Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 8th September

Japanese defense minister Yuriko Koike is hoping to become the country's first female prime minister.

In this Bulletin…

- Massive protest continues in China’s Jishou City;
- Nepal’s Haliya system now abolished; and
- Hurricane Ike devastates the north-eastern shore of Cuba.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The large-scale riot worsens in Jishou City, western of Hunan province, affecting up to 100,000 people.

It is learnt that up to nine people have been arrested; currently 20 thousand armed police have been stationed in local areas. In order to block information, authorities prohibited any interviews and reports by the media.

It was said the local communist officials initiated developers to put 700 million dollars of funds taken from people in Jishou City into the community financing.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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Hong Kong’s pro-democracy party has won more than a third of the seats in elections.

Final results show the pro-democracy opposition won 23 out of 60 seats in the Legislative Council of the Chinese-administered but autonomous territory.

Only 30 of the 60 seats in the council are directly elected – the other 30 are allocated to special interest groups.

Hong Kong’s election process is said to be the most open anywhere in China.

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Nepal’s Maoist-led coalition Government has abolished the Haliya system, a slavery-like condition.
20,000 slaves have been freed from moneylenders and landlords.

“The Government abolished the system on Saturday,” said Peace and Reconstruction Minister Janardan Sharma, a former Maoist rebel commander also announcing those who practice the system will be punished.

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You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network
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Japanese defense minister Yuriko Koike prepares to formally launch her bid to become the nation’s first female prime minister.

Koike, a former TV anchor who has also held the environment portfolio, is one of six contenders aiming to challenge the frontrunner, former foreign minister Taro Aso, in a race to become premier after Yasuo Fukuda abruptly quit last Monday.

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Hurricane Ike has hit the north-eastern shore of Cuba with 120 kilometre per hour winds and torrential rains causing massive waves.

The storm rolled through coastal towns as it headed on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico’s oil fields and possibly New Orleans.

Cuban state-run television showed waves slapping into the seawall and surging as high as nearby five-storey apartment buildings before flooding the streets of the city of Baracoa.

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