新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/09/20

 

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 

RH with you on this Friday, September 20th, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
.
Chinese Foreign Minister says China to push towards political solution in Syria.
U.S Pentagon to review security after shooting at Washington navy yard.
5.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's Fukushima Prefecture near the Daiichi nuclear plant
Business
Regulators fine JP Morgan over "London Whale" trades
Sports
Interpol says Singapore match fixing arrests are a significant step
Entertainments
Stars of hit TV show ‘Breaking Bad’ raise over 1-million US dollars for charity.
Plus
Special reports finds out more about moon cake cooking classes for dog owners in Hong Kong
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy today, with a high of 27 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be cloudy tonight with a low of 17.
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 30 the high, and it will see slight rain tonight, the low of 25 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 22, and tonight will have showers with a low of 10 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 32.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 31.
And in North America
New York, sunny, with a high of 23 degrees.
Washington, sunny, highs of 26
Houston, thundershowers, 32.
Honolulu, moderate rain, 32.
Toronto, sunny, 24
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, sunny, 19.
And Rio de Janeiro will have thundershowers with highs of 27 degrees Celsius.
 
 
There are several ways to keep in touch with us on the BJH
We are on Weibo that's weibo.com/beijinghour
You can also send us an email to [email protected]
Please do keep in touch we always like to hear your comments and feedback on the show.
TIMECHECK
 
 
Top News
 
 
Enrich New Model of Sino-US Relations with Concrete Actions
 
Anchor
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi says China will continue to push forward international efforts towards a political solution to the Syrian crisis.
The visiting Chinese foreign minister highlighted China's stance during a meeting with his U.S counterpart John Kerry Thursday in Washington.
For more details, here is our Washington correspondent Lv Xiaohong.
Ann
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi says China welcomes the framework agreement between the United States and Russia over Syria's chemical weapons stockpile.
He stressed the Syrian crisis could only be solved through political means.
Wang Yi says stakeholders of the current negotiations shall try to reach an agreement as soon as possible, so as to carry out the inspection and eventually destroy the weapons.
"The UN Security Council should give political recognition and support to such efforts. We hope the Security Council can speak with one voice. China will continue to play an active and constructive role in this regard."
He discloses that the Syrian crisis was one of the major issues during his talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday in Washington.
The two foreign ministers also touched upon issues on the Korean Peninsula.
Wang Yi has said this year marks a very important year in Sino-US relations.
The Presidents of the two countries met in June in California, they had reached a common understanding to develop a new model of bilateral relations between the world's two largest economies.
Wang says his visit to the United States aims to enrich the content of this new model of major country relationship with concrete actions.
Secretary Kerry says the U.S welcomes China's peaceful rise and believes the consensus of building a new type of major country relationship is based on practical cooperation and constructive management of difference.
"We recognize the need to avoid falling into a trap of seeing one another as strategic rivals. And that recognition is now driving our partnership on issues from climate change to wildlife trafficking to military consultations and the promotion of balanced growth around the world."
Wang Yi says there is huge potential for bilateral cooperation and such cooperation will not only benefit the peoples of the two countries, but also the world.
For CRI, this is Xiaohong in Washington.
 
 
Putin comments on Syria chemical weapons developments
 
Russia is to submit evidence to the U.N. Security Council that the Syrian opposition has used chemical weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says a US attack on Syria is provocative.
"What if the opposition used them? (chemical weapons). Nobody says what we are to do in that case with the opposition. And it's not an idle question. We have every reason to believe that it is a provocation. A sly and ingenious one, but at the same time the execution is primitive."
He adds that the perpetrators have relied on "primitive" technology, using old Soviet-made ammunition no longer in the Syrian army's inventory.
Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States and its Western allies of funding and arming al-Qaida-linked groups fighting in Syria against the government.
Laverov made the comments in a letter addressing the United Nations on Thursday.
A UN report released Monday confirmed that chemical weapons were used in the attack, but did not ascribe blame.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is insisting his forces have not used chemical weapons.
Assad says he is committed to a plan to destroy his country's chemical weapons, but warned it could take about a year.
He is also asking the United States to foot-the-bill for the destruction.
Meantime, in a statement delivered at the State Department, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the United Nations Security Council must be prepared to draw up a "binding" resolution, after UN inspectors have come up with ample evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria.
 
 
Pentagon to review security after shooting at navy yard, starbucks reax
 
The mother of Monday's shooter at a Washington navy yard has issued a public apology.
"I don't know why he did what he did and I'll never be able to ask him why. Aaron is now in a place where he can no longer do harm to anyone, and for that I am glad. To the families of the victims, I am so so very sorry that this has happened. My heart is broken."
34-year-old Aaron Alexis opened fire at random people at the naval yard, killing 12 people before he was killed in a shootout with police.
US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel says his Department is undertaking a thorough security review.
"Obviously, something went wrong. That's the point of directives that I have made in the reviews that will go forward. As I said in my comments, we will review everything. And from that review, the intensity of that review, the depth and the width of that review, we would hope that we find some answers as to how we do it better, how can we do it better."
The former Navy reservist managed to enter the area with a valid pass.
Authorities say he had been suffering from serious mental health problems.
Meanwhile, in response to the shooting, US coffee chain Starbucks has decreed that guns are no longer allowed in its cafes.
Most states allow people to carry licensed guns in public.
 
 
No abnormality detected in crippled plant after strong quake hits Fukushima, Japan
 
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan's Fukushima Prefecture early this Friday morning, with strong tremors felt in Tokyo.
The epicenter is reported to be close to the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
So far there are no immediate reports of damage or injury and no tsunami warnings.
Tokyo Electric Power says they have not found any abnormalities in the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
It follows inspections of radiation and equipment at the crippled nuclear power facility.
The No. 2 nuclear plant in Tokai is also reported to be normal.
In March 2011, the Fukushima plant was destroyed following a quake-triggered tsunami which caused multiple meltdowns in four of the plant's reactors.
It led to the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.
The plant has recently been in the spotlight again, following the leakage of highly contaminated water from the stricken complex.
 
 
Abe visits the cripple Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant
 
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is moving to quell public unease over toxic water leaking from the Fukushima complex into the Pacific.
Abe has made a stop at the crippled complex this Thursday, the second since taking office in December.
"In order to concentrate on dealing with the disaster, we have asked TEPCO to decide on the decommissioning of reactor number 5 and number 6, both of which have stopped operations."
Abe's reassurance to the International Olympic Committee earlier this month that the leaks are "under control" ,have backfired in Japan.
Public sentiment in Japan is that he has glossed over the problems at the plant to the International Olympic Committee.
Earlier this week, a senior official with the Tokyo Electric Power Company told the media the situation in the plant is -quote- "out of control."
 
 
Security chief says raid into Islamist stronghold went according to plan
 
Egyptian security forces are surrounding a tourist town near the Egypt's great Pyramids, after exchanging gunfire with armed men.
A senior police commander at the scene, General Medhat el-Menshawy, says a raid on the town went according to plan.
"I would like to assure everyone that everything is going according to our plan and that we are gaining ground by the minute."
Police have arrested 55-suspects in house-to-house raids in Kerdasa.
A senior police officer was killed in the assault.
Security forces have now been deployed around the town of Kerdasa, in an attempt to drive away suspected Islamic militants.
Kerdasa is said to be a strong-hold of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Authorities are urging people in the area to stay indoors.
Last month, supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi drove police out of the town, following the crackdown on pro-Morsi protest camps.
Earlier this week, a large army-police force stormed another town in southern Egypt, to break the hold of Islamic militants there.
Curfews accross the country are still in place.
 
 
Gadhafi's son misses Tripoli hearing
 
The son of Libya's former leader Moammar Gadhafi has failed to show up at a hearing in Tripoli.
But he appeared in court in the western town of Zintan for a separate trial for possible charges of war crimes on Thursday.
Seif al-Islam Gadhafi chose to stand trial in the remote tribal desert outpost after being asked by the judge.
"If all the processes take place here in Zintan city, and considering we have started here and here in Libya, then I think that all the procedures should be finished in this place. We do not have any desire to move to any other place, thank you."
Seif al-Islam has been held in Zintan since the end of the war two years ago.
The Tripoli-based hearing involves 37 other former government officials, including ex-spy chief Abdullah al-Senoussi and former Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi.
Gadhafi's son and spy chief are also wanted by the International Criminal Court, or ICC.
If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, since the ICC does not recognize the death penalty.
 
 
Hollande at Mali inauguration festivities
 
Leaders from across Africa have celebrated the inauguration of Mali's new leader.
French President Francois Hollande also attended the ceremony.
"We will be there to accompany you for your development and for democracy, for national reconciliation."
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita formally took the oath of office two weeks ago under requirements of the country's constitution.
"I respect and I will continue to respect the constitution, as God wills."
Mali organized the election just months after al-Qaida-linked militants were largely ousted from power in the country's north.
Several radical Islamic militant groups were able to seize control of northern Mali, after a coup in the distant capital of Bamako in March last year.
France launched the military operation along with some Mali's neighboring countries in January.
 
 
Chinese across the country celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival
 
Anchor
Thursday marked the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional holiday for Chinese people.
CRI's Jordan Lee has more on the ways Chinese families celebrate the occassion.
Report
Hundreds of performers carried a giant fire dragon through the streets of Hong Kong to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival.
The 67-metre long Tai Hang dragon was studded with burning sticks of incense.
The ritual dates back to the 19th century when it was said that a giant fire dragon drove away a plague.
The celebration grew into an annual three-day event, which starts on the eve of the Mid-Autumn festival.
Thousands of locals in Hong Kong gathered to celebrate together.
"It's my first time watching this as this is very famous in Hong Kong. The parade attracts many tourists and I wanted to watch it for myself."
Tourists also take part in the celebrations.
"It's something that you can't see unless you're here in Hong Kong. It's such a beautiful, exciting, loud, noisy and colorful event,"
The Tai Hang fire dragon has become a unique aspect of China's cultural heritage.
In the city of Yichang, locals are celebrating the traditional festival by enjoying some foreign music during the 9th China International Folk Art Festival.
One of the festival's Australian rock bands put its own spin on a Chinese pop song as a gift to its audience.
The band's vocalist commented on his experience.
"I like the song too. After i heard it a couple of times, it got stuck in my head and i could not get it out. When we play it with rock music, i think it is good, I really like it. We all love China, the band. We hope we can come back."
In southwest Yunnan Province, locals celebrated by baking a giant moon cake with an 8.16 meter diameter.
Meanwhile, people in Guizhou Province created beautiful sculptures to pray for a plentiful harvest in the year to come.
Most Chinese consider the festival to be the second most important holiday tradition after the Spring Festival.
People have celebrated beneath the full autumn moon for over a thousand years now.
In Beijing, a primary schools held a special event to introduce a young generation to traditional art during the festival.
Besides reciting poems that are related to the festival, students also performed Wushu and Taichi, and played some traditional Chinese instruments.
"It's so much fun to celebrate this Chinese festival. I can understand more Chinese customs through these activities."
"I got a deeper understanding with the festival. It's very traditional with many people celebrating together."　
The holiday is also an important marketing opportunity for businesses.
Several airlines in China advertise seats on flights where passengers can get a clear view of the moon.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was officially made a public holiday in 2008.
For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
First off, a check on the stock market of North America and Europe.
Join me on the desk, CRI's Hu Jia.
Reporter
U.S. stocks caught their breath one day after the Federal Reserve said it would continue its open-ended economic stimulus efforts.
Investors say the pause on Thursday demonstrates how market participants are plotting their next moves rather than rushing to buy into a market.
There are also concernes about some weakening in economic conditions.
The number of Americans, who initially applied for jobless benefits, increased 15 thousand last week, which is below market expectations.
Thus,
The Dow lost 0.26 percent.
The S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent.
The Nasdaq edged up 0.15 percent.
In Canada, the S&P/TSX closed nearly flat.
European markets rallied.
Among other notable movers, shares of Roche gained 0.8 percent after a report suggested the Swiss drug maker was eyeing a takeover of US-listed BioMartin Pharmaceutical.
Shares of Airbus-parent European Aeronautic Defence & Space added 1.7 percent in Paris.
After Deutsche Lufthansa said it will order 59 long-range jetliners from Airbus and Boeing.
As such,
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbed 1 percent while Germany's DAX advanced 0.7 percent to a new all-time high.
France's CAC 40 index climbed 0.9 percent.
 
 
Regulators fine JP Morgan $920 million over "London Whale" trades
 
JP Morgan has agreed to pay 920 million US dollars in penalties over its "London Whale" trading scandal, one of the largest fines ever levied against a financial institution.
The Securities and Exchange Commission fined the bank 200 million US dollars.
The Federal Reserve Board imposed a 200 million penalty, while the Office of the Controller of the Currency set a 300 million US dollar fine.　
The British regulator fined the company 220 million US dollars.
Market insiders say the settlement is a milestone for the industry.
Erik Oja is an analyst with Capital IQ equities.
"This is one of the first times that it's ever happened that a company has been forced to admit wrongdoing. In the past, companies settled without admitting or denying guilt, so it's a pretty significant event."
Two of the traders are facing criminal charges of falsifying records to hide the losses.
Tracey McDermott, Director of Enforcement and Financial Crime at the UK Financial Conduct Authority, hopes the deal could make traders aware of the risks.
"One of the findings we make is that actually the risk grew significantly over time and the knowledge of the company about the size and scale of those risks was not keeping up with it, and one of the issues around the way in which the firm undertook its own investigation is that it had not realised the scale of the risk it was facing."
Following the news, JPMorgan shares closed down 1.2 percent on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
 
Call-in Corp News with Doug
 
Anchor
Let's check in with some of the key events on the corporate front in China this week.
Doug Young joins me on the line.
He's an associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
1 MIIT to Issue MVNO Licenses in October
China is likely to issue the Mobile Virtual Network Operator or MVNO Licenses in the upcoming month.
It is said the network will allow the prices for local and long distance calling, roaming, SMS, MMS, and other mobile services to be determined by market forces.
---Compare to the 4G licenses, the MVNO, shall we say it comes at a time when the golden opportunities has passed?
** What's the profitability prospect and where do you think the profit margin will register at?
---Despite involving private business into the licenses issuance, what can we expect from this?
---How can the telecom companies get the most from the new network?
---Network utilization rates for the current 3G system is at around 30 percent,
Does this mean there is room for business innovation?
How should we take in the information?
---We know Tesco Mobile, is the most successful runner over the MVNO network, what can Chinese firms learn from it?
2. Minsheng Bank in Strategic Agreement with Alibaba
This week China Minsheng Bank announced it will open a store on Taobao, the most active e-commerce platform here in China, to provide financial services, specifically for small companies and grassroots customers.
The tie-up includes cooperation on wealth management, credit card, direct banking and information technology.
---Among services, which do you think is the most interesting? Direct banking?
---What other advantages can we expect from direct banking, except the higher interest rates?
---Alipay began allowing users with money stored online to directly invest in a fund.
Could you brief us on the ambition Alibaba has had in the field of internet finance?
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters
 
 
IMF urges U.S. to bury budget hatchet, back fund reforms
 
The International Monetary Fund is urging US policymakers to break the budget stalemate.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde.
"The United States economy should fix its public finances. The private sector is yet again proving to be the primary growth, the primary engine of growth and job creation, and the main reason for weak growth this year, the one that we regret has not taken place, is really caused by the very large ongoing fiscal adjustment."
Lagarde says the US economic outlook for this year is likely to slip to 2 percent.
Lagarde says the main reason for the weaker than expected growth is the heavy budget cuts.
She adds that the fight over raising the debt ceiling is potentially destabilizing.
"Policy makers need to turn their attention to the outstanding danger zones, especially the shadow banking system that has grown over the last five years and the derivatives which need to fall under appropriate supervision and regulation with adequate transparency."
IMF expects US growth to speed up next year by about 1 percent.
 
 
Barroso calls on less red tape for SMEs
 
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has reinforced his position on reducing red tape for the bloc's small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Commission is planning to introduce new supporting policies next month to further ease up burden for SMEs.
This is part of the plan to improve the overall business environment in the region by the lawmakers.
Official data shows the public administration efficiency plan has already saved some 43 billion US dollars annually for the area for the past five years.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
US Secretary of State Kerry and Chinese counterpart Wang on Syria
 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China welcomes the agreement between the US and Russia to put Syria's chemical weapons under international supervision.
Wang Yi made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington, the latest in an attempt to strengthen Chin US ties.
He said ultimately the issue of Syria needs to be resolved through political means and the Chinese side would play "a positive and constructive role" at the UN in helping resolve the crisis.
Wang and Kerry have also discussed the importance of cooperation in trying to achieve a nuclear-free North Korea.
 
 
Storms leave 97 dead, 58 missing in Mexico
 
The death toll from two devastating storms has climbed to 97 in Mexico with at least 58 people still missing.
Local authorities are taking efforts to determine whether the missing are still alive.
The disaster, which is the first time since 1958 that two storms have hit the country's opposite coasts within 24 hours, has triggered some of the country's worst flooding and landslides.
Around 40-thousand tourists in Acapulco resorts are stranded and nearly 50-thousand people nationwide have had to evacuate their homes.
 
 
Colombian peace talks recess
 
The latest round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the country's largest guerrilla group have concluded in Havana, cuba without any new agreement.
14th round of peace talks between government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia focused on what the rebel political participation would look like if a peace deal was struck.
The two parties announced in a joint statement that talks are set to resume on October 3rd.
Earlier, the two sides settled on a partial accord of agrarian reform.
 
 
Five killed in China makeshift house fire
 
Five people have been killed in a house fire in central China's Hunan Province.
The fire broke out in a makeshift house in Fangyuan township Thursday morning.
The fire burned 100-square meters of the house and killed five people living inside.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
 
 
China issues alert for super typhoon Usagi
 
China's meteorological authority has issued an alert for this year's 19th typhoon Usagi.
Usagi was upgraded to a super typhoon Thursday evening.
Later, the National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert for the typhoon, the third highest on the country's four-tier weather warning system.
The administration says Usagi may become one of the strongest typhoons to hit China's south eastern coast this year.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
South China Metropolitan Daily
New rules to improve government transparency
Summary:
The State Council, China's Cabinet, announced that procedures by which government information is disclosed will be improved.
Governments are required to improve quality of the spokesperson system, and to hold more media briefings to respond to public concerns.
The government will also improve its public relations mechanism, making its economic and social policies more transparent.
Beijing News
Tufts researcher'broke rules' in GM rice study
Summary:
Turfts University has acknowledged that one of its researchers broke ethical rules while conducting a study on genetically modified "Golden Rice" in China.
Researchers fed the rice to 25 children between six and eight in Hunan.
They had cut corners obtaining reviews and approvals in China.
The officials who approved the test were sacked.
Beijing Times
Student detained after his posts are retweeted
Summary:
A junior high school student in northwest China was detained for spreading defamatory messages which were re-posted 500 times.
The 16-year-old is the first to be punished under a new national regulation.
The student wrote on his microblog that the police had acted improperly after a man committed suicide by jumping from a building, which is owned by a court police officer's wife.
China Daily
Tougher penalties to hit travel agencies
Summary:
Travel agencies organizing overseas trips and group guides who buy fake admission tickets will face stricter penalties.
The move follows an incident where a group of Chinese tourists tried to use fake tickets to visit the Louvre Museum in Paris.
They were told "to prevent any similar cases from happening again, guarantee the legal rights and interests of Chinese tourists and safeguard the image of China's tourism industry.
Guangzhou Daily
Beijing's migrant population shrinking
Summary:
The population of migrants in Beijing was 416,000 less in 2012 than in 2011.
Policy regulation, rising living costs and environmental pollution mainly contributed to the decrease.
Nearly half of the newcomers live in the new districts.
Shanghai Daily
Taiwan welcomes the duck
Summary:
Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's "Rubber Duck" floats in Kaohsiung Harbor in southern Taiwan.
The giant duck, which is 18 meters high and weighs 1,000 kilograms, was making its first public appearance in Taiwan and will be staying in the harbor until October 20.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Hong Kong Moon Cakes
 
Anchor
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional holiday for friends and families getting together and enjoying a traditional snack known as mooncakes.
Now, thanks to one Hong Kong businesswoman, dogs are getting involved in the fun.
CRI's Li Dong explains.
Reporter
Mooncakes - rich confections of bean paste, egg yolk, lotus seeds and sugar -　are traditionally enjoyed during the annual Moon festival, which is held of the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.
Now, this store in Hong Kong has started holding unique cooking classes to teach dog owners how to cook the delicacy for their pets.
The mooncakes' round-shape is inspired by the Chinese pronunciation of unity, "tuan yuan", with "yuan" meaning round.
For these dog owners, family unity includes their pets. So their lucky animal-members won't be missing out on any of the festival's traditional dish. Ricky Wong is a dog owner taking the cooking classes.
"I think he will like these mooncakes, since he has eaten mooncakes before and liked them very much. So I decided to try making mooncakes myself. I'll be happy if I can bake them myself."
Another dog owner, Camille Lin, is confident her pup will enjoy the festive treats.
"Actually, my dog loves eating every kind of food, especially chicken. The mooncakes we are baking today are made out of sweet potatoes, tuna and duck--these are foods he loves. "
Creating mooncakes that a dog can eat is no easy task, and the ingredients have to be carefully chosen.
In this workshop, store owner, Anne Chan, gets members to mix sweet potato or potato with canola oil and cake flour, rolling the mixture into balls before flatten them. Then, duck meat or tuna is added.
Chan feels the experience of making mooncakes for pets helps to build a warm relationship between dog and owner.
"They are fascinated during the whole process. If we just go out and buy mooncakes for the dog, it takes very little time. But when we make mooncakes ourselves at home, the dog will sit alongside, enjoying the process. When you look at him waiting for the mooncakes, you'll also feel very happy."
So how does she make mooncakes appetizing for the dogs? Chan says:
"Actually, it's very easy--we add meat. For example, we bought duck and we shredded and baked it. When the duck comes out the oven, the dogs fall for the smell, even if there is no sweetener."
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Zheng Jie knocks Laura Robson out of Guangzhou Open
 
In Tennis, Zheng Jie of China has knocked British Number One Laura Robson out of the Guangzhou Open.
Robson broke twice to win the first set comfortably by six games to one, but Zheng fought hard to claim the second set on a tie-breaker and then clinched the rain-delayed third set 6-2.
Zheng will meet Monica Puig of Costa Rica in the final four.
Laura Robson's compatriot Johanna Konta also lost to a home player going out in straight sets to Zhang Shui.
 
 
Italian Open starts with three way tie
 
In Golf…. The first day of the Italian Open has ended with a three way tie.
Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina and German golfer Maximilian Kieffer all shot seven-under-par rounds of 65.
Gonzalez, who has four career European Tour wins, said he was thrilled with his opening round.
"yes today. I hit it perfectly. I only missed two shots from the tee - the second hole and then the par five number nine - and then hit fairway, hit greens, hit some good putts and that's why I made 65.
Marcus Fraser is behind this group by a single shot.
While former winner Francesco Molinari, who claimed his first ever European Tour win here in 2006,shot a five-under-par round of 68.
 
 
Interpol; head says Singapore match fixing arrests significant step
 
Interpol secretary General Ronald K.Noble has said the arrest of 14 people in Singapore is a significant step towards ending match fixing around the world.
"The significance of the Singaporean arrests of fourteen people including one of the world's most notorious match fixers is extraordinary. The Singaporeans for some time now have been criticised for not being serious about fighting match fixing but in fact we saw that when they didn't receive all the evidence from other countries, when they had to conduct their own investigation, they did so aggressively, thoroughly and now they've arrested fourteen suspects including the mastermind for match fixing in this operation."
Twelve men and two women were arrested in early morning raids on Tuesday. Five remain in custosy while the remainders have been allowed to post bail.
Noble said the suspected ringleader is one of the most notorious match fixers in the world.
Meanwhile, Fifa's former security chief Chris Eaton has called for the creation of a dedicated global body to combat match fixing because, he says, the game is in "Crisis".
 
 
Guanzhou R&F join with Chelsea FC to open soccer school
 
On a more positive note, Chinese Superleague Club Guangzhou R&F have teamed up with English Premiere League giants Chelsea to open a soccer school in Guangdong province in southern China.
Guangzhou R&F chairman Zhang Li said the school will help to develop the Chinese football stars of the future, as it will benefit from technical training methods introduced by the English side.
Over the past five months, technical staff from Chelsea's youth training programme have selected 145 boys aged 8 to 12 to study and train at the school.
A number of veteran Chinese players will also be involved.
 
 
Raikkonen says he is leaving Lotus F1 in dispute over pay
 
In Formula One, Lotus Driver Kimi Raikkonen has revealed that his decision to leave next season was caused by a money dispute.
The Finnish racing driver, who is regarded as one of the top four in the world, says he is yet to be paid by the team this season, and with pay and bonuses is owed just shy of 15 million euros.
The 33-year-old, who won the world Championship with Ferrari in 2007, will make a return to that team next season and says he will have no problem fitting back in.
"I know the team, I know the people. Obviously there are some new people and some more have left since I was there, but mostly I think it is the same. So I don't think it will be too difficult to go there and do well. The car will obviously be different, so I think that's the most difficult thing to get the cars right and get them running reliably."
Going into this weekend's Singaporian Grand Prix ,Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is leading the world Championship 53 points clear of Raikkonen's future Ferarri team mate Fernando Alonso.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Breaking Bad Raises Money for Charity; Long Episodes; Cranston in New Role
 
The main stars of hit TV show Breaking Bad have raised over 1-million US dollars for charity.
(breaking bad clip)
Actor Aaron Paul used donation website Omaze to offer fans a chance to win a ride in the show's iconic RV trailer to the screening of the series finale.
Paul is expected to raise over 750-thousand US dollars for his charity the Kind Campaign, an anti-bullying nonprofit organization he and his wife cofound.
In a promo clip for the contest, Paul jokes the winner may have to provide a shoulder for Paul to cry on during the screening of the last episode.
Last month, actor Bryan Cranston raised 303-thousand dollars through Omaze for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The winner of the contest rode with Cranston, Paul, costars Anna Gunn, Bob Odenkirk, and series creator Vince Gilligan in the RV to the premiere of the last season.
In other Breaking Bad news, it has been revealed the final 2-episodes will be about a half hour longer each.
Both episodes are expected to clock in at 75-minutes.
This will be a pleasant surprise for Breaking Bad fans, who are still reeling from last week's violent and emotionally draining episode Ozymandias.
Cranston has already signed on to another major project in the meantime.
Filmmaker Jay Roach, known for hits like Austin Powers and Meet the Parents, has teamed up with Cranston for a feature film about the life of blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo.
Trumbo was one of Hollywood's highest paid writers, known for Spartacus, Papillo, and Roman Holiday.
 
 
Jackie Chan to Build Theme Park in Beijing
 
Hong Kong born action star Jackie Chan has announced he plans to build a theme park in Beijing.
JC World will occupy 2-square kilometers and offer guests to wander 5-main paths each with a separate theme.
Chan aims for the park to give visitors a variety of cultural experiences, as the park will feature multiple items from his personal collection.
The 59-year-old action star explained he was poor when he was young, so when he had money later in life he traveled the world and buying things everywhere he visited.
Chan's antique buildings he has purchased and restored over the years will also be donated to the park.
He went on to explain the park would not charge an admission fee, though some attractions would be ticketed.
Chan is scheduled to begin shooting a new film with Chinese director Zhang Yimou next year.
 
 
Azealia Banks Accuses Lady Gaga of Stealing Song Title
 
Rapper Azealia Banks has accused Lady Gaga of stealing the song title Red Flame.
(lady gaga clip)
Banks alleges Gaga stole the title from a demo Banks had sent her, and used it as the title of one of her own songs of her new Artpop album.
The rapper took to twitter to vent her frustration, calling Gaga out on the alleged theft, and saying she can keep the title, this time it's free, but next time she's charging.
Banks has also recently accused Gaga of running out of ideas.
Gaga responded by saying Banks has a bad attitude.
 
 
The Eagles Music Prompts Stabbing
 
(hotel California clip)
54-year-old Vernett Bader has been accused of attacking her roommate with a knife, after he refused to stop listening to US rock band The Eagles.
The roommate, who lives in the US state of South Carolina with Bader, was listening to the band with his brother.
(desperado clip)
When the roommate did not comply with Bader's request, she grabbed a knife from the kitchen and attacked.
The two men were able to wrestle the knife from her hand, after she swung at the roommate, but she went back into the kitchen to find another.
(love will keep us clip)
Bader admits to stabbing the roommate, but insists it was out of self-defense saying he was choking her.
Bader is still in jail awaiting a bond hearing.
 
 
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
Chinese Foreign Minister says China will continue to push towards a political solution in Syria.
U.S Pentagon to review security after shooting at Washington navy yard.
5.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's Fukushima Prefecture near the Daiichi nuclear plant
Business
Regulators fine JP Morgan over "London Whale" trades
On behalf of the Beijing Hour team, I'm Rebecca Hume in Beijing, hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together!