Thread by @AFP

#BREAKING Talks with Taliban must continue to safeguard Afghan gains: German Chancellor Merkel

#UPDATE The international community must maintain dialogue with the Taliban if it is to protect improvements made in #Afghanistan during two decades of NATO deployment, German Chancellor Angela #Merkel said Wednesday u.afp.com/UrtY

#UPDATE Huge crowds of Afghans faced an increasingly desperate race to escape life under the Taliban in their country on Wednesday after President Joe Biden confirmed US-led evacuations will end on August 31 u.afp.com/UrtA #Afghanistan

#UPDATE A flight carrying Afghan evacuees fleeing the Taliban takeover of their country touched down early Wednesday in #Uganda where they will be given temporary refuge, government officials said u.afp.com/UrvS #Afghanistan

#UPDATE The British owner of an animal shelter in #Afghanistan will be allowed to evacuate around 200 cats and dogs on a charter plane from #Kabul, the UK's defence minister said Wednesday in an apparent climbdown u.afp.com/UrvD #Nowzad

#UPDATE More than 80,000 people have been evacuated from #Afghanistan since August 14, but huge crowds remain outside #Kabul airport hoping to flee the threat of reprisals and repression in the Taliban-ruled country before an August 31 deadline u.afp.com/UrtA

#BREAKING Taliban agree to let Afghans leave Afghanistan after US withdrawal deadline of August 31: German envoy