Morning Lodestar News

  BANGKOK -- Myanmar’s military unleashed airstrikes and heavy artillery on a small town controlled by ethnic guerrillas, sending hundreds of people fleeing across a river into Thailand, local officials and residents said Friday. Government forces targeted Lay Kay Kaw, a small town near the Thai border that is controlled by the Karen guerrillas who are seeking greater autonomy from the central government. Fighting has intensified since February, when the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, and guerrillas offered refuge to opponents of the army. The most recent clashes were triggered by a raid last week by government soldiers on Lay Kay Kaw. Independent Myanmar media reported that government troops seized 30-60 people associated with the organized opposition to the military government, including at least one elected lawmaker from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party. The sounds of gunfire, bombing and fighter jets could be heard ...

  IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, The city has recorded 143 infections since 9 December More than 13 million people in the Chinese city of Xi'an have been ordered to stay at home as authorities attempt to tackle a Covid outbreak there. The northern city has recorded 143 infections since 9 December. Under the new restrictions announced on Wednesday, only one person per household is allowed to leave home every two days to buy essential goods. China has a strict zero-Covid strategy, using mass testing and lockdown to stop outbreaks. The country is on high alert for Covid as it gears up to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in February. Residents of Xi'an, known for its Terracotta Warriors, are not allowed to leave the city unless they have extenuating circumstances and approval from officials to so do. The restrictions came into effect at midnight on Thursday local time. Millions of tests have been conducted in Shaanxi province, where Xi'an is located. Long-distance bus s...