AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Wednesday 27th February

In this Bulletin…
- US Philharmonic plays for North Korea;
- Nepal’s ethnic political group pledge further strike action; and
- Pressure on China to end the death penalty.

A groundbreaking concert presented by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in North Korea could herald warmer ties between North Korea and the United States.

The concert included music by two US composers and a Korean folk song, and was broadcast live on local television.

The visit entailed the largest US presence in the reclusive state since the end of the Korean War.

It coincided with a visit to China by the US Secretary of State, to discuss Pyongyang’s nuclear disarmament.

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A leader of an ethnically based political movement in Nepal has confirmed that talks with the government have collapsed.

Rajendra Mahato said his newly formed Madhesi front will carry on its general strike in the south of Nepal, which has strangled fuel supplies nationwide.

Madhesis, roughly a third of Nepal’s population, are now demanding rights after years of neglect.

Madhesis are a populous group of south Nepalese peoples who have always been largely excluded from political power and representation.

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A number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International, are urging China to move to end the death penalty in its Olympics year, adding to the many lobbying campaigns aimed at the Beijing Olympic Games.

China does not release statistics on executions, but international groups have estimated that it executes between five and twelve thousand people a year, far more than any other country.

In a letter to China’s national parliament issued on Wednesday, the France-based World Coalition against the Death Penalty called on Beijing to “take concrete measures” to end judicial executions, including a moratorium.

Dozens of European, Asian and American groups are backing the open letter including the U.S. National Association of Criminal Defence Lawyers and Penal Reform International.

The petition is unlikely to prompt action from China, which faces a wave of international campaigns using the Olympics to pressure it on human rights, its role in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, Myanmar and Tibet.

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In a further effort to cut air pollution during this year’s Olympic Games, China has announced a set of unprecedented measures, including a new standard for car emissions, which will come into force in Beijing this weekend.

China has pledged Beijing’s air quality will be up to the standard laid down by the World Health Organization during the Games in August.

However, the air is still too dirty. One of the four indicators – the density of breathable particles in the air – is still too high.

To cut pollution, a new standard for car emissions will be enforced from 1 March, falling in line with the latest European Union standard.

A new type of less-polluting petrol will also be available.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China
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A female patient admitted to hospital with suspected infection of H5N1 bird flu died on the morning of the 25th of February in Shanwei City at Haifeng County in Guangdong Province.

According to a report from the Disease Control Centre and Prevention in Guangdong Provincial, the patient was a 44-year-old migrant worker from Sichuan who had made contact with dead infected poultry before she fell sick.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, the death toll from infection of the H5N1 bird flu globally, has risen to 232 since 2003.

Scientists worry that the bird flu virus will mutate into a form that is more easily transmitted between humans, causing a global pandemic.

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Last Saturday on the 23rd of February, the CCP health department published its 2007 annual national report on cases of infectious diseases. In the report it mentioned that compared to 2006, cases of AIDS virus infection had grown from 40% to 50%.

Cases of AIDS, Hepatitis C and syphilis, have grown by 45%, 30 % and 24% respectively.

According to the report last year there were a total of 4,770,000 cases of contagious disease infection, with 13,000 of those resulting in death.

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And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “New Year Spectacular” show.
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Today is the last day of performances of the Spectacular shows in Busan, South Korea, and Antwerp, Belgium.

On Friday shows will open in Paris and Tainan in Taiwan.

Audience members have delighted in the performances, such as Mr. Adallah Al Mouallimi, the Saudi-Arabian Ambassador to Belgium who said the Spectacular was a pleasure to watch. He said he found the show fascinating and it reflected an important part of Chinese culture.

Mr. Al Mouallimi said that it was a pleasure to be at the show and that it was a very fascinating show! He said that it is authentic, original and reflects how important the elements of Chinese culture are.

Mr. Al Mouallimi was pleased with the explanation that was given with each part of the show because it made it much more meaningful.

Of one of the acts he said that it was particularly impressive. It reminded him of similar events in Arabic history in which a mother would play a very important role in encouraging her children to defend their principles and ethics. He found it very deep and very inspiring.

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

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This is Wilma Reynolds from the SOH Radio Network.