Asia-Cast

Asia Cast Thursday 18th October

U.S. President George W. Bush warned on Wednesday a nuclear-armed Iran could lead to World War III as he tried to shore up international opposition to Tehran amid Russian skepticism over its nuclear ambitions.

Bush was speaking a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has resisted Western pressure to toughen his stance over Iran’s nuclear program, made clear on a visit to Tehran that Russia would not accept any military action against Iran.

At a White House news conference, Bush expressed hope Putin would brief him on his talks in Tehran and said he would ask him to clarify recent remarks on Iran’s nuclear activities.

******************************************************

October 11th was the end of the Special Olympics in Shanghai, over a hundred individuals from the Huiling Community Service, a private handicap organization, were refused participation in the closing celebrations.

Police arrested them and held them for the entire afternoon. They were later sent to a train station and were forced to leave Shanghai.

Huiling is a none-profit organization for people with mental disabilities.

They are registered in eight different locations in China.

The Chinese Communist Regime believes this type of organization creates social instability.

****************************************************

Chinese officials are refusing to reveal who is in the running for the country’s top political positions.

They’re also saying little about the backroom deliberations currently taking place to select China’s next leaders.

The discussions are taking place during the Chinese Communist Party’s 17th congress in Beijing.

The result will be the promotion of a group of younger officials, one of whom is eventually expected to take over as the country’s next president

***********************************************************

An anti-terrorism bill, that will allow its navy to continue supporting US-led military operations in Afghanistan, has been approved by Japan’s cabinet

The plans now have to be approved by parliament but the opposition disagrees with the mission and is likely to block it unless a compromise can be found.
Japan supplies fuel and water to US-led forces operating in the Indian Ocean.

The government is keen for the mission to continue because it wants Japan to be part of the fight against terrorism.

The opposition says Japanese taxpayers are just giving the United States and its allies free fuel.

It argues that the operation has not been approved formally by the United Nations.

It claims that oil supplied by Japanese ships has been diverted for use in operations in Iraq, an accusation the Americans deny.

*********************************************************

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has approved a cabinet reshuffle, a demand from the former southern rebels who withdrew from a coalition government last week triggering the country’s worst political crisis in years.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement froze participation in Sudan’s coalition government complaining it was being sidelined and that key elements of a January 2005 peace deal that ended twenty years of war were being ignored.

Bashir’s decision to approve the cabinet reshuffle, which had been delayed for three months, followed his first meeting on Tuesday with SPLM officials since the crisis began.

********************************************************************

The acoustics at New York’s Kaufmann Concert Hall got a full workout from a talented field of Chinese vocalists competing in the finals of the first International Chinese Vocal Competition.

For the first time, a full line-up of Chinese singers had an opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage.

The excitement built to the moment when winners were announced at the awards ceremony.

New Tang Dynasty TV president, Mr. Zhong Lee praised the hard work of the contestants saying they spared no effort in creating a favorable impression for judges and audience.

The dress of the performers was formal with men in tuxes and women in shimmering gowns
.
******************************************************************