Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Wednesday 3rd February

In this Bulletin…

- Concern over Chinese mayor’s death puts man in jail;
- China warns President Obama against meeting Dalai Lama; and
- South Asia student visas not accepted in UK.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

For more information, please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

**********************

A man in China has been jailed for reportedly raising concerns about the alleged suicide of Wugang City’s deputy mayor.

State-run media reported that in November 2009 the deputy mayor committed suicide by jumping out of his dormitory window due to depression. But his family however, questioned the cause of death.

The man who volunteered to launch an investigation into the deputy mayors death has now been jailed and sentenced to two years forced labour. He was charged with organizing a teacher’s strike in 2008 and disrupting social order.

But the man’s wife told Voice of America, she believes the sentence is linked to the mayor’s death.

**********************

In China, a former senior police officer is on trial for corruption, rape and protecting criminal gangs.

The man is accused of taking more than $2.3 million US dollars in bribes to turn a blind eye to crime, according to a state-run media outlet.

He is the most senior official charged under a corruption probe in the city. The trial comes a day after another police official was sentenced to death for corruption.

In a country were government corruption and the use of the death penalty are both widespread, the accused men could face death if found guilty.

**********************

And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

**********************

American President Barack Obama has been warned by China not to meet with Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The regime says such a meeting would harm bilateral relations.

China says it would threaten trust and cooperation between China and the United States.

The warning follows a meeting between China and two envoys of the Dalai Lama last week. The meeting yielded no compromise from Beijing on Tibet’s status.

China’s state-run media said Beijing officials told the Tibetan envoys there will be no compromise on China’s control over Tibet.

**********************

South Korean cuisine is set to become literally out of this world. The country won approval to send several national dishes into space. So astronauts may soon be eating seaweed soup and other South Korean specialties.

A Russian laboratory has approved bulgogi, bibimbap, seaweed soup and mulberry juice as suitable fare for their astronauts.

Tests run by the Russian Academy of Sciences showed the foods helped improve digestion and allowed growth of beneficial micro-organisms in the intestines.

The move is the latest step in a campaign to promote South Korean food around the world.

**********************

“You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network”

**********************

Burma’s army was pressured into releasing a 14-year-old boy it had forcibly recruited. It follows an appeal by the boy’s mother on international media.

The mother, who has terminal cancer, talked with BBC’s Burmese Service and Radio Free Asia. She said her pleas had previously been ignored. But following her emotional media interviews two weeks ago, the army brought her son back to her house.

The lady told the BBC her boy had been lured away by a soldier who offered him alcohol while she was working on her market stand.

**********************

The United Kingdom recently announced they will not be accepting new student visa applications from parts of South Asia. It cites a sharp and unexpected rise in the number of students.

Thousands of Nepali, Bangladeshi and north India students have been affected by the change.

The British embassy in Kathmandu has notified even those students who already have appointments to submit their visa applications to wait until further notice.

The new laws affecting South Asian student visas began on February 1st.

**********************

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