新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2013/07/01

 Monday July 1st, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening.
New laws comes into effect here in China including a new act to care for & protect the elderly.
Anti-government protesters in Egypt storm national headquarters of President Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo.
Wildfires in Arizona kill 19 firefighters.
Business, China's June manufacturing PMI falls to a four-month low.
Sports, we get the latest from Wimbledon with China’s Li Na in action in the 4th round.
Entertainments, Hong Kong filmmakers produce a film about Snowden.
Plus Special reports goes to the Taiwan food festival for the latest delicacies from around the world.
 
 
Weather
 
 
After days of smog and rain, Beijing will finally be able to see some sunny days later in the week. But for tonight, heavy rain with a low of 20 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow sunny with a high temperature of 34.
Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 28;　sunny tomorrow, with a high of 38.
Lhasa will see some showers tonight, 12 degrees the low; cloudy tomorrow with a high of 25.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, with a high of 38.
Kabul, sunny, 31.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, highs of 19.
Canberra, overcast, 16.
Brisbane, rain, 21.
And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 21.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China's new amended labor contract law comes into effect
 
Anchor
A new amended labor contract law has come into effect here in China.
As CRI's Shen Chengcheng reports, it emphasizes that the so-called outsourced workers should get the same amount of pay as regular staff doing the same job.
Reporter:
Outsourced workers only sign contracts with their recruitment agencies, and not the companies they end up working for.
So some companies end up paying their outsourced workers less money than regular staffers.
The new amended law has given a clear definition of outsourced workers.
Uzhitu is the vice chairman of the Finance and Economic Committee of China's top legislature.
"Outsourced workers are temporary workers that hold contracts not longer than six months. They are supplementary, and do work to support the work of regular staffers. Lastly, they are backup workers to fill in for the regular staffers who are on leave."
A Yan is an outsourced worker at a clothing factory. She says workers like herself get lots of unfair treatment at work.
"We didn't get paid the same as the regular staffers before. And this made me feel that I was not part of the team."
Vice chairman Uzhitu says the amended law has included provisions to ensure equality in payment.
"The Labor Law added regulations stating that the three way contracts between outsourced workers, recruitment agencies and companies should indicate that the workers are not underpaid."
Law professor Li Jianfei with China's Renmin University says companies should abide by the new labor law.
"To pay people doing the same different salaries just because they are on different recruitment status is illegal. Their social welfare terms should be the same as well. The same amount of work get paid the same is constitutional."
Some insiders say outsourced workers can go to labor unions of their companies to report any unfair treatments.
If there is not a union in the company, outsourced workers can turn to unions in the district to get remedy.
Workers will also be able to resort to court settlements.
For CRI, I'm SCC.
 
 
New Exit-Entry Administration Law Take Effect
 
Host:
A new Exit-Entry Administration Law has taken effect.
The new law is expected to facilitate exit and entry for both Chinese and foreign citizens.
Xie Zhao has the details.
Report:
The amended law has now made it easier for people to apply for a passport where they live instead of where their permanent residence is registered.
Miss Liao has been working in Beijing for several years.
However, she still has not a Beijing registered household, or HuKou.
If she wants to go abroad, she has to go back to her hometown to apply for a new passport.
"Last October, I was informed to go on an overseas business trip. I have to go back to Zhengjiang because my Hukou is not registered in Beijing. The whole process is exhausting. I asked for three days off to return to my hometown by train. Eventually, my passport was mailed to me by my relative."
The new legislation now allows non-local residents in 43-cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to apply for passports from where they live.
Qu Yunhai is deputy director of Exit and Entry at the Ministry of Public Security:
"Non-local residents, such as employees and their spouses as well as students are the main beneficiaries. Meantime, an increasing number of the retirees are living with their offspring. They have been taken into consideration. For citizens hwo has lost or damaged their passports, they can also apply for a new passport close to where they live."
Meanwhile, the new law includes a new "talent introduction" visa category intended to encourage high-caliber foreign talent to live and work in China.
At the same time, the new law also covers issues related to the illegal employment of foreigners, saying foreigners must obtain valid identification documents when working in China.
Previously, foreigners found to be illegally employed would be fined up to 1000-yuan.
Qu Yunhai says the new law now metes out harsher punishments.
"Now the new law clarifies foreigners who work in China illegally will be detained or expelled from China. Meanwhile, the foreigners illegally employed will face harsher punishment with a fine ranging from 5,000-to 20,000 yuan".
According to the new law, employers or individuals should send invitation letters to foreigners, and they are responsible for the authenticity of the information.
Applicants who provide fake documents or who cannot afford their stay in China will be denied a visa.
Once deported, he or she will be prohibited from entering China for one to five years.
For CRI, this is XieZhao.
 
 
Revised elderly care law goes into effect
 
A revised version of China's elderly care law is now in effect.
It calls on the relatives of elderly people to regularly visit and care for them, including relatives who live seperately from their elderly family members.
The Law for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly is part of government efforts to address issues facing China's growing elderly population.
Zuo Xuejin is the President of the Gerontological Society of Shanghai.
"Regular visits need government policy support, for example, social welfare, free labor mobility, and city housing. At the same time, employers also ought to give employees paid leaves for family visits."
Under the amended law, local governments are also required to give preferential treatment to the elderly in terms of helping them obtain low-rent housing or public rental housing.
The amended law was initially adopted last December by the top legislature.
In 2011, the elderly population in China reached over 180 million people, accounting for 13.7 percent of the country's population.
 
 
Locals condemn terrorist attack in Xinjiang  
 
Anchor
Authorities in Xinjiang say they've apprehended all those involved in last week's rioting near the city of Turpan.
CRI's Lucy Du with more on the terrorist attack.
Reporter:
38-year old Usman Tuerxun lives in the city of Turpan, which is about 65 kilometers away from the township where the terrorist attack took place.
An ethnic Uygur, Tuerxun makes his living growing grape and running a small business.
Though unaffected by the attack, he describes those involved in the attack as villains.
"Don't you think so? Aren't they villains as they killed innocent people? Villains should be caught by the police and imprisoned."
Authorities are describing the 17 people involved in the attack as religious extremists.
One was arrested a day prior to the incident.
Police say the rest of the group, fearing their plans might be revealed, launched the assault on the local police station in Shanshan County.
They also attacked a construction site and a number of other local businesses.
In the end, 24 people were killed, including 2 police officers.
21 others were hurt in the assault, which saw the attackers hack away at people with knives.
Usman Tuerxun says the unrest is unusual for the area.
"I was worried at first. But now the government has dealt with it and we were told that the situation has been back to normal in the county. We don't need to worry any more."
Local authorites have been carrying out 24-hour armed patrols since the attack took place on Wednesday.
The deadly assault is already starting to take its toll on the local tourism industry.
Lu Chunjing is the deputy mayor of Turpan.
"Turpan is an open city, a tourist city, so the tourism industry was affected directly. Like after the riot in July 5th, 2009, the tourism industry was the first economic sector to be affected, yet it was also the first to recover. People in the region have a strong resolution and confidence in a harmonious and stable life, so they have come together to try to maintain social stability."
For CRI, this is Lucy Du.
 
 
Live call-in on Egypt protests
 
Anti-government protests in Egypt have stormed the national headquarters of President Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood in the capital Cairo.
People are reported to have ransacked the building in the eastern Moqattam district and also set it on fire.
Nine people, including one child, have reportedly been killed since Sunday.
Sunday has seen millions taking to the streets across Egypt.
Grassroots opposition movement the Tamarud, who are behind the protests, have given Morsi until Tuesday to resign.
The Tamarud say Morsi would face a campaign of civil disobedience if he does not leave power and allow elections to be held.
Protesters have accussed Morsi of failing to tackle economic and security problems since being elected a year ago.
Now for more on the situation in Egypt we are joined on the line by Chitra Kalyani, a freelance journalist based in Cairo.
…
Back anchor:
Chitra Kalyani, freelance journalist based in Cairo for 20 year.
 
 
PM Rudd presents new government
 
Australia's new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has unveiled his cabinet.
This comes five days after he ousted Julia Gillard following a Labor Party leadership vote.
The cabinet contains a record 11 women and many Rudd backers.
Rudd said the make-up of the cabinet was chosen on merit.
The foreign affairs, defense and home affairs ministers remained unchanged.
Latest polls show the return of Rudd has given his Labor Party a strong bounce ahead of national elections, slated for September 14th.
 
 
Firefighters die in Arizona wildfire
 
At least nineteen firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire in the central US state of Arizona.
They died while fighting the blaze threatening the town of Yarnell, some 80 miles northwest of Phoenix.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Asian Stock
 
Chinese shares went up today despite weak purchasing managers' index data.
The shares opened lower as the newly-released PMI came in, but the market reversed losses in the afternoon driven by bargain hunting after a seven-day losing streak in late June.
The media and entertainment sector led Monday's gains by edging up 4.4 percent.
When the markets closed,
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.8 percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index added 0.3 percent.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng closed up 1.7 percent.
Elsewhere in Asia,
Japan's benchmark Nikkei average climbed 1.3 percent to a one-month high on the Bank of Japan's business confidence report.
However, in South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI fell 0.4 percent amid lingering concerns over the U.S. exit from quantitative easing.
In Singapore, the benchmark Straits Times finished down 0.3 percent.
Finally, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 1.9 percent.
 
 
China's June manufacturing PMI falls to 50.1
 
China has reported a slowdown in growth in the manufacturing sector, as the purchasing mangers' index for the sector fell to 50.1 percent in June.
The index hits a new fourth-month low, from 50.8 in May.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 means contraction.
The sub-index for production moved down to 52-percent from 53.3-percent in May.
New orders lost 1.4 percent to hit just above 50-percent.
Analysts' with the Development Research Center of the State Council say the drops indicate a downward pressure on the economy.
Meantime, HSBC released its PMI for the manufacturing sector which focuses more on small and medium-sized manufacturers.
This PMI reading dropped to 48.2 in June, from May's 49.2 - hitting a nine-month low.
Earlier, HSBC cut its forecast for China's GDP growth to 7.4-percent, down from its previous forecast of 8.2-percent.
For more on this, we are now joined on the line with Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.
…
Back Anchor:
That was CRI's financial commentator Cao Can.
 
 
Liquidity shortage eases in Chinese banks
 
The China Banking Regulatory Commission says the liquidity shortage in this country's banking system is starting to ease.
CBRC Chair Shang Fulin made the suggestion over the weekend at a financial forum in Shanghai.
"As of June 28, the total excess reserve of all financial institutions reached 1.5 trillion yuan, more than double the normally demanded amount for payment and clearing services. The deposit reserve ratio stands at around 20 percent, indicating adequate position for payment. In recent days, the liquidity shortage among banks has started to ease and will not affect the stable operation of Chinese banks."
Chinese banks have been struggling with record-high interbank interest rates in recent weeks.
The Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate, or SHIBOR, spiked from the normal rate of around 3-percent to nearly 13.5-percent around a week ago.
The SHIBOR is now hovering around 5-percent following a pledge by the central authorities this past week to provide targeted liquidity injections for certian banks.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Death toll in Egypt's clashes rises to 9
 
At least nine people, including one child, have been killed in Egypt following violent clashes between protesters and government supporters across Egypt.
More than 630 others have been injured.
The Egyptian Presidency has said Sunday that dialogue is the only option to get the country out of the current political crisis.
Protesters are calling for the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi.
Grassroots opposition campaign the Tamarod says it has collected more than 22 million signatures to push for early presidential elections.
It has given Morsi until Tuesday to resign, calling for civil disobedience if he stays.
Over the past week, clashes between Morsi's opponents and supporters have killed at least 17 people and injured more than 1,000 others nationwide.
 
 
New exit-entry law goes into effect in China
 
A new law designed to facilitate exit and entry for both Chinese and foreign citizens has come into effect.
The law includes a new "talent introduction" visa category to encourage high-caliber foreign talent to live and work in China.
The minimum stay for foreigners holding work certificates has been shortened to 90-days.
It also states that Chinese nationals who have lived abroad can identify themselves by showing their passports when returning to China.
It used to be difficult for overseas Chinese to return to China for work, as they do not have Chinese resident ID cards.
 
 
China issues alert as tropical storm Rumbia nears
 
Central government here in China has issued an early disaster warning asking local governments to prepare for the arrival of tropical storm Rumbia.
Rumbia, is the sixth tropical storm to hit China this year.
It is expected to make landfall in coastal areas in Guangdong and Hainan tonight or tomorrow morning.
The strong storm may also be felt in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan in southwest China.
Local authorities have been asked to evacuate residents in threatened areas and call fishing boats back to port.
 
 
Australia's economy forecast to expand
 
The Australian economy has continued to expand in the first quarter, despite uncertain global conditions.
Australian Trade Commission says the country's economy rose 0.6 percent in the quarter to March.
The ATC report also shows average GDP growth of 3.3 from 1992 to 2013.
This is driven by an annual growth of 7-percent in private business investment and 5- percent for exports.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Xinhua
 "Revised elderly care law goes into effect"
A revised version of the Law for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly has taken effect urging the relatives of elderly people to regularly visit and care for them.
The legislation is part of government efforts to address issues facing China's growing elderly population.
The amended law specifies relatives should attend to the needs of their elderly family members and those who live separately from their elderly relatives should visit them regularly.
China Daily
 "Stronger laws urged to protect personal information"
Legal experts have called for tougher measures to ensure the security of personal information.
This comes after police detained 4 people accused of illegally purchasing students' family details and defrauding money from their parents.
Police say the suspects called the students' parents in Shanghai, disguising themselves as doctors and teachers, and asked them to transfer money.
Police said they also seized a list that contained the names and personal information of 400 other Shanghai students.
Scientific America
"Is There a Formula for Better Cities?"
For the first time, more people now live in cities than the countryside—a trend of increasing urbanization which is expected to continue.
Based on data from thousands of cities on everything from number of patents generated to road lengths, researchers at the Santa Fe Institute have uncovered the math by which human settlements grow from town to city to metropolis.
For example, a social network between people within the city grows in a mathematical relationship with the increase in the size and quality of infrastructure, such as roads, power lines and the like.
Negative factors such as crime and traffic congestion also give an insight into the size and growth of a city.
Researchers suggest enacting policies which encourage a denser web of human connections for optimal urban function, which will minimize costs of transportation and energy use.
The Strait Times
"Experts answer questions on masks, PM2.5, staying indoors"
Switching on your home fan is not advisable during hazy conditions because it stirs up indoor particles, and well-ventilated classrooms are safer for children than the outdoors even if they lack air-conditioning.
These were among the answers three experts gave to Straits Times online readers in a specially organized forum.
Experts also said there is no scientifically proven way of purging small, toxic particles called PM2.5 from the human body.
The best way to limit their impact is to wear face masks outdoor during the haze. The National Environment Agency also suggests using indoor air purifiers.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Taiwan Food Festival
 
Anchor:
Dishes from around the globe are being served up at a food show in Taipei.
The latest kitchen gadgets are also being shown off at the event, which is bringing in thousands of visitors.
Li Dong has the details.
Reporter:
The red "Sweet Drop" pepper, found in Peruvian rainforests, is one of the more unusual foods on show here at the Taiwan International Food Show. It looks like a mini pear, but it is actually a pepper.
It can be eaten as a snack or used in various other dishes, including as a topping for pizzas.
Sandra Polanco, from Gandules, a Peruvian agricultural company, says its flavors are attracting more and more fans - including children.
"It can fit either salads or deserts or in bread or with any kind of food that you would like it for the summer or the winter. And the special size and the special color is very unique and attract people even the kids they like it. It's like candies. It's a pepper but it sometimes works like a fruit."
While many of us like to eat fruit, others like to get creative with it.
Kao Shih-Da is a fruit sculptor and has been in the business for more than ten years. He says this round, green exhibit has been made out of watermelon.
"I wanted to use different fruit to make colorful sculptures."
Kao Shih-Da also uses taro to carve out creations. He is showing off some very delicate and detailed statues at the show.
"I prefer to use taro because it's firm enough and it's easy for me to do the carving."
This four-day show, which started on 26 June, is bringing together more than 1,500 companies and is expected to attract more than 60-thousand visitors in all.
As well as food, there is also the latest kitchen technology on show here.
YOEN Electronic, a Taiwanese high tech designer and manufacturer, is here to demonstrate an air cleaning device. Wang Chien-Hua is the company manager.
"Our filtering system has the capabilities to intercept and clean oil mist in the smoke. It's not just filtering the smoke from the kitchen or restaurant interior. It can also create fresh air. The clean air that comes out of our system has been qualified as fine particulate air by the Environmental Protection Administration. Our system is the only qualified system that turns oil mist smoke into clean and non smelling air."
Around two thousand overseas buyers are expected to bring 120 million US Dollars worth of business opportunities to the event, which finishes on 29 June.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Sports
 
 
4th round action of Wimbledon including Li Na and Novak Djokovic
 
Starting with tennis and action resuming in the 4th round of Wimbledon today.
Petra Kvitova playing Carla Suarez Navarro at the moment.
David Ferrer against Ivan Dodig.
Also in action Li Na playing Roberta Vinci
Agnieszka Radwanska facing Tsvetana Pironkova
Beginning in just under half an hour's time, Serena Williams will be facing Sabine Lisicki on Centra Court, followed by Mikhail Youzhny and Andy Murray, then Novak Djokovic and Tommy Haas.
Laura Robson meanwhile, will be starting off proceedings at court no. 1, against Kaia Kanepi.
They'll be followed by Andreas Seppi playing Juan Martin Del Potro, then Bernard Tomic and Tomas Berdych.
 
 
Chinese Super League updates + Confederations Cup reax
 
On to football, firstly here in China, some games played over the weekend.
Beijing Guoan also drawing 1-1 with Qingdao Jonoon, while Shanghai SIPG beat Jiangsu Sainty 2-1.
Tianjin Teda - just the one goal against Shanghai Shenxin for the 1-0 win. Changchun also beating Liaoning by the same scoreline.
2 of the top 3 sides also in action against each other - Shandong Lunhe and Guizhou Renhe sharing the points with a 1-1 draw.
Shandong remaining 2nd on 30 points 3 ahead of Guizhou as a result of that.
Shanghai Shenhua also drawing 1-1 with Guangzhou R&F.
But the highest scoring game was between Hangzhou and Dalian. Hangzhou going in front thrice only for Peter Utaka to equalise as many times, before getting a 90th minute winner to complete a remarkable comeback. 4-3 the final score there for Dalian.
Just kicking off in a few moments time - Wuhan and league leaders Guangzhou Evergrande, who will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.
And in the confederations cup, Brazil of course beating Spain 3-0 for their 3rd consecutive and 4th title overall.
"It was a marvellous win, putting together the chemistry and the work we've been doing for a long time with Felipe (Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari) at the head. At one point, there was a lack of confidence between the players and the staff and a lack of confidence externally, but we were just able to get all the fans back on our side."
Brazilian striker Fred there, who scored the first and the last goal of the match to seal that win.
They're the first side to ever win it thrice in succession. Some pundits saying it's a sign of intent from the Brazilans ahead of the world cup next year, which will of course be hosted by them.
 
 
Tour De France Stage 3 getting underway
 
In cycling, stage 3 of the Tour De France is underway at the moment.
Stage 2 was won by Belgian, Jan Bakelants finishing a minute ahead of the chasing pack.
Peter Sagan finishing 2nd, followed by Michal Kwiatkowski in that stage.
Bakelants with the win has moved to the top of overall classification, and he's followed by David Millar.
Stage 3 is an over 145 kilometre stretch from Ajaccio to Calvi featuring a number of climbs so some surprises may be on the way.
 
 
Rosberg wins British Grand Prix
 
In Formula 1,
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg winning quite an eventful British Grand Prix over the weekend, just ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber.
Fernando Alonso finishing 3rd, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.
The race had 6 cars suffering from tyre failures and two safety car interventions - one of which was to retrieve championship leader Sebastien Vettel's Red Bull.
The German forced to retire with a gearbox failure, which means Alonso's 3rd place finish reduces Vettel's lead at the top of the standings to 21 points.
Raikkonen is 3rd on the drivers' championship - 33 points behind the leader, while Lewis Hamilton is next - another 9 points adrift.
Next up, the German Grand Prix in Nurburgring, which will be next weekend.
Ahead of that, McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh has urged Pirelli to come up with a solution to the tyre blow-outs which happened during Sunday's race.
The Sporting Working Group is meeting this Wednesday to discuss the issue, but Whitmarsh says it might be too late to make a change for next weekend by then.
 
 
Rugby + Golf updates
 
Just finally, in rugby the British & Irish Lions of course lost the 2nd test to Australia on Sunday which means next weekend's final game will be the series decider.
Unfortunately for the Lions, captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Saturday's game with a hamstring injury.
He suffered the injury during their 16-15 loss to the Wallabies, and Irishman Sean O'Brien is expected to fill in as skipper for the Welshman.
And in golf, the Irish open seeing Englishman Paul Casey winning his first title in 2-and-half years. He had a round of the day 67 to pick that one up.
On the PGA Tour, Bill Haas winning the AT&T by 3 strokes - his first victory since February last year and his 5th career victory overall.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Hong Kong Filmmakers Make Film About Snowden
 
Four Hong Kong filmmakers have finished production on a new short film about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The amateur filmmakers shot the film in under a week in Hong Kong, the city Snowden sought refuge after revealing details of the US' National Security Agency's massive online spying program PRISM.
The 5-minute film titled Verax after Snowden's code name re-imagines the buildup to Snowden's revelations.
The filmmakers cast their friend who bears a striking resemblance to Snowden as the lead and shot in major locations including the hotel Snowden gave his famous interview.
The film has been uploaded to youtube and cinematographer Edwin Lee says they hope Snowden himself watches and approves.
The Quiet American director Phillip Noyce is planning to shoot a Hollywood version of the story featuring Liam Hemsworth as the whistleblower.
Though now they cannot claim to be the first film about Edward Snowden.
 
 
Pixar Plans More Original Stories
 
Pixar animation studios has planned on cutting back on the number of sequels it produces and instead focus on original storytelling.
The studio responsible for films such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Up have recently released Monsters University the sequel to 2001's Monsters Inc.
3 of the last 4 Pixar film have been sequels with last year's Brave being the only original film.
After announcing the decision Pixar's president said making original films is important for the creative process and for artistic reasons.
The basic plan for the studio is to release an original film every year with a sequel appearing every other year.
At the moment Pixar is working on 3 films, with 2 of them being original and the third being Finding Dory a sequel to Finding Nemo which will swim into theaters in 2015.
The new films are titled The Good Dinosaur and Inside Out, which will take place within the mind of a young girl.
Inside Out is schedule for a summer 2015 release.
 
 
Game of Thrones Casts New Character
 
HBO's insanely popular Game of Thrones series has cast an important role for its next season, season 4.
Chilean actor Pedro Pascal will take on the role of Oberyn Martell, The Red Viper of Dorne.
Show producers admit casting the role was difficult as the character must be sexy and charming but, and likeable yet driven by hate.
Game of Thrones is based on the best selling book series a Song of Ice and Fire by US author George RR Martin.
The Red Viper appears in the third book A Storm of Swords to diplomatically avenge the brutal death of his sister and nephew.
 
 
Cirque du Soleil Performer Falls to Her Death
 
A French performer with Cirque du Soleil's Ka performance has died after falling 50-feet during a show in Las Vegas.
The performer, Sarah Guyard-Guillot was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Witnesses say the fall happened towards the end of the MGM Grand show when the 31-year old performer was being hoisted up the side of the stage.
Guillot appeared to slip from her safety wire before plummeting into a pit below the stage.
The audience initially thought it was a part of the act until the show came to an abrupt stop moments later.
Guillot, a mother of 2, had been a part of the original cast for the Ka show for 6-years and was an acrobatic performer for 20-years.
Officials with Cirque du Soleil are working with police and have offered full cooperation to conduct an investigation into how the fall occurred.
 
 
Eminem Discusses Drug Addiction, Rehabilitation
 
US rapper Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem, has opened up about his drug addiction and overdose in a new documentary.
The controversial rapper says he didn't even realize he had an addiction until he had to be hospitalized.
Mathers was taking a combination of prescription drugs including Valium, Xanax, and Vicodin.
In the documentary he says he brushed aside accusations of having a drug problem since he wasn't taking harder drugs like heroine or crack.
His recovery included relearning speech and motor skills and though he has relapsed since then, he has now kicked the addiction and is presently clean.
The film called How to Make Money Selling Drugs also features interviews with actor Woody Harrelson and rapper 50-cent.
Eminem has been working on a highly anticipated new album, which is due out by the end of the year.
Though the album remains untitled it has already made the several Most Anticipated Albums of 2013 lists from several different publications.