新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/10/21

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Paul James with you on this Monday, October 21st, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Over 30 people are dead following a massive suicide bombing in the restive city of Hama in Syria.
The speaker of Iran's parliament is warning lawmakers may decide to ramp up the country's nuclear program if it feel their backs are against the wall.
Authorities in Australia are hoping to make some headway this week on the dozens of brush fires consuming parts of New South Wales.
In Business.... despite the tight restrictions, new home purchases are still expanding rapidly here in China.
In sports... Chinese shutters have dominated at a tournament in Denmark.
In entertainment... the space thriller Gravity has dominated the US box office for the 3rd straight weekend.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy today, with a high of 18 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be overcast tonight with a low of 7
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 21 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 17 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 18, and tonight will see slight rain with a low of 3 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 29.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 25.
And in North America
New York, sunny, with a high of 17 degrees.
Washington, sunny, highs of 17
Houston, sunny, 24.
Honolulu, overcast, 29.
Toronto, overcast, 12.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, moderate rain, 23.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 29 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
More than 30 killed in suicide bombing in central Syria
 
Firefighters are working to try to extinguish the reminants of fires created following a massive suicide bombing in the Syrian city of Hama.
A truck, loaded with one and a half tons of explosives, ripped through a military checkpoint at the outskirts of Hama.
The massive blast has left over 30 people dead.
10 others in the area managed to survive.
"I was heading to a school in Salamiya and the blast started. The first blast injured this leg, and the other blast injured my other leg."
"These innocent people don't deserve this. The scene is inhumane. These terrorists shouldn't be in this country."
The blast comes just a day after a similiar blast at a military checkpoint in the suburbs of Damascus which left 16 dead.
The suicide bombings come as the international community prepares to meet in Geneva for a new set of talks in just over a month.
 
 
Peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Syria could take place on November 23 in Geneva
 
It appears a date has now been set for the so-called Geneva II conference connected to the situation in Syria.
Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby says the date has been set out in just over a month's time.
"I discussed the Syria file with Lakhdar Brahimi and it was decided that the Geneva meeting would take place on November 23 and arrangements are being made to prepare for this conference."
However, UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says the November 23rd date has not been officially set.
He says this is because the meeting won't be held if the Syrian opposition in exile won't attend.
"There had been an agreement for an attempt to hold the Geneva 2 conference in November but the date has not been officially set."
The deeply divided Syrian opposition has been reluctant to take part, as President Bashar al-Assad's government is on-record saying it won't consider any deal that requires the president to step down.
Syria has been locked in a state of civil war for over 2.5-years, with over 100-thousand killed and millions of others made refugees.
 
 
39 killed, 51 wounded in bombing attacks in Iraq's capital
 
A series of bombings have ripped through the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, leaving at least 39 dead.
Over 50 others have been wounded in the blasts.
The deadliest blast took place in southwestern Baghdad, leaving 37 dead and over 40 others hurt.
The bomb blew up outside a cafe in a mostly Shiite neighborhood.
Two others have been killed in a roadside bombing in western Baghdad.
Iraq is being gripped in the worst sectarian violence since the height of the insurgency against coalition forces in late 2007.
 
 
Police clash with Morsi supporters outside prestigious Muslim institution
 
Egyptian riot police have fired tear gas to try to dispurse crowds of supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
The clashes are marking the second day of unrest at Al-Azhar University.
Many supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood are students at Al-Azhar, which is considered one of the foremost schools of Muslim education in the world.
Students have been fighting running battles with riot police.
"I am not a supporter of Morsi, but I do not agree with what is happening here, with students being killed and put in prison. The best of Egypt's young people are being killed. They call it terrorism? You've arrested the terrorists, but the university students are the best of Egypt's youth."
The protests come amid a heated debate over a new law which would place tougher restrictions on demonstrators, including imposing heavy fines and possible jail for violators.
Since Morsi was removed from power in June, Cairo has been embroiled in non-stop demonstrations by his supporters demanding his return.
 
 
Kenyan President comments on security and court trial
 
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta says Kenya will not be stopped from protecting itself.
The comments by Kenyatta have been made to mark the country's Heroes Day celebrations in the capital, Nairobi.
Kenyatta's says Kenya wants peace for itself and its neighbors.
"My government is vigilant, and is investing in equipping the security forces to have the sufficient capacity to deter and contain all forms of violence and criminality. We want to be a country at peace with itself and with its neighbors. From time to time, therefore, we may be required to intervene externally to keep our country, and our neighbors safe. "
Kenyatta's speech has also lashed out at the International Criminal Court.
He's described the body as a "devil," saying his case to be held before the ICC will be defeated.
Kenyatta is scheduled to go on trial in Hague next month on charges of orchestrating the deadly violence in the aftermath of the 2007 elections which left hundreds dead.
His vice-President is already on trial in the Hague for similar charges.
 
 
Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for deadly suicide explosion in central Somalia
 
Somali Islamist group Al-Shabaab is claiming reponsiblity for a suicide attack in the central Somali town of Beledweyne.
12 people were killed and more than 15 others injured in the blast, which hit the town on Saturday.
Al-Shabaab claims the attack left over 30 security forces from Ethiopian, Djibouti and Somalia dead.
The Somali government is vehemently denying the claim.
Officials say most of those killed or injured in the attack were "innocent civilians" at a local cafe.
 
 
Call-in on security in East Africa
 
For more on al-Shabaab and the security in East Africa, CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King spoke earlier with Professor David Shinn with George Washington University, who is also the former US ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
(PIK callin)
Back anchor
Former US Ethiopian ambassador David Shinn from George Washington University speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King.
 
 
Iranian parliament speaker warns against too much pressures from West
 
Iran's Parliamentary speaker is warning that too much pressure on Iran during its nuclear talks could spur Iranian lawmakers into calling for stepped up atomic activity.
Ali Larijani's comments follow appeals by certian members of the U.S. Congress to tighten sanctions on Iran.
"If parliament feels another powerful party has a double-standard and unjustifiable attitudes, it will approve necessary measures on the amount and diversity of our nuclear activities."
Larijani says the Iranian parliament will not permit world powers to impose "special measures" on the country beyond what is currently laid out by the U.N. treaty overseeing nuclear activity, such as U.N. monitoring and inspection.
Meanwhile, a European Union delegation is in Tehran to meet with government officials.
Hannes Swoboda is a member of the European Parliament.
"We have different opinions. About these differences I'm here to discuss and to debate between us."
The next round of nuclear talks among Iran and the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany are scheduled for November 7th to 8th.
 
 
Israel call on more pressure on Iranian nuclear program
 
Meanwhile Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making the rounds, trying to drum up political support in the US for more pressure on Tehran to fully dismantle its nuclear program.
Netanyahu, speaking on the Sunday news talk shows in the US, is warning against "half-way measures".
"I think the pressure has to be maintained on Iran, even increased on Iran, until it actually stops the nuclear program, that is, dismantles it. I think that any partial deal could end up dissolving the sanctions. There are a lot of countries that are waiting for a signal, just waiting for a signal to get rid of their sanctions regime, and I think you don't want to go through half way measures."
Since Hassan Rouhani became Iran's President in June, he has been trying to ease frictions with the US and its allies.
The Israeli government has remained skeptical of the new Iranian government's intentions.
Netanyahu has accused Rouhani of trying to trick the world into allowing it time to complete work on a nuclear weapon.
Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes only.
 
 
Calling with Wang Xiao on the situation in Australia
 
The state of New South Wales in Australia remains in the grip of a massive amount of brush fires amid a lingering drought there.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the blazes, which have also charred thousands of hectares of land as well.
For more on the situation, we're joined live on the line by our Australian correspondent Wang Xiao.
1. what is the current situation right now?
2. What's the weather expected to be like over the next few days? Is Sydney affected by the fire?
3. When do officials feel they'll be able to finally get the fires under control and finally put out?
0061-02 94606990
CRI's Australian correspondent Wang Xiao reporting for us from Sydney.
 
 
Juncker's CSV party leads early general elections in Luxembourg, but loses seats
 
Exit polling is suggesting the center-right party of veteran Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker is going to maintain is hold on power in Luxembourg.
Juncker has already declared victory.
"Basically I have a good feeling. We are the strongest party in this country and that is meaningful for the building of the next government.It's too early to discuss any coalition picture. We'll see it in the next coming days."
With around 80-percent of the vote tallied, Juncker's Christian Social People's Party has garnered around one-third of the vote.
This has given his party 23 of the 60 seats in Luxembourg's parliament.
Juncker's CSV Party held 26 seats heading into the vote.
 
 
Libyan PM accuses congressmen for his abduction
 
Ali Zeidan is accusing a pair of congressmen of plotting his abduction earlier this month.
Zeidan is pointing the finger at Mohamed al-Kilani and Mustafa al-Triki.
He says the two congressmen met with him the day before his short-lived abduction.
Zeidan says the whole of Libya is awash with danger from militias.
"The General National Congress has been stormed several times, the council of ministers in this very room as well has been stormed and threatened several times with hand grenades and weapons. Some people come in with hand grenades."
Zeidan says the men blamed him for the violence taking place in their home city of Zawiya.
Zawiya was a key city for the rebels during the uprising which eventually toppled former Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Warring factions in the city are now engaged in battles with forces in the neighboring village of Warshfana.
Warshfana is home to forces said to be loyal to the former Gaddafi regieme.
Ali Zeidan was taken from his hotel in Tripoli and held by gunmen for about 6-hours earlier this month before eventually being released.
 
 
Tito's widow Jovanka Broz passes away in Belgrade
 
The widow of former Yugoslavian strongman Josip Broz Tito, has passed away.
Jovanka Broz died Sunday at a local medical facility in Belgrade, Serbia.
The 88-year old had been in a coma since late August.
Jovanka Broz was part of the Yugoslav resistance against the Nazis during World War II.
She married Tito in 1952.
The two later separated in 1977, but never divorced.
Tito died in 1980.
Following his death and the subsequent break up of the former Yugoslavia, Jovanka Broz spent the rest of her life in isolation.
She was stripped of most of her possessions in the aftermath of Tito's death, with his political opponents accusing her of plotting to take over power.
It was only in late 2009 that Jovanka Broz was given proper Serbian citizenship and moved to better living facilities.
As per her request, Jovanka Broz will be laid to rest next to her late husband in Belgrade.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
Let's get a preview of what's happening in the business world this week.
Here's Hu Jia.
Reporter
This week is considered the peak week of the earnings season in the US with about 30 percent of the S&P 500 reporting.
10 more Dow components will also be posting their quarterly results.
Dow component United Technologies will report its earnings on Tuesday.
Boeing and Caterpillar's report will come out on Wednesday and Thursday.
Also on Thursday, Microsoft will report its results after the closing bell.
Other earning highlights include McDonald's, DuPont, AT&T, and Procter & Gamble.
Notable S&P 500 companies set to report include Halliburton, Netflix, TripAdvisor, Amazon, Ford and United Parcel Service.
Economic data will be key in the next several weeks, as economists weigh the impact of the 16-day government shutdown on consumer confidence, business confidence, and economic growth.
The most important of which is the delayed September jobs report, which is due to be released Tuesday.
Import and export figures are due out on Wednesday.
On Thursday, we'll be getting the US Manufacturing PMI figures.
And the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for October will be out on Friday.
 
 
Call-in New home purchases rise 34.5% in 1st nine months
 
Anchor
New data shows new home purchases here in China have risen significantly through the first three quarters of this year.
The National Bureau of Statistics is reporting new home purchases are up 34.5 percent from a year earlier.
Over 750-million square meters worth of new properties have been sold from January to September.
The China Index Academy is reporting new home prices in 100 major Chinese cities have climbed for the 16th straight month through September.
For more on the housing market, we're joined live now by Mike Bastin, Visiting professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
Questions
1 Housing sales saw a spike growth over the first 8 months, some real estate dealers have already reached their full year sales quota. And this new data seems to suggest the housing market is likely to cool down a bit, how do you think it will be during the 4th quarter?
2 And according to your analysis, how will the central government react to the new data, where do you see the regulations or policies go especially on bank's lending?
3 It is widely speculated that the pilot property tax will soon be expanded nationwide.But if we take this policy out from the housing prices taming scope that long boxed it, how necessary will this new tax rule be and what beneficial if long-term will it bring to common folks and the local governments at all levels?
4 Do you think Chinese government so far has maintained a good control on the country's housing market by providing sufficient supply?
Back Anchor:
Mike Bastin, Visiting professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
 
 
China-Myanmar gas pipeline in full operation
 
A gas pipeline running from Myanmar into China has gone into full operation, with the last section here in China now finished.
The over 25-hundred kilometer long trunk line is expected to pump 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Myanmar into China per year.
It's expected this could help cut coal consumption in China by over 30 million tones annually.
Construction on the China-Myanmar gas pipeline started about 3 years ago.
 
 
ECB president Draghi asks to delay new bank bail-in rules: report
 
A new report is suggesting the head of the European Central Bank is asking for a delay in the implementation of the new bank bailout plans.
A German newspaper is reporting Mario Draghi has asked for a delay in the implementation of the new bailout rules until the full European banking union is operational.
The report says Draghi is asking for the bailout delay to try to protect bondholders from any losses brought on by bank rescues.
Under the agreement reached earlier this year, bank bond holders will have to shoulder some of the losses if a bank goes under.
A pan-European banking union is currently in the works.
European banks are currently undergoing stress tests to determine which banks may require capital injections.
 
 
Bank of America Corp : U.S. housing regulators seek over $6 billion from BofA - FT
 
Its being reported U.S. housing regulators are looking to fine Bank of America more than 6 billion US dollars for its role in misleading mortgage lenders during the housing boom.
The fine would surpass what JP Morgan has agreed to pay, which is 4 billion dollars.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency or FHFA is seeking the penalty on behalf of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Bank of America has spent more than 40 billion US dollars on litigation linked to its bad subprime mortgages.
The lender has also set aside an additional 300 million dollars for mortgage litigation in the latest quarter.
 
 
J.P. Morgan in tentative $13 billion probe deal
 
JP Morgan has reached a tentative agreement with the US Justice Department to settle the investigations into its mortgage-backed securities.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting the deal might be worth around 13-billion US dollars.
The report says the agreement does not cover the continuing criminal probe by federal prosecutors in California.
The deal with the DOJ is one of the many the bank is accepting as it tries to resolve its legal problems.
JP Morgan has already agreed to pay some 4-billion US dollars to the Federal Housing finance Agency to settle claims it misled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on the quality of its loans.
JP Morgan has already been fined 100-million US dollars by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for its role in the London Whale trading scandal.
Shares of JP Morgan closed up 0.2-percent on Friday, closing at 54-dollars-30-cents.
 
 
Alibaba obtains approval from NYSE, NASDAQ
 
Alibaba has confirmed its IPO applications have been accepted by the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
Alibaba has unveiled plans to go public in the US under a partnership structure.
The approvals by the NYSE and Nasdaq comes just days after Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing turned down a shareholder structure plan from Alibaba.
At issue for Alibaba is Hong Kong's rules surrounding non-voting shares, as company founder Jack Ma wants to maintain control of who sits on the board of directors.
Under Alibaba's partnership structure for a US listing, 28 partners of the company, including Jack Ma, will be able to nominate a majority of board members.
It is estimated Alibaba's IPO could raise as much as 25-billion US dollars.
 
 
Karnit Flug named Bank of Israel governor
 
The Israeli government has announced Karnit Flug will be the first woman to head its central bank.
The 58-year old served as deputy to former Israeli central bank governor Stanley Fischer.
In accepting the post, Flug says the country's central bank and Israel's economy are facing significant challenges.
The Shekel, the country's currency, has risen 7-percent against the US dollar since January.
Flug recieved her doctorate from Columbia University in New York.
Afterward she worked at the International Monetary Fund as an economist and later as a senior research economist at the Inter-American Development Bank.
She was appointed director of the research department at the Bank of Israel in 2001.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
More than 30 killed in suicide bombing in central Syria
 
Firefighters are working to try to extinguish the reminants of fires created following a massive suicide bombing in the Syrian city of Hama.
A truck, loaded with one and a half tons of explosives, ripped through a military checkpoint at the outskirts of Hama.
The massive blast has left over 30 people dead.
The blast comes just a day after a similiar blast at a military checkpoint in the suburbs of Damascus which left 16 dead.
The suicide bombings come as the international community prepares to meet in Geneva for a new set of talks in just over a month.
 
 
39 killed, 51 wounded in bombing attacks in Iraq's capital
 
A series of bombings have ripped through the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, leaving at least 39 dead.
Over 50 others have been wounded in the blasts.
The deadliest blast took place in southwestern Baghdad, leaving 37 dead and over 40 others hurt.
The bomb blew up outside a cafe in a mostly Shiite neighborhood.
Two others have been killed in a roadside bombing in western Baghdad.
Iraq is being gripped in the worst sectarian violence since the height of the insurgency against coalition forces in late 2007.
 
 
Juncker's CSV party leads early general elections in Luxembourg, but loses seats
 
Exit polling is suggesting the center-right party of veteran Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker is going to maintain is hold on power in Luxembourg.
With around 80-percent of the vote tallied, Juncker's Christian Social People's Party has garnered around one-third of the vote.
This has given his party 23 of the 60 seats in Luxembourg's parliament.
Juncker's CSV Party held 26 seats heading into the vote.
 
 
7 confirmed dead in China's flooded colliery
 
Authorities have now confirmed 7 miners trapped in a flooded mine earlier this month are dead.
The 7 drowned after their coal mine flooded ten days earlier in Huishui County, which lies just south of the provincial capital, Guiyang.
26 workers inside the mine at the time of the flooding managed to escape.
The Party secretary and the head of the county's work safety division have been fired in the wake of the flooding.
The mine is properly licenced.
The cause of the flooding remains unclear.
 
 
China-Myanmar gas pipeline in full operation
 
A gas pipeline running from Myanmar into China has gone into full operation, with the last section here in China now finished.
The over 25-hundred kilometer long trunk line is expected to pump 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Myanmar into China per year.
It's expected this could help cut coal consumption in China by over 30 million tones annually.
Construction on the China-Myanmar gas pipeline started about 3 years ago.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Construction approvals to be simplified
Summary
Municipal authorities here in Beijing are working to simplify construction approvals.
The time normally needed for approvals is being cut down to 109 days.
It currently takes over 300-days to recieve approvals for large construction projects.
BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Illegal parking lots to be eliminated
Summary
Authorities have laid out plans to eliminate all illegal parking lots inside the second ring road as of next year.
Traffic police haven't been unable to shut down the parking lots because there are no laws or regulations they can refer to when trying to shut them down.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
Family doctors can be partially reimbursed
Summary
Beijing authorities are planning to partially cover family doctors and community hospitals under the medical services plan.
Patients can sign on with a family doctor in a local community hospital and pay on a yearly basis.
CHONGQING MORNING POST
Headline
New pension plan under discussion
Summary
Insiders say the planned pension reforms are still under discussion.
A draft plan may be submitted to the central government before the end of the year.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
US is prime destination for economic fugitives
Summary
Security authorities are working on signing a treaty with the US for repatriating economic fugitives.
Officials say progress has been made in judicial cooperation with the US in recent years.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Entertainment time cut for satellite TV
Summary
Authorities have announced that as of next year, satellite TV stations here in China will only be able to buy the copyright of just one overseas program.
These programs also can't be aired during prime time from 7:30pm to 10:00pm within the year they're imported.
The number of approvals for these kinds of programs will also be cut.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Marital dispute leads to mass murder
Summary
A man is accused of murdering his pregnant wife and six other family members in Ningxia over the weekend.
Police say the man lost control after an argument with his wife.
The husband was trying to get a divorce.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Experts Urge Classic Music Traditions Back in China
 
Anchor
On the sidelines of the now-concluded Beijing Traditional Music Festival, experts have shared their thoughts on how to revitalize China's traditional music scene.
CRI's Xiao Yi has more.
Reporter
Listening to music is more important than singing in itself in terms of cultivating one's aesthetic values. Researchers on music tradition in China have suggested that young people lend an ear to China's traditional classical music so as to refine their minds and tastes.
However, De Yin, President of the Yunzhong Academy of Chinese Liberal Arts, thinks that finding traditional classical music may be a hard task for most since classical music education is no longer popular in China.
"Traditional classical music education, which bears the primary purpose of cultivating healthy personalities, was included in the official curriculum during the Qin and Han dynasties. The governments that followed, however, ceased to advocate listening to classical music, causing a decline in traditional classical music in these periods."
Yang Heping, director of the Music Research Center of Zhejiang Normal University, believes that the gradual disappearance of China's traditional classical music from the public domain may have contributed to a general decline in moral standards, even corruption.
"Few people choose to study traditional classical music today. I think the loss of China's traditional classical music education relates to the current issue of corruption. As people are unable to enjoy the relaxing qualities of classical music, their minds have become more easily troubled."
Chinese classical musical education has traditionally been conceived of in terms of ethical education, since it emphasizes cultivation of character in addition to the development of performance technique and musical knowledge.
Music was considered an indispensable part of general education in ancient China, being one of the six core subjects in the curriculum for youth education during the time of Confucius.
Yang believes that there should be a return to this tradition in China. He proposes a government legislation covering traditional classical culture studies in the classroom, which also includes Chinese music and calligraphy.
"The legislation is crucial for the recovery of traditional classical culture studies in the classroom. The Ministry of Education should require primary-school students to study folk songs, opera, and classics, including, a Chinese poem called the Thousand Character Classic; even Chinese calligraphy should be part of the curriculum."
For CRI, I'm Xiao Yee.
 
 
Sports
 
 
China claims four of five titles at BWF super series in Denmark
 
In badminton,
China won four of five super series finals at the Denmark Open yesterday.
Malaysia's defending champion Lee Chong Wei fell to China's Chen Long in the mens singles.
In womens singles, China's Wang Yihan defeated South Korea's Ji Hyun Sung.
Mixed doubles pair Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei backed up their Olympic title by beating Indonesia's world champion team.
The womens doubles final featured home favorites Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl, but it only took two sets for Chinese pair Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua to crush that dream.
The remaining title in mens doubles went to South Koraen pair Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong.
 
 
Ethiopia's Tadese Tola and China's Zhang Yingying win the 2013 Beijing Marathon
 
Yesterday, runners took off from Tiananmen Square for the 2013 Hyundai Beijing marathon.
The 42 kilometer course wound its way through the city, ultimately ending in style in the Olympic Park next to the Bird's Nest.
Ethiopia's Tadese Tola won the mens title with a time of 2 hours 7 minutes and 16 seconds.
And it was Chinese runner Zhang Yingying who came in first for the women, in 2 hours 31 minutes and 19 seconds.
 
 
St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox to face each other in the World Series
 
It will be a World Series rematch between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox are headed back to the world series for the third time in 10 seasons after beating the Detroit Tigers 5-2 in game six to win the American League Championship Series.
Shane Victorino's 7th inning grand slam was the dealbreaker for the Tigers.
"Obviously the first thought was get enough air to tie the game and then it got to the point where I felt like 'wow this could get up over the wall' and all the emotions went through my mind. But I was definitely excited when I ran around the bases, you know, the pounding in my chest. I hope they understand it was a special moment for me, for the city and no disrespect, again. "
In the National League, the Cardinals defeated the LA Dodgers 9-0 to win their series 4-2
The World Series will get underway on Wednesday. This is the first Series between teams with the best record in each league since 1999.
 
 
New York Jets get last minute victory over the Patriots
 
A lot of nail-biters in the NFL this weekend.
The New York Jets got a last minute victory over the New England Patriots thanks to a 42-yard field goal by Nick Folk in overtime.
Just moments before, Folk had missed a 56-yarder. But the Patriots Chris Jones was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct under a new NFL rule after he pushed a teammate forward to try to block the kick.
The Jets ran the ball three more times, and that set Folk up on the 42 yard line, where he booted it in for the 30-27 win.
The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 23-21, after Mario Williams sacked Miami's Ryan Tannehill and forced a fumble. That helped set up the winning field goal for the Bills. Just as a side note, Tannehill is on pace to set an NFL record for being the most-sacked Quarterback.
Washington beat Chicago 45-41.
Cincinnati defeated Detroit 27-24.
And San Diego beat Jacksonville 24-6.
 
 
Miguel Herrera introduced as Mexico's new temporary coach
 
The rumors turned out to be true.
Mexico's football federation introduced Miguel Herrera as the national team's temporary coach after Victor Manuel Vucetich received the boot.
Vucetich only survived long enough to coach two matches, one win and one loss.
Herrera is the team's fourth coach in just under two months, an amount of turnover that many speculate cannot be beneficial to a team struggling to qualify for the World Cup.
 
 
Tottenham defeats Aston Villa
 
In the English Premier League,
Tottenham Hotspur's beat Aston Villa at home 2-nil.
Winger Andros Townsend floated one into the far corner for a goal in the 31st minute. And then later in the second half, Spanish striker Roberto Soldado added another.
Townsend was the player everyone was watching after his impressive performance during England's world cup qualifying matches. Spur's manager Andre Villas-Boas said Townsend lived up to the expectations.
"Great performance. I think alongside the team he grew in the last minutes... or in the second half... and really improved his performance. (He) gives us so many attacking options because he's able to take the team forward with his driving ability, and then link up play - crossing, assisting. So another great performance like we saw for country (England) and, you know, great to see him out there."
That victory lifted Tottenham up to fifth place in the league.
And the Chinese Super League,
Champions Guangzhou Evergrande defeated Qingdao Jonoon 3-1 yesterday.
It was the first home match for Marcello Lippi's side since claiming the CSL championship two weeks ago.
Qingdao's only goal came in the 63rd minute, when Bruno Meneghel scored off a cross from Pablo Caballero.
Qingdao sits second-to last on 28 points, and faces the very real danger of being relegated alongside the unfortunate Wuhan Zall.
 
 
Kang Sung-hoon wins after a controversial final day at the Korea Open
 
In golf,
The Korea Open ended in confusion after officials handed down a controversial penalty to final day leader Kim Hyung-tae.
Kim was docked two strokes for grounding his club in a hazard on 13, but wasn't told about the ruling until the 17th. At that point, he needed to sink a birdie put on the 18th to force a playoff with South Korea's Kang Sung-hoon.
Kim missed, and handed Kang a one-shot victory. Kim refused to sign his scorecard in protest, and rules officials spent a couple hours going over the video replays, but the penalty was ultimately upheld.
Rory McIlroy rallied from being ten shots behind the lead on the final day to end in a tie for second.
Former top-ranked amateur Jin Jeong beat England's Ross Fisher in a sudden death playoff to win at the Perth International.
Australian Scott Hend held off Ernie Els to win the Macau Open.
Amy Yang beat fellow South Korean Hee Kyung Seo in a playoff to win the LPGA Hanabank Championship.
 
 
2014 Sochi Olympic torch reaches North Pole
 
The Sochi Olympic flame has arrived at the North Pole.
This is the first time an Olympic torch has ever been carried so far north, and organizers had to design a special container to prevent the flame from going out.
Apparently a lot is planned for that torch. It still has a dive into the depths of Lake Baikal and trip up into outter space before it ultimately reaches Sochi next February.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
US Box Office; Gravity Continues Reign at Top Spot
 
Filmmaker Afonso Cuaron's new tour de force Gravity has continued to make waves in Hollywood by snagging its third straight weekend at number one in the US box office.
(gravity trailer)
The film brought in another 31-million US dollars this week totaling a domestic gross of 170.6-million.
The new Tom Hanks vehicle Captain Phillips kept hold of its spot at number 2 earning 17.3 million dollars.
Both films beat out new comers like the remake of Carrie and the Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange film The Fifth Estate.
Carrie debuted at number 3 with a 17-million dollar gross, but the big surprise is how few people came out to see The Fifth Estate, which bowed at number 8 pulling in 1.7-million.
The wikileaks cofounder, who the film is about, wrote a letter to actor Benedict Cumberbatch arguing the film would do more harm than good as it portrays him in an unfavorable light.
Fourth place went to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 with 10.1-million, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone's new film Escape Plan debuting at number 5 with 9.8-million.
 
 
Robin Williams to Return to Night at the Museum Franchise
 
Comedian and actor Robin Williams is reportedly in talks to join the upcoming third film in the Night at the Museum franchise.
(night at trailer)
Williams has portrayed the great American Teddy Roosevelt in the previous two films and is thought to be reprising the role for the new film which takes place in London.
Actor Ben Stiller is also believed to be returning to the franchise as the lead.
No word on whether other members of the cast including Amy Adams, Christopher Guest, and Bill Hader will return for the new film.
Williams currently stars with Buffy actress Sarah Michelle Gellar on the television show The Crazy Ones.
He also made a guest appearance as himself on comedian Louis CK's show Louie.
Production on Night at the Museum 3 is scheduled to begin in February next year.
 
 
Arcade Fire Tricks then Treats Audience
 
Eccentric alt-rock band Arcade Fire tricked their Brooklyn warehouse audience before supplying a treat.
(arcade fire clip)
Concert-goers crowded each other for 90-minutes to be as close to the stage as possible.
James Murphy, bandmember of LCD Soundsystem and producer of several tracks from the Arcade Fire's new album, climbed onstage and introduced the Reflektors.
Three people in giant paper-mache masks shuffled onstage and begin jamming on guitar, bass, and drums for a few minutes before departing.
The confused crowd then heard a loud noise from the opposite side of the venue where a curtain fell to reveal a much larger stage covered in mirrors and glitter.
As fans rushed the other stage, the full band launched into their new track Reflektor.
After the performance frontman Win Butler led the audience in an impromptu dance party, spinning classics like Don't Stop Til You Get Enough and Fame.
Arcade Fire's new album Reflektor comes out next week.
 
 
 
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
Over 30 people are dead following a massive suicide bombing in the restive city of Hama in Syria.
The speaker of Iran's parliament is warning lawmakers may decide to ramp up the country's nuclear program if it feel their backs are against the wall.
Authorities in Australia are hoping to make some headway this week on the dozens of brush fires consuming parts of New South Wales.
In Business.... despite the tight restrictions, new home purchases are still expanding rapidly here in China.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James in Beijing, hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together!