Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Wednesday 24th March

In this Bulletin…

- Google shuts down Google China search engine;
- Thailand toughens security laws; and
- Destructive storm hits Perth, 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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Internet giant Google has shut down its China-based search engine site. Some analysts think it means Google is no longer willing to cooperate in China’s censorship of the internet.

China’s nearly 400 million internet users can access Google’s Hong Kong site, a search engine with uncensored web searches. However, China’s firewall will still affect search results in what users can and cannot see.

Not completely out of China, Google will be keeping its research and development staff and sales team in the mainland, said NTDTV.

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Over 500 pig carcasses have been retrieved from the Qiantang River in China’s Zhejiang Province, reported The Epoch Times. It is uncertain if they drowned or died from disease.

Last week local news had reported flooding upstream had washed down large amounts of garbage, ducks, geese and even pigs weighing up to several hundred pounds.

Witnesses say the dead pigs gave off a noxious smell and that up to 100 pigs were being removed per day for about nine days.

No one had an answer as to why so many carcasses appeared during this time.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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According to the United Nations refugee agency, South Korea has awarded citizenship to an Ethiopian refugee; an unprecedented move in the country’s history.

The 38-year-old Ethiopian fled persecution in his home country in 2001. He was given citizenship last week.

A UN spokesperson called it a highly significant milestone in East and South East Asia. She urged other Asian countries to follow South Korea’s lead.

Since 1994, South Korea has accepted 175 claims of refugee status. It also houses thousands of refugees from North Korea.

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Thailand has decided to extend its tough security law as it faces more anti-government rallies. Cabinet members voted for the extension just prior to two small grenade blasts that hit their meeting place.

The security measures were due to expire on Tuesday but continued protests and political violence brought on the extension.

The law originally allowed authorities to set up checkpoints, impose curfews and limit movement across eight provinces. It is now extended to Bangkok and parts of two neighbouring provinces.

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

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Police in India are blaming Maoists for blowing up sections of railway tracks in four eastern states. The blasts have killed two people.

The Maoist rebels called for a 48-hour strike in six states on Monday. The blasts are retaliation against a major offensive by government troops.

Nearly 100,000 federal troops and policemen are taking part in the offensive which was initiated last November.

They have been fighting for communist rule in a large swathe of India for the past 20 years.

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Around 100,000 people were left without electric power after a strong and destructive storm hit Perth, Australia on Tuesday. Hailstones the size of golf balls battered the city, causing floods and landslides.

Western Australia’s premier estimated the damage left by the storm was hundreds of millions of dollars. Ground and air traffic had come to a complete halt.

More storms are forecast to follow the unusual weather, which comes after Perth’s driest summer.

On Sunday, a category two cyclone hit the Great Barrier Reef coastline on Australia’s east, ripping trees out of the ground and smashing boats and houses.

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