新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2013/09/26

The Beijing Hour
 
Evening Edition
 
 
Paul James with you on this Thursday, September 26, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening.
A major Asia-European expo has opened in the city of Xi'an.
Kenyans are beginning to demand answers following the deadly siege of the Westgate mall in the capital, Nairobi.
It's believed consensus has all but been reached in connection with a new UN resolution connected Syria's chemical weapons.
In Business， China's central bank has dumped more cash into the system ahead of the forthcoming national holiday.
In Sport，team USA has completed its historic comeback in one of the world's most prestigious sailing events.
In Entertainment，a new film by director Tsui Hark has premiered in Hong Kong.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be clear tonight with a low of 12 degrees Celsius.　Tomorrow sunny with a high temperature of 26.
Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 20, cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 25.
Lhasa will be clear tonight, 6 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 20.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, with a high of 35.
Kabul, sunny, 31.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, highs of 22.
Canberra, sunny, 20.
Brisbane, sunny, 26.
And finally, Perth will be overcast with a high of 19.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Euro-Asia 2013 opens in Xi'an
 
Anchor:
This year's Euro-Asia Economic Forum has opened in the city of Xi'an, with 75 countries taking part.
The 3-day forum will include sessions on finance, energy and the environment in an effort to try to better promote regional cooperation.
CRI's Lucy Du has more.
Reporter:
Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang has delivered an opening speech.
He says European and Asian countries have a lot of opportunities to tighten their ties.
"We should deepen our cooperation on e-commerce, logistics and customs to facilitate trade and communication, agree on convenient road transport plans among countries to drive regional economic cooperation, strengthen our collaborations on finance and trade and minimize trade barriers. Our cooperation will enable us to take full advantages of regional strengths as well as to complement one another."
This year's forum is themed "from collaboration to mutual booming".
Aside from trying to facilitate communication, the forum is also designed to try to implement a number of projects proposed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit earlier this month.
Muratbek Imanaliyev from Russia is the secretary-general of Shanghai Cooperation Organizaiton.
"Trade and investment cooperation inside the framework of SCO include enlarging projects on transport and communications, infrastructure construction and establishing logistic, trade and tourism centers. Our focuses on innovation and energy efficiency also attract regional partners and powers."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is attending the event, says he stands behind this month's regional economic proposal made by Chinese president Xi Jinping at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan.
"We endorse Presidnt Xi Jinping's proposal for the development of a Silk Road Economic Belt. The renewal and promotion of the silk road including Afghanistan as a part will not unleash and present opportunities for regional cooperation and integration but also will contribute to the global economic growth and security."
The Silk Road Economic Belt is an allusion to what was known as the Silk Road in antiquity.
The Silk Road was a group of routes ancient European and Chinese traders followed through Central Asia to establish trade links.
The then Chinese capital of Chang'an, which is now modern-day Xi'an, was the terminus for the Silk Road.
The concept of the "new" Silk Road is not only meant to foster trade.
It's also meant to help develop regional cooperation in areas such as transportation, energy and tourism.
For CRI, I am Lucy Du.
 
 
China-Australia Military Culture and Friendship week kicks off in Canberra
 
Anchor:
A joint concert put on by the bands of the Chinese and Australian militaries has officially kicked-off the China-Australia Military Culture and Friendship week in Canberra.
CRI's Wang Xiao has more from the Australian capital.
Reporter:
Although musicians from the two militaries only had two days for rehearsal, they coordinated closely and gave a high quality show.
The concert lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the musicians played 18 compositions.
The head of PLA band Zou Rui explained why they chose these compositions.
"The compositions we chose for the first half of the concert are Chinese wind classics, such as the "Military Music Forever" which is originated by our band. "In a Far Away Place" with strong ethnic characteristics is adapted from a ballad of Qinghai Province. "Victory is Beckoning" is also a piece of classic. On the second half, we perform with Australian army band the classic Australian music such as "The Man from Snowy River". Yesterday we taught several Australian musicians how to use clappers. This concert includes diversified music forms."
The audiences said they liked the performance very much.
"I thought it's amazing."
"I've been living abroad for almost 30 years. The compositions are all classic and well known. I feel so good."
"Very impressive. I thought "In a Far Away Place" is very impressive. I like Friendship Waltz and the very first one, Military Music Forever."
"It's fantastic."
As the head of the Australian Army band Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Lambie pointed out, music is a bridge for people at the two ends to understand and communicate.
"The idea of the concert was to display the cultural differences and diversities between the two countries. We don't speak the same languages, but we're all musicians. So the music on the page transits all the international barriers."
The Chinese ambassador to Australia Ma Zhaoxu and senior officers from Australian Army also attended the concert.
Meanwhile, the exhibition of pictures showing construction and development of the two militaries and friendly contacts between the two armies also opened at the Australian national university on Wednesday.
The week-long cultural exchange event is aimed for both defence organizations to deepen mutual understanding of each other's respective military cultures and customs.
For CRI, this is Wang Xiao from Canberra.
 
 
Over 610 million to travel on roads, waterways during national holiday
 
Toll highways are set to become free for vehicles with no more than 7-seats during this year's national holiday.
This is the fifth time the toll-free policy will be put into effect since it was first introduced during the last National Day holiday.
Liang Xiao'an is a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport.
"more than 610 million passengers are expected to travel on roads and waterways this National Day holiday, up 6 percent year on year. A daily average of over 85 million people will travel on China's roads and waterways during the week-long holiday from Oct. 1 to 7."
Traffic authorities are anticipating a noticeable rise in traffic in and around major tourist destinations in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The Ministry of Transport is going to have additional staff ready throughout the holiday to deal with any traffic-related issues.
 
 
Terrorists from foreign countries involved in mall attack: Kenyan minister
 
A team of international investigators has entered the Westgate mall in Nairobi to find out how the militants were able to attack and hold the shopping centre for four days.
Kenya's Minister of Information, Fred Matiang, says its their belief a number of the attackers are foreigners.
"There are various leads, there are indications that nationalities of other countries were involved. After some forensic investigations have been done, it will be determined which nationalities were involved and the origins of these people."
The minister is also stressing the Kenyan government's position that "the country is safe."
He says the government can guarantee the safety of both locals and tourists.
Somali Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
More than 60 people were killed.
Kenya is now in a three-day period of mourning.
 
 
Questions remain as search continues at Kenya's shopping mall
 
Anchor:
While the siege of the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi is over, numerous questions remain unanswered, including who exactly the attackers are.
CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.
Reporter:
In a latest announcement given by the Kenyan authority, the number of the attackers killed are set at six, while ten others are said to be in custody.
However those arrested were caught at the scene but rather allegedly related to the attack.
Given the fact that the exact number of attackers is still unclear, many residents are still fearful.
" Where are the rest they are not telling us where they have gone or where they are hiding so we are still scared we don't know what is happening"
"We are still afraid we can't go to shopping"
Around sixty people are yet to be accounted for and it is not known whether they were taken hostage at the time of the final assault.
Interior cabinet secretary Joseph Ole Lenku has addressed the nation, trying to calm the anxiety.
He expected that more bodies possibly found in the mall would be proved as the assaultants.
"We strongly believe because of the operations we have undertaken that there is insignificant number of bodies still holed up. We have however indicated that if there will be any we will share it with the public"
And with reports that there may have been a British woman and two or three Americans involved in the attack, secretary Lenku says they will rely on the forensic audit to ascertain the truth.
"The investigation will continue to reveal more information with regarding that we will share with you the identities when they come forward"
These questions may continue to be in the minds of many Kenyans as search and investigation continue before a final report can be released.
For CRI,I am Marc Cavigli.
 
 
20,000 houses destroyed in Pakistan earthquake
 
Authorities in Pakistan say some 20-thousand homes have been destroyed in Tuesday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake in that country.
In the community of Arawan, which is close to the epicenter of the quake, 95 percent of all the homes in the community were either levelled or damaged.
The official death toll from Tuesday's earthquake stands at 348.
However, the death toll may still rise, as crews are still scowering through the rubble for survivors or more victims.
Over 400 people were hurt in the earthquake.
The Pakistani military has been using helicopters to attend to inaccessible regions in the quake-zone.
 
 
Locals visit new island of mud and stone created by quake
 
Dozens of locals have been travelling to a new island off the coast of Pakistan created by Tuesday's earthquake.
This, despite official warnings to stay away because of dangerous gases surfacing from the land mass.
Scientists are still trying to determine how the island was formed.
Muhammed Arshad is a hydrographer with the Pakistani Navy.
He says those types of islands can remain or eventually subside, depending on their makeup.
"There were once two islands that had appeared in the Rasmilan area, on the line of Misaal. The Pakistan Navy hydrographical department surveyed those in detail, after the survey we updated our charts. We can learn by that experience, after one year they had disappeared from the water surface. It is also expected that this island will disappear."
People visiting the newly-formed island are reporting seeing water bubbling along its edges.
Pockets of gas have also been catching on fire.
The mass itself is just a little wider than a tennis court and slightly shorter than a football field.
 
 
France FM Fabius optimistic on Syria, Assad accuses the U.S. of terrorism
 
It appears the permanent members of the UN Security Council are close to reaching an agreement about a UN resolution connected to Syria's chemical weapons.
A leading Russian official says a forthcoming resolution will contain a provision mentioning Chapter 7 of the United Nations charter.
Chapter 7 allows for a range of punishments against any country which doesn't live up to provisions adopted by the UN Security Council.
Those punishments can range from sanctions to military action.
However, Russia's deputy foreign minister says there will be no specifics about what action the UN can take if the Syrian government doesn't live upto its obligations to hand over its chemical weapons stockpiles by next year.
As such, if the Bashar al-Assad government fails to meet its requirements, a new round of negotiations would have to be held to determine what the UN could do next.
Despite this, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius says he remains optimistic about the new resolution.
"We have a few details to solve but I think that we shall reach a common resolution, maybe today, or tomorrow. It doesn't solve the problem of Syria but it's a step."
The new UN resolution is expected to be worked out before the end of this week.
The United States has been pressing for the threat of military action to be included in the resolution.
Russia is opposed to any outside military action in Syria.
The continued push by the US for possible military action hasn't gone un-noticed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad says he's not dismissing the possibility of the US launching strikes on him, pointing to the Korean War as the start of a 60-year US policy of aggression.
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, who remains in New York, has said China wants a resolution on the Syrian issue to be hammered out as soon as possible.
On the ground in Syria, U.N. chemical weapons inspectors are into their second day of a new investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons back in March near Aleppo.
 
 
Iranian president on US relations, plans for nuclear technology
 
Iran's new President is holding open the possibility of direct talks with the United States.
Hassan Rouhani has told US public broadcaster PBS that "some preparation work" is needed.
"Well after all we're speaking of two countries who have had no relations for 35 years. So it's clear that to begin talks requires some preparation work. And whenever the prep work is completed, I believe that it's possible to have a meeting."
There had been speculation Rouhani and US President Barack Obama might meet at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
However, that did not happen.
Foreign ministers of the so-called P5+1 grouping are due to meet in New York later on this Thursday to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue.
Rouhani says resolving the issue is key for his country's development.
"The nuclear issue has become a symbol of development of sorts, in Iran. The modern know-how required to go hand-in-hand with this technology is a symbol for the Iranian people. So, I think, hand-in-hand, we must move forward to ensure that the international law is enforced. And once we abide by that, I think everything else is settled."
Iran has been subject to severe UN sanctions in connection with its nuclear program.
The next round of negotiations between Iran and the 5-permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, is expected to be held in Geneva this coming month.
 
 
Colombia's FARC rebels reject president's UN speech
 
The peace process between the government of Columbia and the FARC rebels in the country appears headed down a bumpy path.
FARC leader Timoleon Jimenez is blasting the speech delivered by Columbia's President at the UN General Assembly this week.
In his speech, Juan Manuel Santos pointed the finger at the rebels for being some of the main drug traffickers in the country.
Santos also challenged the rebels to help in the fight against drugs if they aren't involved.
In response, Jimenez says FARC is now going to break the confidentiality agreement the two sides reached during their first round of talks in Havana, Cuba 10-months ago.
If this happens, it will provide insight into what offers the Columbian government has been making to the rebels to try to bring the over 60-year insurgency in the country to an end.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks 
 
The markets here in Asia saw a mixed trading day, with concern over the imminent approach of the US debt ceiling still looming large.
Stocks here on the mainland suffered significant losses, led by the banking sector, following reports of a sharp drop in yuan-denominated deposits.
The Shanghai Composite Index lost just under 2 percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index also dropped 2 percent.
Down in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 0.4 percent.
Elsewhere here in Asia,
Japan's Nikkei surged 1.2 percent amid speculation the government may cut corporate taxes.
South Korea's KOSPI gained just under 0.5%, with the government there proposing more spending this coming year.
The Straits Times Index in Singapore rose by just under 0.7 percent.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.4 percent.
 
 
South Korea to raise fiscal expenditure 2014
 
The South Korean government is now planning to raise its fiscal spending next year to stimulate the economy.
This comes after the South Korean finance ministry revised down its growth outlook for next year to 3.9-percent from the 4-percent estimate made 6-months ago.
The government plans to spend around 333-billion U.S. dollars in 2014.
This would be up 4.6-percent from this year's budget.
The budget plan is to be submitted to the National Assembly early this coming month for approval.
Amid the sluggish recovery, South Korea's total tax revenues are forecast to fall 0.5-percent to just over 370 trillion won this coming year.
This would represent the first decline in four years.
The basic pension scheme for senior citizens aged 65 and over, which President Park promised during her presidential campaign, has not been included in next year's budget.
 
 
China Central Bank injects another 80 billion yuan
 
China's central bank has injected another 80 billion yuan into the banking system through reverse repurchase agreements ahead of the National Day Holiday.
The 14 day reverse-repo will yield at 4.1-perecent.
This comes after the central bank pumped 88-billion yuan into the system on Tuesday through the same mechanism.
The measures are designed to buffer the banking system from suffering from the same quarter-end cash crunch which happened at the end of June.
That sent interbank rates surging to a record 13-percent because of the cash shortage.
The injections has seen the overnight interbank lending rate drop to 3.11-percent.
It's been consistently since Tuesday's initial injection.
The overnight lending rates are the fees banks have to pay to remain liquid and pay their daily obligations to customers.
 
 
Morning Call-In Shanghai FTZ
 
Anchor:
The final touches are being put into Shanghai's new Free Trade Zone, which officially opens for business this coming Sunday.
The zone, comprising 29-square kilometers, will waiver administrative approval procedures for foreign-funded enterprises.
The Shanghai FTZ is the first of its kind on the mainland.
It will offer equal treatment for foreign lenders and domestic banks, with no restrictions on borrowing.
There has also been speculation the Shanghai FTZ will allow the free exchange of the yuan.
For more on this, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.
…
That was CRI's financial commentator Cao Can speaking to CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
Asian dollar bond sales rise to 37 week high
 
Sales of US dollar-denominated bonds in the Asian Pacific has hit a 37 week high.
Companies in the region are taking advantage of the recent fall in treasury bond yields to obtain low cost financing.
The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond has dropped to its lowest level in over a year, reaching 2.61-percent.
The weekly issue of dollar-denominated bonds this week reached 7.4 billion dollars, which is the highest level since January 2011.
Among the companies offering market notes includes China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC, which is offering 10-year notes at a yield 210-basis points more than Treasuries.
China General Nuclear is also reportedly planning to issue five-year bonds at a spread of 240 basis points above the rate of the treasuries.
 
 
Chinese coat maker Bosideng seeks European expansion
 
Chinese coatmaker Bosideng says it is close to buying an 80-store UK retail chain.
The Hong Kong listed maker of down coats currently has a store in London's West End.
The company has been trying to expand its presence in Europe to try to boost its image at home, on top of bolstering overseas sales.
Consulting firm McKinsey estimates nearly one-third of Chinese luxury buyers will shop in Europe this year.
This would mark a 20 percent increase from the previous year.
Bosideng, which has over 13-thousand retail outlets, is struggling domestically here in China in the face of the expansion of internet shopping and fierce competition from new foreign fashion brands.
 
 
US and Japan agree trade deal over organic food products
 
The United States and Japan have agreed to an organic food trade agreement.
Under the deal, certified organic food from either country can access the other's market with simplified procedures.
Miles McEvoy is the Deputy Administrator of US National Organic Program.
"We want to see that the government has adequate oversight over the certifiers, to make sure that they're accountable to doing the job consistently."
The trade deal is expected to increase the US imports of organic green tea, sake and mushrooms.
Meanwhile, the US says it is looking at similar agreements with other countries, including South Korea, India, Brazil and Mexico.
 
 
JP Morgan to settle mortgage probes for $11 billion
 
It's being reported JPMorgan is in talks with the US government to settle federal and state mortgage probes for 11-billion US dollars.
The amount, which is subject to change, is said to include 7-billion US dollars in penalties and 4 billion US dollars for compensation.
This comes after JP Morgan agreed to pay 920-million US dollars in connection with the so-called "London Whale" scandal.
The bank violated rules on risk limits on derivative bets that lost the bank over 6 billion US dollars.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Gunmen kill 2 policemen in police station attack in northern Kenya
 
There's been another violent and deadly attack in Kenya.
This time gunmen stormed a local police station in a town in northern border area among Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, leaving two local police officers dead.
This attack follows a grenade attack in another Kenyan town just hours earlier, which left one person dead and 4 others hurt.
This community is also close to the border of southern Somalia, which is the stronghold of the al-Shabaab militant group.
The assaults in northern Kenya follow the 4-day al-Shabaab siege of the Westgate Mall in Nairobi this week, which left 61 civilians and 6 security personnel dead.
 
 
20,000 houses destroyed in Pakistan earthquake
 
Authorities in Pakistan say some 20-thousand homes have been destroyed in Tuesday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake in that country.
In the community of Arawan, which is close to the epicenter of the quake, 95 percent of all the homes in the community were either levelled or damaged.
The official death toll from Tuesday's earthquake stands at 348.
However, the death toll may still rise, as crews are still scowering through the rubble for survivors or more victims.
Over 400 people were hurt in the earthquake.
The Pakistani military has been using helicopters to attend to inaccessible regions in the quake-zone.
 
 
9 killed by flood in Thailand; 20 dead in Cambodia
 
Thai authorities are reporting at least 9 people have been killed in the massive flooding gripping large portions of the country.
29 of Thailand's 77 provinces have been hit by flooding over the past week.
The massive rains have damaged or destroyed close to 7-thousand homes.
450-thousand acres of farmland have also been damaged by the flooding.
 
 
UN Security Council close to work out Syria resolution as investigators back to Damascus
 
It appears the permanent members of the UN Security Council are close to reaching an agreement about a UN resolution connected to Syria's chemical weapons.
A leading Russian official says a forthcoming resolution will contain a provision mentioning Chapter 7 of the United Nations charter.
Chapter 7 allows for a range of punishments against any country which doesn't live up to provisions adopted by the UN Security Council.
Those punishments can range from sanctions to military action.
 
 
Colombia's FARC rebels reject president's UN speech
 
The peace process between the government of Columbia and the FARC rebels in the country appears headed down a bumpy path.
FARC leader Timoleon Jimenez is blasting the speech delivered by Columbia's President at the UN General Assembly this week.
In his speech, Juan Manuel Santos pointed the finger at the rebels for being some of the main drug traffickers in the country.
Santos also challenged the rebels to help in the fight against drugs if they aren't involved.
In response, Jimenez says FARC is now going to break the confidentiality agreement the two sides reached during their first round of talks in Havana, Cuba 10-months ago.
If this happens, it will provide insight into what offers the Columbian government has been making to the rebels to try to bring the over 60-year insurgency in the country to an end.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
China Daily
"Space station to work on space medicine"
A senior official has said China's future space station, which is slated for completion in a decade, will work on a project to develop so-called space medicine.
The official said the Nyu Wa Project will study the effects of space flight on humans.
Specifically, the planned space station project will study the effects of long-term weight loss in space, the effects of radiation on astronauts, in-orbit medical monitoring and the application of traditional Chinese medicine in space.
China's development of space medicine is still in its early stages, but a series of medical experiments have been carried out in recent space missions.
In the Shenzhou IX mission last year, experimental medical research, including studying the physical impact of space flight on astronauts, was conducted.
It's said traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and massage therapy, have been used for Chinese astronauts in the past missions. TCM has been demonstrated as an effective and potential therapy for weight loss in space flight.
Nyu Wa is a goddess in ancient Chinese mythology who can create humans and repair the sky.
Securities Journal
"Beijing seniors must wait 'lifetime' for nursing-home beds"
Senior applying for one of Beijing's most popular nursing homes must wait more than 100 years for a bed.
Reporters visited one city-funded nursing home in Beijng on Tuesday. They were told the nursing home can accommodate 1,100 seniors, but that there are already more than 10,000 applicants waiting for beds.
A staff member said 50 to 60 beds are offered to applicants annually, meaning that anyone applying now would have to wait at least 166 years to get in.
The staffer said the nursing home charges between 3,000 yuan and 4,000 yuan a month, but paying more won't ensure a bed.
Another city-funded nursing home told reporters that at most 100 beds are offered to 5,000 applicants. A new applicant must wait at least 50 years.
Bangkok Post
"Thais drink little milk, stay short"
Thai Public Health Minister on Thursday said Thai young people tend to be short in stature because they do not drink much milk.
According to a study by the ministry, the average height of 18 and 19-year-old boys is 167 centimetres, and 157 cm for girls.
The Minister said Thai people consume less milk than other Southeast Asian countries, Thais drink about 14 litres of milk per head each year, compared to Southeast Asia's average of 60 litres and the world rate of 104 litres annually.
The ministry aims to raise the average height of Thai teenage boys over the age of 18 to 175cm, and to 162cm for teenage girls.
The ministry is also promoting breastfeeding for babies in the first six months of life, that young children drink two to three glasses of milk a day and that older children drink two glasses daily.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Chinese government to reduce pollution and increase tourism
 
Anchor:
Tomorrow will mark world tourism day.
As one of the most-visited countries in the world, the Chinese government has been trying to reign in air pollution to keep overseas tourists coming.
CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.
Reporter:
Chinese government's attempt to reduce air pollution will in part involve moving away from a reliance on manufacturing... and the promotion of service industries and tourism.
The irony is, however, that pollution itself is a cause for concern for many tourists as I found out speaking to a few in Beijing.
"With my family I have to think one thousand times before deciding to move to Beijing or not, A beautiful city but not good to live."
"You know if it was better if it was cleaner of course I would stay in Beijing but now I think maybe I go to Xiamen or to Hainan I haven't decided yet."
"When I came here at the end of August until now only one day or two I saw in the air the pollution and it was a little bit difficult to breathe. The other days it was very nice and I didn't have any problem."
Compared to previous years, the numbers of overseas visitors to China has declined by about 5 percent since January when levels of smog reached new heights.
However like many people I spoke to, Gary from China Links Travel based in London, said the pollution is only a very intermittent problem.
"This question has come up a couple of times, we try to advise our customers that it's not 24/7, there are days in places such as Beijing and Shanghai when it's worse than others. So far we've not had any reported problems so we don't see it as a major issue."
The government has now unveiled plans that promise to significantly improve air quality within the next four years.
It aims to reduce the tiny airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, that cause smog and damage people's health.
The measures will include closing down polluting factories - around 1200 alone in Beijing - improving fuel quality and reducing the over reliance on coal as well as stricter controls on the number of vehicles on the roads.
The authorities will also be naming the top 10 worst and best performers for air pollution.
In the first six months of this year, the capital recorded an average 102 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre. Well above the national standard of 35, and the safe limit of 10 recommended by the World Health Organisation.
If successful, the measures will see three major city clusters around Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou reduce their levels of the particles by up to 25 percent by 2017.
But in a new twist to the story, the local government in Beijing has found that up to a quarter of the smog in the capital originates from neighbouring provinces and cities, meaning it has to take a much wider effort.
For CRI, this is Alexander Aucott.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Oracle team USA wins America's Cup
 
Let's start off with sailing,
Oracle team USA put the finishing touch on a legendary comeback to claim the America's Cup after winning the final race 19 yesterday.
The Americans overcame an 8-1 deficit to keep the Auld Mug.
Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill was the man of the moment, after steering the 72-foot catamaran to its eighth straight victory.
"Man it's the ultimate, I mean to come back, I mean the greatest comeback in sports history says a lot about a team, a lot about their character, the heart and the fight they've got inside them, man it was worth every single part of it."
Spithill said he had so much respect for Dean Barker and Emirates, calling them champions. New Zealand was understandably disappointed to be on the losing side of the historical race.
"I'm incredibly proud of our team and what they've achieved. I'm gutted that we didn't get the last win that we needed to take this cup back to New Zealand and it's just very hard to swallow."
Sailing fans aren't a huge population in the world of sport, but there were a number of spectators who turned out to watch this year's race from the sidelines of San Francisco Bay.
"Being part of history is so important, when it's this big, never been done. And I woke up with a stomach ache in anticipation and fear and I'm so glad all that's over and that we won. And the only team to win like this in the world."
For people who don't follow sailing, the victory might be hard to wrap your mind around. But someone explained the comeback like this.
It was the sailing equivalent of the Boston Red Sox sweeping the final four games of the 2004 ALC over the New York Yankees.
Or like when the Philadelphia Flyers overcame a 3 game deficit to beat the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL playoffs.
Pretty big.
 
 
The Yankees fail to make the playoffs for the second time in 19 years
 
In major league baseball,
The Cleveland Indians are closing in on one of the American league wild-card spots after defeating the Chicago White Sox 7-2.
That victory was the death stroke for the New York Yankees, who needed to win all five of their remaining games and have Cleveland lose all five of theirs, for a chance at the final American League Wild card spot.
Insult was added to injury, when New York lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 8-3.
This is only the second time in nearly two decades that the Yankees failed to make it to the playoffs.
And Detroit's Max Scherzer pitched seven shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins to help the Tigers claim their third straight division title.
 
 
Manchester United defeats Liverpool in Capital One Cup
 
In football,
Manchester United defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the Capital One cup.
Javier Hernandez scored early in the second half, and then the rest of the game unfolded without either side getting another goal.
Manchester boss David Moyes said it was a big game and a big win for his side.
"It was a great Cup tie game and I thought the supporters did great tonight. Is there a little bit of "i'm just pleased to get a win, get us in the next round of the Cup?" Well knowing the way the games are going, I'll probably have an extremely tough away tie next because that's the way it's been."
In the first leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals, Botafogo drew 1-1 with Flamengo.
Andre Santos, a former Arsenal player, scored in the first half hour to take the lead. But then Botafogo found their momentum in the second half and scored the equalizer in the 58th minute.
And in La Liga,
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Real Madrid secure their 2-1 win over hosts Elche.
The newly-promoted Elche sits at the bottom of the league with only three points this season.
 
 
Kvitova and Kuznetsova through to the quarterfinals at the Pan Pacific Open
 
In tennis,
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic is through to the quarterfinals at Tokyo's Pan Pacific Open.
The seventh seed dispatched 18-year-old American Madison Keys in two sets.
Also through to the quarterfinals is Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian player is unseeded, but is a former US Open and French Open champion.
Kuznetsova was taken to a tie-break in the first set against Romanian Sorana Cirstea, but rallied to win the second 6-1.
Over at the Thailand Open,
After a bye in the first round, top seed Thomas Berdych defeated Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarterfinals.
Berdych is looking to claim his first ATP World Tour title of the season.
Also making it through his first match was Taipei's Yen-Sun Lu, who faced Russia's Evgeny Donskoy.
It wasn't even close, as Lu dismantled the lower-ranked opponent in two sets.
 
 
Jin Cheng leads after first round at China Amateur Golf Championship
 
In golf,
Young Chinese and foreign golfers are competing at the 2013 Fangshan-Changyang China Amateur Golf Championship in Beijing.
Fifteen-year old Jin Cheng is in the lead after the first day. The national team member recorded three birdies on the back nine for a two-over 74.
Jin's 11-year-old brother Jin Bo is also competing in the tournament. He didn't do so well though, shooting a 10-over 82 on his first day.
The top foreign competitor of the day was Australia's Brett Coletta.
The junior interstate champion shot a four-over 76 to tie for fifth with four other Chinese players.
Tomorrow, the women will tee off for their first round, with national team member Shi Yuting looking to defend her title.
 
 
NBA stars travel to India to promote basketball
 
A trio of former NBA stars are in Mumbai to help develop young basketball talent.
Former All-Stars Horace Grant and Peja Stojakovic, along with former Lakers and Chicago Bulls star Ron Harper, are traveling through India with the NBA's Jam Tour.
In recent years, the NBA has turned its attention to India and China. These promotional tours and celebrity-run clinics are one way the league can cultivate local fans.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Shakespeare's globe tours Asia
 
Shakespeare's Globe is making its first foray into Hong Kong and mainland with an all female production of the Bard's controversial play "The Taming Of Shrew"
The troupe brings to China a new interpretation of the play.
And rather than seeing it as a dark comedy showing the character of Katherina conforming to expectations that she'll become a submissive wife, Kate Lamb – who plays the part – sees the character as a woman with insecurities that many girls will find relevant today.
"We've been doing this now for almost three months, and I've actually had quite a few people come up to me and say to me how much they've related to what they saw on the stage and how much it meant to them and how it moved them. I mean, I can relate to it, to certain aspects of what she goes through and her personality."
The Shakespeare's globe formed 15 years ago with the aim of exploring the English playwright's works, and rebuilding the theatre where they were originally performed.
Even though Shakespeare died some 400 years ago, Dominic Dromgoole, the artistic director of the Globe says now, more than ever, the Bard has global appeal.
"The extraordinary thing about Shakespeare's play is often they speak more powerfully outside of England than they do inside England. Last year we had a production of 'The Taming Of The Shrew' from Pakistan, in Urdu, as part of our international festival. It was amazing how true and how sharply true it was to that society."
The cast of "The Taming Of The Shrew" is performing in Hong Kong until September 29th, then on to Singapore until October the 13th and will arrange a visit to the mainland at a later date.
 
 
Tsui Hark Premieres new Detective Dee movie in Hong Kong
 
Staying in Hong Kong….
Director Tsui Hark has just premiered his latest film Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon"
Set in the Tang Dynasty, this is a prequel to hugely successful "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame," from three years ago.
The ambitious new film brings 3D underwater scenes to life on the screen and sees a younger and less experienced Detective Dee combat a mysterious sea creature and protect Empress Wu from opposing forces.
Actress Carina Lau is the only cast member from the first movie to return, reprising her role as the Empress, while Taiwanese-Canadian actor Mark Chao and Hong Kong-based actress Angelababy also star.
Lau defended her younger co-star against comparisons with Andy Lau who played Dee in the previous film:
"We'll let the audience compare. I think the two of them are different. Andy Lau played him brilliantly, while Mark Chao was more courteous. They played Detective Dee in different stages of his life. I think both of them are great actors,"
"Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon" opens in Hong Kong this Friday.
 
 
Paula Patton stars in new Comedy 'Baggage Claim'
 
Over in the US, Paula Patton has taken to the red carpet with her husband Robin Thicke for the premiere of "Baggage Claim" in which they both star.
In the film – which premiered in Los Angeles – Patton plays a flight attendant seeking to reconnect with old boyfriends to find a potential husband, sometimes going to extremes to find out as much as she can about the men:
The Mission Impossible star said she can relate to the character very well, confessing she once followed her husband early in their relationship.
"I felt like something didn't sound right on the phone. So I went to his house. I was climbing through the bushes, looking through the windows. And then I got caught. His friend saw me. He came out. He was like, 'It's poker night, baby. You want to come in? Look in all the closets, look in the bathrooms.' I was humiliated. But I was happy I was wrong."
Baggage Claim opens tomorrow in the US and in two weeks across Europe.
 
 
AEG lawyer says Michael Jackson played 'Russian roulette' at wrongful death trial
 
Now Michael Jackson is still making headlines as his family is seeking 290 million US dollars from concert promoters AEG over his death in 2009.
The singer died aged 50 following an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, which he had started using regularly to help him sleep.
The Jackson family claims that AEG Live - who were promoting the late King of Pop's comeback concerts in London – failed to properly investigate Dr Conrad Murray.
Jackson's personal doctor was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
During closing arguments, AEG lawyer Marvin Putnam said Michael Jackson was playing "Russian Roulette" each night when he took the drug, adding that the star died of his own "bad choices" and "you can't blame someone else for bad choices"
 
 
That's it for this edition of the BJH
A quick recap of the headlines BEFORE WE GO...
A major Asia-European expo has opened in the city of Xi'an.
Kenyans are beginning to demand answers following the deadly siege of the Westgate mall in the capital, Nairobi.
It's believed consensus has all but been reached in connection with a new UN resolution connected Syria's chemical weapons.
In Business, China's central bank has dumped more cash into the system ahead of the forthcoming national holiday.