ASIA

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Citing health concerns, India's Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar unexpectedly resigned on Monday night, the first day of the monsoon session of parliament, a move that has prompted widespread speculation. Dhankhar, who also served as chairman of the upper house, had been in office since August 2022, with his term due to expire in 2027. Many opposition leaders have expressed their surprise at the sudden announcement, with one MP saying there was more to the story "than meets the eye".

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Despite previous promotion as a destination for both locals and foreigners, North Korea has announced that its newly opened Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone will not be receiving foreign tourists. The resort, which opened on July 1st, was touted as a key part of Kim Jong Un's efforts to boost tourism, but a notice on North Korea's tourism website says that foreign visits are "temporarily" prohibited.

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Chenyue Mao, a U.S. citizen and longtime employee of the bank, is not allowed to leave the country while she faces an unspecified criminal probe. China's foreign ministry confirmed the case this week, saying Mao must "cooperate with the investigation." But so far, they haven't said what she's being accused of. Mao lives in Atlanta and runs international factoring at Wells Fargo. She's also the chair of FCI, a global trade finance group. That makes her a key figure in international business, especially deals involving Chinese markets.

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Samsung boss Lee Jae-yong has been cleared of fraud charges by South Korea's Supreme Court, concluding a years-long legal battle over his role in a 2015 merger deal. The court upheld a not guilty verdict, acquitting Lee of all charges after two previous trials had also exonerated him. Lee, the grandson of Samsung's founder, has been the de facto head of the company since 2014.

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A restaurant in China’s northern Shanxi province is under intense scrutiny after launching a controversial afternoon tea experience that lets guests cuddle lion cubs alongside a four-course meal. The Wanhui restaurant, located in Taiyuan city, has gone viral on Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo, where photos and videos show patrons cradling the cubs like human babies.