We start in afghanistan, where fierce fighting has been raging in several provincial capitals. The afghan army is fighting back in crowded neighbourhoods, and all this putting more and more civilians in danger. Herat in the west of the country is one of two provincial capitals being targetted by the militants there s been similar being targetted by the militants. There s been similar intense fighting in laskar gar in the south, with large parts of that city under the taliban s control. Local people say dead bodies are lying in the streets. We have exclusive pictures from herat inside one of the cities being besieged by the taliban. This footage is from the photo journalist masood husseini, one of the few journalists still inside herat. These pictures were filmed in the last 48 hours. He and other media who are there have been told to evacuate as soon as they can. As the fighting escalates fears are growing of a massive humanitarian crisis. Let s talk to ryan crocker, former us ambassad
hello and welcome to bbc news. a court in australia is meeting now to decide whether the serbian tennis star, novak djokovic, can stay in the country and attempt to win a record 21 grand slams. three judges at the federal court will decide whether the australian immigration minister, alex hawke, was right to revoke djokovic s visa for the second time this month, on the grounds that the unvaccinated player s presence could risk fuelling opposition to covid vaccinations. the bbc s phil mercer has the latest from melbourne. a day s time, the australian open, the first grand slam of the year, will get under way. novak djokovic is still the top seed, scheduled to play his opening round match ironically against a fellow serb on monday as well so time is of the essence. we know novak djokovic left a detention hotel not too far from left a detention hotel not too farfrom here earlier this morning. he was placed back into immigration detention about 2k hours ago because of this cance
heaļ¬na bring us up to date. the court hearing began bring us up to date. the court hearing began local bring us up to date. the court hearing began local time - bring us up to date. the court hearing began localtime herej hearing began local time here in melbourne at 9:30am, it is now lunchtime, just after 1pm, we are expecting final submissions to be made to the three appeal courtjudges so then the full court of the federal bench will digest all of the arguments that have been presented to them and as you say, we could have a decision as to whether novak djokovic will compete in the australian open starting tomorrow, monday, or he will be deported by the end of the day. the government here in australia is contending that novak djokovic is a risk to the population here by potentially inciting civil unrest because of his anti vaccination stance that has been reported. his lawyers are contending however that the government view is illogical and irrational. they say there
novak djokovic arrives for his final appeal to stay in australia judges are currently deciding on his deportation. a huge underwater volcanic eruption near tonga triggers tsunami warnings across the pacific ocean. siege at a texas synagogue police are negotiating with a hostage taker in the us state and the first case of the omicron variant is officially confirmed in beijing, just three weeks before the start of the winter olympics. three judges in australia have begun considering novak djokovic s appeal against the cancellation of his visa on the grounds of public health. djokovic s lawyers have been challenging the government s argument that the serbian player is an anti vaccination figurehead. the judges say the verdict will be delivered on sunday or monday. our correspondent, phil mercer, is outside the court in melbourne. the full bench of the federal court will digest all of those arguments that have been presented to them and as you say, we could have a decision