News in Asia

Now the news…

The linchpin of President Obama’s foreign policy was roundly defeated this past week when Democrats AND Republicans refused to endorse the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The death-blow came when Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said she did not support the trade deal. Finally, something both parties agreed upon. Please make sure you keep watch for signs of the impending apocalypse.

The two Buddhas of Bamiyan, constructed 1,500 years ago, were destroyed by the Afghan Taliban in 2001. Now, a temporary solution of how to replace them has emerged — 3D laser projection.

The Sikh community of Afghanistan feels increasing pressure to leave.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister said that the government will not allow NGOs to operate in the country if they go against its best interest. This comes after the international aid group Save the Children was ordered to leave Pakistan.

In India, the licenses of more than 4,000 NGOs have been cancelled.

So the massive data breach of federal employee records supposedly carried out by Chinese hackers (and denied by the Chinese government)? It’s worse than first reported…

An Indian journalist who linked a government official to graft and corruption died after an attack.

Nestle India has challenged the ban on its Maggi brand noodles.

Landslides and floods in Nepal have killed 15 people. The country is still trying to recover from the devastating earthquake a few weeks ago. Please think about donating to help (but maybe don’t donate to the Red Cross).

Aung San Suu Kyi visited China for the first time and there’s a lot of tension over skirmishes at the China/Myanmar border.

The hospital that has been at the center of the MERS outbreak has suspended services. There are also seven new cases and one more death. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has postponed her trip to the U.S.

Finally, the New York Times has this feature on the women of Pakistan’s Air Force.