新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/06/02

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Shane Bigham with you on this Monday, June 2nd, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
A top officer in China's military has lashed out at the aggressive maneouvering of the US-Japanese alliance...
Meantime, Chinese authorities at the just concluded Shangri-la conference have advocated non-military solutions to regional and territorial disputes...
A bomb blast in northern Nigeria has claimed at least 14 lives...
In Business...China's PMI reading is at its highest level so far this year.. .
In sports...we'll look at who's made it to the quarterfinals at the French Open...
In entertainment...Angleina Jolie's new movie takes top spot at the North American box office...
But first... lets get a check on the weather...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be overcast today with a high of 26 degree Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop down to around 17.
Shanghai will be cloudy during the daytime with a high of 27.
Overnight, it will still be cloudy with a low of 20.
In Chongqing, it will be sunny with a high of 33.
Overnight lows are expected to be around 23.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will be sunny with a high of 37.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 27.
Over to North America,
New York will be sunny today with a high of 26 degrees.
Washington will be sunny with a high of 29 degrees.
Honolulu, slight to mediate rain, 29.
Toronto, Canada, will see thundershowers with a high of 28 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be sunny with a high of 19.
And Rio de Janeiro will see slight to mediate rain with a high of 23 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Chinese military officer lashes out at US-Japan military alliance
 
A top Chinese military official has lashed out at the US and Japan, saying China opposes their assertive military alliance emerging in the Asia-Pacific region.
Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of General Staff for the Chinese People's Liberation Army, made the comments at an international security conference in Singapore.
"We oppose the practice of military alliances flexing muscles against third parties, resorting to threat or the use of force or seeking so-called absolute security of one's own at the cost of the security of others."
Wang's comments came a day after a much-watched speech delivered by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Hagel criticized China as being the one taking unilateral actions on the South China Sea and said that the United States will maintain its leadership in the Asia Pacific region and defend the interests of its allies.
He also expressed support for Japan in releasing its so-called collective self-defense right, and reinforced the U.S. position that the disputed Diaoyu Islands are under the mutual defense treaty with Japan.
Wang said he did not expect the language of "hegemonism" and words of intimidation in Hagel's speech.
The Chinese military officer underlines that no disputes or incidents have been initiated by China on sovereign and maritime issues.
 
 
Shangri-La Dialogue participants value China's role in regional security
 
Anchor:
Participants in the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue spoke highly of China's response to the provocative and harsh remarks against it from Japan and the United States, and expect China to play a still bigger role in regional peace and stability.
CRI's Ding Lulu has more.
reporter:
Professor Huang Jing is from the National University of Singapore.
He describes the comment made by the Japanese and US sides as provocative
"The speeches of both Abe and Hagel are setting fires and continuously provoking based on existing disputes. As responsible world powers, they should take specific actions to effectively resolve the disputes, instead of casting a bone between related parties."
During this year's dialogue, Chinese delegates have been actively advocating and elaborating on new security concept for Asia.
Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the general staff of the PLA, gave a speech saying China advocates dialogue and cooperation, and stands for the coordinated progress of security and development.
He also stressed that China will never seek hegemony or foreign expansion.
Professor Alexey Muraviev from Curtin University in Australia says the remarks show that China is determined to safeguard its national safety and sovereignty.
"Well, I think it clearly highlights the grand skepticism that exist in Asia about the United States future strategic role as a global player or the player global leader, as well as its capacity to lead go beyond the declarity restatements about leadership capacity in the pacific region, and also it is an indication of China's own confidence in asserting and protecting international interest in the regional context."
Hailing the 3-day meeting as an important dialogue for all the parties in Asia, the professor notes that it is understandable that there are different opinions shared during the forum.
He also stresses that what is more important is that every country should come with a constructive approach to solve disputes.
" So, I think understanding where the principal differences are, and then trying to work out, you know, these are the difficult points, these are the points we tend to agree on, and let's find the common ground and let's find the global middle which we can build a way out in a constructive way."
Participants to the forum also spoke highly of the new security concept put forward by Chinese President Xi Jingping at a recent summit in Shanghai, featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.
Professor Huang Jing from the National University of Singapore says development and security are interconnected.
Sihasak Phuanketkeow is Thailand's Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs,.
He expressed his hope for China's role in the Asia-Pacific security.
"China is one of our most important partners, for ASEAN and for Thailand. We have a strategic partnership, and we want our relationship to develop in a comprehensive way. So much interest is at stake, so much potential. So on the part of Thailand and ASEAN, we are fully committed to enhancing the strategic partnership with China. And China has an important role to play in the region."
The Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the London-based think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies, has been one of the key events for defense professionals in the region to exchange views on security issues.
For CRI, this is Ding Lulu.
 
Northern Nigeria bomb blast kills 14 people
 
At least 14 people have been killed in a bomb attack in northeast Nigeria, at a bar where people were watching a football match on TV.
The attack place in the town of Mubi in Adamawa state, close to the border with Cameroon.
Adamawa is one of three states that have been placed under emergency rule because of an insurgency waged by Boko Haram militants.
The Islamist group has been in the international spotlight after its recent abduction of more-than 200 girls from a school in northern Nigeria.
No one has claimed resposibility for the attack.
 
 
Hagel and Rice on possibility of negotiating with Taliban
 
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says the release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl may open up lines of communication with the Taliban.
The Sergeant was handed to US forces in Afghanistan over the weekend.
Hagel says the US strongly supports the Afghan-led effort to come to an agreement with the Taliban.
"We have strongly supported an Afghan-led effort to come to an agreement with the Taliban. As you know, we had engaged with the Taliban up until 2012. They broke off those negotiations. We've had no formal relationship since then. So, maybe this will be a new opening that can produce an agreement."
Bowe Bergdahl was the only U.S. soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan.
He was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban after the US agreed to release five Guantanamo Bay detainees.
They are believed to be the most senior Afghans held at the US detention facility in Cuba.
The swap has draw critisism from US Republicans, as they say the Pentagon did not give the required 30-day advance notification to Congress.
President Barack Obama's national security adviser Susan Rice defended the exchange.
"If for some reason we took the position now in the 21st century, when some of our adversaries may not be traditional state actors, that we would not do our utmost to bring our prisoners of war home, that would break faith with the American people and with the men and women who serve in uniform. So, regardless of who may be holding an American prisoner of war, we must do our best to bring him or her back."
Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has issued a rare public statement hailing the exchange of five Guantanamo Bay detainees for a Taliban-held US soldier as a "big victory".
The Afghan government, which was not informed of the deal until after the exchange had taken place, has condemned it as a breach of international law.
The exchange comes the US President Obama announced plans to wind down America's lengthy war in Afghanistan by the end of 2016.
 
 
Troops out in force to stop expected rally by anti-military protesters in Thailand
 
Thai protesters scuffled with police on Sunday as they tried to evade a security operation aimed at stifling dissent.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near a major shopping mall in downtown Bangkok to denounce the military's takeover of the country.
The country's new rulers deployed thousands of troops and police officers to several key locations across the capital to prevent a series of expected rallies.
Deputy police chief Somyot Poom pan moung says the operator of the Skytrain overhead rail network shut several stations in the central area.
"We'll check every body to prevent protesters from coming into the area. The BTS, skytrain, will not stop at three stations downtown. The skywalk above is also closed and we're not allowing anyone to commute until the situation is resolved."
But protesters showed up at an elevated walkway beside the Terminal 21 shopping mall.
The mall's owners shut the nine-story complex and ordered customers out, as scores of police and helmeted soldiers with riot shields took positions nearby.
The army overthrew the nation's elected government on May 22nd, claiming it had to restore order after seven months of demonstrations.
Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has earlier announced that elections would not be held for more than a year, to allow time for political reconciliation and reform.
 
 
Libya's renegade general forces launch airstrikes in Benghazi
 
Libya's military officials are blaming forces loyal to renegade general Khalifa Haftar for three airstrikes.
A military spokesman says the attacks targeted military bases in western Benghazi, while the historic Crown Palace was also bombed.
Haftar's air force commander says Crown Palace was occupied by an Islamist armed group and therefore it was a legitimate target.
A local school building is also said to have been damaged.
A school staffer was injured.
Haftar, who played a major role in toppling Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has led a series of military actions against the country's interim parliament.
Haftar's maneuvers have been condemned by the parliament as a " coup," but he has gained more allies recently.
 
 
Belgian and French ministers say shootings highlight risk of Europeans going to fight in Syria
 
Government offcials say the French national arrested over killings at a Belgian Jewish museum highlights the risk of Europeans going to fight in Syria.
The deadly killings at a Belgian Jewish museum was allegedly carried out by a radicalised French national, who had travelled to Syria and had trained with various militant groups.
Belgium's Interior Minister Joelle Milquet.
"Today, with the arrest of this suspect, we have the symbol of European citizens who go to fight in Syria and who can be a terrorist threat for their home countries. If the investigation confirms what we believe, it will be the first attack by a person who has been to Syria."
Milquet also called for a holistic approach to stopping extremism and said European nations must "prevent the phenomenon from setting off".
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said a meeting will be held on Wednesday between European interior ministers and their counterparts from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey to discuss prevention methods.
"In concrete terms, it is about taking measures to improve the flow of information between our intelligence services, to increase the discovery and surveillance of terrorism networks in all parts of the European Union, at the borders of the Union too, in train stations, and in airports."
The Brussels killings, which came on the eve of European parliament elections in which far right parties had a strong showing, led Belgian officials to raise anti-terror measures and raised fears of rising anti-Semitism.
Two Israelis and a French citizen were killed, while a fourth victim remains hospitalised.
Suspect Mehdi Nemmouche was arrested on Friday in Marseille.
Prosecutors say he has admitted of the killings.
 
 
Estimated 3500 migrants intercepted by Italian coast guard in 48 hour period
 
An estimated 3,500 migrants have been intercepted by Italian navy patrol ships off the coast of Sicily.
The Italian Coast Guard has released video that shows part of the naval operation that took place in the Mediterranean Sea.
The migrants, including women and children, were aboard a number of ships that were recently intercepted.
Two ships carrying 307 Syrian migrants were stopped on Friday approximately 170 kilometres off the coast of Lampedusa Island.
Another fishing boat carrying 210 migrants from Eritrea and Tunisia was intercepted on Saturday, about 48 kilometres off the Southern Sicilian coast.
 
 
Duanwu Festival
 
Anchor:
Today is the Duanwu Festival here in China, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival.
CRI's Li Dong takes us through the traditions of the festival.
Reporter:
The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a poet who lived in the Warring States Period from 475 to 221 BC.
He committed suicide by flinging himself into the Miluo River in Hunan Province after his home-kingdom fell into enemy hands.
The legend holds that people in boats raced to the site where he drowned and threw in Zongzi or wrapped rice dumplings, so fish wouldn't feed on Qu's body.
Since then, on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar, China celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival.
People hold boat races and prepare Zongzi in memory of Qu's righteousness and his beautiful poems.
However, because of the enormous landscape of China, there is a lot of diversity when it comes to Zongzi.
Ma Jianying is the deputy director of Institute of Catering Culture at Yangzhou University.
"The fillings people put in Zongzi in southern China are more diversified than the Zongzi in the north. For instance, ham, salted meat and salted duck egg yolk. The stronger flavor of Zongzi in southern China has a lot to do with the local dinning culture. The Jiaxing Zongzi, as an example, is famous for producing ham."
And Feng Jianhua, a cultural expert in Beijing, echoes Zongzi in the north also has its own geographical culture.
"The Zongzi in the north is different. There is no meat in our Zongzi. Aside from bean and Chinese dates, it can also be made with yellow rice and bean sauce. The flavor is basically sweet and light. But in the south, Zongzi is usually made with stronger flavors."
Ma Jianying also cautions that while Zongzi is part of a fun, holiday celebration, it should also be eaten in moderation.
"Glutinous rice takes a long time to digest. Zongzi in the south is mixed up with food that have high calories. So it's not recommended you eat a lot of Zongzi, though it IS delicious. It's better if you cut it into small pieces and slow down when eating. Don't eat more than you need."
The fifth lunar month is also considered a "poisonous" month in the Chinese farmer's almanac.
This is because insects and pests are active during this time of year.
It's also a high season for people to catch infectious diseases.
As such, in addition to Zongzi, to commemorate the Dragon Boat Festival, children normally wear scented sachets, which is meant to ward off evil. A scented sachet is an ornament worn on the front of the dress containing various aromatic herbs.
Tradition also has it that you should put mugwort leaves and calamus on the doors or windows to repel insects, flies, fleas and moths from your house to stave-off epidemics.
For CRI, I'm Li Dong.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Market Preview
 
Anchor:
Let's get a preview of what's set to take place in the business world this week.
Here's CRI's Ding Lulu.
Reporter:
This week will be a busy one for economic data, with PMI, factory order, and job numbers due.
The US has some key data releases scheduled this week.
On Tuesday, the May ISM manufacturing survey and manufacturing PMI are due.
On Wednesday, US vehicle sales for May and factory order data for April will print.
On Thursday, the Federal Reserve will release its Beige Book.
Weekly mortgage applications and job numbers are also due.
On Friday, weekly jobless claims numbers and a Bloomberg consumer comfort survey are expected.
In Europe, the European Central Bank is widely expected to launch a package of easing measures.
Over here in China, the official non-manufacturing purchasing manager's index for May is due on Tuesday. Also on the day, HSBC's read on manufacturing will be out.
On Thursday, HSBC's May services PMI will be published.
 
 
China's PMI rises to highest level in 2014
 
Growth in China's manufacturing sector continued to accelerate in May, rising to the highest level this year.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics show the purchasing mangers' index, or PMI, increased to 50.8 percent in May, up from 50.4 in April.
This is the third consecutive monthly uptick.
The index, seen as one of the key indicators gauging economic performance, began to climb in March after three months of declines.
A reading above the 50-point level marks expansion.
Eight among the 12 sub-indices in the PMI registered growth, with the sub-index for production edging up 0.3.
The sub-index for new orders, a measure of foreign and domestic demand, jumped by 1.1 to 52.3, marking the highest level since last November.
Export orders, which slumped by 1.1 in April, reversed the declining trend and rose by 0.2, and the index now stands at 49.3.
China's economy grew at its weakest pace in 18 months in the first quarter, expanding by 7.4 percent, lower than the 7.5 percent target set by the central government.
Analysts say the rising PMI indicates a pickup in China's manufacturing sector and the economy as whole.
 
 
Major cities home prices drop
 
Home prices in major Chinese cities posted their first monthly decline in nearly two years in May.
The survey conducted by China Index Academy shows the average price of a new home in 100 major cities fell 0.3 percent from April.
The cost per square metre is 10,970 yuan, or 1750 US dollars.
This is the first time the price has fallen since June 2012.
Prices dropped in 62 cities and are unchanged in one.
The survey added to signs that China's property market is cooling, with analysts pointing to factors including stringent bank loan criteria, expectations of falling prices and financial trouble among developers.
Only two cities, Beijing and Tianjin have seen new home prices increase
For more on the home prices, we are now joined on the line with Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor of China's University of Economics and Business.
1. What are the reasons behind the decline?
2. Why is it that Beijing and Tianjin are able to resist this downward economic pressure?
3. What does it mean to home buyers? Is now a good time to get a new house?
4. What does it mean to developers? Will it increase the default risks of some developers? Will this trend continue?
Back Anchor:
Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor of China's University of Economics and Business.
 
 
China banking regulator to reduce financing cost for enterprises
 
China's banking regulator says it will remove redundant fees and charges to lower financing costs for Chinese enterprises.
Zhang Xiaopu, an official with the China Banking Regulatory Commission, says Chinese enterprises have been plagued by unreasonable fees during financing.
"For example, when companies are filing for financing, they need to have their mortgages evaluated and they also need to find guarantee companies before borrowing loans. Such links will drive up their real financing costs, which is one of the main concerns for these enterprises."
Zhang said the commission will supervise all banking institutions to strictly follow the service price guidelines and will conduct specific inspections.
He said the commission will also regulate inter-bank loans, entrusted loans, and wealth management and trust services to further cut down financing costs for enterprises.
Many Chinese companies, especially private ones, have long complained about under-qualified banking services and of the difficulty of getting loans from state-owned banks.
 
 
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Chinese military officer lashes out at US-Japan military alliance
 
A top Chinese military official has lashed out at the US and Japan, saying China opposes their assertive military alliance emerging in the Asia-Pacific region.
Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of General Staff for the Chinese People's Liberation Army, made the comments at an international security conference in Singapore.
his comments came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Hagel criticized China as being the one taking unilateral actions on the South China Sea and said that the United States will maintain its leadership in the Asia Pacific region and defend the interests of its allies.
The Chinese military officer underlines that no disputes or incidents have been initiated by China on sovereign and maritime issues.
 
 
Northern Nigeria bomb blast kills 14 people
 
At least 14 people have been killed in a bomb attack in northeast Nigeria, at a bar where people were watching a football match on TV.
The attack place in the town of Mubi in Adamawa state, close to the border with Cameroon.
Adamawa is one of three states that have been placed under emergency rule because of an insurgency waged by Boko Haram militants.
The Islamist group has been in the international spotlight after its recent abduction of more-than 200 girls from a school in northern Nigeria.
No one has claimed resposibility for the attack.
 
 
Hagel and Rice on possibility of negotiating with Taliban
 
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says the release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl may open up lines of communication with the Taliban.
The Sergeant was handed to US forces in Afghanistan over the weekend.
Bowe Bergdahl was the only U.S. soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan.
He was handed over to U.S. special forces by the Taliban after the US agreed to release five Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Hagel says the US strongly supports the Afghan-led effort to come to an agreement with the Taliban.
Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has issued a rare public statement hailing the exchange.
The Afghan government, which was not informed of the deal until after the exchange had taken place, has condemned it as a breach of international law.
 
 
Russia enacts broadened anti-tobacco law/xinhua
 
Russian lawmakers have broadened the country's anti-smoking law, first enacted a year ago.
Smoking has been completely banned in cafes, restaurants, and on railway platforms. Over the past 12-months, these locations had been allowed to set aside special rooms for smokers.
The revised rules, which went into effect on Sunday, also include a ban on the sale of cigarettes kiosks.
Eateries have been ordered to remove ashtrays from tables and bar counters.
Russia's health ministry says tobacco use has dropped by at least 16 percent since the initial law was enacted last June, and tobacco production has dropped as well.
However, it's believed that more than half of all Russian adults are smokers, and the habit is responsible for about 400-thousand deaths in the country each year.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
THE BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Cursing words found in the residence of the Sect members
Summary
The police announced that they have found words referring to brutal killings like " slauter" and "massacre" at the residence of the six suspects of a killing in Shandong.
This comes after local police announced that the six, detained for intentional homicide, are members of some kind of religious sect.
The killing at a McDonald's outlet saw a woman, surnamed Wu, was beaten to death.
Media reports say she refused to give her telephone number to the suspects, who were allegedly trying to recruit new members for their sect.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Murder suspect turns gun on himself
Summary
A MURDER suspect has died following an exchange of gunfire with Hong Kong police at a high-rise residential block early on Sunday.
Officers said the man shot himself.
The man was identified as a 51-year-old jobless Hong Kong resident who was a suspect in an earlier murder.
THE GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Police hunt for bus knife attacker in E China
Summary
Local police say they are hunting for a man who stabbed four passengers on a bus in East China's Jiangxi Province
The man ran away from the scene after he wounded the four people with a knife.
Investigation into the case is underway.
THE BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Police dogs are sent to guard hospitals in Beijing
Summary
Authorities in the capital say the move is part of efforts to tighten security against terrorism.
Police have also been told to bring their dogs during routine patrols in densely populated areas.
Following fatal terrorist attacks in recent months, China has increased the number of armed patrols as it has cracked down on criminal activity.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Railway traffic surges during China's Dragon boat Festival
Summary
Railway authorities said that China's railways saw an increase in passenger trips as the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday kicked off on Saturday.
Some 7.6 million passenger trips were made on China's railways on Friday, increasing 15.9 percent from a year earlier.
200 temporary trains were added to ease the pressure.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
CCTV producers under investigation for bribery
Summary
Chinese authorities say two senior producers at China Central Television (CCTV) have been accused of the crime.
The two suspects are Guo Zhenxi, director-general of CCTV's finance and economics channel, and Tian Liwu, a producer of the channel.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
How Smartphones Have Changed Our Life
 
The latest numbers show that around the world there are some 1.4 billion people using smartphones.
This year, about 90 percent of all cellphones sold here in China are expected to be smartphones.
While smartphones have changed lives dramatically, some lament that smartphone addiction is pushing people further apart, while use of these devices leaves people vulnerable to privacy and security breaches.
For more on that, CRI's Zheng Chengaung spoke earlier with Roel Vertegaal, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at Queen's University.
That is Roel Vertegaal, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at Queen's University, speaking with CRI's Zheng Chenguang.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Day 8 at the French Open
 
In tennis,
Swiss 4th seed Roger Federer was knocked out of the French Open by Latvia's Ernests Gulbis on Sunday.
Federer's streak of nine consecutive quarter-finals at this tournament ended with a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 defeat to the 18th-seed.
Federer says he's disappointed that he failed to reach the quarterfinals.
"Clearly very disappointed, you know, not to come through with the win. After the chance in the second set, fighting back in the fourth, not to play a better fifth set. A lot of regrets here now. It was a tough match and I'm disappointed I lost it."
Gulbis will next play the sixth seed, Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who beat American John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
In other action,
Second seed Novak Djokovic eases through in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 against local favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to move into the quarter-finals.
Djokovic is next up against 8th seed Milos Raonic, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over Marcel Granollers.
Scottish player Andy Murray reached the quarterfinals after holding off German Philipp Kohlschreiber with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10 victory.
The the final match had been suspended Saturday evening due to fading light, tied at 7-7, before the two finished it on Sunday.
Murray next faces 24th seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain, who beat 12th-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
On the women's side,
7th seed Maria Sharapova advanced into the quarter-finals after edging Australian Samantha Stosur 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also booked a quater-final spot after beating 8th seed Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-2.
In women's doubles action,
Top seeds Peng Shuai and Su-Wei Hsieh cruised into the quarter-finals after brushing aside American pair Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber 6-0, 6-2.
 
 
China's 1-1 draw with Germany at the Hockey World Cup
 
In hockey,
The Chinese squad has held its German opponent to a 1-all tie at the Women's FIH Hockey World Cup tournament in the Netherlands.
China's Yang Peng equalised a minute after Hannah Kruger's opener.
China will face England in the next match.
Meantime, Germany will take on South Africa.
 
 
Spurs beat Thunder in OT, advance to NBA Finals
 
The San Antonio Spurs are off to the NBA finals!
The team beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime on Sunday to take the series in six games. The final score was 112-107.
Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs.
Russell Westbrook had 34 points, for the Thunder. Teamate Kevin Durant 31.
The Spurs will play the Miami Heat for the championship. Game One is in San Antonio on Thursday.
 
 
Germany, Cameroon draw 2-2 in pre-World Cup friendly
 
In soccer,
Germany held fellow World Cup finalists Cameroon to a 2-2 draw in its last match before coach Joachim Loew names his final squad for the World Cup in Brazil.
Germany played without goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and defender and captain Philipp Lahm, who are nursing injuries.
Germany has drawn its last two matches, with an under-strength side held 0-0 by Poland last month.
The team will next play Armenia on Friday before leaving for Brazil.
In other news,
Spain international striker David Villa has confirmed that he will be joining New York City FC in the MLS next season.
The move means that Villa will leave Atletico Madrid after a single season in which he helped the club win the BBVA Primera Liga title and reach the final of the Champions League for only the second time in their history.
 
 
Mickelson works toward U.S. Open
 
In golf,
Phil Mickelson ended his week at the Memorial on Sunday with a 1-over 73.
He now turns his attention to practice at Pinehurst No.2 the next two days before playing in the St. Jude Classic, the last event prior to the U.S. Open.
Mickelson became the subject of national headlines on Friday due to an FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into possible inside trading.
In response to the probe, Mickelson said that he has done absolutely nothing wrong.
Over in Sweden,
Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee quickly won a playoff against Stephen Gallacher of Scottland and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson to clinch the Nordea Masters on Sunday.
Jaidee birdied the par-5 18th while the other two could only make par.
In the LPGA,
Stacy Lewis won the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Sunday to take the top spot in the world ranking.
Lewis finished with a 4-under 67 for a six-stroke victory.
Second place Christina Kim carded a one-over 72 for 203.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Ukrainian prankster sentenced for Brad Pitt attack
 
Vitalii Sediuk, the Ukrainian TV prankster who accosted Brad Pitt last week, has been sentenced to three years probation and ordered to attend a year's psychological counseling.
The 25-year-old has also been ordered to stay 500 yards away from all celebrity events including awards shows and premiers, as well as keeping away from Brad Pitt his wife and Angelina Jolie.
Sediuk is known for pulling pranks on celebrities and in recent months. At the recent Cannes film festival in France he jumped under the dress of Ugly Betty star America Ferrera which resulted in him being fired by his TV station.
He'd had other red-carpet altercations with Leonardo DiCaprio and Bradley Cooper, as well as Will Smith – who gave him a slap for trying to kiss him.
In Los Angeles Bradd Pitt had been signing autographs for fans at the premiere of Angelina Jolie's latest film, Maleficent, when the Ukrainian jumped the barrier and hit him in the face. The 50-year-old was not seriously injured but took out an emergency restraining order all the same.
 
 
Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent" tops north American box office
 
As I predicted on Friday, Maleficent has stormed to the top of the US box office charts after its opening weekend.
The Disney retelling of the classic story Sleeping Beauty took 70 million US dollars from nearly 4,000 locations.
The film is Jolie's biggest onscreen appearance in four years since "The Tourist" premiered in 2010 and it is her largest opening weekend performance ever.
The film beat last week's leader "X-Men: Days of Future Past" into second place which is down a sharp 64 percent with an estimated 32.6 million dollars.
The raunchy send-up of westerns from Seth MacFarlane, "A Million Ways To Die In The West," debuted with its R rating, and 17.1 million dollars from 3158 locations.
Rounding out the 10 most popular films in North America this weekend, as estimated by studios, were "Godzilla" (12.2 million dollars), "Blended" (8.4 million), "Neighbors" (7.7 million), "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (3.8 million), "Million Dollar Arm" (3.7 million), "Chef" (2 million) and "The Other Woman" (1.4 million). Enditem
 
 
Gangnam Style first to get 2 billion views
 
The music video for Gangnam Style has become the first in the world to surpass two billion hits on YouTube.
The global smash hit for K-Pop star Psy soon went viral after it was released in July 2012 becoming the first to crack one million hits and remains the most popular video on the social networking site.
Last I checked this morning it had 2,002,880,007 views.
 
 
EXO tour HK after Kris quits
 
More Korean pop now as the Boyband EXO performed for delighted fans in Hong Kong last night.
This despite the fact that one of the group's Chinese members, Kris, decided to drop out of the band and sue its management.
It shouldn't effect things too much however as EXO still has 11 members divided into two sub groups, Exo-M and Exo-K.
Exo-M consists of 4 Chinese members and 1 Korean member, and sings their songs in Mandarin. While The Exo-K has 6 Korean members singing in Korean.
One of the bands fans in Hong Kong, Scarlette, explained why the band has so much appeal.
"The reason why I love Exo is because each member has their own charisma. I love EXO because each of them has their own unique feature and they are good at singing and dancing. They also have good looks. Because of the unique feature of each member, they have more room to go for individual development."
Songs performed at the "Lost Planet Tour" are mostly in Mandarin as the tour targets audiences in Hong Kong, The Chinese Mainland, and Taiwan,.
The tour will now head to the Taipei Arena in Taiwan on June 11, Chongching on June 28, Shanghai on July 19 and the date in Beijing is still to be determined.
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
A top officer in China's military has lashed out at the aggressive maneouvering of the US-Japanese alliance...
Meantime, Chinese authorities at the just concluded Shangri-la conference have advocated non-military solutions to regional and territorial disputes...
A bomb blast in northern Nigeria has claimed at least 14 lives...
In Business...China's PMI reading is at its highest level so far this year.. .
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.