新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/06/25

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Evening Edition
 
 
Shane Bigham with you this Tuesday, June 25th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening,
For the first time ever, the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Chief is visiting the island.
Chinese courts are promising tougher sentences for people convicted of drug crimes.
and Iraq's government says its security forces now have full control of the Baiji oil refinery.
In business, China's central bank aims for reasonable growth while balancing risk.
In sports, a footballer may face a long suspension for an incident at the World Cup.
In entertainment, the King of Pop's career is booming years after his death.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will have thundershowers tonight with a low of 21 degrees Celsius. Overcast tomorrow with a high of 31 degrees.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will have heavy rain tonight, with a low of 21, thunderstorms tomorrow, with a high of 24.
Chongqing will have light rain, 22 degrees the low,the rain will continue tomorrow with a high of 25.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny with a high of 39.
Kabul, sunny, 34.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, high of 20.
Canberra, partly cloudy, 12.
Brisbane, sunny, 23.
And finally, Perth will be cloudy with a high of 19.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Mainland's Taiwan affairs chief highlights long-waited trip
 
The Chinese mainland's Chief of Taiwan Affairs is calling for continuous efforts to boost cross-Strait ties.
Zhang Zhijun made the comment when meeting with Wang Yu-chi, director of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei.
Zhang expressed hope that both sides can further enhance trust, step up communication and cooperation, and boost grass-root exchanges between people, especially the younger generation, from both sides of the Strait.
Zhang is the first mainland official of his status to visit the island since 1949.
It is the second meeting between the two officials this year. Wang visited the mainland in February.
Zhang is scheduled to visit New Taipei City, Taichung, Kaohsiung and meet the mayors of the three cities during his four-day trip.
 
 
Mainland's Taiwan affairs chief arrives for Taiwan visit
 
For a further look at Zhang Zhijun's visit, here is CRI's Xie Zhao.
Reporter:
Zhang Zhijun is meeting Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Wang Yu-chi, who visited the mainland in February.
Xie Yu with the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says the return visit aims to establish two-way, normalized and direct communications between the two cross-strait Chiefs.
"If we say that Wang's visit in February established procedures for regular communications, then Zhang's return visit normalizes and matures those procedures. It means political interaction between the mainland and Taiwan will move forward. It will explore new space for future political trust and further political exchanges."
A recent poll in Taiwan indicates 51 % of respondents say Taiwan should welcome Zhang Zhijun, who is considered a guest.
35% of respondents say they are more strongly in favour of Zhang's visit.
Xie Yu says the opposition Democratic Progressive Party's change in attitude about Zhang's visit is a direct result of changing attitudes among citizens on the island.
"The DPP's attitude has changed, thanks to changes in cross-straits relations in the past six years, and changing public opinion in Taiwan. The DPP has to change its attitude. Most of Taiwan's people are willing to see peaceful development between the two sides. But we still wait and see whether the DPP's basic stance will change."
During this visit, Zhang is due to meet with regular people in Taiwan, especially from central and southern regions, traditional strongholds of the DPP.
Xie Yu says the move by Zhang aims to understand their lives and listen to their views and suggestions on cross-Strait ties.
"Before the visit, some people from Taiwan have expressed opinions on whether the mainland's beneficial policies toward Taiwan have met expectations and interests of Taiwan's people. These opinions have been heard. Therefore, Zhang Zhijun will communicate with the public face to face, in a bid to hammer out future policies towards Taiwan which will adhere to the Taiwan public interests, and the dividends can be shared by ordinary people from both sides. "
Zhang Zhijun will wrap up his trip on Saturday.
For CRI, This is Xie Zhao.
 
 
Chinese courts vow tougher penalties on drug-related crimes
 
Anchor:
Chinese courts have vowed to impose tougher penalties on drug traffickers following an increase in drug-related crimes in the country.
CRI's Tu Yun has more.
Reporter:
China's Supreme People's Court has released details of five drug-related cases on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Three people found guilty of producing and trafficking massive amounts of drugs have been handed death sentences.
Ma Yan is a deputy presiding judge with the Supreme People's Court.
"As the drug market has been expanding in recent years, small-time drug dealing, possession of drugs and other crimes have also soared. In 2013, the authorities cracked down on over 60,000 small-time drug dealers, accounting for 70 percent of drug dealing cases. Previously most of the drug-related crimes were found in border areas, the southwestern region and costal areas. But now the networks have expanded inland. "
Ma Yan says provincial areas including Guangdong, Zhejiang and Chongqing settled the most drug-related cases last year.
South China's Guangdong province has topped the list since 2007. And Northeast China's Liaoning province has seen increasing numbers of such cases in recent years.
Chinese courts have sentenced over 39,700 criminals for drug-related offenses in the first five months of this year, up over 27 percent year on year.
In one extreme case, an offender was sentenced to death for murdering his girlfriend and 4-month-old son while he was high on drugs.
Sun Jungong is the spokesperson for the Supreme Court.
"Drug-related crimes do not only endanger the lives of drug users, they can also trigger other crimes including burglary and violent acts. The five cases have been publicized so as to demonstrate the danger of drugs and to increase public awareness."
This year's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking falls on this Thursday.
The day was established by the United Nations in 1988.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.
 
 
2.55 tons of drugs destroyed in Xinjiang
 
Authorities in Xinjiang have been making major drug sweeps ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking later this week.
Authorities say they've managed to destroy over 2.5-tons of drugs.
Wang Qianrong is the director of the Narcotics Control Bureau with Xinjiang's public security department.
"In the field of international drug control, a lot of work need to be done by us. On one hand, we have to sign drug control agreements with neighboring countries; on the other hand, we also need to strengthen information exchanges with them."
At the same time, provincial authorities in Guangdong say they've managed to crack close to 130 trafficking cases through the first five months of the year.
Over 80 suspects have been arrested.
Chinese customs authorities have investigated close to 550 cases of drug smuggling since June of last year.
 
 
Government forces takes full control of Baiji oil refinery: Iraqi military
 
The Iraqi military says it has full control over the country's largest oil refinery in Baiji, north of Baghdad.
The announcement comes after a week of fighting between government forces and militants linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or ISIL.
Lieutenant General Qassim Atta AL Moussawi is the chief military spokesman.
"'We confirm that the Beiji oil refinery is completely under the control of security troops. We repelled all terrorist attacks and attempts that tried to thwart the determination and persistence of our armed forces."
The refinery was shut down a week ago after the militants launched an attack.
It has a capacity of 320-thousand barrels a day, accounting for a quarter of Iraq's refining capacity.
Iraq's military says it has also retaken two border crossings with Jordan and Syria.
This, after Sunni militants blitzed through the vast desert of western Iraq, capturing four towns and three border crossings.
The United Nations has confirmed that over 1,000 people have been killed since ISIL and its allies began to sweep across the country early this month.
Earlier, a first teams of U.S military advisers began its mission in Baghdad.
The US promised to send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq to help the country's security forces in their fight against Sunni militants.
 
 
Q&A on the Iraqi situation
 
For more on the situation in Iraq, CRI's John Artman spoke earlier with Shen Dingli, vice director of Institute of International studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
…
Back Anchor:
Shen Dingli, vice director of the Institute of International studies at Fudan University, speaking with CRI's John Artman.
 
 
Poroshenko considers ending ceasefire early
 
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he may call an early end to the weeklong unilateral ceasefire he declared last week.
This after a military helicopter was shot down killing all nine on board.
Fighting continues just one day after insurgents agreed to observe Poroshenko's ceasefire.
The president says insurgents have fired on Ukrainian positions 35 times since the ceasefire was announced.
He has instructed Ukrainian soldiers to fire back "without hesitation" if attacked.
Meanwhile, on the Russian side, President Vladimir Putin has withdrawn a decree to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine.
But he also notes the current ceasefire in Ukraine is not long enough.
"If you just say that we are halting combat operation for seven days only and that those who will not disarm within seven day will be destroyed, it is not a way to peace. But it is at least an important step in the right direction."
Observers are suggesting Putin's move to withdraw the decree is an attempt to avoid a new round of sanctions from the United States and Europe.
Ukraine is set to sign a new association agreement with the European Union on Friday.
 
 
Filipino comfort women demand apology outside Japan embassy
 
Filipino 'comfort' women from the Second World War have rallied outside the Japanese Embassy in Manila, demanding justice for their treatment during the war.
This comes as Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is wrapping up his one-day trip to Japan.
Protest leader Rechilda Extremadura called on the Japanese government to recognize the use of Filipino women as sex slaves, and to pay them compensation.
fully recognise, acknowledge and be accountable. They should issue apology to individual lola's (WWII comfort women) country and family. We wanted the Japanese government to write in history the realities of the comfort women system, or the Japanese military sexual slavery. And we wanted the government of Japan to pay compensation to the lolas (Filipino term for grandmother)."
The protest follows a recent review of the so called 'Kono Statement', which acknowledged the Japanese military's use of Korean sex slaves during the war.
Historians say as many as 200-thousand women were forced to provide sex to Japan's frontline soldiers during the Second World War.
 
 
PM Cameron apologises for hiring Coulson as communications chief
 
British Prime Minister David Cameron has offered an "unreserved" apology for employing Andy Coulson at 10 Downing Street.
Cameron's former director of communications has been found guilty of phone hacking connected to the News of the World scandal.
Cameron says assurances he was given about Coulson's past during his job interview were incorrect.
"While I take full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson, I did so on the basis of undertakings I was given by him about phone hacking and those turned out not to be the case. I always said that if they turned out to be wrong I would make a full and frank apology, and I do that today."
But Cameron also stresses there have been no complaints about Coulson's work at 10-Downing Street.
Coulson was a former editor of Rupert Murdoch's News of the World before being hired by Cameron.
 
 
Chinese Navy to participate in 7 subjects of Rim of the Pacific naval drill
 
The Chinese navy has announced that its first-ever participation in the Rim of the Pacific multinational naval exercise will revolve mostly around non-traditional challenges.
Zhang Junshe is the vice president of China's Naval Research Institute.
"These subjects are in the field of non-traditional security challenges. As we know, non-traditional challenges are common threats faced by all nations and none of them can solve the problem by itself alone. Only through cooperation can they solve the problems that face all. In this sense, the Chinese navy's participation in the exercise is conducive to maintaining world and regional peace and stability."
RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational maritime military exercise.
A total of 23 nations will participate this year.
The Chinese force currently headed toward Hawaii includes 11-hundred sailors, and is the second largest force participating in the excercise behind that of the US.
The drills begin on Thursday.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Stocks
 
Anchor:
First off, let's take a quick look at the closing numbers across Asia.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Ding Lulu.
Reporter:
Asian stocks fell on Wednesday, as weak cues from Wall Street amid ongoing concerns over violence in crude producer Iraq kept investors on edge.
China shares fell as well, weighed down by underperforming financial institutions. The resumption of initial public offerings also diverted funds from the market.
The new listings in the mainland have attracted huge demand after a four-month hiatus on offerings.
The first six companies which have finished subscriptions locked up a combined 564 billion yuan, or 91 billion US dollars.
Three will have their trading debut in Shenzhen on Thursday.
When the market closed, the benchmark Shanghai Composite went down 0.4 percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index dropped 0.3 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng was mainly lifted by a few heavyweight stocks, ending slightly higher.
Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 0.7 percent.
South Korea's KOSPI gave up 0.6 percent.
Singapore's Straits Times Index traded sideways.
And Australia's ASX ended half a percent lower.
 
 
China c.bank says supporting "reasonable" growth in credit, social financing
 
China's central bank says it will maintain "reasonable" growth in credit and social financing and improve credit structures to prevent systemic and regional financial risks.
The People's Bank of China also says China's regional economies are expected to remain stable, but attention to potential risk in the financial sector is needed.
The central bank blamed some low-efficiency industries and companies for "crowding out" funding for small firms, pledging to improve liquidity and risk management.
 
 
Alibaba invests big in media company
 
Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba has become the largest shareholder of Hong Kong-listed China Vision Media Group, or CVMG.
Alibaba paid over six billion Hong Kong dollars, or nearly 780 million US dollars, for nearly 60 percent of CVMG's shares.
The company will be renamed "Alibaba Film Group."
Liu Chunning, Alibaba Group vice president, will serve as the president, while Dong Ping, CVMG's former president, will become adviser to the company.
And Chinese action movie star Jet Li will act as independent non-executive director.
CVMG has previously invested in the movies of Hong Kong film directors Wong Kai-wai and Peter Ho-sun Chan, as well as Hong Kong actor Stephen Chow.
 
 
Alipay and US Startup Stripe strike payments agreement
 
Alipay and US startup Stripe have struck a deal to allow Chinese buyers to pay for purchases on the U.S. service.
Alipay handles about half of all online transactions in China.
It used to be part of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba before it was split off.
Alipay users can now enter their email address and a six-digit SMS code to buy things from companies that use Stripe to process payments.
Stripe says the deal will let its own customers more easily handle purchases from the world's second largest economy.
 
 
Q&A on HSBC Flash China PMI at seven-month high
 
Anchor:
HSBC's preliminary reading for the Purchasing Managers' Index in the manufacturing sector is showing expansion.
The flash PMI has come in at 50.8, which is the first time the PMI for manufacturing has shown expansion in 6-months.
Last month's HSBC PMI reading came in at 49.4.
50 is the cut-off line between contraction and expansion.
For more on the PMI readings, CRI's Paul James spoke earlier with Benjamin Cavender, principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
…
Back anchor:
Benjamin Cavender, principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
 
 
South African miners return to work after wage deal
 
Thousands of miners at South Africa's biggest platinum mining firms have returned to work, a day after unions signed a wage deal to end a five-month strike.
Anglo America Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin say it will be "some time" before they resume full production.
The firms estimate the strike has cost them more than 24 billon rand, or over 2 billion US dollar, while employees have lost more than 10 billion rand in wages.
Employees say they are pleased to be returning to work.
The wage deal will see the salaries of the workers rise by about 1,000 rand a month each year until 2017.
Staff will also receive additional benefits such as pensions, housing and health insurance.
Although not all workers will reach 12,500 rand a month as they originally demanded under the new three-year deal, the outcome has still been described as a victory.
 
 
Etihad agrees to take 49% stake in Alitalia
 
Abu Dhabi's state-owned Etihad Airways says it has agreed to terms and conditions for its purchase of a 49 percent stake in Italy's Alitalia.
The two airlines say they will now move to finalise the deal "as soon as possible".
Alitalia, which has debts of about 800 million euros, has accepted Etihad's offer to invest in the company.
The deal still needs regulatory approval before it can go ahead.
The Italian airline said earlier that the Etihad investment was "an excellent outcome" and would "provide financial stability".
Etihad says the deal would give more choice to air travellers into and out of Italy.
 
 
Australia cuts 2015 iron ore, met coal price forecasts
 
Australia has revised down its 2015 iron ore and metallurgical coal price forecast from 100 dollars to 95 dollars.
The move comes as rising output of two of the country's biggest export earners outstrips demand.
It says although steel production in China is forecast to increase next year, competition among iron ore exporters is expected to intensify.
The warning comes a day after the world's biggest miner, BHP Billiton, said it was looking at more job cuts at its Australian iron ore division.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Mainland's Taiwan affairs chief highlights long-waited trip
 
The Chinese mainland's Chief of Taiwan Affairs is calling for continuous efforts to boost cross-Strait ties.
Zhang Zhijun made the comment when meeting with Wang Yu-chi, director of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei.
Zhang is the first mainland official of his status to visit the island since 1949.
It is the second meeting between the two officials this year. Wang visited the mainland in February.
Zhang is scheduled to visit New Taipei City, Taichung, Kaohsiung and meet the mayors of the three cities during his four-day trip.
 
 
Libya holds elections to end post-Gaddafi instability
 
Libyans are going to the polls today in the hope of ending the anarchy that has gripped the country since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
A new 200-seat parliament will be elected in the second poll since Gaddafi's fall.
The election was called a month ago amid government claims that a renegade general was plotting a coup.
Nearly 2,000 candidates are vying for seats in the new parliament.
 
 
At least 3 wounded in Cairo metro blasts
 
Explosions have wounded three people at a metro station in Cairo.
TV reports in the Egyptian capital say four homemade bombs blew up at the station this morning. The victims injuries are not serious.
Other explosions have been reported at at least two other metro stations.
Egypt has witnessed a wave of militant attacks and explosions, mainly in the restive Sinai Peninsula, since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
But the violence has spread to the capital and Delta cities recently.
An al-Qaeda-inspired group has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.
 
 
Japan, DPRK to meet on abduction issue next week
 
Japan and North Korea have agreed to meet in China next week over the abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.
Japanese media say Pyongyang will likely inform Tokyo of its establishment of a unit to undertake fresh investigations into the abductions.
Pyongyang had agreed to launch a committee to reinvestigate the whereabouts of the abducted Japanese.
In return, Tokyo would lift some unilateral sanctions imposed on North Korea.
In 2002, North Korea admitted to having abducted 13 Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.
 
 
S. Korea ferry survivors return to school
 
More than 70 South Korean teenagers who survived a ferry sinking that killed hundreds of their schoolmates have returned to their first classes since the April disaster.
The 74 students return to classes at Danwon High School in Ansan, outside of Seoul, greeted by adults who carried banners of encouragement.
Most of the 300-plus people dead or missing in the disaster were students from Danwon who were on a class trip.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Shanghai Daily
School grades system to make encouraging kids as easy as ABC
All Shanghai primary schools will begin evaluating first and second-grade students by grades rather than by specific scores from September.
The Shanghai Education Commission said an A, B, C-based grade system is more comprehensive than giving a precise score.
Officials say this reduces comparisons which could hurt a child's self-esteem.
Officials said this decision was made after finding students in a one-year pilot program had higher motivation to learn than those who were evaluated using scores.
At some local schools, teachers rank students by their scores, with the pupil who is last overall shamed in front of the whole class.
China News Service
"China may regulate messaging apps, including WeChat"
Chinese authorities are considering new measures to regulate the development of instant messaging apps.
Xie Yongjiang, a deputy professor at Beijing University, says new laws and regulations are needed, as existing laws can't guarantee the developing mobile Internet's balance and fairness.
Official figure shows 60 percent of some 1.3 billion cell phone users used thier phones to reach the Internet in May.
Along with the development of the mobile Internet, illegal and criminal activities have also affected many users. Spam, rumors and ideas about violence, terrorism, cheating and pornography are widely spread, and some personal information is also illegally collected through the mobile Internet.
Live Science
"Your phone's bacteria matches your own"
A new study suggests your smartphone harbors thousands of types of bacteria, and these may provide a window into the microbes that live on your body and in your surroundings.
Researchers took samples from the index fingers and thumbs of 17 people, as well samples from their smartphone touchscreens, and found more than 7,000 different types of bacteria in all the samples.
The most common bacteria types were Streptococcus, which is commonly found in people's mouths, and Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium, which are typically found on human skin.
As might be expected, the microbes on the mobile devices closely matched those on the participants fingers among the most common bacteria in the samples, 82 percent of bacteria types on participant's fingers were also found on their phones.
ABC News
"Are You More Stressed at Work or at Home?"
Stress at times can be all-consuming.
In a new report by Penn State University, researchers measured the stress of 122 people including men, women, singles and married couples with kids.
The test measured the participants' cortisol levels, an indicator of stress, throughout their day at work and at home.
And researchers found people's stress levels were lower at work than they were at home.
Study participant and working mother Eve Feuerstein displayed a higher stress level at home. She said there are so many factors at home that are so personal and it's really hard not to make that the most stressful place.
Researchers have some suggestions to reduce stress at home. First, they say act like you are at the office and delegate tasks. Also like at work, make sure to take a "coffee break" and relax. And finally, they say the best medicine to eliminate stress is one we can all afford - laughter.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Exhibition on Jewish people in Shanghai held in Washington D.C.
 
Anchor:
A new exhibition in Washington, DC, highlighting Shanghai's role in taking in Jews during the lead-up to World War II.
CRI's Washington correspondent He Fei has more.
Reporter:
"Well, Shanghai to me means survival. There were two kinds of survivors during the holocaust. There were survivors, there were lucky survivors. We in Shanghai were the lucky survivors."
This is Evelyn Pike Rubin, one of thousands Jews from Europe who escaped the Nazi holocaust by making it to Shanghai in the 1940s.
"My mother was one of seven. One of her sisters had gone to what was then Palestine and survived; one brother had gone to England; all the others were all murdered by the Germans together with their husbands and children. The extended family we lost close to 80 people."
The 84-year old was only eight when she fled to Shanghai with her family in 1939.
She is among some 20-thousand Jews who found refuge in Shanghai during the Second World War.
At the time, Shanghai was one of only a few options Jews had to escape the holocaust.
Shanghai was also a preferred destination for Jews during the period, as the city was already home to a large number of Russian Jews who escaped Stalin's crackdown on the Russian Jewish community years before.
Shanghai, at that time, also did not require an entry visa.
Pike-Rubin says while Shanghai offered the Jewish community an escape from the Nazi's during the war, Shanghai's overrun by the Japanese - Germany's ally - created hardships of its own.
"We lived in the French Concession. I went to the Shanghai Jewish School, where I learned to speak English. The Nazis came in 1942 and told the Japanese they wanted them to do away with us and that's when they put us into the ghetto and things got bad, but at least they didn't kill us. And we lived more closer with the Chinese people. I really got to know the Chinese people a little better. We never had a problem. They were very kind and very nice and very helpful."
Rubin's story is one of the hundreds on display at the exhibition, which is open to the public at the Washington Convention Center.
Chen Jian, curator of the Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum, says right now is a good time to begin recounting the stories of Shanghai, as the world approaches the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War Two.
"The exhibition tells the story of the Jewish refugees coming to Shanghai and how Chinese people helped them through the hardest time in their lives. And through the stories, we want to express our cultural value we Chinese are always willing to help anyone when needed. The freedom of the Jewish refugees is the fruits of the victory of the World War against Fascism as well as the victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Therefore, it is of significant importance to tell the story again here. To reflect the history, and avoid the tragedy from happening again."
The exhibition contains various photos and documents, telling the stories of how the Jewish community arrived and survived in Shanghai.
Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, has also taken in the exhibition.
Lu Kang is the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
"Behind each photo there is a touching story. We are glad to see that neither the Chinese nor the Jewish people have let this part of history fade out and that our friendship has emerged stronger after this shared adversity."
The Jewish Refugees and Shanghai exhibition is open to the public until June 29th in Washington.
The exhibition will later travel to Houston, Texas.
For CRI, I'm He Fei from Washington.
 
 
Sports
 
 
FIFA probes Suarez for biting opponent
 
Starting off with the World Cup in Brazil.
The world football governing body has started a probe into Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for allegedly biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the South American squad's 1-0 victory over the Azzurri.
Video replay shows Suarez sinking his teeth into the shoulder of Chiellini just a minute before Uruguayan captain Diego Godin scored the winner, which sent them through to the knockout stage at the expense of the four-time world cup champions.
FIFA is now waiting for a report from Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez.
If confirmed, Suarez could be banned by FIFA for up to 24 matches or two years, effective immediately from the next match.
Suarez, top scorer in the English premier league this past season, has twice been banned for biting rivals.
Uruguay will next face Columbia, which sent Japan packing with a 4-1 win this morning.
Group leaders Costa Rica, after knocking out England nil-nil, will next play Greece.
Coming up midnight tonight,
Lionel Messi's Argentina side will be looking to secure the top spot in Group F when they take on Nigeria.
Iran will need to score at least 2 goals against Bosnia-Hertzogovina to leapfrog Nigeria and advance to the elimination round.
In Group E,
Switzerland is taking on Honduras, while Ecuador is taking on France.
Both Switzerland and Ecuador are sitting with 3 points in 2nd in the group, though Ecuador has the advantage on goal differential.
France is now leading the group and is guaranteed a place in the last 16.
If they won against Ecuador, they are likely to avoid Group F leaders Argentina and will probably face either Nigeria or Iran in the round of 16.
 
 
Li Na battles Yvonne Meusburger in the 2nd at Wimbledon
 
Tennis action at Wimbledon.
Second seed Li Na has started her second round campaign against Austrian veteran Yvonne Meusburger.
Li Na won her opening round against Poland's Paula Kania 7-5, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Peng Shuai, who earlier beat Great Britain's Johanna Konta, is now battling Russia's Maria Kirilenko in her second round match.
Earlier, China's Zheng Jie secured a swift opening victory, upsetting Germany's Annika Beck 6-1, 6-3.
However, Zhang Shuai was dumped by 15th seeded Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain in less than an hour 6-1, 6-2.
Zhang Shuai has yet to win a first round match at a major event in her professional career.
Later this evening, fourth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska will take on Australia's Casey Dellacqua in her second round match.
Sixth seed Petra Kvitova goes up against Germany's Mona Barthel.
Over on the men's side,
Local favorite Andy Murray meets Blaz Rola of Slovakia in a couple of hours.
At the same time, sixth seed Tomas Berdych will face Bernard Tomic of Australia.
Earlier, world number-1 Rafael Nadal fought back to secure his first round win after dropping the first set to Slovak Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Nadal is now set to face the Czech Republic's Lukas Rosol, who defeated him in the second round of Wimbledon in 2012.
"I lost because he is a good player and he is a player who can play very well on this surface. He is an aggressive player and it will be a tough match again and I know if I want to have chances to win I need to play very well."
Roger Federer also eased into the second round.
Looking for a record 8th Wimbledon title, Federer cruised to a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over Italian Paulo Lorenzi.
Federer's compatriot, Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, was also a straight-sets winner.
The fifth seed dumped Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
 
 
LeBron James to talk with teammates before hitting market
 
Further to LeBron Jame's decision to opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat, the four-time NBA MVP is still expected to sit down with Miami Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to discuss a future together with the team.
Inside sources say the meeting is expected to take place days before the official beginning of free agency.
The Heat's "Big 3" will decide on whether they'll continue together in Miami before James can hit the market on July 1.
The Heat's core players have until June 30 to inform the team of their plans, and now the pressure goes to Bosh and Wade to opt out of their deals to re-sign new contracts.
Earlier, James' agent informed the Heat that his client would exercise the early termination option on his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.
Discussions between James and Heat owner Micky Arison and president Pat Riley are expected to take place soon.
Insiders say James is likely to join the Los Angeles Clippers in which James could play with close friend Chris Paul and under president-coach Doc Rivers.
There are other speculations that James is putting pressure on Heat president Riley to work out a plan for improving the roster.
The Miami Heat failed to defend their NBA title earlier this month, losing to San Antonio 4-1 in the finals.
 
 
Mercedes still fighting 'trauma' of Montreal
 
In Formula One,
The Mercedes team is still trying to shake the trauma of finishing second at a recent race in Montreal.
It marks the first and only time this season that the team has not won.
The team is now in the UK getting ready for the British Grand Prix, coming up in two weeks.
The Mercedes crew chief is reminding his team and its two drivers that everybody must continue to work together to ensure victory.
Mercedes now stand at 301 points in the standings, far ahead of second-place Red Bull with 143 points.
At the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, Mercedes topped the podium again with championship leader Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton handing the team their sixth one-two finish this year.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
5th anniversary of the King of Pop Michael Jackson
 
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the death of American pop star Michael Jackson.
Last weekend, die-hard MJ fans staged a flash mob at the Forest Lawn cemetery where the pop megastar is buried.
Despite the anniversary, the singer's career has been booming.
Just last month, a hologram of the singer moonwalked across a Las Vegas stage in a nationally televised performance, singing a new single "Slave to the Rhythm."
His new album, "XSCAPE," recently debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
And a documentary in honor of Jackson, titled "Remembering Our Michael," is also set to be released.
Initiated by his mother, Katherine Jackson, the documentary involves Michael's children, Paris, Prince and Blanket.
The singer has generated over 600 million U.S. dollars since he died in 2009.
Some of the earnings are used to support Jackson's three children and mother.
Much more has allegedly gone to erase the singer's massive debts and keep the estate that powers his robust posthumous career running.
 
 
Chinese pop star Jay Chou vows to get married before January
 
Chinese pop star Jay Chou has declared his wish to get married in January.
He also said he wants to have a baby as soon as possible.
The singer had previously stated in public that he wanted to get married before turning 35.
He turns 36 in January.
Chou has been dating Hannah Quinlivan for nearly four years.
Quinlivan is 14 years younger than Chou and is now working as an entertainer.
The two have long kept low profile when it comes to their relationship.
Chou's blant declaration this time is quite surprising.
But he hasn't proposed yet, and the ring is not ready.
 
 
YG FAMILY to Hold Concert in Shanghai
 
Korean entertainment company "YG Entertainment" is going to throw a concert in Shanghai.
The concert, named "YG FAMILY 2014 GALAXY TOUR: POWER IN SHANGHAI", is the company's first tour in China.
The show will last for 4 hours.
YG Entertainment's most popular stars, including PSY, BIGBANG, 2NE1 and WINNER, will take the stage.
There will be solo performances by the artists and groups and special joint-performances where these acts will team up.
The company also says the stage design will be another highlight of the show. The concert will cost 100 million yuan to produce and will take one week to set up.
The YG Family concert was held in Japan in April and May.
It will come to shanghai on August 30.
 
 
"Fault in Our Stars" crosses 100 mln dollars
 
The tear-jerker "Fault in Ours Stars" has surpassed 100 million US dollars at the American box office to become one of the most profitable films released in 2014.
Leaving out marketing and distribution costs, the film cost only 12 million dollars.
The film was based on the best-selling book by John Green.
It tells the story of two lovers who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group.
The film's performance in Brazil is surprisingly good, considering the ongoing 2014 World Cup.
Within 11 days, it has surpassed the lifetime gross of not only "Twilight", but also "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent".
 
 
"The Bridge" season two to kick off on July 9
 
The cast of the serial-killer drama "The Bridge" has attended the season two premiere in Beverly Hills.
Mexican actor Demian Bichir stars as Detective Marco Ruiz in the show.
Diane Kruger plays Bichir's US counterpart, a cop with Asperger's syndrome.
It is Kruger's first TV show.
 
 
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour - a quick recap of headlines before we go:
For the first time ever, the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Chief is visiting the island.
Chinese courts are promising tougher sentences for people convicted of drug crimes.
and Iraq's government says its security forces now have full control of the Baiji oil refinery.
In business, China's central bank aims for reasonable growth while balancing risk.