Over 2,300 dead in Turkey quake

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2023

editor

A rescue operation is under way across much of southern Turkey and northern Syria following a huge earthquake that has killed more than 2,300 people.

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Gaziantep in the early hours of Monday while people were asleep.

A new 7.5-magnitude tremor hit at around 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT), which officials said was “not an aftershock”.

The country’s disaster agency says some 1,500 people were killed in Turkey alone after the first quake, and more than 5,300 were wounded.

Syrian authorities are reporting 810 dead and more than 2,000 injured, according to the AFP news agency.

Rescuers are racing to save people trapped beneath the rubble after hundreds of buildings collapsed in both countries.

World leaders have pledged to send aid after Turkey issued an international appeal for help.

Millions of people across Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel felt the earthquake.

(BBC News)

Govt. policy statement passed in Parliament sans vote

Published

9 hours ago

December 4, 2024

editor

The resolution on the Statement of the Government Policy presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament on November 21 was passed unanimously in Parliament today (Dec. 04) without a vote.

The debate on the Statement of the Government Policy was held as a two-day debate from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm yesterday (Dec. 03) and from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm today.

BIZ

W.M. Mendis’ liquor manufacturing license to be suspended

Published

9 hours ago

December 4, 2024

editor

The liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited will be suspended from tomorrow (December 5) due to their failure to pay Rs. 5.7 billion in excise taxes and surcharges, the Excise department said.

Accordingly, as per the provisions Excise Ordinance Act, the Commissioner General of Excise has ordered to suspend the liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited effective from tomorrow.

The department further stated that measures have been taken to suspend the liquor manufacturing process from tomorrow (December 5) and to not renew the other licenses issued to the company from December 31 onwards if the company continues non-payment of tax arrears and surcharges.

News

S. Korea President faces impeachment

Published

14 hours ago

December 4, 2024

editor

South Korea’s president yesterday shocked the country when, out of the blue, he declared martial law in the Asian democracy for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Yoon Suk Yeol’s drastic decision – announced in a late-night TV broadcast – mentioned “anti-state forces” and the threat from North Korea.

But it soon became clear that it not been spurred by external threats but by his own desperate political troubles.

Still, it prompted thousands of people to gather at parliament in protest, while opposition lawmakers rushed there to push through an emergency vote to remove the measure.

Lawmakers were also able to make their way around the barricades – even climbing fences to make it to the voting chamber.

Shortly after 01:00 on Wednesday, South Korea’s parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, voted down the measure.

President Yoon’s declaration of martial law was ruled invalid.

Defeated, Yoon emeged a few hours later to accept the parliament’s vote and lift the martial law order.

Now, he faces the prospect of possible impeachment and even expulsion from his own party.

Source: BBC