Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 21st June

In this Bulletin…

- China increases price of electricity and refined oil;
- Flash floods and landslides triggered by typhoon kills 12; and
- Extreme floods, storms increasing in North America

But first, here is our original SOH news direct from China
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According to Mainland Chinese source, the PRC State Development and Reform Commission issued a notice that the price of domestic oil and electricity will increase from June 20.

BBC reported that the price of petrol and diesel increased by 1,000 Yuan per ton, and aviation kerosene increased by 1,500 Yuan per ton.

From July 1, the average electricity rate will rise 2.5 Cents per kilowatt-hour.

The Chinese communist regime published a notice in January this year calling for oil, gas and electricity prices not to be raised as they were worried that the increasing price will lead to the acceleration of inflation and may even trigger social unrest.

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According to Sichuan sources, Abbot Miaojuecizhi, who returned from Wenchuan after participating in earthquake relief work, said that a memorial held by parents of students killed in the quake were interrupted by police.
Parents of student victims in Beichuan Middle School built a monument and held a memorial in the classrooms of their deceased children, but the service was interrupted by police who harassed and arrested parents and smashing the monument that had the children’s name carved into it.

Abbot Miaojuecizhi expressed that the actions by the Chinese Communist Regime was excessively cruel and their actions made parents feel like they have lost their children all over again.

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With the Olympics fast approaching, the Chinese Communist Party has intensified its efforts to suppress Falun Gong, a peaceful spiritual movement.

In recent months, the ClearWisdom website published that more than 100 Falun Gong practitioners are being illegally arrested in China everyday.

A reporter attempted to obtain information of the arrests by phoning the government and law enforcement agencies in Dagan, Tianjin which were involved in these arrests, but the communist authorities have either denied the allegations or were evasive in their responses.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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While the Tibetan leg of the Olympic torch relay has finished, Chinese communist officials have again vowed to smash the Dalai Lama.

Amid tight security, the trouble-plagued torch, carried by Caidan Zhuoma, a famous Tibetan singer, arrived in front of the Potala Palace, the former chief residence of the Dalai Lama.

Local CCP officials have used the Olympic Torch Relay to attack the Tibetan spiritual leader.

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Flash floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Fengshen in the Philippines have killed at least 12 people and forced thousands to evacuate, officials said.

The Risao River in the town of Upi in southern province of Maguindanao overflowed and washed away at least five houses, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando said.

Ten people have drowned while at least eight others were still missing in the area

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Floods, droughts and severe storms are likely to ravage North America more frequently as emissions of planet-warming gases rise, according to a US government study.

Extreme weather events, “could seriously affect” human health, agricultural production, and the availability and quality of water in the future, according to the report, issued by the Climate Change Science Program on Thursday.

With the US Midwest battered by the worst flooding in 15 years, submerging vast areas of fertile farmland and displacing thousands of people, the report said future “heavy downpours are very likely to further increase in frequency and intensity,” in North America.

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Charity Group, Action Aid, says a report in India indicates that the number of girls being born and surviving has hit an all-time low.

The charity claims there is growing pressure on women to produce sons, because girls are seen as an expense, rather than an asset.

It says many families are now using ultrasound scans and aborting female foetuses.

Although there are laws banning the practice, it is thought that up to half a million such pregnancies are terminated every year.

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This has been Karen Chang for the SOH Radio Network

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