新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/09/21

 

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 

RH with you on this Monday, September 23rd, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Death toll in Nairobi mall attack rises to 68
China and Venezuela pledge to seek a stronger strategic partnership.
Angela Merkel wins the German general election
Business
Hong Kong poised to withdraw restrictions on milk powder exports to the mainland
Sports
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel wins at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Entertainments
UK folk band Mumford and Sons announced an indefinite hiatus.
Plus
Special reports looks at why a European internet domain name registry is to start selling fully-Chinese domain names.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Top News
 
 
Death toll in Nairobi mall attack rises to 68
 
Death toll in the Kenyan capital from the deadly shopping mall attack has soared to 68.
Nine more bodies have been recovered in Nairobi's Westgate mall.
Another 175 people are reported to be wounded, with a number of hostages still inside the shopping centre.
However, a Kenya Defense Forces spokesman says most of the hostages have now been rescued.
Security forces are reported to be in control of most parts of the building.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke to the media saying he shared in the grief of the nation.
"As your president, and as a leader, and also as a Kenyan, I feel the pain of every life we have lost and share your grief at our nation's loss. My nephew and his fiancee were amongst those who died in this attack. These are young, lovely people I personally knew and loved."
The shopping mall is located quite near to the UN headquarters in Africa, where over a thousand UN staff work.
Earlier UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condenmed the attack.
"I condemn in the strongest terms yesterday's terrorist attacks at Nairobi's Westgate mall. This premeditated act, targeting defenceless civilians is totally reprehensible. The perpetrators must be brought to justice as soon as possible."
Victims of the attack are confirmed to be of various nationalities.
So far, three Briton's are confirmed dead.
With French, Ghanaian, Dutch, South African, Indian and Canadian nationals also among the victims.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confrimed that one Chinese national was killed and another injured in the attacks.
A Ministry spokesperson has said that China would continue its staunch support for Kenya's efforts to safeguard national security and regional stability.
The attacks were carried out by Somali militant group Al-Shabab, who say the attacks are in retaliation to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.
 
 
Typhoon Usagi kills three people in Guangdong
 
Anchor
At least three people have been killed as typhoon Usagi, the strongest of the year, made landfall in south China's Guangdong Province on Sunday evening.
CRI's Hu Jia has more.
Reporter
Usagi, the 19th typhoon to hit China this year, has made landfall in south China's Guangdong Province.
It has passed Shanwei city in the province, where over 1,200 local residents have been evacuated ahead of the onslaught.
Four of the six power generating units at the Guangdong Dayawan nuclear power base have been ordered to operate at a reduced load.
Intercity trains between Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai have been suspended.
Distant high-speed lines to Beijing and some other cities will be suspended until Tuesday.
Education authorities in 14 cities have ordered schools to suspend classes.
Also on Sunday, major Chinese airlines canceled flights to cities in Guangdong and neighboring Fujian provinces as well as to Hong Kong and Macao as a precautionary measure.
Hailey Harrison is a passenger from Manchester, England, who is now stranded at the Hong Kong International Airport.
"I should have been flying tonight, at midnight. Now, with the weather, it's obviously cancelled, so I can't fly until tomorrow morning. So my flight is not cancelled, it's delayed at the moment, but then I should have been getting on a connecting flight to Dubai back to England, and when I get to Dubai, that flight has left already, so my next flight is Tuesday morning, so I won't get home until Tuesday afternoon, so I'm travelling for two days."
In Fujian, local government has warned that sea storm tides would threaten coastal embankments as the typhoon coincides with astronomical tide.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas in the province.
The flood control headquarters has ordered reinforced patrols so that emergency repairs can be made to prevent embankment breaches.
For CRI, I am Hu Jia.
 
 
China and Venezuela pledge to seek a stronger strategic partnership.
 
Anchor
China and Venezuela have pledged to seek a stronger strategic partnership.
The pledge came out of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro here in Beijing on Sunday.
CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.
Reporter
During the welcome ceremony, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Venezuela was an important country in Latin America.
He also reviewed the sound development of China-Venezuela relations.
Xi Jinping has stressed that China-Venezuela relations are now connecting the past and the future.
"Here I would like to express my warm welcome to your visit in China. President Maduro is a good friend of China and your visit will surely promote the bilateral relationships into a new direction."
It is President Maduro's first state visit to China since taking office.
Maduro called on the two countries to deepen friendly relations and bring their strategic partnership to a new high.
"One of the prior aims of my visit to China is to further boost and broaden our strategic partnerships. The relationships between China and Venezuela have been vigorously developed under a friendly, sincere and mutually benefited principal. And our cooperation with China has also helped to boost our economic progress."
After the talks, Xi and Maduro witnessed the signing of a series of agreements on financing, culture, education and training.
The two sides also announced the cooperation of exploring a new oil field inside Venezuela.
Currently, the trade volume between China and Venezuela has reached over 23 billion US dollars.
China is the second largest trade partner for Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is China's fourth largest trade partner and fourth leading source of raw oil in Latin America.
Felix Arellano, a Venezuelan commentator says there is a bright future for cooperation between the two countries.
"China is an emerging major economy and plays important roles in the international community. China balances and reconciles international issues such as those concerning North Korea. China also plays important roles in the United Nations, making us see the bright future of cooperation."
Maduro's visit will last till Tuesday.
For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.
 
 
China's FM meets UN chief on Syria, development
 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged the international community to reach a consensus as soon as possible over the use of chemical weapons issue in Syria.
The top Chinese diplomat said China supports the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to carry out its work in an objective, fair and professional manner.
He also stressed that China is willing to send experts to join the process of inspecting and destroying Syria's chemical weapons.
Wang Yi made the remarks while meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York.
 
 
Angela Merkel wins German election
 
Angela Merkel is celebrating winning her third term as German Chancellor, after exit polls show that her conservative party has triumphed in the country's general election.
The Conservatives have taken around 42-percent of the vote, enough to win the first single-party majority in more than 50-years.
The Liberal Free Democrats, Merkel's preferred partners, have won only 4.7-percent.
It means Merkel is likely to form a coalition with arch rivals the Social Democrats, who are estimated to have won 26-percent of the vote.
Merkel, who has been Germans chancellor since 2005, said it was too early to say exactly how they would form the government.
"Together we will do everything to make sure those are successful years. For now we will wait for the election result, it is too early to say exactly how we will proceed, we will discuss everything tomorrow in our party leadership when we know the exact result of the elections. But to celebrate - that we can do today already, because we have done super!"
Social Democrat party leader, Peer Steinbrueck said he would not serve in Merkel's coalition this time around.
Previously he served as finance minister.
Merkel's Conservative Union bloc only managed to win 36-percent in Germany's last election in 2009.
The Union's stronger foothold in the results has been seen as a personal victory for Merkel, solidifying her position as Europe's strongest political leader.
For more on the German election and protential policy change in the economic front,
CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King earlier spoke to Dr Fabian Zuleeg, Chief economist at the European Policy Centre, based in Brussels.
(PIK callin)
BAck anchor
It's Dr Fabian Zuleeg, Chief economist at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King .
 
 
Pakistan suicide blasts kill 78
 
Death toll from the suicide blasts in northwestern Pakistan has reached 78.
The attack took place at a time when the country's army and political parties were in the process of conducting peace talks with Taliban militants.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says the blast is a hindrance in the government talks.
"Such incidents are not conducive for peace talks. Unfortunately, because of this, the government is unable to move forward on what it had envisaged, on what it had wished for. In fact, the representatives of the entire nation cannot move forward."
The attack happened on Sunday as worshippers were coming out of the historical All Saints Church to get a free meal offered on the front lawn.
Imran Masih is a survivor.
"It was quarter past 12 and we had finished our prayers. People were gathered here for lunch and meeting one another. As the lunch started, I went to the other side and after two minutes the blast occurred. The victims were in very bad condition at that time."
A wing of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
The group said it would continue to target non-Muslims until the United States stopped drone attacks in the country's remote tribal region.
The latest drone strike came on Sunday.
A pair of compounds in the North Waziristan tribal area was hit and 7 suspected militants were killed.
 
 
Rouhani says Iran ready for talks on its disputed nuclear programme
 
Iran's President Hasan Rouhani says his country seeks to resume talks with world powers to settle the standoff.
He made the comments ahead of United Nations General Assembly.
Rouhani has said that the trip to New York may be a chance to start a new round of nuclear negotiations.
"The Iranian nation is ready to talk and negotiate with the West, provided that there are no preconditions, the talks are on equal steps, and there is mutual respect. (The west) should not consider only their own interests, and mutual interests should be considered."
Rouhani and US President Barack Obama are both scheduled to attend the General Assembly's annual meeting in the week ahead.
The Iranian leader has promised to abandon the bombastic approach favoured by his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
But he continues to assert Tehran's position that it has the right to conduct nuclear activities.
The West fears it could be a step toward weapons development, especially the enrichment of uranium.
Iran says its programme is peaceful, intended for purposes including research and cancer treatment, and enrichment is necessary for purposes including the fuelling of reactors.
Rouhani reiterated Iran's position that it does not intend to build nuclear weapons.
 
 
Mexicans take to the street against oil sector reform
 
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Mexico's capital to oppose a series of reforms by President Enrique Pena Nieto in the energy sector.
The reform includes a controversial proposal to open the state-owned oil sector to profit-sharing contracts with private firms.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost to Pena Nieto last year, has promised a series of protests to halt the reforms.
Addressing the crowd, Obrador called on the president to include the Mexican people in his decision to reform the energy sector.
[bjh/soundbite/0923 Obrador, in Spanish]
"We call upon Enrique Pena Nieto to urge the legislative powers and his own party to consult with the Mexican people before they submit the full energy reform to Congress."
Mexico expropriated foreign companies and nationalised its oil industry in 1938, and that move has been a popular symbol of national sovereignty ever since.
Polls suggest a solid majority of Mexicans still oppose private or foreign investment in the industry.
President Nieto's reform would require changing the constitution, which currently bans profit-sharing contracts.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
Let's get a preview of what's happening in the business world this week.
Here's CRI's Hu Jia.
Reporter
Markets will be paying a lot of attention to developments in the US Congress this week.
Attention will also be focused on the outcome of the German federal elections on Sunday and the subsequent coalition negotiations.
Monday will see the European Central Bank boss, Mario Draghi, talking to members of the European Parliament economics committee.
He'll update them on the latest monetary-policy decisions.
US will release its Markit Flash. Manufacturing PMI for September later on today.
Tuesday will see Spain report its year-to-date budget.
On Wednesday, France will present its 2014 budget.
Germany will publicize its October GfK consumer confidence index.
Singapore's August industrial production will due out on Thursday.
Meanwhile, UK will report its second quarter GDP reading.
Japan will release its August CPI figure at the same time.
On Friday, Euro zone Final consumer confidence for September will due out.
 
 
Call-in Hong Kong May Lift Ban on Baby Formula Exports to Mainland
 
Anchor
Hong Kong is poised to withdraw restrictions on milk powder exports to the Chinese mainland as soon as next month.
The SAR government says the ban is likely to be lifted on condition the October pressure test and policy evaluation shows the supply of milk powder is normal in Hong Kong.
Chief of Hong Kong's Food and Health Bureau Gao Yongwen said that preparations for the stress testing have been completed.
"The stress test will reach four dimensions including estimations at the overall supply chain level, restocking system at the retail level, pre-order hotline status and reordering services at retail stores."
Hong Kong began to limit infant milk formula export to 1.8 kilograms or two cans per person back in March.
Offenders face a fine up to about 65 thousand US dollars and a two years in jail.
For more on the issue, we are joined live now by Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
Questions
1 Obviously mainland tourists will benefit from the potential lift of the milk powder ban, but what do you think is the main driver to prop HK government to make the decision?
2 Demand traditionally peaked over the up-coming National Day Holiday and Chinese New Year.
How stable now is the status of the infant formula supply and retail in Hong Kong, can they really cope with the unrestrained demand from the mainland?
3 What do you think the stress test will be focused on and how accurate or to what extend could authorities rely on those data?
4 And how do you think Hong Kong residents this time will react to the policy?
Back Anchor:
Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics
 
 
House passes GOP spending plan that defunds Obamacare
 
The U.S House Republicans have passed a budget bill that will keep the government operating but will eliminate funding for President Obama's health care law.
The Republican-led House of Representatives have approved the bill and sent to the Senate a spending plan, to fund federal agencies beyond September 30th.
The bill includes a provision to strip funding for the Affordable Care Act, the President's most significant legislative achievement.
House Speaker John Boehner.
President Obama has accused Republicans of using negotiations over the debt limit as a political bargaining chip.
"They're focused on politics. They're focused on trying to mess with me. They're not focused on you,"
If Congress fails to pass a budget bill by September 30th, the federal government will partially shut down.
 
 
Indonesia and China to Sign a USD 40 Bn Currency Swap Agreement
 
Media reports suggest Indonesia is likely to sign a currency swap deal with China for up to 40-billion US dollars next month.
Reuters is reporting the proposed deal is expected to be inked by the two central banks during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit starting October 2nd.
Tian Guoli, Bank of China Director of the Board, says this shows that the renminbi bears great potential to become a major international currency.
"China's trade in goods has accounted more than 11 percent and 9.8 percent respectively in global exports and imports for the past year, making the volume secure the first and second place worldwide. However, RMB trade settlement over the same period only accounted for 0.87 percent. Some has drawn an analogy between Chinese yuan and a hibernating currency, but now it is reviving."
The potential deal comes as the Indonesian rupiah has been battered by a general capital flight from emerging markets in recent months.
Rupiah now is this year's worst performing currency in Asia, having lost nearly 15 percent against the U.S dollar.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Death toll in Nairobi mall attack rises to 68
 
Death toll in the Kenyan capital from the deadly shopping mall attack has soared to 68.
Another 175 people are reported to be wounded.
A Kenya Defense Forces spokesman says most of the hostages have now been rescued.
Security forces are reported to be in control of most parts of the building.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confrimed that one Chinese national was killed and another injured in the attacks.
A Ministry spokesperson has said that China would continue its staunch support for Kenya's efforts to safeguard national security and regional stability.
The attacks were carried out by Somali militant group Al-Shabab, who say the attacks are in retaliation to Kenyan military operations in Somalia.
 
 
Typhoon Usagi kills three people in Guangdong
 
At least three people have been killed as typhoon Usagi, the strongest of the year, made landfall in south China's Guangdong Province on Sunday evening.
It has passed Shanwei city in the province, where over 1,200 local residents have been evacuated ahead of the onslaught.
Intercity trains between Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai have been suspended.
Distant high-speed lines to Beijing and some other cities will be suspended until Tuesday.
Education authorities in 14 cities have ordered schools to suspend classes.
In Fujian, local government has warned that sea storm tides would threaten coastal embankments as the typhoon coincides with astronomical tide.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying coastal areas in the province.
The flood control headquarters has ordered reinforced patrols so that emergency repairs can be made to prevent embankment breaches.
 
 
Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement, power abuse
 
Former Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty on all counts of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
A court in eastern China also announced that Bo is to be deprived of political rights for life.
His personal assets have also been confiscated.
The court found that bribes received directly by Bo or via his family totaled 20.4 million yuan, or about 3.3 million U.S. dollars.
The 64-year-old disgraced party chief was formerly secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.
He was also a former member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.
 
 
Hong Kong May Lift Ban on Baby Formula Exports to Mainland
 
Hong Kong is poised to withdraw restrictions on milk powder exports to the Chinese mainland as soon as next month.
The SAR government says the ban is likely to be lifted on condition the October pressure test and policy evaluation shows the supply of milk powder is normal in Hong Kong.
Chief of Hong Kong's Food and Health Bureau Gao Yongwen said that preparations for the stress testing have been completed.
Hong Kong began to limit infant milk formula export to 1.8 kilograms or two cans per person back in March.
Offenders face a fine up to about 65 thousand US dollars and a two years in jail.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Beijing News
Typhoon Usagi kills two
Summary:
At least two people have been killed and another one injured when Typhoon Usagi battered the coastal cities of Guangdong province last night.
Usagi is expected to be the strongest tropical cyclone in Guangdong so far this year.
Classes were suspended in schools, and air and rail traffic was disrupted.
South China Metropolitan Daily
Life in prison for Bo Xilai
Summary:
Former Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai is sentenced to life in prison for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.
Bo is also deprived of political rights for life, with all of his private assets confiscated.
Global Times
55 CPC members expelled
Summary:
A county in East China's Zhejiang Province announced it would remove 55 unqualified Party members, as part of an experiment to test new "exit mechanisms" through which the Communist Party of China can remove members.
Another 430 Party members, who have received warnings, will undergo re-education and be required to correct their misconduct within six months or one year.
Yanzhao Metropolitan Daily
Top watchdog unveils petition process
Summary:
China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) has announced a general procedure to receive and handle petitions and tip-offs from the public, in its latest move to become more transparent.
The top discipline watchdog explained ways through which the public could report cases, the kind of complaints handled, petitioners' rights and the body's obligations.
Beijing Times
Leniency for Gansu Weibo rumor teen
Summary:
A junior high school student from Gansu has been punished with a seven-day detention for administrative infractions.
The 16-year-old was charged with "provoking trouble" after suggesting on his weibo account that the investigation by local police into a man's death was problematic.
China Daily
Customers compensated for missing the moon
Summary:
About 400 customers who bought insurance packages for Mid-Autumn Festival will be compensated for being unable to see the full moon that night.
More than 5-thousand people bought the insurance packages.
It is the first time weather-related insurance has entered the Chinese market.
Shanghai Daily
Elderly prefer to be cared for at home
Summary:
Nearly 70 percent of elderly people in Shanghai say they would prefer their children to take care of them at home rather than rely on community services.
Just over 21 percent favor care programs provided by the community.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Finnish company to sell fully-Chinese domain names
 
Anchor
A European internet domain name registry will start selling fully-Chinese domain names in the next few months.
CRI's Zhou Jingnan explains what benefits this will bring and more.
Reporter
Tired of remembering long English domain names for your favorite websites? Soon you will be able to type Chinese characters into the URL bar to navigate to websites.
After signing an official agreement with ICAAN, The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, Finnish company LTD Registry will start selling two fully-Chinese domain names globally in about two months' time.
"There are more than a billion people in the world who do not speak English as any of their languages, not just here in China, but also people in Russia, people in India and people in Arabic countries…"
The company's co-founder Taneli Tikka elaborates on why creating non-English domain names is imperative.
"…and people don't really want to use English, they want to use their own languages."
According to Tikka, Chinese customers will majorly benefit from the application of Chinese domain names.
"Finally we can have fully Chinese domain names and not just with simplified script but also with traditional script as well. Most internet users today are mobile users, and they use the handwriting recognition to enter the URLs, and it's very very fast to write something in Chinese script and have a fully Chinese domain name. It's a lot faster than switching the keyboard to English and writing '.com' or something in the last part of the domain name. "
Two examples of LTD Registry's new products include "Dot Chinese Online" ".在线" and "Dot Chinese Website" ".中文网". "Dot Chinese Online" ".在线" will be given priority. Tikka explains why.
"It's good for businesses--Chinese businesses already inside China, and (because) just anybody, men from the street they use with everything '.online', and also some foreign businesses who have been here for a long time and are part of the online services for example, they could use this 'dot online' domain name a lot more."
The domain name "Dot Chinese Website" is more for international media companies who are eyeing to localize their services in China. Media organizations working with LTD Registry include MSN, The Financial Times and Reuters.
The two Chinese domain names will not only be sold in China, but will also be available to Chinese communities in overseas countries.
Under the regulations set by ICANN, trade mark owners will have first dibs on Chinese domain names, but eventually ordinary people like you and me will be able to apply for our own personal Chinese domain name.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Vettel moves closer to fourth successive F1 title with victory
 
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel has recorded yet another win at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.
The victory further extends his lead in the Formula One championship.
"Yeah, well, this is a long race. It seemed to go on forever. So there is a lot of things that can go wrong. The walls sometimes get really, really close. Sometimes closer than you think so you can't really afford to lean back. Obviously, towards the end I was controlling the gap. It was helping that I was on fresh options (tyres) compared to these guys who were on very old primes at the time so we could control the gap to see the chequered flag."
The Red Bull driver leads Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, who finished second, by 60 points with only 150 still available in the remaining six races.
15th-ranked Mark Webber was given a lift back to the pits by his friend Alonso, a move that earned both men a reprimand, which triggered a 10-place grid penalty for the Australian at the next race in Korea.
 
 
City thrash United 4-1 in Manchester derby
 
Manchester City have thrashed Manchester United 4-1 in the derby on Sunday.
Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure gave City a commanding half-time lead and any slim hope of a United recovery were snuffed out by further goals from Aguero and Samir Nasri within five minutes of the restart.
Wayne Rooney's late free-kick offered nothing.
Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager:
"It was a very important result. Normally you don't expect to win 4-0, 4-1 to Manchester United but the most important thing. after winning, is the way we played and I am very happy for that."
Still in football,
Arsenal's record signing Mesut Ozil set up all three goals in their 3-1 victory over Stoke City on Sunday, helping to put Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Ozil, saying that the German "had shown today that he was a great player".
"Well, he (Mesut Ozil) is of course a player, when you look at his numbers, the assists are not a coincidence, just a reality of his game.　And I believe that once he has completely integrated we will see even more of him, but he has shown today that he is a great player."
Bale, who signed from Tottenham for a world-record fee, was replaced by Isco minutes before the start of Real's 4-1 win against Getafe.
He failed to make his home debut for Real Madrid after suffering an injury in the pre-match warm-up at the Bernabeu.
Finally
Sunderland have parted company with head coach Paolo Di Canio after Saturday's 3-0 defeat at West Brom left them bottom of the Premier League.
 
 
Gulbis wins last 11 games to claim St. Petersburg Open title
 
In tennis,
Sixth-seed Ernests Gulbis has won his fourth career title by rallying to beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the final of the St. Petersburg Open.
After an exchange of breaks in the opening games, 74th-ranked Garcia-Lopez broke the Latvian twice to win the first set.
Garcia-Lopez took a 4-1 lead in the second but Gulbis, who struggled with his serve in the first set, won five consecutive games to level the match.
He then dominated the decisive set and served a winner to seal the victory on his first match point.
Still in Tennis,
Venus Williams dispatched Mona Barthel of Germany 6-3, 6-1 in Tokyo on Sunday to advance to the second round of the Pan Pacific Open.
She sets up a second-round match-up with top-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who had a first-round bye.
In other first round action,
15th seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania beat Germany's Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-4.
12th-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia came from a set down for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Alize Cornet of France.
While 16th seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia beat Poland's Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-3.
Top-ranked Serena Williams, who won her 17th Singles title at the US open, pulled out of the tournament, saying she needed time to recover from a busy summer schedule.
 
 
France claim maiden Gold at the Eurobasket 2013
 
France win the Eurobasket 2013 gold medal in Europe for the first time following their victory against Lithuania 80 to 66 points.
Lithuania claimed their second sliver.
Spain wanted to seek a third successive European Basketball Championship title, but have lost to France in the semi-finals.
Spain clinched brozne.
Croatia, in contrast, looking for their first medals since taking bronze in 1995, got the fourth place.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Mumford and Sons Announce Hiatus
 
Mega-popular UK folk band Mumford and Sons have announced they will go on an indefinite hiatus.
(mumford clip)
The band revealed they would be taking a break after the recent conclusion of their latest tour a couple days ago.
Keyboardist Ben Lovett claims they have no idea how much time they'll be taking off, but it will most likely be considerable.
The band plans to enjoy the time off free from commitments and pressure.
A couple months ago when the band began playing larger arena shows they hinted they were considering taking a break since the larger shows took more out of them.
Mumford and Sons headlined this year's Glastonbury festival in the UK and a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for their album Babel.
In June bassist Ted Dwane underwent emergency life saving brain surgery after blood clot was discovered on his brain.
 
 
Muse to Release First Concert Film
 
Meanwhile, another popular UK band Muse is set to make film history as they have announced they will release a concert film.
(muse clip)
Though no release date has been announced lead singer Matt Bellamy has revealed the film will have a limited release and even be screened in some IMAX theaters.
He also says the film will be shot in 4k resolution, a digital format 4-times as powerful as High Definition.
This will be another first as no concert footage has ever been shot using the relatively new technology.
Bellamy also announced the band will embark on a 20th anniversary celebratory tour next year.
The group formed in 1994 when they were teenagers in Devon.
 
 
World's Biggest Film Industry to be Established in Qingdao
 
Residents of the Chinese city Qingdao in eastern Shandong province not only celebrated this year's mid-Autumn festival but also the birth of their own film empire.
Over the weekend Hollywood stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Travolta, and Nicole Kidman attended the red carpet premiere of the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis.
At the event Dalian-based Wanda Group announced it would invest as much as 50-billion yuan, or over 8-billion US dollars, to build the world's largest film and television industry project.
Chinese actor and martial artist Jet Li was also in attendance and opened up about the investment announcement.
"I'm very happy that Wanda chose the city of Qingdao. The city is very beautiful, there will be more people coming here to makes films and hold film festivals. This is the happiest thing for filmmakers."
Other stars in attendance include Zhang Ziyi, Toney Leung, Christophe Waltz, Kate Beckinsale, and Ewan McGregor.
 
 
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
Death toll in Nairobi mall attack rises to 68
China and Venezuela pledge to seek a stronger strategic partnership.
Angela Merkel wins the German general election
Business
Hong Kong poised to withdraw restrictions on milk powder exports to the mainland
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!