新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/05/23

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition

Shane Bigham with you on this Friday, May 23rd, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
There are 31 confirmed deaths following yesterday's terror attack in Xinjiang. Chinese authorities have vowed to step up efforts against domestic militants...
The authorities have also reacted to accusations from Vietnam that China has violated international law... calling them groundless...
And at least 13 troops have been killed at a checkpoint in eastern Ukraine...
In Business...China has launched a 2 billion dollar development fund for Africa...
In sports...footballer Luis Suarez has surgery but says he will play in the World Cup
In entertainment...the new X-Men movie is now on screens in China...
But first... lets get a check on the weather...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be sunny today with a high of 33 degree Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop down to around 20.
Shanghai will be cloudy during the daytime with a high of 27.
Overnight, it will be clear with a low of 19.
In Chongqing, it will be overcast with a high of 26.
Overnight lows are expected to be around 20.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia.
Islamabad will be cloudy with a high of 36.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 21.
Over to North America.
New York will see slight rain today with a high of 21 degrees.
Washington will be cloudy with a high of 24 degrees.
Honolulu, overcast, 28.
Toronto, Canada, will be cloudy with a high of 16 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be sunny with a high of 14.
And Rio de Janeiro will see slight rain with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Terrorist attack kills 31, injures 94 at Urumqi market
 
Anchor
Chinese authorities are strongly condemning a terror attack in Xinjiang on Thursday, and are reinforcing their resolve in the fight against terrorism.
So far 31 people have been confirmed dead and 94 injured.
The international community has also expressed condemnation of the violence.
CRI's Ding Lulu has more.
reporter
The terror attack took place at a market in the city of Urumqi.
Terrorists drove two vehicles into a crowd of people in a public square, tossing explosives at shoppers as they plowed through the mass of people before blowing up their vehicles.
Chinese authorities have strongly condemned the attack, and have vowed to work harder in fighting terrorism and safeguarding social stability.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.
"In response to the attack, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to solve the case quickly and severely punish terrorists; and to spare no effort in maintaining stability. The Chinese government is confident and capable of cracking down on violent terrorists."
So far, no claim of responsibility for the attack has been made.
A task force led by Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun has gone to Xinjiang to assist in the investigation.
The regional government has launched an emergency response to treat survivors.
Many of the dead and injured are elderly people who frequent the market in the morning.
Casualties include people from both Han and Uygur ethnic groups.
It is the worst event in the far western region since riots in the capital in July of 2009.
That incident saw nearly 200 people lose their lives, while more than 17-hundred others were injured.
"The violence, a further indication of the inhuman and anti-social nature of the terrorists, should be condemned by the Chinese people and the international community."
The attack has sparked strong condemnation from locals in Xinjiang.
Nur Bekri, chairman of the Xinjiang regional government, issued his condemnation during a televised speech.
He said terrorists will never stop the development of Xinjiang and vowed to doggedly puruse the perpetrators.
Meanwhile the international community has also issued condemnations and offered condolences to the victims.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has issued a statement saying that "there is no justification for the killing of civilians."
The United States, joined by Russia, France and the European Union, also issued condemnations of the attack.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki
"The United States strongly condemns the violent terrorist attack today May 22 against innocent citizens in a market area near People's Park in Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. We offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims, their families and all of those affected by this tragedy."
Xinjiang is a remote region.
More than half of its population is made up of Muslim ethnic minorities.
Violent attacks in the name of "jihad" have been increasing since 2009 and are the biggest threat to the region.
The latest incident happened just weeks after an attack at a railway station in Urumqi, which killed three and injured 79 others.
For CRI, this is Ding Lulu.
 
 
Q&A with Shen Dingli on China's Anti-terrorism Effort
 
Anchor:
For more on this, Beijing Hour's Paul James spoke earlier with Shen Dingli, Vice Dean of the Institute of International Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai.
[callin with Shen Dingli]
BACK ANCHOR:
Shen Dingli, Vice Dean of the Institute of International Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai, speaking with Beijing Hour's Paul James.
 
 
China urges Vietnam to stop interferences: spokesman
 
China's Foreign Ministry has released a new statement, refuting Vietnamese authorities' remarks accusing China of stirring tensions in the South China Sea.
The statement follows a meeting between the Vietnamese Prime Minister and Philippine President in Manila.
Nguyen Tan Dung says Vietnam and the Philippines are deeply concerned about the current situation resulting from China's practices, which they say violate international laws.
They have urged the international community to strongly condemn China.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says the accusation is groundless.
"Now they are distorting the facts, conflating right and wrong on the global stage, blackening China and making unreasonable accusations against China. Just who is the one who is repeatedly challenging other countries' sovereignty? Who is the one who is causing tensions in the seas? Who on earth is destroying peace and stability in the South China Sea? Facts speak louder than words."
The dispute involves efforts by the Vietnamese to disrupt Chinese efforts to drill for oil in the South China Sea.
Vietnamese civilians responded to these efforts with a series of violent protests targeting Chinese and other foreign interests in Vietnam, resulting in the deaths of at least 2 Chinese nationals and injuries to more than a hundred others.
China has repeatedly urged Vietnam to stop its interference, and ensure the safety of chinese citizens and institutions in Vietnam.
 
 
Russia, China veto draft UN resolution on Syrian civil war
 
Russia and China, two permanent members of the UN Security Council, have veto'd a draft resolution to refer the Syrian civil war to the International Criminal Court.
The draft resolution was proposed by France and received 13 votes in favor and two against.
Wang Min, the deputy Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations.
"Under the current circumstances, to forcibly refer the situation in Syria to the ICC is neither conducive to building trust among all parties in Syria, or to the early resumption of the negotiations in Geneva. It will only jeopardise the efforts made by the international community to push forward a political settlement."
The official notes that the very urgent issue now is to urge the government of Syria and the opposition to immediately start a ceasefire, and to resume the third round of the Geneva negotiations.
Syria is not a state party to the Rome Statute which established the ICC, so the only way the Middle East country can be referred to The Hague-based tribunal is by the Security Council.
The vote came just days before international Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi is to step down, on May 31.
 
 
At least 13 Ukrainian troops killed in attack on checkpoint
 
At least 13 troops have been killed after pro-Russian activists attacked a military checkpoint in eastern Ukraine, days before a presidential election.
The attack near the town of Volnovakha is the deadliest raid in weeks of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchinov:
"the pro-Russian separatists aim was to attack and seize the city of Volnovakha. Our boys defended this city and didn't let them move forward. But regrettably, under fire from mortars, grenade launchers, and heavy gunfire, our soldiers died for Ukraine. Thirteen people gave their lives for Ukraine."
Clashes between the military and pro-Russian activists also broke out in the Luhansk region. At least two injuries have been reported.
Both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions have declared independence from the government in Kiev and have pledged to derail Sunday's vote.
The leadership of the self-proclaimed republic in Luhansk has declared martial law and asked Russia to send troops to protect civilians.
International monitoring group Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has appealed to all sides in Ukraine to refrain from violence.
Ertugrul Apakan is the head of the OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine.
"'I do hope that there will be no military force used between now and the end of the electoral process in order to allow the electoral process to go forward. I hope that this message is heard by the government side but also by the other side."
OSCE observers are currently in the country to monitor the election.
Ukrainian authorities see the vote as a chance to defuse tension and stabilize the country.
But they have admitted it will be impossible to stage the vote in some eastern areas of the country.
The government has already requested a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting to help deal with the crisis.
 
 
Thai military cancels constitution
 
The Thai military has seized power, suspending the country's constitution and dismissing its caretaker government.
A curfew has now been imposed across Thailand.
Army Deputy Spokesperson Winthai Suvaree:
"For peace and order in governing the country, we are cancelling announcement number 5, issued on May 22, 2014, regarding the suspension of the Thai constitution and we are using these messages from this announcement instead. One, the Thai constitution is abrogated, except for Article 2."
Suvaree says the Senate will remain in place and the army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha , will assume the duties of the prime minister until a new one is in place.
Soldiers have dispersed groups of rival protesters in Bangkok.
It is reported at least one leader of the pro-government red shirt activists has been detained. Other protesters left peacefully.
Earlier, the military declared a 10pm until 5am curfew and demanded top government officials, including the ousted prime minister, report to the military commission.
The whereabouts of acting Prime Minister are unclear at the moment.
In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed serious concern about the military takeover.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
"The Secretary-General is seriously concerned by the military takeover in Thailand today. He appeals for a prompt return to constitutional civilian democratic rule and an all-inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for long term peace and prosperity in Thailand."
Meanwhile, the U.S. says it is reviewing military and other assistance to Thailand.
That includes looking at an ongoing exercise in Thailand involving about 700 U.S Marines and sailors.
This is the country's 12th coup since the absolute monarchy ended in 1932.
 
 
U.S. tells DPRK to refrain from provocation
 
The US is urging North Korea to refrain from "provocative actions" following the exchange of artillary fire between North and South Korea.
Tensions heated up again on the Korean Peninsula on Thursday afternoon.
North Korean forces fired numerous shells at a South Korean patrol ship in waters near the disputed maritime border on the west side of the peninsula.
Eom Hyo-sik is Head of Public Relations for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"On the Southern side of the Northern Limit Line , approximately 14 kilometres off the southwestern coast of Yeonpyeong Island, enemy artillery shells fell near a South Korean navy vessel that was carrying out a patrol mission. Our navy responded immediately by firing close to the enemy's vessel."
The exchange of fire follows an incident on Tuesday, where South Korean navy ships fired warning shots to repel three North Korean warships that briefly violated the disputed sea boundary.
Pyongyang has since vowed to retaliate.
No injuries and damages from the South Korean patrol ship have been reported.
South Korean residents living on the islands around where the shelling has taken place have been evacuated from their homes.
 
 
S.Korea names new prime minister after ferry disaster
 
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has nominated a former Supreme Court justice to be her new prime minister.
She also sacked the national security adviser and the chief of the National Intelligence Service.
The moves are designed to try to regain public confidence in the administration after the deadly ferry sinking.
The nominee for prime minister, 59-year-old Ahn Dai-hee, is to replace Chung Hong-won, who offered to quit last month following the ferry disaster.
Ahn's nomination is subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
US Stocks rose on Thursday, as investors digested recent market swings and soft readings on U.S. economic growth.
The Dow rose 0.1%. The S&P 500 added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq gained or 0.6%.
Trading volumes have been light in recent days, with Wall Street insiders citing caution on the part of investors.
In economic news, existing-home sales for April rose 1.3% on the month to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 4.65 million, below expectations for a 2% rise.
Initial claims for jobless benefits in the latest week rose 28,000 to 326,000, versus expectations of a rise to 310,000.
In corporate news, shares of Chinese e-commerce company JD.com jumped 10% in its initial public offering. The shares were priced at $19 late Wednesday, above expectations.
Best Buy rallied 3.4% after the consumer electronics retailer topped fiscal-first-quarter earnings estimates, but fell short on revenue and said it expected declines in same-store sales for the current and third quarters.
European markets gained after data showed business activity in the euro zone continued to grow, but at a slower pace.
Markit's composite purchasing managers index for the euro zone slipped to 53.9 in May from 54.0 in April, matching expectations.
Readings above 50 signal expansion.
Germany's DAX gained a quarter of a percent, France's CAC 40 added 0.2 percent and London's FTSE 100 is flat.
 
 
China injects 2 bln USD into new Africa fund
 
China has launched a two-billion dollar fund to be invested through the African Development Bank.
The Africa-wide investment vehicle is dubbed the "Africa Growing Together Fund."
This is the first time China has put money into Africa through a multilateral institution rather than directly through a deal with an African government.
The resources from the Fund are expected to be provided over a 10-year period and will be used alongside the African Development Bank's own resources to finance eligible sovereign and non-sovereign guaranteed development projects in Africa.
The AGTF is expected to be immediately set up to be used to co- finance some projects before the end of this year.
 
 
Bright Food takes over Israeli supplier
 
China's Bright Food Group struck a deal on Thursday to buy a controling stake in Israel's largest food company.
State-owned Bright Food has announced it will acquire a 56 percent of dairy firm Tnuva from private equity house Apax.
Bright Food did not disclose the sum, but the Israeli side has valued the full company at about 2.5 billion US dollars.
The deal is the latest in a multi-billion dollar overseas acquisition spree by Bright Food.
Meantime, the sale of one of Israel's leading companies has drawn mixed reactions in Israel.
Avishay Braverman is the Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee in the Israeli Knesset.
"My fear is that Israel is not a start-up nation, it's only an exit nation. Few people get very rich, and all our know-how with all big companies for the long-term that give decent wages, and all the Israeli companies are being sold to foreign control. This is not what I call capitalism that works for the long term."
Israelis in the coastal city of Tel Aviv welcomed the acquisition.
"I think selling Tnuva to the Chinese - there's nothing wrong with it. It's a cosmopolitan world, it's one big village the whole world now. And it's a business matter and I don't think we're gonna get any harm from that,"
"As long as the sale will be beneficial for Israel, for the customers and the Chinese, I can't see any problems. It's a sale of just one more company, it will be privatised - that's basically it."
Israel's government has recently been encouraging more Chinese investment in the country.
The deal is one of the biggest ever in Israel's consumer market.
 
 
Live call-in with Doug Young on corporate news of the week
 
Anchor:
Let's check out some of the other key events on the corporate front in China this week.
Doug Young joins me on the line, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
Story 1:
JD.com's IPO seems to be exceeding expections. The price surged more than 10% on its first day of trading, raising about 1.8 billion US dollars in total.
What's your assessment of this IPO?
The IPO values JD at about 25 billion US dollars. Is that fair value?
JD.com's competitor, Alibaba, is preparing for what some say will be the biggest internet IPO ever. Is JD's performance a good indicator for Alibaba, or are we comparing apples and oranges here?
Story 2:
Shenzhen Company Kuaibo Fined 260 Million Yuan For Rampant Piracy
This comes only a month after the company's offices in Shenzhen were raided by police. Can you explain what's happening?
This appears to be a significant fine, but how much is Kuaibo worth and what kind of an impact will this have on its operations?
Is this a signal that Chinese authorities are going to start targeting other major players that have been abusing Intellectual Property Rights?
Back to Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
 
 
ZTE, Huawei win bulk of China Mobile's second batch of 4G contracts -sources
 
Reuters news agency is reporting that China Mobile has awarded its second batch of 4G telecom equipment contracts, with ZTE and Huawei Technologies securing the bulk of the deal.
Reuters cited sources as saying ZTE and Huawei have been awarded 34 percent and 31 percent of the work, respectively.
Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent SA were said to have each won 9 percent of the batch, while Nokia secured 8 percent.
China Mobile, with more than 784 million mobile customers and 4.8 million 4G subscribers in April, is the world's largest telecoms company by subscribers.
It confirmed the names of the winners, but did not provide details.
 
 
Hewlett-Packard to cut up to 16,000 more jobs
 
Technology giant Hewlett-Packard accidently released its second quarter results before the US stock markets closed.
HP announced an 18 percent rise in profits to 1.3 billion for the second quarter.
But the firm said that despite rising profits, it plans to lay off an additional 11,000 to 16,000 workers.
HP had previously announced it would cut 34,000 jobs as part of a restructuring announced in 2012.
Shares in HP fell after the early release of the news, as the market was disappointed by the firm's revenue growth, which fell one percent from the same period a year ago.
HP has been hit hard by declining PC sales as consumers shift towards devices such as tablets and smartphones.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Terrorist attack kills 31, injures 94 at Urumqi market
 
Chinese authorities have strongly condemned the terror attack that happened in Xinjiang on Thursday
So far 31 people have been confirmed dead and 94 injured.
The international community has also condemned the violence.
The attack took place at a market in the city of Urumqi.
Terrorists drove two vehicles into a crowd of people in a public square, tossing explosives at shoppers as they plowed through the mass of people before blowing up their vehicles.
Chinese authorities have vowed to work harder in fighting terrorism and safeguarding social stability.
 
 
At least 13 Ukrainian troops killed in attack on checkpoint
 
At least 13 troops have been killed after pro-Russian activists attacked a military checkpoint in eastern Ukraine, days before a presidential election.
The attack near the town of Volnovakha is the deadliest raid in weeks of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The country's acting president says the attackers were trying to seize the town, but troops successfully defended it.
 
 
Thai military cancels constitution
 
The Thai military has seized power, suspending the country's constitution and dismissing its caretaker government.
A curfew has now been imposed across Thailand.
The Senate will remain in place and the army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, will assume the duties of the prime minister until a new one is in place.
Earlier, the military declared a 10pm until 5am curfew and demanded top government officials, including the ousted prime minister, report to the military commission.
The whereabouts of acting Prime Minister are unclear at the moment.
 
 
Libya to hold parliamentary election on June 25
 
The Libyan interim parliament has announced to hold a general vote on June 25.
The election seems more imminent now as the retired Major General Khalifa Haftar waged a war against the General National Congress, trying to force it to abandon power.
The general, who played a key role in toppling Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi, led his allied forces on Sunday to attack GNC compound and the airport road, leaving two dead and more than 60 injured.
Haftar claimed he intended to purge "terrorists" from the parliament and the city while the interim government and parliament condemned him for trying to stage a "coup."
 
 
European Parliament elections kick off in Britain, strained relations with EU likely to continue
 
Elections to the European Parliament has kicked off in Britain.
Millions of Britons flocked to polling stations to decide who can represent them in the European legislature.
A total of 73 Members of the European Parliament are up for grabs in the country based on the proportional representation voting mechanism.
Citizens are asked to vote for a party rather than an individual.
The UK Independence Party has topped most opinion polls in Britain in recent months.
Results of the elections are scheduled to be announced on Sunday, when voting is closed across the 28 member states of the European Union.
Britain and the Netherlands are the first two countries to start the European Parliament elections this year.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
THE BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Beijing Police Set up Professional Anti-terrorism Squad
Summery
Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau announced that the official organization of the anti-terrorism squad on Thursday.
The police authorities said emergency occurred in downtown areas in Beijing will be handled within one minute and 150 patrol cars will be sent to streets.
The police authorities will also take more precautious measures in the anti-terrorism campaign.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
China to start security vetting IT products
Summery
THE State Internet Information Office announced on Thursday that the Chinese government is to start cyber security vetting of major IT products and services for use by national security and public interests.
The vetting is aimed at preventing suppliers from taking advantage of their products to illegally control, disrupt or shut down its clients' systems, or to gather, store, process or use its clients' information, according to a statement from the office.
THE BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Beijing to connect its subway lines to Hebei
Summery
Officials from the capital said on Thursday that Subways in Beijing will be extending to cities in Hebei province .
The officials did not reveal which cities in Hebei will connect with the capital.
According to media reports, Dongxiaoying station, which is a stop on Beijing's Line 6, has been built with the ability to extend eastward.
BEIJING YOUTH DAILY
headline
Beijing municipal congress suggest continue eating ban in subway
Summery
The Beijing municipal people's congress proposed to resume the ban on eating in the subway on Thursday.
The clause with bans eating in Beijing subways has been canceled in a draft delivered to the congress.
Yet the Environment conservation commission of the congress frowned upon the consolation and proposed to continue banning eating in subway.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
3 men held after bomb hoax halts 2 flights
Summery
THREE airline passengers were detained on Thursday after sparking bomb scares that forced two Juneyao Airlines flights to make emergency landings.
Flight HO1255 was en route from Shanghai to Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, when a man surnamed Miao passed a note to a member of the air crew saying his two friends had threatened to blow up the aircraft.
Police said inspections were carried out of all passengers and luggage on both flights but no hazardous materials were found. The flights were later allowed to continue on to Urumqi.
Jiangsu police said the three suspects had been detained for deliberately making false bomb threats.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Three new H7N9 cases
Summery
Health authorities in East China's Anhui Province on Thursday reported that hree more people are in critical condition with the H7N9 strain of bird flu.
A 40-year-old Taihu county man, a 69-year-old man from Tunxi district in the city of Huangshan and a 58-year-old man from the city of Ma'anshan are all suffering in hospitals with the deadly avian virus, the provincial health and family planning commission announced on Thursday.
The virus causes acute and often lethal respiratory failure. The country has reported more than 200 human H7N9 cases
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Top Classical Music Groups played in the busiest area of Beijing
 
Anchor
The National Center for the Performing Arts has invited world renowned musicians to perform publicly in the busiest area in Beijing, as part of a campaign to promote classic music to the general public.
Chi Huiguang takes us to have a listen.
Reporter
It is a wonderful experience to listen to such beautiful music at the church. The well-known British a cappella vocal ensemble, the King's Singers, is singing the "Song of the Traveling Son," or "You Zi Yin", an ancient Chinese poem, in the St. Joseph's Church on Wangfujing Street. This is one of the many public performances of the May Music Festival hosted by the National Center for the Performing Arts.
Chris is the tenor in the group; he tells the story of the group's name.
"The group was initially founded from the King's College, Cambridge University in 1968.and the singers, we are all from the King's Cambridge. So it's an obvious name: King's Singers. Now we are from all over the place. We even got one guy from New Zealand. But we are very, very proud of our history, at King's College Cambridge. That's why of course we've kept the name after 46 years."
When founded, "The King's Singers" was formed by six choral scholars. The group has always consisted of six singers in total, with their membership changing over the years. There have been 23 members who have joined the group since it was founded. And the group has received many awards, including two Emmies.
Though there are just six singers, the audience could hear the sounds of a chorus with dozens of singers, plus an orchestra. They gave a vivid performance using both hands and vocal imitation skills, creating a spectacular sensory experience. There are also two "super-tenor" in the choir, both of whom use a special singing method to make their male voices as soft as a female's to reach the highest vocal range, the so-called "Voice of the Holy Spirit".
Earlier that morning, the NCPA brought the Leipzig Quartet from Germany to perform in Xiehe Hospital, one of the most renowned and busiest hospitals throughout the country.
Chen Mingyan is a doctor at Xiehe Hospital. She is also the coordinator for the performing project.
"Here is the main street of our hospital. The hospital often organizes some activities to enrich the lives of the medical staff and the patients. I am so happy that the NCPA invited the famous German Leipzig Quartet to perform here. They're really good; the audience consists of doctors, nurses and the patients. The classical music is very helpful for both the patients to recover and medical staff to relax. I like the performance very much."
"Let the music flow into the city" is the philosophy of the NCPA. For the May Music Festival, the center has been presenting classical music at the Forbidden City, as well as schools, hospitals, residential communities, museums and shopping malls, to promote classical music to the public.
Just as Chris, one of the members of the King's Singers evaluated:
"I think it's very important to have our reach like this, where people can come and experience different kinds of music, particularly in such a beautiful setting. I think it's really, really valuable. I think it's really great to know what music exists in this amazing city. I think any kind of forums which allows people to experience something new and allows people to come together is a brilliant one."
BACK ANCHOR
That is CRI's Chi Huiguang reporting
 
 
Sports
 
 
Suarez's operation successful, might be ready for the World Cup
 
First, we continue follow Luis Suarez's injury.
The striker from Uruguay had an operation on his injured knee yesterday and the operation has been called "very successful."
Uruguay's football association said Suarez might be ready to play in the World Cup, which is only 20 days away.
Estimates on his recovery range from 15 days to a minimum of four weeks with Uruguay's Group D opener on 14 June.
Suarez has been in superb form this past season with English Premier League side Liverpool, finishing as the season's leading scorer with 31 goals.
That feat was achieved despite him missing the opening five matches because of a suspension.
He also won the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' Association player of the year awards this season.
Former Uruguay international Gus Poyet said it will be really bad for the country's chances if Suarez does not recover in time.
"Well, I think that not having Luis Suarez at this moment in time, it will be massive not to have him because of the quality, the difference that he makes. Like I always say, when you have a player like him, if you are organised and work together, he will make the difference."
Suarez helped Uruguay to fourth place at the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago.
Next month in Brazil, Uruguay faces such stiff competition in a pool with Costa Rica, England, and former champions Italy.
 
 
Luneng win first game in five matches
 
Over here in the Chinese Super League,
Shandong Luneng is now back on top after winning on the road last night, 3-1 over Fuli.
Luneng went into the match having not won a match in its last four outings.
But Liu Binbin scored twice to hand Fuli its first loss on home pitch.
The situation at the top of the table remains fluid though, as Luneng is only one point clear of Fuli, which is sitting fourth place with 22 points.
From the women's Asian Cup semifinal,
World Cup champions Japan knocked out China with an extra time winner last night.
The two sides were level at 1-all after regular time, but a last minute goal during extra time sent the Japanese to the tournament final.
But the Chinese women don't leave the tournament empty handed. They did manage to secure a ticket to next year's Canada World Cup after finishing as the runners-up in their group.
 
 
Delbonis and Simon into the semifinals at Nice Open
 
In tennis, Argentina's Federico Delbonis won a hard-fought third set tie-break to move past John Isner in the quarterfinals at the Nice Open.
Delbonis, seeded seventh, won the first set but lost the second before recording a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 victory over Isner.
Delbonis will next meet fourth seed Gilles Simon in the semifinal later today.
Frenchman Simon dispatched Argentine Carlos Berlocq in only 85 minutes in their quarterfinal match.
In the other quarter-final, Russia's Dmitry Tursunov was defeated by Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 with another close tie-break in the final set.
The Nice Open is a tune-up for the French Open, which gets underway this weekend.
 
 
Alonso beats Hamilton in second practice session at Monaco
 
In Formula One, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso beat Lewis Hamilton in the second practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The Spaniard beat Hamilton by just above 0.4 seconds in a frantic final 10 minutes of dry running after heavy rain disrupted the session.
It was the first time Alonso has broken Mercedes' domination of this season's practice sessions.
He was fourth in the first session behind the Mercedes drivers Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.
The Mercedes duo looks determined to continue their domination after winning all five races so far this season.
But for German driver Rosberg, the Monaco circuit will be particularly motivating as this is actually where he grew up.
"Well for me personally it was a very very special experience, it's my home, it's where I've grown up, my whole life has been centred around Monaco, and so to win here was great. Not only that but it's the race to win, it's the most challenging race to win and the most prestigious place to win, so really that was awesome."
The final race in Monaco is on Saturday.
 
 
Bjorn storms ahead at Wentworth
 
In golf, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn hit his best ever round with a 10-under par, course-record-equalling 62 to take the early lead in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The 43-year old carded eight birdies and an eagle.
Bjorn's score is the lowest ever opening round in the 60-year history of the European Tour's flagship event.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy shot a 4-under 68, as did Players Championship winner Martin Kaymer of Germany.
World number three Henrik Stenson of Sweden finished the day 15th with eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
England's Justin Rose had a 2-under 70.
Defending champion Matteo Manassero of Italy only managed an 8-over 80.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
X-Men: Days of Future Past out in China today
 
(X-Men)
The new X-men film is released in China today.
Days of Future Past tells the story of out of control robots designed to take on the mutants but who soon turn on all of man kind.
Unable to combat them in the present the X-men find a way of sending Wolverine 50 years into the past to unite the X-men in two times zones in fighting their common enemy.
 
 
Ryan Gosling first film 'Lost River' dubuts at Cannes
 
Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling has just premiered his first film at the Cannes Film Festival.
(Lost River)
The movie "Lost River" which the 33-year-old also wrote, is one of 19 to compete in the "Un Certain Regard" category for emerging directors.
The film tells of a young man named Bones who along with his mother and little brother, are practically the only family left that hasn't yet cleared out of a Detroit community, visibly hit by tough times.
When their home is scheduled for demolition due to a mortgage debt, Bones strips abandoned houses for copper wiring to sell and his mother starts working at an underground fetish club.
Far from labouring over his debut effort Gosling said this film had a life of its own:
"You know this was an idea that had a life of its own. It was something that immediately, once I sort of verbalized it, it had momentum. It was something that I became an employee of it. It was moving past and people were working on it and suddenly there were actors, we were shooting or editing, now we are here and I still feel like I am trying to catch up."
As an actor the Hollywood heartthrob has twice collaborated with Nicolas Winding Refn in Drive and Only God Forgives and the Danish director is on this year's jury, so it'll be interesting to see what he makes of it.
 
 
Spielberg, Coen Bros. and Hanks all set to work on Cold War thriller
 
Steven Spielberg is set to team up with the Coen brothers in making a Cold War thriller staring Tom Hanks.
The plot will revolve around the true story of James Donovan, a US lawyer recruited to help the CIA negotiate the release of a pilot shot down over Russia in 1960.
It is the first time all four men – who have 10 Oscars between them – have worked all together.
However Hanks has worked with the Coen Brothers before in the 2004 remake of the Lady Killers and with Speilberg on The Terminal, Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me If You Can.
While Spielberg and Joel and Ethan Coen worked together on True Grit.
 
 
Paul McCartney taken to hospital
 
(McCartney)
An update on the situation with Sir Paul McCartney.
It's reported the former Beatle has been taken to hospital in Tokyo with a worsening viral infection according to Japanese media.
The star had already cancelled all his Japanese "Out There" tour due to the infection.
His show in Soeul, South Korea has also been called off though the subsequent gigs in the United States remain on for now.
　　
McCartney first fell ill after arriving in Japan last week and doctors have reportedly ordered him to take "complete rest."
 
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
There are 31 confirmed deaths following yesterday's terror attack in Xinjiang. Chinese authorities have vowed to step up efforts against domestic militants...
The authorities have also reacted to accusations from Vietnam that China has violated international law... calling them groundless...
And at least 13 troops have been killed at a checkpoint in eastern Ukraine...
In Business...China has launched a 2 billion dollar development fund for Africa...
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.