Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Sunday 30th September

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets across Asia in protest against the military junta¡¯s crackdown on protesters in Burma.

Protestors in Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and other parts of Asia voiced their support of the protestors in Burma, and condemned the violent actions of the military junta.

The Burmese government is under constant and increasing pressure to end the violence in Burma, but so far they have not heeded warnings from multiple governments.

Meanwhile, Japan will decide whether or not it will suspend humanitarian aid for Myanmar a Japanese photographer was killed during the protests last week.

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

In related news, satellite images have been produced which confirm reports of burned villages, forced relocations and other human rights abuses in Myanmar from earlier this year.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science said the high-resolution photographs taken by commercial satellites document a growing military presence at 25 sites across eastern Myanmar, matching eyewitness reports.

Aung Din, policy director for the U.S. Campaign for a Burma activist group, said his organization will use the evidence to pressure Myanmar’s government, which this week begun a violent crackdown to quell protests led by Buddhist monks.

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

The US Government has authorised twenty five million US dollars in fuel aid to North Korea under an agreement aimed at ending the country’s nuclear programme.

Under a February deal, the US and other participants at the six-party talks agreed to provide North Korea with aid.

In return North Korea said it would shut down its main nuclear reactor – which it did in July – and eventually dismantle its entire nuclear programme.

Envoys are meeting in China to finalise details of the second part of the deal.

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

Taleban insurgents in Afghanistan have freed four Red Cross workers who were kidnapped on Wednesday.

The two Afghan and two foreign international Red Cross workers were seized in Wardak province, trying to secure the release of a German national seized by the Taleban in July.

A Taleban leader later said his men had captured them by mistake.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been working in Afghanistan for 20 years, and is one of the organisation’s biggest operations, with more than 1,000 Afghan and international staff.

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

As consumer prices in Japan fell for the seventh straight month it seems that the country¡¯s economy is yet to emerge from the prolonged deflation.

Consumer prices fell 0.1% in August compared with the same month of 2006, making a rate rise from the Bank of Japan less likely this year.

The Bank of Japan is keen to raise interest rates from their current level of 0.5% but will struggle to do so while prices are falling.

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

More than 2,000 Malaysian lawyers and legal officials and some concerned citizens went on a “Walk of Justice” to the Prime Minister’s office to urge the government to set up a Royal Commission to investigate a video clip exposing political corruption in the appointment of senior judges.

The eight-minute video clip was released by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on September 19 at a press conference.

It exposed a shocking phone conversation between a prominent senior lawyer and a senior judge discussing political manipulation of the appointment of senior judges.

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

Air New Zealand has announced plans to launch its first test flight of a commercial airliner partially powered by biofuel.

The 747 flight is one part of a deal signed by the airline, engine producer Rolls-Royce and aircraft manufacturer Boeing to research “greener” flying.

One of the four engines will run on a mixture of kerosene and a biofuel, and is set for late 2008 or early 2009.

But Virgin Atlantic is planning to beat Air New Zealand to the punch by having its own biofuel flight early next year.