The Evening Wrap: Three powerful quakes kill over 1,900 people in Turkey and Syria

The combined death toll has risen to over 1,900 for Turkey and Syria after the region’s strongest quake in nearly a century on Monday. Turkey’s emergency services said at least 1,121 people died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, with another 783 confirmed fatalities in Syria, putting that toll at 1,904. The 7.8-magnitude night-time tremor, followed hours later by two more big ones, wiped out entire sections of major Turkish cities in a region filled with millions of people who have fled the civil war in Syria and other conflicts. The head of Syria’s National Earthquake Centre, Raed Ahmed, called it “the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre”. At least 783 people died in rebel and government-controlled parts of Syria, state media and medical sources said. Another 1,121 people died in Turkey, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose handling of one of the biggest disasters of his two decades in power could prove consequential to his re-election chances in polls due in May. SC to hear plea against Victoria Gowri’s appointment to Madras HC on Feb 7 Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Monday said in open court that the Supreme Court Collegium was not in the know about certain “developments” concerning advocate Victoria Gowri when it recommended her for appointment as Madras High Court judge on January 17, while listing a petition filed by a group of lawyers accusing her of indulging in “hate speech” for urgent hearing on February 7. The statement made by the Chief Justice of India and the urgent listing of the challenge against Ms. Gowri in the next 24 hours came shortly after Law Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted a list of 13 names of advocates, including that of Ms. Gowri, and judicial officers who have been cleared for High Court judgeships. Ms. Gowri was ninth on the list. Mr. Rijiju’s congratulatory tweet at 12.12 p.m. on Monday coincided with the CJI originally listing a petition filed by a group of Madras High Court lawyers against Ms. Gowri on February 10. The Law Minister’s tweet saw senior advocate Raju Ramachandran and advocate Sanchita Ain, representing the lawyers’ group, rush back to the courtroom of Chief Justice Chandrachud at 1.20 p.m., requesting an opportunity to mention the case again, owing to “extraordinary emergency”. Adani prepays $1,114 million to release the Group companies’ shares Gautam Adani and his family, who are promoters of the Adani Group companies have prepaid $1114 million worth of borrowings raised with pledging of shares of various listed entities ahead of the schedule payment in September 2024. With prepayment, pledged shares in Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmission will be released by the lenders. The promoters’ decision to pre-payment will help release 11.77 million shares in Adani Transmission Ltd., 168.27 million shares of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd and 27.56 million shares of Adani Green Energy Ltd. The move is aimed at scotching fears of investors amidst rout in the companies’ stocks after a damaging report published by the U.S. short seller Hindenburg Research which raised concerns about the “substantial debt” of the group entities. In a statement; the company said, “in light of recent market volatility and in continuation of the promoters’ commitment to reduce the overall promoter leverage backed by Adani listed company shares.” Woman entitled to maintenance under Domestic Violence Act even after divorce: Bombay HC A woman is entitled to maintenance under provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (DV Act) even after divorce, the Bombay High Court has said. A single Bench of Justice R.G. Avachat in the order of January 24 upheld a May 2021 order passed by a sessions court directing the man, a police constable, to pay a maintenance of ₹6,000 to his divorced wife per month. The Bench in its order noted that the plea raises a question as to whether a divorced wife is entitled to claim maintenance under the DV Act. The High Court in its order noted that the definition of the term ‘domestic relationship’ suggests a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point of time (mostly in the past), lived together in a shared household, when they were related by consanguinity, marriage or through a relationship in the nature of marriage. “The petitioner being husband was under statutory obligation to make provisions of maintenance of his wife. Since he failed to make such provision, the respondent/wife had no option but to file an application under the DV Act,” the court said. In Brief: Five new Supreme Court judges sworn in The Supreme Court got five new judges on February 6, increasing its judicial strength to 32. Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud read the oath of allegiance to the Constitution to Rajasthan HC Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal; Patna HC Chief Justice Sanjay Karol; Manipur HC Chief Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar; Patna HC judge, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah; and Allahabad HC judge, Justice Manoj Misra. The court is now just two short of its sanctioned strength of 34 judges. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 06 FEBRUARY 2023 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Three powerful quakes kill over 1,900 people in Turkey and Syria The combined death toll has risen to over 1,900 for Turkey and Syria after the [region’s strongest quake in nearly a century]( on Monday. Turkey’s emergency services said at least 1,121 people died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, with another 783 confirmed fatalities in Syria, putting that toll at 1,904. The 7.8-magnitude night-time tremor, followed hours later by two more big ones, wiped out entire sections of major Turkish cities in a region filled with millions of people who have fled the civil war in Syria and other conflicts. The head of Syria’s National Earthquake Centre, Raed Ahmed, called it “the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre”. At least 783 people died in rebel and government-controlled parts of Syria, state media and medical sources said. Another 1,121 people died in Turkey, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose handling of one of the biggest disasters of his two decades in power could prove consequential to his re-election chances in polls due in May. SC to hear plea against Victoria Gowri’s appointment to Madras HC on Feb 7 [Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud]( on Monday said in open court that the Supreme Court Collegium was not in the know about certain “developments” concerning [advocate Victoria Gowri]( when it recommended her for appointment as Madras High Court judge on January 17, while listing a petition filed by a group of lawyers accusing her of indulging in “hate speech” for [urgent hearing on February 7](. The statement made by the Chief Justice of India and the urgent listing of the challenge against Ms. Gowri in the next 24 hours came shortly after [Law Minister Kiren Rijiju]( tweeted a list of 13 names of advocates, including that of Ms. Gowri, and judicial officers who have been cleared for High Court judgeships. Ms. Gowri was ninth on the list. Mr. Rijiju’s congratulatory tweet at 12.12 p.m. on Monday coincided with the CJI originally listing a petition filed by a group of Madras High Court lawyers against Ms. Gowri on February 10. The Law Minister’s tweet saw senior advocate Raju Ramachandran and advocate Sanchita Ain, representing the lawyers’ group, rush back to the courtroom of Chief Justice Chandrachud at 1.20 p.m., requesting an opportunity to mention the case again, owing to “extraordinary emergency”. Adani prepays $1,114 million to release the Group companies’ shares Gautam Adani and his family, who are promoters of the [Adani Group companies have prepaid $1114 million worth of borrowings]( raised with pledging of shares of various listed entities ahead of the schedule payment in September 2024. With prepayment, pledged shares in Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmission will be released by the lenders. The promoters’ decision to pre-payment will help release 11.77 million shares in Adani Transmission Ltd., 168.27 million shares of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd and 27.56 million shares of Adani Green Energy Ltd. The move is aimed at scotching fears of investors amidst rout in the companies’ stocks after a damaging report published by the [U.S. short seller Hindenburg Research]( which raised concerns about the “substantial debt” of the group entities. In a statement; the company said, “in light of recent market volatility and in continuation of the promoters’ commitment to reduce the overall promoter leverage backed by Adani listed company shares.” Woman entitled to maintenance under Domestic Violence Act even after divorce: Bombay HC A [woman is entitled to maintenance under provisions]( of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (DV Act) even after divorce, the Bombay High Court has said. A single Bench of Justice R.G. Avachat in the order of January 24 upheld a May 2021 order passed by a sessions court directing the man, a police constable, to pay a maintenance of ₹6,000 to his divorced wife per month. The Bench in its order noted that the plea raises a question as to whether a divorced wife is entitled to claim maintenance under the DV Act. The High Court in its order noted that the definition of the term ‘domestic relationship’ suggests a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point of time (mostly in the past), lived together in a shared household, when they were related by consanguinity, marriage or through a relationship in the nature of marriage. “The petitioner being husband was under statutory obligation to make provisions of maintenance of his wife. Since he failed to make such provision, the respondent/wife had no option but to file an application under the DV Act,” the court said. In Brief: Five new Supreme Court judges sworn in The [Supreme Court got five new judges]( on February 6, increasing its judicial strength to 32. Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud read the oath of allegiance to the Constitution to Rajasthan HC Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal; Patna HC Chief Justice Sanjay Karol; Manipur HC Chief Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar; Patna HC judge, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah; and Allahabad HC judge, Justice Manoj Misra. The court is now just two short of its sanctioned strength of 34 judges. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. First Day First Show Stay up-to-date on all things cinema with the "First Day First Show" cinema & entertainment newsletter. Every week, we bring you movie reviews, news from regional cinema, Bollywood, Hollywood, and beyond, as well as updates from the streaming platforms. Whether you're a cinephile or just looking for your next great binge-watch, we've got you covered. 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