Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Monday 26th January

In this bulletin …

-Poisonous dumplings given to steel workers as welfare in China;
-Chinese welcome in Year of the Ox; and
-Last Tamil Tiger bastion ‘taken.’

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Mainland China sources state, when the “Chinese poisonous dumplings” incident occurred last year in Japan, it caused a great stir.

Japan Kyodo News Agency reported after the “Tian Yang Food Company” recalled the poisonous dumplings; they then distributed them to China’s Tangshan Iron and Steel Company workers.

After some of the staff ate these dumplings they suffered illness such as severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

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According to Shanghai sources, on January 24th when Shanghai residents Jin Yuehua and Shen  Peilan where passing number nine Kangping Road, when people inside called them in and asked what they were doing out late. They replied that they were just passing through, and soon after that three policemen rushed inside and beat them for no reason.

Shen  Peilan had her waist injured and is having difficulty working, and the “110″ office said they have no power to deal with this incident.

The victims said they experienced the police rampage; just like Yang Jia who was assaulted by police in October 2008.  Yang Jia was viciously beaten with an electric baton by police, after being suspected of stealing a bicycle.

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Hundreds of millions of Chinese have welcomed in the Year of the Ox, packing temple fairs, setting off fireworks and firecrackers.

Millions hurried to train and bus stations to get home for the traditional holiday.

In Beijing and Shanghai normally busy streets were deserted with only the odd firecracker going off, though both cities sounded more like war zones when midnight came, thanks to the Chinese passion for fireworks.

Firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits and attract the God of wealth to people’s doorsteps.

This year’s zodiacal sign of the animal, Ox, represents good luck in Chinese culture.

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The last Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu in the north-east of the island has been captured by the Sri Lankan troops.

After a month of fighting, Lt Gen Sarath Fonsek said troops had “completely captured” Mullaitivu.

The Tamil Tigers, who have suffered a series of reverses in recent months, have made no comment.

The government has vowed to crush the rebels, who have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years.

At least 70,000 people have been killed during the insurgency.

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At least 40 people have been killed after a crowded 20m (65ft) ferry was sunk by strong currents on a river south of the city of Vinh in central Vietnam.

So far, 35 people have been rescued and at least five people are still missing.

The ferry only had a carrying capacity of 12, but was loaded with 80 passengers at the time.
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And now for our Divine Performing Arts quote of the day
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Our Divine Performing Arts quote of the day comes from the recent Westchester show in New York, where we met Mr. Milt Fisher, a retired art director. A Chinese friend of Mr. Fisher gave him and his wife tickets for the show and this is what he had to say about it:

“It was a wonderful introduction to Chinese life and civilization, that I was just amazed by.”

Make sure you don’t miss out on the Divine Performing Arts world-wide tour which only happens once a year.

Visit www.divineperformingarts.org to find out when it will be in your local city.

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“Asia Cast … Keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the world.”