Asia
Local Pakistanis attack Chinese tile company workers for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad
In Faisalabad, Pakistan, local residents physically attacked employees of a Chinese tile manufacturing company for disrespecting the Prophet Muhammad.
What happened: In a viral video released by Zee News on Oct. 13, local Pakistanis are seen storming the premises of Time Ceramics Limited and attacking the company’s workers for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
Vietnamese woman dragged and physically forced to take COVID-19 test by authorities to sue
A Vietnamese woman will file a lawsuit against the Vietnamese government after she was physically forced by authorities to take a COVID-19 test.
What happened: On Sept. 28 in the city of Thuan An, police broke into the woman’s house and forced her to take a COVID-19 test, reported Radio Free Asia.
Shirtless North Korean soldiers break bricks with their heads, lay on glass and nails for Kim Jong-un
A video of North Korean soldiers — some of them shirtless — performing extreme martial arts for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has gone viral on social media.
What’s going on: The performance, which originally aired on North Korean TV, was part of a “self-defense” military exhibition held on Monday. The rest of the event included a formal ceremony, a weapons display and flight stunts by combat pilots, according to KCNA.
Vietnamese health official resigns after backlash over drowning, burning of couple’s dogs due to COVID-19
A health official in Vietnam, who allegedly led the slaughter of COVID-19 patients’ pets, recently resigned after facing public outrage.
Public outcry: Dr. Do Kim Chi, head of the medical station at the Khanh Hung Commune in Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau province, sparked heavy criticism for deciding to cull 15 dogs and one cat owned by a married couple who tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend, reported Tuoi Tre News.
Think you have a difficult name? Indonesian boy’s name is made up of 19 words
A couple from East Java, Indonesia, was unable to obtain the birth certificate of their 3-year-old son after authorities said they could not print his name on the document because it was too long.
What’s in a name: The child’s name, which contains 19 words, or 115 letters, is significant to the history of the Islamic civilization, his father, Arif Akbar, explained, according to World of Buzz.
Man sentenced to be hanged after importing two pounds of marijuana into Singapore
A Singaporean man, who allegedly imported one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of marijuana from Malaysia to Singapore three years ago, is set to be hanged after the Apex Court dismissed his appeal on Tuesday.
Death penalty: Omar Yacob Bamadhaj, 41, was arrested at a routine check at Woodlands Checkpoint on July 12, 2018 for possessing three bundles of cannabis. He was sentenced to death in February, reported Channel News Asia.
Pchum Ben, Cambodia’s ‘Festival of the Dead,’ will end early due to COVID-19
October 5 marks the beginning of Pchum Ben, a 15-day religious festival in Cambodia during which Buddhists commemorate seven generations of deceased ancestors.
About the festival: The Pchum Ben Festival, also known as Cambodia’s “Festival for the Dead,” is the second biggest festival for Cambodians after the Khmer New Year. The festival will be celebrated this week from Oct. 5 to 7, reported Khmer Times.
Philippine Senate approves bill raising age of consent from 12 to 16
The Senate of the Philippines approved a bill that raises the country’s age of sexual consent from 12 to 16, bringing efforts to end one of the world’s lowest ages of consent closer to reality.
Why this matters: To date, the Philippines has the lowest age of consent in all of Asia. Southeast Asia, where the archipelago is located, has particularly been a hub for child predators for years, and the onset of COVID-19 has only worsened fears of increased cybersex trafficking involving minors in the region.
Manny Pacquiao tests his chess skills against ‘10-year-old Magnus Carlsen’ in exhibition match
Manny Pacquiao can now add “up-and-coming chess player” to his ever-evolving resume after his recent match against a chess app.
Valiant losing effort: The recently retired boxer, who has filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to join the Philippines’ 2022 presidential race, fared better than most celebrity challengers during the “Magnus Carlsen Celebrity Charity Challenge,” reported Rappler.
Philippines crowns first openly queer candidate to Miss Universe 2021
Beatrice Luigi Gomez is set to become the first openly queer candidate to represent the Philippines at the 2021 Miss Universe pageant in December.
Capturing the crown: Gomez, who identifies as bisexual, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021 on Thursday, Sept. 30, Rappler reported.
Trial set for autistic Cambodian teen whose house was stormed by nearly 20 armed officers over insult on messaging app
The trial for an autistic Cambodian teenager accused of insulting local government officials is set to begin Sept. 29.
Jailed over Telegram: Kak Sovann Chhay, the 16-year-old son of two government opposition figures, was arrested for allegedly sending messages that were deemed insulting to officials from the ruling party on an app called Telegram, BBC reported.
Restaurant that employs disabled workers posts pictures of empty tables online in plea for help
On Tuesday, diners from all walks of life flocked to Dignity Kitchen, an eatery in Boon Keng, Singapore, to show their support as the business struggles to attract diners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Call for help: Dignity Kitchen, a restaurant which aims to employ people with disabilities, posted a series of pictures showing their empty food court on Monday, according to AsiaOne. “Once again empty tables at Dignity Kitchen,” the establishment said in the caption.