HANOI -- Central Vietnam localities from Thanh Hoa province to Hue city are facing high risks of flash floods, landslides and flooding as Typhoon Nongfa approaches, Vietnam News Agency reported Saturday.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday instructed localities to call on and guide vessels to return to safe shelters. Authorities were also urged to deploy forces, equipment and supplies to key areas to ensure timely response, rescue and relief operations. (Vietnam-Flood Warning)
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COLOMBO -- One person was killed, with about 57 others being injured when a bus carrying pilgrims crashed in Pottuvil, in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province on Saturday, the police said.
According to the police, the bus veered off the road and struck a culvert before coming to a stop. The victim was identified as a 74-year-old man. (Sri Lanka-Road Accident)
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MANILA -- The Philippine central bank, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), on Saturday said it welcomed the favorable assessment by credit rating agency Moody's of the country's access to external financing.
In its latest ratings review -- a report that follows a rating action -- Moody's noted the country's access to domestic and international funding markets as well as the "ample foreign-currency reserves." These are seen to help the economy "weather global capital flows volatility." (Philippines-BSP-Moody's)
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KABUL -- A total of 15 oil refineries are operational in Afghanistan, processing domestically extracted crude oil and low-quality imported fuel in the country, according to the private media outlet Tolonews on Saturday.
Located in the northern Balkh, Kabul and the western Herat province, the facilities have been contributing to meeting the country's fuel needs over the past couple of years. (Afghanistan-Oil Refineries) ■
