Asia Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 8th February

In this Bulletin…

- How new laws in China won’t stop forced demolitions;
- Japan hit by strong earthquake; and
- TV chief murdered in Nepal

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day

For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org

Our SOH focus on China is next

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Activists in China believe new regulations aimed at tackling unlawful forced demolitions favour developers, and not homeowners.

The Legislative Affairs Office of Beijing’s State Council has come under criticism because the proposed new laws appear to legalise forced demolitions rather than preventing them.

The legislation would allow businesses claiming they had to expand or relocate to simply knock peoples homes down.

An activist from Hubei Province said they were concerned local Party members would continue to collude with businesses.

It’s no secret that there is widespread corruption throughout China’s one-party system. A Beijing commentator told SOH the enormous profits from land sales made protecting civil rights virtually impossible.

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China has discovered possibly the one resource in Australia most Australians will say they’re welcome to; cane toads.

What is widely despised as a toxic pest in Australia is sought after as an ingredient in a range of traditional medicines in China.
Now, an businessman from Queensland in Australia is hoping he can take advantage of the potential market for toad venom, skin and meat for use in traditional Chinese remedies and as a delicacy.

But before the toads can be rounded up and shipped off there’s the quarantine and licensing matters to arrange with authorities from both sides.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Japan’s southern coast was rocked by a strong earthquake Sunday. There were no reports of casualties or damage at the time of writing.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.4 quake was centred about 115 kilometres off the Ryukyu Islands.

Japan’s meteorological agency issued a minor alert to small islands in the area, warning of a 0.5 metre tsunami.

The Ryukyu Islands lie about 1,800 kilometres southwest of Japan’s capital, Tokyo.

Although earthquakes are not uncommon across the Asia-Pacific region, there has been quite a lot of seismic activity in recent weeks.

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Anti-whaling activists and Japanese whalers have once again clashed in the Southern Ocean.

On Saturday there was a collision between the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s vessel the Bob Barker and the harpoon ship Yushin Maru 3. Both parties blame the other for the collision.

Sea Shepard said their ship was intentionally rammed by the whalers. The Japanese maintain they were struck as they tried to avoid a collision.

On Saturday the Bob Baker located the Japanese whaling fleet it in remote Australian Antarctic waters.

The collision happened after the environmentalists moved to block the whalers hunting operations.
Australia and New Zealand are investigating the incident.

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

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A drive-by shooting in Kathmandu has left the head of a Nepalese television station and satellite network dead.

The chairman of the Space Time Network, Jamim Shah, was shot by two masked men on motorbikes in the Lazimpat district of Kathmandu.

Ten years ago Shah’s Channel Nepal TV station was temporarily banned. One of the the station’s broadcasts sparked riots after it wrongly attributed anti-Nepal sentiments to a Bollywood star.

The Indian government had accused Shah of having links to a major crime syndicate as well as a Pakistan’s intelligence service. Charges that he denied.

Police are investigating the attack, but are unclear on the motive.

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The largest assault against Taliban-led militants in Afghanistan since the war began is just days away from being launched.

US Marines are due to lead NATO and Afghan soldiers to clear insurgents from their southern stronghold. The commander in charge said the operation intended to send out a strong signal that the Afghan government is expanding its security control .

The offensive will centre on the Marjah plain in the central Helmand River valley. The plain is home to some 80,000 people. Many are fleeing ahead of the assault.

Military officials say the region is the last bastion of Taliban control.

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