Afghan President Ghani has spoken for the first time from exile in the United Arab Emirates after fleeing the country following the Taliban’s entrance to Kabul.

President said he left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denied reports he took large sums of money as he departed the presidential palace.

Ghani has been bitterly criticised by former ministers for leaving the country suddenly.

Ambassador Mohammad Zahir told a news conference that Ghani “stole $169m from the state finances”, and also called his flight a betrayal of the state and the nation.

The United Kingdom has announced they will take in 20’000 refugees scheme from Afghanistan in the next few years, on top of their pre-existing refugee plan, with UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, promising 5000 refugees will find a home in the UK this year.

It was noted that women and young girls would be the priority, along with interpreters and those who worked for the UK. 

Johnson spoke with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday evening and has committed to working closely with the US through the crisis.

Queensland construction workers will fight any laws making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory on building sites, after the state made proof of vaccination a condition of entry for NSW construction workers.

Only police, health workers and certain construction workers who have had at least one vaccine dose will be able to enter Queensland from NSW from 1am on Saturday.

the RAAF mission to rescue Australians stranded in Afghanistan is now underway after the plane was seen briefly on a flight radar leaving the Afghan Capital before going dark shortly after.

The ABC reported that Australians were told to head to Kabul’s airport late last night, however, officials noted the airport was in chaos with thousands attempting to board flights to leave Afghanistan.

The death toll from the major earthquake that struck Haiti has surged to 1,941, while the search for survivors has resumed after the passing of a tropical storm.

Haitians that were affected by the severe earthquake are clamouring for food, shelter and medical aid as hospitals struggle to tend to all those injured.

Thousands are injured as many still remain under the rubble of fallen down buildings and houses. Authorities are expecting the injury and death toll to increase in the coming days.

New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro has said lockdowns in regional parts of the state are the only way to contain the delta variant, given the number of unvaccinated people. 

About 60 percent of the 116 cases recorded in the region are Indigenous, with just nine percent of Indigenous residents there fully vaccinated.

Mr Barilaro said vaccinating vulnerable Australians had been a priority at the start of the year, but Indigenous populations and those in aged care had missed out.

Brisbane Ekka Public Holiday replacement is confirmed for Friday 29th October. 

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe says he wants people to “Get out there and enjoy Queensland” and refrain from “spending the weekend bingeing on netflix"