United States plans evacuation of Kabul

As Taliban forces close in on the Afghan capital, Kabul, the US prepares to airlift out its diplomatic staff and others. Former US ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham gives us his reflections on the latest developments.

Also: Are Covid-19 booster vaccines necessary? As some countries start to roll out booster programmes, we get an expert opinion from Danny Altmann, Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London.

And a look at the benefits of talking to strangers with author Joe Keohane, author of ‘The Power of Strangers’.

Joining Julian Worricker to discuss these and other issues are Jacquelin Magnay, the European correspondent of The Australian, and William Jordan, Middle East and North Africa expert and former US State Department official.

(Photo: Taliban militants gather around a provincial government office after taking control of Herat, Afghanistan. Credit: EPA/STRINGER)