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Corruption Scandals Plague Indian Commonwealth Games

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Download  Uncertainty hovers over the 2010 Commonwealth Games with the organizers now facing charges of rampant corruption.

The government’s own watchdog has found evidence of financial irregularities in Games-related projects which have sparked protests from various groups.

Some officials of the Organizing Committee have already been dismissed while the government promises a thorough probe to find out all those involved.

This comes amid protests by Delhi students who have been evicted to accommodate foreign delegates in their hostels.

Bismillah Geelani has the story.

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 September 2010 09:38 )
 

Singapore Man Charged for Incitement over Facebook Comment

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Download  A Singapore man is facing charges of incitement of violence due to comments he made on Facebook about the government’s handling of the Youth Olympic Games.

The 27-year-old urged other users of the social networking site to ‘burn’ the head of the Games committee.

There has been a lot of online criticism of Singapore’s handling of the Youth Games that saw low crowd numbers.

But the Government insists it was a resounding success with nearly 4,000 young athletes taking part.

And as Monica Kotwani reports they don’t want to hear anything else.

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 September 2010 09:38 )
 

Papuan Toddler Killed by Police Bullet, Family Demands Justice

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Download  Two-year-old Merlina was killed by Indonesian police in the restive province of Papua.

She was shot near her house during a police raid to arrest an alleged criminal.

Police say those responsible have been punished within the police force but the family wants proper justice.

Papua is one of the wealthiest, but less developed, parts of Indonesia.

For decades there have been calls for independence from the central government in Jakarta and human rights’ groups accuse security forces of widespread abuses.

Liza Desylanhi went to meet the family in mourning in Merauke, Papua.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:22 )
 

Exorcising the Ghosts of the Past in Malaysia

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Download  Chinese Buddhists in Malaysia believe that the tormented spirits of their ancestors are released from hell every year, for a month, to seek food and entertainment.

Known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, it is now predominantly celebrated by Chinese communities in Malaysia and Singapore.

Some of the biggest Hungry Ghost celebrations take place in the Malaysian state of Penang.

Our reporter Clarence Chua is there.

He says this year there are tensions between the older and young generation over the running of the festival.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:33 )
 

Cambodian Evictions

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Download  Poor Cambodians are giving up on the legal system and turning to God instead for justice in land conflicts.

Evictions and land conflicts are taking place across Cambodia at an alarming rate.

On a recent visit, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia said there are serious flaws in the countries court system that are stopping the common people from gaining justice.

As Khortieth Him in Phnom Penh finds out they are turning to God instead.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 September 2010 18:47 )
 

Pakistans Railways in Crisis

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Download  The floods in Pakistan have brought more bad news for Pakistan’s struggling railways.

Several hundred kilometers of railway line have been washed away.

Before the floods the railways were facing a financial crisis and have suspended many popular routes and taken more than 100 trains out of service.

Shahab-ur Rahman reports this is hitting the poor the hardest.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:43 )
 

Solar Solution to Rajasthan’s Electricity Black-outs

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Download  In the desert state of Rajasthan, in India, summer temperatures can soar up to 50 degrees centigrade.

Here, electricity can be as elusive as rain. Blackouts are an everyday experience for most.

While in some villages, electricity is non-existent.

Now, the government and NGOs are looking to the sky to solve the state’s electricity woes.

Lauren Farrow visited Rajasthan to find out why solar energy is being touted as a real solution.

 

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 September 2010 15:27 )
 

Birdlife in Murray-Darling Basin in Full Bloom

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Download  After more than ten years of drought, Australia's Murray Darling basin's most important bird breeding sites is now in full flood.

The Murray-Darling is one of Australia's biggest river systems.

Not only has recent rain replenished the struggling wetlands, but local landholders have formed an unusual alliance with government.

Satellite imagery is also helping the process, and the levies that once diverted water are being removed to restore the natural flows.

Sarah Clarke of Radio Australia reports.

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 September 2010 18:35 )
 
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  • This week on Asia Calling

Minorities denied government aid in flood affected Pakistan: The Catholic Vatican has expressed concern that minority communities such as Christians and Hindus are not receiving flood aid. It claims minorities are ‘systematically’ denial assistance by government officials in flood affected areas. The Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered inquiry into the matter. Naeem Sahoutara has this report from the government relief camp in Hyderabad where hundreds of Hindus are amongst the displaced.

Cambodians students sell virginity to study: Youth unemployment rates in Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia are expected to rise to as high as 14.8 percent by the end of the year, according to a new report released by the International Labour Organisation. To struggle to get a education in order to compete in the job market is leading to young girls to take desperate measure. Khortieth Him meets one girl who is sold sex to pay for her studies.

 

 

These stories and much more this week
on Asia Calling:

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