Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Sunday 11th January

In this bulletin…

- Chinese officials corruption during Sichuan earthquake;
- 19 year old girl dies of bird flue; and
- The US adamant for ceasefire in Gaza.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China

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In a special investigation it has been found that the Biguiyuan real estate company has been the target of a demonstration by its own employees. Hundreds blocked the intersection between Hanshi Highway and Natational express 316 to protest about some thirty million yuan worth of wages that the company has not payed to over one thousand five hundred employees.

Among the rural workers involved, some are local labourers and others are from Huangang and other areas. The police are also investigating. 

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Last Monday a 19-year-old female from Chaoyang Beijing died of H5N1 Bird Flu.  The Beijing Health Bureau said that the victim had handled duck parts.  Local infectious disease experts predict that the bird flu may have already spread to cities further north.

The Beijing Health Bureau says that the bird flu victim, Huang Yanqing, originally from Putian, in Fujian provance, moved to Chaoyang District, Beijing last February.  On Dec. 19, 2008, she purchased 9 live ducks at a market in Langfang City, Hebei Province, which she personally slaughtered before taking them home, before she had exhibited any signs of illness.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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According to a recent report of China’s National Audit Office (NAO), there has been concern that corrupt officials misused earthquake relief funds in Sichuan, one of  China’s southwestern provinces struck by an earthquake on May 12, 2008, leaving more than 87,000 people dead or missing.

Hong Kong media also reported similar concerns of misuse of relief money, false disaster reports and corruption of local officials.

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According to reports released by Intelligence officials from the US and India, Chinese weapons were used in the brutal carnage that happened in Mumbai city in late November 2008.

The intelligence increases evidence and raises questions about the Chinese Communist regime’s backing of terrorist regimes around the world.

State-run arms manufacturers in China are all under the communist regime’s control.

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

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A magnitude 5.9 quake struck off Indonesia’s Sumatra island, says a reports from the U.S. Geological Survey on Tuesday. The shallow quake, only 6.2 miles deep, was centered 85 miles west of Bengkulu on Sumatra and hit at 2:49 a.m. Wednesday.

There was no immediate tsunami warning and the quake was unlikely to trigger one at that magnitude.  The earthquake was initially reported at magnitude 6.2 and later verified at 5.9.

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The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it wanted “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza but U.S. officials quickly stressed they would not budge from their stance that it must be durable, sustainable and indefinite.

The United States had previously steered away from the “immediate ceasefire” language embraced by many of its European and Arab allies, who are gathering for a U.N. Security Council meeting on how to end Israel’s 11-day-old offensive in Gaza.

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