| The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
It's Paul James with you on this Tuesday, April 7, 2015.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The last batch of Chinese citizens is on its way out of Yemen as fighting intensifies in the city of Aden.
The United Nations is demanding access to a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital Damascus currently under siege by the Islamic State.
Chinese authorities are promising deeper cooperation with countries along the Mekong river to support the "Belt and Road" initiative.
In business... individual investors in Shanghai are being allowed to open multiple accounts on the bourse.
In Sports... the Turkish Super League has been suspended following an attack on a players bus.
In Entertainment... Fan Bingbing takes out an insurance policy ahead of a reality TV show appearance.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather...
Weather
Beijing will be sunny today with a high of 14 degrees Celsius.
Overnight temperatures should drop to 4.
Shanghai will have slight rain with a high of 10 and a low of 6.
In Chongqing, showers with a high of 16 and a low of 12.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will be sunny with a high of 36.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 22.
Over to North America,
New York will be cloudy with a high of 8 degrees.
Washington will have showers with a high of 14 degrees.
Honolulu, windy, 27.
Toronto, Canada, will see rainy with a high of 3 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be cloudy with a high of 27.
And Rio de Janeiro, also cloudy with a high of 28 degrees Celsius.
Top News
China evacuates last batch of citizens from Yemen
The Chinese government has temporarily closed its embassy in Yemen, evacuating all the staff due to the worsening security conditions there.
A Chinese navy vessel is taking a batch of 38 Chinese nationals in Yemen, along with 45 Sri Lanka nationals, to Djibouti.
Another Chinese naval vessel will evacuate 9 other Chinese citizens and one Japanese citizen from another location in Yemen.
Eight other Chinese citizens who had originally stayed behind in Yemen have also left on-board a Pakistani vessel.
Over 600 Chinese citizens have now been moved out of Yemen amid the fighting there between the Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to exiled President Abd Raboo Mansour Hadi.
Those forces include an international Sunni-backed coalition led by Saudi Arabia.
At least 53 killed in 24 hours of fighting in Yemen
Over 50 people have been killed over the past 24-hours in intensified fighting in Yemen between the Houthi rebels and pro-government fighters in the port city of Aden.
Explosions have been rattling homes in the suburbs of Aden, which is one of exiled Yemeni President Abd Raboo Man?ur Hadi's last strongholds.
Saudi air strikes have been targeting Shiite-Houthi rebels for almost two weeks.
At the same time, humanitarian aid flights meant to carry medical supplies into Yemen are being held back because of logistical problems.
The Red Cross says it's been unable to find a cargo plane to ship some 48-tonnes of medical supplies into the country.
The Red Cross is also calling for a 24-hour ceasefire in Aden.
Russia has also been pressing the UN Security Council to support calls for a "humanitarian pause" in the air strikes.
However, the Saudi side is suggesting there will be no let-up for the time being.
Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri speaks on behalf of the Saudi-led coalition.
"At the moment, Aden is being targeted for the most part by campaigns coming in from Dale'a, Shabwah and Hodaydah. There is consistent support to the coalition strikes from tribes in and around Aden. The air strikes are ongoing and the objectives are clear. At the moment these militias have one of two choices: they remain within their military camps, in this manner they would fall under the air strikes, or they can go out towards Aden, then again they will become a clear target for the coalition forces air strikes."
Abd Raboo Mansour Hadi was forced to flee Yemen two weeks ago, as the Houthi's advanced on Aden.
They are supported by troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in the Arab Spring protests.
UN official says situation in Palestinian refugee camp in Syrian capital 'beyond inhumane'
The United Nations is describing the situation in an embattled Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus as "beyond inhumane."
This is the refugee camp which has been over-run by Islamic State militants.
Palestinian fighters and members of the so-called Free Syrian Army have been battling the militants.
The camp itself is home to some 18-thousand people, one-fifth of whom are children.
Chris Gunness is with the UN Relief Agency.
"We have not been able to send any food or any convoys into the camp since the current round of fighting started. And of course that means that there is no food, there is no water and there's very little medicine. The situation in the camp is beyond inhumane. People are hold up in their houses, there is fighting going on in the streets. There are reports of aerial bombardment. This has to stop and civilians must be evacuated."
The fighting in Yarmouk began on Wednesday after the Islamic State group muscled into the camp.
It's said to be the group's first major attack near the heart of the Syrian capital.
People living in Yarmouk had already been enduring desperate conditions before the attack, including a lack of food, medicine and water.
The conflict in Syria, which has entered its fifth year, has claimed the lives of more than 200-thousand people.
It's also displaced millions of others.
300 Kidnapped Kurds in Syria freed by Islamist rebels
Islamist rebel fighters have released some 300 Kurdish men who had been taken captive in northwest Syria.
Reports say the men were seized from buses travelling from the town of Afrin to the city of Aleppo.
Initial reports suggest a splinter faction known as Jaysh al-Islam, or the Army of Islam, took the hostages, who were later released as part of a prisoner swap.
These reports have not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says his government is planning to work more tightly with Kurdish authorities to help liberate the northern province of Nineveh in Iraq from the Islamic State.
"There's a small group attempting to attach itself to the (Shi'ite fighters known as) Hashid Shaabi and attack civilians and their belongings and offend the Hahsid Shaabi. Our measures include the arrest of these people and presenting them to court and indeed, we have done so in Tikrit, where we have arrested a few of those people and presented them to court."
A timetable for a plan to retake Nineveh hasn't been laid-out.
The provincial capital, Mosul, is a key target for Iraqi forces hoping to clear the country of Islamic State fighters.
It's expected the assault on Nineveh could begin within the next few weeks.
The university attack: a devastating blow to Kenya's tourism and education
Anchor
The local service industry in Kenya is already starting to feel the pinch from last week's deadly attack on a university campus by al-Shabaab militants which left close to 150 people dead.
CRI's Wang Mengzhen has more.
Reporter
Hotels along Kenya's coast, as well as game park reserves, say they're already starting to see tourists cancelling trips.
The damage is expected to become clearer later on this Tuesday.
This is when European tour operators return to work after the Easter holiday.
Mohammed Hersi is the chair of Kenya's Coast Tourism Association.
"The status of the tourism industry, especially at the coast, is not good at all. The persistent advisories even on non-essentials is not helping us at all and the recent attack may not have happened in Mombasa but happened in Garrisa where we lost many young people which is very unfortunate that equally paints the destination in a negative picture."
As a vital part of the national economy, Kenya's tourism industry has already been in a decline since 2013 when al-Shabaab militants stormed an upscale shopping mall in the capital Nairobi, leaving 67 people dead.
Since then, repeated al-Shabaab attacks have prompted travel warnings by countries like Britain, the United States and Australia, among others.
In response, Mohammed Hersi says many hotel staff have decided to take pay cuts as deep as 50-percent to avoid being laid off completely.
"For us to survive, many hotels have sent staff on unpaid leave, some are actually laying off people, others are retrenching and some are actually taking pay cuts."
At the same time, hundreds of Kenyans have begun a three-day blood drive for those injured in the attack on Garissa University.
"I came here today to donate blood for our brothers and sisters who survived in Garissa, some have lost their lives, but the blood will go a long way to help them recover quickly."
Four years ago, Garissa University College opened its doors as northern Kenya's first university.
However, the university has been shut down after the attack.
It's future remains uncertian.
For CRI, I am Wang Mengzhen.
Japan releases review results of new textbooks
Japan's Ministry of Education Ministry has released a review of new textbooks to be used in junior high schools next school year.
The nex text books include revised expressions about Japan's war-time past.
The new texts include changes to the language surrounding the Nanjing Massacre, which critics say softens the impact of what the Japanese army did.
The textbooks also change previous language connected to territorial disputes and the use of sex slaves, or so-called "comfort women" by the Japanese Military during the war.
Yang Bojiang is the deputy director of the Institute of Japanese Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"An important revision connected to the 'comfort women' issue is an addition that states there is no evidence that these women were 'forced'. That's very close to the official stance of Prime Minister Abe's administration."
Yang Bojiang also says the timing of the review by the Japanese Education Ministry should also be noted.
"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and Japan's defeat in the war. The Japanese government wants to take a pre-emptive move so that they will not lose the moral ground. But I believe such efforts will be in vain."
Japan's relations with China and South Korea continue to be frayed over both territorial and historical disputes.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to release a new statement connected to Japan's wartime past to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, which many critics believe will include a watering-down of Japanese atrocities.
Rand Paul unveils slogan ahead of U.S. presidential campaign announcement
U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul has revealed his new campaign slogan ahead of his official announcement that he's going to be seeking the Republican nomination for President.
The Libertarian candidate's campaign slogan is going to be "Defeat the Washington machine. Unleash the American dream."
The Kentucky Senator has also pitched himself as a "different kind of Republican" in a new video he's released.
Rand Paul is due to formally enter the GOP presidential race at a rally in Louisville, Kentucky later on this Tuesday.
He will join Texas Senator Ted Cruz as the only two official candidates who have signed on for the race so-far.
Polling has Rand Paul with around 8 percent supporting among GOP voters.
This is well-behind the party's leading potential candidate Jeb Bush, who has 21 percent support, even though he has yet to officially enter the race.
China Vows Cooperation with Lancang-Mekong River Nations
The Chinese government says it's working on plans to increase cooperation with the five countries along the Mekong River.
The pledge is part of the "One Belt and One Road" initiative.
China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are the countries which lie along the Mekong.
The pledge has been made at a meeting among senior officials from Mekong River countries at a meeting in Beijing on Monday.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.
"It's best advantage is that it can help countries in the Indo-China Peninsula develop fast, which will also be good for ASEAN's development. Actually the area is included in the 'One Belt and One Road', and this mechanism is one part of the combination of 'One Belt and One Road' and local development strategies."
The meeting has also laid out plans for a foreign ministers' meeting among Mekong River countries later this year in Beijing.
Trade volume among the six countries along the Mekong exceeded 150-billion U.S. dollars in 2013.
Collective bribery case under investigation in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province
Anchor
A court in the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong is preparing to hand down sentences to some 3-dozen people convicted in a bribery scheme connected to the city's department of motor vehicles.
The details from CRI's Qi Zhi
Reporter
A total of 40 people have been convicted in a bribery scheme which involved people having to pay some 600 yuan each to pass their drivers exam.
The courts have heard the would-be drivers would pay the money to their driving instructors.
The instructors would then pay kickbacks to the local department of motor vehicles.
Those convicted include the head of Zhanjiang's department of motor vehicles, as well as a number of officials with the department, as well as a group of driving instructors.
Reporter Lan Fen works at a local TV station, and covered the story after it broke in 2013.
She says it appears the bribes were a poorly-kept secret in Zhanjiang.
"What surprised me is the unspoken rule of passing the driving test by offering money was known by virtually everyone locally. One driver told us that when signing up for a driving school, bribes for the examiners were added to the tuition fee. Even if they knew the money was meant for something illegal, the drivers couldn't refuse. If the driver didn't offer the extra money, they would have to take their driver's test again. But if they did pay the money, even if their driving skills weren't good enough to pass, they would still get their license."
So far, over 21-million yuan has been returned as part of the investigation.
The chief of the Zhanjiang Department of Motor Vehicles, Liang Zhihong, has already been handed a 10-year sentence.
Yue Shenshan, a Beijing-based lawyer, says harsh punishment is possible for some of the others convicted, who are still awaiting their sentences.
"These examiners have already been removed from their posts. This is part of their administrative punishment. However, this doesn't mean they will be spared from criminal punishment. It will all depend on their individual circumstances."
Under the current laws, anyone convicted of taking a bribes worth over 100-thousand yuan faces sentences ranging from 10-years in prison to the death penalty in certain cases.
For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.
News Solutions to Meet Difficulties of Chinese Dairy Farmers
Anchor
Dairy farmers in the northwestern Chinese region of Ningxia are being offered a new opportunity to help them survive amid the massive downturn in milk prices.
CRI's Qian Shanming has more.
Reporter
A new program being launched in Ningxia will allow local farmers to lease out their cows to large-scale dairy cooperatives.
This will allow them to draw rent from the animals without being forced to slaughter their herds, as a number of small-scale dairy farmers have been forced to do to survive.
Wu Yanhu with an animal husbandry station in Ningxia says not only will the farmers benefit from not having to worry about milk prices, but the milk the cows produce on the large-scale farms is likely to be of much better quality.
"We do cellular testing on the conditions of both the cows and the milk they produce. We've found that cows belonging to private farmers lag behind due to the tougher environment the cows are raised on, as well as a lack of proper breeding skills."
Many of the large-scale milk producers in China are also reluctant to purchase milk from independent producers because of such concerns.
Yan Jianguo is the president of a Chinese dairy producer.
"We like to buy milk from pastures which have between one to three thousand cows. This way we know the pasture is our base throughout the entire management chain, from feeding to milking to the pasturization of the milk. We are in-charge of it all."
On top of the new cooperative program, authorities in Ningxia are also setting aside 90-million yuan to help local farmers increase their competitiveness.
For CRI, this is Qian Shanming.
Biz Reports
Anchor
First, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.
Reporter
U.S. markets ended higher on Monday, as an unexpectedly weak jobs report released last week gave investors some relief that the Federal Reserve will move more slowly in raising rates.
Friday's disappointing jobs report, which came out while the market was closed for Good Friday, has spurred concerns about weak US economic growth in early 2015.
The US Labor Department has reported that only 126-thousand new jobs were added last month.
This is well below economists' estimate of 245-thousand.
Seperate reports suggest most market participants now see the Federal Reserve waiting until December to deliver a rate hike.
A strong rebound in oil prices also provided some upward strength to the markets.
U.S. oil prices leapt more than 6-percent on Monday as traders reassessed how quickly Iran could increase exports after its preliminary nuclear deal.
At market close,
Both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 gained 0.7 percent.
The Nasdaq Composite Index went up 0.6 percent.
European markets were closed Monday for the Easter Holiday.
Trading of trainmaker's shares resumes today
Trading of China's newly merged train makers will resume today on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
This after the China Securities Regulatory Commission approved the merger of CSR and CNR last week.
CSR and CNR's merger has also been cleared by Chinese anti-trust authorities.
Shanghai Stock Exchange to allow multiple trading accounts
The Shanghai Stock Exchange is set to allow individual investors to open multiple trading accounts with different brokerage firms.
The new scheme will replace the current rules which only allows investors to have one trading account.
The existing rule came into place back in 1998 to curb the illegal selling of investors' trading accounts among brokerage firms.
The new scheme will maintain rules that stop brokerage firms from selling their customers' trading account without prior consent.
China's A-share market is back on an upswing after years of sluggish investment enthusiasm.
Xiang'eqiang default on corporate bond
A publically-traded Chinese restaurant has confirmed it's going to default on a corporate bond payment due today.
The Beijing Xiang'eqing Group, which offers cuisines from Hunan, Guangxi and Guangdong has confirmed it is unable to pay some 40-million US dollars it owes for both mature bonds and interest payments on outstanding ones.
In making the announcement, the Xiang'eqing says its still hoping to raise money from third party sources.
Chinese high-end restaurants have taken a hit over the past year after the government launched its campaign to curb spending on banquets.
Xiang'eqing is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
Call-in with Gao Shang Oil Price Rebounds
Oil futures climbed more than a dollar a barrel on Monday after Saudi Arabia raised its prices for crude sales to Asia for the second month running.
The move made by Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, is being seen as a signal of improved demand in the region.
Saudi Arabia has been maintaining its output, and had been slashing its sales prices to generate more market share in Asia.
The Saudi ability to raise prices for April and May is suggesting its strategy could be working.
For more on the rebound in oil prices we are joined on the line by Gao Shang, analyst with Guantong Futures.
Questions:
1, What impact will the Saudi sale price increase have on the overall Asian market? Will other suppliers increase their prices?
2, What level are China's strategic crude supplies at right now? How much do Chinese refiners need right now to keep going?
3, Where do you see global crude oil prices heading over the next few months?
back anchor:
Gao Shang, analyst with Guantong Futures.
Price of burial site matches realty costs
The vice mayor of Beijing is defending the high prices found in the city's burial plots, saying they are unavoidable.
Vice mayor Dai Junliang has made the comments while responding to criticisms in the Ministry of Civil Affair's so-called "Green Book" on Funeral Services released this year.
The "Green Book" notes price of burial sites in Beijing now averages over 40-thousand yuan per square meter.
Prices can go as high as 80-thousand yuan per square meter in the four inner districts in the city.
The "Green Book" suggests close to 90-percent of the costs for a funeral service in Beijing is the plot itself.
China should set up housing bank to aid property market: official
An official with the Ministry of Housing is calling for the establishment of a national housing bank to help assist the property market.
Zhang Qiguang, head of the supervision department with the government's national housing fund is calling for a stand-alone financial institution to take over from the current system.
Zhang suggests the bank could then offer low-interest loans to help middle and low income families afford houses.
He suggests this could help to optimize the use of the current housing fund, as well as stimulate the sluggish housing market in the long-term.
The housing fund, which collects capital by taking a chunk of an employee's salary, offers urban residents lower rates than those of commercial banks.
However, it is a complicated procedure to borrow from the fund, meaning much of the capital ends up sitting unused.
US not guaranteed preferential trade in Cuba
The Cuban government is warning potential US investors they are not likely to be given preferential trade status, despite the lifting of trade restrictions.
Cuban Investment Minister Rodrigo Malimerca is being quoted saying US firms are only likely to get the same treatment as other international investors in the Cuban economy.
But in making the statement, Malimerca does admit Cuba is looking forward to an influx of US money into the Cuban economy.
Since announcing plans to normalize ties between the U.S. and Cuba late last year, American private sector interest in Cuba has been on the rise.
A number of US delegations have already visited Cuba.
Before the trade embargo was established in the 1950's, US business interests in Cuba were wide-spread.
Germany owes Greece 278.7 bln euros in WWII reparations: Greek deputy FinMin
A leading Greek finance official is suggesting the German government still owes Greece hundreds of billions of euros in reparations for World War II.
Speaking at a Greek parliamentary committee set up to establish the roots of Greece's current economic woes, Greek Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas has suggested the German government owes Greece 307 billion US dollars.
He says they've come up with the figure by reviewing archives.
A number of Greek politicians have been suggesting the German government still owes Greece massive amounts of money to repay the costs of the war on the Greek economy.
Greece's newly-elected Leftist government has revived an old campaign to seek war reparations from Berlin for WWII Nazi crimes and an occupation loan.
Berlin has refuted the suggestions as inflammatory, saying its reparations for Greece became a non-issue after Germany paid Greece about 60 million euros back in 1960.
However, Athens argues that money only covered compensation for victims of Nazi crimes, but not for the destruction on Greece's economy during the occupation.
Headline News
China evacuates last batch of citizens from Yemen
The Chinese government has temporarily closed its embassy in Yemen, evacuating all the staff due to the worsening security conditions there.
A Chinese navy vessel is taking a batch of 38 Chinese nationals in Yemen, along with 45 Sri Lanka nationals, to Djibouti.
Another Chinese naval vessel will evacuate 9 other Chinese citizens and one Japanese citizen from another location in Yemen.
Eight other Chinese citizens who had originally stayed behind in Yemen have also left on-board a Pakistani vessel.
Over 600 Chinese citizens have now been moved out of Yemen amid the fighting there between the Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to exiled President Abd Raboo Mansour Hadi.
Those forces include an international Sunni-backed coalition led by Saudi Arabia.
19 injured after flung off recreational facility in China
Nineteen people have been injured, one critically, after being flung off an amusement park ride in Hunan.
A crack developed in the spinning ride, sending people flying off.
The ride itself is located on a commercial street in Changhuan County.
The ride's owner has been detained by police.
3 injured in chemical plant blast in E China
Provincial authorities in Fujian say a chemical plant explosion has left three people injured.
Their conditions remain unclear.
Over 400 firefighters are on the scene battling the fire in the city of Zhangzhou.
This is the second accident at the same facility in the last 20-months.
The factory itself produces an industrial chemical used for making fiber and plastics.
Mass grave sites in Iraq under excavation
Iraqi forensic teams have begun excavating 12 suspected mass grave sites thought to hold the corpses of as many as 17-hundred soldiers massacred last summer by Islamic State militants.
The mass killings last June of Shi'ite soldiers at a former U.S. base outside Tikrit has become a symbol of the brutality of the Islamic State.
Images of Shi'ite soldiers being machine-gunned in the hundreds were posted online by the jihadists last summer.
The forensic teams are now able to access the site after the Islamic State was driven from Tikrit earlier this month.
Shanghai Stock Exchange to allow multiple trading accounts
The Shanghai Stock Exchange is set to allow individual investors to open multiple trading accounts with different brokerage firms.
The new scheme will replace the current rules which only allows investors to have one trading account.
The existing rule came into place back in 1998 to curb the illegal selling of investors' trading accounts among brokerage firms.
The new scheme will maintain rules that stop brokerage firms from selling their customers' trading account without prior consent.
China's A-share market is back on an upswing after years of slugish investment enthusiasm.
Newspaper Picks
CHINA DAILY
HEADLINE
'Little Eagles' earn their wings
SUMMARY
A quasi-military aviation training program has been extended to allow for an extra one-thousand students to take part this year.
The Chinese air force is hoping to select about 400 cadets from the dozens of "Little Eagle Classes" when they graduate three years later.
SHANGHAI DAILY
HEADLINE
Bird flu case reported
SUMMARY
A human case of H7N9 bird flu has emerged in Shanghai.
The 37-year-old woman is from neighboring Jiangsu.
This follows on the heels of a 52-year-old man being diagnosed with the virus on Saturday.
GLOBAL TIMES
HEADLINE
Massive lake expansion
SUMMARY
Thanks to heavy rainfall in eastern China over the last four days, China's largest frestwater lake, Poyang Lake, has seen water levels rise by some 15-percent since Thursday.
The lake's surface area has expanded by more than half.
Poyang Lake tends to go through massive drops and rises in its water levels.
THE BEIJING NEWS
HEADLINE
Tourist Blacklist
SUMMARY
Chinese authorities are now requiring provinces to create a "Blacklist" of tourists involved in uncivilized behavior.
Those who end up on the Blacklist may have trouble taking part in organized tours.
They may even be restricted from leaving the country or obtaining a loan.
Names which appear on the Blacklist may stay on there for up to 2-years.
BEIJING TIMES
Headline
'Temple of Heaven' copycat
Summary
A soon-to-be-completed cemetery in a rural village in Hubei has made an online splash, as its architecture is very similar to the 'Temple of Heaven' in Beijing.
The cemetery has been under construction since 2010.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Number of super wealthy soars
Summary
The number of super rich people in China has expanded to a record high.
A new wealth report suggests the number of people on the mainland who hold assets of at least 500 million yuan has exceeded 17-thousand.
Special Reports
Journey to the Antarctica, are you ready?
Anchor
A rapid influx in the number of Chinese people looking to travel to the Antarctic is generating calls for new rules and guidelines to be laid out to protect both the people who travel there, as well as the highly-sensitive ecosystem.
CRI's Yu Yang has more.
Reporter
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in Argentina. As the jumping off point for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, it welcomes over 100,000 visitors from all around the world every year.
According to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, 3,328 Chinese nationals visited the Antarctic continent last year, a ten-time increase from a decade ago.
At the same time, the growing number of tourists flocking to Antarctica brings concerns about the fragile ecosystem there.
Valeria Dreiser is an analyst from Academy of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. She said related institutions and travel agencies have developed strict rules to restrict tourists' behavior, in a bid to protect the environment of the continent.
"Tourists must wear clean rubber boots for all landings; they are not allowed to touch penguins or walk beyond the designated areas; they cannot walk alone; No one can leave his/her personal belongings on the continent, nor can he/she take anything away, including stones."
Besides man-made rules, nature also sets boundaries for tourists. They need to be ready for sea-sickness, dry weather and high levels of UV radiation.
Wang Li has just concluded her tour to the South Pole.
"Sea-sickness is sometimes unavoidable, especially when you travel across the strong gusty westerlies between 40 and 60 latitudes. I brought fresh ginger, anti-sick patches that I placed on the skin behind the ears, pills, refreshing oil, peppermint oil and almost anything else I can think of, but I still felt very uncomfortable."
Another torture for tourists is the unexpected dry weather. In fact, the Antarctic is the driest continent on Earth partly due to its scarce annual precipitation. Furthermore, the level of UV radiation in Antarctica is very high because the sea, ice and snow reflect more sunlight.
"I wasn't aware of the two driest places in the world until I arrived in the South Pole. One is the Sahara desert, the other is Antarctica. The dryness there is beyond imagination. Be sure to take along sun lotion and moisturizer before the journey, and drink lots of water during the trip."
Last but not the least, the Antarctica tour comes with high levels of uncertainty. Everything is subject to weather and the state of the sea therefore the schedule could be changed at a moment's notice.
So if travelers want to take a close look at the South Pole, they need to be both patient and well-prepared.
For CRI, I'm Yu Yang.
Sports
Chinese Star Hurdler Liu Xiang to Announce Retirement
China's Olympic 110m hurdles gold medallist and former world record holder Liu Xiang is expected to announce his retirement today.
It's been 900 days since Liu pulled out of the 2012 London Games 110m hurdles with a blown Achilles tendon.
Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, hinted at the athlete’s retirement in February, saying that the runner's Achilles was still hampering his performance.
According to Liu's team doctor, the runner can manage only a 13.5-second time if he returns, which can not guarantee his qualification for top races.
The runner's 17 commercial sponsorships are also due to expire this month.
Liu became China's first male Olympic champion in athletics when he won the 110m hurdles at the 2004 Summer Games.
Liu set the previous world record at 12.88 seconds Switzerland in 2006.
NCAA: Wisconsin vs. Duke Preview
Tipping things off with NCAA basketball,
At about 10 a.m., Beijing time;
The championship final match will take place, when Wisconsin hits the court against Duke.
While this season's Duke team didn't with the ACC regular season or nab any tournament titles, the post-season has been where the Blue Devils have surged.
An impressive run saw them handle the whole South region, with wins over Robert Morris, San Diego State, Gonzaga and and blowout win over Michigan State in the final four.
But Wisconsin head into the match on a high from this weekend's win over previously undefeated Kentucky. The Badgers also won the Big Ten, its tournaments, and set a school record of 36-3. This is also their second final-four showing in a row; Wisconsin is looking to hold up their first national championship trophy since they last won it 1941.
NBA: Portland vs. Brooklyn Preview
Over in the National Basketball Association:
Just one game on deck for this morning, which will tip off at about 8 p.m., Beijing time,
The Portland Trailblazers are taking on the Brooklyn Nets.
Portland have notched another 50-win season and clinched the Northwest Division, but they still have a tough road schedule to earn home-court advantage in round 1 of the playoffs.
Brooklyn are still ahead of Boston in the East for the seventh seed, which would set them up with a match-up against the Cavs in the first round.
NBA: Dikembe Mutombo, 10 Others in Hall of Fame Class of 2015
In other NBA news:
The Hall of Fame class of 2015 has been announced, and supreme shot-blocker Dikembe Mutombo leads the 11-man pack.
Mutombo played in the NBA for 18 seasons and was an eight-time all star and four time NBA defensive player of the year.
He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Spencer Haywood, Celtics star Jo Jo White, Coach John Calipari, WNBA star Lisa Lesie and veteran NBA referee Dick Bavetta.
Mutombo, who led the league in blocks for five-straight seasons, became famous for wagging his finger to celebrate the rejections.
Golf: JB Holmes Wins Houston Open
In Golf:
J.B. Holmes made par at the second extra hole to capture the Houston Open in a three-way playoff yesterday in Texas.
After world no. 4 Jordan Spieth made par on the 18th, he tied with Holmes and Johnson Wagner at 16-under.
However, Spieth bogeyed on the first playoff hole; Wagner did the same on the second, while Holmes made par to win the tournament.
JB Holmes on the victory:
"So, it's a big step coming into a major. I went there Monday and Tuesday and saw the course and so hopefully I'll be ready next week. And I'm hitting it well, so I'm looking forward to it."
The win mark's Holmes' fourth PGA Tour win.
Football: Crystal Palace Gets Upset Win Over Man City
And in Football:
First, in the English Premiere League;
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 2-1;
Glenn Murray opened up scoring for Palace with a controversial goal when he appeared to be offsides, but the offense was not called by the officials.
Yaya Toure equalized for Man City, but Jason Puncheon netted a free-kick that secured Palace the win.
Man City slip further away from the league title with the defeat.
Over in La Liga:
Elche move another point ahead of dropping into relegation zone after tying with Espanyol 1-1.
Football: Turkey Suspends League for Week After Gun Attack on Club
The Turkish Super League has been suspended for a week in the wake of the attack on Fenerbahce's team bus.
The bus was shot at after Saturday's away match against Rizespor. The bus driver was taken to hospital after being wounded in the incident, but no players were injured.
The suspension came after Fenerbahce had called for a ban on all footballing activities on Sunday.
In a statement the club described the attack as an "assassinaton attempt", linking it to hostility following match-fixing allegations that have swirled around them for months.
Fenerbahce's next game, at home to fourth-placed Bursapor next Monday, will now take place at a later date.
Entertainment
Fan Bingbing gets hundred million yuan insurance policy before "Running Man" shooting
Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has taken out a mega insurance policy, worth a hundred million yuan just for her face before stepping on the set to shoot the Chinese version of "Running Man."
As per the insurance terms, even if Fan's face is slightly injured, she can claim for damages.
"Running Man" is an imported variety show from South Korea.
Fan pushed the producers to cough up extra money for insurance after top stars Li Chen and Angela Baby were both injured while filming of the previous season of Running Man.
The producing company also said that over a thousand security guards have been deployed to ensure the safety of the celebrity hosts.
Shooting of the series had to be cancelled in March after a massive crowd mobbed the set.
Hong Kong crime thriller Helios releases new trailer
The much awaited Hong Kong crime thriller Helios has released a trailer.
The movie focuses on exploring the relationship between traditional Chinese martial arts and Chinese astrology.
The film is a follow-up to award-winning blockbuster Cold War by the local directing duo Sunny Luk and Longman Leung.
The multi-star cast involves some of the names in the region including mainland actor Wang Xueqi, Hongkong actor Jacky Cheung, Nick Cheung, Taiwan actor Chang Chen and South Korean heart throb Ji Jin-Hee.
The story focuses on an ingenious criminal "Helios" who has stolen uranium.
He is hacking a plot to produce weapons of mass destruction along with a terrorist group in Hong Kong. So can the good cops from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and South Korea defuse the crisis before it destroys the world?
To find out, you will have to wait till the film is released on April 30
YouTube megastar Michelle Phan launches new lifestyle network
YouTube megastar Michelle Phan, who has built a multi-million dollar business empire around her popular makeup tutorials, has launched a new online lifestyle TV channel devoted to beauty and fashion.
The new network called ICON is now available in the United States and the UK and will roll out across Western Europe and Asia later this year.
It can also be viewed on YouTube plus other streaming platforms such as Dailymotion, Roku and Pluto TV with a subscription.
Phan was one of first fashion entrepreneurs who saw the potential of social media
"You know, the Internet has widened the market space so much that you can really own a market that's niche. The idea of a niche market 10 years ago was small, but today I have a niche market. And I have millions of followers. Tens of millions of followers who subscribe to my channel and who buy my products and they follow everything I say and so I really believe that there's no competition online because you can really own a market that's very specific to who you are.
The 27-year-old self-made diva already has 7.5 million subscribers on her Youtube channel.
Even first lady Michelle Obama has asked YouTube star Michelle Phan for beauty advice.
David Lynch Exits 'Twin Peaks,' Future of Series Uncertain
For Twin Peak fans – it might be time to put down the coffee and cherry pie – because filmmaker David Lynch has left "Twin Peaks" due to money issues.
Lynch, who co-created the original "Twin Peaks" was set to direct the upcoming Showtime revival.
He has been working for over a year with co-creator Mark Frost to develop the latest sequel to this beloved '90s series, before he decided to quite abruptly.
But Lynch reassured fans that the project "is still be very much alive," despite his decision to quite.
"Twin Peaks" was set to go into production this year, eying a 2016 premiere date.
"Twin Peaks" aired for two seasons from 1990 to 1991 on ABC and then got the big screen treatment in 1992's "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me."
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick look at the headlines before we go...
The last batch of Chinese citizens is on its way out of Yemen as fighting intensifies in the city of Aden.
The United Nations is demanding access to a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital Damascus currently under seige by the Islamic State.
Chinese authorities are promising deeper cooperation with countries along the Mekong river to support the "Belt and Road" initative.
In business... individual investors in Shanghai are being allowed to open multiple accounts on the bourse.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together
|