新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/04/09

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Evening Edition
 
 
Paul James with you this Wednesday, April 9, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
A new set of signals have been detected possibly connected to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has arrived in China along with a major delegation looking for new business opportunities.
The latest phase of the Indian general election is underway, while legislative elections are taking place in Indonesia.
In business... China's central planners have confirmed they're now working on a draft for an 'economic circle' around Beijing.
In sports... Chelsea and Real Madrid have advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
In entertainment.... a film about 3D animated birds has hit theatres here in Beijng.
 
 
Weather 
 
 
Beijing will be clear tonight with a low of 11 degrees Celsius. Sunny tomorrow with a high of 18 degrees.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 13, Cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 24.
Chongqing will have light rain, 18 degrees the low, showers tomorrow with a high of 22.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny with a high of 29.
Kabul, overcast, 20.
Over in Australia
Sydney, light rain to moderate rain, high of 23.
Canberra, olight rain to moderate rain, 18.
Brisbane, overcast, 28.
And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 29.
 
 
Top News 
 
 
Two more suspicious signals detected in MH370 search
 
Australian authorities say they've managed to detect two more signals in the search for the flight data recorder of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The search team aboard an Australian ship searching for the black-box detected the signals during their search late yesterday.
Angus Houston is the head of the joint agency coordinating the search.
"They therefore assess that the transmission was not of natural origin and was likely sourced from specific electronic equipment. They believe the signals to be consistent with the specification and description of a flight data recorder."
The 2nd signal detected is said to have been quite weak.
This is creating concerns the flight data recorder may be running out of battery power.
Batteries on black-boxes generally last for a month.
It's been just over a month since MH370 disappeared.
At the same time, Chinese search crews says they've been made aware of possible debris in the water in the same general area where the search for the black-box is being focused.
Chinese officials are now mapping out ocean currents to try to get a better idea of where to focus their search for any remains of the missing jetliner.
Authorities are cautioning that any underwater search for the missing flight data recorder may take quite a while.
When Air France flight 447 disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, it took an underwater submersible nearly 3-weeks to locate that jet's flight data recorder, even though searchers had a good idea of where it was situated on the ocean floor.
 
 
Call-in on the Australian PM's visit in China
 
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot has arrived here in China to attend the Bo'ao Forum for Asia in Hainan.
He has met with Premier Li Keqiang today, with Abbott breifing him on the search for MH370.
The major motivation for Tony Abbot's visit to China is the impending signing of a Free Trade Agreement between China and Australia.
To that end, CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King spoke earlier with Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Politics and Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
…
Professor Kerry Brown from the University of Sydney, speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King.
 
 
Australia's Biggest Trade Delegation in China for Closer Co.op
 
Anchor:
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's current visit to China includes a large delegation of business leaders, who among other things, are here to help Australian companies potentially navigate their way into the Chinese financial services sector.
CRI's Xu Fei explains.
Reporter:
Members of the Australian delegation have sat down for talks with officials in Beijing to discuss the possibility of Australian investment in China's pension system.
Given the rapid aging of the population here in China, the per-capita reserves in this country's pension system can only support one person living in an urban setting for a little over 2-months.
As such, there's been a drive to create an investment-based pension program which can support people over the longer-term.
And Australian firms are hoping to play a role in that.
John Brogden is the CEO of Australia's Financial Services Council, which represents Australia's retail and wholesale investment funds.
He admits collaboration in the field of pensions won't be easy, but suggests Australia could be a good partner for China when it comes to this area.
"It's much easier to talk about trading coal and metal and cars than it is in financial services. It's a complex concept, but we're very optimistic about it. We see many more opportunities than challenges. China has an aging population; that aging population will need products, financial products to assist them to have a prosperous and enjoyable, and hopefully long, retirement. So Australia has a significant expertise in retirement market"
One of the areas where the Australian delegation is hoping to create investment opportunities is in infrastructure.
David Whiteley is Chief Executive of Industry Super Australia, an organization which manages collective projects on behalf of sixteen Industry Super Funds focusing on research, policy development and government relations.
"The other big difference, I think, is the asset allocation. So, in Australia, there is, perhaps, more diverse asset allocation. The discussion today was captured areas such as investment in infrastructure. Across the world, every country has a need for investment in infrastructure. Every government is looking to pension funds to assist in that investment. And, of course, every pension system, domestic pension system, has the expertise about their home country. So there is, maybe in the future, some capacity for collaboration there."
The Australian delegation's time in this country coincides with Australia Week in China.
The week-long event is designed to promote trade, investment, tourism and education partnerships.
For CRI, I'm Xu Fei.
 
 
20 killed, 70 injured as blast hits fruit market in Islamabad, Pakistan
 
At least 20 people are dead following a bombing in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Over 70 others have been injured, after the bomb went off inside a packed fruit market.
At least 25 of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
More than 15-hundred people were inside the market when the bomb went off this morning.
Assistant Police Inspector Sultan Azam Temuri.
"The blast took place at around quarter past eight. The bomb was planted. About 5 kilograms of explosive was used, because there is a crater which shows it was planted. It was hidden in a carton."
Authorities note the market itself receives thousands of boxes of fruit every day, making it difficult for security personnel to search every item.
So far no group has claimed responsibility.
The bombing represents the second major attack in Islamabad in just over a month.
In early March, a twin suicide bombing in a different part of the Pakistani capital left 11 dead and 25 others hurt.
 
 
2 Indians killed in encounter with rebels
 
Two members of India's national security forces are dead after a confrontation with leftist-rebels in central India.
Authorities say the paramilitary troopers were on patrol in the state of Chhattisgarh when they were ambushed by so-called Naxalite rebels.
Indian authorities say a massive manhunt is underway to try to track down those responsible.
Around 40-thousand paramilitary troops have been deployed in Chhattisgarh to ensure the peace during the national election.
Chhattishgarh is set to be one of the next districts to take to the polls on Thursday.
The left-wing Naxalite rebel group has called for a boycott of the vote.
The Naxalite movement, in its current form, has been in a running conflict with the Indian government for the last decade, with the group claiming to be fighting for the country's agricultural laborers.
 
 
2nd phase of India's general elections starts
 
The second phase of India's mammoth nine-phase general elections is underway, with polling underway in six constituencies across four northeastern states.
The Hindu nationalist opposition party, BJP, is promising economic rejuvenation and jobs if elected.
The BJP is currently being tipped to emerge as the clear leader in the current voting, but likely to fall short of an absolute majority.
Many observers expect the part to lead a coalition government.
Some 814 million Indians are eligible to cast their ballots in the general elections, 100 million more than in 2009.
"It should be a changed nation, not a changing one, that's why I have come to vote. I have a lot of expectations from them, a developed nation. That's why I am voting for BJP. I am voting for the first time."
"We will not get anything if we vote for any of the parties including BJP, Congress. We are just voting as it is our right in a democracy."
Polling is suggesting voters are set to inflict a resounding blow to the ruling Congress party, which is led by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
India is currently in its longest economic slowdown since the 1980s.
The multi-stage voting is due to end on May 12th.
The results are to be announced on May 16th.
 
 
Jakarta governor among those voting, as 20,000 seats contested in elections
 
Polls have opened in Indonesia, where 180-million people are eligible to vote in that country's single-day legislative elections.
After three weeks of campaigning, voters across three time zones are casting their ballots to elect members of both national and local legislatures.
"Unlike in previous elections, this time I was very excited because there is a candidate who I want to win, so I am very excited to be here."
"I am so glad I can finally vote because I can give my voice. I'm so glad I have the right and the obligation."
Most observers expect the parliamentary elections will hand a clear victory to the country's main opposition.
If that comes to pass, it’s expected to help pave the way for opposition leader Joko Widodo to command the vote in the upcoming Presidential elections in early July.
The 52-year old governor of Jakarta, a former furniture business owner, has seen a meteoric rise in his popularity in a country which has had its politics dominated by military strong-men and business tycoons since the fall of Suharto.
Current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling Democratic Party is currently polling in 4th place following a string of corruption scandals.
Polling in the current parliamentary elections also suggests Indonesia's main Muslim-centered parties are in for their worst showing yet in local elections, with voters said to be shifting away from voting for purely religious reasons.
Official results of the legislative elections are due out in early May.
 
 
PM- Manuel Valls gives first speech to parliament as premier
 
Newly-appointed French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has used his first speech to the French parliament to announce new plans for a corporate tax cut.
Valls has confirmed an expected package of 30-billion euros in payroll tax cuts will be implemented in 2016.
He says the so-called "C3S" tax on companies will be scrapped at that time, handing a total of 6-billion euros back to French companies.
"When it comes to minimum wage, employers' contributions to URSSAF (the agency in France which collects social security payments) will be entirely cut from the first of January 2015. Zero charges for employers for their employees paid minimum wage. There you have change; there you have a real revolution."
On the public spending side, Valls says France wants to respect its promises to the EU to bring down its public deficit, but will not go down the path of austerity.
German and EU officials are suggesting France should not be given any more time to bring its deficit down from 4.3 percent last year to the EU target of 3-percent next year.
Valls speech to the French parliament has come ahead of a confidence vote which he is likely to win because of the absolute majority held by his ruling Socialists.
 
 
Venezuelan opposition agrees to face to face talks with Maduro government
 
Venezuela's main opposition has agreed to sit down with President Nicolas Maduro's government for talks aimed at trying to defuse the political unrest in the country, which is now headed into its 3rd month.
Jorge Arreaza is the Venezuelan Vice-President.
"We hope that in coming hours the formal meeting between the government and opposition will take place, which will be public and able to be seen and shared by the Venezuelan people."
The two sides have agreed the talks will be public, and under the supervision of the foreign ministers from Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, as well as the Vatican's diplomatic envoy in Venezuela.
Ramon Aveledo is the President of the opposition Democratic Unity Group.
"(We want) this first meeting in the dialogue process to take place in front of all Venezuelans and of the world to show that it is transparent, to make everyone's positions and motives perfectly clear, and to show the sincere desire that we should all have, to give Venezuelans hope, options and possibilities going forward."
The opposition, which for weeks had resisted Maduro's invitation for talks, has changed course after receiving assurances from visiting South American diplomats the Maduro government is open to discussing a four-point agenda it has put forth as a starting point for talks.
Their proposals include an amnesty for jailed government opponents, the creation of an independent commission to determine who is to blame for the recent violence, and the disarmament of groups loyal to Maduro.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks
 
A bounce-back in U.S. share prices have given a boost to Asian issues.
But at the same time, a sharp gain in the value of the Japanese yen has added to sizable losses on the Japanese exchange.
Hong Kong has led a region-wide rebound, with the Hang Seng extending gains from Tuesday to close today's trading 1.1% higher.
Chinese tech stocks continue to rebound, as index heavyweight Tencent gained 2.8%.
Here on the mainland, the Shanghai Composite ended up 0.3%.
The Shenzhen Component Index ended essentially flat.
Japanese stocks were dragged lower this Wednesday as Tokyo reacted to a sharply stronger yen.
The Nikkei fell 2.1% in today's trading.
Speaking at his first news conference since the national sales tax rise a week ago, the governor of the Bank of Japan has moved to try to dismiss concerns over the higher tax.
Instead, Haruhiko Kuroda says he remains "as convinced as before" that the BOJ can defeat 15-years of deflation and spur 2% inflation by next spring, which is its main policy goal.
Elsewhere in the region,
South Korea's KOSPI closed 0.1% higher.
Singapore's Straits Times index also added 0.1%.
Australia's ASX200 finished a solid session, up nearly 1-percent on the back of a 22-percent increase in the share price of Australian retailer David Jones, which has agreed to a takeover from South Africa-based Woolworths.
 
 
China's WH Group sets IPO valuation
 
The Chinese pork producer that bought Smithfield Foods is planning to sell its shares at a valuation 15 to 21 times its forecast earnings as part of its initial public offering in Hong Kong.
It is expected WH Group, formerly known as Shuanghui International, could raise up to 6-billion US dollars from the IPO.
The price-to-earnings range would value the firm between 15 and 21-billion US dollars.
Shares of global meat companies, including US firms Tyson and Hormel, are trading at an average of over 17-times the companies' forecast earnings.
 
 
Prices IPO Of 10.9 Mln ADDs At $14/ADS
 
Chinese medical firm iKang Healthcare has priced its initial public offering on the NASDAQ at 14-dollars per share.
The company's shares are due to begin trading on the NASDAQ on later on this Wednesday under the ticker symbol "KANG."
The IPO includes nearly 7.6 million shares offered by iKang, and 3.3 million shares offered by the selling shareholders.
The IPO's underwriters also have a 30-day option to buy up an additional 1.6 million shares, all of which would be from iKang.
iKang specializes in high-end medical check-ups.
 
 
NDRC working on Beijing "economic circle" plan
 
China's top economic planner has announced its drawing up a plan for the coordinated development of a Beijing-centered "economic circle."
The National Development and Reform Commission says it expects to develop the circle into one of three economic growth poles in east China.
The NDRC says the draft will include specific measures connected to infrastructure construction, industrial layout and innovation.
A mechanism for regional cooperation is also expected to be part of the plan.
The NDRC hasn't said when the final draft will be ready.
The so-called economic circle around Beijing, which would encompass the capital, Hebei and Tianjin, is home to over 100 million people.
It has a combined GDP of over 6 trillion yuan.
 
 
China increases 2014 railway investment
 
A senior railway official here in China has revealed the government is going to increase its investment in this country's railway sector to 720-billion yuan this year.
Sheng Guangzu, general manager of the China Railway Corporation, says his organization is bulking up investment to meet demand.
He says 49 new projects and over 7-thousand kilometers of new railway lines are going to be put into operation this year.
The initial plan set at the beginning of the year targeted 700-billion yuan of fixed asset investment, 44 new projects and 66-hundred kilometers of new railway lines.
Sheng also says nearly 80-percent of all construction investment this year will be in this country's central and western regions.
 
 
Ben Cavender on Nokia-Microsoft tie-up
 
Anchor:
Chinese authorities have given Nokia a clear path to sell its mobile phone business to Microsoft.
In receiving the green-light, Nokia says there has been no request for it to change its patent practices.
Nokia agreed back in September to sell its mobile phone business to Microsoft in a deal worth 5.4-billion euros.
Nokia and Microsoft had hoped to close the transaction by the first quarter this year.
However, Nokia last month pushed back the signing to this month due to ongoing reviews by antitrust regulators here in Asia.
Shang Ming, head of China's Anti-Monopoly Bureau, explains why his organization has been concerned about the takeover.
"75% of global sales of mobile phones are made in China; smartphone market of China accounts for 34 percent of the global shares. If Microsoft hikes up its fees on patent licensing, the cost will consequently pass on consumers or Chinese phone makers will have to exit the market."
Despite the concerns, Nokia says it still expects the Microsoft deal to close this month.
The deal already has approvals from both the EU and the US.
For more on this, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Ben Cavender, Associate principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
Ben Cavender, Associate principal at China Market Research in Shanghai, speaking with CRI's Shane Bigham.
 
 
Alibaba makes another move into cultural sector with Wasu purchase
 
Alibaba has reached an agreement with Zhejiang-based Wasu Group to further tap into the cultural and new media sector.
The two companies are expected to cooperate in the development of original content, online gaming and music, as well as the cloud computing sector.
Wasu Media, Wasu's listed arm on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, announced late Tuesday that investment firm Hangzhou Yunxi has agreed to buy a 20-percent stake in the company for 6.5-billion yuan.
Yunxi Investment is controlled by Jack Ma, chair and founder of Alibaba, along with Shi Yuzhu, founder of Giant Interactive Group.
Wasu's cable TV currently has around 20-million subscribers, three-quarters of whom are in Zhejiang.
This is the second move in recent weeks by Alibaba to become more involved in the culture and media sectors.
Alibaba agreed to buy a 60 percent stake of ChinaVision for around 800-million US dollars on March 11th.
 
 
Travel websites may merge
 
New reports are suggesting Chinese travel website Qunar, which is Baidu's travel website, is in talks with Ctrip.com for a possible merger or partnership.
The talks are said to be in the early stages and may not result in a deal.
Qunar, one of China's most popular travel-booking websites, is 55 percent owned by Baidu.
Ctrip is currently the largest online travel booking website in China.
Baidu acquired a majority stake in Qunar in 2011 for just over 300-million US dollars.
Qunar went public in November.
It's said to have a market cap of around 3-billion US dollars.
 
 
Headline News 
 
 
Two more suspicious signals detected in MH370 search
 
Australian authorities say they've managed to detect two more signals in the search for the flight data recorder of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The search team aboard an Australian ship searching for the black-box detected the signals during their search late yesterday.
The 2nd signal detected is said to have been quite weak.
At the same time, Chinese search crews says they've been made aware of possible debris in the water in the same general area where the search for the black-box is being focused.
Authorities are cautioning that any underwater search for the missing flight data recorder may take quite a while.
 
 
NDRC working on Beijing "economic circle" plan
 
China's top economic planner has announced its drawing up a plan for the coordinated development of a Beijing-centered "economic circle."
The National Development and Reform Commission says it expects to develop the circle into one of three economic growth poles in east China.
The draft plan is said to include specific measures connected to infrastructure construction, industrial layout and innovation, and a mechanism for regional cooperation.
The NDRC hasn't said when the final draft will be ready.
The so-called economic circle would encompass the capital, Hebei and Tianjin.
 
 
China encourages development of private healthcare
 
Chinese authorities have unveiled a new package of regulations for the healthcare sector meant to try to encourage more private money into the system.
As part of the newly-released measures, private health organizations are being given more leeway in what they can charge for their medical services.
Non-public hospitals are also being required to accept compensation from the public medical insurance program.
There are currently around 10-thousand private hospitals in China, and around 13-thousand public hospitals.
The public hospitals currently cover around 90-percent of all the health services in this country.
 
 
Doctor murdered in E China
 
There's been another fatal attack on a medical professional here in China.
A doctor has been stabbed to death in a hospital in Jiangsu.
The doctor, identified as Shan Erhui, was attacked in the doctors lounge yesterday afternoon at his hospital in Fengxian County, which is a satellite community northwest of the city of Xuzhou.
Police do have a person in custody.
Authorities say the 45-year old suspect was apparently unhappy with his treatment and his bills following an adult circumcision he underwent 10-days ago.
This fatal attack is the latest in a series of serious assaults and fatal attacks against medical professionals here in China.
 
 
Over 100 killed by Ebola in Guinea
 
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has now killed over 100-people in Guinea.
So far 157-people have been infected by the epidemic.
In Guinea's capital Conakry, the most densely populated region in the country, a total of 20 cases and 8-deaths have been reported.
Despite the new figures, authorities in the West African country say there has been a marked reduction of newly-reported cases.
The World Health Organization says most new cases of the Ebola Virus being reported in Guinea are linked to known transmission chains.
 
 
Newspaper Picks 
 
 
Shanghai Daily
"Online platform takes higher learning into the digital age"
THE country's first online credit-based platform for further and higher education courses was launched yesterday by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
The website will enable students from 19 universities and colleges in the city — including East China Normal and Donghua universities — to study courses and earn credits online by watching videos, taking part in quizzes and joining discussions with classmates and teachers.
The uniqueness of the platform lies in that the participating universities and colleges will give credits to students who have followed and passed courses via the website.
Originating in the United States, the new technology provides an opportunity for universities to reform their traditional teaching methods and encourage a much more interactive and participatory learning model.
"The platform is designed to benefit all students, as China's higher education resources are still regionally imbalanced, and Our aim is to enable everyone to go to the best university in China," said Huang Zhen, vice president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
China News Service
"First 207 factories moving out of Beijing, most highly polluting"
First batch of 207 factories scheduled to move out of Beijing, and most of them are high-input, high-energy consumption, high-pollution and low-efficiency operations.
Beijing, faced with increasing pressure from its transportation, housing and environment, hopes to ease the strain by moving some factories to adjacent cities.
Although the designated places need more economic activity to accelerate development, and these factories are offered to select, Tianjin and Hebei showed no enthusiasm
The 207 factories on the list are mostly high-input and low-output, such as chemical factories, construction companies and manufacturing plants.
What all sides need to do is to take a wider perspective instead of being concerned merely with regional interests, some news analysts said.
Yahoo News
"Parents Should Monitor Time Spent on School Work, says Brooklyn Pediatrician"
A recent study to understand how school work can stress out pupils found that too Much Homework Can Make Your Child Sick.
The study was led by Denise Pope, a senior lecturer from the Stanford Graduate School of Education. They reviewed the study habits of over 4,300 students from 10 high-performing public and private high schools in upper-middle-class California communities.
And researchers found that excessive homework is associated with high stress levels, physical health problems, and lack of balance in children's lives.
Pope the lead researcher said that parents should be there to support their kids, not by doing their children's work, but by encouraging them to do their best.
The researchers also mentioned that while it is significant for our future generations to grow up while becoming smarter and more disciplined every day, it's also important for them to develop a sense of multi-functionality and well-roundedness as well.
Fox News
"Yale student Claims University threatened to suspend her if she didn't gain weight"
A student at Yale University said she was faced with an unusual college dilemma for the past few months: gain weight or leave school.
Frances Chan said she has been stuffing herself with ice cream and Cheetos, after doctors at Yale's health center said she was too thin and needed to gain weight.
Chan is a 20-year-old history major. At 157cm, Chan weighs just 41 kilograms. She said she has been fighting with the university for months over her weight, claiming Yale threatened to put her on a medical leave of absence if she didn't put on enough pounds.
Chan said she ate ice cream twice a day. She ate cookies. She used elevators instead of walking up stairs. But she hasn't really gain any weight.
When asked about Chan's case, Yale spokesman said the university could not discuss the individual medical treatment of its students. However, he noted that, "Yale has a strong system of mental health care for students."
 
 
Special Reports 
 
 
Exhibit Featuring Sino-US Postal Exchange Hits Washington
 
Anchor:
An exhibit featuring stamps and pieces of mail exchanged between China and the United States is now on display in the US.
CRI's Xiong Siqi has the details.
Reporter:
The "Pacific Exchange: China & U.S. Mail" exhibition opened at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum in Washington D.C. last month, aiming to tell the story of the Chinese-U.S. relationship.
Featuring the stamps and mails exchanged between the two countries from the mid-19th century to the 1980s, most of the items on display were carefully selected from the international collection of the museum and are shown to the public for the first time.
Chief curator Cheryl R. Ganz explains that the museum took three years to prepare the exhibition and received a warm welcome from visitors.
"I think for the museum, this is the first time we have done a major China exhibit. I think we are ready. The attendance has been fabulous. People really are interested in this. "
Some highlights among the 175 items are an 1849 letter sent from Boston took nearly 3 months to reach an American opium trader in Guangzhou and several stamps made by the China Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1912 that survived a fire. Visitors could also find the first Chinese Lunar New Year Stamp issued by the U.S Postal Service – a black and white rooster stamp.
Visitors observe the collection really keenly. Some even hold a magnifying glass in order to study the intricate details of each stamp.
William Stap is one of them. He says the exhibition helps him to better understand Chinese history and culture.
"I really enjoy the exhibition. The stamps are beautiful, they really are. It's fascinating to look at history through stamps and see what they have to tell us. It's not complete, but it's an engaging way to do it. Because almost everybody loves stamps."
Li Hong, the Minister Counselor from the Chinese Embassy in Washington. D.C., says the exhibit means a lot for people from both countries.
"After visiting the exhibition, I think people from both countries should know more and communicate more with each other. I believe this kind of event is pretty popular. Since many Chinese collect stamps, if the chance arises, this exhibit could be opened in China, as well. "
Due to strong interest from American visitors, Ganz says the museum will launch more activities and shows about China.
First opened in March, the exhibit will run until early January, 2015.
For CRI, this is Xiong Siqi.
 
 
Sports 
 
 
Chelsea and Real Madrid advance to UEFA CL semis
 
Yesterday in the UEFA Champions League,
Jose Mourinho was in a much brighter mood post-game after Chelsea qualified for the semifinals with a 2-0 win over Paris St-Germain. The second goal had the Portuguese manager sprinting down the sidelines to where his players were going crazy.
"It was not to celebrate. It was to tell the platers how we have to play the last ten minutes because I know in that moment they want to celebrate; they want to think that the game is over. They forget that you still have three plus another three or four minutes to play and the way we were playing we couldn't carry on winning two-nil. So I had to go there because I knew it was the only chance I had to tell Demba (Ba) and Fernando (Torres) and (Andre) Schurrle what we have to do in the last seven or eight minutes so it was not to celebrate. But you could see that I could run!"
The two goals came from substitutes Andre Schurrle and Demba Ba to help Chelsea overturn their 3-1 first leg deficit and advance.
Borussia Dortmund defeated Real Madrid 2-0 to win the second leg of their Champions League, but the La Liga side will still advance to the semis after winning 3-2 on aggregate, courtesy of a 3-0 first leg victory.
 
 
Brooklyn beats Miami by a single point for the second time this season
 
In the NBA,
It was a fierce battle between Brooklyn and Miami, with the Nets just barely edging out the Heat 88-87. Brooklyn's Joe Johnson had 19 points but Mason Plumlee arguably had the best stat with his block on LeBron James final seconds dunk attempt.
The Detroit Pistons beat the Atlanta Hawks 102 to 95. With four games left to go, the Hawks hold a two-game lead over New York for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
Minnesota handed the San Antonio Spurs a loss 110 to 91. Dallas picked up their fifth straight victory after beating Utah 95 to 83.
Oklahoma City defeated Sacramento 107 to 92. And doesn't seem like much defense was going on when Houston played the Lakers, but the Rockets ended up winning 145-130.
 
 
Toronto miss playoffs for eighth time in nine seasons after loss to Tampa Bay
 
In the NHL,
Another team bites the dust; Toronto fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0, which officially eliminates the Maple Leafs from playoff contention for the eighth time in nine seasons.
The Minnesota Wild secured their top wild card berth in the western conference with a 4-3 shootout win over the Boston Bruins.
The Detroit Red Wings are a step closer to clinching their wild card spot after their 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated Phoenix 4-3, thanks to an overtime goal by Ryan Johansen.
The win gives the Blue Jackets a four-point lead over the Washington Caps in the race for the second wild card spot.
Speaking of Washington, the Capitals had a big 4-1 road win over western-conference leading St. Louis.
Alex Ovechkin netted his 50th goal in that game, which makes him only the 11th player in league history to score 50 or more goals in a season five times. With just three games left, the Caps need to deliver if they're going to overtake Columbus for a spot in the eastern conference playoffs.
 
 
Rory McIlroy comments on fierce field of competition at Masters
 
In golf,
It was day two of practice before the Masters tournament gets underway this week in Augusta.
We were joking yesterday about how all the players think their chances of winning have spiked now that Tiger Woods is out with his injury, but Rory McIlroy at least is noting that the field is as competitive as ever.
"I mean, obviously there's a few past champions that play that might not be able to compete.　There might be a few first-timers or a few amateurs that won't compete. But then you've got the rest; I'm just looking down the list here:　Stewart Cink, Tim Clark, Ian Woosnam, no; John Huh (laughter) -- sorry, Woosie."
This year, there have been 18 winners in the last 21 PGA tour events, which mean that any one of them has a chance at taking the green jacket.
 
 
Andy Murray on the lookout for new coach
 
In tennis news,
Andy Murray is on the hunt for a new coach, after parting ways with former coach and mentor Ivan Lendl.
The Scot said it would be ideal to secure a coach before the French Open begins later next month, but admitted the process can be slow.
"But, you know, it's not always simple, like I'm sure when a football team are trying to find the perfect manager, the managers don't always want to do it. It's not always as simple as just picking the first person that comes to your head, you really need to think hard about it and then they also need to be keen on doing it and keen on the travel and doing enough weeks, which not everyone is keen on travelling for thirty weeks a year."
Murray has had a rough start to his 2014 in terms of results, but said the right coach will hopefully help him find some consistency as he looks to defend his Wimbledon crown later this year.
 
 
Jamaican Olympic sprinter Sherone Simpson banned for doping
 
In other news,
Jamaica's Olympic sprinter Sherone Simpson has been slapped with a competition ban through December 20 after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
Simpson and teammate Asafa Powell tested positive for the substance oxilofrone at Jamaica's national championships back in June.
Two different labs were commissioned to test the supplement, and both determined that oxilofrone was present, though not declared on the label.
Simpson's agent Paul Doyle has called the ruling "incredibly unjust" his line of argument being that normally athletes are only punished with a public warning or three months of ineligibility.
 
 
Entertainment 
 
 
'Rio 2' Premieres in BJ
 
The American 3D computer-animated film "Rio 2" premiered in Beijing on Wednesday.
The musical adventure-comedy film features the returning voices of Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, will.i.am and Jamie Foxx.
The story of Rio 2 finds Blu, Jewel and their three kids leaving the city of Rio de Janeiro for the Amazon rainforest, where their owners Linda and Tulio are on an expedition.
After arriving at the Amazon, the family comes across Jewel's long-lost father, Eduardo, who is in hiding with his macaw tribe.
As Blu has trouble fitting in, his old nemesis Nigel infiltrates the tribe, and illegal loggers kidnap Linda and Tulio on their way to reach the macaws' hideout.
The film is set to hit screens all across China on April 11th.
 
 
'That Demon Within' premieres in Hong Kong
 
Hong Kong actors Nick Cheung and Daniel Wu attended the premiere of their new cop thriller "That Demon Within" in Hong Kong yesterday.
In the film, Wu plays a police officer who accidentally saves the life of a notorious gang leader, who is played by Cheung.
Cheung's character eventually returns to a life of crime, and Wu's police officer vows to risk all to bring Cheung to justice.
This is the first time Wu and Cheung have collaborated on-screen. Wu said he enjoyed working with Cheung and he looks forward to working together on future projects:
"I am very happy to get the chance to work with Nick. I have made so many Hong Kong films, yet we haven't had the chance to work together. So when the director approached me (about this project), I was very happy and excited. I don't think we shared that many scenes together in this film, so I already asked the director to cast us in his next movie."
The film was directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Dante Lam, who won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director for his work on "Beast Stalker" in 2008.
Both Lam and Cheung have been nominated in the directing and acting categories at the upcoming Hong Kong Film Awards on April 13th.
"That Demon Within" is set to hit theaters in China on April 18th.
 
 
Nicolas Cage stars in small independent movie, 'Joe'
 
After taking some time from acting, Academy Award-winner Nicolas Cage has plunged back into film-work with his new dark drama, "Joe."
The movie is adapted from Larry Brown's 1991 novel of the same name, and is directed by David Gordon Green, whose previous works include "Pineapple Express," and "Prince Avalanche".
In the film, Cage's character Joe helps a teenage boy who is abused by his alcoholic father. An interesting fact is that the father is played by a man named Gary Poulter, who was actually homeless and living on the streets in Austin Texas when he was discovered by a casting director.
Cage says he made 'Joe,' because he felt he was in the right emotional frame of mind to enable him to relate to his character.
"'Joe' is a movie that has a lot of heart. When 'Joe' came in I said, 'Well this is what I am looking for because I don't think I am going to have to act too much. I think I am just going to feel this.' I think I had the emotional content to fill the dialogue in a way that's truthful."
"Joe," opens across theaters in the U.S. this Friday, April 11.
 
 
HBO renews 'Game of Thrones' for two more seasons
 
HBO announced on Tuesday that the network has renewed the fantasy epic "Game of Thrones" for two more seasons.
The announcement came just two days after the show's season four premiere drew the network's biggest audience in seven years.
The season debut was seen by 6.6 million viewers in the U.S., making it HBO's most-watched program since the finale of "The Sopranos" back in 2007.
The Emmy-winning TV series is adapted from author George R.R. Martin's series of novels, "A Song of Ice and Fire".
The show stars Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage and 16-year-old Maisie Williams.
 
 
Aerosmith performs in LA club to launch tour
 
American rock band Aerosmith performed in a free concert at a small LA-area club on Tuesday to help kick off the band's upcoming tour with guitarist Slash.
The former Guns N'Roses guitarist helped the veteran band perform one of their hit songs "Mama Kin".
Aerosmith's North American "Let Rock Rule" tour kicks off on July 10th in Wantagh, New York following the band's concert series in Europe, which includes a July 2 appearance in Ukraine.
 
 
Nobel laureate Garcia Marquez leaves hospital after pneumonia treatment
 
A medical official says Nobel laureate author Gabriel Garcia Marquez has returned to his Mexico City home after spending eight days in the hospital with pneumonia and other related health problems.
The official says the 87-year-old's health remains fragile because of his age.
Garcia Marquez is widely considered the most popular Spanish-language writer since Spaniard Miguel de Cervantes, who wrote in the 17th century.
Marquez has lived in Mexico for three decades.
 
 
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
A new set of signals have been detected possibly connected to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has arrived in China along with a major delegation looking for new business opportunities.
The latest phase of the Indian general election is underway, while legislative elections are taking place in Indonesia.
In business... China's central planners have confirmed they're now working on a draft for an 'economic circle' around Beijing.