Vietnam reports surge in dengue fever cases
Vietnam’s two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, are witnessing a sharp rise in dengue fever cases. Ho Chi Minh City recorded more than 2,500 new infections between August 11 and 17, a 38 percent jump compared to the previous month’s average, according to local media. The city has reported over 26,000 cases so far this year—an increase of 220 percent from the same period in 2024—with 15 related deaths, Xinhua reported.
In Hanoi, 145 new cases were confirmed last week, with 59 wards affected and six outbreak clusters active. Health authorities have launched mosquito control campaigns, urged residents to eliminate breeding grounds, and are closely monitoring the potential spread of chikungunya, though no cases have been detected.
Protests erupt in Sri Lanka’s capital over the arrest of ex-president Wickremesinghe
More than 1,000 supporters of Sri Lanka’s former president Ranil Wickremesinghe protested his arrest in Colombo on Tuesday ahead of a crucial hearing to decide whether to grant bail to the senior opposition politician accused of misusing public funds during his presidency, Associated Press reported.
Wickremesinghe, who was president from 2022 to 2024, was arrested last Friday over accusations of using public funds to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony in London after an official visit to the United States in 2023. The court ordered him to be detained until Tuesday’s hearing.
Wickremesinghe’s arrest has caused uproar with opposition lawmakers and politicians claiming it is a political witch hunt that undermines the country’s democracy.
On Tuesday, supporters and opposition activists gathered on the main streets leading to the Magistrates’ Court in protest, according to Associated Press.
Bones found at Japanese mine accident site where Korean forced laborers died in WWII
Bones, likely to be human, have been recovered at a wartime undersea mine in western Japan where about 180 mostly Korean forced laborers died in an accident in 1942, according to a Japanese civil group helping in the search for their remains, Associated Press reported.
Three possible limb bones and a skull were found in the past two days by Korean divers at the former site of the Chosei Mine in Yamaguchi prefecture, according the group known as Kizamu Kai.
The bones were to be examined by local police to determine whether they belong to any of the victims who died at the mine 83 years ago.
If confirmed, the discovery is expected to accelerate efforts to recover other remains of the 136 Korean forced laborers and 47 Japanese workers killed in the mine collapse, according to Associated Press.
Indian exports face blow as US enforces steep new tariffs from Wednesday
Indian exporters are bracing for disruptions after a U.S. Homeland Security notification confirmed Washington would impose an additional 25% tariff on all Indian-origin goods from Wednesday, ramping up trade pressure on the Asian nation, Reuters reported.
Indian exports will face U.S. duties of up to 50% - among the highest imposed by Washington - after President Donald Trump announced extra tariffs as punishment for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil.
The new duties will apply to goods entering the U.S. for consumption or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption from 12:01 a.m. EDT on Wednesday or 9:31 a.m. IST, according to the Homeland Security notice.
The Indian rupee weakened 0.2% to 87.75 per U.S. dollar in early trade, even as the greenback declinedagainst many other currencies. The benchmark equity indexesand were each trading 0.7% lower, according to Reuters.
