Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Thursday 11th March

In this Bulletin…

- Internet cafe ban proposal provokes hacker protest in China;
- South Korea and Turkey partner to build nuclear power plant; and
- Months of flooding expected in southern Australia.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day

[Audio]

For more information please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

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A legislative member in China, who has proposed a ban on all Internet cafes, has been the target of revenge by countless Chinese hackers, says NTDTV. They hacked her restaurant chain’s web site, deleting links and posting insulting messages.

During a recent annual plenary meeting, she blamed internet cafés for video game addiction, school truancy and petty theft. She suggested state-run Internet cafés should be set up to address these social issues.

Critics say she has gone too far, and that banning all Internet cafés would be akin to arresting all Chinese communist officials because many of them are corrupt.

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In northern China’s Hubei Province, an elderly woman was buried alive by demolition workers as she prepared to evacuate her home.

An Epoch Times report said a demolition workman operating excavation equipment dumped a load of dirt onto the woman, burying her alive.

According to witnesses, not one of the dozens of workers offered any help. Her family frantically rushed to dig her out with their bare hands. After an hour of digging, they reached her but were unable to revive her.

The family’s mourning soon drew thousands of onlookers and authorities sent anti-riot cars to drive the family away.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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South Korea and Turkey’s state power companies have signed a preliminary deal on Wednesday to build a nuclear power plant in northern Turkey.

Turkey’s prime minister said if a common ground with mutually acceptable conditions emerges, the main agreement between the two countries will be signed.

However, Turkey has advertised that doors are still open to proposals from other countries’ companies, saying they will work similarly with them.

The Korean power company which obtained the preliminary deal also won a contract in December to build four nuclear power plants in the United Arab Emirates as part of an international consortium.

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The American medical charity, Physicians for Human Rights, has warned that thousands of Burmese refugees in Bangladesh are facing starvation.

It accuses the Bangladesh government of obstructing efforts to help the Rohingya who are a Muslim minority. The Rohingya fled Burma to escape persecution.

The new report is called, Stateless and Starving: Persecuted Rohingya Flee Burma and Starve in Bangladesh. It warns children will starve if aid is not allowed to be delivered.

The report describes the makeshift camps for unregistered refugees as “open-air prisons”. There are an estimated 200,000 Rohingya living there.

Bangladesh officials say all claims are baseless.

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

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Australia and Indonesia have announced new tactics to boost security relations, economic relations and other key affairs during Indonesian President Yudhoyono’s visit to Canberra, Australia.

The two countries have come together agreeing to increase cooperation on people smuggling, terrorism and to have greater political contact. This includes annual meetings between the two nation’s leaders and between defence and foreign ministers.

There are also plans to set up a leadership dialogue of politicians, business leaders, academics and opinion makers between the two nations.

During a speech to Parliament, Yudhoyono touched on 60 years of diplomatic highs and lows between the two countries.

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Huge amounts of rainfall in south-western Queensland, Australia are expected to cause extensive flooding in southern Australia over the next two months.

The extreme rainfall, which is estimated to have caused over US$183 million dollars in damage, is on its way south to New South Wales.

Meanwhile, Australia’s insurance council is preparing for more than 40,000 claims as a result of thunder and hail storms in Victoria over the past weekend.

Wagga Wagga is recovering from a downpour of over four inches in one day, the average for the month in March. The town has been declared a disaster area.

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