Soe Nay Oo, a former imam in Myanmar who had fled to Thailand after the 2021 coup, is mourning the loss of around 170 loved ones in the recent earthquake that struck Sagaing. Most of them died in collapsed mosques while praying during Ramadan. The death toll in the earthquake, which also affected Mandalay, is over 2,700 and expected to rise. Soe Nay Oo recounts the loss of close relatives, friends, and community members, including a respected businessman and the principal of a local school. He describes the devastating impact on the Muslim community and the efforts to recover bodies from the rubble. The tragedy during Ramadan has left him devastated, but he believes the departed will be remembered as martyrs. The community is struggling to cope with the aftermath and the ongoing conflict with the military junta adds to the challenges they face.
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Kaea Karauria’s parents presented with taonga at Māori league tournament in Rotorua
A carved tewhatewha was presented to Kaea Karauria's parents after his tragic death in Napier, where he was fatally stabbed during a fight at an 18th birthday party. Kaea's teammates honored him at the Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Rugby League tournament in Rotorua, where the tewhatewha was initially meant to be a birthday gift for him. The police are investigating Kaea's death, urging witnesses to come forward with truthful information, as no charges have been...
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