Iam i am Secunder Kermani live in kabul where residents are still grappling with what this Taliban Takeover Means for their lives. Well be hearing from the local councils ready to welcome afghans. Also tonight. A Surprise Drop in the rate of inflation but the experts warn of trouble ahead. Have festivals and staycations contributed to cornwall� s covid hotspots . Well look at the latest evidence. A new take on the oldest Fairy Tale of them all three years in the making, cinderella is finally ready to open. And coming up on the Bbc News channel. We look ahead to the aig womens open as the final major of the year gets under way at carnoustie tomorrow. Good Evening And Welcome to the Bbc News at six. Borisjohnson and his ministers have come in for some scathing criticism as a recalled parliament held an Emergency Session on afghanistan. Two broad questions dominated the attack from mps on all sides. How is it that the taliban are back in power . And what does britain do now for those afghans who fear for their lives . Well have more from the House Of Commons in a moment and well be live in kabul, but first our chief international Correspondent Lyse Doucet on a nation now facing an uncertain future. Come and help, help, help. A girl at the gate screaming. The taliban are coming, they are coming for me, pleading with western soldiers at Kabul Airport to let her in. This is the Front Line of fear in a capital turned inside out. The People who have had to run the gauntlet of new taliban check posts along the main road to the airport. Many afghans say they are trapped, they are sending sos say they are trapped, they are sending 505 messages to the world. These are just some sent to me. This one i havejust received these are just some sent to me. This one i have just received from someone who has been working at the british embassy in kabul, saying he has been to the gate of the airport three times. He says his children were almost killed when the taliban opened fire on the crowds. He, like others, is calling for a safer route out, otherwise, he says, it is better to Stay At Home and wait for our death. Afghans and foreigners are now managing to make it onto the airfield onto one of many lists in this massive evacuation. Everyone at the start of a new life, whatever their age. The uk is among many countries doing what they can to help. To countries doing what they can to hel. ,. , countries doing what they can to hel. ,. ,. , countries doing what they can to hel. ,. ,. , ~ help. To get through the work load, to net the help. To get through the work load, to get the peeple help. To get through the work load, to get the People we help. To get through the work load, to get the People we need help. To get through the work load, to get the People we need to help. To get through the work load, to get the People we need to get i help. To get through the work load, | to get the People we need to get out of here to safety, how long have we got . It really depends on other things outside our control. The security situation, the approach of the taliban. We are working on the basis of days, not weeks, so we really do have to get those numbers through. Really do have to get those numbers throu~h. ,. , really do have to get those numbers throu~h. ,. , through. Flying in, taliban leaders, includin through. Flying in, taliban leaders, including the through. Flying in, taliban leaders, including the founding through. Flying in, taliban leaders, including the Founding Member through. Flying in, taliban leaders, including the Founding Member of i through. Flying in, taliban leaders, i including the Founding Member of the taliban, now tipped to be president. First stop, an emotional return to kandahar in the south, birthplace of the taliban movement. Now they are creating a government. In Kabul Today a former president , hamid karzai, was in talks with one of the youngest taliban leaders, a 26 year old. The family are linked to the high carny network, blamed for some of the worst attacks on afghan civilians. The youngest is now classed as a messenger of peace to political leaders who have not left. But some afghans are still resisting the change. Protest today in the eastern city of jalalabad. Afghans are still holding onto their national flag. Afghans are still holding onto their nationalflag. But afghans are still holding onto their national flag. But the old afghans are still holding onto their nationalflag. But the old order afghans are still holding onto their national flag. But the old order is gone. The taliban enforcing a new one. Liz doucet, Bbc News. 0ur corresponding Secunder Kermani is in the afghan capital and in the last few minutes he sent this report. This is the centre of kabul and this is a city that is gradually returning to some kind of normality, even as its residents processed the dramatic events of the past few weeks. More restaurants and shots are open today than there have been in previous days, there is more traffic and People industries. There are not quite as many as usual, and in particular there are fewer women, although i have seen some and not necessarily wearing the all encompassing bercow. The fear is in coming days and months the taliban will impose more of their strict restrictions on women. There is also a strong presence of heavily armed taliban fighters patrolling the city in vehicles like this. They say they are here to prevent looting and unrest. Despite their assurances of an amnesty linked to the government, many who are here will be deeply fearfulfor government, many who are here will be deeply fearful for their future. Secunder kermani on the ground in kabul. A key theme of the debate in the Commons Today the first we have seen without social distancing since the pandemic was britains response to the humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in afghanistan. Mrjohnson was accused of not doing enough to help those desperately seeking to leave the country. The government has announced plans to allow a total of 20,000 afghans to settle in the uk, including 5,000 in the first year. It will focus on women and children as well as religious and other minorities in greater danger from the taliban. 0ur Political Correspondent Ben Wright reports from westminster. Prime minister, have you let down afghanistan . A statement was written, the explanation prepared borisjohnson headed to parliament, brought back from its summeR Break. Prime minister the chamber was crammed, shoulder to shoulder now restrictions are lifted. The sacrifice in afghanistan is seared into our national consciousness, with 150,000 People serving there from across the Length And Breadth of the united kingdom. No matter how grim the lessons of the past, the future is not yet written. And at this bleak turning point, we must help the People of afghanistan to choose the best of all the possible futures. The Prime Minister said the us Pull Out from afghanistan meant there was Little Britain could do. Labours leader agreed there was no military solution, but said the government had failed to prepare. Theres been a major miscalculation of the resilience of the afghan forces and staggering complacency from our government about the taliban threat. The result is that the taliban are now back in control of afghanistan. The gains made through 20 years of sacrifice hanging precariously. Tory Backbench Anger was growing, and one former Prime Minister was scathing. Was our knowledge of the position on the ground so inadequate, or did we really believe this, or did we just feel that we had to follow the united states and hope that, on a wing and a prayer, it would be all right the night . It would be all right on the night . Watching on, a demonstration demanding all afghans who worked for the uk can move here, and there is already a scheme in place. Ministers have said the uk will also take in up to 20,000 refugees over the next few years, including 5000 this year. In the commons, there were Cross Party calls for more. It should have a minimum commitment of welcoming at least 35 40,000 Afghan Refugees in the uk. Numbers matter less than need. We need to reject this artificial distinction between resettlement and asylum. Todays debate revealed the depth of Anger And Anguish at whats happened. The words spoken here will make little difference to the immediate situation in afghanistan, but borisjohnson looks isolated as mps queued up to ask how a 20 Year Commitment unravelled so fast. No more so than those who had served in afghanistan, fighting in a campaign that cost the lives of A57 Service men and women. Like many veterans, this last week has been one that has seen me struggle through Anger And Grief and rage. The feeling of abandonment, of not just a country, but the sacrifice that my friends made. The House Of Commons, full for the first time in over a year, had rarely seemed so quiet. Several things were striking about todays debate. First the sombre mood as mps observed what almost all regarded as a serious foreign policy failure. Borisjohnson insisted a key objective had been met, the removal of alqaeda from afghanistan, but there is deep Cross Party concern here about what comes next. Second, Theresa May spoke for many mps when she said the west now looked much weaker than it had before. There was no Vote Today so this debate does not change government policy, so for now all mps can do is watch as the evacuation from kabul continues. Throughout the Day Council leaders across the country have said they are ready to provide a Safe Haven for those fleeing afghanistan. Theyre calling on the government to make more money available to fund the resettlement schemes. 0ur Correspondent Alex Forsyth has been to calderdale in West Yorkshire to see how one community is preparing to welcome Afghan Refugees. Lunch at saint augustins is about far more than food. This centre supports Asylum Seekers, offering advice, guidance and a sense of community. Here, these families know what it is like to have to flee your home. Jan was an interpreter for the british army, he came to the uk through an official route, but now cannot contact his family who are still in afghanistan. I cannot contact his family who are still in afghanistan. Cannot contact his family who are still in afghanistan. I couldnt get to my mum still in afghanistan. I couldnt get to my mum and still in afghanistan. I couldnt get to my Mum And Dad still in afghanistan. I couldnt get to my Mum And Dad like still in afghanistan. I couldnt get to my Mum And Dad like two still in afghanistan. I couldnt get. To my Mum And Dad like two months and i really dont know about the situation will be at the moment. It is just situation will be at the moment. It isjust a situation will be at the moment. It is just a heartbreaking situation. The concern about recent events is palpable. Howbeit, not his real name, has family in kabul. He is desperate for them to join him name, has family in kabul. He is desperate for them tojoin him here. There is my mum, Brother And Sister left and wife. I have spoken to them and they are all crying. The . Left and wife. I have spoken to them and they are all crying. And they are all crying. They are all crying . And they are all crying. They are all crying . How and they are all crying. They are all crying . How are and they are all crying. They are all crying . How are they and they are all crying. They are | all crying . How are they feeling . And they are all crying. They are i all crying . How are they feeling . It is bad. All crying . How are they feeling . It is bad here all crying . How are they feeling . It is bad. Here the all crying . How are they feeling . It is bad. Here the idea all crying . How are they feeling . It is bad. Here the idea of all crying . How are they feeling . It is bad. Here the idea of a all crying . How are they feeling . It is bad. Here the idea of a Scheme L all crying . How are they feeling . It | is bad. Here the idea of a scheme to help settle refugees from afghanistan is welcome, but they question whether it will be enough, whether some might try to make it on their own. Florence didnt come to their own. Florence didnt come to the uk through official channels, she claimed asylum in 2016 and said the process can be tough. I was she claimed asylum in 2016 and said the process can be tough. The process can be tough. I was not allowed to go the process can be tough. I was not allowed to go to the process can be tough. I was not allowed to go to school, the process can be tough. I was not allowed to go to school, i the process can be tough. I was not allowed to go to school, i was i the process can be tough. I was not allowed to go to school, i was not l allowed to go to school, i was not allowed to go to school, i was not allowed to go to school, i was not allowed to do anything within my community. How was that . It was really bad, ifelt like i community. How was that . It was really bad, i felt like i was community. How was that . It was really bad, ifelt like i was in a country where i came to seek safety, but it was worse than i was before. This part of West Yorkshire has long welcomed those seeking sanctuary. For more than 20 Years Calderdale has taken in Asylum Seekers and it volunteered to resettle syrians during the war. The council says it is ready to step up again, but the leader says they must have support. We want to be open and welcoming but we need proper support from the government to enable us to do that without it having an impact on local People and services. In without it having an impact on local People and services. Without it having an impact on local People and services. In halifax Town Centre there People and services. In halifax Town Centre there is People and services. In halifax Town Centre there is empathy People and services. In halifax Town Centre there is empathy for People and services. In halifax Town Centre there is empathy for the I Centre there is empathy for the plight of afghans and awareness that public services, not least housing, are Under Pressure. Hdii public services, not least housing, are Under Pressure. Public services, not least housing, are Under Pressure. Half of me says, es, we are Under Pressure. Half of me says, yes. We should are Under Pressure. Half of me says, yes, we should help are Under Pressure. Half of me says, yes, we should help out, are Under Pressure. Half of me says, yes, we should help out, which i are Under Pressure. Half of me says, yes, we should help out, which is. Yes, we should help out, which is what we are doing. The other half is rightly saying, well, there are obviously People in this country who are british citizens who need help and support. Ii it are british citizens who need help and shaped are british citizens who need help and support. If it stays at 20,000, that is fine, and support. If it stays at 20,000, that is fine, but and support. If it stays at 20,000, that is fine, but it and support. If it stays at 20,000, that is fine, but it is and support. If it stays at 20,000, that is fine, but it is when and support. If it stays at 20,000, that is fine, but it is when it that is fine, but it is when it starts that is fine, but it is when it starts to that is fine, but it is when it starts to get into half A Million and a starts to get into half A Million and A Million People. Starts to get into half A Million and A Million People. Where else are the auoin and A Million People. Where else are they going to and A Million People. Where else are they going to go . And A Million People. Where else are they going to go . It and A Million People. Where else are they going to go . It is and A Million People. Where else are they going to go . It is really they going to go . It is really important they going to go . It is really important everybody they going to go . It is really important Everybody Opensl they going to go . It is really. Important everybody opens the they going to go . It is really important everybody opens the doors to these important everybody opens the doors to these pe0ple~ important everybody opens the doors to these People. That important everybody opens the doors to these People to these People. That is the olitical to these People. That is the political challenge, to these People. That is the l political challenge, balancing to these People. That is the i political challenge, balancing the need to open the doors with the needs of existing communities, a challenge with much at stake for so many. Alex forsyth, Bbc News, halifax. Lets go live to kabul this evening and our correspondent Secunder Kermani whos there. You have watched this country as closely as anyone. I wonder what your take is today on the situation now. ~. , y your take is today on the situation now. ~. , , , now. Well, two very different seeds in kabul. Now. Well, two very different seeds in kabul at now. Well, two very different seeds in kabul. At the now. Well, two very different seeds in kabul. At the airport, now. Well, two very different seeds in kabul. At the airport, utter in kabul. At the airport, utter chaos. I saw taliban Members Firing into the airand chaos. I saw taliban Members Firing into the air and beating People with sticks, trying to control the crowd. Contrast with the City Centre where shots and restaurants are opening up and People are going out to eat ice cream. I cannot stress enough how significant a presence at the taliban have in the city and how surreal it is to witness it. Every few minutes one of their patrols passes by and they are heavily armed with powerful assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers. For the moment the attitude seems to be fairly friendly, but the concern is how long that will last. We have seen these protests in the east of the country being met with violence, at least two People being killed there i am told. Publicly so far the taliban have adopted a fairly conciliatory attitude and tone, but many fear they will not brook any kind of challenge to their authority. Kind of challenge to their Authority Kind of challenge to their authority. Kind of challenge to their authori. , ~ ,. ,. Clearly these are disturbing times for lots of People. And for details of organisations which offer Advice And Support with mental health, go online to bbc. Co. Uk actionline. The governments latest Coronavirus Figures show there were 33,901; new infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period, which means on average there were 30,177 new cases per day in the last week. 6,321 People are currently in hospital with the virus. 111 deaths were recorded in the past 2a hours, with an average of 94 deaths a day in the past week. 0n vaccinations, 89. 6 of adults in the uk have now had theirfirstjab, and more than 77. 5 have had two jabs. After falling over recent weeks, the average number of daily confirmed Covid Cases is now showing signs of a small rise. So how much pressure is there on local areas . Have covid hot spots appeared because of staycations or events like Music Festivals . 0ur health editor, hugh pym, reports. There hasnt been the big surge in infections which some experts had predicted for august. Uk Case Numbers are lower than mid july, but there are some areas where theres been an increase in recent weeks, including cornwall partly linked to the influx of holiday makers. There have been reports of positive tests among some of those who were at a Surfing And Music festival at newquay last week. Local officials say its too early to judge that from the data, but they acknowledge that covid has been spreading in some parts of the county. As People mix in large numbers, particularly if theyre unvaccinated, theres the likelihood that there will be spread amongst that particular age group. We are seeing in general that the 18 to 30 year olds are having the highest rates of infection in our area. Of the top ten Infection Hotspots in england as of last week, three were in cornwall. Two more were in the isle of wight, another tourist destination. Some others were further north in england. Thats in terms of cases relative to the local population. Were going to see influxes of People to certain holiday destinations, and while that doesnt change the official population figures, it means that there are a lot more People within an area. And a lot more People in an area means theres going to be much more chance of covid and much more chance of transmission. Indoor social mixing was cited as a factor in the Infection Spike in lincoln, with a surge in cases linked to a nightclub, though numbers have since fallen back. There could be implications for hospitals, and the nhs in the South West of england has come under greater pressure, with ambulances having to wait at some hospitals to hand over patients. I weve got a combination of rising | numbers of Covid Cases, but thats set alongside the fact that People are trying to go full pelt to recover the care backlogs. Weve also got lots People who are seeking urgent Emergency Care at the same time as staff are off on leave, and also weve had large numbers of Staff Self isolating. With pop up vaccination centres, local Health Chiefs in the South West are urging People to get theirjabs and do regular lateral flow tests. Hugh pym, Bbc News. The time is 6 15. Our top story this evening the taliban secure their positions in kabul as the uk commits to taking in kabul as the uk commits to taking in 5000 Afghan Refugees within a year. Still to come, confirmation in scotland that students there will take their exams as normal next year, if its safe to do so. Coming up in sportsday on the Bbc News channel, more disruption to the formula 1 calendar, as the japanese Grand Prix is cancelled over covid concerns. Its the second successive year the race is off due to the pandemic. Weve got the latest official figures on the cost of living today, and it turns out that prices are not rising by as much as some were predicting. The consumer prices index, which is a way of measuring inflation, was 2 injuly. That compares to 2. 5 the previous month. Cheaper clothing is one reason for the dip in the rate of inflation. But theres a Warning Inflation could go much higher later this year. 0ur Consumer Affairs Correspondent Colletta Smith reports. In the last few weeks, theres one thing thats been stretching budgets across the country. Fuel prices have been rocketing. In fact, thejuly Fuel Price was the highest seen in eight years. Thereve been some pretty good Summer Sales when it comes to clothing and shoes, and thats been Keeping Prices overall a bit lower. But the thing thats still been pushing inflation up are those Eye Watering Petrol and diesel prices. And with more long Road Trips for holiday in the uk this summer, People are really feeling the cost of a full tank. When you fill a car up like that, it costs about £70. He travels about 25 miles there, 25 miles back every day for work, so its a big expense, really, for diesel. Its pretty expensive again, 130 odd, locally. Its notjust drivers who are impacted. This Months Inflation Figure is normally used to set the Price Rise for Rail Season tickets, but not this year. The government say they havent yet decided when or if theyll be putting prices up. Thats music to the ears of transport campaigners. It would be really good news if injanuary, we hear that theres no increase. The situation, really, is going to be terrible if they were to increase it. I cant imagine that they would, because were coming back from a pandemic and we need to get People back on board and get People in towns and cities spending. But its not all bad news for those splashing out over the holiday season. Summer clothing sales are back after the disruption of last year. Well, ijust assumed it was because lots of the seasons clothes werent selling, People werent going on holiday and that kind of thing, so everything has been slashed. Although prices havent increased as quickly as some economists were expecting, costs will go up more in the autumn because a big energy Price Rise will kick in at The End of september. All of this is putting the chancellor Under Pressure to scrap his plans to increase the Pension Rate by more than inflation the so called triple lock. Pensioners are due an increase of around 8 , which is a Pay Rise most of the workforce can only dream of. With Household Budgets set to be squeezed on all sides after a Summer Holiday Spending splurge, its time to buckle up for the months ahead. Colletta smith, Bbc News, in barnsley. Exams in scotland will go ahead as normal next year if it is safe for them to do so. The Scottish Government said national5, higher and advanced higher exams would be held in spring, providing public Health Advice allows them to take place. 0ur Scotland Correspondent Lorna Gordon is in glasgow. So exams get the green light, but there are backup plans in place . Yes, george, exams are back, but the Scottish Government is being upfront in saying that Contingency Plans are in saying that Contingency Plans are in place should covid create difficulties over the coming academic year. The first Back Up Plan is to further modify courses that have already been modified, while the second is if covid creates difficulties that mean it is not easy or reasonable for exams to take place, that they will be scrapped again for the third year running, and replaced with teacher assessed grades. Well, across the uk, ministers and qualifications regulators have been clear that they expect exams to take place next year, so scotland is the first place to announce these Contingency Plans, but the main Teaching Union here says they want to focus over the next year to be on teaching and learning, not gathering evidence for assessments and for these contingency purposes, while the scottish conservatives say it is a dereliction of duty for the snp to announce this before all schools have returned. The trial of the Grammy Award winning us Singer R kelly got under Way Today at a Us Federal Court in new york. The R B Star is accused of racketeering, sexual Abuse And Bribery charges which he has denied. If the singer is convicted on all counts, he could face ten years to life in prison. Samira hussain reports. For R Kellys many accusers, this federal court In Brooklyn is where, finally, their voices may be heard. Jonjelyn savage is here. For years, she has been pushing for charges against kelly. She says her daughter had been held captive by the musician. The opening statements will open some Peoples eyes to what we have been knowing for the last five and a half years, when we started this journey, because we knew something wasnt right and we knew that it had to stop. In those opening statements, prosecutors said kelly targeted, groomed and exploited young girls and boys for his own satisfaction, and that this case is not about a celebrity who likes to party, but a sexual predator. R kelly is one of the most successful artists of all time, credited with redefining R B music. But in a spectacular fall from grace, the musician has spent the last two years behind bars awaiting trial. Kelly and members of his entourage are accused of Recruiting Women and girls to engage in illegal sexual activity with the R B singer. He is also accused of paying victims and witnesses to cover up his alleged crimes. Ididnt do i didnt do this stuff R Kelly has been confronting allegations of Sexual Abuse for more than two decades, but the only time he faced criminal charges, back in 2008, he was acquitted. These new charges against R Kelly are far more serious, and this time several victims will testify against him. But also perhaps there has been a shift in culture the Me Too Movement has made it harder for rich, famous abusers to hide their misdeeds. Samira hussain, Bbc News, new york. The Comedian Sean Lock has died from cancer at the age of 58. Performers and writers have been paying tribute today. I dont think a dictionary has got enough words in it to describe me. You know, im such an amazing, complicated. An acclaimed Stand Up and sitcom actor, lock was perhaps best known for his long Running Work appearing on the Panel Show 8 out of 10 cats. The Comedian Sean Lock, who has died at the age of 58. Entertainment, and theatre in particular, has been one of the sectors hardest hit by covid. The recent easing of restrictions means that many productions are now back on stage, including cinderella, the new musical by andrew lloyd weber. Heres the bbc� s alan yentob. Yes, fingers crossed, theatre is back. Covid, all being well, is under control. Social distancing is over for now. And andrew lloyd webber� s much anticipated new musical, cinderella, is back in town. Three years in the making, weeks of previews then they were pinged, and the show did not go on. This radical take on the Cinderella Story was written by the Oscar Winner Emerald fennell. Well, here we are. So the show� s on, eh . You never know, but short of us having to be taken screaming from the theatre, its going to open. I have to say, this is unlike any other cinderella that ive ever seen. I mean, my phrase is, this is a cinderella for our time. Barking mad cinderella flying high in the sky. Its the most well known story in the world, and so that is good and bad, it means that the audience anticipates certain things, they expect certain things, and so, really, the conversation we had was, well, how do we do something new, how do we make it a story that feels exciting and gripping, while still having the shoe, the clock at midnight, you know, the transformation, all those things . So it was about, yeah, about surprising the audience. But i think the thing that converted me to finally doing it was the central message that emerald has written, which is, dont change yourself, dont change yourself to be what you believe other People want you to be. I think thats a very important message for our time, really, and it made me think, yeah, i can do this. And they have. Bad Cinderella Cinderella is the Catty Name that they call mel call me bad cinderella, i will not say goodbye i youve been hateful since i met you. It hasjoy, and i think it does have romance. It hasjoy. Even if the romance doesnt quite go the way that everyone might expect. No, it hasjoy, it has romance and, crucially, and the thing that is most important to me anyway, is it has a fairly long erotic male dance sequence. Ah, well, that is, of course, the reason she did show, but we dont need to go into that for this audience. Well, forget you that report by the bbc� s alan yentob. Time for a look at the weather heres louise lear. Thanks george, i could do with a Magic Wand to change the weather story, we are all going a Bit Stir crazy with the Cloud Cover at the moment, and there is more to come as we go through the Night Tonight and into tomorrow. Quite a lot of cloud tonight, they can afford drizzle across the north and the west, it is going to be a murky start as well generally, and temperatures bearing up, into the mid teens, so a mild start, but another grey one once again, bits and pieces of brighter, sunnier moments coming through before we see scattered showers coming from the west. Tomorrow it really is going to be a messy picture to tell, temperatures peaking at 13 21 degrees, still down on where they should be for this