KABUL -- The death toll from heavy rainfall-triggered flooding across Afghanistan has risen to at least 99 people, with 154 others injured over the past nine days, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority said on Sunday.
Heavy downpours that began on March 26 have unleashed widespread flooding and landslides accompanied by violent thunderstorms and lightning, causing extensive loss of life as well as severe financial and material damage, according to Hafiz Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, the authority's spokesman. (Afghanistan-Flood)
- - - -
TOKYO -- Japan is gradually shifting away from its long-held "exclusively defense-oriented policy" and moving toward a "combat-ready" military system, a former Self-Defense Forces officer and veteran military journalist said.
Makoto Konishi made the remarks at a lecture held in Tokyo on Saturday, where he outlined significant recent changes in Japan's defense posture in terms of institutions, budget and deployment. (Japan-Military)
- - - -
DHAKA -- The Bangladeshi government Sunday launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting more than 1.3 million children in areas with high infection rates, as the death toll from suspected cases continued to rise.
Bangladeshi Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the drive at a health complex near the capital Dhaka on Sunday morning. (Bangladesh-Measles-Vaccine)
- - - -
MANILA -- Four people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed, while at least 29 others were injured after an elf truck collided with a multicab vehicle along a highway in southern Philippines on Saturday, police said Sunday.
Police said the crash occurred around 3 p.m. in Aleosan town, Cotabato province, when the truck, traveling on a sloped section of the road, attempted to avoid a slow-moving motorcycle. According to camera footage, the truck then struck a road island and overturned. It veered into the opposite lane and collided with an oncoming multicab. (Philippines-Car Crash-Death) ■
