I would be remiss if I did not bring up the South Asia Earthquake of this weekend. The death toll stands at 20,000 in Pakistan alone, and is expected to rise. India has reported 600 dead and Afghanistan is reporting four people so far.

The hardest hit area is Pakistan controlled Kashmir, which has been the center of a long running dispute with India. Though India and Pakistan are still at odds, India is offering aid to Pakistan in this time of crisis.

Other countries are rushing to help. The USA has moved six helicopters in to help with rescue efforts, and pledged an initial pledge of aid of $50 Million. You can read about other countries pledges of help here. (Very dated story as it is from the earliest hours of the tragedy)

If you add this in with the Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami of December 26th, 2004, this has not been a good 10 months for Asia.