Our Kiwi neighbours continue to assess the damage left behind after the country’s worst storm in decades, ex-Cyclone Gabrielle, passed over the North Island last week. The death toll has risen to 11, and more than 5,600 people remain uncontactable across NZ. Authorities say they have grave concerns for 10 of them. Recovery teams are working round the clock to carry out building assessments on thousands of damaged homes, while helicopters have delivered critical supplies to stranded communities. And nearly 2 weeks after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the death toll has risen to more than 46,000 people. Reports say more than 84,000 buildings have been critically damaged, causing ongoing housing and infrastructure problems for survivors… And there’s continued concern over aid access in Syria – authorities from the UN’s World Food Programme say they urgently need to get into the country’s northwest to help hundreds of thousands of people in need.