The UN ramps up aid as Venezuela’s quake death toll rises; An Australian man arrested in Thailand on suspicioun of murder; The Socceroos will take on Egypt in the World Cup Round of 32.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The UN ramps up aid as Venezuela’s quake death toll rises.
- An Australian man arrested in Thailand on suspicioun of murder.
- The Socceroos will take on Egypt in the World Cup Round of 32.
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The United Nations is ramping up humanitarian assistance following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela.
Venezuelan authorities say more than than 1,600 foreign rescue personnel have arrived so far to assist in the ongoing search for survivors.
Frustration is growing in Venezuela over what residents describe as an inadequate government response, with soldiers, firefighters, police and military cadets seen to be underprepared to manage the tragedy.
The two powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and striking just 40 seconds apart late on Wednesday, were the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century and the deadliest in decades.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations secretary-general says various agencies are involved in the rescue effort.
"A total of 30 of these teams are deploying to Venezuela with more than 1,600 personnel, 100 dogs coming from a wide variety of countries. WFP (World Food Program) says it has enough to feed more than 10,000 families for two months in Venezuela."
The death toll from the earthquakes had risen to 1,430, and the United Nations says more than 50,000 people remain missing.
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A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is under fresh strain after Bahrain says it was targeted in an Iranian drone attack.
Bahrain’s foreign ministry says a number of drones were launched at the Gulf kingdom, calling it a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.
No damage or casualties have been reported, but the attack follows overnight U-S strikes on Iranian missile and drone sites after Washington blamed Tehran for an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest exchange has raised fears of renewed conflict in the Gulf, and fresh disruption to one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
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Hopes of easing tensions between Israel and Lebanon have been thrown into doubt after Hezbollah rejected a U-S brokered framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has described the deal as humiliating and null and void, saying any attempt to link an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the group’s disarmament crosses red lines.
The agreement was signed in Washington after five rounds of talks and would see Lebanese soldiers take control of two areas currently occupied by Israel.
In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, where smoke was seen rising after an Israeli strike, displaced resident Imad Yassin says people still want peace and the chance to rebuild.
"The demand we are calling for is that we want to live in peace. Enough wars, enough problems, enough massacres. We certainly prefer the Israeli withdrawal today rather than tomorrow, so that people can return to their homes. The return of the people of the South to their land is the most important thing, even if it is to return to ruins. We are ready to live and pitch tents, and to come back and rise again."
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A 45-year-old Australian man has been arrested in Thailand amid investigations into the discovery of the body of a teenage girl inside a suitcase.
Simon Carman has been arrested and charged over the death of 17 year old Tunchanok Donhomla, with police alleging he picked her up in the early hours of Thursday morning, local time.
Her friends reported her missing to police on Friday afternoon after they did not hear from her.
Police found Ms Tunchanok's naked body in a suitcase alongside a railway line, about 10 minutes' drive from the hotel where Mr Carman had been staying.
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The Socceroos will take on Egypt in the World Cup Round of 32 after their knockout opponent finished second in Group G.
Belgium demolished New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon (AEST), to top the group on overall goal difference.
Meanwhile, Egypt drew Iran 1-1 in Seattle to finish second.
That means Egypt will play Australia in Arlington, Texas, at 4am next Saturday (AEST) in the Round of 32.
It will be the first time the two sides have met at a World Cup.
Football commentator and former Socceroo Harry Kewel says Australia will have to be clinical in its game if it wants to progress further.
“It's always going to be a difficult game, you know? Once you get through the group stages, which they successfully navigated through, it's all about now. Of knockout stages, so this is where you have to play your best football. This is where you have to strike when your chances are low, you've got to be able to be clinical, and hopefully we can do that and progress one step further."
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