IN BRIEF (Page 13)

United States

White House seeks quick Harvey relief

The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion package in Harvey recovery aid, a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are adequately funded. The proposal, which is being finalized pending White House consultations with key Republicans, promises to represent just a fraction of an eventual Harvey recovery package that could rival the $100-billion-plus in taxpayer-financed help for victims of 2005's Hurricane Katrina. US President Donald Trump plans to donate $1 million of his own money to aid the relief effort.

India

More bodies found at site of collapse

With the recovery of more bodies overnight, the death toll in a building collapse in India's financial capital of Mumbai rose to 32 on Friday. "Some 32 people are now confirmed dead in the incident, while 15 injured are being treated at a hospital, where the condition of some is said to be serious. The injured include five fire brigade officials and a disaster management official," a senior police official said. Nearly 50 people have been rescued alive from the rubble of the five-storey building that collapsed in the Bhendi Bazaar area on Thursday morning.

Japan

Former FM set to lead opposition

Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara on Friday was selected by Japan's main opposition Democratic Party as its new leader, topping rival Yukio Edano, a political heavyweight who previously served as chief cabinet secretary when the party was in power. Maehara, 55, previously led the main opposition party when it was known as the Democratic Party of Japan. The party was in power from 2009-12.

Iran

11 schoolgirls killed after bus overturns

A bus crash on Friday killed 12 people - 11 schoolgirls and the driver - en route to the southern city of Shiraz for a sporting and cultural event, state media reported. Thirty other people were injured, with 13 of them listed in serious condition, according to state television.

Sri Lanka

Drought closes national park

Sri Lanka's wildlife authorities on Friday shut down one of the largest national parks in the island country for two months due to a worsening drought. Yala National Park, which attracts more than 100,000 foreign tourists each year, is home to one of the world's largest concentrations of leopards, elephants, sloths, sambars, jackals, spotted deer, peacocks and crocodiles.

(China Daily 09/02/2017 page13)