新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/04/15

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Evening Edition
 
 
Paul James with you this Tuesday, April 15, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
Ukrainian authorities have launched a so-called "anti-terrorist" operation to root out pro-Russia supporters in the eastern part of the country.
A 2nd day of underwater searching is set to get underway tonight in the hunt for any clues to the disappearance of missing flight MH370.
The city of Boston is marking the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.
In business, bank lending here in China has surpassed one-trillion yuan through this past month.
In sports, Arsenal hoping to keep in Champions League contention in a critical match this evening with West Ham.
In entertainment, the Snowden leaks have earned Pulitzer Prizes for the Washington Post and Guardian newspapers.
 
 
Weather 
 
 
Beijing will be overcast tonight with a low of 12 degrees Celsius. Cloudy tomorrow with a high of 21 degrees.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will be rainy tonight, with a low of 14, also rainy tomorrow, with a high of 19.
Chongqing will be overcast, 21 degrees the low, overcast also tomorrow with a high of 27.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, rainy with a high of 26.
Kabul, overcast, 19.
Over in Australia
Sydney, overcast, high of 21.
Canberra, sunny, 20.
Brisbane, sunny, 28.
And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 26.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Ukraine announces start of anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk
 
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov says an "anti-terrorist operation" has started in the eastern region of the country.
Addressing parliament, Turchynov has provided few details of the operation, saying only that it will be conducted with "caution and responsibility".
"Today in the morning an anti-terrorist operation has started in the east of Donetsk region. But it will be carried out stage by stage, responsibly and cautiously. The aim of these actions - I underline it one more time - is to protect the citizens of Ukraine, to stop terror, and to stop criminality, stop attempts to tear Ukraine to pieces."
The announcement comes as pro-Russia protestors continue occupying government buildings in over 10 cities and towns in the eastern regions of Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities gave pro-Russian protesters until yesterday to disarm, or face what he called, a "full-scale anti-terrorist operation".
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been expressing sharply different views on the current unrest in eastern Ukraine, but both urging the other side to help bring the situation to an end.
The two leaders have spoken via the phone, at Moscow's request.
Obama is said to have expressed "grave concern" about Russia's apparent support for the actions of pro-Russia armed groups.
Putin has denied that Moscow is interfering in Ukraine.
He's called on the US side to use its influence to prevent more bloodshed in Ukraine.
At the same time, the European Union has agreed to expand its sanctions against Russia following recent developments in the east of Ukraine.
The new sanctions will put more people under an asset freeze and visa bans.
 
 
Ukraine Raises Main Interest Rate
 
Ukraine's central bank has decided to raise its main interest rate to 9.5-percent from the current 6.5-percent.
The announcement comes as the country's currency hits record lows amid the deepening political unrest in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian central bank has also cut its rate for the overnight loans it provides to ensure liquidity.
Ukrainian depositors have been withdrawing money from the banking system at a fast pace.
The rate of inflation in Ukraine is on the rise.
Inflation through March hit 3.4-percent.
This is up dramatically from the 1.2-percent figure recorded through February.
 
 
Mini-sub set to hit the water for 2nd day of searching
 
Search crews scowering the southern Indian Ocean for any wreckage connected to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are expected to lower a submersible for a 2nd day of underwater searching.
The first day of underwater reconnaissance had to be cut short by a number of hours.
However, the submersible did manage to record a number of images from the ocean floor.
Acting Malaysian transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein says they're now reviewing those images.
"I know for a fact that they are analyzing those photographs, and I believe when it's been corroborated and they feel comfortable, they will release it to the media. The same applies to the oil slick found and collected yesterday 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) away from the site. This is also being collected and being tested."
The Bluefin-21 can create a three-dimensional sonar map of any debris on the ocean floor.
The submersible only carried out 6 of the 16-hours it was supposed to.
The craft exceeded its maximum depth limit of 45-hundred meters, triggering a built-in safety mechanism which returned it to the surface.
The submersible’s first day covered around 30-percent of the 40-square kilometer search area.
 
 
Officials calls for promoting trilateral cooperation among China, Japan, S.Korea
 
A trilateral summit involving China, Japan and South Korea has begun today in Seoul.
Officials and experts at the meeting have been calling for an increase in trilateral cooperation, despite the current disputes among the three neighbors.
South Korean spokesperson Ju Chul-ki says countries in East Asia need to cooperate, particularly when it comes to the North Korean nuclear issue.
"North Korea's nuclear problems are the greatest obstacles to fully realizing the stability and prosperity in the northeast Asia. We are open to various ways to reopen the nuclear talks with Pyongyang if we are assured that there will be real progress in North Korea's denuclearization."
The annual trilateral summit first began in 1999.
This is the first time it's been held since 2012 amid lingering disputes over historical and territorial disputes.
 
 
Bomb explosion on Cairo Bridge wounds 2 policemen
 
A bomb blast on a bridge over the Nile River in central Cairo has wounded two police officers.
The bombing hit during the morning rush hour.
The target was a traffic police booth on the bridge.
Cairo has seen an increasing amount of violence following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi last July.
 
 
Jordan's envoy to Libya kidnapped
 
Jordan's ambassador to Libya has been kidnapped.
A group of masked attackers hijacked his vehicle, shooting his driver.
The driver has survived the attack.
Jordanian ambassador Fawaz al-Itan was leaving his home in Tripoli when the attack took place.
Kidnappings are becoming more commonplace in Libya.
The abductors frequently target foreign officials.
Since the start of the year, five Egyptian diplomats, a Tunisian official and a South Korean trade officer have been abducted.
 
 
Afghan deputy minister kidnapped in Kabul: sources
 
An Afghan official has been kidnapped in northern Kabul.
Ahmad Shah Wahid is the deputy minister of public works.
One of his security guard has been wounded in a short exchange of fire.
It's not known at this point who is behind the kidnapping.
 
 
Boston marks marathon bombing anniversary
 
Boston is marking the one-year anniversary of the Boston marathon bombing.
Vice-President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick are taking part in a tribute to the victims later today.
A flag-raising ceremony and a moment of silence will be observed at the finish line.
Many of those attending the commemoration are survivors of the attack.
"I learned that I'm much stronger and more resilient than I ever could have imagined."
"I don't think anybody knows what they're capable of doing until you're forced to be in it. And, you know, I think most people would want to get back to normal. And I think that's what I want to do, and I know it sound so cliched but I just want to be normal. I want to be pre-April 15th."
Three people, including a Chinese student, were killed and 264 were injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line at last year's race.
Surviving suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev is due to stand trial in November.
He has pleaded not guilty to 30 different charges.
He's accused of setting off the bombs with his older brother Tamerlan, who was killed in a shoot-out with police.
This year's Boston Marathon has been scheduled for April 21st.
 
 
State of Emergency because of wildfires remains in force in Chile
 
Crews are still working to try to tamp down fires in Chile which have leveled more than 2-thousand homes and left 15-people dead.
The fires broke out on Saturday in a forested ravine near the sea-side city of Valparaiso, which is about 100-kilometers west of the capital, Santiago.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet says they're doing their best to try to help those affected.
"We are making available all possible resources to confront this tragedy and to start with, first, with the relocation and support for families affected and as a second phase, reconstruction."
Locals have been slowly starting to clear the debris left in the wake of the fires.
Chilean authorities are suggesting it may take up to 3-weeks to finally extinguish the fires.
The cause of the initial blaze has not been determined.
 
 
Beijing issue tobacco control draft to solicit public opinions
 
Anchor:
Municipal authorities here in Beijing are circulating new draft legislation to toughen-up the city's indoor smoking legislation.
The details from CRI's Xie Zhao.
Anchor:
Under the new rules, indoor smoking will not be permitted in any enclosed public space.
The current rules only cover smoking in, what has been described, as densely populated areas.
The proposed new rules are drawing a lot of attention from both smokers and non-smokers.
"The old regulations should have been better. My husband has smoked for 50 years and I cannot control him. But I think he will be controlled if the government tightens up the rules."
"I am a heavy smoker, but I think the smoking rules should be changed. If no one else smokes, I will not do it anymore."
"The draft is good. But the key point is monitoring and enforcement."
There are 12 cities here in China which have issued tougher tobacco-control regulations.
However, none of the regulations have ever been enforced effectively.
Weak enforcement of the rules is being cited as the main downfall of the laws.
As such, the new rules being proposed here in Beijing clarifies the punishments for violators.
Zeng Fanyu with the Chinese Association for Tobacco Control says Beijing can learn a lesson from Hong Kong.
"Hong Kong's health department lays out the rules and other municipal departments cooperate with them. This means only one department is accountable. In Shanghai, as an example, authorities enforce the law by many departments. Consequently, one department does not control smoking and cannot control it. "
Under the current restrictions for smoking here in Beijing, you can only be fined 10 yuan if caught breaking the rules.
The new anti-smoking draft will increase the fine to 50-yuan.
Repeat offenders can be hit with fines of up to 200-yuan.
Despite the planned changes, Zeng Fanyu says the punishments are still weak.
"In Hong Kong, the smoker will be fined up to 1500 yuan in public areas no matter whether it is the first time or second time. In Shenzhen, the smoker will be fined up to 200 yuan. So here in Beijing, he or she doesn't really care if they're going to be fined 50 yuan."
With local governments stepping up their own fight against smoking, national leaders are also taking notice.
Mao Qun'an with the National Health and Family-planning commission says national authorities are also working on new anti-smoking legislation.
"Draft legislation on indoor smoking was first worked on last year. The draft has been listed in the State Council's legislation plan. Our commission is working on getting the new proposals out as quickly as we can."
It's estimated there are currently around 300-million smokers in China.
Around a million people die in this country every year from smoking-related illnesses.
For CRI, I'm Xie Zhao.
 
 
China detains 160 in Shanghai healthcare scam
 
Authorities here in China have detained 160 members people here in Shanghai accused of swindled patients by luring them to fake medical clinics and selling them over-priced drugs.
Police say group cheated over 500-victims out of 1.7-million yuan.
The drugs were sold by unqualified doctors at prices often inflated over 10 times the real value.
The arrests come after an investigation which lasted nearly 7-months.
 
 
Fair shadowed by weak exports
 
The latest installment of the Canton Fair is underway in Guangzhou.
The spring edition of the China Import and Export Fair is set to run until May 5th.
The current edition is being haunted by the current weak export environment here in China.
Gao Yilong is taking part in this year's fair.
"It's inadequate to see the issue from the sole prospective of sales volumes. We also need to look at different things, whether we own the IPR of the products, whether the products exported are our own brands. We really want to develop our own brands right now but lots of limitations have caged us to be the processor of other brands. So that's why we're not in control of our business entirely."
This spring's Canton Fair is expected to draw around 200-thousand international buyers.
 
 
Divorce rates on the rise in China
 
Anchor:
With divorce on the rise here in China, CRI's Doris Wang investigates what some of the issues may be.
Reporter:
Divorce rates in China have been on the rise for ten consecutive years.
Last year alone saw a shocking 3.1 million divorces.
This seems to become a major trend in line with developed countries in Western Europe and North America.
Susanne Choi is a sociology professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She says the changing status of women in society is one of the contributing factors to this statistic.
"Our values are definitely changing. For example, some women, you know, even if they experience abuse or unhappiness in marriage, they may think that it's important to keep the marriage intact for the sake or welfare of the children. But now, women may think that their welfare is important too. That's one possibility. But I think to explain the rapid increase in divorce, probably we have to think more about the increase in economic status or independence or education of women. "
Over the years, the concepts of marriage and divorce have evolved from a public to a more private affair.
The most recent development was in 2001, which got rid of the requirement that couples wanting a divorce had to get employer approval in order to do so.
The changes in Chinese society have also led to young people, especially those who are born after 1980, to feel less committed to traditional marriage than their parents.
Young Chinese are taking charge of their own lives and making independent decisions.
Despite the many changes, loyalty remains an important factor for couples to stay together.
Therefore, the leading cause of most divorces in China is infidelity or extramarital affairs.
Aside from the increase in divorces, another phenomenon is emerging in this country, cohabitation.
Today, many young couples are living together before they are married.
Wu Qiong, a professor and researcher at Peking University, said although this will allow the couples to get to know each other, it may also end in disaster.
"Cohabitation is a double-edged sword. On a positive note, if people get to know more about each other before their marriage, this may lower the divorce rate because a lot of divorces are actually happening shortly after marriage and this allows them to get to know their daily routines. On a negative note, if the cohabitation turns to a permanent state, which is not a favorable position because then it's not that people are getting divorced but they are not getting married, which is happening in some of the Western countries now."
China is changing at a rapid pace and marriage appears to be changing as well.
However, it still remains to be seen whether this is a positive development in a society that has upheld the traditional idea of marriage for thousands of years.
Back Anchor:
That is CRI's Doris Wang reporting.
 
 
Biz Reports 
 
 
Stocks
 
Reporter:
Asian stocks ended mostly higher on Tuesday after U.S. stocks rebounded overnight on the back of an encouraging retail sales report.
However, the gains have been tempered by escalating tensions in Ukraine and mixed Chinese bank lending data.
Here in China, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.4 percent, as investors turned cautious ahead of industrial production and fixed-asset investment figures, as well as first-quarter GDP data due tomorrow.
The Shenzhen Component Index closed down 1.8 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 1.6 percent, dragged down by mainland banking shares after the People's Bank of China withdrew 172-billion yuan from the markets via repurchase agreements.
Japanese shares have rebounded from a six-month low hit the previous day.
The Nikkei gained 0.6 percent, led by exporter shares as the yen weakened.
Australian shares also gained ground, but ended well off their daily highs.
The ASX 200 ended 0.6-percent higher.
Rio Tinto shares pushed down the market somewhat after dropping 1.4-percent.
South Korean shares dipped on profit taking, with the KOSPI closing 0.2-percent lower.
Singapore's Straits Times Index finished the day up 0.9-percent.
 
 
China new bank loans rise to 1.05 trillion yuan
 
The latest data shows banks here in China have stepped up their lending through this past month.
This country's financial institutions have issued more than 1-trillion yuan in new yuan loans in March.
That's up from the 644.5 billion yuan issued in February.
Corporate bonds issued through March have totaled nearly 252-billion yuan.
Total social financing, viewed as a measure of credit in the economy, has come in more than 2-trillion yuan through March.
This is up considerably from the 939-billion calculated through February.
Despite robust credit growth, there has been a lower-than-expected money-supply figure calculated in March.
At the end of March, the broad M2 measure of the money supply was up 12-percent from a year earlier.
This is short of the median 13-percent increase forecast by the economists.
February's M2 increase came in at 13.3-percent.
 
 
Nestlé sales drop 5.1%, miss expectations
 
Nestlé is reporting a 5.1-percent drop in first quarter sales.
The company is blaming the slowdown on weak consumer confidence in Europe and a harsh winter in North America.
The slowdown has pushed sales growth to 4.2-percent, which has come in below the company's long-term target of between 5 and 6-percent.
Exchange rates have also weighed on the company's performance, cutting 8.6-percent from Nestlé's sales through the quarter.
Nestlé sales dipped to 24-billion US dollars over the first quarter compared with the 25 billion US dollars earned a year earlier.
In North and South America, Nestlé's sales growth has slowed to 4.1-percent from 5.1-percent.
Nestle's sales growth has also declined in Europe.
Sales have grown in countries such as the Philippines, Pakistan and Turkey.
 
 
China forex reserves hit 3.95 trln US dollars
 
The People's Bank of China is reporting this country's foreign exchange reserves have hit 3.95-trillion US dollars as of the end of March.
The figure is 130-billion more than the government controlled as of the end of last year.
By comparison, this country's foreign exchange reserves only totaled around 100-billion US dollars in 1996.
China overtook Japan to become the largest holder of foreign exchange reserves in 2006.
 
 
New development plan for Yellow River golden triangle
 
Anchor:
The State Council has approved a plan to promote regional cooperation in the so-called Yellow River "golden triangle."
The region, covering Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan, is being touted as a potential new engine for economic growth in central and western China.
Part of the plans include increasing transportation connectivity in the region.
The three provinces are also being tasked with cleaning up their respective environments.
For more on this, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Gao Shang, Analyst with GuanTong Futures.
…
Back Anchor:
Gao Shang, Analyst with GuanTong Futures, speaking with CRI's Shane Bigham.
 
 
U.S. deficit to shrink more than seen in 2014: CBO
 
New analysis is suggesting the U.S. government's budget gap is going to be narrower in the coming years, including this year.
The Congressional Budget Office has lowered its forecast for the this year's deficit to 492-billion US dollars.
This is 23-billion US dollars less than previously estimated.
The deficit projection is 2.8-percent of GDP, marking the smallest deficit since 2007.
Since 1980, the US deficit has averaged roughly 3.2-percent of GDP.
At the same time, CBO has also reduced the US government's projected 10-year deficit by 286-billion US dollars, to 7.6-trillion dollars.
Declining subsidies for state-sponsored medicare are being cited as the main reason for the decline in spending.
However, the CBO is projecting the US national deficit will begin widening again in 2016 and continue growing for years, driven in part by the aging population and rising health-care costs.
US government spending is expected to come in at 3.5-trillion US dollars this year, representing 20-percent of GDP.
Two-thirds of the spending will be directed to military-related programs and benefits for Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.
 
 
U.K. inflation falls to lowest since October 2009
 
Inflation in the U.K. has slowed in March to its lowest annual rate in more than 4-years.
UK inflation has come in at 1.6-percent in March.
This is down from 1.7-percent in February and the lowest annual rate since October 2009.
The decline is below the Bank of England's 2-percent annual target.
The Bank of England is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate from a low of 0.5-percent early next year as the U.K. economy picks up.
The slowdown in inflation in March is being credited with lower energy and clothing costs.
Housing prices in the UK are one area that is not seeing a slowdown.
House prices in England rose 9-percent in February, the fastest pace of growth since June 2010.
 
 
Australia Approves Site for Second Sydney Airport
 
The Australian government has approved the site for a second Sydney airport.
The new airport is expected to generate some 22.5-billion US dollars for the Australian economy over the next 50-years.
Sydney's second airport will be located at a site known as Badgerys Creek, which is more than 50 kilometers west of Sydney's central business district.
Construction is expected to begin in 2016.
Most of the costs are going to be covered by the private-sector.
The Australian government expects the new project will create around 4-thousand jobs through the construction phase.
Long term, the government expects the new airport will be home to around 35-thosand jobs in the next 20-years.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Ukraine announces start of anti-terrorist operation in Donetsk
 
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov says an "anti-terrorist operation" has started in the eastern region of the country.
Addressing parliament, Turchynov has provided few details of the operation, saying only that it will be conducted with "caution and responsibility".
The announcement comes as pro-Russia protestors continue occupying government buildings in over 10 cities and towns in the eastern regions of Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities gave pro-Russian protesters until yesterday to disarm, or face what he called, a "full-scale anti-terrorist operation".
 
 
Mini-sub set to hit the water for 2nd day of searching
 
Search crews scowering the southern Indian Ocean for any wreckage connected to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are expected to lower a submersible for a 2nd day of underwater searching.
The first day of underwater reconnaissance had to be cut short by a number of hours.
However, the submersibles did manage to record a number of images from the ocean floor.
The submersible’s first day covered around 30-percent of the 40-square kilometer search area.
 
 
Bomb explosion on Cairo bridge wounds 2 policemen
 
A bomb blast on a bridge over the Nile River in central Cairo has wounded two police officers.
The bombing hit during the morning rush hour.
The target was a traffic police booth on the bridge.
Cairo has seen an increasing amount of violence following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi last July.
 
 
Jordan's envoy to Libya kidnapped
 
Jordan's ambassador to Libya has been kidnapped.
A group of masked attackers hijacked his vehicle, shooting his driver.
The driver has survived the attack.
Jordanian ambassador Fawaz al-Itan was leaving his home in Tripoli when the attack took place.
Kidnappings are becoming more commonplace in Libya.
The abductors frequently target foreign officials.
Since the start of the year, five Egyptian diplomats, a Tunisian official and a South Korean trade officer have been abducted.
 
 
Boston marks marathon bombing anniversary
 
Boston is marking the one-year anniversary of the Boston marathon bombing.
Vice-President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick are taking part in a tribute to the victims later today.
A flag-raising ceremony and a moment of silence will be observed at the finish line.
Three people, including a Chinese student, were killed and 264 were injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line at last year's race.
Surviving suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev is due to stand trial in November.
This year's Boston Marathon has been scheduled for April 21st.
 
 
China detains 160 in Shanghai healthcare scam
 
Authorities here in China have detained 160 members people here in Shanghai accused of swindled patients by luring them to fake medical clinics and selling them over-priced drugs.
Police say group cheated over 500-victims out of 1.7-million yuan.
The drugs were sold by unqualified doctors at prices often inflated over 10 times the real value.
The arrests come after an investigation which lasted nearly 7-months.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Shanghai Daily
"Air quality index gets new hourly updates"
A NEW air-quality measure that provides hourly updates will be introduced today, said the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau.
The index will include hourly updates for all major pollutants, including PM2.5 and PM10, though the original air quality index (AQI) will still be used for forecasting and as the yardstick for the activation of pollution alarms, the bureau said.
Readings for both measures will be available via the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center's website and its smartphone app, and will be included in TV news broadcasts and on social media, officials said.
Despite the introduction of the new measure, the original index will be used as a base for air quality alarms.
An orange alarm will be issued when the AQI is predicted to be between 301 and 450 over the next 24 hours, and the top-tier red alarm is triggered when the index is forecast to surpass 450.
China News Service
"China to monitor water quality 'from source to tap'"
Chinese scientists are expected to finish designing a monitoring network on water quality "from the source to tap" by 2015, said a senior environmental scientist here on Monday.
A string of water pollution accidents have roused serious concerns across China.
Scientists have been developing technologies to be applied in the monitoring and early warning network on water quality of a drainage area since 2010,
said Meng, head of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.
Most technologies have been tested in a pilot monitoring network installed around the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project in central China, Meng said.
With the monitoring network, the local environment agency is able to receive alarming indications within ten minutes, down from the minimum half an hour before the network, he said.
The time the environment agency needs to handle a pollution emergency is also reduced from two days to about two hours, he added.
Sky News
"18% of US Internet user's data stolen"
A new survey shows that about 18 per cent of US internet users have had important personal data such as bank account information stolen and the problem appears to be getting worse.
The report is based on a survey led by Pew Research Center, which studied 1002 adults from January 23 to 26, including 820 internet users.
And the study showed a sharp increase from mid-2013, when 11 per cent reported being victimized.
The survey also found 21 per cent reported having email or social network accounts compromised the same percentage as last year.
The findings come amid growing concern over the 'Heartbleed' vulnerability discovered earlier this month, and months after US retail giant Target acknowledged millions of customers may have had payment cards compromised.
'As online Americans have become ever more engaged with online life, their concerns about the amount of personal information available about them online have shifted as well,' the Pew researchers wrote.
The Telegraph
"Childhood 'eroded' by 10-hour school day, teachers warn"
A report by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers from UK warned that the longer day seen in many schools was harming children's development.
The union surveyed more than 1,300 members on the issue, and around three-quarters of teachers said that families spend less time together now than they did five years ago, with more children enrolled in school from 8am until 6pm.
Ministers have encouraged schools to open for longer to increase access to extra-curricular activities and enable parents to work without having to pay over-the-odds for childcare.
But ATL claimed that the development meant "childhood was being eroded" as young people spend longer in formal education and less time with their families and friends.
In many cases, schools said an earlier start and later finish enabled them to make enrichment and extra-curricular activities compulsory, while others used it make lessons "much longer".
 
 
Special Reports 
 
 
Dynamic Diamond Industry in Israel by Zhang Jin
 
Anchor:
This year's US and International Diamond Week has come to an end in Israel, with the show highlighting Israel as one of the world's leading diamond trading hubs.
CRI's He Fei has more.
Reporter:
The Israel Diamond Exchange, or IDE, is the world's largest and most secure diamond bourse, which houses 1,400 companies in 2,200 offices.
IDE Managing Director Moti Besser says the event is held to benefit their members.
"We are using our facilities in order to create an added value for our members. The trading in the diamond industry is mostly by participating exhibitions. Here in Israel, we invited hundreds of buyers from all over the world."
The U.S. and International Diamond Week has attracted hundreds of buyers from around 20 countries and regions, with diamonds worth more than 1 billion US dollars being offered for sale by more than 400 diamond suppliers.
Kobi Amir, is the CEO of Andre Messika Diamonds, one of the leading diamond companies in Israel.
"It's a very dynamic market. This is something you cannot see somewhere else. It's a good idea to put all the dealers together at the same room. You can see each other. You can see the goods. You can see all the brokers going around and checking for goods. You can deal with them right away on the table, to be fast. It's very positive for all the industry in Israel."
For foreign diamond buyers, the event shows a very different atmosphere.
"I think it's a very interesting fair, because there are many types of suppliers of different sizes, different shapes, different qualities, all under one roof, so it becomes very transparent. It's my first trip, and I think I will do it again."
In addition to the diamond trade, the spring edition of this year's event highlights the exhibition of the 'Rainbow Collection', a unique collection of some 300 fancy-colored diamonds owned by renowned Belgian diamantaire, Eddy Elzas.
For Elzas, the collection he has spent some 40 years to make is priceless. It is not for sale, but to bring happiness to people through exhibition.
"The most beautiful picture I have from the 'rainbow collection' with visitors is a huge black and white picture where you see children standing in front of the collection, (with) happy faces. They don't know it's money, they just think it's pretty, the colors are pretty. Therefore I have this big black and white picture from the 'rainbow collection' where you don't see the diamonds, but you see them shining in the eyes in color, it's a black and white picture."
The diamond industry in Israel has an annual turnover of approximately 28 billion US dollars, with annual exports of rough and polished diamonds worth about 10 billion US dollars. The United States is Israel's largest export destination for polished diamonds, followed by Hong Kong.
Back Anchor:
CRI's He Fei reporting
 
 
Sports
 
 
 
Arsenal face West Ham in crucial match
 
Starting with English football Arsenal are facing West Ham tonight in what is a crucial match for both teams.
Arsenal who led the Premiership as recently as the end of January have now slipped down to fifth in the table and risk not qualifying for the Champion's League for the first time in 16 seasons.
To qualify for Europe's top club competition Arsenal must finish in the top four, and Gunners manager Arsen Wenger admitted the club had been a little complacent, presuming the job was already done.
Meanwhile West Ham now sit 11th, seven points from regulation.
Manager Sam Allardyce said his side must capitalize as much as possible from all their remaining games:
"We've got five very tough games to go and we've got to try and pick up as many points as we can. Everybody looks at Arsenal now (then) Crystal Palace, West Brom, Tottenham and Manchester City and if you look at the form of all of those teams, Arsenal perhaps have slipped a bit but the rest are all on top form. West Brom and Crystal Palace particularly are achieving fantastic results at this moment in time, so we've got five very difficult games that we focus on one at a time."
This match is set to kick off at 2:45 am Beijing time… 7:45pm in England.
 
 
Washington Wizards beat Miami Heat ahead of NBA playoffs
 
In Basketball,
The Washington Wizards hosted Miami Heat on Monday night defeating them 114 to 93.
LeBron James and Chris Bosh received the night off as the Heat prepare for the play-offs.
With this loss Miami are now the number two seed when the play-offs begin this weekend while the Indiana Pacers take the top spot.
Washington's third win in a row sees them move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Charlotte Bobcats in the race for the East's number six seed.
 
 
Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-1
 
In Major League Baseball,
Taiwan born pitcher Wei-Yin Chen helped the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards.
After pitching 4 1/3 innings of hitless ball, Chen gave up two hits with one down in the fifth inning. However, Chen induced Escobar to hit into an inning ending double play to keep the Rays off the scoreboard.
Baltimore went on to beat Tampa Bay 7-1.
 
 
Swimmer Michael Phelps to come out of retirement
 
Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian in history, has said he will come out of retirement.
The 28-year-old swimmer who has won 22 Olympic Medals, including 18 golds, is expected to compete at an event in Arizona later this month.
The American also holds the record for the most gold medals at a single games after winning eight at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The American initially quit the sport after London 2012, but his long-time coach said he is now going to "test the waters" in Arizona before deciding if he's prepared for a "full-fledged comeback".
 
 
Kerry and Biden Speak of World Cup Importance
 
Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden attended a FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour Ceremony at the U.S. Department of State late on Monday.
The State Department is the first U.S. stop for the trophy on the global Trophy Tour preceding the FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil.
Kerry said the statue represents the shared hopes and dreams of billions of people and Joe Biden, who attended the last World Cup in South Africa, spoke of the tournament's global appeal:
"You know we have our Super Bowl. We have our World Series and our NBA Championship and March Madness but my lord, it is nothing quite like the World Cup and it not only brings countries together it generates a sense of enthusiasm that's hard to believe."
The United States is one of the countries which will be fielding a team at the World Cup which kicks off on June 12.
 
 
Medals for the commonwealth games revealed in Glasgow
 
The gold, silver and bronze medals for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games have just been unveiled.
The medals were displayed at the Kevingrove Art Gallery to mark 100 days to the opening ceremony on July 23.
Athletes from 71 countries and territories across the Commonwealth are set to compete. This is a grouping that consists mainly of former British colonies.
The Games have a budget of just over 470 million pounds and organisers aim to raise 100 million pounds through commercial deals - tickets, sponsorship, broadcast deals and merchandising.
The sums involved are modest compared with the Olympics. London organisers raised 700 million pounds through one-off sponsorships for the Games last year.
The Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to the 3 August.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Ann Hui Has Mixed Feelings about 'Golden Era'
 
The press conference of Hong Kong director Ann Hui's historical drama "Golden Era" was held in Beijing today (April 15th).
Ann joined screenwriter Li Qiang and leading cast members, including Tang Wei, Feng Shaofeng, Huang Xuan and Hao Lei at the press conference.
In a short interview with China Radio International following the press conference, Hui said that she is not sure what to expect upon the release of "Golden Era", which comes out later this year, in October.
"It is an experimental film. I don't know how it will turn out. With so much money invested in the film, I was nervous when making it. But at the same time, I'm happy I did."
Commenting on actress Tang Wei's performance in the film, Hui said she will ultimately let audiences be the judges, but she thought that Tang did a great job.
"Golden Era" tells the stories of unconventional Chinese writer, Xiao Hong, and her husband, Xiao Jun, before the foundation of the People's Republic of China.
 
 
'A Bite of China 2' Premieres in BJ
 
A preview screening for the Chinese culinary TV documentary series, "A Bite of China 2," was held today in Beijing (April 15).
Director Chen Xiaoqing and the creative team behind the series attended the event. They unveiled the series' latest trailer, as well as some clips of the documentary to those attending the small-screen feature's premiere.
The crew visited 150 different places around China over the course of one year to film the eight-episode documentary series. More than 300 types of food will be featured on the program.
The first "A Bite of China" was aired on CCTV-1 in 2012 and racked up huge ratings during its nightly airing, drawing an estimated 100-million viewers.
"A Bite of China 2" was originally set to air on CCTV during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in 2014.
The show hits small-screens in China on April 18th, airing weekly on CCTV
 
 
Washington Post, Guardian win Pulitzers for Snowden NSA revelations
 
The Washington Post and the Guardian U.S. were both awarded the Pulitzer Prize in public service on Monday.
The two winners were awarded the prize for revealing the U.S. government's sweeping surveillance efforts based on thousands of secret documents handed over by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, Edward Snowden.
The winning entries about the NSA's spy programs showed the government has collected information about millions of Americans' phone calls and emails based on its classified interpretations of laws passed after the terrorist attacks in September, 2011.
The stories were written by Barton Gellman at The Washington Post and Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Ewen MacAskill, whose work was published by the Guardian US, the British newspaper's American operation.
The disclosures touched off a furious debate in the U.S. over privacy versus security that is still ongoing.
The Pulitzer Prize is American journalism's highest honor.
 
 
Michael Jackson's mom to pay promoter $800,000 in court cost
 
Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, has reportedly agreed to pay over 800-thousand dollars to tour promoter AEG Live for costs incurred to defend a failed lawsuit that she originally filed.
The Jacksons sued AEG Live in 2010 because the company had hired Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the pop icon's death in 2009.
A jury rejected their case after a six-month trial last year.
AEG Live's legal team initially asked for 1.2-million dollars from the Jacksons, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos ordered them to resubmit their claim, with 400-thousand dollars in expenses removed.
The ruling is expected to be finalized after AEG Live submits an amended list of its costs.
Attorneys for the company and Katherine Jackson agreed not to argue Palazuelos' tentative ruling, but Jackson could still file for appeal.
 
 
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
Ukrainian authorities have launched a so-called "anti-terrorist" operation to root out pro-Russia supporters in the eastern part of the country.
A 2nd day of underwater searching is set to get underway tonight in the hunt for any clues to the disappearance of missing flight MH370.
The city of Boston is marking the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.
In business, bank lending here in China has surpassed one-trillion yuan through this past month.