Briefly

JAPAN

13 die, hundreds hurt amid record snowfall

At least 13 people died and around 250 were injured as record snowfall blanketed regions along the Sea of Japan coast, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported. According to the agency and as reported by local media, three people aged in their 60s and 80s died in Fukui Prefecture, while 47 people were injured in the prefecture in snow-linked accidents. Niigata Prefecture saw four people die as a result of trying to remove snow, the agency said. Officials in three hard-hit prefectures have requested assistance from the Self-Defense Force in rescue operations, local media said.

UNITED STATES

Cuba hit with new terrorism sanctions

The United States added Cuba to the ranks of countries in its "State Sponsor of Terrorism" list on Monday, a move that will constrain the efforts of the incoming administration led by Joe Biden to improve relations with Havana. The action has immediately drawn condemnation from Cuba and Democrats at home. "The US political opportunism is recognized by those who are honestly concerned about the scourge of terrorism and its victims," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez tweeted. Cuba had been put on the list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1982. In May 2015, the administration of Barack Obama officially removed Cuba from the list, clearing a major obstacle to reestablishing diplomatic ties between the former Cold War rivals.

INDONESIA

Black box from crashed Boeing plane recovered

Indonesian navy divers searching the ocean floor have recovered a "black box" from a Sriwijaya Air jet that crashed into the Java Sea with 62 people on board. The recovery of the device is expected to help investigators determine what caused the Boeing 737-500 plane to nose-dive into the ocean shortly after takeoff from Jakarta on Saturday. TV stations on Tuesday showed divers on an inflatable vessel with a large white container containing the black box. It was unclear whether the device was the plane's flight data or cockpit voice recorder. It is to be handed over to the National Transportation Safety Committee, which is overseeing the crash investigation.

INDIA

Court orders stay on divisive farm laws

India's Supreme Court ordered an indefinite stay on Tuesday over the implementation of new agricultural laws that have triggered widespread protests from farmers, saying it would set up a panel to hear their objections. For more than a month, tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi to protest against reform measures that they say benefit large private buyers and harm growers. Chief Justice Sharad Bobde told a hearing the Supreme Court would establish a panel to hear the farmers' grievances. "We have the power to make a committee and the committee can give us the report," he said. "We will protect farmers."

Agencies - Xinhua