新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2014/04/30

The Beijing Hour

 

Evening Edition

 

 

Paul James with you this Wednesday, April 30, 2014.

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

Coming up on the programme this evening...

The UN Security Council has met to discuss the latest situation in Ukraine, with Russia's role taking the lead focus.

Iraqis are taking to the polls today in that country's first parliamentary election since the withdrawal of US troops.

The Chinese government is rolling out new tax incentives for employers.

In business, Shanghai Disney is being given a new cash injection ahead of its planned opening next year.

In sports, Beijing Guo'an in action tonight in the Chinese superleague.

In entertainment, Chinese acting legend Maggie Cheung is set to appear at this year's Strawberry Music Festivals.

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will be clear tonight with a low of 16 degrees Celsius. Thundershowers tomorrow with a high of 29 degrees.　

Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 16, cloudy also tomorrow, with a high of 27.

Chongqing will be clear, 17 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 30.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, rainy with a high of 37.

Kabul, cloudy, 27.

Over in Australia

Sydney, overcast, high of 19.

Canberra, sunny, 16.

Brisbane, thundershowers, 27.

And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 23.

 

 

Top News

 

 

Developments in Ukraine "should alarm us all"

 

Anchor

The UN Security Council has met for the first time since a group of European observers were taken hostage by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine a few days ago.

CRI's Qi Zhi has more.

Report

The discussions at the meeting have included demands by UN officials that the 7 members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe taken hostage be released immediately.

Jeffrey Feltman is the UN's Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

"The U.N. strongly condemns this act and urges those responsible to release monitors and staff immediately, unconditionally and unharmed. I urge all those with influence on the situation to assist urgently in resolving it. Lives are potentially at stake."

The main issue up for discussion is the role Russia has been playing in the Ukrainian conflict.

The UK's ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, has blasted Russia's position when it comes to issues in Ukraine.

"The permanent representative from the Russian Federation has asserted that Russia has a legal basis to intervene in Ukraine in accordance with the right to self defense under article 51 of the U.N. charter. This is a claim that takes Russia's distortion of international law to a new level."

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin has responded, saying his country is working to try to free the captured members of the OCSE.

But he also says its the Ukrainian government which is to blame for their plight.

"Now regarding the military monitors, the OSCE in Slaviansk, they were requested by the Kiev government and they were responsible as such for their security. How could you send such people on a bus with such agreement, in area controlled by self defense forces without even presenting documents that would confirm their status. That was a provocation from the Kiev government or just simple stupidity."

U.S. ambassador Samantha Power says Russia's failure to rein in separatists or pull back troops from Ukraine's borders is only adding to the tensions.

"Russian officials have refused to publicly call on the separatists to give up their weapons and relinquish their illegal control of Ukrainian government buildings. In fact Russia continues to fund, to coordinate and to fuel the heavily-armed separatist movement. In addition, just outside of Ukraine's border, Russia has continued to engage in threatening troop movements that are designed not to calm tensions but to embolden the separatists and to intimidate the government."

Russia is rejecting suggestions its orchestrating events in eastern Ukraine, saying it has no plans to invade the Ukrainian mainland.

For CRI, This is Qizhi.

 

 

Survivors visit memorial, hospital statement, PM chairs crisis meeting

 

The students who managed to survive the sinking of the South Korean ferry earlier this month have attended a memorial for their classmates who perished in the disaster.

Students from a high school in Ansan, a suburb of Seoul, make up more than 80 percent of those who died on the vessel.

The students were on their way to a school retreat when the ferry capsized.

Meanwhile, doctors treating those students who survived the ordeal say most who have been released seem to be coping with the tragedy.

Doctor Cha Sang-hoon is the director of Ansan University Hospital.

"In the case of the students who are being discharged, according to the examination results of the the medical team, there needs to be continued observation of any possible future symptoms that may appear. However, it is our judgment that the majority of the students do not currently show any serious symptoms that may lead to dangerous after-effects in the short-term. Our hospital will proceed with the treatment of the students and their guardians even after their discharge, and this will take place along with the school's psychiatric support programme."

Meanwhile, South Korea's Prime Minister has been meeting today with technical officials to try to determine better ways to get to the remaining bodies stuck below the surface.

So far 210 bodies have been pulled from the sunken ferry.

But around 100 others are still believed trapped below the surface.

 

 

Iraqis begin to vote in parliamentary elections

 

Iraqis have begun voting in the country's in the parliamentary elections, the first since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in late 2011.

Over 21 million Iraqis are eligible to vote.

More than 9-thousand candidates from nearly 280 political parties are vying for the 328 seats up for grabs.

Incumbent Iraqi Prime Minster Nuri al-Maliki is seeking a third term in office.

"On this occasion, I call upon all Iraqis to go to the ballot boxes and participate in large numbers in the election, because those who take part in the election will have the right to criticise and ask for accountability and monitor while those who do not take part in the election will not have that right. I do not want any citizen to miss out on his right in monitoring the election, I wish to see a huge turnout. God willing we will celebrate the success of the election and the defeat the terrorism and those who bet on election postponement. "

Observers expect al-Maliki's Shiite 'State of Law' coalition is likely to come out on top.

However, it's expected his party will be far from securing a majority as it faces strong challenges from rival Shiite blocs.

For more on the election, we spoke earlier with Li Guofu, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

…

Li Guofu, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

 

 

Damage as violent weather rips through south, leaving over 30 dead

 

A lingering storm system which has been slowly rolling its way through the US midwest and south has spawned a new series of tornadoes, leaving at least 35-people dead.

One of the new twisters has rolled through Tupelo, Mississippi, which is best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

Another hit in a nearby town, only touching down briefly, but with enough strength to do a lot of damage.

"It lasted about 30 seconds and it was gone. But then all the sirens in town were still going off. Tornadoes were still coming toward this area. I understand there were about three that went through our town."

Forecasters say the storm system is showing signs of easing.

The storms have caused tens-of-millions of dollars damage across parts of the United States.

 

 

Farmers clash with police on second day of national strike in Colombia

 

Farmers have been clashing with riot police in Colombia as part of a national strike.

So far six protesters have been arrested since the strike began on Monday.

In the capital Bogota, leaders of the farmer's strike have met with the government officials for talks.

Columbian Agriculture Minister Ruben Dairo Lizarralde.

"The atmosphere of the talks has been positive and constructive. There's a will to move forward through building trust, and we are very encouraged in this sense."

Cesar Pachon speaks on behalf of the striking farmers.

"We're not going to stop the strike, no. The truth is that they are always saying to us, let's sign a deal, they'll raise blockades and it's done. No, this isn't the methodology anymore. First we need something in our hand, results, and then see what we're going to develop."

Colubmia's farmers are accusing government of failing to adhere to agreements reached after a violent work stoppage last year.

The farmers have been demanding better prices for the products they produce.

The strike comes just a couple of weeks ahead of a national election in Columbia.

 

 

Tax reduction policy issued to help business startups/Michael 1602

 

Anchor:

New rules from the central authorities here in China are allowing tax incentives to start-ups and employers who hire people officially listed as unemployed.

CRI's Li Dong has the details.

Reporter:

According to a new joint statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resource and Social Security and State Administration of Taxation, businesses established by registered unemployed workers are allowed a maximum annual tax reduction of 9,600 yuan--that's about 1,560 U.S. dollars.

Xu Jikun, who started his own travel agency after many years of preparation, says he believes this policy may benefit many medium and small business startups like his.

"Many enterprises may pay taxes up to tens of thousand of yuan, some need to pay one or two thousand yuan in taxes each month. The policy can benefit these enterprises. If the tax can effectively be reduced, these businesses would be willing to pay taxes, rather than risking tax evasion."

But Xu Jikun also says the policy is a bit rigid. For instance, to benefit from the policy, new graduates need to prove that he or she has been unemployed for more than six months.

Moreover, Xu Jikun notes the biggest cost for people who want to start their own business doesn't come from paying taxes.

"The biggest burden is the rent. They want to get a license and enjoy the tax reduction policy. But if they register, there must be a registration address on the business license. How can they afford the high rent in Beijing!? "

Liu Baocheng, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, suggests the government provide supplementary policies and services for these enterprises.

"The medium and small enterprises are fragile, so an overall support policy is needed, rather than just a tax reduction. In the U.S., there is a governmental department that provides support, particularly for small enterprises. There are similar NGOs in China that help these enterprises to make business plans. The government might guide them to provide additional support."

Liu Baocheng adds that transforming the function for the related departments is more important than simply creating policy.

The tax reduction policy is a renewal of previous pro-employment measures that expired at the end of last year, with wider coverage, no restrictions on industries and simplified administrative procedures. The new policy will stay effective until the end of 2016.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.

 

 

Jilin Releases Archives on "Comfort Women"

 

Anchor:

Authorities in Jilin have released new materials which they say prove for the first time the Japanese military used funds designated for public spending to procure so-called "comfort women."

CRI's Ding Lulu has more.

Reporter:

Wang Fang is a researcher at the Jilin Provincial Archives in Changchun, the provincial capital. She says that since 2012, the Archives has organized research teams to decipher and translate the documents, which were buried following Japan's surrender in August 1945.

"We have released the new files because of recent denials by right-wing Japanese politicians of the use of 'comfort women' during the war. We have so far unearthed 25 archives on 'comfort women recorded by the Japanese themselves".

Wang introduces one report, written in 1938, which describes how in the space of just 10 days, about 9,000 Japanese soldiers "visited comfort stations" in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. But what shocked her even more was a recording of a telephone conversation.

"The most shocking file for me is the telephone recording which shows that the Japanese army spent large amounts of money purchasing 'comfort women'. All the statistics show that the procurement of 'comfort women' was systematically carried out by the Japanese military."

As Wang mentions, archive records from November 1944 to March 1945 show that 532,000 Japanese yen was transferred by the "central bank" of Manchukuo for the arrangement of "comfort women" for a military branch, under an account described as "public spending for military use".

Su Zhiliang is a professor at Shanghai Normal University, who specializes in studies relating to "comfort women". He says the Japanese government procured "comfort women" in a state action, noting that Japan is the only country whose military has enforced comprehensive sexual slavery.

"These files prove that "comfort stations" were established by the army though military expenditure. Besides, my study proves that the sex slavery system was officially enforced by the Japanese military. All these files are of great importance as evidence for the crimes committed by Japan during its invasion of Asia."

Su adds that the archives show in detail how the Japanese military operated "comfort stations" in northeastern China, central China and Indonesia's Java Island.

"Wherever there were Japanese troops, there were 'comfort stations'. The documents also suggest that numerous Asian women were exploited, including women from China, Korea, and Java Island."

Mu Zhanyi, deputy director of Jilin Provincial Archives, says that these archives made by the Japanese military expose the claims of Japan's right-wing politicians as lies, asserting that these documents proving the truth cannot be buried.

"The Archives are unveiling the files relating to Japan's invasion of China as a warning to peace-loving countries and their peoples in order to prevent a repeat of that painful period in history. Peace is the aim of human society."

The released files represent only a small portion of the nearly 100,000 wartime Japanese files stored in Jilin Provincial Archives. Further work is underway.

For CRI, I am Ding Lulu.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Stocks 

 

Reporter:

Asian markets rose broadly this Wednesday, although the gains have been capped ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting tonight and U.S. non-farm payrolls data due out on Friday.

Upbeat U.S. earnings news and easing concerns over the Ukrainian conflict have helped bolster sentiment.

Here in China, the Shanghai Composite added a third of a percent as liquidity fears receded.

The Shenzhen Component gave up tow fifths of a percent.

The mainland markets will be closed tomorrow and Friday for the May-Day holiday.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost nearly one and a half percent as investors locked in some profits after recent gains.

Tencent plummeted over 5 percent on concerns strict censorship rules for television and films will negatively affect its revenue.

WH Group, which was scheduled to float on the Hong Kong stock exchange today, has scrapped its listing after investors turned their noses up at its valuation.

The Chinese pork producer had already more than halved the size of its IPO to as little as 1.3 billion US dollars.

The firm, formerly known as Shuanghui, has debt of around 7-billion US dollars after buying US firm Smithfields last year.

Japanese shares closed modestly higher, paring early gains, after the Bank of Japan kept its monetary policy steady and refrained from expanding its monetary stimulus.

The benchmark Nikkei inched up slightly.

Australia's benchmark ASX 200 ended a volatile session flat.

South Korean shares fell modestly in cautious trading ahead of the Fed decision and amid lukewarm corporate earnings.

The benchmark KOSPI trimmed one fifth of a percent.

Singapore's Straits Times closed down more than three quarters of a percent.

 

 

$800m more to be invested in Shanghai Disney park

 

Walt Disney and Shanghai Shendi have announced plans to spend an additional 800-million US dollars on their theme park in Shanghai.

The plan is to add more attractions before it opens at the end of next year.

The additional spending raises the total investment in Shanghai Disneyland to 5.4-billion US dollars.

Shanghai Shendi is a conglomerate of State-owned businesses established by the Shanghai government to develop the park.

Shendi has a 57-percent stake in the park, with Disney holding the remainder.

Once finished, the park will be home to 2 theme-hotels, various dining and entertainment venues, recreational facilities, a lake and various transportation hubs.

 

 

CVC Picks Up Major Stake In Chinese Restaurant Chain

 

Anchor:

British private equity firm CVC Capital Partners has confirmed it's picked up a majority stake in Chinese high-end restaurant chain South Beauty.

Terms of the investment have not been disclosed.

Last October, media reports suggested CVC was planning to acquire 69-percent of South Beauty for 300-million US dollars.

The investment should provide an exit for Beijing-based investment firm CDH Investments, which bought an unspecified stake in South Beauty in 2008 for just under 30-million US dollars.

For more on this, Shane Bigham spoke earlier with Benjamin Cavender, Principal with China Market Research in Shanghai.

…

Back Anchor:

Benjamin Cavender, Principal with China Market Research in Shanghai, speaking with CRI's Shane Bigham.

 

 

China Merchants Wins Historic Bid for Newcastle Port

 

China Merchants Group has won the bid to develop the port in the Australian city of Newcastle in New South Wales.

Merchants group has won the bid among 5 competitors.

The New South Wales government has agreed to lease the port to Merchants Group for 98 years.

Newcastle is the world's largest coal exporting port.

 

 

Bank of Beijing Hires Goldman, Morgan Stanley for IPO, Sources Say

 

Bank of Beijing has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to handle its Hong Kong IPO.

The bank is looking to raise up to 4-billion US dollars in the listing, which could come as early as next year.

Bank of Beijing is partly controlled by the Chinese government and Dutch lender ING.

ING is the largest shareholder of the Chinese bank with a 14-percent stake.

If listed, Bank of Beijing will become the fifth Chinese bank to go public in Hong Kong since October.

 

 

China banking system passes stress tests - PBOC

 

China's central bank says its finished its stress-tests of this country's banking system, which started at the end of last year.

The PBOC says China's banks can weather large increases in bad debt or a sharp economic slowdown.

But it notes the asset quality and capital adequacy of China's commercial banks remains relatively high.

The stress-test has determined some individual banks could fall below required liquidity ratios in a worst-case scenario.

The tests covered 17 domestic banks that are considered systemically important and account for over 60-percent of all banking assets in China.

They covered scenarios such as a 400-percent rise in non-performing loans, increases in bond yields, and economic growth slowing to 4-percent.

 

 

Non-performing loans of major Chinese banks climb in Q1

 

Non-performing loans among China's four largest state-owned commercial banks have edged up through the first quarter.

Agricultural Bank has seen its bad-loans rise by some 4 billion yuan during the first quarter.

The bank's NPL ratio now sits at 1.22-percent.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's NPL stands at 0.97-percent; Bank of China, at 0.98-percent; and China Construction Bank, at 1.02 percent.

Non-performing loans refer to loans that are in default or are close to being in default.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

UNSC meets to discuss Ukraine crisis

 

The UN Security Council has met for the first time since a group of European observers were taken hostage by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine a few days ago.

The discussions at the meeting have included demands by UN officials that the 7 members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe taken hostage be released immediately.

However, the main issue up for discussion is the role Russia has been playing in the Ukrainian conflict.

The United States' UN ambassador says Russia's failure to rein in separatists or pull back troops from Ukraine's borders is only adding to the tensions.

Russia is rejecting suggestions its orchestrating events in eastern Ukraine, saying it has no plans to invade the Ukrainian mainland.

 

 

Voting in Iraq underway

 

Iraqis have begun voting in the country's in the parliamentary elections, the first since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in late 2011.

Over 21 million Iraqis are eligible to vote.

More than 9-thousand candidates from nearly 280 political parties are vying for the 328 seats up for grabs.

Incumbent Iraqi Prime Minster Nuri al-Maliki is seeking a third term in office.

 

 

Thai caretaker gov't agrees to hold new general election on July 20

 

Authorities in Thailand have agreed to a new national election date.

The caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra and the Thai Election Commission have set July 20th as the date for the next election.

This, after the results of the initial vote earlier this year were thrown out by the Election Commission.

 

 

Xi Calls for Anti-terror Tools During Inspection Tour in Xinjiang

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been meeting with police officers in Xinjiang as part of his current inspection tour to the region.

Xi Jinping has told law enforcement in Xinjiang it needs to devise "effective ways" to deal with terrorism in the region.

Speaking in the city of Kashgar, the Chinese President says the Kashgar region is at the front-line of the government's anti-terrorism efforts.

Xi Jinping began his inspection tour of Xinjiang on Sunday.

 

 

No casualties reported from Xinjiang 5.1-magnitude quake

 

A moderate earthquake sent people fleeing buildings this afternoon in Xinjiang.

A 5.1-magnitude quake hit shortly after 2 this afternoon near the city of Hami, which is located north of the provincial border with Gansu.

So far no casualties have been reported.

Crews are being sent in to assess the damage.

While moderate, the 5.1-magnitude quake hit at a shallow depth of just 9-kilometers, intensifying the shaking.

 

 

10 killed, 11 missing in Russian ammo depot blasts

 

An explosion at an arms depot in Russia's eastern Siberian region, north of Mongolia, has left at least 10-people dead.

The blast hit near a village called Bolshaya Tura, which runs along the Trans-Siberan rail line.

The explosion, said to be caused by a wildfire burning in the region, has left 11 others hurt.

Close to 300-people in the area have been evacuated.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

Shanghai Daily

"Ayi expo looks to clean up with expats"

Expats looking to hire an ayi - the Chinese word for maid - can head along to the first domestic service expo in Shanghai next month.

The expo, organized by the Shanghai Women's Federation, will feature 100 domestic service agencies with 300 ayi consultants showcasing services and answering questions.

Currently no domestic ayi agency specialises in solely helping foreign clients.

Detailed information on nearly 10,000 ayi will be posted on information boards at the event to help visitors find the services they want.

The expo will also feature an ayi skills contest. Organizers say categories include cooking, ironing, cleaning, taking care of babies, nursing seniors and — after all that hard work — arranging flowers.

The event will be held on May 24 and 25.

Global Times

"Make money using your mobile phone"

There is a new way of making money in your spare time, by using a mobile phone app called Micro Task.

Micro Task works by using crowdsourcing to connect companies with a large group of consumers. Companies assign small tasks, which are completed by the app users.

These tasks are usually easy to complete and require little time and no special skills. For example, users might be required to inquire about a certain brand of soda in a particular store, or take a photo of a particular gate at an airport. They can finish the task in their spare time, and are paid using Alipay.

Pei Qiao, CEO of Shanghai Yiyu Technology Inc. said they pay real money for consumers to complete tasks assigned by the brands and marketers.

Micro Task already has more than 1.2 million registered users, and users who complete the maximum number task can earn up to 5,000 yuan a month.

The Telegraph

"Standing on one leg may predict which 53-year-olds at risk of early death"

A study has found simple everyday tasks such as getting out of chair and standing on one leg can be used to predict which middle aged people are at risk of an early death.

Men aged 53 years old were found to be least at risk of dying early if they could balance on one leg for more than ten seconds, and stand up and sit down in a chair more than 37 times in a minute.

For women of the same age, doing the same test 35 times in a minute, were also at the lowest risk.

Those unable to do the test at all were almost seven times more likely to die.

It is hoped that doctors will be able to develop a screening test to identify people who need to make lifestyle changes or medication to stave off ill health as they age.

The study tracked 5,000 people.

AFP

"Online sharing boosts value: Study Online sharing boosts value: Study"

In the online world of sharing and "likes," the recommendations of friends, family and even strangers turn out to have real, measurable value.

The new study is commissioned by the social data company ShareThis and The Paley Center for Media.

It found positive online recommendations can boost the price that consumers are willing to pay by an average 9.5 per cent.

Negative recommendations meanwhile can reduce the likelihood of purchasing a product or service by up to 11 per cent.

The study highlights the theoretical value of sharing on social media instead of the actual impact on prices.

The impact can range from less than a dollar for grocery items to around US$30 for technology produces and upwards of US$9,000 for an automobile.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

A Bite of China 2", Starting From Food and Ending with People

 

Anchor:

The second season of a highly-popular documentary series "A Bite of China" has returned to Chinese television screens.

CRI's He Fei has more

Reporter:

The tantalizing second season of "A Bite of China" is finally back on the screen. Audiences have been waiting for the mouth-watering program for two years. Thus, it is no surprise the show has gained top ratings and rave reviews online.

"It is not only about food, its about people, as well. It can be quite touching at times."

"If you were the one traveling or working far from home, after you watch the documentary, you would miss home a lot, rather than merely think about the food presented on the show."

"Gourmet food is not the only thing shown in the series. The show reveals philosophies about life--the relationships between people and between human beings and the Mother Nature."

To differentiate itself to other food documentaries, "A Bite of China 2" has blended in a variety of filming and editing techniques. Each episode uses diverse methods to tell a story; some are like Hollywood family films, while other have the elements of road movies or even gangster movies, according to the chief director.

But of course, they all vividly portray the plethora of food China has to offer.

"Our cameramen capture a sense of spirituality to the food they shoot. They used many techniques, like a shallow depth of field or a macro shot, all of which make the food look mouth-watering. In fact, when we were editing the films, we were always hungry."

The roiling oil crackling in a pan; the roar made by a man squeezing juice from seeds; the vivid rabbit-shape desserts on a table; all of these come from extensively shooting source material. Since March of last year, the camera crew of more than 30 people went to some 60 different places around the country to shoot the series. And the air-time of the show had been delayed because of the complicated producing process.

The chief director pointed out that they look at people from the angle of food, but they do not end there.

"Food is our starting point, but not our finishing line. Our goal is to bring more understanding about Chinese people, through food."

The second season of "A Bite of China" spans eight episodes and will cover the stories of more than 150 people, and over 300 types of food. Whether you it is a cup of your tea, or your kind of flavor, you'll have to sample it yourself.

BACK ANCHOR:

That was CRI's He Fei reporting.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Real Madrid defeat Bayern Munich to go through to Champions League Final

 

In the European Champions League,

Real Madrid devastated the defending champions Bayern Munich last night to make it through to the final.

In the first half the Spanish side scored three goals in the space of just 18 minutes with another one just before the final whistle resulting in a five nil aggregate win.

Leading the charge were Sergio Rammos, who scored two breathtaking headers followed by a Cristiano Ronaldo breakaway goal and free kick.

Bayern Munich wrapped up the German Bundesliga with seven games to spare, but the Spanish side highlighted a rapid drop in momentum since then.

The Real Madrid coach CARLO ANCELOTTI, must now look forward to a match in the final against either Chelsea or their fellow side from the Spanish capital Atletico Madrid.

"I don't know what will happen in the next semi-final (Chelsea v Atletico Madrid). I think that of course Chelsea has a lot of experience of this kind of game. To the other side we have a team, really strong in this moment with a lot of confidence, with a lot of strength so it really doesn't matter who will be the team that we play the final with. It is important that one of these teams is Real Madrid."

The match between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid will kick off later in the evening, 2:45am Beijing time.

 

 

Superleague scores including phoner with Jordan Lee

 

A big day in Chinese football today with seven superleague matches taking place…

Earlier, Dalian Aerbin hosting Guizhou Renhe ended with a one all draw,

Meanwhile, second-in-the-league, Shandong Luneng have suffered a devastating loss away to Changchun Yatai.

Changchun striker Fatos Beciraj scoring the only goal of the game just five minutes from the final whistle.

Elsewhere Beijing Guo'an kicked off against Jiangsu Sainty just over 15 minutes ago in the Chinese capital.

Our sports correspondent Jordan Lee is currently pitch side where we can go to her live,

…

The other big match of the night will see league-leaders Guangzhou Evergrande taking on Shanghai East Asia FC at home. That match kicks off at 8pm

 

 

Magic Johnson praises NBA Sterling Ban as Clippers win game five

 

Former LA Lakers star Magic Johnson has praised National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver for handing Los Angeles Clippers' owner Donald Sterling a life ban from the sport.

"It's a great day for the United States, and for NBA it was a great day for all people of all races especially for African Americans, Latinos who he was speaking out against and so I think that I am just happy, that Commissioner Adam Silver came down hard. We can't let people get away with this even if you are the owner."　　

Along with a life ban, the 80-year-old has also been fined 2.5 million US dollars for racist comments that outraged players, fans, coaches and the U.S. president.

Despite the controversy which has enveloped the club the Clippers gained a 113-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of their Western Conference quarter-final series to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Clippers can advance with a win in Game Six tomorrow at Oracle Arena in Oakland.

 

 

Spurs beat Mavericks to tie the series 2-2

 

Elsewhere in NBA action the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center to tie the series two-a piece.

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points, and forward Tim Duncan added 14 points and 10 rebounds. San Antonio reserves accounted for 50 more points, among them forward Boris Diaw netted 17 and guard Patty Mills made 10.

After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first quarter, the Spurs took their first lead early in the second. A 3-pointer by Ginobili opened up a 39-27 edge midway through the quarter, as the Mavericks went more than six minutes without a basket. Duncan's layup in the final seconds gave the Spurs a 50-36 lead at half-time.

The Mavericks fought hard to close the gap but by the final whistle the Spurs had the edge and it closed out 93-98.

Tonight the sides head back to San Antonio for game 5.

 

 

Flyers beat Rangers to force NHL decider

 

In the NHL, the Philadelphia Flyers have forced a 7th and deciding game in their first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers.

The Rangers came into the game holding the 3-2 series advantage.

However, 4 unanswered goals by Philly helped lead the Flyers to their eventual 5-2 victory.

Wayne Simmonds notching his first-ever post-season career hat trick in the victory.

Game-7 in New York will be played Wednesday evening.

The winner will move on to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in round-2.

 

 

Rio de Janeiro mayor responds to IOC criticism

 

Rio de Janeiro Mayor, Eduardo Paes, made his first public remarks after the unusually blunt public warning made by IOC vice president John Coates,

Yesterday the International Olympic Committee representative said that preparations for the 2016 games are the "Worst" he's ever seen.

Paes talked to journalists after visiting an out-patient clinic in a Rio de Janeiro slum that had been ransacked by a gang of suspected drug traffickers:

"Look, I even ask for permission to speak on my behalf and on Governor's too. I think that we always listen to criticism with attention and work even harder to make everything being delivered in the deadline and remove this bad image that the IOC vice president has of our city and of our organisation of the games

With 828 games to go until the Rio Olympic Games, the IOC has taken an unprecedented hands on approach to ensure the games will be delivered on time.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

'My Old Classmate' tops weekly box office

 

"My Old Classmate," a Chinese love story inspired by a namesake popular song in the 1990s, is ruling China's box office.

The film details the romance between two deskmates spanning 20-years.

It stars Zhou Dongyu, a Chinese actress who rose to fame in the leading role in Zhang Yimou's 2010 "Under the Hawthorn Tree".

It has already grossed around 11 million yuan since its debut on Friday.

Kung Fu film "Ice Man," which stars Chinese actor Donnie Yen, currently sits in 2nd in the Chinese box office.

The previous week's champion, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," has dropped to third place.

 

 

Maggie Cheung to appear at Strawberry Music Festival

 

Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung is slated to appear at this year's Strawberry Music Festival, which kicks off tomorrow in both Beijing and Shanghai.

This will be Cheung's first time taking part in the event.

Cheung has long been retired from the limelight after she won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in director Olivier Assayas's movie, "Clean."

The former actress has shifted her career focus to film editing, music and painting.

Over 260 singers and bands will perform as part of the 3-day Strawberry Music Festival.

 

 

Coldplay premiere new single 'A Sky Full of Stars'

 

Coldplay has unveiled its new single 'A Sky Full of Stars'.

The song is the second single to be released from the band's upcoming sixth album 'Ghost Stories.'

"Magic" was the first song released.

'A Sky Full of Stars' will be available for download on Saturday.

The full album will be released in three weeks.

Coldplay has been revealing the lyrics to all nine songs from 'Ghost Stories' by hiding frontman Chris Martin's handwritten lyric sheets in libraries around the world.

 

 

Stars show up at Time 100 Gala

 

Many of those being honored as one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" this year have gathered at the annual gala in New York.

Country singer Carrie Underwood has performed six songs at the event.

Actress Amy Adams, who is also on the list, says she is "really overwhelmed" at being chosen.

"It made me think about how I can work more in the future to really make an impact outside of entertainment and these people that I'm here with tonight are so inspiring in so many ways."

One noticable absence at the gala was Beyonce, who was featured on the cover of this year's magazine list.

Other celebrities tapped by Time, including Matthew McConaughey, Miley Cyrus, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kerry Washington and Robert Redford were also absent from the gala.

Chinese actress Yao Chen is on the list this year.

However, Chinese tennis ace Li Na is not on the list after making it the last two years.

 

 

Opera Singer Monserrat Caballe Accused of Tax Fraud

 

World famous Spanish opera singer, Monserrat Caballe, is facing tax evasion charges.

Caballe is accused of not paying some 700-thousand US dollars worth of taxes in 2010.

2010 saw the soprano perform a series of lucrative concerts in Europe, which brought her earnings of over two million euros.

Caballe lives in Spain, but has her residence registered of the neighboring Principality of Andorra to avoid paying taxes to the Spanish government.

Caballe is also accused of billing the majority of her concerts through an Andorran-registered company.

She is due to appear in court in early May to answer the charges.

 

 

Craig Ferguson to leave Late Late Show in December

 

Craig Ferguson is stepping down as host of the "Late Late Show" later this year.

The Scottish comedian has been hosting the show since 2005.

Ferguson's last episode of the CBS show will air in December, as the network gears up for a major upheaval of its late night lineup.

News of Ferguson's departure comes just weeks after the announcement that David Letterman will retire as host of "Late Show" later this year.

Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert has signed-on to replace Letterman.

 

 

A quick recap of headlines before we go.

The UN Security Council has met to discuss the latest situation in Ukraine, with Russia's role taking the lead focus.

Iraqis are taking to the polls today in that country's first parliamentary election since the withdrawl of US troops.

The Chinese government is rolling out new tax incentives for employers.

In business, Shanghai Disney is being given a new cash injection ahead of its planned opening next year.