Hong Kong court backs same-sex married couples on equal housing rights
CNN — A Hong Kong court has dismissed a government bid to deny same-sex married couples the right to rent and own public housing, saying that it was “discriminatory in…
In Japan, the young find dating so hard their parents are doing it for them
Tokyo CNN — It’s a steamy summer afternoon in the Japanese city of Osaka, where a group of around 60 men and women have gathered for a session of “omiai,”…
South Korea is importing foreign housekeepers to ease the burden on young couples
Seoul, South Korea CNN — As South Korea struggles to get young people interested in marriage and kids, authorities are trying a new tack: importing foreign workers to carry some…
South Korea: Only one third of young people feel positively about marriage, survey finds
Seoul, South Korea CNN — It’s no secret young South Koreans are increasingly shunning marriage and parenthood – the country’s steeply falling birth rate is clear evidence of that. But…
Estonia becomes first ex-Soviet state to legalize same-sex marriage
CNN — Estonia’s parliament passed on Tuesday a law legalizing same-sex marriage, becoming the first ex-Soviet country to do so. Two adults will be able to marry “regardless of their…
Gay rights: Taiwan grants right of adoption to same-sex couples
Taipei, Taiwan CNN — Taiwan’s legislature passed a bill Tuesday that granted same-sex couples the right to jointly adopt a child neither of them are related to, clearing one of…
Marriage between first cousins was encouraged in Ancient Greece, research reveals
CNN — If you wanted to hang on to your land in Bronze Age Greece, you could do worse than marry your cousin. A team of international researchers analyzing the…
Pakistan court frees convicted rapist after ‘agreement’ to marry his victim
Islamabad, Pakistan CNN — A court in Pakistan on Monday freed a convicted rapist after it was “agreed” he would marry his victim, his lawyer said, enraging rights activists who…
South Korea spent $200 billion, but it can’t pay people enough to have a baby
Seoul, South Korea CNN — The season of baby fairs is here once again in South Korea. Busy, noisy affairs held in cavernous conference halls where hundreds of vendors try…
Indonesia set to make sex outside marriage an imprisonable offense
Reuters — Indonesia’s parliament is expected to pass a new criminal code this month that will penalize sex outside marriage with a punishment of up to one year in jail,…