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ablaze. In rugged central regions of the country, aggrieved villagers have prayed for mountain gods to unleash their wrath.
• "This is our last weapon," said Sein Than, who was among 200 families evicted from homes at Michaung Kan in eastern Yangon, where they had lived for generations. He and dozens of others presented offerings -- and pleas -- to "demons of the Earth."
• "Punish those who grab our land and desecrate the pagoda," they chanted this month in front of a Buddhist temple. "Drag them to the lowest level of being and keep them there forever."
• Land seizures by the military, the government and private companies linked to junta cronies have long been commonplace in this Southeast Asian country, whether for development or the extraction of natural resources.
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• WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama celebrated when sign-ups for his health care law topped 8 million, far exceeding expectations after a slipshod launch. Most Americans, however, remain unimpressed.
• A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds that public opinion continues to run deeply negative on the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature effort to cover the uninsured. Forty-three percent oppose the law, compared with just 28 percent in support.
• The pattern illustrates why the health care law remains a favored target for Republicans seeking a Senate majority in the midterm elections.
• The poll does have a bright spot for the administration: Those who signed up for coverage aren't reeling from sticker shock. Most said they found premiums in line with what they expected, or even lower.
• But even that was diminished by another finding: More than one-third of those who said they or someone in their household tried to enroll, were ultimately unable to do so. For the White House, it's an uncomfortable reminder of the technical problems that paralyzed the HealthCare.gov website for weeks after it went live last fall.
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