MON: KASHMIR IN LOCKDOWN
Since 5 Aug, India’s government has removed Kashmir’s special status as an autonomous state, a provision known as Article 370. Curfew conditions have thus far been imposed on Kashmiris, with a public communications shutdown and Indian paramilitary troops being sent over to patrol the state. Neighboring Pakistan has condemned the move as “illegal”.
The Full Story @
BBC News – Article 370 and why it matters for Kashmiris
BBC News – Kashmiris speak from the Lockdown; rising sentiments of militancy
TUE: JAPAN HEAT WAVE KILLS 57, HOSPITALISES 18,347 IN FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST
As temperatures across Japan continue to rise beyond 35°C, the deadly heat in recent weeks has exacerbated heat-related health issues nationwide. In the first week of August, 57 deaths were reported, compared to 11 deaths in the previous week. Additionally, 18,347 hospitalisation cases were also reported, a threefold increase from 5,664 patients reported in the last week of July. Nearly 55% of the people hospitalised were the elderly.
The Full Story @
Kyodo News – Coverage on the deaths and hospitalisation cases for the first week of August
Kyodo News – Coverage on the deaths and hospitalisation cases for the last week of July
THU: AMAZON’S LATEST INTERN OPPORTUNITY – CHILD LABOUR
Amazon has come under fire after their supplier factory, Foxconn, was revealed to be illegally pressuring Chinese “interns” to work overnight and overtime. The interns, aged 16-18 were paid a mere 16.54 yuan (SGD 3.25) an hour. Teachers were paid by the factory to “encourage” students to work overtime, with one teacher threatening their student’s graduation and scholarship prospects.
The Full Story @
China Labor Watch – Investigation into Foxconn
The Guardian – Effects on the interns and backlash towards Amazon
FRI: TWO SINGAPOREANS REPORTED MISSING IN WATERS OFF MERSING, JOHOR
Two Singaporeans have been reported missing on 8 Aug while kayaking in the waters off Mersing, Johor. In response, Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) activated a search and rescue team to cover a search area of 150 square nautical miles, but was unsuccessful. Since then, Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department and the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) have each deployed an aircraft to cover 900 square nautical miles.
The Full Story @
New Straits Times – Initial coverage and responses to the incident
Malaysiakini – Additional aircraft deployed by Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department, RMP
SAT: JEFFREY EPSTEIN IS (FINALLY) DEAD
Jeffrey Epstein, disgraced former financer with more than $550 million in assets, hanged himself in his jail cell last week. Epstein, who has ties to Donald Trump and Prince Andrew, was charged and jailed for coordinating a sex trafficking ring comprising of underage girls. He was taken off suicide watch shortly before he took his life, which many criticize as utterly negligent. His victims are concerned that his untimely death has derailed justice.
The Full Story @
Wall Street Journal – Epstein’s past sexual offences
The New York Times – Epstein “left alone, not monitored” before suicide
SAT: TYPHOON LEKIMA HITS CHINA, 44 DEAD
China has experienced its ninth typhoon this year. Despite an earlier evacuation of over a million people from Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, as well as from major coastal cities like Shanghai, 44 people have been reported dead and 16 reported missing. The storm has caused 18 billion yuan in damages.
The Full Story @
Reuters – Effects of the storm
IN OTHER NEWS:
- SG in peak dengue season
- Travel warnings issued against US due to mass shootings
- Pentagon blames Trump for return of ISIS
- Pro-China trolls doxxed after trying to troll Hong Kong protestors
- Boris Johnson accused of breaking economy over no-deal threats
- Mass shootings in the US cities El Paso and Dayton
- Jason Momoa run over by a bulldozer while protesting the destruction of native Hawaiian land
- Goldman Sachs employees charged over 1MDB scandal