Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 4th May

In this Bulletin…

- Shanghai World Expo turnout lower than expected;
- North Korean leader’s rare visit to China; and
- Golf becoming popular in India.

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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Shanghai’s World Expo is having far less visitors than organizers expected. The way visitors are handled is causing a lower turnout, says BBC.

So far, the highest number of visitors on the best day has been about 215,000, falling short of the 380,000 expected daily average.

At one point, 25,000 people were stuck waiting for hours to go through a security gate. Tickets for some exhibitions were all sold out in 5 minutes, causing frustrations.

By day three, 40 per cent fewer people had entered the park than by the same time the day before.

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Statistical reports show China’s housing market is experiencing significant drops in 21 of 35 major cities. Beijing is down 45 per cent, Shanghai 38 per cent and Hangzhou is down a massive 72.5 per cent.

According to The Epoch Times, of 10 key metropolitan cities being monitored, nine had a setback in the real estate market.

Along with the turnover volume, housing prices also dropped in most major cities, with the exception of Shenzhen, where average closing prices increased 12 per cent.

Housing prices in many major cities are still firm and some have risen to a certain extent, indicating a wait-and-see market has been formed.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Macau police clashed with an estimated crowd of 1,500 people as they protested government related issues on May 1. Water cannons and pepper spray were used on the crowd, injuring at least 41.

The protest was organized by labour unions, and social and youth organizations, taking issue with the government for not doing enough to curb inflation. They also criticized of a growing illegal labour problem.

Protestors marched towards government offices but were stopped by police near a market area. That is when physical violence ensued.

Macau, a former Portuguese territory, is a special administrative region of mainland China.

For more on this story, visit The Epoch Times.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il reportedly visited China on Monday. He arrived in a special armoured train.

South Korea said it could not confirm the reports, but there have been rumours of such a visit for several weeks.

Kim’s personal train was reported to have crossed into China at the border city of Dandong on the way to the port city of Dalian.

It’s not clear whether Kim Jong-il will meet with Chinese leaders in Beijing, who are very secretive about the visit so far, but it is likely he will seek financial aid to support his regime.

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

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Nepal is facing a state of emergency as the country’s former prime minister is urging people to support a general strike.

NTDTV said Maoist supporters responded by marching—and in some cases dancing—in the streets to show their support.

Activists say they are rallying in hopes for peace, a constitution and a government of national consensus.

Ironically, the strike is threatening the deadline for the drafting of a new constitution and the peace agreement which ended the decade long civil war.

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Indian golfers are growing in numbers and some are taking it as a sign the country’s economy is booming.

The country reportedly has more than half-a-million golfers. In the 1960s, there were just six golf courses, but now there are about 250, with another 50 being built across India.

Usually, golfing is reserved for those who can afford it, the country’s elite. But with the inclusion of golf in the 2016 summer Olympics, the Indian government will now fund state-run subsidised courses.

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