The Beijing Hour
Evening Edition
Shane Bigham with you this Tuesday, July 01st, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on the programme this evening...
The Japanese cabinet has rubber-stamped a change to the country's pacifist constitution, a move that has angered many of the country's neighbors...
Hong Kong marks the 17th year of its return to China, with constitutional reform in the Special Administrative Region earmarked as a priority...
And more Chinese workers previously trapped in a hot zone in Iraq have returned home...
In business, factory activity here in China hit a six-month high in June...
In sports, Germany and France prepare to square off at the World Cup...
In entertainment, Chinese projects at the forefront of a South Korean film festival...
Weather
Meteorological authorities have issued a weather warning covering a large portion of the country, especially southern and eastern sections.
The "blue alert" is for heavy rain expected over the next 24 hours.
Regions including the cities of Beijing and Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Yunnan can expect torrential rains and thunderstorms, with precipitation up to 130 mm in some areas.
Beijing will have heavy thundershowers tonight with a low of 21 degrees Celsius. It will see showers tomorrow with a high of 28 degrees.
Meanwhile Shanghai will see moderate rain tonight, with a low of 22, moderate rain tomorrow, with a high of 27.
Chongqing will see slight rain tonight, 20 degrees the low, tomorrow overcast with a high of 27.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, slight rain with a high of 31.
Kabul, sunny, 30.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, high of 17.
Canberra, sunny,11.
Brisbane, sunny, 19.
And finally, Perth will have moderate rain with a high of 16.
Top News
Japan's Cabinet passes controversial resolution on collective self-defense
Anchor:
The Japanese Cabinet has rubber-stamped a resolution on the right to collective self-defense, a major change from the country's post-war pacifism.
The move comes after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pressed the Cabinet to approve reinterpreting the constitution to permit Japan to deploy troops overseas even in circumstances where Japan itself is not threatened.
CRI's Xiong Siqi has more.
Reporter:
It is one of the biggest changes in Japan's security policy since World War Two.
Japan's current Constitution, famous for its war-renouncing Article 9, bans troops from fighting outside Japan.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the move warns that Japan is on the way to change its pacifism policy.
Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei:
"We notice that in Japan, there are strong objections towards the move to allow the country to exercise collective self-defense. The future of Japan should be decided by the Japanese public. China objects to Japan's action to press ahead with its agenda by fabricating a China threat theory. We demand that Japan respect the security concerns of neighboring countries and address the issue prudently. We ask the country to not hamper China's sovereignty and safety or the peace and stability of the region."
In Japan's capital, Tokyo, thousands have gathered outside Abe's office protesting the plan to expand Japan's military role.
Takeshi Iwaya is the Chairman of the Ruling Party Security Research Council.
"Up to now, Japan has said it won't do any 'wrong' and will wish for peace only. But that is not enough. Japan should cooperate with regional countries in a framework to protect the peace and stability of the region. We are aiming for a more proactive role."
Beating drums and carrying banners, the protesters are demanding Abe's Cabinet scrap its plan.
"Japan hasn't launched a war for nearly 70 years, killing no one, and no innocent people have been killed. So I cannot bear the decision to amend the interpretation of the Constitution. I think it's totally wrong."
Over the weekend, a man set himself on fire near an intersection in Tokyo in protest over the reinterpretation of the constitution.
Japan's move has also sparked protests in South Korea. Demonstrators gathered in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
"We really hope that Abe's government makes an unequivocal apology and reflects on its past actions, rather than trying to lift a ban on collective self-defense."
The latest polls by the Japanese media show that 54 percent of respondents object to the reinterpretation of Japan's anti-war constitution, compared with 29 percent supporting the move.
Critics fear that the reinterpretation is the first step to further revision of the war-renouncing Article 9 of the constitution.
For CRI, this is Xiong Siqi
Expert's view on Japan's reinterpretation of its anti-war constitution
Anchor:
For more on the issue, we are now joined live by Yang Bojiang, Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies of the China Institutes of Contemporary Int'l Relations.
Back Anchor:
Yang Bojiang, Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies of the China Institutes of Contemporary Int'l Relations.
Hong Kong Chief calls for stability in the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the SAR
Anchor:
Hong Kong's Chief Executive has called for stability, prosperity, and development at a reception celebrating the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
CRI's Hong Kong correspondent Li Jing has the story.
Report:
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying says one major task for the city's current Government is to advance constitutional reform.
"In recent discussions, members of the community have put forward different views and proposals on the actual implementation of universal suffrage for the Chief Executive's election. This is both understandable and normal in a pluralistic society such as Hong Kong."
But he stresses that constitutional development must comply with the Hong Kong Basic Law and the interpretation and Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
"With the greatest determination and sincerity, the SAR Government and I will do our utmost to forge a consensus in the community and work together towards the goal of implementing universal suffrage for the Chief Executive's election on schedule and in accordance with the law."
CY Leung says Hong Kong has achieved significant progress in economic and social development over the past 17 years, enjoying the advantages of both "One Country" and "Two Systems".
He says locals should treasure Hong Kong's economic accomplishments and avoid doing anything that may undermine the city's stability and prosperity.
"Continuing to fully implement Hong Kong Basic Law and administer the city in strict accordance with it, is the key to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity in the long term. Only by maintaining Hong Kong's stability can we sustain our economic prosperity. Only by sustaining Hong Kong's prosperity can we improve people's livelihood."
CY Leung says the government is working to promote constructive interaction and co-development between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
"I believe that if we try to understand each other and view things from one another's perspective, we can properly deal with problems that arise in the development of Hong Kong and the Mainland, and give full play to the complementary and mutually-beneficial nature of the relationship between the two places."
About 2,500 people from all walks of life attended the flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the day at the Golden Bauhinia Square, where ceremonies for the handover of Hong Kong's sovereignty were held in 1997.
For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.
Chinese workers arrive in Shanghai from Iraq
A group of over 20 Chinese workers who were trapped at a power station in Iraq have arrived at an airport in Shanghai.
The workers were evacuated from the Sarah Harding power station on Saturday before traveling to Baghdad.
"There were armored cars all over the street. I saw explosions and places that had explosions, and bullet shells all over the ground."
The group is among the 1,200 Chinese workers who were trapped in the power station in northern Iraq.
All the workers have now been evacuated as the last group is heading back to China via Dubai.
Chinese authorities say there are about 10,000 Chinese nationals in Iraq and most of them not in conflict zones.
Meanwhile, Iraq's new parliament has held its first session this afternoon.
The meeting is a key step to forge a unity government that may help to pull the country back from the brink of a possible split-up amid continuous sectarian clashes.
Fresh fighting are reported between Sunni rebels and government forces around the city of Tikrit.
The clashes come after the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant announced the creation of a caliphate.
The United States has dismissed the announcement as President Barack Obama says he will send 200 more troops to the country to protect U.S. citizens.
The move will bring the number of US forces in and around Iraq to train local forces to nearly 800.
However, Obama has ruled out sending combat troops back into the country.
Ukrainian security forces relaunch military operation in eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian troops have resumed a military operation against insurgents in the country's eastern regions.
This comes after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ended his government's unilateral ceasefire with rebels.
The end of ceasefire comes about despite attempts by the leaders of Russia, France and Germany to cobble together a lasting peace agreement.
After the meeting, Kiev and the Kremlim have reportedly agreed to take joint measures in cooling down tensions in eastern Ukraine.
However in a nationwide address, Poroshenko revealed his government is preparing to launch a new offensive against the separtists in the east.
"I, as commander-in-chief, have decided not to renew the unilateral ceasefire. The protection of Ukraine's territorial integrity, security, and the lives of civilians requires not only defensive action but offensive action against terrorist militants."
Poroshenko says the decision is the government's answer to what he calls "terrorists, rebels and looters".
The fragile ceasefire expired on Monday night.
Israel launches air raids on Gaza Strip
Israel has launched a series of air raids on the Gaza Strip after the bodies of three Israeli students were found in the West Bank.
The Israeli military says 34 raids were conducted earlier today.
A Palestinian was shot dead in the West Bank. The Israeli military says the man was a member of the Islamist militant group Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Hamas for the teens' deaths and has vowed to make Hamas pay.
The three were kidnapped over two weeks ago while trying to hitch-hike home for the weekend.
Israeli army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner says they believe the three were shot shortly after they were taken.
"At 5pm the IDF exposed in an open field not far from here a pile of rocks and beneath the rocks we found to begin with two bodies and then as we dug deeper we found a third body."
Hamas has denied its involvement and accused Israel of using the killings as an excuse to launch more military assaults against Palestinians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also called an emergency meeting to discuss the teens' deaths.
U.S. President Barack Obama is condemning the murders, but is also calling on all sides to exercise restraint.
Israeli security forces have already rounded up hundreds of Palestinians as part of the search for the missing teens.
Korean scholars expect China-ROK strategic partnership further developed
Final preparations are getting underway for Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day visit to South Korea which begins later this week.
The planned trip to meet with South Korean President Park Geun-hye comes amid a series of ballistic missile launches over the past few days by North Korea.
Chun Ka-lim with HOSEO Univerity in South Korea says a number of issues, including North Korea, are likely to be discussed as part of Xi Jinping's trip.
"Topics for discussion should focus on politics, economy, social cultures and views on international affairs. First off, China and Korea must agree to a consensus on the promotion of stability around borders, which greatly lies on the affairs related to DPRK and denuclearization of the Peninsula. In economy, the most critical issue is the signing of China-Korea free trade agreement. As for the social cultures, Park's visit last year had promoted the cross-culture exchanges, which should be continued and further developed. Lastly, both sides should make efforts to coordinate in international affairs."
Xi Jinping and Park Geun-hye have met a number of times, including during a state visit Park made here to China, and on the side-lines of the APEC meeting in Bali last year.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy detained for questioning
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained near Paris for questioning over suspected influence-peddling.
Investigators are looking into whether Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, had promised a prestigious role in Monaco to a high ranking judge, in exchange for information.
Sarkozy's interrogation comes soon after his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, was placed in police custody on suspicion of seeking inside information.
The decision to detain Sarkozy at Nanterre, near Paris, is thought to be the first time a French former head of state has been held in police custody.
The latest developments are seen as a blow to his attempts to stand again for the presidency.
Investigators will be able to hold Sarkozy for an initial period of 24 hours but can extend custody for another day.
Biz Reports
Chinese shares closed mixed on Tuesday as heavyweight stocks weighed negatively on overall performance.
At close, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index went up 0.1 percent.
The Shenzhen Component index ended 0.6 percent lower.
Among the big losers, Sinopec took the lead in slumping more than 3 percent.
Elsewhere in the region,
Japan's Nikkei added 1.1 percent, as market sentiment was lifted by the improving outlook in a Bank of Japan survey.
South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.2 percent following the local currency's appreciation against the US dollar.
Over in Singapore, the Straits Times Index lost 0.4 percent.
And lastly, Australia's ASX was down 0.4 percent.
Factory activity hits six-month high in June
China's factory activity hit a six-month high in June, indicating positive momentum in the manufacturing sector.
Official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show the purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 51 last month.
It also marks the fourth consecutive month that factory activity has been in positive territory.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 reflects contraction.
Apart from the headline PMI, NBS data also showed that industrial businesses saw their profits rise by just under 10 percent from a year ago in the first five months.
Exports also picked up in May by 7 percent year-on-year, reversing weak performances in previous months.
Call-in with Cao Can banking regulator allows banks to issue more loans
On signs of a moderate economic recovery, China's banking regulator announced some policy modifications to allow banks to make more loans.
Effective today, commercial banks will see their lending capacity expanded as selected loans to small companies and the farming sector will no longer count against the central-bank lending ratio.
Excluding these loans from the ration should allow banks to re-issue more of their deposits as loans, thus injecting more liquidity into the economy.
Meanwhile, large corporate deposits, which previously could not be counted as bank deposit reserves, will now become part of the base for banks, further extending lending power.
Analysts believe the measure could potentially free up some 1 trillion yuan in commercial lending into the economy.
This could also serve as a disincentive to the practice of shadow banking, where those in need of money forgo the banks in favour of non-traditional lenders.
For more on this monetory adjustment from the banking regulator, we are joined on the line by CRI's financial commentator Cao Can.
Back anchor: Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.
Shanghai Free Trade Zone cut down on negative list
A list banning or limiting foreign investment in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone has been cut down in order to broaden access to the zone for foreign investors.
Among the newly freed-up sectors, land development and the real estate sector have opened. Previously, only joint ventures had been allowed.
In the entertainment industry, the new list scraps the restriction on foreign investment in lotteries and gambling.
The so-called negative list was first published in September last year, with 190 items in the red area.
The list is now being streamlined to 139 after the removal of 51 items in a number of sectors.
Overseas participants are allowed to invest as freely as their domestic peers in fields that are not on the list.
Headline News
Japan's cabinet OKs controversial resolution on collective self-defense
The Japanese cabinet has rubber-stamped a resolution that will allow the country to exercise collective self-defense rights by reinterpreting the country's pacifist Constitution.
The resolution has been regarded as a major overhaul of Japan's postwar security policy.
It will enable Japan to take military action to defend other countries even though Japan itself is not under attack, leaving the war-renouncing Article 9 of the country's Constitution a dead letter.
South Korea and China, two nations that suffered under Japanese wartime aggression, have expressed concerns about this new policy.
HK chief executive calls for treasuring economic success
Hong Kong Chief Executive C Y Leung says that Hong Kong should treasure its economic success, which has not come easily.
He also says the Hong Kong government will strive to advance constitutional reform.
Leung made the remarks at a reception celebrating the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Leung says Hong Kong's economic growth over the past 17 years has underpinned the city's social development.
Leung stressed that the city's constitutional development must comply with the Hong Kong Basic Law and relevant interpretations and Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Chinese workers arrive in Shanghai from Iraq
Iraq's new parliament has held its first session this afternoon.
The meeting is a key step to forge a unity government that may help to pull the country back from the brink of a possible split-up amid continuous sectarian clashes.
Fresh fightings are reported between Sunni rebels and government forces around the city of Tikrit.
US President Barack Obama says he will send 200 more troops to the country to protect U.S. citizens.
However, Obama has ruled out sending combat troops back into the country.
Ukrainian troops resume operation against insurgents in east regions
Ukrainian troops have resumed a military operation against insurgents in the country's eastern regions.
This comes after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ended his government's unilateral ceasefire with rebels.
The end of ceasefire comes about despite attempts by the leaders of Russia, France and Germany to cobble together a lasting peace agreement.
After the meeting, Kiev and the Kremlim have reportedly agreed to take joint measures in cooling down tensions in eastern Ukraine.
In nationwide address, Poroshenko says the decision to restart the offensive is the government's answer to what he calls "terrorists, rebels and looters".
Malaysian foreign minister says diplomatic immunity not licence to commit crime
Malaysia's foreign ministry says diplomatic immunity is not a license to commit crimes.
The comment comes after a junior Malaysian diplomat returned home from New Zealand using diplomatic immunity after being charged with sexual assault.
Anifah Aman says a defense ministry panel will investigate the 38-year-old Second Warrant Officer Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail.
He was detained in May for allegedly following a 21-year-old woman home and assaulting her.
He was charged with burglary and assault with the intent to rape.
But the man returned home with his family later in May.
Newspaper Picks
China News Service
Uni hackers charged for editing PE run records
Two students who hacked into their university's database to alter "morning run" records on behalf of their classmates have been charged with damaging a computer network.
The pair said they earned 25-thousand yuan or 4-thousand US dollars from their many customers.
They never thought it was a crime saying just wanted to make some pocket money.
Students in the university are required to complete a number of 1,500-meter runs over the course of the year in order to pass the PE course.
Male students are required to complete 20 runs per semester and females 18.
Each student has an electronic card that they swipe at the start and finish of each run, so the data can be recorded on the database.
This happened due to students fearing they would fail PE course after not completing enough runs.
--
Shanghai daily
Fresh vow to get tough on polluters
Shanghai companies that generate air pollution could soon face harsher penalties if the city's environment agency gets its way.
Local authorities say in the worst cases, firms will have all of their profits confiscated.
A request has been sent to the government asking for the appropriate changes to be made to the environmental protection law.
Other penalties would include fines, production suspensions and the confiscation of the offenders' products.
According to an official, during recent tours of about 500 local companies, 45 failed to meet the air quality standard.
The local law will be tougher on violators than state law, and there will be no upper limits on penalties, which could include criminal charges.
--
BBC
Roads 'too dangerous'for cyclists
A BBC poll has suggested that half of British adults believe their local roads are too dangerous to cycle on, with only a third of them believe the roads are safe enough.
According to the survey, narrow and badly maintained roads are the main reason making the public feel unsafe.
The poll also showed older Britons were more likely than their younger counterparts to believe the roads were too dangerous.
It also demonstrated that more than half of adults questioned said they felt employers failed to encourage cycling to work.
Many experts suggest that safety should be prioritized due to cycling's extra benefits.
This poll comes at the world's biggest annual sporting event, the Tour de France's route in Britain around the corner.
--
The Guardian
Children's desire to be thinner prompts call for parental awareness
An Australian government report found children as young as eight were unhappy with their body size.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies found at least two in five children aged 8-11 desired a thinner than average body size.
The survey also found even underweight children wanted to be even thinner than they were.
Those children unhappy with their body tend to have poor physical health and socio-emotional well-being.
Experts believed that the findings highlighted the importance of parents in promoting self-esteem.
They urged the parents to be mindful of their eating habits and comments they make about body image in front of their children.
Special Reports
Chinese drones keep eye on polluters
Anchor:
The Chinese government is deploying more drones to gather air pollution data in key northern areas to try to determine how well this country's environmental laws are being enforced.
CRI's Xie Zhao has more.
Reporter:
A total of eleven small and medium-sized drones have been engaged in collecting air pollution data in the provinces of Hebei and Shanxi as well as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
These drones flew for about 20 hours , covering over 1,000 square kilometers in total.
Zhang Dawei is an official from the Environment Inspection Bureau of Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Zhang says illegal emission can be located from images collected by the drones.
"This is an image taken in the mountainous area. We can see the roads here. If we take a closer look, we will find two Calcined Lime workshops and their emission pose great danger to the environment. We wouldn't find them in our daily inspection due to its location, but now we can clearly see them by using drones."
Different types of drones equipped with infrared cameras have been used during the inspection.
Zou Shoumin, Director of Environment Inspection Bureau, says this creative way of inspection has many advantages and is quite effective.
"One of the advantages is that the drones are capable of avoiding human interference. What's more, they can quickly capture the illegal and secret emissions of some industries that cannot be easily detected through ordinary methods. Combined with the ground inspection, it is of great effect."
More than 250 enterprises have been inspected this time.
Over one fourth of them are suspected to have failed to meet the anti-poluttion requirements.
Feng Yinchang, professor with the College of Environmental Science and Engineering of Nankai University, says the new technology has strengthened environmental supervision.
"One important reason why the air pollution in our country is so heavy is that there's a lack of effective means of supervision. As there are so many pollution sources in our country, we should utilize some advanced methods, such as the drones, to inspect the illegal enterprises that were difficult to find. Through the aerial photos, we can obtain accurate evidence. In this way, law enforcement and supervision can be enhanced."
The Ministry of Environmental Protection says that drones are set to be used for law-enforcement checks on a regular basis.
For CRI, this is Xie Zhao.
Sports
Preview of two fixtures in the last 16 of world cup
Coming up at the FIFA World Cup,
Argentina will take on Switzerland at midnight on Wednesday Beijing time.
Argentina has won all three matches in the tournament but has relied heavily on Lionel Messi, who has scored four of the team's six goals.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella says it's obvious that Messi is a key player.
"Messi is having a great World Cup; that is what all of us expected, that is what he expected, that is what his mates expected, and that is what the whole Argentine public expected. So I'm very happy for the team in general and also for him."
Meanwhile, Switzerland has not been into the last eight of a World Cup since 1954, when they were playing on home soil.
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says he is optimistic his team can stop Messi.
"I think each and every defense will have problems against a player like Messi but problems are there to be solved. I trust my defense but not only my defense, also my whole team. The whole team is required, so that's why I'm optimistic."
Hitzfeld is also confident that his World Cup last-16 match against Argentina will not be his last in charge of the national team.
In other action,
United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has criticized FIFA for appointing Algeria's Djamel Haimoudi as a referee to officiate his side's next match against Belgium.
He's from a French speaking background and he comes from the same group that Belgium came through and we are thrilled for Algeria they did an awesome job and its the opponent that we knocked out in the last World Cup so a couple of things add up to make it look so nice but we take it in a positive mindset and our players will be focused purely, purely on the game and hopefully he gets through that game like he did through the first two games in a wonderful way and a correct way and them all will be fine."
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has played down the significance of the appointment.
The match is set to kick off at 4 am Wednesday Beijing time.
Schurrle, Ozil takes Germany into France showdown at World Cup
Earlier this morning,
Both Germany and France have fought off tenacious challengers to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.
Germany earned a 2-1 victory over Algeria 2-1 while France score a 2-0 shut-out over Nigeria.
Germany scored both of its goals in extra time. For three-time champions Germany, this is the ninth consecutive trip to the World Cup quarterfinals.
Germany and France now have to face each other. The winner goes to the semifinals.
Cameroon investigates match-fixing claims
Off the pitch at the world cup,
Cameroon officials are set to investigate claims that seven of their players are allegedly involved in match-fixing at the ongoing World Cup.
The ethics committee of the African country's football federation will look at allegations of "fraud" by "seven bad apples" in their three group games.
Cameroon lost all of its games in Group A, including a 4-0 defeat by Croatia.
Cameroon's build up to the tournament in Brazil had been marred already by the players refusing to board a plane to Brazil until a dispute over bonus payments had been settled.
Peng Shuai knocked out of the Wimbledon
At Wimbledon,
China's Peng Shuai has been dispatched by 6th seeded Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2 in singles play.
No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia also have crashed out of the Wimbledon Championships.
Caroline Wozniacki is out after being upset by Barbora Strycova 6-2, 7-5.
The Czech shocked Chinese ace and world number-2 Li Na in the previous round.
On the men's side,
Top Seed Novak Djokovic has cruised into the quarter-finals after dispatching France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight-sets.
The world number two is calling for Wimbledon to play during the tournament's middle Sunday after rain further disrupted the tournament.
"We have to rethink about this Sunday in between because the day was beautiful, there was no rain and the whole day, there was no match played. No other grand slam has this particular rule. We all know that tradition is something that is nurtured here in the All England Club and we respect that. There are some rules that I believe should be updated, changed, for the better of the schedule, for the better of the players."
Defending champion Andy Murray has also made it into the quarter-finals with a straight sets win over South African Kevin Anderson.
Murray will be up against hard-hitting Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who knocked out Leonardo Mayer of Argentina in straight-sets.
Kidd to Bucks after Nets agree to deal
The Brooklyn Nets say Jason Kidd is free to coach Milwaukee after agreeing to a deal with the Bucks.
The Nets say they will receive second-round draft picks in 2015 and 2019.
The 2015 pick was formerly their own.
The Nets say they will begin a coaching search immediately.
The 41-year-old Kidd went 44-38 in his first season in charge of the Nets.
Milwaukee's new ownership team of Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens met Kidd in New York on Friday, just one day after the 2014 NBA draft.
The Bucks paved the way for Kidd by firing coach Larry Drew on Monday.
Entertainment
Chinese Project Win 2014 Asian Cinema Fund Support During Busan Film Festival
Chinese projects have jumped to the forefront of South Korea's Busan International Film Festival.
The 19th annual festival runs from October 2nd to 11th and at the event a number of projects are allocated funding 2014 Asian cinema fund.
Among the 29 laureates of the fund a number of Chinese documentaries have received backing.
These are; "Dust" by Zhao Liang a film that follows four people from different backgrounds in different parts of China working in sooty and dusty jobs. Inevitably breathing in particles for extended periods leads to respiratory disorders in all of them but it's the only way for them to earn a living.
Other projects include "Liu's Rhapsody" by Li Xiaofeng and Jia Kai and "Weaving" by Wang Yang.
Each will receive funding support of between 5 and 10 thousand US dollars.
The Who announce 50th anniversary shows as their last major tour
(The Who Music)
British rock icons The Who have announced a series of 50th anniversary shows across the U.K.
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend made the announcement suggesting it would be their last major tour, referring to it as the start of their "long goodbye."
"Well, it just has to be really, we can't go on touring forever, but we don't know how long we will go on touring, it's an open ended kind of thing. But it will have a finality to it, we'll stop touring I'm sure before we stop playing as a band. It's just like Eric Clapton's just said it's the grind of the road, it's incredibly tough on the body this age. The singing is free, you pay us for the bloody travelling. "
The pair who are both touching 70-years-old are the two surviving members of the quartet which originally made up the Who. The shows begin on November 30 at Glasgow's SSE Hydro, and wind up at the O2 Arena in London on December 17.
The band says as well as the old classics they've even penned a few new tracks for this tour.
Beyonce tops Forbes Celebrity Power List
(Beyonce run the world)
US singer Beyonce has topped the Forbes celebrity power list.
The list takes in to account fame, measured by the amount of coverage on print, TV and radio.
The magazine also uses a score system that measures social media power actross 11 platforms.
Beyonce earned an estimated 115 million dollars last year while her husband Jay Z made 60 million and is placed sixth on the list.
Looking further down the Forbes celebrity power list the Basketball star Le Bron James is ranked second and Dr Dre is in third.
Opra Winfrey who topped last year's list now resides in fourth place and rounding out the top five is the comedienne and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
Entertainer Rolf Harris Assault Update
Police in the UK are considering fresh allegations against Rolph Harris after he was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault.
The 84 year old was found guilty of abusing four victims aged 19 or under between 1968 and 1986 and faces a custodial sentence although details have not yet been revealed.
Following the verdict, the Met said it would look at fresh allegations, which did not form part of his trial.
Jenny Hopkins of the Crown Prosecution Service told reporters that the victims of Harris had "suffered in silence for many years".
"Rolf Harris used his status and position as a world famous children's entertainer to sexually assault young girls over a period spanning 18 years. The victims in this case have suffered in silence for many years and have only recently found the courage to come forward."
Australian-born Harris was a prominent British Broadcaster of family entertainment for more than 50 years. Prosecutors described him as having a good and generous side offset but a dark side that allowed him to molest young girls, knowing they could not object and would not be believed if they reported him.
Harris had denied all charges. Throughout the trial he had the support of his wife and daughter, even though he was accused of repeatedly abusing one of his daughter's friends.
Kate's sister Pippa Middleton talks about pressures of fame in first ever TV interview
Pippa Middleton has conducted her first ever TV interview and says she had no idea how big her sister Kate's Marriage to Prince William would be.
The maid of honour at the wedding of the century caused quite a stir during the 2011 ceremony for her tight fitting dress and has gone on to be regularly followed by the press ever since.
US network NBC traveled to London to interview the 30-year-old, who said her intention had been to just blend in to the background.
She has been amazed at the attention she received and continues to receive following what she considered as "just a family wedding," but she says the fame also has its downsides too:
Pippa Middleton has recently finished wearing tight fitting gear of another variety as she completed a 3,000 mile charity bike ride across the United States in six days.
That's it for this edition of the Beijing Hour - a quick recap of headlines before we go:
The Japanese cabinet has rubber-stamped a change to the country's pacifist constitution, a move that has angered many of the country's neighbors...
Hong Kong marks the 17th year of its return to China, with constitutional reform in the Special Administrative Region earmarked as a priority...
And more Chinese workers previously trapped in a hot zone in Iraq have returned home...
In business, factory activity here in China hit a six-month high in June...
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Shane Bigham in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.
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