In Brief

Rare snow in N Vietnam causes heavy damage

HANOI: While some visitors to Vietnam are experiencing abnormal snow in a tropical country for the first time with joy, the people living in the northern provinces of the country are suffering from heavy damage in crop and property due to the extraordinary weather extreme. Luu Minh Hai, head of Center of Meteorology and Hydrology in Vietnam's northern Lao Cai province said the local people are not prepared for the snow, which causes great inconvenience to their lives and damage for property.



Philippines in 25-day truce with leftist rebels

MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino yesterday suspended military operations against leftist rebels for 25 days, giving them free passage to visit their homes and relatives, a top aide said. The aide, Teresita Deles, said the unilateral move should give the “traumatised” nation respite after a three-month spate of natural disasters and armed conflict left 8,300 people dead or missing and more than four million homeless. She said the armed forces would “suspend all offensive military operations” from December 21 until January 15 next year, while keeping “defensive readiness in the protection of our people”.




Japan gov't to pay more for Fukushima cleanup

TOKYO: Japan's government announced yesterday that it will increase the amount of money it's providing to the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to step up cleanup and reconstruction efforts. The interest-free loans provided to Tokyo Electric Power Co will be increased to 9 trillion yen ($90 billion), up from 5 trillion yen, according to government-adopted guidelines. Originally, TEPCO was to be liable for all costs stemming from the 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. But in September, the government decided to step in and provide financial help after contaminated water leaks and other mishaps triggered public concern about TEPCO's ability to manage the situation.



Pollution shrouds Tibetan capital, grounding flights

BEIJING: China's pollution reached new heights yesterday, as the Tibetan capital of Lhasa was shrouded in a cloud of dust that halted flights and rendered one of its most-recognisable landmarks nearly invisible. Lhasa, which at 3,700 metres above sea level is one of the highest cities on the world, was enveloped in a thick cloud of pollution yesterday.


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