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Today, how some tiny islands in the South China Sea have become the focus of rising tension

and more tension on the borders between the eastern Ukraine and its much better armed

neighbour as Russia builds up its forces in the region.

In Minneapolis, more trouble over police tactics to add to racial divisions across America

and what it's like being a world-famous teenage activist we hear from a well-known

Swede. First to Afghanistan and the White House this week confirmed its new deadline for

withdrawing all American military personnel, the date being the 20-year anniversary of the

9-11 attack which triggered US military intervention. Today in Kabul the elected government in its

end now look increasingly vulnerable, the Taliban are circling, ready to infiltrate Afghan towns

and eventually impose their own harsh rules. Sakhanda Kamani has been in Taliban-controlled

territory to gauge reaction to the American announcement.

Bulk, birthplace of Islam's most famous Sufi mystic, Jalal Adin Rumi whose poetry from the

13th century still resonates today was until recently one of the more stable parts of

Afghanistan, now it's become one of the most violent. Driving out of the city of

Missouri Sharif we see craters in the road left by bombs targeting passing Afghan forces.

It doesn't take long to reach the Taliban territory within half an hour of setting off,

where to checkpoint manned by the insurgents. The Taliban regularly assert their control

along main roads, stopping passing cars, detaining anyone linked to the government.

This checkpoint seems to have been arranged particularly for our benefit though as a show of force.

A few dozen heavily armed men stand either side of the street. One carries an M4 assault rifle

captured from American forces, another manned an anti-aircraft gun mounted in the back of a pickup truck.

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