The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
Paul James with you on this Thursday, March 20, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Military tensions appear to be easing as the Russian and Ukrainian sides trade new regulations following the absorbsion of Crimea into the Russian Federation this week.
Malaysian officials are sending a high-level delegation here to China to help ease concerns of the familes of those missing aboard flight MH370.
The latest round of Iranian nuclear talks have come to an end with all sides suggesting progress has been made.
In Business... as expected, the Fed has decided to continue trimming down its bond-buying program.
In sports.... Beijing draws first blood in the CBA finals.
In entertainment.... Captian Jack Sparrow is coming to China to promote his new film.
But first... lets get a check on the weather...
Weather
Beijing will be sunny today, a high of 17 degree Celsius in the daytime and a low of 4 in the night.
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy, the highest of 13 degree Celsius, and 8 degrees in the night.
Chongqing will be rainy with a high of 21 degree Celsius, and a low of 10 in the night.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, cloudy, 26.
Kabul, cloudy with a high of 7.
And in North America
New York, sunny, with a high of 11 degree.
Washington, sunny, highs of 8.
Houston, cloudy, 23.
Honolulu, sleet, 27.
Toronto, overcast, 4.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, sunny, 21.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny, with highs of 35 degrees Celsius.
Top News
Military standoff in Crimea to end with Ukrainian personnel's withdrawal
Anchor:
Ukrainian Navy personnel have begun vacating their barracks in the port city of Sevastopol in the Crimea.
The move is easing a military standoff between pro-Russian forces and Ukrainian troops which almost threatened to turn the situation into a major military confrontation.
CRI's Tu Yun has more.
Reporter:
TV footage is now showing Russian flags flying in place of Ukrainian ones inside the Ukrainian navy command center in Sevastopol.
This comes after tensions between the sides almost reached a breaking point after two Ukrainian naval bases, including their headquarters in the Crimea, were stormed by pro-Russian forces this week.
At one point, Ukraine's navy commander was taken away and detained temporarily for questioning.
Alexander Vitko, Chief of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, earlier sounded an ominous warning to Ukrainian troops who still swear allegiance to Kiev.
"Hotheads in the Ukrainian leadership today gave an order giving permission to use weapons. I'd like to warn everyone and especially the officers of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, God forbid you make a single shot, even from a slingshot. Don't play with fire, and I'd like to ask everyone to understand it in the very literal sense."
Meanwhile, Crimean authorities have denied two Ukrainian ministers, First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema and Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh, entry into the region.
The Crimean Prime Minister says Ukrainian military personnel serving in Crimea will be given the opportunity to either choose to leave or to stay.
Either way, Russian authorities say they will be guaranteed their payments and allowances under Ukrainian legislation.
Crimea's Prime Minister also says military equipment and properties in the region are to be handed over to Crimean military units.
This comes as Kiev begins the process of recalling its military units in Crimea.
Over in Ukraine's eastern industrial center Donetsk, masked members of a so-called self-defense unit have been seen standing guard at the entrance to the city.
The ethnic divide in Donetsk between Ukranians and Russians has prompted the governor of Donetsk, Serhiy Taruta, to call on the European Union to become involved.
"I think that we need very quick and substantial help from the European Union to launch social programmes that would give a clear signal to our population that the European choice is the choice of the future and that it is much better than the rhetoric that we hear on Lenin square."
Meanwhile, Ukraine and the pro-Russia authorities in Crimea are now requiring visas for cross-border travel.
Moscow has also begun to issue Russian passports to Crimean residents.
Kiev is now demanding Russian nationals obtain visas to enter Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities have also decided to relinquish the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and is now pondering a permanent withdrawal from the bloc.
The CIS is a collaboration among states once belonging to the former Soviet Union.
Amid the deepening crisis, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has departed for both Moscow and Kiev.
Ban Ki-moon is expected to hold talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders in an attempt to try to find a peaceful resolution of the current crisis.
And China has reiterated that the Crimean issue should be resolved politically, urging all parties concerned to refrain from raising tensions.
For CRI, I am Tu Yun.
"Substantive" Iranian nuclear talks discuss core issues
The latest round of Iranian nuclear talks in Vienna are said to have made "substantive" steps forward.
Iran's lead negotiator and the head of delegation representing the P5+1 both say this week's talks have been very "useful," saying they have touched on a number of controversial issues.
Both Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton say this round of talks have focused on enrichment, heavy water reactors, civilian cooperation and sanctions relief for Iran.
"Based on the framework for the negotiations established at our meeting last month, we had substantive and useful discussions covering at set of issues including: enrichment, the Arak reactor, civil nuclear co-operation, and sanctions. We will meet again from the 7th to the 9th of April, in Vienna, and we will continue our work on the substantial areas which we intend to cover in a comprehensive agreement. In the meantime technical experts will meet to further elaborate on the details of the relevant issues."
A senior US official taking part in the talks says the two sides now understand one-another's positions better than before.
Enrichment, the Arak heavy-water reactor and sanctions have been the main sticking points in the talks.
The US side has been adamant it does not want Iran to maintain a heavy-water nuclear reactor.
Heavy-water reactors can be used to create weapons-grade material for a nuclear bomb.
The current 6-month interim agreement, which has seen Iran temporarily shut down its enrichment programs in exchange for limited sanctions relief, is set to expire in July.
Abbas says extension of peace talks needs tangible Israeli steps
It appears Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may still holding out the possibility of extending the current round of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks beyond their mandate in April.
The Xinhua News Agency is quoting an unnamed Palestinian official, who says Abbas has told US President Barack Obama he will need to press the Israeli side to release more Palestinian prisoners and freeze Israeli settlements if peace talks are to be extended.
The same official says this week's meeting between Abbas and Obama at the White House was focused mostly on the potential extension of the talks, rather than the framework peace accord the US side has put forward recently.
Abbas has been under pressure from within his own administration and among various Palestinian groups to let the current mandate of the peace talks expire next month.
However, the Obama administration has been pressing to have the current round of talks expanded beyond their current mandate, which was set at 9-months following the re-launch of the negotiations last summer after a 3-year hiatus.
The current round of talks have not created any substantial breakthroughs, despite the continued diplomatic efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Malaysia sends high-level working team to Beijing to better handle aftermath
The Malaysian government has announced it is sending a high-level working team to Beijing to deal with the families of those aboard missing flight MH370.
Malaysia's acting transport minister says the team will be tasked with providing the relatives of the missing Chinese passengers with the latest search information.
The Malaysian team will be comprised of representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Air Force, the Department of Civil Aviation and Malaysia Airlines.
This comes amid growing complaints and threats of protests by certain Chinese family members, who have been complaining about a lack of information about the fate of their missing loved-ones.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian side says a police investigation has found that certain data has been deleted from the home flight simulator of the pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.
US Attorney General Eric Holder says the FBI has been asked to help reconstitute the deleted files.
"I have not had direct contact with my counterpart in Malaysia but there has been contact between the various investigative agencies - the FBI here and the relevant agencies in Malaysia - and all those conversations are ongoing."
Malaysian authorities are still working on theories the plane could be anywhere along a giant arc extending from Kazakhstan in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south.
Following the shift of focus, the Chinese Defense Ministry has decided to reposition its naval vessels along the two corridors.
Chinese naval vessels which had been scouring the South China Sea have now left their rally point near Singapore, with one group heading north and the other south to the waters southeast of the Bay of Bengal and west of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, German insure giant Allianz has started issuing payments on claims related to MH370.
Media reports are suggesting the total amount could come in at around 100-million U.S. dollars.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, with 239-passangers and crew aboard, disappeared on March 8th shortly after takeoff on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
It's since been determined someone onboard the plane intentionally shut off the plane's radar and communication systems and diverted the plane off its expected flight path.
US first lady visiting China to strengthen educational exchanges
Anchor:
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and her family are arriving later today here in Beijing to start a visit to China as the guest of Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Some observers are anticipating the visit may help smooth bilateral relations.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has more.
Reporter:
That was Michelle Obama learning Chinese from some primary school students in the US before her visit to China. Talking to the students who had been to China, the first lady says she was fully prepared for the visit.
"It's important to be open-minded about what the world is like. Because as you said, you went to China with a whole bunch of misconceptions about what that country would be alike, what the cities are gonna be alike, but you found that you were totally wrong. So I'm not make a few mistakes when I go over there, and trust me, the whole world is watching."
The White House announced on Monday that the trip will be focusing on the power and importance of education. Michelle will also visit some important historical and cultural sites in China, as well as making two separate speeches at Peking University and a Middle school in Chengdu.
A senior official with the White House says agenda-setting of the visit is emphasizing the importance of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
"That's critically important given that our role in what gonna play in the 21st century is that again we maintain the very regular context that we had at the leader to leader level, but that we are also reaching out in building relationship with people, particularly young people."
Tao Wenzhao, Deputy Director of the Institute of American Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says it is the first time a foreign country's first lady is paying an official visit to China alone. He says, though a first lady does not have any formal position in the government, but everybody understands the role she can play.
"And now people are just watching what Michelle Obama will say before she leaves and what kind of exchanges or interactions will take place between Michelle Obama and Madam Peng Liyuan."
During the past few months, relations between the two countries have seen friction when it comes to territorial disputes between China and some of America's allies in the Asian Pacific region, including Japan and the Philippines.
Professor Shi Yinghong with Ren University of China, believes, though Michelle's visit will not touch upon hot-button political issues, it can help improve and strengthen Sino-US relations.
Tao echoes this point, but he also suggests that people should bare in mind the common interests of the two sides.
"Yes, differences do exist in this or that aspect, over human rights, and over the South China Sea, East China Sea etc. But those disputes do not mean that our relationship is bad. Actually, this is a quite normal collation of Sino-US relations. In general, our common interests are much larger than our differences."
Instead of having political intentions, Tao adds Michelle Obama's visit is more likely making up for the two first ladies failing to meet in June in California due to a scheduling conflict.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
Reform to the hukou system is key to the country's new type of urbanization.
Anchor:
As part of the Chinese government's new urbanization strategy released this week, a number of observers are suggesting one of the key areas to focus on will be the reformation of this country's household-registration system - the Hukou.
CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.
Reporter:
Xu Xianping is the deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission.
He says China's urbanization process has seen achievements in the past decades, but also created obstacles that hinder healthy development moving forward.
His comment comes after the government released a new plan aiming to achieve a better quality of urbanization.
According to the official, one of the highlights is reform of the household registration system, or Hukou.
"The reformed system should involve different residential statuses, so those who have a rural Hukou but have been long working in the cities, as long as they are capable and willing, can apply for the urban Hukou. And for those who are also working in the cities but cannot apply for the urban Hukou, they can apply for a residential certification which grants them equal social services, as urban residents enjoy."
Official statistics show that by the end of last year, the registered urban population accounted for only 35.7 percent of China's total population.
The new central plan has vowed to increase that number to 60 percent by 2020.
Huang Ming, vice public security minister, says under the plan, the greatest increase in urban residents will be recorded in small cities.
That goal is to be achieved by controlling the measures for applying for urban Hukou in major centres.
"We should strictly control the population in the biggest cities. The measures for applying should be based on an open, fair and ordered principle, probably with a points-based system. And for people who are eager to apply for the urban hukou, it would be easier for them to apply in small cities rather than in huge ones."
Huang adds that such measures are also aimed at relieving pressure on big city residents, who are now facing "urban diseases" such as traffic jams, low capacity in dealing with sewage and garbage, and pollution in air, water and soil.
According to the newly-released plan, the country should further relocate the distribution of resources among developed and developing regions.
But the main idea is to guarantee equal services for all residents, no matter where they are living.
Qi Ji is the vice minister of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ministry.
"First of all, for rural residents who move into cities, they should be guaranteed affordable housing, which is to say they should all be covered by our housing security system. And then we need to gradually make basic social services available to all permanent residents."
The official also notes that the new type of urbanization should be ecologically-minded as well.
For CRI, this is Alexander Aucott .
Biz Reports
U.S. stocks lost ground Wednesday as the Federal Reserve's policy meeting statement hinted at an earlier-than-expected interest rate hike.
The U.S. central bank has also decided to continue to cut its bond buying program by another 10 billion U.S. dollars, as anticipated.
The Dow fell nearly three quarters of a percent on the day.
Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq dropped more than half a percent.
In corporate news,
FedEx has posted its earnings and revenues for the third quarter, with both missing market expectations.
Despite this, its share price was little unchanged on Wednesday.
Shares of Hewlett-Packard rose 3.5-percent ahead of the tech giants shareholders meeting later this Wednesday.
European shares closed mostly lower.
The U.K. budget has pushed the FTSE in London down half a percent.
In France, the CAC 40 stayed virtually flat.
In Germany, the DAX gained 0.3-percent thanks to a rally in the auto sector.
U.S. Fed unveils further cut in bond purchase program
As expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve has announced it will continue trimming its monthly bond buying by 10 billion U.S. dollars to 55 billion dollars next month.
The announcement follows similar moves by the Fed since the start of the year.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says there is sufficient underlying strength in the broader economy for the Fed to keep tapering its bond-buying program.
"As before, if incoming information broadly supports the committee's expectation of ongoing improvement and labour markets and inflation moving back over time towards its longer run objective, the committee will likely continue to reduce the pace of asset purchases in measured steps at future meetings."
As part of her first news conference since taking her post as Fed Chair, Yellen has also hinted there could be a rise in short-term interest rates in early 2015.
Her suggestion is clearest indication to date as to when the Fed might raise its short-term rates, which have been at a record lows of near zero since 2008.
China Telecom's 2013 profit up 17.4 pct
China Telecom Corporation is reporting a full-year profit increase of 17.4 percent year on year through this past year.
The company's annual report to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange shows China Telecom earned some 17.6-billion yuan, or just under 3-billion US dollars, last year.
China Telecom's profits decreased 9.5-percent in 2012.
The state-owned telecom giant is attributing the increase in its profit mainly to the company's expanding 3G business.
The number of 3G mobile subscribers here in China surged over 49-percent last year to 103 million.
China Telecom is China's 3rd largest mobile telecom provider behind China Mobile and China Unicom.
China shares one fifth of BMW global sales
BMW now says China has accounted for around 20-percent of the automakers global sales this past year.
The German automaker expanded its production capacity here in China last year up to 300-thousand vehicles.
BMW already has plans to build a new engine production site with its Chinese joint-venture partner Brilliance.
That facility is due to open in 2016.
Aside from China, BMW's other top sales markets last year were in Western Europe, North America and Germany.
On the heels of the robust sales here in China, BMW now says it expects to sell more than 2-million vehicles this year worldwide.
This would be 2-years ahead of the company's previous targets.
Call-in on China's property market
Anchor:
Chinese shares have been dragged down by weakness in the property sector amid new concerns about potential defaults.
This comes on word this week that Zhejiang Xingrun Real Estate, a small developer, is reportedly unable to pay off its 3.5 billion yuan worth of debt it holds, including 2.4 billion yuan in loans from 19 different commercial banks.
The People's Bank of China this week has denied reports its holding bailout talks with the company.
At the same time, official data shows home prices in major Chinese cities grew at a slower pace in February, with fewer cities seeing month-on-month price increases.
For more on China's property market, we are now joined by Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.
Questions:
1. Is it a common phenomenon that many property developers are unable to repay its bank loans? How serious is the problem?
2. If developers have bankruptcy, how will it affect the banking sector and China's overall economy?
Back anchor:
Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.
ZTE launches logistics center in Greece at COSCO-run port
Chinese telecom equipment provider ZTE and Chinese shipping firm COSCO have signed an agreement to use Greece's Piraeus port as a European logistics center for ZTE products for the wider Southern European region.
Under the new agreement, ZTE's deliveries in 12 major South-Eastern European markets will be routed via Piraeus.
Piraeus, the largest port in Greece, is currently run by COSCO under a 35-year concession agreement.
At the same time, a ZTE executive says the company's long-term plans in Greece include the construction of a repair center and the establishment of an assembly line.
U.S. May Levy Countervailing Duties on Electrical Steel Products from China
The US government is poised to impose punitive duties against imports of non-oriented electrical steel from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
A preliminary ruling from the U.S. Commerce Department says producers and exporters of non-oriented electrical steel from mainland have been subsidized by upward of 125-percent.
The US side contends producers from Taiwan have received subsidies ranging from 6 to almost 13-percent.
The Commerce Department launched the anti-dumping investigations late last year in response to a request from US steel producer AK Steel Corporation.
The department is scheduled to make its final determinations in July.
Huawei Expects High Growth Potential in Middle East
A leading official with Huawei says the company is expecting a high growth rate in the Middle East over the next few years.
The suggestion has been made at a meeting among Huawei resellers and business partners in Dubai.
The company says its business is expected to grow 36 percent in the region annually until 2018, with the highest potential in Saudi Arabia.
The company is currently engaged in the region in IT and communications projects.
Huawei is also trying to tap into the smartphone market in the Middle East.
The company's sales revenues have more than doubled in the Middle East since 2008, reaching nearly 3 billion US dollars last year.
Headline News
Military standoff in Crimea to end with Ukrainian personnel's withdrawal
Ukrainian Navy personnel have begun vacating their barracks in the port city of Sevastopol in the Crimea.
The move is easing a military standoff between pro-Russian forces and Ukrainian troops which almost threatened to turn the situation into a major military confrontation.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and the pro-Russia authorities in Crimea are now requiring visas for cross-border travel.
Moscow has also begun to issue Russian passports to Crimean residents.
Kiev is now demanding Russian nationals obtain visas to enter Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities have also decided to relinquish the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and is now pondering a permanent withdrawal from the bloc.
Amid the deepening crisis, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has departed for both Moscow and Kiev.
Ban Ki-moon is expected to hold talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders in an attempt to try to find a peaceful resolution of the current crisis.
And China has reiterated that the Crimean issue should be resolved politically, urging all parties concerned to refrain from raising tensions.
"Substantive" Iranian nuclear talks discuss core issues
The latest round of Iranian nuclear talks in Vienna are said to have made "substantive" steps forward.
Iran's lead negotiator and the head of delegation representing the P5+1 both say this week's talks have been very "useful," saying they have touched on a number of controversial issues.
Javad Zarif and Catherine Ashton say this round of talks have focused on enrichment, heavy water reactors, civilian cooperation and sanctions relief for Iran.
A senior US official taking part in the talks says the two sides now understand one-another's positions better than before.
The next round of negotiations among Iran and the P5+1 has been set for May 7th.
Abbas says extension of peace talks needs tangible Israeli steps
It appears Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may still holding out the possibility of extending the current round of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks beyond their mandate in April.
The Xinhua News Agency is quoting an unnamed Palestinian official, who says Abbas has told US President Barack Obama he will need to press the Israeli side to release more Palestinian prisoners and freeze Israeli settlements if peace talks are to be extended.
The same official says this week's meeting between Abbas and Obama at the White House was focused mostly on the potential extension of the talks, rather than the framework peace accord the US side has put forward recently.
Abbas has been under pressure from within his own administration and among various Palestinian groups to let the current mandate of the peace talks expire next month.
US first lady visits China
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and her family are arriving later today here in Beijing to start a visit to China as the guest of Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The White House has said that the trip will be focusing on the power and importance of education.
Michelle will also visit some important historical and cultural sites in China, as well as making two separate speeches at Peking University and a Middle school in Chengdu.
Newspaper Picks
CHINA DIALY
Headline
Shanghai to hold orchid exhibition
Summary
This year's Shanghai International Orchid Exhibition is set to run at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden from March 29 through April 20.
The exhibition will feature nearly a thousand kind of orchids from 17 countries and regions.
The exhibition space will be roughly the size of three soccer fields.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Baoding not to be auxiliary capital
Summary
Officials are denying claims that Baoding in Hebei has been tapped as a location to devolve certain central government functions.
A report this week has suggested authorities in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have reached agreement to make Baoding the primary choice for an auxiliary political center after Beijing.
A spokesperson for the Baoding government has quickly denied the report.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Plastic cell phone cover concerns.
Summary
Shanghai's quality watchdog says certain plastic cell phone covers have been found to contain hazardous toxic plasticizers.
The watchdog says of the 50 batches of plastic shells it checked, six of them have been found containing poisonous and carcinogenic compounds.
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Organ donation website
Summary
The National Health and Family Planning Commission has launched its first official organ donation registration website.
People can register as organ donors via www.savelife.org.cn.
Your information will only be accessible to authorized organizations and coordinators.
Donors can also modify or withdraw their registration via the website.
BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Woman detained for planting poppies
Summary
A woman in Guangdong has been detained for illegally planting poppies.
A rural villager planted 22-hundred-50 poppy plants on her farm.
She's told police she did so to treat her husband's backaches.
Poppies are the main source of opiates in the world.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
Pig carcasses found in river
Summary
Hundreds of dead pigs have been found floating in the Nanchang section of the Gan River in Jiangxi.
So far 131 pig carcasses have been plucked from the water.
Despite the grizzly discovery, officials say the water quality has not been affected.
Authorities are now trying to figure out where the dead pigs have come from.
SOUTH CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
Man leaves villa to charity
Summary
A recently-deceased man has reportedly donated his 20 million yuan villa to a charity that builds schools in poverty-stricken areas.
The donor, Xu Shaocun, has left the 380-square-meter property to the charity Project Hope.
The donation is said to be the largest charitable gift that Project Hope has ever received.
Special Reports
Pre-installed Malware on New Handsets Big Problem in China
Anchor:
Preinstalled malware on mobile handsets is quickly becoming one of the main consumer complaints here in China, with industry observers saying the malware has been siphoning billions of dollars from Chinese consumers' pockets.
CRI's Zhou Heyang has more.
Reporter:
Liu Chunxia has just purchased a smartphone.
This new handset comes with convenience, but also trouble.
"The 70 megabytes that come with the package usually lasts until the end of the month, but with my new smartphone, all the data gets used up within five days! Sohu Videos and Today's Headlines are two apps that use data even when they are not turned on!"
It turns out that Liu Chunxia has fallen prey to pre-installed malware, which runs data without notifying the user.
A mobile phone retailer, who wishes to be known as Zhang, says it has become a prevalent phenomenon in the Chinese market.
"My customers complained to me that their phone bill suddenly increased a lot, with seventy to eighty Yuan being deducted from their accounts. It's not like they voluntarily asked for more services."
The latest research has found that almost 90 percent of the mobile phones sold on the Chinese market come with more than 15 preinstalled software systems that are rarely used by consumers.
Some cannot even be deleted unless the device is rooted.
He Nengqiang, internet security engineer at the National Computer Emergency Response Team, talks about the damages caused by the malware.
"HCT Counter is one of those pre-installed malware programs that steals your personal information. Dingkai Beijing Informational Technology Company developed this Trojan software. These malware programs have caused information leaks and financial losses for consumers."
According to a report released by the Chinese mobile security firm 360, the preinstalled software can cost 500 million Chinese smartphone users more than 95 billion yuan, or some 15 billion US dollars, annually.
Smartphone owners have brought their complaints to authorities for a review.
Huang Jianhua is deputy director of the State Quality Supervision Bureau.
"Government regulation stipulates that smart device manufacturers must obtain a 'network access' license for the smart devices they manufacture. Further, manufacturers will be required to include in their license application materials, details of the version of the operating system and basic information on the configuration of any pre-installed apps. Any type of pre-installed app that is effectively an intrusion in personal privacy is definitely illegal. "
Companies involved such as Baidu have started revising their practice by changing contracts with mobile phone software tech firms after being exposed on a state television program.
For CRI, I'm Zhou Heyang.
Sports
Beijing Ducks take 1-0 final series lead after road win over Xinjiang
In CBA playoff action last night,
The Beijing Ducks pulled off a road win, beating Xinjiang 95-75 in Game 1 of their final series.
It was a big win for the Ducks who are playing games 1 and 2 of the best of seven series in Xinjiang, a difficult place to play for visitors. Word is the fans can become extremely vocal, and are talented trash talkers not just in Chinese, but in English as well for the benefit of the import players.
Xinjiang got off to a good start, jumping to a 7-1 lead right off the bat. But Beijing cut the deficit and overtook their opponents by the end of the first quarter 29-28.
Beijing had five players who scored in the double digits. Randolph Morris was the top scorer with 23 points and 13 boards. Stephon Marbury was right behind his American teammate with 21 points.
Former NBA player Sun Yue and Zhang Songtao also contributed 15 points a piece.
In contrast, only Xinjiang's two American players Lestor Hudson and James Singleton posted double digit points, with 21 and 18 respectively.
Xinjiang will have a chance to level the series tomorrow night when the two teams meet for game 2. All I have to say is Xinjiang better not botch that game up, because games 3 and 4 move down to Beijing, where it will be a lot more difficult to win than at home.
Over in the NBA,
Chiacago vs. Philadelphia
Charlotte vs. Brooklyn
Miami vs. Boston
And three games are tipping off at 8am.
Utah is on the road at Memphis. Toronto will try to snap a two-game losing streak when they play at New Orleans. And Phil Jackson will officially have his first game as team president when his New York Knicks play the Indiana Pacers.
Olympic champion Sun Yang's ban lifted by national team
In Chinese sporting news,
The Chinese national team has lifted its ban on Olympic champion Sun Yang yesterday.
Sun was slapped with an indefinite suspension from training and competition last November after he was caught driving without a license.
Shang Xiutang, deputy head of the Chinese Swimming Administrative Center said "The national team welcomes Sun. We always hope he can realize his mistake and come back. We hope he can do better in the future."
LA Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks play game one in Australia today
In Major League baseball news,
The Arizona Diamondbacks and LA Dodgers will meet today for the first of four games in Sydney Australia.
Yesterday, the two teams had their training sessions crashed by non-baseball athletes Italian footballer Alessandro Del Piero and rugby star Sonny Bill Williams. Not sure how it helped the baseball players get ready for today's game, but who wouldn't enjoy tossing a rugby around with Sonny Bill Williams?
One of the league's reasons for these overseas games is to promote the sport of baseball.
LA Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says this mini series with Arizona could inspire more young Aussies to give baseball a shot.
"I think it's important from the standpoint of advancing just the whole game. What we love about it obviously hasn't caught on as much here. Not the sport, but I know they are playing more and more of it. But for us it's important. Hopefully we will play the game the way we think it should be played. Guys with a lot of energy. Just good, tough baseball and hope we put on a good show."
Several Australian players have made it onto an MLB roster, but not many.
Former MLB infielder Crag Shipley, who now works as a league scout in Australia, said it's difficult drawing athletic talents away from the more-rooted sports like Aussie rules football and rugby.
"It's not easy because, as you just mentioned, we have six, seven, eight sporting codes that are well established in a smaller population. But there is a place for baseball. It's been here a long time and I think we can make inroads and I think this series will be a big focal point to drive that participation."
To drive the point, the Dodgers will start Australian pitcher Clayton Kershaw later today in front of his home crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Ireland and Zimbabwe still on track for Super 10 slots at ICC World T20
At the ICC World twenty20,
Teams are fighting for a coveted spot in the main draw's Super 10.
Ireland is on track after beating the United Arab Emirates by 21 runs yesterday despite a floodlight failure and rain. That was Ireland's second victory, and the UAE is eliminated after two defeats.
Zimbabwe kept their hopes of slipping into the Super 10 alive after a dramatic last ball victory over the Netherlands.
Also in yesterday's warm-up matches , India beat England by 20 runs and the West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 33 runs.
Andy Murray splits from two-year coach
And a quick piece of news from the tennis world,
Andy Murray has split from his coach Ivan Lendl after two years of working together.
The British player announced the decision yesterday, explaining that the reason for the split is because Lendl is leaving to pursue other interests.
Lendl became Murray's coach in December 2011 and helped guide him to two major titles, a win at the US Open in 2012 and a 2013 Wimbledon title. Lendl was also there when Murray won the Olympic gold in 2012.
Entertainment
Depp coming to Beijing to promote movie
Johnny Depp is scheduled to pay his first visit to China on March the 31st to promote Transcendence.
(Transcendence)
He will be in Beijing for two days to promote "Transcendence," which has backing from Warner Brothers, Alcon Entertainment and U.S.-Chinese group DMG entertainment.
Depp plays a scientist in the sci-fi blockbuster, which also stars Morgan Freeman and Rebecca Hall.
Depp's character is assassinated by anti-science extremists and his consciousness transferred to a computer by his wife.
The film is set for a simultaneous release in North America and China on April the 18th.
Warner Brothers will handle the distribution in North America and DMG will distribute the film in China.
Rolling Stones postpone tour of Australia, NZ
(Rolling Stones)
The Rolling Stones have postponed their tour of Australia and New Zealand following the death of frontman Sir Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott.
The US fashion designer was found dead in her New York apartment in an apparent suicide.
Sir Mick earlier said he failed to understand how his lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way.
The two have been dating since 2001.
In a statement on their website, the band thanked fans for their support.
The British rock band arrived in Australia on Monday after their tour in China, Japan and Singapore.
Ticket holders for the affected shows have been advised to keep hold of their tickets and await further information.
The On Fire tour is scheduled to move to Europe in June, with concerts planned for the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Belgium.
Zhang Yimou in Talks To Direct Legendary Pictures' 'Great Wall'
Zhang Yimou, the acclaimed director, is reportedly to be in talks to direct the epic film Great Wall.
The script for "Great Wall' will be getting a rewrite, although the basic concept will remain: the mystery and secret origin of why the Great Wall was built.
The previous iteration, which had Ed Zwich on board to direct, was going to star Henry Cavill and Benjamin Walker as British soldiers travelling through 15th century China.
They soon discover that its intended purpose is not to keep out human beings, but terrifying creatures. '
Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is also reportedly to star in this film.
The film is expected to fall under Legendary Pictures' Asian division, Legendary East.
David Mackenzie's prison drama has UK premiere in East London
David Mackenzie's Indie drama "Starred Up" had its gala premiere in east London.
The British film follows troubled teenager Eric on his journey from a young offenders' institute to an adult prison.
There he meets unconventional therapist Oliver, played by "Homeland"'s Rupert Friend. Oliver is determined to help Eric, with the assistance of one of the prison's longest serving inmates, who also happens to be Eric's dad.
Jack O'Connell takes on the role of Eric. He explained what his character is going through:
"He is just in the midst of being transferred from a young offenders (institute) to daddy nick (jail) as it were or big jail, or whatever the correct terminology might be. I believe the in house term of reference for this is 'starred up,' hence the title of the film. He starts out very much from a boy environment, a young environment and I guess he finds the whole procedure quite maturing."
According to the director Mackenzie, Eric's story will keep audiences on the "edge of their seat."
"Starred Up" hits U.K. cinemas on Friday, March 21st.
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
Military tensions appear to be easing as the Russian and Ukrainian sides trade new regulations following the absorbsion of Crimea into the Russian Federation this week.
Malaysian officials are sending a high-level delegation here to China to help ease concerns of the familes of those missing aboard flight MH370.
The latest round of Iranian nuclear talks have come to an end with all sides suggesting progress has been made.
In Business... as expected, the Fed has decided to continue trimming down its bond-buying program.
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. |