Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 25th February

In this Bulletin…

- EU appeal for understanding from protesting Serbs;
- Britain calls for international action on poverty; and
- Lee Myung-bak to be South Korea’s new President.

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The European Union’s envoy in Kosovo has appealed to Serbs for cooperation after the sixth day of protests against the declaration of independence by Serbia’s former province.

Mobs stormed the U.S. embassy in Belgrade on Thursday, after hundreds of Serbs burned down two border posts in north Kosovo in response to the secession. British, German, Croatian and Turkish missions were also attacked.

Feith, the EU’s new civilian representative in Kosovo, urged the Serb minority to accept political facts and look forward to working together with the EU and with Kosovo.

The 2,000-strong EU rule of law mission is taking over supervision of Kosovo from the United Nations following Pristina’s declaration of independence from Serbia on Sunday.

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During a visit to Sierra Leone on Saturday, Britain’s aid minister called for World Bank reform and a sharper international focus to fight poverty in Africa.

Britain is becoming an increasingly important international aid donor as it aims to ramp up aid in line with United Nation targets designed to fight world poverty.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown called last month for an overhaul of international institutions created after World War Two, including the World Bank, to counter financial crises, tackle climate change and recognise emerging powers like India.

Britain is pumping 50 million pounds (about $98 million US dollars) into the country’s health system over 10 years, and on Friday Alexander pledged a further 32 million pounds to improve its water supply.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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After being cleared of a fraud inquiry, South Korea’s Lee Myung-bak is to be sworn in as the country’s new president following a landslide victory in December polls.

International dignitaries including Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are in Seoul for the inauguration.

Mr Lee, who heads the conservative Grand National Party, has promised to revive his country’s economy and take a tougher line towards North Korea.

Having acquired the nickname “The Bulldozer” for his dogged work in business and as mayor of Seoul, Mr Lee will take the oath of office in Seoul’s National Assembly at 1100 (0200 GMT).

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The Sudanese military is said to have renewed its aerial bombing campaign in the west of the Darfur region.

The reports came as China’s envoy for Darfur, Liu Guijin, began a five-day visit to the country to push for peace.

China has come under increasing pressure to use its influence with Sudan to end the fighting.

Mr Liu will travel to Darfur on Tuesday, the fifth anniversary of the start of the conflict which has left 200,000 people dead and 2.5million homeless.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China
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According to Qinghai resources, on February 21, during a Tibetan religious festival in China’s Qinghai Province, police clashed with festival goers and detained 200 Tibetans.

The authorities released most of people afterwards, but still had 10 people detained. Eight more were released some days later, but according to reports, those detained had been severely beaten.

Authorities also imposed a curfew on the local area after locals became angry and started rioting against police over the incident.

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And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “New Year Spectacular” show.
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The Spectacular shows finished their performances in Seoul and London. Tomorrow the shows will begin a two day run in Busan, South Korea, and Antwerp, Belgium.

Throughout the world, audiences have been enjoying the Devine Performing Arts presentations have they have proceeded on their world tour.

According to the Epoch Times, a fascinating and important chapter in Chinese cultural history is unfolding as the Divine Performing Arts seeks to revive arts inspired by traditional Chinese beliefs in a series of shows performed worldwide.

The shows present traditional Chinese culture and values through authentic dance, music, and song, with spectacular backdrops and splendid costumes.

The performances have been presented to capacity crowds and have been enjoyed equally by numerous audience members, from Chinese citizens, to people who have never even been to China.

Many audience members have commented how the performances have either made them want to visit China, or have reconnected them with the China they once knew.

For more information about the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: www.divineperformingarts.org

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