Welcome to this week’s edition!
North and South Korea
The MERS outbreak in South Korea is slowing down, according to health officials; however, the first case of the disease was found in Thailand this week.
North Korea is facing its worst drought in a century.
A 19-year-old North Korean soldier was able to cross the 2.5 mile wide Demilitarized Zone, something that very few are able to accomplish.
Japan
In “What the fuck were you thinking” news, the new communications chief for Toyota Motor Corp, Julie Hamp, was arrested on suspicion of illegally bringing painkillers into Japan. Hamp was the first senior woman executive for the corporation.
Pakistan
Pakistan has halted the death penalty for the month of Ramadan.
Pakistan also hosts more refugees than any other country except Turkey.
Two Pakistani man claimed they married each other as a joke, but now they could face life in prison under Pakistani law, along with the man who performed the marriage ceremony.
Hong Kong
The Hong Kong legislature voted down a plan backed by the Beijing government that said Hong Kong citizens could vote for the city’s leader directly, but they must choose from a pre-approved list of candidates.
India
There are now temples and shrines in India, where followers regularly go to pray that they will receive a visa to live and travel abroad.
A new report has found that the majority of malnourished children in India are girls.
The man considered India’s greatest contemporary architect died this week at the age of 84.
Nepal
Monuments that were damaged during the earthquakes have reopened in hopes of drawing tourists back to the country.
Philippines
The country’s president, Benigno Aquino, is trying to revive a stalled peace deal with rebel groups in the south of the country.
Afghanistan
For the first time, a woman may be a member of the country’s highest court. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani introduced Anisa Rasooli as a nominee for the Supreme Court High Council. According to law, “the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) must give a vote of confidence before her tenure can begin.”
Awesome roundup :)