新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2016/02/14（在线收听）

The Beijing Hour

Morning Edition

Spencer Musick with you on this Sunday Febuary 14th 2016.

Welcome the Beijing Hour, live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on the program this morning...

Search and rescue efforts coming to an end after the earthquake in southern Taiwan that has left 116 people dead...

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security critisizing the term "Fishball Revolution" as a means to justify the mob violence in Mong Kok...

And conservative bulwark on the US Supreme Court Antonin Scalia has died at the age of 79...

In the 2nd half of the hour- its the latest edition of our weekly sci-tech feature...

In sports.... an update on the English Premier League...

In entertainment... The Mermaid has a huge take at the Chinese box office...

Top News

Taiwan Quake Death Toll Reaches 116, Search and Rescue Ends

Search and rescue efforts have come to an end after the earthquake in southern Taiwan.

The 6.7-magnitude quake hit Kaohsiung city at a depth of 15 kilometers at around 4 a.m. last Saturday, 2 days before the Chinese lunar New Year, leaving a total of 116 people dead.

Tainan city bore the brunt of the quake, with the 17-storey Wei Guan Jinlong apartment building collapsing.

Its collapse accounted for 114 deaths among 289 people carried out by rescuers.

Mayor of Tainan, William Lai, has identified the last individual to be pulled out from the rubble of the building.

"At around 3:57 p.m. the chairman of the management committee of this building, Mr. Hsieh Chen-yu, was rescued from the collapsed building, and the entire rescue effort has come to an end."

City officials say all of those believed missing in the building have now been accounted for.

The building's developer Lin Ming-hui has been arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, along with 2 other men from his management team.

It's been reported that rectangular commercial cans could be seen inside the walls exposed by the quake, apparently having been used as building material.

Polystyrene was also reportedly found to be mixed in with the building's concrete.

Local authorities have also reported that over 120 damaged buildings were not built to standard.

Some of these structures must be dismantled.

Hong Kong Official Brands "Fishball Revolution" as Misleading Term for Riot

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok has said it is wrong to use the term "Fishball Revolution" to justify the mob violence in Mong Kok during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Lai says the word "fishball" is misplaced as it implies hawkers were selling food when the government took enforcement action against them.

He says the reality is that Food & Environmental Hygiene Department officers were patrolling the area near the location where the unrest started.

He says the officers were not taking any enforcement action.

Instead, he says the officers were surrounded by a group of more than 50 people before asking for police assistance.

The riot from late Monday to Tuesday has left more than 100 people injured.

Some mobsters barricaded the street, set fires, damaged police cars, and assaulted police officers, causing injury to many of them.

As of Saturday, the police have arrested more than 60 suspects and 40 of them have been charged with rioting.

HK Sees Largest Drop of Mainland Tourists during Spring Festival Holidays

Anchor

Travel authorities in Hong Kong say the recent violence in Mong Kok does not appear to be deterring tourists.

However the island did witness its greatest drop in the number of mainland tourists in a decade during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Our Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has the story.

Reporter

Hong Kong has seen a 10 percent year-on-year decline in the number of mainland tourists during the Spring Festival holiday, while the number of mainland tourist groups plummeted by 70 percent, to about 120 groups per day.

A rarely seen riot took place in Mong Kok on the first night of the new lunar calendar, in which more than 100 people were injured, with fires lit in the streets and bricks thrown at police.

Some mainland tourists say their itinerary was not affected by the incident.

"I am planning to spend 10 to 20 thousand HK dollars to buy electronics, clothes and shoes. Hong Kong is a city ruled by law, and should be a safe place. I believe it is only a small fraction of people who are making trouble."

But others say they worry about their safety when traveling to the city.

"The clashes were scarier than I thought, because I've heard Hong Kong is a civilized society and people have good manners."

"I am a little bit worried about my safety. I don't feel very secure here."

Shop owners in Mong Kok say far fewer tourists visited their stores during the holiday this year.

"From Monday till now, no one would like to come to this area. There are more police than tourists. My business is not even half as good as last year, what can I do? What should I do after the holiday?"

Hong Kong's Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung believes that local tourism will go through a tough time for quite a while, but the violence in Mong Kok does not appear to have put tourists off from coming to the city.

"The swift response from the police has reassured visitors that Hong Kong is still a safe destination. We haven't received any inquiries from abroad about the incident. I hope this is a solo case."

The first week in the lunar new year in Hong Kong, which was supposed to be a time of celebration and happiness, has proven to be eventful.

On Saturday morning, a large fire, suspected to be arson, broke out in a parking lot, following a similar incident where dozens of rubbish bins near Mong Kok were set on fire during the week.

No evidence discovered yet has shown any connection between the fires and the riot.

For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.

"Chunyun" Train Passengers Hit Daily Record: Authorities

China's rail authorities have reported that over 10 million trips were made by train on Saturday.

This has set a daily record for the Spring Festival travel rush, known as "Chunyun."

Over 840 thousand of the rail trips on Saturday were made by the Beijing Railway Bureau, up 5.6 percent year on year.

800 passenger trains were added on Saturday by the China Railway Corporation to deal with the traffic.

Railway passenger numbers started to rise on Friday as the week-long Chinese lunar New Year holiday ended on Saturday.

The "Chunyun" period is regarded as the world's largest annual human migration for family reunions.

The National weather observatory has forecast an upcoming cold front set to bring low temperatures and rain or snow in most parts of China in coming days.

The CRC said it has taken measures to deal with bad weather and also advised passengers to arrive early for trips.

Hangzhou and Guizhou on List of "52 Places to Go in 2016" by NY Times

Anchor

Each January, the Travel section of the New York Times selects 52 must-see places around the world.

According to the magazine's official website, reasons for selection can include anything from the opening of a new museum, a new transportation option, or an historical anniversary.

Last year, Chengdu was the only Chinese city to make it onto the list. But this year includes two listings from China - Hangzhou and Guizhou.

CRI's Li Jianhua has more on why the two cities were selected.

Reporter

Music evoking the tranquility and beauty of Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Hangzhou is one of the seven ancient capitals in China. As the saying goes "Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below" the reputation of its stunning natural beauty has spread far and wide.

Most people in China have probably heard of the City's West Lake, as it was the setting for a very well-known TV show, Legend of the White Snake, which aired back in the 1990s.

The show was based on a Chinese folktale, the white snake falls in love with Xu Xian and marries him, despite knowing that many obstacles will lie ahead of them. The West Lake was the place they would meet.

West Lake is in west of Hangzhou city. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, it is divided into five sections by three causeways. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands contained within its boundaries.

For those seeking sublime serenity, then the Lingyin scenic zone in Hangzhou is the place to go.

The Lingyin scenic zone is not only the seat of the famous ancient Lingyin Temple, built thousands of years ago, it also has the Feilaifeng, ancient grotto art. Here famous mountains, waters, celebrities, anecdotes, springs, pavilions, and Buddhist statues a re all blended perfectly.

Jin Zheng is a native in Hangzhou. He says apart from the myriad of tourist attraction, visitors should also sample Hangzhou's food.

"If someone comes to Hangzhou, they mustn't miss Dongpo Pork. You might be taken aback by its appearance—it looks really fatty, but it doesn't taste as fatty as it looks like. This course is said to be invented by Su Dongpo when he was assigned to work in Hangzhou. Su was a great calligrapher and painter back in Northern Song Dynasty 900 years ago. In addition, I would highly recommend you to go have a look at Qing Hefang Street. The buildings on both sides of the street appear to be really quaint, in which you would find many restaurants as well. Huangfanwan and Zhiweiguan are definitely worth going."

According to the New York Times, Guizhou has been added to the list because of its authentic Chinese hill tribes untainted by mass tourism.

That's the distinctive sound of the Dong people - a common sound in the mountains.

The diverse population of minorities in Guizhou also allows for a great many ethnic festivals throughout the lunar calender. During the first lunar month, which usually falls in February, the early festival in Kaili, east of the capital, celebrates local culture with displays of horse racing, pipe playing, and comedy performances.

Besides its fascinating peoples, Guizhou is also renowned for its breathtaking scenery.

Yang Qiulu, who lives there, recommends those travelling to Guizhou to visit Huangguoshu waterfall located in the Anshun district of the province.

"The first place I would highly recommend is the huangguoshu waterfall in Anshun. This waterfall is the biggest in China and is well-known for its height of more than 250 feet. When the monsoon season comes every summer, looked at a distance, the waterfall seems to be from the sky. When you are approaching it, you could feel the mist coming into your face. In addition, you can also enjoy the karst cave there. Going boating in the cave and enjoying the craftsmanship of Nature is so breathtaking. "

Guizhou is also home to the Wu River, which is the largest southern tributary of the Yangtze. Running through the isolated, mountainous and ethnically diverse province of Guizhou, it is also the birthplace of Jiangtuan fish, a major component of local cuisine.

"In terms of food, I'd like to talk about the authentic fish in sour soup in Kaili. Kaili is a city in the east of Guizhou where many Miao and Dong people gather. They like 'sour.' But the sourness in this dish is different from the sourness of tomatoes. It is extracted from the local red peppers. The fish, called Jiangtuan fish, is also special, which is only produced in Wu River. Jiangtuan fish is abundant with protein and collagen, which makes the soup fresh and nutritious. "

After years of being nearly sequestered, Guizhou is now also starting to open up due to the rise of tourism. The train ride from the southwest China's province to the bustling city of Guangzhou has been cut from 20 hours to just four since a high-speed rail link opened at the end of 2014.

For those tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, Hangzhou and Guizhou are perfect places to escape to.

But like all hidden gems, they can't stay secret for long. So to experience their authenticity and charm, you'd better shake a leg and set out immediately.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.

US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at 79

US Surpeme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia has died at the age of 79.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement confirming the news on Saturday local time.

Throughout his tenure on the United States' highest court, Scalia was known as a conservative bulwark and a strict constitutionalist in interpreting the law.

The San Antinio Express News reports that Scalia was found dead on Saturday at a ranch where he had been staying for a private function.

Scalia’s passing means that US President Barack Obama may be able to nominate a replacement Associate Justice during the last year of his term.

Brazilian Troops Begin Public Action Phase against Zika

Anchor

Brazilian troops have started the first phase of a nation-wide campaign against the mosquito carrying the Zika virus.

CRI's Fei Fei reports.

Reporter

The public action phase involves 220 thousand military personnel from the army, navy and air force.

They were deployed on the streets to hand out leaflets warning of dangers of still and stagnant water as breeding grounds for the yellow fever mosquito and methods for them to be removed and prevented.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff says the aim of the operation is to get each and every person to do their part in the war aginst the mosquito.

"The government will do its part together with the state governors, mayors, health agents and the armed forces. However, just us will not be enough. We need the population engaged in the fight in the spirit of Zika Zero and stop the mosquito from reproducing. The mosquito cannot be born."

She also says Rio will be prioritized in the operation as it is this year's Olympic host city.

"Here, Rio de Janeiro, is where the Olympics will take place, so we are in the process of an operation focused towards this issue. It is important to highlight that the virus has harmful effects for pregnant women, so we are carrying out an extremely focused operation to exterminate the mosquito whilst we do not have a vaccine. Certain cities will be prioritised, one of which is Rio de Janeiro, for obvious reasons."

The first phase was received positively on Saturday, as residents like Alan Lima welcomed the new approach.

"The Armed Forces have a lot of credibility, not only the army, but the navy and air force too, they have greater facilities than we do to address these things."

In the next phase of the operation, armed forces will visit three million homes to identify problem areas and distribute larvicide and insecticide.

It will start on Monday and cost 500 million reals or 125 million U.S. dollars.

The outbreak of Zika has affected Brazil's tourism industry and raised concerns among health officials preparing for the Olympic Games.

The Zika virus is believed to be linked to a surge in Brazil of babies being born with the brain defect microcephaly.

But there is no effective vaccine for Zika at the moment and little known about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes microcephaly.

Brazil is investigating the potential link between Zika infections and more than 4,300 suspected cases of microcephaly.

The WHO earlier said that it would take at least 18 months to start large-scale clinical trials of Zika vaccine.

For CRI, this is Fei Fei.

Russian PM Warns of Catastrophic Consequence of Lingering Syria Conflict

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has warned of catastrophic consequences if the conflict in Syria drags on.

Speaking to top diplomats at a session of the ongoing Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Medvedev says it is important to prevent Syria from disintegrating.

"Regarding Syria, we will continue to work on common peace initiatives. It is difficult but there is no alternative to the overall national and inter-denominational dialogue. We need to maintain a unitary state, and we must not allow its dissolution on sectarian lines. The world cannot afford another Libya, Yemen or Afghanistan. The consequences of such a scenario would be a catastrophic for the entire Middle East."

Medvedev has also refuted the accusation that Russia was bombing civilian targets in Syria, saying Russia was trying to prevent Russian militants from going back to the country from Syria to commit terrorist acts.

Medvedev made the remarks after the fourth foreign ministers' meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in Munich agreed on a nationwide cessation of hostilities to be implemented soon in Syria.

The United States has held that Russian airstrikes are targeted against opposition groups in Syria rather than terrorists.

This claim has been rejected by the Russian side.

NY Valentines Day Chocolate

Anchor

Valentines Day is here and that means big business for chocolate makers around the world.

But fears over the price of chocolate's main ingredient cocoa has seen US manufacturers hike the cost of their candy in recent years.

That means getting into your Valentine's good graces could cost a little extra.

CRI's William Denselow reports from New York.

Reporter

Whipping up another batch of chocolate covered marzipan. As Margaret Schmidt gets ready for the Valentine's Day rush.

She's been running Schmidt's Candies in Queens New York for 30 years and expects to sell about 40,000 hand dipped chocolates for the holiday.

"I have never sold as many dark walnuts ever in my entire life here but now it's healthy combined with the dark chocolate. We don't stand by the milk chocolate, the hipsters that come in know they want the dark."

But this change in taste comes at a cost. A growing desire for richer chocolate and more demand from emerging markets is putting strain on the supply of cocoa.

In 2014 the price for cocoa beans rose 60% compared to 2012. In response US chocolate giant Hershey's rose its average wholesale price by 8%.

Cocoa prices have dipped since then but economics professor at New York University Lawrence White says it's not easy for supply to catch up with demand.

"You can get cycles but the basic thing is it takes a while, not a short while being multiple years before you can get responsiveness."

And for now not everyone in New York seems convinced it's worth paying a little extra for their chocolate fix. Even around Valentine's Day.

"We still buy them but perhaps not as much as we used to"

"Bars are just so small now, it's ridiculous and they have gone up in price."

"I feel that chocolate's just my go to so I'm just always going to buy it."

At the expense of their bottom line- Schmidt's Candies have kept prices unchanged.

But larger chocolate makers are taking steps to ensure their main ingredient is protected.

Roughly 70% of the world's cocoa comes from West and Central Africa and major chocolate makers like Hershey's say they're committed to helping local farmers in these areas thrive.

And with harsh weather threatening to affect crops there this year- chocoholics hope these companies are putting their money where their mouths are.

For CRI, I'm William Denselow in New York

US Scientists Engineering the Future of Diabetes Treatment

Anchor

Two labs in the United States looking to change the way that diabetes is treated and ultimately cured.

CRI's Huang Shan has the story.

Reporter

Keeping track of carbohydrate intake, monitoring blood-sugar levels, and injecting insulin is a never-ending cycle for diabetics trying to stay healthy.

Labs at Harvard University and MIT have realized major advances in engineering to maintain that balance, though the two labs are dealing with diabetes in different ways.

After working in the field of automated diabetic care for over two decades, Frank Doyle, dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, says his lab aims to develop an artificial pancreas.

"You've got the sensor, the way that we measure the critical variable, in this case glucose. You have the actuator that is the agent of change, that's the thing that influences your dynamic system. In this case that is a pump delivering insulin and then you have the controller, you've got the brains."

He admits that developing an algorithm to allow insulin pumps and sensors to work together is the chief roadblock for their on-going project.

But he believes a fully functional automated system for diabetes will be accomplished within five years, as an upgrade to devices biomedical companies already offer.

Meanwhile, researchers at MIT have already proven they can cure diabetes in mice.

For type-1 diabetics, the immune system kills islet cells which monitor and regulate blood sugar levels by producing insulin.

Professor Daniel Anderson, who leads the research, elaborates on the aim of their project.

"What we developed is basically a new material that acts like an invisibility cloak. So this material coats the cells but allows them to function and live but protects them from the immune system."

Professor Anderson points out that the major barrier impeding their research development is protecting these cells from an immune attack.

"So far we have shown in diabetic mice we can take these human islets from stem cells and actually cure these diabetic mice for months. We have also shown that in primates we can put these little balls of new material in the abdominal space of primates and see that they don't form scar tissue which is an important step towards thinking of using them in people."

We may still be years away from the day when achievements in mice and smaller primates are translated into human trials.

But lines of research into cures and automated care are likely to compliment each other in the years to come.

For CRI, this is Huang Shan.

Central Africa Republic to Hold Presidential Election

Voters in the Central African Republic will head to the polls on Sunday to elect the country's next president and legislative body.

The country's acting president Catherine Samba-Panza called for a peaceful election.

"I encourage you all to go out tomorrow in massive numbers and vote calmly, with dignity and peacefully. We all suffered to sow the seeds of this peace that is now starting to sprout. We must consolidate it so that the will of a sovereign people is shown tomorrow and is respected."

The elections are expected to facilitate the country's reconstruction following a civil war that started in 2012.

On Saturday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a "peaceful and credible" election process.

The newly elected government is scheduled to take power by the end of March.

Beijing Sees Less Fireworks Sold during 2016 Spring Festival

Fireworks sales in Beijing during Spring Festival are down significantly compared to previous years.

The number of fireworks outlets in the capital declined by 20 percent compared to last year, and the official permit period for fireworks sales has ended two days earlier than what it did in 2015.

To win the market back, firework makers have tried to develop alternative products made with new chemicals containing fewer heavy metals.

Headline News

Chinese Spend 1.2 Trln Yuan Overseas in 2015

Chinese consumers spent an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan, or about 184 billion U.S. dollars, overseas last year.

Fortune Character, a luxury market consultancy, says over 60 percent of the money was spent on luxury goods.

The 116.8 billion U.S. dollars expenditures on luxury products accounts for 46 percent of the world's total luxury sales.

Lunar New Year Brings Strong Food and Retail Sales

China's Ministry of Commerce says the country's retail and restaurant sectors saw robust sales during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

The ministry says sales in dining and retail reached over 750 billion yuan, or 115 billion US dollars, up 11 percent year on year.

Food, tobacco, alcohol and clothes sold well, while jewelry and digital products saw fast growth in sales. Restaurants saw a robust week, boosted by family dinners.

More Than 10,000 Chinese Computers Hacked in a Year

A cybersecurity firm says more than 10-thousand computers in China were attacked by domestic and overseas hackers between December 2014 and November 2015.

The SkyEye Lab, run by Chinese cybersecurity firm Qihoo 360, says 29 hacker organizations from at home and abroad launched the attacks.

The firm says Beijing, Guangdong and Zhejiang were the most frequently attacked regions.

It adds that scientific research institutions and governmental bodies were the hackers' biggest targets.

Turkey to Host Saudi Warplanes against IS

Saudi Arabian military jets are expected to arrive in Turkey in the next few days to carry out missions against the Islamic State militant group.

The aircraft are likely to be based at the Incirlik air base in Turkey's Adana province. Many U.S. bombers carrying out airstrikes in Syria are also based there.

The number of Saudi warplanes has not been confirmed.

As Syrian government forces have made recent gains on the battlefield, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other nations have voiced readiness to deepen military intervention in Syria.

Spring Airlines Launch Direct Wuhan-Tokyo Flights

Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines on Saturday launched direct flights between Wuhan in central China and Tokyo.

The three-and-a-half-hour flight is available three times a week. The price per ticket is less than 1,000 yuan, or 150 US dollars.

Airfares between China and Japan soared to over 5,000 yuan during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Spring Airlines opened a Wuhan-to-Osaka route in 2014.

Sci&Tech

Sci&Tech Weekly

Anchor

It's time to catch up on the latest from the science and technology sector in our Weekly Sci-Tech feature.

This week we look at some tech savvy travelers finding a new way to avoid the Spring Festival travel rush.

UK scientists are looking into beards for solutions to the looming antibiotic crisis.

And Rio de Janeiro is set to use cloud technology to monitor the upcoming Olympic games.

All the latest with CRI's Wen Jie.

Reporter

An emerging smartphone app is changing the way people travel during the annual Spring Festival holiday.

Some tech savvy travelers are now using the online ride-sharing app "Hitch" to make trips in time for New Year celebrations.

35-year-old Chen Xiao, who works in real estate in Shanghai, is one of the pioneers.

"If I try and buy plane tickets, I can't be guaranteed that I will get a flight on the day I want to leave, and train tickets are really hard to buy, so I decided to drive back. But if I'm driving on my own it's too lonely, so I thought I would try this ride-sharing app and pool some people together."

The app, offered by taxi-hailing service Didi Chuxing, provides an opportunity for people traveling between the same cities to find fellow passengers with whom they can share the journey and the expenses.

During China's peak travel season, almost 2.9 billion trips are estimated to take place during the 40-day period between January 21st and March 3rd.

Many plane tickets are expensive or only have limited availability as a result.

Train tickets are also traditionally booked up well in advance.

Didi spokesperson Wang Mingze says they hope to provide another option for the public.

"We launched this matchmaking function (in order to help us) make this inter-city car sharing service become another (regular) method of transport alongside planes, trains and public transport. We want to be included in this list because for Chinese people getting home at Spring Festival is the most important thing."

It was estimated that by the end of the festival period, more than one million will have pooled their journeys home and back again.

China has launched a new-generation satellite to support and expand its global navigation and positioning network "Beidou."

The satellite was the 21st of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System and the fifth of the new generation.

Once in orbit, the satellite will join its four predecessors in testing inter-satellite crosslinks and a new navigation-signaling system that will set the framework and technical standards to allow a worldwide expansion.

Yang Changfeng is the chief designer of the Beidou system.

"The satellite will further verify our technology of the homegrown inter-satellite crosslink system as well as our global coverage."

Named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation, the Beidou project began in 1994, 16 years after the GPS system was launched.

China plans to expand the Beidou service to most of the countries covered in its "Belt and Road" initiative by 2018, and offer full global coverage by 2020.

Researchers at MIT are developing stretchable hydrogels that share many of the same properties of human tissue, and which are expected to revolutionize the way doctors diagnose and treat patients.

Zhao Xuanhe is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"Hydrogel is a polymer network infiltrated with water. Even though it is only 5 to 10 percent polymer, this network is extremely important."

The polymer network under development is highly stretchable and adheres easily to surfaces.

Most importantly, the network is specifically designed to be compatible with the human body, and the technology could potentially give rise to a new class of biomedical devices.

Zhao says those types of applications could turn an ordinary band-aid into a tool to actively monitor and heal wounds autonomously.

"Once the sensor senses an abnormal increase in temperature, for example, it will send out a command. Then the controlled drug delivery system can deliver a specific drug to that specific location,"

The researchers hope that soon healing everything from a scratch to an ulcer will be as simple as putting on a band-aid.

Researchers at the University College London have found that beards may be a promising solution to the looming crisis of antibiotic resistance.

The discovery came after a separate study to test the theory that most beards contain traces of faeces.

Swab samples were taken from 20 beards, with at least 100 bacteria growths detected.

Dr. Adam Roberts is a microbiologist from UCL.

"So there was a previous study that showed there was a lot of faecal bacteria present in some of the beards analysed, and the press caught this and ran with the headline 'There's more poo in beards than there is in a toilet'. We wanted to either disprove or prove that that was actually correct, and we could find no evidence of that."

Microbiologists subsequently ran tests on all of the isolates that were taken from the beards as part of the research into new antibiotics.

Of about a hundred bacteria isolates taken from 20 beards, around 25 percent of these showed antibiotic activity against their indicator strain.

The team at UCL has been asking members of the public to send in swab samples to his laboratory from places where bacteria might be thriving.

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

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.

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."

The aviation industry has experimented with hydrogen fuel cell technology in the past.

However, big airlines and aircraft makers are yet to adopt it.

Speed is always a key theme for any Olympics.

As for the upcoming Rio games, the need for speed is not just on the track but also in the cloud.

During the games, the new Technology Operations Centre will be monitoring all 144 venues, analyzing and uploading the results and performance of 14,850 athletes, so fans can get information instantly with the swipe of a screen.

Official video cameras monitor all the games and the videos are stored at a central facility for future reference.

Gustavo Nascimento is the Sports Venues Design Manager.

"Our technology centre gathers all the information regarding results and data networks operating at each installation. They process this data and return them to our clients. So we are having a great amount of work testing the lab, testing the installations, all of the optical fibre networks that feed that data leaving the lab from here to there and back."

Every time an athlete performs at the Olympic and Paralympic games the public will have access to a much greater amount of information than in earlier games.

And that wraps up this edition of our weekly science and technology report.

Thank you for listening. I'm Wen Jie. See you next time.

Sports

2-1 Result Hampers United's Chances, Gives Sunderland Hope

Beginning with the latest football action from the Premier League.

A 2-1 result between Sunderland and Manchester United could be the game changer for both teams as they struggle to stay alive and make next season's Champions League.

United manager Louis van Gaal says the defeat has made it very difficult for his side to catch up to the top four teams.

"That is a big disappointment. I cannot say it in another way. Because you prepare this game the whole week and then it's always the big question if you can cope with the tactics or the aggression or some quality of the opponent and you have to show your own ability against that. And as always, for everybody, a question, but today it was very disappointing. Because I think we need to win this game because of the big gap between the top four and we want to be there and now it shall be very difficult."

United are now fifth on the table and six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. All top four teams have a game in hand.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce believes they can survive in the Premier League.

"If the squad could be depleted by four or five key players that would be available for selection and you overcome that injury list and produce a performance like that, it tells me that the squad is united. It's all trying to pull in the right direction, and certainly with a result as big as this one I hope it lifts their confidence brilliantly for the big push to try and get out of the trouble that we're in."

Sunderland are second to last on the table but are only one point away from the relegation zone.

In more Premier League results,

Chelsea thrashed Newcastle 5-1,

Stoke City downed Bournemouth 3-1.

Watford upset Crystal Palace 2-1.

Southampton edged Swansea 1-0.

Coming up,

The top four are playing in pairs.

Leaders Leicester are in London for Arsenal.

and Tottenham are in Manchester for City.

Very quickly in La Liga,

Cristiano Ronaldo bagged two as Real Madrid beat Athletic Club 4-2 to move within a point to leaders Barcelona.

Barca are hosting Celta de Vigo early tomorrow morning.

Juventus Leapfrog Napoli to Go Top of Serie A

And the Serie A has new leaders.

Juventus substitute Simone Zaza's 88th-minute winner lifted them to a 1-0 victory over Napoli.

Juventus extended their winning run to 15 games this season and are on top of the table for the first time this season.

They are one point clear of Napoli on 57 points after 25 matchdays.

Silver and Bronze for Chinese Skaters at ISU Events

In speed skating,

There were no gold medals for Chinese skaters but they did make it onto the podium.

Winter Olympic champion Zhang Hong finished joint third in the second final of women's 500 meter at the ISU World Championships in Kolomna, Russia.

The gold medal went to Zhang's arch rival and world record holder Lee Sang-Hwa.

China's Yu Jing was 7th.

At the World Cup in Dordrecht, the Netherlands,

Guo Yihan came runner-up to Canadian Marianne St-Gelais in women's 15-hunderd meter final.

The other Chinese skater in the final Yin Qi finished fifth.

More Winter Sports Action

In more winter sports,

American skier Mac Bohonnon won the men's event at the FIS Freestyle Aerials World Cup in Moscow.

Bohonnon boosted himself up to eighth place in the championship standings with Ukraine's Oleksandr Abramenko leading the table.

Local heroine Alina Gridneva is the women's winner.

She shoots up to fifth of the championship which is still topped by Ashley Caldwell.

And it is gold for South Korea's Magnus Kim in the Cross Country Free Skiing discipline at the Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

Tennis Results from Buenos Aires, Rotterdam

In tennis,

Rafael Nadal fell to Dominic Thiem in three sets in the semi finals at ATP Buenos Aires.

Thiem moves into the final to face the winner between Nicolas Almagro and David Ferrer.

At the ATP World Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam,

Martin Klizan came back from a set down and saved three match points to get past Nicolas Manhut into the final.

He will meet Gael Monfils who sent off Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.

Golf Results from South Africa, Bangladesh, California

In golf action from the European Tour,

Home favorite Charl Schwartzel is leading the Tshwane Open by one shot going into the final round in Pretoria.

The former US Masters winner shot a round of 4-under 66 to go 9-under overall.

Zander Lombard is close behind with a bogey-free round of 7-under 63.

Overnight leader Anthony Michael had four bogeys to offset his three birdies. It put him in a two-way tie for third place.

Elsewhere,

Thailand's Thitiphun Chuayprakong closed the Bangladesh Open with a 4-under 67 to claim his maiden Asian Tour title by two shots.

On the PGA Tour,

South Korean golfer Sung Kang set a course record at Monterey Peninsula with an 11-under 60 in the second round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Sung fired nine birdies and an eagle to take a share for the lead with Hiroshi Iwata of Japan.

Sung had no idea of the record as he scrambled for par on the last hole.

Some big names are also at Pebble Beach.

Phil Mickelson is tied for third place at 10-under.

Justin Rose is sixth, a further shot down.

Both Patrick Reed and Jason Day are 13th at 6-under.

Jordan Spieth is at three-under.

Ogier Holds off Paddon Challenge, Maintains Lead at WRC Sweden

In motoracing at the WRC,

World champion Sebastien Ogier is leading the field heading into the final day of Rally Sweden.

Ogier extended his lead to 17 seconds under snowy conditions despite challenges from Hayden Paddon who won Super Special 12.

The final leg of the rally has been cut short from four stages to just one due to poor road conditions.

Entertainment

"The Mermaid" Nears 200 Million U.S. Dollars in 5 Days

In the Chinese box office,

After nabbing the crown for biggest single-day gross, "The Mermaid" has grossed a huge 187.3 million U.S. dollars take in just five days, the largest ever in China.

Directed by Stephen Chow, the latest hit comedy soaked with Fusing Chow's typical brand of humor tells a love story and send an environmentalist message.

Starring actor Deng Chao and actresses Lin Yun and Zhang Yuqi, "the Mermaid" has become the must-see movie during the Chinese New Year holiday period.

Paralleling movies during the same period are Chow Yun Fat's comedy caper "The Man From Macau 3" grossing 91.9 million U.S. dollars, and The Monkey King 2 starring Aaron Kwok pulling in 87 million U.S. dollars of its own.

S.M. Entertainment partners with Alibaba Group

S.M. Entertainment announced recently that it has formed a strategic partnership with China's Alibaba Group.

Under the deal, the Chinese e-commerce giant will buy 870,000 of S.M.'s newly issued stocks for 29.8 million U.S. dollars, which means Alibaba will own 4 percent of S.M.'s shares.

Through cooperation, the South Korean entertainment agency will be able to engage in online music distribution, marketing and merchandising in China through Alibaba Music Group.

Founded in July last year, Alibaba Music Group was as part of the Chinese group's attempt to enter the online music industry.

As the home to a huge number of South Korean idol groups, such as EXO, f(X) and Girl's Generation, S.M. Entertainment is one of the biggest record labels in the K-pop industry.

"Transformers" Sequels Set for 2017, 2018 and 2019

Paramount announced Friday that there are at least three transformers movies on the way, with release dates set for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

"For today, in the name of freedom, we take the battle to them."

The studio said that "Transformers 5" would open on June 23, 2017, "Transformers 6" has been slotted for June 8, 2018, and "Transformers 7" has been scheduled for June 28, 2019.

The fifth installment of "Transformers" franchise, still to be directed by Michael Bay, will be co-written by "The Walking Dead" creator Robert Kirkman, and "Iron Man 3" scripters Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.

Mark Wahlberg who starred in the first "Transformers" will return in "Transformers 5", while "Transformers 6" will tell a story of the Bumblebee character from Hasbro's Transformers universe.

Michael Bay has directed the four movies in the "Transformers" franchise, which have grossed a combined 3.7 billion U.S. dollars worldwide.

The first installment of the series "Transformers: Age of Extinction" opened on July 3, 2007.

Kris Wu Joins 2016 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

Chinese-Canadian singer and actor Kris Wu played alongside the Canadian celebrity team in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Saturday in Toronto.

The pop star has showcased his talents on the basketball court, getting 6 points and 7 rebounds.

The game ended at a final score of 74 – 64, with Team Canada clenching the win against Team USA.

As the first Chinese to play on the NBA All-Star court, Wu says it's like a dream come true.

"I am very happy. I'm not playing my best today but I have tried my best. I really appreciate that I get the chance to play on the All-Star court. I hope that I can come again next year and I will make it better."

Team Canada was coached by Grammy-award winning artist Drake, while four-time NBA All-Star Celebrity Game champion Kevin Hart took charge of Team USA.

Also on Team Canada are "Property Brothers" stars Drew and Jonathan Scott, seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, and TV analyst and retired basketball player Rick Fox.

Kris Wu, who rises to fame as the former member of K-pop boyband EXO, has been active in China as an actor and a singer.

Hong Kong Hosts Romantic Rose Garden Installation

Tens of thousands of illuminated roses are forming an impressive backdrop for lovers ahead of this year's Valentine's Day in Hong Kong.

The Light Rose Garden is on a world tour and makes its first overseas stop in Hong Kong.

Originating in South Korea, the "Light Rose Garden" is a public art installation in which a sea of white roses, made with LED lights, glow in the dark.　

The garden is made up of 25,000 waterproof white roses arranged tightly in Hong Kong's landmark Central and Western District Promenade, with 25 roses planted every three square meters.

That’s it for this weekend edition of the Beijing Hour. Our main headline before we go.

Search and rescue efforts coming to an end after the earthquake in southern Taiwan that has left 116 people dead...

Hong Kong's Secretary for Security critisizing the term "Fishball Revolution" as a means to justify the mob violence in Mong Kok...

And conservative bulwark on the US Supreme Court Antonin Scalia has died at the age of 79...

On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, I'm Spencer Musick. Stay tuned for a special edition of Sound of the Week, and join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour, to open a window to the world together.