The desperate search for survivors continues in Venezuela; government prepares to strengthen its teen social media ban; DR Congo through to their first World Cup knockout
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TRANSCRIPT
- The desperate search for survivors continues after earthquakes in Venezuela
- The government prepares to strengthen its teen social media ban
- DR Congo are through to their first-ever World Cup knockout stage
The death toll from twin earthquakes earlier this week in Venezuela now exceeds 1,400 as the search for survivors continues.
Foreign rescue teams are arriving in the country to assist efforts as Venezuelans grow frustrated with an apparent lack of official presence.
Yamile Santana, whose son and his partner remain missing, says there is not enough machinery to remove all the rubble.
"They say there are people there who are still alive. But it seems there is not enough machinery and equipment to clear all this rubble. I ask – please – to send people who are capable of helping us, and that they don’t stop searching, they don’t stop searching. Because they told me today that they want to stop searching, and that’s not right, because we still hope our loved ones come out alive. Please don’t stop searching."
While the Venezuelan government is reporting that hundreds of people are missing or trapped, a website promoted by the opposition says more than 55,000 are listed as unaccounted for.
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Social media companies could soon face stronger compliance action as the government moves to ensure its ban on teenage accounts is enforced.
Under legislation expected to be introduced this week, fines would double to $99 million, and the eSafety commissioner would gain new powers.
University of Sydney Professor of Digital Communication and Culture, Terry Flew says around 70 per cent of under 16s have retained their accounts.
He says an increase to fines is significant, but compliance powers will likely have greater effect.
"The current legislation requires that platforms take reasonable steps to verify age. Now, what's become apparent six months in is that the reasonable steps are not really very compliant at all. That basically, we've kind of defaulted to a scenario where people just say what age they are. So, I think the more significant matter will be the powers given to the eSafety commissioner to determine whether a platform is using effective forms of age verification."
The eSafety Commissioner is currently challenging a number of digital platforms in court.
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Hostilities between the United States and Iran has flared again as new US strikes on Iranian targets and reports of attacks in the Gulf raise concerns about the durability of their fragile truce.
Bahrain reported an attack involving several Iranian drones early on Saturday while a UK maritime security agency says a merchant vessel has also been struck.
The circumstances surrounding the ship attack were not immediately clear.
The framework agreement between Iran and the US, which took effect last week, had eased tensions in the war which has gripped the region since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28.
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Marine rescue and research organisation ORRCA is conducting its annual whale census day in Australia.
In its 27th year, the whale count sees volunteers record sightings from 27 different locations across the country.
Participants record sightings throughout the day, including behaviours, weather and ocean conditions, and details about whale groups for the census.
ORRCA President, Ashley Ryan says the census also offers important information to assist in the welfare of the marine species.
"So unfortunately, we are not just counting healthy humpback whales travelling along the coast. We are also looking out for entanglements. Yesterday we had a fresh report of an entanglement off Sydney. This makes eight entanglements that we are tracking. They are out there somewhere, and we need to find them. Early reporting to ORRCA is really important."
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And in sport,
DR Congo have reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, after their 3-1 win against Uzbekistan at Atlanta City.
It's their first ever World Cup victory, 52 years after their only previous appearance at the tournament.
Yoane Wissa scored a double for his team – the first goal in penalty, and the second in stoppage time.
Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro says his side simply ran out of energy.
"The first half we did an amazing performance, we prepared the game on this way, I knew we spent a lot of energy, I knew we were running too much, and I was afraid for the second half. I tried to push them in the half time but of course at this level if we make small mistakes, this World Cup for us is some experience."
Meanwhile, Colombia and Portugal played out a nil-all draw, and both teams will advance to the knockout stage.
