Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Saturday 12th September

One of the entrants into the NTDTV Global Han Couture Design Competition. (By Edward Dai/ The Epoch Times)

In this Bulletin…

- Concerns over China’s National Day security;
- 2009 Global Han Couture Design Competition opens; and
- Japan launches space station resupply mission.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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In Beijing security is already being stepped-up and petitioners are being removed ahead of events marking 60 years of communist rule on October 1, reports NTDTV.

Chinese state media has said that in addition to regular security forces over one million volunteers have been enlisted and a security moat has has been established with seven municipalities, provinces, and regions around Beijing.

Petitioning acts are a social safety valve in China, even if it results in little official action. Human rights activist Wang Ruchun told NTDTV that the authorities’ harsh control of petitioners in the name of maintaining stability may actually create more unrest.

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China’s National Development and Reform Commission has called for stronger local controls on the price of key foodstuffs amid rising prices and concerns over inflation, according to The Epoch Times.

The price of pork has been rising since mid-June and has had a knock-on effect on the price of other major agricultural products. According to National Development and Reform Commission statistics, the price of 11 out of the 15 main agricultural products has risen across 50 major cities.

In 2007, rising pork prices led to inflation. There are fears the same thing could happen again.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast
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The NTDTV 2009 Global Han Couture Design Competition opened in New York on Thursday.

Sixty-six entrants from Taiwan, the United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, and the UK made it through to the semi-final round held at Manhattan’s Prince George Ballroom.

The international television network hopes the annual event will help to revive the essence of China’s ancient culture. And it seems that this is indeed the case, as in Nanjing, China, a handmade Han couture boutique opened to an enthusiastic public.

For more information visit www.hancouture.ntdtv.com/en

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The former president of Taiwan and his wife have both received life sentences over charges relating to corruption during Chen Shui-bian’s presidency.

A court in Taipei found Chen guilty of embezzlement, taking bribes and money laundering, involving a total of 15 million US dollars while in office from 2000-2008.

Mr Chen had denied the charges, saying they were politically motivated.
His wife, Wu Shu-chen, already jailed for perjury, had her sentence extended because she was involved in corruption deals as the first lady

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A forum in Singapore has warned that the rapid growth of Asian property markets could lead to another US-style sub-prime crisis if left unchecked.

At the annual forum organised by Singapore developer CapitaLand, it was discussed that policymakers need to closely monitor leverage levels and may have to step in to cool the real estate market

Gail Fosler, president of business management experts The Conference Board, said it was a risk all over Asia that real estate prices could escalate well beyond the ability of the properties to support returns.

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Japan has successfully launched its unmanned mission to resupply the International Space Station from the Tanegashima Space Centre in the early hours of Friday morning, local time.

The unmanned H-II Transfer Vehicle is carrying 4.5 tonnes of supplies and scientific apparatus.

Masazumi Miyake, one of the Japanese space agency’s senior officials in the US said the main aim of this demonstration flight was to verify the vehicle’s functionality and performance.

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

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