Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 31st March

In this bulletin …

- Hand, foot and mouth disease kills 18 in China;
- Australia open to Chinese investments; and
- Red Cross workers in Philippines face possible beheading.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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China’s Ministry of Public Health reported this year nearly 42,000 people have been infected with hand, foot and mouth disease and 18 have died in China, except Tibet.

A spokesperson said 93 per cent of the infected are children less than five years of age.

Official data states, Shandong and Henan Provinces have more infected people than other areas.

The outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has started earlier and is more widespread this year than predicted and it is expected to be at its most intense from May through July.

The Epoch Times reported that local authorities are working to conceal the outbreak and hospital staff are altering documents and misdiagnosing to keep numbers down.

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Chinese lawyer Wei Liangyue and his wife, Du Yongjin, have been arrested and detained for over one month merely because Wei entered a plea of “Innocent” for several Falun Gong practitioners, reports The Epoch Times.

According to sources, no reason has been given for the arrests and neither has documentation been given to family members.

The source also disclosed that the regime is planning to sentence Wei to a labor camp for one and a half years.

In China the communist regime has banned the spiritual practice Falun Gong, and although practitioners harm no one, they are persecuted severely, as well as those who come to their aid.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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The outlook for three Red Cross workers taken hostage in the Philippines, back in January of this year, is looking grimmer.

The Abu Sayyaf Islamist group said they would behead one of the workers if security forces did not withdraw from five towns on the southern island of Jolo, by today.

Government officials had clearly dismissed the demands and Reynaldo Puno from the Philippines Department of Interior had issued a statement.

He said: “Frankly, we are very disheartened by these new demands which were given late last night, and which clearly has no physical possibility of being complied with.”

Although the deadline has passed and no killings were reported, officials were given little comfort as they know Abu Sayyaf is capable of carrying out the threat.

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The newly appointed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing the Knesset – the legislative branch of the Israeli government – Tuesday night as he and his Cabinet prepared to take office and be sworn in.

Netanyahu warned, “Extremist Islam is trying to bring us down through terrorism from north and south.”

He also stated, “In order for there to be peace, our Palestinian allies and partners also have to fight terrorism. They must bring up their children in the spirit of tolerance and peace. In the last two decades, six heads of government in Israel have failed to achieve a peace settlement, but they were not at fault”

Through his speech he addressed leaders of the Palestinian Authority: “If you really want peace, then peace can be achieved.”

The Israeli parliament confirmed his new government in a 69 to 45 vote.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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A Chinese mining company is investing US$816 million in the Australian mining firm Fortescue which is preparing for expansion.

On Tuesday, Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan gave his approval for Hunan Valin Iron & Steel to take a stake of up to 17.55 per cent in Fortescue.

The approval was a turnaround from last week when the Australian government blocked a US$1.7 billion takeover of OZ Minerals by China Minmetals because one of the mines in the deal is in an Australian military zone.

The Australian mining firm has instead agreed to sell most of the company’s assets, yet the price of the offer remains undisclosed.

The proposals come at a time when Australia is discussing a free-trade agreement with China.

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And now for our Shen Yun quote of the day
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Shen Yun Performing Arts continues to amaze audiences in the city of Canberra, Australia.

The Shen Yun performance brings something different for everyone who sees it.

Laura God, a government worker had this to say about the show:

“I love the beautiful costumes and I was very touched by the songs; they’re very spiritual. In fact a lot of this is very spiritual. It was very touching.

Between the beauty and the sentiment it made me cry a little bit.”

SOH is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

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