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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
Paul James with you on this Monday, April 27, 2015.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese Capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The death toll1 from this weekend's massive earthquake in Nepal has surpassed 25-hundred, with officials warning that number is going to continue to rise.
Heated debate is underway here in China surrounding potential plans to create inland nuclear power reactors3.
Kazakhstan's incumbent4 President appears to have won a resounding5 victory in that country's election.
In Business.... Chinese dairy giant Yili reporting a significant rise in full-year profits this past year.
In Sports...LeBron and company slide into round 2 of the NBA playoffs amid a bit of controversy6.
In entertainment... Jackie Chan helps open a film festival in northern Italy.
Top News
Nepal quake toll tops 2,500 as powerful aftershocks hinder rescue work
Anchor
The death toll from this weekend's massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has surpassed 25-hundred.
Aftershocks from the quake are said to be hindering attempts to rescue those who may still be trapped under the rubble7.
CRI's Poornima Weerasekara has more.
Reporter
Hundreds of thousands of people in central Nepal who were spending a second night outdoors were jolted8 by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock on Sunday night.
The death toll from the quake has now risen to over 2,500 people according to the latest data from the Nepalese government. This figure is expected to rise as the search and rescue efforts – which are hampered9 by strong after-shocks and landslides10 – continue.
The number of injured nationwide has climbed to 5,900 so far.
Nepalese doctors have set up makeshift operating theatres as they work round the clock to treat the wounded.
The 7.8-magnitude quake struck an area of central Nepal between Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara early on Saturday.
Many including foreign travelers are afraid to return to shelters.
24-year-old Martin is a French tourist who was caught in the quake.
"(When the quake happened) we ran into the hotel courtyard to avoid being crushed and when we came back to Durbar Square we saw that everything was damaged. We started helping11 people, trying to move bodies out of the debris12 and so yesterday evening we slept here because we were afraid of aftershocks, because all those hotels have high floors. So now we are here and we're waiting for the situation to clear."
A 62-member Chinese search and rescue team with sniffer dogs -who arrived in Nepal on Sunday afternoon - is continuing efforts to dig victims out from under the rubble of collapsed14 buildings in Kathmandu.
Fu Xiaoguang is the Director of the China International Search and Rescue Team.
"We are at the epicenter of the quake and we have been divided into three teams to carry out rescue work here. We didn't even have any time to arrange accommodation for the rescue team. We are solely15 focused on finding as many survivors16 as possible within the 72-hour "golden window".
The Chinese government has also pledged 20 million Yuan in humanitarian17 aid to its Himalayan neighbor.
Rescue missions and aid from around the world have started arriving to help cope with the aftermath of the worst earthquake to hit Nepal for more than 80 years.
The UK has pledged close to 10 million dollars, while neighboring countries India and Pakistan have both dispatched teams of medics. Norway, Germany, US and Israel have all come forward to help.
Meanwhile, powerful aftershocks that rocked Nepal on Sunday, has triggered fresh avalanches18 at Everest base camp with many foreign climbers and their Nepalese guides said to be trapped there.
Groups of survivors are being flown to Kathmandu from the partly buried Everest basecamp.
The quake has also dealt a heavy blow to Nepal's rich cultural heritage.
The nine-story Dharahara tower, a major tourist attraction in Kathmandu with its spiral staircase of 200 steps, has been reduced to just its base.
Other UNESCO world heritage sites in Patan and Bhaktapur have also been badly damaged.
This has cast shadow on Nepal's long-term economic recovery that is dependent on tourism.
For CRI, I'm Poornima Weerasekara.
Rescue in Tibet as Nepal quake death toll rises to 20
Anchor:
At least 24 Chinese nationals have been confirmed dead in the massive earthquake which hit Nepal this weekend, including 20 in neighboring Tibet.
CRI's Qi Zhi has more.
Reporter:
Saturday's massive quake in Nepal has toppled more than 1,200 houses in several Tibetan counties around the city of Xigaze.
Nearly 10-thousand other homes have been severely22 damaged in the quake, affecting some 200-thousand people.
Only around 25-thousand have been relocated so far.
At the same time, forecasters are warning heavy rain and snow is going to continue in the region for the next few days.
The Zham Pass, on the border between China and Nepal, has been completely cut off.
CRI correspondent Norbu Tsering is in Nyalam County.
"The road between Nyalam and Zham was cut off. Zham is short of drinking water and food. They are rationing24 food and water there. Supplies will be running out in three to five days. Personnel with the Armed Police in Tibet are transporting supplies on foot to quake-stricken areas."
Medical personnel in the region have been put on standby.
Ze Yongge, deputy head of the Tibet Regional People's Hospital, says a team of 10 mobile hospitals and 47 doctors are prepared to head into Xigaze.
"Our mobile hospital is fully25 equipped to do emergency operations, even with gas and power supplies. The problem is the road to Zham is still blocked and we're fully prepared once the order is given for us to leave."
Some 17-thousand volunteers have been mobilized from the city of Xigaze.
Meanwhile, Gyirong County has seen its electricity restored.
Deputy county chief Yang Qianli says their main focus now is relocating the survivors.
"We have 24 injured people, who are being taken care of by medical personnel from the regional and city hospitals, as well as those from the military. We're done rescuing the injured and are now focusing on relocating the affected26 residents, including helping them move their properties."
The central government is rushing relief materials to the affected areas, including urgently-needed tents, coats, folding beds and sleeping bags.
Over a thousand soldiers from the Tibet military command have also been activated27 to help with the relief efforts.
Zhu Zhigang with the Xigaze Disease Control and Prevention Center says initial testing shows the water in the affected areas is safe to drink.
"We've immediately carried out tests on drinking water sources and started work on disease prevention. Disinfection on garbage sites and tents in the shelters were completed this afternoon. Our tests show the water quality has reached the standards for drinking water."
Restoring damaged telecommunications is another priority.
Technicians are repairing the 66 base stations in the Xigaze region damaged during the initial earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks.
On top of taking care of Chinese nationals, the regional government of Tibet is also shipping29 close to a million US dollars worth of relief materials to Nepal.
For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.
China Mulls Inland Nuclear Power Plant Building
Anchor
Debate has heated up here in China about potential plans to create inland nuclear power plants in parts of the country.
Reporter
China Nuclear Energy Association has released a research report about the environmental security of inland nuclear power plants, and has come to the conclusion that such a facility would be safe.
Professor Zhou Ruming with the Association claims that the impact of liquid radioactive waste over underground water is within the allowable range, if nuclear power plants are running properly.
"When plants are running properly, the radioactive impact caused by disposal of liquid waste will fluctuate within the range of natural background radiation. It is not only our prediction but also facts have been proved by experiences of the United States and France. Our country has adopted many measures to treat liquid radioactive waste in order to secure the water quality of downstream. We can achieve that."
However, different from the US and France, China is densely31 populated and short of water resources. Additionally, earthquakes frequently happen in this country. Some people doubt if proper locations for nuclear power plants can be found.
Chang Xiangdong is the vice32 chief engineer of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center, an agency directly under China's Ministry33 of Environmental Protection.
He says they take all that factors into consideration when selecting locations.
"In accordance with laws and regulations, we need to select locations where it is safe to build nuclear power plants with minimal34 impact over the environment. So far all the nuclear plants sites in China were selected in this way. "
Lessons have been learned in the four years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. Nuclear officials in the country like Takuya Hattori admit that radiation pollution from the damaged plant is not fully under control. And fixing the problem will not be cheap.
"The total cost of this counter measure is estimated, but not officially announced to the public, to reach 2 to 3 trillion Japanese yen35."
After the Fukushima leak, Germany, Italy and Switzerland announced plans to abandon nuclear projects.
Despite the risks that come with nuclear power, the head of nuclear power department of China's National Energy Administration, Liu Baohua, says the power source has its benefits.
"Developing nuclear power is a practical choice to secure energy supplies. China's demand for electricity will reach 9 trillion kilowatt-hours per year. It is hard to imagine that we can meet the massive demand without nuclear power. Additionally, we need to develop nuclear power so as to optimize36 our energy structure- currently coal power account for 75 percent of our total power generation. "
For CRI, I'm Luo Bin.
UNICEF starts delivering relief aid to Yemen
The United Nations Children's Fund has started delivering medical aid to Yemen.
UNICEF spokesperson Mohamed Al-Asadi says the aid includes essentials for hospitals in the country.
"Today we have distributed medicine and relief aid to four main hospitals in the capital Sanaa. They will be used in the coming months, at least for two months, to provide relief, first aid and also obstetric aid as well as nutrition for malnourished children."
UNICEF estimates over a hundred children have been killed since the Saudi-led air strikes began a month ago.
The Saudi-led coalition37 has been targeting Houthi rebel locations throughout the country, despite an announcement last week that its campaign was coming to an end.
Houthi forces, said to be backed by Iran, have taken over much of the country, forcing President Abd-rabu Manour Hadi to flee the country.
More than 150-thousand people have fled the country.
Most have crossed over to neighboring Djbouti.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev is to win presidential election
Exit polling is suggesting incumbent Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is going to win re-election.
Yulia Kuchinskaya, who heads a non-governmental polling firm in Kazakhstan, says the results of their survey show the 74-year old is cruising toward an easy victory.
"According to the results of exit polls, the results of the presidential candidates of the Republic of Kazakhstan have shown the following: for Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, 97.5 percent."
His popularity in the country is backed by the continued economic growth Kazakhstan has been enjoying since its independence.
The presidential election was originally scheduled for next year.
However, Nazarbayev fast-tracked the election amid calls from the country's Parliament for an earlier vote.
Demonstrators Protesting against Nuclear Plant
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Belarus's capital Minsk to mark the 29th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
In marking the occasion, demonstrators are also railing against the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Belarusian city of Grodno.
"First of all today is the anniversary of the breakdown40 in Chernobyl AES (Nuclear Power Plant). What is happening now, after the Chernobyl catastrophe41, is impossible to imagine. Those very same people who built Chernobyl AES, Russia, are building mines, which can explode at any moment in Belarus, in the very centre of Belarus. I am protesting against this, and this is what our banner is for today."
The new nuclear power plant has been under construction by a Russian firm since 2011.
It's about 160-kilometer north of Minsk.
Fears of nuclear power generation in Belarus continues to run high.
The melt-down of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor2 on April 26th, 1986, saw Belarus bare the brunt of the radioactive fallout.
Memories at Prisoner-of-war Camps Hard to Forget for US WWII Veteran
Anchor
Ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, US survivors of the battle in the Pacific theatre have been recounting their experiences.
CRI's Niu Honglin brings us the story of a US veteran who became a prisoner of war.
Reporter
92-year-old Ralph Griffith served in the U.S. army in the Philippines during World War II.
He and a number of other U.S. soldiers were captured after Japanese forces over-ran Corregidor Island in 1942.
Griffith spent 5-months in a prisoner-of-war camp in Cabanatuan before being transferred to a Japanese POW camp in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang in Liaoning.
He says many of his fellow prisoners didn't survive the transfer.
"I know one fellow, that we buried at sea. He had, he had dysentery, and he was skin and bones. Me and another fellow was talking to him one day, and the next minute by, he died. There was around 400 died that winter from starvation. We got very little rice and we started working at a factory called MKK."
Griffith says they were also subject to medical experiments.
"They put medicine, drop of medicine four places on my arm, and then took a scalpel, and made a cross and with each of those medicine. I never got sick or anything. I don't know what it was about. They never did tell us what it was."
It's been suggested as many as 580-thousand died as a result of medical experiments or germ warfare42 unleashed44 by the Japanese military during World War II.
Griffith says he hopes the history of what took place will finally be accepted as fact.
"The Japanese were pretty, they were pretty brutal45 against the Chinese people. They keep denying the things that went on, I guess. They even, I've heard they've even [deemed] that it was our fault to start the war, that we started the war, instead of the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. They don't say too much about that. The schools, the denial of what things that went on, and they don't let the people know. The people, I guess, one day hear the things will get surprised, you know."
Japan surrendered on August 15th, 1945.
It's capitulation ended over 30-years of attempts to carve out territory throughout the Asia-Pacific, including the failed attempt to over-run China.
For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.
3D food printing to reshape food industry
Anchor:
A conference has taken place this weekend in the Netherlands which has seen companies touting46 the concept of 3D food production.
CRI's Fu Yu has more.
Reporter:
Dutch based company By Flow have designed a printer that makes fruit gelatin look like caviar.
They harnessed the difference in temperature between pieces of gelatin and oil to create fruit caviar.
Marcio Barrades, head of sales at By Flow, says the new technology allows many opportunities for food creation.
"The spheres are processed with nothing more than vegetables and fruit. The agar-agar is a banding material for consistency47 we need. With this recipe reach a big range of people, we can reach high quality restaurants because it is very attractive, we can reach elderly people because it's very easy to chew and we can reach children which (who) don't eat their vegetables."
German company Print2Taste are entertaining people with their plug and play concept.
It allows a person to draw a simple shape on a tablet computer which is then printed using a sweet gelatin substance.
Developer Melanie Senger says the concept is flexible and can be adapted for a person's requirements.
"That's always depending on the person, that's why is personalised. If someone has deficiency in vitamin D you can add some vitamin D, if someone has another deficiency maybe don't eat enough you can add some energy in form of proteins or fat, or people who are obese48 or overweight can increase the fibre so they feel full faster and do not take up so much energy."
This will lead to new types of production systems for the manufacture of complex products, according to project manager Pieter Debrauwer.
"You have machines that can make all kind of beautiful shapes from sugar or chocolate. I think that's a first step looking at shaping and products. I think the next step will be towards personalised food for instance medical nutrition. A step beyond that might be to go textures50 where you can create all kind of different flavors and combinations of textures and structures in products."
With 3D printing, people can unleash43 their creativity with food. That's why there are endless possibilities and potential for this emerging technology.
For CRI, I'm fu yu.
Bloodhound Supersonic Car Challenges Extreme Land speed
Anchor
A new Supersonic Car has smashed the former world land-speed record, hitting speeds of some 16-hundred kilometers per hour.
CRI's Luo Wen has more on the people behind the vehicle.
Reporter
"The car behind me, the Bloodhound Supersonic Car, over the next year we're going to work it up to not just the new land speed record this year, but ultimately next year to 1,000 miles an hour. That's not only 30 percent faster than any car in history, it's faster than any jet fighter has ever been at ground level."
Wing Commander Andy Green will be the driver of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car.
Described as "part Formula 1 car, part space rocket and part supersonic jet", the rocket-and-jet-powered car has a thrust equivalent to 180 Formula 1 cars.
Chief engineer Mark Chapman describes how the car achieves its extreme speed, which is far beyond the speed of sound:
"With a jet engine on its own we can get to about 600 miles an hour. When we're trying to go supersonic, what Andy will do is wind the jet engine up to full power and then at about 300 miles an hour he'll put the rocket on as well. And with both of those at full power it will get him through the sound barrier and up to 1,000 miles an hour."
"If we're to say what part of the car is really the cutting edge science, it's how we're using that rocket. That is what's going to be the next generation of green propellants for rockets, it's the system we're using on this car."
A bulletproof woven glass-fibre coating protects the vehicle against flying debris as the wheels will be rotating at over 10-thousand revolutions per minute, making any stones or debris kicked up by the wheels potentially deadly.
The vehicle was conceived and hand-built by an extraordinary team of world-class engineers.
It is supported by over two hundred sponsor companies and supported by twelve of the world's leading universities through technology, research, and development.
In September, the team will test the car in Hakskeen Pan, a flat baked mud flood-plain in Northern Cape54, South Africa, attempting to set a new record of 800mph.
This will allow the engineers and scientists involved to assess the car's performance ahead of the planned 1,000mph attempt in 2016.
For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.
Anchor
A growing number of Colombians are calling for a revival of the country's once-vital railway system amid rising complaints about the traffic congestion56 in the country's major centers.
CRI's Wang Mengzhen has more.
Reporter
Daniel Linares is one of many commuters in Colombia's capital, Bogota, who uses the city's overloaded57 TransMilenio system every day.
Like many of his fellow commuters, Linares has to endure long queues to get on to overcrowded buses.
As such, he's among a growing chorus of voices in Columbia calling for a revival of the country's once-dominant rail system.
"It seems like an excellent idea to me to incorporate trains, for example the 30 [main street in Bogota] would be a good route for a train that would make some stops. This would allow for the movement of a lot more people, and there would be less congestion."
Right now, Bogota remains58 one of the very few capital cities in Latin America without a subway system.
That fact is somewhat surprising, as modern Colombia developed, in part, through the development of its rail system.
At one time, Colombia's nearly one-thousand kilometers of railway tracks streched throughout the country, linking Bogota to the Caribbean city of Santa Marta in the north.
However, passenger trains in today's Colombia have mostly become a thing of the past, as successive governments have chosen instead to invest in highway infrastructure59.
Luis Fernando Andrade, director of the country's National Infrastructure Agency, says at this point, only freight trains are being used on a regular basis by large coal producers.
"Colombia in its way let its trains die. Today only large coal producers us them and what we want to see is that the railway infrastructure is used for all sectors61 of the economy - for containers, for liquids, for bulk loads, not just coal."
One of the only passenger-rail services available in Columbia is "La Sabana Train."
This is tourist steam locomotive running through Bogata.
Eduardo Rodriguez is the train's engineer.
A rail worker his entire life, Rodriguez says he longs for the days when trains dominated Colombia's travel sector60.
"This is on the Colombian state, so that they realize what we have lost, what we have neglected. We hope they follow other countries in the world that invest more in railways, so that they don't leave us as the castaway country of the continent."
In the 1990s, the near bankrupt national railway system was shut down.
But with many now enduring massive traffic jams and packed buses on a daily basis, growing calls for a revival of Colombia's once-thriving train system are being heard throughout the country.
For CRI, I am Wang Mengzhen.
Weather
Overnight temperatures should drop down to 16.
Shanghai will be cloudy with a high of 26 and a low of 18.
In Chongqing, it will be sunny during the daytime with a high of 25 and lows of 20.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will be sunny with a high of 46.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 24.
Over to North America,
Washington, cloudy with a high of 18 degrees.
Honolulu, cloudy, 27.
Toronto, Canada, will be overcast with a high of 12 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be cloudy with a high of 27.
And Rio de Janeiro will be cloudy with a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
Headline news
Nepal quake toll tops 2,500 as powerful aftershocks hinder rescue work
The death toll from this weekend's massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has surpassed 25-hundred.
Aftershocks from the quake are said to be hindering attempts to rescue those who may still be trapped under the rubble.
The number of injured nationwide has climbed to 5,900 so far.
Nepalese doctors have set up makeshift operating theatres as they work round the clock to treat the wounded.
Rescue missions and aid from around the world have started arriving to help cope with the aftermath of the worst earthquake to hit Nepal for more than 80 years.
Chinese search and rescue team in Nepal
The 62-member Chinese search and rescue team, along with six dogs, is in Nepal's capital Kathmandu.
On Sunday afternoon, the Chinese team spent four hours rescuing a teenager who had been trapped for one day in northwestern Kathmandu.
The teenager was finally taken out of danger and remain in stable condition.
Rescuers have also found another seven people trapped in the debris in the nearby area and the rescues expected to last for hours.
China Offers medical aid, aid to quake-hit Nepal
A team made of 58 Chinese medical staff are heading to Nepal from Sichuan to assist in the quake-relief efforts in the country.
At the same time, the Tibetan regional government is moving close to a million US dollar worth of aid across the border.
The Chinese central government has already earmarked close to 3-million US dollars in assistance to Nepal.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier64 Li Keqiang have also sent messages of condolence to their counterparts in Nepal.
Rescue in Tibet as Nepal quake death toll rises to 20
At least 24 Chinese nationals have been confirmed dead in the massive earthquake in Nepal including 20 in neighboring Tibet.
Heavy snow and rain in the epicenter is hampering relief efforts.
The quake has toppled more than 1,200 houses in several Tibetan counties around the city of Xigaze.
Nearly 10-thousand other homes have been severely damaged in the quake, affecting some 200-thousand people.
.
Chinese airlines struggle to bring back tourists from Nepal
Meanwhile, Chinese airlines have been running additional flights into Nepal to ferry-out Chinese nationals and other foreign tourists who survived this weekend's massive earthquake.
China Southern, China Eastern and Air China have been running additional flights into Kathmandu.
However, the aftershocks in the quake zone have been affecting flights.
So far, China Eastern has already brought out 230 tourists while hundreds more are expected to be ferried out later on Monday.
The British government has dispatched a team of over 60 search and rescue personnel to support the relief efforts in Nepal.
A chartered flight including search and rescue experts, dogs and over 11 tons of supplies is on it way to Kathmandu.
The British government has also offered over 7 million US dollars in assistance.
Biz Reports
Market Preview
Anchor
First let's get a preview of what we can expect on the markets this week.
Here's CRI's Niu Honglin.
Reporter
The earnings66 season continues this week, with Apple leading an array of companies reporting their first quarter results.
Apple is expected to post a 20 percent increase in its profits, with net gains expected to come in at around 12.5 billion dollars.
At the same time, investors67 are waiting to see whether Apple will share its early sales numbers for its new Apple Watch.
The device, which hit Chinese shelves this past week, was launched after the end of the quarter.
On Tuesday, Dow components68 including Merck and Pfizer will reported their first quarter earnings.
MasterCard is due to report on Wednesday.
Thursday will see Visa and Exxon Mobil deliver their first quarter revenue figures.
On the policy and economic data front,
The Federal Open Market Committee starts is monthly 2-day meeting on Tuesday.
Observers aren't expecting much from the meeting, as the Fed has already ruled out an April rate hike.
Also on Tuesday, New York-based Conference Board is due to release its consumer confidence numbers.
Most are expecting those figures to be up just slightly from this past month.
The same day, the S&P Case Shiller survey is expected to show house prices increased in 20 metropolitan70 areas in February.
The US Commerce Department is expected to report on Wednesday that gross domestic product increased at a 1-percent annual rate in the first quarter after expanding at a 2.2 percent pace in the fourth quarter.
Thursday will see the US Labor71 Department report its employment cost index, which is expected to be up 0.6 percent in the first quarter, maintaining the pace from the previous quarter.
Top Chinese dairy company Yili 2014 profits up 30 pct
Chinese dairy giant Yili is reporting its profits through last year are up 30-percent compared to 2013.
The Shanghai-listed company has raked in net profits of some 677-million U.S. dollars.
Stats from the Chinese Chamber72 of Commerce show Yili leads all-other Chinese producers when it comes to sales of milk, milk powder and ice cream.
Yili purchased a large-scale dairy company from New Zealand last year.
The profits come despite a continued reluctance73 among Chinese consumers to purchase Chinese-produced infant formula following the melamine scandal in 2008 which saw a number of children die.
Call-in with Mike China Securities Regulator to crack down on stock manipulation
Anchor
Chinese securities regulators have launched a new campaign to try to crack down on illegal trading.
The campaign itself is focused on fraud connected to the merger74 of listed companies, stock price manipulation, insider trading and the manipulation of the futures75 market.
This comes amid the bullish market that has seen the Shanghai Composite Index soar more than 80-percent over the past 6-months.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission is also stepping up the supervision76 of the National Equities77 Exchange and Quotations78.
This is a platform where small, unlisted companies can raise funds.
For more on the new crackdown, we're joined on the line by Mike Bastin, director of China Business Center based in London.
Q1: Do you think the regulator is trying to use the campaign to cool down the mainland stock market?
Q2: What are some of the measures the regulator can employ to combat illegal trading?
Q2: How will the "tighter grip" affect investors' sentiments?
Mike Bastin, director of the China Business Center based in London.
Japanese authorities say they expect the solar power industry in the country to finally start turning a profit this quarter.
This would make Japan the last of the G7 economies to make the technology commercially viable.
Profit expectations in the solar sector come as the Japanese government prepares to shut down a number of its oil-fired power plants early next year.
Japan's 43 nuclear reactors have been shut down since the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011.
Since then, solar panel installation has tripled in the country.
This includes a massive solar panel farm on the waters next to the city of Kato.
A 1.1 billion dollar solar farm has also been built on a salt plain near the city of Okayama.
Costs associated with the solar power sector have been falling, with the mass-production of solar panels cutting prices by as much as 80-percent over the past decade.
Tata Chair Buys Stake in Xiaomi
Ratan Tata, chair of India's Tata conglomerate80, has acquired a personal stake in Chinese smartphone maker81 Xiaomi.
The size of Tata's acquisition has not been revealed.
Xiaomi has been attempting to tap into the Indian market for the past year.
The company, which recently saw its products put back onto the market after settling a lawsuit82, has been pushing its new Mi 4i in the market.
It sells for just over 200 US dollars.
Xiaomi also inked an agreement earlier this month to retail83 its phones in a well-known market chain across India.
Chinese Chamber of Commerce hit back at Sri Lanka's finance minister over high interest rates allegation
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka is moving to refute suggestions made by the country's Finance minister.
Sri Lankan Financie Minister Ravi Karunanayake has gone on-record suggesting Chinese banks have been lending to the Sri Lankan government and Sri Lankan companies at inflated84 interest rates.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka has since issued a statement, saying loans from Chinese banks to Sri Lanka are lower than the international market rates.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce says the lending rates from Chinese banks over the last decade to Sri Lanka have averaged around 2-percent.
McDonald's to shut 220 stores down in China and US
This will include 220 outlets in China and the United States.
The exact number of outlets being shut down in China has not been revealed.
McDonald's sales have been suffering in China following a scandal involving one of its meat suppliers last year in Shanghai.
Construction of a new maglev line is getting underway today in western Beijing.
The "maglev" line, short for magnetic levitation88, will run 10-kilometers between the districts of Mentougou to Shijingshan.
It will have a top speed of 80 kilometers-per-hour.
It's part of the city's mass-transit network, and will connect to the Beijing subway system.
Chang Wensen, China's chief scientist behind maglev technology, says the biggest benefit of the technology is the lack of noise.
"The most important characteristic of maglev trains is that little noise is produced. Our tests show the electromagnetic impact on your body will be just 64 decibels89 if you stand 10 meters away from the line."
64 decibels is comparable to regular human speech.
Maglev technology has been characterized as a money-losing venture.
However, industry insiders are now suggesting the costs behind the technology are cheaper than creating a subway line.
The new maglev line is expected to become operational sometime next year.
Sports
Basketball: Cavs Sweep Boston, Lose Kevin Love in Process
Washington is taking on Toronto
The Wizards are one win away from taking the series.
LA Clippers vs. San Antonio
So is Houston, who lead 3 games to zero against the Mavs, when they meet later this morning.
But through to the next round are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat Boston 101-93 and completed 4-game sweep of the Celtics.
But the bigger story emerging from the Cavs-Celtics game is Cleveland forward Kevin Love's shoulder injury.
Love dislocated his shoulder in a tie-up with Boston center Kelly Olynyk. The injured Cav said via Twitter that he has "no doubt" that Olynyk "did it on purpose."
No word yet on whether or not Love will be ready for Cleveland's next match.
Earlier this weekend, Golden State completed their sweep of New Orleans, winning game 4 109 to 98 on Sunday.
Golf: Wu Ashun Becomes 1st Chinese to Win European Tour Event at China Open
In Golf:
Wu Ashun made history by becoming the first Chinese player to win a European Tour event on home soil at the Volvo China Open in Shanghai on Sunday.
Wu birdied the 18th for a nine under, which put pressure on England's David Howell, who was fighting for first.
Wu Ashun says he is happy to emerge victorious91 from a tough tournament:
"Very tough here today and everybody has played very well also. Last year's champion he was also very, very good today. I also played very good today and my heart is very happy and keep very happy."
At the PGA's Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
England's Justin Rose emerged victorious, beating out Cameron Tringale by one stroke thanks to a birdie putt at the 18th that got him to 22 under.
At the LPGA Swinging Skirts classic:
Badminton: Lin Dan Wins Title at Badminton Asian Championships
In badminton:
Lin Dan defended the men's singles title at the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan on Sunday, downing compatriot Tian Houwei 21-19, 21-8 in the final.
World number seven Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand defeated world No. 3 Li Xuerui of China 20-22, 23-21, 21-12 in a lengthy92 women's singles final.
In the all-Chinese women's doubles final, Ma Jin and Tang Yuanting breezed past Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang 21-12, 21-12.
In the men's doubles, Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong of South Korea won gold;
as did Indonesian pair Ahmad Tontowi and Natsir Liliyana in mixed doubles.
In tennis:
At the Porche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany--
Angelique Kerber rallied back from a set down to beat Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in the tournament final in front of her home crowd.
Kerber says this win is the most important of her career:
"Yeah, I mean this title is the (most) special one I ever won actually, I mean, for the home home crowd and for... yeah, my family and friends are here, so it's really special for me to win the title here in Stuttgart."
The German caps off an impressive week of tennis, which saw her down top-seed Maria Sharapova in the second round and hoist her second-straight title.
And at the Barcelona Open:
Top-seeded Kei Nishikori successfully defended his title by beating Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday's final.
The fifth-ranked Japanese fought back from early breaks in both sets to claim his second clay-court title in as many years.
Football: Weekend Recap
In Football over the weekend:
first, from the Chinese Super League:
Shanghai SIPG remain as leaders after beating Henan Jianye 3-0;
Shanghai Shenhua jump to third after downing Hangzhou 2-0;
Guangzhou Evergrande remain in second after their 3-3 draw with Jiangsu.
Beijing drops to sixth with their 3-0 loss to Shandong Luneng.
Over in the English Premiere League:
Manchester United dropped to fourth after losing 3-0 to Everton on Sunday.
In weekend action de La Liga:
The battle for the top continues between leaders Barcalona and Real Madrid.
Barca is still ahead on points after beating Espanyold 2-0.
But Real trail by just three after trouncing Celta Vigo 4-2.
In Serie A action:
Juventus have been denied a fourth-straight league title after losing 2-1 to Torino.
But the derby was overshadowed by fan violence. Nine people were injured when a paper bomb exploded.
Before the match, 300 Torino fans attacked a bus bringing in visiting Juve supporters.
Hockey: Minnesota, Chicago, Calgary Through to Post-Season Semi-Finals
In playoff action from the National Hockey League:
On ice right now, The Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators for game 5 of their series.
Montreal leads three games to two over teh Senators. (UPDATE)
Minnesota beat St. Paul 4-1 to advance to the NHL semifinals, handing the Blues96 their third-straight first-round playoff exit.
Also through are Chicago, after the Blackhawks beat Nashville 4-3.
Entertainment
Jackie Chan opens the Far East Film Festival
Chinese star Jackie Chan has helped open the Far East Film Festival in northern Italy.
This is the first time Chan has attended the Festival in its 17 year history.
Chan is also using his time in Italy to promote his new film, "Dragon Blade."
The Thai drama "The Last Executioner," as well as "Gangnam Blues" and "Ode to My Father" will also be screening at the event.
Silent Separation to be screened on May 1
The much awaited romance film "Silent Separation" will hit theatres here in China on the Labor Day holiday.
The film is an adaptation of the popular novel of the same name, which tells the story of two college sweethearts, whose young love finally leads to a lifetime of entanglements99.
Top stars Huang Xiaoming and Yang Mi are playing the lead roles.
The film is directed by mainland directors Yang Wenjun and Huang Bin.
Yang Wenjun is known for the hit TV series "Marriage Lawyers"
'Good Fellas' cast reunite at the anniversary screening of the hit film in Tribeca
The Tribeca Film Festival ended on Saturday night with a bang — a special 25th anniversary screening of the Martin Scorsese gangster100 flick101 "Goodfellas."
"Goodfellas" cast including Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco were all at the screening for a reunion.
GoodFellas is based on the true-life story of Henry Hill, who was part of a notorious New York-based crime syndicate.
Along with its art-house style visuals it was the movie's powerful rock soundtrack that gave it a cult20 following.
Lorraine Bracco talked about how is work to work with director Scorsese on the film.
" I remember asking, 'what are you thinking about when you're doing that, and he says I want to shoot this like a gangster. I want to shoot it the way I want to shoot it. "
Many regard the Oscar-nominated mob tale as more than just a great film of the crime genre102, but also one of the greatest movies of all time.
A special 25th Anniversary edition of 'Goodfellas' will be available on Blu-ray and Digital HD from May 5.
Josh Groban gets his first UK No.1 album with Broadway covers collection Stages
Josh Groban has scored his first UK number one album with "Stages".
The collection of Broadway covers - which includes songs from Les Miserables and The Phantom103 of the Opera - is Groban's seventh UK top 40 album.
Groban has pushed Paul Simon into 2nd place on the UK album charts.
The compilation104, 'The Ultimate Collection,' is still outselling Ed Sheeran's album "X."
Sam Smith's "In the Lonely Hour" remains at four.
Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony and Becky G Win Big at 2015 Radio Disney Music Awards
Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony and Becky G have come away the big winners at this weekend's Radio Disney Music Awards.
Ariana Grande has walked away with the Best Female Artist award, along with Song of the Year for "Problem" with Iggy Azalea.
'Fifth Harmony' has taken home the 'Best Music Group' award.
The band also won the 'Fiercest Fans' award.
Actress-Singer Jennifer Lopez was given the Hero Award for her work with non-profits.
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick look at the headlines before we go...
The death toll from this weekend's massive earthquake in Nepal has surpassed 25-hundred, with officials warning that number is going to continue to rise.
Heated debate is underway here in China surrounding potential plans to create inland nuclear power reactors.
Kazakhstan's incumbent President appears to have won a resounding victory in that country's election.
In Business.... Chinese dairy giant Yili reporting a significant rise in full-year profits this past year.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.
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1
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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reactor
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| n.反应器；反应堆 | |
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reactors
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| 起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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rubble
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| n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾 | |
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jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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landslides
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| 山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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12
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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13
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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14
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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humanitarian
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| n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者 | |
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avalanches
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| n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 ) | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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cult
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| n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜 | |
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hampering
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的现在分词 ) | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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rationing
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| n.定量供应 | |
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25
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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activated
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| adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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32
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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minimal
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| adj.尽可能少的，最小的 | |
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yen
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| n. 日元；热望 | |
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optimize
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| v.使优化 [=optimise] | |
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37
coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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civilians
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| 平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓 | |
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Soviet
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| adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃 | |
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40
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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41
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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42
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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43
unleash
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| vt.发泄，发出；解带子放开 | |
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44
unleashed
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| v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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46
touting
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| v.兜售( tout的现在分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报 | |
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47
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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48
obese
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| adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的 | |
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49
texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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50
textures
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| n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感 | |
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51
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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52
innovative
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| adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的 | |
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53
hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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54
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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55
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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56
congestion
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| n.阻塞，消化不良 | |
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57
overloaded
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| a.超载的，超负荷的 | |
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58
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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59
infrastructure
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| n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施 | |
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60
sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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sectors
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| n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形 | |
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Celsius
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| adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的 | |
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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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64
premier
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| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
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65
deploys
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| （尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的第三人称单数 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用 | |
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66
earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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investors
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| n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 ) | |
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68
components
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| （机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分 | |
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69
chevron
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| n.V形臂章；V形图案 | |
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70
metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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71
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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72
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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74
merger
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| n.企业合并，并吞 | |
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75
futures
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| n.期货，期货交易 | |
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76
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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77
equities
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| 普通股，股票 | |
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78
quotations
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| n.引用( quotation的名词复数 )；[商业]行情（报告）；（货物或股票的）市价；时价 | |
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viable
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| adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的 | |
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80
conglomerate
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| n.综合商社，多元化集团公司 | |
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81
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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82
lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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84
inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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85
outlets
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| n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店 | |
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86
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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87
maglev
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| n.磁力悬浮列车；adj.磁力悬浮列车的 | |
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88
levitation
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| n.升空，漂浮；浮起 | |
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89
decibels
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| n.分贝( decibel的名词复数 ) | |
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90
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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93
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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94
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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blues
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| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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98
buddies
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| n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人 | |
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99
entanglements
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| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
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100
gangster
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| n.匪徒，歹徒，暴徒 | |
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101
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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102
genre
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| n.(文学、艺术等的)类型，体裁，风格 | |
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103
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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104
compilation
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| n.编译，编辑 | |
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105
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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106
catchiest
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| （曲调、歌曲）容易记住的( catchy的最高级 ) | |
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