新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/05/07

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition

Shane Bigham with you on this Wednesday, May 07th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The Chinese premier has been promoting economics, trade, cultural exchanges and more during his four-nation tour of Africa, continuing today in Nigeria.. .
Six people injured in a knife attack in Guangzhou on Tuesday are said to be out of danger...
and the Chinese government has released its first National Security Blue Book...
In Business...Alibaba has handed in its US IPO filing in New York...
In sports...Man U gets a win in its final home game of the season...
In entertainment...Big stars in Beijing for the premier of the new X-Men movie...
But first... lets get a check on the weather...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy today, the temperature with a high of 25 degree Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop down to around 11.
Shanghai will be sunny during the daytime with a high of 26.
Overnight, it will be clear with a low of 15.
In Chongqing, it will be sunny with a high of 29.
Overnight lows are expected to be around 17.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia.
Islamabad will see slight rain with a high of 35.
Kabul will have slight rain with a high of 21.
Over to North America.
New York will be overcast today with a high of 17 degrees.
Washington will see slight rain with a high of 21 degrees.
Honolulu, slight rain, 28.
Toronto, Canada, will see slight rain with a high of 11 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be overcast with a high of 21.
And Rio de Janeiro will be cloudy with a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Chinese Premier arrives in Nigeria
 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is continuing his African tour in Nigeria.
Upon his arrival, Li Keqiang said China and Nigeria have maintained close communications, and hopes his visit can further promote bilateral ties.
The Chinese premier is due to attend the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa and meet African leaders in the Nigerian capital.
 
 
Economic, cultural ties "two wheels" of China-Africa cooperation: Chinese premier
 
Anchor
Nigeria is the second leg of Li Keqiang's African tour following his 3-day visit in Ethiopia.
The Chinese premier spent his last day in the Ethiopian capital in a meeting with business leaders and representatives from the education and art community, calling for continuous economic and cultural cooperation with African countries.
CRI's Jordan Lee has more.
reporter
Li Keqiang says economics and trade, together with people-to-people and cultural cooperation between China and Africa, are "the two indispensable wheels" of their overall cooperation.
The Chinese premier says the China-Africa cooperation should be further driven by these two wheels into the fast track of development.
"China and Africa have a total population of 2.3 billion, with one of them a promising developing country, and the other a hopeful continent. The collaboration between China and Africa today is based on both of us having a similar fate and are also based on our traditional friendship. China and Africa view each other as a vast opportunity for their own development, and have enjoyed close cooperation in various fields and various levels."
Li Keqiang notes that employment is a basic need for Africa to improve the living standards of its people, and that China and Africa are mutually complementary at this stage of development.
The premier says China is ready to transfer the industries best suitable for Africa, especially the labor-intensive ones, so as to create more jobs in the continent.
Besides encouraging more Chinese business into Africa, Li Keqiang also calls for increasing cultural cooperation between the two sides.
"Our enterprises should respect the local customs and habits in Africa, and are also supposed to fulfill their social responsibilities, which comes to the cultural issues. And for enterprises who come to the African continent for cultural exchanges, they should also think about how to contribute to the development in the region."
Thirty African representatives from China, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana and Djibouti participated in the meeting.
For CRI, I am Jordan Lee.
 
 
Six injured out of danger in Guangzhou knife attack
 
The six injured during a knife attack in the southern city of Guangzhou have been confirmed as being out of danger.
The incident took place on Tuesday at a train station.
Police did have a man in custody, but his identity is not clear at this point.
The male suspect hacked people before police fired warning shots.
He then turned on the police and was shot and injured.
The motivation behind his attack remains unclear.
The Foreign Ministry of China has issued a new statement, strongly condemning violent attack on innocent people.
Spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
"I want to emphasise that no matter what, violence against innocent people is unacceptable. It is a crime that deserves to be punished by law. Regarding the recent violent attacks, everyone should note that the government has taken forceful and effective measures to defend social stability and the safety of lives and property."
The stabbing comes on the heels of an attack at a train station in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi last week which saw two suspects run through crowds stabbing people randomly before they then blew themselves up.
That attack left 3 dead.
In early March, terrorists armed with knives attacked a train station in Yunnan's capital Kunming, leaving 29 dead and over 140 others injured.
 
 
China releases first national security blue book
 
Anchor
The Chinese government has released its first National Security Blue Book.
The China National Security Research Report says, among other things, that terrorism here in China is taking on new characteristics.
CRI's Xie Zhao has more.
Reporter
The report says with Chinese overseas interests expanding and strengthening, the risk of China facing more international terrorism is being intensified.
The report warns terrorist activities are having an impact on Chinese nationals abroad.
The Blue Book also says domestic terrorism in China is being influenced by international terrorism.
Feng Zhongping, deputy director of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, says there are multiple domestic security threats.
"The threats include violent terrorism, employment, social and political stability, as well as environmental issues. But I think the biggest security threats are violent terrorism and social stability, which are of our biggest concerns."
The new analysis says there were 10 terrorist attacks in China last year.
It notes that terrorist attacks here in China are on the rise, and are mainly targeting government institutions, the police and the army.
The Blue Book also hails the establishment of the National Security Council as a strategic move to safeguard national security.
The report says that on top of the NSC, new defense systems and effective early-warning mechanisms are also going to be needed to respond to terrorism.
Feng Zhongping says China is facing serious concerns about terrorism.
"From the Tian'anmen terrorist attack to the Kunming and Urumqi railways terrorist attacks, we need to boost our capabilities when it comes to terrorism and crisis control. At the same time, we also need to eradicate the root of the terror attacks in the long run. I think the international community should be better coordinating when it comes to fighting terrorism."
On top of terrorism, the new Blue Book also says this country is dealing with more cyber security threats and environmental security concerns.
For CRI, I'm Xie Zhao.
 
 
At least 200 killed in fresh Nigeria attack
 
At least 200 people have been killed in a fresh attack in Nigeria.
Reports say insurgents stormed a border town in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, shooting indiscriminately at residents.
No group has claimed responsibility so far.
But local residents are pointing fingers at the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.
 
 
Boko Haram sunk to new depths: UN Human Rights
 
The United Nations' Human Rights Council says the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram has sunk to new depths after its leader threatened to sell 300 abducted teenage schoolgirls.
Rupert Colville, spokesperson of the UN Human Rights agency, says slavery and sexual slavery can be considered crimes against humanity.
"I think Boko Haram is sinking to new depths. It is hard to see how they could sink further, but this is quite appalling. Slavery and sexual slavery are absolutely prohibited under international law. And in certain circumstances, and this could well be one of them, they can be considered crimes against humanity, which is one of the most serious crimes that exists."
At least eight more girls have been kidnapped in northeast Nigeria's Borno State.
It comes just 24 hours after Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the mid-April abduction of over 234 schoolgirls in the same region.
In a videotape released by Boko Haram, the group's leader Abubakar Shekau describes the girls as slaves and threatens to sell them in the marketplace.
He also warns that his group plans to attack more schools and abduct more girls.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan says the government is doing everything possible to ensure the schoolgirls are released.
He also says the government has accepted a US offer to help in the search, including security personnel.
Boko Haram, which means "Western education is sinful" has attacked numerous educational institutions in the country.
 
 
Russia says Ukraine talks should include opposition leaders
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he is open to another round of international talks on easing the Ukraine tensions if they included pro-Russian activists in Ukraine.
Lavrov made the comment after a foreign ministers' meeting in Austria, saying a follow-up talk will only been worthwhile if pro-Russian activists are invited.
"The opposition missing at the negotiation table in Ukraine will unlikely add to the value. We can of course hold the talks in the same format, but we will be just going in circles, and re-confirming that we need to stick to everything we agreed to. But, the Ukrainians are the ones who will have to act on it."
Earlier, Germany proposed a new round of international talks over the tensions in Ukraine.
Ukraine's acting foreign minister Andriy Deshchytsia says Ukraine is ready to back the talks as long as Moscow supports Ukraine's upcoming presidential elections.
"If Russia is ready to commit itself to support these elections and to eliminate this threat and eliminate the support, its support for the extremist elements in Ukraine, we are ready to have such a round of meetings."
However, Deshchytsia says pro-Russian activists have no place at such negotiations.
Lavrov has said it is unconventional to hold a presidential election in Ukraine while the army is being deployed against Ukrainians.
He has called the Kiev authorities to complete constitutional reforms.
The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry threatens Russia with further sanctions if it interferes with Ukraine's national elections.
Meanwhile, activists in the east Ukrainian cities of Luhansk and Donetsk are preparing to hold a referendum on secession this Sunday.
In the city of Slovyansk, Ukraine authorities say 30 pro-Russian gunmen were killed during government operations to retake the city.
The Geneva statement adopted last month has called for an immediate end to violence in the country.
 
 
Thailand PM- Embattled Thai PM testifies in abuse of power case
 
Thailand's Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has appeared at a Bangkok court to testify against abuse of power allegations.
The Thai Prime Minister is accused of abusing her authority by transferring her National Security Council chief in 2011 to another position.
Yingluck said that she would like to take this opportunity to deny the allegations.
"The prime minister and the cabinet are entitled to carry out responsibilities towards the policies we announce in parliament, and I have a political responsibility to the people, and most importantly, for the utmost benefit of the country."
The Judge says the court will rule later today.
Members of her Cabinet who are in office at the time of the transfer can also be found liable.
The country has seen street demonstrations for six months, with protesters demanding Yingluck's resignation.
Protesters have accused Yingluck of being a proxy for her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup after being accused of corruption.
 
 
Israel Celebrates 66th Independence Day with Peace Still Concerned
 
Anchor:
While celebrating Israel's 66th Independence Day, many Israelis are expressing hope for achieving peace with their neighbours in the region.
CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.
Reporter:
Celebrations across the country included live music, fireworks and the annual air show.
For Israelis the achievements during the past 66 years are worth celebrating, with most living peacefully following the Holocaust, and working towards the development of their country.
"The enterprise is very high in Israel, the science, technology, high-tech, medicine, the agriculture.... When the fathers of fathers came here, all Israel was a desert, then they made it something like a garden. Amazing, for 66 years."
Peace in the region remains a concern however and Israeli President Shimon Peres reiterates the importance of forming closer ties with its neighbours.
"Israel is really, in many ways, a miracle. We can and we should be proud but never satisfied. Our task is not over. We have to work hard to achieve peace. We have peace with two Arab countries, we have to have peace with all of them. To pursue peace is a Jewish value, and we have to achieve it in our time, the more and the sooner, the better."
The nine-month peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Territories ended last month without an obvious breakthrough, but people still cherish the hope for peace.
"With many times it comes, it always fades away. It's not good for us, and also not good for them. We are hoping for peace and trying all the ways. We'll never give up."
For CRI, this is Alexander Aucott .
 
 
Virtual network operator entering China's telecom market
 
Anchor:
Telecom industry observers are suggesting more regulations are going to be needed to properly regulate free-market competition in the sector.
The suggestion comes as international telecom firm T-Mobile becomes the latest company to become a so-called virtual network operator.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter
A consumer in Hangzhou just opened her T-Mobile service at the counter. All the new T-Mobile numbers operating in Hangzhou start with 170.
"The discount offered is huge. The operator puts the same amount of fee as much as the deposit you put in your account and they will put the money in the account immediately. I like it."
The basic service package is 29.9 yuan per month for 80 megabytes of data and 80 minutes of voice calls. The most expensive package costs 399.9 yuan per month. It includes 3,500 megabytes of data and one-thousand minutes of voice calls.
T-Mobile says, currently, the services, which are bought wholesale from China Telecom, are restricted to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, but they will expand to other parts of Zhejiang later.
Mobile Virtual Network Operators do not own telecommunications infrastructure, but provide services through network access they have leased from basic operators.
Zou Xueyong, secretary general of the Industry Association of the Mobile Virtual Network Operators, says the operators are expected to bring a "catfish effect" to the country's telecom industry, improving prices and services through competition.
"The virtual mobile operators can reverse consumers' passive status in choosing services. The data flow left on consumers' accounts at the end of each month won't be zeroed out when the next billing cycle starts. Consumers may have a better say in determine what services they want."
However, many industry insiders remain cautious. They say the virtual operators are not expected to bring about sweeping changes to the industry, which is dominated by three state-owned operators: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.
And Cui Zheng, a scholar in marketing at the Beijing Technology and Business University, says more regulations are needed to ensure a healthy development for the industry and protection of consumers.
"More market competition is good, but I think the fundamental work is to build a well-designed law and regulation mechanism for the market's long-term development. There will be unexpected problems if the service comes prior to the building of the legal system. And consumers will always be the one who pay the cost."
Telephone World Digital Group is one of 11 private companies that have received telecommunications service licenses in China. The companies include subsidiaries of e-commerce giant Alibaba,JD.com and retailers Suning and D.Phone. Suning and D.Phone started taking pre-orders on May 1.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
First off, a check on the closing numbers in North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Jordan Lee.
Reporter
U.S. stocks fell broadly on Tuesday, dragged down by banking giant AIG and Twitter's massive slide in the technology sector.
AIG shares fell 4 percent, one day after posting a 27 percent drop in quarterly income.
Twitter shares tumbled nearly 18 percent after the expiration of a six-month "lock-up" period that had restricted the sale of about 82 percent of its outstanding stock.
At market close, the Dow Jones fell 0.8 percent.
The S&P 500 lost 0.9 percent.
The Nasdaq shed 1.4 percent.
Chinese e-comerce giant Alibaba has formally handed in its IPO filing in search for one billion US dollars.
But most analysts expect the company to eventually raise an amount surpassing Facebook's, garnering a market value of more than 160 billion US dollars.
We will tap into one of our guest speakers' knowledge on this in a short moment.
Over in Europe, as the Ukrainian crisis continues to slide into a major regional conflict, European equities continue to drop on Tuesday.
At close, Britain's FTSE 100 lost 0.4 percent.
Germany's DAX dipped 0.7 percent.
And France's CAC 40 plummeted 0.8 percent.
 
 
Call-in Alibaba hands in US IPO Filing
 
Anchor
Alibaba Group has handed in its US IPO filing this morning.
The Chinese internet giant is a collection of e-commerce businesses mainly focused on online shopping and online payments. It's often described as eBay, PayPal and Amazon rolled into one.
Yahoo owns 24% of Alibaba.
Alibaba saw revenue surge by 66% and net profit jump 110% for the last quarter of 2013.
In February, analysts estimated that the Alibaba IPO could raise up to 15 billion US dollars.
For more on the deal, we're joined live now by Benjamin Cavender, Principal of China Market Research in Shanghai.
Questions
--First of all, do you think Alibaba's IPO could rival the Facebook IPO of 2012 and become the largest Internet IPO in US history?
What it will mean for the overall tech IPO market?
--How does the the IPO benefit Yahoo?
--Do you think the IPO filing will contain a road map for international expansion? If so do you think Alibaba could bring its domestic success into oversea markets?
Back Anchor:
That is Benjamin Cavender, Principal of China Market Research in Shanghai.
 
 
Chinese outbound investment in overseas property market soars 80 percent in the first quarter
 
Chinese outbound investment in overseas residential development surged 80 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2014.
A Jones Lang LaSalle report shows that Chinese institutional investors spent a record 1.1 billion US dollars in overseas residential development during the period.
That is compared with 600 million dollars registered in the same period a year earlier.
Among the major players, Shanghai-based state-owned developer Greenland has been the most active of all outgoing Chinese residential developers.
Greenland purchased the Ram Brewery and Hertsmere House sites in London earlier this year.
The real estate giant also acquired a number of properties in Los Angeles and Sydney around the same time.
 
 
Chinese state-owned firms to hand over more profits
 
Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will pay 5 percent more of their profits to the government.
The Ministry of Finance said SOEs administered by the central government will pass on up to 25 percent of their profits depending on their line of business.
The change is based on profits made from the beginning of this year.
 
 
Shenma search engine looks to take on Baidu
 
Shenma, a Mobile search engine jointly launched by Alibaba and UCWeb, reached 20 percent market penetration in April.
UCWeb disclosed the figure after Baidu, the country's biggest search engine, removed the app off its online app store to limit users from downloading it.
UCweb meantime said users of Shenma are set to hit 200 million by the end of this year.
Shenma currently has around 100 million users and is poised to become a major challenge to Baidu's dominance in the Chinese online search market.
Earlier , UCWeb's CEO said baidu's success in the PC era will not guarantee it will retain the top spot in the mobile search market.
 
 
Dianping to tap into the food takeaway market
 
Dianping.com, China's most popular restaurant review website, announced that it will invest in an online food ordering service to penetrate China's takeaway market.
Dianping functions similarly to Yelp in the United States. It will invest a total of 80 million US dollars in food takeaway website Ele.me. (pronounced as eh-lai-may]
Dianping's takeaway service will cover 50,000 restaurants in 30 major Chinese cities after the Ele.me investment.
With Dianping's 100 million user base and restaurant resources, Ele.me's daily order volume is expected to increase tenfold next year.
The China food and restaurant consumption market is expected to hit 700 billion yuan or 112 billion US dollars by 2016.
The takeaway service accounts for 10 percent of that total, or 11.2 billion US dollars.
 
 
British service sector sees fastest expansion in April
 
Activity in the British service sector marked the sharpest increase so far this year in April, as the PMI rose more than one percent to a four month high of 58.7.
That figure, coming from Markit Economics, compares to March's 57.6 and is the 16th consecutive month for an above 50 reading.
A PMI reading above 50 suggests expansion in the service sector.
The services sector account for over three quarters of the UK economy.
The continuous growth shows that the robust pace of economic recovery is maintained into the second quarter of this year.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Economic, cultural ties "two wheels" of China-Africa cooperation: Chinese premier
 
Premier Li Keqiang is in Nigeria on the second leg of his African tour following his 3-day visit in Ethiopia.
The Chinese premier spent his last day in the Ethiopian capital in a meeting with business leaders and representatives from the education and art community, calling for continuous economic and cultural cooperation with African countries.
Li Keqiang told his audience in Addis Ababa that economics and trade, together with people-to-people and cultural cooperation between China and Africa, are "the two indispensable wheels" of their overall cooperation.
Thirty African representatives from China, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana and Djibouti participated in the meeting.
 
 
Six injured out of danger in Guangzhou knife attack
 
Authorities have confirmed that the six people injured during a knife attack in the southern city of Guangzhou are out of danger.
The incident took place on Tuesday at a train station.
Police have a man in custody, but his identity is not clear at this point.
The male suspect hacked at people before police fired warning shots.
He then turned on the police and was shot and injured.
The motivation behind his attack remains unclear.
 
 
Chinese citizen abducted by five armed men in Malaysia
 
Another Chinese national has been abducted in eastern Malaysia.
This time, a 34-year old man has been snatched by suspects believed to be from the southern Philippines.
Malaysian authorities say 5 armed suspects grabbed the man and fled just before 3am in Sabah.
The hostage, a fish-farm worker from Guizhou, had been working in Sabah for the last 3-years.
So far no ransom demands have been made public and no group has claimed responsibility.
The kidnapping from Sabah follows on the heels of a similar incident in early April which saw a graduate student from Shanghai and a Filipino woman kidnapped from a resort in Sabah.
The Abu Sayyaf militant group in the southern Philippines has been demanding over 11-million US dollars to secure her release.
 
 
Boko Haram sunk to new depths: UN Human Rights
 
At least eight more girls have been kidnapped in northeast Nigeria's Borno State.
It comes just 24 hours after Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the mid-April abduction of over 234 schoolgirls in the same region.
The group describes the girls as slaves and threatens to sell them in the marketplace.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan says the government is doing everything possible to ensure the schoolgirls are released.
He also says the government has accepted a US offer to help in the search, including security personnel.
 
 
Russia says Ukraine talks should include opposition leaders
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he is open to another round of international talks on easing the Ukraine tensions if they included pro-Russian activists in Ukraine.
Lavrov made the comment after a foreign ministers' meeting in Austria.
Meanwhile authorities in Kiev say Ukraine is ready to back the talks as long as Moscow supports Ukraine's  upcoming presidential elections, but insist that pro-Russian activists have no place at such negotiations.
The U.S. at the meantime threatens Russia with further sanctions if it interferes with Ukraine's national elections.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Law would raise bar for foster parents
Summary
According to a draft law published by the State Council, China's cabinet, on its website, foster parents will face harsher punishments, including criminal penalties, if they are found abusing children under their care.
The current rules, which took effect in 2004, expose violators to fines and administrative penalties, but not criminal sanctions.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Easing population density key to urban plan
Summary
Shanghai's top official says efficient land use and sustainable development will be two of the key themes of the city's urban planning for 2020-2040.
Another priority include population control, especially with regard to reducing the density in the city's downtown areas.
According to guidelines released yesterday, the aim is to make suburban communities more attractive by building better transport facilities, improving the environment, creating jobs and enhancing public services
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Cops raid knockoff lube producer
Summary
Shanghai police have arrested 13 suspects involved with a criminal enterprise that produced and sold more than 26 million yuan, or roughly 4.2 million US dollars worth, of counterfeit brand motor oil since April 2013.
The enterprise sold about 3,000 tons of low quality engine lubricant that it labeled under well-known brand names such as Shell, Mobil, Castrol and Sinopec.
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Education by correction Bureau to replace Re-education through labour Bureau
Summary
Beijing municipal office has issued an announcement to replace the former re-education through labour bureau to education by correction bureau, which will be governed by the city's Justice Bureau.
On December 28 last year, the standing committee of China's National People's Congress has abolished the re-education through labour system.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
88 million yuan fined over pollution
Summary
Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau has fined 88 million yuan, or roughly 14 million US dollars, on pollution-emitting enterprises for the first quarter, which sees a ten times rise from last year.
Beijing has raised the standards on four major pollutants emitted by enterprises at the beginning of this year, which is 14 to 15 times higher than the previous ones.
The money will be used to the environmental protection of the city.
WEST CHINA CITY DAILY
Headline
Chengdu to employ new policy on obtaining the local Hukou
Summary
Chengdu, capital of west China's Sichuan province, is going to raised the standards on obtaining the city's Hukou through purchasing real estate properties.
According to the new rules, applicants should purchase a house of 90 square metres and above, and should be committed at least one year to the social insurance system.
For the moment, those who buy a 70 square-metres house could apply to join the local Hukou.
The new rule enacts on June 1.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
NCPA launches opera in schoolbag project
 
Anchor
The National Center for the Performing Arts has launched a new project titled "opera in a schoolbag" in an attempt to try to promote opera education among Chinese teenagers.
CRI's Liu Kun has more.
Reporter
It's morning at Fengtai No.12 Middle School in southwest Beijing. Bai Yansong, a well-known host from China Central Television is introducing the opera classic, "Salome," to an audience of students.
His introduction is followed with a demonstration by opera artist Huang Hexiang.
Ding Xiaofeng, a student sitting in the audience, says the class has helped to satisfy students' artistic appetite.
"We don't have any other artistic activities besides the annual art festival where we embrace artistic expression. The opera lecture is a great opportunity for us to approach art."
The opera lecture is actually part of a project called "opera in a schoolbag," initiated by the National Center for the Performing Arts, or NCPA, in Beijing. Starting this May, the project will see 30 primary and secondary schools in Beijing launching optional courses on opera in conjunction with the NCPA.
To give students a comprehensive understanding of opera, four categories of courses are included in the project: courses on opera theory, discussion courses, opera workshops and opera recital courses.
Kang Ning from the marketing department of the NCPA is responsible for the project. She says the NCPA is considering expanding cooperation with other primary and secondary schools.
"We are planning to establish opera study groups among students so that they will be able to experience more on this art form."
Apart from carefully-tailored courses, the project also sends a star-studded team of teachers to campuses. Teams have included internationally famous tenor Dai Yuqiang, senior art educator Huang Xiaoman, and renowned art commentator Zhou Liming.
Li Jingjing, a soprano, is one of the teachers.
"I hope students who have taken the courses will get their horizons broadened and learn to accept things that are different from their own culture."
Authorities from the education bureau of Fengtai district confirms that, apart from the NCPA, local schools will also collaborate with art institutions like the Central Conservatory of Music and the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts to cultivate an appreciation for the arts among students.
BACK ANCHOR: CRI's Liu Kun.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Manchester United defeat Hull City 3-1 in final home game
 
In football,
Manchester United defeated Hull City 3-1 in their final season match at Old Trafford. Man U is sitting 7th in the table on 63 points and has one final match against …
Coming up later today is the game almost every Premier League fan will be following. Title chasers Manchester City play Aston Villa at home, the first of Man City's final two games. After Liverpool's shocking 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace yesterday, Man City is in the position to reach out and claim the title if they don't botch things up with a loss.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has abandoned all hope of the title, because he doesn't think Man City will choke.
"Obviously it was still in the hands of Manchester City so us winning would have given them a bit of pressure in the Aston Villa game. Aston Villa will go and I'm sure they've got some really good players who'll make it difficult, like they've done against the top four teams this season but I think everyone will look at Manchester City's squad and look at them as the team that will go on and win the games and get the job done."
Also later today it's a battle at the bottom, with 16th placed Sunderland hosting 17th placed West Brom. Both hover on the edge of the relegation zone. Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.
"We need to play the game. Listen, it is a football game. We saw yesterday what can happen in 50 minutes to anyone, to the best teams in the league. So we make sure we do our job and then on the day anything can happen. Then, for our part, we need to go on like we started the games at home - very aggressive, a connection with the fans, defending, putting pressure and doing your jobs properly and probably that confidence will help us to win the game."
And in AFC Champions League action,
Guangzhou Evergrande had a big 5-1 away win at Cerezo Osaka in the first leg of their round of 16 tie yesterday. The Chinese side will head into the second leg in a dominant position.
 
 
Li Na defeats Zheng Jie in round 2, Peng Shuai prepares to battle with Serena Williams
 
In tennis,
First round action continued yesterday at the Madrid Open.
On the mens side, two seeded players didn't make it through round one.
Italy's 13 seed Fabio Fognini struggled against Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov, losing 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. And 14 seed Tommy Haas was sent home by Dutchman Igor Sijsling, who won 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Canada's Milos Raonic won his opening match against Jeremy Chardy of France, 6-3, 6-3. There were also wins for Croatia's Marin Cilic over Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-1. And for South Africa's Kevin Anderson over Czech player Radek Stepanek, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Roger Federer pulled out of the tournament yesterday though to get home to see the birth of his second set of twins.
For the women,
China's Li Na defeated her countrymate Zheng Jie in round 2: 6-2, 6-3.
Maria Sharapova had a shaky moment in her opening round two match against American Christina McHale after trailing 4-1 in the final set, but rallied to win 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
Also through to round 3 are fifth seed Petra Kvitova, Samantha Stosur, Sloane Stephens, and Sara Errani.
Still to come in round two, China's Peng Shuai is up against number one seed Serena Williams.
 
 
Boston Bruins battle Montreal Canadiens in game 3
 
In hockey,
The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens are on the ice right now for game 3 of their second round playoff series.
The series is split one-one right now after the first two games in Boston.
Coming up at 9, the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild will face each other for game 3. The Blackhawks are looking to commandeer a 3-0 series lead after winning games one and two at home.
 
 
Brooklyn Nets face Miami Heat in semifinals round 1
 
And in NBA playoff action,
The Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat are on the court right now in the opening game of their second round series.
Tipping off later at 9:30, Portland will take on the San Antonio Spurs in game one of their second round.
Also the Golden State Warriors have fired coach Mark Jackson, after 36 months at the helm.
On the flip side, the Toronto Raptors just signed a new three year contract with coach Dwane Casey after their franchise record-breaking season of 48 wins and an Atlantic Division title.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Big Stars to Attend New "X-Men" Premier in BJ
 
Autograph hunters at the ready, it's been announced that Hugh Jackman, Peter Dinklage and Fan Bingbing are all headed fo the Chinese capital to attend the premiere of "X-Men: Days of Future Past" in Beijing on May 13th.
The American superhero film is a sequel to both 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand and 2011's X-Men: First Class, as well as a follow-up to 2013's The Wolverine.
The film sees the X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
What ensues is an epic battle to change the past to save the future.
The film is released across the Chinese mainland on May 23.
 
 
Jolie Pitt's 5-year-old daughter gets first acting role in Maleficent
 
Angelina Jolie has been speaking of her new role in the spooky Disney Movie 'Maleficent'.
(Maleficent)
The actress plays the cruel character from 'Sleeping Beauty' in the film, which is out at the end of this month.
The tale shifts the traditional focus away from Princess Aurora and instead tells the untold story of Maleficent who protects the forest kingdom over which she presides and all the creatures that dwell there. It reveals how her pure heart was turned stone cold by a harsh betrayal.　
Jolie's striking appearance caused a slight technical issue however, as the children who they wanted to play the young Aurora were all too terrified to perform once they saw her.
The solution? To use Jolie's own 5-year-old daughter.
"It came naturally because we didn't want her to be in a film, don't want to push our children to be actors, but there were a few little kids that came to set and every time they saw me they'd scream and one little boy said: 'Mummy tell the mean witch to stop talking to me'. So, they really were, I couldn't, so we couldn't really cast somebody who would be loving towards a monster, but Vivienne is that little girl that kind of clings to her mum no matter what I'm doing and so she was unfazed by me being very mean and even my character says to her: 'I don't like children, go away' and she just smiles and thinks that's great."　
　　
There's another connection too as the older version of Princess Aurora is played by Elle Fanning who starred opposite, Jolie's husband Brad Pitt in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'.
 
 
'Big-Five' prepare for Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen
 
Continuing my coverage of the Eurovision song contest in Copenhagen..
Today I'm going to be looking at the so-called big five – Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.
This year 37 countries have entered the competition BUT only 26 can take part in Saturday's live final.
While the other nations must compete in two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday the big five plus hosts Denmark, go through automatically.
Hardly seems fair…
Ela, the singer of the German group "Elaiza" said she was blown away by the size of the event:
"It's awesome here guys, it's so cool and we met also the other countries and we're very thankful that we have the possibility to be on such a big stage."
And while the competition has launched global careers such as Abba and Celine Dion amongst others in the past, in recently it has been seen by some as a bit of a joke.
Molly Smitten-Downes, representing the UK, admitted that she had been reluctant at first to take part but soon realized it was an opportunity which could not be missed.　　
"I would have been an absolute idiot if I had turned down this opportunity. I have to admit I was completely ignorant to Eurovision and how professional it is and just how fantastic it is from every angle. From the musical side of things to the show side of things, everything. I've been completely blown away by it and I can only say positive things so yes, I'm very happy with my decision." 　
Her song is ranked in the top 5 for the moment while a more colourful entry is the French hipster group "Twin Twin" who will be performing moustache. Emma Marrone from Italy will be competing with the song "La Mia Citta" – she looked very downbeat after the first rehursals but what counts is the big night.
And rounding off the big five Ruth Lorenzo will be singing one of the few songs not all in English called "Dancing in the Rain".
Eurovision started in the 1950s to help foster a spirit of unity after World War Two. It has expanded from an original seven countries to 37 this year, many from outside Europe.
 
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
The Chinese premier has been promoting economics, trade, cultural exchanges and more during his four-nation tour of Africa, continuing today in Nigeria.. .
Six people injured in a knife attack in Guangzhou on Tuesday are said to be out of danger...
and the Chinese government has released its first National Security Blue Book...
In Business...Alibaba has handed in its US IPO filing in New York...
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Shane Bigham in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.