新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2013/11/05

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Evening Edition
 
 
It's Tuesday, November 5th 2013.
I'm Marc Cavigli, welcome to the Beijing Hour broadcasting live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program.
India has launched its first spacecraft to Mars.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change begins in Warsaw next week.
And a shooting in a New Jersey shopping mall has the US on edge.
Business, 62-percent of listed Chinese companies will be profitable this year.
Sports, the ATP tennis Finals kick off in London (with Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka clinching his first victory).
Entertainments, a new Chinese film premieres today in Beijing.
Plus Special reports investigates whether China will ever adopt American football.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy with a low of 5 degrees Celsius.　Tomorrow sunny with a high temperature of 17.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 14, cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 22.
Lhasa will be clear tonight, 0 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 14.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, showers with a high of 21.
Kabul, light rain to moderate rain, 9.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, highs of 23.
Canberra, sunny, 27.
Brisbane, overcast, 27.
And finally, Perth will be overcast with a high of 24.
 
 
Top News
 
 
India launches its maiden Mars mission
 
India has launched its maiden mission to Mars from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Mars Orbiter Mission has lifted off atop an Indian-made rocket, and will study the Martian surface, atmosphere and mineralogy.
It's set to travel for 300 days and should reach Mars' orbit in September next year.
 
 
China NDRC holds news briefing on climate change
 
Anchor:
China has reiterated its commitment to tackling climate change through various approaches.
Meanwhile as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is to be held next week in Warsaw, China is calling on developed countries to keep their commitments on climate financing and outline concrete actions.
CRI's Wu Yanping has more.
Reporter:
Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, has introduced the main issues to be discussed at the upcoming Warsaw Conference.
"There're two main issues to be discussed at the Warsaw Conference, namely, to fulfill former obligations and to start new negotiations. First, countries involved should fulfill tasks set by the Bali roadmap and other commitments. And next, we should start Durban negotiations, during which the international community should reach a consensus on the goals, policies and measures regarding tackling climate change."
At the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries promised to mobilize 100 billion dollars per year by 2020 in order to address climate change.
Xie has also urged developed countries to honor their obligations by injecting funds into the Green Climate Fund and clear a roadmap to reach the goal.
For China's part, Xie Zhenghua says the country is planning to reduce pollution by phasing out "backward" production facilities.
"First, we should improve efficiency of energy use and the use of fossil fuel; Second, we should develop renewable energy. What's more, we can plant more trees to make the air clean. All in all, the key issue is to transform our ways of economic development and modes of consumption, and to raise people's awareness in protecting environment as well as tackling climate change."
　　
The official also highlights a pilot scheme for the country's first carbon emission trade market in Shenzhen, which is launched in this June.
The scheme covers 635 industrial companies and some public buildings accounting for about 40 percent of the city's carbon emissions,
Under the trading program, those emitting below their quotas will be able to sell their excess limits to other emitters and even investors for profit.
According to Xie Zhenhua, similar schemes are expected to be launched in Beijing and Shanghai by the end of this year.
For CRI, I'm Wu Yanping.
 
 
China announces new measures to curb excess capacities in five industries
 
Anchor:
At the same time, China announced stricter measures to eliminate excess production capacity to further upgrade the industrial structure.
CRI's Yu Yang has more.
Reporter:
The State Council focuses the reform on five industries including cement, steelmaking, electrolytic aluminum, glass and shipbuilding.
The National Bureau of Statistics shows by the end of 2012, capacity utilization rates of these five industries were far below the international norm.
Zhu Hongren, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, explains the new measures require local governments to take greater responsibilities.
"Firstly, new production projects in these industries should be forbidden. Approval and filing of these projects should not be carried out under any name. Secondly, classified treatment is needed for the projects under construction. Those projects which fail the standards and requirements should be stopped immediately."
Hu Zucai, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission or NDRC, points out the elimination of excess production capacity should be closely integrated with industrial restructuring.
"Industrial restructuring is the core measure to eliminate excess capacity. They are complementary to each other. Excess capacity is directly connected with air pollution control. The campaign should be combined with energy conservation and emission reduction."
Zhu Hongren adds by the end of 2015, more than 100 million metric tons of excess cement production capacity and some 20 million weight cases of excess plate glass production capacity could be eliminated under the government plan.
For CRI, I'm Yu Yang.
 
 
Chinese UN ambassador says Syria talks only way toward peace
 
China's Ambassador to the UN has issued a new statement, saying negotiations between the Syrian government and rebel forces are the only way to bring peace to the war-torn country.
Liu Jieyi has made the comments at a news conference detailing the priorities of the Security Council, as China currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of November.
"First and foremost, it is highly important to convince the relevant parties to sit down at the negotiation table for the Geneva 2 conference to be held as early as possible. We are concerned that things are not progressing as smoothly as we would wish and we would hope that efforts will be made with greater determination at the national, regional and international levels."
China's UN ambassador also notes progress is being made to rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpiles.
 
 
Syria stresses commitment to attend Geneva II conference
 
The Syrian government says it remains committed to taking part in the so-called Geneva II conference, should it ever materialize.
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.
"We confirmed that we will attend Geneva whether it were held tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, a week later or month. This is our steady position. But we also say that we are keen to make the Geneva conference a success. So the conference should be well prepared. It should be based on stopping violation and terrorism immediately and before the entrance to the conference hall."
The stated Syrian government commitment comes after the exiled opposition Syrian National Coalition placed preconditions to its participation in the proposed conference.
The SNC says it will not attend the conference unless there is a strict timetable for President Bashar al-Assad to leave power.
Assad has been unwilling to unilaterally leave office.
However, he has said he will stand for elections.
 
 
Iran's hardliners highlight unity against U.S. "hostility"
 
Anchor:
Iranian hard-liners have taken to the streets of Tehran and other cities across the country to denounce, what they describe, as the United States' "hostility" towards Iran.
The mass demonstrations have been held to mark the 34th anniversary of the storming of the US embassy in Tehran.
CRI's Lucy Du has more.
Reporter:
Former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili has addressed the demonstrators at the site of the former US embassy this year.
"Fighting the global arrogance and hostile policies of America is the symbol of our national solidarity."
Jalili is currently Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative on Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
On November 4th, 1979, hundreds of enraged student protesters stormed the US embassy in Tehran, taking embassy staff hostage for 444 days.
This led the US to sever its diplomatic ties with Iran.
The anniversary of the storming of the embassy is marked every year in Iran, and is oftend used as a rallying-point for hard-line elements in Iranian society.
"They (the US) illegally wiretap the mobile phone of the German Chancellor and the Brazilian President. They wiretap their allies and are not faithful to them, how can they compromise with their arch-enemy (Iran)? They won't compromise with us. These are lies, these are tricks to hinder our progress."
The mass rallies come as new President Hassan Rouhani moves to try to ease tensions with the US and its allies.
Rouhani and US President Barack Obama held a ground-breaking telephone conversation in late September, the first direct contact between the leaders of the two countries in more than 30-years.
However, hard-line elements in Iran have been critical of Rouhani's reproachment.
Rouhani is trying to ease tensions with the US in an attempt to have the sanctions currently imposed on his country lifted.
However, new statements from Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are starting to cast some doubt about talks connected to the country's nuclear programs.
Both Rouhani and Khamenei have released statements this week, saying they are "not optimistic" about how the talks with the world powers are progressing.
Iran and the 5-permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, are set to begin a new round of talks later on this month.
For CRI, I'm Lucy Du.
 
 
Witnesses comment as police converge on mall after shots fired
 
Hundreds of US officers are searching for a gunman at a New Jersey mall not far from New York's Manhattan.
Witnesses at the Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus say the gunman was dressed in black and wearing a helmet.
He's said to have fired up to five shots shortly after the mall closed.
There have been no immediate reports of injuries.
Christian Perez is an eyewitness who explains the high strangeness of the incident.
"They were about a bang, couple seconds, another bang, a third bang, and then about five minutes, two more came after that. So they were pretty spaced out."
Kanji Shikama says Bergen County is typically quiet, and many mall patrons didn't know what to do.
"I told them, 'hey there's a gunman on the loose and shots fired, we need to get out.' And they just kind of looked at me really blankly and didn't know what to do so I just got them all out the store and just kept waving them on."
The mall is located in Bergen County, about 35-kilometres southwest of Manhattan.
 
 
Chinese Film Festival Opens in Istanbul 
 
Anchor:
A Chinese Film Festival has opened in Istanbul to introduce the Turkish people to the vast world of Chinese films.
CRI's Zhang Ru has more.
Reporter:
As a Turkish girl sang the Chinese song 'Jasmine', the Chinese film festival in Istanbul opened at the Confucius Institute of Bogazici University.
The film festival features five Chinese films across different genres.
These films are 'The Grandmaster', 'American Dreams in China', 'Full Circle', 'A Simple Life' and 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate.'
Based on the glowing response from audience members there seems to be something for everyone at this festival including martial arts fans.
"In Turkish films there's always a general theme, but Chinese films have fighting, which comes from life itself. There's always Chinese philosophy, so it's really interesting to watch, and it also makes you to think about your life, so it's really good."
Some prefer films which depict the life of ordinary people.
"Because it's more real."
Chinese film technology is also a big hit at this festival.
"Actually Chinese use much more advanced technology for their films than we do. They have their own styles and techniques in film."
The film screening today is "American Dreams in China", a film about three young Chinese men's struggle around the American dream, their friendship and their courage to stand up from failures.
For many Turkish film-goers, the festival offers an impression of Chinese people and culture they did not know.
"It was interesting for me to see these films. I enjoyed them all. I cried at some points. I really like them. They were moving, and it was nice to be here."
Han Sanping, Chairman of China Film Group Corporation, says with better quality, Chinese films will have more influence in the global market.
"There are several excellent Chinese films and many good directors and actors in recent years. I think we will gradually be accepted by the global audience. One thing that matters is the distribution channel, such as distributing films to foreign TV channels to get a larger audience. It still needs effort, but the situation is getting better year by year."
For CRI, I'm Zhang Ru.
 
 
Chinese Fashion Brands Goes beyond the Fashion Week
 
Anchor:
The 2014 China Fashion Week has just concluded in Beijing on the heels of the Shanghai Fashion Week.
While most Chinese fashion brands see this as an opportunity to make their name known, certain pioneers have taken a bolder step in advancing into the global market.
Duan Xuelian finds out more.
Reporter:
JNBY, a homegrown clothing brand based in the southern Chinese city of Hangzhou, has just made its North America debut at Toronto Fashion Week, the second largest event of its kind in North America.
Established by a group of former art students in 1994, JNBY is among the few Chinese domestic brands to have set up chain stores in some of the world's iconic fashion centers like New York and London. The company is considering opening their first retail store in Toronto right after the fashion week.
Linda Liu, president of SHEME, a Chinese shoe brand also weighing the potentials of opening international retail stores, provides her take on the usefulness of international fashion weeks for Chinese brands.
"The benefits are obvious. To designers who aim for the international stage, the fashion week offers an excellent opportunity to meet famous fashion critics and potential buyers. Their feedback is very important."
But success doesn't come easily from a runway show. It takes time and strategic planning. Liu explains that SHEME tries to combine oriental elements with a contemporary style in its product design. Only by taking local culture into consideration can a domestic brand fit into the world market.
Tian Jing, a fashion agent who works to introduce Chinese fashion brands to international buyers, echoes this opinion.
"If you want to develop your brand, you have to have your own business plan. It's not just one year's work. Sometimes a brand is built over 10 or 15 to 20 years."
Tian says Chinese fashion brands have long shaken off the "Made in China" stigma which often leads many to associate Chinese products with low prices and low quality. Ordinary buyers put comfort before brands or place of production. In his opinion, Chinese designers have to acquire a better understanding of their clients.
"Not only the market, you have to know the culture, have to know, you see, the local consumers, what they really want. You have to know the demands. "
Wang Tao, a young Chinese designer who has just presented her work at the China Fashion Week, agrees.
"Bringing my designs to Fashion Week is not my only purpose. The most valuable review to a designer comes not from critics but from the customers; from people who are willing to spend their money on your designs."
International customers have been warming up to Chinese designs in recent years. Linda Liu attributes part of this increasing interest to the support provided to Chinese brands by China's first lady Peng Liyuan. Her choice of attire sparks a flurry of excitement regarding homegrown designs every time she goes on a state visit alongside president Xi Jinping.
"We feel very proud indeed. Chinese fashion brands are gaining worldwide attention. China's first lady is introducing Chinese design to the world in person. We are confident that Chinese fashion brands will be acknowledged across the globe in the near future."
BACKANCHOR:
That is CRI's Duan Xuelian.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Asian stock 
 
Asian shares sagged on Tuesday after China's premier Li Keqiang said adding extra stimulus will be more difficult since printing new money would trigger inflation.
Li also says China needs 7.2 percent GDP to generate 10 million jobs.
His remarks come as decision makers in China are preparing to meet from Nov 9 to 12 at which major reform drive has been expected.
The Shanghai Composite also erased early losses and was up 0.35 percent,
The Shenzhen Component gained 0.4 percent
Though Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.4 percent.
Tokyo stocks ended higher with the Nikkei 225 climbed 0.2 percent led by oil and securities.
In South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI was down 0.6 percent.
In Singapore the Strait Times increased less than 0.1 percent.
 
 
592 A-Share Listed Companies Forecast Profit Increases for 2013
 
The latest data shows 592 A-share listed firms here in China are forecasted to have profit increases for this year.
This means more than 62-percent of the total listed companies will be profitable.
So far 950 listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges have released their earning forecasts for this year.
Notably, 117 listed companies have projected their net profits to grow by more than 100 percent on an annualized basis.
Among them, 8 companies are said to expect a net profit growth of 1-thousand percent.
On the other hand, about 92 companies have predicted profit decreases.
56 companies say their net profits will drop by over 100 percent.
 
 
Q&A with the Greek ambassador on Chinese companies' investment in Greece
 
A number of Chinese companies are now investing heavily in Greece, as the country tries to inflate its flagging economy.
The European country also attaches great importance to its economic links with China.
In May, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras brought a business delegation of over 60 Greek entrepreneurs on his visit to China.
For more on the investment of Chinese companies in Greece and bilateral cooperation in the economic front, CRI's Zheng Chenguang earlier spoke with Vassilios Costis, the new Greek ambassador to China.
…
Back anchor:
That's Vassilios Costis, the new Greek ambassador to China, speaking with CRI's Zheng Chenguang.
 
 
EU Commission cuts euro zone growth forecasts for 2014
 
The European Commission is slashing its economic forecast for the region by 0.1-percent for the coming year.
The Commission says the economy will shrink by 0.4-percent this year before recovering to grow by 1.1-percent in 2014.
Meanwhile it also predicts the annual inflation rate of the 17-nation bloc will come in at 1.5 percent this year.
Inflation is then projected to drop by 0.1 percent in 2015.
However, the unemployment rate in the Euro zone is forecasted to remain at the current high of over 12-percent through 2015.
 
 
Italy's finance minister urges ECB to ease policy, combat strong euro
 
Italy's finance minister is urging the European Central Bank to take action rather than verbal intervention to cap the strong euro.
Fabrizio Saccomanni has been quoted by the Financial Times as saying, the euro is now the strongest currency along with the US dollars, the Renminbi, the pound and the Swiss franc.
The euro has risen more than 5-percent against the U.S. dollar in the last 4 months, increasing worries it could dampen the weak recovery in the common currency bloc.
Meanwhile Saccomanni criticizes the ECB's monetary policy, saying its low interest rates haven't picked up the economy as hoped.
ECB president Mario Draghi is expected to signal a readiness to further ease policy after the bank's meeting on Thursday.
 
 
BMW Profit Up on Lower Taxes but Revenue Slips
 
Lower tax has helped German carmaker BMW generate a profit increase through the third quarter.
The company reports its net profit has risen over 3-percent this year to almost 1.8-billion US dollars, as income tax declined by 39-million US dollars.
However, BMW's earnings have declined 3.7-percent to 2.6-billion US dollars.
It's said the weakening operating earnings is partly due to the race for technological supremacy against other luxury car brands Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
 
 
Bangladesh seeks 77% rise in wage for garment workers
 
Bangladesh is proposing to lift the minimum salary for the country's garment workers by 77-percent, after a string of incidents revealed the sector's low wages and poor working conditions.
If passed, garment workers will be granted 68-US dollars per month.
However, the proposed increase is still less than what the union has demanded, which is a monthly pay of 108-US dollars.
The wage increase still needs to be approved by the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest exporter of ready-made garments.
The sector is valued at 22-billion US dollars, accounting for nearly 80-percent of the country's exports.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Chinese city adopts emergency response for air pollution
 
An emergency response plan has gone into effect in Taiyuan, the capital city of north China's coal-rich Shanxi Province, to deal with air pollution.
Under the plan, kindergartens, as well as primary and high schools will close, and some industrial plants will temporarily be shut down when a red air pollution alert is announced.
Many cities in Shanxi rely heavily on the coal industry, which has been the pillar sector in the region for decades.
 
 
Beijing, Zhangjiakou co-bid for 2022 Winter Olympics
 
The Chinese cities of Beijing and Zhangjiakou are launching a joint bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
The Chinese Olympic Committee says Beijing will bid for staging the ice events while Zhangjiakou seeks hosting rights for snow sports.
Zhangjiakou, a ski resort in Hebei province, lies about 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing.
An intercity railway has been planned to connect the two cities with the journey expected to take only 40 minutes.
The construction of the railway is expected to start at the end of this year.
 
 
China, India begin anti-terror training drill
 
Both the Chinese and Indian armies have begun a joint anti-terrorism military training drill in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
144 soldiers from each side are participating in the drill.
Training is aimed at exchanging anti-terror experience and enhancing mutual understanding and trust.
China and India last conducted a joint anti-terror training in Belgaum, India, five years ago.
 
 
India launches its maiden Mars mission
 
India has launched its maiden mission to Mars from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
The Mars Orbiter Mission has lifted off atop an Indian-made rocket, and will study the Martian surface, atmosphere and mineralogy.
It's set to travel for 300 days and should reach Mars' orbit in September next year.
 
 
M23 Rebels Surrender in Congo
 
The Democratic Republic of Congo's M23 rebel group has declared an end to their rebellion.
The rebels have announced they are ready to disarm and demobilize troops and enter political dialogue to find a solution to the country's crisis.
The declaration comes hours after rebel fighters retreated from government forces to their two remaining strongholds.
In a statement, M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa said the group is prepared to draw out terms with the Congo's government, putting an end to the 20-month insurgency.
Many rebel fighters including military leader Sultani Makenga have disappeared and are thought to have fled into neighboring countries.
The conflict has seen some 800-thousand people flee their homes.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Shanghai Daily
"Too much homework gets school bad mark"
A primary school in Shanghai was ordered to cut the amount of homework given to pupils, after being criticized by the Ministry of Education in its latest public inspection report.
The Hongkou District No. 2 Central Primary School said yesterday that it has now reduced the amount of homework handed out.
The school was found to be assigning so much copying work that children had to stay up late and were not getting enough sleep.
Teachers also used time that should have been devoted to PE and activities classes to teach Chinese, mathematics and English, in breach of rules.
China News Service
"Hangzhou mulls 'air corridor' to disperse smog"
Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang province, may build an "air corridor" to bring in wind from the suburbs and blow away smog in the inner city.
The Hangzhou authorities said the duct would relieve the "urban heat island effect" in summer.
Experts said the huge numbers of high-rise buildings along the Qiangtang River have blocked southeastern winds from blowing toward the main urban area, causing pollution to be trapped.
An expert cited poor road planning as well, saying the city needs more east-west roads that flow with the wind's direction.
Urban ventilated corridors have been created in China before. Wuhan has six of them, which help lower the highest temperature in summer by one or two degrees Celsius.
Shanghai has built its 250-meter-wide Century Avenue in Pudong, to let wind flow through the district.
Reuters
"One in five Milky Way stars hosts potentially life-friendly Earths"
It's been discovered that one in every five sun-like stars in our galaxy has a planet about the size of Earth and is situated in the so called "Goldy Locks" zone where water is liquid on the surface.
The analysis is based on three years of data collected by NASA's Kepler space telescope.
Extrapolating from 34 months of Kepler observations, researchers found that 22 percent of 50 billion sun-like stars in the galaxy should have planets roughly the size of Earth suitably positioned for water.
The Telegraph
"Almost half of Britons consider themselves 'stressed'"
A mass study has found almost half of Britons consider themselves to be suffering from stress.
The study carried out by health insurers Bupa found stress levels were highest among those aged between 45 and 54, with women more likely than men to describe themselves as suffering from such pressures.
It found main cause of anxiety identified by respondents was concerns about money, followed by work and family life.
The study also compared geographical variations in levels of anxiety - with those living in the Midlands the most likely to feel stressed, while those in Wales were the least likely to say they felt that way.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Will China ever be captivated by American football?
 
Anchor:
The NFL has quietly been working to promote American football in China.
CRI's Jordan Lee has more from the field.
Reporter:
This weekend 36 Beijing university teams gathered for a city-wide flag football championship.
These flag football competitions, also known as Home Field events, are part of the NFL's strategy to promote American football and NFL franchises in China. The games give people a chance to learn the basics of a confusing sport.
Kids like 12-year-old Hui Zhitang were at the field watching the action with semi-stunned, semi-awed expressions.
"Actually I don't get this game.. It's very strange.. very intense. Very, very intense."
The players themselves range in experience level. There's still quite a few false starts and basic rule infringements, but some are talented athletes.
Interest in American football has been growing in China, albeit at a slow pace.
But managing director of NFL China, Richard Young isn't discouraged at all.
He estimates that there are about 3 million football fans in China, about a million of which he classifies as avid fans, meaning they follow an NFL team, buy NFL products, and watch games on a regular basis.
But the NFL faces some unique obstacles in China.
For one thing, football isn't an Olympic sport.
That means the government has no incentive to back grassroots football development, in the way it currently supports grassroots rugby.
Another problem is the lack of Chinese faces in the NFL, because China is a country that loves its sports heroes.
And then there's the small matter that many Chinese parents are afraid their child will be horrifically injured if he takes up American football.
Of course, it's possible. But Wes de Kirby, coach from the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, reasons that football isn't that much more dangerous than other sports.
"Everybody has one kid, and they really treasure their kid. They view full contact football as a really violent and aggressive sport. But I mean there are more injuries annually in cheerleading right? "
Li You, a social sports major also from Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, gave his take on the future of football in China.
"I watched the Super Bowl before, it was kind of exciting. I think Chinese people will Accept American football over time, but if they want to play, they need to bulk up. But if a Chinese person isn't built to play football, he can still enjoy watching it."
Richard Young is optimistic about football's future in China.
"After all these years, I've heard that regularly "BU HESHI ZHONGGUOREN". It doesn't fit the Chinese. But there's no question in my mind that China already has the athletes to play American football. But that's what I like so much about China. There's always a surprise, it's far more diverse than most people would believe. It's exciting in that way."
So American football will probably never become China's number one sport.
But give it some more time, and it's possible the next generation of Chinese could revere Peyton Manning like they do Kobe Bryant.
For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee
 
 
Sports
 
 
Beijing, Zhangjiakou co-bid for 2022 Winter Olympics
 
The Chinese cities of Beijing and Zhangjiakou are launching a joint bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
The Chinese Olympic Committee says Beijing will bid for staging the ice events while Zhangjiakou seeks hosting rights for snow sports.
Zhangjiakou, a ski resort in Hebei province, lies about 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing.
An intercity railway has been planned to connect the two cities with the journey expected to take only 40 minutes.
The construction of the railway is expected to start at the end of this year.
 
 
Wawrinka, Del Potro Open ATP World Tour Finals with Victory
 
Anchor:
The ATP World Tour Finals has kicked off in London with Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka clinching his first victory at the final showdown.
CRI's London correspondent Tu Yun has more.
It's Wawrinka's first time in the year-end showdown.
The Swiss, reaching his career-high singles ranking at the age of 28, extended his head-to-head record over Tomas Berdych to 8-5 after beating the Czech 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 in the first round-robin match.
"The ranking doesn't lie. He's No. 5 or 6. I'm only No. 8. For sure this year, I played him three times, I beat him three times. I'm really happy the way I'm playing against him, but it doesn't mean I'm a better tennis player than him."
Berdych is appearing in the season finale for the fourth time in a row, but he's the only player in the lineup without a title.
"I've been here in a couple of situations which doesn't look good at all and I was able to go through the group . So really just go one by one."
In another singles match, Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro outperformed debutant Richard Gasquet of France 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.
On Tuesday, World No. 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain will take on countryman David Ferrer, and World No. 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia will meet six-time champion Switzerland's Roger Federer.
World No. 4 Britain's Andy Murray missed the tournament due to back surgery.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun in London.
 
 
L.A Clippers snaps Houston's unbeaten run
 
In the NBA,
J.J. Redick scored 26 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers hold off Houston 137-118.
The win has snapped the Rocket's three-game winning streak.
The Clippers have also improved to a 3-1 starting the new season.
Chris Paul stuck for 23 points and dished off 17 assists for the Clippers.
James Harden and Jeremy Lin were among six players to reached double figures for Houston.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the Golden State Warriors hammered the previously unbeaten 76ers 110-90.
Former 76er Andre Iguodala pumped in a career high seven 3-pointers to score 32 points.
Rookie Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Turner each provided 18 points for Philadelphia, which had begun the season with three straight victories.
Elsewhere, it's Memphis Grizzlies thumping winless Boston Celtics 95-88.
While the Cleveland Cavaliers survived to edge Minnesota 93-92.
 
 
Real Madrid seek first away win against Juventus in 51 years at Champions League
 
A total of eight matches are on the slate in the European Champions League later tonight.
Real Madrid is looking to have an away win against Juventus and book their berths in the last sixteen with two matches to spare.
Real has scored 42 goals in 15 games, while Juve sit in the third place of the group with only two points from three games.
Around the same time, Manchester City hosts Russian side CSKA Moscow.
Earlier, UEFA has charged the Russian club over racist chanting directed at City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure by the CSKA fans.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said his side will concentrate on tonight's game.
Also in action tonight, Manchester United will take on Real Sociedad.
Paris Saint Germain hosts RSC Anderlecht of Belgium.
Last year's quarterfinalists Galatasaray faces FC Copenhagen.
And reigning champions Bayern Munich plays Czech side Viktoria Plzen.
 
 
Scottish football to be broadcast live in China
 
Also in football,
It has been reported Chinese fans will now be able to watch Scottish football live.
This comes after a contract was signed between China's online streaming provider PPLive TV and the Scottish Professional Football League or SPFL.
The SPFL is made up of clubs in the Scottish Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two.
At present, PPLive TV broadcasts the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga.
With this deal, live SPFL matches will reach PPLive TV's 60 million strong users in China.
The SPFL has yet to find a commercial backer after Clydesdale Bank's sponsorship of the top flight ended in the summer.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
"Love You for Loving Me" Premiered in BJ
 
Chinese film "Love You for Loving Me" starring Chinese actors Zhang Hanyu and Wang Luodan has premiered in Beijing today.
Zhang shot to fame after winning the best actor at the Golden Horse Film Awards in Taiwan in 2008.
This is the first time that Zhang Hanyu has starred in a love story.
Hanyu says the film will be relevant to everyone, even single people who celebrate with a special day on November 11.
"Authentic love always touches people. On Single's Day, no matter whether you have girlfriend or boyfriend or not, the film can always get you inspired emotionally."
The film is to hit screens across China .
 
 
Thor: The Dark World premiers in USA
 
Thor: The Dark World has just premiered in the US.
In the second film of the franchise Australian actor Chirs Hemsworth reprises his role as the Norse God of Thunder, and Tom Hiddleston plays his brother Loki.
"Hello to all IMAX fans in China. I'm Tom Hiddleston and you might know me as Loki in Thor and the Avengers. Now I'm back with Thor: the Dark World which is a thrilling adventure that lends itself perfectly to IMAX 3D."
In the latest Marvel behemoth, Thor has spent the last two years restoring order to the nine realms, but just as peace settles, a previously locked-away dark energy called the Aether seeps out.
In order to defeat the Dark Elves he is forced to seek help from Loki who's been imprisoned for killing thousands of humans in New York.
At 75-years old Sir Antony Hopkins who reprises his role as Thor's father Odin gave the secret of his longevity.
"Stay fit, Stay off the cookies, don't eat rice and pasta, don't eat sweets. So I have to be very disciplined. stay very fit and strong and avoid all those bad yummy foods."
 
 
Lee Min Ho breaks records in China with new drama 'The Heirs'
 
South Korean actor Lee Min Ho has caught the imagination of Chinese audiences once again with his new Drama The Heirs.
The soap opera sees Lee playing the son in a wealthy family who falls in love with a girl from a poor background.
Lee Min Ho gained many fans with his previous outing in City Hunter and with this new series he is breaking records.
His agency announced today that The Heirs got over 160 million views on Youku, and credit Lee with being the main cause for the interest.
After only eight episodes the series is ranked number four in the list of popular dramas.
Episode 9 airs tomorrow.
 
 
Annie Lennox receives 22nd Music Industry Trusts Award
 
Now for some music
Annie Lennox has been honored with the 22nd Music Industry Trusts (or MITS) Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to British music along with her tireless charity work.
The singer-songwriter and philanthropist first shot to fame alongside David A. Stewart in the Eurithmics in the 1980s and went on to enjoy a number of solo hits into the 90s.
The 58-year-old said she hopes she can serve as an inspiration to other female artists.
"I'm almost 60 and I think it's relevant because pop music has always been about youth and beauty in a way and I see a lot of older guys in their seventies still on stage - not to say that I'm going to be on stage in my seventies - but I hope that, in a way, it will be encouraging for young female artists to see that you can still be relevant and be here and creative when you are your mother's age or even your grandmother's age."
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
India has launched its first spacecraft to Mars.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change begins in Warsaw next week.
And a shooting in a New Jersey shopping mall has the US on edge.
Business, 62-percent of listed Chinese companies will be profitable this year.