Afghanistan

Nato leaders are meeting in Chicago to endorse plans to hand over command of combat operations in Afghanistan by the middle of next year - as President Obama declares the war is effectively over.

Since the beginning of operations in October 2001 414 British forces personnel have died serving in Afghanistan.

Afghan police shoot dead two British servicemen and gunmen kill a peace negotiator in separate attacks that undermine the country's attempt to negotiate a peace deal with Taliban insurgents.

A car bomb explodes outside a compound housing Westerners in Kabul hours after US President Barack Obama visits the Afghan capital.

Senior Taliban leaders tell Channel 4 News that talks with the United States have started again in Qatar - intransigence on all sides is blamed for the failure of talks earlier this year.

Five men who smuggled 10,000 kilograms of explosives from Pakistan into Afghanistan are captured by security forces who suspect they were plotting a massive attack in Kabul.

As Channel 4 News reveals the number of children whose parents have died fighting for the UK in Afghanistan and Iraq, Carl Dinnen meets grieving families trying to help others in the same situation.

As the Taliban attacks various targets in Kabul, including the British Embassy, its spokesman tells Channel 4 News the coordinated assault is "a message to Nato".