KABUL -- At least 255 people were killed and over 500 injured after an earthquake struck the eastern Afghan region early on Wednesday, the state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported.

The casualties occurred in four districts of Paktika province, the most-hit eastern province, according to the report, citing the latest local sources. (Afghanistan-Earthquake-Toll)

- - - -

DHAKA -- The ongoing floods triggered by heavy seasonal rains and onrush of water from hills have claimed 36 lives in Bangladesh in less than a week.

According to the daily flood report of the country's Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) released on Tuesday, the floods have killed 36 people in 27 out of 64 districts between June 17 and June 21. (Bangladesh-Floods)

- - - -

SYDNEY -- Peak Australia conservation group, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), has filed official proceedings to block energy company Woodside Energy's upcoming gas development project.

The ACF claimed that the Scarborough gas project, proposed off the northwest coast of Western Australia (WA), would release an estimated 1.37 billion tons of greenhouse pollution over the next 25 years. (Australia-Conservation Group- Gas Prokect)

- - - -

VIENTIANE -- A second consignment of 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Malaysian government has arrived in Lao capital Vientiane, local daily Vientiane Times reported Wednesday.

Malaysia's first donation of 283,400 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Laos last December. The donations are part of Malaysia's contribution to global efforts to end the pandemic and support Laos' goal to vaccinate at least 80 percent of the adult population by the end of this year, the Lao daily report said. (Laos-Malaysia-Sinopharm Vaccine Donation)