KABUL -- A catastrophic 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has resulted in 1,411 deaths and 3,124 injuries in Kunar province alone, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan interim government, said on Tuesday.
The quake primarily impacted Asadabad city, the capital of Kunar province, and the districts of Nurgal, Suki, Watapur, Chapa Dara, and Pech Dara, Mujahid posted on his X account. According to the official, 5,412 residential houses were destroyed in these areas. (Afghanistan-Earthquake)
----
MOSCOW -- China's trial visa-free policy for Russian citizens is "amazing news" that will change Russians' approach to travel in China, said the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST), cited by RIA Novosti.
Earlier on Tuesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced that China has decided to temporarily introduce a visa-free policy for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports starting from Sept. 15, 2025 to Sept. 14, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or exchange visits and transit. (Visa-Russia-China)
----
HANOI -- Vietnam on Tuesday marked the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day with a grand military parade at Ba Dinh Square in the capital Hanoi, Vietnam News Agency reported.
The celebration began with a 21-gun salute, followed by a military parade featuring formations of the armed forces and police, accompanied by large-scale displays of military vehicles, artillery, and weapons. (Vietnam-National Day-Celebration)
----
KHARTOUM -- Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council announced on Tuesday that hundreds of civilians were killed after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in Jebel Marra in the country's Central Darfur State.
"The chairman and members of the council mourn, with deep sorrow and grief, the victims of the landslide disaster in Jebel Marra, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent citizens due to the heavy rainfall that struck the region," the council said in a statement. (Sudan-Landslide-Casualty) ■
