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Asia's unique fondness for political dynasties has been highlighted with the advent of Kim Jong Un, the youngest son of North Korea's Kim Jong Il, as his country's new leader.

Apart from the hereditary monarchy in Thailand, family political dynasties continue to prevail in much of Asia, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. In Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi hopes to one day take over as President of her country, following in the footsteps of her father, General Aung San, who was in charge decades earlier.

Twenty seven year old Jong Un is the youngest son of Kim Jong Il, who took over as North Korea's leader after his father, Kim Il Sung, died of a heart attack in 1994. During his lifetime Jong Il was accused of making his country ever more centralized and autocratic. He was also accused of master minding the 1993 bombing of the Burmese capital Rangoon, when 17 members of a visiting South Korean delegation were killed. Earlier in 1987 he is said to have personally ordered the shooting down of a South Korean airliner.

When Kim Jong Il died in mid December, North Korea's official media commented, 'Standing in the vanguard of the Korean revolution at present is Kim Jong Un, great successor to the revolutionary cause of juche (self-reliance) and outstanding leader of our party, army and people.'

Whether Jong Un will prove adequate to the task or the cause remains to be seen. According to US negotiator Christopher Hill, who previously headed the six party nuclear talks on North Korea, Jong Un is not ready to step up as the country's new head of state.

Some cynics describe North Korea as an obscure state on the fringes of East Asia that would merit as much attention as Papua New Guinea but for its possession of nuclear weapons. It is these nuclear weapons, which have been tested, and their back up technology, that enabled North Korea in the past to build discreet alliance networks with countries as far removed as Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Iran and even Saudi Arabia.

Believed to have been born on January 8, 1984, Kim Jong Un is the son of a North Korean dancer called Ko Yong Hui or Ko Young Hee. He attended an international school in Switzerland, where he studied English, German and French. He is believed to have graduated in 1998 and later returned to North Korea and studied military science at Kim Il Sung Military University between 2002 and 2006. His mother, who died in 2004, was a performer in a leading North Korean dance troupe. It is unclear whether Ko was Kim Jong Il's official wife or mistress.

Most analysts believe it will take Jong Un some time to consolidate his position with North Korea's military and political hierarchy. To start with he will need the support and backing of his uncle, Jang Song Taek, Jong Il's brother in law, who has been promoted to the powerful National Defence Commission in what is widely seen as a family caretaker position.

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ndian athletes shun sponsorship from 'poisonous' corporation

Leading members of the British Labour Party have joined hands with Indian athletes who say a company linked to the Bhopal gas disaster should not be accepted as a sponsor of next year's London Olympics.

Dow Chemicals owns Union Carbide, which ran the Bhopal chemical plant that leaked poisonous gases in 1984 when an estimated 25,000 were killed.

Dow bought Union Carbide in 2001, seven years after the disaster, and has refused to pay for clean-up operations because it says its obligations have been met through an earlier settlement with Union Carbide.

Three months ago the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) said it had reached a £7 million deal with Dow to provide 'sustainable' facing for the main Olympic Stadium.

It is this deal that has been criticized by Labour MP Barry Gardiner, who is also chair of the Labour Friends of India and who commented, 'LOCOG cannot continue to ignore the risk that Dow poses to the Games…They need to focus on preparing to give the performance of their lives.

It is not fair to distract them or have them embroiled in a political dispute. LOCOG made a mistake in partnering with Dow. They must now accept that, end the relationship and lift this cloud from London 2012. They now have a deadline of 10 days to do so.'

Amnesty International has also been critical of the Olympics link with Dow, saying in a supportive statement,

'LOCOG put itself in an untenable situation in granting the wrap contract to the Dow Chemical Company in the face of its continuing failure to address one of the worst corporate related human rights disasters of the 20th century. It should have as a central concern the outstanding needs of the survivors of Bhopal and recognize that ongoing human rights concerns were not properly considered prior to the contract being given to Dow.'

Shortly after the Amnesty statement, Acting President of the Indian Olympic Association, Vijay Malhotra, commented in mid December, 'Many Olympic athletes have expressed concern about it and they are upset that Dow is sponsoring the London Olympics and they want to boycott.'

India's boycott threat has won the sympathy of former British Labour minister Tessa Jowell who said, 'This is a very significant step for the Indian Olympic Association to take on behalf of their athletes. It is a reminder to the world, nearly 27 years after the disaster in Bhopal, of the continuing outrage in India at the apparent indifference towards the suffering Union Carbide has caused.'

Before India's boycott threat was made public, LOCOG Chairman and former Olympics gold medal winner Sebastian Coe said, 'I am the grandson of an Indian so I'm not completely unaware of this as an issue. But I am satisfied that at no time did Dow operate, own or were involved with the plant at the time of the disaster or the time of the full and final settlement.'

Earlier he welcomed Dow's sponsorship, saying, 'The stadium will look spectacular at Games time and having the wrap is the icing on the cake. I'm delighted that Dow, as one of the newer worldwide partners of the Olympic Movement, will be providing it and, importantly, doing it in a sustainable way. It reflects our vision and is a real statement of intent from Dow about their commitment to the Games.'

Asian students shine at top UK school

A UK school where the overwhelming majority of children are of Asian origin has been acclaimed as the best in the country.

Punjabi head teacher Mrs Rekha Bhakoo, whose parents migrated to Britain from Kenya, admits that the Asian ethnic background of many of her students 'has an advantage', but adds, 'That is not the only thing. Many other schools have a high proportion of Asian children, but they don't achieve what our children do. I tell parents to go with the flow of the child, so they enjoy the learning', she explained. 'Parental support is really crucial and our parents want the best for their children. But Asian parents sometimes push them too quickly, too fast.'

Popular Mrs Bhakoo, who takes every problem in her stride, is in charge of Newton Farm School in Harrow, North West London, rated by UK government agencies as outstanding in every category. This is the junior school where more than 95 per cent of final year students achieved a level five in maths, English and science, one grade higher than the standard expected of their 11 year average age group.

Amazingly, this success rate has been achieved even though English is not the first language for many children in the 266 strong student body, who are taught by 15 full time staff, supported by 17 full time teaching assistants.

'For 69 per cent English is not the first language,' Mrs Bhakoo said. 'It's amazing but I never stop to think it's a barrier. Speaking another language is an enabler. The brain has to work much harder, much quicker.'

Explaining the grading system at her nursery, infant and junior school, Mrs Bhakoo explained that all children by the age of 11 are expected to achieve Level 4, which is sub divided into A, B and C grades.

'Above the national average is level 5 and if they achieve Level 5 they are functioning at the secondary school stage. Level 5 is also sub divided into A, B and C categories.

'Ninety seven per cent of our children achieved 5As and 5Bs. Only one child got 4A.'

Mrs Bhakoo, a graduate of Bath University, has been head teacher at Newton Farm for 20 years. Next year she will take on additional responsibilities as the executive head of the UK's first Hindu school, the Krishna Avanti school, which is located in the same London borough of Harrow.

Elaborating on Newton Farm's success, she commented that her current school's foundations are 'rock solid.' In comments to the local media she also praised the daily behavior of her pupils, saying, 'Their behaviour is exemplary; we don't have detention or anything like that at our school. The children know their rights and their responsibilities. They know they have a right to an education, but they also have a responsibility to engage with their education.'

Mrs Bhakoo, who added that her school 'oozes with learning', said, 'I believe our success is down to the rigour with which we look after our children.'

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