新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/05/19

 
 
The Beijing Hour
 
 Evening Edition
 
 
Paul James with you this Monday, May 19th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
The first batch of Chinese nationals has been moved out of Vietnam amid the violence against Chinese citizens in the country.
The Chinese embassy in Cameroon is working to try to help in the search for a group of Chinese nationals abducted in that country.
A major conference of leaders here in Asia is set to get underway tomorrow in Shanghai.
In Business, the Chinese government is reportedly considering cutting the import tax on electric vehicles.
In sports, China off to a good start at badminton's annual premier event being held in India this year.
And in entertainment, Chinese singer Leehom Wang has announced he's set to become a father.
First, a check on what's happening on the weather front....
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be clear tonight with a low of 16 degrees Celsius. Sunny tomorrow with a high of 31 degrees.
Meanwhile Shanghai could expect some rain, with a low of 18, cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 28.
Chongqing will be clear tonight, 18 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 30.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, cloudy with a high of 31.
Kabul, partly sunny, 23.
Over in Australia
Sydney, overcast, high of 26.
Canberra, cloudy, 19.
Brisbane, overcast, high of 25.
And finally, Perth will see thunderstorm with a high of 22.
 
 
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Top News
 
 
Chinese ships ferrying evacuees home from Vietnamese port
 
The first of 4 Chinese ships set to ferry Chinese nationals out of central and southern Vietnam is on its way to Hainan.
The ship is carrying around a thousand people.
Another three ships with a capacity of around a thousand people each are also set to ferry Chinese nationals out of the country.
This comes amid the continuing violence against Chinese citizens in Vietnam amid the current dispute over a Chinese oil rig in the South China Sea.
A pair of charter flights carrying around 300 people has also arrived in Chengdu after taking off from Vietnam.
"It is great to come back. I feel steady and sure after coming back. At least, we are not afraid any more. It is good to come back home."
At least two Chinese nationals have been killed and more than 100 injured amid a spate of violent attacks against foreign companies in central and southern Vietnam.
The Chinese government is demanding Vietnamese authorities take steps to ensure the safety of all Chinese nationals and companies currently in Vietnam.
Chinese authorities have also dispatched a working group to Vietnam, and is suspending some of its plans for bilateral exchanges.
The violence broke out last week amid a dispute between China and Vietnam over an oil rig being set up around the Xisha Islands, in an area in the South China Sea claimed by both countries.
 
 
Cameroon condemns attack to Chinese camp
 
The government of Cameroon is condemning an attack on a Chinese company's camp.
A group of gunmen attacked a camp in northern Cameroon on Friday night, leaving one government soldier dead, one Chinese employee injured and ten others missing.
The Chinese company is engaged in a road improvement project.
A government spokesperson says the Cameroon government will "spare no effort" to find the abducted Chinese employees.
So far there's been no official claim of responsibility.
The attack took place along Cameroon's border with Nigeria, which is in an area known to be a stronghold for the Boko Haram rebels.
Lu Qingjiang with the Chinese embassy in Cameroon says they've not yet been able to identify the attackers.
"The Far North region of Cameroon is less than 30 kilometers away from Nigeria. The situation there has been unstable with incidents of foreigners being abducted by the Boko Haram group. We are now mainly focused on the aftermath of the attack but I also want to warn Chinese nationals in Cameroon not to travel to this area in the north."
The attack took place while Cameroon President Paul Biya was attending a security summit in Paris to explore measures to counter the Boko Haram threat.
"The problem with Boko Haram is that it is no longer only a Nigerian problem, it is becoming a regional problem, if not a problem for the whole of Africa. So we are here to declare war on Boko Haram, we will chase them and we will defeat those terrorists."
The summit has been called by French President Francois Hollande after Boko Haram abducted over 200 girls from a school in northern Nigeria over a month ago.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and representatives from Chad, Niger, Benin, the United States and Britain have also attended the meeting.
 
 
Political solution only way to address hotspot issues
 
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia is set to get underway tomorrow in Shanghai.
This year's event is going to be the largest ever since it was first held in the 1990s.
On the eve of the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Xi Jinping has told the UN chief that political solutions are the best way to address the world's hotspot issues.
For his part, Ban Ki-moon says the Shanghai summit should help address security threats and challenges.
Over 20 international leaders, including 11 heads of state, will attend the two-day summit.
The CICA was founded over 20 years ago in Kazakhstan.
It's made up of 24 member states.
9 other states have observer status.
 
 
Russia-China ties to expand: Putin
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country's cooperation with China has reached all-time highs.
He also says Russia is ready to expand is collaboration with China.
Putin has made the comments ahead of his trip here to China to attend this week's Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
Putin is also set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He says he's hoping to expand cooperation in economics, science and advanced technology.
 
 
PIK on CICA
 
Anchor:
For a preview what's likely to be discussed at the CICA Summit, CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King spoke earlier with Zha Daojiong, professor of international studies at Peking University.
Anchor:
Zha Daojiong, professor of international studies at Peking University, speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King.
 
 
Forces loyal to retired general attack Libyan parliament
 
Forces loyal to a retired Libyan general have attacked the country's parliament, detaining some 20 lawmakers and officials.
Witnesses say the attackers rode in on trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns and armoured vehicles.
"We do not want any more militias or displays of arms. And Tripoli is considered a civilian city and we do not want anyone coming here and terrorising us, like what happened today."
Retired General Khalifa Hifter says the raid is part of an effort to rid the Libyan parliament of Islamists.
He contends extremist forces are starting to gain too much influence in the country.
Forces connected to the retired general have been carrying out attacks against Islamist militias in Benghazi since Friday.
Nearly 80 people have been killed in the fighting.
Hifter claims he is trying to purge the city of terrorists.
However, Libya's interim government views the operations as a coup.
Libya's parliament is divided between Islamist and non-Islamist forces who have been squabbling over the appointment of a new government and holding new elections.
 
 
3 arrested over Turkish mining disaster
 
Three people are now facing charges in the wake of the deadly mining disaster in Turkey last week which killed over 300 workers.
The suspects are accused of negligence and of being responsible for multiple deaths.
Prosecutors say they are among 25 people who have been taken into custody.
"In total, 25 people have been detained including the chairman of the board. Six of them have been sent to the Soma criminal court with a demand of arrest, three have been arrested after interrogation."
The arrests come amid allegations by the surviving miners that the company failed to heed safety concerns.
The mine near the city of Soma, southwest of Istanbul, collapsed last week after an underground explosion.
It is the country's worst-ever mining disaster.
Outrage against the government has seen hundreds of people taking to the streets in cities across Turkey.
"Today we gathered here to celebrate the miners who died in Soma. A national mourning period was declared throughout the whole country. However, we think that it is not enough just to declare a mourning period. This should also be seen as the beginning of a struggle."
Authorities say the formerly state-run mine was inspected 11 times over the past five years.
A preliminary report is pointing to several safety violations, including a shortage of carbon monoxide detectors.
 
 
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to meet for talks on DPRK
 
Defense ministers of South Korea, the United States and Japan plan to meet in Singapore next week for possible discussions on cooperation in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
The South Korean Defense Ministry says the three defense chiefs are set to meet on the sidelines of the three-day Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Tensions are running high on the Korean Peninsula after Pyongyang warned of a new form of nuclear test and fired scores of short-range missiles.
 
 
S Korea to break up coastguard after ferry disaster
 
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has announced the coastguard will be disbanded in the wake of the ferry disaster in which left around 300-people dead.
In making the announcement, Park has also issued another formal apology for the disaster.
"I apologize to the nation for the pain and suffering that everyone felt, as the president who should have been responsible for the safety and lives of the people."
Park says a new safety agency is going to be established to handle maritime rescues, with investigative functions passing to the police.
So far 286 bodies have been recovered from the sunken ferry.
Another 18 are still believed to be trapped below the surface.
The ferry's captain and three members of the crew have already been charged with manslaughter.
 
 
WFP chief arrives in N. Korea at time when aid is drying up for the impoverished country
 
The United Nations' top food official has arrived in North Korea for a visit.
World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin is on a three day trip to North Korea.
She has already held meetings with a North Korean government official and the World Food Program's country director.
"Well, I am very hopeful that we can meet with as many officials as possible to talk about the WFP programme, this is an important time for us. We find ourselves in a very difficult financial position and we're very concerned about our ability to continue operating here without additional support from the government, to ensure that we can meet the needs of those that we serve."
The WFP admits its facing a funding crisis for its work in North Korea.
This has already led to the closure of some of its operations.
The World Food Program needs around 9-million US dollars a month to properly operate in North Korea.
However, the WFP is only operating on 3-million a month in the DPRK.
 
 
APEC trade ministers' meeting wraps up
 
A two-day meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation grouping has wrapped up.
The ministers have come to a consensus on a number of issues, including supporting a multilateral trading system, the construction of a Free Trade Area in the Asia-Pacific and global value chains.
Chinese commerce minister Gao Hucheng represented China at the sessions.
"As part of our efforts, we have expanded on the deal reached in Bali last year. The trade ministers have secured a consensus on supporting a multilateral trading system to push forward the Doha Round of WTO negotiations which have been ongoing for more that a decade."
The meeting of APEC trade ministers has set the groundwork for a summit of APEC leaders set for November.
 
 
Guard members dig in near pro-Russia stronghold
 
Ukrainian National Guard members are starting to dig in around the insurgent held city of Slovyansk.
Evengy Ivanenko is one of the National Guardsmen.
"We are for a united Ukraine. We all came together and we are all trying to support the Ukrainian people and the unity of Ukraine. At the moment we are in Donetsk Oblast and we have taken arms to show people that we really want this (unity), not because we want to punish someone."
Ivanenko is leading a group of around 50 self-described "self-defense forces."
The pro-Kiev fighters have already been forced to turn away an attack by pro-Russian forces currently holding positions inside Slovyansk.
This comes as Ukraine prepares to hold new Presidential elections later this week, which Kiev hopes will help calm tensions in the east of the country.
 
 
Balkans appeal for flood aid
 
Serbia and Bosnia are calling for international help to rescue people from inundated areas after the worst flooding since modern records began.
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in Serbia, where some 2,000 landslides have been reported.
At least 35 people have died.
Officials say three months' worth of rain has fallen on the Balkans in recent days, producing the worst floods since rainfall measurements began 120 years ago.
A large international aid operation is underway, with rescue helicopters from the European Union, US and Russia evacuating people from affected areas.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks
 
Markets here in Asia opened the trading week on a down note amid concerns about slower growth in China.
Mainland markets hit a three-week low today as investors worried about a new wave of initial public offerings.
Both the Shanghai Composite Index and the Shenzhen Component Index dropped more than 1 percent.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng finished the trading day almost unchanged.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei Average trimmed some half a percent.
South Korea's KOSPI and Singapore's Straits Times Index both closed essentially flat.
And Australia's ASX lost 1 and a third of a percent.
 
 
China considers tax cuts for imported electric cars
 
The Chinese government is reportedly considering lowering the taxes on imported electric vehicles.
Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei says the government is also working on regulations to encourage overseas electric vehicle manufacturers develop and produce their products here in China.
The Chinese government currently only provides subsidies to locally produced new-energy vehicles.
US electric carmaker Tesla has been appealing to the Chinese government to extend the incentives to imported models.
Some domestic automakers have been opposed to the idea.
However, others note Tesla competes in the high-end market, so a tax cut shouldn't have an adverse impact on domestic brands, which tend to cater to mid-range buyers.
 
 
Preparations of Russia-China gas deal in final phase: Putin
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin says an agreement on Russian natural gas exports to China have entered "the final phase."
Putin has made the comment ahead of a two-day visit to Shanghai.
Russian gas company Gazprom says it’s still "one digit" away from finalizing a 30-year gas deal with Beijing.
The China National Petroleum Corporation is already on-record saying its reached an agreement which will be signed as part of Putin's time here in China.
The deal would see Gazprom supply around one-tenth of this country's natural gas needs by 2020.
 
 
Emerging property market bust in small and medium sized Chinese cities
 
Anchor:
More Chinese cities are reporting month-on-month drops in new home prices.
The National Bureau of Statistics says prices in the 70 cities it monitors, 44 of them have seen price increases.
This is down from the 56 seen the month before.
For existing homes, prices have increased in 35 cities month-on-month in April.
This is down from 42 in March.
For more on what's happening in the Chinese property market, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Mike Bastin, visiting professor of China's University of Economics and Business.
Anchor:
Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor of China's University of Economics and Business, speaking with CRI's Shane Bigham.
 
 
Japan's core machinery orders surge 19.1 pct in March
 
Japan's core private-sector machinery orders through March are up nearly 20 percent on monthly basis.
The orders, widely viewed as a leading indicator of spending, are the highest since April 2005.
Some observers are attributing the spike to companies pushing forward investment before the rise in the sales tax took effect on April 1st.
The Japanese government estimates core machinery orders will rise less than half a percent in the second quarter.
This would be a sharp downturn from the 4 percent growth seen through the first quarter.
 
 
India's iron ore output may plunge
 
New projections are suggesting India's iron-ore production could fall by nearly one-third this year.
This follows a new Supreme Court decision that has ordered 26 mines to be shut down.
India exported 118 million tons of iron ore 4 years ago before overseas sales began slumping due to the bans and bureaucratic delays in issuing new production licenses.
Last week, India's supreme court ordered the license holders of 26 mines to re-apply for permission to operate, effectively shutting them down until they get fresh government approval.
Those mines collectively produce around 40 million tons of ore annually.
 
 
AstraZeneca rejects Pfizer's takeover offer
 
British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca has rejected a sweetened and "final" offer from U.S. drug-maker Pfizer.
The rejection comes just hours after Pfizer announced an offer worth 117-billion US dollars.
Pfizer has been hoping for a merger to create the world's biggest pharmaceutical firm.
Pfizer was hoping to establish its headquarters in New York, but maintain operations in Britain for tax purposes.
Corporate tax rates in Britain are much lower than the United States.
Pfizer's attempt to buy AstraZeneca has met with opposition from not only the company itself, but politicians and scientists in Britain and Sweden who fear job cuts.
 
 
AT&T to buy DirecTV
 
AT&T has announced a 48 billion US dollar purchase of U.S. satellite TV provider DirecTV.
In purchasing DirecTV, AT&T is hoping to bolster its packages for its cellular and broadband services.
For DirecTV, the deal will allow it to offer broadband Internet services for the first time to its U.S. customers.
AT&T and DirecTV are teaming up just a few months after Comcast announced plans for a 45-billion dollar acquisition of Time Warner Cable.
Comcast is still awaiting regulatory approval for its acquisition.
 
 
Deutsche Bank to raise 11 USD in capital
 
Deutsche Bank is hoping to raise around 11-billion US dollars’ worth of capital through a new listing and the sale of certain assets.
The bank has already sold off a stake worth 1.75-billion euros to an investment firm controlled by a member of the Qatari royal family.
Deutsche Bank is also hoping to raise an additional 6-billion euros through a rights offering to existing shareholders.
This comes as authorities across Europe demand lenders hold more capital to cushion against potential losses.
 
 
Ministers gather in Singapore for TPP talks
 
Trade ministers and chief negotiators for the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks have gathered in Singapore for another round of discussions.
The two-day meeting is being led by the United States.
It's gathering representatives from the 12 countries involved in the potential trade area.
The proposed TPP is a trade pact that covers not only free trade, but also other areas including intellectual property rights and the rights of multinationals to sue national governments.
The US government had been hoping to have the deal signed before the end of this past year.
 
 
Proposal on minimum wage rejected in Swiss referendum
 
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to create the world's highest minimum wage.
A referendum launched by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions has been defeated.
The union had been calling for a minimum wage of roughly 25 US dollars an hour.
Sunday's vote is the latest in a slew of initiatives being put to Swiss voters to try to address the widening income gap in the country.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
First Chinese evacuation ship leaves Vietnamese port for home
 
The first of four Chinese ships sent to evacuate nationals in Vietnam has left with just under a thousand people onboard.
The ship is on its way to Haikou.
Four ships with a capacity of around a thousand people are set to evacuate Chinese citizens affected in the over-week of violence which has been gripping central and southern Vietnam.
The violence has broken out amid the territorial dispute raging around the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea.
 
 
Putin orders troops back to bases after drills near Ukraine
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops near Ukraine's border to withdraw.
The Kremlin says military forces that took part in drills in three regions bordering Ukraine are being ordered to return to their permanent bases.
NATO estimates Russia amassed around 40-thousand troops along its shared border with Ukraine.
The build-up of Russian forces in the region has ratcheted up diplomatic tensions in recent weeks.
 
 
Suicide car bomb kills five in north Nigeria's Kano
 
A suicide car bombing on a popular bar street in the northern Nigerian city of Kano has left 5 people dead.
The blast hit an area mostly frequented by Christians.
There's been no immediate claim of responsibility.
However, blame is likely to fall on Islamist group Boko Haram.
Kano is the largest city in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria.
 
 
Libyan government insists it remains in control following parliament attack
 
The Libyan government insists it remains in control of the country despite a series of heavy attacks and clashes over the weekend.
The parliament building in Tripoli was overrun by a militia group loyal to a retired general.
Two people were killed in the assault.
The attackers have been demanding the assembly hand over power to a body drawing up a new constitution.
There have also been reports of an attack on a military air base in Benghazi, which on Friday saw heavy fighting between the militias and Islamists.
 
 
At least 32 children killed in Colombian bus fire
 
At least 32 children have burnt to death in a horrific bus fire in northern Colombia.
The accident is the deadliest involving children in Colombia's history.
The bus was taking the children home from church events when it suddenly caught fire and exploded.
There is speculation surrounding either fuel smuggling or misconduct by the driver.
 
 
CRI co-hosts World Congress of Russian Press in Shanghai
 
The 16th World Congress of Russian Press has opened in Shanghai, the first time it has been held in China.
Co-hosted by China Radio International and Russia's Itar-Tass news agency, the event is seen as a platform to further promote the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia.
The conference is an annual event of the World Association of Russian Press, which has decided to admit CRI as a formal member.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of CRI's Russian language service.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
SHANGHAI DAILY
"City comes off overseas travelers' itinerary"
The Shanghai Statistics Bureau has reported that the number of visitors coming to the city has been on a steady decline in the three years since the 2010 World Expo.
Last year, the city hosted 7.57 million visitors from overseas, which is down 5.4 percent from 2012.
Travel industry analysts cite a number of possible reasons including political disputes and the global economic downturn.
Hou Zhigang, associate professor of tourism at Fudan University, says China is no longer the cheap destination it once was for overseas travelers
Meanwhile, major Chinese airlines have complained that the new policy allowing visitors to enter the city for 72 hours without a visa has fallen short of expectations.
CHINA NEWS SERVICE
"Cities to build wind corridors to blow away smog"
Big Chinese cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Wuhan are working to build ventilated corridors that will allow wind to disperse dirty air.
Experts say ventilated corridors can bring fresh air from suburbs and disperse hot air that clogs city centers.
Shanghai employed the corridor idea when constructing Century Avenue in Pudong New District. The corridor takes advantage of summer breezes from the southeast and winter winds from the northwest.
Last year, Wuhan was the first city to initiate an evaluation of its meteorological and geological conditions for building wind passages.
Cui Kai, from the Academy of Engineering, says these moves show that cities are paying more attention to energy-saving designs that were once neglected in urban planning.
MEDICAL DAILY
"Many Smokers Still In The Dark About Tobacco Company Lies"
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has found that many smokers are still unaware of the dangers of smoking due to the successful deceitfulness of the tobacco industry.
Of the 1,404 smokers surveyed, between half to one-third of smokers said that when they were presented with the corrective information, it was new to them, and that they were more likely to find it important and express anger than those who already knew the facts.
The study also finds the tobacco industry targets specific kinds of groups such as women, African Americans, Latinos, and lower-income people.
Researchers believe that if the corrective statements could be "widely disseminated and highly visible, they will serve a key public education function".
TELEGRAPH
"Failing to brush your teeth could increase risk of heart attack"
A new search suggests that failing to regularly brush your teeth could leave you at risk of a heart attack.
Scientists have found that the bacteria that cause gum disease can spread in the blood stream to the heart and aorta, the largest artery in the body.
Gum disease is a common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected.
Although previous studies have shown links between gum disease and heart disease, it was thought this could be simply a sign of an unhealthy lifestyle and a high sugar diet.
The researchers claim their findings could help produce new ways to diagnose and treat heart disease.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Capture the Magic of Ballroom Dance
 
Anchor:
An art troupe from Brigham Young University has arrived here in Beijing to take part in the "Meet In Beijing" art festival, featuring ballroom dancing.
CRI's He Fei has more.
Reporter:
Stretching his body in the concert hall of Tsinghua University, 24-year-old AJ Heaps is warming up for the show in the evening. Having traveled to China with his grandparents in 2005, the country is not a strange land to this American student. However, this is his first time coming here as a dancer.
"I am excited to be here for dance. The cool thing I like about dance is that something could be communicated without words. So here we are, performing for Chinese audiences. We can convey the emotion behind our pieces just with our bodies, with music. "
AJ and his peers might be fresh faces, but the art troupe they belong to - the Brigham Young University Performing Groups - is familiar to Chinese audiences. Thirty five years ago, as a project of cultural exchange, the musical theater group from BYU came to perform in Beijing.
Edward Blaser, director of performing arts management for the group, recalls that tour in 1979.
"It was Young Ambassadors, which is a musical variety show. But it's mostly musical dance from Broadway and Disney, music that people recognize in the west. They learned a few songs in Chinese, some folk songs. But the audience loved it."
At this year's "Meet in Beijing" Arts Festival, it is the ballroom dance company that will shine on the stage. As the champion of the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival, the team is going to showcase its most famous piece: "Capture the Magic."
The artistic director of the company, Linda Wakefield, explains.
"It was one of our competition medleys. So I would say, this was one of the dances that we worked the hardest on. The routine itself is pretty much new. It's not even a year old. So we are excited about that, for both medleys. We have Latin medley and ballroom medley. "
But what makes the show really stand out is unique humor and creativity; turning off the stage lamps and using fluorescent light, dancers all wear black to present famed Nintendo video games characters. Ninja Turtles chase after bad guys, Pac-Man starts to eat dots, and Super Mario races through the mushroom kingdom. The familiar music and light-hearted humor can tickle the funny bone of any visitor.
"I think this show is really good. Although the names of these dance pieces, such as waltz and cha-cha, they all sound familiar, the choreography is really fresh. "
"The performance is excellent. Those dancers are very devoted and passionate. The show is really contagious. "
Along with Beijing, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company will perform in Shanghai, Hong Kong and three other Chinese cities during this May.
Anchor:
CRI's He Fei reporting
 
 
Sports
 
 
Pacers down Heat to get 1-0 lead in Eastern Finals
 
In NBA playoff action,
The Indiana Pacers have downed the Miami Heat 107-96 at home to take a 1-nothing lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana's Paul George scored a team-high 24 points.
Dwyane Wade hit a game-high 27 in the loss.
Game 2 of the series goes Wednesday morning in Indiana.
In the Euro league basketball final,
Maccabi Tel Aviv got past Real Madrid 98-86 in overtime.
The loss for Real Madrid is its 2nd successive time its lost in the Euro league final.
Ricky Hickman led Maccabi with 18 points to help his squad to the title.
 
 
Chicago Blackhawks secure 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings
 
In the NHL playoffs,
The Chicago Blackhawks have drawn first blood in the Western Conference finals, downing the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 in this morning's Game-1.
Brandon Saad scored a goal and added an assist in the victory.
Corey Crawford made 25 saves for the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks only had 20 shots all game.
Game 2 is set to take place in Chicago Thursday morning Beijing Time.
Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final is set to take place tomorrow morning Beijing time as Montreal looks to even their series with the New York Rangers after being humiliated 7-2 in the series opener on Sunday morning.
 
 
China starts Thomas and Uber tournaments in style
 
In badminton,
China has started its defense of the Thomas and Uber Cup tournaments in style with a convincing 5-nothing victory in New Delhi.
Lin Dan was among the winners as China swept aside France in its quest for a record sixth consecutive Thomas Cup title.
Lin Dan, a five-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, defeated Lucas Claerbout in straight sets 21-16, 21-14.
Despite the ease of the Chinese victory, Lin Dan says he's not taking it for granted.
"We have a lot of strong opponents, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Denmark. Those are the traditional powerhouses, and don't forget Japan. Actually you will never predict what is going to happen next during the match. What we can do is just give one hundred percent on court."
Like the men, the Chinese women's team also started its Uber Cup campaign with a victory over Russia.
In other action,
Former champions Malaysia started their Thomas Cup campaign with a 4-1 defeat of hosts India.
India is playing South Korea next, while Malaysia is taking on Germany.
 
 
Brendon Todd claims maiden PGA Tour win
 
In golf,
Brendon Todd has won his first PGA title at the Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.
Todd fired a bogey-free final round of 66 to finish at 14-under, two clear of former Masters champ Mike Weir.
The win earns him a two-year Tour exemption and a spot in next year's Masters.
In LGPA,
Lizette Salas has won her first LPGA title at the Kingsmill Championship.
She won by four strokes, closing at 13-under.
Taiwan's Tseng Yani finished tied for second with American Lexi Thompson and Australian Sara Smith, who fired a 5-under-66 in her final round.
 
 
Williams beat Errani to win Italian Open title
 
In tennis,
World Number-1 Serena Williams has won her third Italian Open title, crushing local favourite Sara Errani 6-3, 6-love in Sunday's final in Rome.
The win is William's 60th WTA title.
She dropped only one set all tournament.
Errani was bidding to become the first Italian woman since Raffaella Reggi in 1985 to win the title.
On the men's side,
Novak Djokovic downed Rafael Nadal for the fourth straight time to capture his third Italian Open title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.
This is Djokovic's third title in Rome, and the fourth time in a row that he has downed the Spaniard.
The Rome Masters is the last tournament ahead of the French Open, which begins later this week.
 
 
Ex-F1 champion Jack Brabham dies aged 88
 
Three-time Formula One drivers' champion Jack Brabham has passed away.
He was 88.
Brabham was the first Australian to win the Formula One title in 1959, famously pushing his car uphill to the finishing line to seal the triumph after running out of fuel on the final lap at the U.S. Grand Prix at Sebring.
He went on to win his second and third title in 1960 and 1966.
Former Formula One champion Australian Alan Jones says "Sir Jack," as he was known, will be remembered for doing something no one else has done or will do.
"He won a world championship in a car bearing his own name which he built within an Australian engine. I think he will be remembered as the man that built his own car, engineered his own car and won a word championship in it. No one did it before him, no one did it since and I don't think it will ever happen again."
In total, Brabham raced in 126 grands prixs, taking the pole position 13 times and winning 14 races.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Billboard Music Awards winners
 
Justin Timberlake, Imagine Dragons and Robin Thicke are the big winners from this year's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Timberlake, who is on tour in Europe, has accepted the awards in taped speeches.
"We're the top artist? Unbelievable. All the other finalists - Miley, Imagine Dragons, Bruno, Katy - I love you guys, it's not a competition, but if it was, I won. Ha Ha Ha Ha. And guess what? I'm OK with that, I think I'm OK with that. "
Imagine Dragons has taken home five awards, including top rock artist.
Singers Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and rapper T.I. have all scored four wins on the back of their megahit "Blurred Lines," including top radio song and R&B.
17-year-old pop sensation Lorde has won top new artist and top rock song for her hit "Royals."
"I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to grow and learn as a new artist in the spotlight at this time. I am thankful for the dialogue around my work and myself, and I am thankful to be around such talented new artists. And I'm so grateful for everything that I've learned so thank you so much."
Jennifer Lopez has been given the lifetime achievement award.
Country singer Carrie Underwood has taken the fan-voted Milestone Award.
The Billboard Music Awards, which measures honors by sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and other metrics, is a top venue for artists to unveil new songs in time for the summer.
 
 
Director John Woo throws glitzy bash for new film 'The Crossing' in Cannes
 
(The Crossing trailer)
Hong Kong director John Woo has thrown a glitzy bash to help introduce his new film "The Crossing" at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.
The cast were all in attendance, including Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.
She was joined by fellow cast members Song Hye Kyo, Masami Nagasawa, Tong Dawei, and Huang Xiaoming.
"The Crossing" is Woo's first attempt at a love story.
It tells the story of 3 pairs of star-crossed lovers whose lives are torn apart after a shipwreck in 1949.
The film has been dubbed the "Chinese Titanic".
"The Crossing" is set for release on the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan in October.
 
 
Michael Jackson wins tenth UK No.1 album with Xscape
 
(Xscape)
Michael Jackson's posthumous album "Xscape" has debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart.
The album, which features "contemporized" versions of tracks recorded before Jackson's death - has topped The Black Keys and Foxes to take over the top spot on this week's chart.
"Xscape" is Michael Jackson's tenth UK No.1 album
The album is the follow-up to 2010's posthumous release "Michael," which peaked at number four.
The Black Keys' latest release "Turn Blue" sits in 2nd spot in the UK.,
(Turn Blue)
Paloma Faith's "A Perfect Contradiction" is 3rd, while Paolo Nutini's "A Caustic Love" sits in 4th.
Foxes rounds out the top-5 with "Glorious."
Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst has hit the singles chart at number-17 with "Rise Like A Phoenix," following the song's worldwide coverage after its success last Saturday.
 
 
Broadchurch wins three TV Bafta awards
 
(Bafta awards)
ITV program "Broadchurch" has won three awards at this year's Baftas, taking the prizes for best drama, best actress for Olivia Colman and best supporting actor for David Bradley.
Colman, who won two Baftas in 2013, broke down in tears while accepting his award.
"Ant" and "Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway" took the awards for best entertainment show and entertainment performance.
The "IT Crowd" took two awards for actors Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson.
Actress Julie Walters has been awarded Bafta's highest honour, a Fellowship, for her contribution to film and TV.
She has starred in shows including "Victoria Wood" and "Talking Heads."
She's also featured in films including "Educating Rita," the "Harry Potter" movies and "Billy Elliot."
 
 
Wang Lee-hom and wife to have baby
 
(Lee-hom Wang)
Chinese singer and actor Lee-hom Wang has announced that his wife Lee Jinglei is five months pregnant.
Wang has made the revelation at an after party following his concert in Xi'an.
Wang, who turned 38 over the weekend, has thanked his wife for, -quote- "giving him the best birthday present ever."
The couple were married in November.
Wang has already given the nickname "Wang Yi " to his unborn child.
"yi" meaning the number-1 in Chinese.
 
 
Oscar-honored 'Godfather' cinematographer Gordon Willis dead at 82 -reports
 
Hollywood cinematographer Gordon Willis has past away.
He was 82.
Gordon Willis was responsible for the stirring camera work in such film classics as the "Godfather" trilogy and several of Woody Allen's best-known films.
Willis received an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar in 2010 and was nominated for best cinematography Oscars for "Zelig" and "The Godfather: Part III."
His work has been credited with lending unique, often stunning imagery to a roster of films ranging from the romance "Manhattan" and lavish musical "Pennies From Heaven" to the Watergate thriller "All the President's Men."
 
 
A quick recap of the headlines before we go.
A major conference of leaders here in Asia is set to get underway tomorrow in Shanghai.
The first batch of Chinese nationals has been moved out of Vietnam amid the violence against Chinese citizens in the country.
The Chinese embassy in Cameroon is working to try to help in the search for a group of Chinese nationals abducted in that country.
In Business, the Chinese government is reportedly considering cutting the import tax on electric vehicles.
This is Paul James in Beijing, hoping you'll join us for the next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window on the world together.