from the capital. The taliban have taken control of 11 provincial capitals. They also claim to have taken kandahar. The us and otherforeign claim to have taken kandahar. The us and other foreign troops withdrew after 20 years of Military Operations but now the us is sending 3000 soldiers back to help evacuate a significant amount of Embassy Staff. ,. ,. , staff. This is a temporary mission staff. This is a temporary mission with staff. This is a temporary mission with a staff. This is a temporary mission with a narrow. Staff. This is a temporary. Mission with a narrow focus. Staff. This is a temporary mission with a narrow focus. As with all deployments of our troops into harms way our commanders have the inherent right of Self Defence and any attack on them can and will be met with a forceful and response. Met with a forceful and response met with a forceful and response. Met with a forceful and resonse. , ~ 1 response. The Uk Supply 600 Troo S to response. The Uk Supply 600 tr00ps to help response. The Uk Supply 600 troops to help relocate troops to help relocate nationals, staff and interpreters. At one british politician and former soldier is clear as to who is to blame for the current turmoil. These are decisions for the current turmoil. These are decisions we for the current turmoil. These are decisions we made for the current turmoil. These are decisions we made to for the current turmoil. These | are decisions we made to ten, 15 years are decisions we made to ten, 15 years ago. Of not talking to the taliban. Not training of afghan the taliban. Not training of afghan forces. At most critically, imposing Western Solutions on a country that was not ready solutions on a country that was not ready for it by any means. Now not ready for it by any means. Now we not ready for it by any means. Now we are departing, as i say, and leaving the country to what we will and leaving the country to what we will see as a massive humanitarian disaster. Peace talks are still humanitarian disaster. Peace talks are still ongoing humanitarian disaster. Peace talks are still ongoing but. Talks are still ongoing but they seem far removed from what is going on on the ground. The rapid takeover of territory by the insurgents has been startling. According to the un, more than 1000 afghan civilians have been killed in the past month with thousands more travelling to kabul to seek refuge. 0ne estimate says that more than 70,000 children arrived in recent days with most sleeping rough. With the fall of a significantly strategic city, the fear is that kabul could fall sooner rather than later. We can now speak to Michael 0hanlon is a Senior Fellow at the brookings institution, a research organisation. He specialises in afghanistan. Thank you for coming on the programme. Thank you for coming on the programme thank you for coming on the rouramme. , programme. Nice to be with you. What is your programme. Nice to be with you. What is your assessment programme. Nice to be with you. What is your assessment of programme. Nice to be with you. What is your assessment of what | what is your assessment of what has been happening there . I dont claim to have any deep understanding that you have not been providing in a more interesting way with you on the ground reporting. We are all looking for Raw Data right now and the Raw Data is clearly discouraging because, i can tell a story about how the afghan military should be able to hold onto a good chunk of the country, but i cant really know until you get a feel for the Psychology And Dynamism in the Psychology And Dynamism in the haste with which things are happening. The afghan Special Forces are the best fighters on the country and they are on the side of the government and there are a couple of the seven or eight Afghan Army Corps that had very well lead. The Ministry Of Defence is a dedicated fighter and very capable and more strategic probably than any taliban commander in terms of sophistication. Having said all of that, we watch, as you have been pointing out in your excellent reporting, roughly one third of the provincial capitals have fallen. Perhaps even kandahar now shifting the taliban and this produces a dynamism of its own which i do not purport to be able to fully understand from 8000 miles away but i still believe the government has assets at its disposal. If given a decent chance to hang onto the remaining big cities. That is the stronger statement i can make. ,. ,. ,. , make. Given that you do have some optimism, make. Given that you do have some optimism, about make. Given that you do have some optimism, about the i make. Given that you do have i some optimism, about the level of surprise, were people inside the us government, military, warning that this could happen if this withdrawal took place . Do you think even despite those warnings theres been a level of Shock And Surprise that this has happened . Has happened . Absolutely. I think that has happened . Absolutely. I think that the has happened . Absolutely. I think that the cm, think that the cia, for example, was projecting it might take 6 12 months for afghanistan to fall into taliban hands. I dont know why that was a reassuring message, 612 that was a reassuring message, 6 12 month may seem like a long time but to me it sounds like failure. With the 6 1201 three, but apparently that was the advice being given to President Biden in the wintertime. Most of his advisers said that it made more sense to keep 3000 us forces rather than out entirely but President Biden himself had just had enough and i suspect that he will live to regret this decision if he doesnt already, because of nothing else afghanistan is now dominating part of his national security day. Hes got to deal with the impending collapse or potential collapse of a friendly government and if he was trying to be able to focus on other things his decision has now prevented that from happening. Sending these arguments were made. I dont know if they were made with passion, i dont know if they were made with enough sort of thinking two and three and four and five steps down the line as to what might happen once things began to but i fear that everyone is catching up now. You said there you sense there is no sense of any here in us policy. It isjust is no sense of any here in us policy. It is just a new reality and that will be if this taliban offensive continues, and continue to take up continues, and continue to take up more time and actually in years to come so dominating foreign policy agenda. You make it as interesting. We could use us Air Power. We could use a nato Air Power. In the united states decided to leave all the rest of nato said it had to leave too. We all knew that in a band but this was a mission that only included a total of 12,000 nato soldiers and it should not have acquired the us to be there for the rest of them to be willing to be there but as we have seen in britain and canada and france, other countries over the years, the people came to the same kind of sense of frustration that President Biden just sense of frustration that President Bidenjust did sense of frustration that President Biden just did this year. And therefore most of natos main countries have elected not to considerable additional effort but we still provide Air Power out of the broader Persian Gulf and help the afghan Spine Sanctuaries may be in the north where they could have solid bases to repair their equipment. Look after refugees, form a Staging Base for offensive operations against the taliban. Even certain cities in the South And East and west. So there are many tools. Ijust east and west. So there are many tools. I just dont east and west. So there are many tools. Ijust dont know they are going to be enough and i dont know what decisions President Biden and others will make. Are they american Special Forces back on the ground . Are they willing to buy Strike Missions out of other countries in support of the government . These are questions that we just dont know the answers to and it is really going to be present biden and other nato leaders to decide in the coming weeks. We will keep you up to date with any developments. Police in the uk say five people have died in what they are calling a serious Firearms Incident in plymouth. Another person believed to be the offender was also found dead at the scene. Lets get the very latest from our reporter, aruna iyengar. What do we know . Devon and Cornwall Police what do we know . Devon and Cornwall Police have what do we know . Devon and | Cornwall Police have confirmed in the last hour that six people have died in a serious Firearms Incident in plymouth. The area, 6pm last night. 0ne the area, 6pm last night. One of those people who was confirmed dead was believed to be a child under the age of ten years old. Two females and two males were deceased at the scene, the police say. A further male who was believed to be the offender was also deceased at the scene and all are believed to have died from Gunshot Wounds. Another female who was treated at the scene for Gunshot Wounds died shortly later in hospital and the family of the Next Of Kin have been informed by the police. And they are stressing that this is not a terrorism related incident. The streets in the area have been cordoned off. There were ambulances and a lot of Police Activity in the area but they now believe that the incident has come to an end and theyre not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident. They are asking the public, though, and have been asking since the accident happened, to stop posting Social Media of the incident. There are things on twitter and the police are saying they really want people not to post these, anything people saw on Social Media, because obviously it is distressing to the Families concerned. The Home Secretary had said the incident in plymouth are shocking and my thoughts are with those who have been affected. There is also meeting is tomorrow to support the churches and a local school. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come fanned by strong winds and searing heat, wildfires continue to burn across algeria 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 being buried in saudi arabia, where he lived in exile since being overthrown in 1979. Two 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. This is bbc world news, the latest headlines. The taliban capture afghanistans third biggest city herat, with reports theyve taken kandahar too. Police in south West England say six people have died following Shooting Incident in the city of plymouth. Covid cases are surging in the united states as the Delta Variant spreads in what Health Professionals there are calling an epidemic of the unvaccinated. But the sharp increase in hospitalisations and deaths is nearly all concentrated in Southern States where vaccine take up has been virtually half the national average. 0ur North America editor, Jon Sopel is in louisiana to find out why. The Life Tabernacle Church in louisiana. Congregation thousands. Influence in the state considerable. A message dont get vaccinated. What percentage would you think have been vaccinated . 0h, probably less than 1 at any given time. And you dont think you have a social responsibility to encourage them to go and get vaccinated . We do not. 0urjob is to preach the Gospel Ofjesus Christ and preach faith. But wont vaccinations keep them alive . They will not, that has not been proven. And those we spoke to before the service began were of like mind. Have you been vaccinated . No, sir, i have not. And will you get vaccinated . No, sir, iwont. Why . Because i dont trust it, and i dont know whats in them. Are you going to get vaccinated . No, im not. Why . I dont think theres a need for a vaccination. Like, ifeel. I feel like im 0k without it. Though our time was cut short when we were ordered off the premises. Dont ask any questions of our congregation, its not your business. Someone else who bought into this viewpoint was 22 year old Josh Bradstreet contreras. He was a fit, healthy College Kid and last friday, after Contracting Covid a week earlier, died. He was unvaccinated. His Mother Tarsha is now on a mission to persuade other young people that, actually, theyre not invincible. If i could sell all my worldly possessions, and its not much that i have, to bring josh back i would. Everything, even the shirt on my back. So in other words, get the vaccine . Take the vaccine. Take the vaccine. In louisiana, just 37 of adults have had the jab. Across the state line, that drops to 35 the lowest in the country. Weve just crossed the border from louisiana into mississippi another state where cases are surging, another state where its impossible to get an Intensive Care bed. But the republican governor is refusing to follow Government Advice that people should wear a mask. Once again, issues of politics have become hopelessly intertwined with matters of public health. And the politics is this the areas with the lowest Vaccine Rates are in districts where support for Donald Trump was highest. And in a rewriting of one of americas most famous gun supporting slogans, these people are defending the right not to bare their arms. But that has resulted in the kings Daughters Hospital in rural mississippi being inundated like never before with covid cases. The senior physician is wrung out. Its pretty dire. Were running out of beds, were running out of staff. Were running out of the oxygen means that we give these patients. Were interrupted by him having to deal with an emergency in Intensive Care. We have a patient that is maxed out on Life Support in the Intensive Care unit. Despite our best efforts and measures, theyre just not getting better. A couple of hours after wed stopped filming, we were told that the 68 year Old Man had died. He hadnt been vaccinated. Jon sopel, bbc news, in the deep south. Algeria has observed the first of three days of national mourning as wildfires continue to burn across the north of the country. Fanned by strong winds and searing heat, the fires have claimed 69 lives since monday. Tanya dendrinos has the story. Fla mes Flames Licking at the three tops. A Wall Of Fire quickly swells. It is a devastating scene. Villages in the front line, branches and shovels. Translation we have been fighting this fire for five days. There is no electricity, no water, no gas, no network. There is nothing here. We are tired. On the tarmac at the airport, a lifeline. The two Water Bombing planes chartered by the government from the eu. Another two arriving from france. But for those already firmly in the grip of this battle, Government Support seems nonexistent. The people of algeria are alone. We have received nothing from the government accept threats. People are acting together as one and we have received aid from everywhere. Across algeria, volunteers and aid organisations are gathering supplies. In organisations are gathering su lies. Organisations are gathering su lies. ,. , supplies. In each village there are partner supplies. In each village there are Partner Associations supplies. In each village there are Partner Associations with i are Partner Associations with him we work directly. We give them the donations and they distribute them to the Families. Distribute them to the Families. � ,. ,. , distribute them to the Families. ~ ,. ,. , Families. Appeals are under way in paris, too. In paris, too. Translation we came to possibly lend a hand and do some voluntary work to help with all the sorting. And maybe to see what is missing in terms of medicine, clothes are other things. These fires are some of the worst in the Countrys History and officials believe in many Instances Arson is to blame. The president confirming more than 20 suspects had been arrested so far. Lets get some of the days other news. And emergency teams in Northern India have now rescued thousands of people stranded by floods in the state of uttar pradesh. Indias most populous state is suffering some of its worst flooding in decades, following days of torrential downpours. Monsoon rains in india have led to hundreds of deaths since june. The authorities in Northern Germany have asked more than 8,000 people to repeat their covid jabs because a nurse is suspected of having injected Saline Solution instead of vaccine in many cases. Police are investigating whether the nurse gave saline jabs in more than the six cases shes admitted to. Us Border Agents say they detained more than 212 Thousand migrants trying to enter the country from mexico last month. Its the highest monthly figure in 20 years. Almost half of those stopped at the border have been expelled from the united states under special regulations introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Britney Spears Father has reportedly agreed to step down from his legal role of overseeing the popstar� s finances. Last month miss spears launched a bid to remove Jamie Spears as conservator claiming the agreement controlling her Life And Career was abusive. Mr spears has been in control of his Daughters Estate since 2008. Im joined now from Los Angeles by Entertainment Journalist kj matthews. Thank you for having me. This is a big moment. People have seen it over recent weeks and days, coverage of the case and what has been happening. How surprised are you that this decision by Britney Spearss father has enriched now . I was very surprised father has enriched now . I was very surprised following father has enriched now . I was very surprised following this i very surprised following this case, you know, from the beginning till the end. But it is. You have to read the fine print. A lot of the people in the free Britney Movement were elated when they heard today that her father was going to step down from his role as Co Conservator, particularly over her finances. Co conservator, particularly over herfinances. But Co Conservator, particularly over her finances. But what they did not realise is that he said he would only step down when there is a smooth transition. In other words, yes, eventually he will step down. But it not right now. Do think he made that decision because of public pressure . Because of movements like the free britney, they do express there, ex supporters and fans speaking up so vocally on Social Media. Or as a direct result of what happened in that case . ,. ,. , case . Definitely a result of the Pressure Case . Definitely a result of the Pressure Put case . Definitely a result of the Pressure Put upon case . Definitely a result of| the Pressure Put upon him. Case . Definitely a result of the Pressure Put upon him. Her new attorney just last the Pressure Put upon him. Her new attorneyjust last month is a co conservative. She has made it clear in the last month or so that she does not want her father can be a conservative. She said that. So he listened to her. He heard. But what he basically said look, we were already going to remove her father but it has to be done in an orderly manner. In which a transition for the new conservative to come and is taking place at the right time. We dont know when that is going to be, exactly. I5 we dont know when that is going to be, exactly. Going to be, exactly. Is you laid out the going to be, exactly. Is you laid out the timetable, going to be, exactly. Is you. Laid out the timetable, roughly by The Next Step. When i go so what does this actually mean for Britney Spears . The what does this actually mean for Britney Spears . For Britney Spears . The next heafina for Britney Spears . The next hearing in for Britney Spears . The next hearing in september for Britney Spears . The next hearing in september 29. I for Britney Spears . The next| hearing in september 29. Her attorney had filed paperwork to try to rush the hearing. However, thejudge said no. The next hearing, what they will have to do this all come together and decide, what The Next Step is. Immediately, she wants to have her father taken after being her Co Conservator but ultimately, remember, she wants this conservatorship to end. That is the ultimate goal. Does this to make it more or less likely . It does this to make it more or less likely . Does this to make it more or less likely . It may. There are so many less likely . It may. There are so many other less likely . It may. There are so many other things less likely . It may. There are i so many other things happening in the case now, too. Recently it has been unearthed another attorney, thejudge in the it has been unearthed another attorney, the judge in the case is now receiving Death Threats on twitter. So we have the local Sheriffs Department looking into that. There is so much weirdness in this case and so many different angles at play. We will have to see what happens and take it step by step that these things take time. We dontjust enter conservatorship especially when you have not had a psychiatric evaluation. There are so many things. Even if it were to end it probably will not be immediately and it may not be this year. It immediately and it may not be this ear. ,. , this year. It is really sensitive this year. It is really sensitive and this year. It is really l sensitive and delicate this year. It is really sensitive and delicate and complicated issue but thank you for coming on and talking us through it so clearly. We really appreciate it. Thank you. It was awfully long Journey Home for one herd of Wild Elephants , but now theyve time to enjoy a well deserved break. Several of them were spotted foraging for Food And Resting under trees in chinas yunnan province. This signting follows their 1,300 Kilomiter Migration earlier this year. A reminder of our top story. The united states says its sending nearly 3000 troops back into afghanistan to help evacuate staff from the american embassy. A Pentagon Spokesman said they would be deployed at the international airport in the capital, kabul, within the next two days. The us State Department said its embassy in kabul would be reduced to what it termed a Core Diplomatic Presence because of the Security Situation, but insisted that it would not close. Britain is also sending 600 soldiers help evacuate its Embassy Staff and other british citizens. Us officials last week warned that kabul could fall to the taliban within a month. You can reach me on twitter im lvaughanjones. Hello. There is no real heat in the Uk Forecast for the next few days. But across southern europe, its a different story its been an exceptionally hot week, with that heat now migrating westwards. The orange colours on this Chart Show places where temperatures will be well above the average. In parts of southern spain, we could be looking at temperatures as high as 47 celsius because high pressure is trapping the heat in place. But for us, low pressure is close by that means some brisk winds, some rain at times but not all the time, and temperatures will struggle especially across northwestern parts of the uk. And here through friday, we will see some quite hefty showers working through some heavy, some thundery, especially widespread across the far northwest of scotland. Further South And East, many parts of england and wales will be dry with just the odd shower here. And while there will be big areas of cloud floating past, there will also be some good spells of sunshine. But its breezy for all of us, especially windy up towards the northwest, and top temperatures in Glasgow Ofjust 17 celsius. Could get a 22 23 across parts of eastern and southeastern england. Now as we head through friday night, we will see some further showers especially across the northern half of scotland. Further south, it turns predominantly dry, some clear spells at least for a time, and temperatures between 11 15 celsius as we start saturday morning. So as we head into the start of the weekend, weve got one area of low pressure tending to push away north eastwards, but here comes another low drifting in from the west. A bit of uncertainty still at this range about the detail of saturdays forecast, but its likely we will see Cloud And Rain spreading in most likely across central parts of the uk. To the north, its a mix of sunshine with just a few showers at this stage, and across the south of england, may be South Wales its likely to stay pretty much dry with some sunshine. Those temperatures, for the most part, between 19 and 22 celsius. Now, the messy picture continues on into sunday. This area of low pressure continues to drift in from the west. You will see this frontal system dropping down from the north, so could well be a few different areas of rain on sunday. One pushing into northern scotland, some rain across Northern England and wales. Perhaps some further south as well. But in between the areas of the wet weather there will be some spells of sunshine. But by this stage turning really cool in northern scotland, maybe just 1a degrees. This is bbc news, the headlines. The taliban have captured a string of crucial cities in afghanistan. Theyve driven out government forces in the third biggest city, herat, and claim to have taken control of Kandahar The Second largest. As the Security Situation deteriorates, thousands of us and british troops are being sent back to help evacuate american and uk nationals. Police in south West England say that six people have been killed in a Shooting Incident in the city of plymouth. They include the man whos believed to have carried out the attack which the police say was not terror related. The father of Britney Spears has agreed to step down as conservator of her estate. The arrangement began in 2008 after concerns over the singers mental health. Jamie spears took legal control of her life and finances. Britney spears has described the conservatorship as abusive. Now on bbc news, click. This week a special programme