Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Tuesday 2nd March

In this Bulletin…

- Highly toxic pesticides found in China’s crops;
- Record pilgrimage of millions of women at Indian festival ; and
- McDonald’s and Weight Watchers promote a deal in Australia.

But first we have our Shen Yun quote of the day

[audio]

For more information, please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.

Our SOH focus on China is next

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China has been hit by a widening food scare over vegetable crops contaminated with a highly toxic pesticide, reports The Epoch Times.

Isocarbophos, a banned pesticide, was first detected in cow peas in Wuhan City in Hubei Province by agricultural authorities in early February. The cow peas were grown in China’s southernmost Hainan Province

Since then, tests have found the toxin in different areas across China. In the tests, out of 33,000 acres of beans, over 50 percent were found to be contaminated.

The discovery of toxic chemicals in vegetable crops has brought huge financial losses to many farmers.

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A disgruntled migrant worker detonated a bomb outside an official county building in February, reportedly over denied unpaid wages. However, Chinese media reports differ from those of witnesses.

Chinese media said an explosion hit the road, and three passersby had minor injuries but there was no major damage to the building. They said the suspect was apprehended and arrested. The bombing was because of US$411 in missing wages.

Witnesses say however, that a large pillar in front of the building was torn away, there were windows and doors broken, and damage to adjacent structures occurred.

They said the suspect stayed at the scene and surrendered himself to police.

To read more on the differing reports, visit The Epoch Times.

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And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

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Defence officials in Seoul, South Korea have said that three of their fighter pilots have died after their jets crashed.

The F-5 jets were believed to have hit Hwangbyeong Mountain, about 147 miles east of Seoul.

Rescue teams found debris, clothing and their remains on the mountain.

Officials say poor visibility could have been to blame for the accident as there had been foggy weather. But, the cause of the incident is still not known.

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In what may be the largest gathering of women ever on earth, millions of them gathered for Kerala, India’s 10 day annual festival.

Clad in traditional saris and bearing offerings of rice and sugar, they braved the searing heat to offer a special meal to a Hindu goddess at the Attukal temple.

They were seeking her blessing for the health and prosperity of their families, offering a special meal, known as the pongala.

Last year’s turnout was estimated to be 3 million. This year, officials say that number is higher.

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

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For the first time ever, McDonald’s has partnered with Weight Watchers to promote some of its meals, like chicken nuggets as good for dieters.

Three meals marked with the Weight Watchers logo are now on sale in New Zealand and are expected to be in Australian restaurants later this year. It is part of a six-year push by the fast-food corporation to change its image.

This comes three years after they paid to put the Heart Foundations tick on seven meals, including burgers and nuggets.

A spokesman for McDonald’s in New Zealand said the move is a noble cause.

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Ice deposits have been found on the Moon’s North Pole. Radar experiments aboard a lunar spacecraft have identified thick deposits of water-ice there.

A US space agency experiment found more than 40 small craters containing the water-ice mixture. But, other compounds such as hydrocarbons are said to be mixed up in the lunar ice.

NASA says the ice must be at least a couple of metres thick to show up on radar.

The findings were presented at a major planetary science conference in Texas.

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