新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/05/05

The Beijing Hour

 

Morning Edition

Shane Bigham with you on this Monday, May 05th, 2014.

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

Coming up on our program this morning...

China and Ethiopia have inked some new agreements during the first stop of Premier Li Keqiang's African tour...

Dozens of pro-Russian activists have been released from custody in Ukraine following a violent and deadly weekend...

And Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been released from custody after five days of questioning regarding a 1972 IRA-linked murder...

In Business...by at least one measure, China's economy is set to overtake the US as the world's largest...

In sports...The Clippers, Thunder, and Nets are off to round two of the NBA playoffs...

In entertainment...the new Spiderman movie has set some box office records in China...

But first... lets get a check on the weather...

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will be cloudy today, with a high of 21 degree Celsius.

Overnight temperatures should drop down to around 8.

Shanghai will be cloudy during the daytime with a high of 21.

Overnight, it will be overcast with a low of 13.

In Chongqing, it will be cloudy with a high of 24.

Overnight lows are expected to be around 15.

Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia.

Islamabad will see slight rain with a high of 32.

Kabul will also have slight rain with a high of 19.

Over to North America.

New York will be cloudy today with a high of 18 degrees.

Washington will have moderate rain with a high of 18 degrees.

Honolulu, slight rain, 28.

Toronto, Canada, will be cloudy with a high of 12 degrees.

Finally, on to South America,

Buenos Aires will be overcast with a high of 20.

And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with a high of 28 degrees Celsius.

 

 

Top News

 

 

China, Ethiopia ink agreements on economic, infrastructure cooperation

 

Anchor

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has officially started his 4-nation tour in Africa.

The premier's first stop in Ethiopia has witnessed the signing of several cooperation deals with his Ethiopian counterpart.

CRI's Jordan Lee has more.

Reporter

The cooperation agreements cover such areas as technology, infrastructure construction, and finance.

They were signed by Premier Li Keqiang and his Ethiopian counterpart, Hailemariam Desalegn, after the two met in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

They have also agreed to further develop the partnership between the two countries.

Li Keqiang says he hopes his visit can further consolidate the friendship between the two countries, and steer China-Ethiopia and China-Africa relations toward new heights.

"We have identified the right direction and we have laid down the right track. There is a process of mutual adjustment and adaptation but I believe our two sides - be it China and Ethiopia or China and Africa - should work jointly to turn this train into a bullet train."

The Chinese Premier also says that Beijing supports Ethiopia's efforts in establishing special economic zones and industrial parks, and is willing to share experience with Ethiopia in this regard.

For his part, Hailemariam hails the development of bilateral relations over the decades.

"Our relationship is a strategic relationship and it is not only for one year or two years or some years only. It is a strategic relationship. It is growing from time to time, strengthening from day to day and we want to nurture and expand this relationship between our two countries."

He also welcomes more Chinese investment into the country.

Ethiopia is Li Keqiang's first leg during his four-nation tour in Africa.

During his stay in Addis Ababa, Li Keqiang is also scheduled to visit the African Union headquarters.

There he will deliver a speech to expound on China's Africa policy.

Prior to that, Erastus Mwencha , deputy chairman of the African Union Commission, highlighted the importance of Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Africa.

"This high level exchange of visits inspire confidence to our people, the people of Africa and people of China, and it is one that brings us closer, and one symbolizing the confidence of our two people to work together to tackle issues of poverty and bring about prosperity."

After his three-day stay in Ethiopia, Li Keqiang is due to continue his visit to Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.

For CRI, this is Jordan Lee.

 

 

Call in on the Chinese Premier's visit to African countries

 

For more on the Premier's African tour, CRI's Zheng Chenguang spoke earlier with Professor He Wenping, director of African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The coversation starts with some highlights during the visit.

(He Wenping)

Back anchor:

That is Professor He Wenping, director of African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, speaking with CRI's Zheng Chenguang.

 

 

67 pro-Russian activists released in Odessa

 

67 activists have been released in Ukraine's southern city of Odessa after pro-Russia crowds stormed the local police station.

The protesters were detained for their involvement in those deadly clashes on Friday.

More than 40 people, mostly pro-Russia activists, died while hiding in a local trade union building which was set on fire.

A group of angry demonstrators broke windows of the police station on Sunday and called for the release of their fellow activists.

Elena Shulgina is one of them.

"We demand they release the people who were taken the day before yesterday from the Trade Union building in Kulikovo Square during those tragic events, the ones who were not burnt and cruelly beaten to death. Odessa can't be allowed to drown in blood."

The demonstration came as Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk visited Odessa on the same day in a bid to defuse mounting tensions.

"This is a tragedy not only for Odessa, it's a tragedy for all Ukraine - when tens of people become the victims of pre-arranged and well-prepared action. Action against the people, action against Ukraine and action against Odessa."

Yatsenyuk blames police corruption for the deadly violence and ordered a top level investigation into the cause of the deaths.

He also hints strongly that he sees Moscow's hand in the unrest.

Meanwhile, Russia has accused Kiev authorities of being direct accomplices in the violence in Odessa.

Russian authorities expressed indignation, saying Ukrainian authorities have not fulfilled the Geneva statement.

Russia and Ukraine reached a deal in Geneva last month demanding an immediate end to violence in eastern Ukraine.

However, pro-Russia activists continued to occupy official buildings in the region, even though the agreement called on them to leave those positions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched a major attack against pro-Russian forces around the eastern city of Slaviansk, one of the cities demanding a referendum.

 

 

3 killed as bombs explode on buses in Kenya

 

At least three people have been killed and 60 others wounded after bombs exploded on two buses in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The buses, packed with commuters, were moving along Thika Highway, one of the busiest highways in Nairobi.

Police says the blasts were caused by improvised explosive devices.

Of the 60 wounded, 20 are in critical condition.

Lily Tare is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenyatta General Hospital.

"We received 31 casualties, 16 females, 11 males, four children and out of them three females and one male. One out of the 16 arrived dead and six are critically injured but all of them are in stable condition at the moment and have been attended to by the medical team."

So far, there is no report of Chinese nationals among the injured.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

The explosions come a day after four people were killed when attackers threw a grenade at passengers at a bus station in Mombasa.

Kenya has been hit by a wave of attacks since it sent troops to neighboring Somalia to fight the extremist rebels al-Shabab.

The Al-Qaida linked militants have vowed to carry out attacks in Kenya to avenge losses at the hands of Kenyan troops in Somalia.

 

 

Afghan asks international aid for massive landslide

 

Afghanistan's Vice President says the government has asked international military forces to help rescue people buried in rubble after hundreds were killed in a massive landslide.

Mohammad Younus Qanooni visited the village of Abi Barik in the country's northeastern Badakhshan province as the country observed a day of mourning.

"We contacted the commander of the International Forces General Dunford in Kabul and asked him to help us with providing necessary equipment to rescue the people who are under the rubble. Unfortunately the nature of this area does not allow us to bring the necessary equipment here."

The United Nations has put the death toll from Friday's landslide at up to 500.

But local officials say the number killed could be as high as 2,700.

It is unlikely the final figure will be known, as authorities say it is impossible to retrieve the bodies buried in up to 50 meters of mud and debris.

Of the remaining 700 families, about 4,000 people have been evacuated from the area due to threat of more landslides.

Aid groups have rushed to the area with food and shelter.

The government has announced 200,000 dollars worth of aid to help the survivors.

Over the past fortnight, about a third of the country has been flooded due to heavy seasonal rains and snow melt, killing another 159 people.

 

 

New Libyan PM vote declared invalid

 

Libya's interim parliament has failed to select a new prime minister, despite holding a vote on Sunday.

Hours after holding that vote, amid a scene described as "chaotic", the result was declared invalid.

Parliament had selected Ahmed Maitiq, a 42-year-old businessman, to lead the country.

An initial vote failed to receive a quorum but a second vote did have enough participants to be valid. However, the first vice president of the General National Congress still scrubbed the vote.

 

 

Ministerial meeting on Syrian refugee crisis held in Jordan

 

Foreign ministers from countries with major populations of refugees have attended a meeting in Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp to discuss a resolution for the Syrian refugee crisis.

The third ministrial meeting brought together Foreign Ministers from Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq along with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.

Guterres called for increased international and financial support for the refugees and their host communities.

"There has been very little support, and there must be massive support from the international community, financial support."

The United Nations has recently launched its biggest appeal ever, calling for 6.5 billion US dollars in aid for Syria and the region.

However, one refugee from the Syrian town of Deraa was sceptical of the meeting's outcome.

"We have no expectations from this conference because we think it will neither cause harm nor benefit. My hope is that they will meet inside Syria because it is there that the real problem lies, and only through Syria and the Syrians will they be able to solve the crisis."

Syria's uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has turned into a sectarian civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people, displaced 6.5 million inside Syria and forced 2.5 million more to find sanctuary outside its borders.

 

 

Northern Ireland police release Sinn Fein leader from custody

 

Police in Northern Ireland have released Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams.

Adams were arrested Wednesday in connection with the murder of a widowed mother-of-10 in 1972

Police say Jean McConville was abducted in December 1972 from her flat in West Belfast and shot by the Irish Republican Army.

Prior to his arrest on Wednesday, Adams released a statement claiming innocence in relation to this case.

His arrest has been called "political policing" by Adams' political party, which accuses the British government of attempting to disrupt local government and EU elections that will take place in three weeks.

The British government has denied that accusation.

 

 

Millions of tourists swarm to Beijing during Labor Day holiday

 

The latest numbers show that some 5.5 million tourists visited Beijing during the three-day Labor Day holiday, which concluded during the weekend.

Among the 150 main scenic spots in Beijing, the numbers of visitors to the Nanluoguxiang Lane along has doubled those of a non-holiday time period.

Zheng Zhifeng is a local official.

"Nanluoguxiang Lane normally receives around 70,000 to 80,000 visitors a day, and that's already a lot of people. During the Labor Day holiday, the lane received 150,000 visitors in a single day."

Meanwhile, China's railways also saw an increase of passenger trips during the holiday.

From April 30 to May 3, close to 37 million railway trips were made, 16.5 percent higher than the same period last year.

Bullet trains recorded rising traffic, with 13 million trips made during the period, up 36 percent year on year.

To cope with the rising traffic, China's railway authorities added more than 12 hundred temporary trains to ease the pressure.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the daily trade volume during the holidays increased by 51.2 percent compared to the usual times.

The sales of golden products in Beijing went up 88.4 percent year on year.

In Qingdao City of Shandong Province, the growth was 92.7 percent.

As many Chinese went out for a feast during the holiday, the catering industry also saw a boom.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Anchor

Let's get a preview of what's set to take place in the business world this week.

Here's CRI's Jordan Lee.

Reporter

US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is going to testify before Congress on Wednesday, explaining the reasons behind the unexpectedly strong jobs growth recorded last month.

Also, investors will be waiting to see whether a consensus is emerging about the timing of an interest-rate hike if the economy continues to gather momentum.

Other important figures on the world's largest economy to be released this week include PMI services and ISM non-manufacturing indices, due today.

International trade, due Tuesday; productivity and costs, and consumer credit, due Wednesday; weekly jobless claims, due Thursday; and wholesale trade, due Friday.

Meantime, corporate earnings will remain in focus with Pfizer, Walt Disney, Whole Foods, and Groupon among companies to report in the coming days.

In Europe, policy makers of the European Central Bank are set to gather this week.

Economists expect the ECB to keep its benchmark interest rate at a record low 0.25 percent.

On Thursday policy makers at the Bank of England are expected to maintain the bank's current course of a record low benchmark rate and its asset purchases target.

And over here in China, details of a number of business deals signed between China and African during Chinese premier Li Keqiang's first visit to Africa are likely to top the headlines here.

 

 

Call-in with Mike China to overtake the US and become the world's largest economy

 

China is set to overtake the US as the world's largest economy by at least one measure later this year.

According to the World Bank's International Comparison Program, the Chinese economy will become the world's largest in terms of purchasing power parity.

The United States has held the top position in that category since 1872.

But, even though China will soon be able to claim the top spot, the living standards of the average Chinese citizen are still far lower than those in most other countries.

According to the International Monetary Fund, China's economy ranked 93rd in per capita purchasing power parity terms.

That was just ahead of Turkmenistan and Albania but well behind Libya and Azerbaijan.

For more on this, we now go live to Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor of China's University of Economics and Business.

1. What exactly does "Purchasing Power Parity" mean? Is it a significant economic measurement?

2. We have been seeing a very strong recovery in the US economy in recent months, whereas the Chinese economy is increasingly under downward pressure. Will China be able to hold on to the top spot or will the US take that measure back in the coming months or years?

3. Aside from maybe triggering debate among economists, will this have any immediate impact on either economy?

Back Anchor:

Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor of China's University of Economics and Business.

then ask for Mr. Bastin in room 579

 

 

Air purifier sales in record increase last year

 

China has seen a record increase in the sale of air and water purifiers.

Data from market research and consultancy firm GfK shows that about 1.7 million air purifiers were sold in China last year, a 116 percent increase year-on-year.

In terms of water purifiers, combined sales revenue in all price ranges reached 9.5 billion yuan, up 79.5 percent year-on-year.

But according to ZOL, a website that provides e-commerce transaction records, seven of the 10 best-selling brands of air purifiers in China last year were foreign-made.

Industry analysts attribute the mistrust in domestic brands largely to an absence of up-to-date national standards.

Current standards on indoor air cleaners, enacted in 2008, don't take into consideration the need for consumers to filter PM2.5.

 

 

Private mobile network operator begins service in Zhejiang

 

A private company in the city of Hangzhou has started to provide mobile network service under its own brand.

This comes after a Suzhou-base private firm started to offer its own mobile numbers directly to consumers last month.

Hangzhou-based T-mobile and Suzhou-based Snail Games both offer phone numbers starting with one-seven-zero.

T-mobile also promised to offer a life-long warranty, door-to-door service within two hours in Zhejiang Province, and free calling minutes worth 100 yuan every month.

China issued telecommunications service licenses to 11 private firms at the end of last year as the government opened the sector to private capital.

Up till now, the industry was dominated by the three state-owned giants, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

China, Ethiopia ink agreements on economic, infrastructure cooperation

 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has officially started his 4-nation tour in Africa.

His first stop, in the capital of Ethiopia, has seen the signing of several cooperation agreements covering areas such as technology, infrastructure, and finance.

Premier Li and his Ethiopian counterapart, Hailemariam Desalegn, have also agreed to make efforts to deepen ties between the two countries.

The Chinese Premier also says that Beijing supports Ethiopia's efforts in establishing special economic zones and industrial parks, and is willing to share experience with Ethiopia in this regard.

During his stay in Addis Ababa, Li Keqiang is also scheduled to visit the African Union headquarters.

There he will deliver a speech to expound on China's Africa policy.

After his three-day stay in Ethiopia, Li Keqiang is due to continue his visit to Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.

 

 

67 pro-Russian activists released in Odessa

 

Dozens of pro-Russia activists in Odessa, a city in southern Ukraine, have been released from custody following a weekend that saw much violence and bloodshed.

The detainees were not released until after a mob stormed the local police station.

The 67 arestees had been picked up after a deadly standoff on Friday which killed 40.

The demonstration came as Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk visited Odessa on the same day in a bid to defuse mounting tensions.

Meanwhile, Russia has accused Kiev authorities of being direct accomplices in the violence in Odessa.

Ukraine has launched a major attack against pro-Russian forces around the eastern city of Slaviansk, one of the cities demanding a referendum.

 

 

3 killed as bombs explode on buses in Kenya

 

At least three people have been killed and 60 others wounded after bombs exploded on two buses in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

So far, there is no report of Chinese nationals among the injured.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

The explosions come a day after four people were killed when attackers threw a grenade at passengers at a bus station in Mombasa.

Kenya has been hit by a wave of attacks since it sent troops to neighboring Somalia to fight the extremist rebels al-Shabab.

 

 

New Libyan PM vote declared invalid

 

Libya's interim parliament has failed to select a new prime minister, despite holding a vote on Sunday.

Hours after holding that vote, amid a scene described as "chaotic", the result was declared invalid.

Parliament had selected Ahmed Maitiq, a 42-year-old businessman, to lead the country.

An initial vote failed to receive a quorum but a second vote did have enough participants to be valid. However, the first vice president of the General National Congress still scrubbed the vote.

 

 

Iran says successfully test-fires air defense system

 

Officials in Iran say the country's military has successfully tested a new air-defense system.

The mid-altitude missile system is said to be capable of hitting modern fighter jets and drones.

The test was conducted on Sunday.

Despite Western countries' concerns over the advancement of Tehran's missile program, the Islamic republic said that its military achievements will only be harnessed for defensive purposes.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

GLOBAL TIMES

Headline

Boy saved after timely heart transplant

Summary

A 12-year-old boy named Xiaobao from Jiangxi Province has survived severe heart failure after receiving a heart transplant in Beijing.

Xiaobao's condition started attracting widespread attention after a Sina Weibo user posted a series of entries on Friday afternoon.

The Weibo entries were reposted more than 5,000 times in a couple of hours, which helped various related authorities learn about the case and take timely action.

SHANGHAI DAILY

Headline

2 die, 3 hurt as houses collapse

Summary

A row of houses scheduled for demolition collapsed in downtown Shanghai early yesterday, killing two people and injuring three.

Local officials say the building that collapsed comprised a three-story house and three single story houses which had been added illegally.

SHANGHAI DAILY

Headline

108 replica guns seized in online probe

Summary

Eleven people have been detained and 108 replica guns seized by Shanghai police after an investigation into online sales across the country.

Police say almost half of the weapons were capable of causing injury.

Police found that the website, with an IP address in Hong Kong, involved 20 dealers and had some 90,000 members registered nationwide.

BEIJING TIMES

Headline

Former car racing driver caught in accident again

Summary

The driver in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang province, has again been involved in a car accident.

However, police say there is no evidence that the driver was drunk driving or speeding.

No injuries were reported.

Internet users are questioning the legitimacy of the man's license but police say citizens can apply for a new driving license two years later after the previous one was suspended.

BEIJING NEWS

Headline

Hospitals forcibly sell birthing bags to expectant moms

Summary

Nine out of 10 hospitals investigated say all expectant moms should buy the birthing bags from the hospital.

The hospitals claim the act is for the sake of sanitation in the delivery room.

However, further investigation finds misconduct in many of the hospitals.

BEIJING MORNING POST

Headline

No tickets issued for uncivilized behaviours in parks

Summary

No parks in Beijing have issued fines to visitors for inappropriate behaviour during the May Day holiday.

There are fewer-than 120 law enforcers in the 11 municipally-run parks.

Currently, persuasion and education are the main efforts once an inappropriate behaviour is spotted.

NEW EXPRESS DAILY

Headline

Live poultry sales banned in Guangzhou

Summary

The city's 82 markets have been banned from selling live poultry products.

Instead, frozen poultry products will be available. The price for a whole chicken varies from 40 yuan to 80 yuan.

For now, at least half of the dealers are waiting to see how people react to the new rules.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

Hong Kong Eco Cube

 

Anchor

Hong Kong is famous for its local cuisine and restaurant culture, but millions of tonnes of food is discarded each year.

With space at a premium in the city, one inventor has decided to tackle food waste by creating a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Li Ningjing has more.

Reporter

In densely populated Hong Kong, waste levels are increasing by the minute.

According to the city's Environmental Protection Department, in 2012, over 5,000 million tones of solid waste were disposed of in landfill sites.

As a result, Hong Kong is expected to run out of landfill space by 2020.

Many locals are now becoming more aware of the importance of recycling.

One social enterprise company, Aubree co., has gone a step further and created a device that simulates real-life ecosystems and food recycling systems.

The device is called the Eco Cube.

Its 25-year-old creator, Jack Cheng, was a student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in international business management.

According to Cheng, the cube turns waste into something valuable.

"In Hong Kong, we don't have much agricultural land, but in fact we have a lot of fish farms in Hong Kong. So what about we turn this food waste into high protein feed, we can supply it to the local fish farms,"

The Eco Cube is a three-tiered cubic transparent plastic structure with the height of an adult male.

The top tier opens to the sun and grows vegetables.

The middle tier is a closed space containing several bugs and layers of food waste.

The bottom tier is a water tank with several goldfishes swimming inside.

"So here we have a new food waste device and we use the concept of an eco system. Here you can see the insect, this one (is a) black soldier fly, it will lay eggs and then hatch into the larvae. These larvae will eat the food waste and then crawl out to become the fish food. And then we also collect this fish poo to grow the vegetables,"

Some of larvae escape their fate as fish food and grow into flies, thus repeating the cycle.

The water in the fish tank will then work as a fertilizer and be used to irrigate the vegetables.

Zhu Jingxiang, Associate Professor at the School of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, was responsible for the design and structure of the Eco Cube.

"So when compared with other similar systems, our system has a live character, it's like something broadcast on air. So everybody can see the process and also can stay in front of the eco device and enjoy it."

So far there are only two Eco Cubes set up in the city. The company hasn't sold any Eco Cubes yet, but they are expected to retail at around US $26,000 each.

BACK ANCHOR

That is CRI's Li Ningjing reporting.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Clippers, Oklahoma, and Brooklyn through to round two in NBA playoffs

 

In the NBA,

Sad day for Canadian basketball fans today,

The Brooklyn Nets dumped Toronto from the playoffs after winning game 7, 104-103.

Kyle Lowry had 28 points to lead Toronto, but it wasn't enough to lift his team past the Nets in what had been an incredibly competitive series.

Playing in front of a home crowd, Toronto trailed by 12 points in the third quarter, but came alive in the fourth.

The fought back to trail by just 3 points with 22 seconds on the clock. Lowry made a layup to cut the deficit to just a point, then Shaun Livingston made two free throws for Brooklyn, then Terrence Ross answered for Toronto.. but there just wasn't enough time.

Toronto's Amir Johnson had a playoff-high 20 points and 10 boards before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Joe Johnson was top scorer for the Nets with 26 points, and Marcus Thornton finished with 17.

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 126 to 121 in game 7 to advance to round two.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers gave credit to his team for shaking off the week's emotional baggage that was attached to owner Donald Sterling's racist comments.

"I thought that our guys fought the adversity, they went through it. I thought it drained them and they found enough energy to find a way to win the game. And, for me, my excitement (at the end of the game) was not for me - at all - it was for everybody. I wanted the fans to get excited. I mean, they were almost still sitting there in shock and I just wanted them to get excited and exhale for a second - because all we have is a second, we play on Monday, you know, and so we have to get it right back."

Also in the west, the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to round 2 after beating the Memphis Grizzlies 120-109 in game 7. Kevin Durant scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double.

 

 

Wins for Los Angeles and Boston in second round of SCP

 

In the NHL, Stanley Cup playoff action is into its second round.

In the west,

the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild

The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to rebound from an opening loss to the New York Rangers in this morning's game number two, which just got started at 7:30.

Earlier,

The Boston Bruins scored four goals in the third period to seal a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in game two of their second round. Bad news for the Canadiens is that they blew a 3-1 lead to let the series tie up at a game apiece, but the good news is games 3 and 4 are on home ice.

And Marian Gaborik scored with just seven seconds left in regulation to force overtime. He then scored in the extra period to lift Los Angeles to a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks for a 1-0 series lead.

 

 

Real Madrid battles Valencia in La Liga

 

In football,

Real Madrid is looking to close the gap between them and league leaders Atletico Madrid. Atletico sits at the top of the table on 88 points. Barcelona is in second with 85. And Real Madrid is right behind in third with 82.

Over in the premier league,

Arsenal defeated West Bromwich 1-0. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he will be back next year for a 19th season with the club, putting an end to the rumors that he could be leaving.

Question: "Will you be at the club next year?"

"Yes."

Question: "When will you sign?"

"I don't know. You know I've told you many times, my word is my word and I'm from a period, ancestral, where you didn't need a pen to commit."

And Chelsea's title hopes were set back after a scoreless draw with Norwich. But for bottom dwelling Norwich, the draw allows them to continue hoping that they can claw their way out of the relegation zone with just one more match remaining against Arsenal.

And over in the Italian Serie A,

Juventus clinched their third straight Italian title after their nearest contenders Roma were blindsided with a loss at bottom side Catania.

 

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan leads Mark Selby in snooker world championship

 

In snooker,

The World Championship final is underway between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby.

And in table tennis,

China is through to both the mens and womens team finals at the World Table Tennis Championships in Tokyo.

Germany beat hosts Japan 3-1 to set up a mens team final against the defending Chinese champions.

The Chinese womens team advanced to the final after beating Singapore. They'll meet Japan in the final, who are coming off a 3-1 win over Hong Kong in the semis.

 

 

Felipe Aguilar has dramatic win at The Championship in Singapore

 

In golf,

Chile's Felipe Aguilar's incredible back nine, which included six birdies and an eagle on the 18th, earned him a dramatic win at the Championship at Laguna National in Singapore.

Aguilar started the day four shots behind Dane Anders Hansen, who was the co-overnight leader heading into the final round. He ended 22 under par, one shot over Hansen and USA's David Lipsky.

India's Rahil Gangjee also made a strong showing in Singapore. He took third after carding a 19 under.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Marc Webb: IMAX Makes the Largest 'Spider-Man'

 

(Spiderman Trailer)

The Amazing Spider Man 2, which was released in China yesterday, has broken the record for screenings of an overseas film.

Yesterday 40 percent of all cinema screens across the mainland were showing the red and blue angst teenage arachnid.

The Marvel movie also put in a solid performance in north America taking 92 million dollars over the weekend to place it firmly in the number one spot.

It's the second highest opening weekend for a film this year behind another Marvel offering "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." which made 95 million.

The film is the sequel to the 2012 blockbuster, "The Amazing Spider-Man". And runs hot on the heels of the previous trilogy which ended in 2007.

In the previous trilogy "Spider-Man 3" opened to 151 million dollars in 2007, "Spider-Man 2" grossed 116 million dollars over the four-day July Fourth weekend in 2004, and the original "Spider-Man" opened to 115 million dollars in 2002.

 

 

Peaceful relations between Ukraine and Russia at Eurovision Song Contest

 

The annual Eurovision Song Contest is just a week away, this year taking place in Copenhagen.

Artists will perform in the Danish capital for a week, leading up to Saturday's live finals.

The competition, with participants from 37 countries taking part this year, sees the different nations put forward a single song to be voted for by the public and a panel of judges.

One of the world's longest running television programmes, it was launched in the 1950s to foster a spirit of unity after the Second World War.

This year, however, given the current troubles, many eyes have turned to the singers from Russia and Ukraine.

Representing Ukraine is Twenty-year-old pop singer Mariya Yaremchuck.

"It really affects me because I will try my best to prove that Ukrainians are a strong nation and conflicts end but music lives. I hope Ukraine will start a new life, from a new page. I'm proud of Ukrainians and I will do my best for them."

Meanwhile Russian sisters Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy, said for them it's just about the music:

"You know we came here to sing and the most important thing is to sing here to perform, so for us it doesn't matter."

It's been confirmed votes from Crimea will count as Ukrainian votes this year, though organisers highlighted the decision was not political but because Crimea still used Ukrainian telephone operators.

 

 

Stars gather for annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

 

The political and entertainment worlds merged this weekend at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association.

This has become an annual tradition in the nation's capital, promising a black-tie evening of humor and celebrity gazing.

Among those gracing the red carpet were Actor Jeff Goldbloom, Modern Family Star Jesse Tyler Ferguso and skiier Lisdsay Vonn. Also the British Actor Patrick Stewart who said he's been active in politics from a very young age.

"Politics has been a huge part of my life since 1945 the first post war election in the UK when my father made me a placard, I was four years old and I walked up and down outside the polling booths representing my MP."　

He's currently working on a new show with Family Guy creator Seth McFarlen called stars, in which he plays an English talk show host in America who is despised by the locals – Piers Morgan anyone?

Also in the crowd were cast members from shows such as, "Scandal", "Nashville", "Duck Dynasty" and "Orange is the New Black" but the real highlight of the evening is when the US President attempts to show his funny side.

"Colorado legalised marijuana this year, an interesting social experiment. I do hope it doesn't lead to a whole lot of paranoid people who think that the federal government is out to get them and listening to their phone calls. That would be a problem."

The correspondents' association, which represents the White House press corps, celebrats its 100th anniversary this year and this event is to raise money for college scholarships.

 

 

 

That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.

A quick recap of headlines before we go.

China and Ethiopia have inked some new agreements during the first stop of Premier Li Keqiang's African tour...

Dozens of pro-Russian activists have been released from custody in Ukraine following a violent and deadly weekend...

And Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been released from custody after five days of questioning regarding a 1972 IRA-linked murder...

In Business...by at least one measure, China's economy is set to overtake the US as the world's largest...

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