StarP2P has developed a technology to breakthrough the Chinese communist regime censorship. (Provided by StarP2P)

In this bulletin:

- Online television to let Chinese see beyond Great Fire Wall,
- Ancient drainage system saves Chinese city as flooding continues,
- Tensions on Korean peninsula dominate ASEAN talks, and
- India and Japan announce new hand-held devices .

But first our SOH focus on China.

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ET-Weather conditions could worsen the impact of a major oil slick off China’s northeast coast.

A pipeline exploded last Friday night as an oil tanker was being unloaded in Dalian resulting in a huge fire. About 1500 tones of crude oil spilled into the ocean.

Heavy winds Monday broke the slick up and and dispersed the oil. Official reports said over 400 square kilometres of ocean were now polluted.

But a change in the wind during the week could push oil back onto the coast. Worsening the environmental impact.

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ET-A new online television network is helping Chinese netizens to break through Beijing’s information blockade.

The peer-to-peer transmission technology used by iPPOTV combined with the unique design of the software behind the service makes it impossible to block or trace.

What’s more the software is free. Star P2P, the company behind the TV network said they were giving viewers in China back the right to knowledge stripped from them by the authoritarian political system.

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Expert commentators have branded the new 24-hour English language news channel launched by China’s state-run news agency a propaganda tool.

International Journal Modern China Studies told SOH Xinhuia News Agency’s CNC World channel is aimed at pushing and extending the reach of Chinese media into Western countries.

Listen to our Inside China Today podcast for an interview with the journal’s chief editor.

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ET-A centuries old drainage system saved a city in south China from severe floods. This summer torrential rain and flash floods have caused damage estimated to be in the billions of dollars. And Friday there were new warnings for downstream of the Three Gorges Dam.

But the 100,000 residents of Ganzhou, an ancient city in southern China’s Jiangxi Province, are safe and dry, thanks to two drains built during the Song dynasty.

built more than 900 years ago, the system follows a natural cycle with the environment. It also handles sewage and helps control humidity.

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

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NTDTV-Tensions on the Korean peninsula were raised this week with the arrival of a US Navy aircraft carrier as part of joint naval exercises between the US and South Korea.

Around 8,000 military personnel from the US and South Korea will be involved in the training. The exercises will be held in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25 to 28.

North Korea threatened a ‘physical response’ to the US military presence. The warning was issued Friday as Pyongyang sat down at an Asia-Pacific security meeting in Vietnam.

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NTDTV-Representatives from 27 countries came together in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi Friday for the last day of the Association of South East Asian Nations meeting.

Foreign ministers from member countries as well as those from Japan, South Korea, China and North Korea gathered to discuss regional security issues.

The meeting in Vietnam comes just days after Washington imposed more sanctions on North Korea. US officials are expected to seek regional support for Seoul, which has sought repercussions for the sinking of a South Korean warship.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Australian general election announced,
- Report highlights Malaysia’s human rights issues, and
- Animal thought extinct re-discovered in Sri Lanka.

But first

(Quote)

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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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NTDTV-Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer Sharp this week announced plans to enter the electronic reader and book markets. Shares in the company rose on the news.

Sharp plans to offer e-book distribution and compatible reader devices later this year, joining a crowded sector that includes Apple, Amazon and Sony.

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Australia’s prime minister has called a snap election for August 21.

Julia Gillard, the country’s first female prime minister, said the general election would be a tough and close affair.

The election is likely to focus on the key issues of the economy, health, climate change and immigration.

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NTDTV-Human rights activists have accused Malaysia’s government of heightened intolerance. This is despite the release of most detainees held under an act allowing detention without trial.

Independent group Voice of the Malaysian People said 2009 saw increasingly serious and repeated human rights violations and a heightened intolerance towards dissent. All amid a culture of impunity.

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On a lighter note.

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A rare primate thought to be extinct has been found in Sri Lanka.

Researchers managed to track down, photograph and examine the Horton Plains slender loris in highland forest.

The elusive primate was last glimpsed in 2002. Prior to that sighting it had not been seen since 1939.

Habitat loss and its use in traditional medicine still present a real treat to the slender loris.

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India is seeking a manufacturer for a budget iPad-like tablet it hopes to release next year.

The device, which has a price tag of only $35 US dollars was unveiled by the government Thursday.

According to reports the device uses a memory card instead of a hard disk, runs on the Linux operating system and can run off solar power. Developed by India’s top IT colleges, the tablet supports word processing, web browsing and video conferencing.

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

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Image of UFO captured by a resident in Hangzhou Xianshan district on July 7. (Internet photo)

In this bulletin:

- Google remains in China,
- Floods devastate China’s south,
- Bribery scandal inside Taiwan’s High Court, and
- Fiji expels another Australian diplomat.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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ET-It looks like Internet giant Google will remain in China. State-run media confirmed July 11 the Chinese authorities had approved the renewal of Google’s operating license.

In March, Google began to automatically transfer Chinese users to a website in Hong Kong to avoid Chinese Internet censorship. This policy was changed after Beijing threatened to withdraw Google’s license. In late June a link to the Hong Kong site was installed on Google’s Chinese homepage instead.

The regime’s approval for Google to continue its business in China is a sign of compromise.

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ET/RFA-China’s renowned human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng has gone missing for a second time for nearly three months. At the end of March, after having disappeared for more than a year, he was allowed to communicate with the outside world.

Gao vanished again when he went to visit his father-in-law in Xinjiang. His family said Gao had been missing for nearly three months now and no one knew where he was.

Many suspect wrongdoing by the Chinese regime.

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NTDTV-More than 29 million people across nine provinces have been affected by flooding, landslides, and mudslides following days of torrential rain in southern China.

Thousands of homes have collapsed and many of the region’s crops have spoilt, with damage estimates over $1 billion US dollars and rising.

The latest deluge comes just weeks after heavy rains last month killed 400 people. With more rain forecast the problem could get worse.

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ICT-A group of kind-hearted Beijing lawyers have established an association to help the many disadvantaged groups facing unfair legal treatment in China’s current legal system

The Human Rights Legal Association was founded on July 1 and and will provide legal services and free consultations.

The association said it wanted to speak up for the disadvantaged so that they wouldn’t give up hope on the legal system.

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

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A corruption scandal has rocked Taiwan’s judicial system, landing three top judges and a prosecutor behind bars. They’re charged with taking bribes from a former legislator to clear his sentence.

That legislator, Ho Chi-hui is believed to have bribed the four men with nearly $250 thousand US dollars to get them to overturn his 19-year corruption sentence.

The case marks the first-ever investigation into Taiwan’s High Court.

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Australia has strongly condemned the expulsion of its top diplomat from Fiji. Australia’s acting high commissioner to Fiji was given 24 hours to leave the country Tuesday.

Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the expulsion was ‘uncalled for and of grave concern’.

The two sides expelled each other’s most senior envoys late last year in a dispute that has been ongoing since Fiji’s military regime came to power in a 2006 coup.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- East Timor-Australia refugee centre debate continues,
- Japan’s PM loses control of upper house, and
- Green transport’s bright Taiwanese future.

But first

(Quote)

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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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East Timor has rejected a proposal by Australia for it to become a regional refugee processing centre for Australian-bound asylum seekers.

Although only 34 of East Timor’s 65 MPs were present, they voted unanimously against the Australian proposal.

Australia’s Foreign Minister is on his way to Jakarta to further discuss the proposal, which also currently has the backing of News Zealand’s prime minister.

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ET/NTDTV-Japan’s government under Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s suffered a deep blow in an upper house election Sunday July 11, after losing its combined majority.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan fell far short of the required number of seats and lost control of the upper house to their rival the Liberal Democratic Party.

But the prime minister’s party remains in power because it still controls the more powerful lower House of Representatives.

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The Taiwan Railway Administration opened its first solar-powered station this week.

With five hours of sufficient sunlight a day, the station at a science park in southern Taiwan can generate enough power to run itself during the daytime.

The station’s design makes good use of natural light to cut down on electricity usage and also incorporates a rain harvesting system.

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On a lighter note.

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ET -Multiple UFO sightings have recently been reported across different regions in China.

A variety of different shaped objects as well as unusual beams of light were observed between June 30 and July 10.

Sightings were reported from the northwestern province of Xinjiang across to Fujian Province in the south. One UFO caused the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport to close for an hour.

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A guest at a hotel in Pakistan had a nice surprise after leaving over $50,000 US dollars in cash behind in his room. It’s been returned to him after a hotel employee handed it in.

A cleaner found the money left in the room of a Japanese worker. He said times were hard for everyone, but that didn’t mean people should take things which do not belong to them.

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

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Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama celebrated his 75th birthday on July 6. Contrary to rumours that said he was ill, the Dalai Lama met the faithful gathered in front of his Himalayan monastery at Dharamasala. (Courtesy of AsiaNews.it)

In this bulletin:

- One year on from Urumqi ethnic violence,
- Earthquake danger rebuilt in Sichuan,
- Dalai Lama celebrates 75th birthday, and
- New Zealand pursuing Asian trade agreements.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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NTDTV/ET-Security forces in China’s Xinjiang have been on high alert around the July 5 anniversary of the ethnic violence in Urumqi that left hundreds dead. Authorities installed some 40,000 surveillance cameras as part of their security crackdown. State-run media said everyone should expect to be watched at all times.

Uighur groups say the last year’s protest turned violent after security forces started using live ammunition. Hundreds died in the week-long violence that followed.

Amnesty International has released a highly critical report ahead of the anniversary questioning the official version of events.

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ICT-A Chinese environmentalist has revealed to SOH just how severely polluted China’s water sources are.

Environmentalist Li Li told our Chinese reporters one of the major causes was a lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms. Many rivers are contaminated with industrial waste, heavy metals, agricultural chemicals and toxic algae.

Listen to our Inside China Today podcast to hear Li’s assessment of the problem. And the difficulties facing villagers trying to source clean water .

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ET-According to Chinese netizens sub-standard materials caused the collapse of a building being erected as part of the post-Sichuan earthquake reconstruction.

The corruption behind the unsafe buildings that made the 2008 Sichuan earthquake so deadly now seems to be dogging the reconstruction effort.

Local officials said the building in Mainzhu City’s Hanwangzhen Town was deliberately demolished. But residents said this could not have been the case.

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NTDTV-A Chinese national held hostage in the Philippines for almost 18 months has been rescued.

Xili Wu, also known as Peter Go, was unharmed after a 10-minute gun battle between security forces and dozens of Abu Sayyaf militants Monday night.

Police said Wu had been held hostage for so long he was technically breaching immigration law. And that they were turning him over to the Chinese Consul.

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

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NTDTV-Tibetan exiles and Buddhist followers celebrated the Dalai Lama’s 75th birthday Tuesday. They gathered in Dharamsala amid growing concerns over his health and the future of the Tibetan movement.

The Dalai Lama made a rare birthday appearance to accept the greetings of his well-wishers.

Many Tibetans fear the loss of their most recognized leader could weaken the unity of the Tibetan movement. Something Beijing could exploit to tighten its grip on the region.

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New Zealand’s prime minister has been on an official tour of Asia this week.

He started Monday with a three-day visit to South Korea aimed at boosting bilateral relations and trade between the two countries. A free trade agreement is now said to be within touching distance.

China was the next stop Wednesday where trade was again the focus. The prime minister spoke of endless potential, but did little to ease concerns about Chinese control of New Zealand’s assets.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Greenpeace takes aim at Indonesian logging,
- Toyota still in the spotlight, and
- Indonesian supermarket helps legalise motorcycle taxis.

But first

(Quote)

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

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Greenpeace has accused one of the world’s biggest pulp and paper companies of destroying Indonesia’s rainforests.

A report by the environmental group released this week said Asia Pulp and Paper was relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and potentially threatening Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.

The company denied the allegations and questioned Greenpeace’s research.

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Japanese car giant Toyota this week began its world wide safety recall of over a-quarter-of-a-million cars.

Ninety-five-thousand vehicles sold in Japan and South Korea were recalled Monday with other countries following through the week.

So far, no accidents due to the defect have been officially reported. But Toyota’s recent safety issues mean that even such precautionary recalls are attracting attention.

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An exhibition highlighting India’s Buddhist tradition and the life of Mahatma Ghandi is on show in Taipei at Taiwan’s National Central Library.

The India-Taipei Association Buddha and Ghandi both taught non-violence and respect for all forms of life.

Included in the exhibition are photographs tracing the life of Buddha and depicting Ghandi’s humanitarian services. Asia 5

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On a lighter note.

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NTDTV-A scheme by the Indonesian government to give a thousand motorcycle taxi drivers in free licences is being supported by a chain of convenience stores.

The two-wheeled taxis are very popular, especially in congested cities like Jakarta. But many of the drivers operate without a license because the cost of getting one is so high.

The scheme’s sponsor, Alfamart, said it was supporting the initiative because so many of their customers used motorcycle taxis them to go shopping.

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Young designers have had the chance to showcase their talents during Hong Kong’s fashion week.

Graduating design students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University were hoping to establish themselves in the world of fashion.

As one of Asia’s fashion capitals the Hong Kong event is all about setting trends.

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

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Censoring China's internet can be a headache, as instant microblogs reach the masses before being censored. (timyang.net/Flickr)

In this Bulletin…

- China’s difficulty censoring microblogs;
- Whaling negotiations break down; and
- Australia’s new prime minister.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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Monitoring and censoring content on China’s internet can be a real headache, reports The Epoch Times.

Chief Editor of Chinese online media giant Sina says that posts on their website can reach tens or hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of minutes. The microblog is a Twitter-like service launched by Sina.

Censors and editors work together to triple-check posts.

That helps some 300,000 paid commentators a little, who work for the communist party. Dubbed the “50 Cent Party”, they are said to be paid 50 Chinese cents per online post they write favouring the Chinese Communist Party.

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The Deputy Director of China’s State Food and Drug Administration is suspected of alleged bribery involving the U.S. company Johnson & Johnson.

According to an NTDTV report, he was apparently dismissed when authorities started investigating possible bribery by drug firms.

According to the state media report, six other officials of the State Food and Drug Administration are also under investigation.

In 2007, the previous head of the China’s food and drug agency was executed for taking bribes to approve unsafe medicine.

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Now for the rest of today’s news.

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Negotiations on a deal to suspend a 24-year whaling moratorium have been put on hold for now. Members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) have called for a year-long cooling-off period.

An IWC commissioner from Germany said the proposal on the table is a dead letter. They’ve agreed they need a period off, to see if there is real readiness to look for compromise.

Anti-whaling activists are outraged. Iceland, Norway and Japan have continued to use legal loopholes to sidestep the 1986 whaling ban, harvesting more than 1,500 whales in the 2008-2009 season alone.

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Countries Jordan and Israel are planning to divert water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea in hopes of reviving it.

The Dead Sea, aptly named, has no fish, no seaweed or life forms, just some resilient bacteria. Water flows into it but none flows out, evaporating and leaving behind even more mineral salts.

But public hearings are being held to discuss the building of a pipeline that would pump Red Sea water into the Dead Sea.

One salt-mining company has been mixing the two seas’ waters in pools and warns, it doesn’t like what it has seen.

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

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A source in Pakistan’s interior ministry says the latest intelligence report names at least 17 banned organizations that are raising funds in Punjab, says the BBC.

They are said to be raising donations through religious gatherings, certificate award ceremonies and meetings held in the name of social welfare.

The report identifies the most active among these groups as the Ghazi Force.

It says the group has close working relations with Tehrik Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of anti-Pakistan militants based in the North Waziristan tribal region.

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Julia Gillard has taken seat as Australia’s new Prime Minister on Thursday when Kevin Rudd stepped down. The Australian Labor Party is said to have changed leaders to avoid election defeat later this year.

However, analysts say Gillard will only bring change of leadership style and not substance.

Yet, investors hope she will soften the government’s controversial “super profits” mining tax which has rattled voters.

Government lawmakers believe Gillard has a better chance than Rudd of winning back voters because she is a warmer personality who can sell policies more effectively.

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And we now bring you the Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

Asia Cast will be changing to a weekly roundup of events around the Asia-Pacific region. We’re keeping our focus on China and will continue to cover topics avoided by other media. The SOH Radio Network thanks you; we value your listenership and your feedback.

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

Bookmark It

Cyber-crimes are on the rise, costing Australian businesses hundreds of millions annually. (By Don Hankins/Flickr)

In this Bulletin…

- Fake anti-cancer drugs from China;
- Thailand red-shirts mourn rogue general; and
- Australia’s cyber-crimes increase.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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Counterfeit anti-cancer drugs from China are impacting pharmaceutical companies world-wide, reports The Epoch Times.

They’ve been prevalent in China for many years. Yet, lack of adequate drug regulations is to blame for the large amounts of fake anti-cancer drugs flooding the market.

The fake medications are being sold in two-thirds of Chinese drug stores, says one investigator. People are not only losing their money on the dangerous fakes, but also their lives.

The World Health Organization estimates that 10 percent of the pharmaceutical drugs in global circulation are bogus, with China being the biggest contributor of the counterfeits.

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Beijing recently announced it plans to make China’s currency more flexible, allowing it to gain value against the U.S. dollar. However, it’s ruling out a large, one-off move in the Yuan’s value.

And on Tuesday, for the first time since the weekend pledge, its central bank raised the centre point of the currency’s official trading band.

But analysts said China would still limit the appreciation so as not to damage its export-led economy.

The move, ahead of the G20 summit later this month in Toronto, has tempered market fears of a possible trade war between China and the US.

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Now for the rest of today’s news.

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Thousands of red-shirts attended the funeral of a Thai activist leader who was shot in May as he led anti-government protestors in Bangkok.

Although nearly 1,000 police were stationed in the capital, the general’s cremation ceremony was a peaceful event.

The protest leader known as Commander Red was shot by an unknown gunman while speaking to an American journalist.

Thailand media reported that along with red-shirts, the ceremony was also attended by government and opposition politicians, senior military and police officers.

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Kyrgyzstan’s border patrol say about 35,000 refugees have returned to the country after fleeing because of ethnic clashes.

But, authorities say tensions remain high as angry protestors have confronted the country’s interim leader over falling living standards since he took power.

They also say they are moving elections forward by a month in order to bring a legitimate government as quickly as possible.

The number could not be confirmed. A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Uzbekistan said aid workers had seen a large number of refugees returning.

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

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Private hauling companies carrying supplies to American soldiers in Afghanistan are helping to fund the Taliban, says a U.S. report.

A contract worth US$2.2 billion dollars paying for the transport of supplies has intensified the rise of warlord activities it warns. It may be a significant source of funding for insurgents.

It highlights the problem of private militias extorting money from the primary contractors by attacking convoys that have not bought protection. Such highway warlords are also believed to pay protection money directly to insurgents, it said.

Many warlords operate under the name of officially registered private security companies.

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Australian’s are being targeted by cyber criminals like never before says a new cyber crime report published by the government.

The report says cyber crimes are costing Australian business nearly US$565 million dollars a year and suggests some direct steps to protect consumers.

Some steps include a national cyber-crime reporting centre, more training for law enforcement agencies and information sharing on a wider range of cyber-crime types.

The report also stresses that increasing internet speeds would probably worsen the situation for consumers and businesses.

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And we now bring you the Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

Asia Cast will be changing to a weekly round up of events around the Asia-Pacific region. We’re keeping our focus on China and will continue to cover topics avoided by other media. The SOH Radio Network thanks you, we value your listener-ship and your feedback.

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

Bookmark It

In this Bulletin…

- Newest deadly mine explosion in China;
- Japan sets new fiscal goals; and
- The UN appeals for Kyrgyzstani displaced.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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At least 47 miners were killed in a coal mine explosion in Henan Province, China on Monday. According to state-run media, there were 26 survivors, of which six suffered extensive burns.

The explosion occurred when an underground explosives storage area had suddenly detonated.

The mine’s license had expired weeks before the explosion. However the owner of the mine had resumed production illegally.

China is notorious for its frequent and deadly mine accidents. Last year, another mine explosion in the in the same city, killed 76 miners.

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Businessman Michael Hull is warning investors to be aware of risks when investing in China.

While travelling to Shanghai with a group of former foreign investors to the World Expo, he says he was manhandled, taken to an unknown location and interrogated by police. He was then deported.

Hull said it was all because he and his companions had petitioned Beijing after being cheated in China and losing all their money.

When he asked police to investigate, they said they couldn’t because the manager was a member of the communist party.

Visit NTDTV for the full story.

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Please listen out at the end of this bulletin for news on changes coming soon to Asia Cast. Now here’s the rest of today’s bulletin.

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Japan’s new prime minister has set targets to rein in the country’s national debt, the biggest in the industrialized world. He said without fiscal reform, the country could face the risk of a Greece-style crisis.

Japan estimates the budget would be brought back into surplus by the end of the decade. A cap is planned for what Japan fiscally spends and borrows.

But some economists believe its financial situation is not as bad as it seems.

Japan has a trade surplus, and is still able to borrow money at some of the lowest interest rates in the world.

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South Korean officials say radioactive xenon eight times the normal level was detected near the border with North Korea just days after Pyongyang said it had created nuclear fusion in May.

The North had said it had made a breakthrough for creating limitless generation of energy.

However, some nuclear scientists suspect a conventional fission reaction releasing xenon took place rather than nuclear fusion.

Xenon, which is colourless and odourless, occurs naturally in very tiny levels in the atmosphere. But it is also along with krypton, an atmospheric signature of a nuclear test.

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

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Seventeen mostly pro-whaling nations have had their voting rights suspended at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Morocco. Analysts speculate it may serve a blow to Japan’s hopes of resuming commercial whaling.

Currently delegates are engaged in talks over proposals to allow Japan to resume a limited commercial whale hunt. In exchange, Japan would reduce its so-called scientific whaling program.

Many of the nations banned from voting are from the pro-whaling bloc which were expected to back Japan.

Under the draft proposal, Japan would be allowed to catch 120 whales a year in its coastal waters.

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The UN has launched an appeal to help the estimated 400,000 people in Kyrgyzstan displaced by inter-ethnic fighting.

The flash appeal is aiming to raise $71 million US dollars and hopes to be able to provide enough food and shelter for six months.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has accepted tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the violence. The Uzbek government has asked the UN to launch a similar appeal for its own camps next week.

The UN Human Rights Council is calling on the Kyrgyz government to conduct a full and transparent investigation into the clashes between the Kyrgyz majority and Uzbek minority.

**********************

Here’s more on the changes coming soon to Asia Cast. We’re planning on moving to a weekly round-up of events around the Asia-Pacific region. We’re keeping our China focus and will continue to report on topics avoided by other media. We hope you’ll stick with us during the transition, and as always we welcome your feedback.

And we now bring you the Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

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

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The Longtan Dragon Boat Competition, a tradition almost 100 years old, was held on the Longtan Pond of Longtan Township, Taiwan on June 15 and 16. (By Song Bilong/The Epoch Times)

In this Bulletin…

- Southern China devastated by heavy rains ;
- Thousands turn out for annual Dragon Boat Festival; and
- Malaysia pressured to review arbitrary detention.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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Hong Kong’s Security Bureau has announced that last month a radioactive leak occurred at a Chinese nuclear power station close to Hong Kong. But the power station’s Hong Kong based part-owners said there wasn’t a leak, but a minor rise in the radioactivity of the station’s cooling water.

The announcement by the Hong Kong security Bureau was in response to a report by Radio Free Asia. The report said the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station released dangerous amount of radioactive iodine into the air last month.

The Epoch Times website has more on this story.

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Chinese state media said over a million people living along rivers in China’s south have been evacuated. Water levels are becoming dangerously high as torrential rains continue to cause mayhem across southern China.

At least 69 deaths have been reported in floods and landslides after days of almost non-stop torrential downpours.

State media reported over 1.4 million people living along riverbanks and in low-lying areas had had to move.

The National Meteorological Centre warned more heavy rain was on the way. The cost of the disaster has reached $950 million US dollars.

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Please listen out at the end of this bulletin for news on upcoming changes to Asia Cast. Now back to the rest of today’s Asia Cast.

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Tibetans trying to rebuild their lives after a devastating earthquake are facing an unexpected problem; an official reconstruction project approved by China’s State Department.

The Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is a region in China’s Qinghai Province mostly inhabited by Tibetans. In April this year a 6.9-magnitude earthquake affected the lives of nearly 100,000 people.

One Tibetan affected by the quake told The Epoch Times local authorities were preventing residents from rebuilding their own homes.

Check The Epoch Times for more about the difficulties Tibetans in the Yushu region are facing.

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The Epoch Times said over 10,000 people attended the annual Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan’s Longtan Township last week.

The event has been held on the Longtan Pond for almost 100 years. As well dragon boat racing the festival includes a unique lion dance competition in which contestants perform highly technical lion dances on stakes placed in the middle of Longtan Pond.

The festival originated in China. It is a traditional holiday commemorating the death of the poet Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan drowned himself because he was distraught by politics. Local people beat drums and flailed the water to protect his spirit and to prevent the fish from eating his body. And it turned into a sport.

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

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An article in a leading medical journal has said up to 77 million people in Bangladesh have been exposed to toxic levels of arsenic from drinking water in recent decades.

The study was published online in The Lancet. It followed thousands of people over a 10 year period. And found 20 per cent of deaths among this group were caused by arsenic accumulating in the body.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring poisonous element. People started to become exposed to it in the 1970s when hand pumps were installed to reach underground water sources.

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The UN has urged Malaysia to repeal security laws allowing people to be detained without trial.

UN officials made the recommendation after investigating allegations of widespread abuse of detainees.

According to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, almost all those it interviewed said they were tortured or mistreated in Malaysia’s detention centres. The group said people preferred to be in prison than a detention centre as they felt safer there.

Malaysia says it is amending its preventative laws, but has not yet said how. Parts of these laws have been used against journalists and politicians in the past.

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Over the next week we’re going to be announcing some big changes to the format and frequency of Asia Cast. The changes are part of a drive to bring you, our listeners, as broad a range of interesting audio content as possible. Listen out for more on this throughout the week.

And we now bring you the Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

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

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Villagers in Dharhara thoughtfully plant fruit trees when daughters are born, in preparation for their dowries. (By Syed Touhid Hassan/Flickr)

In this Bulletin…

- New AIDS-like disease appears in China;
- Fruit trees save Indian girls’ lives; and
- Turkish troops enter northern Iraq.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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A new disease resembling AIDS has appeared in China as hundreds report symptoms of immune system failure. However, the patients do not test HIV positive.

The disease is being called “HIV-Phobia” by China’s Centre for Disease Control. Yet patients refer to the disease as “negative HIV” as they experience AIDS-like symptoms but don’t test positive.

It appears to be contracted in much the same manner as HIV with some exceptions. This new disease which causes deadly immunity dysfunction has reportedly been easily transmitted through spit and even perspiration.

For more on this story visit The Epoch Times.

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A strike at the Honda Lock Company in China’s Guangdong Province ended on Monday with a small pay increase. But many of the striking workers have been replaced by new ones, says NTDTV.

Workers were hoping to win a large dispensation from employers—double their monthly salaries and free accommodations—much like employees at Honda Transmission did recently.

It seems Honda was unwilling to meet the demands for the relatively unskilled job labourers at Honda Lock. Instead the company launched a massive local recruiting effort, attracting applicants and forcing strikers to return to work or risk losing their jobs.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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A very large Hong Kong luxury apartment developer failed US$342 million dollars in sales, sparking efforts to reign in home prices. The failed deal has also sparked a government inquiry.

The developer said most buyers pulled out the project when sale of 20 luxury apartments had collapsed.

The failure of the sales is a setback for the Hong Kong billionaire as regulators try to cool the property market.

One failed sale included a unit that would have set a world record price of US$88,000 dollars per square foot. Home prices in Hong Kong have rise 5.7 percent this year.

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Fruit trees are helping save the lives of girls in one small village in India’s Bihar state as parents plant at least 10 trees at girls’ births.

Villagers have done so for generations in efforts to prepare for expenses when the girl grows up and marries.

The trees are considered by some a deposit of sorts, fending off dowry deaths, for which the rest of the state is infamous for.

They say mango orchards are a big support for them at the time of their daughter’s marriage, because they save money earned through the sale of fruit throughout the years.

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Aid for tens of thousands of Kyrgyzstan refugees who fled ethnic battles arrived on Wednesday. Nearly 190 were killed in the clashes last week between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of Kyrgyzstan.

Neighbouring Uzbekistan received more than 75,000 refugees from the fighting, but is now only accepting sick and wounded people. Thousands desperate to flee have been left marooned on the border.

The UN said it is already a tragedy and could become a catastrophe.

Officials say at least 200,000 people have been displaced within Kyrgyzstan along with the 75,000 who fled to Uzbekistan.

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Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish rebels. Insurgents have been in opposition of the government for over 25 years.

Turkey’s military also said air strikes were launched in deeper parts of Iraqi territory. The offensive took place after rebels made an unsuccessful attack on border guards.

Rebel insurgents known as the PKK are considered a terrorist group, not just by Turkey but the European Union and the U.S.

More than 40,000 people are believed to have died in the long standing conflict, from both sides.

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Manufacturing plant workers in China are demanding increased pay. Demands may create increased business shutdowns. (By Robert Scoble/Flickr)

In this Bulletin…

- Higher pay in China for labourers;
- Indonesia’s 7.1 earthquake; and
- Japan to give billions in low APR loans.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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Soaring prices are causing workers throughout China to go on strike and demand higher pay. Some experts warn the demands are causing many small and medium-size businesses to shut down, says The Epoch Times.

Hong Kong media say the strikes have successfully resulted in minimum-wage increases in Chinese cities and provinces.

However, what looks to be the end of cheap labour in China, may also be the end of many businesses run by foreign investors as their profit margins narrow.

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A well-known pioneer in the Chinese democracy movement says quiet progress has been made in China. He cites an editorial series by our affiliate media The Epoch Times as having a strong underground impact.

He spoke with SOH in Copenhagen last week and shared his thoughts on China’s process of democratization among other things.

He said a redoubt against tyranny was established by The Epoch Times and that it began with encouraging quitting the Chinese Communist Party and their publication of The Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party.

To date, over 75 million people have renounced the CCP and its affiliated organizations.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Heavy downpours have caused flash floods in several areas of Singapore on Wednesday.

Among the areas affected were Bukit Timah, Newton Circus and Scotts Road.

Some reports say water levels were knee-high and many vehicles and buses were stuck in the floods. Various roads were closed during the morning rush; many were late to work as traffic crawled at a snail’s pace.

In a two-hour period, more than 60 percent of the rainfall for in June fell during Wednesday morning’s downpour.

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Japan’s central bank has announced it will provide up to US$33 billion dollars in low interest loans. It says the aim is to spur economic growth.

Plans are to make the money available to commercial banks to encourage them to lend more to private businesses.

Reports say firms in growth sectors including energy, the environment and tourism will be targeted by the scheme. The Bank of Japan also said it would hold interest rates at near zero percent. Rates have remained at 0.1 percent since the end of 2008.

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A 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck eastern Indonesia on Wednesday. A local tsunami warning was given triggering panic as people fled their homes, say officials.

The quake struck southeast of Biak Island, West Papua right after a 6.2 quake had struck the same area.

An Indonesian weather agency issued a local tsunami warning but a Hawaii-based tsunami warning centre said no Pacific-wide wave was expected.

No major reports of damage in the thinly populated area near the quake were made.

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India is planning to send troops to help end a two-month road blockade in the state of Manipur. The blockade has been maintained by tribal groups in the north-eastern state.

Many of the groups refuse to back down. They are protesting against a government ruling to stop a separatist leader from visiting his birthplace in the state.

Officials have grown concerned as the blockade has led to shortages of food and medical supplies to local residents.

Officials have yet to meet and decide whether force will be used to clear the blockade.

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Although a mechanical failure prevented Hayabusa from grabbing a piece of asteroid rock, dust may still have found its way into the collection chamber. Scientists say even a small amount of material could yield years of research possibilities. (Courtesy of JAXA)

In this Bulletin…

- Taiwan-China trade agreement progresses;
- Thousands of Uzbecks flee ethnic violence; and
- Japanese asteroid explorer could reveal early universe’s mysteries.

But first we have our SOH focus on China.

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We begin with a story from the SOH Chinese language broadcast team.

With millions of students in China taking their college entrance exams, the pressure is on to get good results and the prospect of a better future.

With so much at stake some students are willing to pay others to sit their exams for them. A number of businesses openly advertise exam substitutes, with some guaranteeing college entrance. All for a price.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this our reporters uncovered is the fact that the authorities turn a blind eye to this illegal practice.

The Epoch Times website has the full translation of the original Chinese story.

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Taiwan said real progress was made during negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement with China.

Representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait met in Beijing Sunday. The meeting was the third round of talks on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

The agreement aims to bring the economies of Taiwan and China closer together. Taiwan’s pro-Beijing government says the deal will boost growth. But opponents of the agreement say stronger competition from China will cost Taiwanese jobs and make the island more dependant on the mainland.

Further negotiations are required before the deal can be cemented. But Taipei was upbeat about the way things went.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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As the ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan continues thousands of ethnic Uzbeks are fleeing the country.

Officials said a third day of fighting in the southern city of Osh has left almost 100 people dead. Witnesses have spoken of Kyrgyz men shooting members of the ethnic Uzbek minority and setting property alight. There have also been some reports of Kyrgyz casualties.

Desperate to restore order, Kyrgyzstan’s interim government gave security forces shoot-to-kill powers Saturday.

Uzbek emergency officials said at least 30,000 people had crossed the border from Kyrgyzstan. One official told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency that 75,000 had entered Uzbekistan.

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There had been another poison attack targeting schoolgirls in Afghanistan. The Afghan Ministry of Health said about 60 girls appeared to have been poisoned in the latest incident about.

The victims aged from nine to fourteen required hospitalisation. Most suffered minor reactions.

It was the third suspected poisoning of Afghani schoolgirls this week. Three similar attacks in April resulted in 90 schoolgirls being poisoned. So far there have not been any fatalities reported from any of the attacks.

It is suspected that the Taliban are behind the attacks. During the Taliban’s rule of Afghanistan girls were prohibited from attending school.

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

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At least 13 people have been killed by a bus crash in the Philippines. Thirty-nine others were pulled from the wreckage of the bus.

The bus was taking a group of around 50 students on a day trip. It crashed on a remote mountainous road, becoming wedged in a ravine 20 metres below the road.

Accidents are a frequent occurrence on the twisting mountainside roads on the Philippine island of Cebu.

Rescue operations were still under way over five hours after the crash. At least three more bodies are reportedly waiting to be removed.

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The Japanese space agency is celebrating the return to Earth of a capsule thought to contain the first samples grabbed from the surface of an asteroid.

The Hayabusa mission began in 2003. The asteroid explorer spent three months examining the 500-meter-long Itokawa asteroid in 2005.

A mechanical failure prevented Hayabusa actually grabbing some of the asteroid rock. But the Japanese space agency said there was a good chance some dust was collected .

Further technical problems delayed Hayabusa’s return to Earth.

Scientists say that analysis of asteroid material can provide clues about the early history of the Solar System and planet formation.

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