Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Thursday 4th February

In this Bulletin…

- International report highlights China’s crackdown on media;
- China increases security in calm Xinjiang region; and
- Disgruntled Australian injures 15 in insurance office blast.

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

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The International Federation of Journalists has released a report on the Chinese regime’s intensified crackdown on the media in 2009.

The report titled, China Clings to Control” was released in Hong Kong on Sunday, said NTDTV.

It lists over 60 topics the Chinese regime forbids its domestic media to report. The list includes topics such as ethnic riots in the Xinjiang region, organ transplants at Sun Yatsen University, disease outbreaks and large scale public protests among many others.

Media were also prohibited from travelling to Sichuan Province during the anniversary of the earthquake that took place in 2008.

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Beijing has announced they are recruiting five thousand select police officers to control the now peaceful region of Xinjiang. They vowed a more “tenacious” approach to the region.

A statement on the regime’s regional website said the officers would focus on “striking against terrorist crimes and handling mass incidents.”

Although authorities blame last July’s unrest in the regional capital of Urumqi on separatists, they have given no evidence to support this accusation.

The regime says it will have recruits patrolling the region by the end of March.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Honk Kong officials are questioning the lack of reporting on Shen Yun cancellation protests and rallies. One protest Sunday, had nearly one thousand protestors.

One Hong Kong legislative council member said that although there has been a significant public outcy, there has been a kind of media blackout in Hong Kong.

The New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, which SOH proudly sponsors, was due to start the Asia leg of its 2010 world tour in Hong Kong last week.

After several of the crew members were denied visas, Shen Yun was force to cancel its seven sold-out shows.

See more on this  story at NTDTV.

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Scientists believe a village in India may hold the key to beating dementia. The village of Ballabgarh has unusually low levels of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh spent several years studying people over 55 in the area.

They found what appeared to be among the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s recorded.

Factoring in lower life expectancy, and an active life style, they tested a gene theory, but came up short.

They did however find that most people in Ballabgarh have less stress, eat a low fat, vegetarian diet and have low cholesterol levels, which they think, is key.

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

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Iran is being called on by Western nations to make a firm commitment to the UN atomic watchdog to have its uranium fuel enriched overseas.

Meanwhile Iran appeared to carry out a policy reversal. Its president said Tehran would have no problem sending low-enriched uranium to other countries to be refined into reactor fuel. He said some made a fuss for nothing.

The comment took the US and European allies by surprise. Earlier Iran had rejected a fuel deal drawn up by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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Fifteen people were injured in an insurance office bombing in Darwin, Australia.

Police say a disgruntled man wheeled a shopping cart full of gasoline and firecrackers into an insurance office. He set off the makeshift bomb and quickly fled the scene.

Some witnesses thought it was gunfire. Meanwhile, workers from a nearby supermarket helped people escape.

Some victims sat outside the office in pain, waiting for help, while others were taken to a hospital.

Police say the man surrendered to officials shortly after the blast.

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