Rescuers have so far recovered the bodies of 70 workers following a gas blast in a coal mine in Shanxi Province.
As of last night, at least 26 miners are still trapped underground.
The mine is located in Hongtong county in Linfen.
Illegal mining and delays reporting the accident are blamed for the high death toll.
Rescue officials believe the colliery managers delayed reporting the accident as they were trying to conduct the rescue operation themselves.
Police have detained the head of the mining company.
Bali: UN Climate Change Conference
The United Nations Climate Change Conference began this week in Bali, Indonesia.
More than 200 leading climate scientists warned of the need to act now to cut greenhouse gases.
The 'Bali Climate Declaration by Scientists' says the world may have as little as 10 years to start reversing the global rise in emissions.
The two-week conference brings together representatives of over 180 countries. Next week world leaders will participate in the Meeting of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol.
China: The Chinese man for Western women
Want to know what kind of Chinese man Western women want to marry?
In a survey, 108 Western women living in Shanghai were asked to rank Chinese male professionals they would want to marry.
The women were shown pictures of 18 Chinese men including Jackie Chan, Lust/Caution’s Tony Leung, and director Wong Kar-wai.
Hong Kong pop star and actor Andy Lau came on top followed by kungfu star Jet Li.
Takeshi Kaneshiro, who is half-Japanese, was ranked first in terms of looks, while popular TV actor Li Yapeng was considered the least handsome because of his long hair.
Olympic: Capital Indoor Stadium Ready For Games
For many Chinese, the women’s volleyball team win the gold medal was an unforgettable moment at the Athens Olympics. And Beijing National Stadium will be the place where they'll defend the title next year. China Daily reporter Fang Xuan has more from the venue.
"This is Fang Xuan at the Olympic venues. Here is the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium, a renovated venue for the volleyball events of the 2008 Olympic Games.“
Built in late 1960’s, it was China’s biggest stadium for 40 years. It seats about 17,000 people.
Prepared for the Games, the stadium underwent a year and a half of renovations. Although the exterior was left relatively untouched, much work was done inside.
The wooden floors were replaced with those hard enough to withstand the pounding of basketball and volleyball players. Imported from overseas, the wooden floors meet the strict standards of the National Basketball Association.
“When needed, the wooden floor can be moved away through mechanical system to make room for an ice ground for figure skating and ice hockey. “
The capital indoor stadium has witnessed many of the exhilarating victories in China’s sports history.
It was where China’s top figure skating pair, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo captured the World Grand Prix final gold in 2004 and where China’s badminton team won the Sudiman Cup for the first time at home in 2005.
And it may be the place where Chinese women’s national team defends its Olympic gold next year. “
Beijing: Chinese Singing Contest For Expats
For many foreigners, Chinese is a difficult language to learn.
But through hard work and lots of practice, some have become very fluent.
And one of the best ways to learn is through singing.
Over 200 overseas students competed in a singing contest called “Coming to China Cup”. And last weekend, 16 of them made it to the finals.
It was held at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing.
Students from 35 countries including the United States, Africa, Korea, UK and Russia performed in front of an enthusiastic audience.
The contestants performed all kinds of music, from Mandopop to ethnic minority folk songs.
They were judged for their Chinese pronunciation as well as their performance.
One of the cohosts was Francis Tchiegue. He has lived in China for four years and enjoys speaking Putonghua very much.
The competition is a way to encourage foreigners to embrace Chinese culture. And with the number of people who took part in the event, it’s evident people from overseas are keen to learn more about China.
（英語點(diǎn)津 Celene 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
Brendan is an Australian who has been involved in education and writing for over a decade. He has been published most recently for the Tiger Airways Inflight magazine, The Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times and Japan's Hiroshima Outside Magazine. He holds a Masters Degree in Community Development and Management and has resided in China for over 3 years.
Brendan is an Australian who has been involved in education and writing for over a decade. He has been published most recently for the Tiger Airways Inflight magazine, The Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times and Japan's Hiroshima Outside Magazine. He holds a Masters Degree in Community Development and Management and has resided in China for over 3 years.