新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2014/06/25

 
The Beijing Hour
 
Morning Edition
 
 
Paul James with you on this Wednesday, June 25, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The Chinese government has released new audio and video messages connected to recent terrorist activity in this country.
A leading mainland official is embarking on an historic trip to Taiwan starting today.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting with Kurdish officials in Iraq amid the unrest in that country.
In Business... Chinese internet firm Xunlei has gone public on the Nasdaq.
In sports... a stunning goal in stoppage lifts Greece into the knockout stages of the World Cup.
In entertainment... it's been 5-years since the untimely death of pop legend Michael Jackson.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will see thundershowers today with a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
Overnight it still has thundershowers and temperatures should drop down to around 21.
Shanghai will see some rain during the daytime with a high of 26.
It will be overcast tonight with a low of 23.
In Chongqing, it will also be rainy with a high of 24.
Overnight heavy rain and lows are expected to be around 22.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will see slight rain with a high of 41.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 30.
Over to North America,
New York will have moderate rain today with a high of 27 degrees.
Washington, moderate rain with a high of 33 degrees.
Honolulu, slight rain, 30.
Toronto, Canada, will see slight rain with a high of 26 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be rainy with a high of 14.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China releases evidence video footage of terrorist organization
 
The Chinese government has released audio and video footage said to be being provided to would-be terrorists by the outlawed East Turkistan Islamic Movement.
The recordings are materials confiscated as part of the current terror crackdown across the country.
Fang Nan is with the State Internet Information Office.
"Firstly, the audio and video clips used by the terrorists brainwash ordinary people with religious extremism. Secondly, the terror video footage spread online instigate jihad, calling for the killing of infidels and organizing terrorist activities. And thirdly, the materials show people how to launch strikes, demonstrate terror and how to use weapons."
The materials are said to be being produced and uploaded outside China.
Police say most of the suspects involved in recent terrorist attacks have been goaded on by these audio and video recordings.
The central authorities have been actively trying to eliminate terrorism content from the Internet.
 
 
2.55 tons of drugs destroyed in Xinjiang
 
Authorities in Xinjiang have been making major drug sweeps ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking later this week.
Authorities say they've managed to destroy over 2.5-tons of drugs.
Wang Qianrong is the director of the Narcotics Control Bureau with Xinjiang's public security department.
"In the field of international drug control, a lot of work needs to be done by us. On one hand, we have to sign drug control agreements with neighboring countries; on the other hand, we also need to strengthen information exchange with them."
At the same time, provincial authorities in Guangdong say they've managed to crack close to 130 cases of drug trafficking through the first five months of the year.
Over 80 suspects have been arrested in Guangdong.
Chinese customs authorities have investigated close to 550 cases of drug smuggling since June of last year.
 
 
Mainland official's visit focus of Taiwan
 
The head of the mainland's Taiwan affairs office, Zhang Zhijun, is starting a four-day visit to Taiwan today.
Zhang is the first mainland official of his status to visit the island since 1949.
Chiu Yi with the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says Zhang's visit should have a positive effect on cross-Strait ties.
"Zhang's visit shows that the two sides are heading to a positive direction of peaceful development. This will dismiss the doubts of people in Taiwan. So the visit is significant."
Professor Tzu-Hsiang Yu with Shih Hsin University on Taiwan says Zhang's trip should have benefits for businesses on both sides.
"Via the communication with small-and-medium-sized enterprises, and the direct exchange with citizens, we can better understand each other. So after we remove the barriers, we might be able to find better solutions, which are more creative and imaginative."
Zhang is due to meet Wang Yu-chi, who heads Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council.
Zhang's time on Taiwan is a reciprocal visit, following a trip here by Wang earlier this year.
 
 
Sino-Asean relations
 
Anchor:
A joint meeting among China and a group of Southeast Asian is being held in the Philippines.
The meeting has been called to discuss how to better implement the Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea.
This comes amid heightened tensions in the region in recent months over issues connected to territorial disputes.
For more on the situation, CRI's Zheng Chenguang spoke earlier with Zhang Zhenjiang, vice-dean of the School of International Studies at Jinan University in Guangzhou.
BACK ANCHOR:
Zhang Zhenjiang, vice-dean of the School of International Studies at Jinan University in Guangzhou, speaking with CRI's Zheng Chenguang.
 
 
Abe, Aquino vow to enhance bilateral security ties
 
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has met with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III in Tokyo.
The two are calling for enhanced security ties between the two countries.
Abe says Japan and the Philippines are coordinating closely with one-another when it comes to the regional situation.
A number of observers have suggested the Philippines is trying to secure Japan as an ally, as both countries are involved in maritime disputes with China.
Yang Xiyu is a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies.
"Japan's dispute with China is historical-rooted, while the Philippines' dispute with China on the sea is a result of its maritime expansion against constitution. These issues are different in nature, and a coalition based on this will have little impact in solving the disputes."
Also as part of the meeting Aquino has voiced his support to the Abe government's attempts to change the constitution to allow for an offensive military force.
 
 
Ukrainian army says insurgents shoot down chopper; Putin comment on ceasefire
 
The Ukrainian army says insurgents have shot down a military cargo helicopter, killing all nine people on board.
This comes just a day after the insurgents announced a truce this week to match the week-long ceasefire by government forces ordered by President Petro Poroshenko.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has withdrawn a decree to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine.
But at the same time, he says the current ceasefire in Ukraine is not long enough.　
"If you just say that we are halting combat operation for seven days only and that those who will not disarm within seven day will be destroyed, it is not a way to peace. But it is at least an important step in the right direction."
Observers are suggesting Putin's move to withdraw the decree is an attempt to avoid a new round of sanctions from the United States and Europe.
Ukraine is set to sign a new association agreement with the European Union on Friday.
 
 
No military solution in Iraq: Kerry
 
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq in an attempt to try to help keep the fragile central administration in Baghdad together.
In meeting with leaders in Kurdistan, Kerry has gone on-record saying the US sees no military solution which will help keep Iraq together.
But at the same time, Kerry is also lauding Kurdish fighters who have been engaged in fighting against the Sunni insurgency.
"As everybody knows, this is a very critical time for Iraq as a whole and the government formation challenge is the central challenge that we face. In recent days the security cooperation between the forces here in the Kurdish area has been really critical in helping to draw a line with respect to ISIL and also to provide some support to the Iraqi security forces."　
Kurdish leaders are warning they believe the coalition government in Baghdad is in jeopardy.
Following the fall of Saddam Hussien, a power structure in the central Iraqi government was created to have representation from Sunni's and Kurds in the Shiite-led government.
Kerry has been visiting Iraq amid the Sunni insurgency led by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Iraqi government forces are said to be engaged in fierce fighting around the country's biggest oil refinery to the north of Baghdad.
The United Nations estimates the uprising this month has already left around a thousand people dead, mostly civilians.
 
 
Q&A on the Iraqi situation
 
For more on the situation in Iraq, CRI's John Artman spoke earlier with Shen Dingli, vice director of Institute of International studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
Back Anchor:
Shen Dingli, vice director of the Institute of International studies at Fudan University, speaking with CRI's John Artman.
 
 
PM Cameron apologises for hiring Coulson as communications chief
 
British Prime Minister David Cameron has offered an "unreserved" apology for employing Andy Coulson at 10 Downing Street.
Cameron's former director of communications has been found guilty of phone hacking connected to the News of the World scandal.
Cameron says assurances he was given about Coulson's past during his job interview were incorrect.
"While I take full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson, I did so on the basis of undertakings I was given by him about phone hacking and those turned out not to be the case. I always said that if they turned out to be wrong I would make a full and frank apology, and I do that today."
But Cameron also stresses there have been no complaints about Coulson's work at 10-Downing Street.
Coulson was a former editor of Rupert Murdoch's News of the World before being hired by Cameron.
 
 
Chinese Navy to participate in 7 subjects of Rim of the Pacific naval drill
 
The Chinese navy has announced that its participation in the forthcoming Rim of the Pacific multinational naval exercise will revolve mostly around non-traditional challenges.
RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational maritime military exercise.
A total of 23 nations will participate this year.
The Chinese navy is, for the first time, going to join other countries in the exercise, including the United States, Singapore, and Brunei.
Zhang Junshe is the vice president of China's Naval Research Institute.
"These subjects are in the field of non-traditional security challenges. As we know, non-traditional challenges are common threats faced by all nations and none of them can solve the problem by itself alone. Only through cooperation can they solve the problems that face all. In this sense, Chinese navy's participation in the exercise is conducive to maintaining world and regional peace and stability."
The Chinese force currently headed toward Hawaii includes 11-hundred sailors.
The Chinese fleet will be the second in size behind only the US navy.
The drills are set to get underway on Thursday.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor:
First off, a check on the closing numbers in North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Min Rui.
Reporter:
U.S. stocks drifted lower on Tuesday,
The Dow finished down nearly 0.7 percent.
The S&P 500 dropped 0.6 percent, while the Nasdaq decreased 0.4 percent.
In Canada, Toronto S&P/TSX edged down nearly 1 percent, despite some positive data from the Conference Board, which will get to in just a few moments.
Over in Europe,
In London, the FTSE 100 closed down 0.3 percent.
In Frankfurt, the DAX fell 0.1 percent, while the CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.1 percent.
 
 
Xunlei Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering
 
Chinese internet firm Xunlei has launched its initial public offering.
Xunlei was originally priced at 12-dollars a share.
Xunlei's shares closed out their first trading day at 14-dollars-90-cents on the Nasdaq.
Xunlei's underwriters also have 30-days to purchase over a million additional shares.
As one of the top 10 largest internet companies in China, Xunlei claims to have over 300 million visitors each month to its site, which provides music, video and game content.
 
 
HSBC Flash China PMI at seven-month high
 
Anchor:
HSBC's preliminary reading for the Purchasing Managers' Index in the manufacturing sector is now showing expansion.
The flash PMI has come in at 50.8, which is the first time the PMI for manufacturing has shown expansion in 6-months.
Last month's HSBC PMI reading came in at 49.4.
50 is the cut-off line between contraction and expansion.
For more on the PMI readings, we are now joined on the line with Benjamin Cavender, principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
Back anchor:
Benjamin Cavender, principal at China Market Research in Shanghai.
 
 
U.S. consumer confidence in June hits over six-year high
 
New York-based Conference Board is reporting its consumer confidence index has hit a six year high.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index has come in at 85.2 in June.
This is up from 82.2 registered in May, beating market expectations.
Meanwhile, the Conference Board's Present Situation Index has increased to 85.1 in June from 80.3 in May.
The Conference Board's Expectations Index is also up to 85.2 from 83.5.
The figures are based on the median expectations of consumers based on levels seen in 1985, which is benchmarked at 100.
 
 
China gov't struggling to meet fiscal target
 
Chinese Finance minister Lou Jiwei is warning the government may struggle to make this year's fiscal revenue target.
Official data shows the central treasury has brought in some 2.9 trillion yuan from January to May.
While this represents year-on-year growth of 6.3 percent, it's still below the budgeted target of 7-percent.
Lou says downward pressure on the economy and the replacement of business tax with value-added tax in certain sectors is the main reason for the slowdown of revenues.
 
 
China exports bullet trains to Macedonia
 
China's biggest train maker, CSR, has signed a contract with the national railway company of Macedonia to sell six bullet trains to the European country.
This represents the first European sales for China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation.
The trains will have a designed maximum speed of 140-kilometers per hour.
 
 
U.S. home price annual rate in April
 
New analysis shows U.S. house prices stayed flat through April on a monthly basis.
However, the US government House Price Index shows home prices on an annualized basis increased by nearly 6-percent through April.
At the same time, the S&P/Case-Shiller index, which looks at home prices in 20 major U.S. cities, shows home prices in the major US centers are up nearly 11-percent on a monthly basis.
 
 
Microsoft debuts first Android phone, Nokia X2
 
Microsoft has unveiled its first ever Android phone, the Nokia X2, two months after completing a takeover of Nokia's mobile phone division.
The Nokia X2 is a follow-up to the original X - which became the best-selling phone in Pakistan and third biggest seller in India.
Microsoft's decision to use Google's Android operating system to power the device is a surprise to some - as Android is a rival to the firm's own Windows Phone OS.
 
 
Honda recalls 10,710 vehicles in China
 
China's quality watchdog has announced Honda is going to recall over 10-thousand of its vehicles here in China due to airbag problems.
The models include Honda Civic, Stream and CRV's.
Honda says the airbags in the front passenger seat of some of the vehicles may fail.
The company will be replacing the defective airbags for free.
 
 
Singapore unveils new liquidity regulatory framework for banks
 
Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister has unveiled new rules for the banks in the city-state.
Under the new rules, foreign banks in Singapore will continue to be subject to the liquidity requirements of the state Monetary Authorities.
This will cover all currencies.
Under the previous rules, only banking in the Singapore Dollar had to be covered by the liquidity requirements.
 
 
EU introduces online pharmacy logo to protect consumers
 
The European Commission has created a common logo for online pharmacies to ensure the websites are legitimate.
Under the new rules, online pharmacies will have to display the new logo on their sites.
By clicking on it, consumers will be taken to a regulatory website, which lists all legally-operating online pharmacies and other legally-authorized retailers of medicine.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China releases evidence video footage of terrorist organization
 
The Chinese government has released audio and video footage said to be being provided to would-be terrorists by the outlawed East Turkistan Islamic Movement.
The recordings are materials confiscated as part of the current terror crackdown across the country.
The materials are said to be being produced and uploaded outside China.
Police say most of the suspects involved in recent terrorist attacks have been goaded on by these audio and video recordings.
The central authorities have been actively trying to eliminate terrorism content from the Internet.
 
 
2.55 tons of drugs destroyed in Xinjiang
 
Authorities in Xinjiang have been making major drug sweeps ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking later this week.
Authorities say they've managed to destroy over 2.5-tons of drugs.
At the same time, provincial authorities in Guangdong say they've managed to crack close to 130 cases of drug trafficking through the first five months of the year.
Over 80 suspects have been arrested in Guangdong.
Chinese customs authorities have investigated close to 550 cases of drug smuggling since June of last year.
 
 
Mainland official's visit focus of Taiwan
 
The head of the mainland's Taiwan affairs office, Zhang Zhijun, is starting a four-day visit to Taiwan today.
Zhang is the first mainland official of his status to visit the island since 1949.
He is due to meet Wang Yu-chi, who heads Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council.
Zhang's time on Taiwan is a reciprocal visit, following a trip here by Wang earlier this year.
 
 
Ukrainian army says insurgents shoot down chopper; Putin comment on ceasefire
 
The Ukrainian army says insurgents have shot down a military cargo helicopter, killing all nine people on board.
This comes just a day after the insurgents announced a truce this week to match the week-long ceasefire by government forces ordered by President Petro Poroshenko.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has withdrawn a decree to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine.
But at the same time, he says the current ceasefire in Ukraine is not long enough.
Observers are suggesting Putin's move to withdraw the decree is an attempt to avoid a new round of sanctions from the United States and Europe.
Ukraine is set to sign a new association agreement with the European Union on Friday.
 
 
No military solution in Iraq: Kerry
 
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq in an attempt to try to help keep the fragile central administration in Baghdad together.
In meeting with leaders in Kurdistan, Kerry has gone on-record saying the US sees no military solution which will help keep Iraq together.
But at the same time, Kerry is also lauding Kurdish fighters who have been engaged in fighting against the Sunni insurgency.
Kurdish leaders are warning they believe the coalition government in Baghdad is in jeopardy.
Kerry has been visiting Iraq amid the Sunni insurgency led by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The United Nations estimates the uprising this month has already left around a thousand people dead, mostly civilians.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
THE BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Crackdown on drunk driving during World Cup
Summary
Traffic authorities across the country have reportedly dealt with over 11-thousand drunk driving cases since the start of this year's World Cup.
Police across China are vowing to continue the month-long campaign to control drunk driving by making regular stops and conducting patrols at entertainment venues.
THE BEIJING NEWS
Headline
TV set-top box content called off
Summary
Chinese media supervisors have ordered two Internet television set-top box providers to cut off downloading channels for some streaming video sites which are suspected to contain forbidden content.
The banned programs include overseas-produced TV programs and movies which are allegedly pirated copies, or contain "politically incorrect" or pornographic content.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Alert passenger spots baby traffickers
Summary
People on the internet have helped police catch two human trafficking suspects in Henan's capital Zhengzhou.
Someone in Zhengzhou posted the suspect's photo on social media, and it quickly spread online.
Someone recognized the couple getting off a train in Shandong and called police.
A group of 5 people are now in custody.
BEIJING YOUTH DAILY
Headline
Government spending plagued by mismanagement
Summary
The National Audit Office is warning government spending remains susceptible to poor management and malpractice.
A new report notes more than 11-hundred government officials have been sanctioned for having wasted government money.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Officials probed in bridge collapse
Summary
Three officials are being investigated for alleged duty dereliction following a bridge collapse in Guangdong which left 11 people dead.
Four officials, including the village committee director, two from the company which was building the bridge, and a township official, have already been detained.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Sports Lottery sales spike
Summary
Interest in this year's World Cup has created a lot of interest in this country's sports lottery.
Daily sales are coming in at around 400 million yuan.
This is almost quadruple what the Sports Lottery was bringing in before the start of the tournament.
A similar spike was also seen during the last World Cup in South Africa.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Ausfilm Chinese co-production
 
Anchor:
The Australian film industry is hoping to expand its reach here in China, as more foreign and domestic investors look to try to capitalize on the growing film industry in this country.
CRI's Doris Wang has more.
Report:
Over the years, a great number of film productions have taken advantage of Australia's diverse landscape. This year, however, the Australian film industry is looking for production partnerships in China. At the just concluded 17th Shanghai International Film Festival, the Australian delegation had a record-breaking attendance.
Six Australian films have been selected to screen in the festival, two of which were in the competition for the Golden Goblet Award. The two films include Canopy, which is about the friendship between an Australian fighter pilot and a Chinese soldier during the Second World War as they make their way through a jungle in Thailand, and Predestination, a time-traveling thriller.
Kristy Officer, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Ausfilm, shares her excitement.
"We've got six Australian films in the Shanghai International Film Festival this year, which is fantastic. I think that there's a growing interest for Australian filmmakers in the China region, especially in Shanghai due to a lot of collaborations between the SIFF and Screen Australia and Ausfilm to enhance opportunities for filmmakers in the region."
Ausfilm is a partnership organization, whose aim is to attract international film and television production and post-production to Australia.
According to Officer, even though the Co-Production treaty between China and Australia has just been signed in 2007, both countries have been working together on films long before that.
And it's that cultural understanding that led Adam Scott to looking for partners in China nearly 20 years ago. Scott is a post-production specialist and general manager of Spectrum Films.
"It's really about working with like minded people. I think if you find the right production company and like minded people, you'll instantly get on. At the end of the day, we're all trying to finish the film or the TV show or whatever we're working on. We're all working on this together and we all want to have a good finish product."
There are a lot of reasons that Chinese directors and producers should consider partnerships with Australian filmmakers. According to Ausfilm's representative Kristy Officer, those who qualify for the Co-Production Treaty can get access to three high levels of incentives.
"One is the location incentive, which is for if you come to shoot your film in various areas of Australia. One is a post-production incentive. So if you use Australian post-production services or visual effect services, there's a 30% incentive for the cost of your expenditure in Australia. And then the highest incentive that we have is for co-production. That's a 40% incentive available to those filmmakers from China on the cost and expenditure of that production in Australia."
Post-production company executive Adam Scott says that China also has a lot of offer to Australia and he is always on the lookout for new partners.
"There's a lot of crew up here, a lot of very good crew, very good operators. What we are looking for is a similar company up here in China to collaborate on projects together. Maybe we could help with the post-production. If they need to shoot in Australia, we can look after that part of it."
According to Kristy Officer, there's a lot more work that both countries can do together and there are still some very interesting story that can be told through collaboration between China and Australia.
BACK ANCHOR:
CRI's Doris Wang reporting.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Latest on the FIFA World Cup
 
A stunning turn of events this morning from the World Cup.
Greece has shocked the football world, and is through to the knockout stages after a stunning victory this morning over Cote d'Ivoire.
The Greeks, who came into the match with just one-point on an earlier draw with Japan, started out the scoring in the first half, only to have Cote d'Ivoire tie the match at 1 in the 74th minute.
The Greeks, needing a win, managed to score 3-minutes into stoppage time to upset the west African's 2-1.
As a result, Greece leapfrogs Cote d'Ivoire into 2nd place in Group C with 4-points, sending the west Africans packing from the tournament.
And at the same time, Columbia was dashing any hopes Japan had of making it into the knockout stages, after they destroyed Japan 4-1 this morning.
With the stunning turn of events, Greece will take on Costa Rica, who emerged as the top team from Group D after drawing with England nil-nil earlier this morning.
Columbia will be taking on Uruguay, which won its winner-take-all match this morning with Italy 1-nil.
Uruguayan captain Diego Godin scoring in the 81st minute following, what could well be, a major controversy.
Just one minute before, Uruguayan star Luis Suarez was accused of biting an Italian player.
Video replay seems to show Suarez sinking his teeth into the shoulder of an Italian defender.
Suarez has already been sanctioned by FIFA for a biting incident last year involving Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
So far it's unclear at this point if there will be an investigation, and whether Suarez will face sanctions - and if so - whether they will come during the World Cup tournament.
Players can be suspended for up to 2 years if found guilty in a biting incident.
 
 
Messi reveals World Cup birthday wish
 
Lionel Messi has taken to social media ahead of Argentina's next World Cup match, thanking his fans for helping him celebrate his 27th birthday.
The 27-year old has sent out a message, saying he wants to hoist the trophy as his birthday present.
Argentina has already secured a place in the round of 16, and will look to secure 1st place in group F tomorrow morning in one of 4 matches set for tomorrow morning.
Messi's Argentinans only need to draw against 2nd place Nigeria to secure the top spot in Group F.
In other action tomorrow, Iran will be looking for a big victory over Bosnia-Hertzogovina.
Iran needs to secure a victory with at least 2 goals, and have Nigeria go down to Argentina by at least one goal to advance.
--
In Group E action tomorrow morning, a pair of decisive matches.
Switzerland is taking on Honduras, while Ecuador is taking on France.
Both Switzerland and Ecuador are sitting with 3 points in 2nd in the group, though Ecuador has the advantage on goal differential.
 
 
Second day of the Wimbledon Champions
 
Day two of Wimbledon is in the books, with no major upsets to speak of.
On the men's side, World number-1 Rafael Nadal fought back after dropping the first set to Slovak Martin Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Nadal is now set to face the Czech Republic's Lukas Rosol, who defeated him in the second round of Wimbledon in 2012.
"I lost because he is a good player and he is a player who can play very well on this surface. He is an aggressive player and it will be a tough match again and I know if I want to have chances to win I need to play very well."
Seven-time champion Roger Federer also eased into the second round, crusing to a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over Italian Paulo Lorenzi.
Federer's compatriot, Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, was also a straight-sets winner.
The fifth seed dumped Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
On the women's side,
One of two Chinese women in-action last night managed to make it into round-2.
Zheng Jie secured a swift victory, upsetting Germany's Annika Beck 6-1, 6-3.
Beck is actually ranked higher in the world rankings than Zheng Jie is.
However, Zhang Shuai wasn't lucky enough to carve out an upset.
She was dumped by 15th seeded Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain 6-1, 6-2.
All other seeds advanced on the women's side yesterday, included Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep, among others.
Top seeded Williams strolled to victory in the first round, showing little mercy in a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of American Anna Tatishvili.
At a news conference after her match, Williams also had words of support for the United States soccer team that is competing at the World Cup in Brazil.
"(Anytime to be part of a World Cup campaign was just really cool, especially to support the USA and let them know that, you know, there are so many athletes out there and people that are really supporting and getting behind you guys and there is always negative press in US men's soccer and so, it is just like, we know you guys can do it so it is great."
Meanwhile, Chinese ace and world number-2 Li Na is back in action in round-2 later on this evening when she takes on Austrian Yvonne Meusburger, who is currently ranked 38th in the world.
 
 
Lebron poised to leave Miami
 
Some major off-court news from the NBA,
LeBron James appears poised to potentially take his talents somewhere else again.
James' agent Rich Paul has told the Miami Heat his client is exercising the early termination clause of his contract, making him a free agent.
Lebron had two year's left on his contract, both worth over 20-million US dollars per year.
In his four seasons with Miami, the 29-year old won two NBA titles in four Finals appearances.
His decision now leaves a big question mark surrounding the remaining core of the Miami Heat, as both Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade are also in their option year.
 
 
Tiger Woods says to play in Open Championship next month
 
Tiger Woods has announced he will be playing at the British Open next month.
It will his first major since last year's PGA Championship.
Woods has told reporters ahead of this week's tournament at Congressional that his recovery from back surgery has been quicker than expected.
"As I said, our goal was the British Open. I healed extremely fast, thanks to my physios and all my nutrition and all the different things that we did and the protocols; and the MRIs and all the different steps that we have done along the way have allowed me to get to this point."
Woods does admit he probably would have skipped this week's Quicken Loans National event, if not for the fact the tournament benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Woods has not played competitively since undergoing back surgery in late March.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Michael Jackson More Alive than Before
 
Today marks the 5th anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.
However, his career is more alive than it has been in decades.
The singer moonwalked across the Billboard stage in Las Vegas in a nationally televised hologram performance, singing his new single "Slave to The Rhythm".
His new album "XSCAPE" recently debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. "Love Never Felt So Good" is also featured with Justin Timberlake.
The singer has earned over 600 million U.S. dollars since he died in 2009.
Some of the earnings support Jackson's three children and mother.
Much more has allegedly gone to erase the singer's massive debts and to run the estate that powers his robust posthumous career.
 
 
Bon Jovi premiers "Growin' Up the Hard Way" demo
 
Bon Jovi is re-issuing a deluxe version of the band's landmark 1988 album "New Jersey" next week in celebrating their 30th anniversary.
The deluxe album will feature a number of unreleased demos, in addition to the original list of tracks.
One of the demos is called "Growin' Up the Hard Way".
(Bon Jovi)
The original version of "New Jersey" is Bon Jovi's fourth studio album.
It remained at No.1 for four consecutive weeks in U.S.' Billboard 200 chart after being released in 1988.
The album included hits such as "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You."
 
 
Xu Jinglei starts filming new movie in Prague
 
Chinese actress and director Xu Jinglei has begun to film her sixth movie "Somewhere Only We Know" in Prague.
Renowned Chinese screenwriter Wang Shuo is joining Xu as part of the production.
The movie is scheduled to be released around Valentine's Day next year.
Xu Jinglei directed the award-winning film "Letter From an Unknown Woman".
She is also the first female director in China who has taken box office earnings of over 100 million yuan, with her film "Go LA LA Go!"
 
 
"Predator" to be re-launched
 
The sci-fi action franchise "Predator" will be rebooted by 20th Century Fox.
Shane Black, writer and director of "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "Iron Man 3" will be directing the film.
One of the writers of 1987's "Monster Squad" Fred Dekker is scripting for the reproduction.
The cast of the movie has not been revealed yet, though Black has recently met with the "Avengers" star Chris Hemsworth for the movie.
The 1987 "Predator" stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The story follows an elite special forces team that stalked and hunted by a technologically advanced alien called the Predator in a jungle in Central America.
 
 
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
The Chinese government has released new audio and video messages connected to recent terrorist activity in this country.
A leading mainland official is embarking on an historic trip to Taiwan starting today.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting with Kurdish officials in Iraq amid the unrest in that country.
In Business... Chinese internet firm Xunlei has gone public on the Nasdaq.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.