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WASHINGTON: The death toll from two earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 4,561, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday. According to Anadolu Agency , Rodriguez said 16,740 people were injured. Authorities have assisted 128,324 families and set up 107 temporary camps housing 20,231 people, while another 17,907 still have no permanent place to live. Rodriguez said the earthquake also damaged 856 buildings, including 190 that collapsed. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck the South American country on June 24. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

The death toll from the Venezuela earthquake has risen to 4,561

WASHINGTON: The death toll from two earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 4,561, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday. According to Anadolu Agency , Rodriguez .... read more

CANBERRA: The Australian government on Monday announced it will launch a digital passenger card for all international arrivals within the next 18 months, ending reliance on paper cards, Xinhua reported. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday the federal government would spend A$56.1 million (US$38.9 million) over the next four years on modernising travellers at airports, including the implementation of digital passenger cards across the country.

Australia to launch digital passenger cards for all arrivals

CANBERRA, JULY 13 — The Australian government on Monday announced it will launch a digital passenger card for all international arrivals within the next 18 months, ending reliance on paper .... read more

South Korea introduces 'AI legal secretary' for civil servants

South Korea introduces ‘AI legal secretary’ for civil servants

SEOUL, JULY 13 — The South Korean government has developed an “AI legal secretary” service that civil servants can refer to when studying the legal basis for policy planning and .... read more

LONDON – An English travel company has made a playful “bribe” attempt to stop football sensation Erling Haaland from continuing his incredible goal-scoring run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Travel firm On the Beach has offered Haaland 10 luxury holidays every year for the rest of his life, worth millions of pounds, with one condition — he must take his first holiday this weekend, but not in Miami. The Norway striker, who has already scored seven goals at the World Cup, is set to lead his country’s attack against England in the quarter-final clash scheduled to take place in Miami early Sunday morning. The company’s lifetime holiday package includes 10 annual trips for Haaland, his family and friends to more than 280 destinations around the world. However, the offer will only stand if Haaland agrees to travel to a destination other than Miami on Sunday — the same day Norway faces England. The company jokingly said the only way to prevent the prolific striker from scoring was to give him “a sun lounger, a passport and free holidays anywhere in the world for life.” “We would be delighted to send Erling, his family and friends on holidays for the rest of their lives,” the company said. “There is just one small condition. He has to take his first holiday this Sunday, and the destination must be anywhere except Miami.” The company even suggested Mauritius as a possible alternative destination, describing the island nation on the opposite side of the world as an attractive holiday spot. Haaland has been one of the standout performers at the tournament after scoring twice late in the match to help Norway defeat five-time world champions Brazil 2-1, sending his team into the quarter-finals. The Manchester City forward currently shares the lead in the Golden Boot race with seven goals alongside Lionel Messi of Argentina and Kylian Mbappé of France. England captain Harry Kane is just one goal behind with six goals so far in the tournament. -- MINUTESMY -- SOURCE:HARIAN METRO

Travel Company Offers Haaland Lifetime Luxury Holidays in Humorous Bid to Stop His Goal-Scoring Form

LONDON – An English travel company has made a playful “bribe” attempt to stop football sensation Erling Haaland from continuing his incredible goal-scoring run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. .... read more

HYDERABAD, July 6 -- India has ordered social media giant Meta to remove all child sexual abuse material from ads on Instagram following reports that the platform allegedly promoted such content. According to news agency PTI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed Meta to "deactivate all advertisements and content that promote and facilitate access" to child sexual exploitation and abuse material.  The directive was issued after Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordered officials to summon Meta executives following criticism and media reports alleging that advertisements on Instagram promoted child sexual abuse content. The US-based company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, was also ordered to take immediate action against content that was boosted by algorithms, in addition to submitting a detailed response to the government within seven days, according to a report on the NDTV website. The BBC recently reported that Instagram was running paid ads promoting child sexual abuse material in India. According to the report, the ads used terms such as "rape videos" and "child videos", as well as linking users to channels on the Telegram messaging app that offered the material for as little as 99 rupees (about US$1). -- BERNAMA 

India orders Meta to remove ads promoting child sexual abuse material on Instagram

HYDERABAD, July 6 — India has ordered social media giant Meta to remove all child sexual abuse material from ads on Instagram following reports that the platform allegedly promoted such .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 -- The eighth Tourism Industry Development Conference in Heilongjiang Province will open in Jixi City from July 8 to 9, under the theme "Integration, Innovation, and Opportunity". Centred on the theme and guided by principles of simplicity, safety and excellence, the conference aims to build platforms for cultural-tourism exchange and cooperation, innovative applications, and consumption upgrading. It will showcase Heilongjiang’s ecological beauty, industrial heritage, culinary offerings, and openness, further unlocking the potential of cultural and tourism consumption, according to a statement. During the conference, Jixi City will roll out a series of curated travel itineraries built around three themes, namely "Ignite the Games, Rock the Lakes", "Drive the Border, Embrace Wellness", and "Explore the Countryside, Learn Through Play". A range of visitor-friendly incentives will also be introduced, including dining discounts, guaranteed accommodation packages, free admission to scenic spots, and shopping promotions, aimed at enhancing the overall travel experience. The Department of Culture and Tourism of Heilongjiang Province Deputy Director, Jiang Xingcheng said this year's conference features three highlights. First, driven by integration, it seeks to build a new landscape for all-for-one tourism by promoting deeper links between culture and tourism with industry, agriculture, commerce and sports, including the development of a signature travel IP linked to sporting events. Second, driven by innovation, the event will leverage digital and intelligent technologies. A dedicated smart culture and tourism exhibition zone will feature applications such as AI-powered tourism services, metaverse immersive experiences, and digital intangible cultural heritage displays. Third, as a platform for cooperation, the conference will strengthen international engagement through the Belt and Road Initiative, bringing together government and business representatives from 13 countries and regions and expanding Heilongjiang’s global cultural and tourism partnerships. -- BERNAMA 

Heilongjiang Tourism Conference To Open In Jixi City On July 8 – 9

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The eighth Tourism Industry Development Conference in Heilongjiang Province will open in Jixi City from July 8 to 9, under the theme “Integration, Innovation, and .... read more

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 -- Emerging middle powers, including Malaysia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Turkiye, and Mexico, should chart their own strategic course and pursue their own interests rather than adopting the agenda of established middle powers as the global order evolves. Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Professor of International and Comparative Politics, Dr Dawisson Belém-Lopes, said emerging and established middle powers represented fundamentally different political realities and should not be viewed as a single group. Speaking at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR), he said that emerging middle powers, largely comprising countries from the Global South, had never been fully comfortable with the post-World War Two liberal international order and had long called for deep reforms to the global system. He said these countries also have different historical experiences and priorities compared to established middle powers. “The so-called Global South is gaining ground. We now have both more resources and some institutional platforms we could not rely on in the past,” he said, during the session titled “Rogue World Order: Power, Principles, and Pragmatism on Wednesday.” Meanwhile, University of Queensland Chancellor Peter Varghese said the world is currently “in between international orders,” with the post-war system which is largely led by the United States (US) gradually unravelling. Varghese, who was former secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the shift was driven not only by the current US administration but also by long-term structural changes, including China’s rise, the move towards a multipolar world, the weakening of the Washington Consensus, and the growing influence of identity and cultural politics. However, he said rebuilding a new multilateral system would take time. He warned that while agency was necessary, it was not sufficient to create a new world order and countries should instead focus on strengthening regional and cross-regional cooperation.  Another panelist, Keio University Japan Professor of International Relations, Dr Ken Jimbo, said Asia would remain central to the evolving global order despite shifts in US foreign policy. He said the US would continue to rely on regional partnerships to advance its strategic objectives, even under an America First agenda, while countries such as Japan remain dependent on a free and open rules-based international order for their security and economic prosperity. The two-day event was organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia under the theme “Accelerating Agency and Action.” -- BERNAMA 

Global South Must Assert Own Interests As Global Order Evolves

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Emerging middle powers, including Malaysia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Turkiye, and Mexico, should chart their own strategic course and pursue their own interests rather than adopting .... read more

BANGKOK: Thailand has tightened flight security measures and screening of airline crew following the arrest of a Thai national in Australia on drug smuggling charges. Deputy Government Spokesperson, Lalida Persvivatana said the government led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to cooperate with relevant agencies to strengthen preventive measures and prevent similar incidents from recurring. He said the crew was on duty operating a flight from Thailand to Melbourne on June 25 when Australian authorities found drugs hidden in their luggage during a check upon arrival. "The crew is now facing legal proceedings in Australia," he said in a statement on Thursday. Lalida stressed that the case involved allegations of individual misconduct and did not reflect the Thai aviation industry. He said airline crews are subject to the same international security screening standards as passengers, although they use special routes to facilitate their duties. To tighten controls, he said CAAT had been instructed to work with Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), airlines, the Customs Department and anti-narcotics agencies to implement stricter measures. This includes stricter checks on crews carrying goods on behalf of others, enhanced intelligence sharing and strengthened inter-agency coordination to improve risk detection capabilities. On Tuesday, media reported that a 26-year-old female crew member was arrested after one kilogram of heroin was found hidden in her luggage upon arrival at Melbourne Airport last Thursday. According to the Australian Federal Police, the suspect was carrying 12 carry-on bags, with the heroin hidden in the inner lining of the bags. -- BERNAMA

Thailand tightens flight safety following crew detention in Australia

BANGKOK: Thailand has tightened flight security measures and screening of airline crew following the arrest of a Thai national in Australia on drug smuggling charges. Deputy Government Spokesperson, Lalida Persvivatana .... read more

LONDON: "Lethal Weapon" actor Danny Glover has revealed that he has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the past few years, reported PA Media/dpa. The 79-year-old actor announced the matter in an interview with The Today Show, produced by the American broadcaster (US), NBC. He said the diagnosis came shortly after receiving an honorary Oscar Award in 2022. "I am still able to continue living. I am sure that as this disease progresses, many things will change," he said, adding that his movement, speech and memory are slowing down. However, he said the support of his family, who was always by his side, helped him a lot in facing the challenge. In the same interview, his daughter Mandisa said it was "very important" for her father to share his own health condition. "And the time is now. There is no more appropriate time than now for him to speak on his own behalf." "It's important because people often ask questions and I don't want to be dishonest by saying everything is fine," he said. Glover also shared about the diagnosis in an interview with "People" magazine, admitting that he still has not fully accepted the reality of his illness. "There are moments that remind me that I am still able to remember things. And there are memories that I will never forget," he said. However, he stressed that the disease was not the end of his life. "I don't feel like this is the end of my life. There's still a lot to do. "I still have my daughter and friends. I just want to say that life goes on," he said. Over nearly 40 years in the entertainment industry, Glover has starred in over 170 films and television programs. He began his acting career in the film "Escape From Alcatraz" in 1979 before making a name for himself in the 1980s with his role as Roger Murtaugh in the "Lethal Weapon" film series alongside Mel Gibson who played the role of Martin Riggs. He also starred in the films "Places in the Heart", "The Colour Purple" and "Predator 2". Throughout his career, Glover has won five Emmy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 1998 to 2004, focusing on global campaigns to eradicate poverty, disease and combat HIV/AIDS in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2004, he was also appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Meanwhile, Alzheimer's Society CEO Michelle Dyson said her party sympathized with Glover following the announcement about his illness. "Personal sharing like this helps raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, and we really appreciate Danny's openness in sharing his diagnosis." "Receiving a diagnosis can be scary, but we believe it's better to know," he said. -- BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa

‘Lethal Weapon’ star Danny Glover reveals he has Alzheimer’s

LONDON: “Lethal Weapon” actor Danny Glover has revealed that he has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past few years, reported PA Media/dpa. The 79-year-old actor announced the matter .... read more

BEIJING: An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale shook Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province at 7:44 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), Xinhua reported . The epicenter was detected at 37.83 degrees north and 95.43 degrees east, while the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the center. -- BERNAMA-XINHUA

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Qinghai in northwest China.

BEIJING: An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale shook Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China’s Qinghai Province at 7:44 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing time), according to the .... read more

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