The Pentagon has announced that the US military will be intensifying air strikes this week to support the Afghanistan Government against the Taliban despite promises to fully withdraw all remaining troops by August 31st. 

The removal of the troops has raised global concerns that Afghanistan could once again fall into terrorist authority.

Victoria has recorded eight new local coronavirus cases on the first day of the state's lockdown lifting. 

The cases were all linked to current outbreaks and were all in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period.

As of midnight, a raft of restrictions eased across the state, with schools, gyms, and hospitality and retail outlets reopening today.

This story contains themes including Indigenous persons, those past and present. We also acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. 

The Hobart City Council has rejected a development application for a cable car to be built on Kunanyi, also known as Mount Wellington.

Aboriginal Heritage advocates have vocalised their concern for the two-way cableway stating that the “cultural value of the mountain could be damaged forever”.

The decision to reject the cableway passed 9-3.

The Queensland Government has decided Northshore Hamilton will become the main Athletes’ Village for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Deputy Premier and State Development Minister Steven Miles said the area will undergo a spectacular transformation and will boost an already popular precinct showcasing some of Brisbane’s best waterfront living. 

A month after the revelation that less than 50% of aged and disability care workers were unvaccinated, officials announced this morning that the statistic still remains below 50%. 

As of today, 46.5% have received one dose and only 38.5% are fully vaccinated

Zero COVID-19 cases have been reported after a leak in hotel quarantine caused a man to contract the virus. 

Officials are on high alert and are now investigating the point of transmission.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates says Queensland's health crisis is only getting worse. 

It comes after the latest statistics show a blow out in surgery wait times with more than 55,000 Queenslanders left languishing.

Queensland hospitals have also recently come under fire due to an appalling increase in the time patients have to wait in emergency departments. 

Queensland authorities have identified the man responsible for putting Queensland on high COVID alert. 

The man travelled to Queensland from a New South Wales hotspot visiting multiple caboolture and Gold Coast venues while carrying the Delta strain. 

The man fled Sydney's lockdown to meet a 36-year-old female Brisbane flight attendant who also failed to abide by the state’s health restrictions. The pair have both been fined.

Novavax, one of the Federal Government's largest vaccine investments and “primary vaccine”, has announced delays- with 51 million vaccines potentially not reaching Australia until 2022. 

Despite the large investment, The Federal Government is now quietly working to secure more Pfizer vaccines.