Arctic clean-up boost

A UN-backed international clean-up operation to rid the Russian Arctic of toxic mess from the Cold War received a US$30 million ($49.2 million) boost yesterday.

A number of countries, including Russia, the United States, Iceland, Denmark and Italy, as well as the European Commission are providing cash to assist in the clean-up.

After a preliminary study identified 147 pollution hotspots ranging from nuclear waste to oil pollution and mercury poisoning of the soil, the UN Environment Programme singled 10 areas out for treatment.