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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The Beijing Hour
Evening Edition
Shane Bigham with you this Monday, June 30th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
The former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China
A heated debate continues in Hong Kong over the Occupy Central movement and its push for electoral reform...
And violence flairs in eastern Ukraine despite the ceasefire being extended through Monday...
In business, the Chinese government signs a deal that should help it identify more corrupt officials...
In sports, a preview of the World Cup games taking place in the overnight hours Beijing time...
Weather
Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of 26 degrees Celsius. It will see thundershowers tomorrow with a high of 29 degrees.
Meanwhile Shanghai will be overcast tonight, with a low of 22, rainy tomorrow, with a high of 26.
Chongqing will haves some rain tonight, 21 degrees the low, tomorrow rainy with a high of 24.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, slight rain with a high of 39.
Kabul, sunny, 31.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, high of 16.
Canberra, cloudy, 9.
Brisbane, sunny, 17.
And finally, Perth will have slight rain with a high of 22.
Top News
Former military leader expelled from CPC for graft
Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China.
The decision comes from a meeting of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, presided over by President Xi Jinping.
A statement released after the meeting says Xu was found to be taking advantage of his post to assist promotions for certain people.
He is also said to have been accepting bribe personally and through his family members, and seeking profits for other people in exchange for money and properties.
Xu had been under investigation for discipline violations since March.
His case has been handed over to the military procuratorate.
China Prosecutes Four for Kunming Terrorist Attack
Four suspects in the March 1st terror attack in Kunming will be charged with organizing, leading, or taking part in the attack.
That's according to a statement from the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Eight knife-wielding assailants attacked civilians at a railway station in Yunnan's capital, killing 29 people and injuring 143 others.
Police shot and killed four attackers at the scene and arrested four others.
Hong Kong citizens call for rational voice
Anchor:
Heated debate is taking place in Hong Kong surrounding the ongoing "Occupy Central" movement, as some locals organize a mass protest to block the city's finanal hub to press for a direct election of the region's next chief executive in 2017.
But there're other voices and they say they are not given a fair say.
Our Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has more.
Report:
In 2007, China's National People's Congress decided that starting in 2017, Hong Kong will elect its leader "by universal suffrage", upon nomination by a broadly representative committee."
But some local organizations demand that the public be allowed to put forward candidates directly.
To back that demand, a group of scholars organize the so-called "Occupy Central" movement to paralyze the city's financial district.
Francis Lui, Deputy Dean of the Business School with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, says the movement is creating a strong division in Hong Kong.
"Opponents of the movement far outnumber the supporters. If the two groups continue to confront each other, the society will become more spitted."
At the same time, many in Hong Kong are complaining the local media is giving too much say to those who support the Occupy-Central movement.
"We've heard too much from the demonstrators in the media. This makes people feel the society is negative and in a mess. Central is the financial center in Hong Kong. Many locals buy stocks and make investments there, so if large shareholders leave Hong Kong because of the protest, we investors will lose a lot of money."
"Of course there are different opinions, but I hope they can settle the dispute peacefully. China is a country with courtesy and etiquette, so why should we have to resort to violence? "
In earlier June, China's State Council released a white paper, stressing that One Country and Two Systems are integral parts of the policy on Hong Kong. They should be treated as a whole as it's clearly explained in the Basic Law on Hong Kong.
This angered "Occupy Central" organizers, as they press for absolute self-rule. So they urged more people to join the protest
Basic Law Committee vice-chair Elsie Leung says misunderstanding need to be cleared up about the white paper.
"Some people think the white paper indicates the central government is tightening control over Hong Kong. In fact, it is a way to review the system and see how we can move forward."
Leung also notes public nominations for the election goes against the Basic Law, which is the city's mini-constitution.
Meanwhile, a coalition of companies and business groups are also opposing the threatened sit-in.
For CRI, this is Li Jing.
ISIL declares caliphate
Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has declared a caliphate over territory stretching from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala in Iraq.
The offshoot of Al-Qaida has renamed itself "Islamic State" and proclaimed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as "Caliph", the head of the state.
Abu Muhammad al-Adnani is the group's spokesperson.
"Accordingly, the terms Iraq and Levant shall be removed from all official deliberations and communications, and the official name is now the Islamic State from the date of this declaration."
Fighters from the group overran the Iraqi city of Mosul last month and took control of a number of cities across northern Iraq.
Earlier, the first batch of Chinese workers trapped in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra has landed in Guangzhou.
The Islamic State, which follows al-Qaida's hard-line ideology, has been seeking to create a medieval-style caliphate.
The announcement comes as Iraq's army presses its offensive to recapture the northern city of Tikrit.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state.
Members of the Kurdish Regional government in Iraq have welcomed the call, saying Kurdish people and Israelis are facing the same enemies.
The international community, including neighboring Turkey and the US, has opposed the break-up of Iraq.
Fighting flared as EU urges Ukraine extend ceasefire
A Russian television cameraman has been killed as fighting in eastern Ukraine continues, despite the extended ceasefire that is to expire at the end of today.
Anatoly Klyan was shot in the stomach while accompanying a group of solders' mothers to a pro-Kiev military unit.
The 68-year-old is the third Russian journalist killed since rebels began an uprising against the central government in April.
Meanwhile, residents in the eastern flashpoint city of Slavyansk reported shelling of the city by government forces.
"When shelling finished, I ran here. All people were screaming in panic, crying. Everyone had suffered damages, all windows blew out. It's nonsense, you understand. How can we continue living? What should we count on? Will we wake tomorrow or not? We don't know that at all."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is now under pressure from the EU to keep up the ceasefire.
Earlier, leaders of Russia, Germany and France urged Poroshenko to extend the ceasefire a second time.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers and activists have called on Poroshenko to end the current ceasefire, saying the plan is giving rebels time to regroup.
The ceasefire plan was drawn as Porshenko put forward his 15-point peace plan.
The plan includes decentralizing power and holding early local elections.
The EU says it will impose more penalties on Moscow unless rebels act to wind down the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
Moscow denies helping the insurgents and says it is the pro-Western Ukrainian government that is fanning the violence.
NK proposes halting inter-Korean hostilities
North Korea has proposed that Pyongyang and Seoul should cease all military hostilities against each other starting on Friday.
The National Defense Commission of the DPRK made the surprise suggestion in a statement today.
It lists independence, peaceful reunification, and great national unity as the three main principals for improving relations between the neighbor.
A KRT news reader:
"The South Korean government should make a bold decision in response to our special offer and take a big step towards a new future to end the shameful past."
Pyongyang's latest olive branch followed its confirmation hours earlier of a second missile test in recent days.
The statement also comes on the eve of the 42nd anniversary of the issuance of the July 4 North-South Joint Statement.
The document sees the two sides agreeing to set principals leading to peaceful reunification.
The North has suggested that a joint US-South Korean military drill scheduled for August be scrapped in order to improve the atmosphere during the Asian Games, which will be held in the southern city of Incheon.
It's also calling on the US not to deploy "nuclear strike forces" in South Korea or the surrounding area.
Meanwhile the Chinese government has issued a new statement, calling for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei.
"We have also noticed the news about (missiles) launched by North Korea. We hope that under the current situation, all sides are able to make efforts to ease the current tense situation, and maintain peace and stability on the peninsula."
Korean cuisine popular in China
Anchor:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit South Korea later this week, his first trip to the country since taking office.
CRI's Li Dong has more on the cultural similarities between the two countries.
Reporter:
Xiao Meng likes Korean food. Korean-style barbecue is her favorite.
"There is a Korean barbecue restaurant in Wangjing, run by a Korean grandma. The side pork is a kind of lean meat with multiple layers. Obviously they are carefully selected. After cooking, you wrap them up with Korea-lily leaves, with the sauce. It's not greasy at all. It tastes great!"
Xiao Meng is just one of many young Chinese people who share an affection for South Korean food.
Korean entertainment is also popular in China. Xiao Ling is a college student and says there is a reason why some of her schoolmates like Korean TV shows.
"South Korean TV programs are very well produced, including the selection of actors and actresses, visual effects, and scenery, they are all very delicate. That's maybe why Korean TV has been so popular here for so many years."
The popularity of Korean music, TV and culture is boosting the Korean catering business in Beijing. Guan Dianchen is the manager of a Korean cuisine restaurant at Wudaokou.
"Just because of the South Korean TV show - You Who Came From The Stars - our sales volume doubled! The show and its cultural significance boosted the business of Korean restaurants. In the past, our sales were just so-so. But later, with the popularizing of Korean culture, like movies and TV, more and more people have come to Wangjing and Wudaokou to enjoy Korean food."
Wudaokou and Wangjing are the two places in Beijing with the most Korean businesses and people. In the catering business for 8 years, Guan says he is very optimistic about the Korean food market in China.
"The market is very prosperous. Not only Wudaokou and Wangjing but the whole of Beijiing has Korean restaurants. People like the taste of Korean food. It has a light taste and is healthy. I think the business will be even better if China and South Korea increase communication in culture and other areas."
In fact, the relationship works both ways. Guan Dianchen says Chinese culture and food is also having an impact on Korean people.
Act5 Chinese Male
"My Korean friend owns a restaurant in China. He says, back in South Korea, Chinese food is also very popular, like fried dishes, hot pot, spicy pot and dumpling, all very popular among Korean people. My friend says, for a 3-floor Chinese restaurant in Korea, the business can be good for the whole day."
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
First China-Russia Expo Opens
The first China-Russia Expo is now underway in northeast China's city of Harbin.
Chinese vice Premier Wang Yang addressed the opening ceremony, hoping the expo will further enhance the bilateral partnership.
"The China-Russia Expo is a new sign of the friendly relationship between China and Russia moving to a higher level. China has held a variety of renowned Expos or trade fairs, but it is the first time for China to hold a country-level Expo with another nation, which directly reflects the political trust and the economic integration between the two countries."
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin also gave a speech, believing the Expo will efficiently boost practical cooperation for all participating countries.
"The China-Russia Expo embodies the partnership between China and Russia reaching a higher level and also indicates the common wish from both sides for long-term cooperation in all areas. I believe that the event will become a convenient platform for international communication, extending the practical cooperation and friendly exchanges as well as promoting the economic and cultural communication across the world."
The Expo attracts over 160 delegations from 31 countries, with various activities listed on the agenda, including an exhibition featuring photo works by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
US looks forward to China's broader participation in RIMPAC
Anchor:
The US Navy says it is looking forward to China's broader participation in the ongoing Rim of the Pacific multinational naval exercise in Hawaii.
CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.
Reporter:
A U.S. navy commander has paid a visit to the Chinese fleet taking part in RIMPAC, expressing optimism over better and deeper ties between the two forces.
Vice Admiral Kenneth E. Floyd is the commander of the U.S. Third Fleet.
"Thank you again for bringing the ships and all of the sailors to Hawaii. All the 22 nations participating can come together, talk together, learn from each other and operate together. All the work that has done over the last two years and preparing for RIMPAC, we've learnt a lot about each other. And through this exercise, I think we will be able to work in the future more efficiently together. "
Floyd, who is also the commander of this year's RIMPAC, says the US will continue to invite the Chinese navy to the biennial naval exercise.
It is the first time for the Chinese navy to participate in the world's largest naval drill.
Four Chinese vessels, including missile destroyer Haikou and hospital ship Peace Ark have joined the drill.
Zhao Xiaogang is the drill director of the Chinese fleet.
"We have had a smooth journey after meeting up with the U.S. third fleet in Guam. During the trip, we have conducted a number of pre-exercises, which helped us to prepare for the actual drill. Crew members from the two countries also have a better understanding of each other. We hope there will be more opportunities like this to communicate with other navies."
During the exchange program, a medical team from the U.S. Third Fleet also visited China's hospital ship Peace Ark.
While touring the vessel, the Third Fleet medical staff also tried out a traditional Chinese-medicine therapy, cupping glass.
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Wistle.
"I feel great. I have never had cupping, I have had acupuncture before, never cupping. It was very interesting. In Canada, we use some parts of the traditional Chinese medicine in the military. We are very focused on making our patients better. We think there is lot to be gained for using traditional Chinese medicines and others. We will embrace anything that will make our patients do better."
The US medical team also expressed its desire for more cooperation with the Chinese team in humanitarian aid.
Initiated by the U.S. Army, this year's RIMPAC is the 24th such exercise since 1971.
23 countries are participating in this year's drill.
The drill, which runs till the end of July, will focus on developing maritime safety and security capabilities.
For CRI, I'm Alexander Aucott .
Biz Reports
First off, let's check numbers on some major Asian stocks.
On the desk, CRI's Caoyuwei.
Reporter:
Stocks on the Chinese mainland closed higher on Monday as a large number of suspended stocks were released to the market.
At close, the Shanghai Composite picked up nearly 0.6 percent.
The Shenzhen Component indexes added 0.4 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.1 percent.
Elsewhere in the region,
Japan's Nikkei gained 0.4 percent.
South Korea's KOSPI rose around 0.7 percent.
Singapore's Straits Times Index lost nearly 0.5 percent.
Australia's ASX slashed almost 1 percent.
Call-in with Cao Can China joins US treaty against offshore tax evasion
Anchor:
China now has significant new leverage to fight against tax evasion abroad, as it joins a US agreement on sharing bank account information.
The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act takes effect on Tuesday.
China has signed the agreement with the U.S. to be able to share information of Chinese nationals' offshore bank accounts in the United States.
That allows the Chinese government access to such information as account identity, addresses, deposites, and balance details.
The move is expected to help the Chinese government in its on-going campaign against corruption.
Tax-evasion abroad and money laundering are two of the most serious problems as corrupt officials transfer and hide illegally-gained wealth overseas.
For more on this, we are joined on the line by our financial commentator Cao Can.
back anchor:
CRI's financial commentator Cao Can.
Cross-border settlement in RMB hits 80 billion yuan
Cross-border settlement in yuan in the Shanghai free trade zone has hit 80 billion yuan as of the end of May.
That is an increase of 170 percent from the same period last year.
A senior official with the Shanghai Free Trade Zone Administration said financial services are the main contributor to the account.
The same official expects operating revenue of financial services in the zone to exceed 100 billion yuan soon.
Global trade, maritime services, professional services and high-end manufacturing also have significant shares in the pilot zone's revenue growth.
Chinese banks healthier than their foreign counterparts
A report is claiming that China's banking industry is good compared with the situation in other countries.
The report is issued by the China Banking Association.
It says the total assets of China's banking industry had reached 151 trillion yuan by the end of 2013.
Meanwhile, seen from the sector of commercial banks, the non-performing loans ratio stands at 1 percent while the capital adequacy ratio was 12 percent.
Lian Ping is director of the Development and Research Commission of the China Banking Association.
"The balance sheet is steadily growing, profitability os maintaining stability, earnings growth continues to slow, the capital adequacy ratio and the overall asset quality remain stable, and the overall provision is sufficient."
Lian adds that changes to the business model of Chinese banks will continue to strengthen their financial health while reducing bad loans.
Baosteel initiates 50-billion new plant in Guangdong
China's largest steel maker, Baosteel, has formally inaugurated a 50 billion-yuan project in South China's Guangdong Province.
The project will be located in Zhanjiang city of Guangdong.
It will see its first blast furnace starting operation in October next year.
The project is expected to produce 9 million tons of steel products each year.
China's steel industry has been struggling in recent years.
Headline News
Former military leader expelled from CPC for graft
Xu Caihou, former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China.
The decision comes from a meeting of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, presided over by President Xi Jinping.
A statement released after the meeting says Xu was found to be taking advantage of his post to assist promotions for certain people.
He is also said to have been accepting bribe personally and through his family members, and seeking profits for other people in exchange for money and properties.
Xu had been under investigation for discipline violations since March.
His case has been handed over to the military procuratorate
US treaty against offshore tax evasion
China now has significant new leverage to fight against tax evasion abroad, as it joins a US agreement on sharing bank account information.
The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act takes effect on Tuesday.
China has signed the agreement with the U.S. to be able to share information of Chinese nationals' offshore bank accounts in the United States.
That allows the Chinese government access to such information as account identity, addresses, deposits, and balance details.
The move is expected to help the Chinese government in its on-going campaign against corruption.
NK proposes halting inter-Korean hostilities
North Korea has proposed that Pyongyang and Seoul should cease all military hostilities against each other starting on Friday.
In a surprise suggestion released today, North Korea lists independence, peaceful reunification, and great national unity as the three main principals for improving relations between the neighbor.
The statement comes on the eve of the 42nd anniversary of the issuance of the July 4 North-South Joint Statement.
Pyongyang's latest olive branch followed its confirmation hours earlier of a second missile test in recent days.
Meanwhile the Chinese government has issued a new statement, calling for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Building collapse death toll rises to 17 in Chennai of South India
The number of people confirmed dead after an 11-storey building collapsed in the Indian city of Chennai on Saturday is now at 17.
It's believed a number of people are still trapped in the rubble.
The authorities have said the rescue effort will continue non-stop until all survivors have been recovered.
There is still hope for survivors as a woman was pulled out alive this morning in what is being hailed as a 'miracle' rescue.
The apartment complex was under construction. It collapsed during a heavy rainstorm.
Six people have been arrested, including the builder.
Oscar Pistorius trial resumes after psychological report
The Oscar Pistorius trial resumed today after a psychological report said he did not have a mental disorder when he killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The report was produced after an evaluation into his mental health.
His defense team had argued he was suffering from anxiety disorder at the time of the shooting.
Pistorius denies deliberately killing Steenkamp. He says he shot her accidentally after panicking and mistaking her for an intruder.
Both prosecution and defense have accepted the results of the report.
Newspaper Picks
Shanghai Daily
Sorry, after guide dog not let on bus
A bus driver was disciplined and told to apologize for refusing to let a blind passenger with a guide dog on his vehicle.
The bus driver and bus company officials had visited the passenger to apologize.
Under Shanghai regulations, blind people can take their guide dogs onto public transport and inside public buildings, such as cinemas, hospitals and restaurants.
However, the clause is not widely known, and blind people with dogs have complained of being refused access.
Blind passengers can also take guide dogs onto aircraft, under a regulation from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Passengers must produce ID and quarantine certificates and accept security screenings for their dogs.
China News Service
Man stranded in mountains saved by broken Nokia
It is reported that a 70-year-old Taiwanese man trapped in a ravine for five days without food was rescued thanks to the long battery life of his old cell phone.
A total 250 police officers were involved in the extensive four-day search for the man surnamed Liu after he fell over the edge of a path along a mountain in Taichung, Taiwan.
Although the phone was broken during his fall, police were able to approximate Liu's position by tracking the signal emitting from his decade-old Nokia handset.
Remarkably, his trusty phone held a charge for the five days it took officers to reach him.
Rescuers zeroed in on Liu's location by calling his number and listening for his ringtone.
Mail Online
Warning over new flexi-time rights
New rights to flexible working will 'make workers happier' and improve their productivity, a minister has claimed.
From Monday today, all 30 million workers in Britain will get the right to ask for flexible hours – instead of just parents and carers.
But employment lawyers predicted a huge surge in the number of workplace grievances and rising 'resentment' between workers who get what they want and those who lose out.
The new right is expected to lead to a huge shift in employment practices in firms where flexible working is not yet allowed.
It allows workers to demand part time hours, compressed hours, working from home or job sharing.
There are also concerns about how the new rules will work – as requests will be considered in the order they are received and not on merit.
ABC News
Are You Drinking Too Much?
New research shows that a little extra wine at night or a few extra beers on the weekend could be putting you in danger.
According to the study excessive alcohol consumption is the cause of one in 10 deaths in working-age people.
The study defines eight drinks a week for women and 15 drinks a week for a man as excessive alcohol consumption.
And for those who abstain on weeknights but drink on the weekends, binge drinking can be a real danger.
Though alcohol-related deaths are often thought of as a problem related to alcohol addiction, the study reports that many of the deaths actually occur as injuries or accidents after people imbibed too much, such as drunken driving or falling.
Special Reports
Hong Kongs 3D Trick Art Museum to Open
ANCHOR:
A 3D Trick Art Museum is about to open in Hong Kong.
CRI's Chloe Lyme has more.
REPORTER:
Dangling from skyscrappers or scaling to dizzying heights --- a mind-boggling art form known as 3D Trick Art is moving from the streets and onto the canvases of Hong Kong's 3D Trick Art museum.
Organisers at the Museum saw the potential in the art form when visiting a similar venue in Korea last year.
Winston Lo from Hong Kong 3D Museum says the possibilities are endless.
"I think that we can let them know the possibilities and boundaries for the 3D artist is unlimited. So you can see this time we try to put many Hong Kong cultures in different themes in this artwork, so we try to replicate these places in very interesting angles."
It's a type of art which appears three-dimensional when viewed at certain angles.
The streets have become too tight to accommodate the paintings, so now the 3D Trick Art has made its way into specialized museums across Asia.
Visitors can swing from Hong Kong's towering buildings just like Spiderman, get savaged by soldiers, and even play chess with ancient Chinese characters.
The idea is to share this mind-bending art form with the rest of the world.
3D Trick Art has mesmerized many already, including museum managing director .
"Because - I think - the last few years I have been (to) Korea in this kind of 3D Trick Art museum. At that time I feel quite amazing when I first step in that museum because the painting they really can do the trick art illusion and I - we can feel a lot of interaction with the artwork so I think it is very great."
While this style of artwork has been exhibited before, Zaccheus Law says the way it's being shown at the museum is unique.
"Maybe have some exhibition before or have some people doing those things but the scale is not like this. And also the idea, the film is not like this. They are more commercial. Because here we are focused on our country - our place. Hong Kong."
Curators here plan to introduce new parts of art every four to six months, and to also add other pieces of art during important holidays and festivals.
Hong Kong's 3D Trick Art Museum opens on the 7th July.
For CRI, I'm Chloe Lyme.
Sports
Preview of two fixtures in the last 16 of world cup
At the world cup,
France will take on Nigeria in the second round of the World Cup in a few hours later on.
France has progressed to the knock out stage with a perfect 3-0 first-round record. That includes a 5-2 win over Switzerland in the team's final group game.
French coach Didier Deschamps, who captained France to the 1998 World Cup title and a Euro 2000 triumph, has praised Nigeria's strikers.
Deschamps also says he is still waiting for the return of center back Mamadou Sakho, who has a leg muscle problem, but otherwise has a full squad available.
Asked about French players fasting during Ramadan which began this weekend, Deschamps says:
"Every one is free and has to adjust to his own beliefs. There is nothing imposed from my side so there you are. I think that the most important word is tolerance and then everyone is free to live the way one wants."
Nigeria's midfielder John Obi Mikel says details might decide the game.
"It's going to be a very spectacular game, it's going to be a very important game for both sides, I think details might decide the game so we have to be very very cautious and concentrate on every details and make sure what we have to do to win the game tomorrow."
The winner will meet either European heavyweights Germany or the surprising Algerian squad in the quarter-finals.
Germany captain Philipp Lahm says his team is ready to take on Algeria but warns that the North African team is an "unpleasant" opponent.
"We know what to expect. This is a team that will give its all and wants to show that they deservedly are in the round of 16. They want to make it difficult for us, they defend together, it is a team that doesn't want you to get a goal, they don't want to lose one single dual, they prefer to play a foul than to lose the ball. It's an unpleasant team to play but we have to look at what we can do, we have to deliver, we have to unleash our performance and play aggressively and defend aggressively and then of course show our class of play."
Algeria is carrying the hopes of the Arab world with them and have impressed with their tenacity and ball skills.
The match between Germany and Algeria is set to kick off at 4 am on Tuesday.
Shocking performances take Netherlands and Costa Rica to World Cup quarters
Earlier this morning,
Both the Netherlands and Costa Rica reached the World Cup quarterfinals, and both squads did so in dramatic fashion.
The Netherlands, three-time World Cup runners-up, fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Mexico 2-1.
They had been trailing 1-0 until late in the game.
Costa Rica booked a berth in the last eight for the first time by upsetting former European champions Greece in a tense penalty shootout 6-4.
Arjen Robben played a key role in the Dutch victory, including earning earning a decisive penalty.
But Mexico's coach Miguel Herrera has described Robben as a "cheat".
Robben has apologized for his diving in the first half of the match.
Costa Rica will face the Netherlands for a semifinal berth on July 5.
Aguirre set to coach Japan
It is being reported that Mexican Javier Aguirre is set to coach the Japanese soccer team.
The former Espanyol manager could be unveiled as Japan's coach next month.
Italian Alberto Zaccheroni has resigned after Japan's exit from the World Cup.
In other action,
Japanese international striker Junya Tanaka has signed a five-year deal with Portuguese top flight club Sporting Lisbon.
Sporting has inserted a 60 million euro buy-out clause in Tanaka's contract.
Tanaka, 26, joins Lisbon from Kashiwa Reysol.
He was not called to the Japanese squad for the World Cup in Brazil.
Serena Williams has been knocked out at the Wimbledon
In tennis,
On women's side at Wimbeldon,
Top seed Serena Williams has been knocked out by France's Alize Cornet.
Cornet will be up against fast-rising Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who has also advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
Maria Sharapova has moved to next round after a decisive 6-3, 6-love victory over American Alison Riske.
The Russian will now take on Germany's Angelique Kerber, who has dispatched Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
On men's side,
Seven-times champion Roger Federer has cruised into the last-16 with straight sets win over Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.
The 32-year-old has yet to drop a set at this year's championships
Federer will be up against Spain's Tommy Robredo for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Despite dropping the first set 7-6, the second seed Rafael Nadal is also through to the last-16 after defeating Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin.
The world number one will now play Australian wild card Nick Kyrgios.
England's Justin Rose wins the Quicken Loans National event
In golf, England's Justin Rose has won the Quicken Loans National after a play-off with Shawn Stefani in Maryland.
It is Rose's first win since the U.S. Open last summer at Merion.
He moves up to No. 7 in the world with the victory, his second in the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods, who missed the cut.
Third round leader Patrick Reed shot 77 on the difficult course to finish four strokes back, tied for 11th.
In other action,
Fabrizio Zanotti says everyone in Paraguay will be happy after he became the first Paraguayan to win on the European Tour.
"I think everybody in Paraguay is going to be so happy, everybody in Paraguay support me a lot and everybody in Paraguay was waiting this moment like me"
On the women’s side,
Stacy Lewis has made a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship by one stroke.
The American has earned her third LPGA Tour title of the year and 11th overall.
It is her second 'home' win as she earned an unofficial victory here in the rain-shortened 2007 tournament as an amateur.
The LPGA Tour is taking next week off before beginning the RICOH Women's British Open at Southport in Lancashire on July 10th.
Entertainment
Transformers: Age of Extinction breaks Chinese box office records
Transformers: Age of Extinction has broken records in the Chinese box office.
(Transformers Trailer)
The unprecedented opening weekend has seen the fourth installment of the franchise gross an estimated 200 million yuan, which is about 32 million US dollars on its first screening day on Friday.
According to "Piaofangba," a weibo account on box office research, the film has broken several records in China, including the biggest opening.
The previous was 122 million yuan, set by "The Monkey King."
The Paramount picture also dethroned "Iron Man 3" with the largest midnight screening box office: 20 million yuan.
The "autobots" owe their success to the 20,000 plus movie screens, but also to favorable screening arrangements.
Some 63 percent of screens were set aside for "Transformers 4", also a record.
The Chinese film "The Breakup Guru", a domestic movie screened a day earlier, grossed a total of 57 million yuan.
That is not a bad achievement considering its number of screens.
Transformers rules North American Box office
Transformers Four is also ruling over the North American Box office. It has become the first movie this year to scoop 100 million US dollars in its opening weekend, and gained the fourth highest June opening ever.
It is behind "Man of Steel," "Toy Story 3" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen".
The Sony buddy comedy "22 Jump Street" was in a distant second place with 15.4 million dollars in ticket sales revenue.
DreamWorks'"How to Train Your Dragon 2" was ranked the third seeing its ticket sales drop by 47 percent from the previous week to 13.1 million dollars.
Metallica win over crowd at Glastonbury Music Festival
The world's largest Greenfield festival has just drawn to a close.
Glastonbury Festival in the UK was attended by around 175 thousand people as well as 800 stalls and artists on 80 stages.
Established as a hippy style peace and love festival back in 1970, this year the headline act was the Californian heavy metal band Metallica, which drew criticism initially but eventually won over the crowd.
(Metallica Enter Sandman Clip)
The event has previously been headlined by the likes of the Rolling Stones, T-Rex and U2 and is well known for its eclectic mix of music.
This year sharing the limelight with Metallica were US country star Dolly Parton, and Canadian band Arcade Fire as well as the English National Ballet while Leicester indie-rock group Kasabian closed out the show.
Tracy Emin's 'My Bed' up for auction for first time
Tracey Emin's iconic artwork "My Bed" is up for auction for the first time ever.
The controversial piece complete with cigarette butts, crumpled sheets and underwear, is up for sale for the first time at Christie's in London.
The was created during a highly emotional period of Tracy Emin's life in an unsuccessful bid to win the Turner Prize in 1999.
Currently owned by the world famous Saachi Gallery, Emin says she hopes it can remain on public display.
"There's my ideal places where I'd like to see it. You know, there's amazing museums in Europe or whatever, but it's not up to me is it? It's up to the Gods. I have no control over this situation at all. The only way I could control it is if I actually bided for it and, and won the bid but I'm not going to do that either."
The Bed, caused a sensation when it was first exhibited and raised questions about what was and was not art at the time. It is expected to sell for a high estimate of 1.2 million pounds.
Banksy artwork close to being saved in Gloucestershire, UK
Locals in Cheltnam are close to saving a Bansky artwork from being taken away.
The piece of street art on the wall of a grade II listed building in Gloucestershire, England, appeared in April. It depicts several men snooping on a public telephone.
The owner of the building had thought that selling the piece would be straight forward if he simply cut away the piece of wall and sold it. He is said to have received a seven figure offer for the work, but now says a six figure offer will be acceptable to keep it in place, and the local community have clubbed together to supply that.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour - a quick recap of headlines before we go:
The former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China
A heated debate continues in Hong Kong over the Occupy Central movement and its push for electoral reform...
And violence flairs in eastern Ukraine despite the ceasefire being extended through Monday...
In business, the Chinese government signs a deal that should help it identify more corrupt officials...
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.
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