Tag Archives: Asia

THAILAND: Government Set To Legalize Civil Unions

The Asian Review reports: Thailand may have a reputation for acceptance when it comes to the transgender females that perform in the capital’s extravagant cabaret shows, but the country’s legal system, like many in Southeast Asia, has traditionally been less accommodating to the LGBT community. This appears to be changing, however, as the junta aims to prepare a bill that …

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Tokyo Passes Japan’s First LGBT Anti-Discrimination Law

Human Rights Watch reports: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has passed a bill that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, Human Rights Watch said. The act, enacted on October 5, 2018, also commits the city government to conducting public education about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. Tokyo authorities were inspired to draft the bill …

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TAIWAN: Brian Brown Joins Push For Referendum To Overturn Coming Same-Sex Marriage Law [VIDEO]

NOM president Brian Brown was in Taiwan to support a Christianist campaign for a referendum to overturn the coming court-ordered legalization of same-sex marriage. Channel News Asia reports: Conservative campaigners on Tuesday (Aug 28) threw a roadblock in the path to legalizing same-sex unions in Taiwan, proposing a public vote on the issue and saying any reforms would jeopardize “family …

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THAILAND: All 12 Boys Now Rescued From Cave

CBS News reports: The third phase of the high-risk rescue operation for the boys and their coach trapped in a cave in Thailand played out quickly on Tuesday. Hours after Thai officials confirmed that 19 divers had entered the cave complex in Chiang Rai province to extract the remaining four children and their assistant coach, several of them were brought …

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THAILAND: First Boys Rescued From Cave [VIDEO]

CNN reports: At least three boys who have been trapped inside a Thai cave appear to have been rescued, as authorities race against time to free the remaining boys and their soccer coach who have been underground for more than two weeks. A member of the rescue team stationed at the entrance of the cave witnessed three boys being evacuated …

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North Korea Changes Time Zone To Match Seoul

The BBC reports: North Korea is changing its time zone to match the South after last week’s inter-Korean summit, according to its state media. The country will move its clocks forward by 30 minutes on Saturday, said the official KCNA news agency. The reset is “the first practical step” to “speed up the process for the North and the South …

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Malaysia Jails First Person Under Fake News Law

NPR reports: A Danish citizen in Malaysia has pleaded guilty to maliciously publishing fake news by posting a YouTube video critical of police, making him the first person punished under the country’s new, controversial Anti-Fake News Act. Salah Salem Saleh Sulaiman, 46, is a citizen of Denmark. He posted on YouTube on April 21, after a Palestinian lecturer was shot …

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Korean Leaders Plan End To 68-Year War [VIDEO]

CBS News reports: With a single step over a weathered, cracked slab of concrete, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made history Friday by crossing over the world’s most heavily armed border to greet South Korean President Moon Jae-in for talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons. Kim then invited Moon to cross briefly back into the north with him before …

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North Korea Announces End To Nuclear Missile Tests

Agence France-Presse reports: North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has announced he will suspend nuclear and missile tests and shut a nuclear test site, Yonhap news agency said on Saturday (April 20). “From April 21, North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles,” Yonhap quoted North Korean state media as saying. “The North will shut down …

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Koreas May Declare Official End To 68-Year War

Bloomberg reports: South and North Korea are discussing plans to announce an official end to the military conflict between the two countries that are still technically at war, the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported, citing an unidentified South Korean official. At next week’s summit between South Korea President Moon Jae-in and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, the two neighbors may …

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MALAYSIA: University Holds Ex-Gay Poster Contest

The New Strait Times reports: A contest at a leading Malaysian university seeking ideas to “convert” gay students sparked anger Wednesday, with activists warning it could drive people in the Muslim-majority country to suicide. It was the latest example of what rights groups say is growing intolerance towards Malaysia’s gay community as religious fundamentalism increases, eroding the multi-ethnic country’s traditionally …

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Indonesia Asks Google To Block LGBT Apps

Coconuts Jakarta reports: Indonesia’s IT Ministry says it has filed a request to Google to block around 70 LGBT social networking apps from being available to download in the country through the Google Play Store. IT Minister Rudiantara confirmed today that the ministry is unable to block the apps themselves as they are all available under Google’s platform. One of …

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North And South Korea To Hold Military Talks

Reuters reports: North and South Korea agreed to hold military talks, a joint statement said after the two Koreas engaged in formal dialogue on Tuesday for the first time in more than two years. North Korea also decided to send a high-ranking delegation and a cheering squad to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea next month, but the head …

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THE PHILIPPINES: President Rodrigo Duterte Reverses, Backs Same-Sex Marriage, Vows To Protect LGBT Rights

Reuters reports: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday expressed his support for same-sex unions, after previously declaring his opposition to gay marriage, in an about-face that may displease bishops in the mainly Roman Catholic country. Speaking at a gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in his hometown Davao City, Duterte vowed to protect the rights of homosexuals …

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Human Rights Watch Report: Chinese Government Hospitals Are Using Electroshock Ex-Gay Torture

The Washington Post reports: Taiwan could soon become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, while Hong Kong this month won its bid to host the Gay Games in 2022, another Asian first. But in mainland China, LGBT people are still being subjected to forced confinement, medication and even electric shock therapy to “convert” them into heterosexuals. The …

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VIETNAM: Trump And Putin Wear Traditional Matching Outfits At Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit

Vanity Fair reports: For all the norms and traditions and basic standards of human behavior Donald Trump has broken in his 10 months as president, there is one pastime he couldn’t get away from. At the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, held this year in Vietnam, Trump donned an oversize, bright blue, traditional Vietnam shirt alongside his fellow world leaders …

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Trump Departs On Ten-Day Diplomacy Trip To Asia

NBC News reports: President Donald Trump embarked on the longest trip of his presidency Friday — a five-country, 10-day tour of Asia designed to strengthen diplomatic and economic partnerships while contending with North Korea’s nuclear threat. The president heads overseas during a time of what some experts see as a decline of U.S. influence in the region and they suggest …

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PHILIPPINES: President Says He’ll Have His Son Killed By Police If Drug Trafficking Accusation Proves True

The Guardian reports: The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, has said he would have his son killed if drug trafficking allegations against the younger politician were true, and that the police who carry out the hit would be protected from prosecution. Paolo Duterte, 42, appeared this month before a senate inquiry to deny accusations made by an opposition lawmaker that he …

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PHILIPPINES: House Of Representatives Votes 198-0 To Include LGBT Citizens Under Anti-Discrimination Laws

Finally some good news out of the Philippines. ABS-CBN News reports: The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill that aims to protect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Lawmakers voted 198-0 in favor of House Bill No. 4982 or the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality …

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North Korea Warns US Of “Merciless Strike”

CNN reports: North Korea warned Sunday that the upcoming US-South Korea military exercises are “reckless behavior driving the situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war.” Pyongyang also declared that its army can target the United States anytime, and neither Guam, Hawaii nor the US mainland can “dodge the merciless strike.” The messages in Rodong Sinmun, the official government …

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