Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Thursday 17th June

In this Bulletin…

- New AIDS-like disease appears in China;
- Fruit trees save Indian girls’ lives; and
- Turkish troops enter northern Iraq.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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A new disease resembling AIDS has appeared in China as hundreds report symptoms of immune system failure. However, the patients do not test HIV positive.

The disease is being called “HIV-Phobia” by China’s Centre for Disease Control. Yet patients refer to the disease as “negative HIV” as they experience AIDS-like symptoms but don’t test positive.

It appears to be contracted in much the same manner as HIV with some exceptions. This new disease which causes deadly immunity dysfunction has reportedly been easily transmitted through spit and even perspiration.

For more on this story visit The Epoch Times.

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A strike at the Honda Lock Company in China’s Guangdong Province ended on Monday with a small pay increase. But many of the striking workers have been replaced by new ones, says NTDTV.

Workers were hoping to win a large dispensation from employers—double their monthly salaries and free accommodations—much like employees at Honda Transmission did recently.

It seems Honda was unwilling to meet the demands for the relatively unskilled job labourers at Honda Lock. Instead the company launched a massive local recruiting effort, attracting applicants and forcing strikers to return to work or risk losing their jobs.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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A very large Hong Kong luxury apartment developer failed US$342 million dollars in sales, sparking efforts to reign in home prices. The failed deal has also sparked a government inquiry.

The developer said most buyers pulled out the project when sale of 20 luxury apartments had collapsed.

The failure of the sales is a setback for the Hong Kong billionaire as regulators try to cool the property market.

One failed sale included a unit that would have set a world record price of US$88,000 dollars per square foot. Home prices in Hong Kong have rise 5.7 percent this year.

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Fruit trees are helping save the lives of girls in one small village in India’s Bihar state as parents plant at least 10 trees at girls’ births.

Villagers have done so for generations in efforts to prepare for expenses when the girl grows up and marries.

The trees are considered by some a deposit of sorts, fending off dowry deaths, for which the rest of the state is infamous for.

They say mango orchards are a big support for them at the time of their daughter’s marriage, because they save money earned through the sale of fruit throughout the years.

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

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Aid for tens of thousands of Kyrgyzstan refugees who fled ethnic battles arrived on Wednesday. Nearly 190 were killed in the clashes last week between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of Kyrgyzstan.

Neighbouring Uzbekistan received more than 75,000 refugees from the fighting, but is now only accepting sick and wounded people. Thousands desperate to flee have been left marooned on the border.

The UN said it is already a tragedy and could become a catastrophe.

Officials say at least 200,000 people have been displaced within Kyrgyzstan along with the 75,000 who fled to Uzbekistan.

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Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish rebels. Insurgents have been in opposition of the government for over 25 years.

Turkey’s military also said air strikes were launched in deeper parts of Iraqi territory. The offensive took place after rebels made an unsuccessful attack on border guards.

Rebel insurgents known as the PKK are considered a terrorist group, not just by Turkey but the European Union and the U.S.

More than 40,000 people are believed to have died in the long standing conflict, from both sides.

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And we now bring you the Shen Yun quote of the day

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