Good morning, it's Friday, June 24. Here's what you need to get going today.
One thing to know right now is rescue efforts are continuing in Afghanistan
Here's the lowdown:
- The death toll from Wednesday's 6.1-magnitude earthquake has risen to more than 1,000 people
- It's the country's deadliest earthquake in 20 years
- Rescue teams are struggling to get into the eastern provinces most devastated by the disaster to search for survivors
- Aid agencies are calling on the Australian Government to send help
- Officials from the Taliban — the militant Islamist movement ruling Afghanistan — have also called for support, saying it is "financially unable to assist … to the extent needed"
- Before the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year, about 80 per cent of the country's budget came from external aid. When the Taliban took over, most of that was cut.
Our South Asia correspondent, Avani Dias, says the Australian government is yet to commit to sending aid but it also hasn't ruled out the possibility.
Dias says pressure on the government is growing, with many NGOs saying it's time to put aside political concerns and help people on the ground.
But there are concerns about any aid money ending up in the hands of the Taliban instead of people affected.
The UN has been trying to kickstart a system — described as a Humanitarian Exchange Facility — to swap millions of aid dollars for Afghan currency in a plan to stem aid and economic crises and bypass Taliban leaders who are under sanctions.
One thing you’ll be hearing about today is the Chinese ambassador's address
China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, will address the Australia-China Relations Institute in a speech at the University of Technology, Sydney.
News while you snoozed
- In a major expansion of gun rights, the US Supreme Court has ruled that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defence. The decision strikes down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need for a gun in order to get a licence to carry one in public
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that he will visit French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris next week, to formally "reset" diplomatic relations, which were flung into the freezer after the Morrison government scrapped a massive deal to build 12 submarines
- Ukraine and Moldova have been formally accepted as candidates to join the European Union, with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling it a "historic moment".
The news Australia is searching for
- Brisbane Lions: Melbourne is back on top of the AFL ladder after a 64-point thumping of Brisbane at the MCG. The two sides came into the clash in equal first place alongside Fremantle but the Demons blew the Lions out of the water with a dominant 117-53 victory
- Daniel Andrews: The Victorian Premier is facing the resignation of four of his most-senior government ministers just months from the November state election. Health Minister Martin Foley, Deputy Premier James Merlino, Sport Minister Martin Pakula and Police Minister Lisa Neville are expected to step down as early as today.
That's it for now
We'll be back later on with more.
ABC/wires
