A 6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes northeastern Afghanistan

A strong earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan on Thursday, and was felt by residents in the capital, Kabul, all the way to Islamabad.

The US Geological Survey reported that the epicenter of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake was located in the Gurm area of ​​Badakhshan Province, located in the mountainous Hindu Kush region.

There have been no reports so far of damage or injuries.

The earthquake struck at approximately 14:00 local time (09:30 GMT) and was felt by residents of Kabul, located about 300 kilometers from Jorm.

Afghanistan witnesses frequent earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush region, located near the meeting point of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

“Great danger.” Beijing gives its assessment of the most likely candidate in the Taiwanese presidential elections

China announced its assessment of the most likely candidate in the upcoming presidential elections in Taiwan on Saturday, describing him as posing a "grave danger."

Beijing warned on Thursday that Lai Ching-te, the most likely candidate to win the presidential elections scheduled in Taiwan two days later, poses a "serious danger," according to what the official Xinhua news agency reported.

While Xinhua quoted Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, as saying, “I hope that our compatriots in Taiwan will see the grave danger posed by Lai’s incitement to cross-strait conflicts (in Taiwan) and make the right choice.” .

The Chinese spokesman said yesterday, Wednesday, that the so-called "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Taiwan Strait cannot come together , as the former conflicts with the interests and well-being of the people of Taiwan.

He added that only with cross-Strait peace and stability and cross-Strait relations enjoying peaceful development, can the people of Taiwan enjoy a peaceful, tranquil and prosperous life.

Voters in Taiwan will cast their votes next Saturday to elect their next president. William Lai and Vice President Tsai Ing-wen, both from the Democratic Progressive Party (supporting independence), are considered the most likely to win the elections.