Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 21th September

Thailand's widely-revered King has been admitted to hospital with a fever. (By boonkumnoun /Flickr)

In this Bulletin …

- Taliban leaders boast eventual victory in Afghanistan;
- Thai King in hospital with fever; and
- Three Afghans held over U.S plot.

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An online message from the Taliban’s elusive leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, claimed that the Taliban fight against American and NATO troops in Afghanistan is forging ahead like a powerful flood.

Their goal is to gain independence of the country and establish a just Islamic system there, on the basis of the aspirations of the Muslim nation.

The U.S. State Department said it had no direct response to Omar’s comments, which takes a swipe at President Obama.

The authenticity of the report, was unable to be independently verified, however, a Taliban spokesman said the message is authentic.

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Muslims across the world celebrated the end of Ramadan on Sunday, but authorities urged caution as large social gatherings and returning Mecca pilgrims fuelled fears of H1N1 flu spreading.

In Cairo, where two people have died from the H1N1 flu virus and nearly 900 cases of infection have been reported, preachers suggested worshippers perform the traditional Eid dawn prayer at home rather than at crowded mosques.

Cairo airport authorities have reinforced H1N1 flu testing measures as the end of Ramadan means the return of thousands of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

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Thailand’s widely-revered King, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has been admitted to hospital with a fever, the royal household said on Sunday.

The 81-year-old king went to a Bangkok hospital on Saturday night and is receiving an intravenous drip and antibiotics, his household said in a statement.

King Bhumibol has long projected an image as the only unifying figure in a nation that has seen 23 prime ministers, 16 constitutions and at least as many coups during his 61-year reign.

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The waters of the river that runs through Shangba, Guangdong, have become so heavily polluted that it is has become known as one of China’s cancer villages. The environment has been sacrificed on behalf of China’s industrial growth.

Tests done in July show that water in Shangba contains excessive amounts of cadmium, a heavy metal and a known carcinogen, as well as zinc which in large quantities can damage the liver and lead to cancer.

Residents do not know where to go and have no other water to drink.

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President Barack Obama warned on Sunday of “serious issues” in the disputed Afghan elections and vowed domestic political concerns would not dictate whether he sends more troops to the unpopular war.

The president’s media offensive came a day before he is due to head to New York for his debut United Nations general assembly,as president and the G20 economic crisis summit of developed and developing nations later in the week in Pittsburgh.

As allegations of fraud mount following Afghanistan’s elections in August, complicating Obama’s attempt to maintain failing public support for the eight-year war, the president made his most expansive comments yet on the conduct of the polls.

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Three men have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to launch an attack in the United States, the US Justice Department says.

Two Afghan-born men, a father and son, were arrested in Denver, Colorado.

A third man, also from Afghanistan, was later detained in New York, the department said.

The men are accused of making false statements related to “a matter involving international and domestic terrorism,” the statement said.

The FBI was investigating several people in the United States, Pakistan and elsewhere, relating to a plot to detonate improvised explosive devices in the United States.

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