Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 18th July

In this Bulletin…

- China to fight EU at WTO over increased duties;
- India Moon probe encounters difficulties; and
- Nepalese child soldiers being freed.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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China is challenging the World Trade Organisation’s anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made screws and bolts imposed by the European Union (EU) in January.

China’s commerce ministry is going to seek WTO dispute settlement consultations over the legal process a source told Reuters; and if they fail, Beijing could request a costly WTO panel hearing.

The import duties, of up to 85 percent, target as many as 200 Chinese companies selling components widely used for cars, white goods and machinery in the EU worth some US $811 million a year.

Chinese manufacturers were arguing Brussels was protecting European companies in the middle of the global economic slowdown, but the EU says the duties are not protectionist.

International rules however, allow countries to impose extra duties on goods that are imported at prices below what is paid in their home market if it injures businesses in the importing country.

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China’s internet users reached 338 million at the end of last month, and more Chinese than ever are using e-commerce and accessing the Web through mobile phones, according to reported statistics.

The number of internet users who watched videos online rose ten per cent from six months ago and more than one quarter of users now shop online.

The number of those who used mobile phones to go online rose to 155 million, but just one in four of those said they would use 3G to surf the Web in the future.

The report also showed the severity of malware and other security problems in China. Over 100 million Chinese had passwords or account numbers stolen in the first of this year, and almost twice as many experienced virus or trojan attacks, it said.

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In Guangzhou the first protest of foreigners in China was sparked after a police chase ended with two Nigerians jumping from a second story window, killing one and seriously wounding the other, said AsiaNews.

Around 200 Africans surrounded a police station carrying the body of the dead man, demanding explanations from the police.

Witnesses say two men were visiting a mall and took flight when the police tried to stop them to check their visas. When police cornered them on the second floor of a building, both men jumped, with one crashing to his death.

Police declared one of the Nigerians was doing illegal currency exchange and sustained serious injuries, but no report of a death is included.

Demonstrators complained that as festivities for the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China draw near their visas are not being renewed on grounds of safety.

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

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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India’s first mission to the Moon has experienced a technical problem, India’s space research officials say, but steps have been taken to ensure it is able to continue its work.

A sensor of the Chandrayaan-1 has stopped working and the possibility remains that the mission, although safe, may have to be cut short.

For the time being the spacecraft which is on a two-year mission, is being placed on a higher orbit and officials say this may affect the quality of the photographs being sent back

The mission is expected to cost US$78 million, considerably less than Japanese and Chinese probes sent to the Moon last year, nevertheless, some critics regard the space programme as a waste of resources in a country where millions still lack basic services.

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Nepal has begun the process of freeing thousands of child soldiers from camps holding former Maoist rebel fighters. The release, estimated at about 3,000 children, is a key part of Nepal’s peace process.

Officials are visiting the camps in southern Nepal, briefing the young people ahead of their planned transfer about rehabilitation programmes.

Of the 24,000 former fighters the UN has identified about 3,000 as being under the age of 18, as well as 1,000 as having joined the Maoists after the peace process began.

The government says it wants all the child soldiers to be released by the beginning of November.

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Pakistan’s Supreme Court has acquitted opposition head Nawaz Sharif of hijacking charges, removing the final ban on him running for public office. He was banned after being found guilty of hijacking then Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf’s plane in 1999.

Mr. Sharif was prime minister when he ousted General Musharraf. He was toppled in an army coup soon afterwards.

Mr. Sharif who was tried by the Sindh high court, always maintained that the charges were politically motivated.

Analysts say Mr. Sharif’s acquittal will be viewed as a positive development which helps strengthen democracy.

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