AsiaCast

Asia Cast for Saturday 24th May

In this Bulletin…

- China and Russia join forces to condemn US
- US says Iran can expect more sanctions; and
- Burma to allow all outside aid into the country.

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China and Russia have condemned a US plan for a global missile defence shield, saying it will set back international disarmament efforts.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a joint statement with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing as the Russian leader began a two-day state visit to China, part of his first foreign trip since he assumed office on May 7.

The US says the shield, parts of which it plans to deploy in Europe, is key to its own security and that of allies.

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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday that the United States will aggressively impose more sanctions on Iran as long as it refuses to give up sensitive nuclear work and uses the world’s financial system for “terrorism”.

Iran has been subjected to three rounds of U.N. Security Council sanctions over its nuclear program and last October, the United States designated the elite Qods military force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a supporter of terrorism.

Washington also imposed sanctions on more than 20 Iranian companies, banks and individuals as well as the defense ministry, hoping to increase pressure on Tehran to stop uranium enrichment and curb what the United States views as terrorist activities. Tehran denies the charges against it and says its nuclear program is to produce energy.

Rice said Iran should expect more sanctions but she declined to provide any timeline.

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During a visit to Burma, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the country’s ruling junta agreed on Friday to allow all aid workers to enter into the country to help cyclone survivors.

The decision came after the U.N. chief met for over two hours with the junta’s leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe — and three weeks after Cyclone Nargis hit the country, also known as Myanmar

International aid groups have criticized Myanmar for letting comparatively few relief workers into the country despite the severity of the storm, which the U.N. says killed more than 130,000 and left more than 2 million homeless.

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In a sign Pyongyang may be closer to making a declaration of its atomic programs, U.S. and North Korean nuclear negotiators are expected to meet in Beijing next week.

The talks will be between U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and senior North Korean diplomat Kim Kye-gwan, said a source, who declined to be named.

Pyongyang undertook to produce the declaration on its nuclear program as part of a broader multilateral deal under which North Korea, which detonated an atomic device in October 2006, agreed to abandon all its nuclear programs in exchange for economic and diplomatic incentives.

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Taiwan and Beijing will resume direct talks next month for the first time in a decade, the chairwoman of the island’s Mainland Affairs Council says.

Taiwan’s new president, Ma Ying-jeou, has made it clear he wants better ties with China.

Should talks be successful, experts believe that direct transport links between the two sides, which were halted in 1949, could resume by July.

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And now for our original SOH news direct from China
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Following the earthquake in Sichuan, experts said this autumn natural disasters will hit Mainland China again.

According to publication “Monthly Trends”, a meteorological expert from Mainland China issued a report observing that the moon, Earth, and Sun will be aligned in August this year, and suggesting that this alignment will have a tremendous role on the earth’s climate and geology.

The report canvassed input from scientists in other disciplines and many agreed that the astrological alignment will likely trigger extreme weather and geological events.

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Another Chinese national heritage site has been destroyed by last week’s Sichuan earthquake.

The village is the largest and the most ancient ethnic village built by yellow dirt in the world.

42 out of the 1,080 villagers died in the tremor including 7 children and 15 elderly with 85 people injured.

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A forum was held at the American University to discuss allegations of thugs being hired by the CCP to engage in violent attacks in New York.

Human rights lawyers and political commentators believe that the CCP has utilised the Sichuan earthquakes and relief efforts as a political weapon to create violent clashes overseas.

Many are alleging that alongside the national tragedy, the CCP has used the quake and relief efforts as a camouflage to frame Falun Gong and incite violence, detracting attention from itself and seeking to legalise its rule and persecutions.

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“Asia Cast… keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the World.”