Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 12th January

In this bulletin ….

-China to launch pre-new year food safety;
-Elections strengthen new Thai Prime Minister’s position; and
-North Korea offers envoy for Obama inauguration.

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The Health Ministry has said today that a pre-Lunar New Year crackdown on food safety will be launched by China.  It will be focusing on illegal use of additives after a milk scandal last year which killed at least six babies and made thousands sick.

Ministry spokesman Mao Qunan told a news conference that the campaign would focus on seven provinces, including Hebei, where the milk contamination scandal began.

Mr. Mao said that groups and individuals who have broken the law will be dealt with firmly to completely ensure people’s food safety over the holiday period.

The Lunar New Year starts on January 26, when traditionally millions of Chinese head back to their home towns to feast and celebrate with their families.

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A junkyard owner suspected of killing eight people on a murderous one-night spree, after he was spurned by a widowed grandmother who was one of the victims. The man has been arrested by Chinese police.

The woman’s two-year-old grandson, who lived with her, was also killed in the late night attack at her apartment.

Police found the bodies of six workers and blood-stained hammers and axes at the junkyard.

The 35-year-old suspect fled to an island in south China after the attack on January 4, but returned to the central province of Hubei several days later, where he was seized after someone recognized him and rang police.

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On Sunday the coalition government of new Thai Prime Minister Abhisit  Vejjajiva has won 20 out of the 29 by-elections held.

Winning seven of those seats was Mr. Abhisit’s Democrat Party, while its allies won 13 new seats in the 480-member parliament.

Opposition parties linked to exiled former leader Thanksin  Shinawatra won nine seats.

The by-elections were caused by the court-ordered dissolution of the previous Thanksin-linked government.

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On the second day of his visit to Seoul, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has held summit talks with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Myung-bak.

The global financial crisis has hit Japan and South Korea hard.

A possible free trade deal and other ways to reinforce business and economic cooperation where covered in their discussions.

Since taking office 11 months ago, President Lee has pushed for improved ties with Japan.

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Washington has responded coolly to North Korea’s offer to send its Chief nuclear negotiator to next week’s inauguration of US president-elect Barack Obama.

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, quoting a Seoul government source, said the communist state may be trying to assess whether its traditional enemy’s policy will change under Mr. Obama, who takes office on January 20.

The hard-line North, which has been locked in nuclear disarmament talks for years, refrained from its customary criticism of the United States in a policy-setting New Year message.

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“Asia Cast… Keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world”