After more than four years and hundreds of posts Asia Cast has currently been put on hold. During that time and the show has been through several major makeovers. We would just like to thank all our listeners who chose Asia Cast to keep them informed about events in the Asia-Pacific over the last few years.

We are planning to bring Asia Cast back into our line up as resources allow. Possibly this will be as a weekly headline round up feature for our Inside China Today program which we produce for our community and college radio partners.

Please listen out for updates.

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A giant fish sculpture made from 2,360 traditional Chinese lanterns and over 2,000 bamboo sticks lights up Hong Kong's Victoria Park in celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival. (By Song Xianglong/The Epoch Times)

In this bulletin:

- Chinese human rights lawyer released,
- Greenpeace highlights China’s toxic produce,
- South Korea pressured over deportations, and
- Asia’s Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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ET-Chinese human rights lawyer Guo Feixiong was released from prison September 13. Although in poor health and weakened by the ordeal of five years imprisonment, he declared himself unchanged in his core.

Prior to his detention in September 2006, Guo was active in the ‘weiquan’ or rights defense movement. The weiquan is a loose collection of lawyers and intellectuals that sought to protect the rights of ordinary Chinese through litigation.

Guo defended poor peasants whose land had been stolen, Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, and others who have suffered under the Chinese regime. He was a close associate of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who advocated for Guo’s release before Gao himself was imprisoned. Gao’s current whereabouts are unknown.

Guo spoke to The Epoch Times soon after his arrival home in Guangzhou, saying although he was weak and in poor health he would not give in.

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According to an investigation by Greenpeace, there are a variety of banned pesticide residues in the rice, vegetables and fruits sold at Chinese supermarkets.

These substances include highly dangerous chemicals listed by the World Health Organization that can severely affect the human endocrine system, injure the male reproductive system and damage unborn babies.

Between April and July Greenpeace collected and tested bulk rice, fruit and vegetable samples from three chain supermarkets Lianhua, Pufeng Lotus and Legou in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu and Hangzhou. The samples include 12 rices and 62 kinds of vegetables and fruits. A variety of pesticide residues were found in rice, strawberries, spinach and leeks.

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NTD-A retired school teacher in south China has donated 300-thousand yuan, that’s almost $47,000 US dollars, during the past 25 years to help poor students in his town.

Chen Qixian is 88-years-old and lives in the town of Dapo in Hainan Province. He retired from teaching 25 years ago and has been donating money to help students ever since, keeping only 50 yuan a month, less than $8 US dollars, for his own living expenses.

According to his daughter, Chen has been living off rice and carrots for decades, rather than spending his money on more nutritious food.

Last year, Chen donated 100-thousand yuan to establish the Dapo Education Promotion Association. He also contributed money toward building a library for Dapo Middle School last year.

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

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NTD-As landfill sites are nearing full capacity in China, one Hong Kong company is trying to solve the problem by converting plastic waste into valuable fuel.

Echotech is a recycling company in Hong Kong whose prototype operation processes three tons of plastic waste into roughly 1,000 litres of fuel oil everyday.

Plastic waste unfit for recycling is shredded and fed into Echotech’s million-dollar machine. It is converted into gas in an airtight oxygen-free liquefying chamber. A condenser turns the gas into a liquid and water is then separated from the fuel.

While the sulphur-content of the plastic-made fuel is too high to be used in cars, it is much lower than marine-grade fuel. With the world’s second busiest port full of diesel-powered ships, Hong Kong’s skyline is infamously polluted. The new fuel could help change that.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Crocodiles escape in Thailand flooding,
- Burma slammed over extending photographer’s jail sentence, and
- Monsoons bring more misery to Pakistan’s south.

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

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NTD-A number of crocodiles escaped after flood waters inundated a crocodile farm in eastern Thailand.

Weeks of heavy rains caused massive flooding at the Pattaya Crocodile Farm, a tourist attraction on the coast some 90 miles southwest of Bangkok. The farm houses about 2,800 of the giant reptiles, but it’s not known how many escaped.

Thailand has been battered by heavy rains and flooding since late July resulting in an especially heavy monsoon season. More than half a million people have been affected and about 1.5 million acres of farmland are under water

The country’s meteorological department has warned of more possible flash floods and mudslides in the coming weeks, as heavy rains are expected to continue across Thailand.

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NTD-Calls are coming from the United States and Europe for the South Korean government to stop the deportation of Falun Gong practitioners to mainland China.

On September 6, South Korean authorities arrested two adherents of the spiritual practice. Now one of them is being detained and faces possible deportation to mainland China where the ruling Communist Party persecutes Falun Gong.

New York-based rights group the Falun Dafa Information Center, says South Korea should not deport Falun Gong practitioners to China because of its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and the Convention Against Torture. Both prevent countries from sending refugees to another country where they face torture or persecution because of their religion or membership of a particular social group.

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ET- Reporters Without Borders said Thursday September 15 Burma added another ten years to the prison sentence of an independent news photographer. The international watchdog said the court decision brought the sentence of Democratic Voice of Burma reporter Sithu Zeya to 18 years in prison.

Reporters Without Borders condemned the move saying recent events show the conciliatory gestures so far taken by this government are just part of a PR strategy. Adding there was no indication the government had any real intention of improving media freedom.

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ET-Still rebuilding after last year’s devastating floods, Pakistan was pounded with another round of heavy Monsoon rains, causing flooding in its biggest city, Karachi, and other areas in the south. The same heavy rains have affected thousands in Thailand as well.

The United Nations estimates that more than 220,000 people have been displaced due to flooding in Pakistan and another 5 million have been negatively affected. At least 200 people have died.

Aid groups say that more than 700,000 families are still living in temporary shelters after they were forced to leave their homes in the 2010 floods that affected the whole country. Since late August of this year, the floods have destroyed or damaged nearly a million homes and inundated 4.2 million acres of land, mostly in the southern province of Sindh.

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On a lighter note.

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ET-The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated with joyous festivities throughout Asia Monday September 12, the night when the moon was at its fullest and brightest.

In Hong Kong a huge fish-shaped lantern lit up Victoria Park. Envisioned by local designer William Lim, the lantern sculpture was constructed with the aid of Hong Kong’s unique bamboo scaffolding. The huge sculpture was made from 2,360 traditional Chinese lanterns and over 2,000 bamboo sticks, with small fish-shaped lanterns and water ponds on both sides. High-tech flashing LED lights give added effects, dancing to the rhythm of the music.

In Taiwan a procession of people carrying torches was organized by the Shaoan Hakka people in Shuibiantou Village, Yunlin County. The event started with the main torch lighting, followed by fireworks that set the area aglow with silver lights. Then a procession of over 1,000 people carrying torches and led by thunderous drumming, set off for an exciting nocturnal excursion.

In Malaysia, local Chinese held a lantern parade on the night of Saturday September 10, bringing the bright lights of the Mid-Autumn Festival to Kuala Lumpur. Chinese style dragon and lion dances led the parade, followed by a long line of people holding lanterns.

Ancient legends and traditions about the moon abound in China. Clay rabbit figurines are popular gift items for Mid-Autumn Festival. They represent Grandpa Rabbit, Du Ye Er in Chinese, and originate from the legendary Jade Rabbit pounding medicine on the moon. The rabbit also used to be a mascot of old Beijing.

Visiting the local temple is also an ancient tradition during Mid-Autumn Festival. Around 10,000 people went to the Yonghe Temple in Beijing September 12. When the temple opened its doors at 8:45 am, worshippers rushed inside and filled the entire temple in less than 5 minutes. They held their incense high and bowed to the Buddha, praying for good fortune.

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

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Gatot Machali at the microphone at Radio Erabaru's small studio in Batam, Indonesia. (Courtesy of Radio Erabaru)

In this bulletin:

- Slave labour rescue highlights problem,
- Chinese environmental damage under investigation,
- Indonesian broadcaster targeted over Chinese broadcast, and
- Business success squeezes Hong Kong international schools.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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NTD-More slave labour has been discovered in China’s central Henan Province. The victims, men who suffer from severe mental disabilities, were found working under deplorable conditions at brick kilns. Eight people were detained in relation to the case.

Henan media first exposed the problem Sunday September 3 and alerted authorities. Since then, 30 mentally disabled men have been rescued. They endured beatings, starvation and received no pay for their work. Many were kidnapped and sold to kiln owners. Others were tricked into going there.

Labour rights in China have struggled to keep pace with economic development. Lawyer Jiang Tianyong has worked with victims of slave labour from Shanxi Province, and told NTD it was a prevalent problem.

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NTD-Nearly three months after the Bohai Bay oil spill, top-level authorities in China are now ordering a full investigation.

The notice was posted on Wednesday, following a State Council meeting.

ConocoPhillips China, a subsidiary of the Texas-based oil company, is operating the oil field where the spill occurred. The company has been partnering with the state-run China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

ConocoPhillips announced Tuesday September 6 it would set aside a fund to cover costs resulting from the spills and ‘benefit the general environment in Bohai Bay.’ However, the exact amount was not mentioned.

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ET-Five Chinese environmental watchdog groups jointly published a report August 31 accusing Apple of ignoring pollution produced by its Chinese suppliers. The groups say Apple has made huge profits at the expense of the environment and local residents.

The five non-governmental environmental organizations are Friends of Nature, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, Green Beagle, Envirofriends, and Green Stone Environment Action Network.

They jointly published a report called ‘The Other Side of Apple II.’ The report documents the results of five months of field research into the manufacturing process of some of Apple’s suppliers in China. It says they produce many pollutants, including heavy metals, cyanide containing wastewater, and tin and lead fumes.

The same groups first exposed pollution problems by Apple suppliers in a January 20 report titled, ‘The Other Side of Apple.’ The latest report is an in-depth follow-up.

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

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ET -Following years of attempting to silence an independent radio station, Indonesian authorities have found Radio Erabaru’s manager guilty of administrative violations.

On Tuesday September 6 Gatot Machali received a suspended six month jail term with one year of probation. A fine of almost $6,000 US dollars was levied against him.

The court’s actions follow years of action by Indonesian authorities to shut down Radio Erabaru under pressure from the Chinese communist regime. The station broadcasts in both Mandarin and Indonesian. Its news coverage features reports critical of the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights record.

A diplomatic memo by the Chinese Embassy sent to multiple Indonesian government departments in April 2007 called for the station to be shut down.

In 2008 the station’s broadcast license was denied, but Machali sued the government in an effort to regain it while continuing to broadcast. After failing to shut the station down the authorities raided it and confiscated vital equipment. Machali replaced it and kept broadcasting.

The government brought charges against Machali in March 2011 for broadcasting without a license, charges that carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

The recent court decision noted it had been proven there are many radio stations in Indonesia broadcasting without licenses or frequency permits. And while they also break the law, they are not charged by the authorities.

Machali plans to appeal the verdict all the while continuing to broadcast.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- China a military threat despite warmer Taiwan ties,
- Campaigners question Burma’s human rights announcement, and
- Taiwan targets Japan with mangos.

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

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A lawmaker in Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang said Wednesday September 7 China’s military threat against Taiwan had actually intensified despite warmer ties between the two sides.

Lin Yu-fang’s analysis was based on the Ministry of National Defense’s recently-released 2011 report urging China to reduce its military threat against Taiwan.

Lin believes that despite China’s continuing upgrading of military equipment, Beijing would not launch military action against Taiwan without careful planning.

He also noted the Ministry of National Defense remained reticent about Beijing’s calls for ending hostilities and holding talks on cross-strait confidence building measures.

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Burma recently announced the formation of a national human rights commission aimed at protecting citizens’ rights.

The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said 15 retired bureaucrats and academics would comprise the panel. But questions remain over the will or ability of the panel’s members to challenge the government on this sensitive issue.

There have been calls within the UN for an international commission to investigate suspected crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma. Something the Burmese government is keen to avoid.

Critics say the new government is repeating promises made by the country’s previous military rulers and no substantive reforms have yet occurred. The UK Burma Campaign said human rights abuses were actually increasing.

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Officials in the Philippines say a giant saltwater crocodile was been captured in a remote village Saturday September 3. Weighing in at over a tonne and measuring 6.4 metres it’s the biggest the crocodile captured alive in recent years. Officials said it may be the biggest specimen ever caught.

The hunt for the animal began mid August after a number of crocodile attacks on humans and animals. It’s not possible to tell if the giant was responsible for the attacks, but a new home in a planned nature park in the area should keep crocodile, people and their animals all safe.

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On a lighter note.

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NTD-With the rapid growth of global businesses in Asia, Hong Kong is is experiencing a shortage of vacancies in international schools. Some business executives fear it could dampen Hong Kong’s competitive edge as a financial centre.

With the demand for international schooling increasing in recent years, some companies have restricted their foreign staff to single or childless applicants.

Hong Kong is trying to alleviate the issue by creating an extra 5,000 school places over the next few years. Meanwhile the Malaysian, Thai, and South Korean governments are gearing up to become educational hubs so as to attract and retain top global talents.

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NTD-Sparkling glass sculptures and a contemporary façade greets visitors at the Shanghai Museum of Glass which opened in May this year. The 4,500-square-metre museum gives visitors a firsthand look at the art of glass making with an emphasis on the aesthetic.

The project was initiated and funded by the Shanghai Glass Company Ltd, who wanted to rebuild its former glass factory into a modern glass theme park. There are plans to form a glass community over the next five years, adding workshops for glass artists, a glass sculpture square, a business park, cafés and restaurants into the space.

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Japan is hungry for Irwin mangos from Taiwan with Taiwanese growers reaping the fruits of the labour after several years of hard work.

Producers of Irwin mangos in Pingtung County targeted the Japanese market because the fruits can fetch a good price. But in order to get their exports accepted they had to meet exacting standards.

About 3,000 hectares of farmland in Pingtung are used for Irwin plantation, with just over 850 tons of the fruit sold to Japan this year. It’s southern location and early growing season means Pingtung mangos are also the first to hit the domestic market each year.

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

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Participants in a march in Washington, DC in July celebrate 100 million withdrawals from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations. (Edward Dai/The Epoch Times)

In this bulletin:

- Facing restrictions Chinese journalists blog news instead,
- Movement to quit CCP reaches 100 million participants,
- New Tibetan political head sworn in, and
- Taiwan’s population rapidly ageing.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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ET-Faced with restrictions on permissible reports, Chinese journalists have turned to Sina.com and other blogs to make important stories known.

In the wake of last month’s high speed rail collision in Wenzhou City, the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department issued a ban on all reporting of the incident by independent media.

The ban seems to have been the catalyst for an unprecedented campaign of defiance in China’s mass media. Over one million pieces of relevant news were posted on Chinese blogs, which helped the world learn the facts of the tragedy.

A blogger wrote that though blogging and the Internet have been blocked by some interest groups and the authorities at will, many still believe that the power of networking is unstoppable, and the power of justice is indestructible.

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NTD-Residents in the path of tropical storm Muifa were frustrated by the lack of information after high waves brought on by the storm threatened to cause a chemical spill on China’s east coast.

The port city of Dalian in Liaoning province is home to the Fujia Dahua Petrochemical plant. On Monday August 8, 60-foot-high waves breached a dyke protecting the plant.

Fujia Dahua produces paraxylene, a flammable and carcinogenic liquid chemical. Chinese media reports that paraxylene was stored less than 200 feet from the dyke when the breach occurred. This has worried locals, who say authorities aren’t providing details about whether there’s a leak or health risk.

Staff at the plant reportedly stopped a news crew from state-run CCTV entering the plant Tuesday August 9, striking the reporters and their equipment.

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ET/NTD-A milestone has been reached in China, but not the kind the Chinese Communist Party is celebrating. For the past seven years, a peaceful movement has been steadily growing, a movement that encourages Chinese people to renounce all affiliations with the Communist Party.

Recently, that movement reached the momentous milestone of 100 million participants. Known as Tuidang in Chinese, the movement for Chinese to withdraw from the Party began in late 2004, following the publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch Times.

The Tuidang movement is distinctly Chinese in its world view, very different from the Western-style democracy movement of the 1980s or the more recent Charter 08. While implicitly supporting regime change in China, it does not come with replacement political prescriptions. It is understood by both its activists and participants as a spiritual and ethical awakening rather than a political revolution.

It calls for Chinese to make a psychological separation between China’s future and the Communist Party.

(Disclosure note: The SOH Network has an affiliation with The Epoch Times, publisher of the Nine Commentaries editorial series. Our Chinese language sister media the Sound of Hope Radio Network has broadcast the Nine Commentaries into China via short wave radio. This may have had an impact on the Tuidang movement’s spread.)

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

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ET-A Harvard-trained legal scholar was sworn in Monday August 8 as the new head of the Tibetan government-in-exile. He now takes over all political duties of the Dalai Lama.

Lobsang Sangay took the oath of office at a ceremony presided over by the Dalai Lama in India’s Tsuglagkhang Temple, where the exiled government is based.

The new leader promised the gathering of several thousand Tibetans he will fight against Chinese ‘colonialism’. Sangay made clear the struggle itself, however, was against the hard-line policies of the Chinese regime in Tibet, not against the Chinese people or China as a country.

The Dalai Lama has been slowly shedding his official duties since 2001 when the Tibetan prime minister, or Kalon Tripa, was directly elected for the first time, instead of being appointed by the Dala Lama.

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According to Taiwan’s Department of Health the country’s population will be officially considered an aged society by 2017.

By this time 14 per cent of Taiwanese will be aged 65 or older. In comparison it’s estimated the US won’t reach the threshold for more than 70 years

The Department of Health went on to say by 2025 Taiwan will become a super-aged society with 20 percent of the population over 65.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Taiwan researchers develop novel e-paper,
- Australia’s asylum seeker policy under legal spotlight once more, and
- Recycling pays off for Thai artist.

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

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

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Nancy Wake, one of the most highly decorated Allied secret agents of World War II, recently died in London aged 98.

Wake was once the Gestapo’s most wanted person, known as ‘The White Mouse’ because she was so elusive. She worked for the French Resistance and later the British government.

While she was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Wake was trapped in France when the Nazis invaded in 1940.

Australia’s prime minister said Wake was a truly remarkable individual whose selfless valour and tenacity will never be forgotten.

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NTD-Scientists at Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute have developed a new type of rewritable electronic paper that doesn’t require a back light, and therefore electricity, to work.

The researchers said the resolution of their ‘i2R e-Paper’ made it ideal for use in shops and public areas to update signs and posters.

At a recent demonstration, technicians showed off the paper’s printing ability using a thermal printer, the same kind used in fax machines. And with the flip of a switch, the paper can be erased and is ready for reuse.

Another advantage of the i2R e-paper is it can produce blue, red and green colours. An A4-sized piece costs approximately $2 US dollars.

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Australia’s deportation of a boat-load of asylum seekers to Malaysia has been stopped by the High Court.

The Afghan and Pakistani asylum seekers were picked up in Australian waters. They are the first group to be targeted under a new policy dubbed the ‘Malaysia Solution’.

Lawyers for the group of refugees contended their transfer to Malaysia would be illegal. The High Court found there was a sufficiently serious question over the deportation. It ordered such transfers be halted pending a full hearing later this month.

The immigration minister said authorities expected a legal challenge but believe the injunction will be lifted.

Australia currently has more than 6,000 asylum seekers in detention originating from countries including Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

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On a lighter note.

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NTD-An artist in Thailand is recycling trash to create his very own treasure. From custom built motorcycles to statues of Yoda, Rungroja Saengwongpaisarn, is building works of art using scrap metal from Bangkok’s garbage heaps.

Each day he and his team salvage discarded car parts and household items that are then reused to craft statues, models and even robots.

A one time wood carver, Rungroja began working with metal in 1996 at the request of a patron. Soon enough he fused his passion for conservation with his art and created a distinctive style. Recycling has paid off for the sculptor, whose gallery is filled with works ranging in price from $60 to $40 thousand US dollars.

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A newborn southern right whale and its mother were recently spotted along the coast of New South Wales, Australia. The state National Parks & Wildlife Service said the calf was the first to be born along the state’s coast since 1998.

The pair were seen near Coffs Harbour in the north of the state. Earlier this year two unusually large southern rights were observed off the coast of Sydney. The National Parks & Wildlife Service said one of those would have been the pregnant female.

The sighting is being taken as a sign whale conservation efforts in the region are working.

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

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Malaysian police use tear gas against protesters calling for electoral reform in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday July 9, 2011. (James Chow/The Epoch Times)

In this bulletin:

- Beijing’s glory projects turning sour,
- Grow-your-own taking off in Chinese cities,
- Tibetans jailed for celebrating Dalai Lama’s birthday, and
- Malaysia defends heavy handed reaction to protests.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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NTD-A new highway in China’s Yunnan Province collapsed just two days after it opened. The Xinsan highway, stretching some 90 kilometres, is one of the Chinese Communist Party’s glory projects. It was set to be unveiled for the Communist Party’s 90th anniversary on July 1.

But despite warnings from the construction team that they were being rushed, the deadline was absolute. Then heavy storms crumbled the earth beneath the roads, washing a section of it into the valley below, killing two people and injuring two more.

This isn’t the only setback for projects rushed to completion before the July 1 anniversary. The new Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail had its second power failure Tuesday July 12, just two weeks after it was launched.

And the world’s longest sea bridge in Qingdao, also opened for the July 1 anniversary, was criticized after lighting and safety barriers weren’t completed.

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NTD-A recent string of food safety scandals have prompted some health-conscious Beijing residents to boycott the markets and grow their own produce by renting land on local farms.

The owner of one farm told NTD he started offering vegetable plots for rent at the beginning of the year, charging about $300 a year for each space. And so far business is good with 100 plots of land rented out.

One of the farm’s customers said there was no way of telling what had been added to food in the city. But at the vegetable garden the farmer checks before using any fertilisers on the vegetables and is under clear instructions to only use natural plant food.

Many city dwellers now make an hour’s-or-so drive out to their urban farms on the weekends, collecting enough vegetables to last their family through the week.

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NTD-Coming this summer to theatres across China is the state-sponsored movie Beginning of the Great Revival. And by state mandate, it will be a box office smash, making at least US$124 million dollars.

The movie is a commemoration of the Communist Party’s 90th anniversary, but ticket sales aren’t exactly as high as planned. So state-run companies have been required to book entire theatres for their employees and family members to go see it.

Theatres have come up with a creative way to reconcile the movie’s lukewarm reception and with the mandate to sell tickets. They’re putting sales through the computer for Beginning the Great Revival, but then hand writing the titles of popular movies on top.

Even with such creative marketing, though, the movie has fallen short of its desired box office. It’s made only about $50 million since its opening.

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

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ET-Thirteen Tibetans, several of them young, have been sentenced to prison in Sichuan’s Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, west of Chongqing. Their crime: attempting to publicly celebrate the exiled Dalai Lama’s 76th birthday.

The Voice of Tibet reported two of the Tibetans received three-year prison terms from the Intermediate People’s Court. The two are 19-year-olds and had been beaten by Chinese police after their peaceful protest on June 24.

China’s ruling Party regards the birthday as a sensitive date and imposed restrictions on public gatherings in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital. The Tibetan demonstrations seek the return of the Dalai Lama, religious freedom, and Tibetan autonomy. Many Tibetans assert that China is waging a cultural genocide against them.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Malaysia defends heavy handed reaction to protests,
- Taiwanese ethnic group demonstrate seafaring credentials, and
- World’s oldest stone axe unearthed in Australia.

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

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

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Australia’s quarantine controls have been blasted after 600 tonnes of dirt slipped through their net, it was supposed to be fertiliser.

The fertiliser was ordered through a supplier listed on a Chinese website of accredited companies by a group of farmers in western New South Wales. But because the material was shipped in bags of under 50 kilograms they were not inspected by customs.

It was only when the farmers finally received the bags it was discovered they contained soil. One senator asked if you can put 34 containers of earth through Customs and quarantine that’s actually supposed to be fertiliser, what else can you put through?

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ET-Malaysia Sunday July 10 defended its use of violence the day before to quell demonstrations in the capital.

Police beat protesters, used water cannons and tear gas against protesters calling for electoral reform. The police announced via Facebook over 1,600 people had been arrested.

Reports vary widely regarding how many people participated in the rally. Media reports put the figure at 20,000, while the event organiser, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections said there were around 50,000 people. Police reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 were in the streets.

Human rights groups have condemned the state’s heavy-handed reaction to the protests.

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India’s home minister said Thursday July 14 the authorities received no warnings about the three deadly blasts that rocked Mumbai Wednesday July 13. The home minister added while suspicion fell on a home-grown organisation, no one had yet claimed responsibility and no one had been ruled out.

The attacks at the height of the evening rush hour killed 18 people and injured 131. It was the first major assault in India’s largest city since the 2008 siege by Pakistani gunmen.

The authorities maintain break down in intelligence and security did not contribute to the attacks. But Mumbai residents and some security experts disagree saying the government hasn’t learned from past attacks.

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On a lighter note.

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Researchers in Malaysian Borneo have rediscovered a toad not observed in the wild for decades. Last seen 87 years ago, the Bornean Rainbow Toad was found in forests in the Gunung Penrissen mountain range in Sarawak State.

The scientists said the find was significant because amphibians are indicators of environmental health, with direct implications for human health.

Their research was part of a wider ‘lost’ amphibian search launched by Conservation International and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature last year.

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Members of one of Taiwan’s ethnic minority groups completed Saturday July 16 an 800 kilometre voyage from the southeast coast to the north of Taiwan in a traditional boat.

The trip took 15 days to complete with oarsmen working in shifts of 18 at a time. At 11-meters long, their wooden canoe was the largest balangay built by the aboriginal Tao people of Taiwan’s Orchid Island for 100 years.

Clad in their traditional loincloths, the oarsmen received a warm welcome when they pulled into Taipei Wednesday July 13 some 60 kilometres from their final destination.

The trip was conceived as a way for the Tao to share their culture with the people of Taiwan.

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Archaeologists in Australia the have discovered the oldest ground-edge tool in the world. The basalt axe piece was found in May in Arnhem Land, an isolated Aboriginal reserve in Australia’s Northern Territory.

The stone tool fragment measures 4 centimetres in length and has been radio-carbon dated to 35,000 years old. It is a significant find as it pre-dates the oldest known examples of other ground-edge implements from Japan and Australia by at least 5000 years.

The research was part of a five-year project aiming to discover, document and date art and artefacts in the region. The findings will be published next month in Australian Archaeology.

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Thousands of people clashed with security forces on the night of June 12, over the beating of a pregnant migrant worker by police outside of the southern China city of Guangzhou. (Weibo.com)

- Bombings stun Chinese officials,
- Southern China flooding hits millions,
- Taiwan’s main parties unite behind independent broadcaster, and
- Special Olympic athletes make history.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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ET-A string of recent bomb explosions targeting government buildings throughout China continue to stun officials. The bombings include five incidents in Fuzhou of Jiangxi Province and, most recently, one in the northern municipality of Tianjin.

While authorities attempt to block the news and divert attention, the spotlight of public opinion persists in illuminating the incidents.

The latest explosion on June 10, in front of the Tianjin Municipal Government, resulted in two minor injuries. A person with insider information told Sound of Hope Radio a petitioner had detonated two homemade bombs. Our source, who wished to remain anonymous said authorities responded by sending a large contingent of police for crowd control and to prevent the news from getting out.

The Epoch Times website looks at the significance of the explosions in terms of protest in China.

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ET/NTD-Security forces have broken up protests sparked by the beating of a pregnant migrant worker by police in southern China’s Zencheng City. A curfew was also in force.

Migrant workers from Sichuan Province, unhappy for a long list of reasons, plan to strike for a month.

According to report from the Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily, Chinese authorities mobilized 2,700 soldiers on the night of June 12 and another five thousand police on June 13.

From late June 12 to early June 13, tens of thousands of Zencheng residents took to the streets in protest and clashed with police.

Zengcheng is around an hour’s drive from Guangzhou, the affluent capital of Guangdong Province, which produces about a third of the country’s exports.

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NTD-Millions have been affected by flooding in southern China after almost two weeks of heavy rain and storms. According to official reports, as of Friday June 17 up to one million people have been forced to leave their homes.

State-run media at the time stated at least 105 people were dead and another 65 were missing. A rescue worker from Wangmo County, Guizhou Province told SOH the actual death toll was much higher than the official figure and any missing persons had a slim chance of survival.

Torrential downpours have battered previously drought-stricken sections of China. Vast areas of crops have been ruined and hundreds of homes destroyed. Early estimates suggest the damages will tun into tens of millions of US dollars.

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

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ET/NTD-NTD AP, the SOH Network’s partner media in the Asia-Pacific region continues to get support from both main political parties in Taiwan over the future of its broadcast.

Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom is partially government-owned. But so far they’ve been ignoring the government’s calls to continue NTD AP’s satellite contract on their new ST-2 satellite starting in August.

Some suspect the Chinese Communist Party has been pressuring Chunghwa to stop NTD AP’s broadcast because ist uncensored news and information reaches parts of mainland China.

Following a meeting with Taiwan’s Premier, Chunghwa said it would renew NTD AP’s service, but only on a third-party satellite. Both NTD AP and lawmakers say this is unacceptable, because the signal would not be protected against interference from China.

Commentators say the outcome of this contract dispute will indicate the state of Taiwan’s press freedom and democratic ideals as it pursues closer ties with the Chinese regime.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Indian journalist gunned down,
- Nepal clears last landmines, and
- Taiwan sticks with traditional Chinese characters.

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

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

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ET-An organized crime investigative journalist for India’s Mid-Day newspaper was killed Wednesday June 15.

According to Reporters Without Borders the journalist was shot in the back five times by four men on two motorcycles as he was returning to his home in a northern suburb of Mumbia.

The man was considered an authority on the oil mafia situation in India and had been reporting on the topic for the past 20 years. Some think his death is linked to the oil mafia, with Reporters Without Borders suggesting police could have played a part in the murder.

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NTD-The latest powerful tremors to hit New Zealand’s city of Christchurch caused more damage to a city already devastated by previous quakes.

Aftershocks Monday June 13 peaked at magnitude 6.3 and left many residents frightened about their future.

Authorities have said parts of Christchurch will have to be abandoned due to the extent of the damage caused by the aftershocks.

And New Zealand’s Geological and Nuclear Sciences Institute warned the latest series of tremors could produce another string of powerful aftershocks in the weeks to come.

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Nepal recently became only the second country in Asia to become landmine free, the first to achieve this being China.

The UN made the declaration five years after the end of the civil war between the Nepalese army and Maoist rebels. Since the conflict ended mines killed 78 people and injured 395.

Nepal’s prime minister, who destroyed the last landmine with the flip of a switch, said it was a historic moment.

The UN however cautioned areas containing homemade bombs planted by both sides still remain, and efforts to clear those continue.

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The European Union said Friday June 17 it was sending a high-level team to Burma for exploratory talks with the country’s new authorities.

A senior EU diplomat said the talks were an initial move aimed at gauging the mindset of the new authorities

A spokesman for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said the Nobel peace laureate would meet the EU representatives.

Burma’s military handed over power in March to a nominally civilian government, but one in which many of the former ruling generals hold positions. Despite this there are hopes that the country is edging closer to the possibility of real democratic reforms.

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On a lighter note.

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Taiwan’s leaders recently declared traditional Chinese characters will continue to be used in Taiwan instead of the simplified characters adopted by the mainland in modern times.

The premier of Taiwan said traditional Chinese characters represent the beautiful legacy and significance of traditional Chinese culture. One which has been handed down for generations and can never be superseded by simplified Chinese characters.

Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau suggested local restaurants and shops popular with Chinese tourists could use both sets of characters to accommodate customers unable to read the traditional script.

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Two Special Olympic athletes, one Asian and one African, made history together Monday June 13 when they became the first Special Olympic athletes to reach the summit of Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

The two men, Salihin Sinai from Singapore and Herith Suleiman from Tanzania, were supported in their endeavour by a small team lead by adventurer Michael Dee. They scaled the almost 6,000 metres to the top of Africa’s highest peak in five days.

Singapore hoped their achievement would be an inspiration to others. Salihin was given a hero’s welcome home at Changi Airport Thursday June 16 where the Special Olympics Singapore president said he made history both in Singapore and Asia.

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

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Scientists in Inner Mongolia recently unearthed the largest spider fossil ever found. Dating to 165 million years ago the find extends the fossil record back by another 130 million years than previously suspected.

In this bulletin:

- Hundreds brawl in Guangzhou over commercial property,
- Chinese comedians break new ground,
- China slammed by independent internet freedom report, and
- Inner Mongolia yields largest fossilised spider discovery.

But first our SOH focus on China.

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A well known dissident from Zhejiang Province has been charged with inciting subversion of state power despite being under house arrest since mid-February.

Zhu Yufu, was taken to the Shangcheng District Detention Center April 5, it was not until almost a week later he was formally arrested and his wife informed. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Zhu’s wife said he hadn’t done anything wrong, and moreover couldn’t have even if he’d wanted as he had been closely monitored by police around the clock.

Friends of Zhu from the Democratic Party he helped establish said Zhu occasionally wrote a few articles and spoke a few words in the media. Adding, if speaking a few words can subvert a state, then the state is too fragile.

Reported by Tian Xi for Sound of Hope Radio.

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A huge fight erupted between hundreds of security guards in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in a dispute over the ownership of a prime commercial property.

Trouble started when the new owners of the New China Building in Guangzhou tried to take possession of the building. The building’s previous owner claimed the lease was not due for renewal and paid their security guards to prevent the new owners from taking possession of the business.

Witnesses said fierce brawls broke out between both sides. At least 400 to 500 guards were involved. Some 50 to 60 were wounded, some seriously. Thousands of bystanders were also caught up in the incident when police sealed off the area.

Our SOH Chinese reporter was told the previous owner paid his security guards to injure or even kill the new owner’s men.

Reported by Tien Xi for Sound of Hope Radio.

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ET-Two Chinese comedians, in a recent performance lauded by audiences and immediately censored by communist authorities, have gone where others dared not tread.

The bitterly satirical hour-long performance takes on a variety of social and political issues deemed sensitive by the ruling Communist Party, including the Tiananmen Massacre and the lack of a social safety net in China.

In the videos posted online, live audience members can be heard laughing uproariously. Comments posted by netizens indicate that the performance broke new ground in making fun of the Chinese Communist Party in such a public setting.

As online commentators anticipated in their praise, soon after the video was posted it was scrubbed clean from popular video websites in China.

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

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According to a new study by Freedom House cyberattacks, politically motivated censorship, and government control over internet infrastructure are threatening internet freedom.

The Freedom on the Net 2011 report released April 18 assesses internet freedom in 37 countries. The study says bloggers, online journalists, and human rights activists increasingly face arrest and imprisonment for their online writings.

China was found to remain one of the world’s most restrictive countries with respect to internet freedom. It is also home to the most sophisticated control apparatus.

Internet users in Burma and Thailand were also among those found to lack freedom.

The report also said China’s indirect influence as a model of internet control was evident in the growing restrictions seen in other countries.

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NTD-Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration building Thursday April 20. They want the government to scrap plans for an offshore refinery and petrochemical plant on Taiwan’s western coast.

The Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Company refinery project is led by state-run oil refiner. It has been the subject of an extended environmental impact review. Protesters warned the project will foul the air and hurt dolphins.

Taiwan is working on more transparent environmental reviews for new projects and tougher energy laws.

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Coming up on Asia Cast:

- Australia and Japan strengthen ties,
- Asia-Pacific’s nuclear worries, and
- World’s oldest man turns 114.

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

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

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ET-Australia’s prime minister arrived in Tokyo Wednesday April 20 for a four-day visit to Japan. The prime minister said Australia will do anything it can to help Japan recover from the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear disaster.

Japan put a no-go zone into effect midnight Thursday April 21, banning residents from remaining within 20 kilometres of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Japan and Australia agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in energy generation and disaster preparedness and responses. Australia also agreed to try to conclude a bilateral free trade agreement and work together toward strengthening international safety standards for nuclear power generation.

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NTD-Anti-nuclear protesters rallied in Seoul, South Korea Thursday April 21 to denounce nuclear developments around the world and to mark Earth Day.

The protest was part of a campaign urging the government to denounce worldwide nuclear developments. Like other anti-nuclear events around, including protests in Tokyo, the world it was sparked by Japan’s struggle in bringing the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control.

South Korea has 21 nuclear reactors in operation at four power plants. They range in age from 33 years to just three months. Twelve more reactors are expected to come on stream in the next decade.

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ET-The largest fossilized spider ever found has been discovered in Inner Mongolia, China.

The fossil’s well-preserved state gave scientists enough details to identify it as an adult female Nephila jurassica, an extinct species of the golden orb weaver.

The University of Kansas Paleontological Institute said environmental change must have occurred in Inner Mongolia at some point since golden orb weavers are now found in tropical environments.

The researchers said it was likely the spider wove large, golden orb webs to catch medium- to large-sized insects in the Daohugou forests. They added predation by these spiders would have played an important role in the natural selection of insects living today.

Details of the findings were published on April 20 in Biology Letters.

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On a lighter note.

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Time magazine Thursday April 20 named Taiwan’s Dharma Master Cheng Yen as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2011. Founder of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Cheng was recognised for her contributions to serving the needy.

The venerable nun founded Tzu Chi in 1966 with four missions; charity, medicine, education and culture. The foundation has grown into a global organisation involved in, international disaster relief, bone marrow donations, environmental protection and community volunteer work.

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Japanese citizen Jiroemon Kimura became the world’s oldest man Tuesday April 19 when he turned 114. Kimura celebrated the day with his family near Kyoto.

Kimura was born on April 19, 1897 and worked at a post office for about 40 years before turning to farming after his retirement, continuing until the age of 90.

Kimura told city officials in Kyotango, Kyoto prefecture, who congratulated him it was a great honour, and words alone couldn’t describe his feelings. He said he took his age as a sign from heaven and was deeply moved.

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

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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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