At least 61 people were killed, 40 missing and 1,403 injured after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mindanao, the Philippines, on June 8, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Sunday.

RAMALLAH, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed developments in Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday over phone.The call focused on efforts to implement the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, including ensuring sustained humanitarian access to the enclave and deploying an international stabilization force to observe the ceasefire, read a press statement by al-Sheikh.Both sides stressed the need to enable the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to carry out its duties from within the enclave until the Palestinian Authority resumes full responsibilities, it said.Al-Sheikh thanked Egypt for its role in supporting the Palestinian cause and halting escalation, it said.For his part, Abdelatty condemned escalating Israeli settlement activities and violations in East Jerusalem and at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, warning of their impact on peace prospects, it said.He reaffirmed Egypt's support for an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and stressed the unity of Gaza and the West Bank as fundamental to any just and lasting settlement, it said.The call came as Palestinian factions as well as Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators meet in Cairo on the implementation of a Gaza ceasefire reached in October 2025.The fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel falters, with key provisions, including disarmament and reconstruction, yet to be implemented.The first phase of the ceasefire included an exchange of prisoners and detainees, the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas.The United States announced in mid-January the start of the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes a complete Israeli military withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, reconstruction, and the establishment of a transitional governing body in Gaza.

LONDON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday evening warned ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz against transiting the strategic waterway, according to an audio recording of a public maritime radio channel.The recording, provided to Xinhua by a crew member aboard a commercial vessel near the strait, showed that the IRGC navy addressed all vessels operating in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, saying the Strait of Hormuz had been completely closed and that any vessel movement within the strait would be dealt with decisively.For the sake of your health and safety, absolutely refrain from any movement in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, the recorded message said.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that a peace deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately afterward.Meanwhile, the U.S. military said late Friday that it had downed several Iranian drones targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints and a key route for global oil and natural gas shipments. Maritime traffic through the strait has declined sharply in recent months amid escalating tensions and attacks on commercial shipping.According to figures released by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 46 incidents involving international shipping had been confirmed in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East region as of June 11, resulting in 14 confirmed seafarer fatalities.The IMO on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack on a tanker that reportedly left three seafarers dead. The U.S. military later confirmed that it had carried out the strike.

SAO PAULO, June 13 (Xinhua) -- A 21-year-old woman died Saturday in Brazil after being released from a platform about 40 meters high during a rope-jump activity without a safety line attached, local authorities said.The incident occurred at the Ponte do Esqueleto bridge in Limeira, a city in southeastern Sao Paulo state.During the activity, instructors failed to attach the safety equipment needed to prevent the victim from hitting the ground, authorities said.Videos shared on social media appeared to show several people carrying the victim to the jumping point. Seconds after she was released, shouts of alarm could be heard as people warned that the safety rope was missing.Authorities said two suspects tried to flee into a nearby wooded area after the accident. They were later found during a search operation. In all, six people were detained and taken for questioning by police.Firefighters and emergency medical teams were sent to the scene, but the woman was pronounced dead at the site of the accident.