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

Coming up on the program this evening...

A Chinese scientist earns a share of this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine...

Typhoon Mujigae kills seven in southern China...

An American from South Korea has been released by North Korea...

In Sports...early exits for three Chinese players at the China Open...

In Entertainment...a Chinese comedy sets a record at the mainland box office...

in the 2nd half of the hour, an edition of People In the Know.

All of that coming up in the next hour, but first, just a reminder there are several ways to reach out to us here on the Beijing Hour.

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TopChinese, Irish, Japanese scientists share 2015 Nobel Prize for Physiology or MedicineThree scientists from Ireland, Japan and China have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries that helped doctors fight malaria and infections caused by roundworm parasites.

Professor Urban Lendahl, Secretary of the Nobel Assembly and the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, announced the winners on Monday.

"The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute has today awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with one half jointly to William Campbell and Satoshi Omura for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites, and the other half to Youyou Tu for the discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria."Tu Youyou is China's first ever medicine laureate.

The judges say the two discoveries have provided humankind with powerful new means to combat these debilitating diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people annually.

The medicine award was the first Nobel Prize to be announced. The winners of the physics, chemistry and peace prizes are set to be announced later this week. The economics prize will be announced next Monday. No date has been set yet for the literature prize, but it is expected to be announced on Thursday.

Typhoon Mujigae batters South China, kills 7At least 7 people have been killed after typhoon Mujigae made landfall in Guangdong on Sunday.

Over 220 others were injured as Mujigae hit the provincial capital Guangzhou and the city of Foshan, where a violent tornado wreaked havoc.

Around 40 boats were stranded or have dragged anchor in the waters off the city of Zhanjiang.

Rescue efforts are now underway across affected areas in Guangdong.

Meanwhile, as the typhoon coincides with China's week-long National Day holiday, tens of thousands of tourists heading for Guangdong and neighboring Guangxi have been affected.

N Korea releases detained New York University studentNorth Korea released a South Korean student on Monday, months after detaining him.

Twenty-one year old Joo Won-moon, who had previously studied at New York University, was arrested in the North in April as he attempted to make an illegal crossing into the North's territory from the Chinese city of Dandong.

Joo was returned back to the South at the truce village of Panmunjom on Monday afternoon.

South Korea has hailed the North's decision to return Joo, and is calling for the release of three other South Koreans who have been detained in the North.

Trade talks to top agenda during Merkel's 3-day India visitGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit.

It is the German chancellor's first trip to India since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office last year.

The talks between the two leaders are expected to cover defense and arms sales, infrastructure and better access to the Indian market for German car makers and pharmaceutical companies.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the visit aims to deepen bilateral relations"We are cooperating on development issues, on defence matters and financial relations. We are also, during these inter-governmental consultations, going to prepare for a number of conferences, a number of international meetings such as the upcoming climate conference in Paris."Modi is expected to push his agenda to attract more foreign investment to India, specially in manufacturing.

Merkel is also scheduled to visit India's information technology hub, Bangalore.

Germany is the seventh-largest foreign investor in India.

But last year's bilateral trade was valued at 16 billion euros, well below the 20-billion-euro target set by Merkel four years ago.

MSF demands independent inquiry as death toll from Kunduz hospital bombing rises to 22International charity Doctors Without Borders or MSF has demanded a full inquiry by an independent international body into the air strikes that hit its hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz.

At least twelve staff members attached to the NGO that ran the trauma centre in Kunduz and ten patients were killed. 37 others were injured in Saturday's attackThe U.S. and Afghan governments have promised on Sunday to jointly investigate the deadly attack.

MSF has issued a statement saying the bombings amounted to "a war crime" and relying only on an internal investigation would be insufficient.

Dr. Bart Janssens, Director of Operations for MSF says U.S. fighter jets were responsible for the "sustained bombing" of the hospital.

"So what happened is that one airplane came around five times with very precise bombings, every time on the same building. None of the other buildings were touched, so we believe that this is a very high tech aerial bombardment of our hospital with all the horrible consequences we have seen. For this reason we ask now a clear explanation of the coalition forces and an independent inquiry that is fully transparent to us."Meanwhile, street battles between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in the area continue and officials warned of a looming humanitarian crisis for civilians trapped in the city.

MSF and several other international NGOs have moved out of Kunduz following the bombings on Saturday.

Chemical plant blast injures 7Seven workers at a chemical plant in eastern China have been injured in an explosion.

Authorities in Zhejiang province say the incident happened in Shangyu City Monday morning.

Two of the victims are said to have been seriously injured.

Around 70 firefighters and 22 fire engines rushed to the scene to put out the fire.

They successfully prevented the flames from reaching a nearby warehouse containing 50 tonnes of inflammable chemicals, including sodium chlorate - which is mainly used for bleaching paper.

Corruption in prisons next attentionA senior discipline inspector has told his subordinates to turn the attention of China's anti-corruption campaign on the country's prison system.

Han Henglin is chief of discipline inspection under the Ministry of Justice. He says the prison system in China faces "a severe and complicated situation" in the fight against corruption.

He is stressing a strict need to abide by the rules in day-to-day operations of the prison system. The official has also called for education and promotion of officials within the prison system.

The current leadership of the Communist Party of China has been waging a fierce campaign against corruption since taking office in 2012. Senior leaders and minor bureaucrats alike have been disciplined.

Palace Museum blacklists 2,500 visitors for misbehaviorThe Palace Museum in Beijing has blacklisted 2,500 visitors since June for offences such as vandalism and ticket scalping.

Those on the blacklist will not be allowed to visit the museum for three years.

Media reports say the museum, also known as the Forbidden City, has restored a 300-year-old bronze water vat vandalized by two visitors last month.

A furor erupted online after a photo was posted of names engraved on the vat.

The museum introduced a policy before the holidays capping the number of daily visitors at 80,000, of which 50,000 must be booked in advance online using visitors' identification numbers.

"Hainan Day" kicks off on Jeju IslandChina and South Korea have jointly promoted cultural exchanges as "Hainan Day" has kicked off on Jeju Island, South Korea.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of friendship between Hainan and Jeju.

A series of exhibitions including paintings and calligraphy, sculpture, and cultural activities are featured.

Liu Cigui, Provincial Governor of Hainan, says he believes the cooperation with Jeju will benefit both sides.

"Jeju Island is a very famous tourist destination in the world. Jeju Island and Hainan Island are worthy to be friends to learn the experiences from each other, especially in tourism, ecological environmental protection and modern service industry. We expect that the 'Jeju Day' will be held in Hainan in November. I think this will further boost the communication between both."Liu has added that Hainan is also committed to the construction of an international tourism island.

The governor of Jeju Province Won Hee-ryong has also attended the opening ceremony of "Hainan Day".

"At this happy moment, I'm glad to attend the activity of "Hainan Day." I think the event will become a window between artists in Hainan and Jeju to interact as well as establish a profound friendship."In addition, Hainan Province is set to participate in other events which will be held in Jeju later this month, such as China-South Korea Friendship Festival as well as Jeju Tamna Cultural and Food Festival.

Butlers - the latest must-have for China's nouveau richeAnchor:

China's increasing affluence has created a demand for European-style butlers among the status-hungry upper class.

But as CRI's Poornima Weerasekara reports, those entering this new service industry face an uphill battle as they try to transform themselves into perfectly-groomed, well-trained butlers.

Reporter:

The rise of China's super-rich has created a new service industry – European-style butlers who can set perfect tables with matching cutlery, manage villas and even stack expensive cigars neatly in a box.

Du Yinuo, Professor of Etiquette at the Sichuan Film and Television University, who has been training aspiring young Chinese to become butlers, says having a good butler has now become a status symbol for the super-rich.

"After improving their material life, people now want to attain more spiritual enjoyment and taste a certain lifestyle. A butler can provide that. So more and more people are thinking: 'Oh, I want a butler too.'"The growing industry has lured one of the world's top schools for butlers to set up a branch on the Chinese mainland.

The International Butler Academy started offering classes in Southwest China's city of Chengdu last year.

The school runs an extensive 6 week program targeting those who want to become full time butlers or those who want to work in the luxury service industry.

But aspiring students face an uphill battle when trying to master foreign etiquette and a work ethic that are quite different from what they are used to.

Zhang Zhejing is a student at the International Butler Academy.

The 38-year-old former high-school English teacher from Shandong province in eastern China says she decided to train as a butler because of the higher earning potential in the service industry, compared to being a teacher.

"If I were to be a teacher until I retire, I would realize my life would always be the same. I do not want this kind of life, I want more choices for myself, so I came here."Christopher Noble, head of training at the Chengdu-based academy, says one of the challenges that they have with students is convincing them to put others ahead of themselves.

"In other words, to think of your principal, or to think of your fellow students, or to think of your fellow instructors…Have their feelings before yours."Noble believes that the ever-increasing number of luxury hotels and properties in China is proof butlers have a bright future here.

Many luxury property developers in China are hiring butlers to work in showrooms or for new owners of luxury apartments.

The number of dollar millionaires in China has grown rapidly in the past decade. For many in this super rich class, a well-trained butler is now a necessity rather than a luxury.

For CRI, I'm Poornima WeerasekaraChinese electronics giant Hisense expands in Southern AfricaChinese electronics manufacturer, Hisense, is expanding into Southern African countries.

The move is in line with its commitment to both South Africa and the continent as a whole.

Hisense has launched a new range of class leading smartphones, televisions and fridges in Zambia, which now means the company has established a presence in 15 African countries.

The electronics manufacturer has set up factories in South Africa, Egypt and Algeria over the past 10 years.

It has also established an export division to cater to Southern African countries, including Madagascar, Ghana, the Seychelles and Zambia.

China Pavilion a hit with visitors at Expo Milano 2015The China Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 has welcomed more than 2 million visitors since its opening on May 1, becoming one of the most popular pavilions.

An official with the Pavilion told China Daily that this is the first time China has built a pavilion at a world expo independently.

The China Pavilion has a total area of 4,590 square meters, making it the second-largest pavilion after the Italian one.

Xinjiang Doctor Dedicated to Traditional Kazakh MedicineAnchor:

Today, we continue our series on the lives of people in Xinjiang.

The large majority of China's Kazakh ethnic minority populate the mountainous areas in north Xinjiang, where the terrain contains vast grasslands, primitive forests and hot springs.

The diverse natural conditions in the region provide a variety of resources and wildlife, such as geothermal energy, herbs and animals with substantial medical value.

For thousands of years, Kazakhs and their ancestors have made use of the rich resources and developed a unique set of treatment methods.

Mausharip Hapa is a doctor who has dedicated his life to Kazakh folk medicine.

Today our reporter Poornima tells the story of the Kazakh doctor.

Reporter:

Mausharip Hapa introduces the herbs in his storeroom.

Mausharip was born into a family of medical professionals in Fuhai County, in north Xinjiang's Altay District.

The 61-year-old's interest in traditional Kazakh medicine started from an early age.

Before going to medical school, Mausharip had already had years of practical medical experience, as he visited patients with his father, who was also a Kazakh doctor.

He explained that he picked up his medical skills on the horseback as he moved around with his nomadic family.

"I was born into a Kazakh medical family. When I was little, the conditions were very poor for me to study. I learned on the horseback. And I began visiting patients with my father."As a teenager, Mausharip had to visit patients with his father from family to family due to the lack of advanced transportation systems and hospitals in the Gobi desert and winter pastures.

He said most of the patients at that time were herdsmen, and they moved in mountainous areas all year round.

Therefore he and his father had to visit the yurts of their patients, either on foot or on horsebacks.

He added it was quite common to take three or more hours traveling alone in desolate mountains. Many incidents happened during his visits to the patients.

Mausharip recalls a moment when he was badly hurt in a bitterly cold winter night.

"We visited patients on foot. We didn't have bicycles at that time. It was a cold winter night. I rode a horse to visit a patient. The horse suddenly ran wildly on my way back home, and I fell down from the horse and broke my legs. I suffered fractures on both of my legs. I walked three hours back home. It was really a tough time."Mausharip said fractures are commonly seen in the region, which is largely populated by nomads.

Kazakh doctors are quite familiar with the structure of skeletons and are known for their skillful treatment methods for this kind of wounds.

Mausharip showed some of his inventions, including fixators for fractures.

He said the work is not complicated.

He remembered one day when he cured a young man who fell down from a roof top.

"A twelve-year-old boy fell down from the rooftop. He dislocated his legs and knees. I wrapped up his hurt legs with leather made of lamb skin and fixed the broken legs with these sticks. He recovered from the injury and went back to school. "Years of practical experience and academic studies helped him become an expert at a young age.

After graduating from the Xinjiang Medical College at age 20, Mausharip went back to his hometown and became a professional doctor.

In 1992, he and his friends built a hospital from a deserted warehouse in the remote small county near Fu Hai.

He hoped to improve medical services for local residents by building hospitals.

Mausharip said he and his friends built three humble houses as consulting rooms with their bare hands.

He also won support from the local government in his efforts to improve local medical facilities.

"There was no hospital or doctor in the small county at that time. Local residents could not even seek help from doctors when they fell ill. When I came here, I worked with my fellows to build three houses with large clods on our own. The local government also spared five houses for us and helped us build a humble hospital. The hospital expanded two years later, and more patients came to us. "Mausharip has also been dedicated to promoting the Kazakh folk medicine.

From 2011 to 2012, he went to Almaty and Istanbul to attend international traditional medicine conferences and delivered his ideas on the development of Kazakh medicine and its treatment methods.

He believes many folk treatment methods come from thousands of years of experience and are quite practical.

"This book talks about traditional Kazakh medicine. I sometimes receive patients at my home after I retired. Traditional medicine still works in modern time. Some patients travel a long distance to Xinjiang to visit me. I will receive two patients from Gansu Province, who will come just to see me."The sixty-year-old is still dedicated to his folk medical studies after retirement.

Even now the talented doctor often volunteers at a free clinic for local residents.

For CRI, I'm Poornima.

Jack Ma's Oil Painting Auctioned for CharityAn oil painting created by Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba Group, and Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi has been auctioned for 42.2 million Hong Kong dollars or more than 5 million U.S. dollars.

It was originally valued at 2.5 million Hong Kong dollars by Sotheby's Auctions.

The painting, titled "Paradise," was executed on a round canvas in 2014. It portrays Planet Earth and aims to remind mankind to protect the environment and treasure nature.

According to the auction company's website, the proceeds will go to a non-profit environmental conservation organization founded by Chinese philanthropists and conservationists.

Three Chinese crash out, injured Halep withdraws at China OpenThree Chinese players, Zhang Shuai, Han Xinyun and Zheng Saisai, crashed out during the first round of the China Open on Sunday, leaving Wang Qiang the only local representative in the women's singles second round.

Top seed Simona Halep handed qualifier Lara Arruabarrena an easy win after retiring with a left ankle injury.

Wang Qiang saw off left-handed Varvara Lepchenko 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 on Saturday to continue China women's hopes on home court.

In another upset at the China Open on Sunday, second seeded Petra Kvitova went down to Italian Sara Errani 7-5, 6-4.

In the first round of the women's doubles, China's Liang Chen and Wang Yafan beat Belinda Bencic and Barbora Strycova 4-6, 6-1, 11-9.

The men's singles and doubles matches will kick off on Monday.

Goalkeeper saves three penalties in Belgian Pro League matchIn the Belgian Pro League on Sunday, Anderlecht drew 1-1 with Mechelen in an extraordinary match featuring three penalty saves and a last-minute own goal on Sunday.

Mechelen goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet was the hero for the visitors, saving three penalties as Anderlecht threw away several chances to pick up three points.

They led 1-0 with a few seconds remaining of injury-time, only for defender Kara Mbodji to score an own goal and hand Mechelen a highly unlikely point.

Film "Lost in Hong Kong" top hit in ChinaA Chinese comedy "Lost in Hong Kong" has raked in 1.3 billion yuan or 210 million U.S. dollars as of Sunday.

It has become the top-grossing 2D domestic film of all time on the Chinese mainland.

The film, released on September 25, is a sequel to "Lost in Thailand".

Director and actor Xu Zheng on Sunday expressed his gratitude to viewers on his Weibo, soliciting more support from movie fans.

Hugh Jackman attends NY Pan' premiereHugh Jackman, Rooney Mara and Levi Miller brought Neverland to Manhattan on Sunday night, for the New York premiere of their new movie "Pan" - the latest screen adaptation of J. M. Barrie's classic story, Peter Pan.

Jackman plays the pirate Blackbeard in the movie.

The X-men star says it was fun to dress up in lavish costumes to play the part of the legendary one-legged villain.

The film doesn't stray too far from the original story-line of the novel. It portrays an orphan who discovers his true destiny after being spirited away to the fantastic world of Neverland, and finally becomes a hero by saving Neverland from the ruthless pirates.

WeatherBeijing will see some fog tonight with a low of 15 degrees Celsius; smog tomorrow with a high of 25.

Shanghai will have slight rain tonight with a low of 19; overcast tomorrow with a high of 24.

Chongqing, slight rain overnight with a low of 18; overcast tomorrow with a high of 23.

Lhasa will be clear tonight with a low of 7; sunny tomorrow with a high of 22.

Elsewhere in Asia,Islamabad will be sunny tomorrow with a high of 33.

Kabul, cloudy, 22.

Down in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sydney will be sunny with a high of 30.

Brisbane, cloudy, highs of 27.

Perth, sunny, 21.

And finally Auckland, New Zealand will be cloudy with a high of 18 degrees Celsius.

That's all the time we have for this abbreviated, holiday edition of the Beijing Hour.

Recapping our top stories.

A Chinese scientist earns a share of this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine...

Typhoon Mujigae kills seven in southern China...

An American from South Korea has been released by North Korea...

Coming up in the next half-our, an edition of People In the Know.

On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Shane Bigham in Beijing hoping you join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour, to open a window to the world together.