新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/07/11

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
 
It's Paul James with you on this Friday, July 11, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
This year's Strategic and Economic Dialogue between China and the US has come to an end, with headway said to be made on a number of fronts.
We'll get opinions from Africans about China's foreign aid in the wake of a government White Paper on the issue.
Germany is Expelling US Intelligence Representative amid Spy Row
The death toll continues to rise as the Israeli military's Operation Protective Edge enters its 4th day this Friday.
In Business.... the renminbi is now circulating in Singapore for the first time.
In Sports... the Germans hoping to temper expectations ahead of this weekend's World Cup Final.
In Entertainment... Game of Thrones leading the nomination charge for this year's Emmy Awards.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather....
 
 
Top News
 
 
China-U.S Annual Dialogue Comes to an End
 
Anchor
This year's China-U.S Strategic and Economic Dialogue has come to an end.
CRI's Luo Wen takes us through the highlights of the annual high-level meetings this week here in Beijing.
Report
On the economic track, the two countries have made over 90 achievements. Both sides agreed to continue exchanges and cooperation in macro-economic policies and finance.
It has also been agreed that the two countries will start negotiations on a negative list next year, as they work towards a bilateral investment treaty.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang.
"The two sides agreed to reach consensus on the key issues and main clauses of the BIT in 2014 and promised to start netgative list BIT negotiations in early 2015. The United States welcome Chinese companies' investments and promised to provide an open investment enviroment to Chinese investors."
Investment treaty talks began in 2008. The deal is expected to deepen Sino-U.S. economic ties, with a two-way trade already exceeding 520 billion U.S. dollars.
Vice Premier Wang Yang also said that the two sides carried out exchanges on the Sino-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, intellectual property protection, and extending the Information Technology Agreement.
In terms of cyber security, Secretary of State John Kerry said the two sides engaged in frank discussions.
"Incidents of cyber theft have harmed our businesses and threatened our nation's competitiveness, and we have a frank exchange on cyber issues at our strategic security dialogue. And we both agree it is important to continue discussions in this area."
State Councilor Yang Jiechi added that the Chinese side is willing to work with the United States to safeguard the security of cyber space.
"China has always stated the need to jointly build a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyber space through mutual respect and trust. Cyber space should not be exploited as a tool to damage other countries' interests. We hope the United States can facilitate dialogues on the issue between the two countries."
In addition, Yang Jiechi said the two countries will continue cooperation on an extensive range of issues including counter-terrorism, climate change, nuclear security and environmental protection.
The strategic and economic dialogue, which was established in 2009, has offered a platform for both countries to address bilateral, regional and global challenges and opportunities.
For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.
 
 
Bilateral investment treaty tops S&ED agenda
 
Anchor
One of the main agenda points for this year's annual S&ED sessions has been the pushing forward of a Bilateral Investment Treaty between China and the US.
CRI's Min Rui on how those talks have progressed.
Reporter
Chen Fengying is a researcher from China Institutions of Contemporary International Relations.
She explains the sticking points for the talks so far.
"For the U.S., they wish to see the negative list as short as possible. But sectors involving national economy, national security and traditional industries are still on the list. The U.S. is also concerning about the protection of intellectual property rights and policy on state-owned enterprise. As for China, the biggest concern is to protect Chinese investment in the U.S. Now the U.S' national security reviews have restricted Chinese investment. Therefore, China wants the US to allow Chinese companies to get in under a pre-establishment national treatment."
The negotiation entered a substantial phase last year after the two countries agreed to talk on the basis of "pre-establishment national treatment" and the creation of a negative list.
Pre-establishment national treatment means the rights of foreign investors and their investments would be protected as if they were native to the country in which business was being conducted.
Chen Fengying points out further that it can bring better protection for Chinese companies on American soil.
"It includes an investment protection deal, providing legal protection to companies that want to invest in the U.S. Meanwhile, the treaty can offer better protection for our companies' interests. Currently, the problem is that Chinese investment in the U.S needs to go through a national security review. If the U.S. gives us as negative list, specifying which sector is not open for Chinese investment, it could help our companies to cut cost and save time."
Chen also says that for Chinese consumers, the treaty will help to stimulate consumption and reduce labor costs, which may bring down the prices of imported goods from the U.S.
China and the U.S. will start a new round of talks on the Bilateral Investment Treaty in Washington starting from the 28th.
The U.S. has bilateral investment treaties with 41 countries.
But an agreement with China would be the largest such treaty by far.
For CRI, I'm Min Rui.
 
 
China's foreign aid helps improve livelihood in recipient countries
 
Anchor
The Chinese government's new White Paper on this country's foreign aid policies has revealed that over half of the nearly 90-billion yuan delivered in unconditional aide between 2010 and 2012 around the world has gone to African countries.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has more on how the assistance is being received in Africa.
Reporter
China's assistance to other countries has covered areas such as agriculture, education, medical services and general humanitarian assistance.
According to the white paper, China adheres to the principles of not imposing any political conditions and not interfering in the internal affairs of the recipient countries when providing foreign assistance.
Ronald Mutie is a journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mutie said China's assistance efforts are very much welcomed in Africa, despite some criticism from some western countries.
"Today, China enjoys a very big support and a very strong reputation in Africa due to its policy of non-interference. As you may be aware, China itself started practicing the non-interference policy in 1954. Ever since, for over 6 decades, it has never gone wrong with that policy. Therefore western countries who are friends of Africa should respect China and its policies and ways of engaging with other countries all over the world."
From 2010 to 2012, China provided more than 14-billion US dollars worth of foreign aid to 121 countries. Over half that aide went to Africa.
Some 28-percent of the total assistance during those three years went to social and public welfare infrastructure, a significant raise from the 3.2-percent as of the end of 2009.
Wang Luo is Head of the International Institute for Development and Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.
She said China has strengthened efforts to improve the livelihood of peoples in recipient countries.
"From the changes after those three years, we can see that China is actively responding to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which are calling for us to improve people's livelihood in less developed countries. In order to keep up with the international trend, we are gradually increasing inputs on these areas."
Wang also mentioned that enhancing the capability of independent development is an essential part of the aid.
In Africa, Mutie has witnessed some of the programs.
"In Uganda, in Chincha, that is eastern Uganda, some Chinese experts have been sent there to teach the Ugandan people who have been living by Lake Victoria how to do caged fish farming. Caged fish farming is a technology that is widely used in China, but in African countries, it is just a new technology."
Mutie says fishing productivity in Africa has improved with the use of Chinese technology, thus improving the lives of the local people.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
 
 
Germany to Expel US Intelligence Representative amid Spy Row
 
The German government is kicking the United States' top intelligence official in Berlin out of the country.
The move comes amid new allegations the US has been recruiting German intelligence officers as double-agents.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the decision also comes after months of unanswered questions from the US government about revelations the Nationla Security Agency tapped her own cellphone.
"If what is currently discussed corresponds to the facts, and a lot is still being investigated by the federal prosecutor-general, then I simply want to say that looking at it with common sense, in my view, spying on allies is a waste of energy in the end. We have so many problems, and I think we should concentrate on the essentials."
Earlier this month a German intelligence official was arrested for allegedly passing on information to US intelligence about a German parliamentary investigation into the cellphone hacking charges.
That arrest has been followed by a reported investigation into a German Defense Department official who may have also been passing on information to the United States.
So far the Obama administration has said little on the issue, other than to say it does want to work with Berlin to help rectify the situation.
 
 
More Worries with Israel-Gaza Escalation
 
Anchor
The Israeli military's Operation Protective Edge is heading into its 4th day later on this Friday, with the death toll among Palestinians on the rise.
The Israeli military has hit over 780 Hamas targets over the past three days.
The Palestinian death toll has exceeded 80, with some 700 others injured.
The offensive is generating growing concern among people on both sides of the border.
CRI's Qizhi has more.
Reporter
The situation in Gaza is being described as horrible.
Adnan Abu Hanse is with the UN's Relief and Works Agency in Gaza.
"It's actually very horrible here in the Gaza Strip. You can find the Israeli airstrikes bombing and chilling every minute. Now over the Gaza Strip so many people are being killed. There are fears of a ground operation. Actually no one knows what will happen after one hour. You cannot predict that."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said all his efforts to end the violence have failed.
Abbas also says he believes Israel is preparing to launch a ground operation in Gaza, and has called for an unconditional cease-fire.
Meanwhile, dozens of rockets from Gaza have fired at cities across Israel on Thursday, forcing people to rush to shelters.
In the evening, sirens also wailed in Jerusalem, with four rockets fired at the area.
Sderot is located less than a mile from Gaza. Rockets fired from Gaza can reach the city within 15 seconds.
Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, the locals have been exposed to more and more rocket fire.
"The rockets are fired during the day and during the night. It ruins your life. When it becomes a routine, it gives you lots of trauma and stress. If you walk around the city, you'll see everyone is in their homes. Most businesses and restaurants are closed. No one has a routine anymore."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel will continue and expand Operation Protective Edge.
However, he gave no indication of whether Israeli military is going to send ground troops into Gaza.
For CRI, I'm Qizhi.
 
 
Ukraine says ready for bilateral ceasefire
 
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he's ready to enact a bilateral ceasefire.
Poroshenko has made the suggestion in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also spoken with Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
He's used the conversation to re-issue his call for a ceasefire.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich contends the fighting in eastern Ukraine has been escallating.
"We see for ourselves that the ceasefire hasn't happened. But rather, there has been a toughening of the situation, a toughening and an expansion of the punitive operation of the Ukrainian forces. This gives a rise to regrets."
Ukrainian authorities say 23 of the 36 districts seized by militants in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have been retaken by the Ukrainian army.
 
 
Eco-Forum 2014: Financing the Green Transformation in China
 
Anchor
A global ecological forum is set to officially open today in the southern Chinese city of Guiyang, with Vice-President Li Yuanchao set to lead the Chinese delegation to the event.
CRI's Luo Yu has more from Guizhou's capital.
Report
The annual conference of the Eco-Forum Global is an international platform designed to promote the development of green economies.
One of the major issues at this year's event is going to be financing.
Mark Halle, vice president of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, says getting the corporate world to think long-term about the environment is key as the seeking of short-term results is incompatible with the requirements of sustainable development.
So we have to focus on the sorts of the incentives that today's reward, short-term profit, short-term benefit, short-term vision, and instead replace them with mechanisms that reward longer-term investment."
One concept to develop a long-term mindset for a green economy is the creation of so-called Green Bonds, which is a concept the State Council, China's cabinet, endorsed last year.
Ma Jun is the chief economist of the People's Bank of China's Research Bureau.
'Green bonds can lower the cost of financing projects. Because the bond issuers are usually institutions with relatively higher credit ratings, this can reduce financing costs. Green bonds can also help local government financing platforms deal with issues connected to the maturity of bonds. "
He adds that the average maturity for local government bonds is around 3 years, yet it may require more than 10 years to service the debt. This sort of mismatch leads to financial risk. Green bonds will mitigate the risks to a large extent.
A number of countries around the world have looked to a public-private-partnership model to develop their green economies.
Simon Zadek with the UN's Environment Program says he feels that even though the state here in China has been taking the lead on environmental infrastructure projects, there is plenty of room for the private sector in the future.
"There will be a growth in public-private-partnerships to finance infrastructural needs that have historically been funded by the public sector. Private capital in China needs to understand that by being patient, they will be investing in these future business opportunities. And I think that presents optimism even although there are clearly shorter term challenges."
On top of financing, this year's Eco Forum is also expected to tackle a range of issues including eco-civilization, nature conservation, green urbanization and climate change.
For CRI, I'm Luo Yu in Guiyang.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
First off, a check on the closing numbers in North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Fei Fei.
Reporter
U.S. stocks declined on Thursday, as concerns about the financial health of Portugal's top listed bank weighed on the market.
Both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 lost just under half a percent.
The Nasdaq gave up over half a percent.
In Europe, markets there ended down as well on the same fears about Portugese bank BES.
The Portuguese bank has been hit by suspicion that one of its holding companies covered up 1.3 billion euros worth of losses in its accounts.
The revelations forced a trading hault in the banks shares in Lisbon on Thursday.
As a result,
Both Britain's FTSE 100 declined over half a percent.
France's CAC 40 dropped 1.3-percent.
And Germany's DAX ended down over one-and-a-half percent.
 
 
Chinese bank makes cash transfer to Singapore for the first time
 
The Renminbi is now being circulated in Singapore for the first time.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Singapore has accepted a 10 million yuan cash transfer from its office in Guangdong. That's about 1.6 million US dollars.
Singapore residents are now able to open yuan accounts and make Renminbi cash settlements.
Zhang Weiwu, general manager of the bank's Singapore branch, says there is a lot of cross-border Renminbi business taking place in the region.
"We began to provide RMB clearance business at the end of May last year. At the very beginning, the liquidation quantity per month was only around 100 billion yuan, but now it has reached 3 trillion yuan a month. Banks, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals are all increasingly using and accepting RMB."
In the first five months this year, RMB settlement between China and Singapore has surpassed 400 billion yuan, or
China has also recently signed renminbi clearance agreements with London, Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Paris.
 
 
Central bank verifies Bank of China money-laundering accusation
 
China's central bank is currently verifying media reports which have accused a state-owned commercial bank of money-laundering.
The People's Bank of China says it's been made aware of a China Central Television report this week that several domestic branches of the Bank of China have been involved in money laundering.
Bank of China's "Youhuitong" service enables cross-border transfers of large sums of yuan abroad for clients.
The TV report suggests this service has allowed Bank of China customers to launder millions of yuan by sending it out of the country.
Following the report, the bank's stocks listed in the mainland's A-share market fell 0.78 to close at 2.54 yuan per share on Thursday.
 
 
China expected to free interest rate in two years
 
The head of the People's Bank of China is maintaining his position that interest rate liberalization can be concluded within the next two years.
Speaking at the conclusion of this year's Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue(,or S&ED,) Zhou Xiaochuan does caution the time-table will depend on economic conditions both in China and abroad.
"The schedule is made largely based on the domestic and international economies, but we think it can be realized within two years."
Earlier this year, Zhou Xiaochuan announced the central bank's plans to limit its grip on bank deposit rates, which is the last major step in liberalizing interest rates here in China.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xiaochuan also says China remains committed to relaxing its hold on the foreign exchage rate.
The value of the renminbi against the US dollar has been on the decline since hitting an all-time high in January.
China's central bank currently lets the yuan rise and fall to a maximum of 2-percent a day against the central parity rate.
 
 
China's exports stabilizing, need to work hard to meet annual target
 
Official figures show China's exports in June have increased over 7-percent year on year.
The General Administration of Customs also says China's trade surplus for June has exceeded 31 billion U.S. dollars.
The combined foreign trade volume in the first half of this year is also up by just over 1-percent compared to the same period last year.
Zheng Yuesheng with the Customs office says while foreign trade appears to be stablizing, a lot more needs to be done to hit full-year targets.
"We estimate growth in trade in the second half of this year would be significantly higher than that of the first half. But at the same time, we must also see that China's export still faces a severe and complicated situation. It would be a very difficult mission to achieve the expected 7.5 percent growth target for the year."
The 7.5-percent trade growth target for this year is lower than the 8-percent goal set for last year.
Last year's trade growth came in 7.6-percent.
 
 
Call-in on this week's corporate news
 
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:
Chinese government is reportedly now working on plans to reform ownership structures of some state-owned enterprises.
The new structure may allow private investments in the SOEs.
The board will also be directly responsible to assemble the management.
Details of the plan may be released next week, including a list of SOEs that is going to trial the
new ownership structure,.
Questions:
1. Though exact plan are not revealed yet, can you predict what sort of SOEs will be included in the list to trial the plan this time?
2. To what extent, do you think the government will allow private investments in the whole ownership? How much of proportions will they take in the ownership? What about foreign investments?
3. What changes can we expect from these SOEs after the ownership reforms?
Story 2:
Sumsung has been seeing falling of profits in recent months.
1. What strategies Sumsung can apply to compete with its rivals like Apple and Huawei?
2. Besides other phone makers are taking shares in the market, what other elements have affected its sales?
Back Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
 
 
Commerzbank may pay up to 800 million dollar to settle US probe
 
Germany's second largest bank, Commerzbank, is expected to pay between 600 to 800 million US dollars to resolve investigations into its dealing with Iran and other countries under US sanctions.
The German bank is the latest European bank to settle with US investigators.
French lender BNP Paribas has agreed to pay a record 9 billion US dollar fine to resolve an investigation into sanctions busting connected to Sudan, Iran and Cuba.
A number of other European banks are also investigated by US authorities.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
S&ED comes to an end
 
This year's China-U.S Strategic and Economic Dialogue has come to an end.
Headway is said to have been made on a number of fronts.
On the economic track, the two sides say they dealt with upward of 90 different issues, covering areas such as macro-economic policies and finance.
The two sides have also agreed to start working on a Negative List in their attempt to creat a bilateral investment treaty.
The investment treaty talks began in 2008.
On the strategic side, both sides say they had frank discussions when it came to issues such as Cyber Security and the Korean Peninsula.
 
 
11 Dead in Hunan Kindergarten Bus Accident
 
Eight kindergarten students and three others are dead after a minivan in which they were riding fell into a pond in central China's Hunan Province on Thursday.
The accident occurred at about 5 p.m. in a village near Changsha, capital of Hunan.
The bus was carrying the children home from their kindergarten, which is located in the city of Xiangtan.
 
 
Kerry, ministers to join Iran nuclear talks in Vienna: official
 
The foreign ministers of the P5+1 grouping are travelling to Vienna this weekend to help break the logjam in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programs.
It's being reported US Secretary of State John Kerry is going to hold a series of bilateral meetings with his fellow ministers on Sunday.
Iran and the world powers, namely the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China are hoping to reach a long-term deal with Iran before an impending July 20th deadline.
Most observers expect an extension may be needed in view of the wide gaps in the respective negotiating positions.
 
 
Ban names UN envoy on Syria
 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed veteran UN official Staffan de Mistura as the international mediator for Syria.
De Mistura is a former U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan and Iraq.
He will replace Lakhdar Brahimi, who stepped down at the end of May.
The move comes amid worsening violence in Syria, where Islamic militants have gained control of large swaths of eastern Syria and western Iraq.
 
 
UN chief warns of risk of "all-out escalation" in Israel, Gaza
 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon is warning of the "risk of an all-out escalation in Israel and Gaza."
At the same time, the UN chief is urging Israelis and Palestinians to find common ground.
This comes as Operation Protective Edge enters its 4th day this Friday.
The Israeli military offensive has already left dozens of Palestinians dead.
Tensions have been running high in the region following the abduction and murder of three Israeli teens last month, followed by the abduction and murder of a Palestinian teen this past week.
 
 
Emergency phone and internet Data Laws to be passed in UK
 
Britain's Prime Minister is calling on parliament to rush through new measures to allow police and security services access to telephone and internet data.
David Cameron contends urgent action is needed to protect the public from "criminals and terrorists".
The proposed legislation requires telecom companies to retain the "communication data" of their customers.
However, that data will exclude the content of both messages and people's phone calls.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
Most provinces relax one-child policy
Summary
Family planning authorities say 29 provincial regions have relaxed the decades-old one-child policy, allowing couples to have a second baby if either parent is an only child.
Local authorities have been allowed to individually change their policies following a decision by the central authorities to relax the one-child policy.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Foreign aid assessment
Summary
Experts are calling for a revamp of the foreign aid system to supervise the use of the money and assess its effects.
The suggestion follows a release of a white paper which shows that China spent more than $14 billion US dollars in no-strings-attached foreign aid in the 2010-2012 period.
PEOPLE'S DAILY
Headline
Deadly Yunnan Landslide
Summary
A rain-triggered landslide has killed four people in Yunnan, as heavy rain continues to batter the southwestern Province.
The dead are all in the same family.
Yunnan is consistently battered by rains and landslides during the monsoon season.
THE BEIJING TIMES
Headline
HK actor arrested for drugs
Summary
Actor Roy Cheung has been detained by police in Beijing for drug possession.
The public security bureau says its seized over a gram of marijuana from the suspect's luggage.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Family held for abandoning babies
Summary
Six members of a family in the city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang have been detained after abandoning their prematurely born twins.
The twins suffered from serious complications after birth and were put on infant ventilators.
However, hard pressed for money, decided to abandon the babies at the hospital.
One of the children has since died.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
New court rules
Summary
New guidelines put out by the Supreme People's Court are now calling for the improved treatment of lawyers.
Judges are now being required to give more respect to lawyers' defense positions and opinions.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Chinese tourists travelling more but less satisfied
 
Anchor
Tourism numbers here in China, both domestic and outbound, have reached new highs through the first half of this year.
But industry analysis is suggesting Chinese tourists are also becoming less satisfied with their travels.
CRI's Tu Yun has more.
Reporter
New data from the China Tourism Academy shows more than 2 billion trips have been made by Chinese citizens in the past six months.
The number of outbound Chinese tourists has already surpassed 50 million this year, an 18-percent rise compared to the first half of last year.
Dai Bin, dean of the China Tourism Academy, says on the surface, the numbers appear promising.
"Domestic tourism is the core of the Chinese tourism industry. But due to the changing habits of Chinese travellers, its hard for us to forecast the outlook for the domestic market. At the same time, outbound tourists have reached 54 million, and their spending has increased around 20-percent to over 70 billion US dollars so far this year. Outbound tourism, to a large extent, is a gauge of consumption among China's middle-class. With domestic and outbound tourism combined, we can see clearly that China's consumer base is getting stronger."
Its estimated around 3.7 billion trips are going to be made by Chinese citizens this year.
Among them, 1.2 billion trips are likely to be made overseas, with spending expected to hit 155-billion US dollars.
Despite this, new signals are suggesting Chinese tourists are becoming more particular and less-satisfied with their travel.
Dai Bin explains.
"The tourist satisfaction index score only came in at 73 in the second tourist season, which is comparatively low. The reason for this appears to be a lack of information about destinations, limited time and failed expectations. Tourists are also complaining a lot about traffic congestion. This year on the Badaling Expressway leading to the Great Wall in Beijing, the congestion extended 55 kilometres. We've also found the weather and smog in Beijing is also seriously affecting tourists."
China, became the world's biggest tourist market last year, surpassing the United States and Germany to top the overseas tourist destination list.
But with the rise of the middle class here in China, more and more Chinese people are looking to spend their money travelling abroad.
But the new analysis is suggesting Chinese travellers going overseas are becoming a bit more tentative.
Professor He Qiongfeng with the China Tourism Academy suggests one of the main reasons for this is the disparity between people's expectations and the realities they face once they hit the ground overseas.
"The first concern is tourist services, particularly when it comes to travel agencies and tour guides. The second concern is public services, mainly transportation. Of course, it has something to do with people's unfamiliarity with local subways and roads. And international driver's licenses are also a big concern. The third is a lack of Chinese signage abroad. And the last one is the overall cost."
The China Tourism Academy also notes regional issues are affecting outbound Chinese tourism.
Concerns about personal safety and disputes among China and some of its neighbors are said to be limiting Chinese tourism in the region.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Germany looking forward to World Cup final
 
Anticipation is growing as the world awaits the final of the World Cup.
After thrashing World Cup hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final earlier this week, Germany might well be considered the favorite to take down Argentina.
However, assistant coach Hansi Flick is trying to temper expectations.
"Argentina is a team with a very compact defence, which defends very well and of course - in Messi - has an extraordinary forward. Of course, many say that Germany is the favourite for this final, but a final always has its own rules and conditions and I believe the team is strong enough not to think too much about this role."
German striker Miroslav Klose is also trying to downplay his becoming the World Cup's all-time record scorer with his 16th goal during their semi-final against Brazil.
"This will be a completely new match and we have to give our best again. It is a final, no doubt and I know how crappy it feels to lose a final. I am full of confidence that this time it is actually our turn and that we are able to win this game."
Germany has made it to two of the past four World Cup finals, but have not won the title since West Germany beat Argentina in 1990.
It's been confirmed that over 10 Heads of State are expected to attend Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.
Among them, Argentina's Cristina Kirchner and Germany's Angela Merkel, as well as Russia's Vladimir Putin and South Africa's Jacob Zuma.
___
In other World Cup news, FIFA has rejected Luis Suarez's appeal against his lengthy ban for biting an opponent.
Suarez can still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Suarez has been banned for nine competitive international matches for biting an Italian defender.
He is also banned four months from all football-related events.
 
 
World Cup tickets: Ray Whelan 'flees arrest'
 
Brazilian police say the head of a FIFA partner company has fled Rio in connection with his alleged involvement in an illegal ticket sale scheme.
Ray Whelan, head of Match Hospitality, has denied any wrongdoing.
Brazilian police say he is now officially considered a fugitive from justice.
Earlier on Thursday, a judge accepted an indictment for Whelan and 11 others, who were arrested last week.
The gang is accused of acquiring and illegally selling VIP tickets and hospitality passes for the World Cup.
 
 
Chile's Sanchez signs for Arsenal
 
Chilean international striker Alexis Sanchez has signed with Arsenal for a reported 32 million pounds.
The transfer from Barcelona is the second-biggest transfer Arsenal has paid in the club's history.
25-year-old Sanchez scored 47 goals in 141 appearances for Barca.
He also netted two goals for Chile in the World Cup.
Juventus had also shown strong interest in Sanchez.
However, Juventus is reportedly closing in on signing Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata.
 
 
McIlroy breaks record at Scottish Open
 
In golf,
At the Women's British Open, Ayako Uehara of Japan has a one-stroke lead after the first round.
Uehara has carded a four-under 68 to lead American Mo Martin by one stroke.
World number-one and defending champion Stacy Lewis is three-back after firing a first-round 71.
China's Feng Shanshan is among a group of golfers tied for 24th at one-over after the first round.
--
On the men's side,
Rory McIlroy has broken the course-record to take the lead after the first round of the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen.
The Northern Irishman recorded seven birdies in a seven-under 64 to set the pace a week out from the British Open.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson finished three under.
 
 
Andre Greipel wins stage six of Tour de France
 
In cycling, Germany's Andre Greipel has won stage 6 of the Tour de France in wet and windy conditions.
The Lotto-Belisol rider raced clear in the final 250 meters of Thursday's race to take the stage.
Italy's Vincenzo Nibali remains the overall leader.
--
At the Tour of Qinghai Lake here in China, French rider Thomas Vaubourzeix has taken stage 5, followed by Jose Juan Oroz Ugalde from Spain and Iiya Davidenok from Kazakhstan.
 
 
Donald Sterling 'will never sell LA Clippers'
 
LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling vowing never to sell the basketball team.
The 80-year-old has made the comments in court while attempting to disrupt his estranged wife Shelly's decision to sell the basketball team franchise to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
The court case revolves around allegations that Sterling's wife used tests of his mental capacity to remove him as a trustee of the family fortune and deceive him into selling.
In May, Mrs. Sterling told her husband to seek an evaluation by two doctors, who declared him "mentally incapacitated" and unfit to administer his duties as trustee of the Sterling family trust.
This in effect handed her control of the Clippers.
The NBA has been pressing to have the sale of the Clippers go ahead, following racist remarks from Sterling earlier this year.
 
 
ESPN 'Body Issue' features Williams, Phelps
 
The sixth annual edition of ESPN Magazine's 'Body Issue' is being released later on this Friday.
It features 22 athletes posing nude, including 18-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.
The worst part about being Venus Williams is I'm really tall, so you can't get all the jeans. Your foot is large as well if you are Venus Williams, so you can't get all the shoes."
Phelps has been photographed for the issue after dropping around 30-pounds he gained after going into retirement.
"After spending 20 years in the pool I never really had a break and I was like 'You know what. If I want a burger I'm going to eat a burger. If I want 10 pounds of fries I'm going to eat it. Let's see what happens' - and then it hit me so hard because I'm so used to seeing myself in good shape and when I got out of the shower I was like 'ooh that's bad, we have to work　on it'."
Other athletes in the Body Issue include boxer Bernard Hopkins, USA football player Omar Gonzales and the Oklahoma Thunder's Serge Ibaka.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
THRONES' DOMINATES, BUT VARIETY IS SPICE OF 2014 EMMY NOMINATIONS
 
The nominees for the 2014 Emmy Awards are in, and with 19 nominations, the HBO fantasy drama "Game of Thrones" got the most love. But the television academy also spread that love around.
Fourteen primetime programs garnered at least 10 primetime-Emmy nominations Thursday morning.
Entertainment reporter Jeanne Wolf said that, while "Thrones," gained the most nominations, there is still room for other nominees to win big on award night, since the fantasy hit only nabbed one nod in Emmy's top 12 categories.
"Well, the 'Game of Thrones' is the most talked about, and got the most nominations. But the nominations, funny enough, are not for the major actors, the people who have been watching and applauding, yes they got show, then they got 18 other nominations all over the map, but not the major players."
A blast of newcomers made the top cut, including HBO's drama "True Detective" and the Netflix comedy "Orange is the New Black."
But many were stunned that the CBS drama "The Good Wife," which has had critics buzzing for months, got snubbed this year.
This year's primetime Emmys will air on Monday, August 25. Normally, they air on a Sunday in the middle of September.
 
 
Guo Meimei arrested for alleged soccer gambling
 
Infamous Internet personality Guo Meimei has been arrested for allegedly participating in World Cup gambling activities, Beijing police confirmed on Thursday.
The capital's law enforcement revealed on its official microblog that eight people have been arrested for holding illegal soccer pools, with Guo Meimei being named among the suspected offenders.
The group reportedly created an account on a foreign gambling website and organized illegal activities by betting via phone and popular mobile app Wechat during the World Cup.
During a phone interview with a reporter from the online Chinese news outlet 163.com, Guo's agent hinted at the woman's involvement in the incident.
In 2011, Guo gained national attention when she used social media to claim she managed an organization under the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC), while openly flaunting her wealth and extravagant lifestyle.
Guo's actions earned her the condemnation of the public and put the legitimacy of the charity group's actions in China into question.
 
 
TINY TIMES 3 TO TAKE ON TRANSFORMERS 4 ON JULY 17
 
"Tiny Times 3" is set to challenge the iron grip that "Transformers: Age of Extinction" has had on Chinese box offices when the third installment of the domestic youth-driven drama hits screens on July 17.
Although the new "Transformers" has become the highest-grossing movie of all time in China, domestic productions are expected to have a chance to seize their own impressive slice of summer movie outings.
Chinese romantic comedy, "The Breakup Guru" earned nearly 250-million yuan, about 40 million U.S. dollars, in its first 10 days after opening on the same day in China as "Age of Extinction", while the big-screen adaptation of the popular online Chinese comedy short film, "Old Boys", is expected to do well over this weekend after opening yesterday, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
 
 
Shooting for "Fast and Furious 7" Finishes
 
The latest movie in the fast-paces franchise, "Fast and Furious," has officially finished filming and is slated for release next April.
The production team of "Fast and Furious 7" released a heartfelt message to fans on the movie's Facebook page yesterday, thanking them for their support when the production faced difficulties, most notably the death of the series' lead, American actor Paul Walker.
Since Walker's passing, which happened in last November due to a car accident, the "Fast and Furious 7" team has shared many aspects of the production process with fans online.
The new "Fast and Furious" returns where the first movie started--Los Angles, California.
The original leading cast is back as well, including action star Vin Diesel, whose credited in the message with keeping the production team together after Walker's death.
"Fast and Furious 7" is expected to screen in the U.S. next April.
 
 
BBC Chief: No More Quota, More Competition
 
BBC director-general Tony Hall is pledging to make the public broadcaster more competition from the independent sector, while also taking a cue from Hollywood to liberate its in-house producers.
During a speech at London's City University on Thursday, Hall said he wanted to bring "the spirit of the entrepreneur and the pioneer to the BBC," citing this is what made Hollywood productions so successful.
Moving the public broadcaster from a system of "managed competition" to "free competition," the general director said the broadcaster will end its quota system.
Currently, of the shows aired by BBC, 25 percent must come from independent sources, while 50 percent of its shows must be in-house productions. The remaining 25 percent is left open to competition.
Hall also said that the broadcaster's production house will be allowed to make shows for other broadcasters. As of now, the only customer for BBC programs is the broadcaster, itself.
The changes are part of an overhall at BBC, which will need to be approved by the U.K. government before they can take place.
 
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
This year's Strategic and Economic Dialogue between China and the US has come to an end, with headway said to be made on a number of fronts.
We'll get opinions from Africans about China's foreign aid in the wake of a government White Paper on the issue.
The death toll continues to rise as the Israeli military's Operation Protective Edge enters its 4th day this Friday.
In Business.... the renminbi is now circulating in Singapore for the first time.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.