新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/05/26

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Evening Edition
 
 
Paul James with you this Monday, May 26, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
The Chinese government has issued a new White Paper on human rights here in China.
A year-long anti-terrorism campaign is underway across this country.
The latest exit-polling is suggesting a candy magnate is poised to become Ukraine's next President.
In Business, a Chinese internet video company is hoping to raise up to 100-million US dollars in a new US listing.
In sports, Adam Scott comes from behind to maintain his world number-1 position in golf.
And in entertainment, the new X-men movie is blowing away the competition following a solid opening weekend at the box office.
First, a check on what's happening on the weather front....
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be clear tonight with a low of 19 degrees Celsius. Cloudy tomorrow with a high of 33 degrees.
Shanghai will be clear tonight, with lows only 23. A hot one expected in Shanghai tomorrow, with highs forecast to his 34.
Considerably more comfortable in Chongqing, with overcast skies tonight an a low down to 18. It will also be overcast tomorrow with a high of 27.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
The Pakistani capital Islamabad is gripped in its summer heat, with highs tomorrow of 36.
Kabul will be sunny tomorrow with a high of 28.
Down in Australia
Sydney will be overcast with a high of 26.
Fall temperatures for the capital, Canberra, with rain forecast and a high of just 19.
Brisbane will be overcast, with a high of 26.
And finally, Perth will have showers and a high of 21.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China issues white paper on human rights
 
Anchor:
The State Council, the Chinese Cabinet, has issued a new white paper on Human Rights.
The details from CRI's Xie Zhao.
Report:
The white paper, titled "Progress in China's Human Rights in 2013," says the Chinese government has effectively safeguarded its citizens' right to life and health, personal liberty, personal dignity and other rights of the individual.
The new White Paper also outlines the developments made last year.
Li Yunlong is a human rights researcher with CPC Party School.
"People's livelihoods have improved significantly. Basic public services in both urban and rural settings have been better safeguarded. At the same time, the establishment of the social security system, including better nursing and medical treatment facilities, have also made a lot of progress. China became home to the world's largest social safety last year."
On top of the improvements in the social security system, the White Paper says a lot of achievements have been made toward protecting people's individual freedoms.
The report notes the former "reeducation through labor system" or laojiao, has been abolished.
It also says advancements have been made toward better protecting women and children.
The report also says special attention is being paid to the protection of the rights of people with mental disabilities.
Measures to prevent and rectifying unjust, false or erroneous criminal charges have also been been further strengthened.
Zhao Zhengqun, deputy director of the Human Rights Research Center at Nankai University, says more advancements have been made in the judicial system.
"2013 is the first time authorities have come up with an agenda for improving people's rights in the judicial system. Under the changes, the government has reiterated that China respects and safeguards people's rights. At the same time, advancements have also been made in government transparency when it comes to information. These changes allow people better access to information, and give people more involvement in the system."
　
Li Yunlong says the new White Paper also highlights the work that has been done before last year when it comes to human rights, in particular the right to democracy and free speech, known here in China as the "two rights."
"For years, western countries have criticized the two rights here in China. The new report notes China has made significant progress in protecting these two rights. China has been involved in the reform and opening-up process for more than 30 years. The Chinese government and all walks of life are becoming more confident when it comes to the two rights. China is adopting a direct and objective attitude toward these rights. China has completed social democracy with Chinese characteristics, and China's free speech rights are developing, and its freedom of speech is expanding."
The report also says the Internet has "dramatically" expanded the space for freedom of speech, saying the Internet has become one of the most important channels for the public to express opinions.
The report does note China is still a large developing country and more needs to be done to establish higher standards for the protection of human rights.
The new White Paper on Human Rights is the 11th since the government began releasing reports on human rights in 1991.
For CRI, this is Xie Zhao.
 
 
Chinese police to start a year-long nationwide anti-terror operation
 
Anchor:
A new year-long anti-terror campaign is being launched across China, with a focus on Xinjiang, following last week's deadly attack in Urumqi.
CRI's Ding Lulu has more.
Reporter:
Days after the violence, 41-years old Omerjan says he is still haunted by nightmares.
He was shopping at the market where the terrorist drove two cars into a crowd of people, tossing explosives at shoppers as they plowed through the mass of people before blowing up their vehicles.
He suffered a fractured ankle and burns to one of his legs.
"At night, when I close my eyes, the scenario often turns up in my mind. I could not sleep well all night."
Thursday's attack was the deadliest in recent years in Xinjiang, where terrorists and religious extremist groups have launched several attacks targeting innocent people in the region.
The regional police department said on Sunday that 23 terror and religious extremism groups have been busted and over 200 suspects arrested within the past month.
Also, more than 200 explosive devices were seized.
According to a police statement, the suspects watched terror videos online and learned how to make explosives.
According to the police, most of the online materials were produced by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, listed by the United Nations Security Council as a terrorist group.
The group has claimed responsibilities to several terror attacks targeting innocent citizens in and out of Xinjiang in recent years.
Abudurekefu Mawla, the principal of Xinjiang Islamic Institute, says the extremists can not represent Islam at all.
"This behavior is against humanity, against society, and against civilization. Islam has clearly forbidden Muslims from hurting others. Hurting an innocent man equals to hurting the entire human community. This is how severe the sin is. And saving an innocent man equals to saving the entire human community."
Apart from their condemnation of the attack, many locals say they believe a stronger ethnic solidarity will help uproot terrorism.
"I taught my children since they were very young that Xinjiang is an area where people of many ethnic groups live together. They should play with and get along well with classmates of the Han nationality."
The anti-terror campaign will last until June 2015.
Police nationwide will pool their information for early identification of terrorist groups and their members.
They will step up armed patrols and security control at crowded public places and tighten up management of explosives and weapons.
For CRI, this is Ding Lulu.
 
 
Beijing subway partol police equipped with guns/Michael 1602
 
Anchor:
Regular patrol officers at 5 major stations along Beijing's subway line 1 are now carrying guns.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter:
Starting this past weekend, police officers are now carrying guns as part of their regular patrols at the Xidan, Dongdan, Tiananmen East, Tiananmen West, and Wangfujing subway stops.
This is the first time regular patrol officers have been given firearms.
Their sidearm, a 9mm revolver, can shoot both real and rubber bullets.
The new show of force is drawing mixed reactions.
"It makes me feel safe to see police carry guns on patrol, whether it's on the subway, buses or trains."
"It also makes me feel a little tense seeing them carry guns on patrol. But I think its a good move, because it's going to make terrorists think twice about doing bad things."
Li Wei, an anti-terrorism expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, conceeds that giving regular patrol officers a gun isn't likely to be that effective in stopping a terrorist.
However, he says it will help in the aftermath of an attack.
"Regular patrol officers with guns can better safeguard the capital's public safety, especially when terrorist attack takes place. Armed patrol officers will be on the scene much more quickly than special forces can be."
As of this past weekend, subway passengers also have to face security checks at three more stations, namely Bajiao Amusement Park, Tiantongyuan North and Longze.
Unlike previous security arrangements, passangers at these stations now have to go through a metal detector and be cleared by security staff before moving through.
The new security measures come as Beijing and the rest of the country grapples with more violent terrorist attacks.
Li Wei also says the public needs to be vigilant when it comes to suspicious activity.
"Terrorist attacks mostly target normal people. Raising awareness in the fight against terrorism can help public security crack down on terrorism and better protect themselves. The media also has a responsibility to help educate people about what to do in the case of an attack. Normally, a person's natural response to an attack may be to run. But in most cases it may be safer to just lie down or take cover when you hear an explosion or a gun shot."
The new security measures along Beijing's subway lines comes on the heels of last week's terrorist attack on an open-air market in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, which left 39 people dead and 94 others hurt.
The attack in Urumqi last week follows a pair of terrorist attacks on train stations Urumqi and Yunnan's capital Kunming earlier this year, and an attack at Tian'anmen Square in October.
Beijing's subway system, which carries around 10-million passangers a day, is considered a prime target for a terrorist attack.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
2 Vietnamese Convicted for Anti-China Riots
 
Two Vietnamese nationals have been handed jail terms for inciting violence and vandalism in the anti-China riots that gripped the country earlier this months.
One of the two convicted has been sentenced to 3-years in jail for leading a mob which attacked a Taiwan-owned factory.
The other convicted has been given a year in jail for looting.
The two are the first of around 700 people facing charges in connection with the anti-China riots.
Tensions between China and Vietnam have been on the rise in a dispute over an oil rig in the South China Sea.
The dispute sparked anti-China protests, leaving at least one Chinese citizen dead and more than 100 others injured.
 
 
Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko pledges 'end to war'
 
Exit polls are suggesting candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko has won Ukraine's presidential election in the first round.
Official results are due out later on this Monday.
Poroshenko says his first act as president will be to visit the eastern industrial region of Donbass.
"I told you that my first visit will be to Donbass, to speak with the people of Donbass. For those people who don't take the weapons we are open for any negotiation. To guarantee them security, to guarantee them defending of their rights, including speaking any language they want, including defending the cultural rights and different other economic rights, job creation. We have a lot of things to speak about with them. For those taking the weapons, but not using them, we are ready to introduce the amnesty law.
Poroshenko is warning those who are not willing to put down their weapons will be branded as terrorists and treated accordingly.
He also says his new administration will be open to negotiating a new security treaty with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to recognise the results of the election.
Authorities in Kiev have been hoping the presidential election will be a critical step toward resolving protracted unrest in the eastern part of the country.
Despite this, armed unrest has still been taking place in the embattled region of Luhansk.
It's being reported that around 50 opposition rebels tried to storm a polling station before eventually being thwarted by security forces.
 
 
Ukraine elections
 
ANCHOR: For more on the weekend vote in Ukraine, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Professor Feng Shaolei, Director of the School of Advanced Interantional & Asian Studies at East China Normal University.
Professor Feng Shaolei with East China Normal University, speaking with the Beijing Hour's Shane Bigham.
 
 
Thailand's Prayuth vows to appoint interim PM, set up cabinet
 
Thai General Prayuth Chan-ocha has issued a new pledge to appoint an interim Prime Minister and set up a new cabinet.
But he has not set a time frame for this.
Prayuth has made the comments after recieving a royal endorsement for his decision to take over the government last week.
"The most important thing at present is to maintain peace in the country. We will maintain firm control and deal with those who violate the law or use weapons, as well as any protest or anything that will create a restive situation"
He says while the curfew will remain in-place as part of last week's declaration of Martial Law, he's ordered troops to be lenient.
He's now officially become the leader of what's being called the National Council for Peace and Order.
The military takeover of the Thai government last week is the culmination of months of political fighting between pro and anti-government camps, which also resulted in a number of people being killed.
The Thai military is currently holding a number of politicians and opposition protesters at the army's main barracks in Bangkok.
 
 
Pakistan PM arrived in India for attending Modi swearing in ceremony
 
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in New Delhi to attend the swearing in ceremony of new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Before leaving Islamabad, Sharif says he's travelling to India with a "message of peace."
Sharif is expected to meet separately with Modi on Tuesday.
The trip to New Delhi by Sharif comes as Pakistan and India continue to struggle with long-standing issues, including the decades-long dispute over control of the Kashmir region.
 
 
Preliminary results indicate far right, Eurosceptics make big gains
 
The results of the latest round of European Parliament elections are showing contrasting results among different member states, with pro-European parties and Euroskeptics winning in different countries.
One of the most significant winners is France's far-right National Front party, which is the outright winner in France with 26 percent support.
In Britain, Nigel Farage, leader of the fiercely Eurosceptic UKIP party, says he believes his party is on track for an historic victory.
"Up until now, Europe and integration, whether one liked it or not always seemed to be inevitable. And I think that inevitability will end with these results tonight. I don't just want Britain to leave the European Union, I want Europe to leave the European Union, I don't believe that flag, that anthem and that president whose name no one knows, really represent what Europe should be."
The first official results show the UKIP has garnered around 30 percent support, which is 12 percent higher than the last European elections in 2009.
Despite the Eurosceptic gains, established pro-EU parties are still forecast to remain the biggest groups in the European Parliament.
The conservative caucus, known as the EPP, is forecast to win 211 seats.
This would be down from 274, but enough to remain the EP's biggest bloc.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks
 
Chinese shares closed slightly higher today, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.3-percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index rose half a percent.
In Hong Kong, Hang Seng Index ended almost flat.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei gained nearly 1 percent, as Wall Street's gains last week and the yen's depreciation giving export-related shares a boost.
South Korea's KOSPI dropped around a third of a percent.
Singapore's Straits Times Index closed down a fraction of a percent.
And Australia's ASX advanced just less than half a persent.
 
 
Live call-in with Mike Bastin on Xunlei files for IPO on the NASDAQ
 
Anchor:
Chinese online video provider Xunlei has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to 100 million US dollars in an initial public offering.
The company hasn't said which exchange it plans to list on.
The company originally had plans to raise 114 million dollars on the NASDAQ in July 2011, but postponed and eventually withdrew its IPO in October of that year.
For more on Xunlei's plans, CRI's Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Mike Bastin, visiting professor at China's University of Economics and Business.
Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor of China's University of Economics and Business, speaking with the Beijing Hour's Shane Bigham.
 
 
China yuan weakens to 8-month low against USD
 
The yuan has hit an 8-month low against the U.S. dollar on the expectation of an interest rate increase in the United States.
The value of the yuan retreated to 6.17 against the US dollar.
This is fourth consecutive daily decline for the renminbi, which now sits at its lowest value against the US dollar since September.
Minutes from the latest Fed's policy meeting are suggesting the U.S. Federal Reserve has begun to discuss options about possibly increasing interest rates as the economy improves.
Some are expecting the Fed to begin raising interest rates in third quarter of next year if the economy continues to improve.
The yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from a central parity rate set by the PBOC every trading day.
 
 
Fixed asset investment to slow in Q2
 
New analysis shows fixed asset investment here in China is expected to grow by 17 percent year on year through the 2nd quarter.
This would be a slowdown from the over 17.5 percent rise through Q1.
The report says investment in manufacturing and housing is growing more slowly, while investment in infrastructure is picking up.
Factors including capital constraints and declining house sales are taking a toll on fixed asset investment.
Property sales have dropped nearly 7-percent across the country through the first four months.
Property values have also dropped by close to 8-percent since the start of the year.
 
 
Senior state-owned power corporation executive expelled from CPC
 
Huang Baodong, a senior SOE executive, has been sacked and kicked out of the party.
The former deputy General Manager of Power Construction Corporation of China has been expelled for "serious disciplinary and legal violations."
The State Council says Huang took advantage of his post to recieve bribes and create benefits for his friends.
Huang's case is also being reviewed by judicial authorities for possible criminal charges.
 
 
IMF's Lagarde calls for closer cooperation among central banks
 
The International Monetary Fund has called for closer cooperation among the world's central banks to cope with the challenges of increasingly interlinked and complex financial systems.
Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF, says the potential gains from cooperation could be huge in times of distress as seen during the financial crisis.
Lagarde made the call at the first annual ECB Forum conference.
She also said advanced economies could help reduce volatility by communicating clearly the course of their monetary policy.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China issues new White Paper on human rights
 
The State Council has issued a new white paper on Human Rights here in China.
The paper suggests the Chinese government has effectively safeguarded citizens' right to life and health, personal liberty, personal dignity and other rights of the individual.
It also suggests on top of the improvements made in the social security system, a lot of achievements have been made toward protecting people's individual freedoms.
The report also notes China is still a large developing country, and acknowledges more needs to be done to establish higher standards for the protection of human rights.
 
 
Russia says ready for dialogue with Poroshenko
 
The Russian government says it's ready to talk with Petro Poroshenko, who looks set to become Ukraine's new President.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made the suggestion as Ukraine awaits official results of Sunday's vote.
Exit polls are suggesting the billionaire confectionary tycoon has won the election with about 56-percent of the vote.
Russian President Vladimir Putn has promised to recognize the results of the election.
Although he strongly backs closer ties with the EU, Poroshenko also says Ukraine needs to normalize its ties with Russia, saying he would like to negotiate a new security treaty with Moscow.
 
 
Thailand's Prayuth vows to appoint interim PM, set up cabinet
 
Thai General Prayuth Chan-ocha has issued a new pledge to appoint an interim Prime Minister and set up a new cabinet.
But he has not set a time frame for this.
Prayuth has made the comments after recieving a royal endorsement for his decision to take over the government last week.
He says while the curfew will remain in-place as part of last week's declaration of Martial Law, he's order troops to be lenient.
Prayuth’s now officially become the leader of what's being called the National Council for Peace and Order.
 
 
5 dead, 38 injured in S.Korean blaze at bus terminal
 
At least 5 people have been killed and close to 40 others injured in a fire at a bus depot in South Korea.
The deadly fire hit the main bus terminal in the city of Goyang, which lies just north of Seoul.
It's believed sparks from a welder set the blaze off.
The dead are all believed to have succumbed to smoke inhalation.
A number of those hospitalized are suffering from serious smoke inhalation, raising fears the death toll may continue to rise.
 
 
Three Gorges Dam area not affected by quake
 
Local authorities in Hubei say the 3-Gorges Dam has not been affected by a quake which hit the region this morning.
The 3.4-magnitude quake hit about 23 kilometers from the dam at a shallow depth of 5-kilometers.
It was strong enough to be felt in a neighboring county.
No significant damage or casualties have been reported.
The 3-Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, has been built to withstand major earthquakes.
Two larger earthquakes of over magnitude-4 hit the same region in March.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
China Daily
"Video-based instruction faces test in Shanghai"
The teaching method, known as flip teaching or a flipped classroom, was being tested at Shanghai Xiangyinlu Primary School.
Dozens of students sat in a classroom in a Shanghai primary school, watching a video lesson.
There was no teacher present in the classroom. Instead, a set of questions had been left for the pupils to help initiate a discussion after they watched the video.
Compared with traditional methods of instruction in which students listen to lectures in class and are assigned homework, flip teaching aims to allow them to acquire knowledge by watching educational videos, usually at home.
It also gives the students more time in class to interact with their teachers and complete classwork under guidance.
According to the city's education departments, the flip teaching is a part of efforts to promote educational reform and encourage students' interest in learning.
The Telegraph
"Peer pressure effect only lasts three days: study"
Social pressure from peers only appears to last for three days before an individual's opinions reassert themselves, according to a recent study.
The researchers did experiments on 200 students and found that they tried to conform to what their peer group thought, but only for a few days.
And after three days, their peer group's past opinions meant nothing and they trusted their own instincts again.
The researchers suggested that social influence seems to have a limited time window for effectiveness, just like working memory can hold about seven items and a drug can be effective for certain amount of time.
And when it comes to social life, individuals may change their mind to conform with peer pressure without actually altering their real opinions on a subject.
The findings may explain why a 'cooling off' period is so successful in helping people to reach their own judgements.
Asia One
"Schools in Japan redouble efforts to teach online rules and ethics"
Schools in Japan are redoubling their efforts to teach students rules and ethics for their use of the Internet.
Ushizu elementary school in Ogi, Saga Prefecture, offered its sixth-grade students lessons on how to properly use the Internet in April, in the form of a lecture during their moral education class.
In the class, the teacher Jinnai, first led students in a discussion about the positive and negative aspects of cars and gasoline. And then ask the similar question about internet use, hoping that the students can understand that it has both good and bad sides, depending on how it's used.
Until recently, this kind of education mainly focused on preventing minors from accessing harmful websites. Nowadays, however, education experts agree on the importance of instilling a sense of online ethics early on,
Education experts say this will prevent young people from engaging in behaviour such as inappropriate use of documents, academic papers and other sources, as well as the questionable posting of photos to the Internet.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Baby Horse Crosses the River to be made into animation
 
Anchor:
The popular Chinese story "Baby Horse Crosses the River" is being made into an animated series.
CRI's Liu Kun has more.
Reporter:
Aside from 208 episodes of an animated series based on the popular story, Zhang Gang, director of the animation says the team behind the series are planning to do more on the story of "Baby Horse Crosses the River."
"Firstly, we aim to produce a TV animation with 208 episodes. Hopefully in 2016 we will be able to produce a movie version of the story. And we want to create a chain of products and set an example of how to develop an industrial chain for China's animation industry."
In the original story, a baby horse is asked by its mother to carry half a bag of wheat to the mill. On its way to the mill, a small river blocks its way. The baby horse asks both a cow and a squirrel how deep the water is. The cow responds that the water is very shallow while the squirrel says that one of his squirrel friends died as a result of how deep the river is.
The baby horse runs back to its mother and asks for help. Its mother tells the young foal that only by trying to cross the river will it know how deep the water really is.
The baby horse finally crosses the river and realizes that the water is neither as shallow as the cow says, nor as deep as the squirrel warns.
The original story has been translated into 14 languages including English, French and Japanese.
Zhang Gang says the animation team also have their own ambition of going global.
"We aim to establish an international brand for the Baby Horse and create China's own Mickey Mouse."
The production team has already designed their own image of the Baby Horse character, but in order to create an image that children can really related to, they are planning to solicit designs from all over the country.
"The image of the Baby Horse should deliver messages of optimism and happiness. Children should really love the image."
The story was written in 1955 by Peng Wenxi, a middle school teacher in eastern China's Zhejiang province. The story has featured in school textbooks all throughout China and has influenced several generations of Chinese people.
Hopefully the animation will bring those who have read the story a vivid reflection of their childhood experiences.
CRI's Liu Kun reporting.
 
 
Sports
 
Adam Scott pleased with comeback win
 
In golf,
Adam Scott has maintained his hold on the world number-1 position following a come-from-behind victory at the Colonial in Texas this weekend.
Despite shooting an opening round 72, Scott rebounded, edging American Jason Dufner by one stroke for the victory.
"Yeah it's a good feeling and maybe some validation...you could say, but you know winning any golf tournament is very difficult out here, they don't come easy, and I had a chance earlier this year and I let it slip and to kind of get in with a chance with a couple holes to go today I didn't want to let this one slip so I played hard and I was really happy with where my game was at."
Scott started his final round 2-back of the leaders.
However, he managed to make his way into a playoff, then sunk a 7-foot birdie to take the victory.
In Europe, Henrik Stenson has missed out on his chance to surpass Adam Scott as the world number-1, after he finished tied for 7th at the BMW PGA Championships in England.
Rory McIlroy, despite dealing with some personal problems, took this weekend's victory, finishing at minus-14, finishing one stroke ahead of Shane Lowry.
Luke Donald and Thomas Bjorn finished tied for 3rd at minus-12.
And in the LPGA, 18-year old Jessica Korda has taken the Airbus LPGA Classic, finishing at minus-20 on the tournament, one stroke ahead of Sweden's Anna Norquist.
Guangzhou native Lin Xiyu had a solid tournament.
She finished tied for 19th at minus-11.
Taiwan's Tseng Yani had a tough tournament.
The former world number-1 failed to make the cut, firing a plus-2 through the first two rounds.
 
 
Federer, Williams reach second round at French Open
 
In Tennis,
At the French Open, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Stanislas Wawrinka and Maria Sharapova are all beginning their French Open campaigns today.
Tianjin's Peng Shuai has a tough challenge to start her campaign at Roland Garros. Peng, who is a doubles specialist, will be up against Sloane Stephens from the United States.
Peng Shuai's singles world ranking took a hit this week, after being knocked out of the Strasbourg Open in the round of 16, going from 41st in the world down to 57th heading into the French Open.
In action from Day One at Roland Garros, fourth seeded Roger Federer has cruised into the second round with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Lukas Lacko.
Other seeded men advancing on Sunday include No. 6 Tomas Berdych, 15th seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.
On the women's side, American Serena Williams, the defending champion, has also reached the second round after beating 138th-ranked Alize Lim, a wild-card entry from France, 6-2, 6-1.
Serena's sister Venus, as well as 14th seeded Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain also advanced.
China's Zhang Shuai has seen her singles tournament come to a quick end, after being dumped by third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska.
The loss in the first round is the 10th time Zhang Shuai, ranked 36th in the world, has gone out in her opening match at a Major.
"When the same thing happens ten time. I don't know, I am not able to say what kind of feeling it is."
Chinese veteran Zheng Jie is also among the early losers, going down to Slovakia's Anna Schmiedlova 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Zheng Jie says she's taking the loss in-stride.
"I don't think too far, I will continue to play this year. Now I treasure games more than before, because there will be less and less games for me, thus I am enjoying playing games now."
Zheng Jie and her American partner, Vania King, are ranked 13th in the women's doubles competition at Roland Garros, and will begin their doubles campaign with a match against an unranked duo from Ukraine and Germany.
 
 
Guo'an at home to Evergrande tonight
 
In the Chinese Super League,
The last match for Beijing Guo'an before the summer break is getting underway tonight, with the club at home to Guangzhou Evergrande at Workers Stadium.
Guangzhou will be without head coach Marcello Lippi.
He's serving a one-game suspension for criticizing the officiating during his clubs last match against Guizhou.j
Guo'an comes into the match tonight on the heels of a 4-nil hammering of Hangzhou.
 
 
Oklahoma City Thunder defeat San Antonio Spurs 106-97 in Game 3
 
In the NBA playoffs,
Serge Ibaka scored 15 points in a dramatic return from what was thought to be a season-ending left calf strain to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-97 in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
The win is the first for the Thunder in the series.
Ibaka started this morning after missing the first two games of the series.
He made four early baskets to help motivate the home squad.
Manu Ginobili scored 23 for the Spurs in the loss.
Game 4 will go Wednesday morning, Beijing Time, also in Oklahoma City.
 
 
New York Rangers defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 to lead series
 
In NHL playoff action from this morning,
Martin St. Louis has put New York within one win of the Stanley Cup finals, scoring just over 6-minutes into the first overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Rangers now have a 3-1 series lead following the first victory by a home team in the best-of-7.
This is also the first time the Rangers have held a 3-1 series lead since the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Washington Capitals.
Game 5 is set for Montreal on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Game 4 of the Western Conference final is set for tomorrow morning, Beijing time, with the LA Kings looking to take a 3-1 series lead at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.
 
 
Russia wins WHC title
 
From the World Hockey Championships,
Russia has taken this year's title in Minsk, downing Finland in the final 5-2.
Russian stars Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin scoring 8-minutes apart in the 2nd period to help Russia secure the victory.
Russia finished the tournament without a loss, going undefeated in the Round Robin with a record of 7-0.
Sweden took the bronze medal at the tournament following a 3-nothing win over the Czech Republic.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Turkish drama 'Winter Sleep' wins Palme d'Or
 
The Turkish drama "Winter Sleep" has been awarded this year's coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film tells the story of a wealthy family running a hotel in the snowy Turkish hills, and details their strained relationship with their village neighbors.
Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan has two previous awards from Cannes.
But he admits this one is very special.
"It means a lot of course. Two times I received Grand Jury Prize, and one time Best Director, but now I understand that this feels very different.　There's a huge difference between second prize and first prize, believe me."
In other categories, Amercian actress Julianne Moore has won best actress for her performance in David Cronenberg's "Maps to the Stars."
Best actor award has gone to Timothy Spall, who stars as British painter J.M.W Turner in Mike Leigh's biopic "Mr. Turner."
"Moneyball" director Bennett Miller has won best director for his wresting drama "Foxcatcher."
The jury prize has been shared by Quebec filmmaker Xavier Dolan's "Mommy" and Jean-Luc Godard's "Goodbye to Language."
 
 
'X-Men' overpowers 'Godzilla', reaching top of box office
 
"X-Men:Days of Future Past" has had a monster opening weekend.
The new film has already grossed over 260-million dollars in global ticket sales in all 119 countries it opened in this past weekend.
The film earned nearly 91-million in North America.
The US is in the midst of its Memorial Day holiday.
20th Century Fox is predicting the film will gross over 110-million dollars in North America by the end of the long weekend.
Last week's top money earner, "Godzilla," has dropped to second place with around 31 million in ticket sales in North America through Sunday.
 
 
Emma Watson graduates from Brown University
 
British actress Emma Watson has graduated from Brown University in the United States.
Watson, best known as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" movies, has received her bachelor's degree in English literature from the Ivy League school.
She started at Brown in 2009.
This is the same year she was named the highest-grossing actress of the decade by the Guinness Book of World Records.
 
 
Han Geng to perform at 2014 World Music Awards
 
Chinese pop star Han Geng has been tapped to perform at this year's World Music Awards in Monte Carlo on Tuesday.
Han has been nominated in three categories at this year's WMA, including 'World's Best Male Artist', 'World's Best Video' and 'World's Best Entertainer of the Year'.
He is set to perform the hit single "Clown Mask" from his second solo album "Wild Cursive".
Han won "Best Worldwide Act" at the MTV European Music Awards in 2012.
Other big names to appear at this year's WMAs include Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Ricky Martin and Leona Lewis.
The World Music Awards were founded by Prince Albert II of Monaco in 1989.
 
 
Coldplay album 'Ghost Stories' tops British music charts
 
Coldplay's latest album "Ghost Stories" has gone straight to the top of the British charts, becoming the fastest selling record of the year so far.
The group's sixth studio album, and also their sixth successive number one, has sold nearly 170 thousand copies since going on sale last week.
Coldplay knocked off last week's number one album, "Xscape", down to 2nd spot on the UK charts.
"Xscape" is a collection of previously unrealeased songs by the late Michael Jackson.
 
 
Japanese pop group AKB48 cancels events after attack
 
Two members of the Japanese pop group AKB48 and a male staffer have been hospitalized after a man attacked them with a saw during the group's fan event in northern Japan.
The two band members suffered hand and head injuries, while a staffer at the event suffered a broken hand.
Police have arrested the attacker, a 24-year-old.
He's been charged with attempted murder.
The band has since cancelled a concert in Tokyo, as well as other events around Japan.
AKB48 and affailiated bands regularly hold charity concerts in northern Japan.
 
 
A quick recap of the headlines before we go.
The Chinese government has issued a new White Paper on human rights here in China.
A year-long anti-terrorism campaign is underway across this country.
The latest exit-polling is suggesting a candy magnate is poised to become Ukraine's next President.
In Business, a Chinese internet video company is hoping to raise up to 100-million US dollars in a new US listing.
In sports, Adam Scott comes from behind to maintain his world number-1 position in golf.
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.