Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 30th June

In this Bulletin…

- China’s tourism crippled;
- lawmakers undermining human rights lawyers; and
- The U.S. officially pulls out of Iraq.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The travel and tourism industry in China has come under severe decline with the emergence of the H1N1 virus.

There has been more than a 50 per cent decrease in sales for the regular international flights.

Compared to the same period last year, some individual routes even had more than a 70 per cent decline in business.

Since the confirmation of H1N1 in China many countries have advised that people do not travel to China and the impact has naturally been severe.

In early May, the CITS recorded a 50 to 70 per cent decrease in tourist applications from overseas compared to the same period last year.

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The Beijing Administration of Judicial Lawyers has devised a tactic to block lawyers who handle so-called “sensitive” cases from practising.

Through these means they have suspended the licenses of over 1,000 lawyers and around 90 law firms for failing to pass a concocted annual registration examination.

Shanghai human rights lawyer Ma Tianlin believes the suspension of licenses is in retaliation by the Beijing Justice Bureau over the fact that many Beijing lawyers have demanded direct election of members to the Beijing Bar Association. French-based lawyers, Reporters Without Borders, have shown great concern over the issue.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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The Chinese dance company, Shen Yun performing Arts, has come under more heavy attack from the Chinese Communist Party officials in Argentina since the performers arrived in the capital Buenos Aires.

According to local organisers of the show they have tried to pressure local authorities into denying visas and put pressure on the local Chinese community.

The answer to why is believed to be that the highly acclaimed dance company is bringing a renaissance of ancient Chinese cultural – which the CCP has spent more than 60 years trying to destroy – mainly through killing and persecution.

The shows organisers have not slowed down however and the shows are a hit wherever they go.

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The U.S. intelligence community is down playing the thread by North Korea of long range missile activity near Hawaii. Shortly after North Korea’s last statement, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was deploying defensive measures around Hawaii.

But a recent warning to mariners issued by North Korea suggests the country only intends short- and medium-range missile tests, according to one U.S. intelligence official.

U.S. intelligence officials told CNN that they do not believe North Korea intends to launch a long-range missile in the near future, despite reports from Japan to the contrary.

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Since Iran confirmed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president there has been constant protest as to the legitimacy of the vote and victory.

Iran’s top legislative body, the Guardian Council confirmed on Monday, through analysis of part of the voting body, that the dispute over the June 12 re-election was credible and free of corruption, leaving opponents who cried foul with few options.

There seemed to be little unrest after the announcement. The poll and its turbulent aftermath have exposed splits in Iran’s political establishment and plunged the country into its deepest crisis since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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Monday night was a night of celebration for Iraqi people. The U.S had confirmed that the deadline for pull out of all troops from Iraq was Tuesday 30th of June. Singing and dancing was seen in all areas, especially in the central park of Baghdad.

U.S troops have been pulling out of Iraq for months and the Iraqi people were left with both joy, and an uneasy tension of what may come if there is renewed violence. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other Iraqi and U.S. officials have warned of an increase in attacks around the withdrawal date.

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