Australian aid and embassy workers ready to assist Morocco's earthquake victims; A man dies from a snake bite in north Queensland, but his friend survives; Prince Harry addresses the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Germany.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Australian aid and embassy workers ready to assist Morocco's earthquake victims;
- A man dies from a snake bite in north Queensland, but his friend survives;
- Prince Harry addresses the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Germany.
The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, says it stands ready to help those impacted by Morocco's deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
The Moroccan government has not formally asked for assistance from outside the country, despite offers from the UN and countries including Australia, Spain, France and Israel.
But the head of international programs at UNICEF Australia, Alice Hall, has told SBS they are ready to deploy once they get the green light.
She says the needs in Morocco appear increasingly urgent.
"Almost 400,000 people, including children, live in a small radius around the epicentre - and there is debris blocking roads , rescuers struggling to each remote villagers and provide urgent assistance. There is both the immediate health and survival needs that family and children have. But also that sort of ongoing needs, such as access to health, access to clean water, shelter and emergency food and goods."
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Meanwhile, the federal government says they are trying to establish how many Australians may have been in Morocco at the time of the earthquake, and how they've been affected.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says they are still trying to confirm details, but that the Australian embassy in the Moroccan capital of Rabat is already in conversations with officials on ways they can help.
Australian Melinda Cowley has been living in Marrakech for the last eight years, which lies 71 kilometres southwest of the earthquake's epicentre in the High Atlas Mountains.
She has told SBS the strength of the earthquake was frightening.
"Honestly, it was like Armageddon. Thankfully I have no damage - very little damage. I had a broken window and a few bits and pieces hit the floor. But we jumped up - and I don't think I've moved that fast in about five years. And we ran outside, and it was like - it shook for - it was about a minute-and a half of shaking."
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A man who attempted to remove a snake coiled around another man's ankle has died after being bitten.
Authorities believe it is "likely" based on the symptoms displayed and the man's apparent cardiac collapse that he was bitten by a brown snake.
The second man has been taken to hospital in Mackay in north Queensland, in a stable condition.
It's understood that the incident happened as the men attended an event celebrating a school's 100-year anniversary.
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The Prime Minister will address world leaders on the final day of the G20 summit in New Delhi.
The speech is expected to talk about the global rules-based order and stability in the region, as well as efforts to accelerate progress to net-zero emissions, with countries in the G20 bloc responsible for approximately 80 percent of emissions worldwide.
Mr Albanese says Australia is committed to stepping up its own efforts.
He says he's used bilateral meetings at the summit to convey that point.
"It's important to recognise there is no debate globally about the science of climate change. The science is settled. The debate at these forums is about what actions should be taken, and how the world can move forward together. I spoke with G20 leaders on the pace and scale of global energy transitions and on support for the development of clean energy markets."
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A Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seeker has completed his month-long walk from regional Victoria to Sydney, reaching the finishing line in the city's inner west.
Neil Para says his walk was motivated by a desire to raise awareness for thousands of refugees and asylum seekers who have been living on temporary visas for a decade or more, which he has described as a legacy of the Australian government's policy on asylum seeker boat arrivals.
He has told SBS News it was an emotional moment to be greeted by his supporters at the finish line.
"When I look at my family, I was wondering how many families are worrying and suffering silently so. A lot of people here, they have a 1,000km walk ribbon. And I walked through there. It was a great feeling for me and I did not expect when I start walking, I would have this much support. So that is a good feeling for me."
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And the Invictus Games have begun.
The competition was launched by the UK's Prince Harry to aid the rehabilitation of service members and veterans after he served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner.
The Games are being held at Dusseldorf's Merkus Spiel arena in Germany, with Prince Harry addressing the crowd at the opening ceremony.
"These games are not solely about medals, PBs (personal bests) or finishing lines. They are about overcoming any and all perceptions that have held you back, especially those you've placed on yourselves."
