Suu
Kyi back on trial after delay - 10 July
The trial of the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has
resumed after a six-week break for a defence appeal over allowing
more witnesses. Ms Suu Kyi has been charged with breaking the terms
of her house arrest after a US man eluded guards to visit her
lakeside home in Rangoon. The trial, held behind closed doors, began
on 18 May, but has been repeatedly delayed while another court heard
an appeal from Ms Suu Kyi's lawyers over allowing more defence
witnesses. One witness was originally allowed for the defence and 22
for the prosecution, but on appeal one further defence witness was
allowed. - BBC News website
Indian
court rules gay sex legal, strikes down colonial-era law
- 2 July
An Indian court decriminalized gay sex between consenting adults,
ruling that the rights of citizens were violated by parts of a
150-year-old colonial-era law that made it illegal. "We
declare that section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code, in so far as it criminalizes consensual acts of
others in private", runs counter to basic human rights
guaranteed by articles of the Indian constitution, Chief Justice A
P Shah of the Delhi High Court said in a ruling. - Bloomberg
website
Activists
welcome India gay ruling - 3 July
Gay rights activists in India say a ruling by the Delhi High Court
decriminalising homosexuality in the country is a landmark. The
judgement overturns a 149-year-old colonial law which described a
same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence". - BBC
News website
Top
Indian court upholds hangings - 7 July
India's Supreme Court has rejected a petition to replace hanging
with lethal injection as the country's sole method of execution.
The court said there was no evidence to suggest that hanging was
less painful. Activist Ashok Kumar Walia had argued that hanging
was a "cruel and painful" method of execution and should
be replaced by lethal injection. Indian authorities say the death
penalty is rarely carried out and is usually reserved for serious
cases. Apart from a single execution in 2004, there have been no
executions in the country for the past 10 years. - BBC
News website
Pakistan
court cuts new oil tax - 8 July
Pakistan's Supreme Court has slashed a new carbon tax imposed on
oil by the government, bringing down oil prices by more than 10%.
The court order is temporary, pending a decision on petitions
opposing the tax and withdrawing of power subsidies. If the order
is upheld, the government will lose $1.52b in revenues during the
fiscal year ending this June. The budget deficit will also widen.
- BBC News
website
Pakistan
petrol tax row continues - 11 July
A lawyer has challenged in court the new petrol levy imposed by
Pakistan's government on Thursday. Advocate Shoaib Shahid argued
that under the constitution Pakistan's president has no powers to
impose taxes through an ordinance. - BBC
News website