• Europe is bracing for a wave of refugees and migrants from Afghanistan to rival what was seen in 2015 when Syrians fled the civil war. To prevent that, European Union officials are pressing leaders to support local humanitarian efforts. Yesterday, Mary-Ellen McGroarty from the United Nations’ World Food Programme said there would be a “complete humanitarian disaster” if food, shelter, and medical supplies weren’t provided ASAP.

• Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the top Taliban political leader in Afghanistan, has arrived in Kabul. And while the Islamist militants continue to reassure Afghans and the international community that they will respect people’s rights and their forces will not exact revenge, there are reports of beatings and deaths.

• As for efforts to get Aussies and their Afghan colleagues and families out, more than 550 have been evacuated from Kabul on Australian and British flights since mid-last week.