IN BRIEF (Page 12)

China Daily | Updated: 2018-10-30 07:37

United States

Bomb suspect set for court

The Florida man accused of sending packages containing explosive material to prominent Democrats and other opponents of US President Donald Trump is due to make his first court appearance. An initial hearing is set for Monday afternoon in Florida federal court for 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, who faces five federal charges. Sayoc was arrested on Friday in Florida after investigators said they identified him through fingerprint and DNA evidence. Authorities said Sayoc faces more than 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges related to pipe bombs sent to political figures across the country.

Sri Lanka

Legislators urged to join new govt

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has called on all legislators to work together and join his new government amid a political crisis ongoing in the island country. In an address to the nation, days after he sacked his prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapakse to the post, Sirisena said he invited all 225 members of parliament to join the new government with the intention to take the country out of the current political and economic problems.

Turkey

Giant airport to be unveiled

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday was scheduled to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest. Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant. From Dec 29, it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028.

Pakistan

17 killed after van falls into ravine

Seventeen people were killed and one woman was injured when a passenger van fell into a ravine in Pakistan's north Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday night, local reports said. The van, carrying 18 passengers, was on its way to Rawalpindi city in the country's east Punjab province, Geo News reported. Local residents said that the accident happened when the van driver lost control of the vehicle while taking a sharp turn on the Karakoram Highway.

AFP - Reuters - AP - Xinhua

(China Daily 10/30/2018 page12)