Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 31st March

In this Bulletin…

- Australia will seek temporary membership of UN Security Council;
- North Korea threatens to attack South Korea; and
- the Human Rights torch arrives in the US.

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

During his tour of the US, Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has confirmed that Australia will seek to become a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council.

Mr Rudd made the bid in a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in New York yesterday.

Australia will seek election for the 2013-14 term of the council, the UN arm charged with maintaining peace and security around the world.

The council has five permanent members – China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members.

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

North Korea’s state media has reported that the communist regime is prepared to suspend dialogue with the South over comments made by a South Korean military official and said it was ready to attack its wealthy neighbour if necessary.

Over the past several days, the North has lashed out at the new conservative government in Seoul and its ally the United States by test-firing missiles, expelling South Korean officials at a joint factory park in the North and threatening to slow down a nuclear disarmament deal.

North Korea, one of the world’s most militarised states, has made similar statements for years threatening pre-emptive attacks, but those have almost always been in response to joint South Korean-U.S. military drills.

*******************
You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
**********************

The Human Rights Torch Relay arrived from Argentina to San José, California on Mar. 29, 2008, after passing through 29 countries so far on its world tour.

This is the first stop of the torch in the U.S., part of an international campaign that seeks to bring an end to all human rights abuses against the people of China.

The relay is sponsored by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), an organization which is dedicated to investigating and ending the Chinese communist regime’s eight-year-long persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

At the arrival ceremony, Mayor Reed, who has been a long-time supporter of human rights, spoke strongly against the crimes of the communist regime around the world.

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

Meanwhile, the Olympic torch has arrived in Beijing aboard a special flight from Athens where it was handed over to the Chinese Olympic authorities.

The torch will be taken to Tiananmen Square for a ceremony to welcome it to Beijing.

Tight security is expected at the square to prevent any protests.

The torch’s passage through Greece last week was dogged by protests on human rights and Tibet.

********************
And now for our original SOH news direct from China
**********************

BBC’s Chinese network has confirmed that fresh protests have broken out in the Tibetan capital in Lhasa over the weekend.

According to report, protests were held from the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa and near the Jokhang Temple, while the Chinese Communist Party had arranged for diplomatic personnel from 15 countries for a one-day visit in Lhasa.

The Associated Press quoted a brief statement issued by the United States embassy in China saying that the diplomats had been accompanied by the officials during the entire journey.

The delegations had not been granted the freedom of movement in Lhasa, and they could not talk with the local residents without observers.

********************
And now for our daily update on the NTDTV Divine Performing Arts “New Year Spectacular” show.
**********************

Today the European troupe of the Divine Performing Arts Spectacular continues its seven day tour of Stockholm, Germany, while another troupe will give the last day of performances in Tampere, Finland. Another troupe will continue its tour of Australia tomorrow, with four days of shows in Sydney.

Among the audience members enjoying the Spectacular in Melbourne over the weekend was Tom Oliver, the actor who plays Lou Carpenter from Australia’s longest-running soap opera, Neighbours.

Mr Oliver said he felt “uplifted” and was left wanting to go to China, particularly the countryside.

Mr Oliver, who is also a singer said he was very, very impressed with the opera singers tonight and the soprano.

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

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

Bookmark It