SYDNEY -- At least 20 people have been killed as women, girls, the elderly and young boys rushed to escape heavy tribal fighting that has erupted near a gold mine in Papua New Guinea, local media reported.

The fight in the Porgera Valley in Enga province, home to one of the country's largest gold deposits, started last week when two factions of illegal miners fought among themselves and one faction killed two men from the other faction, according to local newspaper Post-Courier. (PNG-Violence-Toll)

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YANGON -- Heavy rains in central Myanmar's Mandalay region have damaged ancient pagodas in Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the state-run daily The Mirror reported on Monday.

The recent downpours have damaged notable structures in Bagan, including the southern gate of Shwezigon Pagoda, the northern arch of Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, and have caused the collapse of Sinka brick building, the report said. (Myanmar-Bagan Pagodas-Heavy Rainfalls)

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TOKYO -- The Japanese yen hit its strongest level in more than a year on Monday, rising briefly to the 139 yen zone against the U.S. dollar in Asian trading, due to growing speculations of a possible U.S. rate cut by 0.50 percentage points later this month.

The U.S. dollar was down 0.47 percent at 140.15 yen, falling further from the 140.285 it struck on Friday to its lowest since July 2023. Japanese financial markets were closed Monday due to a national holiday. (Japan-Yen-USD)

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DHAKA -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it will help the Bangladeshi interim government's efforts for vital structural reforms in the country.

The Manila-based lender expressed its eagerness to help the crisis-ridden South Asian economy, as a senior ADB delegation, led by its South Asia Director General Takeo Konishi, called on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of the interim Bangladeshi government in Dhaka Sunday. (Bangladesh-ADB-Structural Reform) Enditem

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