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

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Shane Bigham with you on this Friday, June 06th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has concluded in Beijing with the announcement of a 10-year development plan...
The Chinese government has issued a new statement, condemning aggressive actions by Vietnam in the South China Sea...
And G7 leaders have issued an ultimatum to Russia, demanding Moscow take action to ease tension in neighboring Ukraine...
In Business...The International Monetary Fund is pleased with the steps taken by the European Central Bank...
In sports...Sharapova vs. Halep for the French Open title...
In entertainment...Edge of Tomorrow is in Chinese theatres starting today...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will see thundershowers today with a high of 27 degree Celsius.
Overnight it will be overcast and temperatures should drop down to around 19.
Shanghai will be cloudy during the daytime with a high of 29.
Overnight, it will still be cloudy with a low of 21.
In Chongqing, it will be overcast with a high of 29.
Overnight moderate rain and lows are expected to be around 23.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will be cloudy with a high of 41.
Kabul will be cloudy with a high of 26.
Over to North America,
New York will be cloudy today with a high of 25 degrees.
Washington will be cloudy with a high of 27 degrees.
Honolulu, overcast, 28.
Toronto, Canada, will be cloudy with a high of 23 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be cloudy with a high of 15.
And Rio de Janeiro will also be cloudy with a high of 28 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Chinese president addresses CASCF ministerial meeting
 
Anchor:
The sixth ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has concluded in Beijing with the announcement of a 10-year development plan.
This follows Chinese president Xi Jinping's speech to the forum where he called for a stronger relationship between China and the Middle East.
CRI's Xie Zhao has more.
Report:
When delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, President Xi says the next decade is crucial for both sides.
"The next decade will be the key period for the mutual development of China and the Arab states. It requires us to carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road and continue to enhance our comprehensive cooperation and mutual development in order to deepen the Sino-Arab strategic relationship of cooperation."
Xi Jinping stresses the two sides should persist in the building of the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century maritime Silk Road.
"It's mutually beneficial for us to build the economic belt and maritime Silk Road, as they'll bring our economies closer and will promote infrastructure construction and institutional innovations. They will help create new sources for economic growth and employment, while at the same time enhancing our endogenous power and anti-risk capabilities in economic growth".
The Chinese president also calls on both parties to be frank with each other in political communications.
"We should be frank with each other, never be afraid of differences, and never evade problems. We should communicate with each other about our respective foreign policies as well as development strategies to enhance our political mutual trust while promoting the coordination of our co-development strategies so as to promote Sino-Arab cooperation through policy support."
Also at the meeting, Xi Jinping has repeated a call for a political resolution to the Syrian crisis.
He says in order to help resolve the crisis; China will provide a new batch of humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as other countries."
"China respects the reasonable demands of the Syrian people, and supports the early adoption of the Geneva communiqué and the opening of an inclusive political process to bring about a political resolution to the Syrian issue."
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CASCF.
China is currently the second biggest trade partner of Arab countries, with a bilateral trade volume of almost 240 billion US dollars last year.
For CRI, this is Xie Zhao.
 
 
China urges Vietnam to stop disruptions in oil drilling operation
 
The Chines government has issued a statement, voicing its determination to safeguard China's marine rights and sovereignty.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China hopes countries outside the region will choose dialogue and negotiations to resolve disputes instead of making aggressive moves that intensify tension.
The comment follows a communiqué released after the G7 summit.
It says the Group is concerned about disputes in the East and South China Seas.
"China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and maritime interests is firm and consistent. The determination of China to preserve international law and the basic norm of international relationships is unshakable."
The spokesman has also rejected accusations that the tension with Vietnam in the South China Sea has been caused by China.
"In the South China Sea, China's ships were on the defensive and Vietnam's ships were aggressive. China's ships were only 17 nautical miles from China's territory while Vietnam's ships were a long way from home, traveling 160 nautical miles to arrive at the site. So which side started the ramming? Which side is responsible for the tension? This is very obvious."
Hong Lei says the Chinese oil rigging operation has been rammed by Vietnamese ships over 1,200 times.
He says up to now, the Vietnamese side has not made any compensation to Chinese people and companies who have been hurt in the violent anti-China protests in Vietnam last month.
 
 
Obama and Cameron give Russia a month to meet Ukraine conditions;
 
Leaders of the Group of Seven have issued an ultimatum to the Russian government over the crisis in Ukraine, while expressing support for Ukraine's new government.
US President Barak Obama says Russia has one month to take concrete and credible measures to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.
"We will have a chance to see what Mr Putin does over the next, two, three, four weeks, and if he remains on the current course then we have already indicated the kinds of actions that we're prepared to take."
The conditions include to recognize Petro Poroshenko as the newly elected leader in Kiev, stop arms from crossing the border and cease support for pro-Russian separatist groups concentrated in eastern Ukraine.
Failure to meet these terms will trigger a new round of sanctions against Moscow.
The announcement came in a joint statement from the US and UK following the Group of Seven meeting in Brussels.
Meantime, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have met with each other in Paris.
Lavrov says he doesn't want Ukraine to be a "pawn" in a power struggle between East and West.
"I can only subscribe to what Secretary Kerry just said. I would like to see Ukraine peaceful, stable, a place for all those who live in Ukraine for them to be feeling equal, respected, heard and listened to, living in peace. Being a bridge, not being a pawn."
Also in Paris, French President Francois Hollande has met with his US and Russian counterparts separately.
They are all scheduled to attend events marking Friday's 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
 
 
Veteran Tells of "The Longest Day" 2'49
 
Anchor:
Various activities have been taking place to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, or D-Day.
Three hundred soldiers from the UK, United States, Canada and France parachuted in tandem over the French village of Ranville and World War II planes flew over Utah Beach in Normandy.
Some 18 heads of state are expected to attend ceremonies in Normandy later today, including President Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For the diminishing number of veterans who witnessed D-day first hand, it is one of the darkest days of their lives.
Our UK correspondent Duan Xuelian has more on how they reflect on this iconic experience and what do they have to say to people today.
Reporter:
Seventy years have passed, but Frank Rosier still vividly remembers the atrocious waves across the English Channel. He was 18 years old, a boy soldier who's going to be part of the most important piece of Second World War history. And yet, all he can think about was the nauseating feeling of seasickness.
"I and I think many, many of us were very, very seasick. And when I got to Normandy, I only wanted to do one thing. GET OFF THAT BOAT!"
On the eve of June 6, 1944, thousands of young soldiers like Frank, left Portsmouth in southern England and began their epic landing mission onto five beaches in Normandy, France. What met them was the ruthless reality of warfare.
"When we came ashore, now what they can train you for was everything, but what they can't train you for is what was on that beach--carnage. Horrible; wounded, dead men, I won't even try to describe it to you. It was pretty horrific. D-day, I would like to forget it, please--it was among the worst hours of my life."
It is estimated that over four-thousand Allied troops, airmen or sailors died on D-day, of whom over 1,000 were British. Frank's elder brothers, Phil and Wally, were both killed in action.
Three months after landing in Normandy, Frank was severely wounded in battle and lost his right eye. He was then sent back to Britain, hospitalized for quite a long period. Still, he called himself lucky.
"I'll always remember 18, 19, 20 year-old boys, who were still laying in Normandy,laying wherever they fought."
Frank is now a member of the Normandy Veterans Association. Of the 61-thousand British soldiers who arrived on the beaches of Normandy, fewer than 500 are still alive.
Frank and other members of the veteran association are in hot demand for schools and various organizations dedicated to World War history education. As the 70th anniversary of D-Day is being commemorated worldwide, veterans like Frank are also wooed by journalists from home and abroad. Reflecting on his own experiences, Frank would often say there's at least one good thing about war.
"Russia, America, China, Britain, we're all on the same side, why can't we do it today?"
As to the special commemorations taking place in Britain and across the world, Frank obviously holds a slightly different opinion from the public.
(Soundbite7 Frank male English)
"For me, the 70th anniversary of D-day is no more than the 69th anniversary of D-day or the 68th anniversary or the 71th anniversary, we will always be in Portsmouth, known as D-day son. We are here, all of us, every 6th of June, whatever year it is."
For CRI, I'm Duan Xuelian, reporting from Portsmouth.
 
 
Palestinians Defends New Gov't, Condemn Settlements on Naksa Day
 
Anchor:
Palestinians on the West Bank have rallied to mark the 1967 war that led to the occupation of the region by Israel.
Demonstrators are defending the new Palestinian unity government and condemning the Israeli announcement of more settlements.
CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.
Reporter:
Protests have been taking place at the Qalandiya checkpoint near Ramallah, marking Naksa Day, the anniversary of the 1967 Six-Day War, which marks the beginning of the Israeli military occupation and settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Issam Bakr is from the central committee of the Palestinian People's Party.
He voices strong support to the new Palestinian unity government.
"We think the new government here is a clear answer for the Israeli government that we are going to return back to our national unity to continue our struggle to achieve our goals of independence and ending this occupation from our shoulders. I think Israeli government will try to boycott this government all over the world, but this is our decision and we are going to continue defending on this decision."
Following clashes at a checkpoint, Israeli forces fired acoustic grenades and tear gas to disperse the rally.
Four Palestinians were injured after being shot by rubber-coated steel bullets.
A local Palestinian who comes to the rally says they are trying to keep the world concerned about the Palestinian issue.
"These demonstrations will raise up the Palestinian issue as a whole, and let it to be remembered by the world. We want the world not to forget the Palestinian issue."
The Palestinian unity government sworn in this week ended the seven-year division between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas.
As response, Israel announced plans to build over 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem.
The tenders have been strongly opposed by the Palestinians.
Ehab Bessaiso is the Palestinian government spokesperson.
"We condemn the approval of new settlements and we believe that this is undermining the international effort towards achieving a peaceful solution based on a two-state solution."
The United States has voiced its disappointment, saying the Israeli announcement of new housing is "unhelpful" and "illegitimate."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has also expressed concern, calling on Israel to "heed the calls of the international community to freeze settlement activity."
The building of settlements in the West Bank caused peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to break down in 2010.
For CRI, I'm Alexander Aucott.
 
 
Debate on whether to keep English in Gaokao still on
 
Anchor:
Debate is still raging over the value of studying English even after the Ministry of Education recently denied that English would be removed from the "gaokao", China's national college entrance examination.
The exam will take place tomorrow with nearly 10 million students nationwide having registered.
Li Dong has more details.
Reporter:
"In our daily teaching, the average time each student speaks English is only a few minutes, sometimes even less than 1 minute. And most people don't need to use it at all."
"I think English can help us narrow the technological and cultural gap between China and other countries. It's a great tool."
In 1984, English was listed as a priority test subject in the gaokao.
However, English classes in school have been criticized for stressing grammar and vocabulary over listening and speaking. Students are taught to score well in tests rather than master communication.
A survey by Shanghai International Studies University reveals that fewer than 5 percent of Chinese who have learned English could communicate smoothly in English without stumbling.
English also stands accused of harming the purity of the Chinese language.
The People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China, said in an editorial this month that the influx of imported words was harming the purity of the Chinese language.
Thus, many people hold that English should be removed from the Gaokao, and the time saved should be returned to other subjects. At least, English test should be optional to ease the burden of students.
But, Wang Qingguo, a scholar from Shenzhen University doesn't agree. He says English is a necessary ability for Chinese people to understand the world.
"We need to improve students' ability to put English to practical use, rather than debating whether this subject should be removed from the Gaokao."
And this parent agrees that even if English is removed from the Gaokao, this should not be the end of English learning, rather it should be the beginning of learning the language more rationally.
"When we are discussing keeping or removing English, we should not mislead students into thinking that removing English from the Gaokao is the same thing as thinking that English is useless. What we need to do is to remove test-oriented English learning and build a more rational learning and test mechanism."
The Ministry of Education recently revealed that the plan to change the English test in the gaokao is still under consideration, but it will not downplay English education. In October, Beijing Municipality announced a plan to reduce the value of English by shifting points to Chinese in college entrance exams from 2016.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
First off, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Cao Yuwei.
Reporter:
U.S. stocks rallied Thursday, propelling the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 to uncharted territory, boosted by optimistic market sentiment triggered by good news inside and outside the country.
The S&P 500 hit a new intraday record and closed up 0.7 percent, a day after the benchmark index enjoyed similar results.
The blue-chip Dow also touched an all-time intraday high and closed 0.6 percent higher.
The Nasdaq Composite Index jumped to a two-and-a-half month high, gaining 1.1 percent.
The record rally on Wall Street came out as market fears over Europe were alleviated after the European Central Bank unveiled a batch of stimulus measures Thursday in tackling deflation pressures. More details on this just ahead.
In corporate news, Sprint is reportedly nearing a deal that would merge the third and fourth biggest U.S. wireless telecom carriers.
Over in Europe, the markets were also encouraged by the ECB's stimulus measures and were generally on the rise.
Germany's DAX edged up 0.2 percent, France's CAC added 1.1 percent, but London's FTSE 100 was down 0.1 percent.
 
 
IMF welcomed the ECB's decision on rate cut
 
The International Monetary Fund has welcomed the announcement of the European Central Bank's package of measures to stop low inflation.
The ECB announced a cut its deposit rate to minus 0.1 percent and opened a 400 billion euro liquidity channel tied to bank lending.
ECB President Mario Draghi said more action will come if necessary.
"Moreover, if required, we will act swiftly with further monetary policy easing. The Governing Council is unanimous in its commitment to using also unconventional instruments within its mandate, should it become necessary to further address risks of too prolonged a period of low inflation."
The interest rate cut will come into effect on June 11.
 
 
ECB's credit moves could be tailor made to help Italy recovery, experts say
 
The European Central Bank's dramatic decision to slash interest rates and improve liquidity is seen by some as being "tailored" to helping Italy with its economic recovery.
The dramatic measures follow indications that both available credit and demand for credit have been increasing in the European Union as a whole.
Economists have been lamenting the lack of available credit in Italy, where big banks are struggling to survive with bad loans and other problems.
That would dovetail nicely with the economic stimulus plans put in place by new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who lowered taxes on low-income workers.
And economists say they don't forsee a change overnight but things may get a little easier over the coming weeks and months for the economy in Italy.
 
 
Live call-in with Doug Young on corporate news of the week
 
Anchor:
Let's check out some of the 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: Lenovo and IBM are said to be seeking an extension to the US review of IBM's 2.3 billion dollar sale of its server business to Lenovo.
1. Is the extension needed just because sometimes deals require more time to close, or is the sale in jeopardy because of the cyber-spying and hacking allegations being traded between Washington and Beijing?
2. What still needs to be done in order to close the deal?
3. What is the impact on stock prices for Lenovo and IBM?
Story 2: Dutch Pension Fund APG appears to be doing some "shopping" in China. It's set to invest up to 650 million US dollors for a 20-percent stake in Chinese warehouse firm e-Shang.
The two are going to set up some kind of joint venture. What are they doing?
How much money, and how long is it going to take, to update China's warehouses, and the logistics industry overall, if online shopping in China is going to live up to the potential that so many analysts say is there?
Back to Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
 
 
Alibaba buys 50% of Guangzhou Evergrande
 
The Alibaba Group has agreed to buy half of the country's most successful soccer club, Guangzhou Evergrande, for 1.2 billion yuan.
At a news conference yesterday, Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma and Evergrande's Chairman Xu Jiayin said the deal will be wrapped up in just a few days.
Alibaba is China's biggest e-commerce company and is reportedly set to launch what could be the biggest-ever technology company IPO to date.
The Evergrande club is the winner of the 2013 AFC Champions League.
Beyond Alibaba's traditional e-commerce businesses, the company has spent more than US$6 billion this year on assets in finance, entertainment and healthcare.
Analysts say that Alibaba's football investment could be more about building a national brand and establishing good relationships than doing good business.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Chinese president addresses CASCF ministerial meeting
 
The sixth ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has concluded in Beijing with the announcement of a 10-year development plan.
This follows Chinese president Xi Jinping's speech to the forum where he called for a stronger relationship between China and the Arab countries.
He is urging further cooperation when it comes to developing the new Silk Road economic belt and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road."
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.
The next ministerial meeting will be held in Qatar in 2016.
 
 
China urges Vietnam to stop disruptions in oil drilling operation
 
The Chines government has issued a statement, voicing its determination to safeguard China's marine rights and sovereignty.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China hopes countries outside the region will choose dialogue and negotiations to resolve disputes instead of making aggressive moves that intensify tension.
The comment follows a communiqué released after the G7 summit.
It says the Group is concerned about disputes in the East and South China Seas.
The spokesman has also rejected accusations that the tension with Vietnam in the South China Sea has been caused by China.
He says up to now, the Vietnamese side has not made any compensation to Chinese people and companies who have been hurt in the violent anti-China protests in Vietnam last month.
 
 
Obama and Cameron give Russia a month to meet Ukraine conditions; Obama on Scotland
 
Leaders of the Group of Seven have issued an ultimatum to the Russian government over the crisis in Ukraine, while expressing support for Ukraine's new government.
US President Barak Obama says Russia has one month to take concrete measures to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine, or to be imposed with a new round of sanctions.
The conditions include to recognize Petro Poroshenko as the newly elected leader in Kiev, stop arms from crossing the border and cease support for pro-Russian separatist groups concentrated in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has responded the Kremlin respects the sovereignty of Ukraine and he doesn't want Ukraine to be a "pawn" in a power struggle between East and West.
 
 
Palestinians Defends New Gov't, Condemn Settlements on Naksa Day
 
Palestinians on the West Bank have rallied to mark the 1967 war that led to the occupation of the region by Israel
Demonstrators are defending the new Palestinian unity government which sworn in this week.
As response, Israel announced plans to build over 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem.
The tenders have been strongly opposed by the Palestinians.
Both the United States and the UN have called for the Israeli side to halt the plan.
 
 
Search continues for the suspected gunman in Canada
 
Canadian police have started a massive hunt for a gunman who killed three police officers and wounded two more in the eastern city of Moncton.
The suspect in the case has been identified as Justin Bourque.
Officials have cordoned off an area northwest of the city as they look for the man.
Many schools and government offices in the community are closed.
Police say the suspect has been spotted three times since the attack but he's still at large.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
12 get death penalty for terrorism
Summary
A local court in Xinjiang sentenced 12 people to death for terrorist attacks.
Among them nine were given death penalty, three others received the death penalty with a two-year reprieve.
The regional higher people's court said the crimes were the focus of a special operation against terrorism.
BEIJING YOUTH DAILY
Headline
Websites investigated for spreading violence
Summary
Authorities are investigating popular websites for spreading violent and pornographic content.
The publications authority said If the investigation verifies the malpractice of the websites, the operators will face civil and criminal penalties.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Subway panic not an attack
Summary
Rumors caused a panicked rush at a large transfer station but police have found no evidence of terrorism.
Police found out that a conflict took place between some passengers, which eventually triggered panic among the crowd.
Two people sustained minor scratches as they ran.
XINHUA
Headline
Gov't apologizes for shutting out reporters
Summary
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage has apologized for shutting out environmental law enforcers and reporters investigating the administration's cafeteria ventilation.
The task-force was denied entry into the administration, and gov't staff even hurled insults at the reporters.
The administration admitted that the incident has revealed improper work styles and poor law awareness.
THE BEIJIJNG NEWS
Headline
Gov't official committed suicide
Summary
Local authorities announced a senior official in Weifang, Shandong Province hanged himself near his home.
Family members said that he had suffered from depression for years.
Evidence at the scene suggests suicide while the exact cause is being investigated.
SHANGHAI DIALY
Headline
Bid to poison grandmother resulted in death of a boy
Summary
A student in Beijing has been arrested over an attempt to poison his step-grandmother and the death of a 5-year-old boy.
He told prosecutors that his step-grandmother tried to remove his disabled parents out of the house so he decided to poison her.
But a five year old boy drank the poison by accident and died despite emergency treatment.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
China should be cautious about stimulus: IMF
 
Anchor:
The International Monetary Fund has advised the Chinese government to be cautious about issuing short-term stimulus amid concerns about a deep economic slowdown.
Our reporter Yin Xiuqi has the details.
Reporter:
The IMF's first deputy head David Lipton made the remarks in Beijing after meeting Chinese economic officials, including Vice Premier Ma Kai and central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan.
"Our discussions with the authorities showed broad agreement on the underlying vulnerablilities and challenges which threaten sustained rapid growth in the medium and long term. Over the past year the authorities have moved on several fronts to begin addressing the vulnerablities that they face, such as in shadow banking, and on local government debts. We welcome the efforts that have been made."
The Chinese authorities have increased efforts to curb more lightly regulated shadow financing, where loans are extended outside the formal banking system.
Meanwhile, the central government has launched a pilot scheme to allow some local authorities to issue bonds on their own as a way of financing local projects and solving local debt problems.
The country's economic growth dropped to 7.4 percent in the first quarter, the lowest pace of growth in years.
China's leaders are now trying to keep economic expansion from dropping below the official target of 7.5 percent amid signs of downturns in both exports and the real estate sector.
But Lipton cautions that Chinese policy makers should refrain from laying out immediate forceful stimulus programs.
"We believe that it is important for the government to carry through one of its objectives from the third plenum which is to reorient the economy somewhat from credit investments and exports to the strengthening of household incomes and consumption. So in the event of a slowdown, we would prefer to see policies that will be supportive in that way."
At a key conference last November, known as the third plenum, the ruling Communist Party of China laid out a set of market-oriented reform plans for the economy, ranging from loosening controls over interest rates, and private and foreign investment, to speeding up urbanization.
Despite the latest slowdown, the Chinese government has limited its support to tax breaks and speeding up infrastructure and welfare housing investment.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said the focus remains on the quality of growth and on changing the structure of the economy.
For, CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Sharapova awaits Halep in Frech Open final
 
On Day 12 at the Frech Open Championships,
2012 French Open champion Maria Sharapova has advanced to the finals. She will take on Romanian Simona Halep in the championship match following wins for both players in the semi-finals.
7th seed Sharapova downed fast-rising Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Halep advanced to her first Grand Slam final with a 6-2, 7-6(4) win over Andrea Petkovic of Germany.
The Roland Garros finalists have played each other three times with Sharapova winning all three matches.
Halep says it's time for Sharapova's winning streak against her to come to an end.
"I have to take revenge. I will fight for this one. I played a really good match in Madrid in the first set. I started really well. I was very fast on the court and I opened the angles very well. But she came back very, very, well and she hit strong, stronger than me at that moment. Now, I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like my style, and to stay there, with nerve, because it will be a tough moment for me."
----
Coming up later today,
Briton Andy Murray will be playing his second French Open semi-final against clay king Rafael Nadal.
In all, Nadal has a 14-5 edge in their head-to-head matches.
The other men's semi-final will be 2nd seed Novak Djokovic against 18th seed Ernests Gulbis.
Djokovic leads the head-to-head matchup 4-1.
The only Gulbis victory came in Brisbane in 2009, when he took out Djokovic in straight sets.
 
 
Phillip Saunders to return as coach of Minnesota Timberwolves
 
In NBA news,
Minnesota Timberwolves President Phillip Saunders has hired himself to be the new coach of the team.
Saunders previously coached the Timberwolves from 1995-2005 and the Washington Wizards in 2011 and 2012.
He guided the Wolves to the only eight playoff appearances in franchise history, including the Western Conference finals in 2004.
He has a career record of 638-526 in 16 seasons as an NBA head coach.
 
 
Ronaldo to miss Mexico friendly
 
In soccer,
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Friday's friendly against Mexico due to leg injuries.
Ronaldo has yet to take part in a full training session since joining the Portugal camp over a week ago.
He also missed last Saturday's friendly with Greece.
Midfielder Raul Meireles and defender Pepe will also sit out the match because of injuries.
Protugal's opening World Cup match is against Germany in Salvator on June 16.
They will also face the United States and Ghana in group G.
 
 
Australia defeat Belgium 3-1 on day five at FIH Hockey World Cup
 
On Day 5 of the FIH Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands,
The world number one team from Australia defeated Belgium 3-1 in their men's Pool A match.
Australia took the early initiative and won a penalty corner.
The Team further extended its lead in the opening minutes of the second half through a reverse stick shot from Eddie Ockenden - for a 3-0 lead.
Australia continues to dominate Pool A with maximum points from three matches.
----
On the women's side,
Australia's women were also triumphant with a 3-2 victory over Belgium.
Two goals from Jodie Kenny and one penalty corner flick from Anna Flanagan helped Australia secure the win.
It is the team's third win in a row.
The Hockeyroos next play World Cup hosts and Olympic champions the Netherlands on Saturday.
 
 
Kings beat Rangers in OT in Game 1 of Cup Final
 
And over to the Stanley Cup ,
Justin Williams netted the OT winner that gave the Los Angeles Kings a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers in the first of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals.
The two teams were tied at 2-2 after two periods and neither scored in the third.
Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 40 shots.
Jonathan Quick made 25 saves for the Kings.
Game 2 is Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
New Tom Cruise film 'Edge of Tomorrow' out in China today
 
The new Tom Cruise film 'Edge of Tomorrow' is out in China today.
(Edge of Tomorrow)
On the release of the film's trailer this is what the actor himself had to say:
"Dajiahao, today I'm very excited to present to my Chinese fans the exclusive trailer debut of my new film 'Edge of Tomorrow' The film is an epic romantic adventure co-starring the talented Emily Blunt and helmed by acclaimed director Doug Limon, who made the Bourne Identity and 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith.' I hope you enjoy the trailer and I can't wait for you to see 'Edge of Tomorrow' when it opens in China on June 6th. Xie Xie."
The film takes place in the near future where the earth is invaded by aliens. The entire defensive army is wiped out pretty quickly including Cruise however he has the unusual ability that he comes back to life to re-live the battle each day, in a Groundhog Day-esque scenario.
With the help of a Female soldier played by Emily Blunt, he soon begins to try new things each time and develop tactics to destroy the new foe.
From the trailer and reviews this looks like Cruise at his best in an action packed movie which is also full of laughs and romance.
And if you don't like Tom Cruise then you have even more reason to see it as in almost every scene he is Squashed, Burned, impaled, decapitated and so on as he tries to fight his way through.
 
 
'Transformers: Age of Extinction' to close SIFF
 
(Transformers trailer)
Michael Bay's 'Transformers 4: Age of Extinction' has been chosen as the closing film for Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).
The producers of the latest film in the series put a lot of focus on the Chinese market after the previous film, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,' earned an estimated 175.5 million US Dollars in the Chinese mainland, making it the highest among the overseas market.
The film will be screened on June 22 in Shanghai, and director Michael Bay and actor Mark Wahlberg will attend.
Chinese stars including Fan BingBing and Han Geng have also been invited in the screening.
 
 
Rolling Stones perform first Israel gig
 
(Stones Israel)
The Rolling Stones have performed their first ever concert in Israel in front of tens of thousands of fans.
Israelis are accustomed to being overlooked by popular bands on worldwide tours so the arrival of the Stones is massive for them.　　
The British rockers, who have been performing together for more than 50 years, resumed their world tour last week in Oslo, more than two months after the suicide of singer Mick Jagger's long-time girlfriend L'Wren Scott.
They called off their gigs in Australia and New Zealand in March after Scott was found dead of an apparent suicide in her Manhattan apartment.
They have now rescheduled the dates and will head to Australia at the end of October.
 
 
Kevin Spacey chastises audience member after mobile phone interrupts play
 
A theatre-goer in London found themselves at the sharp end of Kevin Spacey's tongue after letting their mobile phone go off during the opening night of his one man show.
The Oscar-winning actor is performing the legal drama Clarence Darrow to celebrate the end of a 10-year stint as artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre in the English Capital.
It was during a scene where Spacey's character was on trial that the phone began to ring and its owner was letting it ring out.
So without breaking character Spacey turned to the audience member and shouted "If you don't answer that I will!" to rapturous applause by the audience.
The House of Cards actor has received wide acclaim for his latest performance.
He'll be handing over the reins of the Old Vic to Matthew Warchus, the director of Mathilda, in 2015.
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has concluded in Beijing with the announcement of a 10-year development plan...
The Chinese government has issued a new statement, condemning aggressive actions by Vietnam in the South China Sea...
And G7 leaders have issued an ultimatum to Russia, demanding Moscow take action to ease tension in neighboring Ukraine...
In Business...The International Monetary Fund is pleased with the steps taken by the European Central Bank...
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.