MIAMI (AP) — U.S. immigration authorities want to force 10 detainees on a hunger strike in Florida to submit to medical examinations. According to a petition for an emergency court order filed last Friday in Miami federal court, all 10 detainees are men from Bangladesh. The petition says the men have been on a hunger […]
Jolie, Suu Kyi visit Myanmar female factory workers
AP Wire Service YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Angelina Jolie has joined Myanmar’s opposition leader and democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, in sitting down with female workers to learn more about their dire conditions. Jolie, who is a special envoy for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, is on a four-day visit to the Southeast […]
Malaysia finds graves of trafficking victims
By Eileen Ng and Todd Pitman Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian authorities said Sunday that they have discovered a series of graves in at least 17 abandoned camps used by human traffickers on the border with Thailand where Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar have been held. The finding follows a similar discovery earlier […]
UN chief says save migrants, deal with cause of flight
By Robin McDowell and Tran Van Minh Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged Southeast Asian nations to deal with the causes behind a growing humanitarian crisis that has forced thousands of Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants to flee by sea, leaving many still stranded in boats. Ban […]
Rohingya hope to seek better life in Malaysia
By Eileen Ng Associated Press KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia has been a sort of promised land for Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar. The tens of thousands who endured perilous journeys to get here find more work opportunities than in Indonesia and a more Muslim-friendly environment than in Thailand. But in the 25 […]
Bangladesh braces for protests after Islamist’s execution
By Julhas Salam Associated Press DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)—Bangladesh braced for protests and fresh violence Sunday after a senior official of the largest Islamist party was executed on charges of crimes against humanity during the country’s 1971 independence war, the second man to be hanged since the government revived war crime trials that have sharpened political […]
Cricket in March Madness — A sport that is not as niche as you might think
By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly While the NCAA college basketball tournament has many hoop fans filling out their brackets to see who will make it to the Final Four and win the NCAA Championship, another tournament is taking place on the other side of the world with just as much fandom and probably as […]
Bangladesh orders N. Korean diplomat out for smuggling gold
By Julhas Alam Associated Press DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s government has ordered a North Korean diplomat to leave the country after discovering $1.4 million of unauthorized gold in his bag when he arrived at Dhaka’s airport, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday. The ministry summoned North Korean Ambassador Ri Song Hyon on Monday and […]
Loss and birth — Tukwila community aids Burmese family of Ciin Nuam
By Minal Singh Northwest Asian Weekly Almost $60,000 has been donated to the Zam Khap family so far in the fundraising drive organized by the Tukwila School District Community.
Obama says ‘Rohingya,’ displeasing Myanmar hosts
By Todd Pitman and Julie Pace Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s minority Rohingya Muslims are among the most persecuted people on earth, and advocates of their cause were hoping President Barack Obama would not only press the issue during his visit this week — they were hoping he would simply say their name.