新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2016/02/11（在线收听）

The Beijing Hour (Monday-Friday)

Evening Edition

Shane Bigham with you on this Thursday, February 11th, 2016.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, live from the Chinese capital...

Coming up on the program this evening...

60 bodies have been recovered from the quake zone in southern Taiwan, with 76 others listed as missing. Most of the dead found so far have been pulled from the Wei Guan apartment building...

Border authorities in Shenzhen have begun strict checks to identify the Zika virus after China recorded its first imported case of the virus, which has been spreading in South and Central America...

The United States and Japan slash sanctions on North Korea for its recent nuclear test and rocket launch.

And In the second half of our program, we will bring you a special edition of People in the Know.

All of that is coming up in the next hour, but first, a reminder, there are several ways you can reach us at the Beijing Hour.

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Taiwan Quake Death Toll Reaches 60: Local Media

Local media in Taiwan are now reporting 60 deaths following the earthquake on Saturday that toppled buildings on the south of the island.

76 others are missing, despite a rescue operation that has entered the 6th day.

Rescuers are still searching for possible survivors as they sift through the debris of the 17-storey Wei Guan apartment building, which collapsed in the earthquake.

Cheng Ming-chang, director of Tainan city's Civil Engineering Association, says the search and rescue work will continue.

"If there are still survivors at the bottom, we must not delay the process, and we'll search for them as quickly as possible. If we find areas with bodies then we will deal with them after the entire search process has finished."

Heavy machinery is being utilized to try to reach more victims, but hopes are dimming because so much time has passed since the quake.

The earthquake struck at around 4 a.m. last Saturday morning just 2 days before the Chinese lunar New Year.

Developers of the Wei Guan building have been arrested, as poor construction quality has been blamed for its collapse.

Laboratory test for Zika virus adopted in Shenzhen

Testing for for Zika virus is underway in Shenzhen, following the detection of the country's first imported case of the virus.

Border authorities in the southern Chinese city have begun strict checks for the virus after the illness was diagnosed in a 34-year-old man in Jiangxi, who passed through Hong Kong and Shenzhen while returning home after a visit in Venezuela.

The man's symptoms included fever, headache and dizziness. He has been treated in hospital and is said to be recovering.

Shenzhen receives the largest number of land-entry passengers in China, with an increasing number of returnees from travel and work overseas during the Spring Festival holiday.

US and Japan Sanction North Korea Over Nuclear Program

Anchor:

The US Senate has voted to toughen sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program, human rights record, and cyber activities.

Meanwhile, US ally Japan has also announced a series of sanctions on North Korea, following the country's recent nuclear test and rocket launch that have prompted international condemnation.

CRI's Xie Cheng reports.

Reporter:

The US Senate voted 96-0 for the "North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act."

The House of Representatives passed a similar bill in January.

Differences between the two are expected to be resolved quickly, and Senate Democrats say they expect President Barack Obama will sign the measure into law.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar says the bill approved on Wednesday sends a strong message to North Korea.

"We must take strong action to curb North Korea's nuclear program and address the other threats that it poses to the U.S. and our allies. Weak sanctions against North Korea have clearly proven unsuccessful. The legislation before us today represents the tough response that is necessary to send this message directly. To North Korean leaders, disarm or face severe economic sanctions."

US lawmakers hope the bill will also make a clear statement to the international community.

The Senate bill would sanction anyone who engages in, facilitates, or contributes to North Korea's armament, luxury goods, human rights abuses, and cyber attacks.

Penalties include the seizure of assets, visa bans, and denial of government contracts.

Unlike other similar bills, this legislation makes most of the sanctions mandatory, rather than giving the President options to impose them.

The President, however, can waive the sanctions if national security is threatened.

The White House has not given any indication that the bill will be vetoed.

Also on Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced sanctions on Pyongyang.

"The government has decided to impose stern sanctions on North Korea. We will cooperate closely with the international community in order to resolve the abductions, nuclear and missile issues."

Apart from the nuclear issue, North Korea's alleged abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 80s have been another major issue straining bilateral relations.

Under Japan's sanctions, foreign nuclear scientists living in Japan who have traveled to North Korea will not be re-admitted to Japan.

The sanctions will also restrict money transfers to North Korea and ban ships traveling to Japan from North Korea.

Japan will also freeze the assets of more groups and individuals that are connected to North Korea.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.

South and North Korea Shut Down Joint Industrial Complex

North and South Korea have decided to shut down a joint industrial complex, as tensions mount following North Korea's rocket launch on Sunday.

North Korea has also cut off military communication lines and other communication channels with the South.

All South Korean nationals in the industrial park will also be deported.

South Korea made the announcement to halt operations of the Kaesong Industrial Complex on Wednesday.

South Koreans employees began to exit the factory park on Thursday.

South Korea's Defense Ministry Spokesperson Moon Sang-Gyun says the military is on stand-by for any emergencies.

"Putting our people's safety as a top priority, our military is fully prepared to deal with any contingency which can happen at the Kaesong Industrial Complex."

South Korea suspects the North has spent funds from the complex on its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

The complex generated more than 110 million US dollars in wages and fees for North Korea last year.

A South Korean resident near the industrial park says he supports shutting down the complex.

"North Korea has caused many problems, but the South Korean government tried to maintain its policy silently. I personally agree with this action to halt the operation of joint industrial park. It should be a chance for North Korea to realize its wrongdoings."

As of last fall, the complex hosted 124 South Korean companies, employing nearly 55-thousand North Koreans.

NATO Defence Ministers Approve Enhanced Force for East

NATO defence ministers have agreed to enhance the group's forward military presence in Eastern Europe.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the move at a news conference held after a ministerial meeting in Brussels.

"It will be multi, it will be rotational and supported by a programme of exercises and it will be complemented by the necessary logistics and infrastructure to support pre-positioning and facilitate rapid reinforcements. Our military planners will provide advice on the size and the composition on our enhanced presence this spring."

Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz (mah-chair-ah-veetch) also expressed his support for the multinational force.

"If we are dealing with an aggressor, an aggressor that has decided to undermine the peace and stability in Europe that has been in place for decades, I believe only actions will be sufficient to stop the aggressor and this would be a sign that the aggressor has gone one step too far. So only firm and decisive actions can be effective."

NATO increased its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance in light of the Ukraine crisis.

Nearly 60 people killed in NE Nigeria suicide attacks

Two female suicide bombers have struck a refugee camp in the northeastern state of Borno, killing at least 59 people.

The attack targeted a camp for people from the town of Dikwa, made homeless by the Boko Harem Islamist insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

Officials say the two women secretly entered the site and detonated their bombs in the heart of the camp.

An unnamed emergency management official says a third woman bomber was arrested and is being questioned.

"They came in from a town nearby called Boboshe, according to the one that arrested live, she confessed and she even hints the military there have three coming, because she feels that her parents are in the camp; that's why she refused to detonate her own bomb. I think she is with the military now and she's giving information. And here as we came in this specialist hospital you can see the majority of the casualties are children and women, and they are responding to treatment. "

Nearly 80 people were injured in the explosions.

The attack is believed to be a reprisal for a military strike on Boko Haram strongholds in the area last week.

The extremist group has increasingly used suicide and bomb attacks as the military pushes the group out of territories it once controlled.

American Voters React to New Hampshire Results

The American electorate appears ready for a political shake up after two outsiders ran away with the country's first primary in New Hampshire.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won Tuesday's primary for the Democrats, while New York billionaire Donald Trump led the Republican contest in the same state.

Voter Liz Muirwood says the results show the public is seeking political alternatives.

"I think it says that the American public is very disgruntled with the current political process and they'll accept any alternative to it -- even if it's one that goes against their best interests. I think it's the same story as with Trump: the American public, whether they're conservative or liberal are looking for something different than what has emerged from the political process of the past two decades and Bernie Sanders is certainly an alternative to that."

New York voter Mike Webster has questioned the motives behind the results in New Hampshire.

"I mean I understand that there's a lot of anger out there. And actually, well, the two guys who won yesterday are outsider candidates tapping into that anger. But, you know, what do you do with that anger, that's the question."

Analysts say Sanders' proposals to break up big banks and have the government pay for college tuition appealed to the young in New Hampshire, but say the senator may struggle outside liberal northeastern states.

Hilary Clinton trailed Sanders in the Democratic race in New Hampshire.

For the Republicans, New Hampshire showed Donald Trump's staying power after losing to Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the Iowa caucuses last week.

Chris Christie ends bid for Republican nomination

US Republican candidate Chris Christie has dropped out of the presidential race after a disappointing finish in New Hampshire.

The New Jersey governor spent heavily and campaigned the longest in the state but still finished in sixth place.

Christie now joins former tech executive Carly Fiorina, who also left the race after struggling in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Their departures leave seven Republicans remaining in the race for president.

Rouhani says nuclear deal reshaped Iran's image in the world

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the deal clinched in 2015 on the country's nuclear program has reshaped Iran's image in the world.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Rouhani says the nuclear deal shows the world that Iran is a peace-seeking nation.

He says the global atmosphere now favors Iran's engagement and cooperation, calling on the nation to seize the opportunity.

Over 100 Injured in Train Crash in Southern Cairo

Over 100 people have been injured following a train crash in the south of Cairo.

The train heading from Aswan to the Egyptian capital collided with a concrete block which led it to derail, lifting the front of one of the carriages several meters into the air.

Salah Mahmoud, an eyewitness to the accident, recalled what happened.

"In less than a minute the train crashed. We ran outside and found it in the storage area. This is evidence that the driver was driving at high speed. He was set to arrive at the platform at 1:30 a.m. He should park here. That means if he would have not crashed here he would not have time to park at the platform."

Mahmoud Islam, another eyewitness to the direct aftermath, said the train appeared to have driven at a higher than usual speed.

"He was driving at an unexpectedly high speed. He was about to arrive in a storage area where he should decrease his speed. He wasn't driving on a main railroad; it was a storage rail which means he will park soon. We saw the train driving fast and collide with this rock. He even turned the rock around and now the train is lying on the rock."

In March 2015, a crash between a train and a bus carrying school children northeast of Cairo killed at least 7 people, and injured 24 others.

EasyJet unveil plans for hybrid plane

Anchor:

UK-based budget airline easyJet is working to incorporate an innovative new hydrogen fuel cell system into its future aircraft.

CRI's Victor Ning has more.

Reporter:

The concept uses a hydrogen fuel cell that captures kinetic energy through the aircraft's wheels as it brakes on landing.

That energy can then be used by the aircraft when taxiing on runways prior to take off, therefore avoiding the need to burn costly fuel through its jet engines.

Water produced as a by-product of hydrogen consumption can be used to top up the aircraft's water tanks.

EasyJet claims this system could save around 50-thousand tonnes of fuel and associated carbon emissions each year.

Ian Davies is head of engineering at easyJet.

"We pulled together a kind of basic idea around could we use a hydrogen fuel cell to power our aircraft now while they're on the ground instead of using diesel engine power or fixed ground power units."

EasyJet plans to begin trailing the new technology this year.

Making the taxiing stage of flight more fuel efficient is of particular interest to easyJet due to the high frequency and short length of its flights.

EasyJet says around 4 percent of its total annual fuel consumption occurs when the airline's aircraft are taxiing on runways.

Aviation expert Tilmann Gabriel from the City University London said that the aviation industry is always looking for means to save fuel, especially during times when the price for barrel of oil was over one hundred dollars.

"So we had for the longest time and all through my career many activities in how to save fuel, how to start engines later in the game towards the runway, how we shut down engines after landing, how we fly the most economic fuel during the cruise speed, there's always an interest to save fuel."

While the aviation industry has experimented with hydrogen fuel cell technology in the past, big airlines and aircraft makers are yet to adopt it.

Gabriel, a former pilot who leads the aviation masters programme at City University London, explained that one reason for this could be the additional weight.

"In the aviation industry, the issue is weight against fuel cost saved. We need to save every kilo of weight to have, again, a very economic flying profile so therefore adding extra batteries or adding extra motors - like in this case to drive the wheels - is much more weight and that costs fuel. So you always have to counterbalance the fuel used for more weight on the aircraft versus the lesser fuel cost when you are saving fuel."

Hydrogen fuel cell technology isn't exactly new. Japanese car manufacturers Toyota unveiled the 'Mirai', its first emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicle, in 2014.

The auto maker announced last October an ambitious aim to sell only hybrids and fuel cells by 2050, to radically reduce emissions.

For CRI, this is Victor Ning.

U.S. Asian & Pacifica Americans Celebrate Spring Festival in Capitol Hill for the First Time

Organizations representing Asian and Pacific Americans in the United States have held a Congressional Chinese lunar New Year celebration on Capitol Hill in Washington for the first time.

Many of those Congress members who are of Asian or Pacific origin attending the event have expressed the hope that such a celebration could become a tradition of the U.S. Congress.

Rep. Grace Meng, a U.S. Congresswoman from New York City, announced at the event that the Chinese lunar New Year has become a legal official holiday in New York.

"This year, for us in New York, for the very first time, our public schools were closed for the lunar New Year holiday. (Audience applauding) This was something that we worked on for so many years, but really is due to the strength, the testament, and the unity of our Chinese American and Asian American community, not just in New York City, but throughout the country. I hope that this can happen in more large Asian population cities across the country, and we're working on it to make that happen."

Currently there are roughly 13 million Asians in the U.S. who celebrate the Chinese lunar New Year annually.

Foreigners View on Chinese Spring Festival

Anchor:

Many foreigners in China for Spring Festival, the country's most important festival of the year, are using the occasion to learn about China and its people.

CRI's Niu Honglin has more.

Reporter:

"Hongbao and fireworks."

"Eating these Jiaozi, watching the CCTV program, maybe giving the children hongbao, and all these bianpao, the fireworks."

"Wearing traditional Tang suit and paying some New Year calls to friends and families."

Living in a foreign country can be the most exciting, challenging, and sometimes most confusing experience in a person's life.

Ricardo Akonso, 27-year-old media worker from the United Kingdom, has been working in Beijing for more than two years.

According to him, Beijing is usually crowded and busy, but also convenient and open like all the other international metropolises. But during the festival season, the city becomes restful.

Akonso is also impressed with the fireworks that are commonly seen and heard during Spring Festival.

"There's crazy amount of fireworks going on. It's like a war or something. It's crazy loud and you can't sleep well. I used to live in Dongzhimen in a little compound. It's like all the guys used to set off so many fireworks, so it was very very loud, but it was cool at the same time! "

The word "cool" can hardly summarize every foreigner's attitude toward fireworks. Some even say the whole city feels like a battlefield. And when you least expect it - KABOOM!

Unlike westerners who appreciate the visual aspect of fireworks more, Chinese also find the loudness cheering, since ancient Chinese believed that sound kept evil away.

Diego Torres, who now lives in Madrid, studied in Beijing for more than six years. He specifically mentioned that the long holiday has provided people, especially the young generations, with more options.

"Young Chinese people really love to spend time with their relatives but they also now take the advantage of the holidays to be alone. Maybe they first spend time with their relatives and then travel with their boyfriend or girlfriend. You see these lots of traditions but there is also a lot of free will and innovations."

In the meantime, to those foreigners who married into a Chinese family, the experience can be quite different.

Lee Na Dan from South Korea has lived in Beijing since 2008 and now has a Chinese wife.

Even though he has an Asian background, which includes the custom of celebrating the lunar New Year, the Korean and Chinese festivities are not that alike.

"In Korea, we don't have dumplings during the lunar new year, that's different from in China. We have our own traditional food: a kind of soup that made of rice cake pieces. We play cards with families as well, like people in China. But we return back to our own homes at 8 or 9 at night. There's no such custom of staying up late during the New Year's Eve."

Anurabanda from Sri Lanka has been living in China for over 20 years. He got married with a Chinese woman. He celebrates two different New Year Festivals every year in both countries.

He describes how his family celebrates Sri Lanka's New Year festival every April 14th.

"In Sri Lanka, normally we don't visit relatives on New Year's eve. On the first day of the New Year, couples would visit the husband's parents first, and then the wife's. I have 5 brothers. On the first day of the New Year, my brothers would bring their wives and children to my mother's house. So that would be over 30 people in a room. We eat every meal together. The biggest problem for us is that our cooking pot is not big enough!"

China and Sri Lanka have different traditions during New Year Festival. Many Chinese believe wives should spend the Spring Festival with their parents-in-law, while their parents are visited by sons and daughters-in-law. However, Due to the family planning policy introduced in 1979, most young couples are the only children in their families.

That's why young couples now celebrate spring festival by visiting each other's hometowns in alternate years, inviting both parents to their homes or traveling with both parents.

Chinese Spring Festival starts on lunar New Year's Eve and ends after the Lantern Festival. Foreign people in China can participate in the tradition of lantern watching, riddle guessing, and the cooking of sweet dumplings to help them understand China's ancient culture.

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.

Thousands of Chinese tourists celebrate Lunar New Year in Indonesia's Bali

The Indonesian tourism ministry has kicked off its first-ever Chinese New Year celebrations.

The event started on the country's famous resort island of Bali.

Last year, Indonesia recorded 1.3 million Chinese tourists, but expected to increase the number of Chinese tourists to 2 million by the end of this year.

During the three-decade rule of the late President Suharto, the festivities for the Lunar New Year and other expressions of Chinese cultural identity were prohibited.

In 2001, the Suharto-era prohibition was ended and Chinese New Year was declared a national holiday three years later.

Chinese soccer legend Zeng Xuelin dies at 87

Chinese football legend Zeng Xuelin, who had directed the national team to finish runners-up in the 1984 Asian Cup, has died in Shenzhen.

He was 87.

Zeng was one of the Chinese football elites sent to Hungary to study in the 1950s.

He was appointed the coach of the national team in 1982.

Weather

Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of minus 1. A light rain is in the forecast for tomorrow with a high of 10.

Shanghai will be overcast with a low of 14, then cloudy with a high of 22.

Chongqing will be cloudy and 10. Tomorrow is, overcast and 16.

Lhasa will be clear overnight with a low of minus 2, while tomorrow will be sunny with a high of 13.

Elsewhere in Asia,

Islamabad will be cloudy with a high of 19.

Kabul will be cloudy with a high of minus 1.

In the Southern Hemisphere,

Sydney will have light rain with a high of 26.

Brisbane will see some clouds with a high of 28.

Perth will be cloudy with a high of 35.

And finally, Auckland, New Zealand will have a light rain with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.

That's it for this holiday edition of the Beijing Hour. Please stay tuned for People in the Know.

60 bodies have been recovered from the quake zone in southern Taiwan, with 76 others listed as missing. Most of the dead found so far have been pulled from the Wei Guan apartment building...

Border authorities in Shenzhen have begun strict checks to identify the Zika virus after China recorded its first imported case of the virus, which has been spreading in South and Central America...

On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Shane Bigham in Beijing. Please join us again for the next edition of the Beijing Hour, and open a window to the world together.