Witnesses say at least three people have been killed in anti-Taliban protests in the city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, as the militant group moves to consolidate power across the country Two witnesses and a former police official told Reuters Taliban fighters opened fire when residents tried to raise Afghanistan’s national flag at a square in the city. Three people were …

Who are the Taliban and what do they want? Here’s what you need to know about Afghanistan’s militant extremists The President of Afghanistan has fled and Taliban insurgents have taken the capital Kabul after a lightning offensive. Returning from a 20-year exile from power, the Taliban hardliners are expected to impose harsh restrictions on the lives of Afghans, to the dismay …

More Australians are in lockdown today following one COVID-19 case travelling from Sydney into the Northern Territory. Queensland prepares to strengthen its border as cases continue to climb in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. Catch up on the latest coronavirus news from around the country today. NSW reports record-high cases and seven COVID deaths NSW has recorded 478 cases and seven …

The Taliban entered Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan on Sunday, bringing the extremist group close to taking over the country two decades after they were overthrown by a US-led invasion. It was not yet clear where Ghani was headed or how exactly power would be transferred following the Taliban’s lightning sweep in recent weeks across Afghanistan. Their advance …

Former US president Donald Trump called for his successor Joe Biden to resign on Sunday over the swift takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban militants, as US troops withdrew from the country after nearly 20 years on the ground. “It is time for Joe Biden to resign in disgrace for what he has allowed to happen to Afghanistan,” Trump said in …

Police are considering laying further charges against a Western Sydney woman believed to be the source of a COVID-19 outbreak that has plunged 600,000 people in the NSW Hunter region into lockdown. In a statement, NSW Police outlined how the 21-year-old allegedly lied to authorities and twice defied orders to return to Sydney, before spreading the virus in Newcastle over several days. Police …

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has defended a move by the federal government requiring Australians who ordinarily reside overseas to apply for an exemption to leave as “levelling” the playing field. Minster Andrews rejected suggestions the rule change was designed to scare off expats from visiting Australia. “It should be reasonably straightforward for them,” she told 7.30. “It’s certainly not to …

The Tokyo Olympics ended behind closed doors with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach calling them “Games of hope, solidarity and peace” amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to tradition, Bach closed the July 23 to August 8 Summer Games in the presence of Japanese crown Prince Akishino and speaking French invited the youth of the world to the Games of …

Thousands of people have fled their homes on the Greek island of Evia as wildfires burned uncontrolled for a sixth day, and ferries were on standby for more evacuations after taking many to safety by sea. Fires that had threatened northern suburbs of Athens in recent days died back. But the blaze on Evia, a large island east of the …

The nation’s COVID vaccine rollout will soon enter a new phase as approval for a third vaccine nears and hope swirls for plans to start vaccinating children. A cornerstone of that level up will be the world-leading Moderna vaccine, which is believed to be gaining TGA approval within a fortnight – and to be delivered into arms across Australia not …