Turkish Builder Gets 865 Years for Deadly Building Collapse; Hezbollah and Israeli Tensions Escalate Amid Global Diplomatic Efforts
Builder gets 865-year sentence for Turkey quake collapse killing 96.
A Turkish builder, Hasan Alpargun, has been sentenced to 865 years in prison for constructing a 14-story apartment block that collapsed in Adana during a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in February 2023, resulting in 96 deaths. The massive quake has claimed over 53,500 lives in Turkiye and nearly 6,000 in Syria.
In a related event shaking the region, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah survived an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Analysts believe that any harm to Nasrallah could disrupt Hezbollah’s internal cohesion and morale, highlighting the tenuous situation with his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine, facing significant challenges amidst Israel's ongoing military efforts.
Turning to international diplomacy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China for its purported bias towards Russia during peace efforts in Ukraine at the UN General Assembly. Blinken stressed possible sanctions if China's support continues, while Ukrainian President Zelensky echoed these concerns, likening it to colonialism.
Meanwhile, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has voiced frustration over the inability to halt Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's aggressive campaign against militants in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite global diplomatic efforts, fears of prolonged conflict persist as Netanyahu continues his military offensive, undeterred by international appeals for a ceasefire.
Joining the call for decisive action, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged the UN Security Council to intervene more forcefully in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Criticizing the frequent use of the veto, Prince Faisal emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies.
Lastly, in the same vein, Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut suburbs, primarily aiming for Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah, who fortunately remained unharmed. The strikes, the fiercest since the 2006 war, led to the deaths of several key Hezbollah officials and spurred international condemnation, with Prime Minister Netanyahu pledging continued action against Hezbollah.
In a related event shaking the region, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah survived an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Analysts believe that any harm to Nasrallah could disrupt Hezbollah’s internal cohesion and morale, highlighting the tenuous situation with his potential successor, Hashem Safieddine, facing significant challenges amidst Israel's ongoing military efforts.
Turning to international diplomacy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China for its purported bias towards Russia during peace efforts in Ukraine at the UN General Assembly. Blinken stressed possible sanctions if China's support continues, while Ukrainian President Zelensky echoed these concerns, likening it to colonialism.
Meanwhile, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has voiced frustration over the inability to halt Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's aggressive campaign against militants in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite global diplomatic efforts, fears of prolonged conflict persist as Netanyahu continues his military offensive, undeterred by international appeals for a ceasefire.
Joining the call for decisive action, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan urged the UN Security Council to intervene more forcefully in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Criticizing the frequent use of the veto, Prince Faisal emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies.
Lastly, in the same vein, Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut suburbs, primarily aiming for Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah, who fortunately remained unharmed. The strikes, the fiercest since the 2006 war, led to the deaths of several key Hezbollah officials and spurred international condemnation, with Prime Minister Netanyahu pledging continued action against Hezbollah.
