International Women’s Day was on March 8—celebrated every year around the world. This year, we wanted to highlight the women leading our city, and the world.
Indian women protest new citizenship laws, joining a global ‘fourth-wave’ feminist movement
By Alka Kurian The Conversation (Republished with permission) Women are among the strongest opponents of two new laws in India that threaten the citizenship rights of vulnerable groups like Muslims, poor women, oppressed castes, and LGBTQ people. The Citizenship Amendment Act, passed in December, fast-tracks Indian citizenship for undocumented refugees from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan—but […]
Virus fears lead K-pop superstars BTS to cancel Seoul shows
By HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — K-pop superstars BTS canceled an upcoming concert series in South Korea’s capital as the country that exports entertainment worldwide tries to contain a soaring virus outbreak. It follows a near-shutdown of entertainment in hard-hit parts of China, the world’s second-biggest economy and second-biggest box-office market. […]
China’s virus death toll surpasses SARS but new cases fall
By JOE McDONALD Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — China’s virus death toll reached a new high, at least 1,113 as of press time, passing the number of fatalities in the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, but fewer new cases were reported in a possible sign its spread may be slowing as other nations stepped up efforts to […]
Universities cancel study-abroad programs amid virus fears
By MICHAEL MELIA and KANTELE FRANKO Associated Press As concerns about China’s virus outbreak spread, universities are scrambling to assess the risks to their programs, and some are canceling study-abroad opportunities and prohibiting travel affecting hundreds of thousands of students. From Europe to Australia and the United States, universities in countries that host Chinese students […]
Thailand mourns victims of country’s deadliest mass shooting
By PREEYAPA T. KHUNSONG and TASSANEE VEJPONGSA Associated Press NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand (AP) — As mourning began for the victims of Thailand’s worst mass shooting, the country counted its losses: a mother shot dead at the wheel of her car as her son sat beside her, a 13-year-old student gunned down as he was riding […]
Philippines reports world’s 1st virus death outside China
The first death outside China from the new coronavirus was recorded on Feb. 2 in the Philippines, as countries around the world evacuated hundreds of their citizens from the infection zone and Chinese authorities completed a new, rapidly constructed 1,000-bed hospital for victims of the outbreak.
Bryant’s death draws tributes from Asian fans, politicians
BEIJING (AP) — Kobe Bryant was a hugely popular figure in Asia, no more so than in China where basketball rivals soccer as the most popular sport. However, his death in a helicopter accident comes at an awkward time between the country and the league. National broadcaster CCTV pulled all NBA games off the air […]
Airlines offer flight refunds to China as death toll rises
British Airways (BA) is allowing passengers bound for Hong Kong and China the option of postponing or refunding their flights as the coronavirus death toll increases. On BA’s help section on its website, the airline says, “We fully understand that you may want to change your travel plans as a result of the recent coronavirus […]
Asian demand for face masks soars on fears of Chinese virus
By HARUKA NUGA and GRANT PECK TOKYO (AP) — Panic and pollution drive the market for protective face masks, so business is booming in Asia, where fear of the virus from China is straining supplies and helping make mask-wearing the new normal. Demand for face masks and hand sanitizing liquid has soared, as both local […]