Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for the week ending Friday 20th August

In this bulletin:

- Deadly explosion at Chinese firework factory,
- China’s economy becomes world’s second biggest,
- Disease worries in Pakistan, and
- Australian election raises republic issue.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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NTDTV/ET-An explosion at a firecracker factory in Heilongjiang Province killed at least 19 people August 16. Over 150 others were injured in the blast.

The explosion damaged surrounding buildings and created a thick cloud of dust visible from six miles away.

Thousands of local residents were evacuated. The cause of the explosion is not known, but locals said workers were present inside the factory at the time of the explosion.

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ET-China overtook Japan as the world’s second strongest economy during the year’s second quarter.

China is expected to have a larger economy at the end of the year. This is due to China’s population growing between three and five times as fast as Japan’s.

But wealth in Japan is more evenly spread across the population. And most Japanese don’t seem too bothered by becoming the world’s number three economy.

Economists are predicting that China’s economic growth will slow during 2010.

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Beijing authorities and police have mounted a crackdown on petitioners in the capital. When many Chinese cannot resolve grievances locally they exercise their constitutional right and go to Beijing to petition their case.

But the petitioners SOH spoke to said the police were using any means necessary to clear them off the streets. Listen to our Inside China Today podcast to hear interviews with three petitioners in Beijing.

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A US defence department report has underlined concerns over the secrecy surrounding the growth of China’s military.

The report said the limited transparency in China’s military and security affairs enhances uncertainty and increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation.

The Pentagon said current trends in China’s military capabilities were changing the balance of power in East Asia. Washington wants to engage in dialogue with Beijing to avoid any miscalculation between the two militaries.

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SOH takes a look across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

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NTDTV-Disease has started to spread among survivors of Pakistan’s floods. The UN has reported the first case of cholera as millions have been left without clean water.

The UN also warned of the imminent danger of other water borne diseases such as typhoid and hepatitis.

Aid agencies are distributing safe drinking water to some flooded areas in the northwest of Pakistan. They are also warning people of the health risk presented by the contaminated flood water.

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is discussing whether to step in to try and help resolve the ongoing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers have been facing each other in a stand off along their border for two years. The dispute, which has been deadly at times, is centred around a temple both nations lay claim to.

The Association’s member countries are holding talks on whether to intervene or not.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Fatal shark attack off Western Australia,
- Taiwan’s schools going green , and
- Blue berries catch on in South Korea .

But first

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

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Back with the rest of today’s Asia Cast I’m Rich Crankshaw

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With Australia heading to the polls August 21 the days running up to the general election have seen some hard campaigning. The vote is set to be the closest for decades.

One issue brought up by Labor leader Julia Gillard was Australia’s status as a constitutional monarchy. She believes the country should become a republic after Queen Elizabeth II dies.

Opposition leader Tony Abbot maintained that the existing constitutional arrangements had worked well. Adding that the Australian people have shown they’re remarkably attached to institutions that work.

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Dozens of stranded pilot whales were discovered on a remote New Zealand beach Friday morning.

When conservation officials arrived, only 15 out of the 58 stranded animals were alive. The officials said the animals probably became stranded during the night which is why so many had died.

Poor weather was hampering the rescue effort.

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NTDTV-An Australian surfer died following a rare shark attack in Western Australia August 17. The man was surfing south of Perth when a shark attacked him.

He was pulled from the water unconscious with a large bite on his leg. Local residents who witnessed the attack were shocked.

Although shark sightings are common off Australia, fatal attacks are rare. Another surfer died in the area six years ago.

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Taiwan is outlining measures to offer aid to thousands of natural disaster victims in China and Pakistan.

A spokesman for the president said that having also been a victim of extreme weather Taiwan felt empathy for the people of China and Pakistan.

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On a lighter note.

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School children in Taiwan are getting the green message and dong their bit to help the environment.

Over 400 tons of batteries were recycled during the last academic year through a government scheme.

The Environmental Protection Administration helped launch the scheme seven years ago to teach children the importance of minimising waste. And it seems the message is getting through.

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Blueberries are proving to be a big hit in South Korea. The so-called super food has become so popular the government may give the go ahead for fresh imports from Chile and the US in order to meet consumer demand.

A few years ago blueberries were almost unheard of in South Korea. That all changed after a company released a mass-produced blueberry pie and the taste caught on.

Now the fruit is fetching a good price more and more farmers are interested in a piece of that pie.

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