Colombo: Sri Lanka has begun evacuating people living along the coast areas, as a major storm threatened to create havoc in the area, officials said yesterday. The early warning centre of the department of meteorology said that strong winds of speeds about 100km per hour and very heavy rain are expected over the northern province and the areas adjacent to northern sea, Xinhua reported. It warned people living along the coastal areas of Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Mannar to be more vigilant, as sea waves are expected to rise above three metres. Officials said that people living within 100 metres from the sea were evacuated as a precautionary measure and taken to safer locations.
China probes 37,000 officials for graft
BEIJING: China investigated almost 37,000 officials suspected of corruption in more than 27,000 cases between January and November, state media said. Out of the 27,236 cases, 12,824 resulted in “losses for the people” involving a total of 5.51bn yuan ($0.9bn), Xinhua news agency said. Top prosecutor Cao Jianming told the National People’s Congress parliament in October that 200,000 people had been probed for embezzlement or bribery between January 2008 and last August.
Call to end harsh Mayanmar laws
YANGON: Several thousand people joined a rally in Myanmar’s main city yesterday to call for the abolition of repressive laws and an end to politically related arrests. The crowd gathered for about two hours near Yangon City Hall, chanting slogans such as “Give citizens full rights!” and “Freedom!” Myanmar said on December 31 that it was releasing its last remaining political prisoners under a sweeping amnesty. But about 35 political detainees remain locked up despite the pardon, according to activist Pyone Cho of the 88 Generation group which organised the rally. “We do not accept any kind of political arrest,” Pyone Cho said.
Volcano danger
zone extended
JAKARTA: Authorities have extended a danger zone around a rumbling volcano in western Indonesia after it spewed blistering gas farther than expected, forcing panicked residents to flee down the sides of the mountain. Mount Sinabung’s explosion just after midnight yesterday triggered a panicked evacuation. The volcano was still spitting clouds of gas and lava as high as 4,000 metres in several eruptions yesterday, but no casualties were reported. Disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the danger zone south-east of the volcano was extended from 3–4 miles from the crater’s smouldering mouth.
Agencies
