Tag Archives: Asia

Philippine President: Lockdown Violators Will Be Killed

CBS News reports: In the Philippines, the 57 million residents of the country’s main island, Luzon, are under strict lockdown orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Despite that, many in a Manila slum took to the streets Wednesday to protest a lack of supplies, arguing they had not received any food packs since the lockdown started two weeks ago. …

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Japan Extends Entry Ban To 73 Countries Including US

The Associated Press reports: Japan’s Prime Minister says Japan has banned entry from 49 more countries, including the U.S., Canada, all of China, South Korea and seven Southeast Asian countries. That brings the total number of countries banned from entering Japan to 73. Shinzo Abe says the government has tightened visa restrictions and will require a two-week quarantine to visitors …

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Turkmenistan’s Dictator Bans The Word “Coronavirus”

NPR reports: The Central Asian country of Turkmenistan claims it has no coronavirus cases. But if you happen to utter the word “coronavirus” while waiting, say, for the bus in the white-marbled capital Ashgabat, there’s a good chance you’ll be arrested. That’s because the Turkmen government, run since 2006 by the flamboyant dentist-rapper strongman Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has reportedly banned the …

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Singapore Court Rejects Bid To Overturn Gay Sex Ban

Coconuts Singapore reports: Members of Singapore’s LGBT community reacted with dismay today to word that gay sex remains a criminal offense after the high court dismissed three challenges to the antiquated law. The court’s reported ruling comes four months after the court heard arguments from attorneys representing three men: DJ Johnson Ong; a retired doctor named Roy Tan; and Bryan …

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Australian PM Limits Public Gatherings To Two People

Australia’s 7 News reports: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the strictest gathering recommendations to date. The official advice has tightened to advise that no more than two people gather in public spaces at any given time. Morrison said the two-person maximum would not yet be enforced with on-the-spot fines. “States and territories will decide whether they proceed to make …

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China Bans Entry By Foreign Nationals Effective Today

Via press release from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: In view of the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the world, China has decided to temporarily suspend the entry into China by foreign nationals holding visas or residence permits still valid to the time of this announcement, effective from 0 a.m., 28 march 2020. Entry by foreign nationals with APEC Business …

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Indian PM Orders Nationwide 21-Day Lockdown

India’s APB New reports: Taking a massive step to prevent further spread of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that the entire country will be put under a ‘curfew-like’ lockdown from midnight today. The lockdown will be effective for 21 days, till April 14. Addressing the nation for the second time on …

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INDIA: 110,000 Welcome “Macho Man” Trump [VIDEO]

Politico reports: There were women in glitzy Indian garb dancing, Bollywood stars singing and an eclectic mix of music blaring in time to flashing lights. And when President Donald Trump finally appeared on stage at the world’s largest cricket stadium, the sun-soaked crowd burst into a deafening, rapturous applause. It was exactly the scene the TV star-turned president wanted. “Namaste …

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Philippines To Scrap Longtime Military Pact With US

The New York Times reports: The Philippines said Tuesday it had officially informed the United States that it was scrapping a military pact that has given the longtime American ally a security blanket for the past two decades. The notice to terminate the pact, the Visiting Forces Agreement, comes as President Rodrigo Duterte has warmed up to China while distancing …

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Hong Kong Court Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage

The South China Morning Post reports: A Hong Kong court on Friday turned down the city’s first judicial challenge for same-sex marriage and civil union partnerships, but urged the government to “undertake a comprehensive review” to save time and money from court actions arising from discrimination. Court of First Instance judge Mr Justice Anderson Chow ruled against a lesbian woman …

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Indonesia Set To Criminalize All Non-Marital Sex

Reuters reports: Indonesia is poised to pass a new penal code that criminalizes consensual sex outside marriage and introduces stiff penalties for insulting the president’s dignity – a move rights groups criticized as an intrusive assault on basic freedoms. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim majority country and has substantial Christian, Hindu and Buddhist minorities, but has seen a …

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Philippines High Court Boots Marriage Equality Case

CNN Philippines reports: The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. The high court, in a statement Tuesday, said it junked the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by Atty. Jesus Falcis due to its “lack of standing” and for “failing to raise an actual, justiciable controversy.” The court, despite acknowledging that the 1987 …

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TAIWAN: Hundreds Marry As Law Goes Into Effect

The CBC reports: More than 360 same-sex couples tied the knot in emotional scenes in Taiwan on Friday, the first legal marriages in Asia hailed by activists as a social revolution for the region. The government data was released after Taiwan’s parliament passed a bill last week that endorsed same-sex marriage, although the measure could complicate President Tsai Ing-wen’s bid …

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BREAKING: Taiwan Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

The New York Times reports: As tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the rainy streets of Taipei on Friday, lawmakers in Taiwan voted to legalize same-sex marriage, a first for Asia. “We want to marry!” supporters outside the legislature chanted in approval of the measure, as they applauded and waved signs and rainbow banners. “On May 17th, 2019 in #Taiwan, …

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JAPAN: 13 Gay Couples File Valentine’s Marriage Suit

The Kyodo News reports: Thirteen same-sex couples demanding marriage equality filed lawsuits against the government at district courts across Japan on Valentine’s Day on Thursday, arguing that its refusal to allow them to marry is unconstitutional and discriminatory. Each of the 26 plaintiffs is seeking 1 million yen ($9,000) in compensation, claiming that the government’s failure to recognize same-sex marriage …

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Shrinking Himalayan Ice Caps Imperil Water Supply

The Guardian reports: At least a third of the huge ice fields in Asia’s towering mountain chain are doomed to melt due to climate change, according to a landmark report, with serious consequences for almost 2 billion people. Even if carbon emissions are dramatically and rapidly cut and succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5C, 36% of the glaciers along …

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Vietnam Criminalizes Online Criticism Of Government

The Guardian reports: Vietnam has introduced a new cybersecurity law, which criminalises criticising the government online and forces internet providers to give authorities’ user data when requested, sparking claims of a “totalitarian” crackdown on dissent. The law, which mirrors China’s draconian internet rules, came into effect on 1 January and forces internet providers to censor content deemed “toxic” by the …

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INDONESIA: City To Impose Fines For “LGBT Behavior”

Reuters reports: An Indonesian city has approved a bylaw to fine gay or transgender people up to 1 million rupiah ($70) for behaviour that could “disturb public order” or be considered immoral, the city’s deputy mayor said on Friday. The regulation is the latest example of a rise in government and public hostility toward the LGBT community in the world’s …

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TAIWAN: Judicial Secretary General Declares That Anti-LGBT Referendum Can’t Override 2017 Marriage Ruling

The Taiwan News reports: Taiwan’s Judicial Yuan Secretary-General publicly announced today that the passage of anti-equality referendums cannot override the Constitutional Court’s 2017 ruling on same-sex marriage. Secretary-General Lu Tai-lang clarified what has already been stressed by many keen legal observers: interpretations made by the Constitutional Court hold the highest rule of law and cannot be defeated by referendums. The …

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TAIWAN: 100,000 Rally Ahead Of Marriage Referendum

The Taipei Times reports: More than 100,000 people, including musicians, filmmakers and politicians, yesterday rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei to show support for same-sex marriage ahead of Saturday’s referendums on the issue. “In this last week leading up to the referendums, we hope to encourage more people to vote yes on referendums No. 14 and 15, and to vote …

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