Militants met former leaders from the toppled US-backed government while thousands fled towards the country’s borders.

At least one protester killed as Taliban promise of peace scrutinised

Ashraf Ghani posted a video on his Facebok page late on Wednesday, confirming that he was in the United Arab Emirates.

Afghan president defends fleeing and denies taking millions in state money

Donald Trump's former national security advisor has said that within six months Afghanistan will look as it did before 9/11.

'In six months, Afghanistan will look as it did before 9/11'

Fereba Hafizi’s 78-year-old mother had to be carried to UK authorities in the Afghan capital after being knocked unconscious in a crowd.

Briton ‘traumatised’ awaiting news of mother knocked unconscious fleeing Kabul

Afghanistan

A ward where the TACTIC-R trial is being carried out is cleaned at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge.  Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA  21-May-2020

The woman is being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and medics say her life-support treatment should end, but the woman's family disagree.

Judge to decide if woman dies in 'first end-of-life decision for Covid patient' 

The Moderna jab is the second one authorised for those aged between 12 and 17, after the Pfizer vaccine.

Moderna Covid vaccine approved for 12 to 17-year-olds by medicines watchdog

The deaths recorded in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday are a fall from the 170 recorded on Tuesday, but it's a jump from the 26 fatalities added on Monday.

Further 111 Covid deaths in UK as another 33,904 cases recorded 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delivers a speech, flanked by lawmakers, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Wellington, New Zealand. Ardern announced plans to begin a cautious reopening of New Zealand's borders to international travelers from early next year.(AP Photo/Nick Perry)

The positive case was found in the country’s largest city, Auckland. The last community outbreak in the country was in February of this year.

New Zealand under lockdown after it reports first Covid case in six months 

Coronavirus 

160821 WREXHAM HOLLYWOOD SIGN Daily Post Wales

Wrexham appears to be continuing its association with Hollywood after a giant sign was put up in the town - but who was behind it remains a mystery.

Who is behind the giant Hollywood-like Wrexham sign?

The Lloyd family managed to capture the deer using a lasso and brought it back to the shore at Weymouth.

Baby deer rescued from sea by family on fishing trip

James Herring has released GoPro footage of the moments before and after his son Noah was seriously injured by a car being driven far too fast by a drug driver.

Video highlights dangers of drug driving after boy hit from his bike in Stockton

The Rundown is a news service for young people by ITV News, with a new edition released every afternoon.

The Rundown from ITV News: Watch the latest edition

Must watch 

July’s inflation figures are lower than expected but analysts warn that the post-pandemic boom could continue to hit prices.

Inflation comes in below forecasts but the only way is up 

Boris Johnson has come under scrutiny after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban during the withdrawal of US and UK troops.

Boris Johnson faces damning intelligence questions amid Afghanistan collapse

Could hydrogen fuel heat our homes in the future?

Hydrogen is one of the few sources of energy you can use without producing carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases - but there are downsides. 

What's the 'hydrogen economy' and is it the answer to lowering carbon emissions?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said that recent events in Afghanistan have left them "speechless."

Harry and Meghan left 'speechless' by Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

ITV News Senior International Correspondent John Irvine reports from the Afghan capital on the surreal interactions he's had with Taliban commanders.

The surreal scenes in Kabul as Taliban fighters take 'softly, softly' approach

Despite spending enormous sums of money on building up the military capacity of both nations, they ultimately folded without US support - writes Tom Bradby.

Why US are downplaying comparisons between the fall of Kabul and fall of Saigon

Taliban fighters stand guard in the main gate leading to Afghan presidential palace, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. The U.S. military struggled to manage a chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan on Monday 

The Taliban and the Chinese Government have maintained relations for many years but Beijing is uncomfortable with the militant's ideological agenda. 

What does the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan mean for its neighbour China?

ITV News Senior International Correspondent John Irvine in Kabul spoke to a Taliban commander who he appealed to all those Afghans trying to flee to stay. 

'Here in Kabul, it has taken less than 24 hours to turn back time 20 years'

Johnson has insisted the UK was prepared for the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan but told MPs any ideas Britain could have prevented it are "an illusion".

PM: 'UK could not have prevented Taliban takeover but we were prepared for it'

Women are waiting at empty Kabul embassies in the futile hope someone is still there to help them escape. 

Afghan women plead 'put my name on escape list' at empty embassies

A team of engineers have built two robots that can run, jump and even do parkour vaults and backflips almost as good as humans. 

Watch as robots complete complex parkour course, performing vaults and backflips

The deaths of serving police officer David Louden and his three-year-old son Harrison in Kidderminster are being treated as a suspected murder/suicide.

Death of three-year-old and police officer father treated as murder/suicide

The battle has been ongoing since Geronimo arrived in the UK in 2017. 

Geronimo the alpaca to be put down after High Court refuse latest bid

Boy dies in fall from Sheffield hotel window

It's believed the boy is under the age of 10 - his family are being supported by specially trained officers.

Boy dies after falling from the window of a Sheffield hotel

Harrowing footage taken on Monday showed hundreds of desperate Afghans running across the tarmac at Kabul’s airport and clinging onto moving planes.

Human remains found in wheel of a US military plane after leaving Kabul

The comedian is best known for panel shows 8 Out Of 10 Cats and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, as well as sitcom 15 Storeys High.

Comedians mourns the death of 'one of the very best' Sean Lock

Former marine Pen Farthing at his animal sanctuary in Afghanistan in 2017.

Pen Farthing says he will not leave staff at the animal shelter he set up to a fate he "cannot even imagine".

Ex-Marine trapped in Afghanistan desperate to get staff to safety

A statue of a black boy in Stroud which campaigners want removed

The 240-year-old statue of a black boy has been described as a "relic from the transatlantic slave trade".

Campaigners call for removal of 'black boy clock' in Stroud

Afghanaid worker Kitty Chevallier boarded a flight from Kabul on Monday morning, passing crowds of Afghan families as she left.

British charity worker feels ‘immensely lucky’ to escape from Afghanistan

The trio spoke to ITV News London after Sean Lock's agent announced on Wednesday the 58-year-old had died from cancer.

Sean Lock, the 'comedian's comedian' say Hill, Bailey and Izzard

Chicken supplier sources said the Home Office needs review EU worker rules, as staff shortages hit the industry.

Nando’s shuts 45 restaurants due to chicken shortage

'Large fire' in Somerset sees people warned to close doors and windows

The latest flight carrying British nationals and Afghans landed at Brize Norton, a Royal Air Force airbase in Oxfordshire, on Wednesday morning.

Evacuation flights from Afghanistan land in the UK and across the world

Former Great Grimsby Labour MP and Calendar presenter Austin Mitchell has died in hospital this morning at the age of 86.

Former Great Grimsby MP and Calendar presenter Austin Mitchell dies aged 86

Desperate Afghan women have been waiting outside empty embassies in Kabul in the futile hope of escaping the Taliban’s rule.

Boris Johnson has said it is an “illusion” to think Britain alone could have prevented the collapse of Afghanistan after the US withdrew its forces.

PM: Idea the UK could have prevented Afghan collapse ‘an illusion’

R Kelly is back in a criminal court for opening statements in his trial arising from allegations that he sexually abused women and girls.

National News

Top Stories

Afghan women plead 'put my name on escape list' at empty embassies

PM: Idea the UK could have prevented Afghan collapse ‘an illusion’

Death of three-year-old and police officer father treated as murder/suicide

R Kelly's sex abuse case is 'about a predator', prosecutor says as trial opens

Sean Lock, the 'comedian's comedian' say Hill, Bailey and Izzard

Geronimo the alpaca to be put down after High Court refuse latest bid

Watch as robots complete complex parkour course, performing vaults and backflips

Afghanistan

At least one protester killed as Taliban promise of peace scrutinised

Afghan president defends fleeing and denies taking millions in state money

'In six months, Afghanistan will look as it did before 9/11'

Briton ‘traumatised’ awaiting news of mother knocked unconscious fleeing Kabul

Coronavirus

Judge to decide if woman dies in 'first end-of-life decision for Covid patient'

Moderna Covid vaccine approved for 12 to 17-year-olds by medicines watchdog

Further 111 Covid deaths in UK as another 33,904 cases recorded

New Zealand under lockdown after it reports first Covid case in six months

Must watch

Who is behind the giant Hollywood-like Wrexham sign?

Baby deer rescued from sea by family on fishing trip

Video highlights dangers of drug driving after boy hit from his bike in Stockton

The Rundown from ITV News: Watch the latest edition

Latest updates

Inflation comes in below forecasts but the only way is up

'In six months, Afghanistan will look as it did before 9/11'

Boris Johnson faces damning intelligence questions amid Afghanistan collapse

PM: 'UK could not have prevented Taliban takeover but we were prepared for it'

Afghan women plead 'put my name on escape list' at empty embassies

Watch as robots complete complex parkour course, performing vaults and backflips

Afghan president defends fleeing and denies taking millions in state money

Briton ‘traumatised’ awaiting news of mother knocked unconscious fleeing Kabul

From our journalists

Inflation comes in below forecasts but the only way is up

Boris Johnson faces damning intelligence questions amid Afghanistan collapse

What's the 'hydrogen economy' and is it the answer to lowering carbon emissions?

Harry and Meghan left 'speechless' by Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

The surreal scenes in Kabul as Taliban fighters take 'softly, softly' approach

Why US are downplaying comparisons between the fall of Kabul and fall of Saigon

What does the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan mean for its neighbour China?

'Here in Kabul, it has taken less than 24 hours to turn back time 20 years'