新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/09/12

RH with you on this Thursday, September 12th, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
China and Kyrgyzstan upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
UN security council meet to discuss Russia's plan on Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.
Four men convicted of the gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi to be sentenced on Friday.
Business
China Power Investments takes minority stake in Malta energy supplier Enemalta Corporation.
Sports
Lin Dan to skip international matches for rest of the year
Entertainments
Spanish games developer creates an old school Game of Thrones console game
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be overcast today, with a high of 27 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will see thundershowers tonight with a low of 19.
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 33 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 25 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 20, and tonight will be clear with a low of 7 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 32.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 31.
And in North America
New York, overcast, with a high of 33 degrees.
Washington, sunny, highs of 34
Houston, overcast, 33.
Honolulu, moderate rain, 31.
Toronto, thundershowers, 32
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, overcast, 29.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 28 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China, Kyrgyzstan lift ties to strategic partnership
 
China and Kyrgyzstan has vowed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
It comes after visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambaev Wednesday in Bishkek.
CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.
Xi Jingping says the move marks a new milestone in bilateral relations and bears profound significance.
"It fully affirms the development of bilateral relations in the past, and also sets a new goal for future bilateral ties. Both sides should regard it as a new starting point for enhancing political mutual trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and bringing more benefits to the two peoples"
For his part, Atambaev says China is a great neighbor and reliable friend.
He also agrees that the two sides should accelerate cooperation projects.
"We have several major projects , for example the China-Central Asia gas pipeline which links China and Kyrgyzstan, the construction of highways in northern and southern Kyrgyzstan. All these projects will further boost bilateral cooperation in a practical way. "
Atambaev also says his country will work with China to enhance coordination on security, law-enforcement and defense to jointly combat terrorism.
The two countries also inked a raft of cooperation deals on trade and economy, energy, investment, financing and medicine.
Xi Jingping also met with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev, and pledged to boost trade between China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Central Asian country.
Kyrgyzstan is the last stop of Xi Jinping's ongoing foreign visit, which has taken him to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The president is due to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek.
For CRI, this is Marc Cavigli.
 
 
2013 Summer Davos opens in Dalian
 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says the country's economy has entered a crucial stage of transformation.
The premier made the remarks at the opening ceremony of this year's Summer Davos forum.
"China needs to rely on reforms to ensure the long-term, sustainable and healthy development of its economy. A comprehensive reform must include the economic system, among which reform in the financial area is a crucial part. It's a complicated project."
Klaus Schwab is the founder and executive chair of the World Economic Forum.
"Not only in China, but everywhere in the world, we must transform our economies, to make some more environmentally sustainable, and more socially inclusive. Given the pace of technological development and progress, innovation becomes the key driver of the economy and social progress."
The forum kicked off in the port city of Dalian Wednesday.
The theme of this year's forum is "meeting the innovation imperative".
Discussions will focus on issues ranging from sustainable growth to energy security.
More than 15-hundred delegates from 90 different countries and regions are taking part in the three-day forum.
The event runs through Friday.
 
 
UN Security Council permanent members meet closed doors for key resolution
 
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are now meeting in New York to discuss Russia's plan on Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.
The proposal involves Syria handing over its chemical weapons stockpiles to international control and their ultimate destruction.
Earlier, the proposal led US President Obama to put military action against Syria on hold to give time for a diplomatic path.
Obama has also sent US Secretary of State John Kerry to Geneva to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Russian proposal.
As tense negotiations go on at the Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on members to avoid yet another "collective failure" on Syria.
"Our collective failure to prevent atrocity crimes in Syria over the past two and a half years will remain a heavy burden on the standing of the United Nations and its Member States. I hope that the current discussions related to safeguarding Syria's chemical weapon stocks will lead to the Security Council playing an effective role in promoting an end to the Syrian tragedy."
Here in China, the Chinese government has reiterated its support for the security council to act with consensus on Syria.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.
"We are willing to keep in contact with all of the relevant parties over the next action the UN Security Council should take. In the meantime, we believe the action the Security Council must be based on consensus after full discussion, and should be conducive to easing the tension in Syria."
Meantime, the UN Commission of Inquiry has in its latest report attributed seven massacres in Syria to the government and one to the rebels.
The report also states that torture and rape are widespread and war crimes are being committed on both sides.
In other developments concerning Syria,
The first batch of 5-thousand Syrian refugees have now arrived in Germany as the Europrean economic powerhosue steps in to help relieve the Syrian refugee crisis.
And France has insisted military action remains an option even if Russia and the US negotiate on the Russian proposal.
 
 
re-run(BJH/report) Q&A with Qu Xing on the situation in Syria
 
For more situation in Syria, we spoke earlier to Qu Xing, Director of the China Institute of International Studies.
[0912 callin with Quxing]
Qu Xing, Director of the China Institute of International Studies,speaking with CRI's Paul James.
 
 
Obama Says Force alone Cannot Build the World US Seeks
 
Anchor
Wednesday marked the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, with U.S president Barack Obama saying force alone cannot build the world the U.S seeks.
CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.
Reporter
At 8:46 on the morning of September 11th, hundreds of people gathered at the site of the fallen World Trade Center towers and paused in silence to mark the September 11th terror attacks.
Ilia Rodriguez, who lost her son Carlos Rey Lillo during the attack, was still grief stricken as she made her way to the memorial.　
"I feel the same pain. That's pain. When you lose a son that never goes away and I feel the same. I have to come every year here because we don't found him."
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., US President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and their wives paused in silence outside the White House to commemorate the 9/11 victims.
In the Pentagon where one of the hijacked passenger planes crashed, Obama laid a wreath and spoke to some of the family members of the 184 people who died there.
"Our hearts still ache for the futures snatched away, the lives that might have been -- the parents who would have known the joy of being grandparents, the fathers and mothers who would have known the pride of a child's graduation, the sons and daughters who would have grown, maybe married and been blessed with children of their own."
The al-Qaida-lead terror attacks 12-years ago killed almost 3,000 people.
The U.S responded to the attacks by launching more than a decade of war on terror in the world.
It has spent hundreds of billions of dollars in these wars, however, despite the effort, the world still sees increasing terror attacks.
The death toll of American soldiers in the war has far exceeded that of 9/11 victims.
Obama has said that force alone cannot build the world US seeks.
"Let us have the wisdom to know that while force is at times necessary, force alone cannot build the world we seek. So we recommit to the partnerships and progress that builds mutual respect and deepens trust and allows more people to live in dignity, prosperity and freedom."
In addition to the commemorative activities, the U.S government also took security measures ahead of the 9/11 anniversary.
For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.
 
 
Sentences will come Friday in Indian bus gang rape case
 
It's been announced that the four men convicted in the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on a New Delhi bus will be sentenced on Friday.
The men were convicted of gang rape and murder of the victim on Tuesday, and will now face either life imprisonment or death by hanging.
The victim's parents and even some Indian top political leaders have been demanding the men be sentenced to death.
However, defence lawyers are insisting that any confessions were coerced by police torture.
India's Supreme Court has ruled that the death penalty should only be used in "the rarest of rare cases", though what defines those cases remains highly debated.
Over 100 people are sentenced to death in India in most years, but the vast majority of those cases are eventually commuted to life in prison.
 
 
Roof-top gardening in Beijing
 
Anchor
Despite the recent move by authorities here in Beijing to dismantle a roof-top oasis, the push is still on to create garden-like settings atop this city's ever-growing high-rise landscape.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter
Every morning, Zhang Guichun starts his day taking care of the vegetables and plants growing in his rooftop garden.
Zhang says his 80-square-meters of rooftop is home to some 30 varieties of vegetables and fruits, including pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet bell peppers and melons.
"This is my hanging garden. Look, this is my small world. I want to have all kinds of vegetables around my garden, and that would be really attractive."
Zhang started planting vegetables in 2007 on the roof of his two-floor courtyard home, which is two miles away from the Temple of Heaven in southern Beijing.
Still, as rooftop gardening gets more popular in the city, some commercial buildings are also joining the green-thumb revolution.
Hongqiao Pearl Market is one of the most famous tourist markets in southern Beijing, and the building managers are turning their rooftop into a garden. Plants and flowers are grown on the rooftop garden, which is open to tourists and customers of the market.
Tan Tianying is the head of Beijing's Rooftop Landscaping Association.
Established in 2006, the semi-governmental organization provides technical training for people who are interested in rooftop gardening and drafts regulations that can promote the hobby.
Tan believes rooftop gardening is an effective weapon to protect Beijing's worsening environment:
"As the urbanization and industrialization goes faster, cities get more polluted and warmer. Rooftop landscaping is part of efforts to protect the environment in cities and it is an efficient measure to curb the worsening environment."
However, his association faces big difficulties in promoting the idea.
Major doubts about rooftop gardens range from a lack of horticultural knowledge to safety fears. Tan says:
"We often have people come to us and ask what if there is water leakage, what if these vegetables can't survive on rooftops, what about safety problems, and so on. We've faced all kinds of doubts since the very beginning, and the skepticism remains even now."
Statistics from the association says Beijing has 1.3 million square meters of "green roofs," with some of the area employed for growing produce and other areas for purely ornamental purposes. However the percentage is still too low.　
City planners in Beijing hope to increase the green rooftop area by 10 percent every year.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 up for a seventh straight day.
Market nervousness eased as U.S. President Barack Obama, said a Russian offer to pressure Syria to place its chemical weapons under international control raised the chances of putting off a strike.
In a nationally televised speech on Tuesday night, the president asked congressional leaders to delay a vote on authorizing military force to give the diplomatic efforts a chance.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9 percent.
The S&P 500 was up 0. 3 percent.
The Nasdaq composite index ended slightly lower on a sell-off of Apple shares.
In Canada, the S&P/TSX closed flat.
European stocks ended at a more than five-year high on Wednesday as the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped in the U.K.
Utility firms posted some of the biggest gains in Germany, with shares of RWE AG up 6.6 percent.
Shares of Alstom dropped 1.4 percent in Paris after Credit Suisse cut the infrastructure and power-generation firm to underperform from neutral.
As such,
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 rose 0.1 percent.
France's CAC 40 index closed 0.1 percent higher while Germany's DAX rose 0.6 percent.
 
 
Call-In Solar Panel Deal
 
Anchor
China Power Investments is to take a minority stake in Malta energy supplier Enemalta Corporation.
The move will allow the state-owned enterprise to gain a firm foothold in the solar panel market in the EU.
The deal follows the recent trade dispute between China and the EU, whereby the EU accused Chinese producers of benefiting from unfair state aid.
The dispute was resolved last month when the two sides agreed on a minimum price for panels from China.
The new deal will reportedly see China Power Investment inject 200 million euros into the Maltese photo-voltaic producer, which is currently suffering from a 800 million euro debt burden.
Joining me on the line is Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.
1.What are the attractions of Enemalta, why chose this company to invest in over other solar panel producers?
- could it be the monopoly over Malta's electricity supply?
2.What is China Power's future strategy likely to look like in terms of the solar panel industry?
3.What are the prospects for growth in this sector? What makes the EU a market to focus on?
Back Anchor
That was Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.
 
 
Apple releases cheaper, colourful iPhone in effort to boost sales in China
 
Apple has included China, its second largest market, in its new product launch almost synchronized with the release in the US for the first time.
Phil Schiller is the Senior VP for the tech company.
"This is the first time we've launched an iPhone at the start as the other countries in China, and we are so proud of the work that the team's done, here in the U.S and in China, to make that possible."
Advance orders for the cheaper iPhone 5C and the high-end iPhone 5S begin on Friday.
Both versions will be available a week later, including the U.S, China and France.
However responses for the new devices are mixed.
"I am quite looking forward to the new iPhones, especially the covers. You know the cover for the iPhone 5 was not very good, and I heard this time they've got colourful covers ready for customers to choose from. I have huge expectations for that."
"To be frank, I don't see too many changes with Apple phones, so I won't be crazy about it. You know there is little difference between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4, and you can see there is not much difference between the new designs and the old ones. To me, the most important thing for a smartphone is it has to be easy and comfortable to use."
The high-end iPhone 5S has a fingerprint-recognition system that lets you unlock phones without fumbling out a four-digit code.
It also has a faster 64-bit processor which could handle more data simultaneously.
 
 
EC president Barroso urges progress on banking union in annual speech
 
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is urging for a swift formation and implementation of the region's banking union.
"It is the way to ensure that taxpayers are no longer the ones in the front line for paying the price of bank failure. It is the way to make progress in decoupling bank from sovereign risk. It is the way to remedy one of the most alarming and unacceptable results of the crisis: increased fragmentation of Europe's financial sector and credit market. And it is also the way to help restoring normal lending to the economy, notably to SMEs."
Meanwhile, Barroso has added that a functioning Banking Union would help stabilize the financial market thus enabling the 28-nation bloc to achieve the goal of growth.
"Ultimately, this is about one thing: growth, which is necessary to remedy today's most pressing problem: unemployment."
The EU executives are expected to vote on Thursday regarding the legislation set-up of the banking union.
 
 
UK jobless drops to lowest since late 2012
 
Britain saw its unemployment rate decline to 7.7 percent in July, the lowest level in almost a year.
Meanwhile, the number of people applying for jobless benefit last month has seen a bigger decrease.
Around 33-thousand people left the waiting line for unemployment benefit in August.
A revised reading for July's jobless benefit also shows a drop of more than 36 thousand, marking the largest slip in about six years.
Bank of England is hinging its key interest rate maneuver on the unemployment situation.
The current borrowing costs will continue as long as the rate remains above 7-percent.
The new chief of BOE Mark Carney is predicting the country needs to create around 750 thousand jobs to achieve the below 7 percent jobless rate in the next three years.
 
 
Taobao.com to auction aircraft today
 
Taobao, China's most active e-commerce platform, is holding an aircraft auction.
The shopping platform is offering six aircrafts to online shoppers starting at 10 O'clock this morning.
The news comes as China plans to open low-altitude airspace for private planes.
The line-up includes 3 helicopters and two light sports aircraft which are brand new, as well as another second-hand helicopter.
Bidding starts as low as 1-yuan for one of the helicopters.
While starting bids for the Eurocopter will range from 1 million to 17 million yuan.
Bidders have to give a security deposit to join the sale which lasts until next Monday.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to increase their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership
 
China and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to increase their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almaz/bek Atam/baev have signed-off on the joint declaration in the Kyrzyg capital Bishkek.
The two sides have also signed off on agreements connected to electricity, energy, transportation, agriculture and border cooperation.
Xi Jingping is in Kyrgyzstan as part of the last leg of his current trip to central Asia.
He's due to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization before returning to China.
 
 
2013 Summer Davos opens in Dalian
 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says the country's economy has entered a crucial stage of transformation.
The premier made the remarks at the opening ceremony of this year's Summer Davos forum.
Li Keqiang says China needs to rely on reforms to ensure the long-term, sustainable and healthy development of its economy.
The premier stresses that a comprehensive reform must include the economic system, among which reform in the financial area is a crucial part.
The forum kicked off in the port city of Dalian Wednesday, and will run through Friday.
 
 
China reiterates Huangyan Islands sovereignty
 
The Chinese government has issued a new statement, re-issuing its claim of undisputed sovereignty over the Huangyan Islands and neighboring areas in the South China Sea.
The Chinese foreign ministry is calling on the Philippines not to stir up new trouble.
It is also calling on the Philppines to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The Philippines is accusing the Chinese government of setting up concrete foundations on Huangyan Island.
 
 
UN Security Council permanent members meet closed doors for key resolution
 
The five permanent members of the UN security council are now meeting in New York to discuss Russia's plan on Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.
The proposal involves Syria handing over its chemical weapons stockpiles to international control and their ultimate destruction.
Earlier, the proposal led US President Obama to put military action against Syria on hold to give time for a diplomatic path.
Obama has also sent US Secretary of State John Kerry to Geneva to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Russian proposal.
Here in China, the Chinese government has reiterated its support for the security council to act with consensus on Syria.
Meantime, the UN Commission of Inquiry has in its latest report attributed seven massacres in Syria to the government and one to the rebels.
The report also states that torture and rape are widespread and war crimes are being committed on both sides.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Beijing News
Taiwan's ruling party expels legislator over lobbying scandal
Summary:
Taiwan's Kuomintang party is to expel Wang Jin-ping, head of the island's legislative body, for his alleged involvement in a lobbying scandal.
Wang denied the accusations and said he would appeal the decision through proper channels.
Beijing Times
Chinese Academy of Sciences denies railway corruption link
Summary:
The Academic Division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) say they have not received complaints charging its members for taking bribes from Zhang Shuguang, a former railway official who was seeking membership.
Zhang stood trial on Tuesday for taking bribes.
The CAS has launched a judicial investigation on the issue, through which any CAS member found to have received money will be severely punished.
South China Metropolitan Daily
Warehouse blast death toll hits 8
Summary:
The death toll from a warehouse blast in Guangzhou rises to eight.
An initial investigation has confirmed a container truck exploded while workers were unloading revolving chambers filled with gunpowder for toy pistols, which is banned in China.
Goods in the warehouse caught fire after the explosion.
Three people have been detained, including a Jordanian citizen, the owner of the goods.
Shanghai Daily
Recovery adds to fortunes on the mainland
Summary:
The richest people on China's mainland see their average wealth soar this year as the nation's economic situation improves.
The number of dollar billionaires hits a record high, a total of 315 individuals— 64 more than in 2012 when 469 of the top 1,000 saw their wealth shrink.
China Daily
Beijing reduces holiday gardens for Tian'anmen
Summary:
Visitors to Beijing's Tian'anmen Square on National Day this year will see smaller and simpler parterres because of the government's frugality campaign.
The decorations have been a major tourist attraction in the past.
Global Times
153 cities join China's 7th annual 'No Car Day' drive
Summary:
Over 150 cities in the country have joined the "No Car Day" campaign on September 22nd.
The campaign calls for more people to choose public transportation or resort to walking and biking for short-distance commutes. The move aims to promote the idea of "green transportation," reducing air pollution and cutting energy consumption.
Guangzhou Daily
ID for delivery in Guangdong
Summary:
Identification will be needed when customers send or receive packages in Huizhou and Zhuhai of Guangdong Province.
This is part of a system to crack down on drug trafficking through express delivery services.
Provided the project is successful in pilot areas, the real-name registration system is to be implemented all over the province next year, making it the third province for such regulations, following Zhejiang and Yunnan.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Lin Dan to skip international matches for rest of year
 
Firstly a look at the National Games in Liaoning.
Most competitions wrapped up Wedesday.
Badminton superstar Lin Dan announced he would skip all international events on the 2013 calendar after winning his third straight National Games singles title .
Lin said he no longer needs to prove himself through competitions.
In swimming action,
Olympic and world champion Sun Yang won the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final to cap his National Games campaign with five gold medals and a bronze.
Shanghai's 15-year-old Chen Xinyi was in awesome form as she timed 24.61 seconds in the 50m free, which ranked ninth in the world the year.
Chen also won the 100m free and 4X100m medley and freestyle relays.
Shanghai won the women's medley relay and the men's medley relay title was claimed by Zhejiang.
Team Guangdong won three relay gold medals in the men's 4X100 meters, in the men's 4X400m relay and in the women's 4X400m relay.
Women's 4X100m was the only relay event that slipped from team Guangdong. Jiangsu, runners-up in the last Games, clinched the gold.
Fujian's Xie Limei claimed the title in the women's triple jump event and Jiangsu's Wu Jian recorded 60.98 meters to top the men's discus event.
Shandong still leads the medals table with 64 golds, while the hosts Liaoning are on 53 just ahead of Guangdong on 45.5.
 
 
Men's basketball final
 
In mens basketball,
Liaoning will face Guangdong in the final on the last day of the 12th National Games.
CRI's Jordan Lee is in Shenyang with more.
Reporter:
The two basketball teams that made it through to today's final both have players with NBA experience.
In yesterday's first semifinal, home favorites Liaoning posted a sturdy win over Jiangsu, 100-81.
One of Liaoning's key advantages came in the form of 6 foot 10 center Mengke Bateer, who gave his team a boost through his aggressive low post moves.
Bateer has been called a Chinese Goliath, and in 2003 became the first Chinese player to win an NBA championship.
His stints playing for the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets set him in a class above the rest of the Chinese players who have only played at the national level.
Although hailing from Inner Mongolia, Bateer has represented Liaoning in the last three national games since his home province does not have a mens basketball team.
Another former NBA player Yi Jianlian contributed 9 points to help his Guangdong team along to victory in the night's second semifinal.
It was a lower scoring game, but Guangdong still managed a double-digit win over Shandong, 86-61.
Yi's NBA resume includes time spent time with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets, the Wizards, and the Dallas Mavericks.
Players like Bateer and Yi have helped the CBA develop by bringing their NBA experiences back to Chinese teams.
Yi is currently playing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, and Bateer is with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
Many CBA teams also currently have foreign import players on their rosters, who are bringing a different dimension of play to the Chinese league.
However, Tom Maher, the head coach for the womens national team, says that foreign import players are only an asset when they fit well with the team.
"It needs to be the right person, just because somebody's a big star, if they're not a good person, it doesn't help. If they're a good person and a star, that's fine. You get a bad person, who's a bad person, it destroys your team."
Chinese basketball fans still hold the NBA up as the purest form of basketball, but many are starting to appreciate the CBA as well.
"I think the CBA is now as exciting as the NBA. But the NBA is still the global influence. Asians still think the NBA is better."
The mens basketball final will take place later today as the 12th National Games officially comes to a close.
For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee
 
 
Rafael Nadal plans to play a part in Spain's Davis Cup match against Ukraine
 
US Open Champion Rafael Nadal has arrived back in Spain and is expecting to play a part in this weekend's Davis Cup tie against Ukraine.
　　
Nadal will try to help guarantee Spain's place amongst the Davis Cup elite at their World Group playoff against Ukraine which starts on Friday.
Speaking to the Spanish media Nadal explained he felt good for the upcoming match
"I've just said it. (I feel) well. I've got good feelings. What do you want me to say after having winning three tournaments in a row? My feelings couldn't be better. We change the surface in a short time and I have just made a big effort but I'm going to do whatever I can to help the team. If it is on Friday it would be on Friday, if it is on Saturday, on Saturday it would be, if it is on Sunday, on Sunday. I'm going to try to help with everything within my capabilities."
Nadal has not played in the Davis Cup since the 2011 final.
 
 
Gareth Bale trains with Real Madrid for the first time
 
Gareth Bale has been training with Real Madrid for the first time since completing his world record transfer to Santiago Bernabeu.
Bale was met at the club's Valdebebas training centre by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Welsh international replaces Ronaldo as the world's most expensive transfer after signing from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record fee of 100 million euros, 132 million US dollars.
The 24-year-old could make his Real debut when the club visits Villarreal in the Spanish Primera Liga on Saturday.
However at the moment Wales coach Chris Coleman says Bale is not fit enough to last a full match and it would be "dangerous" to make him play 90-minutes.
 
 
Giovanni Trapattoni stands down as Republic of Ireland manager
 
In football news
Giovanni Trapattoni has left his post as Ireland's team manager following his side's World Cup qualifying defeats against Sweden and Austria in the past week.
According to the Football Association of Ireland, or FAI, the 74-year-old Italian left by mutual consent.
Ireland had been on course to claim a playoff spot for next year's World Cup in Brazil, but defeats in their last two Group C games left them in fourth place with two games left.
Although qualification for the finals is still possible, Ireland are almost certain to miss out on securing a berth for next summer's tournament.
The FAI board will meet soon to consider a replacement with former Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill currently the favorite to succeed Trapattoni.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Spanish Game Developer Creates Old School Game of Thrones Game
 
Spanish game developer Abel Alvarez Rejo has released an 8-bit, 2D side-scrolling video game version of HBO's popular TV series Game of Thrones.
(game of thrones clip)
The Mario-like platformer challenges players to navigate through enemies and obstacles in various locations throughout the fictional continent of Westeros.
Gamers can play as several characters including Danerys Targaryen and Jon Snow whose direwolf Ghost can also be used to attack enemies.
The show the game is based off of is an adaptation of the popular Song of Ice and Fire novels by author George RR Martin.
Martin's books have spawned a plethora of fan made projects.
Players of the creative game Minecraft have constructed massive structures inspired by the kingdoms, castles, and keeps described by Martin in his books.
 
 
Taylor Swift and J Lo collaboration??? Am I dreaming?!!!
 
Pop sensation Taylor Swift has stifled rumors she and Jennifer Lopez would be collaborating on an upcoming project.
(taylor clip)
Rumors began swirling the two would perform a duet after Lopez appeared at a Swift performance and the pair sang Lopez's song Jenny from the Block.
However, in an interview Swift settled the excitement saying they haven't spoken about collaborating together beyond the one-off performance.
Though the star maintains she and Lopez are good friends she says fans shouldn't expect a collaboration any time soon.
 
 
JJ Abrams Talks Star Trek Rumors
 
Filmmaker JJ Abrams has touched on rumors Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt will take over the reigns and direct the next Star Trek installment.
(star trek trailer)
Though there has been no official word it is believed Abrams will not be returning to the commander's chair for the next Star Trek as he is busy at work with Disney's Star Wars Episode 7.
Abrams commended Wyatt as incredibly talented though admitted right now they're more focused on the fundamentals of the next Star Trek film including its story.
Though he says it's too early to reveal anything he did admit fans can be assured many exciting ideas are being tossed around.
Abrams also revealed he plans to stay on as a producer of the next Star Trek film and be involved in its story.
 
 
Disney Delays New Pirates Film
 
Disney is in the middle of majorly reshuffling its future summer blockbuster schedule.
Yesterday they shifted the new superhero movie Ant Man from winter 2015 to summer 2015, and today they announced a schedule change for the next Pirates of the Caribbean film.
(pirates trailer)
The fifth installment to the franchise Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has been removed from the release calendar completely.
Rumors suggest it will release in summer 2016.
The film has reportedly been delayed beyond its intended summer 2015 release with its production start date being pushed back indefinitely as well.
The main reason for the delay points to script troubles.
Many believe Disney wants to be sure they have a hit this time and not another flop like this summer's Lone Ranger film.
Others point out Disney's 2015 summer is already jam packed with the newly rescheduled Ant Man, Joss Whedon's The Avengers: Age of Ultron, JJ Abrams' Star Wars Episode VII, and Pixar's Inside Out.
So far Captain Jack Sparrow actor Johnny Depp is the only actor attached to the new Pirates film.
 
 
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
China and Kyrgyzstan upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
UN security council meet to discuss Russia's plan on Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.
Four men convicted of the gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi to be sentenced on Friday.
Business
China Power Investments takes minority stake in Malta energy supplier Enemalta Corporation.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour team, I'm Rebecca Hume in Beijing, hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together!