Britain has announced a parliamentary inquiry into the government's policy towards Afghanistan and the resulting military withdrawal from the country.
Tom Tugendhat MP will chair the Foreign Affair Committee inquiry that will examine how the collapse of Kabul was handled by Whitehall officials and what the implications for UK security might be.
Britain's future relationship with the Taliban will also be examined and whether any opposition or armed resistance towards the Islamist group should be given support.
Wider geo-political issues of the takeover will also be considered, including the effect on UK-US diplomatic ties and the shifting roles of Russia and China.
On Saturday, it was revealed the last evacuation flight carrying UK troops had left Kabul, bringing the Britain's military involvement in the country to an end after nearly two decades.
On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab faced the same committee over his role in the Afghanistan affair, for which he faced stinging criticism by opposition politicians and sections of the UK media.
Mr Raab revealed that Britain's intelligence services had been blindsided by the speed of Afghanistan's collapse to advancing Taliban fighters.
During the hearing, it also emerged that a Whitehall paper published in July had expressed concern over the risk of the collapse of the country.
In a statement, Mr Tugendhat, a former British Army soldier who served in Afghanistan, said events in the country were a "catastrophe" and described the Taliban as a "vicious fundamentalist group".
“This inquiry will explore the most pressing and urgent questions we face," he said. "What should be the nature of our engagement with a Taliban-led Afghanistan? What should Britain do to accommodate those seeking refuge? And how should it prevent the country becoming a haven for terrorists?"
“The true extent of the damage done will only become clear in the coming months and years. However, it is already clear that the world has become more dangerous and unstable.”
The Foreign Affairs Committee says it will accept submissions from the public to be presented in the inquiry until Friday, October 15.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
