New to Myanmar’s Rakhine Conflict, Landmines Claim Rising Toll
A 66-year-old man who died after stepping on a landmine while tending cattle in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state last week joined a growing list of mine victims in the 19-month armed conflict between government forces and the rebel Arakan Army. The hostilities in northern Rakhine and one township of adjacent Chin state have killed 266 […]
As US COVID-19 Cases Rise, Deaths Flat, for Now
WASHINGTON – The number of people infected with the coronavirus is rising sharply in the United States. But the number of people dying is flat. It sounds like good news. But experts warn against reading too much into it. The number of new cases has seen a steady rise since mid-June. The seven-day average now […]
Asian Markets Rebound Thursday
Asian markets are on the rebound Thursday on the heels of Wall Street’s strong close the day before. The Nikkei index in Tokyo ended the day 0.4 percent higher. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was slightly down, 0.1 percent in late afternoon trading, while Shanghai’s Composite is up 1 percent. Elsewhere in the region, the […]
US Sets Another Daily Record for COVID-19 Infections
The novel coronavirus pandemic has reached a new milestone, with more than 12 million confirmed infections, according to the online tracker created by Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world’s countries with the most confirmed COVID-19 infections at 3,054,695 — a fourth of the world’s total — including more than 60,000 new cases on Wednesday, the biggest single-day number since […]
Myanmar Army Actions in Rakhine State Should be Tried as ‘War Crimes,’ Says Amnesty
Myanmar’s army has shelled villages and burned homes in Rakhine state in recent months, killing and displacing civilians in “attacks that amount to war crimes” that should be tried by the top United Nations court, Amnesty International said Wednesday. The coronavirus pandemic brought no pause in the 18-month conflict between Myanmar forces and the […]
Coronavirus Rumors Spark Communal Violence in India
TELINIPARA, INDIA – Squatting in the middle of her badly charred room, its tiled roof blown off, Hena Tabassum described how on May 12 a Hindu mob launched a fiery attack on her brick-and-tile shack. “We were fasting for Ramadan. It was around 12:30 p.m. Suddenly the mob attacked. They threw bombs, petrol bombs, and […]
Oxfam: Pandemic Pushing Millions to Brink of Starvation
LONDON – The coronavirus outbreak has worsened the hunger crisis in the world’s poorest corners, and up to 12,000 people could die each day from hunger linked to the social and economic effects of the pandemic, the humanitarian group Oxfam warned Thursday. Its report said mass unemployment, disruption to food production and declining aid as […]
Asian Markets Mixed as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues to Cast a Pall
Asian markets were in mixed territory Wednesday as investors continued to be on edge over the rising rates of COVID-19 cases around the world. Tokyo’s Nikkei index closed out the day’s trading session 0.7 percent lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 0.4 percent in late afternoon trading, and Shanghai’s Composite index was up […]
Facebook Takes Down Accounts, Pages of Trump Ally Stone
Facebook Inc. on Wednesday removed 50 personal and professional pages connected to U.S. President Donald Trump’s longtime adviser Roger Stone, who is due to report to prison next week. The social media platform said Stone and his associates, including a prominent supporter of the right-wing Proud Boys group in Stone’s home state of Florida, had […]