新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/10/30

The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Paul James with you on this Wednesday, October 30, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Iran's parliamentary speaker has arrived in China for a visit, while negotiators for his country make progress in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
US President Barack Obama has admitted his administration has advised the NSA about its surveilence programs.
A city councillor from the Philippine capital Manila has delivered a formal apology to the victims of the 2010 Hong Kong hostage crisis.
In Business.... Suning is taking a majority stake in online video providor PPTV.
In sports... NBA basketball is back in swing today.
In entertainment... American pop group The Jonas Brothers are going their separate ways.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be sunny today, with a high of 17 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be clear tonight with a low of 4.
In Shanghai, it will be overcast today, 22 the high, and it will see slight rain tonight, the low of 17 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will have sleet in the daytime the temperature's at 13, and tonight will also have sleet with a low of minus 1 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, cloudy, 26.
Kabul, overcast, with a high of 18.
And in North America
New York, cloudy, with a high of 12 degrees.
Washington, mostly cloudy, highs of 17
Houston, overcast, 28.
Honolulu, slight rain, 29.
Toronto, thundershowers, 7.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, overcast, 25.
And Rio de Janeiro will be overcast with highs of 23 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani visits China
 
Iran's parliamentary speaker has arrived in Beijing for a 4-day visit.
On top of a meeting with State Councillor Yang Jiechi, Ali Larijani has also made a stop at Beijing Foreign Studies University to talk to the students about bilateral ties between China and Iran.
"China and Iran has great potential in two-way cooperation in the fields of trade, politics and security. In the past decades, bilateral relations have development in a sound momentum. In 2012, trade volume between the two countries has reached some 40 billion US dollars and I believe the number will further increase."
Larijani says Tehran and Beijing are playing a significant role in regional and international developments.
"Iran, China along with Russia are situated at the two ends of the Asian continent. We share common interests in both economy, politics and security. We are capable of playing important and fundamental role in regional and international issues, which is fully demonstrated in the Syria issue."
Larijani is the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit China since President Hassan Rouhani took office in August.
 
 
IAEA says Tehran's new proposal makes talks "very productive"
 
Iranian and IAEA negotiators have wrapped up a two-day meeting in Vienna.
Following the talks, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran have issued a rare joint-statement, saying the talks have been "very productive."
Tero Varjoranta is the Deputy Director General of the IAEA.
"Iran presented a new proposal on practical measures as a constructive contribution to strengthen cooperation and dialogue with a view to future resolution of all outstanding issues. Following the substantive discussions it was decided that a further meeting will be held on 11th November in Tehran in order to take this cooperation forward."
Iran and the IAEA have been at odds over access to Iran's Parchin nuclear site.
The Atomic Energy watchdog has been trying to gain access to the site for a number of years.
However, Iran has refused access to IAEA inspectors, citing national security concerns, given the Parchin nuclear facility is located on a military site.
 
 
Latest roundup on Syria
 
Anchor
The UN-Arab League envoy for Syria has met with opposition figures in Damascus as part of a diplomatic push to convince all sides in the lingering conflict to attend peace talks in Geneva next month.
CRI's Li Jing has more.
Report
Lakhdar Brahimi has held talks with Hassan Abdul-Azim, the head of a Damascus-based opposition group.
The group has been calling for regime change through peaceful means.
The domestically-based opposition in Syria is not affiliated with the exiled opposition Syrian National Coalition or the rebel groups fighting to topple the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
One of the key sticking points in getting the opposition to agree to the talks is the issue of Assad's future.
Abdul-Azim says this is for Syrians to decide among themselves.
"We also need electoral and parties' laws to allow for parliament and presidential elections that would put an end to the crisis and finish off the old regime. We can build a new one through democratic and real elections with international, regional, Arabic and national monitoring."
For his part, Lakhdar Brahimi also says its up to Syrian parties to define the future of the country.
"What I always say is that we are preparing for the Geneva summit, which is fundamentally a meeting among Syrian parties, and the Syrian parties are the ones who will define the transitional phase and the post-transitional phase era, not myself who will define it."
At the same time, nearly two-thousand Syrians have fled a war-ravaged Damascus district with the help of aid workers as part of a temporary cease-fire.
The temporary ceasefire comes as part of an agreement between government forces and the rebels to avert a humanitarian crisis.
The evacuation has been made possible after reports of starvation and disease in the western suburb triggered an international outcry.
Meanwhile, the UN's health agency says it has confirmed a new polio outbreak in the country's northeast.
10 cases of the highly-infectious disease have been confirmed.
Dozens of others are believed to be infected.
World Health Organization spokesman Oliver Rosenbauer.
"Initially there were 22 AFP (Acute Flaccid Paralysis) cases that were being investigated as part of this cluster and out of ten of those cases they've isolated wild polio virus type 1."
The new polio outbreak is mostly affecting babies and toddlers.
UN officials are warning about the potential of the disease to spread, noting the lingering civil conflict has severely reduced vaccination programs.
For CRI, this is Li Jing.
 
 
Obama comments on spying allegations
 
U.S. President Barack Obama has officially admitted the White House has given policy directions to the National Security Agency's surveillance program.
However, Obama contends the NSA has developed and expanded its own spying operations without administration influence.
At the same time, Obama says his administration is currently reviewing the NSA's surveillance operations.
"I'm the final user of all the intelligence that they gather. But they're involved in a whole wide range of issues. And we give them policy direction, but what we've seen over the last several years is their capacities continue to develop and expand and that's why I'm initiating now a review to make sure that what they're able to do doesn't necessarily mean what they should be doing."
The comments by Obama follow revelations the NSA has been spying on dozens of foreign leaders.
The revelations are forming rifts among the US and some of its closest allies.
European Union officials are in Washington to get more information about the NSA programs.
They've been suggesting the controversy could affect the negotiations of a planned US-European trade agreement.
 
 
U.S. health official apologizes for Obamacare website glitches
 
A leading official in the Obama administration has issued the first formal apology for the poor roll-out of the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
Speaking before a congressional committee, the woman in-charge of implementing the new insurance program admits the online marketplace for the new program has "not lived up" to the administrations expectations.
Marilyn Tavenner, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, says the rollout of Obamacare has been "unacceptable."
"We know that consumers are eager to purchase this coverage. And, to the millions of Americans who have used healthcare.gov to shop and enroll in healthcare coverage, I want to apologize that the website has not worked as well as it should. We know how desperate you need affordable coverage. Healthcare.gov can and will be fixed and we are working around the clock to deliver the shopping experience that you deserve."
President Barack Obama's landmark legislation, which mandates health insurance coverage for millions of Americans, has been plagued with techinical issues since its launch on October 1st.
Many who have tried to sign up using the US government's website have found it almost impossible to use the system, which has been plaged with shutdowns and errors.
Health care providers have also complained they find it difficult to determine who has signed up to the program.
The Obama administration has since hired a new contractor to try to fix the problems with the system.
 
 
U.N. GA votes to condemn the US economic embargo against Cuba
 
The UN General Assembly has voted to condemn the US commercial, economic and financial embargo against Cuba.
The vote was 188-2, with three abstentions.
The United States and Israel vote against it.
In the wake of this, Cuban foreign affairs minister Bruno Parrilla is calling on the Obama administration to drop the decades-long embargo.
"The blockade is aggressively extra territorial and a violation of international law, which lacerates the sovereignty of other states. It's a transgression of the international rules that govern foreign trade and freedom of navigation. It is a hostile and unilateral act that should cease unilaterally."
Its estimated the embargo has cost the Cuban economy 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars.
Ronald Godard, a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, is defending the embargo.
"The international community cannot in good conscience ignore the ease and frequency with which the Cuban regime silences critics, disrupts peaceful assembly, impedes independent journalism and dispute positive reforms continue to prevent some Cubans from leaving or returning to the island. "
The US imposed the embargo on Cuba in 1962 during the height of the Cold War.
 
 
Court panel withdraws from trial of Muslim Brotherhood chief and deputies
 
The judges presiding over the trial of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood leaders have stepped down, citing "uneasiness" about the trial.
Justice Mohammed el-Qarmouti.
"We step down in both cases and we are sending the cases back to the head of the appeal court. The head of the appeal court will assign these cases to another court. Meanwhile, the defendants remain imprisoned."
Brotherhood defense lawyers contend the judges are being pressured to hold the trial inside a prison.
The move by the panel to recuse itself means the legal proceedings for the 35 Brotherhood figures has to begin again.
Among those charged with various crimes is Brotherhood top leader Mohammed Badie.
Ousted President Mohammed Morsi's trial on charges of inciting murder is due to begin next month.
 
 
French hostages kidnapped in Niger released
 
A group of hostages kidnapped in Niger over 3-years ago have been released.
French President Francois Hollande says the group of 4 have been released and are to be met by France's foreign and defense ministers in the capital, Niamey.
The hostages were kidnapped in September of 2010 while working near the border with Algeria in the Sahel region of northern Africa.
7 other French nationals still remain hostages in the same region of Africa.
French citizens have become targets for kidnappings in certian parts of West Africa in recent years.
France maintained colonial control of much of the region until the mid 20th century.
 
 
Storms cause damage of 130 mln USD in the Netherlands
 
Monday's early winter storm which rolled through parts of northern Europe is now pressing its way into western Russia.
The so-called St. Jude storm is being blamed for hundreds of millions of dollars damage across parts of northern Europe which borders the North Sea.
Officials in the Netherlands estimate the damage to that country is going to cost insurers at least 130-million US dollars.
Hurricane-force winds ripped through the region on Monday and Tuesday, uprooting trees and causing significant flooding in low-lying areas.
The storm has also left numerous people dead across the region.
 
 
Representatives of HK victims, bereaved families meet Philippine councilor
 
A municipal councillor of the Philippine capital, Manila, has met with the families of the victims of the 2010 tourist massacre in Hong Kong.
Bernardito Ang has arrived in Hong Kong to deliver an apology on behalf of the Manila municipal government.
Yik Siu-Ling is one of the survivors of the incident.
"They had a written letter to apologize to us on behalf of the Manila government, not of the Philippines. And had a little compensation."
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung says any decision the families and the survivors make about further action will be respected by the Hong Kong government.
"The prior service object of me and the HK government is the victims and the bereaved families. I will absolutely respect their opinions and decisions and also hope people could give them some rooms and let them make their own decisions that they consider appropriate."
The unprecedented formal apology by the municipal government of Manila runs counter to the official position held by the national government of the Philippines.
The Philippine government, while offering condolences, has refused to offer a formal apology for the 2010 incident, which saw 8 Hong Kong tourists gunned down after a 12-hour hostage taking in Manila.
Philippine President Begnino Aquino III argues offering a formal apology would be an admission of responsibility.
A recently-fired police officer took a group of Hong Kong tourists hostage on a bus in central Manila in 2010, eventually opening fire on the hostages on live television before eventually being shot and killed.
 
 
China decommissions 1st nuclear submarine
 
Anchor
The Chinese military has decommissioned its first-ever nuclear-powered submarine after more than 40 years of service.
CRI's Su Yi has the details.
Reporter
China's first nuclear-powered submarine, the Long March No. 1, has been decommissioned.
It was launched in 1970 and was commissioned to the PLA navy in 1974.
The submarine's nuclear devices have been properly disposed of and scientists have decontaminated the warehouse where nuclear items were stored for the past 40-years.
The submarine will be used as an exhibit after it is released from military service.
The fleet has made many Chinese records, such as being the China's first rocket to be fired underwater and also setting a record for deepest dive.
Over the past 42 years, this team of submariners has sailed over millions of nautical miles, without any accidents.
Li Yanming is commissar from a submarine base.
"Regarding nuclear safety, we focus on systematic development. During the past 40 years, we've been combining the navy bases' cultural, institutional, environmental, and technological improvements, as well as the growth of talents."
When stationed in the base, captains and their crewmembers must check equipment on the boat on a weekly basis so any hazards can be discovered and fixed.
It's the passion and responsibility of protecting their motherland that keeps them working.
Gao Feng, is a Submarine Base Commander.
"We believe that every sail and every dive we have made is a journey to better protect the country."
Taking a nuclear submarine out of service is also a challenge.
The Chinese navy has been conducting research since 2000 on how to properly discharge the submarine, and has written up detailed plans for dismantling its facilities, disposing its nuclear waste as well as several other key issues.
China is now the second nation in the world to have disposed of retired nuclear submarines safely.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
 
 
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
The Dow and S&P 500 ended at record highs on Tuesday after economic data supported views that the Federal Reserve will keep its stimulus program in-place for several months.
IBM also rallied after the company announced a stock buyback.
The Dow ended up 0.7-percent, or 111-points to 15-thousand-680.
The S&P added over 0.5-percent.
The Nasdaq only gained 0.3-percent on the back of Apple shares dropping 2.5-percent because of its disappointing results this week.
In economic data, U.S. consumer spending has increased in September.
However, U.S. retail sales for September decreased 0.1 percent from the previous month.
European stock markets moved higher supported by encouraging earnings reports from prominent firms such as BP.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbed 0.7 percent.
Germany's DAX rose 0.5 percent.
France's CAC 40 added 0.6 percent.
 
 
Australia upholds ban on China's Huawei to bid national high speed Internet program
 
Anchor
A number of experts in Australia are calling on Chinese companies hoping to do business in that country to ensure they do their due-dilligence before trying to enter the market.
This comes as the new Australian administration has decided to uphold a ban on Chinese telecom firm Huawei from taking part in a national broadband project.
The Chinese government has since responded, calling for a fair environment for companies operating in both countries.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has more.
Reporter
Australian law makers issued a statement on Tuesday indicating they are upholding the ban due to security concerns.
Huawei Australia was banned by the former Labor government earlier last year from entering the National Broadband Network project.
Similarly, some Chinese companies seeking trade and investment opportunities in Australia have also encountered obstacles from local regulations and laws.
Administrative procedures, environmental protection rules and labor laws are piling on more costs for them to enter the market.
Jim Harrowell, Chairman of the Chinese Business Council in Australia, says Chinese companies tend to rely on "connections" when doing business.
"Often I say the problems for the Chinese companies coming here is that they don't get proper advice. Sometimes Chinese companies come here and rely on Chinese guanxi, rather than get an straight in advice. If I would do somthing in China, I would get advice from someone in China who knows the Chinese environment, I wouldn't go to mother of one of those Chinese girls working in the office."
He suggests that comprehensive investigations are needed before they approach the Australian market.
Bruce Stracy, who works with a local law firm, says consulting experts and lawyers in cross-border trades would be helpful for these purposes.
"They can then sit down and suggest those key issues. And they can say alright, this hard deal is going to rise and fall on this paticular one. If it goes through, these are irrelavent. Let's not bather even looking at those until we get this one over the line. That consultant being helpful to do that is much better than the senior exicutive attemting to do that."
Jim Harrowell has been trading with Chinese companies for over 20 years.
He says getting to the right person and letting them play their role is crucial.
"If they want good advice, they must tell their advisor the whole story and not part of the story. Their advisers need to know all of their strategy, not a little part. Because if you give advice on the little part, it may not be consistance with the big strategy."
Harrowell also suggests that Chinese companies be open and work as partners with their lawyers rather than just taking advice.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
 
 
China's Suning, Hony Capital to invest $420 mln in PPTV
 
Anchor
The Suning Commerce Group and Hony Capital have announced plans to invest 420-million US dollars in Chinese online TV provider, PPTV.
Suning will invest 250 million dollars to buy a 44 percent stake in PPTV.
This will make Suning PPTV's largest shareholder.
It is believed Hony Capital will make up the remaining 170 million dollar investment, although the statement does not specify that.
The deal also values PPTV at 568 million US dollars.
Its estimated PPTV has more than 3-million users per day.
For more on this, we're joined live now by Benjamin Cavender, associate principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
Questions
1, Why does Suning, China's largest appliance retailer, expand its business into the Internet Industry through purchasing the stakes of PPTV?
2, Some analysts say the move just lay the foundation for the Suning's online retail? Do you agree?
3, Online video is a key aspect of the fast-developing mobile Internet services
For example, Online TV is gearing up to be hotly contested as Chinese Internet firms like Alibaba Group Holdings, Baidu Inc and Xiaomi Tech have all recently expanded into the business.
They are vying with more experienced companies like Sohu Inc and Youku Tudou Inc.
Will Suning take advantage of PPTV to have a chance to be a content creator in the future?
Back Anchor
Benjamin Cavender, associate principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
 
 
Baidu 3rd-Quarter Profit Up 1.3% on Revenue Growth
 
Baidu is reporting its 3rd quarter profits have risen 1.3 percent on the back of stronger revenues from search advertising.
Baidu has posted a profit of 498 million US dollars over the third quarter.
Total revenues are up 42-percent to 1.45 billion US dollars.
Baidu shares are up over 7-percent in after hours trading in the US.
The Chinese firm is also offering upbeat guidance for the fourth quarter.
Baidu says it's expecting revenues to come in between 1.51 to 1.55 billion US dollars.
The estimate is higher than the market consensus of 1.46 billion US dollars.
 
 
Baidu Raises over CNY 1 Bn for Its First Wealth Management Product
 
Baidu says its taken in more than 1 billion yuan in the debut of its online wealth management product 'Baifa' following its Monday's public debut.
Jointly developed along side China Asset Management, the product reportedly boasts a projected annual investment yield of as much as 8 percent.
The move by Baidu is set to try to challenge Alibaba, which launched its 'YuEbao' investment tool this summer..
YuEbao allows online shoppers to put their idle cash in Alipay accounts to invest in fund products.
YuEbao has attracted 55.7 billion yuan worth of deposits as of the end of September.
The new 'baifa' product allows people to invest as little as 1-yuan.
 
 
Samsung's sales outsell Apple's
 
A bumper third quarter shipment record has helped Samsung widen its lead in the global smart phone market over Apple.
Samsung is reporting it shipped 88.4-million smartphones through the July to September period.
This marks a 55-percent surge over the same period last year.
Samsung now controls 35-percent of the global smartphone market.
At the same time, this week Apple reported a 26 percent spike in shipments in the 3rd quarter, moving 33.8 million units.
But this has failed to keep up with the industry's overall growth rate of 45 percent.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani visits China
 
Iran's parliamentary speaker has arrived in Beijing for a 4-day visit.
On top of a meeting with State Councillor Yang Jiechi, Ali Larijani has also made a stop at Beijing Foreign Studies University to talk to the students about bilateral ties between China and Iran.
Larijani says Tehran and Beijing are playing a significant role in regional and international developments.
Larijani is the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit China since President Hassan Rouhani took office in August.
 
 
IAEA says Tehran's new proposal makes talks "very productive"
 
Iranian and IAEA negotiators have wrapped up a two-day meeting in Vienna.
Following the talks, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran have issued a rare joint-statement, saying the talks have been "very productive."
As part of the talks, Iran has delivered a new set of proposals to the IAEA.
A new round of talks has also been scheduled for November 11th.
Iran and the IAEA have been at odds over access to Iran's Parchin nuclear site.
The Atomic Energy watchdog has been trying to gain access to the site for a number of years.
However, Iran has refused access to IAEA inspectors, citing national security concerns, given the Parchin nuclear facility is located on a military site.
Iran insists its nuclear programs are for civilian use only.
 
 
Somali gov't relieved at killing of militant commander in air strike
 
The Somali government is releasing more details about an al-Shabaab commander killed in a suspected US drone strike on Monday.
The government of Somalia says its "relieved" Ibrahim Ali Abdi, also known as Anta Anta, is dead.
Abdi and two others were killed after their vehicle exploded on Monday while enroute to an al-Shabaab-controlled town in southern Somalia.
While the Somali government hasn't confirmed it, eyewitnesses say the attack was a drone strike.
Ibrahim Abdi was said to be al-Shabaab's commander in-charge of coordinating suicide attacks.
The al-Shabaab militant group has been engaged in a battle with the Somali government and its regional supporters since 2009.
The group once controlled much of Somalia during the two decades the country was without a central administration.
 
 
Baidu 3rd-Quarter Profit Up 1.3% on Revenue Growth
 
Baidu is reporting its 3rd quarter profits have risen 1.3 percent on the back of stronger revenues from search advertising.
Baidu has posted a profit of 498 million US dollars over the third quarter.
Total revenues are up 42-percent to 1.45 billion US dollars.
Baidu shares are up over 7-percent in after hours trading in the US.
The Chinese firm is also offering upbeat guidance for the fourth quarter.
Baidu says it's expecting revenues to come in between 1.51 to 1.55 billion US dollars.
The estimate is higher than the market consensus of 1.46 billion US dollars.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Unsafe food fines
Summary
The State Council is asking for your thoughts on a potential revision to its Food Safety Law.
Under the proposed new rules, consumers can ask food producers for compensation that is ten-times the price of the food they purchase.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
Heating will not start early
Summary
Municipal authorities in Beijing says this year's central heating will not start early.
Authorities say the heat will come on as per usual on November 15th.
At the same time, forecasters are warning this winter will be colder than last year, especially in January and February.
GUANGZHOU DAILY
Headline
Guangzhou's GDP growth
Summary
Guangzhou has published its GDP for the first 3-quarters, showing growth of 12-percent.
The report says Guangzhou has achieved fast and steady growth through the upgrading of its overall economic structure.
SOUTH CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
Officer sentenced for setting up robber
Summary
A police officer in Shenzhen has been sentenced to death with two-year reprieve over setting up and murdering a "robber".
The officer paid a woman to call the police and claim being robbed.
After the suspect was detained and released, the officer then shot and killed him, all in a move to try to earn a promotion.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Firewall to monitor FTZ transactions
Summary
Authorities have now formally established their planned firewall that can distinguish accounts set up in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone from those opened outside.
The idea is to monitor capital inflows in real-time to try to prevent hot-money inflows.
This has fostered new suggestions more reforms will be unveiled as part of the central committee's forthcoming plenum next month.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Authorities deny loosening 2nd child limits
Summary
The central government is denying media reports that a new policy is set to come out to allow more couples to have a second child.
Authorities say the current family planning policy is going to be maintained.
Under the current rules, parents who are products of the one-child policy are allowed to have a 2nd child.
CHINA DAILY
Fighting the 'brain drain'
Summary
The report talks about how the government has been trying to lure back overseas Chinese talent with high salaries and incentives.
American stats show that over 80-percent Chinese doctoral holders would like to stay in the US.
 
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
ABC Network apologized for a show that joked about "killing all Chinese" people.
 
Anchor:
American late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has personally issued an on-air apology for a broadcast which spawned wide-spread anger among the Chinese community in the US and other parts of the world.
Addressing the situation as part of his program on Monday, Kimmel says it was not his intention to upset anyone.
As part of the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" program aired on October 16th, one of the children Kimmel was 'interviewing' as part of a skit suggested the US could deal with its debt problems by "killing all Chinese people."
The skit sparked outrage among many in the Chinese community in the US and other parts of the world, forcing the network to issue the apology.
For more on this situation, CRI's Ben Leung and Xu Qinduo spoke earlier with Chinese-American comedian Joe Wang for some perspective.
(Q&A Joe Wang)
Chinese-American comedian Joe Wang speaking with CRI's "The Today Shows" Ben Leung and Xu Qinduo.
 
 
Sports
 
 
100 days to go until Sochi 2014
 
Only 100 days to go until the 2014 Winter Olympics kicks off in Sochi.
Celebrations took place in Moscow to mark the countdown.
Russia has poured a ton of money into these games. Even the classic torch relay has been elaborate, with the flame making stops in the North Pole, outer space, and at the bottom of one of the world's deepest lakes.
The games have cost Russia about 51 billion US dollars, exceeding the 40 bllion reportedly spent by China for the Beijing Olympics.
With that kind of price tag, people are expecting amazing things from the Sochi winter Olympics.
 
 
2013-14 NBA season kicks off today
 
Today is a great day for basketball fans, because the NBA season is officially tipping off with its first set of games.
The Orlando Magic are playing the Pacers in Indiana as we speak.
And in just a few minutes, the Miami Heat will officially kick off their run as defending champions when they take on the Chicago Bulls at home.
The Heat players will be receiving their championship banner and rings in an official ceremony. But once the game starts, the work starts.
Former MVP Derrick Rose is back for the Bulls after sitting out all of last season with a torn ACL.
Chicago fell to the Heat in the east conference semifinals last season, but that was without Rose. So this should be a good game.
Also later this morning, LA franchise rivals the Clippers and the Lakers will hit the court in their opening game.
 
 
Boston Red Sox hold 3-2 series lead going into game 6
 
In Major League Baseball World Series play,
The Boston Red Sox have edged ahead to take a 3-2 series lead after a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday.
The game featured a rematch between starting pitchers Jon Lester for Boston and Adam Wainwright for the Cardinals.
Boston's go-ahead run came from veteran David Ross, when he knocked one inside the left-field line all the way to the seats.
But all Ross wanted to talk about after the game was his pitcher.
"I don't know what else to say about Jon Lester that I hadn't already said. The guy is, he's our backbone. He's our horse when he's out there. We expect a lot from him. He's pitching like the ace he is. I love catching him. I love catching all these guys. We got guys with a lot of passion to pitch for us. And it's fun to go to battle with guys like that. They're going to give it their all every time out."
Lester allowed one run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings, and struck out seven without a walk.
Boston has a shot at clinching their third title in ten years when they return to Fenway Park tomorrow for game 6.
 
 
South Africa's Orlando Pirates and Egypt's Al Ahly to meet in the CAF champions league final
 
In football,
The first leg of the Confederation of African Football Champions league final will get underway later this week.
The Orlando Pirates of South Africa are up against Egypt's defending champions Al Ahly in the final clash.
The Pirates head coach Roger de Sa was honest about the challenge ahead in taking on what he considers to be Africa's elite team.
"Difficult game as you can imagine. You play Al Ahly, it's always going to be one of the top clubs in Africa, club of the century in Africa, I mean they've won all the awards all the stars, so you know very difficult task at hand but we've come through it pretty well so far and we're looking forward to it, to enjoying the moment and having a good time."
The first leg will be played in Johnanesburg, on home turf for the Pirates, before they travel to Cairo for the final leg.
Real Madrid was not laughing over FIFA president Sepp Blatter's recent jokes at the expense of their star forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
During a speech at the Oxford Students Union last week, Blatter made several mocking jabs at the Portuguese player.
He mimicked the way Ronaldo walked, saying that he acted "like a commander on the field of play."
Blatter also said he prefers Lionel Messi and that"one has more expenses for the hairdresser than the other".
According to Madrid's manager Carlo Ancelotti, the club's President sent a letter to FIFA asking that they rectify the lack of respect towards a very professional player.
 
 
Vasek Pospisil out in round one at Paris Masters
 
In tennis,
Round two is underway at the Paris Masters after some final round one matches yesterday.
Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov is through to the next round after rallying from a first set loss to beat veteran Frenchman Michael Llodra, 6-7, 6-3,6-3.
And Canada's Vasek Pospisil crashed out in the first round after being upset by Pablo Andujar of Spain.
Despite sitting 20 slots below Pospisil's world 32 ranking, the Spaniard fought through three sets to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Also, Marcel Granollers of Spain defeated Russia's Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-4.
And Nicolas Mahut of France beat Ukraine's Alexandr Dologopolov, 7-6, 6-1.
 
 
Myanmar field hockey team banking on at least a silver at upcoming SEA games
 
Myanmar is getting ready to host the 27th edition of the South East Asian Games in December.
Besides preparing its venues, the host country is readying its teams as well. One of the sports Myanmar expects to dominate in is mens field hockey, a sport that is being reinstated after being excluded from the past two games.
For the past four months, the team has been training under coach Mohammad Akhlaq Ahmad, a former Olympian for Pakistan.
"Obviously we are going to win a bronze, but we are looking forward. We are looking for (a) silver and we are just keeping our training according to our plan."
Myanmar's confidence was bolstered by a strong performance at a regional level tournament in Thailand.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Jonas Brothers announce split
 
(Jonas Brothers)
The Jonas Brothers are parting ways after reporting "deep rift in the band".
The pop-rock outfit, consisting of brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick, are cancelling their planned North American tour, undoubtedly breaking the hearts of many a teenage fan.
The brothers say that they are definitely taking a break from the band for now, though whether the split is forever is up in the air.
Speaking to the press, the brothers say that they reached the unanimous decision after a meeting earlier this month where they admitted to feeling creatively trapped.
The brothers' seven year stint as tween idols kicked off with their smash hit debut "It's About Time".
This led to a signing with Disney's Hollywoord Records that propelled them to household names, with starring roles in numerous movies and record sales of over 20 million worldwide.
 
 
Kings of Leon and Icona Pop confirmed for MTV EMAs
 
(Kings of Leon)
The Kings of Leon is the latest confirmed act for this year's MTV Europe Music Awards.
Jared and the boys will be performing at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome on November 10th.
Also on the bill is Swedish electro pop duo Icona Pop will also be taking to the stage.
(IconPop)
Their single "I Love It" became a global phenomenon after appearing in an episode of US hit show "Girls", going on to dominate the charts this Summer.
Icona Pop will be joining the bill alongside Robin Thicke and Snoop Dogg, who will be doing a special 20 year anniversary reboot of Gin and Juice.
(Snoop Dogg)
The awards show will be presented by actor and "30 Second to Mars" frontman Jared Leto, Rita Ora and Brigit Mendler.
Topping the nominations this year are Macklemore and Justin Timberlake, who both boast five nods each.
The MTV Europe Music Awards airs live from Amsterdam on Sunday November 10.
 
 
Steve Coogan speaks about working with Judi Dench
 
(Philomena)
After causing a storm on the film festival circuit, "Philomena" is poised to do the same at the theatres.
Helmed by Stephen Frear, the film is based on the true story of the journalist Martin Sixsmith who helps an elderly woman find the child she had 50 years ago born out of wedlock who was taken away by Irish nuns.
Steve Coogan, who plays Sixsmith, also co-wrote the script, which went on to win the Best Screenplay at this year Venice Film Festival.
British screen legend Dame Judi Dench plays the titular role of Philomena, a dream casting for writer Coogan.
"It was only really when I started writing it that I started thinking that, I thought Judi Dench would be top choice really. When I saw the article, I thought, 'hmm, that make the part about her, elderly, Irish lady. There's about a handful of British and Irish people who could play this part, who have real impact.' But after I had spoken to Judi about half way through, it was half way through the writing process I went to Judi and spoke about the story and she responded to it incredibly well.
Coogan, who is perhaps best known for his alter ego Alan Partridge, says he was initially intimidated by the 78 year old Oscar winning veteran.
However, the ever gracious Judi breezily put him at ease.
"I was a little scared at first, a little nervous that I was going to have to really pull my socks up and make sure I did a good job, because I knew she would. But she made me very relaxed. In between takes we'd just be joking and laughing. We'd talk about anything but the script."
Philomena opens in the UK this Friday before opening across the world through November and December.
 
 
China's Got Talent set to return in December
 
Series 5 of "China's Got Talent," is set to hit the small screen after kicking off with a press conference yesterday here in the capital.
This seasons judges actor Liu Ye and superstar Zhao Wei were present to drum up excitement.
Both are taking time off from their busy schedules to offer guidance and counsel to this year's starry eyed hopefuls.
The program's director Yan Min told the press that the program is expecting 50 thousand applicants this year.
The competition looks set to be frightfully fierce, with on screen time only ever available to no more than 200 contestants per year max.
So best to only join the queues if you are truly convinced of your talents, otherwise a distressing wait and fruitless effort would be the only feasible outcome of participating.
"China's Got Talent" will return on TV from the beginning of December.
 
 
 
That's all we have time for on the show as well.
Recapping our top headlines....
Iran's parliamentary speaker has arrived in China for a visit, while negotiators for his country make progress in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
US President Barack Obama has admitted his administration has advised the NSA about its surveilence programs.
A city councillor from the Philippine capital Manila has delivered a formal apology to the victims of the 2010 Hong Kong hostage crisis.
In Business.... Suning is taking a majority stake in online video providor PPTV.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James in Beijing, hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together!