Dozens of Australians and Afghan nationals have been evacuated from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan on an Australian emergency rescue flight.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday confirmed the 26 person flight included Australian citizens, Afghan visa holders, and a foreign official left Kabul on Wednesday morning.

They have since touched down at an Australian base in the United Arab Emirates with flights intended to carry larger cohorts of people currently being set up for the days ahead.

US health officials have announced plans to offer COVID 19 booster shots to all Americans to ensure their safety amid the delta variant with evidence the vaccine's effectiveness is falling. 

The plan, as outlined by the director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other top authorities, calls for an extra dose eight months after people get their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The doses could begin the week of September 20.

In response to the latest IPCC report declaring a ‘code red’ climate crisis the extinction rebellion Brisbane has joined a national blockade of Australia’s fuel distribution centres. 

Outside the Chevron Facility in Eagle Farm members of the rebellion have locked themselves onto the gates obstructing the entrance to the site. One of the protestors, Kate Miller says, “The IPCC report could not have been more clear: human activity is the cause of climate change and it’s accelerating, fast.”

More than 40 misconduct complaints about Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri have been dismissed by state councillors as an “unjustifiable use of resources”. 

The complaints had been in relation to a Facebook post by Councilor Sri about a federal police shooting in which the Member for the Gabba described police as racist in the incident.

In response to complaints Councilor Sri said, “The suggestion that I might be guilty of inappropriate conduct every time someone else directs hateful commentary towards me on my page is utterly absurd”

The move to create a long weekend in October by shifting the Ekka public holiday has been hailed by most tourism operators but viewed as a mixed blessing by other venues.

The Queensland government announced on Tuesday the Ekka holiday would be shifted to Friday, October 29th, after the Royal Queensland Show was cancelled for a second year. 

According to a leading Australian consultant psychiatrist, one in four people will suffer anxiety in their lifetime.

Some sufferers claim their anxiety has become worse throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But a new program called “This Way Up” has been developed by Dr Michael Millard along with the mental health team at Sydney's St Vincent Hospital and the university of New South Wales to help those who are struggling.  

This Way Up is now online, and well-being and treatment courses are free if you get a prescription from your GP or psychologist

Protesters have been killed and injured in Afghanistan after the Taliban shut down a public demonstration. 

3 people are dead after the Taliban forcefully shut down a protest, following their stunning rise to power on the weekend.

The bloodshed comes despite assurances from the Taliban that they would not seek revenge or harm anyone who worked or fought with US forces.

Sudoku creator Maki Kaji, who saw life’s joy in puzzles, has passed away, reports confirmed. 

Known as the “Godfather of Sudoku”, Kaji created the puzzle to be easy for children and others who didn’t want to think too hard.

Queensland is facing a cautious three months with Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young warning that any community case of the Delta strain of COVID-19 would trigger another lockdown.

In an interview late Wednesday afternoon Dr Young said. 

“Until we get 70 per cent of our population vaccinated, one case of Delta means we need a lockdown. If we don’t find the first case, we won’t be locking down for one or two weeks, we’ll be locking down for months.”