Two Afghan journalists who were covering a women’s rights protest in Kabul were detained and beaten by the Taliban this week.

Etilaat Roz newspaper released two photos on social media of the journalists’ injuries across their backs, legs, arms, and shoulders, and Reuters have since verified the photographs. 

An acting Taliban minister who declined to be identified said any attack on journalists would be investigated.

Caboolture residents have shared concerning stories at a Health Crisis Town Hall held by Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli about malpractice and botched surgeries at the Caboolture Hospital.

Mr Crisafulli said the allegations about malpractice and botched surgeries are concerning and all investigations need to be open and transparent.

Health Crisis Town Halls have also been held in Cairns, Rockhampton and Brisbane among others.

The Swell Sculpture Festival on Currumbin Beach has seen the installation of a new kind of border barricade.

Artists, Blair Garland and Russell Solomon, are responsible for installing an ‘us and them’ sign at the site of the border barricade.

The sign next to the barricade on the beach dividing the two sides has been described as a ‘Soviet brutalism feature’, and locals have been venting out their frustrations by writing on blackboards with chalk at the site.

Founder of Pristine Peninsula Les Barkla has handed a report to State Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath and other local members in a bid to take action against littering across Queensland.

Pristine Peninsula recently ran a 100-day campaign where volunteers collected 15,706 items, an average of 157 litter items dropped every day across the 12 sites.

Mr Barkla has requested the report be handed to the State Environment Minister and says the report includes recommendations for all three levels of government to take action and he hopes they will implement them.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s latest report reveals how the ongoing restrictions and lockdowns during the pandemic have indirectly impacted our habits. 

Data reveals 1 in 5 alcohol consumers drank more than before the pandemic, with a similar proportion of smokers also increasing their consumption, and 58% of people spending more time on screens.

However, the data isn’t all bad with 41% of people increasing household chores and projects and during March and April 2020 the road toll was down 5% on the five-year average.

Content warning: mentions rape

The United States’ Biden Administration is suing Texas for their ‘unconstitutional’ abortion ban.

This comes after the Supreme Court last week allowed Texas to introduce an abortion ban on women who are more than 6 weeks pregnant, and didn’t make any exceptions for cases of incest and rape.

President Joe Biden said the law is unconstitutional as it relies on private citizens to enforce it by filing civil lawsuits against any women who get an abortion and anyone who aids them, including taxi drivers.

From Monday, September 13, Toowoomba residents will have greater access to the Covid-19 vaccine with the opening of a new community-based vaccination hub.

The new hub in a converted Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre carpark will replace the clinic at Baillie Henderson Hospital, offering 14 more vaccination bays.

Darling Downs Health spokesperson Annette Scott thanks the 53,000 people who have already come forward for their vaccination, saying vaccination is the best chance to beat this pandemic.

Waste management company Cleanaway announced their partnership with social enterprise TradeMutt this week, to promote conversations about mental health in the workplace.

Cleanaway’s executive general manager human resources Joh Bigersson said it’s crucial the company provides support in a range of ways to remove the barriers to reach out.