welcome to bbc news, my name's mike embley, our top stories: president biden confirms all us military forces will withdraw from afghanistan by september the 11th — he says it's time to end the war. we went to afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. that cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. a police officer is charged with the manslaughter of the young black man, daunte wright in minneapolis. the nos have it. british mps reject opposition calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the former prime minister david cameron's attempts to gain government contracts for a business which has collapsed.

# you've got no choice.# feel the heat! and we speak to the american rock legend, alice cooper, a singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spans over 50 years. president biden is ending america's longest ever war. us soldiers invaded afghanistan in 2001, almost 20 years later, they are still there. but not for much longer. he will withdraw the remaining 2,500 troops by september the 11th, the anniversary of the terror attack that launched this fight. here's what mr biden had to say a little earlier today. keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in just one country at a cost of billions each year makes little

sense to me and our leaders. we cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in afghanistan, hoping to create ideal conditions for the withdrawal and expecting a different result. that's what the president is saying. let's get more from the brookings institution, following these developments very closely. what you make of them? , �* ., ., them? president biden had to make a decision _ them? president biden had to make a decision by the - them? president biden had to make a decision by the first i them? president biden had to make a decision by the first of may, the date the trump deal signed last year had dictated was the day to withdraw us troops, and what is striking to me about this decision is un— conditionality of the withdrawal,, even president trump, who certainly want to end this endless war, as he

called it, signed a peace deal with the telephone that made us withdraw condition on certain things, counterterrorism to be precise, but the withdrawal plan now does none of that, it is untethered to anything, it is untethered to anything, it is just withdrawal, pure and simple. is isjust withdrawal, pure and simle. , ' . ., simple. is it in effect a recognition _ simple. is it in effect a recognition that - simple. is it in effect a recognition that the i simple. is it in effect a - recognition that the taliban cannot be stopped, because without, becomes all kinds of changes in the rights that have been one for so many afghan women? ,, ~' , been one for so many afghan women? ,, ~ , ., women? sure, ithink it is a recognition _ women? sure, ithink it is a recognition of _ women? sure, ithink it is a recognition of course, - women? sure, ithink it is a recognition of course, and l women? sure, i think it is a i recognition of course, and the us has recognised for a while that there is no military victory in afghanistan, so it isn't explicit, obvious recognition of that, but where it stops short and where i think falls short is the fact that there is no attempt to guarantee peace for afghans. a peace process that was ongoing in zohar will now effectively be done, it will be over,

because the taliban has no incentive to compromise —— doha. there is a ticking clock and no conditionality on us troop withdrawals. so and no conditionality on us troop withdrawals.- and no conditionality on us troop withdrawals. so what do ou troop withdrawals. so what do you exoect — troop withdrawals. so what do you exoect to _ troop withdrawals. so what do you expect to follow _ troop withdrawals. so what do you expect to follow from - troop withdrawals. so what do you expect to follow from this | you expect to follow from this within afghanistan was yellow i expect unfortunately nothing good. i expect violence, i expect civil war essentially too insular, violence between the taliban and the kabul government, and that will only increase, so some kind of protracted state of violence that may grow to afghanistan cities, and these are cities that have been under the control of the kabul government, and we have seen women work, girls go to school, a new generation of afghans enjoy rights and the fruits of democracy, and there will not only face much greater security threats, they will face all of that, potentially being washed away by a taliban that then

becomes ascendant perhaps in afghanistan cities. it is america's longest war, president biden said there are servicemembers today whose parents are served in the same conflict. what is the legacy for the united states would you say? i for the united states would you sa ? ., , for the united states would you sa ? ., ., say? i would say that afghanistan - say? i would say that afghanistan is - say? i would say that afghanistan is like i say? i would say that afghanistan is like a | say? i would say that - afghanistan is like a very different place in 2021 then entered into thousand and one. and a lot of those gains are attributable to the us president, is a democracy, human rights, girls going to school, and those still are not secure until we can make sure that the us leaves with a peace deal. because that has not happened, those all stand threatened in the next few months and years.- threatened in the next few months and years. thank you very much- — at the derek chauvin trial it's been the second day of the defence case.

the former officer is facing murder and manslaughter charges after the death of george floyd. 0ur north america correspondent larry madowo reports from minneapolis. the defence is close to wrapping up its case in the derek chauvin trial and will hear closing arguments from both sides on monday. the 13th day was among one of the more dramatic ones. the 13th day was among one of the more dramatic ones. on wednesday it began with the defence asking for an acquittal. they want derek chauvin to be allowed to walk free because in their eyes the prosecution has brought witnesses that have contradicted themselves and they think they haven't met the standard for use of force or the cause of death of george floyd and they think their client should be let free. the judge denied that and then a witness who was with george floyd on the day he was arrested and was allegedly the one who supplied some of his drugs refused to testify for fear of incriminating himself but a large part of the day focused on the testimony of doctor david fowler. he is a forensic pathologist and he used to be the chief

medical examiner for the state of maryland. has big picture testimony was that george floyd's death was not because of oxygen deficiency because of what the medical coroner here ruled but george floyd died because of a heart attack when he was being restrained. he essentially blamed it on contributing factors that included his use of drugs, they found fentanyl and methamphetamine and his system. he blamed it on george floyd's underlying health problems and also some carbon monoxide that was coming from the squad car which was where he was lying during his arrest. the prosecution accused doctor fowler of cherry picking fact and trying to confuse the jury. doctor fowler has also another case, he has been accused by a black family in the state of maryland of helping the police cover—up the death of a black man.

this is all happening in the backdrop of continuing protests over the death of daunte wright, and brooklyn centre, a suburb north of minneapolis. a former policewoman in the us state of minnesota has been charged with manslaughter over the fatal shooting of a young black man, daunte wright, following a confrontation at a traffic stop. police say kim potter had intended to use her taser, and that the shooting was "accidental". daunte wright's death sparked three nights of protest and looting. 24 2a hours ago police declared what was going on unlawful assembly meaning they quickly by force. there is some speculation that it may happen again any moment, there is a lot of anger in the area.

denmark has become the first country in the world to stop using astrazeneca jab entirely, citing the links between the vaccine and rare blood clot. health officials in the uk and says the jab is disabled adults under 30 are to be offered an alternative. the disgraced financier bernard may —— madoff has died in prison. investors repaid with money from new clients rather than actual profits. crypto currencies have taken another step towards the financial mainstream, coin base has had its mainstream as a public firm. this is the platform that lodged itself as a way for investors to be involved in the sector without having to only individual currencies, which are of course highly volatile and often very expensive. its shares rose more than $400 today. the opposition

labor party in the uk has lost about a set of a parliamentary enquiry into the prime minister david cameron lobbying of ministers on behalf of a failed firm greensill captial. boris firm greensill ca ptial. boris johnson firm greensill captial. boris johnson said he shared the concerns, and insisted that the review he has ordered will get to the bottom of the issue. cause for alarm? labour thinks it's onto something. after weeks of claims about an all too close relationship between politics and those trying to turn a profit, it was borisjohnson�*s turn to answer. questions to the prime minister. after it was revealed that the man who used to stand in his place argued for the interest of a now failed back to those in power. every day, there is further evidence of the sleaze that is now at the heart of this conservative government. does the prime minister accept there is a revolving door, indeed, an open door,

between his conservative government and paid lobbyists? mr speaker, this is a government and party that has been consistently tough on lobbying, and indeed, we introduced legislation, saying that there should be no taxpayer funded lobbying. the opposition leader used this occasion tojog his memory. the greensill scandal is that bit of the iceberg. dodgy contracts, privileged access, jobs for their mates, this is the return of tory sleaze. we're having a proper independent review and if he has any allegations to make about what has taken place, he should make them to the eminent lawyer who has been asked to do it. almost implausibly, this picture appears to show the former prime minister and the financer, lex greensill, casually chatting on a lobbying trip to saudi arabia.

lobbying, the art of trying to change a government's nine, is legal, but is meant to be formal and transparent. one of david cameron's former colleague suggested it's not as it should be. i think there is ample evidence from what has happened that there's a gap between the current law about what people can do by way of lobbying, once they have left office, and the public perception of what's appropriate. borisjohnson�*s top official is alarmed too. it emerged that a official was able to work for greensill captial and the government after 2015. he wrote to his colleagues this afternoon, and said serious issues have come to light which are of acute concern and called for transparency and full and proper management of any outside interest. all departments have until the end of the week to flag sensors of senior civil servants holding remunerated positions or other interests outside government which might conflict with their obligations.

the former cabinet minister told me what is shocking about david cameron is that what he was doing is considered normal, sometimes, around here. government after government has tried to grapple with the awkward fact that contacts can be used as currency but the relationship between money and politics can be toxic. but the opposition sniff an opportunity to make this about the here and now. there is worry on the tory benches. it is no doubt a tasteless slapdash and unbecoming episode. it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, as so many have said far better than i could, it tarnishes us all. but would they vote with labour for a public investigation? if they vote against it, as the prime minister has told you all to do, then i'm sorry to say, that they too will be part of the government's attempts to cover up tory sleaze. not this time. the noes have it, the noes have it. a separate committee of mps will still hold public hearings

on the next few weeks. the business of politics once again in the glare. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the american rock legend, the lead singer of kiss, whose career spans more than 50 years joins us live. pol pot, one of the century's greatest mass murderers, has reported to have died of natural causes. he and the khmer rouge movement he led were responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million cambodians. there have been violent protests in indonesia, where playboy has gone on sale for the first time. traditionalist muslim leaders have expressed disgust. the magazine's offices have been attacked and its editorial staff have gone into hiding.

it was clear that paula's only contest was with the clock. and as for her sporting legacy, paula radcliffe's competitors will be chasing her new world best time for years to come. shouting. quite quietly but quicker and quicker, she seemed tojust slide away under the surface and disappear. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: president biden confirms all us military forces will withdraw from afghanistan by september 11. he says it's time to end the war. a policewoman is charged with the manslaughter of the young black man,

daunte wright, in minneapolis. since the pandemic hit, many rock musicians have struggled. the band kiss managed to hold a concert during the height of the pandemic on the part of the 2020 world tour. but the pandemic on the part of the 2020 world tour.— the pandemic on the part of the 2020 world tour. but what does the world tour— 2020 world tour. but what does the world tour look— 2020 world tour. but what does the world tour look like - 2020 world tour. but what does the world tour look like for- the world tour look like for musicians and performers? let's just hear a little from that ronaldo and kiss covid—safe gig in dubai.

you don't need me to tell her that was. we can speak to the rock star and legendary basis kiss —— gene simmons from los angeles. wejust ran kiss —— gene simmons from los angeles. we just ran a kiss —— gene simmons from los angeles. wejust ran a caption saying simmons the embley. there is no contest there. i keep doing it. how is your lot down been, how has your pandemic been?- down been, how has your pandemic been? actually quite aood. we pandemic been? actually quite good- we are _ pandemic been? actually quite good. we are blessed - pandemic been? actually quite good. we are blessed because| pandemic been? actually quite i good. we are blessed because we have jobs and we can go back to doing what we are doing. the sad state of affairs is that there are millions of people, especially in the free world but clearly in the third world who have lostjobs, families have been ruined, so i think that all of us need to get a wake—up call and try to help those that aren't as lucky as we are but you know, there is a light at the end of the darkness, we are coming out of it. please, please tug on the

shirtsleeves of those anti—vaxxers, those who believe it is fake. the earth is not flat, it is round, as much as people say otherwise please do it for their sake on their own safety. died won't want to get caught up too much about me, me, me and kiss, we do fine, i'm here to sing the praises of caesar, not bury him. i am a fan of mike embley, can i say that, and i think you are going to do great things. i hear rumblings on the street that mr embley, the powerful and attract of mike embley is about to get onto another part of his career. i have no doubt you are going to burn some rubber and show people how it's done, isn't that right?— show people how it's done, isn't that right? no, but thank ou ve isn't that right? no, but thank you very much- _ isn't that right? no, but thank you very much. that's - isn't that right? no, but thank you very much. that's very - isn't that right? no, but thank. you very much. that's very kind of you. i was going to ask you, talking about so many people affected, musicians affect did, people we tend to look up to. i am currently having a guitar

teacher at the moment you should not be teaching the likes of me guitar, he should be doing back—to—back digs in studio sessions. he is only doing it like so many musicians because he needs the money, i will lose him when he comes back that he was talking about this sense of lockdown, not thing able to talk to crowds, performing to them, it messes with your sense of self. are you conscious of that? he says he is not sure sometimes who he is any more. he is not sure sometimes who he is any more-— is any more. i'm not conscious of any of _ is any more. i'm not conscious of any of that _ is any more. i'm not conscious of any of that because - is any more. i'm not conscious of any of that because i - is any more. i'm not conscious of any of that because i am . of any of that because i am delusional. i wear more make—up and high heels than your girlfriend. i am and high heels than your girlfriend. iam i have a and high heels than your girlfriend. i am i have a long appendage, an oral appendage. watch what you are saying, this is a family show. i would stick it out, but the floor is dirty, you can't do that. so i have nothing but a sense of clear minded delusion stop when you get up on stage, you had to consent —— convince yourself

you are "all that" in the patois of the street. kiss will continue on, doing things after the pandemic is over. getting vaccinated, we will be in australia in november. it's going to get safer and when it really opens up, we are coming back to blighty and showing all the little boys other big boys do it. ., ~ the little boys other big boys do it. . ~ ., do it. talk threw that delusion, _ do it. talk threw that delusion, as - do it. talk threw that delusion, as you - do it. talk threw that delusion, as you put| do it. talk threw that l delusion, as you put it. do it. talk threw that - delusion, as you put it. what is a live audience giving you, when you are on the massive stage, dressed like that, doing that? i stage, dressed like that, doing that? ., ., ., stage, dressed like that, doing that? a, a, a, that? i have to say, for lack of a better— that? i have to say, for lack of a better phrase, - that? i have to say, for lack of a better phrase, it - that? i have to say, for lack of a better phrase, it is - that? i have to say, for lack of a better phrase, it is a i of a better phrase, it is a semi religious in nature, it sort of electric charge, you get up there, all hail rock �*n' roll, everybody say "yeah, people go, yeah. the back—and—forth is unequal, we have more fun than the pope and we blow a lot of stuff up. we have more firepower than some third world countries. write that down, kids. they don't know what writing down is.

other than your hand—held other than your hand—held device, there were things called pencils and paper and you use your hand to write things down.— you use your hand to write things down. you are getting dangerously _ things down. you are getting dangerously close _ things down. you are getting dangerously close to - things down. you are getting dangerously close to the - dangerously close to the territory that god john lenin in trouble. you've been very outspoken about masks, in favour of them. conspiracies, against them. and against streaming. and people don't make money from it but it means people here more stuff.— people here more stuff. that's not cuite people here more stuff. that's not quite right. _ people here more stuff. that's not quite right. i'm _ people here more stuff. that's not quite right. i'm not- not quite right. i'm not against streaming. itjust against streaming. it just breaks against streaming. itjust breaks my heart but a new band simply doesn't have a chance that we did. we had record companies that gave us money, to support and millions of dollars that were not recoverable. a new band today, and there is tons of talent out there, tons of talent that will never get the chance that we had because the fans, tens of millions of them around the world have decided that downloading and is the way to go so a new band is going to bake one hundredths and 1p per

download, literally cannot stop your day job download, literally cannot stop your dayjob to devote to your art so it is very, very sad. all the other stuff. by the way, these are the beverly hills blues. you're talking about a guy who has been around almost 50 years in a band and boy do i look good. but the thing is, it's like the beverly hills blues. # my limousine is late... we have nothing to complain about but other people won't have the chance because it's been decided that downloading is free. it's been decided that downloadin: is free. ., downloading is free. champagne -roblems, downloading is free. champagne problems. as — downloading is free. champagne problems, as taylor swift would | problems, as taylor swift would say. you are also saying that hard rock is in trouble. alice cooper took issue with that, who said a lot of hard rock is still around.— still around. alice is a friend and a good _ still around. alice is a friend and a good guy _ still around. alice is a friend and a good guy but - still around. alice is a friend and a good guy but they - still around. alice is a friend and a good guy but they are| still around. alice is a friend i and a good guy but they are all wrong. uncle gene is correct and i will show you what i mean. from 1958— 1988 we had

the astonishing godlike the beatles, the stones, jimi hendrix. add infinitum, adding words like gymnasium and they change the world culturally, fashionably, politically and in other ways. fashionably, politically and in otherways. even fashionably, politically and in other ways. even in disco you had madonna and you had u2 and ac/dc and all the great bands. if you want to include kiss, fine. and then from 1988, motown, 1988 until today, which is more than 38 years, tell me who the new beatles are? they are notjust out there. i mean, we all like bts, but it ain't the beatles, sorry, kids. despite your farewell, you coming back? we despite your farewell, you coming back?— coming back? we are like cockroaches. _ coming back? we are like cockroaches. you're - coming back? we are like| cockroaches. you're going coming back? we are like i cockroaches. you're going to have to step on us and we will still call around on seven inch platform heels. we will be here forever. this will be the last

to and i don't want to be able stage too long. but kiss will continue in ways you can't imagine. there will be movies and animated shows. there will be the next generation of kiss. for young deserving unknowns will proudly wear the crown of the hottest band in the world. jean, you know the stones are still going. you are going to still going. you are going to still be going?— still going. you are going to still be going? while you are alive, still be going? while you are alive. use — still be going? while you are alive, use it _ still be going? while you are alive, use it or _ still be going? while you are alive, use it or lose - still be going? while you are alive, use it or lose it. - still be going? while you are alive, use it or lose it. there is a word in the dictionary, next. that doesn't apply to me. before they put me underground, i'm going to kick and scream, i am not going willingly. actually, i'm not sorry. you are you _ actually, i'm not sorry. you are you listening _ actually, i'm not sorry. you are you listening to - actually, i'm not sorry. you are you listening to at - actually, i'm not sorry. you are you listening to at the l are you listening to at the moment?— are you listening to at the moment? ., ., �* moment? i'm a big fan of billie eilish. more _ moment? i'm a big fan of billie eilish. more specifically, - moment? i'm a big fan of billie eilish. more specifically, heri eilish. more specifically, her brother is a real tour de force. there is a lot of songwriting talent. i think

lady gaga has the ability, if she wants to, to stop with the boys dancing on stage in polls and all that stuff and do some serious stuff. she's got the writing ability, the singing ability to do a classic rock album. use guitars, forget the computers, get some live musicians, and write some real songs. computers are fine but at some point you've got to get back to being a human being. i said it many, many years ago, lady gaga has got the goods to be a legitimate rock star if she wants to come over. the waters are friendly here. even the phrase, that's a rock star, it applies to politics and fighter pilots and everything. you can't say that's a popstar, it means nothing. that's an r&b star, that's a wrap start. rockstar is the only gauge. jean simmons, live from las vegas, absolute joy to talk to you. i vegas, absolute 'oy to talk to ou. , y ., vegas, absolute 'oy to talk to ou. , , ., ., , ., , you. i wish you well and please sta safe you. i wish you well and please stay safe out — you. i wish you well and please stay safe out there. _

you. i wish you well and please stay safe out there. bless - you. i wish you well and please stay safe out there. bless you, j stay safe out there. bless you, man. thank you so much for watching. that is it for now. hello there. most of us had a fine and dry day yesterday with some welcome sunshine. now, across quite widely the north and west of the country, temperatures are actually a little bit above average for the time of year. about 3 degrees above around the glasgow area. across eastern england, there were some areas a little bit on the cool side, for example, london. mainly because we had the wins come again from the relatively cool north sea around this area of high pressure. similar wind pattern on thursday, similar distribution of temperatures again across these north—western areas we will see some of the warmest weather. it's not particularly warm at the moment. indeed temperatures are dropping very quickly underneath these clear and starry skies. the wind is light, could bejust a few mist and fog patches, although probably not quite as many as we had this time yesterday. temperatures at the lowest, —3, —4 celsius or so across parts

of north—east england. there will be quite a widespread frost first thing. so a frosty start to the day but a beautiful start as well with clear blue skies in many places. lots of sunshine on the cards. but as we head through the day, we are going to see some cloud build in, particularly across central and eastern england, and indeed a line of showers will develop across east anglia and south—east england, with some of them heavyish but i don't think there will be any thunderstorms around. the further north—west you are the clearest the skies will be. plenty of sunshine even into the afternoon, even for these areas. and it's here where we will see some of the highest temperatures again probably reaching around 15 degrees celsius. a little cooler than that across central and eastern areas of england. if anything, those temperatures down a little bit compared with wednesday's. for the end of the week, high pressure is still with us and that means another fine, frosty start to the day. plenty of sunshine, a little bit of cloud bubbling up as we head into the afternoon.

towards the north—west, you might find a little bit of slightly thicker cloud beginning to make inroads, but most of that's going to be quite high. just making the sunshine a little on the hazy side. so for many of us, after a cold start to the day, a bit of cloud bubbles up but essentially a fine day. for the weekend prospects, weather fronts are going to get pretty close to the northwest of the country. across most of england and wales were looking at this fine spell of weather to continue. probably of the two days, saturday looks like being the sunniest, but sunday is still not bad. further north—west, a bit more cloud around and across the far north—west of the uk through sunday, there is the threat of seeing a little bit of rain. that's your weather.

this is bbc news, the headlines: president biden has confirmed that the us will begin its final military withdrawal from afghanistan next month. mr biden said his goal was for the pull—out to be completed by the 20th anniversary of the september 11 terror attacks, and that it was time to end america's longest war. a white former policewoman in the us state of minnesota has been charged with manslaughter over the fatal shooting of a young black man following a confrontation at a traffic stop. kim potter resigned after the death of daunte wright, saying she had meant to draw her taser, not her handgun. british mps have rejected a labour proposalfor a parliamentary inquiry into lobbying, after the former prime minster, david cameron contacted ministers while working for the finance firm, greensill capital. the vote doesn't affect a review, led by a lawyer,

now on bbc news, click.