新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/05/15

 
 
The Beijing Hour
 
 Evening Edition
 
 
Mark Griffiths with you this Thursday, May 15th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
China is again urging Japan to respect the concerns of its neighboring countries as Tokyo pushes forward its attempt to expand Japan's military role.
Rescuers are continuing their work at the mine explosion in Turkey in which at least 282 people have been confirmed dead.
And at least two people are killed and many others injured in a gun and grenade attack at an anti- government rally in Bangkok.
In business, the Chinese government announces new measures to support the stable growth of foreign trade and job creation.
In sport, we hear from Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen as his side prepare to take on Hull City in the English Football Association cup final on Saturday.
And in entertainment, the hotel employee who leaked footage of Jay Z being attacked by his sister-in-law is fired.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will have airborne dust tonight with a low of 16 degrees Celsius. Cloudy tomorrow with a high of 28 degrees.
Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 17, cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 26.
Chongqing will have showers tonight, 18 degrees the low, showers tomorrow with a high of 23.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny with a high of 32.
Kabul, sunny, 24.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, high of 23.
Canberra, sunny, 21.
Brisbane, light to medium rain, high of 23.
And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 22.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China Urges Japan to Respect Neighbor's Concerns as Abe's drive to lift ban on collective self-defense makes progress
 
ANCHOR: China is again urging Japan to respect the concerns of its neighboring countries as Tokyo pushes forward its attempt to expand Japan's military role.
CRI's Xie Zhao has more.
Reporter:
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the call on Thursday at a press conference in Beijing.
"Considering a series of negative developments on historical issues in Japan, Asian countries, including China, and the international community have reasons to be highly alert to Japan's real intentions and relevant developments."
The comment comes after a Japanese government-appointed panel submitted a report expected to kick start wider discussion on removing the ban that has kept Japan from fighting abroad since its defeat in World War Two.
Shunji Yanai chairs the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security.
"This report includes our advice that we should move forward to be able to implement the right of collective self-defence and to participate in the United Nations' collective security measures."
Japan currently maintains military force only for self-defense.
It has previously interpreted the war-renouncing Article 9 of its postwar constitution as saying that it cannot engage in what is known as collective self-defense.
But the panel, which consists of 14 security experts, says the interpretation is improper, arguing that collective self- defense falls within the "minimum" defense allowed under the Constitution.
The report submitted by the panel is considered as significant progress in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to expand the country's military role.
Abe is scheduled to hold a press conference later, to announce the Japanese government's stance on the report.
"With this report being submitted... I will further deliberate our response to this report in consultations with the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and the ruling party."
If approved, the change could allow Japan to come to the defense of its allies and other countries, even if Japan itself is not under attack.
The panel also recommended a set of criteria for Japan to engage in collective self-defense. But the specific standards have not yet been released.
For CRI, This is Xie Zhao.
 
 
Rescue operations continue at the site of the Turkish mine explosion
 
Rescuers are continuing their work at the mine explosion in Turkey in which at least 282 people have been confirmed dead.
Rescuers are racing against time to save those still trapped.
Distressed relatives are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. One woman was looking for her grandson.
"I have a grandson there, his pregnant wife will give birth in 17 days "
The mine operator Soma Komur Isletmeleri has said almost 450 miners have been rescued and that the deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hopes have now faded for around 150 others still trapped underground in the tunnels filled with toxic gases.
Protests have erupted against the government in several Turkish cities.
Meanwhile, trade unions have announced a one-day strike in protest at the mine disaster.
Union officials say the recent privatization of the mining sector has made working conditions more dangerous.
 
 
Explosions and shooting attack on anti-govt demonstrators killed at least 3
 
At least three people have been killed and many others have been injured in a gun and grenade attack at an anti- government rally in Bangkok.
The casualties bring the toll in political violence to 28 dead and 800 wounded since protests to oust the government began in November.
In another development, anti-government protesters have stormed into the Royal Thai Air Force auditorium.
Acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan was meeting the Election Commission there to fix a date for new polls.
Anti-government protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban.
"I want to meet and talk to Niwatthamrong. I cannot contact him. I would like to ask Niwatthamrong and clarify to him my intention. I also want to hear what he has planned for the country and whether it is possible for us to reach any agreement."
The disruption is the latest setback to polls that the government hopes will break six months of political stalemate.
　　
The crisis deepened last week when the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for nepotism in a case that many viewed as politically motivated.
But her caretaker government remains in office.
The protesters are pushing the Senate to depose the remnants of the caretaker government and install a "neutral" prime minister.
The government sees a general election as the best way out of the crisis.
 
 
Ukraine holds roundtable talks without pro-Russia groups
 
Anchor:
The Ukrainian government has held talks in Kiev on a potential decentralization of power in the country.
The meetings have not included pro-Russian groups based in eastern Ukraine, making it unclear as to what the results of the meeting can deliver.
CRI's Jordan Lee has more.
Reporter:
Ukrainian lawmakers and international mediators have taken part in the meeting, which has been focused on the situation in the country's eastern regions.
The meeting is part of a peace plan crafted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The OECD is a security group that includes Russia and the US.
As part of the meeting, Ukraine's central authorities have crafted plans to address disaffection in eastern Ukraine by forging a decentralization agenda which might cede greater powers to regional governments.
However, no pro-Russian groups, who have already declared independence, have been included in the talks.
Interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk says there will be no dialogue with armed opponents.
"Our key goal now is peace and quiet in our country and this peace and quiet must be and can be achieved through political and diplomatic means and we are going to have dialogue with all those who do not have weapons in their hands, don't shoot and kill and kidnap peaceful citizens."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is on-record saying its necessary to ensure equal participation of all regions of Ukraine for the national dialogue to succeed.
The White House is echoing this suggestion.
White House spokesperson Jay Carney:
"Now we understand certainly the unwillingness of the Ukrainian government to have participants in these roundtables who literally have blood on their hands, but those who represent the regions where there are issues that merit serious dialogue around constitutional reform and levels of autonomy for different regions as it relates to the centre are certainly part of this effort and we commend it."
The meeting this week comes after the eastern Ukranian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after two referendums over the weekend.
It also comes as the Ukrainian government prepares to hold a presidental election to permanently replace former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
His ouster by the Ukranian parliament is what's led to the deterioration of the situation in Ukraine.
Mykhaelo Okhendovsky is the head of Ukraine's Central Election Commission.
"We would really like to see a high turnout for these elections and only then can the elections be a stabilising factor in this country as well as something that can settle all of these conflicts in Ukraine."
Pro-Russia activists in Luhansk have already declared they will not participate in the elections.
Ukraine's interim government is calling on Russia to recognize the upcoming elections.
At the same time, Russia has been calling on Ukrainian authorities to withdraw their troops from eastern Ukraine.
But at the same time, in a move to soften its tone, the Russian government says it will resume gas price talks with Ukrainian authorities if pays off part of its mounting gas debt.
The offer comes on the heels of Kiev securing a new loan agreement worth over a billion euros.
Russia's state-run gas giant Gazprom contends Ukraine owes it around 3.5-billion US dollars.
The Russian side has hiked its gas prices for Ukraine by as much as 90-percent following the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych.
For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee.
 
 
S.Korea charges crew members of sunken ferry with murder
 
South Korea has brought homicide charges against the captain and three senior crew members of a ferry that capsized in April.
More than 280 passengers were killed in the disaster.
The crew members could face life in prison if convicted.
The father of a victim of the sunken South Korean ferry urged the government to severely punish the 15 crew members.
"They should apply the strictest law on them and give them the toughest punishment. I think it is one of the best ways to prevent these kinds of irresponsible people from doing the same thing again."
The other 11 crew members have also been charged with causing death or injury by negligence and violating the Law of salvage at sea.
They were among the first to escape when the accident happened, leaving the passengers and others trapped in the ship.
In the meantime, South Korea is stepping up efforts to search the sunken ferry for any remaining missing passengers as the bulkhead is in danger of collapse because of an expected flood tide.
21 people are still missing.
 
 
UNICEF Initiative Takes Root in China
 
ANCHOR: A United Nations-led child welfare initiative is expected to cover more countries after its initial success in China.
Our reporter Luo Yu has more.
REPORTER:
The initiative, called 'The Child Welfare Director', is a cooperation project between UNICEF, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, together with Beijing Normal University.
Xu Jianzhong is an official from civil affairs ministry.
"Initially, we have implemented this pilot project in 5 provinces including Henan, Sichuan, Shanxi, Xinjiang and Yunnan, covering 12 counties with 120 villages to address the needs of children affected by HIV and AIDS."
The project helps vulnerable children gain a birth certificate and residence identity.
The certificate in turn will give them easy access to education, health care and other social benefits.
Since its launch four years ago, the program has benefited more than 70,000 children in China.
Xu Jianzhong says more children are expected to be included.
"In the long run, we dedicate to expanding to all the villages in China, just like the 'barefoot doctors'. "
In light of its positive results in China, the program will also be trialed in other parts of the world.
Dan Toole is the UNICEF Regional Director, East Asia and the Pacific.
"The 28 countries that I covered want to know what's working in China. It's a combination of us together that actually creates change and makes innovation and excitement and change for and with children if possible."
Experts and academics have held a dialogue at Beijing Normal University to discuss the experience and lessons learnt in the China pilot.
It's part of this year's global celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The UNICEF has also declared this year as the Year of Innovation for Equity.
For CRI, I'm Luo Yu.
 
 
Art Basel Hong Kong opens with growing interest in Chinese contemporary art
 
Anchor:
The 2nd annual Art Basel Hong Kong Fair has opened in Hong Kong, with more than 200 galleries and around 3-thousand artists taking part.
Our Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has more.
Report:
Art Basel has been the world's leading art fair since it was established in 1970. It is held annually in the Swiss city of Basel and at Miami Beach in the US.
The Hong Kong edition was launched last year by Art Basel's Asian Director Magnus Renfrew. With China's booming economy, the art market is also thriving. Magnus Renfrew says the art market is getting more mature in the country.
"Every year we get more and more applications from China but the quality is really going up every year. The gallery system is developing in China. It's a relatively young scene but people are beginning to really see the important role the galleries play in building and sustaining art for the long term. The rapidly developing audience is developing not just in Shanghai and Beijing, but in other cities across China."
The Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing's 798 Art District has been invited to participate in the event. Its director Philip Tinari says Art Basel Hong Kong is a meeting place between China and the rest of the world in the field of art.
"You see an expansion of the program, new things like the art film section and of course, more galleries, more exhibitions and more institutions in Hong Kong. It's very firmly established on the international calendar. Many people from China come. It's easy for them to travel here, yet it is also highly international."
Other artists from both home and abroad are also excited to see Chinese works at Art Basel Hong Kong.
"I can feel that there is a growing interest in China's contemporary art scene among overseas artists. They closely follow our new developments. I am glad to see more familiar faces from China this time in Hong Kong."
"I was really shocked and surprised to see these younger artists really taking on their own identity and making their own works of art. It doesn't even necessarily look like they are from China. I like the fact that it's becoming more global."
Bringing together leading artists, curators, gallerists, collectors, and critics from across the world, Art Basel Hong Kong is on until this weekend, and is jam-packed with exhibitions and talks.
For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.
 
 
 
China's 2013 cyber-attacks quantified
 
A report on China's Internet development shows Chinese websites and computers were hit by numerous overseas attacks last year.
The report was jointly released by the Internet Society of China and the China Internet Network Information Center.
It says that "backdoors" created overseas hacked about 61,000 websites on the Chinese mainland last year, up 62 percent from 2012.
Nearly 11 million computers on the mainland were controlled by overseas servers. The U.S. is home to 30 percent of these servers.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks
 
First off, a quick look at the closing numbers in Asia.
Asian stocks mostly drifted lower on Thursday as robust growth in Japan was offset by U.S. markets pulling back from record levels.
Japan's Nikkei is down three quarters of a percent.
Chinese shares closed lower, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite down more than one percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index lost one and a half percent.
But Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.7 percent to a record high in nearly one-month, boosted by tech giant Tencent's better-than-expected earnings results.
South Korea's Kospi ended flat.
Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index added 0.4 percent.
Australia's ASX advanced for the sixth consecutive session, closing a quarter of a percent higher.
 
 
Chinese gov't unveils trade support
 
On the policy front,
The Chinese government has announced new measures to support the stable growth of foreign trade and job creation.
The new measures include giving more tax breaks, credit insurance and currency hedging options to its exporters.
The support measures were announced in a statement entitled "stabilizing trade growth", released by the State Council, China's Cabinet.
The statement says China needs to ensure that its trade sector grows at a stable rate while developing its services trade industry.
 
 
Shanghai FTZ mulls cutting negative list
 
Shanghai Free Trade Zone plans to shorten the negative list this year to attract more foreign investment.
The negative list specifies bans or restrictions on certain types of foreign investment.
Zhang Hong, head of the finance bureau of the FTZ, says the list will be shortened from 190 to 130 this year.
The change is aimed at increasing foreign investment and lifting the FTZ standards to the global level.
Negative list management was introduced in September last year.
17,000 enterprises had registered in the zone by the end of April.
 
 
Shanghai's first private bank to land in FTZ
 
Shanghai's first private bank is to open in the free trade zone.
The bank will be jointly formed by local private conglomerates Fosun and JuneYao.
China's banking regulator approved five private banks in Tianjin, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong, to bring more private players into the sector dominated by the state.
Each private bank has to constitute capital from at least two private firms.
 
 
Beijing denies receiving Tesla application
 
Beijing's local government has denied that it is preparing to put US electric car manufacturer Tesla on its new energy car list.
The local regulator of new energy cars says it has not received any application from new companies.
The current list of new energy cars consists of seven models from domestic companies, such as electric vehicle producer BYD and BAIC Motor, but not Tesla.
Tesla was reportedly trying to get onto the city's new energy car list.
In Beijing, new energy cars can enjoy double subsidies from both the central government and the municipal government, as well as special license plate quota conditions.
 
 
Q&A on ICBC to accelerate the granting of mortgages for home buyers
 
Anchor:
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has announced plans to step up mortgage lending.
ICBC's announcement comes in response to a central bank call for the country's commercial banks to be quicker in approving and issuing loans to "eligible" home buyers.
The new policy moves comes amid falling home sales and cooling home prices across the country.
Official data shows that residential property sales have dipped just below 8-percent through the first quarter.
For more on this, Paul James spoke with CRI's financial commentator Cao Can.
…
Back Anchor:
Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.
 
 
China's rebalancing creates near-term challenges
 
Credit rating company Moody's says China's rebalancing poses near-term challenges but most entities will be resilient to such challenges.
The rating agency says tighter credit conditions and decelerating economic growth are creating significant financial stress for many sectors in the near term, especially for smaller, privately owned corporations.
But it also says most of the Chinese entities it rates, including the national government, exhibit characteristics that should mitigate the resulting credit stresses.
Moody's adds that such rebalancing is positive for China's long-term macroeconomic stability.
 
 
Robust German growth puts stagnant France in shade
 
Germany has posted strong growth in the first quarter of the year, but France, the euro zone's second largest economy, failed to expand at all.
The German economy expanded 0.8 percent, marginally exceeding forecasts and was double the pace at the end of last year.
Germany's performance was driven largely by domestic demand.
In contrast, growth in the French economy was flat, with an official figure of zero percent.
That was put down to weak consumer spending and business investment.
Public spending helped to stop the French economy from contracting.
 
 
Headline News
 
China Urges Japan to Respect Neighbor's Concerns as Abe's drive to lift ban on collective self-defense makes progress
 
China is again urging Japan to respect the concerns of its neighboring countries as Tokyo pushes forward its attempt to expand Japan's military role.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the call on Thursday at a press conference in Beijing.
The comment comes after a Japanese government-appointed panel submitted a report expected to kick start wider discussion on removing the ban that has kept Japan from fighting abroad since its defeat in World War Two.
The report is considered as significant progress in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to expand the country's military role.
 
 
7 Dead, 6 Trapped in Mine Accident
 
The death toll in a coal mine accident in northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Wednesday has risen to seven, and the rescue of six other trapped workers is under way.
The accident occurred at a coal mine being built by the China National Coal Group Corporation in Yulin City.
An initial investigation showed that the accident happened at a shaft when the cement pipe fell off.
Thirty-seven workers were working underground, and 26 were lifted out.
The injured were sent to local hospitals, and two of them died later after treatment failed.
Further investigation into the accident is under way.
 
 
Turkish coal mine deaths rise to 282
 
A Turkish minister says eight more bodies have been recovered from a coal mine in western Turkey, raising the death toll in the country's worst mining accident to 282.
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says hopes for some 150 other miners trapped underground are fading but rescue efforts are continuing.
A fire is still blazing inside the mine, hindering the operation.
Protests have erupted against the government in several Turkish cities on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, trade unions have announced a one-day strike in protest at the mine disaster.
Union officials say the recent privatization of the mining sector has made working conditions more dangerous.
 
 
Grenade, gun attack in Bangkok kills 3
 
At least three people have been killed and many others injured in a gun and grenade attack at an anti- government rally site in Bangkok.
Local reports say 24 people were wounded in the attack and then were rushed to hospitals. Three were later pronounced dead.
In another development, anti-government protesters stormed into the Royal Thai Air Force auditorium where the Election Commission was negotiating with the caretaker government on specifics of the next general election.
The meeting has been suspended.
 
 
Bluefin-21 suspends search mission due to communications problem
 
Communications problems have put the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on hold for a number of days.
Search teams have established hardware defects in the transponders mounted on the mother ship, Ocean Shield, and the autonomous underwater vehicle, the Bluefin-21.
This inhibits the ability of the two devices to communicate with each other.
Spare parts for both defects are expected to arrive in Western Australia from Britain on Sunday.
The Bluefin-21 currently is the only submersible looking for the missing Boeing 777.
The CNN reports that the submersible and the transponder were damaged this week when the vehicle was being hoisted onto the deck of the Ocean Shield.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Newspaper Picks 
 
 
China News Service
"Overseas students to pay more as Australia removes fee caps"
Students will have to bear more tuition fees if they plan to study in Australia.
The Australian government has unveiled the federal budget for the fiscal year 2014, which plans to deregulate fees from 2016.
The budget slashes government funding for university courses by 20 percent, while giving more state support to those studying at vocational and private colleges.
The move will inevitably raise the cost of higher education.
The fee rise will affect undergraduate students as well as Masters and PhD students.
For those who have already commenced their studies, the existing arrangements will remain in place until the end of 2020.
======
Xinhua News Agency
"Cultural relics preservation goes digital"
China will use more digital methods to preserve the county's moveable cultural relics and make the information available to more people.
A national database of moveable cultural relics will be open to the public soon and the public will be encouraged to take part in the cultural preservation.
China has launched a nationwide investigation into moveable cultural relics last year, covering more than 1.5 million public institutions.
The census is scheduled to conclude in 2016.
Some precious items under very poor protection have been rediscovered during the survey.
========
AFP
"Heavy mobile phone use may increase risk of some brain cancers"
A new study shows that people who use mobile phones intensively appear to have a higher risk of developing certain types of brain cancer.
The study looked at over 400 cases of brain tumors reported in four French counties between 2004 and 2006.
These patients were matched against 892 healthy individuals drawn from the general population.
The comparison found a higher risk among those who used their phone intensively.
The duration of use in this category ranged from between two and 10 years, averaging at five years.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
 
China Mobile's 4G service discounts stir market
 
Anchor: China's largest mobile operator, China Mobile's recent initiative to lower its 4G service charges are stirring up the market ahead of a competitive free-for-all policy. But as CRI's Li Dong reports, the discounts are not coming without some concerns.
Reporter: China Mobile's fee adjustment comes as the domestic fourth-generation, or 4G smartphone market booms. According to a report by IHS Technology, a global market research company at the begining of the year, China's domestic 4G smartphone market is set for an explosive growth in shipments this year.
Shipments of 4G smartphones within China are forecast to reach 72.4 million units, from just 4.6 million last year, with the market expected to take off in the second half of the year.
Wang Xuehong, board chairman of Taiwan-based mobile phone manufacturer, HTC, says building brand credibility is the key for the future development of China's 4G smartphone manufacturers.
"How to exert their imagination and innovation to the maximum and avoid simply duplicating other companies' products is what many domestic enterprises should consider. Only by doing this, could the country and the industry step forward."
So far, more than four million clients from about 200 cities have used China Mobile's 4G service. And China Mobile will start to lower prices of its 4G mobile phone network services next month to attract more users. The country's largest mobile telecommunications provider will launch a 30-yuan service for 500 megabytes of data. Certain new packages will be lowered to 58 yuan from 88 yuan.
Xing Hongtao, vice manager of market price administration for China Mobile, says in general the data price will drop up to 50 percent in the new packages.
"This time, China Mobile's 4G service price adjustments only include the standardized data package products, like the monthly data package. We also have data service packages for customers who need long term service, like by a quarter or and half a year."
In some new packages, 70 yuan will buy 2G data instead of 1G. In others, users can enjoy two to six times more data at the same price as a previous package. The company also offers a service that allows a user to share his package data with up to four relatives or friends.
Cui Zheng, a scholar from Beijing Technology and Business University, says China Mobile's move to lower its 4G service fee is a good move for consumers, but the technical support of the 4G service should also be ensured.
"Consumers should be guaranteed that they can use China Mobile's quality 4G service at anytime, anywhere. For instance, the 4G service may be good at Tiananmen Square, but the signal becomes weak at the Great Wall. What if I really need to use 4G to send a picture at the Great Wall? The after-service should follow up."
The China Mobile's announcement was the first response given to the government's decision to grant telecom operators full pricing autonomy. Last week, authorities freed up telecom fees, allowing all operators in the sector to make pricing decisions on their own as long as the charges abide by law and regulations.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Sports 
 
 
Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs guarantee place in the final
 
In the NBA playoffs,
The Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-94 to win their Eastern Conference semi finals series on Wednesday at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.
LeBron James netted 29 points with 20 in the second half, and after the game, he expressed his excitement and hope for the Eastern final.
"A lot of emotions and I mean, it's always been like that for us. It's never easy. It's never easy for us and it always come down to, can we get a stop at the end to win and we had to do that. We had to do it once again. So it was a big time finish for our team."
Meanwile,San Antonio Spurs advanced to yet another Western Conference final with a 104-82 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Danny Green tallied 22 points and Tim Duncan added 16 points with eight rebounds to help the Spurs to their third consecutive Western Conference final.
The win may have come at a cost, however, as San Antonio's All-Star point guard Tony Parker left midway through the first quarter.
He felt some tightness in his left hamstring and did not return.
 
 
Updates from the Italy Open in Rome
 
In tennis,
The Italy Open continues in Rome and now it is into the third day.
In the women's event, China's No. 1 Li Na is through to the quarter finals after beating Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-1 in the third round.
Maria Sharapova, the 2011 and 2012 Rome champion, rallied to defeat Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Puig 6-3, 7-5.
With the win the number eight seed set up a third round encounter with Ana Ivanovic.
Top-seeded Serena Williams showed no trouble from a left thigh injury that forced her to withdraw from Madrid. The top-ranked American beat 28th-ranked Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-2.
Williams plays fellow American Varvara Lepchenko in the next round, the player she defeated in straight sets in their only previous encounter in Brisbane last year.
She will be seeking her 652nd professional match win, which would tie her with sister Venus for 10th place on the Open Era list.
In the men's event, after the shock defeat of Roger Federer at the hands of the unseeded French player Jeremy Chardy earlier in the day, seeds Tomas Berdych and Grigor Dimitrov enjoyed safe passage through to the last 16 at the Italian Open on Wednesday.
Grigor Dimitrov beat Ivo Karlovic 7-6/ 6-4, and Dimitry Tursunov lost to Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3.
 
 
Thomas Vermaelen looks ahead to FA Cup final
 
In football,
The FA Cup Final, which this year is between Arsenal and Hull City will take place on Saturday.
Ahead of the game, the captain of Arsenal, Thomas Vermaelen attended a press conference.
Arsenal went into the game as favourites against Hull City, but Vermaelen believes Saturday's opponents will be tough.
Arsenal hasn't won the trophy in nine years, since their 2005 FA Cup success, and Vermaelen is all too aware of the eagerness to end that silverware drought.
The Arsenal club captain was asked about his future, but Vermaelen insisted he was solely focused on the FA Cup final at this moment.
 
 
Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins 3-1 to win series
 
In the NHL Eastern Conference finals, Game 7 has been played by the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.
Carey Price stopped 29 shots to help Montreal beat the Boston Bruins 3-1, and win the best-of-seven conference semifinal 4-3.
They won the 34th playoff series between the two clubs - the ninth that went the seven-game distance - and advanced to the conference finals for only the second time.
Montreal will play the New York Rangers for a spot in the Stanley Cup finals starting on Saturday at the Bell Centre.
Meanwhile, Trevor Lewis scored, Jonathan Quick made 21 saves, and the Los Angeles Kings forced a seventh game in the Western Conference semifinals with a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks at the Staples Center.
 
 
Will Routley wins stage four as Wiggins retains overall lead
 
The fourth stage of the Amgen Tour of California took place on Wednesday, with riders racing 102.6 miles from Monterey to Cambria.
Will Routley of Canada surprised more favoured sprinters by winning stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California.
He crossed the finish line in three hours, 48 minutes, 37 seconds and American Gregory Daniel took second place with De Mesmaeker coming in third.
And Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain retained his race lead for the third day.
The field rode alongside the Pacific coast in a course that included three climbs - a total elevation gain of 2,800 feet - and one sprint.
The fifth stage will see the field ride some 108 miles from Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
"Grace of Monaco" opens Cannes Film Festival
 
"Good evening, it is an honour to declare open the 67th edition of the International Cannes Film Festival."
This year's Cannes Film Festival in southern France has begun, but with some controversy this year.
The opening of the annual movie event has premiered "Grace of Monaco".
Directed by Olivier Dahan, it stars Nicole Kidman as screen icon Grace Kelly, who became the Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier.
Kelly died in a car crash in the principality, not far from Cannes itself.
The royal family in Monaco has criticized the film as a "farce," saying it bares no relation to reality.
The film portrays the turbulence Grace Kelly is said to have encountered in dealing with royal life.
Zhang Yimou is also due to showcase his new film "Gui Lai", or Going Home.
The film itself is not in-competition.
Chinese director Jia Zhangke is on this year's competition awards panel.
"I think it is an honor for a film to shown at the Cannes Film Festival, regardless of the section it is entered into.　I think we should clap for Zhang Yi Mou."
It's been 40 years since "A Touch of Zen" became the first Chinese production to gain recognition at the 28th Cannes Film Festival in 1975.
After that, other 15 Chinese films were acclaimed with awards at the festival, of which, "Farewell My Concubine" directed by Chen Kaige won the Palme d'Or Prize in 1993
This year, Chinese director Wang Chao's "Fantasia" is among the official selections.
The 67th Cannes Film Festival runs until May 25th.
The winner of this year's Palme d'Or will be announced on May 24.
 
 
Debbie Reynolds holds final auction of her memorabilia
 
Iconic film actress Debbie Reynolds is ready to auction off her remaining Hollywood movie items.
The auction will take place this Saturday and Sunday at the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood.
Reynolds admits that parting with such memorable items is very hard.
"Now this is the finale, this is my third one and it's over. More tears. No I am very sad about it but I was sad about the first and second and third."
The first two auctions brought in a stunning 26 million (US) dollars.
The "Singin' in the Rain" star held a VIP press preview on Wednesday night, displaying hundreds of props, costumes and jewelry.
Among the displayed items this time are hats from Vivien Leigh from "Gone with the Wind," and Charlie Chaplin's iconic round black bowler hat.
 
 
Rihanna donates USD 25,000 to LAPD
 
R&B star Rihanna has donated 25-thousand US dollars to the Los Angeles Police Foundation following a selfie session gone wrong at a recent basketball game.
Last week the 26 year old singer was at the Los Angeles Clippers Game 3 playoff against Oklahoma City Thunder.
She happened to have a seat next to LA Police Commission President Steve Soboroff.
He asked the singer for a selfie while wearing an LAPD wristband to show support for the officers and Rihanna happily complied.
But the 'Stay' singer accidentally dropped Soboroff's iPhone, smashing the screen.
The police officer said that he met Rihanna again and asked if she could sign the phone because he wanted to auction it for charity and the singer obliged.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit LAPD's cadet program and the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation which supports the families of fallen officers.
The phone with Rihanna's signature is now priced at over 12-hundred US dollars.
 
 
A quick recap of the headlines before we go.
Rescuers are continuing their work at the mine explosion in Turkey in which at least 282 people have been confirmed dead.
The death toll in a coal mine accident in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has risen to seven, and the rescue of six other trapped workers is under way.
And at least two people have been killed and many others injured in a gun and grenade attack at an anti- government rally in Bangkok.
In business, the Chinese government has announced new measures to support the stable growth of foreign trade and job creation.
In sport,Maria Sharapova has overcome Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Puig 6-3, 7-5 at the Italian Open in Rome.
And in entertainment, the hotel employee who leaked footage of Jay Z being attacked by his sister-in-law has been fired.