News in Asia

Hello friends. Welcome back to another edition of “News in Asia.” Lately, I’ve been reminiscing with some friends about our time in South Korea and how much fun we had and the pros and cons of living far from your home country. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.

The feelings of nostalgia is one of the reasons the ferry accident that killed over a 300 people, mostly high school students, off the coast of South Korea has been hard for me to read about. In addition to it being a horrible tragedy, I taught students who were the same age as the children onboard the ferry. I can’t imagine the how the families of those dead or missing must feel right now.

The emotions over the disaster are still running high and it has prompted South Korea’s Prime Minister, Chung Hong-won, to resign over criticism of how the government handled the aftermath of the ferry accident. In addition, all the surviving crew members of the Sewol have been detained.

US President Barack Obama is currently on a tour of Asia, which began in Japan in order to solidify partnerships. President Obama offered his condolences to President Park Geun-Hye and talked about ways to reign in North Korea’s nuclear program.

Speaking of North Korea, their latest political jab involved calling President Park a “crafty prostitute.” This certainly reveals that the North Korean government has the maturity of a 16 year old boy, just with nuclear capabilities.

Speaking of President Obama’s tour, he is in Malaysia where he must deal with a tricky political situation in that country.

Naval officials from the US and several Asia-Pacific countries signed an agreement aimed at improving communications to reduce the possibility of conflict and tensions.

After an avalanche on Mount Everest that killed at least 16 Sherpas, the climbing season has been suspended with many angry over the compensation offered to the families of those killed on the mountain.

Three Americans in Kabul were killed by a gunman at a hospital run by a US Christian charity, including a doctor who had worked in the country for many years.

Survivors of the Rana Plaza garment-factory collapse are marking the one-year anniversary. The survivors were promised compensation, but some say they aren’t receiving enough.

The Supreme Court of India announced that a curative petition may help fight the criminalization of gay sex.

Finally, NPR has a story about a Pakistani millionaire who is giving the studio musicians of Lahore’s film industry heyday, a second life.