Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Wednesday 24th September

In this Bulletin…

- Pathogenic bacterium latest contaminate to be found in Chinese milk powder;
- Typhoon Hagupit strikes southern China after killing eight in Philippines; and
- Wen Jiabao met by protesters as he arrived at the U.N. General Assembly’s 63rd session in New York .

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
**********************

A pathogenic bacterium has been found in milk powder that was also contaminated with melamine, according to a report in the Lanzhou Daily.

The report said that the Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision in Gansu Province issued an emergency notice on September 21, saying that Sanlu’s older and younger infant formulas contained enterobacter sakazakii as well as the toxic melamine.

Enterobacter sakazakii (E. sakazakii) has previously been found in powdered infant formula around the world and can cause infection and illness in infants leading to severe disease and even death.

The Epoch Times reported that Chinese authorities advised attorneys not to become too involved in the Sanlu incident in order to “maintain stability for the benefit of all”.

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

Although China’s security operations were somewhat relaxed after the Beijing Games, a group of petitioners who were illegally detained in Nantong City, Jinagsu Province, during the Olympics have yet to be freed.

Petitioners in the city’s Chuanchong and Kaifa districts who had previously been released, are also being detained once again.

Nangtong is part of the National Urban Civilisation Project. Extensive surveillance is being conducted around the city, leading residents to comment that there are more police on the streets now than during the Olympics.

While it is not known whether the petitioners’ detention is part of this project, there is much resentment over the regime using the pretence of “sensitive times” as an excuse to infringe upon personal freedoms.

**********************
And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
**********************

More than 100,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes as Typhoon Hagupit struck southern China, Wednesday.

The weather system killed at least eight people in the Philippines, and closed schools in Hong Kong.

As it headed towards Guangdong Province in southern China, the area was put on the highest level alert.

Authorities in Vietnam prepared to evacuate residents of coastal areas as it appeared the typhoon was heading south.

Trees were uprooted and traffic disrupted in Hong Kong. Flash floods hit low-lying areas and dozens of people were injured.
Another storm was reportedly gathering strength east of the Philippines and could follow a similar route to that of Typhoon Hagupit.

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

According to the U.N. nuclear agency, North Korea is making further moves that would enable it to possibly restart its suspended nuclear program.

At the reclusive nation’s request, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has removed surveillance equipment and seals from the Yongbyon nuclear facility, agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

The North has told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it plans to reintroduce nuclear material to the facility in a week or so.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog will no longer have access at Yongbyon and will not be able to monitor any activities at the nuclear reprocessing facility.

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

Arriving for the U.N. General Assembly’s 63rd session Tuesday, China’s second-in-command, Wen Jiabao, was met by groups protesting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) numerous human rights abuses, reports the Epoch Times.

Many protesters highlighted the human rights abuses that occurred during the Beijing Games.

Speaking at a rally, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia Pacific, David Kilgour, discussed the investigation he was involved with that looked into allegations the CCP has been killing Falun Gong practitioners and selling their vital organs.

He said, “We amassed a substantial body of evidence and became convinced beyond any doubt that this crime against humanity has occurred and is still happening as I speak here today.”

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

After thousands of its customers queued to withdraw their savings, the Bank of East Asia denied rumours that it was in financial trouble.

After weeks of global market turmoil, lines of people quickly formed outside the bank’s branches in Hong Kong.

In a statement the bank denied the rumours.

The speculation, which drove the bank’s share price down by 11 percent, was believed to have been spread by mobile phone.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority also dismissed the speculation, adding, the banking system as a whole was “safe and sound.”

On Friday, Moody’s Investors Service changed its outlook on the Hong Kong bank’s credit rating from stable to negative, citing a recent insider trading case that exposed “lacklustre internal controls” at the bank.

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

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