The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
Paul James with you on this Thursday, October 24, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
India's Prime Minister has been holding a series of meetings with China's leadership here in Beijing, with economics and the border the main talking points.
China's Consulate in Sydney, Australia has set up a hotline for Chinese nationals in New South Wales worried about the massive brushfires in the region.
US President Barack Obama is moving to assure Germany's Chancellor his spies have not been monitoring her cell phone calls.
In Business.... Chinese authorities are moving to allow certain local governments to issue short-term bonds.
In sports... Li Na opens her WTA Championships in Istanbul with a victory.
In entertainment... Britain's newest Royal has undergone his Christening.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
Weather
Beijing will be sunny today, with a high of 16 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be clear tonight with a low of 4.
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 20 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 13 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 16, and tonight will be clear with a low of 0 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 30.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 21.
And in North America
New York, moderate rain, with a high of 13 degrees.
Washington, overcast, highs of 14
Houston, sunny, 28.
Honolulu, overcast, 29.
Toronto, moderate rain, 8.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, moderate rain, 23.
And Rio de Janeiro will be overcast with highs of 31 degrees Celsius.
There are several ways to keep in touch with us on the BJH
We are on Weibo that's weibo.com/beijinghour
You can also send us an email to [email protected]
Please do keep in touch we always like to hear your comments and feedback on the show.
TIMECHECK
Top News
China, India capable of managing border disputes: Premier
China's President is calling for closer ties with India.
Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping says the China-India relationship has gone far beyond the bilateral level.
Xi Jinping says the relationship now has both global and strategic significance.
For his part, Manmohan Singh says India and China share broad common interests, and have huge potential for cooperation.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has also held talks with Manmohan Singh.
Both have vowed to resolve their border disputes and enhance economic ties.
Li Keqiang says he believes the issues over the border are solveable.
"China and India are two old civilisations. Our two peoples have the wisdom and our two governments have the ability to manage our disputes along the border so that it won't affect the overall interests of our bilateral relations."
Li's comments have been echoed by Manmohan Singh.
"Premier Li and I have agreed that peace and tranquility on our borders must remain the foundation for growth of the India-China relationship, even as we move forward the negotiations toward a fair, reasonable and mutual acceptable settlement to the India-China boundary question."
The two have also signed a memorandum of understanding on more cooperation on trans-border rivers.
Manmohan Singh arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to China.
Bushfires continues in NSW, Chinese people warned to be cautious
Anchor
A number of evacuation centers have been established in the brushfire gripped state of New South Wales in Australia.
CRI's Australian correspondent Wang Xiao has more.
Reporter
As the weather becomes warmer, drier and windier, all schools have been closed in the Blue Mountains in anticipation of the increasingly-dangerous fire conditions.
Authorities are advising people who are not prepared to defend their homes to leave for evacuation centres.
People running the evacuation centers are busy taking in people from small communities which dot the Blue Mountain range in New South Wales.
"I have see six fires, and they are not very nice. I was staying at home, but if it burns, it can burn in me."
With the situation becoming increasingly dangerous in the Blue Mountains, which surround the Sydney region, people are being told to quite simply pack the car and leave.
Mr Graeme is coordinating one of the many evacuation centers being set up to take people in.
He says his location has seen around 500 people register in the past few days, with more than 100 alone streaming into the facility on Wednesday.
"If they are advised,u know, they are not able to return home and require some assistance, then we have got other staff here who are skilled at triaging they may need and acessing what they require and that include assistance with accommodation."
Voulenteers are also doing what they can to help people out.
"Anybody in need that has been told to evacuate comes here. They go through police-type registration so we could know who they are, then to disaster wellfare and then to us for accommodation, and these folk over here for their pets."
There are around 70 fires still burning across New South Wales, with close to 30 of them still considered out of control.
Three major fires are still burning in the Blue Mountains.
But despite the dire predictions by forecasters this week, so far it appears the loss of property and most importantly, the loss of life, has been avoided.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Consulate in Sydney says around 30 Chinese students studying in a college located in the Blue Mountains are safe.
Consul General Li Huaxin says they have set up their own emergency system, including a 24-hour hotline for Chinese people in Australia.
"Through the platform of China Radio International, we want to warn all the Chinese citizens here be alert. Keep in touch with your company and contact the cousulate when emergency occurs."
The massive brush fires, which broke out earlier this month, have destroyed hundreds of homes and has torched thousands of hectares of land across large areas of New South Wales.
For CRI, I'm Wang Xiao in Sydney.
Major electricity blackout blankets Damascus
A major electricity blackout is gripping parts of Syria.
A natural gas plant which generates electricity for the capital, Damascus, as well as many other provinces in Syria, has been shut down.
It's being reported the facility, which is located in the southern part of Damascus, has been hit by a mortar.
Crews are said to be working to try to restore power.
Southern Damascus has been the scene of street-to-street battles between rebel forces and the Syrian military for months.
Meanwhile, on the political front, the Syrian government is slamming a recent meeting of EU ministers in Luxembourg which has condemned the Syrian government for an "unprecidented use of force."
The Syrian side says the comments are a sign of the EU ministers "complete ignorance" toward the people of Syria.
NATO discussed Afghan security pact
NATO's chief says the alliance is on track for a post-2014 training mission in Afghanistan.
This, despite fears among some diplomats that a U.S.-Afghan security pact agreement might be delayed.
NATO Defense ministers have gathered in Brussels to discuss their plans for Afghanistan after 2014.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Ramsussen.
"Our planning is on track. We make steady progress, today we have made important decisions on the mission goal, the capability needed, training concepts, command and control arrangements, just to mention some important elements that need to be in place before we can deploy a training mission to Afghanistan."
Afghan Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi says he believes his country is going to do well after NATO withdraws.
"So the future is clear and bright. It is going to be better than now. 2015 is going to be better than 2014. There will be stability, more stability. We will not move towards another crisis."
NATO Defense Ministers have also discussed the recent agreement between the US and Afghanistan that would allow American troops to stay after 2014.
The US side wants to keep between 8 to 12-thousand troops in Afghanistan to train Afghan soldiers after the official NATO withdrawal at the end of next year.
US Sec of State meets Netanyahu, says US is negotiating with Iran with "eyes wide open"
US Secretary of State John Kerry says the US is negotiating with Iran in connection with its nuclear capabilities with "eyes wide open".
Speaking ahead of a meeting in Rome with Benjamin Netanyahu, Kerry says he'll be speaking with the Israeli Prime Minister specifically about the Iranian nuclear talks.
"While we welcome, and we do welcome the change of rhetoric, the change of tone, the diplomatic opening that the Iranians have offered through President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif, we have made clear and we are adamant that words are no substitute for actions."
Netanyahu has long demanded the US not ease any of its economic sanctions against Tehran until Iran dismantles its nuclear program.
Iran has long-denied any involvement in nuclear weapons.
The next round of the P5+1 nuclear talks with Iran is set for early next month.
US not monitoring German Chancellor's phone calls
US President Barack Obama is moving to try to assure Germany's Chancellor the US isn't listening in on her phone calls.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in contact with Obama after reports suggesting US intelligence may have targeted her mobile phone.
If confirmed, Merkel says it would be "a serious breach of trust."
White House spokesperson Jay Carney.
"I can tell you that the president assured the chancellor that the United States is not monitoring and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor. The United States greatly values our close cooperation with Germany on a broad range of shared security challenges. As the president has said, the US is reviewing the way that we gather intelligence to ensure that we properly balance the security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share."
The allegations of US eavesdropping on the German Chancellor follow reports in France that some 70-million French phone calls have been monitored over the course of this past month.
This has earned the White House a strong rebuke from French President Francois Hollande.
Foreign Ministers from Mediterranean and North African countries discuss immigration
Foreign ministers from a number of countries, including France and Libya, have been meeting in Spain for talks on economic and financial cooperation.
The gathering is the first meeting of the Economic Forum of the Western Mediterranean.
Illegal immigration has also been high on the agenda.
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius.
"The Mediterranean Sea has turned into an open air cemetery. It's dramatic. Our view is to take this problem from the source rather than the end. And the source problem is development. People arriving in Europe from the African continent don't come because of pleasure. They come here running away from poverty, exclusion and bad governments. "
It is estimated that 35-thousand people have crossed from North Africa into Italy and Malta this year alone.
Libya's Foreign Minister says his country will continue to work with the EU to monitor its borders.
In May, the EU created a 30 million-euro task force to train Libya's border guards to better control its vast desert frontiers.
Berlusconi indicted on political corruption charge
Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to stand trial on bribery charges.
Berlusconi is accused of paying a former Senator over 4 million US dollars to defect from his party and join Berlusconi's centre-right coalition.
The lawmaker's switch of allegiance helped bring down Romano Prodi's government in 2008.
One of Berlusconi's lawyers, Michele Cerabona, insisted that the facts will show there was no bribery.
"The other solution is the one we advocate, which is: we maintain that there's no possibility to configure, in the facts, as they were told by senator (Sergio) De Gregorio, any chance of bribery."
The trial is set to begin in Naples on February 11th.
Earlier this month, an appeals court in Milan upheld a two-year political ban for Berlusconi as part of his punishment for a tax fraud conviction.
And he risks a lifetime political ban and a seven-year prison sentence if an appeals court upholds his conviction for paying for sex with a minor and forcing official to cover it up.
Chinese, US police shut down child porn websites
Anchor
Four transnational child pornography websites have been shut down and more than 250 suspects arrested as part of a joint operation involving police from the mainland.
The international sting has also involved authorities from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
CRI's Marc Cavigli has the details.
Reporter
The move is joint iniatiatve by Chinese authorities and the U.S police.
Last year, "Zhengjiutianshi" or "to rescue angels," one of the child porn websites, was spotted by U.S authorities and reported to China's Ministry of Public Security.
Videos, pictures and texts in the website amounted to four Terra-bytes, which normally takes 48.5 days to download.
Since the operation began in April, more than 180 suspects have been arrested for running child pornography websites on the Chinese mainland, 60 of which are in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
U.S police have also shut down websites involved and arrested two suspects.
Suspects overseas are under investigation in accordance with local laws and regulations.
Russell Hunt, is a legal counselor from the FBI's Beijing Office, he praised China's efforts in the joint operation.
"What is absolutely undisputed and what I want you all to understand is that, our case in the United States would not have been advanced or futhered but for cooperation with the MPS. So at least from the FBI's perspective, what we're most happy about is not only to address a significant criminal issue, but we're telling the criminal elements that operate across national boundaries that we're gonna work together now."
Chen Zhimin, deputy minister of China's Ministry of Public Security, says further cooperation is needed in fighting transnational illegality.
"Law enforcement agencies should report criminal signs and evidences to the countries or regions related so as to make it easier to hunt criminals. By conducting joint operations, we hope that we could better understand each other's legal regulations and procedures and therefore, create better environment for future cooperation. "
Chinese police have established cooperation with their counterparts in 83 countries and regions.
Chinese police liaison officers have also been sent to embassies and consulates in 23 countries, including the U.S, United Kingdom and Russia, to beef up cooperation.
For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.
Civil servant exam 2013
Anchor
The registration for the public service exam for next year's national-level government positions will close today.
The exam is expected to draw some 1.3 million people.
CRI's Li Dong has the details.
Reporter
According to authorities, the 2014 public service selection will continue favoring candidates who have worked in grassroots communities.
Most positions in government agencies above provincial level will require two years of grassroots working experience.
About 10 percent of all vacancies will be set aside for college graduates-turned-village-heads.
In 2014, China's national-level government agencies, their affiliated public institutions and local branches will recruit over 19,000 civil servants in 2014, a slight decrease from 2013.
Peng Zhongbao, deputy director of the recruitment department at the State Administration of Civil Service, says the decrease is just normal adjustment.
"According to our statistics, 80 percent of the vacancies in the civil servant exam this time are at county or below county level. The number of positions reduced by 1 thousand 3 hundred compared to last year. This is a normal fluctuation. All the recruit positions are within the administrative establishment."
A civil servant role remains the most sought-after jobs in China, despite the country's efforts to cool public service "fever," such as encouraging young people to start their own businesses or to work in grass-root organizations.
Statistics show that qualified applicants in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 annual national-level public service exams totaled 1.3 million, 1.23 million and 1.38 million respectively. They stood a slim chance of securing a job in the public service.
Officials and scholars attributed popularity of the public service exam to people favoring a stable job, the semblance of power that comes with officialdom and benefits civil servants enjoy, such as government-covered health care, subsidized housing and high pension rates.
Employment pressure also contributes to the exam's popularity.
The biggest change in the 2014 civil servant exam is the time assigned for the essay test is extended by 30 minutes; Peng Zhongbao explains the reason:
"The purpose of the time adjustment is to give examinees sufficient time to read the article, give in-depth thought to the questions so they can give an overall, objective and accurate answers and reveal their true competitiveness."
As of the previous years, some popular positions this year will see several two to four thousand people competing for one vacacy, while more than two hundred positions in remote poor area have no applicants at all.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
Biz Reports
Anchor
First off, a check on the stock market of North America and Europe.
Join me on the desk, CRI's Hu Jia.
Reporter
U.S. stocks declined Wednesday, as weakness on the global markets and mixed earnings from a pair of industrial companies prompted a pause in the recent rally in New York.
On the economic front, U.S. import prices advanced 0.2 percent for the second consecutive month in September.
The price index for U.S. exports also rose 0.3 percent in September.
Meanwhile, the Federal Housing Finance Agency is reporting the US home prices increased 0.3 percent in August from July.
In earnings news, Caterpillar slumped after the company cut its full-year outlook and reported revenues that missed analysts estimates, citing weak demand for mining equipment.
Boeing shares rose after the company raised its full-year projection for profits and topped both earnings and revenue forecasts amid strength in its commercial-aircraft business.
Meantime, Bank of America has been found liable for fraud related to defective mortgages sold by its Countrywide unit.
A decision on how much to penalize the bank will be left to a U.S. District Judge.
When the market closed,
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4 percent.
The S&P 500 gave up 0.5 percent.
The Nasdaq shed 0.6 percent.
In Canada, the S&P/TSX ended flat.
European stocks moved sharply lower Wednesday, retreating from the longest winning streak in more than three years, as investors digested more quarterly earnings and news of European Central Bank stress tests .
Shares of drug maker GlaxoSmithKline dropped 1.9 percent after the company reported its net profit fell 12 percent in the third quarter.
GSK's sales in China amid the bribery scandal.
Shares of Peugeot gained 3.3 percent in Paris after the car maker reaffirmed its full-year financial guidance.
When the markets closed in Europe,
Germany's DAX dropped 0.3 percent.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 fell 0.3 percent and France's CAC 40 dropped 0.8 percent.
China allows more local governments to raise cash
The central authorities here in China are moving to allow more local governments to raise short-term cash in a bid to help them pay off maturing bonds.
The decision comes ahead of a widely-anticipated national audit of local government debt, which is expected to be released shortly.
Under the new plan, triple-A rated local state-owned enterprises and double-A rated local government financing vehicles will be able to sell bonds that are to be repaid in 270 days.
This is the first time local governments have been given the green light to issue short term bonds.
It is estimated that local governments may have borrowed as much as 5-trillion US dollars in recent years to fund various projects.
China Decreases U.S. Treasury Holdings by USD 11.2 Bn in August
The latest data shows the Chinese government has decreased its holding of US Treasuries by 11.2 billion US dollars in August.
The US Treasury Department is reporting China now holds around 1.27 trillion US dollars worth of US debt.
China still remains the United States biggest foreign creditor.
Chinese authorities have actually increased their holdings of US Treasuries by 47.7 billion US dollars through the first eight months this year.
Japan, the United States' 2nd largest foreign creditor, currently holds 1.15 trillion US dollars worth of US debt.
Beijing Strengthens Support for Imports
China's Ministry of Finance is moving to support this country's importers.
The ministry is now offering an additional 2.8 billion yuan worth of interest discounts.
This represents a 12 percent increase in import subsidies compared to a year earlier.
Importers of advanced technologies, essential equipment and significant raw materials are the main focus of the latest discounts.
Prolong Period of Paying Pension coming under heat debate
Anchor
A new proposal to extend the amount of time before people can collect their pensions here in China is sparking heated debate.
Currently, people have to pay into the pension system for 15-years before they can begin drawing back some of the funds.
A report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences estimates provincial pension plans across the country are running a 77-billion yuan shortfall.
An extension of the pension payment program could add an additional 20-billion yuan into the system every year.
For more on this, we're joined live now by Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.
Questions
1,If the authorities in China carry out the reform of pension system, what's the priority in your opinion?
2, Pilot reforms in Guangdong Province have seen the National Social Stability Fund running the investment since March 2012 in place of local governments.
The investment returns of the pension are higher than the nationwide investment ones. So this pilot could either be rolled out to other provinces?
3, China's pension system has four main streams. Each administered separately and with vastly different payouts.
The most generous is reserved for civil servants and workers in state institutions.
So should the four streamed be merged into only stream?
Back Anchor
Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator
Euro-Zone Consumer Pessimism Lessens
Consumers in the 17 countries that make up the eurozone have become less pessimistic in October.
The European Commission is reporting a preliminary estimate for consumer confidence in the currency area rose to minus 14.5 in October from minus 14.9 in September.
Eurozone consumer confidence has been back on the rise since December 2012.
The latest pickup is said to be due to slightly to the increase of consumer spending over the second quarter.
This has helped the eurozone return to growth after an 18-month long contraction.
It is expected the pickup has continued through the third quarter, as retail sales rose in both in July and August.
Bank shares fall after ECB outlines health checks for lenders
Bank shares across Europe have fallen after details following the release of the stress-tests plans for the region's top lenders.
The Euro Stoxx index of big eurozone banks dipped more than 2.5 percent during trading on Wednesday.
Spain's Bankia fell more than 5 percent.
Germany's Commerzbank dipped more than 3 percent.
The European Central Bank has confirmed the forthcoming stress-tests will look at liquidity, leverage and funding.
Banks will be required to hold a capital buffer of at least 8-percent.
ECB President Mario Draghi.
"We will proceed with our asset quality review, the balance sheet assessment, the stress-test throughout 2014. We will deliver the results by October next year 2014, and we will start and take over our task. At the same time we hope that government members have found an agreement about the nature of the single resolution mechanism."
A provisional list of banks to be reviewed includes 24 German banks, 16 in Spain, 15 in Italy, 13 in France, 7 in the Netherlands, 5 in Ireland and 4 each in Greece, Cyprus and Portugal.
"The ECB thinks that a resolution mechanism is a very important pillar of our banking union. We still aim at having it in place by 2015. The current concept in the draft directive buying large is shared by the ECB. We may have to be more precise about distinguishing the role of the resolution authority from the role of the ECB. The ECB wants to have full responsibility for the assessment, but nothing to do with what has to be done following the assessment, namely the task of the resolution authority. The two things must be completely separated."
The stress tests are set to begin next month.
India to Inject Fresh Capital in 20 State-Run Banks
The Indian government is allocating around 325 million US dollars to the State Bank of India to try to cushion it against its rising number of bad loans.
The move is part of the Indian government's 2.1 billion US dollar funding program for state-run banks, which are falling short of liquidity.
The Indian government injects capital every year into its state-run banks to help them meet their capital-adequacy requirements.
This year's injection is just slightly more than the Indian government dumped into its state banking sector last year.
Headline News
China, India capable of managing border disputes: Premier
China's President is calling for closer ties with India.
Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping says the China-India relationship has gone far beyond the bilateral level.
For his part, Manmohan Singh says India and China share broad common interests, and have huge potential for cooperation.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has also held talks with Manmohan Singh.
Both have vowed to resolve their border disputes and enhance economic ties.
Manmohan Singh arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day official visit to China.
North China smog battle focuses on coal
Authorities in Northern China have agreed to cut coal consumption.
As part of the new air-pollution control plans, authorities from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Shandong have agreed to cap coal consumption in heating.
The grouping has also agreed to other controls, including reducing vehicle emmissions, dealing with oil quality and industrial discharges.
Authorities are warning air pollution in the north of China is going to be on the rise as the winter approaches.
Coal-fired heating is still prevalent across much of northern China in the winters.
China allows more local governments to raise cash
The central authorities here in China are moving to allow more local governments to raise short-term cash in a bid to help them pay off maturing bonds.
Under the new plan, triple-A rated local state-owned enterprises and double-A rated local government financing vehicles will be able to sell bonds that are to be repaid in 270 days.
This is the first time local governments have been given the green light to issue short term bonds.
Major electricity blackout blankets Damascus
A major electricity blackout is gripping parts of Syria.
A natural gas plant which generates electricity for the capital, Damascus, as well as many other provinces in Syria, has been shut down.
It's being reported the facility, which is located in the southern part of Damascus, has been hit by a mortar.
Crews are said to be working to try to restore power.
5 policemen killed in clashes with militants south of Tunis
At least members of the Tunisian National Guard have been killed in clashes with militants south of Tunis.
The fighting between Tunisian forces and suspected Jihadists has taken place in the mountains near the capital, which is said to be a stronghold for militants.
There have been some conflicting reports about the overall death toll, with some local reports suggesting as many as 7 Tunisian soldiers have been killed.
The attacks south of Tunis follow a similar gun battle in Tunisia's northwest last week which left 2 government soldiers dead.
NATO discussed Afghan security pact
NATO's chief says the alliance is on track for a post-2014 training mission in Afghanistan.
This, despite fears among some diplomats that a U.S.-Afghan security pact agreement might be delayed.
The US side wants to keep between 8 to 12-thousand troops in Afghanistan to train Afghan soldiers after the official NATO withdrawal at the end of next year.
Newspaper Picks
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
One family can only buy one house
Summary
Beijing's municipal authorities have announced new restrictions for households purchases, restricting families to only buying one home.
The restrictions also restrict the home for being resold for 5-years.
SOUTH CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
News policies for Guangzhou Hukou
Summary
Municipal authorities in Guangzhou are planning to change their household registration policies.
Authorities have created a points-based testing system for people who want a Hukou there. Applicants can get their Hukou when reach 60 points, which are accrewed by things such as home purchases and the applicant's job status.
Skilled professionals have the best chance of getting a Guangzhou Hukou.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
2nd round inspection kicks off
Summary
The Party's central committee has announced plans to begin its second round of corruption inspections in short-order.
A second batch of inspectors will be sent to 10 different government institutions, companies and provinces.
DONGGUAN TIMES
Headline
More security guards in hospital
Summary
Central authorities haved released new regulations to try to prevent attacks on doctors.
Under the new rules, one security guard has to be on duty for every 20-beds in a hospital.
However, the article also quotes people who say strengthening security won't solve problems between doctors and patients.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Fair to exhibit advanced technology
Summary
Advanced manufacturing technology is set to be on display at the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai.
The fair will be held in Shanghai International Expo Center from November 5 to 9.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
10-year-old's hand cut off, suspect arrested
Summary
Police are currently holding a man suspected of cutting off a 10-year-old's hand.
Authorities in Shenyang in Liaoning say the suspect is the boy's mother's boyfriend.
Police say the man cut off the boys hand and threw it in a boiling kettle after getting into a dispute over money with the mother.
Doctors are unable to reattach the hand.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Scientist under investigation for plagiarism
Summary
China's leading AIDS scientist is under suspicion for ethical misconduct.
His colleagues allege the scientists used their unpublished data in an academic article without permission.
The paper has been published in an international medical journal.
Special Reports
Musicians Seek to Go Global at Shanghai International Performing Arts Fair
Anchor
Both local and foreign musicians are looking to reach a wider audience at this year's Shanghai International Arts Festiva.
CRI's Zhang Ru has more from Shanghai.
Reporter
This is the performing fair of this year's Shanghai International Arts Festival. At the fair, artists can showcase their condensed 20-minute sets to seek more performing opportunities.
David Fraher is President and CEO of Arts Midwest, a non-profit arts organization headquartered in the United States. He shows interest in the folk rock band, "Wild Children," from west China's Gansu Province.
"It's still rooted in tradition, but it's also presented in a very authentic and sincere way. And the musicians are good musicians and they love the music that they are performing. I think it will be popular.
I like them; I am going to meet with the manager."
Recently, the news about Chinese musical troupes paying for the privilege, rather than earning the privilege, to perform in the Golden Concert Hall of Vienna aroused a heated discussion on whether Chinese music is viable enough to be well received abroad.
David Fraher elaborates on his standard when choosing Chinese music programs.
"We are introducing an array of Chinese music, but what we have found is that the work that's very straight forward and very authentic is actually the most popular."
Currently, the promotion of Chinese traditional music mostly depends on exchange and cooperation between governments.
In terms of commercial promotion, Xie Junxi, from Long Stream Culture and Arts Company, says one way to get recognition in a new market is to think locally. He took the successful case of the French Children's choir, The Little Singers of Saint Marc, as an example.
"Take 'The Chorus' concert as an example. The French movie, 'The Chorus,' that Chinese audiences are familiar with is the entry point to attract them. It takes at least two to three years to establish a new program in a foreign market."
As a major part of the Shanghai International Arts Festival, the performing arts fair has witnessed many outstanding Chinese music programs stepping into the global market; for example, "The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan" by Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe, Sichuan Chinese folk music troupe, Beauty & Melody Orchestra, and Inner Mongolia band, Anda Union.
Back Ancor: That's CRI's Zhang Ru reportinng at the Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Sports
Li Na opens with win at WTA Championships
Chinese ace Li Na has opened up her WTA Championships in Istanbul with a victory.
The 4th seed dumping Sara Errani in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.
Li Na opened strong, easily pressing past Errani in the first set.
However, she ran into trouble in the 2nd set, and trailed 3-1 before eventually coming back and closing out the match in a tie-breaker.
"The first match always tough, I think she (Errani) fight a lot, even I have the match point she still tries to fight on the course, so I think, i was really happy. Thanks for the fans, i was always looking forward to back to the Istanbul to play."
Li Na is now 6-0 lifetime against Errani.
In other action from the round-robin in Istanbul, it was Jelena Jankovic upsetting 2nd seeded Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
Li Na is set to take on Jankovic later on this Thursday in her 2nd round robin match.
Earlier in the day, it was Serena Williams dispatching Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4.
---
Over on the men's side, former world number 1 Roger Federer had a bit of a scare on his home turf.
He needed 3 sets to get past hard-hitting Uzbek Dennis Istomin 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the 2nd round of the Swiss indoors.
Also Wednesday, top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina eased past Swiss wild card Henri Laaksonen, 6-4, 6-4.
However, seeded players continue to tumble in Switzerland, with both 5th seeded Richard Gasquet and 6th seeded Kei Nishikori going down on Wednesday.
European Champions League roundup
A busy night last night in the UEFA Champions league.
It was Manchester United earning a 1-nil victory over Real Sociedad thanks to an own-goal by Inigo Martinez just 69-seconds into the match.
Man-U's cross-town rivals, Manchester City, were also winners.
They got past CSKA Moscow in Russia 2-1.
In other action, it was Real Madrid over Juventus 2-1.
Chritiano Renaldo scoring both goals for Real in the victory.
It was Bayern Munchen all over Viktoria Plzen 5-nil.
Benfica and Olympiacos drew 1-1.
Turkish side Galatasaray dumped FC Copenhagen 3-1.
It was Paris St. Germain all over Anderlecht 5-nil.
Bayer Leverkusen hammered Shakhtar Donetsk 4-nil at home.
World Series to begin this morning
This year's baseball World Series gets underway later on this morning in Boston.
The St. Louis Cardinals are in Boston for Game one of the "Fall Classic" against the Boston Red Sox.
The Cards are looking for their 2nd World Series Title in the last 3-years.
While the two teams haven't played one-another since inter-league play in 2008, the two clubs are familiar with one-another.
Cardinals Manager Mike Matheney says he expects a tough series.
"Yeah, two historic franchises with a lot of history and a lot of success. You know, we take a lot of pride in what has been able to kind of define the Cardinal way and how we go about our business. And part of that is the Hall of Famers we see around our park all the time, the people who remember all the great championships. But we also realize that we're about right now. We've got to be able to make sure that we focus on what we need to do, and not anything beyond that. And it's one game at a time. We've been very consistent with that. But realizing, too, you give credit. You give credit where it's due, and this team in Boston has done a lot of amazing things to make this happen this year and in the past."
It was St. Louis which Boston rolled over in 4-straight games in 2004 to end the club's 86-year World Series drought.
The first pitch is set to be thrown in about 20-minutes time, 8:07am Beijing time.
BMW Championships tees off today
This year's BMW Championships is underway this morning at the Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai.
The first players began teeing off just before 7am.
This year's field includes Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, American John Daly and a number of other notables.
Defending Champion Peter Hansen is also in Shanghai to defend his title.
Hansen admits he's coming into the tournament a little banged up, as he's been struggling with back pains.
"I wouldn't day I am 100 per cent. But I am getting close. I have been able to practice for the last 10 days. Not flat out but I have been hitting balls (for) a couple of hours (by) doing a bit of putting (and) chipping. So I am just so happy to be back on the range and back on the golf course - doing what I love to do."
On the women's side, this week's LPGA stop is in Taiwan for the Sunrise Championships in Taoyuan.
Sweden's Suzanne Peterson is the defending champion there.
Round one of that event is teeing off this morning as well.
2013 Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Championship to kick off in E China
The Asia-Pacific amateur golf championships are underway in the city of Longkou in Shandong.
Guan Tianlang, the teenager who made headlines at the 2013 Masters, is back to defend his title.
Guan is the youngest player to make the cut in PGA Tour history at this year's Masters Tournament.
The winner of the amateur golf championship will receive an invitation to the Masters and gain entry to International Final Qualifying for the British Open.
NBA Finals format is being changed
The 2-3-2 NBA Finals format is following David Stern out of the league.
NBA owners have unanimously voted to return to the 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Owners say they believe the travel inconveniences that teams faced when Stern became commissioner nearly 30 years ago no longer exist.
Beginning with next year's finals, the higher-seeded team will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
The lower seed gets Games 3, 4 and 6, following the same format the NBA uses in all other rounds.
The current format was instituted in 1985, Stern's first full year in charge, in part to ease the amount of cross-country travel with the Celtics and Lakers frequently meeting for the championship.
But critics feel it gives an edge to the lower-seeded team.
David Stern retired as NBA Commissioner at the end of last season.
Entertainment
Prince George Christened at St James' Palace
Royal fanatics were out in force in London on Wednesday for the long-awaited christening of Prince George, the latest addition to the British royal family.
The ceremony took place at the Chapel of St James' Palace, outside of which a large crowd gathered hoping to steal a glimpse of the infant.
However, it seems that the family were more inclined towards privacy, avoiding the opportunity to greet their well-wishers, some of whom had come in elaborately patriotic outfits.
Some were enraged but others were more sympathetic towards the young family's choice.
Prince George, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, entered the world on 22nd July and is third in line to the throne.
Jimmy Kimmel petition receives 14 thousand signatures
(Jimmy Kimmel)
Jimmy Kimmel has unsurprisingly landed himself in hot water, following a controversial clip on his ABC show that have angered many viewers, both stateside and here in China.
In a segment named "Kid's Table", the late night talk show host asks a group of children how to solve the 1.3 trillion US dollar debt to China, one child replies "Kill Everyone in China".
Since airing last week, the clip had caused an internet uproar, with many Chinese viewers branding the comment totally unacceptable and demanding an apology from Kimmel and his network.
This led to the creation of a White House petition, asking the public to boycott the show for its decision to air the segment.
The White House says that it is "disturbed" by what it sees as "racist" content, asking for ABC to pull Kimmel's show and issue a formal apology.
The petition has so gained more than 14 thousand signatures.
Jimmy Kimmel's comedy variety show first aired in 2003 and has run for over 2000 episodes.
It is aired during the prime late-night slot, in direct competition with revered American talk shows such as Late Show with David Letterman and the Tonight Show.
Kanye justifies Jesus appearance
(Kanye)
Fresh from the excitement of his engagement with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West is causing a stir for quite different reasons.
The rapper recently shocked audiences on the American leg of his latest tour when a special guest joined him on stage.
During a performance of "Jesus Walks", an actor dressed as Jesus came on stage, exchanging words with the artist.
The controversial decision raised plenty of eyebrows and set tongues wagging but West stands firmly by his artistic choices.
Speaking to a US radio station, West says that the segment had the blessing of his pastor friends, adding that the great thing about Christianity was the freedom to depict God.
The 36 year old went on to say that even his fiancee was shocked when she first saw the routine, asking whether it would be weird.
West explained that people act in plays and films about Jesus so representing him at a concert is not all that out there.
Whether we think the move is tasteless or apt, West' latest tour is packing a fair punch, featuring support from none other than Kendrick Lamar.
(Kendrick Lamar)
The Yeezus tour is currently sweeping through North America.
Ben Whisham and Olivia Colman joins Yorgos Lanthimos' English Debut
"Skyfall" actor Ben Whisham and "The Peep Show"'s Olivia Colman have signed on for Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos' English language debut.
Lanthimos rose to prominence with his 2009 film Dogtooth, a comedy drama about a family that have kept their now-adult children completely isolated from the outside world.
The film won the Un Certain Regard Prize at Cannes and earnt a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Oscars.
Named "The Lobster", the upcoming romantic drama is set in a dystopian future where a group of singles are given the task of finding respective partners.
Failure to do so will see them being turned into animals.
"Zero Dark Thirty"'s Jason Clarke and "Blue Is the Warmest Colour" actress Léa Seydoux are already attached to the project.
"The Lobster" is set to start shooting next month.
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
India's Prime Minister has been holding a series of meetings with China's leadership here in Beijing, with economics and the border the main talking points.
China's Consulate in Sydney, Australia has set up a hotline for Chinese nationals in New South Wales worried about the massive brushfires in the region.
US President Barack Obama is moving to assure Germany's Chancellor his spies have not been monitoring her cell phone calls.
In Business.... Chinese authorities are moving to allow certain local governments to issue short-term bonds.
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!
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