Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on our program this morning...

This year's CPPCC session has been officially opened with a warning about corruption.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered his controversial speech to the US Congress.

Talks are underway about the possibility of NSA leaker Edward Snowden returning to stand trial in the United States.

In business... Chinese authorities moving to make it easier for SOE's to secure off-shore financing.

In Sports... This year's CBA final is now set.

In Entertainment... Shooting is underway in Rome for the latest installment of the James Bond franchise.

First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather...

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will be sunny today with a high of 6, clear tonight with a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Shanghai will be overcast with a high of 7, sleet tonight with a low of 3.

Chongqing will have slight rain with a high of 12 and a low of 8.

Elsewhere in Asia.

Islamabad, sunny with a high of 28.

Kabul will have sleet with a high of 6.

In North America.

New York will have showers with a high of 7 degrees.

Washington will also have showers with a high of 9 degrees.

Honolulu, also showery, 24.

Toronto will be cloudy with a high of minus 1 degrees.

In South America,

Buenos Aires will have thundershowers with a high of 29.

And Rio de Janeiro will also have thundershowers with a high of 31 degrees Celsius.

 

 

Top News

 

 

China's top political advisor calls for further anti-corruption efforts

 

Anchor

China's top political advisor has sent out a warning to the country's political advisors that the fight against corruption isn't going to end.

The "shot across the bow" has been made at the opening of the CPPCC's annual session in Beijing.

CRI's Qi Zhi has more.

Reporter

Opening this year's session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chair Yu Zhengsheng has used his opening address to caution the advisory body that they need to stay on the right path.

"We also need to note that 14 people, including Ling Jihua and Su Rong, have been expelled from the Twelfth National Committee since it was formed in 2013. We must take this as a warning and strengthen the building of our team to continue to stay firmly on the path of improving Party conduct, upholding integrity, and combating corruption."

Two vice-chairs of the CPPCC National Committee, Ling Jihua and Su Rong, are currently under investigation for corruption.

Ling Jihua is under investigation for "suspected serious disciplinary violation."

The allegations against Su Rong have been made a bit more clear.

He's being probed for allegations he accepted huge bribes for promoting his subordinates.

A CPPCC meeting last month removed Ling from his post as CPPCC National Committee vice chair.

He's also been stripped of his CPPCC membership.

CPPCC spokesperson Lyu Xinhua, speaking ahead of the opening of the annual session, has also warned the political advisory body is no harbor for corrupt officials.

Forging ahead with his opening address, Yu Zhengsheng says one of the other main issues the CPPCC has to deal with this year is the slowing of the Chinese economy.

In noting that, Yu Zhengsheng has pointed out the CPPCC last year managed to rally support for a series of reforms to change the overall structure of the Chinese economy, on top of giving suggestions which have led to more judicial independence and government transparency.

Defining this year as a critical year for taking reform even further, Yu Zhengsheng notes this is the year the government needs to create a new 5-year plan.

"CPPCC will focus suggestions and proposals on reform and development. Deliberating and making suggestions on the formulation of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development is a priority in our work this year."

Other areas of note during Yu Zhengsheng's speech included the "Belt and Road" initiatives, as well as air pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang were in attendence at Tuesday's meeting along-side over 21-hundred members of the CPPCC national committee.

The annual session is due to run until next Friday.

The other half of "lianghui," or "two-sessions," the National People's Congress, is set to open this Thursday.

For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.

 

 

CPPCC: People live a better life is all I want: Taiwan-born PLA political adviser

 

Anchor

Day two of this year's CPPCC session is getting underway here in Beijing today.

CRI's Chloe Lyme caught up with one of the delegates to this year's event to discuss what its like being an advisor to the Chinese government.

Reporter

Lin Xianshun is a PLA air force officer born in Taiwan who lives in Beijing.

To most people, he has lived a legendary life. However, it seems he is not so psyched to elaborate on his story that to others seems like something out of the movies.

Sitting in front of his desk with a stack of paperwork, Lin is making his final preparations for this year's annual meetings of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference or CPPCC.

As an airforce pilot, what he cares about most are issues related to planes, though it has nothing to do with battle.

"No, not convenient. My cousin had a business trip here last year. She flew from Kaohsiung. She told me she had to wait days for the next plane even though she only stayed one day here."

The launch of direct flights between the mainland and Taiwan is one of the major moves in the recent history of cross-Straits communication. Now the route between Beijing and Taipei is one of the busiest in the region, but there is only one plane between Beijing and Kaohsiung per week.

Lin made a proposal to increase the number of flights between the two cities last year. He says he is not satisfied with the response from the aviation authorities. So this year he is planning to re-table that proposal.

It is arguably a tiny thing compared with what is supposed to be decided at the annual meeting of the country's national political advisory body. But, official figures show almost 9.5 million people traveled across the Straits last year and the number is expected to top 10 million this year.

"Sitting together and talking is the only way for people to get close. There is no other way."

Lin has made other proposals related to cross-Straits communication, including granting easier access to mainland scholarships for exchange students from Taiwan, and exempting the entry application fee for travelers from the other side of the Strait. All of his proposals are aimed at making communication across the Straits easier.

Apart from attending the annual meeting of the top political advisory body, it is Lin's daily duty to talk to people from Taiwan to learn about what they need.

"I travel with other Party members across China every year especially to places with larger population of businessmen from Taiwan. We interview parents, students and of course businessmen to solicit their needs and suggestions."

Lin's Party, All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, has more than 30 regional branches across China. At least 60 percent of the political advisors attending the annual national meeting are not members of the Communist Party of China.

For thousands of China's political advisers like Lin, as long as it improves lives, every single proposal counts.

For CRI, I'm Chloe Lyme.

 

 

Crime of soliciting underage prostitutes may be abolished

 

A Chinese lawmaker is suggesting the country's top legislature is going to be studying the possibility of abolishing the crime of "soliciting underage prostitutes."

Sun Xiaomei, an NPC deputy, says she's received confirmation of the discussion just days ahead of the opening of the National People's Congress tomorrow.

Abolishing the provision has been long-discussed.

It was introduced in 1997.

A conviction of "soliciting underage prostitutes" carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.

By contrast, the crime of rape can result in a death sentence.

 

 

China Defends Anti-terrorism Law

 

The Chinese government has issued a response to US concerns about the new anti-terrorism law currently being drafted here in China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

"As an important step to govern the country according to law, China formulates the anti-terrorism law in order to prevent and combat terrorism as is required by the Chinese government. Contents in this draft law echo the international situation of combating terrorism and meet the actual demands of domestic counter-terrorism campaign. They are proposed by learning from legislative experiences and practices of other countries. The legislation is China's domestic affair, and we hope the US side can take a right, sober and objective view towards it."

The Obama administration says its concerned that the law will require technology firms to hand over encryption keys used to protect data.

However, the Chinese side notes the new legislation is being drafted within the guidelines set out in the United Nation's cyberspace framework agreement.

 

 

Chinese Astronomers Spot Largest Known Quasar on 2m Telescope

 

A research group at Beijing University say they've managed to re-locate a luminous quasar.

This is a shining object produced by a black hole.

The quasar was first spotted at the end of 2013 in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan.

Wu Xuebing is with the School of Physics at the Beijing University.

"The discovery was first made on our 2.4 meter telescope based in Lijiang in Yunnan. The quasar is the sole known object seen in connection with a black hole that has been captured by such a small telescope."

The quasar is 12.8-billion light years from the Earth.

It's estimated to be 12-billion times the mass of our Sun.

Quasars are the brightest and most energetic objects known to man in the universe.

 

 

Netanyahu warns US against Iran

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suggeesting the current negotiations connected to Iran's nuclear program are going to pave the way for Tehran to create nuclear weapons, rather than block them.

Speaking to the US Congress, Netanyahu is depicting Iran as a "threat to the entire world", likening Tehran to the Islamic State.

"The greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons. To defeat ISIS and let Iran get nuclear weapons would be to win the battle but lose the war. We can't let that happen."

Netanyahu's speech came just hours after US Secretary of State John Kerry met for more than two hours in Switzerland with his Iranian counterpart in the Obama administration's latest attempt to reach a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program.

Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress was at the invitation of the Republican leadership, and was done without the consent of the White House.

Obama administration officials have described this as potentially "destructive" to the fabric of US-Israeli relations.

The speech itself was boycotted by a majority of Democrats.

President Barack Obama, who is refusing to meet with Netanyahu during his time in Washington, says the Israeli leader isn't offering an "viable alternatives" when it comes to Iran.

"I did not have a chance to watch Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech I was on a video conference with our European partners with respect to Ukraine. I did have a chance to take a look at the transcript and as far as I could tell there was nothing new."

In Tehran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry is describing the speech as a "show full of deception."

Netanyahu's address to the US Congress comes just 2-weeks before parliamentary elections in Israel.

 

 

Iraqi army launches operation to retake Salahuddin from IS

 

Iraqi troops and Shiite militias have reportedly been engaged in fierce clashes with the Islamic State in an effort to retake the city of Tikrit north of Baghdad.

However, reports are suggesting the advance has been slowed by roadside bombs and suicide attacks.

Iraqi Lieutenant-General Abdul-Amir al-Zaidi.

"Our troops launched a wide-scale battle at 7:15 against their targets. They were able to pound the hideouts of Islamic State militants with rockets and artillery. Our attacking force was backed by jet fighters. God willing, we will defeat IS militants from this district and other areas. And we will continue chasing them."

The military operations, which began on Sunday, also include militia fighters from local tribes.

Iranian commanders are also helping to co-ordinate the operation, which is not being backed by US-led coalition air strikes.

Tikrit lies along the Tigris River, just 130 kilometers north of Baghdad.

Taking the city will be key if Iraqi troops hope to move on to Mosul, which is Iraq's 2nd largest city, as well as the gateway to the north of the country, much of which is under the control of Islamic State fighters.

 

 

Russia's Investigative Committee Reaches Non-disclosure Deal with Nemtsov's Girlfriend

 

Russian investigators say slain politican Boris Nemtsov's girlfriend is offering full cooperation into the murder of the Russian opposition activist.

Nemstov's girlfriend Anna Duritskaya was with him when he was gunned down a bridge near Red Square last week.

She has since returned to her native Ukraine.

Russian authorities say Duritskaya has promised to continue to cooperate with investigators.

Vladimir Markin is a spokesperson for the committee investigating Nemtsov's murder.

"Investigators did not receive any complaints either from Duritskaya or from her lawyers at any time during her stay in Moscow. And only today, after the necessary elements of the investigation requiring Duritskaya's presence were completed, she left Russia. Also, apart from the protocols of her questioning she also signed a document about non-disclosure of any information regarding the preliminary investigation."

55-year old Nemtsov, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was gunned down last week just hours before he was set to lead a demonstration against the Russian government.

The Kremlin has formed a task force to investigate his murder.

 

 

Snowden Wants to Return Home: Lawyer

 

The Russian lawyer representing former NSA employee Edward Snowden has revealed he's now working with both American and German lawyers for the possibility of seeing Snowden return to the United States.

Snowden is facing numerous charges in the United States for revealing details of the U.S. government's mass surveillance programs.

He's been living in Russia under asylum since 2013.

Anatoly Kucherena is Snowden's Russian lawyer.

"Of course I won't keep it secret that he is considering and wants to return back home. And we are doing everything possible now to solve this issue. There is a group of U.S. lawyers, there is also a group of German lawyers and I'm dealing with it on the Russian side."

Moscow's harboring of Snowden has been one of a number of sticking points in the already-tense relationship between the US and Russia.

Snowden has said he would be willing to return to the United States, provided he would be given a fair trial.

 

 

UN humanitarian system facing bankruptcy: UNHCR

 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is warning the world's humanitarian system is facing potential bankruptcy.

With wars raging in Syria, Iraq and other countries, the UN estimates that 50-million people are currently displaced around the world.

This is the highest number since World War II.

Speaking at an international meeting in Jordan, Antonio Guterres says the UNHCR has already been forced to cut spending in non-refugee areas by 7-percent to meet the demand.

"So it's clear we need a universal humanitarian multilateral system that should be able to respond to these dramatic needs. The point is that today's humanitarian system is no longer able, as it is today, to respond to these dramatic situations."

The UN estimates there are close to 4-million Syrian refugees currently living in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt and Iraq.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Stocks

 

Anchor

First, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.

Joining me on the desk, Luo Wen.

Reporter

U.S. stocks pulled back from their recent highs to close lower on Tuesday as investors weighed soft U.S. auto sales and looked ahead to impending domestic data.

Automobile share slid, with Ford down 2.4 percent after reporting a 2 percent drop in February light-vehicle sales.

Technology stocks also fell as investors took profits a day after the Nasdaq hit the 5-thousand point milestone for the first time since March 2000.

Microsoft shares weighed most on the Nasdaq and S&P 500 with an 1.4 percent drop.

The biggest percentage decliner on the S&P 500 was Micron Technology, down 5 percent.

Alibaba shares tumbled 2.9 percent, hitting is lowest level since it began trading in September.

The decline comes on word the company has run afoul of the authorities in Taiwan.

We will have more on that in just a few minutes.

At close,

Both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 fell nearly 0.5 percent.

The Nasdaq dipped 0.6 percent.

Europe's main stock markets also declined on Tuesday, with traders sitting tight as the eurozone awaits potential fresh stimulus from the European Central Bank.

The UK's FTSE 100 decreased 0.7 percent.

Germany's DAX fell about one percent.

And France's CAC 40 also finished down close to one percent.

 

 

China to Simplify SOE Off-shore Financing Process soon

 

It's being reported off-shore investment and fundraising procedures for Chinese state-owned enterprises are being simplified.

China's central bank has submitted a proposal to streamline "going out" procedures for Chinese firms to the State Council.

The People's Bank of China says the new policies will allow SOE's to bypass the current permission requirements to begin fundraising in foreign markets, on a case by case basis.

At the same time, state-run firms are also being aloowed to freely choose whether to issue renminbi debt in which ever off-shore market they choose.

The State Council still has to approve the proposal.

Obsevers have suggested the current approval process for foreign fundraising activity is both difficult and costly.

Non-financial SOE's have also been limited to issuing yuan-denominated bonds through Hong Kong, making things more difficult, given Hong Kong's strict requirements for bond issues compared with other markets around the world.

 

 

Economic Topics at the Annual Two Sessions

 

Anchor

China's annual legislative and political consultative sessions, "lianghui," or the "two sessions" - is offically underway.

The Chinese economy, as always, is one of the major topics up for debate.

To that end, CRI's Zhao Yang spoke with Liu Baocheng, Director of Center for International Business Ethics at University of International Business and Economics.

Back Anchor

Liu Baocheng, Director of Center for International Business Ethics at University of International Business and Economics, speaking with CRI's Zhao Yang.

 

 

Alibaba Will Cooperate with Taiwan Probe: Ma Yun

 

Alibaba CEO Jack Ma says his company is preparing to give the authorities in Taiwan the information they have demanded from the company.

Alibaba is being threatened with expulsion from the island amid suggestions its been improperly registered.

"We fully understand the requests that Taiwan has made this time, because in the past eight years we have been operating completely lawfully, rationally and abiding by the regulations. I think our mistake was a lack of sufficient communication with authorities in Taiwan. So after communicating with them, if we need to provide more documents or re-apply for some of them, we will definitely play by the rules."

Taiwan's investment regulator has determined Alibaba's Taiwan branch, which is registered as a Singaporean company, is financed by money from the mainland, making it a mainland firm.

Alibaba has already been hit with a small fine of just under 4-thousand US dollars.

It has 6-months to make the proper changes, or face being kicked out of the Taiwan market.

 

 

Asia's Mobile Carriers Ink 5G Pact

 

Asia's top mobile carriers, including China Mobile, have signed an agreement to jointly develop 5th-generation network technology, or 5G.

China Mobile, together with South Korea's KT and Japan's NTT DoCoMo, have signed an agreement to develop customized 5G technology specifically for the Asian market.

They have announced plans to launch joint trials for advanced wireless technology to establish a 5G standard.

5G is expected to make its debut in the next 5-years.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Top political advisory body to discuss reform

 

China's top political advisory body is promising to help advance the government's reform strategy.

CPPCC chief Yu Zhengsheng has made the pledge at the opening of the annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

In delivering the opening address, Yu Zhengsheng has defined 2015 as a critical year for reforms, particularly when it comes to the advancement of the rule of law.

 

 

14 national political advisors down in anti-graft blitz

 

Addressing the opening session of the CPPCC on Tuesday, Yu Zhengsheng has confirmed a total of 14 national political advisors have been expelled from the organization for corruption.

Among them are two former vice-chairs of the CPPCC National Committee, Ling Jihua and Su Rong.

Su Rong is being probed for allegedly accepting bribes to promote his subordinates.

Ling Jihua's allegations have not been made clear, other than being under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations."

This is the term used by the Party to describe investigations connected to graft.

He's already been removed from his posts.

 

 

Crime of soliciting underage prostitutes may be abolished

 

A Chinese lawmaker is suggesting the country's top legislature is going to be studying the possibility of abolishing the crime of "soliciting underage prostitutes."

Sun Xiaomei, an NPC deputy, says she's received confirmation of the discussion just days ahead of the opening of the National People's Congress tomorrow.

Abolishing the provision has been long-discussed.

It was introduced in 1997.

A conviction of "soliciting underage prostitutes" carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.

By contrast, the crime of rape can result in a death sentence.

 

 

Prince William Meets Paddinton in Shanghai

 

Britain's Prince William has attended the Chinese premiere of the film "Paddington" as part of his time here in China.

The screening at the Shanghai Film Museum also marks the end to the Prince's time in Shanghai.

As part of his time in the city, Prince William also met students at a secondary school.

There, he called for increased cultural exchanges between China and Britain.

The Prince is making his final stop in China at an elephant sanctuary and nature reserve in Yunnan.

 

 

Russians bid farewell to Nemtsov

 

Thousands of Russians have bid farewell to murdered Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov as his funeral in Moscow.

Nemtsov, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead near the Kremlin on Friday night.

His allies have accused the Kremlin of involvement.

Putin himself has condemned Nemtsov's murder as "vile," and is vowing to find the killers.

 

 

Villarrica volcano erupts in southern Chile

 

A volcano in southern Chile has started erupting, spewing heavy smoke and lava.

Around 3-thousand people have evacuated from the area surrounding the Villarrica Volcano in central Chile.

The volcano is one of South America's most active.

It's last major eruption was in 1984.

Chile is home to around 90 active volcanos in the Andes mountain range.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

BEIJING NEWS

Headline

Family planning policy hold

Summary

A leading Chinese health official has gone on-record saying authorities are not planning to make any further adjustments to the family planning policy this year.

The official goes on to say the government will continue monitoring the situation for the next several years.

Some 470-thousand additional children were born under the relaxed family-planning policies this past year.

The government expects that to rise to one-million this year.

BEIJING MORNING POST

Headline

Air pollution plans

Summary

The Ministry of Science and Technology has started planning for a five-year air pollution prevention and control project.

The focus will be to shift from simply responding to heavy smog to an overall prevention plan for both PM2.5 and ozone.

YANZHAO METROPOLITAN DAILY

Headline

Court proceedings

Summary

The First Circuit Court under the Supreme People's Court in Shenzhen has held its first hearing, one month after its inauguration.

The court is hearing a lawsuit between a solar company from Jiangxi and a machinery company in Guangxi.

Circuit courts have been opened up in the south and the northeast to ease pressure on the Surpreme Court in Beijing.

CHINA DAILY

Headline

Sea level rises

Summary

An annual government report has revealed sea levels along China's coastline rose 1.6 centimeters last year, the second highest on record.

The same report has also revealed sea levels along China's coast have been rising an average of 3-millimeters a year since 1980, much higher than the world average.

GLOBAL TIMES

Headline

Fake train ticket bust

Summary

Chinese authorities say police across the country confiscated over 150-thousand counterfeit train tickets during this year's Spring Festival.

Many cases involve the online sale of fake tickets, with people desperate to secure tickets after official channels sold out.

SHANGHAI DAILY

Headline

Crowd tracking test

Summary

A senior official in Shanghai says a new system that tracks crowds via their mobile phones is set to test next month in the city's subway stations.

Once operational, people will be sent a short text message alerting them to whatever the potential danger there might be.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

China Deaf Restaurant

 

Anchor

The World Health Organization's day for the hearing impaired, March 3rd, is coming to an end in North America right now.

But here in China, one entrepreneur has been working for years to help people with hearing disabilities take their first steps forward in life.

CRI's Niu Honglin explains.

Reporter

In this hotpot restaurant, all the wait-staff are deaf.

Zhao Ying is a manager at the restaurant. She's been working here for about half a year and has taught herself sign language.

"This restaurant was created because our boss is also disabled. He lost his left hand in a car accident. Before this, all the staff in his restaurant were able bodied. After running his business for 10 years, he built a new hotpot business in 2012, helping people with hearing and speech difficulties get a job."

The World Health Organisation estimates that about 5 percent of people suffer with disabling hearing loss in China.

Ordering in this restaurant involves pushing a button on one device which alerts the waiter via a special wrist watch. If there's any misunderstanding they can communicate via writing. But this doesn't always work.

Waitress Zhang Cai Hong has been working at the restaurant for over six months. Her colleague Zhao Ying interprets her sign language responses for her.

"She says (Zhang Cai Hong) if they don't know what the customers are saying, they can get help from able-hearing people. They especially need help with old people because sometimes they can't see what they write so it can be difficult serving them."

For those willing to give sign language a try, there are a few expressions on the wall.

Zhao Ying says even though ordering food from people that can't hear can be a little inconvenient, customers are very understanding: they put themselves in the shoes of the waiters and enjoy their meals. Most customers are tolerant.

Outside the restaurant it's not obvious the waiters are deaf. So for many customers, like Li Sheng who came with his family, it's a surprise.

"At first I thought it was going to be difficult because it's so different to other restaurants. I didn't know the waiters here can't hear or speak. Eventually I realized, although communication is not perfect, they're all very professional and they give us very good service so even though they can't speak i don't think there is any problem in communication at all"

After the lunchtime rush it's time for the staff to grab something to eat. They return in time for the daily team meeting, which includes a sign language song to boost morale.

Zhang Cai Hong says she has other friends with hearing problems that work in computers, manicure and painting. But even though she has a job, she doesn't want to be a waitress forever.

Zhang has big dreams in the dazzling lights of the big city, of opening her own clothing store.

But for now, it's the start of another evening's work.

For CRI, I'm niu Hongin

 

 

Sports

 

 

CBA action from last night

 

In CBA action.

Beijing have taken the best of five series against Guandong booking themselves a place into the finals.

It was a close game which then went into overtime but Beijing beat Guandong 107 -105 to reach the CBA finals for their third time in four years.

Beijing will now play Liaoning in the finals.

 

 

Shanxi one game away from CWBA title

 

In the Chinese Women's Basketball Association game last night.

Defending champion Shanxi are just one game away from their third straight Chinese Women's Basketball Association title.

Shanxi used a big third quarter to beat arch-rival Beijing 76-65 at home. Maya Moore finished with game-high 46 points and 11 rebounds.

Game 4 will be played in Beijing's home court on Thursday.

 

 

NBA preview

 

Today in NBA action. Here's a few games to look out for.

The Houston Rockets take on the Atlanta Hawks

The Washington Wizards play Chicago Bulls.

The Denver Nuggets take on the Milwaukee Bucks.

Boston Celtics play the Cleveland Cavaliers

And in some off court news, the Denver Nuggets have fired coach Brian Shaw. General manager Brian Connelly thanked the coach for his time coaching the Nuggets.

The Nuggets are in the midst of a six-game losing streak and have struggled in compiling a 20-39 record this season under Shaw.

Melvin Hunt, one of Shaw's assistants, will serve as interim coach.

 

 

Lin Dan looking for a win at All England championship

 

Olympic badminton champion Lin Dan is returning to the All England championships after a two year break and is hoping to win his sixth title.

The current number six in the world was Olympic champion in Beijing 2008 and has been world champion five times. However since winning Olympic gold again at the Olympics in London 2012 he has played infrequently.

Lin says despite this he's looking to become world champion for a sixth time.

"It really is my personal goal, but I realise that this dream is very difficult to achieve. I will try my best and give all that I can to achieve this".

One of his rivals, Malaysia's Chong Wei Feng, is missing the All England event because of injury and Lin wished him a speedy recovery.

The All England championships in Birmingham is the first of the 12 superseries competitions leading to the grand final in Dubai in December.

The favorites for the All England title in Birmingham is Chinese world champion Chen Long and Denmark's European champion Jan O.Jorgensen.

The first rounds of the competition start today.

 

 

Asian Champions League action last night

 

In the Asian Champions league last night.

Guanzhou R&F lost their game against Buriam United 2-1 thanks to a brilliant overhead strike from Gilberto Macena. Buriam United are now top of group F.

Shandong Luneng lost their match at home to Jeonbuk Motors 4-1. The Jeonbuk Motors maintained an unbeaten record in the AFC Champions League this season.

 

 

Western Sydney Warriors and Guangzhou Evergrande prepare for match

 

The Western Sydney Wanderers and Guangzhou Evergrande are prepared for their first meeting since a bad tempered Asian Champions League quarter final last year. Both sides say revenge is not on the agenda for the game this evening in Sydney.

Their last meeting saw the Guangzhou Evergrande side dumped out of the competition on away goals and their coach at the time, Marcello Lippi, suspended for confronting the referee after the match.

Lippi resigned last week and was replaced by Italian Fabio Cannavaro.

He shares his thoughts on the upcoming match.

"We know very well what happened last year, I saw the match so I know very well but we won't forget that we have come here to play football, to play our game. We have quality and we have to use our quality to win."

The Guangzhou Evergrande side will be without Brazilian forward Alan Douglas due to a left knee injury.

Kick off for the match is at 7.30pm local time.

 

 

English premier league results

 

In the English premier league.

Aston Villa have beaten West Bromwich Albion 2-1

Hull drew against Sundeland 1-1

And Southampton beat Crystal Palace 1-0.

 

 

South Africa beat Ireland at Cricket World Cup

 

Moving over to the cricket World Cup.

South Africa won their match against Ireland yesterday to move one step closer to a place in the quarter finals.

The South African side finished the match 411-4 with the Irish all out for 210. South Africa now only need to win one of their next two upcoming matches to reach the quarter-finals.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers.

"I'm very happy with the performance, they're a tricky team to play. I think they've taken a lot of confidence from the good start they had in this World Cup, and I think we paid them all the respect that they deserved, which probably helped us to perform a bit better today."

Irish pride may have taken bit of a dent but their hopes of a quarter-final spot are still very much alive, with Saturday's match against Zimbabwe in Hobart looming as a crunch game.

 

 

Fernando Alonso out of Australian Grand Prix

 

In Formula One.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso will miss the season opening Australian Grand Prix next week on medical advice.

Doctors have advised the Spaniard who crashed in testing last week not to risk a second concussion by racing in Melbourne.

Alonso was driving at a speed of 215km an hour when he lost control of his car. He hit a wall and suffered two blows to his head.

He will be replaced by McLaren's reserve driver Kevin Magnussen.

 

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

"The Right Mistake" premieres in Beijing

 

Chinese comedy "The Right Mistake" has premiered here in Beijing.

Director Wang Ning and lead actors, including mainland comedian Xiao Shenyang, athlete Tian Liang and Hong Kong singer Chen Xiao Chun, attend the opening.

"The Right Mistake" is about 3 men from different regions of China who head to Singapore to try to make some cash through various schemes.

However, their lives change when they meet the woman of their dreams.

"The Right Mistake" opens in theatres tomorrow.

 

 

Filming of latest James Bond movie 'SPECTRE' continues in Rome

 

The latest "Bond" filming has hit Rome...

Cars have been seen racing along the streets leading to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Director Sam Mendes film - "SPECTRE" - is going to be shooting in Rome for the next 20 days.

The long road leading from the Tiber river to the Vatican has been closed to traffic for parts of the day this week so crews can shoot a car chase scene with Bond's silver Aston Martin and an orange Jaguar.

Rome's City Hall has confirmed the production company has already paid 500-thousand euros for permits, garbage services and traffic cops.

Shooting is also expected to take place in other parts of Rome.

"SPECTRE" is scheduled for an October release.

 

 

Fast and Furious 7 releases newest trailer

 

The producers of "Furious 7" have released two new trailers of the upcoming movie.

The trailers show new action sequences in the movie and features Dominic Toretto telling his crew that "war is coming".

The movie is expected to feature some big action sequences, including Vin Diesel making a jump from one high rise building onto another in his car.

The film was written by Chris Morgan and directed by James Wan.

It stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson.

The film will also include scenes with Paul Walker, who died in 2013 with filming only half-completed.

"Fast and Furious 7" is slated to be released on April 12th here in China.

 

 

Michael Kelly on His Character Doug Stamper's Surprise 'House of Cards' Return

 

One of the main characters of the hugely-popular Netflix series "House of Cards" is offering some insight into his surprise return to Season 3.

I'm not a liar but I had to lie at times and it sucked. That was really hard for me, like, that's just not in my being. So, it was hard and to hold in a secret for a year"

Michael Kelly, who plays 'Doug Stamper' in the series, was thought to have been killed off at the end of Season 2.

But -- spoiler alert -- he's back in the latest series.

"Just madness, more madness. At the heart of it all he is doing everything he can to get back to where he believes he belongs - back to the Chief of Staff of the President of the United States."

Season 3 of "House of Cards," staring Kelly, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright became downloadable on Netflix this past weekend.