TRANSCRIPT
- A negotiator at the UN climate summit urges nations to lift their ambitions
- A total fire ban in place in large parts of western Victoria, as 45 fires burn across the state
- A T20 series win for Australia against Pakistan
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A total fire ban is in place across large parts of western Victoria, affecting the Wimmera area, as 45 bushfires burn across the state.
Residents in parts of regional Victoria are being urged to evacuate with authorities saying they must leave before it is too late.
Residents have been told to leave now in Chapple Vale, Crowes, Gellibrand Lower, Johanna, Johanna Heights, Lavers Hill, Stalker, Wangerrip, Wattle Hill, Yuulong and Wattle Hill to the Great Ocean Walk.
A watch and act warning is in place for Chetwynd, Connewirricoo, and Kadnook.
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Super Typhoon Man-yi - also called Pepito by locals - has made landfall in the Philippines, with the national weather forecaster warning of a "potentially catastrophic and life-threatening" impact.
It is the sixth major storm to hit the country in the past month.
At 163 people have died in the storms, with thousands of people left homeless.
More than 650,000 people were told to evacuate their homes ahead of Man-yi.
This woman was among them.
"We needed to evacuate early before the rain starts. They evacuated us so the children would be safe."
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Negotiators have made slow progress midway through the two-week UN climate summit in agreeing a new deal around climate finance.
Earlier in the week, an open letter questioned if the talks were in need of reform to streamline delivery of outcomes and improve accountability.
COP29 deputy lead negotiator, Samir Bejanov, has encouraged negotiators to prove those doubting voices wrong.
"I want to repeat our strong encouragement to all parties to make as much progress as possible. We are doing everything possible to create the conditions for progress, but we need everyone to approach the task with a similar sense of urgency and determination."
Economists say developing countries need at least $1 trillion annually by the end of the decade to cope with climate change.
Meanwhile children from East Africa, where heatwaves and floods have closed down schools in recent months, are pushing for world leaders to protect their education - and their future - at COP29.
14-year-old student, Naomi is from South Sudan, says she is worried about her future.
"All the children who were in schools were out of school for two weeks. And this (heatwave) really affected me because this year I'm sitting for my national exams. The temperatures were really high. You have to focus more on reducing the temperatures of your body. I'm really worried about the future because we have been coming, last year I came for COP and this year for I'm here for COP and still we are not seeing much changes, especially in South Sudan."
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The South African government has reversed its decision not to rescue almost 4000 people trapped in a disused gold mine.
Earlier in the week, the government ordered police to close entrances used to bring them food, water and other basic necessities at the Stilfontein mine.
Authorities were insisting that they wouldn't help the illegal miners, instead waiting for them to surface, to arrest them.
But, after pleas from family members, and public pressure, the government announced that they would end the operation, called 'close the hole' and put together a team of experts to bring to miners to surface.
South Africa's Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says this will be a hard mission.
“We need a much more quicker process because it is risky and dangerous for them to remain where they are for a longer period. Now, in order to achieve that, not only do we need the multiplicity of agencies here as it is the case at the moment, including South African National Defense Force, but we need the community, we need their understanding, their cooperation and their willingness to come across challenges.”
More than 1,000 people have already surfaced, with many reported to be in bad health.
Illegal mining is common in South Africa, and police said the groups are known to be heavily armed.
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In cricket, Spencer Johnson's maiden five-wicket haul for Australia has sealed the T20 series against Pakistan.
The visitors fell 13 runs short of their 148 target at the SCG.
Johnson is only the sixth bowler in history to take five wickets in a match for Australia in T20s.
