Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Sunday 19th July

In this Bulletin …

- Events held worldwide commemorating 10 years of persecution of Falun Gong;
- Man dies after contracting swine flu; and
- Fugitive linked to Jakarta blasts.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Events are being held around the world to commemorate the 10 years of brutal persecution against Falun Dafa practitioners in China.

In Sydney, a large-scale parade marched from Town Hall to Darling Harbour, with re-enactments of the types of torture used to make practitioners in China stop practising Falun Dafa.

At Darling Harbour, a mass exercise demonstration was held with a candle light vigil to remember all those who have been killed.

The Sydney practitioners called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to put a stop to the persecution.

The Falun Dafa Information Center has confirmed the deaths of over 3,000 Falun Gong adherents, as a direct result of the persecution campaign that the Chinese Communist Party launched in 1999.

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Four more United Kingdom school pupils have been taken to hospital in Beijing, with suspected swine flu.

Already four British and four US pupils from the same trip have been diagnosed, and more than 100 of their classmates and teachers quarantined in a hotel.

China has this year quarantined hundreds of foreign visitors who have shown symptoms of the H1N1 virus.

The affected children are on a two-week cultural exchange trip, and come from several different schools.

It will be 24 hours before tests confirm whether the four pupils have the virus or not.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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In the Northern Territory a third man has died after contracting the deadly swine flu, bringing the national toll to 33.

Territory health authorities say the middle-aged Katherine man had multiple long-standing and serious medical conditions as well as the virus.

The man died in Royal Darwin Hospital this morning.

Nearly 200 people are being treated for the virus in hospitals across the country.

Over the weekend, 101 new cases have been confirmed in the NT, taking the total number to over 960.

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The Taliban have released a 28-minute video showing a US soldier captured in Afghanistan last month. The soldier, who went missing on 30 June in Paktika province, eastern Afghanistan, says that he was captured as he lagged behind while on patrol.

US military spokesman in Kabul, Captain Jon Stock, condemned the use of the video. He said that the use of the soldier for propaganda purposes is against international law and they are continuing to do whatever possible to recover the soldier safe and unharmed.

Leaflets have been distributed and a reward offered for his safe return. He is believed to be the first soldier seized in either Iraq or Afghanistan for at least over two years.

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Indonesian officials say there are strong indications a key wanted fugitive was behind Friday’s deadly attacks on two hotels in Jakarta.

Noordin Mohamed Top is wanted for plotting the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 and other Indonesian attacks.

Nine people, including two suicide bombers, died in the attacks on the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott.

At least four of Friday’s victims are said to be foreigners but have not all been formally identified.

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Delhi, with climate change set to top her agenda.

Mrs Clinton has sought to allay fears the US will press India on carbon emission cuts, but will also argue they do not contradict economic development.

Mrs Clinton is on a five-day visit and spent the first two in Mumbai.

She will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other officials, with relations with Pakistan also sure to be high on the agenda.

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“Asia Cast … Keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world.”