Asia & Pacific – Page 48 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

India’s govt accuses Twitter of trying to ‘undermine’ country’s legal system after company raises ‘freedom of expression’ concerns

Posted on May 29, 2021May 29, 2021By Editor

The government of India has hit back at Twitter after the social media site appeared to accuse police of launching a crackdown on free speech, with the company saying it was worried for its staff in the southern Asian country. … Read More >India’s govt accuses Twitter of trying to ‘undermine’ country’s legal system after company raises ‘freedom of expression’ concerns

Tokyo Games could create ‘Olympic’ Covid strain, Japanese Doctors Union warns

Posted on May 29, 2021May 29, 2021By Editor

The head of the Japan Doctors Union, Dr. Naoto Ueyama, has warned that holding the Summer Games in Tokyo as planned could create an ‘Olympic’ strain of Covid-19, as the Asian nation battles a fourth wave of the virus. … Read More >Tokyo Games could create ‘Olympic’ Covid strain, Japanese Doctors Union warns

‘Patriots rule’: Hong Kong electoral system becomes law after legislature overwhelmingly approves it

Posted on May 29, 2021May 29, 2021By Editor

Hong Kong’s legislative body has overwhelmingly backed the ‘patriots rule’ electoral reform system that restricts political positions in the autonomous region to people who support a united China. … Read More >‘Patriots rule’: Hong Kong electoral system becomes law after legislature overwhelmingly approves it

Indian Covid-19 variant has now infected people in 53 territories, as strain spreads globally – WHO report

Posted on May 29, 2021May 29, 2021By Editor

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report outlining how the mutated Indian Covid-19 strain has spread to 53 territories, with unconfirmed information suggesting it has been detected in a further seven. … Read More >Indian Covid-19 variant has now infected people in 53 territories, as strain spreads globally – WHO report

Cyclone Yaas batters India’s eastern coast: deaths reported as homes destroyed and airports close (VIDEOS)

Posted on May 28, 2021May 28, 2021By Editor

Cyclone Yaas has made landfall in Odisha State, bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 140kph (87mph) and causing widespread damage across eastern India, destroying homes, flooding villages, and disrupting transport. … Read More >Cyclone Yaas batters India’s eastern coast: deaths reported as homes destroyed and airports close (VIDEOS)

WhatsApp SUES Indian government over new social media rules, citing ‘privacy concerns’ – reports

Posted on May 28, 2021May 28, 2021By Editor

WhatsApp has reportedly filed a legal case against the Indian government over a new set of social media rules that just took effect, asking a Delhi court to declare one guideline an unconstitutional privacy violation. … Read More >WhatsApp SUES Indian government over new social media rules, citing ‘privacy concerns’ – reports

Doctor among 4 arrested in Indonesia for stealing prisoners’ Covid-19 vaccines to sell on black market

Posted on May 28, 2021May 28, 2021By Editor

Indonesian authorities have arrested four people charged with stealing Covid-19 vaccines that had been marked for prisoners. The shots were then being sold to buyers in Jakarta and Medan for $17. … Read More >Doctor among 4 arrested in Indonesia for stealing prisoners’ Covid-19 vaccines to sell on black market

Taipei claims millions of Covid-19 shots are on the way as government extends virus-related restrictions

Posted on May 28, 2021May 28, 2021By Editor

Taiwan’s health minister has promised that more vaccines are on the way amid pressure to accept Chinese-made shots, as domestic infections spike and the nation’s vaccination rate remains at around 1%. … Read More >Taipei claims millions of Covid-19 shots are on the way as government extends virus-related restrictions

‘Do not travel’: US warns against visiting Olympic host nation Japan amid high Covid-19 prevalence

Posted on May 27, 2021May 27, 2021By Editor

The US Department of State has issued a ‘Do Not Travel’ order for Japan amid a high rate of Covid-19 infection in the country, just two months before the capital Tokyo is set to host the Olympic Games. … Read More >‘Do not travel’: US warns against visiting Olympic host nation Japan amid high Covid-19 prevalence

More than 200 people injured after 2 trains collide in subway tunnel in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (VIDEO)

Posted on May 27, 2021May 27, 2021By Editor

The Malaysian transport minister has announced an investigation into the collision of two subway trains in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Monday evening, which injured as many as 213 people. … Read More >More than 200 people injured after 2 trains collide in subway tunnel in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (VIDEO)